I'm Sorry!

Hello dear readers!
I apologize for my sudden absence from this fabulous blog. Sometimes unexpected things happen in your life making it hard to even get up in the morning, filling you with sadness and disgust. But thankfully, this blog is a weep-free zone and instead filled with posts about cotton candy and lipstick! I will be making more of an effort to fill your lives with sugar coated posts and gumdrop reviews...thank you for being so patient! I promise new posts to come...stay tuned.

New Brand At The Beauty Loft Tally!

It's always a happy day at The Beauty Loft when we get in a new brand! We would like to introduce The All Nighter Hair Styling Powder, a line with a huge cult following! It comes in six different colors; Platinum/Netural, Redheads, Honey Blonde, Dark Brown/Black, Brunette, and Golden Blonde.

"The ALL NIGHTER Styling Powder™ is made with natural plant-based ingredients and natural minerals, gently scented with essence of tangerine (to freshen without being too perfume-y) The ALL NIGHTER Styling Powder™ also contains real silk powder to add manageability to hair, and it imparts a luxurious satiny feel. Leave it in or brush it out for an amazing 'fresh from the salon look'"

They retail for $18 a piece. Come in today to try this amazing product (p.s. Rachel Zoe is addicted...I'm just saying...)

A Chocolate Affair!

A beautiful thing is happening this Friday evening! We are combining chocolate, charity, and makeup all in one night! The Beauty Loft Tallahassee is sponsoring "A Chocolate Affair," a dessert competition where proceeds go to the one and only Covenant Hospice! We will be sampling desserts, pastries, and chocolates from Tallahassee area bakeries, restaurants, and catering companies, then voting on our favorite dessert (I am sure that it is going to be a challenge!) We have donated a large gift bag filled with goodies for the silent auction winner! What better combination could there be? Buy your tickets now for a chance to bid on our basket, eat fabulous food, support local business, and to be rewarded by giving your time and generous donations!

November 6, 2009 - 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Doubletree Hotel

101 S. Adams Street Tallahassee, Florida

Attire: Business or Cocktail

Parking: free parking in the Doubletree Hotel garage

Tickets: $25 per person

http://support.covenanthospice.org/chocolateaffair/about.html

Sugar Rush! oh, I mean, Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween ghouls and goblins! Are you in the Halloween spirit today or do you not feel the spookiness until the sun goes down? Either way, today is a day to honor the seasons changing and to remember the dead among us. However you decide to celebrate the Witch's New Year, sugar is usually involved. I took this recipe from fellow blogger "The Recipe Girl" because it's simple, creative, and a perfect way to get rid of any candy and treats that you'll have left over after tonight. Personally, I would use dark or milk chocolate instead of white, but other than that, you can throw anything you're craving into this...So be safe tonight and maybe this year try to remember what this holiday is based upon, because it's so easy to get caught up in the festivities and we forget the rich history of today!


Candy Corn Cookie Bark
Makes 2 dozen pieces

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup Oreos broken into bits
1 cup Pretzels broken into bits
1 cup Candy Corn
Other candy like Resses, Butterfinger, M&M's, etc
1 pound Melting Chocolate (white or milk)
1 tsp shortening
Sprinkles



Step one- lay ingredients on cookie sheet or baking pan over parchment paper:



Step Two- Melt chocolate pieces and shortening (about 1 1/2 min) until they're liquid (keep stirring and microwave an extra 30 sec until smooth) and pour over bits of treats. Add any extra candy on top for crunch:





Step Three- Place in refrigerator or freezer until firm. Break into pieces with sharp knife and serve!

Cookie Review!

What's better than something tasting delicious and actually being really good for you? It's a rare combination, but when somebody gets it right...it's a keeper! I've been searching for a healthy snack to keep on hand at The Beauty Loft that customers would enjoy eating with their complimentary Caudalie Tea, and also something that they would consider buying. I had heard great things about the Goji Gourmet, the creators of all natural Goji cookies. The cookies are all natural, preserative free, high in antioxidants, hand made, have no refined sugars, and really do taste yummy. The flavors available are: Goji Almond Oat, Goji Cherry Cacao, Goji Ginger Walnut, and Goji Orange Mint Chip. All of the petite cookies are jam packed with organic goji berries (which we should all be familiar with by now. If you know anything about antioxidants, they are pretty much the smallest and most delicious cancer and free radical fighting berry around.)

After trying all of the flavors last week, (Goji Almond Oat is definitely my favorite, the spicy Goji Ginger Walnut coming in second) I could easily see myself becoming addicted to these as a great mid afternoon sugar free snack to curn even more dangerous cravings.

If these cookies are something that you would like to see at The Beauty Loft and something that you would like to add to your beautiful skin diet...send us an email or leave us a comment. Yum!

I hate to say it but...duh

It's always more than a little frustraing to me when I read about things that are so completely obvious that it's almost silly. But then I realize (or better yet, somebody nevee hesistates to tell me) that I am stuck inside of this gorgeous, pink, candy scented, beauty product filled bubble with an unpenetratable shell. What seems obvious to me within the beauty industry is actually sometimes news for the rest of the world. Such is the case with Faye Brookman's article in WWD this week entitled "Baby Beauty Products Appear Popular Among Adults."

http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/?module=tn#/article/beauty-industry-news/baby-beauty-products-appear-popular-among-adults-2351983?navSection=beauty-industry-news

For three years I've been selling baby care line Mustela at The Beauty Loft, and for about that same amount of time, we have been using the Mustela Baby Wipes For Face as makeup remover. Our philosophy is this; if it's gentle enough for your baby/newborn, then it's sure gentle enough for even the most sensitive customer, whatever the age. According to WWD, 40% of adults (both men and women) currently use baby products on themselves.

WWD also makes a point in the article that I disagree with; they state that one of the main reasons why consumers are purchasing baby items is because of the cost.

"I think consumers continue to be careful with their spending. The Johnson’s/Harris Poll showed that 71 percent of adults indicated they would be more likely to use baby products if they were less expensive than the adult equivalent,” she said.

In my experience, customers are not buying the baby items because of the cost. They are buying them because they are extra gentle, or they got hooked after using them on their own children. According to the cheaper price logic, my customer who buys the Mustela Baby Wipes is buying them because they are under $10. Totally untrue. For less than that, they can go to their local drugstore and buy Neutrogena or Almay Makeup Remover Wipes, but it's a conscious choice that they are making. I think a more interesting choice for an article would be why after a product is geared for a certain age, we start adding harmful chemicals. At what age does a company dedide...ok, it's time? Ok, I'm off my soapbox now!

Keep checking back because in the next couple of days I will be reviewing some fantastic, new, organic products!

Last Day Sarah Horowitz Perfume Experiment

Hello again dear readers! I hope everybody had a fantastic weekend! I've decided that I want to include the last three Sarah Horowitz fragrances in one single post, wrapping up our fragrance experiment this afternoon (I've got a great surprise for our next test brand!) I've had such a great time experimenting with these scents, testing how they've made me feel, how their notes affected my mood and my day in general. It's so refreshing to come across a quality fragrance line with scents that are original and authentic smelling. They're for women who don't feel that connection with the naked supermodel spokeswoman who is the norm for perfume these days. They're for the woman who wants to layer her perfume without having to be a scientist, just because she wants to smell unique and memorable. So down to business....

Today I am sniffing out the Sarah Horowitz Perfumers Palette fragrances. The fun thing about this part of the line is that it creates the opportunity for you to make your dream concoction! The three sections of this collection are pretty basic: "Top Notes," "Middle Notes," and "Base Notes." You are free to choose any combination of you choice to create a one of a kind scent that only you know about. I will be testing three "Base Notes," which is truly the foundation of any scent. Here is how Sarah Horowitz explains a base note; "It is where the riches, deepest ingredients are found, anchoring the rest of your scent to your skin. Consisting mostly of Woods, Resins, and Roots, these scents will ground your fragrance and create warmth and depth for your perfume."

The base notes by Sarah consist of: Amber, Clean Musk, Sandalwood, Soft Musk, and Vanilla. Today I will be testing Soft Musk, Clean Musk, and Vanilla.

I was fascinated with the idea of Clean Musk, because it truly a contrasting base in my opinion. To me, a musk is a warm, sweet, smoky scent, the exact opposite of something fresh. After trying Clean Musk, I can attest that it is exactly that: a clean version of musk. Picture fresh out of the dryer sheets with an undertone of musk rolled into the center. It's something that can be worn alone, but I would most likely pair it with Fig Middle Note to play off of the earthy, fresh contrast of the musk.

Next I tried Soft Musk, which is a very soft, very subtle fragrance. It smells clean and feminine, something I would wear during the day. By itself, it's very subtle, almost too subtle for my taste...which makes it the ideal Base Note. Base Notes are meant to be built upon, and with Soft Musk, I would layer a crisp Honeysuckle Middle Note, or a Lychee Top Note to add an exotic, fruity feeling. I like that Soft Musk is so compatiable with other scents, it could easily be a fresh floral, a warm sensual vanilla, or something a little more exotic.

The last Base Note that I tested was Vanilla. I love everything vanilla, if it's done right. Too many times, vanilla is turned into an artifical birthday-cake scent, making its wearer and friends dizzy and sick. A great vanilla shouldn't be sickly sweet, it should have a sensual base that is creamy and inviting. Sarah's Vanilla Base Note is the ideal vanilla to me. It is sweet without being suagr cookie sweet, it is sensual without being too warm, and it has a hint on coconut on my skin, which leaves me craving the beach. I will have a really hard time layering anything else on top of this base, because it is so perfect on its own, although I know that Gardenia Middle Note make a perfect pairing. If you were feeling more up for an energizing fragrance, I would mix Vanilla Base with Blood Orange Top Note. It would be the best of both words; zingy citrus and mellow vanilla all rolled into one. Overall, these base notes are a great start for anyone who has an interest in creating his or her own fragrance collection.

I have had a fantastic time experiementing with these fragrances this week! I have learned a lot of notes, and even moe about what scents I like and could grow to like. Just remember that the most important thing about a fragrance is how it is affected by your body chemistry. Things that smell fantastic on a cardboard scent strip or even a friend will most likely smell completely different on you...and that's ok. Just go with your instinct and wear something that fits your personality as much as it does your lifestyle.

Thank you to Sarah Horowitz and staff for supplying us with testers of your scents!