Happy Holidays (Bargains) from Believe!

Ho ho ho and fa la la from Believe! The holiday season is upon is and once again we are playing Santa’s helpers by offering some fabulous gift ideas, now through December 31^st only! So stop by Believe, share a cup of good cheer (cleverly disguised as herbal tea) and do your holiday shopping right here—out of the madness—and get gifts sure to please.

We are also introducing a new product that can actually take 10 years off your appearance: Nerium Age-Defying Treatment. Come learn about it at our Holiday Open House with Kimberly Dow on Wednesday, December 11th at 7:30 pm. Have a glass of wine and learn the secrets of this wonderful new product (it's even got a 30-day money back guarantee!)

• Make the acquaintance of our new makeup artist, Angelique Massaline, who will create a fabulous holiday look for you to carry into the new year for only $50. Angelique works by appointment only, so call soon to book as her appointments are filling up fast. (You can also pay for an appointment for your daughter, mother-in-law or anybody else who could stand a makeover for 2014 and have them make the appointment at their leisure. They will be forever grateful for helping reveal a new face for the new year.
• Wrap everyone up in the butter soft warmth of pashmina’s. We have a fabulous selection for only $16each and, if you buy three, you’ll get another (for yourself?) for 50% off. At this price, you can afford to get all your colleagues one and another for your mother, the ever-cold, and already longing for Florida.
• For your aunt, gift her with a gorgeous infinity scarf or a printed pashmina for only $30.
• Your young friends and relatives in the Green Generation will love gifts from our collection of Fig Naturals, including deodorant, soap, lotion and lotion bar—all 10% off the regular price.
• For that office holiday swap, we are offering tantalizing gift bags ranging from $10-$30.
• For the men in your life, buy a brand new brush or comb and get another for 10% off.
• Get your dry-skinned sister any three Thunder Ridge Emu Oil products and get the EMU lip refresher free and for your best friend who just can’t stand her hair the minute winter arrives, treat her to an OLIO Blowdry Treatment. For only $110, it adds shine, deep conditions, provides instant manageability and eliminates that dreaded frizz. (You know for all she has seen you through this past year, she is worth it, dontcha?)
• For your hard-to-please teen, how about clip-in extensions in three outrageous colors-your choice—only $10 (and they might keep her from dyeing her hair blue.)
• If your boss has a little Hilary in her, go for tie-dyed by hand headbands (three for $10) or hand-dyed hair ties (five for $10).
• For your littlest elves, check out a fabulous line of children's hair products: Kids Ragazzi. Buy three, get another for 50% off.
• Spruce yourself up a little for the holidays and make an appointment to get your lashes tinted—only $25 (that’s $10 off the usual price). While you are at it, we are featuring new Grande Brow and Grande Lash Formulas for $5 off (these formulas actually regrow hair and lashes!) Grande Nutra Peptide Shampoo, Conditioner and Serum--buy three and get $10 off on this miracle product which really gives you thicker, healthier hair for the holidays.
• Make use of this next deal to fill everyone’s stocking with a little something: Buy any two products and get 30% off any other product.
• And, if the holidays are just too hectic to think straight and you can’t make another decision, don’t forget to pick up a handful of Believe gift cards. They are always appreciated and will make you look like Old St. Nick yourself.

Call or go online for an appointment or stop in for some shopping. (We are open our regular hours until Christmas Eve when we are open only until 3:30. We are closed December 25th and 26th, but are open to make you gorgeous for New Year's Even until 3 pm. Then we are closed again on New Year's Day.) We can’t wait to see you here at Believe. Come get out of the cold, share our holiday excitement and wish us a happy new year. We certainly wish one full of joy and blessings for you!

Lashing Out (In A Good Way)

Batting your eyes has long been a woman's prerogative (too bad hiding the rest of your face behind a fan while you flutter went out of style. Perhaps we should resurrect that flirtatious move?) The come-hither power of a well-directed glance has shone from behind belly dancer's veils for centuries, and glancing down demurely has as much power today as it did during Jane Austen's time. Nowadays a woman's eyes get put to other uses, too. Your mother was right when she told you to look people right in the eyes during a conversation, and a direct glance is as important as a firm handshake during business dealings. 

So if eyes are the windows of the soul, consider the lashes are the silk draperies and care for them accordingly. True, genetics plays a part in eyelash length and just like the hair on your head, eyelash hair gets more sparse as we get older, but there are some things you can do to get the longest, most luscious lashes possible:

Take it easy on them: If you find yourself rubbing or scratching your eyelids--especially at the time of year when all the plants are releasing pollen-- invest in hypo-allergenic eye drops and an over-the-counter antihistamine to fight hay fever. Wash your face with cold water (lashes too) when you come in from outside, particularly on a windy day. That will wash any stray pollen out of your lashes, before it irritates your eyes. If your allergic reactions get worse, see your doctor. (Remember allergies can develop anytime.)

Keep things clean: Never go to bed with mascara, eyeshadow, or eyeliner on. Always remove every speck with a gentle (hypoallergenic is good here, too) eye makeup remover. Believe carries a wonderful one by GIELLA.  Disposal pads or cotton squares are better than cotton balls (which leave little fibers behind). Replace your eyeshadow, liner, and mascara every 2-3 months. Bacteria breeds in old makeup and can lead to eye inflammation and possible infection. Every month or so, give your eyes their own spa treatment. Hold a clean hot washcloth over your eyes (reheating several times with hot water as the washcloth cools) and then scrubbing along the lash line with one of the PCA cleansers sold at Believe. This opens the glands along the eyelid which get clogged with dirt and oil, giving the lash follicles the best chance to grow.

Speaking of oil--Just like all the rest of your hair, your lashes need moisturizing, too (they have just survived a long, dry winter). After cleansing at night, use an eyelash brush (available in any drugstore) to coat your lashes with olive or almond oil (no perfumed oils here) or plain old petroleum jelly. Let the oil soak in overnight and your lashes will be moist, shiny, and stronger by morning.

What goes in, comes out: Drinking enough water (take a sports bottle with you wherever you go) not only keeps your skin hydrated, but your lashes, too. Taking your vitamins, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, and making sure your diet includes fish oils helps your lashes grow healthy--and healthy lashes break less. What you put in your body shows on the outside. Playwright Oscar Wilde wasn't kidding when he said our faces are our autobiographies.

False eyelashes: From individual lash extensions to full-out black fringes and Swarovski eye crystals, false eyelashes are all the rage. If you must channel one of the Kardashian sisters, be sure to follow the package directions and remove all the glue carefully (and as quickly as possible). Leftover residue can harm your real lashes.

Growing eyelashes with pharmaceutical serums: True, some users grow long, thick lashes from using one of the serums now available like LATISSE®. Other users report permanent eyelash discolorations, scaling, redness, irritation, and even eyelash loss! We recommend talking over using any of these products with your ophthalmologist or eye care professional before deciding whether to give any of them a try. Also, do your own homework. Research on-line consumer reports, reviews, and advice from users. Be smart and get informed.

Eyelash Tinting: We are thrilled to be able to offer this service now at Believe. You can kiss your mascara goodbye with eyelash tinting. Vegetable-based dye (black, brown, blue, gray or a combo to suit your complexion) is used to make your pale lashes dark and bold. A patch test is performed to make sure you have no allergies. When that is done, upper and lower lashes both are painted (this takes about 15 minutes), then the dye sets (penetrating for about five minutes). When the dye is washed away--voila! Darker lashes! The color lasts for 3-5 weeks and means you'll have glamorous eyes around the clock. If you have light lashes or an active lifestyle (swimming or tennis anyone?) or barely enough time to swipe lipstick on in the morning--lash tinting is perfect for you. Best of all, it is safe (yes, even for contact lense wearers.) After getting your lashes tinted, you'll be batting your eyes with the best of them—with no streaks, smears, or raccoon eyes. Give Shannon a call to set up an appointment or ask about lash tinting at your next hair appointment. Everyone can use a little more (positive) drama in their life.

Here's looking at you, kid --and your lush new lashes,

Lisa (owner of Believe)