Eyebrows: Creating The Perfect Frame

We've been watching a lot of Elizabeth Taylor movies lately--a salute to the recently deceased movie queen who was often called "the most beautiful woman in the world". Though she was most famous for her gorgeous violet eyes, we noticed that in her Academy Award-winning performance in “Butterfield 8,” it wasn't just her eyes that were stunning --it was her eyebrows. They framed those amethyst orbs perfectly and it got us to thinking about eyebrow shaping and products that help keep our wild brows in great form.

Shaping Up: Your brows should not only frame your eyes, but flatter your facial shape, and balance your features. Consulting an expert the first time is always a good thing. Come on into Believe and we'll make sure you get the best brows of your life. But if you must do it yourself, here's how to determine the perfect shape for you:

• Remove all your makeup. Pull your hair gently back (use a headband for short hair) and look in a well-lit mirror.
• Hold a ruler vertically in front of your face, so it is lined up touching the outermost point of your nose and the inside of your eye. This line shows where your eyebrow should start. Mark the spot with a lip pencil and then repeat for the other eye.

Next, angle the ruler so it lines up with the outermost edge of your nose and the outermost edge of the iris of your eye. (Be sure you are looking straight ahead and that your head is positioned straight ahead, too.) Wherever the line intersects your eyebrow is where the peak of your eyebrow arch should begin at the top border of the eyebrow. Mark that spot with your lip pencil. Repeat for the other eye.
• Now angle the straight edge further so that it touches the outermost edge of your nose and also passes along the outermost edge of your eye (not your eyelashes). This tells you where the eyebrow should end. Mark this point with your pencil. Repeat with the other eye.

Now that you have the shape, determine if you want thick or thin brows. Take into consideration the shape of your face. Thick eyebrows go best with strong features and thick hair (think Salma Hayek) and delicate features (like Halle Berry) usually call for thinner brows. (On the other hand, Brooke Shields became famous for her bushy brows, so it really is a matter of choice.) Some shapes can help correct facial shapes, too. Emphasize the arch if you have a round face, to draw attention away from the width.

If your face is long, flatter brows (less arch) empathize the horizontal planes of your face, making up for it's length.

Getting Rid Of Hair: Take it easy! It takes 64 days to regrow eyebrow hair—so less is more no matter which method you choose. Never shave your eyebrows...stubble is impossible to get rid of and looks terrible. Waxing, one of the services we offer at Believe, is quick and easy (and some say the hair eventually grows back lighter and finer.)

Tweezing is the choice of most people—at least between professional visits. Before you start tweezing, though, use a lip pencil (easier to see) to heavily draw on the shape you want. Adjust it with makeup remover as you go along. Tweeze any hairs that fall outside the line of the brow. Next, brush the brows straight up with a brow brush (we sell great ones at Believe) or old toothbrush. Any hairs that are too long should be trimmed with small scissors. (Tweezing long brow hairs can result in gaps in the eyebrow.)

Coloring/Filling In: Dame Elizabeth Taylor liked to extend her brows (making her eyes look farther apart) by using a real lead pencil, but new products make such extreme methods unnecessary... And while we are on the subject of extreme—don't dye your eyebrows! The chemicals can drip in your eye and blind you. Come into Believe and we will tint your brows with vegetable dye at the same time as we do your hair. You won't have to worry about matching the shade and we do it safely. Also be careful if you choose to get permanent eyebrows tattooed on (like Liza Minnelli and Michael Jackson.) Pick your operator carefully—there is no going back if there is a mistake. Also the use of eyebrow pencils—the standard way to fill in brows since the 1940s—is out. They can produce a greasy, hardened look (Joan Crawford anyone?) and draw the wrong kind of attention to the brow.

At Believe we offer GIELLA custom blended makeup products, including two that are magic for the brows:

Brow Powder-A cream-to-powder formula that fills in and defines brows naturally and is intended to compliment hair color. It's applied with a brush and comes in shades of Blonde, Light Ash, Taupe, Auburn and Brunette.

Brow Tint- A lightweight tints and gel for brows. It is a convenient way to cover gray hairs, set unruly brows, and change the tone of brows to match your hair. It's also a great quick-fix to cover gray in hair or men's beards or mustaches and comes in Blonde, Brown Suede, Sphinx (an auburn tone) and Taupe.

Now that Spring is finally here, you'll be showing off more of that beautiful face. Let us at Believe help make your brows the perfect frame for a lovely picture.

Looking Good In Photos

With Spring having (finally) made an appearance, what might be called "The Celebration Season" is upon us. First Communions, Confirmations, Graduations, Passover, Easter, Baptisms and Christenings--all events to be marked with some good wishes and lots of photo opportunities. The pictures taken now will last a lifetime (or several lifetimes now that family photos are being saved in digital archives) and if you want your great-great granddaughter to think you were gorgeous, here's a few tricks to help make those of us not naturally photogenic look our memorable best:

Stand Up Straight: Your mother was right. Don't slouch. Breathe normally, push your shoulders back, then relax them. You will look healthier and in a group setting you'll come out looking better than the your droopy cousin.

Put Down The Plaid: As the weather warms up, we want to break out the bright floral or printed fabrics but, while strong color can be good in a photo, patterns can overwhelm you. Horizontal stripes make you look wider and closely-spaced stripes can create weird effects (and tend to run together when printed.) Solid and neutral colors work best, though watch out for red, black or white—they present too much contrast in digital photography.

Improve On Nature: Hide those dark under-eye circles, annoying zits, and any skin redness with makeup. Come on into Believe and we'll do a makeup consultation with you, featuring our incredible GIELLA custom blended cosmetics, before the big day. Or make an appointment to stop by early in the morning and we'll do all your makeup for you. For now, here's some makeup-for-photo tips:  keep blotting papers and a soft brush with a little loose powder on hand for last minute touch-ups on-site and, if the day is warm, run a little antiperspirant over your forehead and upper lip to avoid sweating. 

Get The Red Out: Use eye drops to clear the red from the whites of your eyes. Staring at a light source (not the sun) for a few minutes before the photo will shrink your pupils and reduce the chance of red eye. (A professional photographer or even an amateur with access to Photoshop software will take care of this problem in the final product anyway.)

Haircut Time:  Come into Believe for a haircut a few days before the occasion for a cut and color, giving your new “do” time to settle in before the big event. We'll not only give you a cut that will flatter the shape of your face and a color that will play well in a photo, but suggest some products like AEstelance's Butter or Keratin products like Ricci and Latte to keep down the frizz on a humid day, Agadir Moroccan Mousse or AEstelance's Volume (sans alcohol) to pump up the volume so your hair doesn't go flat, and White Tea Embrace hairspray to keep from looking wild and windblown.

When to Blink:  Halfway through a count of three (if the photographer gives you one) is the answer, so that your eyes won’t be mid-blink for the shot. 


Work The Angles:  Known as the model's pose, stand so your body is 3/4s towards the camera and put one foot in front of the other, with one shoulder closer to the camera than the other. Turn your head slightly to the side and look straight ahead—you’ll look like your are looking straight at the camera. Look slightly above the camera when the picture is taken (unless the photographer is at a lower level—then you'll have to look directly forward or it will look like your eyes are closed.) Lean slightly towards the camera to improve facial definition and minimize the look of wrinkles and flabby skin. Oh and your “good side” is usually the side where your hair parts.

How 'Bout That Double Chin? Everybody's nemesis can be hidden by tilting your head up slightly and position yourself so that the camera is a little above or at your eye level. Or put a hand under your chin like you are resting your head in your hand (keep your thumb side out of the camera’s view) and don't put any real weight on your hand—you'll smush your skin and make things worse. Lastly, put your tongue up on the roof of your mouth. (Our makeup expert at Believe can also help you cheat a little with shading makeup for under your chin and to narrow your nose and slim your cheeks. Cheaper than liposuction and your secret it safe with us.)

Smile And Relax: Don't hold your breath and don’t clench your teeth and don't say “cheese” no matter what the photographer says. Try a relaxed closed mouth smile or an open mouthed smile with the lower lip relaxed and down (you might have to practice) and make sure your smile reaches your eyes. If you have to pose all day, you might try a trick taken from the Miss America pageant—Vaseline on your teeth to help your lips slide smoothly for hours of smiles. Best of all, think happy thoughts. Your state of mind will shine through into the photo.

Remember to make your makeup ad hair appointments with us at Believe early—particularly at this time of year—and we will do our part to help make sure you'll be looking your very best for your special (and memorable) occasion.

Red Carpet Ready Hair

Were you glued to your TV for the Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys and Oscars? With Hollywood's award season just past, you may be itching to swap your ho-hum hair for some high-wattage glamour. Every star needs an entourage...Why not make the team here at Believe your own personal stylists and come in for a fabulous cut and color for spring? 

Till then, here are some celebrity hair tricks and hints we can use in the salon and some that you can try at home to create your own kind of superstar hair:

Check Your Toolbox: Make sure your brushes are clean (run one of our complimentary brush cleaner tools through the bristles to remove hair and give your brushes a weekly soak in hypoallergenic soap and ammonia, then rinse thoroughly and air dry on towels) and of the right type--a mixture of nylon and boar bristles is the choice of many celebrity stylists. Nylon untangles the hair and boar brushes smooth hair out, giving you Anne Hathaway shine and letting your hair partially dry naturally before brushing helps eliminate breakage. Also make sure your drier, curling and straightening irons, and electric rollers are still giving out heat at the proper temperature. Old appliances sometimes overheat and harm hair. Pay attention to your tools and the result will be shiny, healthy hair.

Try Some Waves: True, Believe does offer the greatest Keratin straightening system in the world, but why not change it up a bit for Spring and try out some waves? (They work for all the Kardashian sisters.) Bend over and blow dry your hair in sections, using a round brush and pulling from the nape of your neck. Spritz some hairspray to hold. Then take a one and quarter inch curling iron to bend the hair out. Now sit up, flipping your hair over and roughing it up for that "I just got out of bed look" and finish with some shaping serum like Chromastics Repair Light or Extreme. Want to see how it's done? Come into Believe and we will make your a tousled headed beauty in no time.

Everything is not as it appears: Not all the actresses are born with gleaming, flowing tresses (ever wondered how they can go from short hair on one red carpet to long waves the next time they appear in public? J. Lo's tress length seems to change daily.) Most now fill out and lengthen sparse or short hair with extensions, bonded to their natural hair. At Believe we will blend in the extensions so carefully, no one will know it's not your own gorgeous mane (Unless, of course, you choose to help out with one of our charity events where we give you fake fun colored extensions like Dandelion Yellow or Crayon Red in exchange for a donation.) Or, if you can't quite commit to the longer length, you can get clip-ons for temporary length. The trick to using clip-ons is color-blending for a natural look and parting your hair where it naturally recedes. Then tease one-inch sections where the clips are, let you natural hair fall over to hide where they are attached, and style from there. Extensions or clip-ons—either way it's Voila! Instant Reese Witherspoon.

Hooray For Natural Texture: Whether you are a woman of color or born with naturally kinky hair, why not take a page from the Beatles lyrics and let it be, let it be? Quit straightening and relaxing your hair (Queen Latifah recently did) and see how you like au natural styling. This type of style requires maintaining your waves, curls, and natural style with a fabulous cut and moisture-enriched salon treatments, like Oil Complex or Agadir's Moroccan Moisture Masque that we offer at Believe. Also, remember, there really is no need to shampoo hair daily. It dries your hair shafts out and makes your natural texture look frizzy and frazzled. Try a weekly at- home protein mask for your hair, too. Be sure to comb the conditioning treatment all the way to the end of each strand for full coverage.

Bangs Are A Blast: Sandra Bullock gave them a go this season and as every woman with beautiful eyes knows, bangs frame your face and draw attention to your eyes like nothing else can. Let the team at Believe cut them for your the first time to get the proper shape, but then, if you find that the warmer weather is making your hair grow faster (yes, it does) and you have to trim them at home, here's how: Make sure your hair is dry. Only cut from the iris of your eye to the other iris of your eye (else you'll be cutting into your hairline, making your next visit with us for a real haircut more complicated) and cut the bangs vertically, not horizontally. You'll get a flirty fringe and keep your favorite Believe hair stylist from going crazy next time you come in for a full cut.

Make the world your own personal red carpet and please stop by Believe – here all our customers are superstars!

GIELLA Keep Your Cuticles In Tip Top Shape

This week, we are delighted to welcome a guest blogger and a leading light in the world of beauty--the founder of GIELLA Custom Blend Cosmetics herself...Giella Poblocki. Giella will be hosting several blogs during the year since we carry her fabulous products here at Believe) where they are always a customer favorite.

Here's a little bit about Giella herself and then let her introduce you to a new product that takes care of an old problem which crops up this time of year...dry cuticles:

After graduating with high honors from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Giella began her career in the fashion and beauty business.  

“My experience is quite varied – make-up artist, fashion stylist, personal shopper, image consultant, retail manager, cosmetic product developer  – all of which helped prepare me for my current position where I use a combination of all those skills,”  she says.

Giella has gained a loyal following of clients by hosting seminars and providing private lessons to teach people how to adapt new colors, trends, and products to their lifestyle. Giella is dedicated to completely satisfying a woman’s beauty needs. As a color, makeup, and beauty advisor, she looks at each individual objectively, recognizing that each woman is uniquely different. She does not propose to limit a customer’s choices, but rather to aid her in creating customized palettes and products based on her personal traits. 

Giella also does not believe in animal testing and all of her products are cruelty-free. She stands behind her products as being the finest in quality, texture and shade selections.  All GIELLA products are non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and allergy-free. Giella is also an active member of the National Association for Female Executives and has completed her Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

Beauty and brains--a winning combination--and she put those smarts to work when she developed GIELLA’s Custom Blend Cuticle Clicks. 

Let Giella herself introduce the product:

You know one of the basic rules for achieving and maintaining a healthy nail begins with a well cared for cuticle, however you don’t tend to them as you should. Every visit to the manicurist begins with her scolding you about your ragged cuticles. But now you can hush her up and have gorgeous nails with GIELLA’s NEW Custom Cuticle Clicks, a portable cuticle oil pen that can be customized to keep your cuticles soft and smooth and your nails healthy and strong.

GIELLA’s Custom Blend Cuticle Clicks are slim wands with a brush-tip applicator that you can have filled with your own personal cuticle oil blend depending on your nail care needs. With a simple “click” or turn of the wand’s rotating handle, a smooth flow of oil is dispersed through the brush, letting you paint it onto your nail and the surrounding cuticle. This will allow for a moisturized cuticle and a healthy nail bed.

Choose from four cuticle oil varieties that can be mixed and matched or used on their own:

·        Kukui Oil – A Hawaiian plant oil that is high in essential fatty acids that aid in maintaining healthy skin. It is light and non-greasy and is easily absorbed by the skin. This tropical oil is great for strengthening the bond between the upper and lower nail plates, producing a healthy, flexible nail.

·        Avocado Oil – An intensive healing and skin nourishing oil that contains vitamins A, D, E and K. This oil deeply penetrates the skin’s surface and is great for softening seriously dry cuticles and nails.

·        Grapeseed Oil – A lightweight, silky moisturizer that is easily absorbed into the skin and contains a high value of essential fatty acids that aid in maintaining healthy skin. This oil is a great choice for those with nut allergies.

·        Tea Tree Oil – An antibacterial oil that is good for treating nail fungus.

Just as slim as a tube of mascara, easy to use, and with no messy spills to worry about, GIELLA’s Custom Cuticle Clicks will easily fit into your makeup case, allowing you to care for your cuticles whenever the mood hits you.

Thanks to Giella for informing us all about this great new product. All of us at Believe are always happy to let our customers know about Giella's wonderful line and to offer solutions to real life problems (like winter-dry cuticles). Stop by and try GIELLA's Custom Cuticle Clicks today.

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)

Lovely Lips Even In The Dead Of Winter

Though we hope those chapped lips of yours are the result of way too many kisses on Valentine's Day, we at Believe know better...winter winds and temperature changes are more likely the cause. But there are other reasons your pucker may be feeling a bit peckish, so read on and learn a thing or two about keeping your lips luscious.

Chapped lips are, most basically, the result of our lips being too dry, but chronic chapped lips can result from nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, allergies, medication or over-exposure to sun, cold and windy conditions. Whatever the reason, skin has lost its ability to retain moisture. We can't hold moisture, our lips get more chapped, which means more moisture loss and on it goes--a vicious cycle.
Here are some things you can do about the chapping:

• Avoid licking your lips. When saliva dries on your lips, it leaves them more vulnerable to sun and wind than before.
• Apply skin moisturizer, vitamin E oil, aloe vera gel, or petroleum jelly to moisturize your lips and then seal it in with lip balm (we carry Zum and Red Bee Lip Balms at Believe. Read all about them them below).
• Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
• The cracks at the corners of your mouth can indicate riboflavin deficiencies; you can treat this with vitamin B-2 supplements.
• Don't lick envelopes. Use a moistened sponge instead.
• Use a humidifier while you sleep and a desktop one at work if possible.
• Don't hold metal objects in your mouth such as paper clips. Allergies to nickel causes chapping.
• Treat chaffed, chapped, and scaling lips overnight with a homemade ointment mixed from 1 tsp glycerine, 1 tsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp castor oil. Spread on lips overnight, refrigerating the leftovers for future use.
• Don't suck on citrus fruit rinds such as orange peels--the fruit acid may cause chapping.
• Step up to cortisone. If a week of the above suggestions don't do the trick, add over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment to your regimen. Use the hydrocortisone under your emollient ointment. Try this for two weeks.
• Don't kiss someone on the lips who is wearing lipstick-you may be allergic to red dye found in lipstick (and to the cinnimates found in some candies, gum and mouthwash.)
• Are you a clarinet player? You might want to stop the music for a time. Chapping can develop at the contact area of the reed.
• Check your lipstick for for the ingredient propyl gallate which may cause contact allergies. The same goes for guaiazulene in your toothpaste. Also check your toothpaste for sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient that may cause chapping and allergic reaction. (Squigle Enamel Saver Toothpaste is one SLS-free brand.)
• Quit eating figs. They may react with the sun (phototoxicity) to cause irritation.
• If all else fails, it's time to take your chelitis (that's doctor-speak for chapped lips) to the dermatologist. You'll possible get a full exam of your mouth, lips, tongue, tonsils and even elbows, knees, scalp and nails searching for psorasis, and tests for allergies, Vitamin A deficiencies, and other conditions that can cause chelitis.

Now you have read that chemicals may be responsible for your chapped lips. That's why here at Believe Beauty Lounge we carry lip balms made from all natural ingredients, like Zum Kiss Shea Butter Lip Balm. Suck up to your lips with this pure pacifier made with almighty shea butter, sunflower and grapeseed oils, honey, beeswax and pure essential oils. If your lips are in the middle of a drought, get ready for a flood of moisture. Zum Kiss Shea Butter Lip Balm comes in fabulous flavors like Tea Tree-Lavender, Chocolate, Lemon-Ginger, Grapefruit, Peppermint, Tangerine and Vanilla.

Or try Red Bee Rossape Lip Balm which packs in hydrating ingredients with a subtle sheen. The lip balm's main ingredients are beeswax and olive oil. If you are a purist when it comes to the products you use on your body or are sensitive to artificial ingredients, you will love the Rossape Skin Care Collection. What you put on your body should be as good as what you put in your body. Feed our Body...Feed Your Skin is Red Bee's operating philosophy. Their recipes are based upon ancient remedies with respect to Apitherapy (honeybee products for restoring and maintaining health). They never use alcohol, paraffin wax, preservatives or animal products, making Red Bee's Rossape beauty line a great natural option for your skin. Essential oils provide the fragrance for the lip balm -- four delicious scents Strawberry, Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon. Red Bee's Rossape Balm's light texture helps it glide on easily, leaving a subtle sheen to your lips. Not too heavy or oily, it absorbs quickly and hydrates your chapped pucker.

Don't let winter get the best of you...stay kissable with some help from your friends at Believe.

How did Valentine's Day come to be?

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest in the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. He got put to death for his trouble.

According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself. While in prison,Valentine fell in love with his jailor's daughter. Before his death, he wrote her a last love letter, which he signed "From your Valentine," --an expression that is still in use today.

Valentine's Day may be celebrated in the middle of February thanks to the Church who may have wanted to divert people from celebrating the Pagan festival of Lupercalia—a beginning of Spring and fertility celebration. The city's bachelors would choose a woman's name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often -but not always- ended in marriage. The Church was not amused but finally gave up and in 498 A.D Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day.

The oldest known valentine still in existence is a poem (in the British Library) was written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. According to the Greeting Card Association, about one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, just after Christmas.

We at Believe encourage the sending of mushy cards to your loved ones ANY day.  We also have some gifts we would like to recommend:

• As there is no one like her anywhere, why not get her a totally unique and hand-made piece of jewelry from Believe? Buy one (or more) pieces from our fabulous collection of Titanium jewelry crafted by the Dutch artist, Jules van der Linden. Jules has been creating gorgeous titanium jewelry, often with touches of gold and silver, since 1989. His work is characterized by a modern and simple style and his metal of choice, Titanium, was chosen by him not only for its beauty, but for the fact that it is virtually indestructible (important in today's busy and bustling world) and, unlike with other metals, virtually no one is allergic to it. It is as strong as steel, but lightweight, and can be colored by a chemical reaction, causing the metal itself to change colors thereby lasting as long as the piece itself (it won't fleck off like enamel.) Or check out the paper jewelry by artist Minh-Thu Leroy (she'll be featured in an upcoming blog.) We guarantee you've never seen anything like her work....

• Candles are very essence of romance (try some around a shared tub) and we have soy candles, perfumed with exquisite fragrances, like Bajan Fig and Lime Coconut and Nutmeg made especially for us. Compared to paraffin, soy is a favorite of environmentally-conscious people because it is made from a renewable source and doesn't increase the carbon levels in the atmosphere; soy candles burn longer; their fragrance disperses in the air more quickly; and any spills are much easier to clean than wax (in case you get a little rowdy.)

• Nothing says “I love you” like a massage by your sweetie. Why not both give and receive one? We've got Zum Shea Butter & Meadowfoam Seed Massage and Body Oil to help make it a smooth experience for both of you. Squirt some drops of Zum Oil in that bath (we've got Zum's Love Me, Love Me Not Soap) and then rub your Valentine's squeaky joints and muscles with essential oils, shea butter, and oils of sweet almond, avocado, meadowfoam seed, and hemp. Your sure to have sweet dreams (if you get any sleep, that is...wink. wink.)

• Or, if you are just flat out of time, do a drive by and grab a gift card. Let your honey choose their own gift from the assortment of great products and fabulous services we have here at Believe. Either way, your Valentine will know you are thinking of them on this special day.

Happy February from all of us at Believe. We love all of you.




Peel Back The Mystery Of Exfoliation

The supernaturally beautiful, Christie Brinkley (honestly--does that woman ever age?) told an interviewer recently that her secret for looking so young was exfoliation. (It had occurred to her, early in her career, that they reason men look so young is that they shave every day, taking off a layer of epidermis every stroke.) Since we women can't be shaving our face everyday, we should heed her advice and learn more about exfoliation...

Exfoliation is the process by which the oldest dead skin cells on the skin's outermost surface are removed-by microdermabrasion or chemical peel in a salon (like Believe) or a doctor's office. Milder at-home peels are also available. (We carry a fabulous one—Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel—which is called a “miracle” by some of our customers.)

Exfoliation has a history. The ancient Egyptians used the surrounding sand for exfoliation (we bet Cleopatra didn't have flaky dry skin) and, in The Middle Ages, wine (with its active agent, tartaric acid) was used. The Romans scraped their skin with blades and oil, rather than use soap for bathing, and their language Latin, is where the word Exfoliate comes from—it means to strip off leaves.

Why is exfoliation so important?

Every month, from skin's lower layer, the dermis, cells migrate to the surface of the skin and become more acidic. This causes the cells to die and become saturated with kertain—the tough stuff that protects skin from outside elements. This (combined with aging, especially for woman post-menopause) causes the skin to become uneven—dry and rough. In order to get rid of this scaly layer, exfoliation is used. This unclogs pores, keeps skin clean, and reduces breakouts (for men, it even exposes the hair follies and allows for a better shave.)

There are basically two kinds of exfoliation: Mechanical and Chemical. Microderambrasion is a mechanical method of exfoliation and we will educate you about how we accomplish microdermabrasion at Believe in a later blog, but for now, let us tell you about Peels.

Peels use salicylic or glycolic acids, also hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) or enzymes that loosen the glue-like substance that holds the cells together, allowing them to ease away. Each of these ingredients has value in exfoliation:


Lactic Acid – is hydrating and helps even skin discoloration.


Malic Acid – aids in hydration. 


Glycolic Acid – has very fast penetration, reaching deeper levels sooner.

Citric Acid – naturally oil controlling, this prevents/corrects the thinning of the skin associated with aging

Tartartic Acid – provides natural antioxidant action from grapes.

Mandelic Acid – helps even skin discoloration.

We use only the PCA Skin line of products like the TCA peels, which use the acids above in Ph-balanced formulas produce dramatic results without discomfort and downtime.

Here are three peels we use at Believe:

Ultra Peel® Forte I Exfoliating Treatment

Those with resilient skin who have more dramatic wrinkling, sun damage and acne scarring are the most suitable candidates for this deeper and more active treatment. Ultra Peel® Forte will effectively treat aging skin, acne, pigment disorders, smoker’s skin and photo-damaged skin. This treatment is ideal for dehydrated and aging skin in need of rejuvenation.

Ultra Peel® I Exfoliating Treatment

Specially formulated to treat dehydrated, maturing skin, Ultra Peel® I is also appropriate for many skin types, conditions and sensitivities. It will help treat smoker’s skin, pigment disorders, sun damaged skin and acne. This treatment is especially ideal for sensitive skin, as it produces only a mild tingling sensation. Moderate to aggressive exfoliation will be experienced, depending on the number of layers applied. Overall, the final result will be plump, hydrated and ultra-soft skin.

Sensi Peel® Exfoliating Treatment

This gentle solution is formulated primarily for ethnic skin, and other extremely sensitive skin types. Sensi Peel® will strengthen and brighten the skin while helping to treat sun damage and other forms of hyper-pigmentation (skin discoloration). This multi-faceted treatment also provides anti-inflammatory, anti-acne and antibacterial action, making it an excellent choice for helping calm rosacea, as redness and inflammation can subside substantially after treatment.

At Believe, we offer facial peels by our master medical aesthetician Jackie. Lay back in our cozy treatment room while years are lifted from your face. These peels will all make fine lines and wrinkles disappear, dramatically lessen deep wrinkles, and encourage the production of new skin cells and collagen, leaving your skin smoother, plumper and glowing. Make an appointment with us at Believe and get on the road to younger-looking skin today.

Just Say No To Sulfates

If you are like 99% of your fellow women, you've been dyeing your hair since you were a teenager (and with those grays creeping in, you aren't about to stop now!) You may have even finally solved your poodle head problem and got a La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment, leaving your hair sleek, smooth and glossy. So far so good...but there is a problem: How to keep the hair you love, the hair you love when every time you shampoo, you are one step closer to your hair reverting to colorless and frizzy?

First let's talk a little chemistry (don't worry, there won't be a pop quiz later).

Most shampoos on the market contain sulfates (sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and a whole other group known as the laureth sulfates) and sodium, which do their jobs but have some wicked side effects on your hair.

These chemicals and salts are used because:

• They are good cleaners, dissolving dirt and oil, especially the kind found on your hair and body, making then useful for shampoo and body washes.
• They make that foam we all love so much. We consumers are convinced that if there's not a lot of lather, we aren't getting clean.
• They are cheap for the manufacturers. Sulfates can be thickened just be adding salt (sodium) and cost only 25 cent a pound or four times less than more expensive surfactants. Money, as always, talks.

But these sulfates and sodium dry out hair and skin, stripping out the natural oils --and with them, your hair color and keratin treatment. So what can be done?

At Believe, we carry a line with a shampoo that contains no sulfates or sodium and products that actually protect your hair : Semi Di Lino Diamante Color Protection. This professional line comes to us from the researchers and chemists at ALFAPARF MILANO, a leading Italian multinational manufacturer of professional, exclusive hair color, hair care and styling products with more than 30 years of experience in the business of beautiful hair. The Semi Di Lino Diamante Color Protection line is the latest technological frontier for color protection, the exclusive combination of the unique shine of Linseed Extract with the revolutionary Anti-Fading Color Block Technology.

The line contains these products:

Color Protection Shampoo--Salt and sulfate-free Shampoo, it gently cleans while maintaining the cosmetic color. Its special formula provides the hair with softness and shine.

Color Block Treatment--Professional post-color treatment. It restores natural pH balance, blocks oxidative processes, and closes the cuticle of the hair with Lactic Acid. It seals the cosmetic color in using Olive Oil Extract. Fresh relaxing and de-stressing effect for the scalp. It makes the cosmetic color last longer while adding shine.

Color Protection Oil--Anti-oxidant vitamins that penetrates the hair to counter oxidative degradation. It guarantees maximum color protection in between color services. Hair fiber looks smooth and extremely polished and the professional color is preserved.

Color Protection Conditioner--Conditioning cream brings perfect moisture to hair lengths. Its innovative formula guarantees maximum color protection. Provide the hair with an incredible shine effect.

Color Protection Crystals--Ultra light shield protecting the hair from any antioxidant agents while prolonging the color and integrity.

It's been a long road to find the perfect color and finally straighten out your mane. Let us at Believe, using this latest technology from the Semi Di Lino Diamante Color Protection line, help keep you loving your hair. Come see us today at Believe.