Christmas Shopping Open Home

You're invited to sample a gorgeous range of cosmetics and find something for you and the ones you love this Christmas - gifts that can't be found in any stores! My favourite must-have products from Mary Kay Cosmetics will be on display and available for you to sample, test and order. The ultimate in 'try-before-you-buy'. *LIMITED EDITION PRODUCTS * NEW MINERAL MAKEUP * BODY CARE * TRAVEL GIFT SETS * SAFE-TANNING & SUN PROTECTION * THE BEST MAKEUP COMPACTS * SPECIALITY FRAGRANCES * SKINCARE FOR MEN *** Get your gift shopping done in one hit. *** Complimentary gift wrapping and free local delivery *** Gift vouchers for private makeup lessons/consultations available (a truly valuable gift for the professional woman) Visit www.abeautifuleducation.co.nz for more info *** COMPLIMENTARY FOUNDATION-MATCHING Meet your 'perfect match' and take advantage of my experience. While you're here I'll help you find the perfect foundation colour and finish for you. *** Purchases can be made with VISA, Mastercard, cash or cheque (Orders will be delivered within 7 days) ENTRY is by donation to the Tauranga Foodbank (We're taking part in the Foodbank Challenge as on the Bay News' front page) To preview the Mary Kay range visit: www.marykay.co.nz I can access any of these products on your behalf and post free NZ-wide if you're out of town. They also have a wonderful 90 day satisfaction guarantee. Details on the invite:

You've Got Til Dec 31st To Get Your Own Life-changing Lippy

In October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month - I hosted a cupcake-sized (smalll) Tim Tam Pink Tea Party at my home to raise funds for Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition. We raised just under $75 including 10% of the Mary Kay Cosmetics orders placed through me in October. So thanks to those who donated and congrats to my customers who chose to trust me with their beauty purchases in October - 10% of your order is going to NZ women overcoming breast cancer! Good stuff! You still have until December 31, 2008 to help change the life of a female cancer sufferer in New Zealand. Act now. Change a life. All it takes is one lipstick! We are now in the season of giving. How many of you have ‘make another woman feel beautiful’ on your gift list? It’s not too late and Mary Kay’s awesome Beauty That Counts campaign means it involves nothing more than a simple lipstick purchase. Get this: Mary Kay in NZ and Australia are donating 100 percent of the profits from the sales of their Apple Berry Lipstick to Look Good Feel Better. Look Good Feel Better assist women who are suffering from cancer and help them deal with the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiology. So every Apple Berry Lipstick we buy will have a positive impact on the life of a female cancer sufferer! Call me to place your order of this life-changing lippy (or any MK product) and put a little extra sparkle in the eye of another woman this Christmas. My contact details are at the bottom of this page. I offer free postage or delivery NZ-wide and can gift-wrap your purchase for you if you want to make this special lippy a gift that gives twice. What a great idea. Try the Apple Berry lipstick for yourself at my Christmas Shopping Open Home on Thurs Dec 4th!

DIY At-Home Professional Treatments: Microdermabrasion

Did you know the top layers of your skin are dead?

Dead!

So all the moisturising in the world will not hydrate or nourish your skin if you don't properly shed that dead surface layer (Don't worry - you have seven layers of skin in total)!

Microdermabrasion is the ultimate in exfoliation. It's the third most popular non-surgical treatment (behind Botox and laser hair removal) and is administered by dermatologists and beauticians. Performed with a machine that blasts the skin with tiny crystals (then sucks them up and rinses them away), it leaves skin revitalized and silky soft. Many women call it an addiction.

The procedure costs around $90 per 30 minute treatment with a set of six treatments recommended. Unlike scrubs that use walnut shell or seeds to scrub away dead cells, microdermabrasion works on a smaller, finer level by using glass or aluminium oxide crystals as the abrasive agent. Aluminium oxide, otherwise known as corundum, is a naturally occurring crystal that safely picks up and traps dead skin in its lattice-like structure. It's so good at exfoliating it's used to make sandpaper, so you could think of it as a 'cut & polish' for your face.

Here are two Do-It-Yourself (DIY) microdermabrasion treatments you can do in the convenience of your home, without having to drive anywhere, find parking spaces or pay per treatment! And you get to keep your beauty in your own hands. Your skin really will be smooth and you will love how your foundation just glides on afterwards. As you'll be exposing a new layer of skin, remember to follow with moisturiser, use a SPF 15+ product and avoid excessive sun exposure.

Baking Soda Paste: Baking soda is mild, safe and fine enough to polish skin on a 'micro' level. While it's hardly elegant, it can be used once a week (not recommended for daily use as it can upset the pH balance of the skin), costs almost nothing and you probably already have some in your kitchen! Mix up a paste in an eggcup, small bowl or the palm of your hand. Use one part baking soda to three parts water. Apply it to your face. Use circular motions with fingers to polish your skin for a minute or so. Rinse off and pat dry.

At-Home Microdermabrasion Set: With the popularity of this treatment, even some supermarket skin care brands now produce their own at-home microdermabrasion kits. Many consist of a brush and polishing cream while others include a hand-held, battery-powered polishing disc. Prestige brand Mary Kay Cosmetics produces a two-step set: a polishing cream that contains aluminium oxide crystals (Refine) and an antioxidant-packed serum to replenish, soothe and soften the skin (Replenish). Note: Step 1 is even easier when done in the shower.

The set costs $76 (New Zealand dollars) and gives you about 40 treatments - that's about 10 months worth if used once a week. Step 1: Dampen face and apply Refine. Avoiding eyes and mouth, use circular motions with your fingers to polish skin for two minutes. Rinse off and pat dry. 
Step 2: Squirt two pumps of Replenish onto fingertips and pat onto exfoliated skin.

This is exactly what I use. Last year my skin became beautifully reconditioned and balanced using Mary Kay products so I opened an account with them. They don't sell through retail stores and otherwise are only available through independent distributors.

 So get yourself an at-home microdermabrasion set or some baking soda paste and experience new, baby-soft skin. And while you enjoy the benefits of a 'professional' treatment at home, you'll be taking beauty back into your own hands.