Fall's Top Three Nail Hues!
by Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI artistic director

Vivid red and noticeable neutrals are what I suggest for this fall. Define the look of nails for fall and winter, shades that revive classic, iconic colors – from cool gray, khaki and chocolate to warm rose, peach and red. This season, red will appear as an accent color in clothing, home goods, beauty and accessories; with its richly-pigmented color. The neutral trend that started in 2011 will continue throughout 2012, but with deeper, more opulent hues like dark taupe and olive green khaki, for a striking contrast to past seasons’ barely-there nude tones. These three shades complement trends from the runway, and can be worn with delicate feminine pieces or more dramatic menswear touches. For a glamorous yet affordable look, these three lacquer colors will offer the perfect accessory for this winter. ♦

According to CARA Cosmetics there are three top reasons salons fail to a have a successful makeup department: 

• Many owners rely on new or inexperienced employees to make the makeup sales and services successful. 
• Inadequate compensation for makeup artist, lack of retail incentive. 
• Insufficient makeup artistry training of or makeup sales knowledge. ♦

Vanish Veins, Painlessly!
by Dr. Luis Navarro

Women are 10 times more likely to develop varicose and spider veins than men. The reason we develop veins is genetics, they are inherited from our parents and even grandparents. If you are born with this predisposition to develop unsightly veins they can appear as early as your teens and worsen as you age due to a variety of contributing factors. Women have many more accelerating factors than men, such as pregnancy, birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Other factors that plague both sexes are obesity, lack of exercise, weight fluctuation, constipation, prolonged periods of sitting or standing and the aging process.
Varicose veins are large, protruding and rope-like in nature and develop due to a weakening of vein valves and vein walls. Leg veins are fitted with one-way valves that assist in the pumping of blood back to the heart and lungs and thus preventing blood from flowing backwards. When a valve weakens or becomes defective, gravity forces the blood back down, which collects in the lower legs, causing the veins to bulge outward.
Spider veins are tiny dilated capillaries medically referred to as telangiectases, are blue, red or purplish in color and can crop up in clusters resembling a spider web. In addition to being unsightly and often embarrassing, varicose veins and spider veins can also cause discomfort, with symptoms such as, throbbing, heaviness, achiness and leg cramps.
Unsightly veins can appear on the legs, face, hands and or breasts. Once veins appear they will not disappear on their own you will need to seek treatment to alleviate the symptoms and vanish the veins.
Using the latest technologies and the most advanced therapies will achieve the best possible cosmetic results for your patients. You as a professional should refer your patients to a facility that offers all the modern forms of treatment, such as “painless” sclerotherapy, duplex-guided and foam sclerotherapy, TIGOS, laser therapy, EVLA, mini-phlebectomy, and ambulatory surgery. Which treatment or combination of treatments is best suited for a patient will depend on the type, size, location and depth of the vein problem. After a leg examination and non-invasive testing, such as doppler and if needed ultrasound, a proper diagnosis and treatment plan is developed. 

Sclerotherapy or “injection therapy” can successfully treat 90 percent of all varicose veins and nearly 100 percent of spider veins safely, effectively and painlessly − with excellent cosmetic results. 

Modern sclerotherapy is a spray of cold air temporarily numbs the area during injections. With the use of advancements in magnification, polarized light, transillumination and infrared light veins are now more visible under the skin, thus improving results and reducing treatment time. Sclerotherapy, or injection therapy, is the most common treatment for spider and varicose veins on the legs (facial, breast and hand veins may also be treated). Sclerotherapy consists of injecting a mild chemical solution into the problem vein, which causes the vein to close; the blood is then re-routed to a healthy vein. The body's natural healing process will absorb the closed vein restoring proper circulation leaving the patient’s legs free of unsightly and often painful varicose and spider veins.
Once treated, there are a few tips to help maintain healthy veins: Exercise regularly, monitor BCP and hormone intake, elevate legs, maintain a proper weight, eat a high fiber diet and wear compression stockings.
The treatment of veins is an intricate process and requires an experienced vein specialist. To find a vein specialist in your area, check the American College of Phlebology for a board certified specialist. To find out more about veins go to www.veintreatmentcenter.com. ♦ 

Top Tips to Treat and Prevent Acne During the Winter
by Dr. Tachmes

Many people are not aware, but the winter season is actually worse for acne. The constant exposure to drastic temperature changes, from cold outside to indoor heated environments, cause an excess of dead skin cells which clog pores. The myth is that most people believe only excess oil causes pimples in the summer months. However, winter is worse. If your skin becomes extremely dry and irritated from the cold weather your body will then go into repair mode causing the oil glands to go into overdrive resulting in the same outcome.

Recommended Regimen: If breakouts occur use a salicylic acid-based cleanser in the morning and evening (over cleansing will strip your skin of its protective layer and cause additional irritation and dryness) to minimize oil production and impurities and a benzyl peroxide during the day to kill bacteria.

Moisturize: Use a non-clogging oil-based moisturizer during the colder months. Intense indoor heat and cold temperatures can easily cause surface dryness and damage which prevents your skin from holding in water. A great hydrating agent such as hyaluronic acid will help seal in water within the underlying layers. This simple step will help to restore the moisture back into the epidermis allowing your skin to hold water within while strengthening your skins natural defense system.

Hydration: Not everyone drinks as much fluid as they should, especially during the winter months. Normally dehydrated, dry skin starts from within, so you must drink a sufficient amount of water daily. This keeps your body and skin hydrated from the inside-out avoiding cellular breakdown, pre-mature aging and
extreme dryness.

Exfoliation: Whether it is hot or cold, not exfoliating regularly can increase cellular build up and clog pores. Sloughing off dead skin cells two to three times a week will help keep your skin functioning properly minimizing vulnerability to extreme temperature changes. ♦

The Professional Beauty Association's Three Main Tracking Indices for the Salon and Spa Industry Experience Declines from Record Highs in Second Quarter 2011

The Professional Beauty Association's (PBA) three main tracking indices for the salon/spa industry which include the Salon & Spa Performance Index (SSPI), Current Situation Index and Expectations Index, experienced declines from their record highs in the first quarter of 2011 and year-over-year results. The SSPI, which is the main index of the three, is a quarterly composite index that tracks the health and outlook of the U.S. salon/spa industry. The SSPI declined 1% from the first quarter of 2011 to stand at 103 in the second quarter. This is also a .6% decline from year-over-year results compared to the second quarter of 2010. Combined with quarterly drops in the Current Situation Index and Expectations Index of 1% and .9% respectively, these results are discouraging considering the steady gains all three indices had been making in prior quarters. All indices remain above a base level measurement of 100, which is still positive for the industry as a whole.
The Current Situation Index, which measures current trends in five industry indicators (service sales, retail sales, customer traffic, employees/hours and capital expenditures), fell to 101.5 in the second quarter – down 1% from first quarter 2011 and .7% from second quarter 2010. Despite the decline, the Current Situation Index remained above 100 for the sixth consecutive quarter, which represents expansion in the current situation indicators. Sales and customer traffic levels remained positive overall in the second quarter and salon/spa owners reported a net increase in staffing levels.
The Expectations Index, which measures salon/spa owners' six-month outlook on five industry indicators (service sales, retail sales, employees and hours, capital expenditures and business conditions) has remained relatively unchanged for the past year, fell to 104.4% – down .9% from first quarter 2011 and .6% from second quarter 2010. Along with the Current Situation Index, the Expectations Index remains above a base level of 100, which indicates expansion and an overall positive viewpoint. Salon/spa owners were most optimistic about stronger service sales in the coming months, but felt less favorably towards retail sales, capital expenditures, and the direction of the overall economy. Fifty-two percent of salon/spa owners expect to increase staffing levels in the coming months, a positive for the broader labor market in the U.S.
The full SSPI report and the "Salon & Spa Tracking Survey" can be found at www.probeauty.org/research. ♦

Rose Scented Cleaner

Cleaning countertops and sinks will be downright enticing with this lovely blend. Baking soda raises the pH of the cleanser and can help prevent corrosion of faucets.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 tbsp. salt
• ¼ cup rose petals

Directions: Pulverize the ingredients together in a blender. Sprinkle on area to be scoured, wet slightly, and scrub.

Important: Whenever you create a homemade cleaning product, you should test it in an inconspicuous spot before using it, to make sure it will not stain, fade or otherwise affect your carpet, upholstery, woodwork, wallpaper, et cetera. ♦

Copyright© Frontier Natural Products Co-op

Carrot and Its Benefits for Skin Care

Carrots have been around the Middle East and throughout Europe for centuries. It is believed that the wild carrot originated in Afghanistan and was small, tough and pale-fleshed. The familiar edible root, which is unmistakably orange, was actually developed by the Dutch during the 17th century.
Chinese medical practitioners recommend eating carrots to give your liver more energy, and research has also shown that this vegetable has a protective effect against ultraviolet light (in other words they will help you look younger, longer).

Carrot Oil
The Greeks and the Romans were also well aware of the medicinal properties of carrot… or more specifically the oil from carrots. Early alchemists identified the benefits of the roots oil while using a mixture of carrot seed oil, bergamot and lemon oil to treat a variety of skin and stomach disorders. Through a process of steam distillation, carrot oil is harvested and is, even to this day, one of the most underrated essential oils in aromatherapy. 
This powerful detoxifier and skin rejuvenator, when applied to skin stimulates the epidermal cells – helping to regulate wrinkles. It strengthens the mucous membranes, and can help alleviate arthritis, gout, rheumatism and edema symptoms. In addition, its ability to revitalize the skin and its ability to alleviate skin problems like acne, eczema, rashes, psoriasis, ulcers, dermatitis, weeping sores and boils have been well documented.
Its therapeutic properties are astounding; it is an antiseptic, diuretic, carminative, depurative, hepatic, stimulant, vermifuge, tonic – just to name a few – and it is an essential ingredient in vapor therapy, which boosts the respiratory system. When carrot oil is massaged into the skin or diluted in a bath it relieves muscle pain and increases the production of red blood cells. When blended with bergamot, juniper, lavender, lemon, lime, cedarwood, geranium and other citrus and spicy oils the results range from complete body detoxification to relieving fluid retention, which helps anorexia sufferers.

Carrot Juice

Drinking carrot juice has both internal and external benefits. Why? Simply put… its antioxidant and vitamin content.
Externally, the benefits provided from the vitamin A and C found in carrot juice are extremely healthy for skin. A single carrot can supply the body’s vitamin A needs for the whole day. Vitamin A is essential for body tissue growth; it provides antioxidant benefits, attacking free radicals, and acts as a natural sun block and help in healing sunburns. The benefits of vitamin C help promote skin elasticity, with collagen production. It helps improve uneven skin tone, prevents scars, revitalizes skin, helps get rid of blackheads, provides acne relief, has anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes smooth, soft and supple skin.
Internally, drinking carrot juice helps remove indigestible fiber. The nutrients found in carrot juice are available to the body in much larger quantities than if the carrot was eaten whole. This is because many of the nutrients are trapped in the fiber, and while fiber aids digestion, some part of the fiber is indigestible. Thus, you do not get the benefits of the nutrients that are trapped in the indigestible fiber.With its detoxifying, rejuvenating, and therapeutic properties it is no wonder that although it was never touted as the “Fountain of Youth,” the Romans and Greeks thought it was, and that thought continues to live on in the minds of people around the world.

*Note: eating an excessive amount of carrots may cause the skin to yellow temporarily (this is considered harmless, just reduce your intake). Carrot seeds are also a nerve tonic and will induce abortion. So, reduce the amount or avoid it during pregnancy. ♦