September 1st, 2011
Come on. It is not the first day of September. Where, oh where did our summer go?
The kiddos start school again in one week, and though our fair southern coastal cities haven’t seen the blazing heat of summers past, I for one have thoroughly enjoyed (relished, even?) the unusually soft and mild days we’ve had this season. What could be better than an overcast morning burning off into a gorgeous sunny afternoon with a perfect breeze coming off the ocean? Not much. And though we may be hit as we usually are with the hot and dry spells that can describe much of September and October, fall is definitely just around the corner.
What do you do as summer is winding down and fall gearing up? For me it is usually a time to exfoliate and moisturize like crazy, as skin can be worn out from sun and activity, and winter dryness is on its way. I often get spontaneous and chop my hair off to get it healthy and change things up a bit. My pedicure color choices get more earthy. I welcome scarves back in to my life and pull out my beloved hats. And this year I have a very sweet vintage leather jacket someone picked up for me in a thrift shop that I am dying to wear. Come on cold weather!
Things around 2nd Street Beauty are changing too. It has been an amazing summer and there have been such pretty things to choose from in all of our stores. But let me tell you, beauties, the fall and winter purchases have been under way for a while now, and with buying trips near and far taking place, you are not going to want to pass up what is coming to 2nd Street Beauty in the weeks and months to come. Not only do we have the usual suspects we are known for - hats and bags and jewelry (wow, the jewelry coming in, gorgeous!) and scarves and dozens of delightful in-betweens to brighten your wardrobe and your day - but we have welcomed some incredible lines since our last blog. It is so much fun to see all the new items, witness the new results, and experience that ‘what’s the new candy at the candy store?’ feeling that comes with bringing in fabulous new products.
Caudalie, Clarins and Avene joined our arsenol of not-to-be-beat French skincare, and the lines are beautifully crafted, scientifically researched and based in all the healing properties nature has to offer. From the antioxidant power of grapes to the rejuvenating properites of thermal spring water, these lines treat your delicate skin and the many issues we face as we continue to tackle the effects aging and environmental damage have on our skin.
Nail polish is BIG this year, with OPI’s coveted Shatter topping everyone’s list of must-haves. Add to that the introduction of nail lacquers by Deborah Lippmann and Butter London and there are simply too many exquisite polish colors to choose from. You’ve got to come in and see these shades up close - you’ll want a handful!
Finally, we are so excited to have the flirty and fabulous Stila makeup line as part of our cosmetic repertoire. The colors, the textures, the innovative lines to make you beautiful, and the FUN of it…their packaging is icing on the cake!
So come on in! Pick up a new fall accessory or a handful of new makeup in seasonal colors or something to make you feel wonderful while welcoming the new season. Try it, you’ll feel beautiful!
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June 23rd, 2011
What’s new for summer? Plenty!
Here at 2nd Street Beauty, the same gorgeous colors and incredible accessories that Spring brought with her are still with us, as we welcome new summer products too. We have scarves and hats in vibrant, fresh hues, and hair accessories ranging from incredible beaded & bejeweled hair bands and fun, forties styles headbands, to flower barrettes to clip behind an ear or in to an up-do for a bit of splash and color.
Feathers are huge this season and we have the most beautiful hanging feather earrings at great prices. Not to mention delicate braided cable bracelets to stack on your wrist in different colors or wear alone to complement a sheer summer outfit.
And for the real ‘news’ - we are so delighted to welcome the French skin care lines Caudalie and Clarins to our Belmont Shore and Seal Beach Stores. Clarins, started in 1954, has always believed in plant-derived skin care and from the start chose to incorporate plant extracts in the formulas of every skincare and body care product, even when botanical ingredients were considered unfashionable. The Caudalie line features the patented anti-oxidant Polyphenols, as well as firming Resveratrol, and Viniferine to brighten the skin. Come try them both - for now is a perfect time to get your skin prepped and plumped before the really hot months of summer hit!
We are also thrilled to now carry Stila Cosmetics! With their innovative formulas, sleek & flirty packaging, and fashion-forward colors, this darling of the makeup industry is an amazing addition to our stores in Belmont Shore, Los Altos and Seal Beach. Stila’s mission is to enhance what is already unique and beautiful in each woman, so come in, see what we have and what works for you! A great place to start is their lip and cheek stain, an anti-oxidant packed makeup that works with your own pH levels to give you color that’s all your own.
Now on to a few important summer-specific mentionables!
Everyone is CRAZY about OPI shatter nail polish! Buy three polishes with us and get a shatter for free. While supplies last
For glowing summer skin without damage, 2nd Street Beauty carries Tan Towels, as well as St. Tropez, a favorite self-tanner on Dancing with the Stars!
Ahava - the skin care line built around minerals from the Dead Sea - has a whole new look! Wonderful line, wonderful fresh packaging!
Through June 30th, spend $50 at 2nd Street Beauty, receive a Voluspa candle for FREE. While Supplies last.
During summer, bring any empty beauty care bottle to one of stores to recycle, and get $1 off a bottle purchase at 2nd Street Beauty. $1 off per bottle maximum.
And finally, for a bit of summer repair work, our Long Beach and Seal Beach stores have two new additions:
Tandazap - an amazing acne-fighting tool about the size of a small flashlight – uses a powerful blue light to destroy acne-causing bacteria. Sonic vibration and gentle warming help open pores so bacteria have no where to hide. There is no pain, no irritation and no dryness, and pimples are said to disappear within 24 hours! This is great for teens, as well as those of us who are a bit older and experiencing hormone-related break outs. And at $49, clear skin is incredibly affordable!
Bosley Professional Strength Hair Regrowth System has separate kits for men and women. Specially formulated to nourish and invigorate the hair and scalp, their 5-step Professional Strength products include Hair Regrowth Formula Treatment, a Minoxidil topical approved by the FDA to help stop hair loss and re-grow hair.
So beauties, as you can see, there is much to explore at 2nd Street Beauty in the coming months. We look forward to seeing you and sharing all we have for you that is new. Happy Summer!
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June 9th, 2011
 By Leilah Mundt Business Development Coordinator & Green Beauty Advisor at jane iredale
So many of us struggle with decisions in makeup; what colors should I wear, can I still wear shimmer, and how much is too much…or how little is too little? But more than anything else, the question “what foundation should I wear” comes up time and time again in our lives. And, oh, when you find your perfect match! That glorious product that smoothes beautifully over your face, hides your most hated imperfections and gives you celebrity-like confidence. And then the agony; the honeymoon is over and those blemishes (or wrinkles, or dry patches, or clogged pores) are back, and this most cherished of all products gets the ol’ heave ho and ends up in your beauty graveyard - that hidden drawer or box in your room filled with blue mascara and broken dreams.
Great news, beauties! You now live in the age of minerals; beautiful little do-gooder rocks that look fantastic and nourish your precious skin. Most of what you have been wearing on your face since your first trip to the makeup counter has been a chemical cocktail that wreaks havoc on your poor skin. Not only are minerals anti-inflammatory and antibacterial on their own, jane iredale has combined them with pharmaceutical grade skincare ingredients so that they tackle the scariest of skin conditions, including acne, aging and sun damage. And the synthetic chemicals are nowhere in sight.
Best of all, your perfect color and formula is waiting for you at 2nd Street Beauty and can be matched to you in less than five minutes. Just pop into a store and have one of the experts speed match you to your new “can’t live without it” foundation, the correct brush to apply it with, and the spritz to lock it on all day. Experience the power of these three items together and, for a limited time, receive a FREE Magic Mitt ($14.99 value) when you take all three home.
Go ahead, fall in love with jane iredale minerals. It will be the most beautiful decision you make for your face.
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March 25th, 2011
Where did winter go (not that we’re complaining)?! And what exactly were we all doing when it went? Granted the winds, downpours and icy temperatures of the past few days and nights feel like winter, but as of this week, Spring has officially arrived. This may not be our last winter blast, but it is time to start thinking about color, warmer days, and pedicures!
True to seasonal form, we at 2nd Street Beauty have outdone ourselves with Spring merchandise! You should see the beautiful jewelry coming through corporate before heading to the stores, and our scarves and hats and Spring makeup collections are drenched in color! Corals and citrus-y lemons and limes, hot pinks and splashy reds.
Smashbox’s In Bloom makeup collection is a perfect example of what is fresh and invigorating about this Spring’s lighter fare. Fuschias, pinks and oranges reflect what is fashionably current - gorgeous, bold hues coupled with a vintage seventies sensibility seen in platform shoes, accessories, and blouse and dress silhouettes. This is the delicate, pretty side of bohemian - think Chloe! - that was embraced by 1970’s fashion icons. Coupled with this season’s lively color trends, the look is fun and modern.
And it is here! 2nd Street Beauty has delicate scarves in popsicle colors, wide-brimmed hats to wear on the beach or pair with a peasant blouse or sundress. Pendant necklaces that shimmer with delicate beads and earth-toned stones. Makeup to embellish a beginning sun tan or make the most of your still winter-pale skin with delicate palettes in pinks and oranges. And as always, the best in skin care and hair care.
So get your Spring fling going and visit us in store - but don’t dally! What we have is going fast as the warmer temperatures approach! And remember it’s the time of year when all of us at 2nd Street Beauty go the extra mile to thank our new and existing customers! Our long-awaited and beloved Anniversary Sale begins March 24th (that’s right now, girls!!!), and Beauty Day is just around the corner with all kinds of customer-love and incentives for you to look forward to. More on all of that later.
Happy Spring, beauties!
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January 27th, 2011
 2nd Street Beauty is honored and excited to be teaming with Dermalogica in support of FITE - a global empowerment platform powered by Kiva.org, the nonprofit leader in microfinance - that is designed to foster Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship for women in the developing world. FITE launched on January 6, 2011, and is already garnering huge attention! Learn more about them at www.joinfite.org.
Dermalogica, the world’s preeminent professional skin care brand, is the founding partner for FITE, and has funded the research and development to make FITE possible. From supporting creation of the platform, to being the first partner to create a retail connection with its FITE products, to rallying its tribe of over 100,000 successful women entrepreneurs worldwide to join FITE, Dermalogica has helped make the vision of FITE a reality.
FITE’s mission is to provide women entrepreneurs access to small loans that will help them start or grow a business, and to help educate the public at large about the benefits of empowering women entrepreneurs so that they “can hold up their half of the sky.” In just the first 2 years, FITE aims to help at least 25,000 women in this capacity. FITE is working to recruit partners who are invested in creating change for women and communities around the globe.
To highlight and support this important organization and the work they are doing, 2nd Street Beauty and Dermalogica are hosting an evening of skin care, networking and community at 2nd Street Beauty’s Belmont Shore store. There will be complimentary mini facials and skin scans on a first come, first serve basis, appetizers, attendance gifts and the chance to win a $300 Dermalogica gift basket! It will also be a wonderful time to connect with women in this community, and learn about what FITE and some other local organizations are doing on behalf of women. Please consider joining us for this fun and informative event.
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December 16th, 2010
submitted by Brooke Axup
Introducing Whish! A new, uniquely healthy line of bath and  body products that is free of all sulfates, parabens, DEA, TEA, and petrochemicals: very natural and organic. Any of these products would be great gifts as a set of three or four, or as fun little additives to a previous purchase. Let me tell you a little bit about each item!
To start out, Whish has centered the line on three clean and classic scents: Pomegranate, Lemongrass, and Lavender. Two items are available in all three scents. The first, a moisturizing body butter that has the consistency of a thicker lotion, but is not heavy enough to leave a greasy residue on the skin. The second is a sulfate-free body wash that can double as a fragrant bubble bath that will leave your skin film-free, and hydrated!
Pomegranate and Lemongrass star as the leading scents for the next three items in the Whish line. The Sugar Scrub consists of very fine granules of sugar, which gently exfoliate and moisturize. The luxurious Shave Cream is not a high foaming gel, but a rich cream that coats the skin, and instantly moisturizes to reduce the risk of razor irritation. To follow the shave, Whish has created the coolest after shave product called Hair Inhibiting Gel. The thin gel is not only great for soothing skin after a day in the sun, but is an amazing after shave that slows the growth of hair over time! This product alone sounds like a Whish come true!
The Flawless Ingrown Hair Serum is sure to become a crowd pleaser. Without any distinct or overbearing scent, this moisturizing serum helps decrease the risk of ingrown hairs for all areas of the body.
If you are in need of something a bit smaller in size, but big on elegance, one of our favorite soap makers, Mor, has expanded their luxurious soap line to include sophisticated scents in various forms. With five delicious scents - Marshmallow, Cassis Noir, Snow Gardenia, Lychee Flower, and Belladonna - you have the choice of lip-gloss, parfume oil, body butter, soapette, or hand cream. Belladonna, Cassis Noir, and Lychee Flower come in a cute little gift tin filled with a soapette and hand cream as well. With that kind of selection, finding the perfect gift for even the pickiest person is a synch!
Beautifully-packaged Mor Soaps!
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December 9th, 2010
My Five Favorite Masks!
With the winter weather constantly taking a toll on our bodies, it is important that we are doing our part to take care of our skin! In addition to following a daily skin care regimen, we should be masking at least once a week. Here are my top five favorite masks - one perfect for every skin type!
Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque
This mask is great for all skin types, including those with sensitive or sensitized skin. The mask is packed with vitamins A, C, E, F, and B5, which help reduce inflammation and prevent aging. This mask leaves your face glowing and hydrated and is a perfect winter treat.
Bioelements Gel Therapy
This is my favorite mask for dry, dehydrated skin. If your skin is dry and flaking due to winter wind or over-drying acne products, this mask will leave your skin hydrated in just 10 minutes. The gel formula leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed without any extra oil.
Murad Vitamin C Infusion Home Facial Kit
 Has the sun caused environmental damage on your skin? Do you have sun spots and aging? Well, here is your skin remedy! This at home facial kit comes with four treatments packed with Vitamin C to help stop discoloration. Using this treatment helps speed up cell turn-over for brighter and more youthful looking skin.
DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask
Do you have oily skin even in winter? This clay mask is perfect for absorbing oil and reducing blemishes. For skin that is not oily but still breaks out, this mask works great as a spot treatment for the face, chest, and back!
Bioelements Kerafole
If you want a mask that you can feel working, try Kerafole! This mask exfoliates and purifies, leaving your skin brighter, smoother, and ready to absorb your skin care products. Try using seven days straight for a complete skin “purge” for healthier looking skin!
Don’t forget to mention this blog to me for $15 off your next facial service for the month of December! Come visit me at our Bixby location for facials, waxing or make-up application. Treat yourself this winter or add one of these masks to your Christmas wish list!
Happy Holidays,
Annesa
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November 30th, 2010
Hello Beauties!
The cold weather is finally here, and we all know the beating our hair takes during the winter. Now is the time to take precautionary measures! With so much amazing technology available now a days, worrying about damaging your gorgeous locks with heat styling is no longer needed. We support some great companies that are creating styling tools specifically geared toward preventing any further damage to the hair.
BioIonic has gone above and beyond the call by infusing the benefits of minerals into their unique blow dryers. By allowing hot air to pass by the mineral beads, negatively charged ions are transferred to the hair, smoothing the shaft, and leaving your hair conditioned, shiny, and frizz-free.
Enzo Milano is marketing the clip-less curling iron that gives hair that effortless beach-wave look everyone is craving. Unlike your typical curling iron, the Enzo iron’s barrel is non-stick and heats consistently from tip to base, providing even heat distribution to the hair and less damage to those fragile ends.
GHD is our go-to styler for every occasion. As a straightening iron, it does wonders for the hair. With a microchip inside the heating plates, the GHD measures the porosity of the hair passing between the plates, and automatically heats to the highest temperature needed to achieve the desired result without frying the hair. Whether you want to straighten, curl, wave, or just add a little body to your hair, this styler does it all.
These products are some of our absolute favorites, so come on down and let us show you how great they really are! Any of them would be a great gift for that teenage daughter or hard working Mom who deserves a new favorite of her own! Have additional questions? Don’t be shy! We have much more information to share on all of these products and will gladly demonstrate how they work!
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November 12th, 2010
Make up your mind, Mother Nature! Two weeks ago I was dragging my recently-retired fans out of the garage to cool down my over heated house, and late last night I was laying under the heater in winter pajamas trying to see if the pilot light was still lit. With my frozen breath hovering around me and my kiddo shivering.
I don’t know about you, but this bouncing between extreme highs and lows in temperature is wreaking havoc on my skin, my nails, and my lips. Yes, my lips, and the lips of my friends! So we all thought it a good idea over here at 2nd Street Beauty to throw some magic pucker potions and chapped-lip relievers your way.
 First off, Epicuren’s Miracle Lips. Known as an Extreme Lip Treatment for cold sores and cracked lips, this salve contains organic, all natural butters, vitamins, enzymes & peptides to relieve even the most extreme dryness. Antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties help with cold sores & inflammation, and Brazilian propolis & tea tree oil soften & protect.
Dermalogica’s Climate Control Lip Treatment is also a perfect remedy to the winter dry-out. Ideal for air travel and outdoor sports, their formula is wax-free, with ingredients to enhance your lips natural lipid barrier, keeping environmental and weather-related assaults at a low.
 For a sweet, invigorating balm, Murad makes an energizing pomegranate lip protector with a built-in SPF15. Primary benefits include a mild exfoliant which helps to restore suppleness and infuse lips with moisture. Blocks broad spectrum rays, ensuring future protection.
Finally, one of our biggest best sellers, Smith’s Rosebud Salve. This cult-favorite, multi-purpose lip balm soothes dry lips, calms and heals irritation, and soothes the sting of minor burns. Try dabbing on dry elbows or knees to condition, and relieve dryness. For you moms with little ones, this is also an excellent remedy in treating diaper rash.
 So come in before the winter dryness really sets in, and find a new favorite to keep those lips healthy and hydrated. We’re sure your sweetheart and loved ones will thank you!
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September 14th, 2010
Beauties!  It is the middle of September! Summer has fled our fair city and already at night there is a nip of cold in the air. Last week I wore my favorite boots - deelish! - and the Big Closet Switch-Out is coming, I can feel it. Summer wear goes in boxes that get stored in the coat closet (I put stashes of lavender from my cousin’s Texas lavender farm in the boxes to keep clothes fragrant while stored away), and winter coats and sweaters get shaken and hung outside for a day before going in the closet.
What are your end of Summer/beginning of Fall rituals? Here at 2nd Street Beauty, you can already see the shift in our stores! Deep, rich autumn colors have replaced the sunny palette of summer must-haves, and accesories reflect cooler temperatures and the anticipation of holidays just around the corner.
 Must-sees! Gorgeous fall scarves, and hats; think fedora, newsboy and felt! Hair accessories that are incredible…headbands embellished with feathers, fabric flowers and gemstones. Clip-on flowers for hair and clothing! Metallic leather and bejeweled bracelets and cuffs - very big this season. Sequined scarves and clutch bags.
 One of my favorites, oversized stretch rings adorned with stones and dangly, dressy earrings. La Vie Jewelry always delights us with the most gorgeous pieces, and we have the latest and greatest jewelry arriving in October just in time for the holidays! Also in-store, Fall colors in both makeup and nail polish…time to put away the hot pink!
Visit one of our stores for a look at all that’s new! We bet you’ll find something cozy or sparkly you won’t be able to resist.
Happy Fall!
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