Changing Your Skin & Hair Regiments
by Sandra Semaan, Beauty Editor
You live on the East coast, so there is no doubt that extreme cold and dry air are part of your life for four to five months. And on the other end of the spectrum, heat and humidity are also part of your life for four to five months out of the year. Extreme changes in temperature mean different things for your skin. Depending on your skin type, it might mean that you need to consider how you take care of your skin from season to season. And since your scalp is just an extension of your face, you also need to consider how you treat your hair from season to season.

First, consider your skin type. In today's more complex and precise aesthetics environment, there are five categories of skin: normal, combination, dry/dehydrated, oily/problem, and sensitive. Next, consider whether or not you have a skin condition. Everyone has a skin type, not everyone has a skin condition. These can include dehydration, dryness, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, wrinkles, and acne.

A simple example is this. In the winter, your skin might experience flakiness, tightness, redness and irritation as symptoms of the dry, cold climate. You might use a cream cleanser, and a heavier moisturizer along with a thicker sunblock. In the summer, you might have an oily t-zone, but you might still have flakiness, and some tightness. So you might use a glycolic cleanser, a water-based moisturizer, a light sunblock, and perhaps some redness relief. This doesn't mean that in the winter you had dry skin and in the summer you have oily skin. Skin type doesn't change. It means that now you need to adjust your regiment to suit the changes in climate.

The bottom line is, always consider that skin and hair care needs change as the climate changes. So check with your esthetician to determine your skin type and condition if applicable. Then get on the appropriate skin and hair care routines that best suit your needs.

To find an esthetician in your area, go to www.velvetbell.com and enter your zip code on the right side of the page under "Find a business in our network." This will take you to your metro city page. From there, you can search for businesses or employees, and select "Facials" in the "-- Select a Spa & Medspa Service." You can also narrow your search by selecting your neighborhood or by entering a mile radius from your zip code.

back to top

Leaving Nail Color on Too Long
Sandal season is over, and so is the attention to your toes. If you are guilty of leaving end of summer nail color on until spring, you may be damaging your nails. Leaving nail color on too long can dehydrate your nails. In addition, the chipping of color may remove a layer of your nail. Next spring, you will end up with nail discoloration and ridging. Nail polish should not stay on longer than a week, at which time you can remove it and re-polish. If you don't want to maintain your toes over the winter, visit a DC, Baltimore, or Philadelphia area nail salon for a pre-winter pedicure and ask for low-maintenance options for winter.

back to top

Velvetbell.com at Shecky's Girls Night Out
Velvetbell.com attended the popular Girls Night Out events in Philadelphia and Washington put on by Shecky's of New York, where thousands of women shop local boutiques and walk away with freebies and--often times--a buzz. Lucky attendees who approached the Velvetbell.com booth received a free chair massage by our spectacular mobile massage business (DC event only), Relaxation-on-Site, as well as a $10 gift card to use at any Velvetbell.com participating businesses.

If you were one of those lucky attendees, and haven't cashed in your gift card yet, click here to view participating businesses. And, make note of a few businesses who will give you more for your money:

• Millennium Medical Spa in Chevy Chase, MD, will treat your $10 gift card as a $50 gift card toward any service of $150 or more.
• Lisa Solomon Photography, a fabulous pet photographer in Silver Spring, MD, will turn your $10 gift card into a $100 gift card for first-time customers.
• WhiteSmile LLC, which performs one-hour zoom teeth whitening, will give you $25 off your next service when you present your $10 gift card. This mobile business works with DC metro area spas and can arrange a location that is convenient for you.

With the holidays approaching, tell your boss (unless you are the boss) that even a 10-minute massage can help reduce stress that everyone faces around the holidays. If you are in the DC metro area, what a nice treat it would be to bring in Phronie Jackson and her staff at Relaxation-on-Site to de-stress the staff and make everyone more productive. In addition to massage, they do facials, reflexology, manicures/pedicures, and fitness. Relaxation-on-Site (202) 832-7070.

back to top

Featured Business
Check out Toka Salon in Georgetown for an amazing haircut by Nuri Yurt or anyone else on his staff. Mr. Yurt is the stylist to our own First Lady Laura Bush. But, if you think his style is conservative, think again. He knows the latest trends in hair and recommends the perfect cut to suit your personal style, hair type, lifestyle, and face shape. Even if you don't see him, he offers advice to his staff, who realizes his strengths in the industry. Plus, this group --- although sophisticated and professional --- are fun, friendly, and very accommodating. He also has a location in DC's Penn Quarter and coming soon to Manhattan, NY. 3251 Prospect Street, Suites 19 & 20, Washington, DC; (202) 333-5133.

back to top

Refer Friends - Win an iPod
Enter your name in a drawing for a hot pink iPod shuffle. All you have to do to enter is refer 5 friends. For every 5 unique friends you enter, you will have another entry into the drawing. Entries are unlimited. The drawing will take place on December 20. Enter today!

back to top

In This Issue

Changing Regiments

Toenail Tips

Girls Night Out

Featured Business

Win an iPod