Hello, September!

Well, our vacation has started out with a hurricane, so that has been fun! My Mom used to tell me what they were like in Okinawa, Japan. Listening to the wind howling, trying to walk up the stairs as the wind is trying to send you in the opposite direction, or trying to open a door that gets sucked in from the wind is a whole new experience.  

This month I have been listening to a lot of historical fictions from India: 

The Rebel Queen (Rani Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi) by Michelle Moran The Rani was one of the leaders to rise up against the British in the 1850s. She had women soldiers for guards and may have trained other women to fight. She was trained by her father to fight, ride as well as to read and write. She was a woman before her time. I first learned about the Rani in Varanasi, her birthplace, while visiting 6 years ago this month! We also saw a statue of her in Agra near The Taj Mahal. I wish I had known that her palace was turned into a museum, we would have visited it. How crazy the time goes by! I have also watched the movies Manikarnika - The Queen Of Jhansi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFbDMHmk5pg and The Warrior Queen of Jhansi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei9IkGdcmPg. 

The Taj Mahal Trilogy by Indu Sundaresan about the Mughal Empire and starts with The Twentieth Wife about Mehrunnisa (later named Nur Jahan) and Prince Salim (later becomes Emperor Jahangir). Nur Jahan is believed to have been in charge of the Empire during the 1600s and was the 20th, the last and the most beloved wife of Emperor Jahangir. Although you may not know her, you will know of Emperor Jahangir's son, Shah Jahan who was the mastermind of the Taj Mahal. Of course I visited The Taj Mahal as no trip to India would be complete without this. 

I also listened to a 2 Part Series from Alka Joshi - The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur. I was also in Jaipur on our way back from Jaisalmer. It has been very interesting to listen to books that are from an area that I have visited. It gives a new feel to the stories. 

This all sort of goes along with my new look at the shop.  I was bored with my room and needed a change. I love all the bright colors, look and feel of India. I was really excited to visit the Ranthambore Tiger Preserve. I love big cats and really wanted to see a free tiger in her own habitat. Our trek through the jungle was about to end when a beautiful tigress just meandered out of the jungle ignoring the 7 or so jeeps full of people trying to get a glimpse of her Majesty. She took her time and made her way to the middle of the road where she proceeded to lay down, wash her face, stretch a little, pose for pictures before rising and meandering back into the jungle. It was a wonderful experience. 

Once in a therapy session, I was asked what type of animal I resonated with and my first answer was a wolf, which I still love. My therapist was like, I was hoping for something like a soft, cuddly kitten, something with more feminine energy. A kitten didn’t work for me but big cats did. Check out an old story I wrote thanks to the help of my friend Heather Marshall. She is a brilliant writer, teacher, bagpipe player, drummer, and yogi. https://www.raspberrymoonst.com/my-forgiveness-through-writing-assignment/

These things are what lead to the new design - I hope you will feel at home, surrounded by soft colors and the tigress protecting us from the outside world, even if only for a little while. 

 Huge thanks to Esme Carter with Carter Color Company (https://cartercolor.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/cartercolorcompany) for helping me pick all the right pieces. I go all the way to Clemson for paint because she is that good! I have such eclectic tastes so I end up with way too many options. Esme helps keep me on track and always gets what I am talking about. We have a little more to do and then I will post the final look.


Of course as always thank you to Amor, for his help and get it done attitude on helping me create the new feel to my home away from home. I was able to get the bulk of it finished in 1 weekend and need 1 more weekend to finish the last piece of the makeover. He never complains and makes the project go by much quicker and more efficiently. I get so distracted but he helps keep me focused on the project at hand not the 5 other ones I have thought of while we were painting. LOL

Until we connect... create a beautiful day!

Nicole

Hey Honey!

This month's skin savvy tip comes from India. Honey is used a lot by Indian women to add moisture and maintain that healthy glow.

Here's an at-home facial treatment you can use to add a little sweetness to your life!

Benefits of Honey: 

• it is a humectant, which means it will attract and keep moisture inside your skin
• It has anti-oxidant properties which play an important role in protecting your skin against damage from UV (ultra violet) sun light
• It is effective in treating wounds – it accelerates healing, reduces redness and inflammation and can help to treat bacterial infections
• It may also be effective in helping with eye infections/conjunctivitis – reducing discharge and swelling and helps speed up the healing process 
• It is a great alternative for healing minor burns

Facial Mask Recipes By Skin Type:
 

For Sensitive Skin

• 1 tsp Aloe
• 2 tsp Honey

For Dry Skin

• 2 tsp Honey
• 2 tsp Yogurt
• 2 tsp Avocado

Skin Brightener and Hydrator

• 1 Tbsp of Chickpea Flour
• 1 tsp of Tumeric
• 2 Tbsp of Milk or Yogurt (optional) (if using powdered milk use about 1 tsp, add enough water or rosewater to make a lovely paste)
• 1-2 tsp Honey

Directions

Simply blend all ingredients well by hand or you can even use a small food processor. If they are the consistency of yogurt they will spread well. 

Tip: You can place the bowl of ingredients in another bowl of hot water (think like a double boiler) to warm it so it spreads easier!

Apply with a facial brush or your fingers. 

Relax for 15 minutes.

Rinse and apply your serums and creams.

Enjoy your beautiful skin!

 

September's FACIAL OF THE MONTH:

Honey Crisp Facial Treatment!

Product of the Month: SKIN SCRIPT BETA-CAROTENE/PAPAIN RENEWAL SERUM

This mild exfoliation method is perfect for all skin types and safe even for sensitive skin and pregnant/lactating women.

The Skin Script Beta-Carotene/Papain Renewal Serum offers beta carotene (a natural Vitamin A) and papain (an enzyme from papaya) that work in a synergy to enhance cellular renewal and assist with collagen stimulation to reduce the appearance of wrinkle depth.
 

Benefits:

• Improves skin barrier integrity by balancing surface lipids
• Exfoliates to minimize acne and/or impacted pores
• Exfoliates to lessen the appearance of visible wrinkles
• Provides anti-inflammatory-like benefits

Apply nightly after cleansing on face, neck and chest. Apply moisturizer if needed. Reduce usage if flaking occurs.

Active Ingredients:

• Olivem® (Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate) is a combination of fatty acids that restores and maintains the integrity of the skin barrier.
• Beta-Carotene (D) is an orange pigment found in many plants. It is a very stable antioxidant and is a precursor to
• Vitamin A. Do not consider beta-carotene to be a “less than” effective ingredient; in addition to vitamin A synthesis for cell protection from lipid peroxidation, beta-carotene has photo-protective properties.
• X-pressin™ (Water, Papain/Carbomer Copolymer, 1,2 Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin) 1% is Papain, an enzyme derived from papayas. It digests keratin proteins to help accelerate exfoliation leaving the skin softer and smoother. It is an antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory.
• Rosmarinyl Glucoside soothes inflammation and prevents degradation of extra cellular matrix.
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice provides pain relieving properties to reduce discomfort associated with acne. It heals, provides hydration and UV absorption protection, and reduces redness.
• Allantoin improves moisture retention, soothes and normalizes the skin, stimulates tissue growth, and provides anti-inflammatory-like benefits.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Olivate, Beta-Carotene (D), Papain, Rosmarinyl Glucoside, Gallyl Glucoside, Caffeyl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Allantoin, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Sorbitan Olivate, Phytic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Algin, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Alcohol
 

Appointments and Online Booking

Book your appointments online for faster service using the button below!  This system enables us to send appointment confirmations, reminders and allows you to change your appointment.

Out of the Office:

:Sundays Available

We are protecting you by following strict standards of disinfection and sanitation. We have set time aside specifically for you. Should you need to reschedule for any reason please do so 24 hours in advance. 

If you do not show up for your appointment or you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you are responsible for your service. Your credit card will be processed. I will do my best to get everyone in at their preferred times, just realize there is only one of me! To help provide the best service to all my fab clients please be sure to add your appointments to your calendar. 

Remember this is a courtesy reminder, not reading your emails is not a good reason for missing your appointment.

You will receive an email when you book your appointment and should also receive your appointment reminders via email 2 days beforehand. Please be sure to check your spam folder and add us to your safe list! 

Did you know a text reminder option is also available? Please let Nicole know at your appointment so she can add this option. There will be one text that comes two days prior to your appointment.