Saddle Up, Partner

        

Today is a momentous occassion, and it has nothing to do with the Olympics–although this news is of olympic-size proportions.

Today announced the alliance between NewBeauty magazine and SpaFinder magazine. This Fall, NewBeauty SpaFinder Global Spa, Beauty and Wellness Annual will be available at 20,000 newsstands worldwide and in 12,000 leading spas and hotels globally. I’m sure every veteran spa goer and beauty junkie alike is drooling, and they should be.

Essentially, NewBeauty and SpaFinder combined forces to created an annual bible of spa resources and directories. But this Beauty and Wellness Annual won’t be the only place to read about spa content. Every issue of NewBeauty (starting with their Summer 2010 issue, due out June 29) going forward will contain a specific section providing thorough coverage of destinations, resorts, products, and treatments in the global spa marketplace. Heaven! Genius! Insane!

The only quesiton–price. I’m hoping it will follow suit with what the two magazines are priced at now–NewBeauty, $9.95 and SpaFinder, $9.99. Either way, it’s exciting to see that print is not dead! In a time when the economy is weak, it’s good to see that the beauty industry is still moving forward and exploring creative ventures.

Berry Beautiful

The most striking feature of a sea buckthorn bush is its berries. The bright orange and yellow fruit is shaped like a cherry tomato and filled with nutritional benefits for the skin and body.

As a snack, the berries are rich in carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins. When used topically, they protect skin and moisturize in various ways. Native to Asia for centuries, sea buckthorn berry has since gained popularity in North America for a little over a decade, and the beauty industry has taken notice.

REN, Fresh, and Kiehl’s are some of the heavy hitter-brands that use sea buckthorn berry as an active ingredient in specific products.

REN’s Calendula and Arctic Berry Ultra Calm Cleansing Milk–for Sensitive Skin ($32.00) uses the berry in this cleanser to “preserve moisture levels” on the face.

Fresh’s Anise Day Serum ($85.00) includes the berry to boost the benefits of Vitamins A, C, E on the face.

Kiehl’s Imperial Body Balm ($42.00) focuses on the anti-oxidant protection from the berry, and repairs cell damage due to environmental factors.

Have you tried a skincare product with sea buckthorn berry? Do you use sea buckthorn berries in any recipes? If so, tell me about them–leave a comment with all the juicy details.

Going Green to Get Bronze

Advertisements for “Organic Tanning” practically hit me in the face at every turn as I walked around a popular shopping area in Downtown Delray Beach, Florida. Really, organic tanning–yes, such a thing does exist. These tanning salons were strictly referring to the products they use for spray tans–not the beds.

Traditional tanning solutions contain dyes, oils, alcohols, and perfumes (which tend to exacerbate that predisposed heinous smell).  Companies like Decleor and Chocolate Sun have paved the way for formulations that use 100% organic ingredients. To do so, they don’t over process Dihydroxyacetone (DHA, or glycerone).

DHA is the primary active ingredient used in self-tanners, and derived from sugar beets or sugar cane. Some are even derived from vegetables. When blended with various herbs, vitamins, and botanicals you can get a range of tones from tanning solutions. Add essential oils and you don’t have that pungent odor–letting everyone know you paid for your glow.

Introducing Phyto Professional

The PHYTO hair care line is historically recognized for its innovation with plant extracts. To keep hair healthy, PHYTO’s creator Patrick Ales chose a unique way to treat hair. Every botanical part from the bud to the sap nurtures desirable locks with exclusive formulas.

In keeping with their progressive reputation, the PHYTO team of doctors, pharmacists, biochemists, engineers, and botanists have created a blend of botanicals to shape any hair style. Whether you want to sculpt, lift, or enhance shine, the new PHYTO Professional collection has nine plant-infused blends to work from.

If you’re a fan of PHYTO Pro, then you’ll love the new Professional line–which officially replaced the Pro line this past January. “We were looking to integrate Mr. Ales’ passion for plants with hair styling roots and adapt it for the modern stylist,” said Raphael Yousri, President of Ales Group, in a press release announcing the PHYTO Professional launch. The magic piece to the formulation: PHYTO’s acacia collagen, which hydrates, smooths, and protects hair from external stressed cause by heat-styling or the environment.