the beauty blog :: andre chreky :: the salon spa

“The Eyes of March”

Our Anniversary festivities continue in March with a very Fortunate15 promotion: 60% off one of our most popular products, BioElements Multitask Eye Crème--yours for just $15. A favorite with our clients, this light, non-greasy, supercharged treatment does a better job than that entire arsenal of products cluttering your counter: combats dark eye circles, eases puffiness, strengthens fragile skin, and moisturizes the entire area. Simply pat a small amount around your eye area when you rise and shine; pigment lighteners, firming lipoic acid, brightening antioxidants, protecting beta glucan, de-puffing cucumber, smoothing Chinese herbs and emollient shea butter will take it from there!

Speaking of the “Eyes of March,” did you know that the skin surrounding your peepers:

• Is the body’s thinnest skin

• Has few oil glands

• Uses 14 muscles just to open and close each eye

• Covers a complex capillary network that provides nutrients and oxygen

• Houses delicate nerves that control quick changes like rapid swelling during an allergy attack

• Has a protective barrier that is damaged by tears

• Is susceptible to dark circles from sun exposure, intake of certain medications like estrogen or oral contraceptives, stress, illness, lack of sleep or excess pigmentation

• Becomes puffy from excess fluid caused by allergies, your period, sleeping, pregnancy or even increased salt intake

Talk about “eye-opening” facts!  You may want to put your 60% BioElements savings toward a new pair of chic-but-protective sunglasses…

 

Craving Pizza? Fill ‘er Up at FUEL

 

Yes, I know. It’s February, you’ve mended your “weighs,” and you’re determined to watch what you eat in 2012. But that’s no reason to forego pizza, for Pete’s sake! No, I haven’t lost my mid-life marbles, I’ve just become a devoted fan of FUEL pizza – not only because it tastes so good but because (as pizza goes) it’s actually rather good for you. FUEL pizza was founded in North Carolina in 1998 by a couple of New York transplants who craved really good pizza… rarer than hens’ teeth in Charlotte.  They yearned for REAL pizza made with the finest mozzarella, vine-ripened tomatoes and the highest-quality fresh ingredients.  Determined to fill the void, the fellas converted a funky 1930′s gas station on Charlotte’s Central Avenue and FUEL Pizza was born. Turns out, the FUEL founders weren’t the only ones hungry for REAL food. FUEL quickly became popular throughout the south and praise be, it’s making its way to Washington this winter!

One of the many things I love about FUEL is the company’s commitment to nutrition. Teachers may bring students to FUEL for a fieldtrip where they learn to make multi-grain, five food group pizzas. For younger children, this includes an education component called “My Pizza, My Pyramid” in which the shape of a pizza slice is used to teach about the USDA food pyramid. A multi-grain slice of pizza can provide all the USDA nutrients: whole grains, fruit (tomatoes), fresh vegetables, dairy, protein and healthy fat (olive oil). It’s not all about the pie at FUEL, either: fresh salads and nutritious sandwiches also hold pride of place on the menu. Two DC locations are scheduled to open soon: one at 600 F Street near the Verizon Center, the other – a two-story space – at 1600 K Street, within walking distance of you-know-what-salon-spa. When my energy is running low, you can bet I’ll be refueling at FUEL!

 

Flirty15: Pucker Up with Mirabella

Just in time for Valentine’s Day: we’re celebrating our 15^th Anniversary by offering you kiss-worthy Mirabella lip gloss and lip colors at the special price of just $15. Regularly $23, that’s a 35% savings! Known for their lush formulations and trendsetting-but-wearable hues, Mirabella is a favorite of runway and red carpet makeup artists and a cult “collectible” for many of our clients – Mirabella always manages to be two steps ahead of department store brands. The range of colors is truly mouthwatering and the packaging is beautiful, too: a chic, understated metallic. So hurry: word of mouth about this sale will have Mirabella lippies flying off our shelves!

*Offer good while supplies last; one per customer, please. Offer expires February 29, 2012.

 

Day Trippers: Steep and Deep

 

As I’m sitting here writing, I’m wondering, “Where the heck is the snow?” Not that I’m complaining! I’d just as soon the local streets and sidewalks stay clear (so much better for business!). I’m 100% content that within an easy drive from home, I can find all the white stuff I could possibly want at family-friendly ski resorts. Let me tell you about two of my favorites.

When I want a quick-fix of outdoor winter exercise, I pack my parka and head for Whitetail Ski Resort in Mercersburg, PA. In just 90 minutes I am strapping on my ski boots and adjusting my bindings for a day on the slopes. Whitetail is a great place to head if you want to learn a snow sport or improve upon existing skills: its 2010-2011 beginner skiing and snowboarding programs were recognized as the best in the nation by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). My daughters love Wednesday at Whitetail – that’s College Day! With a valid university or college ID, students can choose a 4-hour flex pass, night pass, or 4-hour “first lesson” package, for the unheard of price of just $35, rentals included. Other special events include Women’s Days, Torchlight Parades, and the upcoming Spring Festival. Whitetail’s amenities include 23 trails, 9 ski lifts, night skiing and snowboarding. You can head up after breakfast, ski for several hours, and be home in time for dinner.

However, sometimes you want more than just a flirt with Old Man Winter – you want the whole “cabin in the woods” experience. I heartily recommend Hidden Valley Resort in Somerset, PA. It’s an easy three-hour drive from DC, nestled in the snowier-than-home Laurel Highlands Mountains. Hidden Valley’s ski and boarding amenities are similar to Whitetail’s: 28 trails, 9 lifts, night skiing. What make Hidden Valley different are the non-slope amenities. With 70 skiable acres, surrounded by unlimited wooded parkland, Hidden Valley attracts cross-country skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts. The Outback Snow Tubing Park is popular with children as well as adults – plummeting down gentle slopes as you cling to the sides of a large rubber tube is guaranteed to have you laughing in no time. There’s a Sports Club and Pool for non-skiers and several après ski dining options, including Glaciers Pub that offers live weekend entertainment. What we like best about Hidden Valley is the wide range of ski-in/ski-out rental housing. Head home after an invigorating day, fix some cocoa or spiced wine, and curl up before a roaring fire…while someone else worries about shoveling the sidewalks and plowing the drive.

Happy Trails!