Tend Skin: Banned in Canada? We’re Using it Anyway!

To kick off our Summer Beauty Series here on The Conveyor Belt, I thought it best to get right down to the nitty gritty - or bumpy gritty, if you will. The razors, depilatories, waxes, electrolysis needles and tweezers are out in full seasonal swing, but if you suffer from perpetual ingrown hairs, razor burn, or redness (the evil trifecta in the skin care industry) you can confidently bare all because Tend Skin works to eliminate those issues.

This product might be illegal in Canada (no accurate answer on whether this is actually still the case or not, as there are Canadian distributors), but it works like magic. Literally, magic - even the creators don’t know how or why it works.

Now, I’ve known about Tend Skin for years but I am amazed at how many people don’t know about it or similar products and just suffer through their unsightly miseries. They’ll try everything that doesn’t work - like lavender or tea tree mixed with grapeseed oil - but if you want results, you have to go black market with the banned chemical products.

And the reason for the ban? Tend Skin contains Acetylsalicylate, an Aspirin derivative which is a controlled substance in Canada. Which means, don’t squirt it in your eye, eat it, or leave it lying around for children to play with, but do use it topically to treat any of the following: razor burn, razor bumps, ingrown hairs, foot/underarm odor, necktie redness, and - wait for it - ink removal!

For a home brew recipe (I can’t testify to how well it works) head here, or email us for info on where to buy in Vancouver.

New Hair Style: Modern Bob, Heavy Bang

My New ‘Do

When I arrived at the salon I had extremely dry, frizzy and bleached hair with roots that would make a tree jealous…I had recently gone supremely blonde and wanted to tone the colour down a bit. I also requested a challenging cut: cute short boy hair, a bob, or a 60’s inspired bowl. This would be no easy task, but I was in good hands.

Hair stylist Kelly Phillips-LeBlanc has managed to strike that very fine balance the desires of her clients and sound hair design. She’s brutally honest, but in a good way - which makes it easy for you to consider your viable options. As any good stylist will do, Kelly considers all the important factors before taking the scissors to your mane: your personality, your style vision, and your hair future. I tried my best to explain what I was after, and Kelly understood exactly what I wanted and went at it.

Continue reading ‘New Hair Style: Modern Bob, Heavy Bang’

Honey Skin Fundraiser

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I love it when fundraisers are actually fun - and there’s an event tonight [April 9] hosted by Honey Dew Day Spa that looks like good times indeed. A number of staff at the spa have had family or friends affected by cancer in the last year, so they decided to launch a fundraiser for skin cancer research and show their solidarity. Anonymously donating cash to a charity of your choice is all well and good, but I am a firm believer in trying to create a positive experience out of tough situations. This is a great way to show your support and have some fun while doing it!

Swing by the New Bohemian [3162 W. Broadway] tonight from 6pm-2am and enjoy appys (6-7pm), raffle prizes, goodie bags, hand massages (by donation) and adult beverages. Tickets are $20.

New Blo Location

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Blo, Canada’s only blow dry bar, just opened a second location in South Granville following the unabated success of their flagship Yaletown studio. This is where you go when you want fabulous tresses but don’t need to fuss about with cuts or colour (and Blo wisely assures their clients that no, getting a blo does not mean you’re cheating on your stylist!). This 650 sq. foot location is a bit roomier than the Yaletown shop, and when I visited for my very first Blo on Friday there was a steady stream of drop-in clients - surprising for a salon just a week old.

Clients choose from a hair-menu of 8 different styles, and I was seriously torn between the “LA Confidential” (pin-curl waves) and the “Holly Would” (sexy, bouncy curls). But Chris, my hair cadet, was extremely open and willing to tailor the style menu to my specific requests. I wanted curly but not too big - and he was a whiz with those flat-iron curls. Just over 30 minutes for a wash and blow, and all for under $30. Absolutely brilliant, and I will certainly be back for more blos - I want to try out all the styles on the menu: European Chic pony, Bardot updo, and Sex, Hugs & Rock’n'Roll rocker chic are a few tempting options.

Plans for a third location in the downtown core are currently underway, so stay tuned for that. In the meantime, visit one of Blo’s two locations at 1529 W.14th or 1150 Hamilton.

Evan & Dean Runway Style: How-to Guide

While the basic clothing hues within Evan & Dean’s Fall 2008 collection were earthy and subdued, the makeup added incredible dimension with a romantic grey smoky eye, sharply defined brows, and hot coral pink cheeks which were the focal point of the face. Here’s what you’ll need to achieve a ready-to-wear look inspired by the show we saw at BC Fashion Week…

Continue reading ‘Evan & Dean Runway Style: How-to Guide’

JC Runway Style: How-to Guide

The JC runway hair for the Fall 2008 collection was a traditional french roll combined with a sleek and modern front bang. It was both contemporary and edgy, emblematic of the Jacqueline Conoir style.

Here’s a step-by-step guide, with images, on how to achieve this look.

Materials needed:

  • Tail comb
  • Bobby pins
  • Hairspray
  • Hair shiner
  • Flat iron

Step 1: Section top with a side part using tail comb.

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Step 2: Tease remaining section with tail comb toward right side and hairspray, then bobby pin in place vertically from nape to crown.

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Continue reading ‘JC Runway Style: How-to Guide’

Make Up

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A taste of what Carleen McLeod, our new make-up and hair trend forecaster, can do! A nice, natural look with super-dramatic brows, which I love because I don’t have the skills to draw all over my face quite like Carleen can. I’m much better with two-dimensional mediums.

Wearing: Dominic Designs jewelry, Obakki top .

Best Bet Facial

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Ladies love their facials, and I am certainly one to be included in that group. But after a while it starts to feel so routine…relaxing and great for your skin, but routine nonetheless. Clean, exfoliate, steam, extract, tone, mask, lotion, massage. Repeat as necessary.

So I was certainly intrigued last time I visited Nefer Spa and learned about the lymphatic drainage massage from Tata Badri, their aesthetician, as she encouraged me to come back to her for a facial on my way out the door. I happily obliged.

Tata began with a cleanser, then exfoliated for a full 5 minutes, her fingers not missing an inch of my face. She was committed to extracting all blockages, and followed up by zapping me with her high-frequency machine. Then came the 30 minute lymphatic massage, hitting all the major points on my head, neck and upper chest. A soothing combination of long, soft movements with lightning-fast taps which hit like crashing waves. It seemed appropriate that classical music was playing, because it felt like a ballet was being played out across my upper body. Graceful, yet powerful and moving. An algae mask and lotion massage followed, and I left the spa feeling and looking like a million bucks.

I highly recommend you treat yourself…shelve those winter blues and prime your drab skin for the spring season with a glow that resonates from within.

Nefer Spa, 571 Cardero in Coal Harbour

Honey Dew Day Spa

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I had the pleasure of visiting Honey Day Day Spa a while ago and haven’t yet had the chance to gush about how great it was. I tried out a microdermabrasion and light therapy facial for the first time, and so glad I did. These treatments had always sounded too intense to me but Kristen Foote, Honey Dew’s owner, alleviated all of those unfounded inhibitions. I had images from Sex and the City where Samantha goes for a chemical peel and comes out looking like a burn victim with melted skin etched into my mind, but my outlook has completely changed.

The facial and microderm were great, but I was most excited about the cold laser light therapy that followed. The light head is massaged over the face and neck with a moisturizing gel, and the sensation is actually quite warm and relaxing. Afterwards my skin was super hydrated and glowing, and I didn’t experience any post-treatment sensitivity (although you should wear a strong sunblock after treatment to avoid UV damage…that’s the bad kind of light therapy!). For skin like mine, which is in fairly good shape but not without breakouts here and there, this is exactly the kind of regular facial care I need. Light therapy is beneficial for those with acne or rosacea - and of course, anyone who wants firmer, happier skin.

Kristen offers a wide array of treatments for both men and women, visit her site for more details!




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