StormSister Spatique® Blog

Crave Restaurant , West End is partnering with Crave Minneapolis/St. Paul Guide to throw a soiree for all of our clients (that's you) fans (that's you) and followers (that's you) to meet up, mingle and chat about what's going on in your world! Monday, September 13th at Crave, West End. We have the party room all to ourselves from 4-6pm! Kathy Hanson (our Twin City Crave mommy) will be brainstorming with you about what women CRAVE in Minneapolis/St. Paul! Be sure to come and tell Kathy what you CRAVE! We are going to make it a great party with all the Crave energy we have been storing up all summer. The guides have been out only 3 months and they are selling out all over so let's get together and chat up what you have been doing and what you wish you were doing! We will be giving away 5 Crave guides in a drawing in the back room, so bring your business cards! The first 15 gals that come through the front door will get free drinks , happy

I just received my invitation to the Minnesota Monthly 2010 Best of The Cities Party! Get yours here . Featuring THE BEST in food, drink, and entertainment. It’s a celebration of life in the Twin Cities. Join us at The W Minneapolis . **Tickets will not be mailed. Please check in at the event.

State Fair Special! Bring in your ticket stub from the 2010 Minnesota State Fair and receive 25% off of one item. This offer is only good through Labor Day 2010.

The MUCH anticipated Galen Labs skincare line has arrived! Yippee! I am beyond thrilled. I have been testing this skincare at home for a while and Meeg and I have been waiting very patiently for it. Cleansing Cream - all skin types Balancing Toner - all skin types Cleansing Milk - Dry/Mature Skin Gentle Exfoliant - all skin types Cleansing Gel - Oily/Normal Skin

I am a bit overwhelmed with all of this goodness (page 18). Someone pinch me! Thank you, Mpls. St. Paul magazine for this opportunity. I am very grateful.

A new soap from Pre de Provence - Mint Leaf . Pré de Provence , literally translated, means "Meadow of Provence." Mint Leaf, in Pale Silvered Leaf; with tingly Wild Mint scent. Triple milled for surpassing smoothness. Blended with shea butter . No animal testing was involved in the development and production of this product. Manufactured in France exclusively for Pre de Provence .

I've been labeled a beauty maven, beauty guru, beauty biach (ok, that's what I call myself) , but this is the first time I've been called a crusader and I like it. I like it a lot. Thank you, Katie Dohman . Recently, Ms. Dohman wrote about me for Minnesota Monthly's 2010 Best of The Cities edition. I mentioned this honor in an earlier post , but I have just gotten my hands on a copy of MN Monthly. I s'pose I could get a subscription to each of my favorite magazines and get them hot off the press, but there is something quite pleasurable about standing in front of a news stand as I search for each one. It's a simple pleasure and one I am not ready to give up, even if I'm a bit tardy to getting my hands on my own press. In regard to this piece, I must make a small correction and say that I do sometimes have a problem remembering names, but I don't forget a face and what we may have chatted about ;o) And though every product in my store may n

My favorite paddle brush of all time is featured on EcoStiletto today! Is there anything bamboo can’t do? Take this brush to a dryer and you get bouncin’ and behavin’ glossy locks; the ergonomic and sustainable bamboo brush is also anti-static, anti-bacterial and ionically-charged.

Sheila Mossberg, owner/founder of NONTOXIQUE , talks with Allison and Alexis about nailcare, her upcoming Green Carpet Event and Fashion Week. Celebrity manicurist Melissa Bozant calls in and discusses nails and how much she loves NONTOXIQE as well. Listen to the entire Shop Girls show or forward to minute 14:21 .

A few facts about one of my favorite local haircare brands, Greenbody Greenplanet. "...naturally color protecting with Australian Bush Kakadu Plum Extract - and Avocado Oil ." Yes, the name is funny but there's nothing silly about these powerful little plums! These mega antioxidants help to fight free radicals, keeping hair youthful, healthy and protected from environmental damage and hot tools. Because of this proactive approach, color retention is improved---naturally. Color oxidation occurs when hair is distressed and lacking in vital nutrients. Bottom line? Healthy hair holds color. Period. Certified Organic Avocado Oil -Avocado oil has a number of benefits and its use in hair care is one of its most important. Valued for its regenerative and moisturizing properties along with nourishing Vitamin E, Avocados are rich in natural oils, protein, and vitamins, along with a rich source of Lecithin-excellent for penetrating much needed nutrition to the hai

The Crazylibellule and the poppies perfume solids have always been a hit in the store , but this one is my absolute favorite: Rose A Saigon . My previous favorite was On Cloud Nine . I have to admit that this surprised me a bit. I've never been a fan of any kind of rose perfume. Clearly, it must be the combination of the other fragrance notes with the rose because I absolutely love how this smells on me. On a side note, tune in to Beauty Shop Trivia , going on right now!

FAIR DO’S CLEANS UP ITS ACT. A NEW SHADE OF “GREEN” IS BEING OFFERED! The 12 most colorful days of summer have gotten much brighter for Lorri Weisen, owner of the Fair Do’s booth at the MN State Fair. In her attempt to offer better and safer alternatives for her customers and her staff, she has created non-toxic, temporary hair paint free from parabens and fragrance, and the days of using ozone-depleting hairsprays are behind her. Parents, children, asthma sufferers and those concerned about the environment can breathe easier knowing that this hair raising experience is now a “greener”, more pleasant adventure. The booth where everyone “Get’s Noticed” by having their hair temporary colored and styled, has been turning heads since 2002 and their hard-working staff has created more than 25,000 of the walking kaleidoscopes over the years. Weisen, owner of Hairs to You Salon in Roseville and advocate for Safe Cosmetics, is constantly searching for ways to improve the quality of the worki

Minnesota's own, NONTOXIQUE , snags a prime gig at NYC Fashion Week !

I came home from a lovely weekend with friends on Sunday to find this email in my box: Seriously. Our editors think you make the Twin Cities a great place to live. So we’re THROWING A PARTY in your honor. Our editorial staff of Minnesota Monthly recently named Becky Sturm as Best Beauty Crusader in our annual “Best of the Cities” issue, on newsstands next week. To celebrate, we’re throwing a party for “Best of” winners, VIPS, industry leaders, socialites, and the media on Sept. 14 th at The W Minneapolis . (You will be receiving an invitation in the mail soon.) How surprised was I to read this!? I don't know anything about what this piece consists of, but I guess we'll all be reading about it shortly. Yay! On stands August 19th.

I was the biggest “nay-sayer” when this product arrived at StormSister Spatique . I thought…”They put fake lashes on that girl. There is NO WAY a product can do THAT!” I was determined to prove that my doubt was, indeed, fact. So, I invested my hard-earned dollars and was diligent about applying it nightly – after make-up removal and only to my upper lids. Using it like I would a liquid eye-liner, I brushed a thin line across the upper lid only. And I waited. Waited and hoped every morning I would wake up with those long lashes. I kept applying and I didn’t give up. After the first month, a MIRACLE seemed to occur! All of a sudden, my lashes were up to my EYEBROWS!!! They were darker and thicker than before too! It’s crazy! Women (and men) began commenting immediately – asking me if those were my REAL lashes! YES! YES! I could tell them YES – and tell them all about LiLash and StormSister Spatique. I have handed out business cards right and left as a result of thes

Galen Labs just dropped off samples of their soon-to-be-released facial Cleansing Milk, Cleansing Cream, Cleansing Gel, and scrub. I had sampled these new products a few weeks ago and have been waiting so patiently for them to come out. Now, get your arse in here and try them out! These skincare products will be available for sale in a couple of weeks and will be a beautiful addition to the existing Galen Labs range.

I don't know about where you are, but it is HOT here in MN. Kripes! I realize that most of the country thinks we are part of Canada and that it is winter here 12 months of the year, but au contraire! Today, it is 91 degrees with a heat index that feels like 97. Yesterday, I believe it was 107 with the heat index. Eww. I know, some of you live in places where it is more hot and humid, but this is MN and we're practically in Canada and it is winter 12 mo..... Anyhoo, I had a client recently tell me she keeps her Galen Labs Hydrosols in the fridge, just for days like today. I like it, I like it a lot. Me, tonight on the deck. Cocktail in one hand, practically frozen hydrosol in the other. My dilemma? Which one to choose?

Finipil was my favorite after-waxing cream when I worked in the spa. I did a ton of waxing and have used everything out there. I always went back to Finipil. And, it still is. PATENTED finipil is an amazing after hair removal treatment. It protects against ingrown hairs, kills 99.9% of germs, protects the empty hair follicle, shrinks pore size and has been proven to actually slow down hair growth... which means you'll need hair removal treatments less frequently!

Sheila Mossberg, queen bee at NONTOXIQUE , is throwing a Green Carpet Event party at BMW in Minnetonka on August 25th, 2010. Get your tickets now . We'll see you there! You need to go to there.

StormSister Spatique and Kinky-Curly Curling Custard make it into a French blog . This post is transcribed from French. Thanks Peggy, for translating this for me. BEAUTY BUZZ: Kinky Curly Curling Custard It is a product for those who have natural hair. The Kinky Curly Custard is a cream that helps to better define and extend the natural curls (for cons, it does not form loops where there is none). It is suitable for all types of hair: 3A, 4B, 4C etc. ... These products consist of organic and natural ingredients that help to nourish the hair. They contain no chemical ingredients or harmful ingredients! *No petroleum * Silicone plastics * No mineral oil * No carbomer acrylics * Alcohol free * Paraben free wax For the Kinky Curly Curling shopper Custard cream in France: http://www.stormsisterspatique.com/ Here is a utilisatricede this product (there is a real epidemic of this kind of video, a thorough search on Youtube you will find a tutorial for your hair type ;

Books - Well Read by Katie Dohman The August edition of Minnesota Monthly chats up eat.shop Twin Cities . Flip to page 172-173 in your eat.shop guide. ;o) Listen: There is a conversation that takes place in living rooms, kitchens, offices, and automobiles across the country. It goes something like this: “What do you want to do?” “I don’t know. What do you want to do?” Stop. Stop right now. There is an answer: Get a copy of eat.shop Twin Cities . The book spotlights only locally owned, independent eateries and boutiques, with lush photography and smart recommendations—delightful, tasty menu items and covetable, don’t-miss products. It reads like a conversation with your best friend. Navigate by the maps provided in the book. Note your own favorites on the blank pages. You’ll never be at a loss for what to do again, and you’ll support local businesses in the process. Win! Available at multiple locations, including: Lunalux, 1618 Harmon Pl., Mpls., 612-373-0526; Hunt &

Allison Kaplan gives the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Crave guide some press. Bargains, pampering, girlfriends, champagne -- there can never be enough of them Janet Polach knew owning her own boutique would mean working evenings and weekends, but she never expected to be setting up a booth at art festivals and hotel parties. Just back from the Hayward, Wis., Musky Fest, Polach will spend Saturday promoting her Excelsior tween girls' store, Zelaz, at Fabulosity, a new shopping and pampering event at the W Hotel in Minneapolis. The $20 admission price includes an express manicure, minimassage, appetizers, champagne and a ballroom filled with local vendors pushing everything from jewelry and handbags to Botox and chiropractic services. In a metro area ripe with malls and neighborhood shopping districts, including many stores that showcase local talent, it's difficult to believe women are willing to pay to shop, but the formula seems to be working. Just look at Maide