Lisa Jeffries Nobling – Raleigh, NC

Tag: beauty

  • Taking Local Love to a New Level

    So this whole “concept” is something that Mandy and I have been talking up for a looooong time. And I am really pumped to finally be getting it out there. It’s not anywhere close to being as content-rich as it will be soon, but it’s at least a start.

    Right now, the biggest features are the email newsletter (bringing local style and retail directly to your inbox – but no, not like Express/Banana Republic/etc. style… I refuse to harass you all daily), Top Picks, and the feature appearances from local readers, too!

    If you have a few minutes, please stop by and check it out. Today our Black Friday content is still up, so you can check out what we liked for November… but tomorrow and over the next few days, December will be making its way in.

    And if you’re a local shopper, or just appreciate good style, please consider joining the email list, too 🙂

    And YES, I really DO want YOU to send me your tips, pictures, etc. I think this is going to be a lot of fun. A lot of work, of course – but most importantly… a lot of fun.

    www.iheartretail.com

  • Local Rave: Alter Ego Salon

    I’m in love.

    A second story Downtown location (with a view that many would kill for) and prices that make it possible to keep you looking good without having to take out a loan.

    Alter Ego Salon – Mary-Taylor did my recent cut and rocked it out.

    Video courtesy of the Triangle Blvd boys:

    Sign up for their email newsletter (just create an account on their site), that’s how I found out about their January special which snagged me a free manicure with my haircut.

    One of my favorite things about this salon may not have been the cut at all but the fact that they emailed me an appointment reminder that also included my upcoming scheduled events, including bridal updos for a friends wedding. Apparently, they speak my language (email-based and organized) 🙂

  • Update: All I Want is a Good Moisturizer…

    My May 18th post on wanting to find a nice moisturizer that is animal-friendly drew an email from a reader who was searching for the same all the way from Portugal! How cool is that?!

    Rita, from Portugal, wrote to ask if I had any luck in finding a moisturizer to do the trick as she was growing frustrated with the same issues I was having:

    “I also have trouble finding reliable companies… every single one of them claims not testing on animals, but behind closed doors, it’s impossible to know…
    I laughed, reading Bobbi Brown’s answer… check out Aveda’s answer (also an Esteé Lauder company).”    The info she quoted was word-for-word the same with only a few brand names changed. Lame-o!

    I replied to Rita that I am currently using a product I found at none other than Harris Teeter of all places! Nature’s Gate Organics – have a vine day – Chardonnay Hydrator for daytime goes on day and night and although it does have a obvious scent, it doesn’t bother me… and isn’t noticeable a few seconds later… it’s actually kind of refreshing.

    Here’s what hooked me: clear as day on the box the manufacturer notes that the product is “made in the US”, “cruelty free”, “made with certified organic botanicals” and “paraben-free”. For $15 or so (way cheaper than advertised on their own site), it’s done the trick so far!

  • “Southern” Sugar Scrub

    …because you know how Southern cooks are: directions are only “suggested” and anything goes.

    Case in point, this afternoon I noticed an “icky” (if you will) peeling arm/shoulder. Crap, there were two of them. (Two weeks to the day after getting sunburned on Falls Lake with the Redneck Yacht Club.)

    I went home and googled “homemade sugar scrub” and found a new fun website (with RSS feed!) and a recipe to boot.

    Homemade Sugar Scrub | Healthy and Green Living

    By Annie B. Bond, Care2 Green Living Executive Producer

    “OK, folks. Get ready for almost unbelievably soft skin (even for those of us with older skin).

    The other day I was speaking with Larry Pleasant, CEO of The Vermont Soapworks, and he mentioned that he and his staff had spent the morning testing homemade sugar scrubs, and that everyone was commenting on how incredibly soft their skin felt. Aware that sugar cane produces glycolic acid, one of the natural alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliates the skin, I was immediately curious about his recipes.

    Ingredients
    * 50 percent white cane sugar (note that organic sucanat, while the best choice for food, doesn’t work as well for this recipe)
    * 50 percent vegetable glycerin to moisten the sugar (I used avocado oil since I was out of vegetable glycerin and it proved to be a successful substitute)
    * Small amounts of aloe vera gel, vitamin C crystals, or anything healing that dissolves in water
    * 1 or 2 drops of essential oil if desired (Larry recommends combining orange and lavender)
    * Enough ground hibiscus powder for pink color (if desired)

    Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Scoop some of the scrub onto your hand and massage gently onto your skin for a minute (the scrub will actually tighten onto your skin like a masque). Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes before rinsing.

    Let me warn you in advance that you’ll want to use this sugar scrub on your entire body. I started on my face, returned to my desk, and my skin felt so baby soft that the skin on my neck felt like sandpaper, so I needed to use the sugar scrub there, and on and on.”

    Here’s how mine went:Ingredients (with SUPER technical measurements)
    * 1 plastic bowl (and a fork to mix with)
    * Enough sugar to fill the bottom of the bowl
    * A squeeze of honey (for consistency… seemed like a good idea to me!)
    * A little bit of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil for those of you who aren’t Rach fans)
    * A squirt of lemon juice
    * A few drops of lavender essential oil (for smell)
    * Some bath salts (also for smell)

    Mix all of the above. Hop in the shower with a poof or a washcloth and enjoy SUPER soft skin!

    I even got to skip the after-shower lotion because this was that awesome. I basically got an idea of what would work and just “went to work” gathering what was available in my kitchen.

    The only changes I would possibly make would be for coconut oil (or another yummy smelling oil) in place of EVOO and to add the aloe gel… I forgot about that part even though I had some on hand.

    I wouldn’t recommend this in the morning… some of the oil could leave spots on clothes. (I’m wearing linen pants and a tank-top right now with no problem though!)

  • An Update on…

    …updates!

    For those of you who are as addicted to the simplicity and speed of RSS feeds as I am, my only complaint is that some don’t pick up updated posts! What a shame.

    So if that’s your situation, here’s your fix!

    Todays updates to past posts include:

    All I Want is a Good Moisturizer…

    If Koka Booth in Cary Isn’t Your Thing…

    Enjoy!

  • All I Want is a Good Moisturizer…

    … that isn’t tested on puppies. Is that too much for a girl to ask?

    I went to Target tonight in search one one thing: a new facial moisturizer. (I’m not saying the Mary Kay tinted moisturizer I’ve been using this week is the cause of this horrible texture on my right cheek and forehead that only I can tell a difference in, but I figured I’d try a new moisturizer in a sort trial-and-error and thanks to Dr. Mom’s advice.)

    Here are my requirements:

    • oil-free (non-comedogenic)
    • light, not too heavy
    • sunscreen included is a plus, but not a deal-breaker if it’s missing
    • not tested on animals
    • not too expensive (nothing over the $15 range)

    Utter. Shopping. Failure. (Tear.)

    So I’m googling… but while I’m at it… does anyone use one they’d suggest that meets my simple requirements?

    (For the record, I did find some “choices” that were clearly marked as organic –another plus– and very much so not tested on animals, but upon inspecting the ingredients… were full of oils. Natural and good for you, I’m sure, but my skin will blemish up with any added oils. No thank you.)

    May 22, 2008 Update: After doing some research and talking shop with some of the girls… here is an update on some of my skin-care findings. (Click to the comments to read the updates!)

    June 12, 2008 Update: I have a “thing” about graphic layout on webpages… so since I’m getting lots of great feedback about this article, I’m going to include any new info in the comments so this post doesn’t get too long!