The products are the result of an intense five-year science project.  Salon owner William George set out to create a gentle product that treated the scalp and hair as we do our skin. Nothing was to hit the shelves with the James Joseph name on it unless the smell hit that perfect clean note, the lather was bountiful, and the sulfate-free, organic ingredients included the best that nature has to offer (tamanu oil, bergamot fruit oil and lavender oil). All of this and a hint of luxury? Tall order.

The Beauty Bug is happy to report that being a picky, focused stylist proved to be a huge win for William George. His line respects the environment, while enriching the health of your hair and scalp (in fact, most ingredients found in Balance to treat the scalp, can also be found in facial cosmetics).  The Beauty Bug’s hair loved the natural, soothing, gentle ingredients. Great for everyday use, the products are really like a daily dose of vitamins for your locks! They don’t leave any build-up or residue and leave hair healthy, easy-to-manage, and smelling out-0f-control good!

So, Mr. George – if you’re listening – The Beauty Bug would love a “Balance” scented candle. She’d love Her condo to smell as fresh and clean as Her hair.

Balance by James Joseph is available at all James Joseph Salons and on BalanceByJamesJoseph.com for $19.95.

Disclosure: Press samples were  provided to The Beauty Bug.

Holiday parties, New Year’s Eve parties, or just a night out….check out this twist on a smokey eye created by Boston’s Best, Dani Wagener.  It’s easy to recreate, and gets across the effect of the smoky eye and dark lash line, without being too dark and black.

Begin with the eyes. When using darker shadows, it’s best to begin your look focusing on the eye, clean up and move onto the skin…

Get the look using these products:

Eyes

Begin with a cream shadow base like shu uemura’s Cream Shadow in P Brown. Apply it all over the lid, lightly blending up to the brow.

With a natural hair brush, smooth first shadow all over the lid, up to brow. Try shu uemura m beige 821 using the natural brush 10.

Next, use the same brush but slightly dampen it a bit to increase the color payoff and create a silky shadow effect.  Dani used shu uemura PES P brown 820 and packed it into lid up to crease.

For the final shadow step, use shu uemura m blue 695 shadow and apply it thick at the lash line with a wet  kolinsky brush 10f.

Complete the look with shu uemura Painting Gel Black Liner in ME black applied on the lashline with natural brush 6ob and again in waterline with M Black.

shu Uemura Precise Volume Mascara in black.

shu uemura Flare Lashes for some added drama.

Face

Over lightly moisturized skin, apply shu uemura UV Under Base applied all over the face with a sponge.

Using the same damp sponge, blend shu uemura Nobara Cream Cover Stick in 584 for a creamy, flawless complexion.

Still using the same sponge, highlight skin with Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer in 0 Porcelain on the cheekbones and brow for a subtle glow.

To finish the face, add MAC Blushcreme in Posey on the apples of cheeks.

Add sparkle to lips with shu uemura rouge unlimited supreme shine in 957.

The Beauty Bug received a sample of this, but knew She needed a hands-on lesson. She headed to the Shu Uemura boutique on Newbury Street to visit Boston’s Best, and Shu Atelier Artist, Dani Wagener.

The math is really quite simple – one foundation stick = 2 ways to apply, 2 coverage options.

For sheer-medium buildable coverage with a hint of dewy-ness that’s great for everyday, Dani instructs:

• Using a sponge, prep skin with a moisturizer and primer.
• Apply the Nobara stick directly to the same sponge, and then repeatedly pat on face and blend, adding more foundation as needed.

Prepping the skin properly and using the slightly moist sponge to apply the foundation allows it to slip on to skin. The damp sponge also better holds on to the pigment in the foundation.

For full coverage, Dani instructs:

• Prep skin with moisturizer and primer.
• Using Shu brush #18, apply the Nobara stick to the brush and then tap/slightly swirl on skin.
• Set with Depsea Water Facial Mist

The brush application method reveals a smooth, matte finish that’s not cakey. Opt for this method if you’re going to an event, or will be taking photos.

The Shu Uemura Nobara Cream Foundation Stick is available at ShuUemura.com, and at Shu Uemura boutiques for $42.

Disclosure: A press sample was provided to The Beauty Bug.

Direct from China and so new you can barely even google it (the only results that you’ll get is patent information), it’s the Ultrasonic Haircare Treatment Device.  With this iron, it’s not about what the plates are made of, but what they project.  Way more advanced and involved than ceramic or porcelain, the plates are…futuristic.  Cutting edge. One emits infrared rays while the other produces ultrasonic vibrations at a speed of 36,000 pulses per second. Designed to be used on damp, conditioned hair, the 2 plates, when clamped together,  enhance the penetration of the conditioner or any other treatment.

Deep conditioner – check. But its benefits don’t end there. It’s also said that the iron promotes hair growth, strengthens weak, damaged hair, and of course smooths. Will this mean that The Beauty Bug can toss Her Biotin? That remains to be seen.

Currently,  the iron is being used exclusively at Avanti Salon here in Boston and treatments cost $70, however they will be widely available to hair care professionals this summer, and hopefully land in a salon near you. The Beauty Bug hasn’t tried the iron treatment yet, so She can’t comment on personal results or experience, but the Chinese did have spaghetti, silk and gunpowder before us. Take a look at the track record. Just saying…

Dani prepping one of the models.

Shu artist, Tavi, putting the final touches on a model.

Wonder stylist, Derek Yuen, from the James Joseph Salon.

Shu artist, Soul Lee, applying Shu UV Underbase to a model.  A Beauty Bug favorite.

More photos after the jump…

Gold Glam Leaf Lashes

Marine Tide Lashes

Fleur-Ever Lashes

Snow Twist Lashes

Dani applying lashes on The Beauty Bug.

]]> http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/2009/06/18/shu-uemuras-lashion-show/feed/ 0 http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/2009/05/06/sebastian-professionals-texture-tandem-treatment-at-james-joseph-salon/ http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/2009/05/06/sebastian-professionals-texture-tandem-treatment-at-james-joseph-salon/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 21:36:01 +0000 The Beauty Bug http://www.bitbythebeautybug.com/?p=1388 Fresh out of the James Joseph Salon after Her Sebastian Professional Texture Tandem Treatment, The Beauty Bug feels like She has a new head of hair. The Sebastian flagship salon in Boston is one of a handful of salons in the US to offer this new, revolutionary, chemical-free service.  Texture Tandem is a semi-permanent re-texturizing, silkening treatment that allows for flexibility and customization to each client’s specific hair needs and thickness levels.  The perfect made-to-order recipe, consisting of a ration of Sebastian Professional’s Moisture-Lock Silkener mixed with a ration of Micro-Texture Thickener,  is whipped up by your stylist to meet individual style needs.  Those looking to achieve thicker looking, more texturized hair would require more Micro-Texture Thickener in their recipe, while those looking for a silkier, smoother result would receive more Moisture-Lock Silkener. The Beauty Bug’s wonder-stylist who recently styled Kate Hudson’s hair on the set of BRIDE WARS , Derek, mixed approximately three parts Micro-Texture Thickener to one part Moisture-Lock Silkener as She was looking for more definition and fullness for Her layers.

Derek applied the cream mask to the Beauty Bug’s hair and led Her over to the dryer where She sat for approximately 30 minutes, waiting for the treatment to harden, forming a clay-like shell. The heat helps to adhere, absorb and grip the product to hair, swelling and coating each strand underneath and on top of  the hair cuticle. Beauty aficionados, think of how tubular mascara coats eyelashes and provides volume – that’s what Texture Tandem does to hair.

Read about the results and see more photos after the jump.

Once the mask had completely hardened, the extra product was washed out and Derek began blow drying. The results were immediately evident, even before Her whole head was dry. The Beauty Bug felt like She had more hair, and it felt and looked thicker and fuller. The added texture was tangible and most noticeable amongst The Beauty Bug’s layers, which had more definition and appeared more piece-y. Her transformed layers are pictured to the right – typically fine, they had an instant lift thanks to the treatment.

Perfect for a bride,  a red carpet event, or the girl who doesn’t shampoo daily, the treatment lasts through about 5-6 shampoos and is safe to use on any hair type, including color and/or chemically treated hair.  While not officially launching until July, James Joseph is one of select Sebastian Professional flagship salons offering it. To find a salon near you that offers the Texture Tandem Treatment, search Sebastian’s Salon Locator.

Sebastian’s Texture Tandem Treatment is available at James Joseph Salon in Boston for $37.

Recently, The Beauty Bug visited Boston’s Best Makeup Artist, Dani Wagener, at the Shu Uemura boutique to learn more about the collection. At the crux of it are three eye shadow palettes, each of which contain 7 shadows and a cream eye shadow-liner. Each palette is beautifully decorated with a floral scene (midnight winter sakura, adorned marguerite, and secret lusious rose) shot by Mika.

Using the Secret Luscious Rose palette (middle palette pictured on the right) Dani created a soft shimmery, golden holiday eye on The Beauty Bug that caught the light beautifully.

To create this festive look, Dani applied the white/gold color (second from the left) all over the lid, and then applied wide strokes of the golden brown color (far left color) in the crease. She then applied a thin line of the bronze cream liner on the top of The Beauty Bug’s lid. The combination blended perfectly yet still showed the gradations of color, and despite the photos, was beautifully smooth, shimmery and made The Beauty Bug’s eyes sparkle.

Other items in the collection include limited edition Rouge Unlimited lipsticks in Petal Beige, Petal Orange Beige, and Petal Pink Beige, Tanzanite Aquarium nail enamel, Sparkling Garnet Aquarium Nail Enamel, and several special holiday sets and eyelashes.

All Shu Uemura products are available at select Barney’s, Shu Uemura boutiques, and ShuUemura.com.

This Sunday, June 13th, from 10AM-4PM at the SoWa Market on 540 Harrison Ave in Boston’s South End, Physician’s Formula will be there sampling coupons and products from their new Organic Wear line. Organic Wear is the first brand – prestige or mass – to bring certified organic makeup to consumers.

So essentially, Physician’s Formula is the Amelia Earhart or the Susan B Anthony of the beauty industry. This is huge ladies! The certification is actually EcoCert – a certification out of France – and Physicians Formula is the first US brand to attain it. The products are 100% free of parabens, GMO’s (genetically modified organism), synthetic fragrances, preservatives and synthetic colors.

To celebrate this landmark launch, the brand is teaming up with well-known organic farmer’s markets across the country to educate consumers about this good-for-you makeup.

The Beauty Bug is excited to organify Her makeup and learn more about this line and the concept behind it.

Remember, if you get lost…look for the model in the head-to-toe leaf suit!

“My most valuable beauty tip is to wear sun screen/block every day of the year. This slowly but surely became the answer a little while ago. The reason being two fold: I recently attended a seminar by the Skinsceutical company which I carry in my salon room and they spent a huge amount of time on this subject. The most insidious rays of sun are the ones you don’t really think about in the winter when there’s three feet of snow on the ground. They are the UVA long rays. Everyone protects themselves from the burning UVB rays when they’re lying on the beach in the summer, but the ones that really age our skin are the UVA rays. They change our cells and cause damage. They can come through plate glass and car windows. Even artificial light. I have been an esthetician for 35 years and I have grown older along with my clients. I recently acquired a new client and was shocked to find out she was only a year older than I because her skin was so sun damaged. She is an outdoorsy person who didn’t do much to her skin. It’s not only the wrinkles but the brown spots that make her skin look older. The damage is done early in life but it rears it’s ugly head when a person reaches the 40′s and on.” Sandy Curzi, Avanti Salon

Some more SPF stats to ensure you’re covered:

• SPF 15 provides 93.5% protection from UVB rays
• SPF 30 provides 97% protection from UVB rays
• SPF 45 provides 98% protection from UVB rays
• SPF 50 provides 100% protection from UVB rays

And now on to the product talk; some favorite products among the Newbury Steet spa folk:

Kerstin Florian Rejuvenating Pure Vitamin C Ampoules, Alla, Emerge Spa and Salon

Sonya Dakar Triple Action Organic Scrub , Danielle, Grettacole Spa/GSpa