The 7 Most Wanted Mother's Day Gifts

 Every year when Mother’s Day rolls around, a gift-picking panic ensues. Here at Bella Toccare de Spa and Salon, we think beauty and spa gifts are always a no-brainer for mom.  So before you spend your hard-earned cash on a gift that’s not quite right, read this! We’ll tell you the best beauty gifts to get any mom this Mother’s Day.

Sure, you could get her flowers or jewelry… but this is Bella Toccare you’re talking to. Around here, beauty products and services are a girl’s best friend, and we put together our list of the 7 most wanted Mother’s Day gifts that any beauty buff would want. So make mom happy and give her one of these:

1. When is a Bella Tocccare gift card ever not welcome? Ours can be used at for any of our spa or salon services, so you don’t have to try and pick just one — let mom pick her favorite!  Click the card above to purchase one online today.

2. Replenishing her supply of Stress-fix.  Give her our unique aroma clinically proven to relieve feelings of stress-with essences of lavender, lavandin and clary sage from organic farms-formulated with the science of aromaology and the power of pure essential oils. This is always a nice gesture.

3. Bella Toccare never fails to create gift sets that anyone would want. If you’re all out of ideas for mom, one of these combos (think Foot relief and hand relief) is pretty foolproof.

4. Most women don’t own a proper, professional makeup brush set, so treating mom to one is a great gift idea.  We have some wonderful makeup brushes mom will love.

5. If your mama is a skin care lover, you don’t have to shell out $500 (or more) on a bottle. Bella Toccare with Aveda has several choices depending on moms skin type and travel sizes in a gift set of their products are the next best thing.

 6. Upgrade mom’s drugstore curling iron or flat iron to something a pro would approve of.

7.  Treat mom to a full day of Beauty.  Her day of luxury where the pampering never stops.  She is welcomed with a soothing fragrant herbal foot bath and a light breakfast.  Then she will experience a relaxing steam shower followed by a full hour Swedish relaxation body massage.  For head to toe bliss, we've included a Bella Toccare signature facial, Spa manicure, and Spa pedicure.  Mid-day a special catered lunch is served.  Then she will continue on her day of beauty, Bella Toccare style, with a scalp treatment, hair cleansing and conditioning, as well as styling.  For the finishing touch, she'll enjoy a professional makeup application.
 

Single Girl's Guide to Valentine's Day!

Single Girl’s Guide To Valentine’s Day

With a whopping 49% of the U.S. flying solo this V-Day, Cupid is getting equal amounts of hate mail and love letters. If you’re dateless on the 14th, follow our guide to having an awesome single girl’s holiday. We talked to relationship experts so that you won’t just feel great this Valentine’s Day, but may even score yourself a guy for next year!

Go Out!

According to Dr. Helen Fisher, who works with Match.com, there are 96 million single people in the U.S. So, get out there; don't stay home! Want to feel like your most confident self? "Do flirty gestures like swishing your hair, don't slouch and smile," says Dr. Fisher. "When you smile, people naturally mimic you, which triggers a release of dopamine (the feel-good hormone) in the brain."

Send flowers to yourself

Some may see this as desperate. Those people are being small-minded (and are probably NOT single, so who are they to judge?). If you can't bring yourself to send flowers to yourself at the office, send them to your house. There is something about a bouquet of flowers that brings sunshine and hope into your world. If flowers can be that beautiful in the first couple weeks of February, which is still cold and miserable in most parts of the country, then maybe your love life has half a chance too. It's all in how you look at things.

Boycott

You can take a stand against Valentine's Day. Form a coalition with other singles and come up with a catchy name for your group -- "Single-by-Choice," or something of that nature. Host your first meeting on Valentine's Day in a lounge and vent about all your failed relationships. There's half a chance you'll come away feeling hostile and depressed, but there is also half a chance you'll come away feeling glad you are single. There's even a remote chance you'll meet someone while you are out pretending it's your choice you are alone on Valentine's Day. Whatever the outcome, at least you're not at home, in your thread-bare pajamas, pegging out the pity meter.

Make dinner plans with kids, your sister or a friend

Valentine's Day is about love. You love lots of people, right? Does it have to be about celebrating a romantic relationship? Of course not. This year, just think of Valentine's Day as a way to express your love for your kids, a friend or your sister. Go out to dinner with your chosen guest. And never forget this one simple rule when it comes to Valentine's Day: It comes around EVERY year. Just because you're not caught up in a passionate love affair this year doesn't mean you can't be by this time next year.

Be grateful

How valid of a "holiday" is Valentine's Day? It's a little bit made up. There's talk of some dude named Saint Valentine, and from there things get a bit cloudy. It's just one day. In the name of an attitude adjustment, focus on what you have, rather than what you don't. So what have you got? Great kids? That makes you the envy of at least half of the women out there. A job? Again, in this economy, that gives you something to celebrate. Your health? There you go. There is no greater gift. And at the risk of sounding cynical, remember there are lots of women in relationships this Valentine's Day who are completely miserable. Think about it. Review the relationships of the women in your immediate circle. Sad though it may be (and we would never encourage rejoicing in the misery of others), are they really better off than you are? Even good relationships take work and have occasional drama. Maybe it's okay that you have a year off from all that.

10 Hairstyles you can do in 5 minutes (or less!)

Tousled Braid

We’ve all done it: You overslept and have no time to do your hair (or makeup, but that’s another story).  The tousled braid is oh-so-trendy this fall and super easy to do. Simply sweep your hair back and create a loose braid–don’t worry if pieces fall out along the way. Dab on a colored lip gloss like Red Dahlia one of our new trend colors, and you're good to go!   

Side Swept Ponytail


Beyonce’s side-swept low ponytail takes mere minutes to perfect. You’ll even have time to curl the long bang around your finger and blast with a tiny bit of Air Control hairspray for an all-day flounce that holds.

Transition Hairstyle

Brooklyn Decker’s choppy bob is adorably sexy to begin with. Add in a little half-up, half-down pouf and a side part, and you’ve got a hairstyle that transitions seamlessly from office to out (to morning after…).


Did we mention Braids?

Not to repeat ourselves here, but braids are going to be everywhere this fall. If you’re not a fan of the full-on plait, try Maria Menounos’ hairline braid.

Top Knot

You can never go wrong with a top knot à la Kat Graham. If you’ve got a case of the second-day greasies, adding a cute headband will fix that in a second.


How about a chic wavy bob?

Easy and breezy is how we’d describe Rashida Jones’ chic, wavy bob with side-swept bangs. This ‘do is totally wind-proof (rather, it looks good with a little wind effect) and just requires a little Aveda Control Paste or Texturizing Cream to keep your bangs in check. 

Ponytails

Ponytails have moved far beyond the realm of the hairstyle you wore all throughout middle school. Model Doutzen Kroes totally sexy high ponytail has tons of body and a little pouf to go with her coral pout. 


How about a side Ponytail?

Miranda Cosgrove’s casually mussed side ponytail is great for “I needed to be at work 20 minutes ago, and I just woke up” hair. 

 Chignon

Only have time for one part of your hair? Pin the back portion into a low chignon, then curl a section (or two) of the front for an Old Hollywood glamour hairstyle. 

Finally there's always a hat

When in doubt, grab a hat! Lucy Hale’s crocheted snood hides a myriad of blatant signs of unstyled hair. And look: Another braid! 
 
Call today for an appointment with one of our Aveda trained stylists 440-526-3090.

And remember bang trims are always complimentary

Top Straight Celebrity Hairstyles

Heidi Klum

Back on the market, Heidi Klum is rocking some seriously flirty hair. Her slightly messy styling adds understated sex appeal to an otherwise simple and polished style. For a look like Heidi's without the hassle, invest in an at-home straightening treatment like Aveda's Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener for more manageably straight hair.

 

Rachel Bilson

No hairstyle better lends itself to accessories than shiny, straight locks. Take a page from Rachel Bilson and top your sleek 'do with of-the-moment pieces, like this boho hair band.

 

Viola Davis 

This Critics' Choice Award winner does the Justin Bieber better than the Biebs! Short hairstyles get a modern update with the addition of long bangs and a wispy blowout. Who knew crops could be so sexy?

 

 

Elizabeth Olsen 

The youngest Olsen is schooling her sisters in style this year. Not only can she dress, but Elizabeth is always camera-ready with bouncy blowouts and high volume hair. The key to light reflecting locks like Liz's: Add a dime-sized amount of Aveda's Light Elements Smoothing Fluid.

Kim Kardashian

 

When Kim Kardashian got her post-divorce revenge hair, she opted for eyebrow-grazing bangs and pin straight styling. The curvaceous reality star proves that simple can be very sexy.


Ready to rock the straight, sexy, sleek look?  Book an appointment with one of our stylists and let them show you just how to get the look you love.  Call 440-526-3090 today!!

Top 10 Braided Hairstyles

Think braids are only for laundry day and the gym? Think again! Intricate twists and plaits are totally trendy, and there's a braided hairstyle to suit every occasion. Here, Beyonce pairs a sexy side part and long, wavy bangs with a simple braid to complement her sequined outfit.

Here we have a headband braid and long bangs. You can play up the girlie style with frosty eyeshadow and a pink lip.

 

Here we have Melissa with a bewitching (see what we did there?) take on the classic side-parted low ponytail. A thin braid along the actress' hairline adds a unique accent and shows off her blonde highlights.

Looks like Lucy Hale is getting style advice from her character on Pretty Little Liars. The cheery brunette goes emo with a fall-weather ready crocheted snood and some Kool Aid-red streaks. A loose side braid completes Hale's tousled hairstyle.

Garcelle Beauvais knows how to transform a plait into a sexy premiere hairstyle. The actress paired her loose side braid with gold earrings, a trendy fur vest and turquoise beads on the red carpet.

Nicky Hilton sports a Swedish milkmaid-inspired braid with a center-parted updo hairstyle. Her updo shows off the socialite's glittering one-shouldered dress.

Need a cute hairstyle that keeps your locks out of your eyes and transitions easily from day to night? Look no further than Katharine McPhee's hairline braid and rolling waves. This 'do works on every hair length from bob to long!

Nina Dobrev manages to completely transform (and lower!) her hairline with a braid that swoops around from the crown of her head to her ear. It's a totally unique spin on a classic braided updo.

Jessica Szohr is all smiles in a laid-back side fishtail braid and loose, choppy bangs

Eve blows your mind (YouTube it asap) with a super-stylized long braid topped with retro volume and finger curls

Ready to try a braid?  Call today and schedule an appointment or a complimentary consultation with one of our stylists that specialize in this hot trend - 440-526-3090!!

Breast Cancer Awareness - Think Pink Event 2011

Join us any time during the day on Saturday, October 15th from 8 am to 5 pm for some of our "Pink" Services.  Call 440-526-3090 if you have any questions!

Established in 1992, the Estee Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign has distributed nearly 80 million pink ribbons and raised over $30 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.




The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translation research. It supports scientists conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research with a minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated going directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs.



As an Estee Lauder Company brand partner, Aveda is selling a limited-edition Breast Cancer Awareness Hand Relief. It comes in a specially packaged 5oz pink ribbon tube for $21 with $4 from each sale going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Aveda Hand Relief is a thick, creamy, lightly scented hand lotion that is ideal for protecting hands from the cold winter chill. It has a slight botanical smell mixed with just a bit of licorice due to the Licorice Root Extract. Packed with soothing, moisturizing ingredients like Aloe Leaf Juice, Glycerin and Meadowfoam Seed Oil, exfoliating fruit acids and anti-oxidants, this lotion really does a number on beat up hands.

Let’s face it, we're all rough on our hands and nails. With all the polish changing and product testing, they go through a lot. So slathering on a little Hand Relief before slipping on a pair of moisturizing gloves before bed leaves our skin supple and hydrated by morning.

Aveda’s Breast Cancer Awareness Hand Relief is available now through the end of October at Bella Toccare de Spa and Salon.

Skin Care at Every Age

The options for skin care today can be so overwhelming--how's a girl supposed to figure out what she should be using? As our skin ages, it has different needs and requires different types of products. Follow these tips to learn the skin care routine that's right for your age.

Teens: Start A Routine

You are never too young to take care of your skin. Now is the time to start a healthy skin care regimen--if you do it now, your complexion will thank you later. Products that are a must include a good cleanser, a treatment product and a moisturizer with an SPF--you should follow the Cleanse/Tone, Treat/Repair and Hydrate/Protect system for healthy, radiant skin.

Teens: Wash Up!

Teens tend to experiment with makeup and with their constant busy schedules, they often forget to wash their face at night. Your skin should be washed both day and night to remove the dirt, excess oil and debris that can clog pores, leading to breakouts. Try a cleanser with natural salicylic acid like our Aveda Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser to help combat breakouts.

 

Teens: Get A Jumpstart On Sun Protection

Studies show that a majority of sun damage occurs by the time you're 18, so sun protection is a must! Teens should look for sunscreens that do more than just protect from sun damage. Try our Tinted Moisturizers with SPF 15 protection that also contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and hydrators will help strengthen the skin's barrier, making it better able to defend itself.

20s: It's Never Too Early To Fight Aging

Most signs of aging begin to emerge when people are in their 20s with the appearance of fine lines, dry skin, and a tired complexion. To ensure skin continues to look young and supple, embark on an anti-aging skin care routine now. Use products like our Tourmalene Charged Radiance masque to help boost skins ability to turn over those dead skin cells, as well as exfoliating the skin to leave a smooth even complexion.

20s: Eat Your Way To Healthy Skin

It's true that you are what you eat and your diet can make its way to your skin. The work/life balance for 20-somethings can be erratic and some turn to fast food diets for a quick, inexpensive meal. It's better to incorporate natural fats like nuts, olive oils and seeds, as these promote glowing skin, and strong hair and nails, while naturally lowering triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels that can affect your health later in life.

20s: Fair Skin Is In

Using tanning beds significantly accelerates skin aging, which isn't something most young people take into consideration, which, when they're older, they'll wish they had. If you insist on having a tan, the only safe alternatives are self-tanners and bronzers or, my personal favorite, a healthy appreciation for your skin's natural coloring.  Try our Uruku Bronzer for a nice healthy glow

30s: Banish Dark Circles

Balancing work, family, friends and personal duties can cause exhaustion, making dark circles under the eyes appear more prevalent. Help erase the tired look by using a product like our Green Science firming eye cream that will help to lift and firm the delicate skin around the eye as well as lessen the appearance of the dark areas.

30s: It's Ok To Indulge A Little

Help your skin turn back the clock with your food vices. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which act as an antioxidant that protects the body from aging caused by free radicals. Red wine contains resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that can slow the age-related deterioration of cells. Always in moderation, of course.

30s: Pamper Your Eyes

The skin around your eyes will likely be the first place that fine lines appear and begin to "age" your skin. Help diminish them by using our Green Science Firming eye cream both day and night to hydrate the skin around the eyes and increase suppleness. Try also using our Green Science Line Minimizer around the eye area at night as well.

40s: Scrub Your Way To Glowing Skin

Women in their 40s are starting to deal with the thinning skin that comes with age, as the supportive subcutaneous fat--which supports our skin--depletes causing pores, follicles and oil glands to appear more prominent. That's why exfoliation is key for a healthy complexion. Exfoliating with Tourmalene Charged Radiant Skin Refiner will help unclog pores and reawaken the complexion.  Safe for all skin types this creamy, clay based exfoliates with bamboo extract and energizes with tourmaline to leave skin radiant and refined. Dermatologist-tested. Non-acnegenic.

40s: Get Your Vitamins

Internal skin care is just as important as topical skin care products because topical products can only aide the 20% of skin that's on the surface; internal will take care of the other 80%. So don't forget to take daily vitamin supplements! A supplement regimen should include a complex of amino acids, glucosamine, vitamin B6, antioxidants, including grape seed extract, and vitamins A, C, D & E.

40s: Don't Forget The Décolleté

The décolleté is one of the areas that shows a woman's true age, due to the delicate nature of the thin skin on the neck and its constant exposure to the elements. Start using an anti-aging product  from your jawline all the way down to your chest. Our Green Science Lifting Serum, with our Green Science firming face cream will help to make sure your face, neck, and décolleté stay lifted and firm.

50s And Beyond: Get Plumped Up!

Menopausal women in their 50s are dealing with hormonal aging that appears in the form of deep wrinkles, a lackluster complexion, and dry, sagging skin. Our Green Science Skin Care line will Helps skin boost its natural collagen production for a more lifted appearance.   Formulated with bio-fermented glucosamine, organic argan oil, anti-oxidants and peptides helps promote surface skin cell turnover, moisturization and visible skin firmness.  It is part of a 4-step system clinically proven to perform in 4 weeks. When used together with Firming Face Creme, Firming Eye Creme and Line Minimizer, clinical results show 41% more lifted appearance; 37% reduction in appearance of lines and wrinkles.

50s And Beyond: Restore Collagen Production

After the age of 20, we all lose one percent of our natural collagen (Eek!), so by the time you're in your 50s, your collagen levels are depleting fast. Incorporate foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and oranges into your diet, as these are packed with vitamin A and C, both of which help restore and give life back to damaged collagen.

50s And Beyond: Hydration Is Key


Dry skin is a common skin concern for women in their 50s, so an opulent moisturizer is a must-have for your beauty bag. Try our Green Science Firming Face Creme.  It will help to improve visible skin firmness, moisturize and strengthen skin's barrier function.   Lady's thistle, organic argan oil and cactus formula helps to moisturize skin and smooth fine lines. Glucosamine, anti-oxidants and peptides help to improve visible skin firmness, moisturize, and strengthen skin's barrier function.  This is part of a 4-step system clinically proven to perform in 4 weeks. When used together with Lifting Serum, Firming Eye Creme and Line Minimizer, clinical results show 41% more lifted appearance; 37% reduction in appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Want to know more or get a customized plan for your skin care needs?  call today and schedule a 30 or 60 minute facial with one of our Aveda trained estheticians and let us customize a skincare routine just for you and your skin care concerns.  Call 440-526-3090 today!!