D

Cushion Your Tootsies With Insolia High Heel Inserts

If you knew a world-renowned podiatrist and an MIT rocket scientist had designed high heel inserts would you try them? And what if said design had received the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association? Would that make you want to try them even more? I don’t know about you but I think they sound like something we heel addicts shouldn’t live without. The inserts, called Insolia, are the “only high heel insoles that are proven to shift weight.” And what does that do? Well, in simple terms, it allows us to wear our gorgeous shoes longer and more comfortably. (more…)

Friday Giveaway: ANSR Anti-Aging & Acne Therapy Beam

I blogged about this bad boy a while back, so if you want to see why I’m giving one away to you, read it here. Now, fill out the form and good luck!

“Pamper Yourself Night” at Mockingbird Station Tonight

As part of the Station’s Cause for Celebration line-up (”community-oriented events every Wednesday evening during the holidays”), Pamper Yourself Night will feature mini-facials, massages, and hand massages, free with a donation to Genesis Women’s Shelter. The masseurs will be lined up near PURE Dental. (If you choose to pay for a teeth whitening special during the evening, PURE will also donate a portion of the proceeds to Genesis.) Billy Jealousy reps will also be at PURE for the mini-facials. The hand massagers will be located at Michael Raymond Salon, where you can also get make-up touch-ups, some hot chocolate or tea, and a free Aveda shampoo sample with a $5 donation. It’s a night full of minis, but your donation can be mini, too.

Skinny Bitch Author at The Joule for Vegan Desserts and Book Signing

In honor of the launch of her website HealthyBitchDaily.com, Kim Barnouin, New York Times bestselling author New York Times of Skinny Bitch, will host a happy hour celebration downtown with vegan desserts and organic wine. If you haven’t checked out www.healthybitchdaily.com yet, it’s a straight-forward healthy living advice blog without the sugar coating and with a dollop of fun sarcasm. To toast to the author behind it all, head to The Joule Nov. 4 from 6 pm to 8 pm. 1530 Main St. 214-748-1300. To attend, RSVP to RSVP.03321@luxurycollection.com.

Aveda Institute Spa Now Taking Nail Appointments

The tranquil Dallas Aveda Institute pedicure room.

If you didn’t read my rave review of the new Dallas Aveda Institute do so here. In short, it’s tres fabuloso! At the time I wrote that blog they were not yet offering nail services but as of October 20 they are! I just booked my $21 sixty-minute pedicure and I can’t wait! It doesn’t look like they’ve updated their site yet to include the Dallas location but take my word for it – they are open and taking appointments for all services except massage (but that’s coming soon!). Click here for service list and prices (which are insane!). Call 214-363-1291 to book your appointment.

Shop for the Cause: Breast Cancer Healing & Wellness DVD

It’s mid-October and with Breast Cancer Awareness month in full-swing, we’ve been blowing up our blogs and web site with plenty of beauty loot to benefit the cause (check out our BCA shopping guide). Now, La Prairie & Guess have partnered to create a new DVD aimed at pampering the spirit of those affected by the disease called Breast Cancer: The Path of Wellness & Healing. This comprehensive guide features well-known survivors (including Sheryl Crow and Christina Applegate), the world’s top oncologists, and renowned wellness experts offering their advice for dealing with every facet of the disease, from accepting the diagnosis, considerations in choosing both holistic and traditional treatment options, entering support groups, the optimal diet, and the benefits of meditation. With 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to charity, this 2-disc set is a must for anyone battling the disease, and the caregivers, family members and friends of those touched by the illness. Get it for $31.49 at Amazon.

Thanks to intern, Kara Koloini for this blog!

Friday Giveaway: Matcha Tea Body Lotion from Origins

This delicious-smelling moisturizer is part of Dr. Weil’s The Way of the Bath line for Origins. As, I’m sure, you already know, everything from Origins smells and feels amazing. (Talking to you, Ginger Souffle and A Perfect World serum!) This body lotion is no exception. Matcha, as Dr. Andrew Weil describes, is a green tea drink that promotes an “energetic awareness and sense of well-being.” The tea is used in Japanese Tea Ceremonies known as the Way of the Tea, which focuses on four principals: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. If this stuff doesn’t help you meditate, though, that’s okay, because it’s full of antioxidants, rice butter, murumuru butter (whatever that is), ginseng, and jojoba seed, almond, and essential oils, so it’ll for sure help you hydrate. Plus, it comes in a lovely green bottle and smells so fresh and clean. We’re giving away three. Fill out the form here and good luck.

*Update: Congratulations Heather, Becky, and Anthea!

Free Yoga Classes Tomorrow at Lucy in Preston Center

In honor of September being National Yoga Month, the Lucy store in Preston Center is hosting “Fitness Friday” with free yoga classes tomorrow. The first, an introduction to yoga flow will be taught by Kathy Glenn from 2-2:40 pm. Amber Kocien will teach yoga for stress relief from 3:30-4:10 pm and from 4:50-5:30 pm they’ll have a yoga for runners class. And while you’re there, check out the Hatha Power Pant. Five percent of all sales from them will be donated to Off the Mat, Into the World.

Free Yoga at the W Every Sunday Night

W Dallas – Victory is kicking off its newest yoga series on Sunday, September 13. The FREE series, a collaboration between the W and Power Yoga Dallas, takes place every Sunday night from 6 pm to 7 pm on the Wet Deck (pictured left, um, yeah!). The class will be taught by Jennie Bartholomew, founder of Power Yoga, who will instruct for all levels of yoga. Upcoming dates for this Sunset Power Yoga class include September 13, 20, and 27, and October 4, 11, 18, and 25. Mark your calendars and set your TiVo to record your favorite Sunday night shows while you’re at yoga. This will be worth it. All they ask is that you RSVP to RSVP.01521@whotels.com.

Beat the “Bacne” with Kairos

Back pimples suck. One, you can’t see them. Two, you can’t cover them. And three, worst of all in my book, you can’t squeeze them. (TMI, I know.) Here’s a solution that was new to me: Kairos Acne Care Solutions. It’s a hair care line! Ever read a magazine that tells you to switch shampoo and conditioner to avoid hairline breakouts? Me, too. Here’s a line that claims to use “safe” oils that don’t clog pores, therefore not contributing to breakouts. But this line also utilizes Salicylic Acid to heal existing acne issues. Products in the lineup include shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, thermal spray, hair spray, treatment, and hair glue. Bacne, beware. Check it out here.

The Solution to Great Skin May Be “The Solution”

I know it’s a personal favorite of Willa Ford. (She told me so herself after mentioning the stuff to one of our style editors at a shoot for D Home.) I looked it up and noticed ten percent of proceeds from each sale of The Solution supports charitable projects in developing countries. It also is free of parabens, ethyl alcohols, or synthetic ingredients. So far, the stuff’s a winner in theory. Then, I was sent a sample of the stuff. And I have to tell you it’s good in reality, too. The formula is meant to replace moisturizers and serums, and all day, night, and eye creams. I can actually see how that’s possible. The texture of the cream is light, almost like a serum, but applies smoothly like a moisturizer. The aftermath is a clean, hydrated feel, rather than a gooey or greasy layer. I have applied it under makeup (works great) and before bed (works great there, too). Here’s what I think The Solution is good for: downsizing the junk on your bathroom counter, simplifying your beauty routine, saving yourself some money, and getting some probably-much-needed hydration to your face. What have you got to lose? It’s $74—which, when you think about all the products you use on your face combined, is inexpensive—and no matter your skin type, you can use it until it’s gone. Get yours here.

Introducing Exhale Spa’s Well Bar

Exhale Dallas is working for the people. They know how busy we are so to help us de-stress (and undo damage from late-night partying) they’ve decided to start offering easy-in, easy-out 25-minute (or less) mini-treatments. You can book an appointment in advance (214-370-5800) or just show up but regardless, you’ll get the same great service as if you were gettting a full treatment. And as a special treat, from tomorrow until September 30 you can buy one treatment and get another free if you go on a week day. That’s a pret-ty darn good deal if you ask me. Below is a sample of some of the Well Bar mini-treatments. Set one up now – you know you deserve it. (more…)

Friday Giveaway: Kate Somerville Glow Kit

It’s nearing the end of summer, but a fresh face glow is never out of season. Congrats ahead of time to the winner of this giveaway, because this one’s a good one: Kate Somerville’s Glow Kit. Kate Somerville, esthetician to the likes of Paris Hilton, Kate Walsh, Felicity Huffman, and Jessica Alba, knows what she’s talking about, and she didn’t mind a bit sharing all the top secrets with me to pass along to you. Follow me after the jump to learn how to enter this giveaway and read up on the products. (You’ll want to, to understand the true power behind the Glow Kit.)

*Update: We’re giving away two sets! You’ve got until noon today, Monday, Aug. 31.

Congratulations Fern and Kathy!

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D’s September Issue Is Bursting at the Seams With Dallas Fashion and Beauty News

My spa travel story in the September issue of D is not the only beauty-related item in that magazine. The issue is actually chock-full of girlie goodness. Lucky for you, I put together a rundown of all the fashion and beauty fabulousness. Happy clicking!

1. Stephanie Quadri has the scoop on must-have fall fashion.

2. Sarah Eveans, Allison Hatfield, Tim Rogers, and I bring you the 11 Dallas Style Setters You Need To Know.

3. Laura Kostelny wants you to look beautiful at any age.

4. The D Beauty staff rounded up the latest and greatest Dallas beauty news.

5. Raya Ramsey knows purple is fall’s signature color, and she’s found the products to prove it.

(Photo by Maxine Helfman)

One With Nature Introduces its New
Rose Petal Collection

We suggested them here and gave some away here. One With Nature is an amazing natural skincare line made using ingredients from the Dead Sea. (Don’t worry though, proceeds support Friends of the Earth Middle East, which seeks to preserve the Dead Sea.) I’ve become quite addicted to the Coconut Lime Body Wash and Shea Butter Lotion. Now there’s a new collection to love. Welcome, Rose Petal Collection! This set will include a body wash, hand wash, and body lotion. The line runs $4 to $10 and can be purchased at your local Whole Foods Market. Can’t wait to get my hands on this new scent in October!

Friday Giveaway: Nature’s Pharmacy Herbal Bath Collection

This priest-created bath and body line, which formed in 1891, is a little gem of a line. Kneipp uses founder Sebastian Kneipp’s (the priest and naturopath) holistic approach to healing using the natural ingredients the earth provides. As he used to say, “Nature has provided us generously with everything we need to remain in good health.”  And how can you not like that? In his absence, the healing continues with Kneipp’s bath and body products like body washes, bath tabs, moisturizers, and massage oils. We’re giving away the Nature’s Pharmacy Herbal Bath Collection, which includes five essential oils for natural healing. Eucalyptus to soothe the cold and flu, Lavender to promote relaxation and clarity, Rosemary to reenergize and invigorate, Juniper to sooth fatigued muscles, and Valerian & Hops for stress relief and a deep night’s sleep. Click here or enter https://dmagazine.wufoo.com/forms/shoptalk-giveaway-form/ in your browser to fill out the form and enter to win. Good luck!

*Update: Congratulations Lauren!

Win Fabulous Prizes From Ebby Halliday Realtors

We’re talking about the Presidential Package from the Boardroom Salon, a membership to Crescent Club and Spa, and much more. Find out how to register on FrontBurner.

SPF Style: Protect Skin With Cover Clothing

Although many of us are opting to stay out of the sun with these 100+-degree days, we can’t avoid it all together. Protect your skin from harmful rays with Cover Clothing, a stylish line of sun-conscious separates designed by two local moms, Lisa Moore and Robyn Stevens. The figure-flattering wrinkle-free “swim-jersey” (nylon/spandex blend) garments supply SPF 50 protection (weaved into the fabric) and are breathable, submergible, moisture-wicking, and machine washable. Perfect for throwing on at the pool, park, or while playing sports. The versatile “circle” ($40) and “cardigan” ($135) are our favorites from the latest collection (available in black, white,  merlot, and peach). Cover has partnered with the American Cancer Society to feature educational hang tags with skin protection tips. We love that someone has put this much thought into looking good while doing good. $40-$160 is a small price to pay to help prevent skin cancer. Find the line locally at The Shak or online at coverclothing.com.

Friday Giveaway: Green Beauty Gear

For the summer issue of D Beauty we featured a handful of planet-friendly beauty products. Check it out here. Today we’re giving away a handful of the latest green beauty gear. (Three of the products were actually featured in our magazine!) Send me an email to win the following: Origins Organics Hydrating Body Lotion and Purifying Tonic, Organique LipCare chapstick, Revitalizing Hand & Body Lotion, and Exfoliating Walnut & Wood Apple Face Scrub, two Sally Hansen La Cross Eco nail files, Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes, Cargo Plant Love lipstick in an adorable pink called Grace, One With Nature soaps in Vanilla Oatmeal and Orange Blossom, e.l.f. Fur Free tweezers, TIGI Love, Peace & the Planet hairspray, Lisa Hoffman Spa Shower kit, PeaceKeeper lip gloss in Kindess, Spa Ritual nail lacquers in fuschia, Provocateur, and coral, Last Tango, and REN Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish. All these goodies are great beauty products that also contribute to preserving the planet and its creatures. What more could you ask for? Click my name and send me an email to enter. Good luck!

*Update: Congratulations Elizabeth!

Another Quirky Dallas Workout: Hilton Anatole’s Aqua Zumba Water Aerobics Class

If you’re going to be sweating, I can’t imagine it feeling better than if you are in a swimming pool. The Verandah Club at the Hilton Anatole has created a water aerobics class that features fun moves to Latin tunes and supposedly can help you burn up to 500 calories per class. This doesn’t sound like some old lady lift-weights-to-disco-fever-songs-in-the-shallow-end course. A membership to the Verandah Club’s fitness center is $118 per month, which includes fitness classes, but you can purchase a $16 day pass to check out the class, too. Hilton Anatole. 2201 Stemmons Freeway. 214-761-7855 or www.verandahclub.com.

Champion4Fitness Opens at Shops at Starwood in Frisco

Nope, this isn’t just another gym, people. The official word:

The facility  includes a sports apparel retail boutique with lines such as Sergio Tacchini, Tail, andFila, to name a few; a proprietary LifeStyle Performance Center providing extensive scientific and fitness testing; fitness and nutrition counseling; a selection of supplements from Vemma, Verve, and Advocare; private one-on-one personal training in four different studio settings; and sports massage.

Champion4Fitness offers clients an innovative scientific approach which integrates fitness and nutrition with science and technology at a personalized level like no other wellness resource in the market.  Each client receives a framework of support from industry leaders utilizing a fully integrated testing, training, and nutrition system.

Among the Champion4Fitness leaders are chief medical director Jeffrey C. Caruth, M.D., chief of staff in the Ob-Gyn department at the Medical Center of Plano and founder of Plano Aesthetics. You might also recall the article about the Dr. Ted diet in D Beauty. That was Dr. Caruth, too.

Exhale Spa Presents Kids and Teens Fitness Classes

Yesterday I saw a nine-year-old boy ride his bicycle two houses down. He was on a cell phone telling his friend he wanted to play Playstation. What happened to the days of walking to friends’ houses before heading to the neighborhood pool after a little soccer in the cul-de-sac? I’ll tell you what happened. Cell phones happened. (No need to walk to a friend’s house. Just call ‘em.) Videogames happened. (What’s a swimming pool?) Well, Exhale will get the kids and teens back in shape again. And it can all take place while you’re in YOUR workout. Perfect. Children’s yoga classes use “animated poses, stretching, and interactive games,” and teen classes focus on “improving concentration, stimulating the imagination, and promotion strength, flexibility, and basic body awareness.” The Mind Body Summer Series for Kids is for ages 5-9 on Wednesdays, 2 pm to 3 pm. The teens series is for ages 10-16 on Tuesdays, 2 pm to 3 pm. (Yoga for you takes place at the same time both days.) Classes run through the month of July. Exhale Spa Dallas. 5300 Mockingbird Lane. 214-370-5800 or www.exhalespa.com/locations/dallas.

Dean’s Margarita Salt Glow at the Ritz-Carlton Spa. You NEED It.

We’ve written about this Texas-only treatment before, but I simply must expand because I’ve now tried it for myself. Trust me when I say: you need it, too. For $170—not too bad—you get a treatment that, I would say, feels more like three separate relaxing therapies that when combined, created the most relaxing evening I’ve had since…well…I can’t even remember when. One, you get scrubbed. Two, you shower off. Three, you get re-hydrated with a massage. But grab Jackie for your treatment at the Spa, and each treatment feels like one step closer to heaven. The exfoliation portion felt like a massage itself, but left my skin feeling brand spanking new. Even the shower was delicious. Rinsing off in the cozy atmosphere made me never want to get out. When I did, though, it was beyond worth it. The massage was next, and Jackie is a brilliant masseuse. After a quick feel in the eucalyptus steam room and a glass of wine in the relaxation lounge, I was like a little puddle of happiness leaving the Ritz. 

Experience it yourself by making an appointment at 214-922-4820. You won’t be sorry. (photography at left by Maxine Helfman)

Find Harmony at Karmany

In the current issue of D Beauty we wrote about the new pay-what-you-can yoga studio, Karmany. In light of the current economic situation I really appreciate these folks for being willing to help us de-stress even if we’ve been laid off, given a pay cut, forced to work an extra job, etc. These are the times when we need yoga the most – to help us focus on all the good things in our lives instead of  the bad. And to treat our mind and body the best we can. So let’s give them some love. If you’ve been thinking about getting into yoga, or if like me, you got out of your normal routine (over six months ago!), Karmany is providing the opportunity to get back on track with several different classes offered all week long. Their Level I class on Wednesdays at 5:45pm is fantastic. Instructor deAnna, takes time during the class to make adjustments when our poses are off and to help us twist and bend further than we ever thought possible – all without making us curse her out in our heads! The studio is bright and airy thanks to a big picture window, and very peaceful. See you at class!

Topz Burgers – Can Healthy Really Be Delicious? Yes, It Can!

We wrote about Topz burgers in D Beauty about a year ago. Click here to read it. Go ahead. I’ll wait. (Insert the Final Jeopardy question music here.)

Done? Ok. So I went there today and was even more impressed with the quality of my lunch than I was on my first visit. You see, I have been trying to avoid cheese in the hopes that my winter gut will deflate enough so that I can wear a bikini without shame this summer (wish me luck). To that end, I ordered my turkey burger without that delicious calorie culprit. I was fearful it would be so bland that I’d be left feeling deprived but as I sunk my teeth through the soft wheat bun into a tender, flavorful patty all my fears were allayed. It was really good! So good in fact, that I think I inhaled it in record time. (Thank God I was in my car where  no one could witness the feeding frenzy.) My only wish is that Topz was closer to our office so I could get my guilt-free burger fix more often but you can rest assured that anytime I am near Addison I will work a Topz stop into my schedule. Hint: Don’t miss the sweet potato Aero (non-fried) fries. Just a little salt and they’re delicious as can be.