Let me hear your thoughts! raya.ramsey@dmagazine.com.

*Update: Congratulations Kileen!

To do more shopping for the cure, check out our gift guide.

To celebrate Renée Rouleau’s National Skin Care Awareness Month (September), she’s hosting a Front Door Gift Bag Pickup Promo. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Drive up to the spa and receive a gift bag—that simple. But it gets better because, as usual, Reneé Rouleau has her team of male models handing them out right to your car window. Woo hoo! The bag includes a gift certificate and RR samples valued at $100. Go pick up your treats and ogle the models at her Dallas location at 1722 Routh St. or Plano location at 4025 Preston Rd., Ste. 606. September 30 from 10 am to 2 pm.

Today’s the day! Go get yourself a goodie bag!

The Aveda Institute pedicure room.

OMG! OMG! I am sooooo excited!! Last night I went to the grand opening party for the Dallas Aveda Institute. What is it, you ask? It’s a cosmetology school for aspiring hairdressers, estheticians, masseurs, waxers and nail technicians. Why do I care, you ask? Well, here’s why: this incredibly beautiful facility offers super discounted prices on all beauty services all the time. How can they do that, you ask? Well, it’s because students perform the treatments. Doesn’t that scare you, you ask? No, not at all. If you knew how intensely dedicated Aveda is to training their students to be the best, you wouldn’t either. The company doesn’t only teach them how to cut hair or perform a massage but  they also train them in how to treat clients like gold. Yes, they are still in the learning process but their skill levels are high enough that Aveda will let them work on clients. Now would they do that if they didn’t think they were ready? No. Aveda cares too much about their stellar reputation. I got a personal tour from the president of the company who emphasized how important quality is to them. Jump to read about their incredible prices!!

Sounds good so far, you say, but is it like most schools – ugly, curtains between treatment “rooms,” noisy, dirty? Again, I say a resounding no. This place is AMAZING! The builders took great care in creating a space that would not only foster a comfortable, relaxing learning atmosphere for students but an incredible experience for clients as well. The concrete floors, soft lighting, wood and stone accents and water walls make you feel as if you are in a high-end salon/spa. The entire spa area is a separate peaceful and again, beautiful space. The treatments are all performed in separate rooms with doors that close (no curtains), big cushy beds (like in high-end spas) and beautiful soft music relaxing you into a state of tranquility. You are given a robe and slippers upon arrival and there is even a  cozy relaxation room to wait in before your pampering. They even have a vichy shower! This is NOT your average school. This is a work of art.

Ok, so ready for the best part? I almost don’t want to tell you and keep the secret for myself but alas, my dedication to ShopTalk won’t let me. The prices are insanely low: haircut and style – $15, single process hair color – $25, 60 minute pedicure – $21. Oh wait, I forgot to mention the amazing pedicure room – big cushy seats and no dirty bowls that everyone puts their feet in – they use separate bowls for each person that are not connected to any filty pipes. Each bowl is filled elsewhere and brought to your seat so everything is entirely sanitary. The area is quiet, serene and oh so clean!  I may never go anywhere else for a pedicure ever again. And did I mention the price? A 60 minute pedi is only $21!!! Are facials your thing? How about 90 minutes for $60? Yea, I know! Unbelievable! Yes, many schools offer discounted treatments but they aren’t this beautiful. They don’t make you feel as if you are at a high-end spa. But this one does. And don’t forget that they only use Aveda products so you’re guaranteed top quality in that area too. Seriously, what more could you want? The Dallas Aveda Institute is open for appointments now except for nail services and massages. Those will be available in about 30 days. I will let you know when that happens. But feel free to call 214-363-1291 to get a facial, haircut or color or a wax ASAP.

I think I died and went to heaven. And I’m not leaving. You’ll have to drag me out.

And really, there are buttons! I haven’t seen a makeup palette this adorable since, well, I don’t even know when. Almost makes it hard to use, doesn’t it? This valued-at-$175-but-on-sale-for-$49 palette Cargo calls the Runway Kit because it contains a variety of colors inspired by the fall 2009 runway makeup trends. Here you’ll find the tools to tackle the smoky eye (see labeled gray palette), the dramatic jewel-toned look (check out buttons colors: hellooooo green gold at top right!), the warm, natural cheek flush, and the bronze goddess look (see bottom row for both). Go to Sephora stores–or online–to pick one up, and you’re good to go for fall. Follow the jump for pics of runway looks and to get up close and personal with the palette.

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

Congratulations Fern and Kathy!

Let me start off by saying that I love Kate’s attitude toward skin. Even with her 19-year background in a clinical setting, she truly believes that skincare is about skin health, both inside and out. Following is a summary of  Kate’s top skincare tips and info on her Glow Kit (valued at $265 and available at Neiman Marcus at NorthPark).

PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE LINE
“The philosophy behind my line is actually the skin health pyramid. These are five principles: protection, hydration, feed, stimulate, and detoxify.

PROTECTION: meaning you have a good sunscreen, but also antioxidants, which can be great protection.

Number two is HYDRATION. So many consumers are confused between moisturizing and hydrating. Moisturizing is more about oils, and as we age, we lose the ability to hold water in our skin cells, so what happens is as we age, we tend to look drier. Our lines start to form, and it’s because we’re not holding water in our skin cells. This is really from not having enough Hyaluronic Acid in our system. You can topically do that and internally do that. Also drink lots of water.

The next step is FEED. What I’ve learned is that the skin needs a ton of nutrients. When we eat food, it’s the last place it goes, even though it’s our largest organ, so you need to apply topically, but you also need to internally supplement. Omegas are really important. It cracks me up when physicians say it doesn’t matter what you eat how your skin reacts. That’s absurd. It’s our body’s biggest organ. If you’re putting crappy fuel in your body, guess what it’s going to show?

The next is STIMULATE. Stimulating collagen and elastin growth is key. Right when we hit about 25, we start losing collagen in our skin. It’s important to use peptides, retinols, and those types of things to really start getting that stimulation happening.

Last but not least is DETOXIFY. Detoxification is so important because you want to get rid of that top layer of skin, which really can show damage, fine lines, and wrinkles. It makes you older and makes your skin look dull. If you really do those five principles on a weekly basis, you’re going to see a huge improvement in the skin.”

THE GLOW KIT
According to Kate, the Glow Kit contains the products she thinks people most often need to achieve healthy skin, but often don’t have. ExfoliKate removes the top layer of skin. (It’s a good thing.) “You’ll see results as soon as it’s off,” Kate says. (I can tell you this is true.) Quench is a hydrating serum, which locks in hydration and leaves silky-feeling skin behind. Then there’s Deep Tissue Repair. It uses peptides to promote collagen and elastic growth at the cellular level. What I can tell you is that this moisturizer penetrates deep into the skin, but doesn’t leave a greasy residue behind.

ON A BUDGET?
For the woman on budget Kate says there are a handful of necessary products every woman (and man) should have. “A good exfoliator,” she says. The beads in the scrub should be round to avoid breaking the skin. “Exfoliating shouldn’t be dangerous.” “A good cleanser and a moisturizer that promotes collagen growth.” Kate’s favorite is obviously her own Deep Tissue Repair.

To enter for a chance to win the Glow Kit, go here and fill out the form. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Stephanie, Donna Karan, Kristin, & Raya

Kristin, Raya, and I attended a “light brunch and conversation” with designer, Donna Karan and Neiman Marcus Fashion Director, Ken Downing at  NorthPark this morning. The powerful woman behind the design empire known as Donna Karan New York dashed through Dallas and left us all with some tips (both fashion and personal) and even helped style some lucky ladies (Heidi Dillon and Tina Craig) in her fall designs. Here are some standout points the designer made while presenting her versatile and elegant fall 2009 collection.

Expose your shoulders: They never gain weight. Shoulder pads accent the shoulder and delete the hips.
Start with a bodysuit everyday: It flattens the body and functions as a good base, it’s like wearing hosiery.
Wardrobe essentials: Bodysuit, pants, top, scarf, jacket, skirt, dress and accessories.
On draping: It slenderizes and supports the body by bringing in the waistline.
Grey is great: accents almost any color (red, blue, camel, etc) and is a good foundation. Goes from day to night.
Red accents: Feminine, beautiful, and strong. A classic with a twist.
Find the calm in the chaos: Meditation, yoga, and focus on overall health care for ourselves. The designer is the co-founder of Urban Zen Foundation that helps to raise awareness and inspire change in well-being, preserving cultures, and empowering children.
Biggest pet peeve: Changing the system and timing of fashion. Time purchasing – buy fall in fall, and spring in spring.
What to expect from the designer next (for spring 2010): a lot of white

Amazing statement necklaces designed by Robert Lee Morris

We loved meeting the down-to-earth designer and can’t wait to see the spring 2010 collection at New York Fashion Week next month!

It’s really happening – Michael Ablon promised three restaurants in the Design District,( or what he likes to call Lower Oak Lawn), last spring.  I was pretty wowed by his ambitious promise for three restaurants when it’s been pretty hard to convince any local restauraneur to open in a week day only locale like the Design Center is, but Shannon Wynne has taken the plunge and is opening the Meddlesome Moth (crazy name) next spring.  In the Dallas News article he admits he may be crazy, but a) Ablon seems to get things done, b) there are really aparments right next door, and  c) designers and showroom people are notoriously fond of drinking and eating.  Plus, the old Ann Sacks place is really cool with all the mosaic and tile displays still inlaid in the floor.  Does it worry anyone that the Moth doesn’t end in O?