Busy beauty CLT

As everyone keeps their fingers crossed for warmer weather, lots of spring beauty-related events are popping up around Charlotte.

On Thursday, the local Aveda Institute is hosting its "All About You" customer appreciation event from 6-8 p.m.

Freebies include stress fix hand massages, chakra balancing head and neck massages, mini facials and more, including product and service discounts.

There are also about a billion ways to enter to win a $50 Aveda gift card, especially through their Facebook page. Want to go? 1520 South Blvd.

Also starting Thursday is Woo Skincare and Cosmetic's two-day Natura Bissé  event. Call ahead reservations are a must ( 704-333-0443) but there are still a few spots left.

Appointments will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature "Time Rescue," an anti-aging treatment based on a deep facial cure that helps purify and nurture skin. A complimentary facial ($200 value) with Natura Bissé's aesthetician is included and a gift (valued at $370) comes with a Natura Bissé purchase.

Want to go? 2900A Selwyn Ave.

If Woo's Natura Bissé  event is already full, Jeffre Scott Apothecary will be holding an LED light facial event with Natura Bissé  brand rep Stephanie Trigg April 8-10.

Speaking of Jeffre Scott, they've also got an event planned for Friday and Saturday, but this go round, the local store is featuring Felicia Roman, national makeup artist for Kevyn Aucoin Cosmetics. (Advance reservations are also a must for Jeffre Scott events, made by calling 704-339-0010, locations vary.)

The late Aucoin - makeup artist, photographer and author - has been heralded as the grandfather of makeup, creating some pretty incredible transformations, particularly turning modern celebs into old Hollywood royalty.

Believe it or not, that's Calista Flockhart on the left, as Audrey Hepburn, and Gwyneth Paltrow on the right, styled as James Dean. 

(Seriously: look what he did to Courtney Love - whom I'll always love and adore - and you have to admit the man was a genius.)

Have an upcoming beauty/style event? Email the details to htrenda@charlotteobserver.com. (At least two weeks in advance, when possible.)

Jeffre Scott + Goldfaden MD = reader giveaways

There’s a special panache that comes with being the one and only.

And starting next week, Charlotte’s Jeffre Scott Apothecary will be the first and only store in the Carolinas to offer products from the Goldfaden MD skincare line.

Scott’s Providence Road store has specialized in elite skincare and cosmetics since it opened in 2006. Prior to owning his shop in Charlotte, Scott’s resume included being a national makeup artist for Chanel and a career in NYC that ranged from buying for Barney’s New York to starting his own retail product management firm.

Jeffre Scott Apothecary will be the first store in the Carolinas to offer Goldfaden skincare.

Needless to say, Scott has stringent criteria for the specialty items that stock his shelves. “We don’t have a lot, but what we have works.”

Goldfaden MD’s tag line of “Physician Strength, Naturally Inspired” hints at a number of attributes: Paraben- and petro-chemical free, 100 -percent vegetarian with no animal testing, hypo-allergenic, etc.
The big selling point: It’s the first natural skincare line (developed by a dermatologist) with physician strength results, according to brand officials. Products retail from $35 to $115.

Since hitting the market in October 2012, Goldfaden MD’s products have been named as faves by a range of magazines, from Self and Harper’s Bazaar UK to Real Simple and Marie Claire.

A lot of promotional material comes through the newsroom, but Scott receives even more product pitches from possible beauty vendors. So I asked Scott what made him want to offer Florida-based Goldfaden products at his store.

“My philosophy is about taking time to find a fit for (the Charlotte) market,” he said. Any potential products that pique his interest must also get a thumbs-up from his staffers and a few trusted clients, he said.

Goldfaden reps also know their core skincare customers: women who are 30-plus, naturally -focused, interested in natural ingredients (but don’t want to compromise efficacy levels or potency), who also want rapid, if not immediate, results.

“She’s the affluent mom who eats healthy, exercises, is fashion/beauty/brand conscious and wants to use products that are both effective and that she feels good about using,” brand reps said.

Scott prides himself on providing customers with an experience: No high-pressure sales tactics, plenty of education about possible products and readily available samples. “So they can walk away and feel confident in their purchase,” he said. “We’ve built that trust with the customer … and (value) cultivating a long-term customer rather than an immediate sale.”

After nearly a year of talks with the company and test runs by some of Scott’s most trusted, Goldfaden MD got rave reviews and the green light for his store.

 “It’s almost like a spa/doctor treatment at home … It’s results-driven,” Scott said, noting locals gave it five stars for component integrity and simplicity.

And Goldfaden reps felt Scott was a perfect fit for their first foray into the Carolinas. “We love Jeffre … It is a luxury niche, knowledgeable apothecary focusing on education and client service.”

It’s one thing for a business owner to talk up their newest product in a sales pitch and entirely another to be so confident you’re offering some for free. Sounds like giveaway time...

Scott provided two new, full-sized Goldfaden MD products: “Bright Eyes” dark circle radiance concentrate ($52 value) and “Wake Up Call” overnight regenerative facial treatment ($80 value).

Want to win?

Before Monday, send me an email with "Goldfaden" in the subject line. Please include which product you'd like to win, the Goldfaden MD attribute you're most excited about, your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number.

Just remember: If you win, you've got to report back with your results. (Bonus point to those who chronicle through photos.)

Want even more?

Jeffre Scott Apothecary will host a two-day event March 14-15 with Lauren Wolk Goldfaden - daughter-in-law of brand founder Dr. Goldfaden - and Lisa Goldfaden, Dr. Goldfaden's daughter.

This will be one of the first events in the store's spring beauty event calendar, featuring a variety of brand creators and experts nearly every weekend from March 8-April 24.

All events have limited availability and require a $75 RSVP (to be applied towards any purchase.) Details and to register: 704-339-0010; sheila@jeffrescott.com.

Defeating the dry skin of winter

Not sure about anyone else, but this week – despite a Burt’s Bees addiction – my lip got so dry it cracked. I’m about one sniffle away from a serious nose bleed and static electricity is reigning chaos in my clothing and hair.

Thanks so much, frigid outdoor air and comfortably convenient, yet drying, central heating systems. How can shins go from gloriously tan to scaly-looking in such a surprisingly short amount of time?

“The winter months are colder, drier, our skin just can’t hold on to water,” said skin health specialist Melody Robinson, a licensed esthetician at Charlotte Plastic Surgery.

“Skin can get irritated and itchy, and there are other areas besides the face (such as arms, hands and lower legs) that are more affected by drier skin.”

Robinson shared a number of pro tips and recommendations to help keep skin hydrated, if not glowing.

(Gentlemen, pay attention to this, you can benefit too.)

Robinson's No. 1 pick for combating winter withering?

"In November, as soon as I turn my heat on, I put a cool mist humidifier in  my bedroom," Robinson said. "(Turning it on overnight) helps with everything," she said, adding the humidifier will up the moisture content in the air while you sleep. Whether it's avoiding a dry throat in the morning or escaping a nosebleed, your body will thank you.

These can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make them: some double as air purifiers and require filters, others are made for kids' rooms and are shaped like cows/penguins/frogs, etc.

On the lips
Robinson swears by Aquafor Lip Repair by Eucerin. "I've been using it for 12 years. It has Vitamin E, shea butter, it keeps lips hydrated and keeps moisture in." Appropriate for all skin types, Robinson said, it can be used as needed throughout the day and doctors often recommend the balm to patients on Acutane. (An acne treatment procedure that's the queen mother of all drying processes.)

Be advised though, this product doesn’t contain sunscreen, which is still necessary no matter what the temperature, Robinson said.

Available at most national retailers. The cheapest we found it online was for $3.59 at drugstore.com.

The holiday glow

After a long summer of religious sunscreen use and sweating, Robinson said, fall and winter are a time "when you're really trying to heal, exfoliate, regenerate and hydrate and get that glow back." 

Five steps to follow for your face: 

1) Cleanse with a gentle face wash that removes excess oil, dirt and makeup without stripping the skin, which can lead to dryness and irritation, Robinson said. Definitely look for a product without sulfates. Her recommendation is Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser, available at drugstores.

2) Gently exfoliate, with a lactic acid solution such as Theraderm Fruit Acid Exfoliant, which gently scrubs away dry outer-skin layers and stimulates new growth and collagen production, Robinson said. 

She also recommends using a Clarisonic brush, a type of cleansing unit, a few times a week, as it allows for better product and moisture absorption. 

A heads up, not all facial brushes are created equal, Robinson said, which is why Clarisonic has the corner on the market. Yes, Neutrogena and Oil of Olay, among other brands, offer much cheaper versions. 

But the drugstore brands might be too harsh with dry, sensitive skin; they don't have interchangeable heads - Clarisonic makes brush heads for delicate, sensitive, acne-prone and normal skin types, among others - and move in a way that pulls skin too much, she said. 

"Clarisonic has ultrasonic vibrations," Robinson said. "I've had mine for years, everyone needs one ... they're a really good investment to make, no one would be sorry." Clarisonic brushes retail at $100+ and are available at fine department stores, beauty specialists such as Sephora and Ulta and online.)

3) Address discoloration with alpha hydroxy creams and chemical peels or broadband light sessions. Robinson recommends SkinMedica Lytera Skin Brightening Complex.

4) Moisturize. This will vary by skin type. Oily or acne-prone skin should look for oil-free products (with sunscreen), Robinson said, where as those in their 50’s would benefit from regenerative, anti-aging products. Her pick: NIA24 Intensive Recovery Complex.

5) Prevent further damage. “Thinking you don’t need sunblock in winter is a misconception. You can get UVA rays on your way to work,” Robinson said. For those who are often outdoors or headed for the ski slopes, she recommends Revision Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 50.

Cosmo UK tweeted about their winter beauty commandments Wednesday afternoon, many of which line up with Robinson's advice.

Now to find a fix for my fly-aways...

Vampire facelifts: This is a trend?

Sorry, come again?

Apparently if I kept up with the Kardashians (snort) I'd already be aware that as bizarre as they sound, Vampire Facelifts are a seemingly legitimate, registered and trademarked procedure.

Before you go Googling, take a second to think about what the name implies.

Vampire. Facelift.

(Are you trading your soul for eternally magnificent skin? What does the finished product even look like?)

Like those sparkling Cullens from the "Twilight" series, that - regardless of how idiotic they might be - were portrayed as genuinely good-looking?

Or Vampire as in Bela Lugosi in "Dracula"?

Not a bad looking cat, but that's not what I want my face to look like. 

Personally, when you start mixing mythical creatures like vampires with modern beauty procedures, I can't help but envision something like this:

Those cheekbones. The brows. Amazing.

So I'm going to need some clarification on what type of vampire we're talking about.

Thankfully, Carolina Wellness's Maria Hamrick - licensed esthitician, medical assistant and laser technician - took the time to walk me through what the Vampire Facelift entails.

The short version: A patient’s own blood is drawn, spun through a centrifuge and the resulting platelets are re-injected – in combination with a hyaluronic acid such as Restylne or Juvéderm – at strategic points in the face, Hamrick said. That includes deep wrinkles and saggy skin that’s dull or grayish.

Lauded by fans as an alternative to Botox, the Vampire Facelift has been around at least since 2011 and allegedly improves skin tone and color, as well as lift saggy skin and fill lines and wrinkles. But critics call it a gimmick, with results comparable to other injectable dermal fillers.

If you head over to Vampirefacelift.com, the site spells out each step of the procedure. (The best is probably No. 3: "Injecting the magic into your face." WHAT?!)

So how much blood are we talking? About two teaspoons, Hamrick said, adding it’s the hyaluronic acid that provides immediate results. Apparently it can take a week or two before the "magic," erm, PRP, produces visible results.

A Vampire Facelift runs about $1,500 and is not something insurance covers, Hamrick said. But the entire session – which includes sitting for 30 minutes with a numbing cream on the face and about 10 minutes for the blood work, followed by injections – takes an hour tops with no downtime, Hamrick said.

Happy Halloween.