Oresta Facial

I'm not one to get facials all the time but since I received an Oresta Facial gift certificate for Christmas - I just had to use it.  I was pleasantly surprised that getting a facial treatment at Oresta's included an added bonus of an arm, shoulder and foot massage, plus an eyebrow clean-up, on top of pampering your face. My favourite treatment was the nice hot towels on your face.

Oresta customizes your facial treatment to your individual skin type needs. Therefore you won't have any type of reaction, instead you will leave the spa looking lovely and glowing.

Oresta uses primarily the Eminence Organic skin care line in all their facial treatments. This is a wonderful line of products because they are exactly what all of us want in a skin care product: it is be made of:  "handmade, organically grown herb, fruit and vegetable-based skin care products free of synthetic preservatives, fragrances and colours." When they apply Eminence products on your face you can smell the different fruits contained in it - they almost smell good enough to eat.

In the end of my facial treatment, I felt incredibly relaxed and truthfully my skin looked radiant and revitalized. I had a glow about my skin which I haven't had in a long time. The other great thing about Oresta's there is no pressure for you to buy their products, they will be a happy to inform you of any products you are interested in but with no pressure.

If you need a boost this winter, think about getting an Oresta Facial Treatment. Oresta has two locations, in Hintonburg and in the Glebe.

Target taking over Zellers

If you are a cross border shopper, you will be happy to hear that Target is moving to Canada from the US. Target will be taking over Zellers and plan to eventually open 200 to 250 outlets across Canada. Beginning in 2013, they will start off with opening 100 to 150 Target stores. For the Zeller locations that are not being converted to Target, they will be sold off.

I for one will be sad to see Zellers go, I have been a big supporter of Zellers in Huntsville. They always seemed to have something I wanted at a discount price. However, I am curious to see what Target has to offer. Target claims to be a "hipper version of Walmart" and more higher end.



Courtesy of The Financial Post

Target also plans to 'woo' Canadian customers with an offer of 5% off every shopping trip when you use the Target credit and debit card - not a bad incentive.



There has been no word yet if they will be opening any Target stores in Ottawa - I'm fairly certain there will be at least one.  And you can bet I will be checking it out for bargains and buying clothes there so I can be a "hipper version of Walmart".

 

Benefit - Confessions of a Concealaholic: Younger Looking Eyes

As I'm aging I'm looking for ways to make my eyes look younger without going under the knife or Botox. I'm under 40 and I'm sick of people saying that I look tired - I'd rather them say "hey you look good for 38" or "you're 38, I thought you were 28!". So I have been on a crusade to find products to make me look younger. I found one makeup product that I believe make my eyes look brighter and more youthful, it is called "Confessions of a Concealaholic" by Benefit Cosmetics.  This is a concealer and brightening kit that contains multiple products.

The Kit Contains

That Gal: Brightening face primer.
Erase Paste: Brightening camouflage for eyes and face 

Boi-ing Concealer 01 Light:  For concealing fair complexions.

Boi-ing Concealer 02 Medium: For concealing medium complexions.

Eye Bright: Pale pink instant eye brightener.

Lemon Aid: Sheer pale yellow color correcting eyelid primer
Brushes: Labelled for each product.
Booklet: Step-by-step lesson .

The two products I believe that made a difference were the Eye Bright and Lemon Aid products. The Eye Bright applied at the corners of your eye and below your eyebrow definitely perk up your eyes with a youthful pink hue. Lemon Aid, is a yellow tinted eyelid primer and when spread evenly over your eyelids make them look refreshed and not so tired.

The Boi-ing concealer products do their job, they conceal all of your imperfections and Erase Paste helps decrease the look of dark circles under the eyes. I was excited to use That Gal, the brightening face primer with a pink hue but it doesn't make me look as radiant as it claims. I believe if you have paler skin, it would work for you.

I have been using these products for about a week now and I noticed noone has said that I look tired. However, I'm still waiting for people to say I look younger - maybe Botox will be in my future.

You can find Confessions of a Concealaholic at Sephora, Shoppers Drug Mart, Murale or online at Benefit Cosmetics.

Murale: For Beautiful Eyebrows

I have heard the best place in town to get your eyebrows done was Murale located on Bank at the corner of Laurier in downtown Ottawa. Murale is part of Shoppers Drug Mart and you get the bonus of earning Shoppers Optimum Points when you purchase products or services at Murale. 

Murale has this very cool and specialized "Benefit Brow Bar" and claim that your brows will "look groomed and gorgeous" once they are finished with you. Be prepared if you are getting your brows done, this is a professional job and they take their time doing your eyebrows.

First, they recommend that you don't tweeze your eyebrows at least three weeks prior to your visit; this will allow your hair to be at a more even growth pattern and provide easier maintenance between appointments.

Your treatment starts off with a consultation of your eyebrows with the aesthetician. The aesthetician examines your eyebrows, does some measurements and discusses with you the desired shape that you want and then gives you their recommendations. 

Then once you agree to the shape, the aesthetician will begin waxing most of the undesired hairs and then tweeze other stray hairs. They may even trim any long hairs so the brows look neat and tidy. In the end your eyebrows will have some shape and look defined.

The final step the aesthetician will use the Benefit Brow filler called "Brow Zing" to fill in any sparse areas that were over plucked or to add a slight arch and definition to your brow for an instant eye lift.

Once the aesthetician is finished she will recommend that you come back in the next three to four weeks and that you don't pluck them in between visits.

From all the different spas I have been to in Ottawa, Murale is definitely the best place to get your eyebrows done - I highly recommend them. Let me know what you think of them and what your experience was.