License to massage feet
A wave of new trends in the beauty industry has stepped up in the U.S. – one in particular is gaining recognition: foot massage. Not only are people willing to shell out $15-$30 for a foot rub, but The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in California has also recognized a need for regulation. In a recent article about regulating foot massage parlors, some business owners are feeling the pinch from the Board.

These businesses are being subjected to closings and fines when their employees can not produce proper certificates. Since foot massage is still new to the U.S., state officials feel that foot massage falls under the regulation of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. And, beauty schools do not teach the very narrow field of foot massage.

To become licensed, employees would have to take classes that would also involve nails and hair care . Since the employees are only dealing with feet, many business owners think that there should be no regulation until the proper laws are set in place.

BeautySchool.com wants to know … what’s your opinion? Is the board warranted in pushing for more regulation of foot massage parlors?

Try this for healthy, young-looking skin!

My boyfriend’s mom is in amazing shape. She recently became a certified nutrition coach – her area of expertise is in whole foods. She practices everything she preaches – and more. In fact, when it comes to local and green living, she’s one of the savviest people around.

Recently, she shared something with me that completely amazed, shocked and inspired me. So, I have to pass my new-found wisdom along to you.

I’ve always thought that skin damage was permanent and that, unless you paid tons of money for injections or surgeries, you were stuck with it. Guess what? That’s not true! According to my boyfriend’s mom (I’ve seen 15 year-old-pictures of her that prove it), you can improve your skin’s health through completely natural and super-cheap method.

Aside from eating healthful, local and mostly organic foods that have done wonders to improve her health overall, she attributes much of her skin’s healthy glow to a really common and inexpensive ingredient: carrots. She simply juices a few carrots in the morning for a beta-carotene, vitamin and mineral packed drink.

Breaking it down
Beta-carotene absorbed into your skin can help protect it from UV rays. And, when your body converts it into vitamin A it helps develop skin cells and promotes skin health.

Plus, the vitamin C in carrots is a powerful antioxidant that can clean up the free radicals caused by overexposure to the sun. Vitamin C also helps in the formation of collagen which helps keep skin looking young.

How to juice
Juicing carrots is really easy, too. You just have to take several large carrots and clean them with water and a vegetable brush. Be sure not to peel them because a lot of nutrients are stored in the upper surfaces. Put them in a juicer and drink immediately to get the most nutrients.

I’ve also heard that eating a ton of carrots can turn your skin orange, but as long as you don’t go overboard, drinking carrot juice will give your skin a natural tan and give you a soft glow.

The best part: it’s delicious!

The doctor is in … the fish tank!

There is a new trend in pedicures, and it involves using fish to get the job done. These fish are commonly known as doctor fish. During these fish pedicures, clients soak their feet in water filled with tiny swimming carp that munch on the bottom of their feet. Sounds gross, but the trend is already popular in Turkey and some Asian countries.

How the pedicure works is the fish eat away at rough, dry spots on the bottom of your feet. Some think that this method is safer and more sanitary than using a razor to shave off the skin. So far, Virginia is the only state where this fishy pampering has popped up.

Depending on what kind of treatment you choose to receive, you can dip your feet in your own fish tank for 15 or 30 minutes. After that, it is business as usual. That is with a person performing the rest of the pedicure. Some who have had the treatment say it is the best pedicure they have ever gotten. Only time will tell if a fish tank pedicure will swing your way.

We at BeautySchool.com would love to hear any stories about the new fish pedicure treatment. Does it work or doesn’t it? Tell us!

With all of the rage and pressure to go green, there are some places that are taking that to heart. I ran across this great article about greening your schools. The article I’m referring to is Do Colleges Need Green Czars?  And I found out that colleges and universities are hiring people dedicated to making their schools more eco-friendly.

The ‘campus sustainability coordinators’ are people hired to help make the changes to an old school. Or they are brought in at the developmental stages of the new buildings to make them green.

This topic piqued my interests because some schools use more energy than others. I wanted to know which of these schools are turning over a new leaf. When you think of it – a cosmetology school might use more electricity and energy than a standard college. My thoughts about this were from the fact that cosmetology schools use a lot of water and energy for their styling tools. So I wanted to know if beauty schools were following suit in hiring Green Czars to transform their schools into eco-friendly ones.

After some digging – I found that some cosmetology schools were taking the initiative in going green. Some Aveda schools use energy-efficient light bulbs and water sensors to help control the use of water. Some have even set-up a recycling program to help curb the waste that is piling up in the trashcans.

It is good to know that some schools are taking responsibility and learning of the impacts that they have on the planet. Now, it is up to you to research the beauty school you want to go to and find out if they are helping the problem. And if they’re not doing all they could, you can become your own kind of “Green Czar” and help out once you’re a student!

Since Beautyschool.com has made a commitment to focus on an all natural, eco-friendly  approach to beauty, then you will love this post! I am always searching for the next green beauty product. But, I found one in the most unlikely of places – my pantry!

You have heard of baking soda and how powerful cleaning agent it can be. You can clean your kitchen, carpets, bathrooms and now – your hair. After reading one of my fav blogs, Eco Chick , I found a post on using baking soda as your shampoo or adding baking soda your shampoo to add an extra cleaning kick!

So the next time you want to cleanse your hair and you don’t want to grab a chemical concoction shampoo – then just add baking soda to your hair care routine. It is all natural and can go a long way in the cleaning department.

I have been on the hunt for a powder that will last through the day and not feel itchy on my skin. I have tried several different brands, including Bare Minerals, Glo Minerals and Physicians’ Formula, and they all have one thing in common – they make my face feel all scratchy. And scratching my face rubs off the makeup. So, I have now been going to work sans makeup – yikes! I thought that all was lost and I would forever be that person who doesn’t wear makeup – not that there is anything wrong with that. But I would like to put my best face forward. Sorry, but I will have to have makeup for that!

So I have been hunting for the perfect mineral makeup. One that won’t scratch my face, be all natural and cruelty-free. With so many restrictions, I didn’t think that I would find a powder until I ran across one on a blog that I read. Lipstick, powder ‘n paint featured a post about a new powder from Smashbox, Halo Hydrating Powder. Not only does the powder contain 60 minerals including gold, but it is also a hydrating powder that can help replenish your skin and help fight fine lines! Sounds too good to be true – but I am going to put it to the test!

I haven’t tried the powder yet, but over the weekend I am planning a trip to Sephora and buying some! I know that price tag is over my budget, but sometimes a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!

I will write my new findings and share if it works or doesn’t! Check back here on BeautySchool.com next week and let’s see if this wonder powder works on my skin.

We at Beautyschool.com appreciate skin care products that are eco-friendly and cheap! I have found a great way to have a luxury facial from the comforts of your own home. When I was reading one of my favorite beauty blogs, I came across a post about French green clay and how beneficial it was to all types of skin tones. The clay acts as a great an absorbent for oily skin tones and helps with acne-prone skin types as well.

You can make your own facial right at home and know that what you are putting on your face doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or preservatives. That can only help the minds of your eco chicks who want to have a green alternative to facial masks.

Here is what you need:

•    1 tbsp French Green Clay
•    1/2 tbsp grapefruit juice (or carrot juice, if you have dry patches)
•    1 tsp honey
•    Drop of your favorite essential oil (optional)

Directions:

Mix the clay with the grapefruit juice and then add the honey and the essential oil, if using. Smooth the mixture onto your face and leave it on for about 15 minutes or until it dries completely. Gently remove it with a warm wet washcloth.

This facial mask is so gentle; you can use it twice a week. French green clay can be found at health food stores.

For the last 3 weeks, I have looked shabby by noon. Let me rephrase, my eyes have looked shabby by noon. And I don’t mean shabby chic, I mean plain ol’ shabby.  I found out that I was allergic to my $25 shadow control crème. I stopped using it in hopes I would quit looking like I moonlight at a night job.

My allergic reaction was that my eyes were tired and red by the time I was ready to eat my left-over lunch. But, I think that I found a remedy for my crazy eyes.  While at Sally Beauty to buy hair products for my son (which was great, and look for the post on that one), I happened upon Claudia Stevens Eye Shadow Base. It was only $2.49 on sale!!

After checking Sally’s return policy (just in case this made me look like a mad woman as well) I purchased the eye shadow base and since then have been quite pleased. Not only does my eye shadow go on better, it actually stays on until the end of the day. Yep, when the work day rolls to a close – I still look gorgeous. All the while knowing that I still must cook dinner for my family. Maybe a woman can have it all!

p.s. I would even purchase it for the 7 bucks I found it for on the web.

We all have them laying around the house – in our cabinets, drawers and shoe boxes. But, what do you do with your nail polish that just sits there? Well, I found a great article about just that! You don’t want to wait for your nail polish to fall over and leak everywhere, and you don’t want to trash it. So what do you do with the colors that are past their prime?

Instead of just throwing away good polish and money – try some of these suggestions. I found that some where very helpful, like:

• Use to stop runs on your stockings. Use clear nail polish for anything that will be showing; darker colors for runs hidden under clothes.
• Dab on to the end of frayed shoelaces or string to keep from unraveling.
• Use to mark work levels on measuring cups or buckets.
• Use as a carpenter’s mark on wood or other projects.
• Give to kids for art projects.
• Use to hide chips in ceramics and pottery.
• Use to mark your desired water temperature on the thermostat.
• Dab on warts. Disclaimer: I read several instances where this is said to work – I don’t know that for sure.
• Use to touch up worn spots on leather furniture, clothing or shoes.
• Paint over screws, especially those on sinks, tubs, toilets and outside fixtures, to prevent rusting.

And that is only half the list! And just think if you are a nail technician – the amount of bottles you might have could be endless! You could even donate some to friends and family so they can enjoy the features of nail polish!

I am steadily making my way towards a lifestyle that can be maintained with the use of fewer chemicals on my skin and in my household. There has been so much chatter lately on the chemicals in cosmetics and how they are potentially harmful to humans and/or the environment (check out this article on chemicals in beauty products), that I’ve been making conscious efforts to read labels and make safer decisions on the products I purchase.

It can be difficult, though, because it seems like choosing “natural” or “organic” products would be the safest route to go, but a lot of that is marketing hype. I did find a great article about the definitions and regulations in organic beauty product labels. Looks like this summer there is finally going to be a regulating body for products labelled “natural” so not just anyone using coconut oil as a single ingredient can tout “natural” in their product labelling unless they meet other strict requirements.

However, I’ve discovered a unique new beauty product that doesn’t actually have any chemical ingredients, so I know it’s safe for my skin and the environment. It’s the Jane Iredale Magic Mitt.

My grandmother got this for me on Mother’s Day, and I was truly intrigued. It’s a soft wash mitt that you use with only warm water to wash your face – no soap or cleanser needed. It’s supposed to be better for your skin because their are no chemicals to affect the pH balance of your skin. This is important because a normal skin pH balance is what helps block harmful bacteria from entering your pores and causing blemishes and infection.

Thanks for reading the BeautySchool.com blog!

So, does it work? I thought since I wear mineral makeup it might have a better chance of working than if I used a liquid foundation, but I was skeptical that warm water and a fancy wash rag could remove my eye makeup. But, I’ve used it for four days now, and ALL my makeup has been coming off easily (and visibly on the mitt!). It has a nice gentle exfoliating effect too. My skin feels just as clean as if I used my cleanser, but I don’t get that tight, itchy, almost-too-clean feeling either. The verdict? I will continue using the Magic Mitt.

This change means I’ve successfully cut out another 35 mostly-unpronouncable chemicals from my daily beauty routine! Since I’ve already recently switched to Avalon Organics Vitamin C Toner, my next challenge is to find a new, more natural moisturizer!