On Monday, November 21^st I attended the red carpet premier of the reality makeover web series, “In The Chair”. This new docu-series highlights women who have not had the privilege of experiencing a full spa experience for a variety of reasons, ranging from negative makeover experiences in the past to heartfelt stories of personal tragedy.

Show host Stephen Marinaro (better known as TheSalonGuy) treats each woman  to a head-to-toe makeover at award-winning spas and salons in New York and New Jersey, showing both clients and viewers at home the caliber of quality we should all expect from our salons.

Live Performances prior to the episode launch.

The event on Monday was packed. Both women and men came out to socialize as they enjoyed live performances, food, and support the show’s launch…but I don’t think many expected the impact this premier episode would have.  When the episode aired, I was blown away by the courage of Donna, recipient of TheSalonGuy’s  first makeover treatment and survivor of horrific domestic abuse.

Donna, a beautiful, soft-spoken woman spoke candidly about her abusive, tumultuous marriage – her husband suffered from various mental illnesses and she was constantly at the mercy of his outbursts. She was denied a social life, and each visit to a salon for a haircut or treatment ignited her then-husband’s jealous rage, and the abuse would begin. The abuse and outbursts escalated, and Donna finally gathered the courage to walk away after being shot in the face – the bullet was lodged in her eardrum and blew out her eye.

It was incredible to hear someone speak so openly about her past, and there seems to be no one more deserving of TheSalonGuy’s royalty treatment than Donna.  She  and her daughter were taken to Vito Mazza Salon in Woodbridge, NJ (a place I have frequented myself in the past) and given a full spa experience, complete with massage and hair treatment. The audience gathered anxiously around the screens, waiting for the premier. This was the first time Donna had been pampered in far too long, and her joy –undoubtedly paired with a hint of nervousness — was impossible to ignore.

After the episode ended, the event concluded with Donna walking onstage in front of our audience to roars and applause.

It’s refreshing to find a show that focuses on inner beauty just as much as (if not more than) outward appearances. Words alone cannot do the episode of “In The Chair” justice.

Watch the premiere episode of the online reality show on Youtube here.

Amanda Huggins

Amanda is a PR and communications girl living and working in the NYC area. She is a firm believer in the powers of a strong cup of coffee and fire-engine red lipstick.

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It’s an exciting week around here at A Girl’s Gotta Spa! This Tuesday between 4pm-5pm EST, NEPA Blogs‘ Harold Jenkins will be featuring A Girl’s Gotta Spa! on PA Live (check your local provider for channel.)

NEPA Blogs is a clearinghouse of blogs that are either about Northeast PA or are written by people who live in Northeast PA (that’s me!) PA Live is Northeast PA’s newest live lifestyle show and can be seen on WBRE (an NBC affiliate.) I’m so excited for my local area to get to know me and my passion for beauty (and people!) And it couldn’t come at a better time with the SHAPE Magazine Best Beauty Blogger Awards going on right now! (I really need your vote!)

Even if you are not local here in NEPA (i.e. Scranton-yes home of The Office, Wilkes Barre-recently on the news for the flooding from Irene/Lee and the Poconos-I live by a beautiful spot known as Lake Wallenpaupack), you can still watch the live stream of the show on PA Live’s website.

Thank you to NEPA Blogs and PA Live for the press! I’m so grateful! xx

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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As I look to expand my contributors here at A Girl’s Gotta Spa!, I am very excited to announce that Marta Wohrle from Truth in Aging will now be contributing a post here on a weekly basis. Why would I be so excited about this you ask? Because I have long been a fan of Marta’s blog and how she provides real and truthful reviews of products. She definitely is a great fit here! Some of Marta’s team will also contribute posts from time to time as well.

So please help me in welcoming Marta and the Truth in Aging team to A Girl’s Gotta Spa!

Interested in being a contributor here as well? Please submit your request and where I can find your portfolio via my Contact page and I will get back to you with the details.

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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Guest beauty post from Prime Beauty Blog

Summer is in full swing and whether you’re having a picnic in the park, watching a baseball game or splashing with the kids in the pool, you want your makeup to stay put and not end up dripping down your face. Lighten up your makeup routine for the summer months with these waterproof products:

1. Ditch your regular foundation and opt for a tinted moisturizer. A tinted moisturizer serves a dual purpose providing much needed moisture and sheer color. It looks and feels lighter on your skin and eliminates the need for a separate moisturizer saving time for summer fun! Make sure to choose a tinted moisturizer with at least a SPF of 15. My picks: Urban Decay Urban Defense, SPF 20($30) and FusionBeauty Prime Results ($40). If you’re looking for for more coverage, Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer can’t be beat!

2. Try waterproof eyeliner. There is nothing that can make your eyes pop and come alive like colored eyeliner. Make Up For Ever Aqua Liners ($23) come in 15 colors so you’re sure to find a shade right for you. Aqua Liners are available in three finishes; Matte, Diamond and Iridescent. Go from a classic matte black cat eye look to a bright purple sparkling eye. These are completely waterproof and last through heat, humidity and a dip in the pool. They do NOT come off until you take them off. The stiff pointed tip applicator makes eye lining easy-peasy!

3. Use a waterproof mascara so you don’t end up looking like Snookie. I like L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara for long length. Although I haven’t personally tried the new Urban Decay Cannonball ($20), it’s getting fantastic reviews–no more raccoon eyes.

4. Benefit Cheek Stains ($29) come in three smudge-proof, budge proof shades. I’m partial to the new Coral-ish Cha Cha Tint, (no surprise there), Posie Tint is a sweet pink and the original Benetint imparts a pretty natural red flush. The texture is a lightweight watery gel that gives you time to blend. The packaging—a small jar with a brush applicator is the same for all three. Those who know me well know that I am a coral freak, however I really like the original Benetint for summer. It gives the cheeks such a nice natural glow–like you’ve playing beach volleyball/golf/tennis (insert your favorite sport here) in the sun. Pat several small dots along the cheekbone and blend with your fingers. These are supposed to be suitable for the lips too, but I find Benetint too thin for that. Right now, Sephora has an exclusive Feelin’ Cheeky Mini set ($15) that includes a mini Benetint, Posie Tint and High Beam–a shimmering pink highlighter.

5. A Waterproof Bronzer? You betcha! Although I don’t particularly advocate a full face of makeup for the beach or pool, but if you’re super pale like me or are watching your sun exposure, you may want to use a bronzer. Get the Bronzed Goddess look without the sun damage with Tarte Park Ave. Princess Matte Waterproof Bronzer ($29). This bronzer lives up to its claim, it truly is waterproof–I know I tested it in the shower! This is my favorite bronzer for fair skinned beauties like me so I was thrilled when they came out with a waterproof version last summer. For darker toned skin, Hourglass also makes a waterproof bronzer.

6. Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow Pot($22.80). Currently these are only available at QVC and they nothing short of amazing! They last all day, absolutely do NOT crease and come in five gorgeous shades. My favorites are Beach Bronze, Moss, Seashell Pink, Slate and Shimmering Plum–oops that’s all of them! Again, while you probably wouldn’t apply a full face of makeup to go to the beach, but how about when you’re baking in the sun at a neighborhood BBQ? Or cocktails at a sidewalk bar?  You may be melting in the heat, but your makeup will look fresh!

7. Stila Crush Lip and Cheek Stain ($24) these stains are fantastic! The texture is very thin, almost watery and they last and last. They come in 8 shades from the bronzy Coconut Crush to the bright Raspberry Crush. I love Mango or Raspberry, bright, summery shades that look great with a tan!

My Summer Beauty 5 minute face–A good tinted moisturizer with SPF, Tarte Park Ave. Princess Waterproof Bronzer on the high planes of the face, (where the sun would normally hit), a touch of Benetint blush, Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow in a neutral shades, Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in a bright shade, Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara & Stila Mango Crush Lip Stain. Now I’m prepared for summer heat, humidity and maybe getting throw in the pool!

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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As the weather warms up and we’re slowly but surely getting enticed to brave the sunny outdoors for summery activities, it’s always important to make sure to be adequately protected from the sun. And while it may be easy to remember slathering on SPF for all your vital exposed skin, it’s also important to give proper attention to extra-sensitive areas like your lips! Having chapped lips is one of the #1 summer beauty woes (not to mention that fact that it makes sipping salt-rimmed margaritas much more painful than necessary!), and lets face it — regular gloss often just doesn’t cut it when it comes to providing the moisturizing power you need.

My quick remedy is usually to layer balm and gloss to make sure I have my bases covered, but why not opt for a multi-tasking gloss-balm hybrid that shines while it soothes and protects? Perfect for girls who want a little sheen and color, don’t want to skimp on protection, and also want to lighten the load in their purse, these balm glosses are bound to be your #1 beauty must-have for the summer!

From left to right: Anastasia Hydrafull Gloss, Philosophy Kiss Me Very Emollient Lip Balm, By Terry Rose Balm Gloss, Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss, and Givenchy Gelée D’Interdit Smoothing Gloss Balm.

- Alex Gambardella

*Guest beauty post for A Girl’s Gotta Spa! from my friends at TheFind.com.

Shannon Nelson

Shannon Nelson launched A Girl's Gotta Spa! in 2005. She currently works with beauty brands as a social media consultant, freelance writes for magazines and is a public speaker at beauty industry conferences.

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One of the reasons I get insanely excited about Spring and Summer…besides the obvious warmer weather of course, is that this is the time of year when I actually have multiple and very valid excuses to go shopping for not only a new wardrobe but also new makeup and beauty products.  I mean you can’t really expect a girl to venture into Spring/Summer with products that are strongly scented and feel heavy.  While they might have been great for Fall/Winter, when used in Spring /Summer they might attract some very unwanted attention (ever been chased by Bees?) and can also leave you looking a hot mess…literally.  So I was looking forward to trying out a new line of bath and body products called Quench Bath & Body from Around the World (the around the world part comes from the fact that their formulations are based on beauty “secrets” from around the globe) that launched this month in the hopes that it would be my go to line for the warmer months. I also figured you can’t really go wrong with any beauty products that launch in Spring or Summer.

The products I tried were the Almond Sandal Facial Masque, the Saffron Herbal Body Wash, the Saffron Herbal Body Lotion, the Sandal Honey Body Butter and the African Black Soap All Over Wash.  First off everything smelled incredible.  None of the scents are overpowering or too strong for Summer, nothing was overtly fruity or flowery, and the scents were all unique and sophisticated but still very light.  My favorite scent was the Saffron Herbal Body Wash and Lotion…the scent is feminine, pretty and soft, in fact I wanted to slip on a sundress after using both.  A little bit of the wash does go a long way, which is always appreciated.

I absolutely LOVED the feel of the Sandal Honey Body Butter.  I was skeptical about using body butter in Miami…it’s only May and temps have already hit the high 90s, but this body butter worked great.  It moisturized without leaving me a sweaty, clammy mess.  The Almond Sandal Facial Masque was great too, it left my face feeling clean without stripping any moisture…my face was also noticeably softer after using the masque.  The African Black Soap All Over Wash however was not my favorite.  The scent was great, but my skin felt a bit dry after using it.

So far my first round of beauty product testing for summer has been successful.  I found a new body butter and body wash that I’m excited about, a definite plus that they not only make me want to bring out my girly side and wear pretty sundresses, but I also feel like I am doing my small part by purchasing products from Quench because the company employs small companies and co-ops, often from native communities and they also seek to foster fair trade.  They never use animal based ingredients in any of their products and never test on animals.  I have a few bridal and baby showers this summer so will most definitely be purchasing a few of the Quench gift sets so I can share the love with my girls.

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

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What is a model to do when the opportunity to shoot with an awesome photographer pops up last minute, but finding a great makeup artist to be on set at the last minute …on a Saturday…in the middle of Minneapolis Fashion Week…and in the beginning of wedding season, proves impossible…

Well in my case, she gets her makeup done before the photo shoot and hopes that it looks great on camera, stays put and goes with the hair and wardrobe once on set…that’s a lot of hoping!  I just could not leave that much to chance.  I needed to find a place to have my makeup done A.S.A.P and a department store makeup counter was not an option…nothing against department store makeup counters but I was already “hoping” that a lot of things would work out for the best and I did not want to “hope” that I would end up with an experienced makeup artist.  As luck would have it, during Minneapolis Fashion week I had the opportunity to be a part of a fashion show that was co-produced by  Smart & Chic Beauty Lounge and the makeup look they created for the show was absolutely amazing so I knew that’s where I needed to go to have makeup done…if they could fit me in at the last minute of course…and thanks to the founder of Smart & Chic, Julie Swenson, they did.

Smart & Chic Beauty Lounge is a Bridal Studio, Beauty Boutique and Blow Dry Bar that also carries some pretty amazing beauty brands as well as hair accessories and purses…I HAD to have the lip slip by Sara Happ and my new favorite makeup bag item; my love and toast roller perfume in candied citron…frankly I am still shocked that I only left with two items because I had my eye on a lot more.  Smart and Chics’ atmosphere is very warm, inviting, comfortable and feminine, thanks to the furniture and decor that are all either heirlooms of Julies’ grandmother or were acquired from local antique shops.  I was actually pretty bummed that it took makeup artist, Asia Schulz, less than an hour to create the look because I just did not want to leave my new happy place.

The makeup that Asia expertly applied was exactly what I had in mind for the shoot, it also lasted for the duration of the shoot and would have lasted longer had I not removed it (photo shoot makeup can be a bit much when you’re having dinner at a family restaurant). While I was getting my makeup done I also caught glimpses of hair and make up that was being created all around me and I can definitely see why it is a local favorite for bridal and special occasion hair and makeup.  I will be back in MN in July for a friends’ wedding and will definitely be making an appointment at Smart & Chic to have my makeup done…I also need to grab the rest of those fabulous  beauty products that I missed on the first round.

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

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Malcolm McLarens’ 1984 single Madame Butterfly inspired the look at Imitation. The look exuded both sensuality and sexuality; it was all about the eyes and lips.  In the words of lead makeup artist Nadine Luke for MAC Cosmetics, you “would want to look like that.”

To create the eyes, Feline eye pencil was blended on the lid (and applied to the lower lash line) with Legendary Black Pro Longwear Eye Shadow on top, Black Fix Studio Fix Lash mascara was applied to both upper and lower lashes and a shine gloss (to emulate the look of the girls in the steam room in the video) finished off the look.  On the lips Vino Lip Pencil was blended as a stain on the lips, then Media Lipstick was applied on top of the stain. Prep+Prime  Skin, Studio Sculpt Foundation, Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder and a very minimal application of Well Dressed Blush. 

~Gail

Gail Lewis

Gail is at times a model, most of the time a blogger, but always a beauty junkie.

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