Archive for March, 2009

Have you seen that episode of Friends, “The One with Ross’ Teeth?”  In a nutshell, Ross wants to impress his date by whitening his teeth, but leaves the gel on for too long. His teeth become insanely white! Hilarious episode – but not if this were you!  

Let’s be honest, at home teeth whitening strips/gels can get pretty annoying. They work to a certain degree, but only if you follow the directions perfectly! (The standard whitening strips require 30 minutes 2x a day for 7 days!) Talk about a time commitment! Plus, many leave that awful aftertaste! If you opt to get your teeth professionally whitened, the cost is anywhere between $300 and $600!

The Teeth Facts

• 99.7% of adults believe that the smile is the most important social asset
• 96% of adults think that an attractive smile is what appeals to them for a member of the opposite sex
• 74% of adults think an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s career success
• The majority of people say that they would like whiter and brighter teeth as the most popular thing they want to improve about their smile. [from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry]
• Today, teeth whitening is a 14 billion dollar industry that is growing ever year! 

At home teeth whitening is now easier than ever

Luckily, there’s a new product that says goodbye to teeth whitening dilemmas for good, and hello to whiter teeth.  The new Whiter Image TOGO Whitening Pen is a no hassle, no mess teeth whitening pen from a professional teeth whitening company.  Whiter Image was originally only available at prestigious and luxury salons, such as the The Spa at Trump’s at the Wynn in Las Vegas,  but now is available at Discount Beauty Center!

The Perks

• Quick, convenient brush on style
• Mint flavored with desensitizers for sensitive teeth
• Comes in a Sleek, portable aluminum case
• Dries quickly so you can be out the door in no time!
• Fast results – apply 2-4 times per day for one week to see your whiter smile

The Chic Way to White Teeth

Also available is the Chic-Flic Teeth Whitening and Lip Shine Plumper Pen, made exclusively for women. It’s the same trendy, TOGO pen but on one side is whitening gel and the other side is an over 80% organic lip plumper with vitamin infused ingredients. The tooth whitener / lip gloss / lip plumper pen also includes mini LED lights and a mirror…talk about convenient and stylish!  

What other are saying…

The pen is still fairly new to the market, but so far, the online reviews have been very positive!

• “It changed my view of teeth whitening all together - in a very good way.”
• “If you want whiter teeth with little or no fuss, this is your tool.”
• “Stars Jennie Garth, Courteney Cox, and Miley Cyrus are fans of it.”

For more information, read this exclusive interview with Whiter Image’s founding partner Christi Wigle, or visit Whiter Image’s Official Website.

NEW! Bare Escentuals 

100% Natural Perfect Lip Trios.   Everyone’s favorite mineral makeup brand introduces three new lip kits.  Each BE lip trio kit contains one of each the 100% Natural Lipliner, 100% Natural Lipcolor, and 100 % Natural Lipgloss for a completed, 100% perfect look.  Use all three combined or play with them individually!  These $41 values are only $30 when purchased as a set.   The Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Perfect Lip Trio comes in a shimmery bronze, a natural nude, and a more mature mauve (pictured). 

Free to BE Kits.  Designed to fit your personality, Bare Escentuals has created three new makeup sets with matching shades that complement one another.   Choose to BE Naturally Elegant (pictured), Naturally Adventurous, or Naturally Classic.  Each set  includes two shades of BareMinerales eye colors, one BareMinerals liner shadow, one shade of BareMinerals blush, and one 100% Natural Lip Gloss.  Each set also comes with its own personalized clutch!  The kits are valued at $61, but your price is only $39.50.

Buxom Babes Flower Girls Kit.  The set includes four of our favorite flowery Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polishes.  Set includes Rosie (a light ballerina pink), Lily (a light pink-lavender), Iris (sheer periwinkle), and Poppy (carnation pink).  A $36 value for only $28! 

New! Ed Hardy Fragrance Gift Sets

Ed Hardy Love and Luck Mermaid Gift Set.  Ed Hardy’s Love and Luck Ladies’ Perfume is self proclaimed to be “Intoxicating. Vivacious. Tantalizing.”  This scent is for individuals who want to emit a sense of playful sophistication. Each set includes one large bottle (3.4 oz) and one travel sized bottle (.25 oz) of the Ladies’ Love and Luck Eau de Parfum Spray, a 3 oz bottle of the Love and Luck Body Lotion, and a 2 oz bottle of the Love and Luck Shower Gel.

Ed Hardy Eternal Love Gift Set.  This set features Ed Hardy’s original women’s fragrance.  Each set includes one of each the large bottle (3.4 oz) and small bottle (.25 oz) of the “delicious and very addictive” Ed Hardy Women’s Eau de Parfum Spray, a 3 oz bottle of Shimmering Body Lotion, and a 2 oz bottle of Ed Hardy Women’s Shower Gel.

New! CHI Flat Irons

Chi Turbo Ceramic Flat Iron.  We now have the 1″ Turbo Ceramic Flat Iron and the 1 and 1/2″ Turbo Ceramic Flat Iron.  CHI straighteners are known for their advanced ionic and digital technology.  These particular flat irons have special temperature control and automatic shut off.  Choose the 1 inch model for medium length hair, and the 1 and 1/2 inch model for longer lengths.

New! T3 Bespoke Hair Appliances

T3 Bespoke Tourmaline Narrow Duality 1″ Flat Iron.    This new iron has a tourmaline infused, precision ceramic plate technology that produces up to 450 degrees of heat.  The plates are designed to stay in place, which create smooth, non-frizzy, shiny hair.  This straightener is perfect for all hair types!

T3 Bespoke Tourmaline Featherweight Hair Dryer.   This updated Bespoke model combines their light, featherweight design with the new Flawless T3 tourmaline technology (they call it their secret ingredient).  The dryer now provides unique ionic and infrared properties which result in 70% faster drying time.  

T3 Bespoke Tourmaline Evolution Hair Dryer.  This model also contains the new T3 Flawless technology.  In addition, the Evolution dryer has two speed settings in addition to four heat settings, which allows you to choose the setting that’s right for your hair.    At 2000 watts, this dryer is extremely powerful, but is still both lightweight and quiet.  The perfect combination!

T3 Bespoke Overnight Hair Dryer.  This ultra portable dryer (pictured) features the same Flawless T3 technology with a more compact, collapsible design.  Unlike other portable dryers, this travel size hair dryer features a true ceramic heater, to prevent slowing down drying time.  It also features dual voltage (110 V or 220 v) which is extremely convenient when going abroad!

A beauty company that cares about YOU!

One of the greatest things about being a part of the beauty industry  is that most manufacturers really want to hear our (and your) opinions!  A lot of our products at Discount Beauty Center are from smaller companies who are less concerned about being featured in magazines or celebrity “must have” lists, and more dedicated to providing the best and most effective products for their clients.

One company we want to highlight is Reviva Labs, who have been in the beauty business for over 35 years.  Their main objective has been from day 1 to offer its customers all natural, effective products that meet specific needs.  Like they say in their company bio, “each product is formulated for a specific purpose.”

When DBC suggested that they should create a formula that could instantly remove the appearance of lines around the eyes, they did even better than that!  They created Reviva Change Up Line Smoother, a specific formula that immediately reduces lines around the eyes, mouth and forehead that would last for the entire day!  The formula is made with all natural preservatives and comes in a 1 fluid ounce bottle (which is a much more generous bottle size than most competitor formulas).

More Reviva Labs Products

Reviva Labs was the first skincare company to introduce the concept of exfoliation to the United States (back in 1973!).  Because they are an exfoliant pioneer, they sure do know their stuff!  We highly recommend their Pomegranate/Lactic Acid Exfoliant.  It’s gentle enough to be used three times per week and is the perfect addition to your daily skincare routine.

For effective protection from dryness, sun, and wind damage, we also recommend Reviva’s Vitamin E Oil Stick.  You can read an outsider’s review of this product from the Beauty Alchemist Blog.

Great Reviva Links

• Not sure which products are right for you?  You can visit Reviva Labs’ Website Skindex.  Simply click on the link that describes your skin type and the site will generate a list of products that complement your skin! 
• Also on their website are links to videos such as how to give yourself an all natural at home facial, and an exclusive video interview with Stephen Strassler, the founder and President of Reviva Labs. 
• We also encourage you to check out this Q&A with Mr. Strassler about fading age spots and skin discoloration.  He talks about the effectiveness of their Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream and how they developed a separate skin lightening cream for daytime use with SPF15.

NEW! Chocolate and Pearls Collection from Too Faced

Too Faced is known for having trendy and fun shades and products all living up to their slogan: “Why be pretty, when you can be gorgeous?”  The name  of their Spring collection, Chocolate and Pearls, goes along with this sort of fun, decadent  sophistication.  From the Chocolate Soleil Bronzer to the Girls Dig Pearls Lip Gloss, this collection is truly the definition of classy exuberance.

From researching the new collection, one thing we couldn’t get enough of was the great layout and interactivity of Too Faced’s Official Website.  The site has a ton of celebrity photos from different events the brand has thrown or sponsored.  It also features several step-by-step tutorials.  Specifically, they offer their official Chocolate & Pearls Step by Step Tutorial on how the wear the new Spring colors just right.  Here are some highlights from their tutorial:

Step 1: Skin Perfecting

Apply Too Faced’s Invisible Translucent Powder to prep the skin using the flat kabuki powder brush.  It’s perfect for all skin tones and is on vitamin overload with vitamins A, B, C, D, and E! 

Step 2: Bronze

Apply Too Faced’s Chocolate Soleil Bronzer first in a “W” motion from temple to nose and then in a “C” motion around the eyes (from forehead to cheekbone). 

Step 3: Shadow

Apply a small amount of the new Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer over the entire lid to prep the eyes for shadow.  To create a great smokey effect, they recommend apply their Eyeshadow Duo in “Beauty Mark” (using the lighter tone on the inner eyelid and under the brown bone and the darker shade on the middle to the outside of the lid).  For a more subtle look, we recommend using the new Lockdown Cream Shadow in Bondage on the lids.

Step 4: Inject Lashes with Drama

Too Faced recommends applying two to four coats of their new Lash Injection Mascara.  Here’s a great video that demonstrates exactly how to use their mascara wand. 

Step 5: Gloss it Up

First, line lips using the new Luxurious Luster Liner in the golden plum shade called Caspian.  Too Faced recommends you fill in your entire lips with the pencil.  Lastly, apply the Mermaid Shade of the new Girls Dig Pearls lip gloss for some deliciously shiny lips.

Chocolate and Pearls give us something else to be thankful for this Spring!  Don’t forget to enter coupon code 2Face5 for $5 savings on orders of $25 or more!  We can’t wait to see what Too Faced has in store for their summer collection!

Save $5 when you spend $25 or More!

The entire Spring 2009 Too Faced Chocolate and Pearls Collection is available at DBC!  In honor of the new collection, from now until April 7th, DBC is offering you a special coupon!  Check out what Simply enter coupon code 2FACE5 at checkout and receive $5 off a purchase of $25 or more!*

 *Restrictions apply, see coupon for details. 

Discount Beauty Center is happy to announce that we have a new exclusive skin care line, Therapeutix!  As seen in this footage from EXTRA, this portable acne emergency outbreak stick provides on-the-go, on-the-spot acne treatments with noticeable results after only two hours!  The emergency outbreak stick is sold on its own, or as combined with the Therapeutix Three Piece Acne System.  The three step program is designed to fully treat and prevent acne but won’t cause any unwanted side effects. 

The Brains Behind the Formula

The skincare system was developed by Beverly Hills Dermatologist, Dr. Debra Luftman.  After years of practicing dermatology, Dr. Luftman realized that there was a need for a skin care system that would be effective on all skin types and for people of all ages!  She says, “This line is the culmination of years of research and experience, designed to reduce the number of products and procedures patients need to maintain a youthful, healthy appearance.”  Dr. Luftman has been featured on various Extra segments such as “Ask the Doc” and “Star Beauty Secrets.”  She also is the co-author of the newly released book, The Beauty Prescription: The Complete Formula for Looking and Feeling Beautiful. 

The Three Step Acne System

Step 1: Cleanse

Clarity Clarifying cleanser: This Benzoyl Peroxide free product acts as a mild cleanser that treats acne on the surface of the skin while at the same time treating below the skin. The Clarity cleanser travels into your clogged pores to remove dirt and bacteria, while at the same time refining and retexturizing your skin.

Step 2: Protect

Care and Repair SPF 15 Sun Screen Moisturizing Lotion: This oil-free and oil-absorbing formula combines sun protection with anti-aging moisturizers in addition to Vitamins A and E that help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. approved by the Skin Cancer Foundation. http://www.skincancer.org

Step 3: Clear

Clear Complex Night Lotion: While you rest, your skin should be resting also! The night lotion helps treat and prevent acne all through the night!

All Therapeutix products are fragrance free and hypo-allergenic.  Their products have all been tested by dermatologists on human subjects and were found to not cause any skin irritation or allergies.   For more information about the products, you can visit the Official Therapeutix Website.

Famous faces take over beauty advertisements

Jessica for Revlon, Rihanna for Cover Girl, Kristin for Ahava, and now Kellie Pickler (American Idol) and Cheryl Burke (Dancing with the Stars) have recently signed on to be the new faces of Sexy Hair Products.  Even lesser known reality TV stars are getting in on the endorsement action!  More than ever, cosmetic and beauty brands are putting a lot of faith (and money!) into celebrity endorsers. 

In theory, celebrity endorsement should positively affect consumers’ purchasing behaviors.  Celebrities increase brand awareness and likeability for certain products and move people to buy those brands. In particular for beauty brands, celebrities act as a way to differentiate brands that are otherwise very similar.

You’re Endorsed by a Celeb… Well, So Are We.

But do celebrity endorsements actually work?  Celebrities in beauty advertisements (well, in most advertisements it seems) are so commonplace that consumers may not even take notices.  This constant use of celebrity endorsers could confuse consumers and instead helping them.   One study actually found that celebrity ads are actually less likely to convince people to buy products than ones showing “ordinary people.”  Skeptics argue that celebs provide a short-term increase in sales for a company, but they rarely help in the long term.

Celebrity Endorsements can Backfire

Rihanna’s recent scandal with Chris Brown has led many to wonder if Rihanna will be dropped from her various endorsement deals.  There was a huge media buzz after the most recent Cover Girl advertisement, which was an ad for their new mascara, which features Rihanna with a tag line that reads, “light up your eyes.” 

Rumors that Rihanna had reconciled with the rapper who allegedly hit her has led to even more speculation about her contract with Cover Girl.  David Reeder, the VP of GreenLight (a branding agency) told E! News, “I don’t believe brands will use a reunion with Chris Brown as the sole basis for disengaging from her…More likely, brands will let consumers voice their opinion on the resumption of her relationship.”  Regardless of what happens in Rihanna’s case, brands who choose to sign on celebrities as endorsers have to be extremely careful of who they choose to represent them.  Any bad press or publicity not only hurts the star’s rep, but by association, can hurt the brand.

What do you think?

Are you more likely to buy a product when you see a celebrity featured in the print ad or commercial?  Has the scandal between Chris Brown and Rihanna altered your opinion of Cover Girl simply because Rihanna is a spokesperson?  Do you think that brands should drop Rihanna from their branding because of the scandal?  Have there been celebrity endorsements that you think have been successful?