What happens when you flip the calendar to February?

It's the last day of January 2019.  So when we flip the calendar to February, what will we see?  First, we might notice a 3-day weekend...President's Day...yeah!  We'll also see on February 14,

Valentine's Day
and Beauty Care Choices has you covered with some great gifts on sale, plus a new giveaway starting Feb. 3!  

It's all about love.  Even if you don't have a significant other, this is the time to let the special people in your life know they are a cherished part of your world.  Just for fun, here's a short video of how St. Valentine's Day began.

BEAUTY SCIENCE: BHA

Butylated Hydroxyanisole, known as BHA, is a waxy solid that can be found in a variety of cosmetics and personal care products, particularly in lipstick and eye shadow.  It is used as a preservative and antioxidant.

NOTE: Butylated Hydroxyanisole should not be confused with Beta Hydroxy Acids, which may also be abbreviated BHA and are good for your skin

Hide those dark circles!

Jane Iredale - the Skin Care Make-up - shows you how to camouflage those dark circles!

• First, clean, moisturize, and prime your skin. This gives you a great base to start with when applying your makeup.
• Apply your shade of PurePressed Base or Amazing Base to your entire face. Our multi-tasking foundations are double as concealers, so they provide the first layer of coverage for your dark circles and you’ll be able to use less concealer!
• Using the Foundation Brush, apply Enlighten Concealer to your dark under-eye circles using short blending strokes.
• Further blend out the edges using the Sculpting Brush.
• Use the Flocked Sponge to press and roll the foundation on top of the concealer. This will help make your concealer last all day.
• Finally, set your entire face with a Hydration Spray and start on the rest of your makeup.

Shop Jane Iredale

Are you choosing the right type of blush?

When picking out a blush, there are some questions you need to ask yourself first. Is your skin oily or dry? Bumpy or smooth? What season is it? All these factors come into play when finding your perfect glow-giver.

Each type of blush has individual qualities that make it great (or not-so-great) for certain complexions and needs. But even if you've found your perfect shade and figured out how to apply it to according to your face shape, you still need to find the right format.

Nude Nails

Sometimes we don't want the flash or splash of brightly colored nails. We need a subtle, understated look. When that happens, turning to nudes is the answer. But...which nude?

The key to finding a good nude for you isn't to find a match to your skin tone. It's to find a complement. Look for a tinted pinky, peachy, sandy, or creamy nude. When in doubt, try a neutral like grey or beige, or their lovechild, greige. Going lighter and brighter than your natural skin tone highlights the richness of your color.

We have magnetic lashes!

You've seen them all over social media...some with big price tags.  Well, you don't have to pay big dollars to get gorgeous lashes.  Ardell, a leader in all types of false lashes, has perfect ones at a perfect price and their video will show you how easy they are to apply and remove. And, we have them on sale now!

BRAND PROFILE: Mirabella

Beauty is a lifestyle. If you do not agree, scroll #makeupjunkie on Instagram feed, or just ask Mirabella’s owners Layne and Miranda Coggins. In early 2014 Mirabella adopted a philosophy of improving product formulations and developing sleek modern packaging in an effort to complete the salon beauty experience and create excitement among the brand’s current customer base. Mirabella’s signature mineral-base has an emphasis on remaining talc, dye & gluten free. Instead, this brand uses natural minerals and colors to create a make-up line that gives you the products to create your look flawlessly without harsh chemicals.

Dry or Dehydrated?

Is your skin naturally on the dry side or is it dehydrated? Determining which is important in providing your skin with the product(s) needed. At first glance, ‘dry’ and ‘dehydrated’ seem like two words to describe the same thing. But when it comes to skincare, they are completely different concerns with different underlying causes.

BEAUTY SCIENCE: Bacteria is lurking in your old make-up

We get it: once you find that perfect makeup item, whether it's the perfect shade of red lipstick or the no-flake mascara that makes you look like you're wearing falsies, it's tempting to hang on to it until it runs out. After all, replacing old or expired makeup every few months is expensive—so it's not surprising that one study found that 98 percent of women have used makeup past its expiration date.

But when you apply old mascara or lipstick, you're also applying all the bacteria that's been growing on it while it chills at the bottom of your makeup bag. And no matter what brand you buy or how much you spend on your products, it's going to happen.

We love make-up!

"That's one of the things I love about make-up.  You can change your whole attitude by just doing your eyeliner or lipstick differently." - Beyoncé






Some of us put on full make-up everyday.  We wouldn't be caught dead outside of the house without it.  Others of us only do the full regimen on special occasions.  For most of us though, we are often rushed so only apply the bare minimum or we go without and pray we don't run in to anyone we know!

The 5 hairstyles of 2019

The PIXIE is classic, versatile, chic, and easy to style. Most women would not dare, but this haircut looks awesome on so many - both young and older.

Are harmful ingredients allowed in cosmetics?

As part of Beauty Care Choices ongoing efforts to keep our customers and followers informed, we have taken the information below directly from the FDA's website.  When reading this it is important to remember that the FDA controls are for manufacturing in the United States.  The manufacture of cheap imitation and knock-off products from companies outside the US are not controlled, although laws apply.  Learn more about chemicals in beauty care.

With the exception of color additives and a few prohibited ingredients, a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that color additives used in cosmetics must be tested for safety and be listed by FDA for their intended uses.

It’s against the law for a cosmetic to contain any ingredient that makes the product harmful when consumers use it according to directions on the label, or in the customary or expected way. This is true whether or not there is a regulation that specifically prohibits or restricts the use of the ingredient in cosmetics.

Make-Up tips for older Women

Skip the Powder! 
The very nature of powder is that coats and mattifies our faces. If you’re oily, this can be great, but oil production slows as we age. As we get older, powder starts looking dry, ashy, and dusty on our skin, which visually ages us. What we really want is a youthful glow.  Instead of powder, use a setting spray to keep makeup in place. Add an extra layer of moisturizer to dry or dehydrated areas before applying any makeup. Many finer lines can be reduced or eliminated with extra hydration. Additionally, use liquid foundation with light-reflecting particles, and cream blushes and bronzers.

BRAND PROFILE: BC Bonacure

BC Bonacure - "Brings hair closer than ever to natural perfection." Their Cell Perfector Technology for virgin hair, 100% health hair surface, elasticity, strength, and resilience.

This innovative C18 Technology replicates the architecture of virgin hair to reach a level of care closer to natural perfection than any previous technology has ever achieved--50% more than they've ever attained prior to now. Hair-identical amino acid chains rebuild the hair structure from within.
BC Bonacure is a brand line from Schwarzkopf.  Whatever your hair issue, their formulas address including Repair Rescue, Color Freeze, Moisture Kick, Volume Boost, Smooth Perfect, Time Restore and Fibre Force.  For example:

"Hello"

"It's literally true...We love our Blog, Instagram and Facebook Friends!

You asked and here it is! Meet some of our team in all our rainy-day glory! Ally, Sherri, Celene, Brooke, Karen and Jen. Hope your week is going as good as ours. Here's a little about us. We are in Northern California in beautiful Shasta Lake. Call us to say "hello" to one of our fun and fabulous Customer Service team members, who are all licensed cosmologist. We are always willing to help you pick just the right product for you! We ship to the entire USA. What more should we tell you? We will be posting more photo's so that you get to meet our entire team!

BEAUTY SCIENCE: Micellar Water

"A micelle is stable formation of amphipathic molecules, or molecules that have a polar head and a nonpolar tail."  Huh? Even that is more information than you probably need about micelles (even if you do understand it).

Micellar technology uses surfactants (fancy word for cleansing agents) that have both water-loving and oil-loving properties called micelles. These two parts help the molecules in your shampoo or facial cleansing products to attach to oil and dirt particles, which makes it easier to wash away. In short, the micelles are helping to get your hair or skin as clean as possible without being too aggressive. Think of them as a magnet: they help draw out impurities like dirt, oil and environmental pollutants without being too harsh.

Hombre Nails...So simple!

Grab your favorite 2 shades of a nail color and a sponge!  That's all you need to create Hombre nails.  Essie shows you how!

Bigger is Better

We say "the Bigger the Better" but what does that mean. The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary defines it as when "how much you value or want something is decided by how big it is".

If you love BIGGER, then our BIG size Duos and our exclusive Trios sale is just for you.

TRIOS is a set of three of our best selling styling products.  When you buy three, you save up to 40%.  There's hairsprays from Kenra, Goldwell, CHI, Scruples & more.  What's more, most of these trios qualifies for FREE shipping.

DUOS is shampoo & conditioner from all of our best and your favorite brands in the BIG sizes (generally 32oz. to 33oz.)  They are all on sale and all save you BIG $$$.

Large sizes are perfect for your shower.  A pump keeps you (or others) from pouring out more product than needed.   Here's an great idea for travelers:  Purchase a travel size of the same product just once.  Then you can pump some into the bottle when you want your hair care products to go with you. 

Before you pluck those brows, read this for a perfect shape!

Find the place where your brows should begin. Finding just the right spot for your inner brows to start is key to creating perfect brows, since starting too far in could throw off the balance of your face.
To figure out where your inner brows should start, use the following technique:

• Take a pencil or another long, thin instrument. Line it up from the corner of your eye to the edge of your nose.
• The place where the instrument overlaps your brow is where it should begin. Mark the spot by making a dot there with an eyeliner pencil. Repeat on the other side.

Color of the Year - Coral

Think of living coral as an edgier version of the very popular pastel pink trend that we've come to know and love.  It works as an everyday color; it’s soft, easily wearable, yet still empowering and attention-grabbing, It enhances everyone’s eye color and softens all skin tones. The shade works best for those with neutral or warm skin tones, but can be adjusted by adding more pink to cool it down or orange to warm it up. 

BRAND PROFILE: Nioxin

Nioxin is customized hair care needs for thinning hair with formulas for both natural and color treated hair. Discover more volume and shine with their 3-part systems.

First, Nioxin helps to define the hair loss problems: 

Derma
The scalp environment is one of the main reasons of thinning hair. A healthy scalp environment supports healthy hair growth. Healthy, deeply rooted hair comes from a scalp that is clean and free from debris. Build-up of sebum or products blocks hair follicles and can prevent new hair coming through the skin and maturing. Over time, the lack of new growth will make hair look increasingly thin.

Discover Your Hair's Porosity!

Have you ever found yourself in a constant battle with frizz and dryness? Or maybe you’ve felt stuck waiting hours for your hair to dry after cleansing.  Porous hair may be the cause of a number of your biggest concerns. From retaining excess water to issues with uneven haircolor, porous hair can seem impossible to manage. No need to worry. By figuring out your hair’s porosity level and finding products that can help with your hair type, it’s definitely possible to strike a balance.

BEAUTY SCIENCE: Bakuchiol

For decades, retinol has been a skincare darling that promises to even out skin tone, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and offer an overall glow. While the potent vitamin A-derivative does work wonders for many, it also can be super irritating on some. Enter bakuchiol: the more gentle alternative to retinol products. Bakuchiol is an extract derived from the psoralea corylifolia plant, and can help increase cell turnover, diminish signs of aging, and lessen photodamage on the skin. It’s vegan, won’t clog pores, and is popping up in many skincare products throughout the market.

It's more than Lather, Rinse, Repeat!

Correctly shampooing your hair is much more than applying the shampoo and rubbing in through your hair. When you follow these steps, your hair will be healthier and full of body & shine!

• Take the time to detangle and brush your hair. It will help avoid breakage and stimulate the scalp and let you get the most out of your shampoo and conditioner. Depending on your hair type, you can do this with a paddle brush or wide-tooth comb before stepping into the shower. Detangle any stubborn knots by spritzing them directly with a leave-in conditioner (Original Sprout Miracle Detangler is a great one.).

Innovations in Hair Care

The business of beauty continues to defy gravity. Consumers have continued to add to the list of demands they expect their hair care product to meet. Throughout 2018, it was clear to see that the challenge has been accepted. New products are catering to specific hair concerns for all textures and types, syncing with consumer lifestyle choices and responding to individual needs with customized solutions. In other words, some brands, including small, new niche brands, have begun taking on an innovative approach to formulation, delivery and experience in order to turn the future of hair care around.

Skin Care tips for Acne

When it comes to skin care, we're not usually ones for hard and fast rules. Everyone has unique skin types, skin tones, lifestyles, and genetic histories that make it impossible to have a single piece of one-size-fits-all advice. It can take years — and dozens of trips to the dermatologist — to discover how to treat acne effectively on your unique skin.  Ahead, we rounded up the best advice on how to get clear skin from top dermatologists. Read on for our favorite ways to get your skin to look and feel its best.

Camouflage those spider veins!

Spider veins will happen as you age unless you are one of the very lucky. While they are not usually bothersome physically, they may give you pause if they are exposed when wearing a dress or capris. Spider veins get their name from the web of red or blue veins that often start to spread across your legs as you age. They’re dilated superficial blood vessels like varicose veins, but smaller and closer to the skin. Spider veins are often in areas behind the knee. If you feel self-conscious about them but want to wear your favorite short skirt, Jane Iredale has some camouflaging techniques.  Take a look!

BRAND PROFILE: EVOLVh

If you're wanting to "go green" with your beauty care products, EVOLVh is a great start. Their hair care products give you high performance with none of the chemicals or nasty stuff...only the good stuff!  If you have sensitivities or allergies, you can feel safe this these products because all ingredients are clearly shown.

Glam up the curls!

Turn very curly hair into soft waves and gentle curls for a glam look.  Paul Mitchell stylist shows you how!

BEAUTY SCIENCE: Healthy Beauty - The "Clean Salon"

No one is regulating your beauty products but you!

If your New Year's resolution includes living a healthier lifestyle, there are choices in beauty products that will help you do just that.  During the past few months our BEAUTY SCIENCE articles have provided you with the pros and cons of various ingredients used in the making of hair, skin, and cosmetic products.

Wecome 2019!

Beauty Care Choices wants to thank all of our wonderful customers for their patronage in 2018.  We look forward to meeting your beauty needs in 2019.  Our team continually strives for excellence in customer service and accurate, swift shipping.