Whole Foods Makeup and Body Care

   Have any of you ever used mineral makeup?  Whether foundation, blush, or eyeshadow.  I've used all three and really love mineral foundations.  For me they feel like I'm not wearing a foundation, but still even out my complexion and can be built up as a concealer for blemishes.  I've been using Bare Minerals for the last several years, but I recently found a new foundation that I think I'm going to switch to on my next purchase.  I wasn't trying to find a new foundation, but when you find the perfect color....
   How'd I find the perfect color?  I went to Whole Body over the weekend to check out their makeup selection and get a makeover.  One of the main brands they carry is Mineral Fusions and is primarily what was used in my makeover.  The line is organic, mostly vegan, and paraben free.  Most of them even smell great.  Especially the mascara which smells like cake batter.  That's right CAKE BATTER.  I took a before and after picture to show you guys.  Please don't judge my before photo too harshly, I was exhausted from work and being up late and getting up early to cook for the Super Bowl.  And I'm not very photogenic.

Before

After

   See the difference?  I love how natural my makeup looks and the light touch of bronzer so I don't look quite so pale.  One of the first things the makeup artists did was a color match on me for the foundation.  I would have guessed my skin tone was neutral to cool, but it was actually the lightest warm shade that was my match.  The neutral was very close, but I could still just see the difference between it and my skintone while I couldn't see the warm at all.  And that's what you want in a foundation.  I usually go a little heavier/brighter on the eyeshadow, but I do like this look too.

   The other interesting thing they have at Whole Body is a facial scanner that can analyze your skin and tell you your problem spots and how you compare to other people your age.  My biggest issues are uv spots and large pores.  Not too bad since I don't do much to take care of my face.  Bad me I know.

   I also have a short press release for you about Whole Foods' standards in body care:

Whole Foods Market® named ‘the leading national retailer’ in personal care products

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics praises company’s Premium Body Care™ and organic labeling guidelines

AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 11, 2012) – Whole Foods Market has been named the highest ranked retailer for personal care product safety in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Retailer Report.

In the report released today, the company is commended for implementing “a rigorous and transparent approach to screening the personal care products it sells.”

“We are proud and thrilled to be mentioned in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' Retailer Report in such high esteem,” said Jeremiah McElwee, executive Whole Body coordinator. “This validates both our team’s hard work and that of the wonderful supplier partners we work with to deliver the absolute highest quality natural and organic body care products to our customers.”

The Retailer Report goes on to say that “no other national retailer comes close to rivaling Whole Foods Market’s leadership in the realm of safer personal care products.”

Whole Foods Market announced its Premium Body Care standards in March 2008, which was the first private standard for personal care products created by a major retailer in the United States. The company now offers more than 3,800 personal care products that meet these rigorous standards.

In September 2012, the company announced that all organic personal care products in its U.S. stores are third-party certified, making Whole Foods Market the first national retailer to mandate certification for all organic personal care products on its shelves.

“Believe it or not, there are no federal laws that regulate how the word ‘organic’ can be used on personal care products,” McElwee said. “Our shoppers don’t expect the meaning of organic to change between store aisles and neither do we.”

For more information on Whole Foods Market’s body care standards, visit:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/department/article/premium-body-care-standards

http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/press/organic-labeling-guidelines


   One last bit of info for all of you and I promise I'll wrap up this long post.  All Whole Foods in Northern California and Reno for sure, but possibly other places as well, is having a 30% off natural makeup sale from Feb 13th - 17th.   How awesome is that?  Plus, I drove past Whole Body today and there was a giant sale about a pre-sale from the 1st - 12th.  That means you can go in, pick out what you'd like, and they'll hold it for you until the sale.  I'm not sure if all of the stores are doing this, but it's worth a call to find out.  I already have a couple things on hold myself- the lipstick I'm wearing in the photos, which is sadly being discontinued, and a smokey eye kit with a mascara, eye pencil, and shadow trio.  The kit is only $25 right now so a definite steal with the 30% off.
   If you've never tried Mineral Fusions, or any other mineral makeup, I highly recommend it.  And if you're in the South Bay Area and can get to Whole Body, stop in and make an appointment with Desirae or Trang for either a makeover or mani/pedi.  They're both great.



Disclaimer: The services mentioned in this post were provided to me by the company, but all opinions are my own.

Whole Body Salon from Whole Foods

   Last month I had the opportunity to check out a new nail salon in the South Bay area.  The Whole Foods store in Campbell, CA has opened a new store called Whole Body next to the main store.  Whole Body focuses on skin/body care, vitamins, cosmetics, et c.  Basically the non-food items you would find at Whole Foods.  Because this is a Whole Foods brand store, you will find natural, vegan, or organic products.  

   This is the first Whole Body in Northern California.  Other locations are mostly located on the east coast.  The Campbell location is also either the first or one of the first Whole Body stores to offer a nail salon.  The salon is a small area on the side of the store sectioned off with window frames and screens to give a bit of privacy but still allow you to see the rest of the store.  Instead of typical mani/pedi stations they have two couches to sit on and relax.  

   If you look in the mirrors above the couch you can see the screens sectioning off the salon area.  
   Manicures are done with one hand in your lap or on the arm of the couch resting while your manicurist holds the other.  I found it to be comfortable most of the time, but a bit awkward during parts of my pedicure.  To keep sanitation levels high, Whole Body uses individual soaking bowls, which I sadly was not able to take a picture of, filled with water and flowers.  Lifting my legs into and out of the bowl while having my hands worked on was a bit difficult for me, but it might not be for others.  I highly enjoyed the pampering from the salt scrubs, massages, and hot towels on my arms and legs.  The massage portions were much more thorough than I've had at other salons.  I believe there may have been some reflexology involved, I'm not familiar enough with the process to be sure, but I do know it is one of the extras offered.  
   The polish brands available to chose from are all more natural brands and one that is water based.  Zoya is one of the brands available, but I chose to try new brands.  These brands are also available for sale in the store.  For my toes I chose Mineral Fusion in Amethyst. 

   On my fingers I went with the water based brand Scotch Naturals.  This is just a random bottle I grabbed in the salon to show you the bottle, not the color I picked for my fingers.

   Because Scotch Naturals polish is water based, you do have to take care with application to prevent major streaking.  I went with a periwinkle shade, but didn't remember to write the name down.

   Here is a bit more information about the Salon and the services they offer.  Remember prices and services are subject to change.


Products & Services:

-              Natural nail care and manicures and pedicures

-              All of the nail polish in our Whole Body Salon is:

o   formaldehyde-free

o   phthalate-free

o   toluene-free

o   low odor

o   safe for nail technicians

-              Expanded selection of vitamins and body care

-              Huge collection of hip eco-wear, including Threads for Thoughts, TOMS Shoes and Yellow 108

-              Exclusive scents of Hugo Naturals vegan and cruelty-free body care

-              Visia skin analysis machine

-              Licensed cosmetologists

-              Special section just for moms and kids

Health and Safety:

·         Whole Foods Market will go above and beyond the California sanitation requirements and will use steam sterilizing in autoclave after the required wet sterilization.

·         We will be using individual pedicure bowls with no plumbing; they are lined and sterilized after each use. No whirlpool tubs!

Hours:

Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. // Sat - Sun 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Customer Booking and More Info:

www.wholebodysalon.com

Complete Whole Body Salon Menu:

Manicure $19.00 • Pedicure $26.00 • Mani/Pedi Combo $40.00

Our ‘cures offer all of the pampering and style you’d want to refresh your nails. We just leave out the funky smelling chemicals that turn them brittle and yellow.

Enhancements

Hot Stones - $5.00 – There’ll be no tension left in your hands after our stones warm it away.

French Tips - $5.00 per hand – One of the most enduring and elegant touches you can add to your nails.

Reflexology - $5.00 per 10 minutes – Relieve stress and promote wellness with a soft, healing touch.

Premium Soak - $5.00 – Soak up nourishing moisture and help repair your hands and feet.

Nail Art - $5.00 basic/$10.00 premium, per hand – Stand out from the crowd with something that pops.

Callous Treatment - $5.00- The stresses of the modern world leave their mark. We scrub it away!

Get Naked Before you Arrive.

Our salon is acetone free for your health and the health of our Team Members. In order to fully enjoy our treatments you will need to have your conventional polish, tops and base coats removed prior to your appointment.

Popular acrylics are difficult to undo with our natural cleaners, but once you start on the path to healthy nails, you’ll never have to worry about it again!

Like a cleanse for your hand.

Most people don’t know the dirty secret of nail salons: the chemicals they use are essentially unregulated by the government and many are known carcinogens. The same compounds that make those nasty smells will sit on your fingers, soaking into your nail beds for weeks. We believe your nails will be healthiest when you use natural, toxin free products. Just like the rest of your body.


   I normally do my own manicures just because I change polish so often, but I love going to get pedicures done.  Next time I splurge on one I will probably go back to Whole Body for it.

   Now I'm going to show you some of the products you can find at Whole Body and Whole Foods.  Because I went opening weekend there were lots of vendors answering questions and giving samples.  I haven't tried all of these items yet, but I am highly looking forward to trying them all.  

   The Hugo & Debra lotion and scrub are an exclusive scent for Whole Foods and are what were used in my mani/pedi.  I LOVE the way they smell and feel, though I do have a weakness for anything lemon scented.  Here's a closer look at those:

   I was able to talk to the rep from Beautiful Curls hair care and pick up a few samples from her.  I have extremely curly hair and am constantly looking for the perfect products and shampoos to keep my hair soft but frizz free and after talking to this lady, I am planning to try out Beautiful Curls next time I need shampoo.  Beautiful Curls is made by people with curly hair who truly understand the issues around curl care.  If you have curly hair and are still looking for the right products, you might want to look for these.

   If you live in the Bay Area, especially the South Bay, and have been looking for a more natural based nail salon, or are concerned with sanitation at most salons, I would definitely recommend The Salon at Whole Body.  I enjoyed my visit and will probably be going back.

Disclaimer:  The product(s) and services in this post were provided to me by the company for review, but the opinions are completely my own.