Holiday Favorite for Your Skin

Holiday Favorites for Your Skin

Ever wonder how great it would be to put all of your favorite foods on your skin instead of sending them straight to your belly? Not in the sense of slapping a peppermint stick on your face or rubbing chocolate all over the place, of course, but in a therapeutic and fun-filled way? After all, with the wrapping, bowing, shopping, running around and family get-togethers, everyone deserves a treat during the holidays. Let us share a special treat with you!

After some research, we decided to turn three holiday favorites into more than just a few tasty morsels…we changed peppermint into pizzazz, chocolate into cashmere, and apple into amplify! Join us as we take you on a tour of our holiday lineup:

1. Peppermint – peppermint oil is amazing for your hair, giving both a cooling/tingly effect while removing dandruff and lice. For your skin, peppermint contains menthol which also gives a cooling effect while nourishing dull skin/improving oily skin.

Peppermint also blends well with other essential oils including eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon and marjoram – mix some together and set up an aromatherapy bath to ease away your holiday stresses!

2. Chocolate – chocolate is chock full of beneficial qualities, mainly due to its anti-oxidant properties. Here are a few tidbits about chocolate:
1. It promotes softer skin due to the presence of cocoa butter
2. It can smooth out wrinkles
3. Chocolate prevents free radicals from causing damage to skin’s elastin, other proteins and collagen
4. It nourishes the skin
5. It can exfoliate dead skin cells and regenerate new ones
6. It’s a good moisturizer
7. It rejuvenates the skin

Do you want your skin to feel like cashmere? Try a chocolate treatment from your local spa and feel the difference today!

3. Apples - If you love apple pie during the holidays and are thinking of how on earth an apple can change the quality of your skin…then follow this simple recipe for an added glow!

Apple Pie Skin Polish

Apples contain malic acid, an exfoliating enzyme that is useful for removing dead skin cells and surface dirt. Gather the following ingredients:

1 tbs brown sugar; 2 tbs granulated sugar; 1tbs fresh apple puree or apple sauce & 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients, stirring well. In the bath or shower, apply scrub to skin in a circular motion, using a washcloth, bath gloves, or a loofah sponge. Pay special attention to rough spots like elbows, heels, and knees. Rinse well and follow with a rich body lotion.

Special Note: If using on the face, omit granulated sugar. Brown sugar is a more appropriate choice for the delicate skin of the face because it dissolves more easily.

So, whether you’re dressed to impress, wrapped up in tinsel, or covered in lights, you can still de-stress with some simple ingredients even Santa would enjoy! 

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Special Effects!

Much Love,
Debbie Schade

Customer Satisfaction

There’s a lot to be said for customer satisfaction. First, a satisfied customer is more likely to refer your services to others. Second, one customer has a circle of influence of up to 250 people (and guess what? Piss one customer off and they will tell 15 of their close friends and those friends will tell 15 of their friends…you get the point).

According to the following statistics, maintaining excellent customer satisfaction this holiday season should be paramount on your list:

1. By keeping current clients happy, you are saving five times more than trying to gain new business elsewhere.
   
2. If you retain 5% of your customers, this will increase the value of an average customer by 25-100%.
   
   
3. In terms of probability, you have a 50% chance of successfully selling to a current customer, but try to sell to a new customer and you have a 6% shot (puts things into perspective doesn’t it?) 
   
   
4. Remember what we keep saying about client referrals? They generate new business at very little or no cost. This happens when your customers are satisfied.

Let’s put it this way, 91% of unsatisfied customers will never purchase from you again. So how do you beat the odds?

One word: surveys!

Surveys are the easiest way to keep track of how your business works. It’s just as important to the well-tenured client as it is for the newbie. So when someone makes a recommendation, lodges a complaint, or simply states “this worked for me,” respond to each issue in a timely fashion and eradicate any negative impressions immediately.

“Statistically, 60% of clients interviewed in person will bring new business to you within 60 days of the actual survey.”

What is Special Effects?

A business is not just a name, some employees and a price tag. When you walk into a store or surf the web or try to find a doctor, you want to feel a certain way about your experience and you want that feeling to be positive because it’s personal. So, our doors are open and the invitations are out. Welcome!

Now let us show you what Special Effects is all about.

Our business, our salon, our spa, our home is not just a place where you receive services or purchase products and walk out. We cater to you as an individual. We customize your services, listen to your concerns and reach out to you not just as a client, but as part of our extended family. It’s not about sell, sell, sell, it’s about comfort, happiness, and fulfillment.

When you walk in, pleasing aromas, a calm and relaxing atmosphere and professional staff greet you. Warm tea on a chilly day and other amenities are provided while you wait or you can peruse our various product shelves, handbag collection or chat with our lovely receptionist about current specials/promotions. Our salon overlooks a beautiful outdoor garden while our stylists work on the main floor. Upstairs you can find various rooms for facials, massages and mani/pedis all showcased in Victorian era décor.

What does this mean for you as a customer? This is your home away from home and the doors are always open.

Of course, even with a great atmosphere and wonderful scenery, the most important part of your experience is with the owner and her staff. In this regard, you will not find a more caring, giving and attentive group of women to fulfill your needs. Whether you are planning a bachelorette party, need a massage, or just want to get out for some much needed R&R, our professionals are here to help.

So step in from the cold and take a look around. The doors are open and we look forward to making our extended family even bigger.

The Gift Certificate Quick Guide

The holiday season is right around the corner and with one of the biggest shopping days of the year within arm’s reach, yes we're talking about black Friday already, it is important to highlight one of the biggest sellers all business owners should have: gift certificates!

Follow these simple guidelines to boost your gift certificate sales this season:

One for you, one for me – figure out a promotion that will work best for your business. A good incentive is allowing the gift giver to not only buy something for a friend/family member, but will get something for themselves in return (i.e. a $20 gift card for free!).  

To promote sales after the holidays, make the gift certificate for the purchaser valid starting January 1st.

Online Gift Certificates – Purchasing gift certificates online and printing them right from your computer is a great way to boost sales – especially during last-minute rushing!

Email Blasts – include a link to the gift certificate page on your website with every email blast you send out between now and the New Year. The key to sales is repetition, repetition, repetition…

Market All OVER the place – especially at reception desks, product shelves, bathroom doors, all exits to your business, on your staff, on your website, in your emails…everywhere!

Partner with local businesses – print postcard stuffers for other businesses to include with purchases, go to your local chamber of commerce or welcome wagon, cross-promote with other businesses to increase your potential clientele base.

Keep your gift certificate open-ended or an All-You-Need kind of package – too many options confuse the buyer and will decrease sales.

Make sure staff is well versed on what to say and how to say it – make sure your voice hold recording on your phone is filled with gift certificate information as well! Make sure everyone and everything in your business is on the same page so there is no confusion.

Reward Staff – offer gift certificates or cash incentives for employees to BOOST SALES (this is another way to cross-promote with other businesses).

Reception – most important sellers (offer % of sales or lump sum cash amount to the earners to keep the cash register ringing!)

Make sure you put together a 12-month promotional marketing calendar before the New Year starts. This will help you with future sales goals and will take care of the excess inventory (hopefully you will have minimal/none left after successful holiday sales…but just in case).

Remember, you know what your customers want and how they shop. Customize your gift certificate sales to what you know will be a sure seller. You can’t go wrong when there’s something in it for everyone.

Happy shopping!

Much Love,
Debbie Schade

The Best at Home Facial Masks

Sometimes your skin needs more than good food and R&R to get that “glowing” look; while most people pay tons of money for a decent facial (including mask), some of the best facial masks can be done right at home. Whether your skin is oily, dry, red, splotchy or just plain irritated, we have some quick solutions for your facial needs.

The best remedy for redness is a cucumber aloe facial mask which gives you a twofold response: soothe and moisturize. Place a saturated paper mask over your face, let sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. A little word of advice, do not overdue how often you use masks; once a week is plenty. (Psst – Target sells these nifty cucumber aloe paper facial masks for only $2…you’re welcome!)

Feeling dry and lifeless? A hit of hydration is all your face needs and a simple avocado and a shot of honey will do the trick. Take half an avocado and ¼ cup of honey, mash the avocado into a pulp, pour the honey in, apply to face and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse face with a cool washcloth.

Is your face saying “I need to look young again!,” then a fine line facial mask is what you’re looking for. Guess what? You can use the other ½ of the avocado for this recipe! Mash up the avocado, mix in one egg yolk and 1 tablespoon honey and apply to face, neck and shoulders. Wait 20 minutes then rinse with warm water.

No ‘zit’ Sherlock – we all hate breakouts and one way to stop disaster is with seaweed and tea tree oil. While Bliss makes this breakout-busting rubberizing mask that lifts out dirt, prevents future breakouts and reduces inflammation for $38, we favor some of the at home recipes listed here. Either way, you’re getting more bang for your buck.

For those of you who have sensitive skin, gentle creams with additional frothing action and the power of green tea can leave your skin moisturized, clear, and clean. Or, you can go the floral route and toss 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon rose water, 2 drops lavender essential oil, 2-3 inches of a medium cucumber into a blender, apply to face for 15 minutes and rinse with tepid water.

Don’t let this season get the best of your skin, or the best of you! Take notice of what your skin responds to best and stick with it.

Much Love,

Debbie Schade 

2012 Hairstyling Tips and Misses

From Emmy updos, to long silky tresses a la Kim Kardashian, to short cropped sophisticated Kiera Knightley looks, you can choose a style and own it this year. Even if you have zero time in the morning or all the time in the world, we have the best hairstyling tips for you this season in addition to some common mistakes you want to avoid.

What Works versus What Doesn’t

1.      Routine haircuts are essential to maintaining healthy hair.  Going six months without a haircut actually makes styling and shaping harder for your hairstylist. Go every 4-8 weeks and keep your tresses beautiful!

2.      Do not work with too much hair at once. You see professionals do this all the time with their nifty montage of clips – pin up excess and work from the bottom up. This gives your hair a more finished look that will last longer.

3.      Pay attention to your roots. When using styling product, really concentrate on your roots and brush up and out to get more volume or straight down to get a more flattened look. The healthier the roots, the healthier the mane.

4.      Don’t bake the good stuff! In other words, don’t expose your hair to the highest heat setting on your flat iron/curling iron unless you have very coarse or extremely curly hair. Do not keep heat on one spot too long either. Mist with a thermal styling spray for added protection.

5.      Use the right brush! Many women do not use the right size brush for their hair. Here’s the rule: under the chin, use thin (i.e. 1” round brush). Anything longer, use a 2” or 3” round brush.

6.      Apply product to wet hair. Your hair is much more responsive to product when it’s freshly washed and it’s also much easier to distribute.

7.      Do not allow mousse/gel to let your hair arrive DOA. Control, control, control! Do not overdo the product on dry hair otherwise your tresses will come out looking greasy, shellacked, or flat.

8.      Use the right product. Yes, there are tons of product sitting on shelves, in salons and staring you in the face every time you pick up a magazine, but only a select few are right for you.

9.      Allow your hair to set. Whether you are using a dryer or an iron let your hair cool down afterwards. You are ruining your work if you brush through warm curls or let go of the round brush when your hair is still hot.

10. Quit horsing around! Let your ponytail be healthy too. Do not use rubber bands or elastics with metal clasps as they will snag your hair and create split ends. Also, do not pull your hair back when it’s wet or pull it back too tight – allow it to dry and use some styling cream for a more finished look.

Check back next week for more hairstyling tips!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa

Small Business and Stress: How to Cope

Do you feel like this tower of rocks? Perfectly balancing on a mound of work and obligations ready at any moment to fall flat on your face? As a business owner, stress management is a huge concern especially when things continue to pile up. So, how do you cope with stress in your small business?

On average, the more stressful a work environment is, the greater the chance of developing coronary heart disease which is the leading cause of death in the United States. As a business owner, you not only have to think of yourself, but your employees as well. Do they feel stressed? Do you convey your stress onto your staff? And, more importantly, you need to delegate responsibilities to your team.

Small business owners try to do it all; from handling one-on-one relationships with clients, to paying the monthly bills, to sending out mass emails, managing payroll, and much more. The problem: you are trying to be too many people at once! You are not a bookkeeper, and an accountant, and a business owner, and a manager, and a salesperson, and a spokesperson, and a receptionist, and a social media guru, AND a blogger…you get the idea.

You cannot possibly tackle all of these responsibilities and manage to keep the towering mountain of rocks from crashing down! Plus, more responsibility means more stress. So what do you do? Figure out which members of your team are good at not just cutting hair, mowing the lawn or answering phones.  There is hidden talent everywhere you look and a good small business owner knows how to find it. This may mean a boost in salary of some kind to keep things fair, but will mean all the difference in your day-to-day stressors and level of responsibility.

So what am I really trying to say?  Let GO! 

Take a deep breathe, and let parts of your business you are holding onto like a dog with a bone, go. This allows you to focus on what is really important, like your customers.

Still having a hard time? Find a friend or family member who knows what you’re going through, needs an extra couple bucks a week and is willing to help. Then you’re not outsourcing to people you don’t know or trust. However, remember one crucial fact: the less personal business gets, the easier it is for you to do your job effectively. In a phrase: choose your team wisely, grasshopper.

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa

Healthy Food for Beautiful Skin

Healthy Food for Beautiful Skin

Did you know most anti-aging creams or other novelties in a jar are not only expensive, but less and less based on actual science? Instead of spending over $200 for an overnight cream in a 2 ounce jar, start looking into how healthy food can improve your skin.

Lifestyle is important, not the amount of money you spend on products.  “The things you can do to beautify your skin are remarkably similar to what you can do to strengthen your heart, control your weight, lift your mood and live longer and better.” So, let’s get on the same page shall we?

The top five foods to improve skin resiliency, tone, complexion and overall health are:

1.      Whole Grains – benefit: clear and moisturized skin. Grains instead of processed food can clear up your complexion tremendously.  

2.      Nuts (especially almonds) – benefit: young and soft skin. Nuts are primarily antioxidants. Vitamin E combats skin-aging free radicals, holds moisture (relieving dryness and making skin look younger). Almonds, pistachios and walnuts also contain a ton of omega-3 fatty acids which is another amazing skin nutrient.

3.      Red and Green Vegetables – yes, eat your veggies it will make your skin bright and smooth! Carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach are the real winners in this category because they are full of beta-carotene which is converted to Vitamin A (an antioxidant) and, in turn, can give you anti-acne benefits as well.

4.      Citrus Fruits – benefit: smooth and taut skin. Citrus fruits are a primary ingredient in most beauty creams and aid in the body’s production of collagen (think taut skin, not saggy and old!)

5.      Oysters – smelly, but good for meeting your omega-3 fatty acid and zinc requirements to give you smooth, clear and glowing skin. Yup, you’ve heard of the “Mediterranean diet” and it works! Increasing omega-3 intake actually decreases inflammation which directly correlates to older-looking skin.  These fatty acids can also keep the heart’s arteries clear, increasing circulation which is also crucial to skin health.

While beauty in a jar may seem like an easy fix, a cheaper and much healthier way to go is to include some of these ingredients in your daily diet. Eating the right food will make your body glow from the inside out!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa 

Hot Stone Massage

Hot Stone Massage Demystified

When walking into any spa, you want to make sure you know enough about the treatments you are receiving rather than saying “where the heck did all my money just go and why?”

I remember walking into a spa in Manhattan, which will remain nameless, and received my first ever sugar body scrub. I understood the concept, but did not really understand the technique. The massage therapist came in, did not introduce herself and proceeded to “take the skin off me” for 45 minutes. I was not well covered and felt embarrassed, exposed and completely bewildered (not to mention violated). It was the worst spa experience I ever had.

So, when it came time to try a hot stone massage, you bet your buns I did my research…thoroughly!

Hot stone massages are not very different from your regular Swedish or deep tissue massage.  The whole concept of a hot stone (basalt - heat retaining) is to warm the areas on your body (back, feet and hands) so your circulation really gets cranking and your muscles relax faster.  This allows the massage therapist to get in there and work out all the kinks beyond what you would normally experience from a massage – depending on an intensity you feel comfortable with.

Guess what? The warmth of the hot stones also calms the nervous system!  Some additional healing properties are also known to make hot stone massage more worthwhile than a traditional massage. You can tackle issues such as:

1. Back pain and aches
2. Poor circulation
3. Osteoarthritis and arthritis pain
4. Stress, anxiety and tension
5. Insomnia
6. Depression

While the concept is not complicated, it should make sense that a hot stone massage should be done to your comfort level.  Know what you’re paying for and what to expect from your experience.

We are always here to help should you have any questions!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO | Special Effects Spa

631-477-2265

A Nail Salon How-To

A Nail Salon How-To: Preventing Fungal Infections

30 to 35 million people suffer from some kind nail fungus every year! How can you prevent infections and still have wonderfully beautiful nails/toenails?  The solution is simple enough and can be extremely cost effective if done at home or at the right salon.  Here are a few tips to get you started:

1.      Keep your nails short, dry and clean.  Eliminate the growth of fungus underneath long nails by keeping them short.  Completely dry your hands and toes after showering or washing your hands as bacteria love moist areas.

2.      Don’t trim or pick at the skin around your nails.  Any open areas on your skin, which is your primary defense against fungal invaders, leaves an opening for harmful germs and bacteria to enter your body.

3.      Choose a reputable manicure and pedicure salon.  Make sure the instruments used at the salon are sterilized or go all out and bring your own – this particular hint is highly recommended by www.mayoclinic.com. 

It’s important to remember nail fungus can spread from nail to nail, so if you’re giving manis or pedis at home or are a nail technician by trade, wash your hands after touching a nail that looks suspect. 

Also, as sad as it sounds, try to prevent covering nail fungal infections under a coat of nail polish and give up artificial nails.  Both nail polish and the use of artificial nails collect excess moisture and can exacerbate an infection.

For the best results at home, use the following items:

Nail clippers

Nail file

Moisturizer

Our nail technicians are here seven days a week to help with any problems or concerns you might have.

“I just blow-dry my hair and put on mascara and lip gloss, and I'm ready to go. I really don't get long nails. They're so Edward Scissorhands.” ~ Kelly Clarkson

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO/Special Effects Salon & Spa

631.477.2265

Make Over Makeup

Make Over Makeup

Move Over Drab

Fall colors and hues are right around the corner and the end of summer is almost here *sigh* but your makeup is in desperate need of a makeover.  The best way to get over the end of summer blues…buy a bottle of wine or two, call up some of your buddies and go from drab to glam.

Remember, putting on makeup is supposed to be fun and relaxing with the end result being a beautiful and more radiant you (only on the outside because we all know how wonderful you are on the inside!)

Start with the basics: a good primer to prep the face for your foundation, moisturizer to keep the skin glowing, and maybe some Retinol based product to firm everything up (should you need it, of course, we all wish our skin was still in its 20’s).  

Quick tips to make your makeup routine flawless, fast, and FUN:

1) Always use a good moisturizer and/or primer before applying any concealer or foundation.  This will actually prevent the overuse of products and make the application itself much more natural looking.

**Insert sip of wine or two and quick giggle with friends**

2) Using a mosaic powder is a quick and easy way to brighten up any complexion and can be reapplied throughout the day to freshen up without getting cakey on the skin.

3) Remember, color is great to play with, but in the right way.  If you create a bold eye shadow look, play it down on the bright lipstick and vice versa.  You’re making a beauty statement one way or the other, but with both being too bright, you’re making a beauty faux pas.

4) Replace your mascara every 3 months (if used daily).  Mascara has a notoriously short life span, tending to dry out and clump after just a few weeks.  By using fresh mascara, you can be guaranteed an effortless application and no mid-day flaking.  Also…skip the bottom lashes.  It can be aging on any eye.

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO | Special Effects Spa

631-477-2265

P.S.  “The most beautiful make-up of a woman is passion.  But cosmetics are easier to buy.” ~Yves Saint Laurent

Excessive Sweating: Don't Sweat It!

Excessive Sweating: Don’t Sweat It!

We walked into work this morning caked in humidity, covered in sweat (from the car to the front door) and, even worse, with bad hair!  The real issue: sweating too much and the negative effects it can have on the body. “In hyperhidrosis, the body's cooling mechanism is so overactive that it produces four or five times the amount of sweat that you need.” This can amount to liters worth of valuable water shed from your body every day! 

How do you combat excessive sweating, especially when it affects your daily life?  Here are a few tips:

1. Lower the amount of stress in your life – yep, stress is the number one thing to nix off your list so get crackin! 
2. Bathe 1 or 2 times a day and don’t scrub your skin too much – dry your skin well afterwards.
3. Use a deodorant with antiperspirant and try putting it on at night before bed.
4. Keep an extra shirt tucked away somewhere at all times (just in case).
5. Limit hot drinks (coffee – gasp!) that will make you sweat more.

Stress relieving massages with specific treatments to drain your body of excess fluids (lymphatic drainage, for example) is a great start to tackling this embarrassing problem without all the hassle of trying fancy at home tricks or seeing a physician.

Take some time to relax, be calm and, hopefully, collect your thoughts and conquer the days ahead – stress and sweat free!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO | Special Effects Spa

631-477-2265

p.s. “There are so many things that we wish we had done yesterday, so few that we feel like doing today.” ~Mignon McLaughlin

What's Good for Your Skin

What’s Good for Your Skin

“Did you know an SPF 30 Sunscreen, when applied incorrectly, only has the affects of an SPF 20 Sunscreen?”  We love summer and we love the sun, but how best to protect our skin?  Most doctors recommend a higher SPF so the chances of even a tiny misapplication will protect our skin better than no protection at all.  A good rule of thumb: measure out enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass and apply!

As September lurks around the corner, here are a few rules to follow about keeping your skin not just radiant, but healthy and, even more importantly, reducing your risk for skin cancer.

Some tips:

1.      Moisturize!  Always remember to keep your skin hydrated – this reduces wrinkles just as much as it helps to maintain skin’s resiliency.

2.      Use cuticle cream…often. This keeps the corners of your fingers looking neat and tidy, not cracked, peeling, painful and scary all year long!

3.      Keep your mouth lip-smacking fresh with yummy, SPF packed chap sticks that will get your fragile skin through the hot weather and beyond.

4.      Try Dry Brushing – this technique exfoliates the skin (avoid sensitive areas like your face) and can be done twice a week. Pick a brush (boar bristle or loofah) that is comfortable on your skin and work from your toes to your chest. With open pores and no dead skin cells, a refreshing peppermint or tea tree body soap will be the perfect finishing touch for your newly dry brushed skin!

Take care of yourself this season – from head to toe!

Much Love,

Debbie Schade

CEO | Special Effects Spa

631-477-2265

p.s. “Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic.” ~Rosalind Russell