Soft Spoken

Stress is responsible for 75%-90% of doctor visits, according to the American Institute for Stress, making it America’s number one health problem. While we are all affected by stress differently and at different times - at home, at work, in the car - taking time to relax is an essential part of staying healthy and happy. Here’s the Scoop on simple ways to stay calm when stress starts creeping up.

Light a candle.
Lavender, Vanilla, Sandalwood and Spearmint all have soothing scents that can help improve breathing patterns and settle nerves. The simple act of lighting a candle helps set a soothing mood for relaxation, while the playful flicker of the flame invokes a meditative state.

Take a warm aromatherapy bath.
If you need to unwind at the end of a long day, add a scented bath salt to the water. Scents like Lavender, Chamomile, Jasmine and Ylang Ylang are great for relaxation, and if used before bedtime, can even help you sleep better. Turn down the bathroom lights and light some candles for a true Zen experience!

Deep breathe.
Inhale deeply through your nostrils then exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat several times until you begin to feel calm. Using this simple deep breathing technique can be helpful when you’re stuck in traffic or simply at home and in need of some stress relief.

Read a book.
Venture into a different world with a good book. It’s a great way to escape from the daily grind and keeps your mind active!

Go for a walk.
Nature is extremely relaxing and instantly lifts your mood. Put on your walking shoes and enjoy the scenery. Keep your chin up as you walk and remember to breathe deeply and take in the scenery and scents around you. Even if you only have 10 minutes, do it! Even a brief walk can make a huge difference and help clear your head.

Keep a daily journal.
Journaling has long been a way for people to “dump” their problems. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just grab a notebook and start writing. Taking 10 or 15 minutes at the end of the day to write out your thoughts can be helpful in releasing pent up stress.

Use your imagination.
Close your eyes and think about a place or thing that makes you feel calm. Hold that picture in your mind as you practice deep breathing. Light some candles and put on some soothing music for an even more relaxing experience.

Paula Dorf, one of our terrific beauty vendors, recently did a segment for the Fox 2 Morning Show in St. Louis.  She’ll be doing a beauty event at the Soft Surroundings store in St. Louis across from the Galleria on Saturday, November 14 from 10am - 4pm.

We’ve all been caught without enough time to swap our everyday makeup for a glamorous evening look. But transforming from day to night makeup doesn’t have to be a chore. Whether it’s an impromptu dinner invite, a last-minute evening outing or simply not having enough time to run home and reapply, you only need a few staple products and some simple tips for mastering the role of quick-change makeup artist. 

Cover Your Bases 
The end of the day inevitably equals a little bit of shine. Get your skin picture-perfect by applying a bit of pressed mineral powder with a fluffy brush to even out skintone and mattify shine. By using the brush, you help avoid the dreaded “caked-on” look that sometimes results from layering on powder with a puff or sponge. We love Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeupbecause it’s light, doesn’t dry out skin and can also be used to touch up tiny imperfections - just use a small concealer brush or an applicator sponge to dab the powder under eyes or wherever you need a little extra coverage. 

Get Glowing 
One of the simplest ways to brighten up your face is with a shimmery (not sparkly!) highlighter. This will help illuminate and “wake up” areas of your face by applying to your brow bone, top of the cheekbone and inside corner of your eyes. You can apply it directly over the remains of your blush for a soft, pretty glow. Liquid highlighters offer easily blendable coverage, while powder forms offer practical portability. If you want both, a creamy stick highlighter will do the trick. If your skin is fair, look for a flesh-tone hue like soft pink or beige with a hint of silver, and if you have olive-toned or darker skin, find a medium or gold highlighter. 

Let Your Lips do the Talking 
For late-night lips, you’ll want something that has more oomph than your daytime lip color. Think lustrous shines that you can simply swipe over your everyday lipstick for a polished, glamorous look. If shine isn’t your thing, a deep, vibrant color like burgundy or plum will help you make a lasting impression. If you have the extra time before reapplying, try a lip primer to help your new color last. 

Amp up Your Eyes 
Intensify your daytime eyes by applying eye pencil to the upper lids and smudging it for evening glam. Opt for darker, high-impact colors like gray, navy, green, burgundy or black. In a pinch, you can always dip a damp liner brush or applicator into a dark eye shadow and use that as a liner. Finish with a fresh coat of mascara to frame the eyes and finish the look.

Happy Holidays!

At our house, we look forward to this season all year long.  My husband, Jim, seems to find a new place to put lights almost every year.  Discussion of the various menus has already begun. Zoe and Molly have new velvet collars to wear. The children are dropping hints and marking catalogs.

In this Winter Holidays catalog, you’ll find fabulous sweaters at terrific prices and ways to update your wardrobe favorites without breaking the bank.  As always, lots of comfort goes right along with the style. With you in mind, our collection includes amazing beauty solutions and incredibly soft throws and bedding. Our favorite presents are scattered throughout.

We wish you health and happiness,

Robin
President and Founder
Soft Surroundings
Robin@SoftSurroundings.com

Though we all spend a lot of time obsessing about how to stop crow’s feet and facial wrinkles, we shouldn’t forget about the rest of the body, especially our hands. This often neglected area can be one of the first places that age spots, slack skin and wrinkles rear their ugly heads. But with a few simple steps, you can keep your hands feeling soft and looking younger. 

Don’t forget the sunscreen 
While we are diligent about applying SPF to our faces, we often overlook our hands, which see as much, if not more, sunlight than the rest of our bodies. Applying an SPF daily before heading outdoors is the first step to preventing additional aging caused by harmful UV rays and achieving younger looking hands.

Exfoliate 
Just like your face and body, your hands need to be exfoliated too. Use a sugar or salt scrub every week to two weeks to slough away the dead skin cells. Your hands will start feeling smoother, younger and softer in no time. 

Moisturize after washing your hands 
Soap and water can actually dry skin out with repeated use, so make it a habit to apply hand lotion immediately after washing your hands while they are still a bit damp, which helps lock in moisture. Keep a pump bottle of lotion next to your sink in the bathroom and kitchen as an easy reminder to re-apply often. 

Take a multi-vitamin
Healthy doses of Vitamins A, B complex, C and E can all improve your skin. Vitamins C and E are particularly important in counteracting the effects of sun exposure. Vitamin A helps maintain and repair skin tissue, while B complex vitamins are essential for healthy skin, nails and hair. 

Consider fish oil supplements 
If you eat a lot of oily fish or take fish oil supplements, you may notice that your hands already feel soft and smooth. Sardines, mackerel, fresh tuna and other oily fish contain essential fatty acids (EFAs), the good fats. EFAs keep your skin moisturized, reduce inflammation, and keep your hands looking younger. They also do double duty because they’re great for your heart! 

Get a manicure regularly 
Whether you do it at home or head to the salon, a manicure will keep your cuticles moisturized and your nails healthy. Healthy, well-manicured nails make your hands look more polished, which often translates to younger looking as well.

Don’t forget your gloves 
In the wintertime, gloves are essential. But cold weather isn’t the only thing that can damage your hands. When washing dishes, cleaning your bathroom and working in the garden, you should always wear gloves. Latex or rubber gloves can protect your hands from chemicals and hot water that can dry and damage your skin. 

Treat your hands at night 
Coat your hands with a thick moisturizing cream or petroleum jelly before going to bed. Cover them with white cotton gloves or even socks in a pinch, to keep the moisturizer close to the skin for better absorption. You’ll be amazed at how soft your hands feel come morning!

We love world-famous hand model Ellen Sirot’s Hand Perfection, which combines skin-friendly Omega-3 fatty acids with protective antioxidants to keep your hands feeling ultra-hydrated, soft and youthful.

Here are a few items we love from our upcoming Soft Surroundings Winter Holidays 2009 catalog.  Visit SoftSurroundings.com on Wednesday, November 4 to purchase any of these items, plus nearly 100 other new items for the winter season.

TREND REPORT

Regrowing thicker, fuller eyelashes has become a very important trend/direction in the beauty world primarily because as we age, our lashes get thinner and shorter. This has promoted the need for products that address these very issues. For the last several years the number of companies out there making eyelash and eyebrow hair growth products has increased exponentially.  The trend has really hit a fever pitch with the introduction of Latisse, the first prescribed treatment for the growth of eyelashes.  You probably have seen the commercial for the product; Brooke Shields is the spokeswoman seen in the commercial.

My favorite solution for eyelash regrowth is Talika’s Eyelash Lipocils. We have for the last 4 years carried them in the catalog.  A young doctor in Paris’s Salpetriere Hospital, named Danielle Roches, formulated them in 1948.  Her original intent was to create an anti-bacterial plant based cream to help repair damage from eye burns. Not only did this phenomenal product help heal burns; it quickly and dramatically regrew eyelashes. This amazing discovery led to the creation of Talika Eyelash Lipocils. They are naturally formulated and clinically proven to regrow thicker, fuller eyelashes and brows in 28 days when used twice daily.  

Here are a couple of my favorite customer reviews from SoftSurroundings.com for the Talika Eyelash Lipocils:

“I bought my first tube in early December, with a degree of doubt. Then I didn’t quite read the instructions very well for a while and used it once a day. Even when I did read the how-to, I was still often forgetting the evening application. And it worked anyway! I am just now on my second tube and doing much better on twice a day — my lashes are longer, more profuse and easier to see. The most dramatic effect has been on the lower lashes, which I have hardly seen in several years. I see more and longer ones and, better yet, my friends have noticed as well.”  – Delta Yankee from Albuquerque

“I was using another product for longer,fuller lashes for 3x the price when I saw this in the catalog. The product I was using went on like eye liner and really stung if it go in my eyes. It took a month to see results. The results were good, but when I saw your product, I thought I’d try it. With your product, the results were instant, and as time went on (perhaps only a week), the results so far exceeded the other product that I’ll never go back, nor wear mascara !!!” — Juba from Hawaii

Keep your eyes open, as you just might find Soft Surroundings in the pages of your favorite magazine. In recent weeks, Soft Surroundings items have been featured in Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Gardens magazines! Where will we turn up next? Stay tuned!

Don’t miss your chance to win a fabulous gift set from Lamas Beauty!

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED

Peter Lamas, celebrated hair stylist and skin expert to icons such as Jackie Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Diana Ross, brings his 30-plus years of expertise to his line of beauty products. Committed to delivering performance driven products, this natural line is empowered with rare Chinese Herbs and botanicals used for centuries that help support healthy hair growth, and energize the scalp for fuller, healthier tresses.

This is a fabulous gift set that is valued $127. All you have to do is sign up on the form to the left to receive Soft Surroundings promotional emails and you’ll be entered for your chance to win. A winner will be chosen at random in late November. The prize includes:

Lamas Beauty Stimulating Shampoo: Support healthy hair growth and energize hair follicles to considerably reduce hair loss. The Stimulating Shampoo contains botanical Chinese Herbs that inhibit DHT build-up (which can slow hair growth), stimulate weak hair and scalp and help relieve flaking and itching for a healthier, fuller head of hair. Good for both men and women.

Lamas Beauty Stimulating Conditioner: The Stimulating Conditioner contains botanical Chinese Herbs that inhibit DHT build-up (which can slow hair growth), stimulate weak hair and scalp and help relieve flaking and itching for a healthier, fuller head of hair.

Lamas Beauty Regenerating Scalp Serum: This Regenerating Scalp Serum contains Apple Stem Cells and Japanese Swertia Extract which scientific studies have shown accelerate cell turnover and improve micro-circulation of the scalp, which enhances hair growth and helps to restore texture and color of graying hair.

Lamas Beauty Revitalizing Nutrient Mist: The Nutrient Mist is a therapeutic leave-in spray that detangles strands and gives fine, thinning, flat hair unbelievable lift and bounce.

Lamas Beauty Revitalizing Styling Cream: The weightless Styling Cream adds definition, moisture and shine, while fortifying and adding volume. It also helps reduce breakage caused by thermal styling, protects hair against UV rays and prolongs the life of hair color.

Simply sign up on the form to the left to  be entered for your chance to win.

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