Raspberry Moon Skin Therapy

A Sassy, Saucy Skincare & Waxing Studio in Greenville, SC

864.271.2710

1211D Laurens Road Greenville, SC 29607

Raspberry Moon

PechaKucha (PK) Nights are Back in Greenville!

Pecha Kucha is back in Greenville

We are so excited to team up with some awesome people and bring PK Nights back to Greenville!

What is PechaKucha you say? Well, PechaKucha Nights are informal and fun gatherings where creative people get together and share their ideas, works, thoughts, holiday snaps — just about anything, really, in a PechaKucha 20×20 format (20 slides, 20 seconds per slide).

Mark your calendars for June 7, 2019, come enjoy First Friday in the Village and then head over to Brains on Fire – see their new digs; meet some cool people; learn something fab and then head out for some fun or home for your comfy pjs!

Presenters are like a “Box of Chocolates” so you never know what you might be inspired by or learn.

Check out our event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2280664445540539/

You can sign up for our newsletters/blog posts to stay in the know at: https://www.pechakucha.com/cities/greenville

Interested in presenting? Just send me an email and we can go from there.

All of our events will coordinate with First Friday Art Crawl. Can’t make June? Sad as that may be, we have 3 more nights scheduled and you are welcome to any and all of them!

  • Friday, September 6, 2019
  • Friday, December 6, 2019
  • Friday, March 6, 2020

Doors will open at 7:30 pm with presentations starting at 8:20pm (yep 2020 on the 24 hour clock, hence the 20 slides, 20 seconds!)

I hope you will come check out this fun event, meet some new people and learn something you didn’t know before you walked through the door.

Introducing Couleur Caramel – new at the shop!

The #1 Organic Makeup In France

Couleur Caramel - The #1 Organic Makeup In France

Something NEW and exciting for you at the shop!

A healthy, natural makeup that takes care of your skin while respecting the environment!

Couleur Caramel Products

When I was at the tradeshow in March, I came across this booth and decided to give it a closer look. I bought a few pieces to bring home and try: Lipstick, Lip Liner, Eye Liner, Primer and Foundation. I have enjoyed using all of them so decided to bring some couleur (color) into the shop!

Here is a short video on the Couleur Caramel, their back ground and their mission.

Couleur Caramel is changing how makeup is made:

Couleur Caramel Products
  • They use organic ingredients whenever possible.
  • Gluten Free – not all but most items
  • Vegan – a few items contain beeswax
  • Prioritize eco-designed products, packaging and display units
  • Professional quality products with pigment doses that meet all professional technical requirements.
  • No cosmetic tests on animals even down to the raw ingredients since the company’s establishment.
  • Natural, eco-friendly products made from organic ingredients that are more respectful of nature and man, and also more effective.
  • Most Couleur Caramel makeup products are certified organic by ECOCERT or QUALITE FRANCE. You will find their logos on our packaging.
  • Professional quality that you will find on fashion shoots, tv studios, audiovisual events or the promotion of French and international artists in dance, music and film. For the last 4 years they have been used on France’s Dancing With The Stars.

Their packaging will have different symbols so you know immediately what you are getting.

Let’s Couleur!

Honey Inside and Out

Honey has many advantages both topically and internally. But before we talk about that, here’s a little video about where honey comes from:

Why is honey used in skincare?

Add honey to your skincare routine

As a moisturizer, honey helps to draw moisture from the air. It works as a lovely exfoliator especially for acne and sensitive skin. It works as an antioxidant just as the flowers would that the bees ate the nectar from, so it helps to fight free radicals. The darker the honey, the more antioxidant power it has!

Honey is also great at calming irritation and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is wonderful to use as a mask. I keep honey from The Carolina Honey Bee in the shop to use as a mask.

Honey in cooking

Honey contains trace amounts of B-Complex Vitamins and Vitamin C, minerals, protein amino acids and enzymes. Since it is a slow absorbing sugar, it has a lower glycemic level. Raw honey is great for your digestive system. Since it is 40% fructose (that is almost two times sweeter than sugar – hmm I had no idea) you actually need less for the same level of sweetness.

It is fabulous to cook with – just use it in marinades, dressings and beverages.

Be sure to stop in to the Carolina Honey Bee for some tasty honey. Hot honey is trendy now, and I LOVE their chili infused honey. I’ve actually bought their plain honey and just dumped my chilies from my empty jar into the new one. Within a few days it was spicy!

Honey is very easy to infuse so buy a big jar and infuse smaller containers with different herbs if you like. Also, Susan does a Honey Tasting so gather some friends and sign up for one of her tastings. It was super fun.

Resources for Bees and Honey

Honeybee

There are several great Local Bee Companies so be sure to Buy Local! Local honey is also known to help with your allergies.

The Carolina Honey Bee – https://carolinabeeco.com/

Miss Bee Haven – https://www.missbeehoney.com/

Bee Well Honey Farm – https://beewellhoneyfarm.com/

I read an interesting article from Susan at The Carolina Honey Bee in Traveler’s Rest. She was talking about Goldenrod and its importance to the thriving of the hive. Although it might terrorize those of us with allergies, the bees need it for several reasons – the Queen is stimulated to make more brood and it is what the bees will live off of in the fall and going into winter months. For the complete article, check out https://carolinabeeco.com/bee-blog/f/the-buzz-about-goldenrod

Want to know what flowers and herbs to plant for your bees? Check out https://www.missbeehoney.com/pages/flowers-for-bees for more info.

New Beauty Article from Summer 2013 – The Multitasking Power of Honey

Great ways to help the bees – https://www.beegirl.org/helpourbees

Great Bee and Butterfly Source – https://xerces.org/pollinators-southeast-region/

Alcohol in Skincare? For Shame…….or no?

A few weekends ago at the Skin Script Empowerment Retreat, we got to hear from the John Stanek, the formulator behind Lisa’s magic and probably one of the fastest speakers I have ever heard! LOL. He was a wealth of knowledge and you can tell that he is very passionate about his work.

Is alcohol in skincare good or not so good?

One of the topics he spoke about was alcohol in skincare, specifically in the Skin Script line and why it is used.

There is this big panic about having alcohol in skincare products. The truth of the matter is that not all alcohols are created equal and not all alcohols are bad. We actually need alcohol in some products to help the product work better, as an anti-bacterial agent, as an emulsifier, and they also play well with essential oils.

Here are some alcohols that are used in skincare and why we actually use them:

Simple Alcohols like Ethanol act as an astringent, drying, antiseptic and evaporates quickly.

Denatured Alcohol helps deliver active ingredients into the skin because it has great solvent properties.

Fatty Alcohol or Cetyl Alcohol is non-drying and has a complex molecular structure. They have a fabulous emollient effect on products and also helps to slow trans-epidermal water loss.

SD Alcohol is commonly known as budding or baker’s yeast. It is a brilliant solvent that blends well with water. It will change the environment so the formulator can add active ingredients that otherwise would be insoluble, into the final product. It is like pixie dust or having a magic wand!

So although some alcohols are bad for the skin, there are some that are needed to make a stellar product line. John Stanek was very clear that Skin Script as a whole uses the least amount of alcohol as possible and only for a very specific purpose.

So rest assured you are in good hands with Skin Script and with Raspberry Moon!

Cheers!

Nicole

Peptides in Skincare

Skin Script products that include peptides

So what the heck are peptides and why do I care?

Peptides are short chain amino acids that penetrate the Stratum Corneum (the top layer of your skin). They are synthetic and made in a lab.

Peptides make skincare more functional and help ingredients perform better. They are basically telling our skin to do something. I am all for using as natural of a skincare line as possible, but we still have to have products that actually do something positive for the skin!

Below is a list of commonly used Peptides, what they do and even what Skin Script product they are used in!

Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

AKA Argireline, reduces fine lines and facial tension, has a Botox like effect on wrinkles great around the eye area, forehead or even the neck. Found in: Peptide Eye Serum and Tri-Peptide Eye Cream

Acetyl Octapeptide-3

AKA SNAP 8, reduces wrinkle depth. Found in: Vitamin C/Green Tea Serum

ChroNOline

Boosts Collagen, helps to smooth and soften the skin, helps to restore and restructure the skin, great for menopausal skin. Found in: Peptide Restoration Moisturizer

Copper Tripeptide-1

Promotes healing. Found in: Peptide Restoration Moisturizer

Human Oligopeptide-1 (EGF)

Helps to divide the cells quicker – and not to worry, this doesn’t come from a human, it is a chain of 53 amino acids. Found in: Peptide Restoration Moisturizer

Kollaren

Tells the circulatory system to kick on, helps lift and tone. Found in: Passionfruit Enzyme Treatment

Matrixyl Sythe’6

Has been used for years and is considered the Gold Standard in skincare and pro-aging ingredients. It is used to soften wrinkles. Found in: Ageless Hydrating Serum – 65% Hyaluronic Acid!

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Diminishes dark circles. Found in: Peptide Eye Serum

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Diminishes dark circles. Found in: Peptide Eye Serum

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5

Stimulates collagen. Found in: Tri-Peptide Eye Cream

Reproage™

Improves skin roughness and resolves texture issues. Found in: Peptide Restoration Moisturizer

So there you have the peptide story in a nutshell. Lab created, skin approved!

Are Red Lips Really that Powerful?

Are Red Lips Really That Powerful?“From murder, to prostitution, to witchcraft accusations, the history of red lipstick has a sexy past that’s 5,000 years deep.” Red lipstick was been used over the centuries to enhance women’s (and sometimes men’s lips).

It has been seen as a sign of status, a sign of rebellion, a sign of hope, as having magical powers or as a sign of Satan’s work. At one time men could even get their marriage annulled if they were “tricked” by the bride wearing lipstick! Really guys?

A Brief History of Lipstick

The first lipstick was created out of crushed gemstones and white lead (not such a great idea and would later be the cause of death of Queen Elizabeth I of England). Ancient Sumerian men and women both used the paste as a sign of status. One of the most famous women in history and said to be the Mother of Beauty, Cleopatra made lipstick out of flowers, red ocher, fish scales, crushed ants and carmine in a beeswax base.

The church would later get involved in the lives of women by banning the use of cosmetics. It was said to be a sign of the devil. Of course, women were allowed to wear it if they were married and it made their husbands happier or they were disfigured. Ah the muddling of men in women’s affairs……

Flash forward to the 1900s where Elizabeth Arden got her start in makeup in 1912 by passing out red lipsticks to Suffragettes.  In 1915 we will see the first tube lipstick and by the 30s it is considered to be “the most important cosmetic for women” according to Vogue. In the 1940’s it was used by the ladies to show hope and feel womanly during the war.

The Power of Lipstick

Although there have been periods in time where not wearing any lipstick also made a statement, in most cases lipstick is a staple in the beauty bag of most women. Even during an economic recession, lipstick sales will be high. This is known as the “lipstick effect.”

So ladies, no matter what you decide, lipstick, no lipstick, bold or subtle, the choice has always been yours—no matter what anyone else says.

I found this one story about women from war-torn Bosnia who were asked what could Women for Women International UK, an organization that aids women in countries affected by war and conflict, bring to the women on their next trip? Their answer: Lipstick. Not clothing, not vitamins—a tube of rouge. “It’s the simplest thing that each woman can put on every single day, and we feel beautiful, and that’s how I’m resisting the war. I want that sniper to know that he is killing a beautiful woman.” I can’t even imagine, as I am sure most of you can’t.

I know when my Mom went to Russia (still a source of contention as I always wanted to go in the 80s/90s before the collapse of the USSR and she thought I was crazy, then she went after I left home!), they were told to bring makeup, that the ladies in Russia loved it.

I have found the history of lipstick, particularly reds, to be so interesting. I don’t know, I guess it is because of how I feel when I wear it or when I see other ladies rockin’ powerful lips.

What lipstick, especially red lipstick, can do for you:

“Red adds a bounce to my step, some steel to my backbone. In it, I feel oddly invincible” – Sali Hughes

“Lipstick has the power to give women confidence and hope all over the world. It’s what I call the psychology of makeup: When you look good, you feel good, and when you’re at your most confident, you can unlock your power on the world around you,” says Charlotte Tilbury, founder of Hot Lips.

“Heels and red lipstick will put the fear of God into people!” – Dita Von Teese

“If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack. Wearing a bold red can give a feeling of power, making one feel like a different version of themselves.” – Coco Chanel

“Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together.” – Elizabeth Taylor

My Favorite Reds from Besame Cosmetics

I am a person that loves bold lips. I do own a soft Dusty Rose and enjoy the new Starfish Kiss, both from Besame Cosmetics of course. However, I LOVE strong, bold lips. It is so hard to pick my favorite as I love several of them. It really depends on my mood which one I wear.

Some of my favorite colors from Besame are:

  • American Beauty
  • Red Hot Red (This is a true replica of a color from 1959. Marilyn Monroe’s favorite shade. A fire engine red from 1959 that the blonde bombshell favored above all other reds. This shade looks lovely on all skin tones, particularly those with yellow undertones.)
  • Red Velvet
  • Victory Red
  • For a vampish look, Noir
  • For a bit of a softer red, I am really loving the Water Lilly Blossom
  • And all though not a true red, the Wild Orchid is probably the color I wear the most for “everyday.” I am on my second tube. I literally used a lip brush to use every last bit from the tube!

Not sure what red is perfect for you? Come see me at the shop and experience the many shades of red from Besame Cosmetics. Besame is the Queen of true vintage lipsticks. And don’t worry for those of you that like a more subtle lip, I have a few shades for you too!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bot5Js6gVRa/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Articles about red lipstick:

https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/a-love-letter-to-red-lipstick

https://www.bustle.com/articles/132817-why-my-love-affair-with-red-lipstick-is-a-serious-one

https://www.bustle.com/articles/190243-the-history-of-red-lipstick-from-ancient-egypt-to-taylor-swift-everything-in-between