Beauty
Biz
BY
LIZ BROWN
SLICKER THAN SCHICK
Shaving doesn't have to be a chore. OK, maybe it does,
unless you're Grizzly Adams, but the daily routine can be
made more pleasant with the right tools. Toss out the cheapo
plastic razor and rusty can of shaving foam when your man's
not looking and replace it with a
customized shaving
kit ($13 and up, Escential Lotions & Oils, 710 NW
23rd Ave., 248-9748; 3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 236-7976).
An old-fashioned, natural-bristle lather brush ($8) is ideal
for dipping into time-tested Caswell-Massey shave soap in
its handsome wooden case ($15.50). (Even George Washington
used the company's products.) A faux tortoiseshell brush
stand ($3.50) and a bottle of Escentials aftershave lotion
with Vitamin E ($3.25, or $3.50 with essential oil added)
complete an affordable set. Pile it all in a wicker basket
($.60-$3.50) and tuck it under the tree.
NOT JUST FOR HIPPIES ANYMORE
For a truly local
gift, bypass the prepackaged goods at Made in Oregon and
give a gift certificate for the services of herbalist
Michelle Seeds ($5 and up, Bending Sprite, 7061
N Congress Ave., 285-7116). The aptly named Seeds blends
traditional flower essences (many derived from her own
back yard) and essential oils into treatments specific
to one's personality for improved mind-body health. A
one-hour consultation in Seeds' home costs $20, and custom-mixed
products including incense, teas, oral treatments, body
mist and tinctures in beautiful bottles range from $5
to $35. Alternatively, you can tell Seeds a little bit
about the recipient over the phone and ask her to formulate
specific products to be delivered to that lucky someone
for an additional five bucks. (She makes house calls for
beleaguered pets, too.) Gift certificates for medicinal
garden consultations are also available.
PRETTY PAIN RELIEF
Help the complainer on your list say goodbye to aches
and pains (not to mention slimy blue ice packs and rubbery
hot-water bottles) with a soothing Herbal
Concepts herbal comfort pack ($13, Mirador, 1123
SE Market St., 231-5175). The soft, bright fabric case
houses heat-retaining flax seeds and an aromatic blend
of relaxing herbs, including lavender, valerian and chamomile.
The cozy pack can be nuked or warmed in the oven for cramp
relief, or frozen and applied to inflamed areas.
TAKE ME AWAY!
Move over, Calgon. Tranquil baths
have come a long way since bubbly, synthetic potions lined
drugstore shelves. The Botanical Basics Spa on the
Go package ($30, About Face & More, 515 SW Broadway,
224-8623) is evidence of this welcome evolution. The tension-relieving
foot and body soak has therapeutic essential oils (refreshing
peppermint and eucalyptus among them), not to mention
the ubiquitous alpha-hydroxy acids to exfoliate dead skin
from weary dogs. Also included are a coiled sponge that
elongates to scrub hard-to-reach areas and a hearty, aromatherapeutic
vanilla-orange candle to set the mood.
TEA (AND THEN SOME) FOR TWO
Luckily, gifts for
couples aren't limited to flatware and funderwear. Deserving
Thyme's novel International Love Kits ($28, Thistle,
1001 SW Broadway, 790-7759) combine spa products with
romance in three varieties. The Shanghai Seduction kit
includes green tea and clove pillow spray; sea of desire
bath oil with ylang ylang, black pepper and orange; peppermint
and tangerine massage cream; ginseng tea; and bath powder.
Tips on "Feng Shui for love" and how-to instructions for
each component of the kit are also tucked in the decorative
box. Parisian Bordello and Una Noche Caliente versions
are available as well.
JET SETTER
Traveling can wreak havoc on one's skin; desert-dry
airplane air, lack of sleep and radical climate shifts
make excellent skin-care products a must for frequent
flyers on your list. Zia Natural Skincare Zia
to Go travel kits ($19.99, Nature's Fresh Northwest,
various locations) heed the call. Several products for
normal, dry or oily skin types are stashed in a small,
clear bag. The exfoliants, toners, moisturizers and cleansers
contain natural ingredients--including papaya, citrus
concentrate and sea algae--that actually do improve the
look and feel of skin. The socially conscious company's
products are cruelty-free, but the best reason to buy
them is that they work.
BANDWAGONESQUE
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Orange is unavoidable
this year, so you might as well get used to it. Ditto
for the infinite array of products with spiritually charged,
lofty (but ultimately meaningless) names like Happy, Zen
and Bliss. (What's next, toilet paper called Relief?)
Even typically grounded cosmetics giant Clinique
has become enlightened, bringing us its Pure Joy Gift
Set in a vibrant orange case ($35, Nordstrom, various
locations). Fortunately, it's chock-full of high-quality
makeup in neutral (i.e., not orange) shades flattering
to most skin tones. The set includes a compact with four
eye shadows, sheer powder blusher and face powder, along
with a honey-gloss nail enamel, a gorgeous lipstick and
two makeup brushes.
LIP SERVICE
Do you know a lipstick hunter? You know, that friend
or relative who rummages endlessly in her bottomless purse
for the elusive tube of lipstick--the same Revlon shade
she's worn for 10 years? Aveda's
Lipcolor Caddy ($32, Salon In Vogue, 1721 SE Hawthorne
Blvd., 239-5395) should halt the hunt in no time flat.
A sturdy, frosted taupe case made from recycled cotton
contains a mirror and four full-size, reclining Aveda
lipsticks. Available in two color palettes--Cool Love
and Give Warmth--the lip colors range from clean, matte
shades to rich, frosted tones. And, unlike waxy traditional
lipsticks, they're free of petrochemicals and loaded with
anise, cinnamon oils and natural emollients.
SOAK CITY
Several natural-healing practitioners
have offices in the three adjacent houses that make up
Common Ground Wellness Center, but many weary folk have
come here in the last 20 years just to hunker down in
the hot tubs. A gift certificate for a soak ($9
each, good for one hour, Inner City Hot Tubs, 2927 NE
Everett St., 238-1065) is sure to be appreciated during
dreary winter days. A heavenly dry sauna and showers are
located inside, and wooden stairs lead up to two hot tubs
on a peaceful outdoor deck. The facility is co-ed and
swimsuit-optional, so it may not be the place for those
who like to sweat alone (there are, however, special hours
for women and men only, and silence is encouraged). Incense,
candles and wood-and-tile decor help to create quite a
sanctuary--and what better time to seek one out than after
the mad jingle-bell dash? Let the real holiday commence.
