Posted by hillary on Dec 18, 2009 in Uncategorized |
This beautifully pearlized lotion is meant for the body. Light in weight and texture, it glides onto skin and is meant to protect and stimulate from the mother of pearl and gemstone content. This isn’t a heavy duty moisturizer; indeed the formulation could be the perfect antidote to summer skin dehydration. Year round it provides other beauties. Payot’s Emulsion Minerale silkiness pampers, and the scent is one that has everyone over the moon! I brought it in to share and women were grabbing the bottle to apply, then apply a little more before they went out. It was unanimous the scent and subtle sheen it left on the skin is intoxicating. I’m hoarding it again for myself this morning.
Payot Emulsion Minerale Reviving Regenerating Milk is available at 360 beauty.
Item reviewed provided by brand/brand representative. This site does not provide advertorials for content. All submissions are carefully tested and considered, but are not guaranteed coverage.
Posted by hillary on Dec 17, 2009 in Uncategorized |
I created a nail look I’m really excited about! I call it the Ice Princess:
The clear tip looks just like an icicle. I love it.
I’m trying to get a set done on my own hands for Christmas and will upload photos. I’ll skip the Edward Scissorhands and just go for a squoval.
Posted by hillary on Dec 17, 2009 in Uncategorized |
Field Report: It’s holding up quite nicely despite the abuse. Still looks good & I’ve even been working with bending & cutting metal!
Posted by hillary on Dec 16, 2009 in Uncategorized |
Brand loyalty is always an important topic of focus, but how do you know if you have it? Spike Jones’ recent post, “Frequency Buying Does Not Necessarily Equal Brand Loyalty” believes you can talk without the walk and be considered a loyalist.
A Rolls Royce fanatic on a nursing income may take home lunches to work and rent for the rest of her life to have her ultimate dream car (true story).
Jones starts out discussing something pretty basic: Gas stations. On one hand, his penchant to continually get gas from the service station that is most easily reached on his side of the street is considered by him a non-loyal action. Jones says he is happy to frequent any gas station, as long as it happens to make life easier for him. Sound familiar? In economics, this is the most basic rule of business. If station A is on the left side of town, and station B is on the right side of town, where do you open shop? In the center of town, to gain the maximum number of cross traffic.
Jones then goes on to point out that he has intense loyalty to brands he does not purchase because he cannot afford them. He uses word of mouth, and encourages others to buy so that he can live vicariously through that experience.
He almost always goes to the same gas station. He stares wistfully at brands he desires.
Which is true loyalty?
What is being discussed sounds more like brand love instead of loyalty. Is being an object of affection a desired position to have for your brand? Of course. Will it pay the bills? Not in your lifetime. That requires action.
Someone exhibiting true brand loyalty will do whatever it takes to make that brand a part of their life. A Rolls Royce fanatic on a nursing income may take home lunches to work and rent for the rest of her life to have her ultimate dream car (true story). The Stickley lover may put up with bare rooms for years and years as they furnish their home, one nearly-out-of-reach designer piece at a time (true story). The daughters of the President of the United States may ask to have their favorite beauty products on Air Force One (also true story).
Brand Loyalty equates to a Lifestyle Choice, made when times are easy and, often when times are tough.
The family that believes in the quality of higher priced organic foods and body products cuts back in other areas to afford this “required” luxury. A student only willing to part hard earned cash on a designer label will live on potatoes for weeks to look good.
Are those hardcore examples? Sure. But as long as Jones or the gas station does not move, his spending patterns will not change. Jones, as most consumers are, is loyal to convenience.
And that is the hardest brand to dislodge loyalties.
Can you think of brands you have stood by hard and fast? What imagery or perceived value did it bring to your life? What does it take for you to move from convenience to commitment?
Posted by hillary on Dec 16, 2009 in Uncategorized |
Field Report: Everything looks good today!
Posted by hillary on Dec 16, 2009 in Uncategorized |
Five days ago I had an inquiry about the Zoya Color Lock System:
As you know, I did a review of, and we are on the last day, of a giveaway for the Zoya Color Lock system. This kit is from a top “natural” nail product company and provides everything needed for an at home mani/pedi:
- polish remover
- base or ridgefiller option
- topcoat
- polish extender
I used this kit twice with good results. I was able to make it to 5 days, but finishing school means a lot of mani/pedi services and artificial nails. I need to switch up way before 10 days. I did manage to snap 3 days into one of the stretches. What I noticed, is that the hands are looking very stumpy in these photos. Ha! Re: polish, by day 5 I just had a bit of tip wear on middle and second finger.
This isn’t quite the 7-10 days extended that Zoya advertises, so Sara offered to see how the product would perform on her. She is the proud owner of several Zoya polishes. She came in last night for a warm lotion manicure and we used a beautiful lilac color (Venus?):
Things to note:
- I gave Sara a waterless manicure (warm lotion) prior to application because it was more beneficial for her hands. Any residue can cause polish lift, so I took great care to remove and dehydrate to properly prime the surface.
- Sara said she is very tough on her nails. I told her to reapply the Armor Topcoat every few days as needed. This is not an uncommon practice.
The clock started ticking last night.
