Bay Area Fashionista

Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat review

Pictured: Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat c/o LaBelle Day Spas & Salons.

There is a famous, luxurious spa treatment which can be enjoyed right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. The facial is called a “Gold Facial.” Gold has been used in skin care for centuries in order to help skin look younger, stimulate collagen and renew cells. Its’ use dates back to Ancient China.

On April 3, 2014 International Supermodel Bar Refaeli treated herself to a gold facial and Instagrammed the moment to her followers. A media frenzy followed the moment and speculations ran crazy about the possible cost of a gold facial; some suggesting the treatment cost over $1000! The reality is that Bar Refaeli’s gold facial cost less than $200; making it an affordable spa treatment for anyone seeking a little luxury, and younger looking skin!

This fabulous facial treatment can be had at LaBelle Day Spas & Salons located in Palo Alto and San Francisco. Of course, if you are not local to the San Francisco Bay Area, and you are not planning a trip here anytime soon, never fear, you can find these products online! They are online at labelledayspas.com which means you can indulge in gold while in the luxurious comfort of your own home! Love that!

I did indulge in the comfort of my own home. As a busy Mother of three, finding time for a facial is next to impossible! Thankfully I was able to try two gold products from Bella Schneider at home. And yes, they are fabulous and indulgent!

I tested out Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat “Exfoliating Gommage” and Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat “All-Day Cream.”

The “Exfoliating Gommage” by Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat was an incredible way to cleanse my face. Everything from the scent to the texture to the silky feel of the product was luxurious. The “Exfoliating Gommage” did am amazing job cleaning my skin. It took away any dry spots on my face left from the sun and cleansed my pores. I found that it does such a good job I only need to use it one day per week.

I also tested out the “All-Day Creme” from Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat and it too offered a silky texture and luxurious scent. It left my skin even and perfectly moisturized throughout the day. I am thrilled!

Since these products are so amazing at home, I can only imagine how fabulous the actual facial at the spa must be! This summer when school is over, and my schedule is less hectic, I plan to take a day and indulge in a gold facial from LaBelle Day Spas & Salons.

I rate Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat products five out of five stars!!!

To learn more about Bella Schneider Beauty Culmine Caviar & Carat products and LaBelle Day Spas & Salons in Palo Alto and San Francisco, please visit labelledayspas.com

Balenciaga handbags are about to have a price increase

That’s right! On May 1, 2014 Balenciaga will be increasing their price points. The increase is rumored to be as much as 20%. This means if you have been eyeing a classic Balenciaga City Tote, you may want to act on it before April 30, 2014. Of course, which styles will experience a price increase has yet to be seen. It could be all Balenciaga handbag styles, or it could be a select few. But, do you want to risk waiting to see if the style you have been coveting will experience a price increase or not?

After May 1, 2014, the prices could go up by 20% and you may need to either continue to save up for the Balenciaga bag of your dreams, or abandon the thought of purchasing one altogether. Now no-one wants to abandon a purchase!!!

Over the past few years handbag fans everywhere have watched as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and more have rapidly increased their price points. Many of the price increases have been due to the fact that there are less suppliers in the handbag industry producing high quality materials.

A few years ago, during the economic downturn, many suppliers in Europe did not weather the storm. This meant the usual suppliers used by the top luxury design houses went out of business. When the economy recovered and the demand for luxury handbags bounced back from a small dip, designers such as Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, and the like, went scrambling to fill their orders. Unfortunately there was a smaller supply of luxury leather and materials than had been available before the economic downturn. As a result, there are less materials today than there were eight years ago for luxury handbag designers to purchase. This is simple economics. Low supply + increased demand = higher prices. Those costs end up being passed on to the consumer.

In addition to an increase in materials, labor has gone up since the economy rebounded. As with materials, smaller manufacturers did not weather the economic downturn. These were manufacturers who had been in business for over a century. Again, less manufacturers and increased demand will result in higher manufacturing costs; which causes prices to rise.

It was only a matter of time that the supply and demand issues in Europe would reach the House of Balenciaga. As a result, on May 1, 2014, the prices of Balenciaga handbags will increase. Buy now, or empty out your wallet.

Balenciaga around the web:

Casual printed sweatpants

Photos: Earrings: John Hardy / Lipstick: c/o Laura Mercier “Temptation” / Top: Gap / Necklace: c/o Twisted Silver (use code INSIDERS for 15% off) / Pants: BCBG (also in grey here) / Handbag: Chanel (also love SAVE or SPLURGE) / Nail Polish: Chanel Sky Line (similar here) / Bracelets: Tory Burch, Beau Bijou (similar here) / Shoes: SIXTYSEVEN / Toe Nail Polish: c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Petal“

I love wearing pants on casual days, but I don’t always want to wear jeans. Therefore, I love the current “sweatpants” or “track pant” trend from the New York runways right now. Although these pants are classified as sweatpants or track pants, they are nothing like what a typical, sporting pair of sweatpants would normally look or feel like.

The current sweatpants on the market are made from the same fabrications found on trousers and slim pants. The construction of the pants is loose, but not too loose, with an elastic waistband and elastic around the ankles. This gives the pants drape and makes them extremely comfortable around the waist. I have decided these are the perfect pants to wear to a buffet! 😉

Hopefully the “sweatpants” trend continues into 2015. They did appear on the fall/winter 2014/2015 runways in New York, so that is a good sign that we will continue to see the style into next year. Fingers crossed they appear on the spring/summer 2015 runways too!

Have you tried out the current sweatpants trend? What do you think of them?

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