Thursday, December 15, 2011

Nutraceuticals

I'm not sure if everyone's heard the word nutraceuticals before, but I'm sure you've seen what I'm talking about. VitaminWater is a great example of a nutraceutical i.e. food or drink that help your health. What??? (Reality show record scratch). Yes, I know that good food, like fresh fruit and whole grains, helps your health the most. So nutraceuticals is mostly a marketing thing. Which is fine as long as people know that.

There's a great article in NYT today about this category. Mostly I think it's great because it talks about how the products really don't work. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/fashion/cosmetics-that-you-eat-or-drink.html?src=recg&pagewanted=all

"But do the products work? Many doctors say no (though others, like the dermatologists Dr. Fredric Brandt, Dr. Howard Murad and Dr. Nicholas Perricone, market supplements as part of their regimens). Good skin does not come from slickly marketed beauty drinks and foods, critics say, but from vegetables, whole foods and plain water."

Look, it's not horrible to drink or eat some of this stuff. If it tastes yummy then go for it. Everything in moderation (as Socrates and my dad always said/says). But plain ole water really is the best thing for your skin. Plus some supplementation, as directed by a dermatologist and/or esthetician, can be beneficial.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Beauty Kits: Fact or Faked?

Even though I've worked in marketing for years, I'm still a sucker for a good sales pitch. Beauty kits can go either way with me. Either I'm thankful that the manufacturer had enough good sense to put those killer products together in an awesome gift bag ... or... I look at the product assortment and packaging in disbelief.

Sephora sent me an email a while back with links to three different kits. The bride kit is great. If you are low key and want to do your own make-up for your wedding, this is the kit for you. It's got a perfect assortment of bestsellers in the Make-up Industry (Benefit primer, Tarte Mascara) in beautiful neutral shades that work well for wedding photography. Plus the packaging is super cute.

Bride:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/7z4yaw8

I also liked this Lip one for the girl who is lip obsessed. There are a couple of products in here that I've been meaning to try for a while (Benefit's Benetint is at the top of my make-up To Do list)

Lips:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/6q6kwg6

The third kit, which features Sephora bestsellers, is a great value. That's the other thing about kits. A lot of times if you are thinking about buying two products that are in a kit, it's sometimes a better value to just buy the kit. I learned that little lesson my make-up guru Bianca!

Bestsellers:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/7lerezb

Let me know if you've ever found a kit that you love!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

BizAstrology December 2011


BizAstrology.com™
Let the Stars Guide You to Business Success!

Overall Themes in December 2011

Full steam ahead (Neptune, Uranus, Mercury and Jupiter)
Last month we saw a major planetary move with Neptune going direct again to spend its last couple of months in Aquarius. This month we have several more planets moving direct after retrograde periods. Mercury, retrograde at the end of November, will be going direct in the middle of December. So will Uranus (the planet of surprises) and Jupiter (the planet of luck). Retrogrades are great times to take stock on what’s working and what’s not in order to better prepare you for when a planet marches firmly forwarded. December is that time! Mercury going direct means that it’s time to sign those contracts and buy that computer you’ve had your eye on. Jupiter, which slowed down in the good luck in wealth building areas for a bit during his stay in Taurus, will now bless everyone doubly so since he’s moving direct at the end of the month. Uranus is all about surprises so you might get a surprise gift for the holidays! Get ready, everyone, for positive growth in areas of spirituality, wealth, health and your day to day life in 2012.

Business Cycle Focus: Mars in Virgo & Full Lunar Eclipse
Since Mars is staying a very long time in Virgo (until July 2012), I want to take a moment to talk about this transition one more time. You should have felt much more energetic in the day to day activities or crafting a preventive health plan as soon as Mars moved into Virgo in November. Depending on your sign, different areas of your life will get a powerful boost from the long time that Mars is staying in Virgo. For example, Geminis like myself have Mars in Virgo in our fourth house which rules the home life. I thought that I was done with all the cleaning out of the clutter that I did in October. And then I finally picked up a book that Jenn August has been recommending to me forever from the library. She claimed it would change my life. And it has! It is called Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life. In the past, I’ve struggled when approaching Feng Shui, but this is a very straightforward book. Apparently I needed the Mars energy to get my butt to the library, and then used more Mars energy to make changes in my house. Mars will be going retrograde in a couple of months so make sure you capitalize on the powerful forward motion of the sign in Virgo during December and January. Check back in with last month’s horoscope to reminder yourself of the area of your life that will be getting the most energy and vitality in the next half year.

Everyone should know by now that eclipses are all about shaking things up so that you may move forward. The Full Moon Lunar eclipses in Gemini will focus on endings and personal communication. The Solar eclipse last month in Sagittarius was a gently philosophical eclipse about new beginnings that most likely affected your thinking. For more guidance about how this lunar eclipse will impact your life, think back to the time around June 15th of this year, or the beginning of December in 1992. That was the last time we saw this series of events in the heavens. For example, back in June I got the call from Jenn to work with her and guide her business clients through astrology. Way back in December of 1992 (showing my age!) was when I sent off my college application to my dream University, Stanford. Both events had an enormous positive effect on my life. I have to say I’m looking forward to the changes brought about December 10th! Please make sure you haven’t over scheduled yourself around this date, since eclipse energy can be intense. I’d love to hear how the eclipses are manifesting in your business life, so please email me with news at weinbean@gmail.com.

INDIVIDUAL SIGNS

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)
Operations
I want my Aries to fall in love with the beauty of creating order out of chaos. My Aries are the first to charge up the mountain and move onto a new challenge. December is about embracing process. Your ruler is settling into a long stay in Virgo, which is giving you an added extra boost in your health and day to day life. Venus, which governs beauty and love, moved into your career section of your chart last month and will stay for most of December. Take advantage of this position by sprucing up anything that needs a facelift in your career. Either a literal change such as a new addition to your work wardrobe or a more metaphysical change of finding a charity that you love and donating a portion of your revenues in December.

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)
Lead Conversion
I want my Taurus to take advantage of Mercury and Jupiter moving direct this month in areas of communication and wealth building. You may have had some frustrating moments during last month with Jupiter retrograde in your sign and Mercury moving backward. At times, it might have seemed like you were trudging through the metaphorical (or literal) mud. December is the time when Mars will be literally dancing in your fifth house of romance and creativity. Mercury will also be speeding through your eighth house of other people’s money. Find a unique and artistic way to woo your best prospects and they will return the favor tenfold.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Lead Conversion
I want my Geminis to embrace their business partners this month. Your ruler Mercury is going direct by the middle of the month and will be cruising through your seventh house. Make sure to find a way to express your gratitude to all the vendors, partners and suppliers that make your work possible. The full moon is in our sign this month, so it’s time for all my Geminis to think of a wish that is dear to our hearts. Because we love to talk, find a way to articulate the wish by sharing it with your best friend, family or even Facebook. The more people who know about your wish, the more support you will receive! With the full moon comes the eclipse. Eclipses in our particular sign mean a drastic change in our self, so get ready to show the world a new version of you by the end of December.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Operations
I want my Cancers to continue making their day to day operations as strong as possible. You have several planets in your sixth house of everyday life, as well as Mars energy in your house of communication. Buckle down and write that report you’ve been putting off writing, send the email that you haven’t wanted to send and reach out and make a difficult call to a vendor that has been giving you problems. You’ll have the gift of gab in your corner, but make sure you wait until Mercury is out of retrograde in the middle of the month if you want to avoid any hurt feelings. Tap into your super sensitive side and you unearth some surprises in your career. 

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22)
Lead Generation
I want my Leos to work with their friends to complete a project this month. With the full moon in your eleventh house of friendships, the best way to make sure that your project is successful (and put to bed) is talking with your friends. Brainstorm ideas and remember sometimes your friends will help you see things in a new light. They’ll make sure that anything you are working on both sparkles and finds its way out into the world. Gaining new clients may have been tough with Jupiter in retrograde but now that both Jupiter and Mercury are turning direct, you’ll find more momentum in your search for new ways to build your wealth portfolio. Lucky Leo with Mars in your second house of wealth means 2012 is your year to grow your business to the stars!

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22)
Lead Generation
I want my Virgos to focus on the vision for their career in 2012. For the first half of the year, you will have the strength of Mars in your sign pushing you forward. This power combined with Jupiter in Taurus is a fantastic combination to bring your career to the next level. You are doubly lucky this month, with the full moon in your tenth house. Because it falls in the sign of Gemini, this is the time to clearly articulate where you want to take your career to your closest friends and family. Make sure you know exactly what you want before you ask for it, because with this much energy in your chart, you’ll be sure to get it in the next six months. I’m not worried about my precise Virgos who always have an action plan ready to put in motion! Also because there is eclipse energy surrounding the full moon (as well as your ruler in retrograde), make sure you schedule any important meetings the week of December 20th.

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22)
Lead Generation
I want my Libras to communicate their bold philosophical vision to those in their life who have the power to enhance their career. Both Mercury and Jupiter will be moving forward in areas of communication and other people’s money. So if you are looking for a loan, an extension on a line a credit, a renegotiation of your credit card APR, this is the month to talk to whomever you think might be the most helpful. With Mars settling into your house of the subconscious, you may have had unusually vivid dreams recently. Make sure that you talk about what your dreaming life is revealing to you in order to take advantage of this unique spot that Mars has taken in your life. You also might need to deal with issues of confinement (hospitals or prisons) so take good stock of your health. Look to starting a preventive health plan in December that will take you through this time period of Mars in your twelfth house.

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Lead Conversion
I want my Scorpios to focus their vision of financial freedom on the potential of your impact on the larger world. Philosophical Sagittarius is lining up in your second house of wealth, which means that any new clients you take on this month will help you share your gift with a larger audience. You might get a chance to be more active in social media or even turn into a YouTube sensation. With your ruler in Virgo, getting healthy may also be a focus for the next couple of months. You should expect some surprises in this area with Uranus, the planet of unexpected changes, in your sixth house of health. Friends will be important allies in your quest to get healthy and shape up your day to day operations, so make sure you ask for suggestions and motivations when looking for a new exercise routine. This is the time to mingle with your friends, which is sometimes difficult for my more reclusive Scorpios.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Lead Generation
I want my Sagittarii to take the shake-up that they might have experienced during last months eclipse and start off on a fresh new journey. Others around you might be experiencing difficulties from last month’s eclipse, which was about bigger picture thinking. My light-hearted Sagittarius’ probably experienced a mild bump in the road, but they always have a vision of where they are headed next. Your career will be front and center for the next few months with Mars going direct in your tenth house, so capitalize on all of this extra energy. This is a once in a life time opportunity to channel all your energy into your career, so please take advantage of it, my wanderlustful (is that even a word? Now it is!) Sagittarii!

Capricorns (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
Operations
I want my Capricorns to pamper themselves in order to prepare for their birthday. With Venus in your sign for most of December, it’s a great time to get a spa treatment, massage or new hair cut. The lunar eclipse at the middle of the month will provide closure to a health issue you’ve been dealing with, or a struggle that you may have had at work with a co-worker. Use the eclipse new beginning and the ending cycle that you’ve experienced for the past couple of weeks to reflect on what needs to end in your life and what needs to begin. But don’t forget about the beauty of the world. Sometimes spending money on yourself is just what the astrological doctor ordered, especially for practical Capricorns that look at money spent on themselves as a frivolous expense.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Lead Conversion
I want my Aquarii to put all their efforts into convincing clients, partners and banks that they are the ones to bet on. The strength of Mars energy is focusing on your house of rebirth and other people’s money. If you’ve found problems converting your leads in the last couple of months, you should feel new life being breathed into your clients that are wobbling on the fence. This energy will push them over to your side and help you capitalize on a renewed sense of vim and vigor! Mercury will be moving direct in your eleventh house of friendships this month, which is a happy place for Aquarius’ to continue their quest to be the life of every party. Take each and every invitation that is extended to you, because you never know who might be out there to help you realize your business vision.

Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20)
Operations
I want my Pisces to find ways to take their careers globally. With Sagittarius taking a tour of your tenth house, you’ll be given opportunities to go overseas, either on a business trip or by expanding your brand. Look to business partnerships for help in finding the right opportunities, since Mars is continuing to send a strong message to your house of partnerships. Loans may be a frustrating area of your business but rest assured that by the end of 2012 you’ll be such a good place with your career, angel investors will be beating down your doors. Mercury is moving direct in your career, fame and honors section of your chart so make sure you work with a great publicist who is able to shout from the rooftops about how fabulous you are to the world. Dump any publicists that don’t truly believe in how amazing you are.

December Dates to Calendar
Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Gemini, plus Uranus Direct 12/10 (busy day!)
Mercury direct 12/13
Venus in Aquarius 12/21
Sun and New Moon in Capricorn 12/23
Jupiter direct 12/25
Moon in Aries 12/31

Everyone have a wonderful holiday season. Plus an especially fantastic New Year’s Eve with Moon in Aries. What a way to start 2012!  

To Your Greatest Success!

Jenn August, C.H, C.L.S.C

Business Hypnotherapist & Success Coach
Musical Philanthropist

Ilana Weiner, L.E.
Beauty Magician

Have a wonderful month! Celebrate yourself - You deserve it!

Beyond Business LLC All Rights Reserved TM® Copyright © 2011
BizAstrology.com is a TM property of Beyond Business LLC

Beyond Business for Women PO Box 817 Reno, Nevada 89509 United States (800) 815-7681

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Steps To Beauty

I know a lot of people paralyzed by what they should do as a skin care routine. Clinique did a great job with the Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize campaign. So good that you would be amazed at the amazement that a lot of my clients have when I say you don't necessarily need to tone. The paralysis comes from too many products out there and too many opinions. You have to do this! Your skin is lost without this!

Well here's one more opinion to add to the mix: It's all about finding the right products that fit your skin type and lifestyle. After years of buying tons of products that I didn't love, I found MakeupAlley.com for product reviews. But nothing replaces going to a facialist that you trust and getting product recommendations. There are other fabulous reasons to go to a facialist (relaxation, therapy, extractions, professional only treatments) but the number one reason to go is so you can get put on a skin care routine.

Here's the article from the New York Times on the new steps for skin care regimens that inspired this post.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/fashion/new-steps-for-skin-care-regimens-skin-deep.html?src=recg

The one thing I like about this article is the emphasis on more skin care products and less foundation. Foundation/Concealer really only needs to be used on parts of your face that skin care products can't really correct or haven't corrected yet. The worst is if you have problem skin and you cover up the problems by shellacing on more foundation. Then your skin care problems will never be solved because you aren't allowing your skin to breathe!

A deeply cynical person (like myself) would scoff at new steps being added by a manufacturer since they want to sell more products. But what isn't cynical about changing up your routine is figuring out what you really need to do and why. Learn about the ingredients that work on your skin and buy only those products, no more.

For example, here's my skin care routine right now (it's a bit colder so I've changed it up from summer when my skin is oiler). The most important thing is the ingredients. You don't have to buy these particular brands, athough I've tried several Glycolic toners, cleanser and moisturizers and these are the ones that are the best.

AM

  1. Wash with lukewarm water
  2. Glycolic toner on the oily/congested parts (nose and jaw for me) [SkinCeuticals LHA Toner]
  3. Moisturizer or Lavender toner if my skin feels tight after the Glycolic toner (which it usually doesn't) [Dermalogica Multi-Activ Toner or Nia24 Skin Stregthening Complex]
  4. SPF
  5. Concealer/Cover-up (dual action so conceals and heals) [ABBE End-Zit]
  6. Powder [Estee Lauder Translucent]


PM

  1. Wash with Glycolic cleanser [Revision Brightening Cleanser]
  2. Glycolic moisturizer (if I'm feeling dry) or Retionol Treatment [Topix Glycolix Elite 10% or Topix Replenix Retionol x5]



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

BizAstrology November 2011


BizAstrology.com™
Let the Stars Guide You to Business Success!

Overall Themes in November 2011

Mercury, Venus, Sun and Eclipse in Sagittarius
We’ve all been feeling the effects of Scorpio, a committed and secretive sign, for the last couple of weeks in October. Both Mercury and Venus will scoot into Sagittarius at the very beginning of November. It’s time for everyone to turns our faces into the sun and enjoy its warmth. For November and December, we’re entering a lighter time of the year, moving away from the lessons of karmic balance and intuition that fall taught us. Mercury and Venus rule lead generation and conversion so capitalize on the expansive nature of Sagittarius during the beginning of the month. By the end of the month around Thanksgiving, Mercury will begin to move backwards into retrograde motion. New leads might not come as easily as in the beginning of the month. However during the three weeks of Mercury in retrograde I want everyone to focus their attentions on wooing their highest quality clients with big picture ideas that will change the world. Sagittarius is a sign about philosophy and travel, so anticipate expansion of your client’s ideas into new markets around the world or into new uncharted platforms. We’ll also be experiencing a solar eclipse in Sagittarius at the end of the month. We’ve all been feeling the effects of this Gemini-Sagittarius eclipse cycle that started back in June. Look for new beginnings (new doors, windows, clients, friends and lovers) as we move into December.

Business Cycle Focus: Mars in Virgo
The biggest news of the year is excitable Mars’ move into practical Virgo. Mars rules the operations part of the business cycle, while Virgo is all about getting things done. So this month especially will be a great time to kick off any implementations of new projects that have been bubbling and brewing since Mars entered creative Leo in September. Mars will go retrograde for a few months in the beginning of 2012, so look to the next couple of months as your powerhouse time to sew the seeds for great operational success. Operations can sometimes be managed more smoothly by someone whose sole purpose is setting up a great supply chain plan. With Saturn winding down its run in Libra, make sure you’ve found your perfect partner in crime if operational management isn’t your passion. There really are people out there who love to make things run perfectly. You know who they are, the types that organized the playground playtime or color coordinated their crayons. Either embrace your inner organizational geek or seek out this person to get your operations in the best shape possible.

Individual Signs in November 2011

Aries (Mar 21 - Apr 19)
Lead Generation
I want my Aries to look to the stars for inspiration. Your ruling planet Mars is about to transition into a very long stay in Virgo for the next six months. This will be a time for buckling down, which is hard for my Aries. You guys wanna go out and play in the sun or maybe just charge up a mountain. Take your last couple of trips (in your mind or to a real place) before the power of Mars in Virgo forces you to get serious. Early November is the best time for generating new leads, with Jupiter, Mars and Uranus chatting with each other about how much they love your sign. Focus on your dreams, put your boots on the ground and you’ll find yourself charging up many mountains in the future.

Taurus (Apr 20 - May 20)
Lead Conversion
I want my Taurus to finish up home projects in preparation for a burst of creative energy. Mars is moving into your fifth house of romance and artistry. My epicurean Taurus’ are more comfortable with Mars in your fourth house of home, but the next six months will be a fantastic time for you to embrace your creative side. The full moon in your sign on November 11th is a once a year phenomena where whatever you wish for deep in your heart will find its way into existence. Keep on taking advantage of Jupiter in your sign, lucky Taurus, even though I know I don’t have to tell you twice! You should be in powerful lead conversion mode all month, culminating with the solar eclipse in your eighth house of other people’s money. Grab that client that you’ve always wanted and sore into December!

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Lead Conversion
I want my Geminis to look to their partners for guidance when it comes to the health of their business. Mars is dancing with Virgo into your fourth house so the next six months will be about embracing your renewed commitment to healthy living at home. It’s been a wild ride of eclipses in your sign that will keep on rolling until Spring of 2013. Just be your nimble, quick witted self, Gemini and you’ll come out on top (as you always do!). Your ruling planet is going into retrograde at the end of the month, but this, more than the other two times of Mercury Retrograde that we get during the year, is your time to slow down, relax and enjoy life’s little treats. Take a moment to hand write a letter to someone you love. Maybe it’s even time to put down the PowerPoint and pick up something more creative when it comes to convincing a client that you are the best person to take them where they want to go.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
Operations
I want my Cancers to enjoy the warmth of friends. Starting in late October, you’ve had many planets lining up in your fifth house of love. Now that the cooler winds of November are blowing, you’ll find your focus moving more towards the day to day operations of life. Your friends will give you a surprise gift on the full moon of November 11th. Since the full moon is in Taurus, this will be a beautiful refined present for you to enjoy for months to come. Virgo and Mars are making a move into your third house of communication, so get ready to start talking, Cancer. I know you will be well prepared for your time in the communication spotlight. Cancers usually have many things to say but sometimes don’t know the exact way to say it. You’ll find that your gift of gab that changes people’s hearts will grow for the next six months with Mars in your third house.

Leo (July 23 - Aug 22)
Lead Generation
I want my Leos to focus all of their energy on what they hold dear in their heart as it relates to their career. The full moon is in your tenth house of career, fame and honors, so whatever you’ve been dreaming up for your career (a new job, a new client) this is the time to send it out into the universe. The eclipse at the end of the month is in your fifth house of creativity, so if you’ve been struggling with new ways of finding your clients, you might get a burst of inspiration as we move into December. Eclipses shake up our energy to let go of old thinking and bring in new ways of being. Virgo and Mars are entering your second house for the next six months, lucky Leos! This will give you a fantastic opportunity to focus on sustained wealth building, one you haven’t seen in a while. This might be something that you have been craving with all the spending you’ve done lately on yourself. Not to worry, your long term prospects for career success are fantastic with Virgo in your second house for such a long stay.

Virgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22)
Operations
I want my Virgos to prepare for the power of Mars energy in your sign. Mars is making his move into Virgo in the middle of the month and will stay for a very long time, six months. This will be a great time for you to get momentum on any work projects that may have stalled. With your ruler in Retrograde for the first couple of weeks that Mars is in your sign, you may not feel the full benefit at first. The universe only gives us what we are prepared for, so make sure that you use November to get your ducks in a row so that when you are asked to take flight you are ready. The eclipse at the end of the month will be in your fourth house of home, so be prepared for any sudden changes in your living situation or your home life. Even though I never have to tell my Virgos to be prepared, since you were born prepared! The combination of Saturn in your second house of income with Mars in your first house will give you strength to take your career to a new phase.

Libra (Sept 23 - Oct 22)
Lead conversion
I want my Libras to share their vision for their career with their closest friends and family. The people in our lives are sometimes the ones that can help us the most when it comes to making our dreams come true. With Saturn finishing up his turn in your chart, Libras born in the middle of October will be feeling the most pressure for the next couple of months. Take advantage of the full moon landing in your house of other people’s money to convince a client that you are the right choice. Since this full moon is in Taurus, you’ll need a delicious dinner or a great bottle of wine to seal the deal. Mars will be moving into your subconscious for the next six months so pay careful attention to any dreams that you may have. This will be a perfect time to start that dream journal you’ve thought about creating. If you are struggling with any area of your career, it’s often our subconscious that holds the answer.

Scorpio (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
Lead Generation
I want my Scorpios to light a fire under your job search efforts. The past few months have been more focused on having fun, which is a breath of fresh air for my serious Scorpios. The fun will continue with Mars moving into your eleventh house of friendships for the next six months. This means that your energies and focus should be on friends, so if you are looking for new clients or new sources of work, reach out to your friends. With several planets lining up early in Sagittarius during your birth month, this is the time to celebrate your new beginnings and share your plans for reinventing yourself with the world. If you are thinking about starting a new workout routine, your best bet will be to find some friends to walk with you or play a sport. Your friends are going to be your most powerful allies in the next coming months if you truly want to change your life.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Fulfillment
I want my Sagittarii to bask in the glow of Mercury and Venus at the beginning of the month, and the warmth of the Sun and the New Moon at the end of the month. Change is coming in the form of a solar eclipse in your sign around November 24th. My passionate Sagittarii should use the beginning of the month to fall in love with themselves again with pretty Venus moving into your sign. The beginning of the month is also the best time for writing projects or speaking engagements. By the end of the month, planets will have shifted, along with an eclipse, so news may be jarring, especially when it comes to your health. The end of November will be the time to bring any projects to a glorious culmination and make room for new clients, since solar eclipses are times of new beginnings. You have a fantastically powerful dance of Mars in Virgo in your tenth house of career, fame and honors coming for the next six months, so my Sagittarius need to be ready to soar when it comes to their career.

Capricorns (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
Operations
I want my Capricorns to reflect on where they want to take their career at the beginning of the month. Mars is leaving your eight house of other people’s month, so you may have had an influx of cash recently from investors. Now that he’s moving into your ninth house of philosophy for the next six months, you have ample resources to craft your vision for how the world should be run. Take a moment during the middle of the month to put a creative project that you’ve been working on to bed, with Taurus in your fifth house of romance and creativity. Venus will be entering your sign early at the end of the month, so make an appointment at the hairdresser to make sure you are in tip top shape for the holidays.

Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Lead Generation
I want my Aquarii to celebrate at as many parties this month. Aquarii are usually the life of the party anyway, with something to talk about with everyone. With so many planets lining up in your eleventh house of friendship, I’d like for you to capitalize on the empowerment of socialization. You’ll find new friends, clients and lovers if you need them, as long as you are out and about. With the eclipse in your eleventh house, be prepared for a shocking development concerning one of your friends. You’ll both be fine, as long as you are there for them as much as they need you. Mars is dancing into your eighth house of other people’s money, so if you’ve been looking for a loan or a line of investment capital, the next sixth months will be the ideal time to woo investors to your vision.

Pisces (Feb 19 - March 20)
Fulfillment
I want my Pisces to put all of their efforts into their career this month. November is a time for dazzling your clients and impressing them with your skills that are unmatched. Several planets are lining up in your tenth house of career, fame and honors, keeping you busy with the clients that you already have. Focus on these super clients and they will lead you to even more clients that will keep you busy for years to come. Mars will be moving into your seventh house of partnership for the next six months, so consider adding an associate or a business partner if your workload gets too much for you to handle. New clients will slow down around the holiday, which coincides with Mercury Retrograde. That’s okay because you need this time to catch your breath and prepare for what’s to come in your career. Use Mercury Retrograde to reflect on how far you’ve come with your career and where you want it to go in 2012.

November Dates to Calendar
Mercury and Venus enter Sagittarius 11/3
Full Moon (aka Full Beaver Moon) in Taurus 11/10
Mars in Virgo 11/12
Sun in Sagittarius 11/23
Mercury retrograde 11/24
New Moon in Sagittarius 11/24
Partial Solar Eclipse 11/24

To Your Greatest Success!

Jenn August, C.H, C.L.S.C

Business Hypnotherapist & Success Coach
Musical Philanthropist

Ilana Weiner, L.E.
Beauty Magician

Have a wonderful month! Celebrate yourself - You deserve it!

Beyond Business LLC All Rights Reserved TM® Copyright © 2011
BizAstrology.com is a TM property of Beyond Business LLC

Beyond Business for Women PO Box 817 Reno, Nevada 89509 United States (800) 815-7681

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Beauty Filter

http://www.britishbeautyblogger.com/2011/10/beauty-fatigue.html

Great post about all the new products that keep coming out trying to capture our attention if only for a moment. I think this is applicable to all the consumer packaged goods/services/things that people are trying to sell us. There's just a general sense out there that everyone is tired. Too much stuff is trying to be sold to too many people that have too little money.

How do we come back from the brink? Filtering. I posted a quote on my Facebook page about information overload. The crux of the problem is filter failure. Too much information is getting through that would have been filtered in years past (stopped by either economics or lack of access)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150333358682919&set=a.10150311598582919.346808.505287918&type=3&theater

I'd say one of the biggest problems I've encountered since working as an esthetician is that everyone has a favorite brand. I'm no different. I've found brands that I love since working at a med spa. And I'm sure I'll find more brands that I love. The problem comes when everyone assumes that I know everything about every brand. No, I'm sorry, I haven't heard of your skin care brand that you love. I'm sure it's awesome. But I don't have time in my life (or with my skin) to try every single product that is out there.

What's your beauty filter? Mine happens to be brands sold in professional only channels. I'm mostly familiar with and tend to trust more brands that are sold to beauty professionals. Why? Because they have to make the product good enough for a professional to like it. Professionals are picky and hard to please because  they need stuff that's going to work on their clients, or they won't get any repeat business. Also companies typically consult with professionals while creating the products. So the development process is entirely different than for products that are tailored to what consumers want. I'm not saying you can't buy products sold to consumers. Go for it. It's just not going to be the most optimal use of your money. So if you want to find a way to make the most of your limited dollars, professional brands could be a good filter.

The other filter is learn your ingredients. I think I've said this in a couple of posts. Knowing basic ingredients in beauty products allows you to look for the stuff you like in the higher priced brands and see if it's in your lower priced brands. Also you can make a call as to whether or not that expensive cream really has enough of a particular ingredient in it to justify its expensive price. The higher the amount of the ingredient, the higher it is up on the label. Take a moment to compare the first three ingredients in a professional moisturizer and a retail moisturizer and you'll see what I mean. But if you find that ingredient that you love in your professional moisturizer in some generic brand at the drugstore, get it! It may not be the best use of your money, but at least you know what you are paying for.