Looking Good, Locally

It’s one the paradoxes of life that the busy social calendar of the holiday season coincides with formidable beauty opponents such as pasty skin, dry winter winds, and the skin-dulling effects of too little fresh air and too much online shopping. But thanks to our area’s diverse array of rejuvenating facials, minimalist skin care products, and mineral-based makeup, it’s easy to show up at seasonal soirées radiating health and goodwill towards men (especially). Supporting these local beauty businesses helps keep holiday dollars circulating in our neck of the woods — and what’s more, they make fine presents, too. Wrap up a gift certificate for a soothing facial at Body and Soul, a bottle of Jojoba Face Scrub from Malin+Goetz, or a shimmery compact of Jane Iredale’s limited edition Triple Pearl Powder, and watch your loved ones light up like a Christmas tree. Let It Glow

It’s easy to feel right at home at Body and Soul in Great Barrington. In the cozy waiting area of the Berkshires’ first day spa, clients unwind with hot tea and heated neck warmers lightly scented with cloves. You're relaxed before your treatment even starts. That's the therapeutic intent of founders Doone and Stephen Marshall, who were body workers at Kripalu before starting Body and Soul in 1987. Doone Marshall says she wants the spa to help women shift away from chasing eternal youth and toward focusing on health. "If you feel and look healthy," she says, "you also look as good as you can." Anyone can look luminous during winter months — but, Marshall says, it does require a little maintenance. She calls her spa's anti-aging facial La Fleur Reparer ($160) "gym for the face. "The facial uses technology that reads and diagnoses skin, then delivers a current that subtly re-sculpts and lifts facial tissues. The spa's cleansing facial ($125), which uses products from homeopathic skin care line Dr. Hauschka, is another great cold weather treatment. Unique to the Hauschka treatment is lymphatic stimulation, which uses little brushes to flush away toxins and impurities. "It feels like little cat paws going over your face," Marshall says. Revelers with parties booked for Saturday, December 8, may want to swing by Body and Soul that day between noon and 3 p.m. Teralynn Warner-Farman from Dr. Hauschka will be on hand providing free makeovers. Call ahead for an appointment, and spend the rest of the day (and night) turning heads. Body and Soul Day Spa184 Maple Ave./Rt. 23 Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 528-6465 Open 7 days a week, services available from 9 am to 8 pm. So Fresh and So Clean

Photo by Charles Masters

The word "apothecary" conjures up romantic images of tiny glass vials and star-crossed lovers. But Malin+Goetz, founded by New Yorkers Andrew Goetz and Matthew Malin in 2004, is a unisex version for the twenty-first century, with a strong virtual presence. Their family-owned skin care company takes cues from the herbal-medicinal roots of the past, giving botanical ingredients like eucalyptus a high-tech boost. "It's like if you have strep throat," Goetz says. "You'd want to drink green tea and use an antibiotic." Malin+Goetz's inspiration is an extension of their down-to-earth philosophy. "We wanted to simplify," Goetz says. To that end, the partners created products for a basic, two-step skin care process and set up manageable, friendly storefronts in Chelsea, the Upper West Side, and Los Angeles. They committed to keeping manufacturing and packaging production within a 90-mile radius of New York City. And in the interest of simplifying their own lives, they bought a second home in the country — an 1810 farmhouse in Kinderhook, NY. Now that the weather outside is (somewhat) frightful, Goetz says New Englanders may need to update their skin care routines. "The tendency in the industry is to codify skin as oily, dry, or combination," Goetz says, “but skin is affected as much by the environment as by hormones." Since sloughing off dead skin is crucial in winter months, Goetz suggests exfoliating with Jojoba Face Scrub ($38). He also vouches for the hydrating powers of the company's Vitamin E Face Moisturizer ($45), which combines soothing chamomile with anti-oxidant vitamins E and B5. To outshine even the menorah at holiday festivities, Goetz recommends using 10% Glycolic Acid Pads ($48). "It's a chemically oriented exfoliant that lifts all the dead skin off to reveal newer, younger skin," he says. The pads are gentler than spa peels, so they’re perfect for merrymakers who want to go to parties looking rosy-cheeked—but not red-faced. Malin+Goetz(212) 244-7771 Available online and at area retailers including: Hudson Supermarket310 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12354 (518) 822-0028 J. Seitz9 East Shore Road Rt 45 New Preston CT 06777 (860) 868-0119 

Get Your Glamour On

Back when Jane Iredale was a producer and screenwriter in New York and Los Angeles, she noticed that makeup meant to beautify often just created more skin problems to cover up. "I started thinking about a solution," Iredale says, "a makeup with true skin care benefits." Eighteen years later, jane iredale's mineral cosmetics line counts celebs like Nicole Kidman and Tea Leoni among its fans. But the internationally successful brand has retained a small town home base in Great Barrington, MA. Since Iredale has ample experience with the region’s frosty season, she understands the needs of people who don't see much sun after 4 pm. To trick friends into believing you're leading a double life as a California surfer, Iredale recommends Tantasia ($36) — a self-tanner that lets wearers "emulate the effects of sun-kissed days at the beach without the exposure." For women who want both full coverage and protection from wintry elements, Iredale suggests Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream ($48)—a triple threat “beauty balm" with moisturizer, SPF, and foundation. Low-maintenance types will love Dream Tint ($36), a tinted moisturizer that’s one of Iredale’s personal standbys. To channel your inner glamourpuss at holiday shindigs, Iredale suggests drawing inspiration from the soft, flattering glow of pearls. Her Triple Pearl Power ($68) can be swept over foundation for a dash of subtle radiance. And nothing makes a statement like a bold red lip. "Red lipstick is going to be huge this winter, as we've grown used to bright lips after the orange craze this summer," Iredale says. Her pick is PureMoist LipColour in Carrie, a hue that pays tribute to Sarah Jessica Parker's iconic Sex and the City character. Castor seed oil and beeswax make the conditioning lipstick go on smooth. Dab on the pink-based crimson, and your fellow party-goers will be begging you to pout when Santa comes to town.
 —Sarah ToddJane Iredale: The Skincare Makeup28 Church Street Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 644-9900 Available online and at area retailers including: Face Haven323 Main St. Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413) 528-4053 Haven Spa6464 Montgomery St. Rhinebeck, NY 12572 (845) 876-7369 Essencials Day Spa439 Pittsfield Rd. Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 443-6260 To find other Jane Iredale retailers near you, click here.