Retail Therapy: Win with Viva

Winner of the Beauty Industry Awards Triple Challenge Competition, Cruella de Vil from the Edge Beauty Studio. Photo / Supplied

Calling all shopping fans - Confessions of a Shopaholic is released on DVD this week! The fashionable rom-com features the adorable Isla Fisher as Becky Bloomwood, a wannabe fashion writer with an addiction to shopping and a new unlikely new job dishing out money advice for a financial magazine.

Sex and the City costume designer Patricia Field selected Bloomwood's outfits, which include pieces from Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, Miu Miu, Prada, Christian Dior, Gucci and Matthew Williamson. A must-have DVD for any fashion fan. We have 10 copies to give away. To enter write your name, address and phone number on the back of an envelope and send it to Confessions of a Shopaholic competition, Viva, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close September 2.

Suck on that

Dentists may soon find they're in for a bit more competition in the tooth-whitening game, judging by several promotions at the annual Beauty Expo in Auckland. The trade show is a chance to get a glimpse at new trends and one to watch for is laser tooth whitening, coming to a beauty salon near you. It's reminiscent of the way IPL has spread from dermatologists to beauty clinics, often at lower cost, though with the caveat of buyer beware that the operator is properly trained. Cheaper technology means salons can now realistically consider offering whitening services, as is already being seen in Australia.

Salons have to use pre-packaged kits, rather than mixing strong bleaches themselves as dentists can, so this may limit results, but with the machines already being marketed here, it's only a matter of time before a facial could offer an add on to smile about. Other trends at the Expo were the increase in organic ranges on offer, both from overseas and locally and the bling thing. Glitter makeup, nail art and even stick-on crystals for the teeth were all being promoted.

Do your bit

Now Auckland's Zoo's ageing orang-utans have been put out to pasture, it's time to focus on the endangered animals' future in the wild - after all they are close cousins to us genetically speaking. Increasing demand for palm oil is seeing the Southeast Asian rainforest orang-utans rely on removed for plantations. The use of palm oil in cosmetics and food is widespread. It was unnecessarily snuck into Cadbury chocolate under the label of vegetable oil, until public outcry forced a corporate about-turn. One company that has never used palm oil and wants to do its bit is Trilogy, which is donating $1 from the sale of each specially packaged bottle of its flagship Certified Organic Rosehip Oil to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, which helps rescue and relocate the animal to protected habitats. The oil is a good face and body moisturiser, packed with antioxidants for skin repair and goes on sale next month. To find out more about the foundation visit orangutanresecue.org.au

Award winners

For the second year in a row, Christchurch's Jouvence Beauty Institute has been named the country's best spa at the Beauty Industry Awards, held in conjunction with the Beauty Expo. Jouvence is run by industry pioneer Anne Maire de Spa, who featured in Viva recently. The best clinic award went to Whangaparaoa business, Chrysalis Emerge Beautiful. The best new business was Exhale Spa, at Paraparaumu Beach, best therapist was Anna Robinson, from Annasplanet in New Plymouth and best student Anneke Groenewald from the Eastern Institute of Technology, Napier.

A fun aside at the expo was the Triple Challenge Competition, for nails, makeup and hair in which entrants had to create a likeness of their favourite movie character or musician. Teams of three had three hours to fashion the looks, and makeup judge Nikki Lovrich said she was amazed by the initiative and standard of creativity displayed. The winning character was Cruella de Vil, created by the Edge Beauty Studio, Wanganui, second was Edward Scissorhands from Studio 21, Christchurch and third Lady GaGa from Exquisite Total Image, Rotorua.

Guess what?

Good news for shoe obsessives, Guess shoes are now available at Farmers. The designer shoes are affordable too, retailing from $69 for a jandal to $249 for more flamboyant designs. The footwear range is available now from six Farmers stores, Queensgate, Riccarton, Lambton Quay, Botany Downs, St Lukes and Albany.

Girl power

The Women Empowered event is on this Saturday, August 29, in the Grand Tearoom at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland, with guest speakers including Liz Mitchell, Leah Panapa and entrepreneur Susana Tuya Sarmiento. The event is all about uplifting, empowering and educating women, with proceeds from the event going to Dress for Success. Tickets are $129 for one, $480 for four or $1169 for a table of 10, and that includes morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a manual and a goodie bag. For more information and to buy tickets, visit womenempowered.co.nz.