Now, we can say the same for the beauty products we don’t want to leave home without. Right next to the vending machine where you’re purchasing that mid-afternoon chocolate fix, you can find a new kind of vending machine. Beauty vending machines!

In Japan, vending machines selling all kinds of unorthodox (to us, anyway) items are more common. Need a new iPod? There’s probably a vending machine for that.

But the new trend stateside is every beauty lover’s dream come true! The Body Shop, Sephora and Elizabeth Arden are just a few of the product lines embracing this idea. Are you ready to see one of these babies near you? It could happen in the near future in places like airports, shopping centers and supermarket chains. In fact, in cities like San Francisco, Las Vegas, Nashville, and more, the beauty vending machines have already arrived!

What do you guys think about this concept? I know I’m on board with vending machines that sell everything I could possibly want. Including emergency lip gloss!

The collection also includes toiletry and makeup bags in cheery colors, just in time for spring! The skincare items will retail for $4.95 each, while the makeup and toiletry bags will be $4.95 and $7.95 each, respectively. These eco-friendly items will hit H&M stores this month. I know you can’t resist, so what items will you be picking up?

Villainess is a bit naughty because they have scents named after deadly deeds like Pyromania, which gives off a sweet, smoky odor and uses poppy seeds as a mild abrasive. I bought my younger sister a bar of Silk & Cyanide for Christmas, which gives off the scents and flavors one experiences while slowly being poisoned. She cautiously thanked me for my trouble.

Villainess is a bit nice because all their products are cruelty-free, and they operate through a full-disclosure policy about all materials used in manufacture. It’s kind of like how the arch-enemy details all her nefarious plans to the hero before she engages the unnecessarily slow-moving crane toward the shark tank.

Villainess Soaps and cosmetic products are hand-made in Waverly, TN by people who are truly passionate (and a bit evil) about their ideals. The soaps are nicely priced and arrive in un-sculpted hunks of glorious texture, color and odor. Ask your local beauty biz if they’ll stock some, or just visit their website at www.villainess.net to see what devilishly clever new things they’ve devised.

Photo: Villainess Soaps

The Makeup Show is a two-day event full of seminars, lectures and hands-on workshops that makeup artists and students in makeup artist training can’t afford to miss! Those in attendance will learn from the biggest names in makeup, like Kevin James Bennett, James Vincent, Jon Hennessey and Emmy Award Winner Eve Pearl. The only thing more exciting than the opportunities to learn at The  Makeup Show, is the exhibitor area! Pick up new and innovate products for your makeup kit (often at pro prices), while you meet the creators behind your favorite brands.

So, what are you waiting for? Visit The Powder Group for tickets and more information!

Marinello donated the proceeds from all student salon and spa services performed on January 16th throughout its 41 campuses. Students, staff and faculty took to the internet to get the word out through the use of Twitter, Facebook and email campaigns. As a result almost 1,500 guests got pampered in support of this worthy cause. All the money raised will be donated to the American Red Cross.

Is your cosmetology school raising funds for Haiti earthquake relief or other charitable causes in your community? Please share!

Driven by a ban on animal skin testing planned to go into effect in Europe by 2013, a New Jersey-based company called Hurel Corp. is making advances on the technology that could replace animal testing.

Thanks in part to funding from cosmetics maker L’Oreal, scientists at Hurel Corp. are working on technology that can grow human skin cells in a laboratory. When new products are applied to these skin cells, scientists can simulate an actual human being’s allergic reaction to foreign chemicals.

While this technology is still being tested to determine its accuracy, many scientists feel hopeful that this valuable information about allergic reactions to products can still be gained without causing harm to our animal friends.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is on board with this idea, too. They awarded the company an innovation award for “animal-friendly achievement in commerce.”

Now, tell us what you think. Would you feel better knowing you bought makeup that didn’t harm any animals?

Recycle

You’d be surprised how many items in salons can be recycled but aren’t. Shampoo and conditioner bottles, hair color tubes and styling product containers can all be recycled. In an effort to do their part to save the environment, Origins Cosmetics will accept and recycle cosmetics packaging from any brand as a part of their Return to Origins Recycling program. To recycle other beauty packaging, visit Earth911.com to find a recycling center near you!

Save Energy

Though energy efficient hairdryers and styling tools are not yet a reality, you can still save energy throughout your salon. For starters, you can swap your traditional lighting out for florescent or LED bulbs. Check out Eco-Lite for energy efficient lighting made specifically for salons. Go the extra mile and turn off lights in areas of the salon that aren’t being used. Another great way to conserve energy is to unplug styling appliances from the wall outlet when they’re not in use. Even if the appliance isn’t on, it is still pulling energy, so unplug it!

Clean Green

Chemical cleaning solutions are big culprits when it comes to hurting the planet. Changing to eco-friendly cleaning supplies is a simple way to make your salon more green. You don’t have to compromise cleanliness and sanitation with natural cleaning products. Try the products from All Green Janitorial Products to keep your salon sparking clean without harming the environment. You can also take old, hair color-stained towels and use them to clean surfaces instead of using wasteful paper towels. Be sure to wash your salon’s towels with eco-friendly laundry detergent and softener to keep things green.

For more tips on making your salon more earth-friendly, visit PlanetGreen.com.

What steps has your salon, spa or cosmetology school taken to “go green”? Share!

Ever hear a beauty tip that you knew was bull chip? Back in December we tracked some wack facts that turned out to be anywhere from slightly misquoted myths to outrageous fabrications about beauty. Heard a good one lately?

On Jan. 7, Beauty Schools Directory took a look at the wow factor apps from the fruit factory. Apple’s iPhone app farm has been growing in every direction, covering media needs for everything from pharmacology, to driving directions and now, the beauty biz, including the virtual face lift app. Are you ready for your close up? Mid-December brought us another swanky beauty trend from overseas that the FDA just can’t wrap their heads around – eyelash perms. Are brushes just not enough anymore?

Everyone seems to love “Going Green” but when dying your hair blonde, it’s probably best to avoid makeup mismatches. Check some hair hue do’s and don’ts that can keep your follicles focused and your face fresh. Tired of fighting your spiral curls in a quest to make them straight? Take two of these and call me in the morning. Bobbi Brown wants you to stop hiding your flaws and instead focus on your features with her “Pretty Powerful” cosmetic line launch, with an invitation for unique women to send videos of how they get their look and why they love it. Green salon products aren’t trendy, say stylists from all over the country, they’re simply healthy. If you had to work with beauty products for hours a day, you would care about which beauty ingredients to keep away from, too.

Finally, we know you’re reading, but wouldn’t you also like to be writing? We cover tips about how to use your creativity to keep readers interested  in your beauty blogging.

See you next month!

This year my budget is small, and because I don’t want to be the lame gift giver, I plan on making some quality presents for my loved ones.  Beauty never goes out of style so I have found several do-it-yourself recipes for beauty treats that will benefit the body.  Not only will they help to save some money, the ingredients are all natural!

Bath Jelly: I had never heard of bath jelly before but this looks fun and it’s easy to make.

Ingredients:
•    ¾ cup water
•    1 envelope unflavored gelatin
•    ½ cup liquid soap (unscented)
•    A few drops of your favorite essential oil

Directions: Bring water to a boil and add gelatin.  Slowly add in essential oil and liquid soap.  Pour into a glass container (jelly jars are cute!) and place in refrigerator for 24 hours.  When ready to use, put a spoonful or two under running bath water for a bubble bath treat.

Milk Bath: This recipe is very easy to make, and the finished product can be very beneficial for the skin.  To give as a gift, leave out the water.

Ingredients:
•    1 cup powdered milk
•    ½ cup cornstarch
•    2 cups hot water
•    ½ teaspoon peppermint oil (or your favorite essential oil)

Directions: Layer the ingredients in a glass jar and include instructions to add water.

Moisturizing Hair Oil: Adding a few drops of this oil to hair can help keep it moisturized despite the dry winter climate, and smelling yummy!

Ingredients:
•    1 oz. rosemary oil
•    1/8 oz. lavender oil

Directions: Combine the two oils and store in a dark container.  To use, apply just a couple of drops of oil to your hand or hairbrush and run through your hair.  Enjoy!

Recently, I came across an entertaining blog called The Daily Nail that inspired me to think about what makes a blog fun to read. Though the author of The Daily Nail does not claim to be a professional nail artist or technician who has graduated nail technician school (just a nail polish addict), she has committed herself to creating 365 new nail designs in 365 days. So even if ninja nails or mustache nails aren’t your thing, you may be able to find a novel nail polish idea within these webpages.

Now do you feel inspired to start up a blog of your own? First, think about what you’re good at - executing great hairstyles, trying out new makeup looks, or just doing wacky beauty things. Creating your own blog could be the perfect way to put yourself out there, and even gain devoted clients and readers.

Need some tips for your own blog? Here are a few ideas to get started:

1. Get creative. If you’re a current cosmetology student, try to think of an offbeat, unusual or humorous way to show off your talents.

2. Make it visual. Incorporating photographs, videos or pictures can catch the eye and keep people reading.

3. Be yourself. Keep your writing fun and personal - as if you were just hanging out and chatting with your friends.

4. Showcase your talents. Show your readers what you’re great at, and present it in a way that makes them want to pay cash-money for your services!

5. Free advertising! There are tons of websites all over the Internet that can host your blog for free (two of my favorites are Tumblr and Blogger). Some sites that display advertisements may even pay you for blogging.

Now, it’s time to take the web by storm! We’d love to hear about your blogging experiences, so tell us what you’ve tried, or share your blog with the group.