Fragrantly Beautiful

Redefining natural beauty

By Al IrwinTimes Reporter

Jul 09 2006

It’s a Girl Thing, a new shop in Willowbrook, was the outcome of Dawn Lees’ interest in things natural and healthful.

A professional makeup artist for the past eight years, Lees began extensively researching natural body lotions, bath and beauty products, and makeup lines, and opened a unique and inviting shop about six months ago, at No. 5 – 19950 Willowbrook Drive.

“I did a lot of research. I talked to companies, to distributors. And I tried everything on myself.”
Lees says that everything put on the skin is absorbed by the body.

“Why would you put something on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth?”

Having said that, Lees is pragmatic. Not everything she sells is 100 per cent natural, particularly scents and cosmetics, in which it is difficult to achieve the subtle essence, or durable quality, from wholly natural products.

But she strives to ensure all products are high in antioxidants, and if not 100 per cent natural, as free of chemicals as possible.

“Most of these products are beneficial,” she said.

Her shop appears, at first glance, and is often mistaken as an upscale spa, its welcoming waiting room opens to a spacious product area. But services are limited to makeup lessons, application of makeup and brow shaping, although all her employees are makeup professionals, who are happy to take time with customers to explain the products, and their use.

For Lees, part of the joy of her business, is helping people to feel better about themselves.
“I’ve had people come in to thank me, after I’ve shown them how to put makeup on. It makes me feel good to know they feel better about themselves.”

She does not claim all of her products are non-allergenic, because some people do have allergies to certain plant, vegetable or fruit products. But people with allergies, to chemicals found in many common makeup products, can definitely benefit from a natural approach.

“This cleared up my skin, and makes it as nice as when I was a teenager,” she says of one lotion.
Many of her products, while not obscure, are generally not well known locally.

“Pretty much everything (in stock) is unique.”

About 90 per cent of her products are imported from the United States, but many of her U.S. suppliers import ingredients for their products from around the world.

Other products are produced in Great Britain and China.

One of her favourites, Bella Lucce, a line of bath, body and skin care products, utilizes “the best of the best ingredients,” including Belgian chocolate and Munu honey.

Erbaviva is a natural line that is particularly recommended for moms and babies, and expectant mothers. Erbaviva includes milk baths, baby soaps and cream. And what expectant moms put on their skins can impact the baby, she notes.

There are also peppermint foot scrubs, and a very effective cradle cap oil.

Body and Soul, and Ramy are her two main cosmetic lines.

“I like these two lines the best so far. I like his (Ramy Gafni’s) philosophy. He is a cancer survivor.”

Lees says that during his cancer treatment, Gafni, a makeup artist, lost his job “because he wasn’t the pretty boy.”

He developed a line of colours and products with the emphasis on “minimum makeup, maximum impact.”

Many of his products are very versatile, and can be used on eyes, cheeks and lips.

Body and Soul is a makeup line used on the set of Desperate House Wives, and was formerly on the set of Friends.

“It is a wonderful professional line.”

Other lines include Eyeko, Rock Hard (a lip gloss line) and Jaqua.

It’s a Girl Thing even stocks a line of concealers and powder for men – Menaji.

And Lees expects that a new mineral line, called “Haut Cosmetics,” will be in before the end of July. It is a natural makeup line.

“I just received word that it will be here late next week,” said Lees.

Besides bath and body and makeup lines, Lees stocks a few health products, like a green tea extract, high in anti-oxidants. She says that one dropper full of the extract is equivalent to 10 to 15 cups of green tea. The extract is recommended for weight loss (it aids in blocking the absorption of carbohydrates), it aids in balancing blood sugar levels, and may have a beneficial impact on the immune system, among numerous other benefits.

Also in stock are a few other elixers or tonics, which include products like ginseng.

Opening hours are: Monday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thurday to Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.

For more information: info@agirlthing.ca; phone 604-539-1181; or www.agirlthing.ca.

posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 1:51 PM