Cameron Village: AILLEA Beauty Boutique - Clean Your Routine!

This Fall I've made the conscious decision to start the process of cleaning (and "greening up") my make up and skin/hair routine. Over the 10+ years I've developed a sensitivity (basically a complete intolerance) to many preservative/formaldehyde ingredients commonly used in most skin and hair products these days. Over the years I have had to carefully seek out products that don't include specific ingredients which lead to eczema and skin irritations.

Last week I got a wonderful facial at Aillea.
Aillea, a clean beauty boutique, is celebrating just over a year of being in Cameron Village. They make a promise to carry ONLY products that are free of parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, endocrine disruptors or other toxic chemicals, and products that are not tested on animals. No exceptions. They offer over 50+ luxury clean cosmetic brands ranging from hair care, skincare, makeup, body care, nail care, and more. I'm aiming for better ingredients, better skin and hair with the added benefit of being more environmentally conscious and more knowledgeable about what I am potentially putting on my skin.

They have a skilled team of estheticians providing luxurious facials (along with makeup artists and knowledgeable beauty experts). Not only was the facial wonderfully relaxing, it was good to get some feedback on what my skin really needs and suggestions on some great "clean" products to help improve my skin. It's a great relief as well to shop in a place that I know I don't have to double check the ingredients in all the products or miss something and end up with a reaction from harmful ingredients. Aillea is also a friendly, beautiful store to shop, and always smells amazing!

Tuesdays in October, Aillea is offering 20 min facials for just $20! You can book it or walk in off the street and take a few minutes to clean, tone, massage and moisturize your face. It was WONDERFUL. We all deserve at least 20 minutes, don't we? Make time to stop in for a quick and wonderful facial!

ALSO...
Allure Magazine recently listed their picks for top clean beauty products of 2019 from Aillea and I wanted to share this list of top six items below, especially if you are looking to clean your routine! I am currently going through my everyday products and starting to replace as I can with more clean, sustainable items. These products can come with a higher price tag but since I'm also making an effort to minimize home and overall lifestyle in general, the goal is to buy less so if I have to pay more and get better results I'm going to give it a try!

Check out their monthly specials here!

HOURS: Monday-Saturday 10AM- 7PM, Sunday Noon - 5PM
ADDRESS: 2032 Cameron Street, Raleigh | PHONE: 919-747-9030

CLEAN YOUR ROUTINE!

TOP SIX BEST OF CLEAN BEAUTY AWARDS BY ALLURE 2019

1. Kjaer Weis Lip Gloss
Semi-sheer color lip gloss with intense hydration. CASTOR SEED OIL - Rich in moisturizing, conditioning essential fatty acids ROSEHIP SEED OIL - Excellent tissue regeneration properties; fights signs of aging SUNFLOWER SEED OIL - A high fatty-acid and Vitamin E content keeps lips protected from environmental stressors, while firming and tightening its appearance. Free of petroleums, parabens and silicones. Cruelty Free.

2. Kosas Tinted Face Oil
Light weight medium coverage, hydrating. 100% Cruelty Free, Vegan, Gluten-free. Free of Parabens, Silicones, Sulfates, Pthlatates, Mineral Oil, PEG, Petrolatum.

3. Highlight of the Day by Maya Chia
Ultra lightweight, easily absorbed highlighter serum. Ingredients: Supercritical Chia (Salvia hispanica) Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Coconut Alkanes (and) Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, *Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Non-GMO, Mica, Titanium Oxide, 
(+/- Iron Oxide, Tin Oxide, +/-Boron Nitride, +/-Carmine) *2% Essential Oils.
*Organic Ingredients or Wildcrafted (when available).

4. Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum
This serum transforms dullness with a combination of 7 AHAs and BHAs that slough off dead skin cells to give you a healthy-looking glow. Antioxidants help fight the effects of free radicals that can diminish your glow and make you look older than you are. This lightweight formula restores radiance with 9 sources of glow, 9 sources of antioxidants, and 4 sources to smooth and soften skin texture.

5. Rahua Hydration Shampoo + Conditioner
Maximum moisture shampoo and conditioner transforms dull, dry and damaged hair.
Plant derived. All clean ingredients.

6. ILIA Limitless Lash Mascara
Lightweight and nourishing formula is made with a blend of organic bee and carnauba waxes to weightlessly condition each lash. A dual-sided brush allows you to define, lift and separate with precision. Gentle enough for sensitive eyes, Limitless Lash Mascara is complete with organic shea butter and fortifying arginine (keratin) to help boost and enhance lash condition in a classic black finish. Made with 25% organic ingredients for a formula that is 99% natural.

MOTHER  / DAUGHTER DIY FACIALS AT AILLEA!

October events at Aillea

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#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this FALL to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2019 Fall trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Cameron Village: October Brews + Guilt-Free Dishes at Village Draft House

Despite the heat still sticking around, October is here and a visit to the local Village Draft House is in order, especially if you are looking for football, beer and patio (dog-friendly) dining in Cameron Village.

DRINK
Village Draft house hosts 100 beers on tap, one of a handful or less of local establishments in the Triangle with that many beers on draft and many of them NC local beers. We sampled a few brews last week and singled out a couple worth checking out this month. First was the fitting OKTOBERFEST beer, a combined effort from Bitburger Braugruppe a German brewery in collaboration with Sierra Nevada. Smooth and refreshing, this joint effort from the two breweries features a classified hop blend that has never been shared outside the German brewery walls. A second standout this month is the Code of Conduct New England style IPA from NC brewery Pitt Street in Greenville, a sweet and citrusy hazy IPA. I should also mention the clean and crisp Et Tu? Brut IPA is worth trying from local brewery Gizmo as well.


BEER FANS! SAVE THE DATE!
Wednesday, November 6, from 6-8pm, the Village Draft House will host a Release Party of Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout.  A unique breakfast stout aged in bourbon barrels that previously housed maple syrup!

FOOD
If you are a Raleigh local and frequent Cameron Village often, you know that Village Draft House is a great spot for bar food, snacks, beer, football and patio dining. I wanted to highlight a few tasty (and surprising) dishes that lean on the side of healthier choices that you may not be aware are on their current menu.

Village Draft House features a Poke bowl made with 6oz wild caught Ahi Yellowfin tuna  tossed in a poke sauce atop a salad base, tri-color couscous and quinoa blend, cucumber, carrots, red onion and crushed avocado! Then the whole bowl is drizzled in a boom boom sauce. It's a delicious, fresh and healthy option for lunch or dinner.

Another delicious dish is the Mojo Chipotle Chicken Bowl featuring a garden blend long grain and wild rice topped with black beans, their own mojo marinated chicken breast, corn, crushed avocado, pico de gallo, and tortilla strips with chipotle aioli on the side. BONUS TIP: Make sure to get a piece of cornbread along with your meal, its SO good I'd almost consider it dessert!

Lastly, if you are craving a burger, this one leans on the healthier side. The Village Draft House Grass Fed Burger, grass fed, grass finished (i.e., from cattle that ate nothing but grass and forage for their entire lives), ground beef (all natural raised without the use of antibiotics or hormones, free raised, and higher in Omega-3) with white cheddar served with a delicious tomato and cucumber salad on the side. This burger has amazing flavor!

Cooler weather IS on the way! Here's to Fall! Get out and enjoy food + drink on the patio at Village Draft House soon!

HOURS: Monday - Thursday: 11am - 12am, Friday - Saturday: 11am - 2am,
Sunday: 11am - 12am

ADDRESS: 428 Daniels Street, Raleigh
T (919) 833-1373

OKTOBEFEST Brew from Bitburger + Sierra Nevada on draft

Poke Bowl (and sweet cornbread)

New England Style IPA and Oktoberfest Beers

Mojo Chipotle Chicken Bowl

Grassfed Village Draft House Burger

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#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this FALL to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2019 Fall trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!

Late Summer Dishes from Chef Jason Smith at Cantina 18 in Cameron Village

FALL IS HERE?

Summer weather is persisting in Raleigh on this First week of Fall! Patio dining is something we seek out when the weather is warm but especially when it gets cool as the sun goes down. Hurry to Cantina 18 in Cameron Village where you can still enjoy favorite seasonal Summer ingredients while they last. They are currently featuring some tasty new dishes on their late Summer menu you don't want to miss before, like Summer, they're gone!

As most of you know, 18 Seaboard closed its doors this summer after a nearly 14 year long run in Seaboard Station. We miss the restaurant and Chef Jason Smith's amazing dishes there, but wanted to share that he is now spending more time over at Cantina 18 and creating new dishes there so if you are craving/missing your 18 Seaboard fix, make a visit to Cantina 18 and try one of his delicious new dishes, still using the freshest local catch, like the Swordfish with Stone Fruit & Heirloom Tomatoes. The local seafood and seasonal ingredients make this a must try in Cameron Village.

Other items we enjoyed were the seared tuna taco with grilled peach salsa, avocado and marinated red onion. Also worth noting is the seasonal side salad with cucumber, red onion and heirloom tomato salad.

Cantina 18 takes pride in sourcing all these ingredients from local NC Farms. Heirloom tomatoes come from Johnston County, Nectarines from Alexander County, Peaches from Anson County. Goat cheese is fresh from Holly Grove Farms in Wayne County and Swordfish, Yellowfin Tuna, and Wahoo from Carteret County.

Looking for a creative vegetarian option? Try Cantina 18's crispy  buffalo cauliflower wrapped in lettuce. It's got kick and great flavor.

We love the guacamole at Cantina 18 (a personal favorite) and currently on the seasonal menu it is being served up with one of my favorite summer foods...sliced heirloom tomatoes!

Pair any of these dishes with a craft cocktail. Try the skinny margarita for a lighter take on the tasty margarita!

BONUS: Monday is $2 off featured margaritas! Stop by + Celebrate the First Day of FALL!

ADDRESS: 433 Daniels Street Raleigh | T (919) 835-9911
HOURS: Mon – Thurs: 11am – 10pm, Fri – Sat: 11am – 10pm, Sun: 11am – 10pm

Skinny Girl Margarita | Blanco Tequila | Triple Sec | Lime Juice | Agave Nectar

Seared Tuna Taco (Seasonal) | Grilled Peach Salsa, Avocado & Marinated Red Onions

Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower | Pickled red onion, smoked blue cheese, romaine & cilantro crema 

Seasonal Side Salad | Cucumber, red onion & heirloom tomato salad

Seasonal Dish | Heirloom Tomato Goat Cheese Guacamole 

Fresh NC local ingredients!

Swordfish, Stone Fruit & Heirloom Tomatoes | Fresh okra, roasted sunflower seeds, spiced peanuts,
peaches & nectarines, heirloom tomato vinaigrette.

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#CVTRENDREPORT: I'm excited to partner again with Cameron Village this FALL to feature some of the great merchants in the Village and highlight some 2019 Fall trends and great "hidden gems". I love shopping, dining, drinking, exploring local and it's been an amazing opportunity to get to know these merchants, their stories and their passion for what they do!

Happy 70th birthday this Fall to the Shops at Cameron Village! Be sure to stop by and join the planned festivities in OCTOBER!