Save Money Saving Your Skin!

Hi Beauties!

As many of you fabulous things know, it's never too early to start fighting the signs of time! Olay Professional Pro-X is one of my favorite lines of fine-line fighters! Its potent formula is chock full of retinol, niacinamide and other tried and true anti-aging ingredients. In fact, its unique blend of ingredients has been proven to be as effective as the leading prescription anti-aging cream, but without the irritation!

That's why when I came across this amazing deal on Olay's Website I couldn't wait to share the wealth! Print out the rebate at the following link and you can save $20 on $50 of product- that's 40% off!

http://www.olay.com/Club_Olay/march2010/images/ProX_Rebate_Form_Club_Olay.pdf

Go get 'em, girls!

XOXO

Back in the saddle!

It’s been a whirlwind month, but I’m back in the saddle – ready for spring, now that February is almost through. Spring’s the time when everyone’s inner gorgeousness oozes out, but in the meantime, winter beauty has begun to feel like a bit of an oxymoron. Dry, pasty skin, staticky hair and rough, chapped lips and cuticles means that winter can get really ugly really fast. So what’s a gal gotta do to keep her gorgeousness going till the warm weather hits?

Let’s start up top and work our way down, shall we? Hat hair, static, brittle, breaking strands… all of these afflictions affect your lovely locks in the winter time. The key to keeping your hair looking lustrous is to keep those strands moisturized through the winter months, and covered from the elements if it’s super-harsh outside. Pantene Pro-V Restoratives Time Renewal Replenishing Mask’s rich, hydrating formula quenches dry, parched hair and helps prevent future damage. It’s only $6.29 and leaves hair looking soft and shiny. Hair still feeling dry after blow-drying? Rub a pea-sized dollop of Fekkai Glossing Cream into the ends for added moisture and shine.

Now that your hair is back to its bouncy, beautiful self, it’s time to tackle your skin situation!

Sure, you want to keep it moisturized, but use a cream that’s too heavy and it’ll make you break out. Use a cream that’s too light and it’ll leave your skin scaly! Your best bet? Depending on your skin type, use a lighter moisturizer with sunscreen during the day (I love Aveeno Positively Radiant SPF 30 for everyday and DDF Advanced Moisture Defense Cream SPF 15 when I need a bit of extra hydration). At night, give your skin some serious attention with a more moisturizing formula that contains glycerin or dimethicone to lock in moisture and niacinamide to strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier. (Give Olay Professional Pro-X Hydra-Firming Cream a try – it provides unmatched moisture without ever clogging my pores! ) While topical retinoids are potent anti-agers, they’re often too harsh for skin during the winter months when the skin’s natural barrier is at its weakest. Switch to peptides or OTC retinols until the weather is a bit warmer. Make sure to gently exfoliate once or twice a week with a cool skin brush like the costly and fabulous Clarisonic, or the wallet-friendly Neutrogena Wave. You can also try a gentle alpha-hydroxy acid such as lactic or glycolic, but go for a lower percentage until spring. (Kate Somerville, facialist to the stars, created an at-home line with a product called ExfoliKate - an amazing scrub that contains microbeads and lactic acid to exfoliate and polish skin, leaving skin soft and smooth. At $85, it's pricey but a little bit goes a long way and you'll feel a noticeable difference after one use!)

Finally, remember to drink lots of water! I’m obsessed with my new Bobble. That wasn’t a misspelling –it’s a water bottle that filters automatically, so you can drink water straight from the tap but still get that filtered water taste! Of course, its made from recycled plastic, BPA-, PVC- and pthalate-free and perfect for when you’re on the go (you can even fill it up straight from the tap at the airport after you go through security- no more $5 bottles of water!) It’s totally cute and convenient and comes in a variety of colors. I’m bringing mine with me to the middle east next week so I can stay hydrated in the scorching sun of Dubai! Check it out at www.waterbobble.com

Don’t worry,beauties! Spring is on its way. In the meantime, stay gorgeous!

XOXO

More Gorgeous Coming Soon

Hi Beauties,

Don't you worry your pretty little heads -this blog is not defunct! I've been on a bit of a beautiful break but will be back in the saddle before you can say "Sephora."

Check back soon for updates... Until then, stay gorgeous!

XOXO

Holiday Hotness

You’ve decked the halls , lit the lights and picked out the perfect little holiday dress – all that’s left is to steal a smooch when the clock strikes midnight, which requires serious seasonal seductiveness. The weather outside may be frightful but with a few fun beauty techniques, you’ll warm up the room, instantly!

The best part about holiday makeup is that it’s the one time of year when over-the-top can really work for you! New Years is a celebration – no one rings it in with a golf clap. It involves jumping and cheering and even “noisemakers…” (when else do you break out devices created solely for the purpose of making noise!) Translation? Loud is good. So dare to wear some noisy makeup!

Out on the town in a little black dress? Add some excitement with BRIGHT colored shadow, teals and purples are the hottest hues right now and they look great with any eye color.

The easiest way to wear these colors is to line the top and bottom lids with a bright shadow, using a stiff, angular brush. Then, use a soft, clean brush or your finger to smudge the color around. If all goes according to plan, it’ll end up looking subtle, but attention grabbing at the same time.

If you’re feeling really bold, try using a standout color on the entire lid! Check out these suggestions from Sephora for a vivid violet eye:

• Apply violet shadow up to the crease of the eye, and line the lower lash line with the violet, too.
• Next, take a dark purple shadow and apply to the inner and outer corners of the eye crease
• Finally, use a highly pigmented lilac shadow on the balls of the eyes, and blend the rest of the lines so that they’re smooth and continuous.

Too Faced’s Eyeshadow Duo in “Party Girl” has two perfectly complementary purples and the trio of purples in CoverGirl’s Eye Enhancers in “Dance Party 125” gives you everything you need to get the look for under $5.

If bright eye colors aren’t your bag, new years is the one time of year that glittery makeup ≠ stripper makeup! Good news for all you sassy senoritas who love to sparkle! Try glitter on your eyes, shimmer on your cheeks or sparkle on your lips!

Makeup Forever has gorgeous glitter powders that can be applied to the eyelid with a wet brush, and will glitter all night long. It comes in a variety of shades, so you can get truly glitzy.

For a subtle cheek shimmer, try dusting Bobbi Brown’s shimmer brick onto the tops of the cheekbones in a sweeping “C” like motion from the eye down toward the nose. Or try Smashbox Softlights, which also beautifully highlights the contours of the face without being blindingly shimmery or shiny looking.

Finally- for sultry, sparkly lips, try Benefit’s Glitz Glam and Gloss kit! For only $26 you’ll get six shades with subtle sparkle that will work with any skin tone and look just festive enough to wear long beyond the New Years countdown!

Go ahead and get loud, gals- it’s new years! Sparkle until the sun shines- and I’ll see you in 2010!

Happy Holidays, Beauties!

Give the Gift of Gorgeous!

Sleighbells are ringing, carolers are singing and Santa is “ho, ho, ho-ing,” which is why it’s no wonder that holiday cheer often comes with a hearty side of holiday headache. For many of us, yuletide stress lurks around every Christmassy corner, particularly when it comes to finding the right gifts for the important people in our lives. If a picture’s worth a thousand words, a gift is worth a Tolstoy novel: from roommate appreciation to romantic intent the gift you choose expresses how you feel. So what’s a gal with a little time and a lot of names on her list to do?

When in doubt, give gorgeousness! There are so many great buys this time of year for all the fabulous females on your list (and even for some of the guys!)

Following are a few of my top picks:

e.l.f (eyes lips face) has been flying under the radar for years, with amazing products at mind-blowingly low prices! The beauty kits that they offer are perfect for when you don’t want to spend a lot but have no idea what to buy! Check out these three fab choices at three different price levels:

Under $5:

Need some stocking stuffers for the ladies in your life? e.l.f. has an unbelievable array of lip glosses and shadows for $1 or $2. Check out this lip color trio that costs less than your latte!

Under $10:

For that fabulous friend who looks like a knockout in neutrals, check out this amazing kit for only $8. It contains Natural Lash Kit, Dramatic Lash Kit, Flirt Hypershine, Super Glossy Lip Shine Goddess, Candy Tin Melon Mayhem, Nail Polish in Clear, Nail Polish in Nude and Eyeliner Brush. Guaranteed to be adored!

Under $15

Know someone who loves to experiment with her makeup? Get her this 27-piece kit for only $15! It includes everything but the kitchen sink! (Kitchen sink included in the 81- and 141-piece collections offered by e.l.f.!)

Want to get something super-special for your sister? Sephora’s got something for everyone and if you shop soon, you can take advantage of one of its rare sales!

http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C10214&om_mmc=oth-dailycandy-dedicated12132009

Laura Mercier’s Eye Design Kit is pricey at $75, but that’s $50 off of the original price and Mercier’s products are rich, luxurious and work for every skin tone.

For the frazzled friend who needs some R&R: Let Philosophy sweep her away with the Winter Escape set. Cocoa scented shampoo, Marshmallow lip gloss and body lotion will give her an indulgent treat in her own boudoir. All for only $19

For the man in your life that loves to travel and, of course to break hearts:

Get him the Jack Black First Class Five Gift Set to keep him looking dapper without getting stopped at security in the airport.

Finally, Give the gift of Happiness:

Every one of the nine pieces in the limited edition Bare Minerals Happiness Collection are infused with mood-boosting Happybelle, a complex containing a natural plant extract believed to mimic the effect of endorphins and induce a sense of happiness. Even if euphoria doesn’t come inside the package, it will look like it did! The gorgeous colors, rich black mascara and fabulous berry lip gloss combine to leave a look that will have people wondering whether the glow came from being on the naughty list or the nice list! The $137 value is only $54 for the holidays!

Giving gifts doesn't have to get ugly! Enjoy shopping online or in stores by giving everyone the gift of gorgeousness!

Happy Holidays, lovelies!

These Ain’t Beer Goggles – Get Wine to Get Gorgeous!

There are very few things that can’t be improved with a glass of wine. Sipping a crisp sauvignon blanc transforms a Lean Cuisine into convenient fine dining; nursing a glass of pinot noir turns trashy TV into quality entertainment and clinking glasses of bubbly during girls night in begets glamour from even the juiciest gossip session. There’s really no limit to the beauty of wine, which is why it’s no wonder that wine can help keep you beautiful! Studies have proven that drinking a glass of wine a day can improve your cholesterol level, fight cancer-causing free radicals in the body, improve cardiovascular health and lower the risk of coronary heart disease. All great things for your insides… but what about your appearance?

Wine’s got you covered, literally. But wait. Put down the corkscrew and back slowly away from the bottle, gals – putting actual wine on your skin could get real messy real quickly. Luckily many beauty companies have managed to extract the antioxidants from wine and pack them into fabulous products to keep your hair and skin looking healthy and vibrant!

Caudalie was among the first companies to use stabilized polyphenols, among the most powerful natural antioxidants, in skin care. Resveratrol, one of the first stabilized molecules derived from the polyphenols found in fermented grapes, stimulates cellular renewal and is approximately 10,000 times more powerful at combating free radicals (the nasty little buggers that damage cells and cause skin aging) than Vitamin E. I love, love, love Caudalie’s “First Wrinkle Serum, a concentrated antioxidant serum intended for women who are beginning to see the first signs of aging and fatigued skin. What makes so amazing is how quickly it absorbs into the skin, leaving a smooth, soft, almost powdery feel. It contains light moisturizers along with an army of free radical fighting antioxidants, hydrating hyaluronic acid and an amazing, subtle fragrance from the addition of orange pulp, carrot and iris butter. It keeps skin smooth and luminous and at $60 for a 1oz bottle, it’s pricey, but like a fine wine, it’s so very spluge-worthy!

Wine snobs may disagree, but the hottest varietal of the moment is most definitely merlot. Stylist to the stars, Ted Gibson, has created a new line of products with a proprietary merlot complex, intended to protect hair from environmental “undesirables” and leave locks looking shiny and fabulous. The line includes “Tame It Shine Lotion,” a frizz-smoothing serum that leaves hair soft and sleek, “Fix It” gel, which provides oomph and control and “Build It Blow Drying Agent,” which lifts hair at the roots providing betty-boop-like body and shine! Prices range from $20-30 and are on sale now at blissworld.com!

Not that any one of us need another excuse to pop a bottle, but when it comes to your beauty bothers, remember that no one likes whining, but really, who doesn’t love wine-ing?

Cheers, girls!

We Want Dead (Sea) Skin!

Of all the bodies of water in all the world, the name “The Dead Sea” doesn’t quite give off the strongest “beauty” vibe. If you’ve ever been to the briney basin, you know that it’s soupy, stinky and if you float in it long enough it starts to sting where the sun don’t shine. Why then, am I so excited about Minerals Dead Sea Collection, which just launched exclusively at Target?

Almost 100,000 visitors each year flock to the Dead Sea for far more than the buoyancy phenomenon it’s famous for. The Dead Sea is sought out for its miraculous therapeutic powers – proven to help heal skin and respiratory disorders. The water’s composition includes a very low concentration of sulfates (which can be drying and damaging to the skin) and a higher concentration of healing bromide ions than any other body of water on earth. Stubborn cases of psoriasis that resist most therapies seem to yield to the combination of mineral-rich sea water and the allergen-free, unpolluted atmosphere at the Dead Sea. When I was lucky enough to take a dip in this extraordinary pool, I first found myself amused and mind-boggled by the inability to sink in this dense water. (That's my friends and I floating in the pic above!) After leaving the water, though, I found myself more amazed by the texture of my once weather worn skin! After days in the hot desert sun, my skin had become dry and rough, but after leaving the Dead Sea's healing water my skin felt softer and smoother than ever- Not at all what I had expected from my skin after a “day at the beach.” I rushed to purchase some Ahava skin care products – which are filled with therapeutic minerals from the Dead Sea, but was disappointed to find that many of the products cost more than $50! I bought a few gift sets for some very special people, and resigned myself to enjoying my skin’s post-dead-sea glow while it lasted.

I can’t wait to try Minerals Dead Sea Collection! According to the company, the products’ formulas are rich in minerals sourced directly from the Dead Sea, and are comparable in formula to Ahava’s products, but they are available in the U.S. at a much more affordable price. Additionally, the line is 100 percent paraben and sulfate free, and the minerals included are those that are found naturally in the composition of skin.

The initial six items include a salt scrub; a body lotion; an exfoliating body wash; a body butter; a mud bar soap and a dead sea salt water. (The latter is 100 percent Dead Sea water and can be used as anything from a face wash to a spider-bite treatment). Prices range from $3.99 for soap to $9.99 for body lotion.

I’m hoping these new products will not only bring back memories of my dip in the Dead Sea, but will also bring back my “Back from the Dead” After-glow! Go get your dead (sea) skin now, gals!