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Dry Skin Driving You Crazy This Winter? Soothe It With New Products for Hands and Body

When the weather gets cold and dry (and blizzards like it did in Kansas City this week), skin and nails really need to be nourished. My hands and feet especially have been cracked and my cuticles are peeling. I have taken this opportunity to try new products (or ones that are new to me) to get my skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Cures by Avance Hydrating Body Silk ($26.00 USD) is a weightless body milk which claims to transform the skin. I like to use this after a shower to lock in the moisture. My skin feels silky and soft afer use. To purchase, visit www.curesbyavance.com

It’s a known fact that winter air completely zaps the essential natural oils found in skin and hair but unfortunately, attention to the nails has long been neglected. Due to the sub-zero effects outside and the bone-dry heat that is pumped indoors, the nails take a real beating – quickly becoming dry and brittle which results in cracks, painful splits and very short-lived manicures (the shame!)

In order to prevent and combat these harsh effects, protect nails with Perfect Formula’s Daily Moisture ($29.00 USD)– a tried and true treatment that keeps nails long, strong and healthy. Formulated with Keratin, the main protein that makes up nails, Jojoba Oil, an excellent moisturizer that is similar to the natural lubricant of skin, and Vitamin E, this product instantly nourishes and strengthens dry, thirsty nails even in the most treacherous conditions.

To use, simply brush Daily Moisture on top of nails, under nails and on cuticles daily. Can be used on polished or natural nails. purchase at http://www.perfectformulas.com or QVC.com.

Caudalie Vine Body Butter ($36.00 USD) is deeply hydrating, with a delicious light scent and velvety texture melts into skin and provides all the therapeutic benefits and efficiency of Vinothérapie Spas. This lotion is perfect for anyone with very dry to damaged skin wanting an ultra nourishing, repairing and luxurious treatment. Apply morning and evening, massage gently into skin in upward motions.

I love the scent of this lotion, it is a bit fruity and is very refreshing. I like to apply it to my hands, feet and legs after shaving. Visit www.caudalie-usa.com to purchase.

Enjoy your hydrated skin!

Get Healthy Hair Naturally with Redken Nature’s Rescue

With a growing demand for natural products, and 55% of consumers using natural products in addition to their other hair care products, Redken introduces NEW Nature’s Rescue, a collection of paraben-free, sulfate-free and silicone-free hair care essentials. Inspired by the ocean and enriched with plant and marine extracts, Nature’s Rescue thoroughly cleanses to remove impurities and buildup while helping nourish and refine the hair.

“In my salons, some clients are looking for more natural hair care products,” states Rodney Cutler, Redken Brand Ambassador and owner of Cutler/Redken Salons. “Nature’s Rescue is ideal for these clients as it’s formulated for all hair types, safe for color-treated hair, and can be used daily, weekly or on alternate days with a favorite Redken hair care regimen for a complete, healthy-looking hair solution.”

“Redken has always used its advanced technology to target specific hair needs with simple solutions,” states Jenny Corless, Director of Global Marketing for Redken. “With Nature’s Rescue, we are using our technological expertise to answer a market need for more natural hair care products. Nature’s Rescue features the nutrient-rich Sea-Algae Hydracomplex with sea algae, soy protein and aloe vera to protect and moisturize the hair. The star products include the Refining Sea Polish, which gently exfoliates with pumice to remove impurities and refine hair’s surface leaving it smooth and shiny.   The Radiant Sea Spray is a lightweight and multifunctional spray that adds texture while time-touch fragrance capsules release bursts of oceanic scent when hair is touched.”

Nature’s Rescue includes four products formulated with water-fresh fragrances, cooling sensations and ocean-inspired textures that provide the perfect balance of moisture:
·         Step 1: Detox with Nature’s Rescue Refreshing Detox Shampoo
·         Step 2: Refine with Nature’s Rescue Refining Sea Polish
·         Step 3: Replenish with Nature’s Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner
·         Step 4: Uplift with Nature’s Rescue Radiant Sea Spray

I love the clean feeling that these products leave in my hair. The shampoo and deep conditioner impart a coolness to my hair and scalp in the shower. I love the Sea Polish, it seems to really scrub my hair and scalp clean. The Sea Spray is a neat idea, my hair is scented all day, especially when touched.

To locate a Redken salon to purchase, please log on to Redken.com. Enjoy!

Find a New Fragrance For Your Hair, Body and Home For Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a great time to try new fragrances for your body, hair and home to set the mood for romance and to make yourself feel sexy.

NEST Fragrances Bar Soaps ($16.00 USD) — These lightly scented French-milled soaps contain shea butter and almond oil to create a rich, luxurious lather while and nourishing the skin with antioxidant vitamin E. Available in: Moss & Mint, Bamboo, Moroccan Amber, Orange Blossom, Wasabi Pear, and Grapefruit. I tried the Orange Blossom and I loved it. This is a flowery, romantic scent that is perfect for this season! Purchase at Neiman Marcus or online at neimanmarcus.com

Designed for dry and frizzy hair, the LOVE Smoothing Shampoo ($22.00 USD) uses prickly pear extract to provide intense moisture to hair and scalp. Rice Proteins create a protective layer on the hair and Olive Oil acts as an emollient while Indian Fig Extract heals hair cuticles, leaving hair manageable. LOVE Smoothing Conditioner ($25.00 USD) works to replenish both hair and scalp, restoring heat-damaged hair with Vitamin E, moisturizing with rice bran wax and nourishing hair and scalp with borage oil. The blend of moisturizers and silicones leaves hair soft, silky and manageable and loved. The fig scent is fantastic, too. Visit www.davines.com for salon locations.

The Bath and Body Works Black Currant Vanilla Massage Oil ($16.00 USD) — This sexy oil is fragranced with at combination Black Currant and Vanilla. Vanilla Absolute soothes and calms to instill feelings of comfort. The soothing oil blend contains Sunflower Oil, rich in the antioxidant Vitamin E, to moisturize skin and help keep it young looking. Massage into freshly cleansed skin or add to warm running bath water for the ultimate relaxing bath. Visit www.bathandbodyworks.com to learn more and to purchase.

Designed to evoke over 19 different moods, emotions and locales from around the world, the moment you inhale one of TOCCA’s Candle ($36.00 USD) fragrances, you are instantly transformed to a place far beyond your current reality. Available in 26 fragrances ($36 each). I love the Bianca Candle. With notes of green tea, lemon and a dash of sugar, Bianca leaves you sitting seaside in Italy, enjoying life and sipping tea. Approximate burn time: 60 hours. Visit www.tocca.com or www.sephora.com to purchase.

Enjoy the romance!

Make Your Lips Kissable This Valentine’s Day With Napoleon Perdis, beautyADDICTS and L’Oreal

Want to add a little sparkle to your look in time for Valentine’s day? The easiest way to update your look and feel fab is trying a new lip gloss or lipstick. Here are a few new ones to help you change things up and to enjoy your Valentine’s kisses?

Inspired by the fabulous success of the Chandelier Shine nail polishes, Napoleon Perdis introduces 12 ultra glossy lip glosses in a perfectly matched pack. From top to toe you’re covered with the Chandelier Shine Lip Gloss pack ($15.00 USD), which includes one lip gloss and one nail polish. the perfect accessory to compliment any polished look. From soft French Pink to the dark hues of Moroccan Velvet and Santorini Sunset, these hues let your lips and nails shine!

Chandelier Shine Lip Glosses add brilliant texture and glide smoothly (never sticky) for that camera ready pout. With the added benefit of marine collagen, Chandelier Shine Lip Gloss delivers lip repairing properties, keeping lips moist and full, while contouring for a sweet supple look. The nail polishes provide long-lasting shine and amazing chip free technology. The UV protectors prevent yellowing and nail hardening.

I love this lip gloss. I have it in Ritzy, a dark red with warm undertones. I usually don’t wear red as I prefer softer lip shade, but I really like this one. This can be very opaque, so I just apply a little and press my lips together so it blends sheerly. Very pretty! You can also go for the wow factor by applying it full on. This kit is available in 12 shades from a pearly pink to a dark red. You can purchase this at Zappos.com.

Another great gloss is the beautyADDICTS SweetLIPS Gloss ($17.00 USD). This new high shine gloss hydrates with soothing Vitamin E and Jojoba Butter that moisten and heal battered lips. Not to mention, SweetLIPS will leave you tasting as good as you look with a hint of Vanilla.

Available in four shades that look great on all skin-tones:
Glow – Blush is the perfect special occasion pink
Express – Sheer Peach is a beautifully natural shade with a touch of coral
Motivate – Lilac is a fun lavender-pink
Seduce – Black Cherry is a deep berry shade that creates the perfect glam-lip

This yummy gloss really hydrates my lips! I have the Motivade shade and it is sweet and Spring-y. These glosses are not sticky an feel great on. Visit www.beautyaddicts,com to learn more and to purchase!

Want a lipstick that will withstand Valentine’s kisses? Take your lips to the next level with L’Oreal Infallible Le Rouge ($9.99 USD). This revolutionary and innovative formula delivers bold, luscious color that lasts all day long, making it the ultimate beauty indulgence. Infallible Le Rouge Lipcolour offers up to 10 hours of vivid, hi-definition colour and shine, while hydrating Vitamin E keeps your lips moist and comfortable. Discover the truest color payoff in a creamy, conditioning base.

I have the Perpetual Peach — the color that Jennifer Lopez wore at the Golden Globes. This color is so soft and pretty, perfect for day wear or for night with a bronze smoky eye. Don’t worry if this is not your color — it is available in a whopping 30 shades. Visit www.lorealparisusa.com to learn more and you can purchase at drugstores and mass market retailers near you!

Enjoy!

Love QVC? Love tarte? Check Out These Exclusive Products!

Love QVC and tarte? QVC is lucky to carry select tarte products before they are available anywhere else. I tried a couple of fun tarte eye makeup products recently — the smooth operator™ Amazonian clay eye base and the emphasEYES™ aqua-gel eyeliner in indigo shimmer.

I have recently become a fan of eye base. A good one smooths the eyelid and increase the staying power of eye shadows. Tarte’s smooth operator™ Amazonian clay eye bas is naturally brightening and utilizes the intuitive power of Amazonian clay to balance oily lids and hydrate dry areas around the eye. The waterproof primer leaves your lids soft and smooth, allowing shadow to remain truer to color and last all day.

skinvigorating™ ingredients:
·         beeswax: is used as a waterproofing agent, and creates a natural protective barrier between the skin and the environment
·         Vitamins A: antioxidant that helps remove free radicals, promotes collagen production and retains moisture
·         Vitamin C: inhibits melanin oxidation which improves skin’s brightness and clarity
·         Vitamin E: natural preservative that also acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and protects against free radical damage
·         Amazonian Clay: this nutrient rich clay is extracted from the banks of the Amazon River where the nutrients are at their highest concentration. As nature’s most perfect ingredient this multitasking and total skin balancing clay has been known to:
o    Remove surface oil to mattify lid area
o    Hydrate dry area around the eyes
o    Give skin area around the eyes an overall smooth and even appearance
o    Reduce the appearance of dryness and flakiness
o    Improve the appearance of skin clarity and texture

I love the matte finish of this primer. If you are in a hurry, applying this then a little eyeliner and mascara well get you out of the house quick and looking great! But if you do apply shadows over it, they will last all day long!

The revolutionary emphasEYES™ aqua-gel eyeliner has been around for awhile now. It claims to capture the high pigment concentration and staying power of a gel pot in an effortless pencil, no brush required! Even more unique is the proprietary formula which encapsulates rich mineral pigments in a 50% water concentration. By a process of hydrous pigmentation, cooling and refreshing pure water absorbs into skin to hydrate and replenish the delicate eye area, leaving behind an intense, long-wearing and pigment-rich color. Fortified with vitamin E, cucumber and aloe this soothing aqua-gel eyeliner maintains moisture balance in the skin while treating with healing free radical fighters.

Skinvigorating™ benefits:
Water: pure water delivers and retains moisture to replenish and hydrate skin
Aloe leaf extract: soothing, healing and antiseptic properties help maintain moisture balance in the skin
Cucumber extract: rich in vitamins A &C and helps soothe skin
Mineral pigments: colors and dyes derived from natural minerals soothe and soften the skin
Vitamin E: natural preservative acts as an anti-inflammatory emollient and fights free radical damage
Due to this unique formula:
DO NOT over advance the pencil tip. Due to the soft nature of this formula breakage may occur of pencil tip is over-advanced.
ALWAYS secure cap tightly after use to prevent drying.

Indigo shimmer is the new color exclusive to QVC. It is very dark, almost a black-blue with a little bit of shimmer. Very dramatic. I love rimming my eyes with this pencil before going out. The only thing is that the formula is so soft that you have to apply it very lightly. I have broken off the tip a couple of times. But the pigment pay-off and smoothness of application is worth it.

Both product are formulated without:
parabens
mineral oil
petrolatum
phthalates
sodium lauryl sulfate
synthetic dye
synthetic fragrance

Visit www.qvc.com to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

Kym Johnson From Dancing With the Stars’ California Ulta Appearances

Dancing with the Stars’ Kym Johnson presents
THE DANCING WITH THE STARS HAIR EXTENSION COLLECTION
AT ULTA, Burbank and West Hollywood

The Dancing with the Stars Hair Extension collection and Kym Johnson of Dancing with the
Stars put beautiful hair in the spotlight with a new line of hair extensions inspired by the cult-
favorite show. Kym will be visiting two Ulta stores in one day along with a team of hairstylists
to offer beauty tips, behind-the-scenes hair styling secrets and do-it-yourself tricks for re-
creating the hottest Dancing with the Stars looks – just in time for creating a date-ready look for
Valentine’s Day!

Join Kym at Ulta on Saturday, February 12, 2011 as she demonstrates how the Dancing with the
Stars Hair Extension collection offers quick and easy hair transformations for every occasion.
Guests purchasing $20 or more in Dancing with the Stars Hair Extension collection product will
have a chance to meet Kym in person.

HairUWear® offers instant access to must-have hairstyles inspired by Dancing with the Stars,
bringing the thrill and excitement of the cult favorite show to fans everywhere. With the Dancing
with the Stars Hair Extension collection, you can recreate all the statement-making looks featured
on the show at home, transforming everyday hair into star-studded style. Select styles are
developed with heat-friendly Tru2Life® technology and can withstand up to 350º heat, so you
can style your extensions as you would your own hair. Each piece in the Dancing with the Stars
Hair Extension collection is available in multiple matchable shades.

WHAT:
Ulta in-store appearance with Dancing with the Stars’ Kym Johnson at Ulta, Burbank and Ulta,
West Hollywood

WHEN:
Saturday, February 12, 2011
11:00AM-1:00PM in Burbank, CA
3:00PM-5:00PM in West Hollywood, CA

WHERE:
ULTA, Burbank
Burbank Empire Center
1351 N. Victory Place
Burbank, CA 91502
Phone: 818-565-5646

WHERE:
ULTA, West Hollywood
West Hollywood Gateway
7100 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 210
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Phone: 323-878-2524

Look Awake With Three Custom Color Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed!

I have noticed that lately my peepers are looking pooped! The cold air always makes me look tired, plus I am still tired from the holidays and from working out (I am trying to get fit this year). So how can I look awake when I don’t feel awake???

Introducing: Bright Eyed & Bushy Tailed ($37.50) From Three Custom.e Color. This is a problem-solving duo featuring a new Eye Brightening Eye Shadow and their cult-favorite Light Clarifier Pencil. Here are the descriptions of the products:

Eye Brightening Shadow – This peach-toned shadow counteracts blue undertones that can make eyes look tired. The satin finish subtly reflects light for a fresher, livelier look!
Light Clarifier Pencil – Apply this nude-toned pencil to the lower inner rim of the eye to make them appear brighter, instantly! This shade compliments all skin tones and is water-resistant to last all day long.

I have to say that this system really works! The peach shadow is really pretty and makes my eyes look clearer. If I am just running around, I will wear this alone. If I am going out or to work, I add a brown or green shadow to the crease and outer corner of my eye. The pencil is a little miracle. I put it in the inner rim of my lower lid and it looks great. But I also put a little under my eyebrow and smudge, I place it in the inner corner of my eyes and even on the cupid’s bow of my lip. It can brighten up so many areas! This is very much a multi-tasking product.

Visit www.threecustom.com to learn more and to purchase!

CoverGirl’s New NatureLuxe Collection

Taylor Swift is the face of the new CoverGirl NatureLuxe collection. She is a fresh face for a fresh new idea for drugstore cosmetics. Both products below are light and have natural ingredients in them. They are perfect for women of all ages because they are fresh and light.

The NatureLuxe Silk Foundation ($12.00 USD) is a super light foundation that gives good coverage. It is infused with jojoba and cucumber extract. I like this foundations because it goes on smooth and has a nice slip to it. It also smooths out skin tone. This foundation is available in 14 different shades.

NatureLuxe Gloss Balm ($6.00 USD) is a luxurious sheer color with a hint of shine and a SPF of 15. This is like a shimmery balm– it is so pretty on. This is perfect for someone just beginning to wear makeup or for someone who wants a very natural, yet polished look. Plus it is available in 16 colors so there is something for everyone!

Visit www.covergirl.com to learn more. These products are available at drugstores and mass market retailers near you. Enjoy!

Soften Your Dry Winter Skin With Caudalie Hand And Nail Cream

I seem to be slathering on hand cream constantly in this cold, dry, winter air. I have been looking for a hydrating, but not greasy, hand cream that smells great. And I have found it! Caudalie Hand And Nail Cream ($19.00 USD) is my new favorite winter hand cream.

Why? Because is it nourishing for both hand and nails and it is also anti-aging. It contains patented grapevine polyphenols, organic shea butter from equitable trade, grape-seed oil, avocado extract, Vinolevure® and plant-derived glycerin. It is also infused with a sweet orange fragrance that smells fantastic!

Visit www.caudalie-usa.com to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

Biomega Hair Care

I love finding hair care that is natural, safe for my color-treated hair and will leave it soft and shiny. Having tried Biomega shampoo, I am happy to say that it didn’t leave my hair stripped and dry! Want to learn more?

Biomega is the first haircare system designed to replenish and replicate hair’s natural oils with a potent, highly active infusion of nature’s precious, lightweight Omega-rich oils and nourishing plant extracts that penetrate deep into the hairshaft to replenish hair’s depleted natural oils, infusing vital moisture and brilliant shine, repair damage for maximum strength and elasticity and renew the healthy look and feel of color-treated hair and deliver longer lasting color results.

Biomega’s exclusive cross-linked polymeric grid suspends potent amounts of nature’s precious, ultra-light oils into each formulation. This keeps the oils from separating and allows them to be infused directly into the hairshaft for the highest beneficial levels, replenishing and replicating the healthy benefits of hair’s natural oils.

According to Luis Alvarez, Vice President and co-founder of Biomega, “Unfortunately, everything we do to hair to make it beautiful, such as thermal styling, hair coloring or relaxing also damages the hair, this is why we created Biomega. We wanted to create the most luxurious, naturally-derived shampoo and conditioner collection on the planet. We’re passionate about healthy, vibrant hair and selected only the most precious natural oils and plant extracts known for their highly active levels of nature’s most powerful moisturizer, Omega Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) because of their unique ability to replicate the benefits of hair’s missing natural oils and the elements of brilliant, healthy hair.”

That approach has found expression in 3 regimens that are designed to meet every hair type’s distinct needs and includes:
Biomega Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner for dry, damaged and lifeless hair.
Biomega Silk Shampoo and Intensive Conditioner for coarse, curly or frizzy hair.
Biomega Volume Shampoo and Moisture Mist Conditioner for fine, limp or thinning hair.

What I think: I’ve tried the Volume Shampoo and Moisture Mist Conditioner. I really love the shampoo, but the leave in conditioner isn’t moisturizing enough for my dry winter hair. It might work well for me in the summer when my scalp gets oilier. I do have to say that both of the products smell wonderfully fresh and leave my hair very soft. I love that these products replicate the benefits of the hair’s natural oils, which my dry, over-processed hair needs.

The Biomega product line is available exclusively at independently owned salons and spas nationwide, and each product has a retail price of $17. Visit www.aquage.com for additional information and a salon location near you.