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Becca Cosmetics — Luxury Australian Company Will Help You Stay Beautiful This Summer!

Hot Australian cosmetics company BECCA Cosmetics creates high quality, natural looking makeup. The founder, Rebecca Morrice Williams founded the BECCA spurred on by the need to find a natural foundation that covers and conceals while staying fresh-looking all day long.

Always looking for great foundation, I’ve tried BECCA’s Luminous Skin Colour ($42.00 USD), a combination tinted moisturizer and sheer foundation with a broad spectrum SPF 25 to protect against UVA and UVB rays. I found that this is very light coverage and moisturizing. It will be perfect for the summer when I want to throw on just one product to moisturize, cover and give ans SPF. I do need concealer for my dark circles and imperfections, but that is to be expected. All-in-all, a great tinted moisturizer! Also, it is available in a whopping 15 shades, so you are sure to find one that suits you.

A really fun and convenient product to go with your Luminous Skin Colour is the BECCA Beach Tint ($25.00 USD). This very pretty crème stain is easily blendable for cheeks and lips. It is water-resistant, but is not leave lips feeling dry, as many stains do. Beach Tint comes in 5 delicious colors; Watermelon, Peach, Raspberry, Grapefruit and Strawberry. Not only are the shades the colors of the fruit, each tint is scented with that fruit. So fun! I have the Peach and the Grapefruit and Strawberry and they both smell fantastic!

Learn more about these great products and more at www.beccacosmetics.com. Enjoy getting ready for summer!

Depth Natural Hair Care Products

Looking for natural hair care? There are lots of different high-end formulas out there, but an affordable choice is Depth Hair Care ($9.99 USD each for shampoo and conditioner).

This all natural hair care (they also make all natural body care) contains organic and hydrating sea minerals. They also utilize three different types of algae – red, brown and green – that enhance the hair’s ability to look healthy and dynamic. The combinations of all three botanicals delivers nourishing ingredients to the scalp to ensure ultimate hydration.

Depth Hair Care includes:
·         Refresh Daily Shampoo – For all hair types. Keeps hair soft, healthy and nourished with a nutrient-rich blend of vitamins and sea botanicals
·         Drench Hydrating Shampoo – For dry and damaged hair: Gentle cleansers work to nourish and restore essential moisture; ideal for color treated hair
·         Immerse Daily Conditioner – For all hair types. Nutrient-rich to maintain healthy, beautiful hair without weighing it down
·         Submerse Deep Conditioner – For dry and damaged hair. This creamy conditioner provides deep nourishment and ultra-hydration for extra healthy hair

What I thought: I have been using the Drench Hydrating Shampoo and the Immerse Daily Conditioner for a couple of weeks. The shampoo is thick and lathers very richly. The conditioner is nice, but not quite thick enough for my dry hair. They both smell fantastic and leave hair clean and soft. I think they are a good buy for being organic and natural.

Depth Hair Care is available at Whole Foods Markets nationwide, as well as Drugstore.com, and other fine health food stores or www.depthbody.com. Enjoy!

Burt’s Bees Giveaway!

Want some free stuff? I am giving away this trio of excellent Burt’s Bees Products (descriptions are from Burt’s Bees Website):

Beeswax Lip Balm ($3.00 USD) — Give your lips the soothing feeling they deserve. This natural lip balm is loaded with coconut and sunflower oils, rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids, to nourish, condition and soften lips. Beeswax seals in hydration. We’ve even added peppermint oil for a refreshing tingle. Take your pick of an old-fashioned yellow tin or a recycled plastic tube. No wonder it is our most popular product.

Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo ($8.00 USD 12 oz) — Grapefruit extract joins forces with highly effective yet gentle cleansers made from coconut and sunflower oils to create a shampoo formula with a rich lather. Meanwhile, sugar beet extract and soy protein penetrate hair follicles to repair and strengthen hair, helping to shield against future damage. The final touch: honey and essential natural oils from orange, lemon, lime and tangerine go to work for a beautifully natural shine.

Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Conditioner ($8.00 USD 12 oz) — Transform fine, flat, lifeless hair into thick and voluminous hair with extra body. Pomegranate and moringa seed extracts revitalize hair by replenishing moisture while sugar esters and honey, a natural humectant, condition hair. Soy amino acids moisturize and lift hair, leaving it soft, shiny and full of volume.

To win these three products (which I have tried and love), comment on any of my blog posts, saying that you would like to win the Burt’s Bees products. I will draw a name next friday, May 28, 2010. Good Luck!

Try Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizers and Help The Skin Cancer Foundation

Jane Krakowski and Jergen's Natural Glow — Photos of Jane Krakowski courtesy of Joe Kohen/Wireimage.com

30 Rock star, Jane Krakowski, has teamed up with Jergens and The Skin Cancer Foundation to help consumers get In the Glow and get their glow the healthy way instead of tanning this summer. To get the word out, Jane created a video that includes her tips on how to get a healthy glow as well as admitting to some of her poor sun choices in the past. Now until the end of summer, you can log onto www.youtube.com/jergens to view the video and share it with you friends. Every time the video is viewed Jergens will donate $1 to The Skin Cancer Foundation. I viewed it, now it’s your turn!

You may be asking, does Jergen Natural Glow give you a natural looking tan? It does! I have been using the Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer ($8.99 USD) for the body and the Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer ($8.99 USD) for a couple of weeks. I like how the tan grows over days, so you don’t look white one day, dark the next. I have noticed that it doesn’t stain my hands and that you get a mild tan smell, but not as strong as other sunless tanning. It’s just like using your body and face moisturizer, but it does take a few minutes to dry.

These great moisturizers have a powerful blend of antioxidants and Vitamin E and are developed with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 20 protection. The dermatologist-tested, oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer helps prevent premature aging and protects against future damage.

Visit www.Jergens.com/NaturalGlow to learn more about these products.

beautyADDICTS Lash Galore

Cool cosmetics company beautyADDICTS has just lauched a new mascara, Lash Galore. Now, I love mascara and have tons of them, but I enjoy trying new ones. I am always looking for one that lengthen first, then thicken and if it curls that means I don’t need my eyelash curler — so that’s a plus!

The claim of Lash Galore is since it is formulated with Pro Vitamin B5 and Silk Protein, it gives maximum conditioning, length and definition. It is also buildable so more coats for more volume – without clumping or flaking. It is available in 1 shade – Ultra Black – the shade every woman can wear!

Mascara Tips from Lisa Saladino Mihok, beautyADDICTS Makeup Artist:

1. Using mascara brush, sweep lower lashes in towards the nose for ultimate length and definition.

2. If you have lighter lashes you can still wear that black mascara. Just be sure to fully coat the lashes. Place 1 or 2 coats from top of the lashes down and finish by sweeping 1-2 coats up from underneath. 3. If you touch up your eye shadow through out the day, you will need to sweep a fresh coat of mascara over the lashes to clean them up. With beauty ADDICTS Lash Galore the amazing non-clumping formula allows you to add a fresh coat of mascara even hours after the first application. What I think:

Lash Galore thickens and separates very well and I like how it is very buildable — lashes don’t get stiff and goopy. I would like a little more lenthening, but I can layer a lengthening mascara to get the effect I like. The one thing I didn’t love about the mascara is that if you rub your eyes at all, it smears. I have allergies and everytime I looked in the mirror, my mascara was smeared. Still a good mascara if you don’t touch your eyes.

Lash Galore Mascara retails for $18 at www.beautyaddicts.com and at salons nationwide.

The Luxurious Look of Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Cosmetics is a luxurious line that combines quality products and extravagant style. Created by beauty veteran Carisa Janes, each innovative product is formulated with the latest cosmetic technology and cutting-edge ingredients. Many contain anti-aging properties yet leave out harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates and sulfates.

Now that it’s beginning to get warmer I only like to use a few products to achieve a natural, bronzed look. The following hourglass cosmetics give an easy and flawless look for summer.

Over the last year, I have become a big fan of face primers. A really good one can even out skin tone, make pores appear smaller and you may not even need a lot of makeup on top of it. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 ($52.00 USD) IS a really good one! It restores moisture to dehydrated skin while providing protection from the sun and minimizing shine and pores. After I apply it, I only need a little concealer and powder (and the bronzer below) and my complexion looks fantastic!

The Veil Mineral Primer contains naturally derived Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide that protects the skin from UVA/UVB rays. It is also oil-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free and water-resistant.

The Prodigy Hydrating Lip Gloss ($26.00 USD) is a sheer, non-sticky gloss that comes in a slim package that can fit in a pocket or clutch. It contains Vitamin E to moisturize the lips and is water-resistant. Prodigy is available in 6 shades: I have Surreal which is a light, shimmery bronze that is perfect for summer.

New this month is the Illume Bronzer in Sunset, a duo of a golden bronze/rosy pink in a cream-to-powder formula that is housed in signature 360º swivel compact with rotating mirror. This is such a beautiful all-purpose product that will be perfect for the summer. Of course, it is a great bronzer and blush; the colors are natural and so pretty. But they can also be used as eye shadow and even as lip color with a little clear gloss on top.

Illume is oil-free and wax-free and includes vitamins A & E and antioxidants to hydrate and protect skin. It is also fragrance and paraben free.

Hourglass is available at Sephora, Sephora.com and Barneys New York. For more information on the line, please visit www.hourglasscosmetics.com.

FACE Stockholm Introduces Fun New Nail Polish Shades for Spring!

Looking for long-lasting, non-toxic polish in bright new spring and summer colors? Try the quality of FACE Stockholm nail polishes ($12.00 USD). They have released 12 new polishes in shades of hot pinks, metallic turquoise, leafy greens, neon yellows, cool lavenders — plus everything in between.

FACE Stockholm’s exclusive three-free formula contains no DPT, no Tulene and no Formaldehyde. I think that it’s important to make nail polish less toxic, plus when you can also make it smooth to apply plus last a long time, you got yourself a winner!

Purchase these fab polishes at www.facestockholm.com. Have fun playing!

Kymaro Sunless-Tanning System

It is cold and storming here in Kansas City! I am dreaming of the warmth of summer — and it sure does help having a little tan to remind me of the heat!

I am usually pretty white and am tired of it, so I tried Kymaro’s Self-Tanning System ($39.90 USD). This great little kit will give you a perfect tan, without sun or streaking!

The kit contains a body scrub, a stainless lotion, a light wand and a little bottle of spray for touch ups. For a perfect tan, just follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Exfoliate
Kymaro’s Body Scrub’s natural exfoliating beads gently buffs dead skin away while the soothing plant extracts condition the skin

Step 2: Apply Easy-To-Use, Stainless Lotion
A dye- and makeup-free formula that provides a flawless, long-lasting tan; use a circular motion to rub in and apply evenly

Step 3: Check for Flawless Application with Light Wand
Kymaro’s tanning lotion is a light responsive formula; use the Light Wand to highlight the areas of applied lotion to check for even application

The ingredients in the kit are:

· Walnut extract – provides a beautiful and natural color tone
· Rose Hip oil – strengthens, moisturizes and stimulates dry and sensitive skin
· Green Tea Leaf extracts – supplies antioxidants that rejuvenate the skin
· Retinol – anti-aging properties that restore the effects of aging and environmental factors

I really liked this kit. The scrub smells fresh and citrusy and is enjoyable to use. The lotion and spray smell great and cover and tan naturally. The light wand helps make sure that I have covered all areas.

Visit www.ubuyez.com to purchase this great kit!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Blue Lotus Spray

Los Angeles, CA (April 2010) – Anastasia Soare has been the Definitive Brow and Eye Expert for Hollywood’s elite for the past twenty years. Following the success of her cosmetics line, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Anastasia launched her first ever skincare collection nationwide in late December 2009! In expanding her skincare line for Spring and Summer 2010, Anastasia announces the launch of Blue Lotus Mist ($29.00 USD). This new product is the perfect fusion of hydrating water and a soothing serum that provides soothing relief for stressed skin.

Blue Lotus Mist contains flower extracts from South Africa that revives dull and tired complexions and provides skin with an instant burst of radiance. The Chinese symbol for life, the Blue Lotus has been preserving the beauty of Asian women for over 5,000 years. As an icon of purity and peace, this calming essence detoxifies with rich antioxidants. Blue Lotus Mist also contains Anastasia’s exclusive Balkan Botanical® Infusion, a blend of rare plant and herb extracts found only in the rich soil of Romania. This unique and exclusive blend has the power to soften, soothe and restore the skin’s natural radiance.

What I think: I like using this mist after cleansing my face and before applying serum and moisturizer twice a day. It is also nice as a mid-day pick-me-up. My skin is refreshed, moisturized and glowing after use.

To purchase visit www.anastasia.net. Enjoy!

New Sun Products from Hawaiian Tropic

It’s time to start thinking of sunscreen again! I know some parts of the country are already getting hot and soon it will be warm everywhere. So you better start protecting your skin (if you aren’t already)!

Hawaiian Tropic is a good company to get your sun care from because they are established, their products are affordable and smell really great, too! An effective way to get coverage is with the new SPF 50 Sheer Touch Crème Lotion ($9.69 USD). This cream is rich but non greasy, and after I applied it, my six-year-old came in and said, “Mmm, I smell coconuts”! And indeed, she did — the new and improved signature tropical coconut scent is pretty fantastic!

Hawaiian Tropic’s formulas include a patented SunSure® Technology that is tested in the natural sunlight, have less chemicals in the sunscreens and contain advanced UVA Protection. They are also oil-free and water-resistant.

A couple of other new Hawaiian Tropic products I like are the SPF 10 Tanning Crème Lotion ($9.99 USD)which contain formulas enriched with skin-nourishing antioxidants and moderate levels of SPF to keep your skin moisturized, soft and glowing while obtaining a little color and the Mango After Sun Crème Lotion ($9.99 USD) which is infused with nourishing ingredients such as Aloe Vera and Cocoa, Shea and Mango butters, this moisturizer is great for everyday use! Plus the Island Mango scent is very summer-y.

To purchase these products visit a drugstore nationwide or go to www.hawaiiantropic.com.