dr. brandt pores no more anti-aging mattifying lotion
pores no more anti-aging mattifying lotion ($60 USD 1.7 oz) — An apple a day keeps the linesaway.” This lightweight lotion formulated with apple stem cells to help delay the natural signs of aging by maintaining the longevity and activity of stem cells in the skin. Simultaneously, retinol stimulates new cell turnover and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Brandt’s multi-tasking formula provides the best of both worlds, delivering anti-aging and pore minimizing/mattifying benefits.
oil-free
helps delay the natural signs of aging by maintaining the longevity & activity of stem cells in the skin
stimulates new cell turnover, improving the appearance of lines & wrinkle
increases water reserves, limits water loss & improves lipid barrier function to balance moisture levels
What I think: I like this lotion. It is very lightweight and quickly sinks into the skin once applied. It does give a matte finish, but if I apply a lotion afterwards, that could negate the mattifying effect.
I also notice that after I apply this, my skin does look smoother and my pores appear a bit smaller. I love retinol, it is a great antidote to aging skin! But, it is also gentle and can be used up to twice a day.
St. Ives Scrub-free Exfoliating Pads and Naturally Smooth Hand Cream
I love finding affordable skincare that is readily available at mass market retailers. I have always enjoyed St. Ives Apricot Scrub, so was excited to try two new products — the Scrub-Free Exfoliating Pads and the Naturally Smooth Hand Cream.
NEW St. Ives Scrub-Free Exfoliating Pads
· First mass-market brand exfoliating pads with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)
· Exfoliates to reveal smoother, younger-looking skin in just 7 days
· Formulated with 100 percent natural lactic acid
· Available at select mass retailers, drugstores and supermarkets nationwide for $4.99 (suggested retail price)
This is a gentle way to scrub your face. I think it is perfect for women who are a little older and need exfoliation, but cannot not use a harsher scrub. My skin is smooth after use. It smells great, too! Fresh and citrusy. I suggest to use it a few time a week until your skin gets use to it.
NEW St. Ives Naturally Smooth Hand Cream
· Exfoliates and improves the appearance of rough, uneven skin in just 7 days
· 100 percent natural moisturizers help it absorb quickly into skin
· Formulated with natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)
· Available at Target stores nationwide for $2.99 (suggested retail price)
I am really loving this hand cream. It smells fantastically fruity and smooths hands instantly, making them look much younger! And for $2.99 — what a deal! I would suggest purchasing a bunch of these to keep in your purse, at your desk, on your nightstand. Great price and product.
Laura Geller + QVC = beauty fun! On Friday May 4, 2012 at midnight EST, QVC will present Laura’s sun-evoking Glow-n-Behold. This is a four piece collection that is a value of $118 for only $54.48. It includes:
The Best-Selling Tahitian Glow Body Frosting — A baked bronzer that hydrates skin and is full of antioxidants. You can use this wet for a more intense color
New Dream Creams Concealer & Highlighter in Porcelain/Fair or Regular/ Tan –Includes 3 blendable and mixable concealers and one highlighter in the compact.
New Baked Blush in Bora Bora – a sateen finish and a pretty pinky-peach color makes this blush wearable for all skin tones.
New Double Dipped Lipstick in Caribbean Kiss — A two-in-one lipstick bullet that can take your look from day-to-night!
I will be reviewing this in a couple of weeks, but tomorrow you can purchase this and tell me what you think when you receive it!
Looking for a new gloss or balm to lighten your Spring look? That’s a great idea! Changing your lip color or product type (gloss, balm, lipstick), can update your look without too much fuss. Here are some fun new products to try:
Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Orange Tulip
Laura Mercier Lip Glacé ($24 USD) is a high-shine, perfectly pigmented lip gloss with rich, long-lasting colour and brilliant shine that creates the appearance of fuller lips. Any skin tone is virtually enhanced by creating a subtle contrast in texture.
There are three new limited-edition Lip Glacés for summer. They are Camellia, Orange Tulip, and Lotus Blossom. I have Orange Tulip and love it. It isn’t too orange, and is a sheer way to wear the “it” color of the season.
Availability: lauramercier.com, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and select Belk, Blue Mercury, Lord & Taylor, and Macys.
Nuance Salma Hayek Ultra Shine Lip Gloss
One of my favorite new lip glosses is Nuance Salma Hayek Ultra Shine Lip Gloss $7.49 USD). Silky, smooth formula hydrates and helps protect lips. Mimosa extract and mango seed oil help nourish and moisturize lips through deep hydration. Vitamins A, C, & E condition and help protect lips. Hypoallergenic. Paraben free. Not tested on animals.
I have this in Peony, which is the second from the last color in the photo above. It is a sheer pink that is perfect for the season.
Shiseido Shimmering Rouge in Sorbet ($25 USD) Sheer, brilliant color infuses lips with lasting moisture and fullness. Lips have never looked so all-day sensuous. With photo-smoothing pearl, this moisturizing formula will give a fuller appearance to lips.
Available in 20 shades. I have this in Sorbet, which is a new shade. It is a light, creamy pink. Very pretty on. It is full color, but feels like a balm.
Mirabella Colour Luxe ($26 USD) lip gloss creates maximum shine with three-dimensional, light-reflecting shimmer. The combination of iridescent and pearlescent pearls create a star-like effect on the lips, taking Colour Luxe gloss to a new level of color purity, brightness and dimensionality. Vitamin-enriched long-lasting formula moisturizes, conditions, and provides antioxidant protection and anti-aging properties.
These glimmering glosses are not for the shy! I love Spark, the second color from the left in the photo above. It is a gorgeous peachy-nude. The applicator is a flat sponge paddle, which gives even coverage. LOVE!
Have you ever had that lip color that was close, but just not “perfect?” Use Three Custom Color’s new Transformer Duo: Champagne ($27.50 USD) to warm up or cool down your favorite (or not-so-favorite) lip shades!
The split-pan compact contains two high-quality gloss pigments to be your own mix master with a smooth, softly shimmering formula that’s never gummy or sticky.
This is so cool! I do try a lot of lip colors and many are too pink, or two brown. This works to even out the color perfectly. Now all of the lip colors that you have can work for you.
Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Moisture Milk Cleanser
My skin is becoming more of a problem as I age. I can get dry, so I hydrate it. But if I use a cream that it too heavy, I will breakout and my pores will look huge. A catch 22, huh.
So I have found that if I use a creamy cleanser (with my Clarisonic), and a lighter moisturizer, my face becomes clear and smooth!
I have been trying Kate Somerville KateCeuticals Moisture Milk Cleanser ($58 USD) –This rich, creamy blend of antioxidants and fruit extracts is designed to clean, hydrate, and brighten the look of the complexion. KateCeuticals™ Moisture Milk Cleanser delivers comfort to skin with a soothing blend of powerful Vitamins, Orange Blossom, and Orange Peel Extracts that leave skin feeling moisturized and fresh. This sulfate-free cleanser is so gentle that it can be rinsed or simply tissued off.
It’s main ingredients are:
Soybean Extracts help to enhance the skin’s natural barrier function in order to improve the look of firmness.
Kukui, Macadamia, and Coconut Oils are combined with a cutting-edge Lipid Blend in an effort to moisturize instantly and continue to hydrate throughout the day.
Orange Blossom and Orange Peel Extracts are combined with a special Brightening Complex in an effort to create instant illumination and radiance.
Kate Somerville’s products are so wonderful for the skin. I really love how mild this cleanser is. It doesn’t irritate at all. It is also a fab eye makeup remover. Dab it on a tissue or cotton pad and wipe off. It doesn’t irritate.
Gentle for everyday use, this cleanser has become a staple of my skincare routine.
Available exclusively at www.katesomerville.com, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Enjoy!
Earth Day is in a couple of days and as we are thinking about big and little things that we can do for the environment, L’Occitane has come up with a great idea for your favorite beauty products.
Their Eco-Refills are large sizes of some of L’Occitane’s best-selling products that can be used to refill your original containers. Some of these products are:
Lavender Liquid Soap Eco-Refill ($12 USD) — Reduce, reuse and refill! Both economical and ecological, the Lavender Liquid Soap Eco-Refill keeps hands clean, fresh and lightly scented. With nourishing Shea Butter and soothing aloe-vera extract, this detergent-free cleanser is gentle enough for dry, sensitive or damaged skin. Refill is 13.5 fl. oz. while Liquid Soap is 16.9 fl. oz.
Immortelle Refill Brightening Cleansing Foam ($38 USD) — An economical and ecological Brightening Cleansing Foam refill for the beauty of your skin and the preservation of the environment. Lighten the complexion with this gentle face cleanser, enriched with organic Immortelle floral water and citrus fruit peel.
Almond Shower Oil Eco-Refill ($36 USD) — The economical and ecological Almond Shower Oil Eco-Refill is perfect for both the beauty of your skin and the preservation of the environment. When in contact with water, this shower oil transforms into a delicate foam that gently cleanses the body. Enriched with Almond oil, it respects the hydrolipidic film and leaves a subtle and mouthewatering scent of fresh Almond, for delightful skin!
Aromachologie Soothing Shampoo Eco-Refill ($25 USD) — Formulated with a natural origin vegetable complex of 5 essential oils and wheat proteins, the Aromachologie Soothing Shampoo helps soothe the sensitive or irritated scalp. It also adds a genuine softness to hair, delicately cleanses and purifies the scalp and immediately eases irritations and aggressions. The scalp returns to a healthy and comfortable state, for stronger, beautiful hair. Pair with the Aromachologie Soothing Conditioner.
These can be purchased at usa.loccitane.com. Enjoy!
I don’t watch the Real Housewives TV shows, but of course I know who the main housewives are from the media. Before I tried the new Skinnygirl Tinted Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 ($10.99 USD), I knew that Bethenny Frankel was a reality TV star, but I didn’t know much about her brand, Skinnygirl.
Bethenny started her line with lo-cal alcoholic beverages and is branching out to a face and body line.
The claim is:
Even out your skin tone without using heavy makeup products. This formula is rich in Vitamin E and has Broad Spectrum SPF 15 to help prevent the visible signs of aging from the sun. Choose a light, medium, or dark shade to reduce redness and smooth out skin for an even-toned, gorgeous glow.
Key Ingredients:
SPF 15 – Protects skin from sun damage
Vitamin E – An antioxidant that has anti-aging properties to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles
Jojoba Esters – A deep moisturizer
What I think: I like the formula of this. It feels like a moisturizer, but can look a little heavy if not blended correctly. This has a built-in application brush — you unlock it, then squeeze up the amount you want and it comes out through the brush. I don’t care for the brush because it leaves streaks on the skin when applied and you really need to blend it in. I like squeezing the amount I need onto my hand, then applying with a good foundation brush.
The coverage is medium — not light like most tinted moisturizers, so I think it would work for a lot of women’s needs. I also like the SPF 15. I don’t know if I would purchase this again, but it a good price for what you get.& Body for any upcoming summer beauty stories you might have in the works.
My aging skin is so erratic. Sometimes I break out, sometimes my skin is very dry. I alway have large pores. Yuck! But I have been lucky to try the new Clarisonic Acne Clarifying Collection ($169 USD).
So whats the claim?
Clarisonic brings you closer to clear skin—in just one step! The inventor of the professional-caliber, dermatologist-recommended Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System, has paired its patented sonic cleansing technology, including an innovative new brush head, with a gentle yet powerful salicylic acid-based cleanser to form the Clarisonic Acne Clarifying Collection. In one easy step, that’s safe and gentle enough for use twice daily, you can remove dirt, oil and impurities more thoroughly—and begin to treat acne blemishes.
What I think: Don’t be afraid of this collection, because not only does it clean deep, it is gentle on the skin. And my skin is a little sensitive. This Mia 2 (which is the model of the Clarisonic) has two speeds. I use the lower speed and only used the salicylic cleanser in the morning. I use a gentler cleanser in the evening. With this combination, my skin is looking gorgeous lately. The brush leaves my skin SO soft and smooth and my pores are less noticeable. I also haven’t had a breakout since I have used it. Fab!
I love keeping my skin moisturized, so I try lots of different lotions and creams. There are so many great ones out now that are formulized to help skin by smoothing skin tone or even minimizing cellulite. Give one a try!
St. Ives Naturally Smooth Body Lotion
A great drugstore find is St. Ives Naturally Smooth Body Lotion ($4.97 USD). This lotion will help to nourish skin that is damaged by harsh outdoor conditions. With active alpha-hydroxy acids, this ultra-moisturizing lotion works to exfoliate and soften the skin, leaving it noticeably and smoother and more radiant in just 7 days. It also has a fresh citrus-y scent and if refreshing. Available at mass market retailers.
Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter
Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter ($18 USD). Award winning body butter with softening shea butter and aloe vera. Smooth on a handful after your shower and you might swear you’re wearing velvet. Scented with their Original Pink™ fragrance that is fresh and light. The body butter itself is creamy without being greasy. Available at www.soapandglory.com/us.
Yes To Blueberries Rejuvenating Body Lotion
Yes to Blueberries Rejuvenating Body Lotion ($9.99 USD) is formulated to help firm and improve skin elasticity, this lotion will be perfect for those who are looking for an added dose of moisture and firmness for their skin. Blueberries and Grapeseed Oil help improve and restore skin firmness. Tamanu Seed Oil is a fast-absorbing oil that is known to help repair and improve skin’s smoothness. Purchase at drugstores and www.yestocarrots.com.
L'Occitane Almond Shaping Delight
Looking to smooth out bumpy thighs and rear? Try L’Occitane’s Almond Beautiful Shape ($44 USD). The ultra-fresh Almond Beautiful Shape helps to visibly reduce the appearance of cellulite and slim the thighs and buttocks, while smoothing and firming the skin. This formula is concentrated in powerful, natural ingredients to help effectively fight cellulite. Peruvian liana, quinoa extract and carrot essential oil slow the appearance of new fat cells, while Almond tree buds, rich in draining flavanoids, and natural caffeine release existing fat cells. Our new formula also includes Almond proteins which reduce dimples and a lemon micro-exfoliating extract for delightfully smooth and firm skin. Purchase at www.usa.loccitane.com.
Need to even skin tone and brighten your skin? Well, L’Occitane has recently added three products to their Immortelle collection.
What is immortelle you ask? The immortelle flower grows abundantly on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, has an exceptionally long life and retains its form and color when dried. L’Occitane has extracted a precious essential oil from the immortelle, which has anti-free radical and anti-wrinkle properties.
L’Occitane’s Immortelle collection offers a complete anti-aging solution for the face and hands. The three new products added to the Immortelle Brightening collection are enriched with a new extract, Garden Nasturtium, for boosted action to leave skin instantly dewy and youthfully radiant.
The additions include:
Brightening Essence ($56): A concentrated serum that optimizes penetration of active ingredients for dramatically brighter, more radiant skin.
Brightening Moisture Cream ($58): A daily moisturizer with an ultra-fresh gel-cream texture that helps correct wrinkles, even skin tone and brighten the complexion.
Brightening Hand Care SPF 15 ($30): A non-oily, protective hand lotion that smoothes the skin, evens skin tone and reduces the appearance of age spots.
What I think: I have been using this collection day and night for a few weeks and have seen some results. I think my skin is clearer in tone and a bit brighter. I do not have a lot of age spots yet (knock on wood), but my skin can get dull. I find that immediately after each application, my skin does look brighter. I have combination skin, and this does not seem to make me break out, which is great!
As for the products themselves, they are heavily scented with a floral/green fragrance. This is probably natural, but if you are fragrance sensitive, be aware.
The textures are nice. The serum and creams are not greasy at all and seem to quickly absorb.
I would recommend these products to someone who would like to even skin tone and fade dark spots. You can purchase them at usa.loccitane.com.
Forty, Flirty & Fabulous 