The Luxurious Lip Glosses of Beaute

Beaute Cosmetics creates beautiful lip glosses that are so rich and full colored that they border on lipstick! These are luxurious products created by founder Beau Nelson. The formulas are luxe, the colors beautiful, but the best thing is how the lips feel healthy and moisturized while using the glosses.   

Luminous Volume Gloss ($26.00) –This is a great gloss that plumps lips and smoothes fine lines and wrinkles (over 40 ladies, this is a great one for you!). This wonderful hydrating gloss protects the lips and defines surface area. Hello young-looking lips!  I love the plump look plus the non-irritating feel. Comes in a wide range of lovely shades.

Liqui-Gel Stain For Cheeks and Lips ($29.00) easily blends due to its unique liqui-gel texture. This is a very long-lasting stain that is hydrating, not drying! After the gloss fades, a beautiful stain lasts! Available in 4 unique shades for all skin tones. Can also be used as a blush by applying to clean skin that has foundation, but not yet powdered. Dot on cheeks and blend quickly. 

Weightless Lip Creme ($26.00) is a beautiful long-wearing lip color that feels moisturizing and looks lovely for hours. The formula stimulates collagen, moisturizes and hydrates plus it’s paraben free.   This creme comes with a doe foot applicator that helps apply it smoothly. Available in 6 creamy shades.

Visit www.beaute-cosmetics.com to purchase these lovely lip colors.

Borlind System Absolute

Being 40 (-ish), I am always looking for skin care that can slow down the aging process. I am fairly lucky with my skin (not many wrinkles), but I do have red areas and larger pores, which help show that my skin is not as young as it used to be!

Annemarie Linder is a German pioneer of natural cosmetics and co-founder of Borlind cosmetics. She devotes her passion to creating natural beauty products like the System Absolute (advanced skin care for mature skin) that I have recently tested. 

Borlind’s System Absolute claims to deliver valuable botanical hydrating ingredients and potent antioxidant vitamins deep into the skin. The products I have tried are:   

System Absolute Cleanser ($53.99, 5.07 oz): A creamy emulsion which gently, yet thoroughly, removes dirt, makeup, and other pollutants. This smells great and is refreshing as it cleans.

System Absolute Beauty Fluid ($92.99, 1.7 oz) : A potent antioxidant gel which hydrates and strengthens skin’s resistance to environmental damage. I love this light gel that instantly absorbs into the skin and gives my skin a nice glow.

System Absolute Day Cream ($109.99, 1.7 oz): A rich cream which provides intensive hydration, care, and protection against environmental damage. This cream is nice, but is a bit heavy for me. I have to wait a while after application to put my makeup on. 

System Absolute Night Cream ($109.99, 1.7 oz): A luxurious cream which works to smooth, restore suppleness, repair environmental damage, support regeneration, and replenish moisture and oil. The cream is too heavy for me that it borders on greasy. My skin does look good in the morning after use, but I have been breaking out.

After a few weeks of trying these products, I have found that I really like them. I do think they are made for skin a little more mature than mine, but I will continue to use the cleanser and beauty fluid as I enjoy the feeling and results I get with these products.

Visit www.borlind.com to learn more and to purchase these products or items from their other skin care collections. Enjoy!  

Kenzo Power Cologne

Kenzo Power Cologne

Looking for a sultry fragrance to give to the man (or men) in your life this holiday season? Kenzo has released Kenzo Power Cologne ($50.00 2 oz and $68.00 4.2 oz), a woody citrus that smells fantastic. The notes are:
 
Top: Verbena, Cardamom, Bergamot
Middle: Geranium, Black Pepper, Coriander
Base: Tolu Balm, Vetiver, Cedar.
 
I think this is an understated, yet sexy fragrance. When I first spray it on my husband, I experience the fresh bergamot and verbena notes. Then the spicy black pepper and coriander kick in, with a final hint of the cedar and vetiver. So nice, and it smells a bit like the holidays with the orangey bergamot and the cedar.
 
Also, purchase this scent or other great Kenzo products through November 9th at kenzousa.com, and receive 25% off your purchase with the code 09FAMILY. Enjoy your holiday shopping!
 

Beautyblender blender + cleanser duo pack

blender + cleanser duo pack

I love finding cool makeup tools that make application easier. And when its good for the environment? Well, that’s even better! So of course I LOVE the Beautyblender makeup sponge (blender and cleanser is $34.95).

The website explains, “Invented by top Hollywood make up artists Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz, Beautyblender has been created to leave you with a professional finish and a flawless complexion. Silva and Lorenz know that the key to a perfect face is simple: a perfect blend. So forget your fingers or sharp-edged triangular sponges, these application methods waste make up and can leave visible streaks.”

The  pre=”The “>Beautylender is an egg-shaped (elliptical), velvety sponge that because of the shape, blends with out streaking. Stippling it around the face creates a smooth surface and even helps my pores seem smaller. The pointed side is for around eyes, mouth and nose and the base is for broader areas like forehead, cheeks and chin.     

The really cool think about this sponge is that it is reusable. Use it, then wash it with the Blendercleanser. This will keep the skin healthy and extend the life of the sponge. “Blendercleanser is a lightly lavender-scented cleanser that’s free of dyes and skin irritants. It’s soothing soy-based, low-suds formula breaks down rapidly, making it earth-friendly and fun to use. Soy has the added benefit of being one of nature’s finest moisturizers, so by all means, clean up with class and do it often.”

I clean it after each use by applying a small amount to the soiled areas of the Beautyblender. I lather, then rinse. When it is wet, it is twice the normal size. I then place it on the pedestal on the top of the cleanser and let it air dry. Even if you use it a little wet, it still works great!

To learn more and to purchase the Beautyblender, visit www.beautyblender.net. Have fun with this great product! 

Keep Your Curls Looking Great with DevaCurl

Are your curls not as bouncy and shiny as they could be? The DevaCurl line, which is made to hydrate and de-frizz curly hair, may be just the thing for you.

The DevaCurl line boasts conditioning products that are 100% sulfate-free and won’t harm hair — plus they smell fantastic! I tried a few of these gentle products. They are: 

DevaCurl’s No-Poo ($17.95 8 oz) This is a non-lathering, conditioning cleanser that claims to create the ultimate healthy, bouncy curls. This sulfate-free cleanser is thick and moisturizing like a conditioner, yet it doesn’t weigh my wavy hair down. It contains a unique blend of botanically infused moisturizers and helps with the frizzies. This is nicely scented with Peppermint and Turkish Rose.

One Condition ($17.95 8 oz) is extra conditioner for your curls, keeping them shiny and manageable.  I like to keep this in for a few minutes before rinsing, for extra moisture. The Lemon Grass is nice, too.

Set it Free ($17.95 6 oz) Is a frizz-stopping spray that also gives long-lasting hold.  It is made with shine-enhancing Beeswax and Olive Oil and is scented with zesty lemon-lime. I like to use this on wet and dry hair for maximum shine and hold. 

Visit mydevacurl.com for more information and where to purchase these fab products.

Perfect Your Pout with the LipStamp by Alcone

Alcone LipStamp

Looking for a way to achieve the perfect lip look for the holidays? Try Alcone’s LipStamp Kit for Lips ($24.95).

This extremely unique product looks like a kids toy, but it certainly is not! To use, choose one of the 10 stamps that are included in the kit and stick it to the stamp base. Then apply your favorite lipstick on the stamp, don’t be shy. I found that a full color, opaque lipstick works better than sheer. I love using my Lorac Breakthrough Performance Lipstick with it. One the stamp is saturated with lipstick, line the stamp up with your lips and press on! If you go out of the lines unintentionally, just blot!

The different stamps can give you different looks and work with various lip sizes. I’m sure you will find one perfect for you.

Visit www.alconeco.com to learn more and to purchase this product and other great beauty tools and products. Have fun with it — beauty is about fun!

Orly Once Upon a Time Collection

Orly Once Upon a TimeWant to try some new polishes that will take you through the fall and into the Winter months? Try Orly’s Once Upon A Time collection. Just like a fairytale these colors are a mixture of darkness and light — and of course a red as bright as Snow White’s lips.

The colors in the collection are:

Happily Ever After — magenta shimmer

Pixie Dust — icy blue shimmer

Enchanted Forest — dark green creme

Mirror Mirror — grey creme

Poison Apple — burnt red creme

Prince Charming — brownish grey creme

A big fall trend is dark green polish, and I think Enchanted Forest is a perfect shade for the trend. It is dark but not so dark you can’t tell that its green. Pixie Dust is an unexpected fall color, as it is blue and sparkly. It think that it is lots of fun and will also be great for the winter. Mirror Mirror and Prince Charming are perfect fall shades — I love grey polishes. Of course if you would rather have a dramatic look try the shimmery Happily Ever After or the punch of color from Poison Apple. 

The polishes retail for $7.50 each. Visit www.orlybeauty.com to learn more about these polishes and to find a retailer near you.

Sue Devitt Creates Exotically Beautiful Makeup

Australian makeup artist and cosmetic creator Sue Devitt’s personal mantra is “Beauty is an adventure”…with endless destinations. She is inspired by the natural beauty of the many exotic places that she has traveled such as India and Tanzania. Here cosmetics are exotic, but very wearable!

I really love the Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil ($22.00) This is a thick, smudgey pencil that glides on easily and makes a great smokey eye. The pencil can be drawn on with a thick line for high drama or smudged into a sexy, smoky look. There is a built-in smudger on the end of it that is tapered and can be used to soften the line of the pencil. I found that it lasted all day and stayed put. This great pencil is available in 13 shades.
 
I have also tried the E-Z Eye Roller Ball Eye Shadow ($18.00), a pure-pigmented roller ball shadow.  It is unusual for a roller ball to go on with so much color — this is definitely not a delicate product: not for the shy! It is very shimmery and although it can be blended for day use, I highly recommend it for the evening. This shadow is available in 10 shades.  
 
Visit the new Sue Devitt website to purchase these fab products and to check out the entire line!  

H2pro Vivace 1 Inch Flat Iron

H2pro Vivace 1 Inch Flat Iron
H2pro Vivace 1 Inch Flat Iron

H2PRO creates quality hair tools and treatments that style the hair professionally while making it look and feel healthy.

The new The Vivace 1 Inch Flat Iron ($150.00)  contains three layers of ceramic and a PTFC ceramic heater. What is that you ask? It is described as, “Since PTFC heaters are based on far-infrared heat, this allows the ceramic plates to produce an even heat distribution, while offering superior heat recovery. Far-infrared is the deepest and safest heat for all hair types, naturally and organically sealing the cuticle. This instantly protects tresses from continued styling, sealing in moisture to reveal frizz free, silky, and revitalized tresses. The Vivace 1 Inch Flat Iron even offers a variable temperature setting, allowing hair to be styled anywhere from 140°F to 450°F.”

Really, a healthy and non-damaging flat iron? Really! I have even created the ultimate test for this flat iron: let my teenage daughter (who obsesses over her hair) give it a test-drive. She has used it every day for about a week now and LOVES it. It straightens her hair or she can make really cute curls with it, plus her hair isn’t fried at all. On the few occasions I have been able to use it, I love what it does to my wavy hair. It quickly smooths and straightens. And if I have extra time, it is fun to make spiral ringlets!  

I highly recommend this flat iron. Visit www.h2probeautylife.com to learn more about these excellent tools and learn how to order one for yourself!

Bobbi Brown Rich Color Lip Gloss

Bobbi Brown Rich Color Lip Gloss
Bobbi Brown Rich Color Lip Gloss

Bobbi Brown Rich Color Lip Gloss ($20.00) is the newest addition to Bobbi’s lip color line. Bobbi says, “The colors are rich enough to make a statement, yet absolutely wearable — and the texture is amazing.”

Rich Color Lip Gloss is a mint flavored gloss that Bobbi’s website touts “offers the look and benefits of three products in one: the full color coverage of a lipstick, the soft shine of a gloss, and the luxurious feel of a balm.”  I agree that you do get full coverage, shine and it feels like a minty balm, as it is a bit tingly on. The colors are soft and pretty, very nice.  
 
The gloss is available in a range of eight shades: Naked, Ruby Red, Pink Raspberry, Merlot, Dusty Rose, Melon, Tutu, Pink Buff — there is a color for everyone.
 
Visit www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com to learn more about and purchase this luxurious gloss. Enjoy!