Beauty – Page 171 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Silent Snooz Lavender

Yes, I snore. At least that’s what my husband says. I guess since we’ve been married for 17 years, I should believe him. I haven’t tried anything to stop the snoring, but in the spirit of being a good spouse, I thought I should give the Silent Snooz a try.

The Silent Snooz in Lavender ($12.95) is a one-size-fits-all, v-shaped, soft plastic, nasal dilator designed to eliminate snoring. You place it at the base of your nose and it is designed to exert gentle pressure to open the nasal passages to quiet the snoring.

The lavender is subtle, but smells great and helps me relax. The dilator itself takes a few minutes to get used to, and the first night I wore it, it fell out of my nose during the night. But my husband says that it has been helping, so I am going to continue to use it for the 30 days it is designed to last for.

You can purchase this at Rite Aid, Walgreens and CVS.com.

Arcona Reozone 40

Looking for a quality sunscreen that isn’t greasy and doesn’t leave a white residue on your face? Arcona’s Reozone 40 ($28.00) could be the one for you! This unusual sunscreen is tinted and moisturizes the skin as well as protects it.

Reozone 40 includes Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide — both have powerful UVA/UVB protection. It also includes Sodium Hyluronate to moisturize and Sodium Selenite which offers natural anti-aging benefits. It does not contain petrochemicals, binders or fillers, chemical stabilizers, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphates, perfumes, dyes or any other caustic ingredients.

I apply this over my moisturizer and under my makeup, but it can be worn as moisturizer. The tint is very sheer and could work for most skin tones. It doesn’t cover like foundation but it does seem to even out my skin tone.

You can purchase this product at beauty.com

***Now fun news! I am giving away one of these wonderful sunscreens to a lucky reader! To win it leave a comment on my blog letting me know that you would like the Reozone 40. I will draw a name and notify the winner on Friday August 14, 2009. Good luck!

Price- $28.00
Purchase it on beauty.com

Darac Beauty

As a forty-something woman, I am always looking for products that will make my skin appear flawless. Darac, a celebrity makeup artist, has introduced a makeup line that focuses on flawless skin. His Core Solutions are made to help women with solutions to common, but troubling makeup problems. Darac says on his website, “Everyone has similar core concerns. When you say, my foundation doesn’t match my skin; my powder makes me look like my great-great grandmother; I used to have long delicious lashes and now I have four sausages, or anything else you’ve struggled with, Core Solutions offers you specific solutions with instant results.”

I have recently tried some of Darac’s fantastic products. My favorites are:

Feature Focus ($39.50) is a compact of 3 different cream bases made to cover, contour and highlight the face. This product comes with the Looking Glass Cheat Sheet, which is a cling sheet that you can put on your mirror. It contains a diagram of where to place the products. Forgive is a great color for concealing, Forget is for highlighting and Frame is a darker shade to sculpt. I love to use Forgive under my eyes and on blemishes, Forget goes on my cheek bones and under my browbone and Frame is great for my chin area!

The TourQuam ($40.00) TourQuam Luxe ($75.00) brushes are some of the coolest I’ve tried. They are super-soft and full and contain magnets in the handle which I think draw the product into the brushes so you can swirl on an even coat of the product and use less of it. I use the TourQuam for bronzer and blush and the TourQuam Luxe for my powder.

Sifted Blur ($32.00) is more than a powder. Used with the TourQuam or TourQuam plus, I sweep it all over my face and it instantly makes my face look even and glow. The website states that, “Sifted Blur can be used as a under foundation to facilitate application of makeup and not allow it to rob water from your skin; it can be used over foundation to set and perfect makeup; or used without any makeup at all, any time of the day.” I have used it over my makeup and on its own, but I am going to definitely try it under my makeup in these hot, humid summer days when my face gets a little oily!

Expedition Mascara ($19.50) really lengthens my lashes while adding volume. Summer Allergies have forced me to wear my glasses instead of my contacts, and with Expedition, my lashes keep hitting my glasses! I have to make sure they are totally dry before I put my glasses on. This mascara also is vitamin-packed and nourishes lashes with a silk extract. I have noticed that my lashes stay glossy, black and soft all day long! You can also use the tiny detail brush included to get all of your little lashes and your bottom ones as well.

Visit www.daracbeauty.com to learn more about and to purchase this luxury cosmetic line. You are going to love it!

Mally Beauty

Celebrity makeup artist Mally Rancal has created a cosmetic line that I think would look great on any woman, no matter her age or skin tone. The colors are vibrant and extremely well pigmented, and just a lot of fun to wear!

To create a smooth canvas for the color, try Mally’s Ultimate Performance Professional Foundation ($45.00). This is a cream foundation that covers well while looking natural. I like to apply it with my fingers or a sponge, but it does come with a very soft hand-tufted foundation brush. The foundation is available in five shades; Fair, Light, Medium, Tan and Rich

The City Chick Smokey Eye Kit ($40.00) is an easy way to acheive the coveted smokey eye look. The palette includes a cream base, a soft neutral and a medium and dark shade that work great for smokey eyes. I have tried Plum Chelsea which is a fun alternative to the original black and gray smokey eye. The kit comes with an eyeliner pencil and is available in Brownstone, Skyscraper, Central Park, Nolita Navy, Midtown Merlot and Plum Chelsea.

My favorite Mally product is the High Shine Liquid Lipstick Pen ($20.00). This beautiful lip color is a cross between a lipstick and a lip gloss. It covers and is opaque like a lipstick but is shiny like a gloss. I have Perfect Pink, a very pretty neutral medium pink. I have been wearing it everyday because it goes with everything and looks natural, yet polished. It also comes in Summer Peach, Super Natural and Sweet Berry.

Visit www.mallybeauty.com to purchase or learn more about this fun makeup line.

Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

Living in Kansas City can be quite the beauty challenge for my hair. The air is very dry in the winter so my hair becomes flyaway. The worst time of the year for my hair, though, is the summer. The humidity and heat turn my hair into a fuzzball. So frizz-free haircare is a must!

Living Proof’s No Frizz was created by a team of scientists by applying advanced technology to solve the problem of frizzy hair. They are launching another great breakthrough: No Frizz Shampoo, No Frizz Conditioner and No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner, a complete hair care collection that brings the frizz-fighting power of PolyfluoroEster to the most advanced cleansing and conditioning formulas.

Here are the new products and their descriptions:

No Frizz Shampoo ($24.00 8oz)was developed with PolyfluoroEster and SLMI, a gentle, sulfate-free surfactant that actually gives a luscious lather but removes any trace of dirt or oil without stripping the hair.

No Frizz Conditioner ($24.00 8oz) also contains PolyfluoroEster yet is completely devoid of the heavy oils, silicones and butters found in many frizz-fighting conditioners so it doesn’t weigh hair down.

No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner ($24.00 8oz) is an ideal option for drier hair, incorporating PolyfluoroEster with lightweight glycerin as the key moisturizing component instead of heavy oils, a first for a leave-in frizz-fighting product. No Frizz Leave-In conditioner is one of the only oil-free, silicone-free leave-in conditioners available on the market.

For my hair, I like to use all three of the products. I first shampoo, then apply conditioner and leave it in for a few minutes. I then towel-dry my hair and use the leave-in conditioner for extra smoothness. This really helps my hair say soft and manageable and cuts down on the frizzies.

The new No Frizz hair care collection will be available in Sephora, Sephora.com, QVC, QVC.com and www.livingproof.com beginning September 2009.

ZO Skin Health

Zo Skin Health was created by Dr. Zien Obagi, a dermatologist who makes products that bring a medical approach to skincare with the goal of reversing the appearance of aging skin.

I have tried a few of these products. The two below are my favorites.

Ommerse Daily Renewal Cream (1.7 oz $95.00) — This day cream is touted to soothe skin irritation, sensitivity and dryness. It contains pure retinol to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, photosomes to reduce the appearance of discolorations and inflammation and Canadian willowherb and oat extracts to calm and soothe skin irritation.

You can tell that this product is meant to soothe the skin because it feels wonderful when applied. It is a light cream and is definitely non-greasy. I have had a little redness in my skin lately and it helps that as well as smoothing everything out. This is a great morning cream to apply over your serums.

The other product I tried is the Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 (1 oz $175.00 for three, $65.00 for one). This is supposed to fight the #1 cause of wrinkles, age sponts and los of firmness. It contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, Vitamin E, silicone. proprietary lipopeptide and humectants and emollients.

I like this because it is a fantastic primer. It glides on the skin and is tinted, making it easier to apply. I also think it evens the tone in my skin and I need less concealer and foundation when wearing it. Sunscreens are so important to wear everyday and this product makes you want to wear it!

Now is a great time to visit the Zo Skin Health website because they are having a sale in honor of Dr. Obagi’s birthday. From August 1-10, 2009 you will receive 20% off your orders. Check it out at www.zoskinhealth.com.

Alcone Make-Off

I love makeup remover cloths. They are convenient and really effective in removing stubborn eye makeup.

That’s why I was happy to try Alcone Company’s Make-Off, individually wrapped makeup remover cloths. They are very soft so they don’t irritate eyes and are soaked with a gentle makeup remover. I like that it even removes my waterproof liner and mascara. And since they are individually wrapped, you can take them anywhere!

Make-Off is available in the following quantities and prices:

12 individually wrapped cloths                                 $6
24 individually wrapped cloths                                 $10
50 individually wrapped cloths                                 $19
80 individually wrapped cloths                                 $30
Case of 500 individually wrapped cloths               $175

Visit www.alcone.com to purchase these useful products.

LipFusion XL Nighttime Lip Plumper

My lips are in pretty good shape for a 40-something. I don’t have lines around my lips yet, but they can always use more moisture and a little plump never hurt either! As we age, the moisture in our lips reduce and they get thinner and more susceptible to wrinkles.

LipFusion XL ($50.00 USD) is a spearmint-flavored nighttime lip plumping therapy. The idea is to put it on before bed and you will wake up to plump, firm, hydrated and sexy lips. It combines active collagen with hyaluronic acid. Instead of needing to inject this collagen, “Patented, dehydrated, hyaluronic acid-filling spheres™ have a remarkable, sponge-like absorbency that captures the body’s natural water, causing spheres to swell a dramatic 50 times larger for maximum hydration and a long-term plumping effect. Once LipFusion XL is applied, lips swell continually for hours to visibly “fill” lines, boost volume, and keep lips lusciously moist”, claims the Fusion Beauty website .

I really like this product and think it is worth the price. I have been applying it every night for about a week and my lips have been looking great all day. Even my work friends have complimented my lip gloss and ask if I’m wearing a lip plumper. I haven’t been during the day, since there is no need to. My lips are plump and firm and look natural as well.

So if you need a little help in the lip area, go to Sephora or Ulta and try it out — it’s always good to try before you buy! You can also learn more about it at www.fusionbeauty.com.

Try Parissa Wax Products for Smooth Summer Skin

Pretty summer skin seems to take a lot of work. Since we wear less clothes, skin is a focus of summer looks. So we need to exfoliate, moisturize, use sunscreen, maybe apply a sunless tanner or body bronzer and of course, shave. Every day.

But there is an alternate — you can wax. Since salon waxing can be pricey, home waxing is a great alternative. Parissa creates many different waxing products for anyone from beginners to experienced waxers.

I have recently tried a few Parissa products. They are:

Wax Strips 3 Assorted Sizes ($12.00 USD) — This is my favorite of the three products that I tried. It is very easy to use. Just warm the strip in your hand, press on the area to be waxed and zip off. To use these, your hair needs to be at least 1/4 an inch long. The strips needs something to adhere to before they will take it off. You then press the strip down in the direction your hair is growing and remove in the opposite direction. And Voila! No more hair! Your skin will stay smooth for up to 6 weeks.

Warm Wax ($12.00 USD) a microwaveable liquid salon hair remover that comes with strips. This is for coarser hair and larger areas such as the legs. You warm it up in the microwave, apply with the included wooden spatulas, then press down the strip and remove. This method takes more practice than the convenient strips. Skin should stay smooth for up to 8 weeks.

Wax Strips Mini Eyebrow Design ($9.00 USD) — These are great for keeping your eyebrows in perfect shape. They are also great for stray hairs such as on the fingers and toes. They work just like the 3 Assorted Size strips, just press on and zip off. Easy!

All of these products come with Parissa’s azulene oil hair inhibitor that helps remove the excess wax from the skin.

Check out the website at www.parissa.com to learn more and to purchase these products.

Anastasia Line Erasing Serum

Anastasia creates some of the best brow products on the market today. She is now creating skincare with the same quality as in her other beauty products.

The Line Erasing Serum ($45.00 USD) contains “a unique blend of natural hydrators, Instalift™ Goji, and an exclusive Balkan Botanical™ Infusion to improve the appearance of skin and help reduce signs of aging. Designed for all skin types, it soothes, softens, and hydrates—leaving skin brighter and smoother. Fine lines and wrinkles don’t stand a chance!

The claim is that daily use of the serum gives the appearance of diminishing fine lines and wrinkles while maximizing moisture retention. This formula absorbs instantly and delivers long-lasting results.

I use this light serum at night before moisturizer. Just a little is needed to instantly hydrates the skin. I have noticed that after a few weeks, my skin does look smoother. I don’t have wrinkles around my eyes, but my mouth lines (nasal-labial folds) seem less deep.

I recommend trying this product. I think the price is reasonable for a high quality serum. It is now for sale at www.sephora.com and should be available soon on the Anastasia website www.anastasia.net.