Beauty – Page 172 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Sue Devitt Oxygen Infusion Masque

Looking for a different way to cleanse and hydrate your skin? Sue Devitt has recently launched the Oxygen Infused Masque ($40.00), which does just that with a cool little twist.

The masque has self-foaming activation. This means that you massage the bright blue gel to your face and it instantly foams up. I like to leave it on for a couple of minutes before I rinse. It is very fun and the foam tickles a bit.

Through the foaming, oxygen molecules are released into pores then gently cleanse and remove impurities and environmental pollutants. The claim is that the skin appears firmer, softer and healthy-looking after using the masque. The masque contains an infusion of Microquatic™ Complex, which hydrates while Blue Algae, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein and Chamomile Extract to reduce redness and irritation, and to help control sebum production and soothe the skin.

I like how this product leaves my face very soft and smooth. I like to use it in the evening, but you can use it whenever you wish. It is safe to use every day.

Sue Devitt Oxygen Infusion Masque is available at barneys.com, Harvey Nichols and Facelogic Spas. I recommend this neat product!

Borba Advanced Aging Deep Wrinkle Repair SPF 45

Looking for a great day moisturizer? How about an effective sunscreen? An anti-aging wrinkle cream? Does your skin need a little glow? Yes? Me too!

Borba Advanced Aging Deep Wrinkle Repair SPF 45 ($55.00) will bring you all of these. Skeptical? I was too until I tried this great product. The Borba website describes it as, ” light day moisturizer with an SPF 45 and an amazing dry touch feel that will leave skin supremely moisturized, not white or ashy like other SPF facial moisturizers. This powerful crème reverses the most extreme signs of aging, addressing deep wrinkles, exacerbated loss of firmness, loss of radiance, severe dryness and sun damage.”

This product includes an advanced multi-layer liquid Crystal System that boost skin’s ability to hold and retain moisture immediately and over time. Sepilift DPHP and Elastin Fiber stimulate natural anti-aging defenses in dermal layers and counteract skin-aging enzymes for a younger, more toned appearance. It also includes broad spectrum SPF 45 UVA, UVB and UVC sunscreens. Argan oil, glycerin and kojic acid are also included to hydrate and even out skin tone.

This cream is white when you first apply it, but blends into skin beautifully. It its silky, not greasy and absorbs quickly for makeup application. I find that it does even out my skin tone and gives me a little glow. And it even smells nice!

I love not having to wear moisturizer, plus wrinkle cream, plus sunscreen. Having it all in one product is great for the summer because it doesn’t weigh down your skin or make it greasy.

Visit www.borba.com to learn more about this fantastic product and where to purchase.

Amazon Beauty Presents Rahua Hair Products

Amazon Beauty has created a wonderful hair product line called Rahua made with rain forest grown organic ingredients.

The key ingredients in this unique haircare, according to the Amazon Beauty website, “include Rahua® Elixir which instantly repairs damaged hair and speeds hair growth and Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens), a centuries old calming ingredient from aged “holy wood” that imparts an amazingly beautiful aroma and is traditionally used in Shaman ceremonies.” And boy does it smell good!

Amazon Beauty Rahua® Organic Shampoo ($32.00 9.3 oz) and Rahua® Organic Conditioner ($34.00 9.3 oz) are a wonderful duo to help dried out hair become soft and managable again. The products are safe and claim to strengthen color-treated and delicate hair. I like to wash with the shampoo then apply the very thick conditioner and leave it on in the bath or shower for a few minutes. When I rinse it out, my hair is noticeably smoother.

Visit the website at amazonbeautysecret.com to learn more about these amazing rain forest ingredients and to purchase or locate the products.

La Fresh Travel Wipes

La Fresh and its products are created to meet various needs of those who travel frequently or always on the go. Their Travel Wipes — products such as insect repellent, sunscreen, makeup removers and anti-bacterial wipes — are airport security friendly, adhering to the strict guideline regulated by TSA*.

Each product comes in a compact and sanitary single-use package. All La Fresh towelette materials are made with biodegradable cloths and natural ingredients are used whenever possible.

The latest addition to the Travel Wipes are All Natural Biodegradable Insect Repellent Towelettes ($3.99 for 6). The first thing you notice when you open one of these packets up is the fresh mint scent. It is strong, but much more pleasant than normal insect repellents. The wipes contain all natural peppermint oil, sesame oil, olive oil, castor oil,, wheat germ oil and vitamin E.

Even more pleasant than the scent, is that the product is 100% Deet-free and is still very effective. My family and I all rubbed this on the evening of the 4th of July when we did our fireworks and no one got bit (there are a lot of bugs where we live).

I also recommend the La Fresh Sunscreen towelettes SPF30 ($3.99 for 4) for a summer trip. They are pre-moistened biodegradable cloths that one applies on the skin for protection from sun damage. These have a mild sunscreen scent to them and the lotion absorbs into the skin quickly.

Visit the website at www.lafreshgroup.com to learn more about these products as well as the other great Travel Wipes that they carry.

Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare

Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare was founded in 1995, by Liz Earle and Kim Buckland. They create products that work on every skin type by harnessing the potent powers of the finest quality natural ingredients. They do not test on animals and they use organic ingredients whenever possible.

Two of the products that I absolutely love from this line are the Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and the Instant Boost Skin Tonic.

The Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser ($24.50 USD 3.3 oz and two muslin cloths) is a rather unique cleanser. It contains beeswax, chamomile essential oil/extract, cocoa butter, eucalyptus essential oil, glycerin, hops extract, panthenol, and rosemary essential oil/extract. To apply, you smooth the thick cream on dry skin, then take one of the muslin cloths that come with it and soak it in hot water. Ring the cloth out and wipe off the cleanser, then splash on cold water. This feels like a spa treatment. The eucalyptus mixes with the hot water giving off an invigorating aroma. After this treatment, my skin looks so fresh and glows.

I like to follow this with the Instant Boost Skin Tonic ($21.00 USD 6.7 oz) is a lovely scented toner. The ingredients include aloe vera juice, calendula extract, chamomile essential oil/extract, cucumber extract, glycerin, hops extract, panthenol, and vitamin E. I apply this with a cotton pad all over my face, neck, and chest. It tightens and moisturizes skin in one step.

Visit the website at us.lizearle.com to learn more and to purchase these products.

Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion

Cosmedicine blends cosmetics and medicine in the hopes of making skin healthier. They have created products to aide with such skin conditions as oily skin and aging skin.

Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20 ($42.00 1.35 oz) is a great way to keep your face from looking greasy in the hot summer sun. It claims to eliminate excess oil, control shine for 8 hours and provide the hydration that oily skin needs to become balanced over time. Instead of absorbing oil and sitting on the skin, it was created to work on a molecular level to flash oil off of the skin’s surface.

Ingredients include dimethicone to bolster skin’s natural defenses, Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) to regenerate skin cells, retinol to treat lines and wrinkles and to help skin tone, vitamin C which is an antioxidant to counteract skin damage, and pomegranate extract to fight free radicals.

My skin is combination, so I have been using this in my t-zone. It is a thick, white lotion that needs to be patted on for the white to disappear. Once the white disappears, my face is smooth and matte, and my pores appear smaller.

I really recommend this for anyone with oily or combination skin. It not only keeps skin matte, it smooths the skin and I find that I need less foundation when I am wearing it.

You can purchase this product at Nordstrom, Sephora or check out their website www.cosmedicine.com for more information.

Try Kenzo’s Ryoko Portable Fragrances for Summer Travels

L'euaparKenzo Ryoko — L'eauparKenzo Ryoko

Kenzo has some of the freshest fragrances I have tried. So I was excited to find that they have created the perfect fragrance product for travel, Ryoko. Ryoko means travel in Japanese and Kenzo takes fragrance into uncharted territory with this airline-friendly, pocket sized nomad spray.

The Ryoko ($29.00 .7oz) comes in 5 of Kenzo’s most recognized perfumes; L’eauparKenzo, FlowerbyKenzo and KenzoAmour for women plus Kenzo Homme and L’euaparKenzo Homme. They are housed in a little pebble sized spray bottle that comes suspended in a cube. It is very cute and portable. Stash it in your purse and go!

I was able to try the fresh, aquatic scent of L’eauparKenzo Ryoko. This Kenzo classic includes notes of lotus flower, frosted mint and pink pepper. It is soft, with a hint of spice.

If a floral is more your style, try the FlowerbyKenzo Ryoko which has notes of bulgarian rose, parma violet and white musk. Like a sultrier scent? Go for the KenzoAmour Ryoko with notes of gentle rice, musk and frangipani blossom.

Visit the Kenzo website at www.kenzousa.comor to purchase. Have a great trip!

Beau Bain Bath Bombs

Planning a crazy 4th of July? Want to relax before or after the fireworks? Try a soothing bath balm from Beau Bain. The name in French translates to “beautiful bath”, which is something that these bath bombs deliver. They are hand made in Portland, OR — where I used to live — and contain fine ingredients from all over the world.

Here are a few of the 24 bath bombs that you can purchase for a mere $8.00 with descriptions from the website.

Spicy Mango Bath Bomb — Inspired by a tropical beach paradise of luscious mangoes and exotic foliage, we blended spicy tropical fruits and finished softly with juicy peach and a faint creamy musk. A sensuous, fruity, sweet, and warming scent will transport you to a serene, sunny, lush island paradise.

Zen Pink Shea Flower Bath Bomb –Getting its soft pink color from Australian Pink Clay, our Pink Shea Flower Zen creation is a rich floral fragrance that is both luscious and inviting, with a warming scent that will ease tensions and provoke relaxing thoughts and tranquility.

Lavender Fields Bath Bomb — Imagine fields of bright purple and delicate mauve under a deep blue sky, take a deep breath and experience the true scent and color of Provence. A fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous and slightly fruity scent will relax your mind, body, and spirit.

Cucumber Melon Bath Bomb — A fresh and clean scent, we blended crisp cucumber with tangy melon and finished gently with a soft touch of freshly harvested lemongrass. This sensuous, fruity, and refreshing scent has become a modern classic for men and women. Fresh cucumbers and zesty melons are undercut by freshly cut grass in this alluring signature blend

As you can see, there are many different fragrances to suit your mood. Ireally liked the Zen Pink Shea Flower bomb, because it’s such a soft and sensuous floral, but all of the bombs I tried are wonderful. Check the whole line out at www.beaubain.com. Have a fun and beautiful 4th!

Anokha Skin Care Rice and Bamboo Facial Scrub

If you are looking for a gentle but effective facial scrub, Anokha Rice & Bamboo Facial Scrub ($28.00 2.9 oz) could be just what you need.

Anokha’s Philosophy is ” Anokha, which means “unique” in Urdu, was created to address the individual needs of different skin types. Our key ingredients are derived from plants and active botanicals native to South Asia, including jasmine, rosewater, sandalwood, and neem.”

This twice-weekly scrub combines the exfoliating effects of rice and bamboo powder with the soothing properties of green tea. The claim is that the result from using this scrub is skin that is smoother and pores that are cleaner and less noticeable.

I really like this scrub. The consistency is small particles like microdermabrasion in a milky cream, and the scent is quite subtle and soothing. I love to really rub this on in the morning and my face feels very clean, but not dry at all. I have noticed that immediately after use, my pores do look smaller and my skin is tighter.

Visit the website at www.anokhaskincare.com to learn more about this wonderful scrub and their other products.

New York Streets Hair Culture Collection

New York Streets is a hair care company that believes in “freedom of style, individuality and self expression. This culture does not follow trends, it inspires them, influencing the fashions of tomorrow.”

This is a cool concept, but what does it mean? Well the website claims that the products are formulated to rebuild, repair and perform under extreme humid condition and is color-safe and provides UV protection.

The products I’ve tried are (as described by the website):

Clean ($15.00 USD) — A daily nourishing cleanser derived from Palm Kernal and Coconut Oil. Panthenol, Wheat Amino Acids and Hydrolyzed Barley Protein increase moisture retention, balance pH and protect color and minimizes fading. Glycolic Acid exfoliates and stimulates blood flow promoting healthy hair growth.

Condition ($17.00 USD) –Hydrolyzed Silk Proteins and Wheat Amino Acids hydrate the hair and scalp. Panthenol (Vitamin B5) and Polyfix Complex helps repair split ends. Hydrolyzed barley proteins and special polymers reduce frizz and promote shine.

Hairspray ($19.00 USD) — Hold, Style & Finish! Repairs split ends while giving medium to firm hold and under high humidity, fast drying spray that allows you to control the hold, imparts sheen while protecting against damaging UV free-radicals and is the perfect finish for any style.

This is a great basic hair care trio. The scent is mild, but pretty. What I really like is that it does what it says; my hair is less frizzy (in the humid Kansas City summer) when I use it, which is awesome! It is very hard for me to find products that actually reduce the frizz, but by using the shampoo, leaving the conditioner in my hair a few minutes before I rinse, then using the flexible hold hairspray, my hair looks fairly smooth. And if I add an anti-frizz serum before drying, my hair is virtually frizz free!

Check out the website at www.newyork-streets.com to learn more about these fab products.