Beauty – Page 175 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Luxury Skincare by Kate Somerville

Kate Somerville is the creator and director of Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts which is a renowned medi-skin clinic in Los Angeles. She has partnered with top dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons to promote the integration of skincare and medicine. This has resulted in fantastic products that not only make your skin look great, it is very healthy too!

HydraKate Gentle ($65.00 1.7 oz) — This is a facial scrub that contains the naturally occurring enzymes, Papain and Bromelain, to help to digest dead skin cells and unveil luminous skin. The gentle scrubbing beads help to lift dry and damaged cells from the surface allowing the enzymes to penetrate pores. The claim is that “this unique blend helps to gently stimulate circulation, detoxify skin, refine texture and improve elasticity. It’s a must-have for clean, clear and radiant skin.”

I love this scrub! You are supposed to use it twice a week by applying a small amount to entire face. You then leave it on for 2 minutes only and rinse with tepid water. They say that redness may appear for up to 20 minutes due to the increase in circulation to the under layers of the skin, but my face only looks glowy and soft after I use it. It really gets rid of all of the dead skin and impurities in my skin and I have been known to use it more than twice a week!

HydraKate Line Release ($150.00 1 oz-) — This is sold exclusively through QVC and will be available at the Kate Somerville website in fall 2009. This is a very lovely serum (I call it my skin crack, because it is SO addictive)! Line Release contains a blend of peptides and collagen builders to help to improve skin texture and tone.

When I apply Line Release, there is an immediate tightening of my skin, and it looks so smooth. It can be applied either in the morning or night once a day. It includes “HSC Complex – Counters loss of lipids from skin due to washing, stress, environment or excessive UV exposure, Hyaluronic Acid – Aids in holding water in the skin’s surface to increase softness and suppleness and Leuphasyl® – Reduces the depth of expression wrinkles and is a safer alternative to Botulinum Toxin A.” I have never tried botox, but this gives me great results on my forehead wrinkles. Awesome! I know it is very spendy, but if you have the money go for it!

Check out these and other fantastic Kate Somerville products at www.katesomerville.com. Enjoy!

Kate Somerville’s Sun-sational Products

Kate’s Somerville’s luxury skincare line carries wonderful products to get you through the summer. Both the serum sunscreen and the tanning towelettes reviewed below are made with the same care and quality of Kate’s other skincare items.

Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen ($45.00 2 oz) — “This mild, antioxidant-rich sunscreen is free of oils, parabens and alcohol. This formula was made with innovative technology which gives high-level protection against skin-burning UVB radiation and aging UVA rays. This serum is mild, quick-drying and non-whitening. AM Apply daily to face, neck, and chest. Apply liberally 20 minutes before sun exposure and as needed. Reapply after swimming or exposure to water.”

When you first apply this sunscreen it is white, but when you rub it in the white disappears completely, unlike other high SPF sunscreens. It is really creamy, so you can skip your moisturizer if you wish, especially if you have oily or combination skin.

Each Somer360°™ Tanning Towelette ($48.00 for 8) is” concentrated with a paraben-free self-tanning formula to give you a quick and even application with no streaking. Somer360°™ Unfold towelette and apply to dry, clean skin in a circular motion over your body. Wash hands immediately. Towelettes will produce a uniform, natural-looking glow within 2 to 4 hours. For a deeper tan and to maintain your glow, reapply as needed.”

Self tanning is always tricky, especially if you are my 13 year old daughter and you think you can throw your clothes on after tanning and act all crazy! She tried a tanning towelette and it did streak on her.

But not on me. I made sure I exfoliated first, then put on my swimsuit and applied a towelette all over. I let myself dry for a couple of hours before I put my clothes on. It does take a while to dry, but the color is a very lovely light brown. If you do it right, it is worth the wait!

You can purchase these wonderful products at www.katesomerville.com or at Sephora, www.sephora.com.

Intelligent Nutrients Creates Fab Natural and Organic Products

Looking for a natural and organic way to groom? These days there are many brands and lines to choose from. Intelligent Nutrients is a health and beauty product company, utilizing 100% food-based and organic certified ingredients. They have a wide range of products including skin care, hair care, aromatics and supplements.

Trying some of the companies products I fell in love with two cleansers; the Certified Organic Anti-Aging Cleanser for the face and the 70% Organic Hair Cleanser. Both of theses cleansers moisturize as they clean and feel and smell great! The descriptions on the website are:

Certified Organic Anti-Aging Cleanser ($45.00 USD) — Gently remove dirt, makeup and impurities while nurturing skin with this non-foaming cleanser. The USDA Certified Organic formula restores and protects with antioxidants, plant sterols, fatty acids and essential oils to help prevent aging and inflammation. A pure combination of the brand’s signature Intellimune Seed Oil Complex along with Argan and Acai help maintain a harmonious balance of moisture for radiant, healthy skin. Suitable for all skin types including mature, dry, sensitive and oily skin.

70% Organic Hair Cleanser ($29.00 USD) — Safe enough for the whole family, this delicate shampoo nourishes with a pure, plant-based formula. Certified organic by the UK’s Soil Association, the light suds rinse clean and leave a soft scent. Formulated with Apple water, Coffee Seed oil and 100% non-toxic plant-based cleansers the gentle blend also nourishes with the antioxidant-rich Intellimune Seed Oil Complex. Safe for color-treated hair.

Like many organic and natural products on the market today, these cleansers have a strong, earthy scent. If you do not like fragrance in your products these are not for you. I really enjoy them and recommend them as well as trying their other products.

Visit the website at www.intelligentnutrients.com to learn more about and purchase these great-for-you products.

Try Coppertone for a Wide Variety of Sunscreens

A reliable household name, Coppertone has a very large variety of sunscreen to meet your every need this summer. Their wide range of products include sunscreen for babies and children, anti-aging sunscreen, sports protection and more.

Here are a few of my favorites, which all are an SPF of 70, the highest Coppertone SPF ever:

Coppertone NutraShield Faces SPF 70+ with Dual Defense ($10.99 USD) — is moisturizing with a non-greasy formula that won’t clog your pores. This sunscreen was formulated for women and helps prevent premature skin aging caused by the sun. It is enriched with antioxidants to promote natural skin repair. And for us ladies who like to swim, it is waterproof. This also comes in a version for the rest of the body. I recommend this for women of any age!

Coppertone KIDS Continuous Spray SPF 70+ ($9.99 USD) — This waterproof and hypoallergenic sunscreen is dermatologist tested and is great for the kids. It has a twist-and-lock cap which means no cap to lose and it sprays at any angle.

Coppertone ultraGUARD Sunscreen SPF 70+ ($10.99 USD) — With a moisturizing formula that contains Viamin E, this sunscreen is also hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested. It goes on non-greasy and is waterproof. This is a great one for the whole family.

Check out Coppertone’s website for their full line of products at www.coppertone.com. Stay safe this Memorial Day and all summer long!

OPI’s Bright Pair Collection

It’s almost summer, which means time to get your toes done! During sandal season, we all need our toenails (and feet) to look perfect!

For an at home pedicure, a quality nail polish helps. OPI is a leader in polish that is used at home as well as in the salon. Their new Bright Pair Collection ($8.50 USD each), includes six eye-popping shades that correspond with jeans from Paige Premium Denim.

The colors are: No Room for the Blues — a bright sky blue, On the Same Paige — fiery orange red, Over the Taupe — medium gray- brown, Shorts Story — hot pink, A Grape Fit! — bright lavender, In My Back Pocket — true orange.

Remember, when doing your own pedicure start by scrubbing your feet with a foot or body scrub and follow with a creamy lotion. OPI also has some nice manicure/pedicure products such as their new Papaya Pineapple Scrub, Massage Cream and Mask.,Then trim and paint your nails. Voila — ready for the summer (well, at least your feet will be)!

Visit their website at www.OPI.com for everything you need to pamper your toes!

Ban Clinical Defense — Strong Deodorant for Hot Summer Days

Last Spring was a great time for me, because I discovered clinical strength deodorant. I had always used regular deodorant, which would help at first, but over the course of the day it stopped working for me. Clinical deodorant keeps me dry ALL DAY which is huge for me. Yes everyone — I sweat. A lot.

The main ingredient in these antiperspirants is Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex at a level of 20%, which used to be only available in prescription form. How does this keep us dry? Well, aluminium and zirconium ions form a gel that clogs large numbers of pores in the skin which prevents the pores from releasing sweat, plus it absorbs the sweat that didn’t get clogged.

I have tried other clinical strength deodorants that are solids, and they have worked well. But I really love that Ban Clinical Strength (approx. $7.99 USD) is a roll on. It is smooth going on and dries very quickly.

Besides drying quickly, Ban also claims that it targets odor 4 ways for prescription strength odor protection, contains the highest antiperspirant strength possible without a prescription, and it contains a smooth, non-irritating alcohol-free formula.

To learn more about this product, visit Ban’s website at www.feelbanfresh.com

Biore Skin Preservation Collection for In-Between Skin

Are you at that age (25-35) where you can see that your skin is beginning to grow up? You don’t quite have as many breakouts and you seem to need a little more moisture? Biore has created the perfect line for you! The Biore Skin Preservation Collection is for transitional skin and helps by improving dryness, texture and tone and preserves skin’s youth, strength and radiance.

Each product in the collection is oil-free, dermatologist tested, hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic. The line contains Botanamide Technology which combines botanical antioxidants and ceramide based technology to preserve the youth of skin.

Here is a breakdown of the products included with descriptions from the website:

Clean Things Up Nourishing Gel Cleanser ($6.99 USD) – Collapsible vitamin E beads are part of the special formula that lifts and removes impurities, including the most stubborn make-up.

Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator ($14.99 USD) – features the same ultrafine alumina crystals that are used in microdermabrasion, a process aestheticians use to help skin look radiant and smooth. Skin-conditioning Shea Butter and calming White Tea Extract are on hand to help soothe skin, with the result that it feels beautiful – not irritated.

Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF 30 ($14.99 USD ) — By keeping the moisturizer separate from sunscreen, the unique Dual Fusion™ moisturizer dispenser preserves the power of each formula. That means maximum effectiveness and protection for you. The sunscreen has a powerful zinc oxide base – and yet isn’t heavy and white like traditional zinc oxide. The product feels light on your skin as it offers superb UVA and UVB protection.

Hard Day’s Night Overnight Moisturizer ($14.99 USD) — This super-hydrating moisturizer gets part of its power from tiny collapsible beads filled with Vitamin E. The formula helps to strengthen the skin’s surface and smooth fine lines.

See the Future Fortifying Eye Cream ($14.99 USD) – The unique pin point dispenser precisely delivers the benefits of Botanamide™ Technology to the delicate eye area. It’s the ideal formula for women who aren’t yet ready for heavy-duty eye products. Safe for contact lens wearers.

Even though I am forty, I really enjoyed theses products. They feel great on and smell very fresh and not overpowering. The cleanser feels cool on my skin and really cleans without drying my face. The eye cream is very soft and lovely, and feels great on my eyes.

My favorite product would have to be the Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF 30. The top is a wide pump that has moisturizer in one side and sunscreen on the other. It took a little bit to get both products to dispense. My trick was to set in a bowl of warm water. I really love this because even though it has an SPF 30 — which is pretty high for moisturizer — it goes on smooth and creamy, and doesn’t sit on my face in a white mess! Very good quality for the price.

You can visit the Biore website at www.biore.com to learn more about the line, and check your local drugstore to purchase.

Redken Color Extend Sun Collection

Redken has released a haircare line that is for protecting and repairing hair in the summer heat and humidity. The Color Extend Sun Line is touted to “protect highlights, safeguard color and replenish sun-stressed strands. Redken’s exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and advanced Hydra-Shield Complex with Soplexyl™, a patented UV filter, provide powerful protection while restoring lost moisture and luminous shine.”

The line includes the following:

Color Extend Sun After-Sun Shampoo — ($15.00 USD) – Gently cleanses and removes minerals, chlorine and salt deposits while helping to repair sun-damaged hair.

Color Extend Sun After-Sun Mask — ($15.00 USD) — Instantly detangles and revitalizes sundamaged hair with intense moisture replenishment and repair.

Color Extend Sun After-Sun Sparkling Shield — ($16.00 USD) — Helps provide water-resistant protection against UVA/UVB rays, chlorine and minerals while creating a sleek, polished finish.

I always feel good when I know my haircare products are safe on my color-treated hair. This is especially important during the summer when I am outside or in the swimming pool with my kids. The shampoo seems to get all of the chlorine and minerals out of our hair after swimming and the mask brings back the moisture. My daughters enjoy the Sparkling Shield which leaves a little glimmer in the hair.

Visit www.redken.com to learn more about these product and to find a salon near you to purchase them.

Yu-be Moisturizing Skin Cream

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream ($15.00 1.25 oz tube, $24.00 2.75 oz jar and $34.00 4.25 oz jar)is the #1 selling medicated, vitamin-enriched skin care cream in Japan. it is a Glycerin-based moisturizing cream enriched with Vitamin E, Vitamin B2 and Camphor.

This is a great product for anyone with dry skin. It goes on thick, and is absorbed in the skin quite quickly. Amazingly enough, the skin is so soft after application and not at all greasy.

Yu-be Moisturizing Skin Cream was formulated in 1957 in Japan by a young pharmacist named Yoshikiyo Nowatari. It has been used in very extreme weather, such as on climbing expeditions of Mt. Everest!

I have found it great for dry patches, rough cuticles and my cracked heels. The best thing it has done for me is clear up my daugther’s eczema. My poor 13-year old gets eczema under her eyes and it is really tough on her when she goes to school. But this has really helped her. She doesn’t even mind the strong Camphor scent. And it is very strong, but only for a few minutes, then fades away.

You can purchase Yu-be on their website www.yu-be .com and also find retailers that sell this unique cream.

Herban Essentials — Refreshing Towelettes Made with Essential Oils

Herban Essentials creates cleansing towelettes made from essential oils. These are great because not only do they smell fantastic, but they are naturally antibacterial and antiseptic as well. They are individually wrapped, so they can go everywhere!

They use “the highest quality, 100% pure, therapeutic grade, steam distilled or cold pressed essential oils. We make a constant effort to obtain organic, wild-grown oils from American farmers whenever possible. Our products are made in the USA, are cruelty free and are never tested on animals.”

The fragrances available in the the Original Essential Oil Towelettes are Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Pet and Yoga.

Their newest fragrance is Orange. The scent reminds me of freshly peeled oranges and is very kid-friendly.

Each scent comes packaged in a pouch with 20 towelettes ($15.00 USD). Visit the website at www.herbanessentials.com to purchase or find a retailer near you.