cosmetics – Page 77 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

beautyADDICTS Lash Galore

Cool cosmetics company beautyADDICTS has just lauched a new mascara, Lash Galore. Now, I love mascara and have tons of them, but I enjoy trying new ones. I am always looking for one that lengthen first, then thicken and if it curls that means I don’t need my eyelash curler — so that’s a plus!

The claim of Lash Galore is since it is formulated with Pro Vitamin B5 and Silk Protein, it gives maximum conditioning, length and definition. It is also buildable so more coats for more volume – without clumping or flaking. It is available in 1 shade – Ultra Black – the shade every woman can wear!

Mascara Tips from Lisa Saladino Mihok, beautyADDICTS Makeup Artist:

1. Using mascara brush, sweep lower lashes in towards the nose for ultimate length and definition.

2. If you have lighter lashes you can still wear that black mascara. Just be sure to fully coat the lashes. Place 1 or 2 coats from top of the lashes down and finish by sweeping 1-2 coats up from underneath. 3. If you touch up your eye shadow through out the day, you will need to sweep a fresh coat of mascara over the lashes to clean them up. With beauty ADDICTS Lash Galore the amazing non-clumping formula allows you to add a fresh coat of mascara even hours after the first application. What I think:

Lash Galore thickens and separates very well and I like how it is very buildable — lashes don’t get stiff and goopy. I would like a little more lenthening, but I can layer a lengthening mascara to get the effect I like. The one thing I didn’t love about the mascara is that if you rub your eyes at all, it smears. I have allergies and everytime I looked in the mirror, my mascara was smeared. Still a good mascara if you don’t touch your eyes.

Lash Galore Mascara retails for $18 at www.beautyaddicts.com and at salons nationwide.

The Luxurious Look of Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Cosmetics is a luxurious line that combines quality products and extravagant style. Created by beauty veteran Carisa Janes, each innovative product is formulated with the latest cosmetic technology and cutting-edge ingredients. Many contain anti-aging properties yet leave out harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates and sulfates.

Now that it’s beginning to get warmer I only like to use a few products to achieve a natural, bronzed look. The following hourglass cosmetics give an easy and flawless look for summer.

Over the last year, I have become a big fan of face primers. A really good one can even out skin tone, make pores appear smaller and you may not even need a lot of makeup on top of it. Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 ($52.00 USD) IS a really good one! It restores moisture to dehydrated skin while providing protection from the sun and minimizing shine and pores. After I apply it, I only need a little concealer and powder (and the bronzer below) and my complexion looks fantastic!

The Veil Mineral Primer contains naturally derived Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide that protects the skin from UVA/UVB rays. It is also oil-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free and water-resistant.

The Prodigy Hydrating Lip Gloss ($26.00 USD) is a sheer, non-sticky gloss that comes in a slim package that can fit in a pocket or clutch. It contains Vitamin E to moisturize the lips and is water-resistant. Prodigy is available in 6 shades: I have Surreal which is a light, shimmery bronze that is perfect for summer.

New this month is the Illume Bronzer in Sunset, a duo of a golden bronze/rosy pink in a cream-to-powder formula that is housed in signature 360º swivel compact with rotating mirror. This is such a beautiful all-purpose product that will be perfect for the summer. Of course, it is a great bronzer and blush; the colors are natural and so pretty. But they can also be used as eye shadow and even as lip color with a little clear gloss on top.

Illume is oil-free and wax-free and includes vitamins A & E and antioxidants to hydrate and protect skin. It is also fragrance and paraben free.

Hourglass is available at Sephora, Sephora.com and Barneys New York. For more information on the line, please visit www.hourglasscosmetics.com.

FACE Stockholm Introduces Fun New Nail Polish Shades for Spring!

Looking for long-lasting, non-toxic polish in bright new spring and summer colors? Try the quality of FACE Stockholm nail polishes ($12.00 USD). They have released 12 new polishes in shades of hot pinks, metallic turquoise, leafy greens, neon yellows, cool lavenders — plus everything in between.

FACE Stockholm’s exclusive three-free formula contains no DPT, no Tulene and no Formaldehyde. I think that it’s important to make nail polish less toxic, plus when you can also make it smooth to apply plus last a long time, you got yourself a winner!

Purchase these fab polishes at www.facestockholm.com. Have fun playing!

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Part 1 — Makeup Kits

Makeup kits are one of my favorite beauty gifts to give — and receive! I find that neutral colors or pinks are great to give to almost anyone! And how about a new mineral foundation. It’s pretty easy to match skin tones with those! Who doesn’t love playing with new colors?

Lorac always has fantastic new kits for great prices. This makeup is classy and high-quality, just like mom! The limited-edition Hollywood Insider Collection ($39.50 USD) contains these five full-sized products:

Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight (warm beige)
Baked Matte Satin Blush in Hollywood (bronzed rose)
Bronzed Bombshell Eye Shadow Trio in Sand/Serenity/Bronze
Special Effects Conditioning Primer/Defining & Lengthening Mascara
Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick in Vintage (light neutral beige)

These colors will look lovely on everyone! I especially love the wow effect of the mascara and the beuatiful luminizing powder. You can pick this up at Sephora or www.sephora.com.

I always love looking at Kohls’ makeup counter. They have fun makeup brands like Flirt! and American Beauty that you can only find at Kohls. A really sweet kit for mom is the American Beauty Spring Look Kit in Pink Gingham ($30.00 USD). This set contains:

Luxury for Lids® Eyeshadow Duo (in Pink Gingham) – Limited Edition – .06 oz. each Blush Perfect® Cheek Color (in Rosy Cheeks) – .10 oz. Softly Shaping Mascara® (in Black Velvet) – .16 oz.

These pretty-pink colors are so fresh looking, and the mascara make lashes look lush! Visit a Kohls near you or go to www.kohls.com

This Pür Minerals Starter Kit ($37.00 USD)is a great way to try mineral makeup. Mom can’t be afraid of these travel sizes of Pür Minerals’ most popular mineral makeup products. It includes:

4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup (.15oz): The cornerstone of Pür Minerals, this one-minute mineral makeup miracle is your mineral foundation, powder, concealer and SPF protection all in one neat makeup compact. Completely free of oil, alcohol, talc, fragrances, preservatives and chemical dyes, this mineral foundation is actually good for your skin!

Mineral Glow (.12oz): A touch of sun in a makeup compact, this mineral powder will impart a natural, sun-kissed glow to your skin.

Universal Marble Powder (.10oz/3g): Give your skin back that rosy glow you were born with. Porcelain through Tan Start Now kits come with Marble Powder in Pink. Medium Dark through Deepest include Marble Powder in Spice. This multi-purpose mineral makeup can be worn on your eyes, lips and cheeks.

The Chisel Makeup Brush: The magic behind the mineral makeup look! The only makeup brush to use for application of your 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup, it provides maximum coverage and an amazingly smooth finish.

First of all, LOVE the brush it’s bristles are compact and perfect to swirl the minerals in the lid for application. This is one mineral makeup that doesn’t accentuate my lines and pores so I love it. The bronzer and blush complete the look. Visit www.purminerals.com to purchase this great and affordable kit!

Make Your Eyes “Pop” with Trish McEvoy

Trish McEvoy creates beautiful cosmetics and life-enhancing solutions for women. Her guiding philosophy is that “women should be able to maintain a standard of beauty to live their best lives each day and not be obligated to sacrifice their beauty because of the constraints of time, space and the natural changes that occur with age.”

I have recently tried two of Trish’s most popular products, the Eye Base Essentials and High Volume Mascara.

I absolutely love the iconic Eye Base Essentials ($24.00 USD). This cream-to-powder formula gives lids an even and flawless look. Just this product makes eyes look more awake. Apply shadow on top, and you have a crease-proof, all-day look. It is available in six shades; Sand, Linen, Sheer Gold, Soft Peach, Bare and Malibu.

Don’t be fooled by the name High Volume Mascara ($28.00 USD). The brush has short bristles, and it grabs every lash and extends them, making the mascara lengthening as well as thickening. This is also a tube mascara, meaning the product deposited on the lashes forms little tubes and won’t come off until you take it of with warm water. It is also flake-proof and smudge-proof — fantastic stuff!

Visit www.trishmcevoy.com to learn more and to purchase. Have fun defining those eyes!

100 Percent Pure Lip and Cheek Tint

Get a perfect spring flush with 100% Pure’s Lip and Cheek Tint ($15.00 USD).

This is an extremely creamy but sheer stick that works well both on the lips and the cheeks. The color blends very well and gives a soft, unassuming glow. It looks so natural on.

And speaking of natural, the tint contains pure fruit pigments in a base of moisturizing shea and cocoa butters. It is also highly concentrated with anti-aging vitamins and antioxidants and are 100% natural, 100% vegetarian, and gluten-free.

This is available in 5 shades: Pink Grapefruit Glow (shown), Peach Glow, Shimmery Strawberry, Shimmery Cocoa Berry and Cranberry Glow.

Visit www.100percentpure.com to learn more and to purchase this great glowy tint.

Find Your Burt(‘s Bees) for Earth Day

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Earth Day? Why don’t you Find Your Burt?

No, I haven’t gone nuts — no more than normal, at least! What I mean is that Burt Bees is acknowledging Earth Day plus 25 years of creating natural and beautiful products by celebrating the founder of Burt’s Bees, Burt Shavitz.

To do this Burt is encouraging people to “Find Their Burt” by being earth friendly and you can even “Burtify” a photo of yourself on www.FindYourBurt.com. The real-time tool modifies elements of Burt on your image based on your eco-motives. The Burt possibilities are endless and so are the ways to love the Earth.

So, go on and discover your inner (and outer) Burt. And stay tuned to my blog as I will be reviewing Burt’s Bees products plus maybe have a little giveaway, too!

New Products From Laura Geller

You can not go wrong with Laura Geller’s fantastic make-up. She has some great new products that are perfect for the warmer weather including a lightweight tinted moisturizer and lip gloss with SPF and waterproof eyeliners. Try:

Barely There Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 (30.00 USD) is a foundation, sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection, and antioxidant moisturizer all in one. This product is hypoallergenic, water-resistant, suitable for all skin types and is oil, fragrance, and talc free.

I love the texture of this tinted moisturizer. It isn’t too thin, which is great because I do get great coverage and a very natural look. The finish is not too shiny, but I get a little glow when I wear it. Very fab spring and summer foundation!

I-Care Eyeliner Waterproof Pencil Trio ($25.00 USD) — This is a fantastic eyeliner set. First of all, you get 3 universal shades, Black, Brown and Eggplant. Second, the tip is fine so you can draw a line as thick or as thin as you want. Need a thinner tip, sharpen the pencil with the built-in sharpener. Want a thicker line, use the included smudger for a smoky look. Plus the pencil is water-resistant and is ophthalmologist-tested and specifically formulated for use around the eyes, even for those who wear contact lenses and have sensitive eyes. Two thumbs up for these fab pencils!

Mini Shine and Shield SPF 15 Lip Gloss Trio ($24.00 USD) — These are like a shiny, liquid lipstick, instead of a sticky gloss. They contain a blend of vitamin E, cocoa seed butter, and pomegranate extract, Jojoba and safflower seed oil to help soften and moisturize lips. Plus, there is an SPF of 15 in each gloss. They taste yummy, too!

Visit www.laurageller.com to learn more and to purchase these great products!

Korres Quercetin and Oak Age-Reversing Face Primer

When I first heard about face primers a few years ago, I was skeptical. It kind of seemed like an extra product I was piling on my face — you know after serums, moisturizers and an SPF. But now, I feel that a primer can be an important extra step to take, if you have the right one. A good primer will make your face look instantly smoother, plus keep your make-up looking fresh all day and lasting longer.

So I was excited to try the Korres Quercetin & Oak Age-reversing Face Primer ($33.00 1.01 oz). This primer is not only a skin-smoother, it is a anti-aging treatment. The website describes it as:

Powerful treatment and skin-perfecting face primer in one that instantly fills wrinkles and provides a very smooth and perfected skin surface, ensuring long-lasting make up application. Enriched with powerful antioxidant Quercetin and Oak extracts that improve skin cell functioning, repair fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin texture and elasticity. Hyaluronic acid forms a protective shield on the skin, providing immediate moisture and increasing skin elasticity while Barley extract instantly fills wrinkles and refines pores. Improves skin texture, thus providing a healthy glow to skin even without make-up. Silicone-free; does not clog the pores.
• 97% saw improved skin texture
• 88% saw significant increase in skin elasticity
• 84% saw visibly firmer, tighter skin
• 75% saw immediate lifting

What I think: My first reaction to the primer was that it seemed to go on more creamy like a moisturizer than slick like a silicone primer. But when I looked at myself after application, my skin tone was more even and my skin tone was smooth. Concealer and foundation glided on easily, and yes, my skin looked great all day long. As a forty-something woman, my skin is redder and my pores more noticable than when I was younger. This primer really helped even all of that out!

This primer is one of the best I have tried, and I highly recommend it! Visit www.korresusa.com to learn more and to purchase this fab primer!

Brighten up with Laura Geller Baked Powder Collections this Spring

Looking for a bright pick-me-up for your complexion this spring? Have you tried Laura Geller’s baked powders? I have recently tried a couple of these fab products and I know have a pretty spring glow.

I hadn’t tried Laura Geller’s baked cosmetics before now. I really like the effect that baked powder gives. Since there is more than one shade in each powder, when you swirl them together and apply, you get a multidimensional look.

The products I tried are:

Ethereal Balance ($31.00 USD) — This is a compact with half Balance-n-Brighten and half Ethereal Rose, a pink highlighter/blush. Balance-n-Brighten’s is a neutral-but-warm powder foundation shades of soft tan, peach, and cream. It is baked in a terra-cotta pan for 24 hours, and has a creamy texture. Mineral oil- and paraben-free, it is loaded with centella asiatica and white tea to help fight signs of aging and provide antioxidant protection. I really like the coverage, but the Regular shade that it comes in with this compact, is too dark for my light skin. I swirl it with the Ethereal Rose, a pink highlighter/blush with marbleized tones of pink and pearl and sweep it on my cheekbones. It gives me a really pretty blush because the foundation that is a bit to dark for my complexions mixes with the soft pink and it looks very natural on my skin. I also use the Ethereal Rose alone as a highlighter.

Berry Decadent ($68.00 USD) is a three-piece color collection for cheeks and eyes that is designed to give you a decadent glow.

It includes:

0.32 oz Blush-n-Brighten in Berry; tones of pink, berry, cream, and gold
0.06 oz Baked Marble eye shadow duo in Pink Icing/Devil’s Food; a soft metallic pink shade and a shimmery golden brown shade
Shadow/liner brush

This is a very pretty collection for spring. The Berry Blush-n-Brighten gives cheeks a bright pop of color. It’s great when I am feeling a bit pale! It is also nice swept over my eyelids for a bright flush of color. The eyeshadow is very versatile. I sweep the Pink Icing shadow all over my lid and when I wet the Devil’s Food it make a pretty bronze liner. I do want to mention that all of the powders in this collection are very shimmery, so if you don’t like that, this won’t be for you.

It also comes with a combo blush and shadow brush that is small enough for travel, but works well for blush and to sweep shadow over entire eye. If you want to contour or line, you will need a separate brush.

Visit www.laurageller.com or www.qvc.com to learn more about these products and purchase them.