Health – Page 3 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Need a Boost for Color-Treated Hair? Try PureOlogy

Yes I am 40. And yes I have gray hairs. And OMG yes, I color said grays! So I was more than thrilled to receive these three fantastic product from PureOlogy. All three that I’m about to describe are from the HydrateSystem. The PureOlogy website (www.pureology.com) states that they are, “Daily haircare products for color-treated hair in need of essential hydration, nourishment, enhanced color brilliance and color protection”.

PureOlogy HydrateShampoo (10.1 oz $27.00 USD) — Includes rose, sandalwood and green tea for concentrated natural conditioning. The signature aroma blend is Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Anise and a touch of Patchouli. This smells wonderful! I can really pick out the Anise from the blend. My hair feels squeaky clean after washing.

PureOlogy HydrateCondition (10.1 oz $27.00 USD) — Includes peppermint, sage and rosemary for concentrated natural conditioning. The signature aroma blend is three different essential peppermint oils. This smells even better than the shampoo and tingles as it works. It leaves my hair soft and even adds some body.

PureOlogy HydraCure Intense Moisture Hair Masque — (5.2 oz $45.00 USD). This includes shiitake, mannetake and mucor miehei mushrooms and shea, jojoba, mango and avocado butters to penetrate deeply and smooth out the hair. This one I used about twice a week in place of the HydraCondition and leave on for about 5 minutes. This really makes the hair soft and smooth. The signature aroma blend is rose, plumeria, sandalwood, amber and vanilla which is touted to promote a positive sense of well-being.

Some other fun facts about PureOlogy products are that they are 100% vegan, never tested on animals, they include organic botanicals, boost color radiance and most of them reduce drying time.

I really love these products, especially because the color of my dark brown hair now glistens with golds and reds and is so pretty. I realize that the price is high, but these salon hair products are so worth the cost. So check them out!

Looking For a Different Valentine’s Day Gift? Try Weleda Wild Rose Facial Care Kit

Weleda Wild Rose Facial Care Kit

In my search for natural and organic beauty products, I came upon the Weleda website at usa.weleda.com. They state, “The Weleda Wild Rose Facial Care line is based upon organic rosehip seed oil and fragrant, organic rosa damascena oil for everyday skin rejuvenation. Valuable rosehip seed oil contains a combination of vitamins and essential fatty acids, which have been found to have remarkable effects on the skin. The essential fatty acids found in rosehip oil make up the structure of every living cell and are vital to the skin’s metabolism. The oil revitalizes dull, tired skin and helps reduce signs of premature aging. Weleda hand-picks organic, wild crafted rosehip seeds and organic rosa damascena flowers through its pioneering fair trade projects.”

If this sounds like something you would like to try, Weleda has recently released the Wild Rose Facial Care Kit ($14.99 USD) . This little kit includes:

Wild Rose Cleansing Lotion, 0.35 fl oz
Wild Rose Facial Toner, 0.35 fl oz
Wild Rose Moisture Cream, 0.35 oz
Wild Rose Night Cream, 0.33 oz
Facial Care Brochure

The great thing about this kit is that because of the small size, it is commitment free (wait, maybe that’s not what you want on Valentine’s Day!). What I mean is that it is sized and priced right so that you can try it and see if this is the skincare regimen for you. Another cool thing about these products are that the packaging is recycled.

I tried it for a couple of weeks. My favorite products are the toner, which takes away all the dirt and makeup that the cleanser may miss and the day cream which absorbs into the skin quickly. This helps makeup application.

One thing about these products are that they are very fragrant and have a strong rose scent. It clashed with my perfume and I could smell it all day. I didn’t really care for that, but if you love rose and need some quality anti-aging skincare, this might be perfect for you!

Lulu Organics Hair Powder — A Great Hair Refresher

I don’t know about you, but some days I don’t have time to wash my hair. I take a quick shower (or bath, I’m a bath girl) and don’t want to deal with drying it. Also, my hair gets dry from too much washing.

That’s why I was interested in trying Lulu Organics Hair Powder ($40.00 USD). This fragrant powder is talc free and USDA certified organic. On a day that you don’t have time to wash your hair, sprinkle a small amount of powder in the palm of your hand, and run through your hair at the roots. Your hair will instantly look and feel fresh.

I own the Lavender & Clary Sage scent which is clean smelling and mild. The hair powder also comes in Patchouli & Amber, Jasmine and Tuberose.

So for those in-between hair days, check out the Lulu Organics website at www.luluorganicsnyc.com. Enjoy!

Fresh Soy Face Cream

I’m always looking for a quality face cream that will make me look youthful and dewy. When I received a sample of Fresh Soy Face Cream ($42.00 USD at Sephora), I thought this sounded like just the thing.

This moisturizer is “enriched with natural protective soy proteins, restorative rose water, soothing cucumber extract, nourishing meadowfoam, and jojoba seed oils that work together to provide moisture and promote collagen synthesis. It hydrates and renews the skin, creating supple, healthy, firm, radiant results.”

And guess what? It does all of that. My skin glows right after using and looks very smooth and young. The only thing is…the smell.

It has a very strong scent. Very strong. You can really smell the rose water and cucumber. With a natural product like this, you are going to smell the ingredients. It is not a bad fragrance at all, but if you are sensitive to scent, I wouldn’t invest in this product.

But, if you love all things natural and especially if you love rose; I would definitely recommend this cream. It is very a high quality product and will make your face look smooth and lovely almost immediately.

What else you need to know (from the Sephora Website):
Soy Face Cream has been scientifically proven to have significant, long-term moisturizing and restorative effects on the skin. A healthy dose of antioxidant-rich tea complex and an infusion of vitamins A, C, and E make this skin-smoothing formula exceptionally fortifying and beneficial. For best results, use it as a complement to the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser.

Bye Bye Pores — Hello Fabulous Skincare from Dr. Brandt.

Dr. Frederic Brandt is the famous dermatologist behind the fantastic Dr. Brandt line of skincare. I haven’t tried a lot of these products, but the ones I have had made almost immediate improvements in my skin.

Getting older has made my skin less luminous and more ruddy with much larger pores. Yuck! So I am always on the lookout for help for my skin. A couple of cool products from Dr. Brandt that have helped are Pore Effect ($55.00 USD) and Microdermabrasion for face ($75.00 USD).

The Dr. Brandt website (www.drbrandtskincare.com) states that Pore Effect “contains salicylic acid, tea tree oil and botanicals, to refine and clarify skin. It helps sooth redness and irritation to prevent future breakouts.” When I apply this cream to clean skin, I feel a tightening, like using a toner. It almost immediately makes my pores appear smaller and my skin feels and looks smoother. Later on in the day, though, my pores begin to look large again.

I have only been using Pore Effect for about a week, so maybe my pores would gradually remain smaller with continued use.

The Micordermabrasion for Face includes, “pharmaceutical grade crystals that polish away dead skin cells leaving skin radiant. These diamond shaped crystals exfoliate evenly without scratching or irritating the skin while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles and improving the overall texture of the skin.”

I have used the Microdermabrasion for a while now. I like to use it a few times a month when my skin is getting flaky and dull. This automatically revives my skin and makes it glow for days after use. The salesperson at Sephora told me to use it once a week, and I agree. Too much use and you could damage your skin.

I intend to explore this brand more in 2009. Their Lineless products look really nice as I am beginning to see fine lines appear around my eyes!

Scrub Your Cares Away With Soap & Glory

Body scrubs are a luxurious necessity in the winter time. Scrubbing dry skin off (plus drinking lots of water) is a great way to have dewy skin when the weather is dry. And Kansas City is very dry and cold right now!

Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean Shower Gel ($9.99 USD at Target) makes your skin smooth and smells wonderful. My 9 year old daughter helped me identify what the scent reminds me of: peach ice tea. Yum!

This scrub contains peach extract, pineapple extract, grapeseed powder, buffing beads and fruit acid smoothers. Its a gel consistency with the beads for exfoliation so it is not harsh at all. The directions say to use once or twice a week, but I’ve been using it every other day and my skin is very soft!

Don’t forget to exfoliate this winter! And maybe try this great scrub, too.

Eye Poppin’ Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Eye-Brightening Mascara

Reading about Cover Girl Exact Eyelights Eye-brightening Mascara (8.49 USD), I was really intrigued. It claims to make the eyes 4 times brighter than without wearing mascara. It’s available in four shades to match eye color: Black Pearl for brown eyes, Black Sapphire for blue eyes, Black Ruby for greens eyes and Black Gold for hazel eyes.

Each shade has a metallic sheen and a bit of a color to it. I purchased the Black Pearl, hoping to enhance my dark brown eyes. When you swipe this shade on a tissue, it is a metallic black.

On my eyes, you can’t really see the metallic, but it is very dark and really does make my eyes pop. I don’t know if they are brighter, but the thickening and lengthening mascara brings attention to my eyes. This mascara separates my lashes nicely and doesn’t clump. This is a great product.

I kind of wish my eyes were a different color, so I could try the shades that are tinted. Oh well, since the price is reasonable, maybe I will try the others, too !

Lots of Looks in a Little Package — Too Faced Glamour To Go

I treated myself to this wonderful little makeup kit with a gift card I received for Christmas. It is always fun to try out new makeup colors. I have been using this palette all week and have been creating great eyeshadow and lip gloss combinations.

The Too Faced Glamour to Go kit ($19.50 USD) includes 8 eye shadows, four lip colors and a blush. It comes in a little mirrored compact with the eye shadows on top, and the blush and glosses sliding out on the bottom.

The eye shadows contain shimmer, but aren’t too glittery which is perfect for me. Their pigments are okay, but not the most concentrated. I find if I use an eye shadow base or concealer under it, then layer the shadow, it will last me all day. The colors come in cool grays and pinks and warm golds and browns for a variety of looks.

The blush is a lovely peachy-pink with just a hint of shimmer. I only need a little of this because it is a bit bright on my pale winter skin. I really like it, though because the shade matches the cool and warm eye and lip looks.

The lip glosses are almost the consistency of a soft lipstick. They are a little sticky, but not too bad. They are very shiny and shimmery, so it might be more of an evening look if you work in a conservative office. I work in a non-profit, so a little glitz is fine!

The best part of Glamour to Go is that it is so small. I do my face in the morning, then toss it in my purse. I then have it on hand for touch ups at work. It does not come with applicators, so I just use my fingers or bring a brush or two along. Fun!

Revlon Age Defying Spa Collection Foundation and Concealer

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to try out products that are supposed to, well, make me look younger. At forty, now’s the time to truly test-drive the products that are supposed to de-age me. This year I want to delve into the wide world of anti-aging skincare and makeup.

Last week I picked up the Revlon Age Defying Spa Collection Concealer($9.99 USD) and Foundation ($13.99 USD). This week, I have been using these products exclusively as my concealer and foundation.

Revlon’s website claims that these products, “instantly revitalize and brighten for radiant, flawless coverage and protect against fine lines”. They contain, “Stone Therapy minerals that help energize stressed skin and Vitamin C fusion brighteners.”

That sounds very nice, but how does it wear? Well, I like these products okay, but they did settle a little into the lines around my eyes.

The foundation, though, has a couple of great pluses to it. First it contains SPF 18 which is important for our aging skin.

Second, the brush applicator is really cool. I twist the base once, squeeze the tube, and the product comes out. I then twist it back to lock it while I am applying it. It takes about 3 squeezes to do my whole face. Ingenious.

The highlighter is in a slim pen shape and also has a brush applicator. To dispense the concealer, I turn the base until it saturates the brush. I then swipe it on the areas I need it and blend with my finger.

The shades I purchase are the concealer in 001 light and the foundation in 002 fair/light. The concealer color is perfect for my skin, but the foundation is a little dark and a bit orange for me. It would probably be a good shade for the summer, when my skin becomes a little darker (even with sunscreen).

All in all, these are nice products and if you are interested, give them a try!

Cold Weather Defense — Yes To Carrots Skincare

C is For Clean Gentle Expoliating Facial Cleanser — C is For Clean Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser

Kansas City is very dry in the winter. This year especially, since we haven’t had the rain or snow other regions are experiencing. My normally combination skin is so dry. I need help!

That’s where Yes To Carrots skincare comes in. It helps put back moisture in my thirsty skin and has made it glow again.

The C is for clean Exfoliating Facial Cleanser ($9.99 USD) really scrubs the face. I can only use it a couple times a week because any sort of exfoliation can be a little rough, especially when my skin is so dry. When I do use it, it gives me a nice scrubby glow. Formulated with Dead Sea Mud, organic carrot juice and natural apricot scrubbing particles, C is for Clean removes dead skin cells leaving your skin balanced and nourished.

I follow this up with the C Today or C You in the Morning Moisturizing Day Cream ($14.99 USD) .

The spring water based day cream combines the anti-oxidant power of organic carrot and orange juices with 26 purifying Dead Sea Minerals. C Today Moisturizing Day Cream softens, smooths and firms your skin, leaving you with a radiant glow.

I do not recommend this moisturizer if your skin is oily. Even though it is water based and absorbs fairly quickly, you can still feel it on your skin after applying. That is great when your skin is dry, but not great if you tend to break out.

I know I’ve said it before, but check out this organic, paraben-free brand. It is good for your skin and feels great on!