beauty products – Page 11 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Makeup Innovations from CARGO

CARGO cosmetics creates extremely innovative products. They are always coming out with high-tech but beautiful makeup. I was intrigued by their blu ray collection, PlantLove and the very cool The Reverse Lip Liner and was lucky enough to try these fun products!

blu ray, is “a revolutionary collection developed for make-up artists filming in high-definition, as well as all women who want to achieve a flawless face. Ideal for filming, photography, weddings, special events and for everyday beauty because life happens in high-definition.” This collection includes a pressed powder, blush/highlighter, mascara, lip gloss palette, and a high definition mattifier. I have the blu ray Blush/Highlighter ($28.00 USD). This peachy blush has a little sparkle and brings a warmth to my face. I brush it on my cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin and gives a healthy glow. It contains, “photochromatic pigments that adjust with ambient lighting to provide a natural finish day or night. For perfectly glowing skin, the irregular particle size diffuses light and creates an optical blurring that gives the look of a softer, more refined complexion. This ultra-soft formula is oil-free and suitable for all skin types and complexions.”

The Reverse Lip Liner ($14.00 USD) is my favorite product of the three. This is a natural colored pencil that comes in two shades; light and medium dark. You line the outer edges of your lips, and blend. Then apply your favorite lip gloss or lipstick and the color stays in place! Really! Lipstick has always moved to underneath my lower lip as my day progressed, and this liner has helped tremendously. This can also be used in the inner lower eyelid to brighten the eye. Just line the inside of your lower lids and you don’t look as sleepy. Very nice!

The PlantLove Botanical Lipstick ($20.00 USD) is infused with Orchid Complex™ and meadowfoam seed oil as well as jojoba and shea butter. Not only that, but it’s environmentally friendly, containing no mineral oils or petroleums. It comes in wide variety of shades. I have Sagamaratha a sheer rosy-beige cream. The lipstick tube is “made entirely out of corn – a renewable and abundant resource. This environmentally-friendly innovation also emits less greenhouse gases, which many scientists believe to be the major cause of global warming. The outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. Simply moisten, plant, and wait for a bouquet of wild flowers to grow!” That is very cool, but what also is cool is that the lipstick is moisturizing and fairly long-lasting, especially with the Reverse Lip Liner underneath.

Another great thing about the PlantLove Botanical Lipstick is that CARGO is donating two dollars from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Visit their website at www.cargocosmetics.com to find out more and to locate a retailer.

LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics — Truly Unique Products

Looking for a way to spice up bath time? Try LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics bath products. These aromatic products are made with organic fruits and vegetables as well as essential oils and safe synthetics. These planet friendly items are made fresh with little or no preservatives or packaging. They even tell you when they were made, so you know just how fresh they are!

Here are some fun and fragrant bath products that I recommend:

Sex Bomb Bath Bomb ($6.25 USD), “is the perfect bath bomb for a romantic evening for two, or an indulgent evening for one. Romantic pink water and an incredibly sexy jasmine fragrance set the mood… and once the rice paper rose petals fill your tub, there’s no holding back” states the website. Some of the ingredients are Jasmine Absolute, Clary Sage Oil, and Ylang Ylang. This fizzes up then gives you very pink and fragrant bath water. It’s so nice! But if this isn’t the scent for you LUSH makes lots of Bath Bombs in various scents.

Karma Bubble Bar ($7.85 USD), “has a spicy Far Eastern influence, with traditional European lavender and a splash of light orange dancing around in there somewhere. Once struck, you’ll want it in every form that exists. Here it is as a bubble bar.” This also contains Pine Oil, Lemongrass Oil and Gardenia Extract. To use, break off a piece of the bar and crumble it under running water. It then gives you lots of bubbles.

Lemslip Buttercream ($8.75 USD for a 1/4 lb, sold by weight), “This delightful conditioning body cleanser makes your skin feel clean and silky. Astringent and toning lemon and lime rouse you for a new day. Softening cocoa and coconut butters make you smooth and soft for a night in a cocoon of satin sheets. With Lemslip, your bath or shower becomes an extravagant pleasure. What a lovely way to start or end the day”! This is a jell-like soap that is very lemony and feels very nice while washing you up! I used it before I shaved my legs and it help the razor glide right across!

To purchase these products as well as others for face cleansing and moisturizing, hair products and perfumes, check out their website at www.lushusa.com. Happy shopping!

Awaken Your Senses with the Philip B. Botanicals Collection

Philip B. Botanicals create hair and bath products that are made with natural ingredients and without harsh detergents to create a healthy and enjoyable bathing experience. What I really like about the two products I have, is that their exilerating fragrances really wake me up in the morning!

I really love the scent of the Thai Tea Mind & Body Wash (11.8 oz $35.00) because it reminds me of being in a Thai Food Restaurant. Its spicy and citrusy all at once! This product is enriched with a nurturing blend of 20% pure botanical plant extracts indigenous to Thailand. The website explains, “Philip B® Thai Tea Mind & Body Wash is a base of Honey, Black Tea and Milk Proteins for cleansing toning, tightening and replenishing your skin. This invigorating, active formula contains herbaceous extracts of Lemongrass, Lemon Verbena, Ginger, Citronella, Lime and cooling Peppermint.” This wonderful fragrance makes you feel happy as soon as you breathe it in!

The Scent of Santa Fe Balancing Shampoo (7.4 oz $29.00, 11.8 oz $42.00), contains a blend of Shea Butter and Panthenol (Vitamin B5) infused with 10% pure plant extracts of Piñon, Sage and Juniper Berry. This pungent shampoo is good for helping all scalp types and makes the hair super-soft! This is definitely not for the faint-hearted. But if you like a strong scent, use it as a body wash, too. It is anti-bacterial and safe for color-treated hair.

Visit Philip B.’s website at www.philipb.com to learn more about and to purchase these products.

The Wonders of Nude Skincare

In my quest for healthy, youthful skin, I have recently found Nude Skincare. Nude formulas are biocompatible, meaning that they work with the body’s own biology to naturally moisturize and balance the skin.

Nude’s products contain peptides, phytoactives and bioactives to target aging by firming and smoothing the skin. They keep out parabens, sulphates, silicones and many more ingredients that could be harmful to the skin. For more information, check out the website at www.nudeskincare.com.

The Cleansing Facial Oil ($52.00 USD) has won an Allure Editor’s Award and it is very easy to see why. This effective cleanser is blended with Omega-3 and Vitamin E-rich oils and easily removes makeup and dirt. Just massage the oil on your face and add water, rub and rinse. The face is left feeling soft, not greasy.

The Replenishing Night Oil ($78.00 USD) is a pure blend of omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 and nourishes and protects for silky, soft skin. It contains the antioxidants cranberry and avellana that defend against free radicals and is fragranced with Tahitian vanilla oil and rose absolute. I recommend this oil only for night since it is a bit greasy. But by morning the oil is gone and you are left with incredibly soft skin.

I have been using these products for a couple of weeks now and my skin looks clearer and much smoother. You can find these products at their website or Sephora, and probably other department stores. I think that with Nude skincare you definitely get what you pay for, high-quality skincare!

Foundation Flummoxed? Stila Gives Great Choices!

Looking for a good quality foundation? Take a stroll through your local Sephora or Ulta (or go online at http://www.stilacosmetics.com), and check out Stila foundations. The three that I have are all flawless, but vary in coverage and finish.

Illuminating tinted moisturizer SPF 15 — $32.00 USD — This lovely foundation is perfect when you need a little coverage and a lot of glow! This delivers a very youthful shimmer to the face that is not glittery at all. It comes in two shades a light (01) and a medium (02). For day, a bit of powder over it tones the shimmer down, but at night, glow on ladies!

Illuminating Liquid Foundation — $38.00 USD — This one is my favorite right now. It covers my skin imperfections but doesn’t look heavy. It has a bit of glow to it as well, but is not as shimmery as the Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer. In 8 different shades there is sure to be a color that matches most skin tones.

Sheer Color tinted moisturizer spf 15 — $32.00 SPF 15 — This tinted moisturizer gives the face a dewy look with just a hint of coverage. I think it will be great in the summer when I get a little tan. I have the shade “Medium”, which is a nice neutral beige. As this product is available in 10 shades, there is one for almost everyone!

The coverage and clarity of all of these foundations can be intensified by Stila’s Hydrating Primer SPF 15 ($34.00 USD). Wearing this moisturizing primer will even out the skin tone and even hide your pores! This is not for someone for very oily skin, but will work for almost everyone else.

So check out the stores or Stila’s website if you are looking for new ways to make your skin look youthful and smooth!

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!

Want Long, Glossy Lashes? That’s the Claim of Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto

I love the commercials for Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto Mascara ($7.49 USD). The claim is, “The only mascara that does for lashes what stilettos do for legs. ” Sexy lashes, all right! The advertised features of this product are:

The Grip & Extend brush grasps each lash and coats from every angle
Elastic formula stretches lashes for provocative length
Pro-Vitamin B-5 formula conditions and smoothes for black-patent shine
Contact lens safe and Ophthalmologist tested

Hmm. Well my lashes were a little longer, but not stiletto-long and definitely not glossy. They were well defined, although not thickened. Maybe a few more coats and they would have been longer.

The one reason I would not buy this is that it flaked so badly that by the end of the day it looked like I didn’t have any mascara on at all!

I think that if you are going to call a mascara “Lash Stiletto” it needs to be fabulous. That’s why I can’t recommend this product.

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!

Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain

Sure, I am into serious skin care and high quality products, but I do love a good novelty, too. I was very intrigued by a review of Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain on my favorite podcast, Lipgloss and Laptops (www.lipglossandlaptops.com). The ladies on the podcast remarked on what a neat little product this is, and I have to say I agree.

This very fun lip stain in a pen form. When you remove the cap, you see a felt tip marker. “Am I supposed to use that on my lips? I’m not 5 years old!”, you’ll say to yourselves. But trust me. Go for it!

This pen creates a great line around your lips, then just color in the lines for a perfect lip stain. And it tastes like berry candy. Yum!

The lip stain comes in 10 shades. I have color 420, Sassy Mauve. This is a medium plum color on my lips. It is very pretty, but does not last long like it claims. I have to reapply it quite often to keep the stained look.

All in all, for $7.99 at your local drugstore, this is a pretty fun product to own.

Hey All! Enter my 100th Blog Post Giveaways! I will be giving away products from It Cosmetics, Yes to Carrots and EcoTools! To enter, just leave a comment on ANY of my posts between 4/26 – 5/2. I will draw 3 names on Sunday 5/3/09 and notify the winners! To see exactly what I am giving away, check out my post http://tinyurl.com/dgnxda. Good Luck!