Beauty – Page 55 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

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.

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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.

Brighten Your Look This Winter with Stila’s Convertible Color

I recently received some wonderful Stila products. Once of the standouts is Convertible Color ($25.00 USD), a creamy compact that can be used on cheeks and lips.

The colors look dark in the compact, but go on sheer and are very blendable. I think this product works well for winter because of its creamy texture. Also, it probably would be good for most seasons because it is not at all greasy.

The two shades that I own are Rose, a pinky-red that leaves a naturally rosy lip stain as well as a complexion brightening blush; and Camellia, a neutral beige color that looks wonderful on my pale skin.

If you visit Stila’s website (www.stilacosmetics.com) you will find a great variety of nine colors for sale. You can also find these products at Ulta and Sephora. The quality of Stila’s products are fantastic, so have fun trying out the brand!

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!