cleanser – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Mama Mio — Fit Skin for Life

Have you tried Mama Mio yet? Here is the descrpition of the line from their website:

The Mama Mio movement began in London with 4 beauty experts, Sian, Tanya, Kathy and Jill. Our personal life experiences give us insight into how all women want to feel … CONFIDENT and GORGEOUS. Because we know that if you feel gorgeous, you will look gorgeous.

Prompted by our own skin needs, we created targeted solutions for women’s life stages ranging from pregnancy and weight-loss to coping with the first signs of gravity and menopause. Our goal is to feel great in our birthday suits – from top to toe – no matter what the birthday.

With 20+ years beauty experience each and 9 children between us, we can safely say whatever your skin need is, we have probably experienced it ourselves and you can rest assured we have created the best formulation possible to help you. We often say we are the most selfish skincare brand in the world … we make our skincare for us, and insist on using the very best quality ingredients in the maximum percentages to ensure that every product really really works.

So if you are looking for the perfect skincare give you fit skin to tackle cellulite or excess wobble, dry or saggy skin that is showing signs of gravity, or help with the whole 9 month stretch of pregnancy and new mamahood, you are in the right place!

Here are a few of their great products:

Mama Mio Skin Tight Toning Serum ($56 USD)Designed to smooth, retexturise and whip slack, loose skin back into shape, this tightening serum works wonders on crepey, overstretched tummies, baggy knees, bumpy backs of arms, thighs.

• tightens and tones your skin so it FITS you perfectly
• unique facial peel technology specifically for the body

Skin Tight smoothes and retexturizes uneven crepey skin. Think juicy grape not wrinkly raisin. It takes facial peel technology and applies it to the body. Its four stage action of exfoliation, skin tightening and massively nourishing moisturization will combat crepey, slack, tired skin – anywhere you need it.

Mama Mio Try Me Trio ($29 USD) –Bursting with loads of good-for-your-skin proteins, peptides, omegas, pre +probiotics, vitamins, antioxidants (and much more!), your skin is left firm, fabulous and glowing from day one. This kit is a fab way to get to know Mama Mio’s amazing face care besties.

In the box you will find, the three commitment-phobe cute travel sizes of Clean Slate, Mighty Moisture and Eye Know plus our Try Me Trio Little Book of Confidence. This little book gives you everything you need to know about your skin, how ingredients work plus the unique 3 x 30 second Face Fitness exercises to have your face muscles as fit as your glowing skin!

Clean Slate Aloe-rich Cleanser 30ml / 1 fl oz*
The superb deep cleansing SLS-free formula leaves your face feeling fresh, balanced and happy – never tight! We use eco-certified cleansers set in organic Aloe leaf juice, pre+probiotics, firming proteins and moisturizing omegas to gently remove makeup and impurities without over-drying, unbalancing or irritating skin. Oh, did we mention Clean Slate smells gorgeous?

Mighty Moisture Day & Night Moisturizer 15ml / 0.5 fl oz*
Smooth, firm, juicy skin, beautifully moisturized and strengthened from Day One with this potent all-in-one multi-tasker. Packed with omegas, firmers, peptides, antioxidants, algae extracts and vitamins plus powerful humectants and moisturizers – your skin will glow with health and happiness!

Eye Know All-In-One Eye Serum 5ml / 0.2 fl oz*
24 hour moisturizing hydration, big gun wrinkle-fighting whilst banishing dark shadows and gently tightening and lifting for a wide-eyed and wide-awake effect. Packed with peptides, grape stem cell technology, antioxidants and triple action EyePro 3X, it’s what every girl needs to look like she’s had 8 hours sleep… but in 60 seconds!

Available at www.mamamio.com/us

Enjoy!

Olay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away!} Cleanser

lay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away!} ($6.99 USD) — lay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away!} Shine Minimizing Cleanser delivers a deep, down-to-the-pores clean, to minimize shine – even after you leave the sink! Made for the 24/7 chica-on-the-go, this refreshingly fruity and floral scented rinse has all the purifying power of a mask with the fresh feel of a daily cleanser.

Olay Fresh Effects {Shine, Shine Go Away!} Shine Minimizing Cleanser refreshes skin and minimizes shine leaving it day and night ready! Add this cleanser to your morning regimen for a deep clean and a refreshing scent experience. Benefits include:

Removes 2x more dirt, oil and makeup vs. basic cleansing
Formulated with Kaolin Clay, this cleanser lifts away impurities and helps minimize shine
Deep cleansing action for a fresher feel

This does live up to its name as it makes my skin feel so fresh and it makes the shine go away! I make sure I wet my skin before I apply and it gives a great lather that rinses away clean. I like to use it day and night. It removes my makeup and gets my skin ready for my serums and moisturizers.

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster. Influenster is a great site where you can receive new products to test and review. Let me know if you would like to join in the comments with your email address and I will send you an invite!

Enjoy!

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin

Lately, I have been using Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Normal/Dry Duo of Cleansing Lotion and Night Cream. I received samples from Influenster complimentary for testing (check out www.influenster.com to find out how to receive free products and comment on this post if you would like an invite to join).

So what is Boots No7 Beautiful Skin? It’s the newest and easy to use two-step range of everyday skincare cleansers and moisturizers, tailored to your specific skin type eliminating the need for toners. Products are color-coded, making it easy to find just the right products for your skin type: Normal/Oily (Pink), Normal/Dry (Green) and Dry/Very Dry (Lilac).

No7 appreciates that busy lifestyles mean you don’t always have time for a lengthy skincare regimen. That’s why we’ve created Beautiful Skin. Discover radiant skin in 14 days with two simple steps:

Step 1: Cleanse
The first step to beautiful skin is clean skin. All Beautiful Skin cleansers quickly and gently remove all traces of dirt and impurities, leaving you with perfectly clean, healthy skin. Skin is so effectively cleansed that there is no need for a separate toner.

Step 2: Moisturize
Once cleansed, hydrate your skin with our nourishing day and night creams. All our day creams deliver SPF 15 and Broad Spectrum UV Protection, while our night creams work to promote optimum hydration while you sleep.

The products I have been testing are:

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion Normal/Dry
The light, refreshing wipe-off formula feels weightless on the skin, yet it’s very hard working, removing every last trace of make-up and grime. Packed with moisturizing agents like Glycerin, your skin will be left soft and refreshed. The oils are optimized to be the most effective at cleansing away dirt without removing natural and beneficial skin lipids.

I love that this wipe-off cleanser is creamy and moisturizing and no water is required as part of your facial routine. Best applied to dry skin, massage upward and across the skin using cotton or wool, avoiding the eye area, and wipe off.

Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream Normal/Dry :
Rest easy throughout the night knowing that your skin is getting the best possible care with this luxuriously rich night cream for all night moisturization, includes Cocoa butter for an additional boost. A nourishing cream with Glycerin and Shea Butter to energize and promote optimum hydration while you sleep. Designed to work in harmony with your skin, replacing lost moisture and leaving you with healthy looking radiant skin.

What I think — the cleanser is one of the best cleansers that I have used in a long time! I takes make up off like a dream without drying out the skin! It is also very mild and does not irritate my extremely sensitive eyes. The night cream give lots of moisture, but it is a bit heavy, so only use if you have very dry skin.

Learn more about these products at www.shopbootsusa.com.

Enjoy!

The Many Uses Of Ivory

I was lucky to receive a bar of Ivory soap complimentary to review from Ivory and Influenster as a participant in the Mom VoxBox campaign.

Have you tried Ivory Soap before? Here is what it is and can do:

Ivory bar soap is 99.44% pure (it floats!). Beyond using it as a body cleanser, many of Ivory’s loyal users – not to mention a few celebrities – swear by Ivory as their beauty secret. In fact, many consumers use Ivory bar soap as a facial cleanser. It provides healthier, smoother and more even-looking skin. Also, its versatility makes it an effective laundry soap (just chip soap flakes into the washer) as well as a spot stain remover on your clothes (including delicate items). Ivory bars can even be used for a fun soap carving project with the family!

This soap is so versatile! I used it to wash my makeup brushes. It got them very clean and it is so important that it is pure since I use the brushes on my face!

I also placed it in the microwave for about a minute and it foamed up. You can then mold it or just use it to wash clothes or makeup brushes. Super fun for the kids.

Of course it is great for washing face and body. My daughter has eczema and it is comforting to know that the Ivory won’t irritate her skin.

You can also purchase Ivory Body Wash. I have not tried it yet, but I am sure it is fabulous!

A 10-pack of Ivory bar soap retails for around $4.49 (bath bar size) and is available at a mass market retailer near you. The body wash is approximately $3.99.

Enjoy!

Clarisonic Acne Clarifying Collection

My aging skin is so erratic. Sometimes I break out, sometimes my skin is very dry. I alway have large pores. Yuck! But I have been lucky to try the new Clarisonic Acne Clarifying Collection ($169 USD).

So whats the claim?

Clarisonic brings you closer to clear skin—in just one step! The inventor of the professional-caliber, dermatologist-recommended Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System, has paired its patented sonic cleansing technology, including an innovative new brush head, with a gentle yet powerful salicylic acid-based cleanser to form the Clarisonic Acne Clarifying Collection. In one easy step, that’s safe and gentle enough for use twice daily, you can remove dirt, oil and impurities more thoroughly—and begin to treat acne blemishes.

What I think: Don’t be afraid of this collection, because not only does it clean deep, it is gentle on the skin. And my skin is a little sensitive. This Mia 2 (which is the model of the Clarisonic) has two speeds. I use the lower speed and only used the salicylic cleanser in the morning. I use a gentler cleanser in the evening. With this combination, my skin is looking gorgeous lately. The brush leaves my skin SO soft and smooth and my pores are less noticeable. I also haven’t had a breakout since I have used it. Fab!

Availability: www.sephora.com and www.clarisonic.com. This is worth the investment. Enjoy!

Discover Physicians Formula New Anti-Aging Skincare Line

Looking for an affordable anti-aging skincare line that will give great results? Well, Physicians Formula’s new anti-aging line claims that you will “Look 6 years younger in 4 weeks. We promise.”

That sounds wonderful, right? The line includes the following products:

Wrinkle Corrector & Firming Cleanser Formula Rx101 ($9.97 USD) Rich cream cleanser effectively removes makeup and impurities while smoothing, firming and protecting skin’s moisture barrier. Leaves complexion clean, smooth and moisturized.

Wrinkle Corrector & Firming Moisturizer SPF 15 Formula Rx111 ($16.97 USD) Potent moisturizer instantly enhances skin’s firmness, hydration and radiance. SPF 15 protects against damaging UVA / UVB rays. Luxurious and lightweight formula improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for an overall smoothing effect.

Deep Wrinkle Corrector Day & Night Cream Formula Rx121 ($16.97 USD) Ultra-rich cream enhances skin’s cycle of repair, encouraging healthy cell renewal to reveal younger-looking skin. Wrinkle length and depth appear improved with regular use. Helps to improve the moisture barrier, strengthen skin and protect collagen, the key protein in maintaining firm skin

Intensive Wrinkle Corrector Eye Cream Formula Rx122 ($16.97 USD) Potent cream targets the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the eye area. Moisturizing formula boosts elasticity and firmness to improve the appearance of crow’s feet and puffiness. Illuminating properties improve the appearance of dark circles.

Dark Spot Corrector & Skin Brightener Formula Formula Rx123 ($18.97 USD) Potent serum targets signs of uneven skin tone and helps address the evidence of sun damage: dark spots, dark patches and skin stresses. Anti-oxidant formula can help inhibit the appearance of uneven pigment formation. Specialized ingredients target surface darkening and exfoliate it away. Works to keep skin looking brighter, more uniform in tone.

Firming & Lifting Booster Formula Rx124 ($18.97 USD) Skin firming serum improves the appearance of fine lines and medium to deep wrinkles. Builds a firming moisture cushion into thinning skin. Improves elasticity and delivers essential moisture to help plump skin and reduce the appearance of sagging.

What I think: I really like these purple-tinted products. My favorite is the Dark Spot Corrector. I have been using it for a few weeks and notice that my sun spots are getting lighter and my skintone looks more even. I also really love the moisturizers. Both are non-greasy and extremely hydrating.

The great thing about this line is that all of the products are specific to certain skin concerns. You can find what you need to help aging skin. Visit www.physiciansformulaskincare.com to learn more. Enjoy!

My Current Favorite Summer Skin Care Products

Summer is a funny time for my skin. I live in a humid climate so my skin becomes oilier in the heat, but since I wear less makeup my pores aren’t as clogged as they could be. Still, I believe if you take care of your skin in the summer with quality skin care, it will look fantastic!

L’Oreal Skin Expertise Go 360 Clean Anti-Breakout Facial Cleanser ($6.99 USD) — A salicylic acid acne treatment with a daily pore by pore cleansing with “the scrublet” soft cleansing disk. The cleanser claims to control breakouts and clears blackheads and is oil free.

What I Think: I like to use a little anti-breakout skin care in the summer to control the oil. I have tried this with the scrubber that is included, but it is a little rough for my sensitive skin. I use it with my Clarisonic cleansing brush and my skin feels super clean afterwards. My skin has also been clearer this summer.

You can find the cleanser at drug stores or ma

NUDE Hydrating Water ($20.00 USD) — NUDE Skincare’s refreshing rose and vanilla floral water removes final traces of cleanser and locks in moisture, leaving skin calm and beautifully soft.

Mist natural toner onto clean skin and wipe gently with a cotton pad. A skincare essential, Hydrating Water is perfect for setting make up and instant refreshment. Revives normal, dry and sensitive skins.

What I think: I love this gentle face mist. It smell fantastic. I like to spray it before I moisturize and throughout the day for a refresher. A good tip is to keep it in the fridge in the summer for a cool spritz to refresh in the hot weather. http://nudeskincare.com/ is the website and the products are also available at Sephora.

Paula’s Choice RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid ($21.21 USD)

5% glycolic acid plus 0.5% salicylic acid exfoliates sun-damaged skin
pH range of 3.5–3.8 for guaranteed efficacy
Reduces signs of aging, including wrinkles, sun damage, and discolorations
Corrects uneven skin tone
Restores a healthy, radiant, firmer look to your skin
Calms your skin with potent anti-irritants
Contains ingredients your skin needs to look and act younger
100% fragrance-free and contains no dyes or coloring agents

What I think: I apply this after the face mist and my skin tone instantly looks more even. It dries almost instantly so that you can apply moisturizer. After a few weeks of use, my skin is softer and so smooth. Serums are incredibly important in keeping wrinkles at bay and skin really glowing, and this one is a good choice!

Skyn Iceland the ANTIDOTE Quenching Daily Lotion ($45.00 USD) — Is your skin oily, congested and prone to redness or premature aging? Stress may be increasing breakouts and oiliness, while depriving your skin of essential nutrients, moisture and oxygen.

The ANTIDOTE Quenching Daily Lotion is a lightweight hydrating lotion for chronically stressed skin. It goes on with a cooling burst to decongest, detoxify and stabilize skin, returning it to its natural fresh and healthy state. With daily use, skin is fortified and protected from the ravages of stress. You can purchase this at http://www.skyniceland.com/ or at a Sephora store near you.

FEATURES & BENEFITS:

Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids help preserve skin’s natural moisture
Aloe vera, jojoba and shea butter help soothe, moisturize and heal dry skin
A mint derivative provides a cooling sensation and helps improve microcirculation to reduce redness in skin
White willow bark, a naturally occurring form of salicylic acid, soothes irritation and helps prevent breakouts and congestion in the skin
Icelandic kelp helps revitalize skin and fight inflammation
Meadow sweet extract helps control oiliness, tighten pores and clear skin
Yeast extract revitalizes and helps calm inflamed skin

What I think: This is a refreshing, soothing lotion that is helpful in keeping skin clear during the summer. I use this after the Paula’s Choice smoothing lotion. I notice that after use, my skin is less red and my pores look smaller. It doesn’t make my skin greasy so that I can apply makeup almost instantly. Visit http://www.paulaschoice.com/ for more info or to purchase.

I recommend one or all of these fab skincare products to clear and smooth your skin this summer, no matter what your age. Enjoy!

Love Your Skin By Using The Clarisonic Mia!

I have finally found the secret to making my skin look better — The Clarisonic Mia!

What’s a Clarisonic, you ask? The Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth skin. In just 60 seconds, the micro-massage action removes 6X more makeup and 2X more dirt and oil than cleansing with your hands alone. Removing more dirt and oil from your pores also helps products work more effectively.

The smallest Sonic Skin Cleansing System, the one-button, one-speed Mia comes in a variety of colors and fits the active lifestyle – offering beautiful skin at home or on-the-go. When you purchase a Mia you get:

Cordless Clarisonic Mia
Compact pLink® International Charger
Sensitive Brush Head
1 oz. trial size Gentle Hydro Cleanser

What I think: I LOVE my Mia! It only takes a minute every morning and night and skin is instantly smoother and so soft! I have been using it for a few weeks and notice that my pores look smaller and my fine lines are way less noticeable. I can tell that my skin is cleaner and that serums and moisturizesr are quickly absorbed into my skin. It is also a pleasure to use. Like a massaging spa treatment — very relaxing!

I have used it with lots of different cleansers including Clarisonic’s Gentle Hydro Cleanser (very moisturizing), but my favorite to use with it is Philosophy’s (www.philosophy.com) Purity Made Simple. It is the perfect companion for the Clarisonic as it quickly dissolves makeup and cleans skin without stripping it. I highly recommend this duo!

Visit www.clarisonic.com to learn more or to purchase. Enjoy cleaner, softer and smoother skin!

Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing System and the Opal Sonic Infusion System at LA Style Fashion Week

We all know that California girls have a golden glow, but what is their secret to gorgeous skin? We’ll let you in on a little secret—they use Clarisonic! On March 15-18th, Clarisonic participated backstage at Style Fashion Week Los Angeles, and treated busy models to mini facials with the Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing System and the Opal Sonic Infusion System.

Keep reading for more backstage tidbits from these exciting events as well as trends from each show and tips from the Clarisonic aestheticians!

Time to Get Runway Ready!

Models arrived backstage at the Vibiana, a historic church in downtown Los Angeles, in the late afternoon. They were thrilled to received Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing System treatments, which removed makeup 6X better than manual cleansing. Models were happy to hear that sunscreen and other topicals are absorbed 61% more effectively by the skin after using the Clarisonic. They also learned that self-tanner goes on more evenly after using the Clarisonic PLUS Model on the arms, legs and décolleté—a must in Los Angeles!
(left, backstage at Stop Staring!)

Tighten and Brighten!
With a week full of shows and parties, it’s easy for a model to look tired. Thankfully the Opal Sonic Infusion System came to the rescue! After providing facials with the Clarisonic Sonic Skin Cleansing System, Eva, Dottie and Jennifer used the Opal around the models’ eyes. The Opal combines sonic micro-massage with proprietary anti-aging serum to work immediately on appearance of lines and wrinkles and also helps to depuff.

(right, backstage at Stop Staring!)

Don’t Forget the Men!
Female models weren’t the only ones enjoying Clarisonic treatments. Male models at the Future Heretics and Gypsy 05 shows loved them too! Most male models said that their skin had never felt as clean as it did after using the Clarisonic. One male model came back for a second treatment because it was so relaxing!

Dottie and Jennifer used a Normal Brush Head instead of a Sensitive or Delicate Brush Head on the men’s skin since Normal is better at cleaning men’s skin, which is typically rougher and thicker than women’s skin.
(left, backstage at Future Heretics)

I am going to be reviewing a Clarisonic Mia in a few weeks, but all of the buzz is very good! To purchase, you can visit www.clarisonic.com or www.qvc.com.

The Wonderbar

Looking for a new cleanser that’s a little different? Try the Wonderbar ($40.00 for 25gm). This little facial bar packs a cleansing punch!

The Wonderbar is enhanced by two unique ingredients: Chlorey’nahre, a proprietary complex extracted from algae that is touted to help your skin stay supple, radiant and youthful by regenerating skin cells quickly and 3000 year old Heilmoor clay of Austria, a natural therapeutic ingredient that contains the essence of 3000 herbs and plants.

When you purchase the Wonderbar, you are told about the Healing Crisis — a period of a few days to a couple of weeks where the user might experience dry skin or breakouts. I didn’t really experience any extra problems in my skin. What I did notice is that after about a week, my skin looked smoother and less blotchy, and my pores seemed smaller. And after I stopped using the Wonderbar for about a week, I broke out and looked red and blotchy again.

Some of the benefits that you could see from this cool product are: Firm, lifted and glowing skin, tightened pores, removal fo free radicals and toxins from face, a balance to oily and to dry skin, a nice pink glow, smoother and softer, plus it may even lighten pigmentation and freckles!

Visit www.wonderbarusa.com to learn more and to purchase this amazing cleanser!