Shopping – Page 10 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Hot New Product — Hourglass Aura Sheer Cheek Stain

I have been excited to try Hourglass’s new Aura Sheer Cheek Stain ($45.00 USD). I have seen ads for it for the last few weeks, and it is even a featured new product on the Sephora website.

So does it live up to the hype, you ask? I think so.

The Aura Cheek Stain is a water-based stain that give cheeks a subtle lit-from-within glow and to last all day. Spring makeup is about looking effortlessly beautiful, and this product embodies this by being so easy to apply. Aura’s unique click mechanism dispenses the perfect amount of product for convenient on-the-go application, and has a sponge applicator which makes it easy to blend.

This product is enriched with Vitamin E to help improve skin’s moisture retention and is free of oil, fragrance, and phthalates. Available in three shades: Rouge (sheer rose); Flush (sheer red); Petal (sheer pink/coral shimmer). I have tested Petal and love the color. It is a soft pinky coral with a subtle shimmer. Anti-aging tip: pinks and corals are perfect for us women who want to look younger. A soft flush is extremely youthful. Pinks and corals are also perfect as a lip gloss for a younger-looking pout!

This blush is currently available at www.sephora.com and www.hourglasscosmetics.com.

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Collection

Argan Oil is currently my favorite ingredient for hair care. It makes hair shiny and manageable without it being greasy. I especially like argan oil treatments. I know that oil in hair can be scary, but if you put the right amount in, you get incredible shine and softness!

Organix has recently come out with an affordable Argan Oil Collection that includes the following benefits:

Sulfate and Paraben Free
Organic Active Ingredients
Amazing Scents
Safe For Color-Treated Hair
Safe for All Hair Types

The products in the collection are:

Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner ($7.99 USD) — Indulge the senses with this precious blend of Moroccan argan oil which instantly penetrates the hair shaft restoring shine and softness while strengthening. This renewing formula is free of sulfates and parabens, and is safe for color-treated hair. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner will restore moisture to dry hair, protect from styling heat and UV damage while creating soft, seductive, silky perfection

Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Penetrating Oil ($7.99 USD) — This rare, ultra light weight formula is nature’s secret to silky perfection! Derived from the southwest region of Morocco, argan oil instantly penetrates the hair shaft to seal in shine and protect from styling heat and UV damage. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Penetrating Oil fights frizz, strengthens and moisturizes dry, brittle hair to give you smooth sexy tresses.

Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Renewing Treatment ($7.99 USD) — Renew your hair’s inner health with argan oil nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamin E. Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Renewing Treatment is a deep conditioning, exotic formula to add brilliant shine and create lush softness without leaving any heavy residue which can weigh hair down.

These are great products for the price. Visit www.organixhair.com to learn more and you can purchase at drugstores and mass market retailers

New V05 Perfect Hold Styling Products

With gas prices rising, I am on the lookout for affordable beauty products. If you want hair styling products that work well and are extremely affordable, try V05 Perfect Hold Styling Line. This line consists of 4 different products are formulated with a unique polymer blend that assures long-lasting, all-day hold and a lightweight feel. The products in the line are:Perfect Hold Aerosol Hairspray — This lightweight aerosol hairspray is formulated with a select blend of polymers to provide strong hold while still leaving hair feeling healthy.

Perfect Hold Non-Aerosol Hairspray — This non-aerosol hair spray has a multi-polymer system known for benchmark levels of humidity resistance, providing strong hold while leaving hair feeling soft.

Perfect Hold Styling Mousse — This mousse prevents frizz and holds curl in place with it’s unique multi-polymer system, while giving hair the bounce and shine it deserves.

Perfect Hold Styling Gel — This gel is formulated from a base designed for simplicity to provide great styling hold without stiffness, even in humidity.

These product each retail for $2.00 USD — which is phenomenal for the quality you get. The non-aerosol hairspray is my favorite because it imparts a shine and leaves my hair soft. The gel also gibes great shine and the mousse is perfect for curly girls. Plus, the scent is very nice — my teenage daughter took the aerosol hairspray and uses it over expensive hairsprays that she owns because of the great scent!

These products are available at drugstores and mass-market retailers near you. Enjoy the savings!

Great For Traveling — Lavanila Fragrances

Looking for a great, portable fragrance? Lavanila Laboratories presents the Healthy Fragrance Collection in two pretty, portable, and airplane friendly renditions—The Healthy Roller Ball Fragrance and The Healthy Fragrance One-Ounce Collection. Completely free of harsh chemicals typically found in fragrance, now you can enjoy Lavanila’s fresh, clean blends and revel in powerful, skin-healthy ingredients anytime, anywhere.

Lavanila has changed the way we spray and roll on fragrance with the World’s First Healthy Fragrance collection. The first to fuse luxury fragrance with natural science, all Lavanila scents are free of chemically-laden alcohol, petrochemicals, phthalates, synthetic colors, silicone, synthetic preservatives, sulfates, parabens, and propylene glycol that can dry and damage the skin and are instead formulated with 100% natural ingredients such as pure essential oils and skin soothing botanicals. With each spray or roll, a daily dose of 30 essential vitamins and minerals and 19 amino acids is delivered to the skin and locked below the skin’s epidermis via an exclusive marine technology.

Lavanila Healthy Roller Ball Fragrance ($19 each): Housed in a sleek, spill-proof bottle, this travel-sized roller-ball perfume eliminates the risk of spills—a must for any purse or cosmetics case.

Lavanila Healthy Fragrance One-Ounce Collection ($39 each): These cute and convenient minis fit in your carry-on cosmetics case so you never have to be without your favorite Lavanila fragrances, even on the plane.

The Lavanila Healthy Roller Ball Fragrance and One Ounce Fragrances are available in the following scents:

Pure Vanilla: a soothing blend of rich Madagascar vanilla and soft freesia
Vanilla Grapefruit: a refreshing blend of pink grapefruit and warm Madagascar vanilla
Vanilla Coconut: an exotic blend of fresh coconut oil, tiare flower and warm Madagascar vanilla
Vanilla Lavender: a tranquil blend of Spanish lavender, rose absolute, violet leaf, and warm Madagascar vanilla

I have tried the Healthy Fragrance One-Ounce in Vanilla Coconut. I love the sweet, tropical scent that has a warm lasting note. Very nice!

You can purchase these fab fragrances at Sephora, www.sephora.com and www.lavanila.com. Enjoy!

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balms

New lip balm alert! Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($7.00 USD) — Care for your lips with beautiful, sheer color. These new tinted balms give you a hint of color with a soft, sweet flavor and natural ingredients that moisturize and condition your lips. Available in six flirty shades – Hibiscus, Honeysuckle, Tiger Lily, Pink Blossom, Red Dahlia and Rose.

The main ingredient is shea butter. This natural fat obtained from the fruit of the karite tree is a valuable, nourishing addition to moisturizers for the reduction of wrinkles and to improve the elasticity of the skin and protect it against environmental aging.

What I think: I like these balms. They are very moisturizing and have a sweet taste. They also impart a soft color, like a light stain. The great thing about Burt’s Bees is that you can feel good about using these all-natural products.

You can purchase these at www.burtsbees.com and at drugstores and mass market retailers near you. Enjoy!

Resurface Your Skin At Home With New Products From Olay

Always on the look out for ways to make my 40 something skin look fabulous, I have been using this one-two punch from Olay at night for a few weeks. The products are the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System and the Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Moisturize Night Resurfacing Elixir. They are from two different Olay lines, but they work together to help aging skin look younger and glowy. The products are:

Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System ($29.99 USD) — This includes a battery-powered brush with bristles that rotate to cleanse the skin deeply plus Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser. Designed by a team of dermatologists along with Olay, the Advanced Cleansing System claims to be as effective as a system sold by skin professionals for nearly $200.

I have not tried the higher end systems (like the Clarisonic), but I really do like this one. I have used it with the Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser and with other cleansers as well. To use, dampen facial skin and brush head lightly with water. Dispense cleanser in your hand and massage over face. Turn on cleansing brush and gently move around the face for approximately 60 seconds. Avoid the eye area. Rinse face and brush head with water. After cleansing, skin is soft and so clean!

After cleansing, I apply Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Moisturize Night Resurfacing Elixir. What does it do?

When applied each night, the non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula with glycolic acid works over a normal sleep cycle to give you uninterrupted exfoliation while antioxidants and moisturizers continuously provide soothing hydration to tighten skin’s surface
Light glycolic peel resurfaces skin nightly for tighter, smoother skin

This treatment is a great daily exfoliater and is easy because it does its work while you are sleeping! I have noticed that my skin is tighter and my skin tone is more even. I have very sensitive skin and it makes my skin a little red, but doesn’t irritate. When I wake up in the morning, my skin looks brighter and smoother.

The combo of a good cleansing and nighttime treatment has really started to improve my skin. Olay is always introducing technologically advance products at really affordable prices. So go ahead and try these. Visit www.olay.com to learn more and you can purchase at drugstores and mass market retailers near you. Enjoy!

Brighten Up With a Little Gloss, Blush and Bronzer This Spring With Hard Candy

This Spring there are a lot of fun and glamorous collections of color cosmetics debuting. I have reviewed a lot of them and plan to review more! The thing is that most of them are available at department stores and they are fairly spendy. The solution? Hard Candy is available at Walmart — and it is cool and affordable.

Hard Candy’s spring line includes lots of skin brightening blushes and bronzers and really fun glitter lip glosses. The products I tried are:

Glossaholic – Sequin Saturated Shine Lip Gloss ($5.00 USD) — One dip covers your lips! Ginormous applicator with gloss cup deposits gloss to your whole mouth in one swipe! These super lustrous lip glosses are infused with prisms of color that make lips appear fuller and plumper. Out of this world hyper-reflective prisms of pearl make lips sparkle like crazy! Feeling tired or wired? Two Glossaholic sparkling clear top coats are infused with mood altering elixirs to help you Chill Out or Rise & Shine! – You can wear alone or as a top coat.

Glow All the Way – Instant Bronzer & Gradual Self-Tanner ($8.00 USD) — Improve your tanitude! A tinted, sunless self-tanner that gives you an all over Tropical Tan. The light, airy formula instantly bronzes face and body while the self tanner gradually builds a lasting tan that darkens with time. This light and airy formula moisturizes and will not streak or rub off onto clothes. Infused with 24 carat gold!

Fox in a Box – bronzing duos & blushing quads ($6.00 USD) — A highly pigmented multi-color powder compact that will surely bring out your inner foxy lady. Each box contains coordinated shades that blend together perfectly and a custom Hard Candy applicator brush. Sweep across chin, cheeks, and forehead and unleash the foxiness in you! This is such a cute box and the shades are gorgeous!

Visit www.hardcandy.com to see the shade selections and you can purchase at Walmart and www.walmart.com.

Pur Minerals Exotic Oasis Spring 2011 Collection

Pur Minerals Spring 2011 Exotic Oasis collection consists of tropical glowing colors that will guarantee to get your beauty routine out of the winter doldrums! The colors in both of the product I’ve tried are warm and shimmery — and really brighten dull skin. They are:

Triple the depth, drama and dimension with the adventure-ready Exotic Rocks Trio ($28.00 USD, $52.00 value), featuring two new additions to the Pür Rocks family. Give skin a rosy radiance with the popular Hot Rocks (shimmery pink shades), turn up the heat with Lava Rocks (rosy red) and touch the sun with Glow Rocks (beautiful bronze shades). Use alone or combine the multidimensional shades for an endless array of gorgeous looks for eyes, lips and cheeks.

Exotic Rocks Trio includes:

Lava Rocks
Hot Rocks
Glow Rocks

What I think: I have wanted to try the Hot Rocks because they looked like they would brighten the complexion with the shimmering pink combination of colors. I was so exited to hear about the addition of Lava Rocks and Glow Rocks. I love to use the Glow Rocks first like a bronzer — everywhere the sun would naturally touch my face, forehead, nose, chin and cheeks. In the day time I then sweep Hot Rocks on the apples of my cheeks and add Lava Rocks in the evening. The colors can be mixed to find the perfect flush of color for any complexion.

Make every day extraordinary with a brilliant mosaic of exotic eye shades and the undisputable glow of a sun-soaked getaway. Featuring a dazzling palette of tropical pastels and deep-sea corals, Nature’s Paradise ($28.00 USD, $132.00 value) captures the bold spirit of a season filled with excitement and mystery. Break away this spring with a stylishly intrepid look and claim your own piece of paradise.

Nature’s Paradise includes:

Six island-inspired eye shadows
Tropic Bronze sun-soaked powder
Polynesian Pink mineral blush
Mini Powder Brush

What I think: They pretty palette will effortlessly take you from Spring to Summer. Use the pink blush and the soft pink and gold shadows for Spring and turn up the heat with the bronzer, and bronze and turquoise eye shadows for Summer. So pretty and complimentary on all skin tones.

Learn more and purchase at www.purminerals.com. Enjoy your bright new looks!

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Introduces New Flavors!

Lip balms are awesome — but lip balms with SPF are even better. Not only are you moisturizing, but you are protecting your delicate lip area. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balms ($7.50 USD) have a whopping SPF 25 that helps protect from sun and wind!

Enriched with superior lip conditioners and antioxidants, these emollient balms calm, protect and relieve dry, chapped, irritated lips. Unlike waxy sticks, the unique formulas penetrate quickly to provide instant relief.

Flavors include:

New! Black Tea & Blackberry – Smooth and subtly sweet with powerful antioxidants

New! Grapefruit & Ginger – Fresh, subtly citrus and energizing

Lemon & Chamomile – Mellow and refreshing to calm and soothe

Natural Mint & Shea Butter – Clean and tingly to freshen breath

Vanilla & Lavender – Herbal, soothing and healing

I have tried the Lemon & Chamomile, which smells fresh and soothing. And it feels so smooth on and it is not greasy, which a lot of cream balms can be. I think this is a great buy — the product is definitely worth the price!

Availability: Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm is available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue and at www.getjackblack.com. Enjoy!

Announcing EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone Giveaway!

Hi All — I am giving away this awesome brush and makeup case set by EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone ($15.99 USD). These brushes are earth friendly, so soft and apply makeup like a dream. I have used many EcoTools brushes and love them all. Environmentally minded Alicia Silverstone designed the set. The details are:

CASE

Case is made with natural hemp material.
Lining is made with recycled plastic (PET).
Floral design is printed with non-toxic inks.

BRUSHES

Highly sustainable bamboo handles.
100% cruelty-free, soft taklon bristles.
Recycled aluminum ferrules.

PACKAGING

Box is made from 30% post-consumer recycled content and printed with non-toxic inks.

This limited edition EcoTools by Alicia Silverstone Brush Set and Case includes a Finishing Brush, Blush Brush, Angled Eye Shadow Brush, Lash & Brow Groomer and Brush Case. All the tools you need to create Alicia’s natural look!

To win, leave a comment on my blog. For extra entries follow me on Twitter @fortyflirtyfab and/or subscribe to my blog at the right side of my site’s home page. I will draw the winner on Friday, March 18, 2011. Good luck!