Shopping – Page 9 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Becca Cosmetics Can Give You The Perfect Look For Spring and Summer

We have had a few hot days in Kansas City, which has made me long for the summer and tan skin and easy makeup. So I used an at home spray tanning system (will review soon) and broke out the bronzer and shimmery makeup! Oh, I love the fun easy look of summer makeup!

BECCA Cosmetics’ philosophy is about creating a natural, flawless look starting with amazing skin. This is the perfect philosophy when it comes to spring and summer makeup. The following products will provide an easy and pretty face.

Resurfacing Primer Line & Pore Minimizing Formula ($40.00 USD) — Prepare and seal your skin with this invisible Resurfacing Primer which instantly reduces the appearance of dilated pores and smoothes fine lines for a flawless finish. Applied on its own or under foundation, the velvety matte formulation helps to control unwanted shine with its special oil absorbing polymers which act as ‘fillers’ to create a refined base for makeup that will last all day.

What I think: mattifying primer is perfect for hot and oily skin. It also keeps your makeup from melting off of your face. This primer gives skin a velvety finish and helps makeup stay on all day.

Pressed Shimmer Powder ($38.00 USD) — A delicately fine shimmer powder that lights up the complexion, illuminating darkened areas and lackluster skin and creating a magical glow that seems to emanate from within. Contains ultrafine particles of shimmer (mica) to deflect light and illuminate the skin, creating a natural, radiant look. Does not have a glittery finish and thus can be worn day or night.

What I think: Pretty shimmer, and not too young for women who are a bit more mature and not looking for a glittery face. Available in 8 shades from a beigey-peach to a rose-pink, which is the most I’ve seen in an illuminating powder. The deeper shades make a really pretty blush. Brush it over bronzer for a lovely summer look.

Jewel Dust ($24.00 USD) — These exquisitely embellished powders add playful colour to the eyes when worn alone, and create rich, exotic tones when layered over neutral eye shadows. Available in a range of enchanting colours from ethereal pastels to dazzling metallics. Created from pure pigments which provide the highest luster and intensity. Unlike other shimmer powders, this exclusive formulation does not contain talc, fillers, or inferior silver pearl pigments. Can be worn alone or layered over creme and powder eye colour to create unique tones and range of effects. Micro fine shimmer pigments adds illuminating colour to the eyes. Available in 16 shimmery shades.

What I think: This is super pretty for summer. The lighter shades are gorgeous brushed all over the eye and the deeper and brighter shades can be used for an accent or a smoky eye.

Professional Brush Soap ($15.00 USD) — Designed with your prized makeup brushes in mind, this unique Professional Brush Soap is formulated to clean, condition and sanitize, lengthening the lifespan of your brushes and making them work better for you. In a unique vintage-style shaving tin, this soap is designed for all brush shapes and sizes and works on both natural and synthetic fibers.

Unlike shampoo, which is designed for human hair types and can leave brushes limp or brittle, this special soap is universal in its cleansing properties. Its solid formula is made from nourishing plant oils ensuring that it is gentle on brush fibers while tough on product build-up. Unwashed, brushes can be a common breeding ground for bacteria, which can in turn cause skin irritation and blemishes, along with reduced application performance. Dip the brush in lukewarm water, then with a stroking action, move across the soap until it produces a white lather, working well into the bristles. Rinse under the tap until the water runs clear, squeeze out excess water, reshape, then leave to dry on a clean towel.

What I think: This is a fabulous and affordable cleanser for your brushes. It is so important to keep makeup brushes clean and this is easy and quick. Love it!

Visit www.beccacosmetics.com to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Hair Care Products

My hair is certainly beginning to show its (my) age. It is thinner, dry and living in Kansas City has made it frizzy. I love the idea of anti-aging hair care, because the needs of our hair change as we get older. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Line was created to hydrate dry, brittle hair and help combat the signs of aging. Some of the products in the line are innovative and extremely helpful in making any hair look it’s best. My favorites are:

Caviar Anti-Aging 3-Minute Shine Boost ($25.00 USD) — A shine-enhancing hair treatment. Inspired by salon glazing services, this weekly shine treatment acts like a lip gloss for your hair giving it an instant blast of high-definition shine. For those with processed hair, this product instantly recharges faded color between salon visits and gives hair reflective brilliance while sealing the cuticle with a moisturizing layer.

What I think: This does give hair a nice shine, but you do have to use a lot to achieve this. To use, shampoo, condition and squeeze out excess water from you hair, then apply an ample amount of the cream. Leave on for 3-5 minutes and rinse out. Style as usual and you should get a nice sheen to your hair.

Alterna Caviar Perfect Blowout Creme ($25.00 USD) is a hydrating styling creme that provides gentle control. It reduces frizz and minimizes static while providing you with the perfect blow dry experience. Alterna Caviar Perfect Blowout Creme provides a sleek, smooth blowout with radiant shine. It tames frizz to keep hair smooth, shiny and moisturized.

What I think: I applied this creme to my hair by rubbing a dollop in my hands to emulsify it, then I applied it through my hair with my fingers. I then did a complete blow out, by sectioning my hair and blow drying using a round brush to smooth the hair. It turned out well. My hair was shiny and smoothed. I used a little shine serum to finish the look off. Very pretty!

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Overnight Hair Rescue ($35.00 USD) — A deeply penetrating overnight treatment for damaged hair that repairs while you sleep. This powerful treatment repairs and replenishes damaged hair, restores and reinforces hair strength, and prevents future breakage. It absorbs instantly and won’t leave greasy residue on pillows or sheets. The more you use it, the healthier your hair becomes.

What I think: This is a brilliant concept because you can sleep while treating your hair! I like that this is not greasy and doesn’t ruin pillows or sheets! In the morning, rinse it off and style as usual. Your hair will be soft and healthy-looking!

Visit www.alternahaircare.com to learn more and to find a retailer near you. Enjoy!

Kenzo Belle De Jour White Lotus Serum

In my fight against aging, I have tried lots of products that claim to help wrinkles, skin tone and the youthful glow. Not many do everything that they claim. But, I have always loved Kenzo’s Belle de Jour line. I have previously reviewed Belle De Jour cream (https://fortyflirtyfabulous.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/want-flawless-skin-try-belle-de-jour-from-kenzo/) and Belle de Jour Angel Eyes (https://fortyflirtyfabulous.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/belle-de-jour-angel-eyes-by-kenzo/) and have enjoyed both of them. The fragrance and texture of both products are fabulous, and I saw a difference in my skin with both.

So I was very excited to try Kenzo’s Belle De Jour White Lotus Serum ($150.00 USD) which is a day and night serum for a radical effect on the beauty of the face. At the heart of this care is a highly concentrated and enriched White Lotus alchemy which reinforces actions on cellular regeneration. Leaves skin tightened and restored. Belle De Jour, an exceptional product line that enhances the skin’s natural beauty by protecting it from free radicals and the harmful stress hormone – Cortisol. The skin is restored to its natural balance and left luminous and soft.

The key ingredient in this is White Lotus which is one regarded as a sacred flower throughout Asia, white lotus has many soothing and anti-free radical properties. It is cultivated especially for Kenzo in East Asia, an ideal location for this plant to flourish.

To use, take a small amount of the serum and using the fingertips, slowly spread it with a gentle touch over cleansed face and neck. Following with Belle De Jour cream is a complete experience.

I love this smooth, light gel that glides over the skin and absorbs so quickly. It instantly smooths the skin and leaves it so soft. Over a few weeks, I have noticed a difference in the texture and luminosity of my skin. This product is spendy, but it its worth it for the effectiveness. Also, its nice to splurge on a luxury product every once in a while!

Visit www.kenzousa.com to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

Powerful Anti-Aging Benefits With Affordable Boots No7

Boots is one of the United Kingdoms top cosmetic and skin care companies. I have recently tried their No7 line which is a range of hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested products using trusted ingredients. Women in the UK have been using Boots No7 for over 75 years, so they must know something, right? I LOVE the following products because they all address aging problems and have the ingredients to fight them!

Radiance Revealed Exfoliator ($9.99 USD) — This light and gentle facial exfoliator deeply cleanses, removes dead skin cells and refines pores, leaving skin soft, smooth and glowing with health. With grapefruit and watercress to help purify, plus pro-vitamin B5 to hydrate the skin.

I love how this scrub leaves skin soft and very smooth. It should be used once or twice a week. Gently massage a small amount onto cleansed, damp skin. Wash away thoroughly with warm water.

Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum ($19.99 USD) — Reveal younger looking, beautifully refined skin with this powerful blend of caring and skin restoring ingredients. Light and non-greasy, it glides on instantly softening and smoothing your skin. Then, with regular use, it works to renew your complexion, restoring radiance and helping to reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles in just 4 weeks. With concentrated levels of unique antioxidant complex and skin-firming pro-retinol complex to boost and maintain skin’s elasticity.

This is a very popular anti-aging serum in the UK so I was very excited to use it — and it did not disappoint. It is so light and is absorbs quickly, then makes the skin so soft and silky. Use day and night to supplement a moisturizing regime. Apply a small amount of serum to the palms of the hands and smooth over the face, avoiding the eye area. Finish with moisturizer.

Intensive Line Filler ($17.99 USD) — This is a clever quick-fix that leaves skin looking softer, smoother and more youthful looking. With light-diffusing particles to blur away the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s been created to improve the appearance of deeper wrinkles too, with skin looking plumper and less lined in just 2 weeks. It’s all down to an exciting new development: hyaluronic acid spheres. They absorb water in the upper layers of the skin and inflate to many times their original size, appearing to push wrinkles up and away from within.

I love the instant lift to my skin’s texture that this gives. Plus, it gave my whole face a youthful plumping after just a few weeks uses. Smooth onto the places most vulnerable to expression lines: around your mouth and eyes, between your brows and across your forehead. Follow with No7 Time Resisting or Lifting and Firming moisturizers.

Visit www.us.boots.com or www.target.com to purchase. Enjoy!

I Scream For Eye Creams By AmorePacific, Boots No7 and Kate Somerville!

As an over-forty woman who tries a lot of eye cream, I know how indispensible this type of product is to make you look younger! I do not go a day without using eye cream because I will not allow lines and wrinkles around my eyes. Uh-uh. So finding the perfect eye cream is so important. Some really great new ones are:

AmorePacific Rejuvenating Eye Treatment Gel ($85.00 USD) — This lightweight eye treatment infuses the delicate eye area with intense hydration, fortifying the skin against aging. Its exclusive Radiance Eye Complex™ brightens dark circles, reduces puffiness, and protects skin against aging and fatigue. The complex includes:

-Bamboo Sap: Provides moisturization and epidermal cell regeneration.
-Hesperidin: Provides dark-circle care by improving micro-circulation in skin.
-Lotus Extract: Provides enhancement of aquaporin (celluar water-channel) expression.
-Hydrolyzed Green Tea Extract: Provides enhancement of skin protection power by anti-oxidant synthesis.

What I think: I love the light, cooling gel texture of this cream. I have noticed that it immediately plumps up the skin and smoothes away roughness. My skin looks soft and smooth and my eye circles have diminished. Visit www.amorepacific.com and www.sephora.com to learn more and purchase.

Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Eye Cream ($19.99 USD) Chase away dark shadows and puffiness and give skin a brightening boost. Created specifically for the delicate area around the eyes, this unique blend of protecting and renewing ingredients leaves skin soothed, smoothed and revitalized. With our patent pending next generation antioxidant complex, to help shield against free radical damage, plus our skin-firming pro-retinol complex containing lipo-peptides.

What I think: This cream is super-light and quickly soaks into the skin. You can apply it right before your makeup in the morning and still apply concealer if you need it. It does give the skin a little glow that really helps dark circles seem less noticeable. For a really great eye cream, it is also fairly affordable and easy to find since it is available at Target. Visit www.target.com or www.us.boots.com to learn more and purchase.

Kate Somerville CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream ($75.00 USD) — Revive your eyes with this ultimate eye cream that combines years of research and cutting-edge technology. Formulated with Peptide P-199, a revolutionary peptide that stimulates stem cell activity and restores the skin with new energized cells. CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream is clinically proven to treats all signs of aging around the delicate eye area. Claims and features are:

Reduces under eye dark circles by up to 60%*
Reduces puffiness around the eye area by up to 75%*
Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area by up to 60%*
Helps to improve radiance, skin tone, and smoothness
Free of fragrance and parabens
Tested by dermatologists & ophthalmologists

*Based upon results from a 4-week clinical study.

What I Think: This is a very luxurious cream that plumps skin and makes your eye area look smooth and so young! I have noticed that after a few weeks of use, my dark circles look so much lighter. It is also non-irritating which my sensitive eyes appreciate. Visit www.katesomerville.com to purchase this great cream!

My tip is to apply it all around the eye bone (including under the eyebrow) because most eye creams lift and firm and this helps the upper lid from drooping!

Spring Eye Shadow Choices From Boots No7, Napoleon Perdis and Josie Maran

I don’t think you need to buy all new makeup each season, but it is fun to pop in a few new products, like a bright or shimmery eye shadow for spring, to update your look. Here are some of my favorites that I have recently tried.

Boots No7 Stay Perfect Eye Mousse ($7.99 USD) — These small tubes of light-as-air color combine a wonderful whipped texture with a flattering iridescent finish. The unique formulation means the color lasts on and on and it’s just so easy to apply, use your finger to dot and blend to your heart’s content. The eye color is waterproof so great for sports enthusiasts.

Apply using fingertips and blend to create the desired effect. A brush can be used for more precise definition. The Vanilla shade can be used as a highlighter. It is also available in Fudge, Khaki and Lilac.

Visit www.target.com or www.us.boots.com to learn more and purchase.

Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dusts ($25.00 USD) — A highly pigmented loose powder in a canister that dispenses just the right amount of product each time. Start in the closed position, shake lightly and open to release. The sifter mechanism measures out enough shadow for one application. Dust or pat onto the eyes, cheeks or even body for brilliant shimmering highlights. The vivid results last from dust till dawn. Available in 20 shimmering shades.

Visit http://www.napoleonperdis.com/US/ to learn more and purchase.

Josie Maran Argan Eye Love You Too Palette ($42.00 USD) — A limited-edition palette that contains eight Argan-infused eyeshadows for endless eye looks.Enriched with pure Argan Oil, these soft, velvety shadows blend effortlessly and stay put for intense, saturated, all-day color. The perfectly portable palette comes with an easy-to-follow, how-to card from Josie herself, featuring step-by-step instructions on how to create the ideal day and night looks. Campfire is a matte chestnut brown. Rejuvenate is a golden mossy green. Dragonfly is a color shifting, brownish-teal. Chirp is a maple brownish-gold. Bunny is a buttery white. Cinnamon is a fleshy pink. Meadow is a subtle lemon-lime green. Branch is a dark brown with gold flecks.

You can purchase at www.josiemarancosmetics.com or www.sephora.com.

Enjoy!

Glam Up With Jemma Kidd Makeup School

Jemma Kidd is a makeup artist who has founded a makeup academy and lines of makeup including Jemma Kidd Makeup School, Jemma Kidd Pro and JK Jemma Kidd (you can find this line at Target). I have recently tried some products from hr lines. Here are a couple that i really like:

Jemma Kidd Makeup School Lash Xtension Volume Mascara — Carbon super-black mascara with Bio-boost complex to help enhance lash-growth and next generation ‘V’ groove brush for creating maximum volume.

Give lashes extreme volume and length with Jemma Kidd’s Lash Xtension Volume Mascara. The unique formula enriched with Bio-boost complex helps to encourage natural lash growth while Silk Proteins and Vitamins A and E condition and strengthen.The carbon formula leaves lashes looking blacker than black and the reflective pigments create a subtle gloss finish for added drama. The innovative design of the double ‘V’ groove brush encourages maximum mascara application, resulting in thicker, longer looking lashes.

Bio-boost complex helps stimulate natural lash growth.
Carbon black shade for blacker than black lashes.
Added Silk Proteins and Vitamins A and E condition and strengthen.
Next generation double ‘V’ groove brush provides instant volume, length and depth

What I think: I love the super black tint of this mascara and that fact that it lengthens and thickens my lashes. The thick brush is really easy to apply and it stays on all day without smudging! I have only been using this for a couple of weeks, so I haven’t noticed lash growth, but I will let you all know if I do!

Jemma Kidd Pro Skin Perfection Kit — A revolutionary, professional standard skin perfecting palette with four shades to help conceal, enhance, sculpt and shade your way to a flawless base.

Citrus Colour Corrector
Unique citrus shade with green undertone. Yellow corrects blue & purple undertones around the eye area while green will neutralise any unwanted red tones in the complexion. This revolutionary citrus shade is the perfect combination of both ‘essential’ colour correctors in one
Apricot Colour Corrector
Brightening apricot shade to neutralise & even skin tone around the eye area with added collagen for firming effect
All Over Radiance Crème
Mini version of the award winning JKMS Dewy Glow Radiance Crème – (Iced Gold)
Lip & Cheek Flush
Berry blush concentrate to create subtle definition & a healthy flush; added antioxidants vitamins A & E

What I think: This is a great little do-it-all compact that is perfect to use at home or put in your purse for quick touch-up! I use the Citrus and Apricot correctors under my eyes. I put the citrus first and the apricot over. It lessens my dark circles and brightens, too. The radiance cream is gorgeous as a highlighter and the flush is a pretty lip and cheek color!

You can learn more about these products and more at www.jemmakidd.com.

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 Award-Winning White Sands Curling Iron

White Sands, a professional hair care manufacturer rated as one of Hollywood’s most requested product lines, is proud to announce their Spring Marcel Curling Iron ($110.00 USD) as the recipient of Best Curling Iron for Essence Magazine’s 2011 Beauty Awards!

These innovative and now award-winning curling irons are one of the first in the beauty industry to fuse the Marcel and Spring Load curling iron methods into ONE tool. Utilize the professionalism of a Marcel curling iron to create beautiful waves or switch to the direct control of a Spring Load without the need for multiple irons.

Available in 3 sizes (1″, 1.25″, & 1.33″), this light weight Professional Titanium Iron is the secret to achieve beautifully designed and polished curls. Maintain total styling control with a smart tool providing an instant and even heat with a Digital LED Temperature Setting ranging from 122 – 410°F. As the smoothest surface available for tools, tresses will effortlessly glide over the Titanium barrel for styling free of unwanted tugging, snags, or breakage. This cutting edge material produces the iron’s even heat distribution, emitting negative ions to create soft, silky hair.

What I think: This is a great curling iron! I tried the 1.25″ size and it gave me big curls that I brushed out into soft waves — very pretty. I used it on my 6-year-old daughter and created fun barrel curls. She looked so cute! And it was so easy to use. I love that the barrel can rotate, which made it easy when I switched hands and directions of curl, the rotating barrel made the transition easy. It also heated extremely quickly, which is important for curling children’s hair — they do not want to wait a long time!

This curling iron is available at fine salons & www.whitesandsproducts.com.

DERMAdoctor Litmus Test Glycolic Acid Facial Cleansing Gel

Looking for a great anti-aging cleanser? DERMAdoctor’s Litmus Test Glycolic Acid Cleansing Gel ($25.00 USD) cleanses away impurities, removes environmental debris, dirt, excess skin oils and makeup. Leaves skin refreshed and radiant.

Features:

Buffered Glycolic Acid – Medically recognized as the superior AHA option for removing skin impurities and restoring a glowing complexion.

Benefits:

Restores essential healthy skin chemistry with a unique pH balanced foaming formulation
Exfoliates cellular build-up and clears impurities, make-up, excess skin oil
Can be incorporated into all skincare regimens
Ideal for all skin types

Dermatologist Tested, Non Irritating, Non Drying, Non Comedogenic, pH Balanced, Paraben Free, Soap Free, Oil Free, Fragrance Free, Dye Free, No Animal Testing.

What I think: This is a really nice foaming cleanser that doesn’t irritate the skin. I like that it is fragrance-free and that it foams and rinses clean. I have been using it every other day, because I have extremely sensitive skin and it irritates it a little. But once the redness abates, my skin glows and looks clearer! For non-sensitive skin this can be used every day.

Visit www.dermadoctor.com to learn more and to purchase.