Skin – Page 2 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Winter Makeup Ideas and Tips From Laura Geller!

“Seasonal changes often require that modifications be made to one’s makeup regimen to ensure long-wearing, weather-proof results,” advises makeup artist and product developer Laura Geller. “To keep skin looking even toned and healthier in the colder months, opt for creamy, nourishing formulas that will keep the complexion looking fresh and aptly hydrated.”

It finally rained in Kansas City for a few minutes today, after days of cold, dry air. I know that my skin needs hydration. I am taking care of it by exfoliating and using serums and creams — but I bristle thinking of using powdered blushes and other products on my skin. So I am trying to use cream and liquid formulas. Here are some perfect ideas from Laura:

Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under-Makeup Primer in Bronze ($25 USD) — “Oil-free and enriched with hydrating, yet lightweight ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Centella Asiatica and White Tea Extracts, this primer soothes, helps reduce redness and adds some healthy color to skin,” says Laura. I think a little bronzer in perfect in the winter, especially if you are pale like me.

Achieve a lovely flush of color with Laura’s Air Whipped Blush ($26 USD) — This blush glides on smoothly and blends in well for a sheer wash of color. This blush also features a smoothing topical Dermal Filler to help restore skin’s plumpness and refine its texture. It is available in two shades, Whisper Berry and Whisper Rose.

Signs of the cold are most often seen in dry, cracked lips. Quench a parched pout with the Laura Geller Lively Lip SPF 15 Brightening Lip Gloss ($22 USD). “I love that this lip gloss can instantly transform any lip color, while simultaneously nourishing and conditioning the area,” Laura confides. “Plus, never forget that SPF protection is as important on the slopes as it is on the beach!”

You can purchase these at http://www.qvc.com.

3LAB Perfect BB Cream Receive Flawless Skin And Give To Breast Cancer Awareness!

I have been waiting for a while to try a BB Cream. Big in Asia, BB creams are touted to be a combination moisturizer, primer, light foundation, SPF and to control oil (bb either stands for beauty balm or blemish balm).

I recently tried 3LAB’s Perfect BB Cream. Infused with 3LAB’s signature bio-engineered growth hormone and apple stem cell technology, PERFECT BB CREAM SPF 40 is a sheer tinted moisturizer designed regenerate new skin cells, brighten, moisturize, and protect the skin with a hint of sheer color. A proprietary blend featuring Beta White, a biomimetic peptide that whitens, provides added benefits to illuminate the skin.

As an alternative to foundation or as a foundation primer, BB CREAM will protect the skin from harmful sunrays, sooth and calm irritated skin and illuminate the skin while fighting the signs of aging, It is available in three shades: Shade #01, Shade #02 and Shade #03. Each shade blends smoothly into the skin and provides a translucency and clarity with a non-greasy and quick absorbing formula.

What I think: This cream has a fairly thick consistency, and a little goes a long way. I dab just a bit around my face and smooth it on with a sponge or brush. I then take the included sponge roller and smooth it over my face to basically melt the product into my skin for a natural finish. This gives me a matte look. This is full coverage, so make sure you get the right shade. I have shade #2 which is a beige that is a bit too yellow for my skin. I do like how this feels and looks and love the high SPF.

Purchase at www.barneys.com. 3LAB joins the fight against breast cancer by donating 10% of the profits from Barney’s New York to CEW’s Cancer and Careers when purchasing the new Perfect BB Cream during October and November. Enjoy!

As Summer Winds Down, Keep Your Skin Healthy With Natural Products From The Vitamin Shoppe

I love that you can use natural products, and get great results for your skin at the same time. Win, win! Try one of the following products — you will love them!

Vitamin C W/Coq10 Facial Cleanser from Beauty Without Cruelty ($11.99 USD) — This wonderful softening facial cleanser contains Organic aloe vera gel, organic botanical infusion (chamomile, calendula, lavender), Co-enzyme Q10 and many other natural ingredients. It does not contain parabens, animal ingredients and it is not tested on animals.

Kiss My Face Face Factor Spf 30 For Face and Neck ($11.99 USD) — Kiss My Face combines Oat Protein and Oat Beta Glucan, a dynamic duo of patented ingredients that reduce irritation and inflammation and fight against damaging free radicals as they moisturize your skin. This contains UVA/UVB Protection, it is water-resistant and is 100% paraben free.

Vanilla Honey Spf 15 Lip Balm by Kiss My Face ($3.29 USD) — Smooth, soothe and protect chapped lips organically with this 72% organic treatment. It works quickly to return your lips to a happy state with SPF 15 and tasty vanilla honey flavor. This product contains no animal ingredients, artificial colors, or unnecessary chemicals and was not tested on animals.

One With Nature’s Shea Body Wash ($8.49 USD) — With a sweet and soothing scent, this ultra moisturizing body wash provides a thick, rich lather to gently cleanse the skin. Shea butter and natural minerals, muds and salt of the Dead Sea Basin moisturize your skin and leave it feeling clean, healthy and rejuvenated.

100% Pure Cosmetics Honey Almond Body Scrub ($22.99 USD) Juicy and invigorating body scrub smoothes away bumps and flakes for incredibly silky soft skin. Fruit oils deeply moisturize while anti-aging vitamins and antioxidants nourish. Fruit acids brighten gently for a healthy glow. No harsh detergents, no synthetic chemicals, no artificial fragrances or any other toxins that can strip, irritate or dehydrate your delicate skin. Truly, 100% Pure.

All products are available for purchase at The Vitamin Shoppe or at http://www.vitaminshoppe.com.

Need To Demolish Deep Wrinkles? Try Avon ANEW Platinum!

If you are over 60 or are experiencing advanced signs of aging, Avon has released the perfect skincare line for you — ANEW Platinum. This line claims to help lift the skin and reduce the look of deep wrinkles. It includes cleanser, day and night creams, a serum and an eye and lip cream. Everything you need for your skin to look and feel better as it matures. Here are a couple of products I tested:

ANEW PLATINUM Day Cream SPF 25 ($38.00 USD) — Claims to dramatically reduce the look of deep wrinkles and visibly reshapes the neck for a more youthful look.* Formulated with patented Paxillium Technology to help restore youthful cell shape, while Radiescent Microspheres help to immediately counteract dullness and help restore radiant skin. 92% agree it restores youthful color and radiance to skin.** In 1 day, skin of the delicate neck area looks firmed and feels lifted and supported all day. In 4 weeks, 74% agree it dramatically reduces the look of deep wrinkles and visibly reshapes neck for a more youthful look.** To use: In the morning, smooth evenly over cleansed face and neck. 1.7 fl. oz*Over a 4 week time period. **Based on women who expressed an opinion in a consumer-perception study.

ANEW PLATINUM Eye & Lip Cream ($36.00 USD) — The 1st eye & lip treatment formulated with Paxillium Technology to boost the production of Paxillin by 60% to help restore youthful cell shape. 77% saw more youthful definition in the eye & lip areas.* .5 fl. oz.

For eyes: In 3 days, 88% agree skin around eye area looks and feels more elastic. In 2 weeks, 87% agree it smoothes the look of thin, wrinkled skin on eyelids.*

For lips: In 3 days, fills in the appearance of deep lines above and below lips.** In 2 weeks, 77% agree contour and shape of lips is visibly improved.*

Dual-tip precision applicator – rounded silvery tip helps cool and refresh eye area; flat tip evenly applies cream on and around lips.

*Based on women who expressed an opinion in a consumer-perception study. **Based on in-vitro testing on 3D reconstructed skin.

While I am not the target audience for these products, I found them soothing and extremely moisturizing. I love that the day cream has an SPF of 25 — important for women of all ages. The applicator for the eye and lip cream is so smart — I apply the product with the flat end and smooth it around my eyes or lips with the silver ball.

I do think that this would be a perfect — and fairly affordable — line for those over 60. Visit www.shop.avon.com to purchase. Enjoy!

Erno Laszlo Transphuse Age Defying Mask Anti Aging Treatment

I notice as I move further into my forties, my skin needs extra help. My main complaint is that I notice a general dullness in my skin plus enlarged pores. Luckily, with my blog, I get to try many different anti-aging products. Some help, some don’t. I have recently found one that does!

Erno Laszlo Transphuse Age Defying Mask Anti Aging Treatment ($90.00 USD) is a luxurious approach to anti-aging designed to target fine lines and wrinkles. It also claims to saturate skin with moisture, reverse damage and rejuvenate tired, dull skin. It is formulated with a powerful concentration of Glycosaminoglycans to encourage collagen production for a plumper, more youthful complexion.

Cleanse and tone skin. Apply an even layer to face, avoiding eyes and eye brows. Leave on for 5-10 minutes or until dry. Rinse with warm water. Use weekly or as needed.

What I think: The first time I tried this, I use as directed. After drying my face, I looked in the mirror and wow!, my face looked smooth and glowy (not shiny) and my pores appeared so much smaller. Five years off instantly! This is easy to use and gives amazing results.

To purchase, visit www.ernolaszlo.com. Enjoy!

Moisturize All Over With John Masters Organics Argan Oil

Have you tried Argan oil? This is a natural product that is harvested and produced in Morocco by hand in the Argan forest. Argan oil is a fantastic moisturizer for hair and skin that nourishes without leaving you feeling greasy.

John Masters Organics 100% Argan Oil ($38.00 USD for 2 oz). It’s excellent for taming frizzy hair and mending split ends, and when applied to skin it helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes.

This product is harvested by a women’s cooperative, which has established an ecosystem reforestation project to ensure sustainability and to protect the rare, endangered tree. The income generated is providing healthcare and education for the entire community.

What I think: I love that this is 100% Argan oil. I have tried many products that use the oil as an ingredient, but I really love that this doesn’t have anything else in it. And, it works so well. A little goes a long way, but I use it in my hair to cut the frizzies, my legs after shaving, my cuticles and it is a fab eye makeup remover.

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

Australian Gold Continuous Spray SPF 30

Australian Gold Continuous Spray SPF 30 ($10.49 USD) — Apply evenly and liberally to all exposed areas 20 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply as needed or after towel drying, swimming, perspiring or vigorous activity. Use in well-ventilated areas. Do not spray directly on the face. Spray into hands and rub on the face.

Features are:

Helps prevent sunburn.
Retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in the water or sweating.
Provides high protection against sunburn and tanning.

What I think: This is a really effective sunblock. The spray is easy to apply — it imparts a fine mist so that it covers very well. It is not greasy and stays on for almost a couple of hours. Perfect for hot summer days!

Visit www.australiangold.com to learn more and to find out where to purchase.

Rid Your Skin of Bikini Bumps With Bikini Zone After Shave Gel

Have you been shaving your legs every day (like me)? Or, waxing or using creams a lot? Then I’m sure you’ve had the little red bumps that can appear after hair removal. Luckily there are products like Bikini Zone After Shave Gel that will help your skin be smooth again!

Bikini Zone’s After Shave Gel ($7.99 USD) — Bikini Zone’s best-selling, most popular product is specially formulated to help skin recover from the possible effects of hair removal, such as irritation, redness, itching and bumps. Its special ingredients instantly stop irritation, redness and itching. And it helps reduce the chance of ingrown hairs that cause bumps by exfoliating the skin to prevent hair from curling back under the skin. This formula is also available in a Medicated Cream.

Bikini area irritation can occur any time, not just during swimsuit season. Using Bikini Zone regularly can help keep your bikini area skin irritation-free and beautifully smooth all year long.

How to Use: After hair removal, apply a thin layer of Bikini Zone to the affected areas. Repeat as necessary but no more than 4 times daily. Whether you use a razor, wax or depilatory, continue to apply Bikini Zone as a regular part of a hair removal routine. Won’t stain clothing or bathing suits.

What I think: This is perfect to have around in the summer time! After shaving, I apply to the red bumps and they reduce in size in a few hours. I do have the medicated version and it is a bit stinky, but it does work very well.

Where to Buy: Nationwide at food, drug and mass-market retailers.

Website: www.bikinizone.com

It’s Sunscreen Time — Try One of These Amazing Choices!

It’s almost summer, which means time to get out the sunscreen! Whether you are gardening, running errands or will be at the pool or beach all day, grab a new sunscreen for face, body or even hands and enjoy the outdoors without damaging your skin!

Avon ANEW SOLAR ADVANCE Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 45 (Reg. $34.00, Sale $24.00) Sun exposure can cause visible signs of aging. UV Rays penetrate skin’s surface, damaging DNA and creating harmful superoxide free radicals that attack skin cells. The best protection is to avoid sun exposure. When this isn’t possible, broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must to help protect skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Formulated with RepairShield™ Technology. Dramatically reduces the look of wrinkles and visibly diminishes discolorations. Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection. Lightweight, quick-absorbing. Very water-resistant. 2.6 oz. net wt.

Also available is ANEW SOLAR ADVANCE Sunscreen Body Lotion SPF 30 (Reg. $34.00, Sale $24.00). Visit www.youravon.com/brittbowman to learn more and purchase.

If you would like to try a newer brand that has received a lot of praise — Supergoop! uses the latest technology to provide easy-to-use sunscreen options. Some I have tried are:

Supergoop! SPF 30+ Lip Balms (AcaiFusion and MintFusion) $8.50 USD) Toss those low SPF formulas and grab these unique SPF 30 lip balm solutions! They protect against broad-spectrum UV rays in a super-antioxidant and regenerative formulation.

Supergoop! SPF 30+ Sunscreen Swipes ($34.00 (for 21 individually wrapped swipes) $34.00 (for a pack of 40 swipes) $10.00 (for a pack of 8 swipes) An extension of their ever-so-popular 40 count and 8 count swipe packs, these soft, pre-moistened, paraben-free and water-resistant swipes, that deliver powerful UV protection for the face and body, are now available in individually wrapped packets – to keep it easy for you and your little ones to stay covered on the go!

Supergoop! SPF 30+ Everyday UV Lotion Spray ($19.50 USD) A favorite among both men and women everywhere for its incredibly “clean” formula, this lightweight, water-resistant sunscreen lotion is great for all skin types, and is now available in a convenient, TSA-approved 3 oz. spray bottle for a broader application range!

Supergoop!’s NEW summer 2011 Collection is available for purchase at Sephora/Sephora.com, Nordstrom/Norstrom.com, Barneys NY/Barneys.com andwww.Supergoop.com.

Hissyfit Body Double body moisturizer plus SPF 30+ ($38.00 USD) The singular Body Double. Enjoy a luxurious body moisturizer that cares for the body in so many different ways – protecting against sun damage, fighting free radicals and hydrating precious skin. Rich in anti-oxidants, it also contains broad spectrum SPF 30+ protection to guard against UVA/UVB rays and environmental damage while enveloping your skin with an energizing fragrance.

Another neat product from Hissyfit is the Handy Work Hand Cream ($22.00 USD) This is a decadent hand cream containing moisturizing ingredients and sun protection all in one. Its advanced formula relieves dryness and delivers intense hydration, nourishes with Vitamin E and aloe extracts, and provides broad spectrum protection from environmental damage with SPF 30. The beautiful orange mint fragrance pampers the senses with every use. Visit www.hissyfit.com to learn more. Enjoy!

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!