THE ADVICE SISTERS® "What Works" Beauty, Cosmetics &
Fashion Review Column
January/February 2008 --
Winter Skin Challenges & Valentine's Day Ideas
by Alison Blackman Dunham
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For some, Winter is the best time of the year. The air is cold and crisp, snow falls delicately on the ground and coats everything with sparkling white icing. Personally, Winter isn't my favorite time of the year, but it does bring with it the promise of Spring, Ground Hog Day (February 2nd) which is my favorite holiday, and Valentine's Day (February 14th) which is not just for lovers, but a great time to appreciate everyone you love (or at least, like). Winter brings some beauty challenges, such as dry skin, hair, and nails. Therefore, our focus for this column is not only romantic ideas for Valentine's Day and solutions for dry, Winter skin. CHANGES FOR 2008: Starting with this column, the What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column will be bi-monthly. The AdviceSisters are making this change to help our readers more effectively access the information in each column. We will also be including more detailed reviews of products on a weekly basis in our Blog and Forums. We hope you approve! "AdviceSister Alison"
WINTER SKINCARE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR EYES: The Un-Wrinkle Eye by Peter Thomas Roth Clinical Skin Care $100.00 .05 oz. is another luxury eye product that is of special benefit to anyone who has early signs of aging around the eyes, or who already has mature skin with deeper and more defined wrinkles. There are so many key ingredients in this lotion, we can't name them all, but we can say that the lotion has an exclusive, patent-pending blend of six powerful 100% active anti-aging peptides and maximum-strength neuropetides mixed with three cutting-edge ingredients (and Vitamin A, E and Hyaluronic acid) to create a smoothing, plumping, and high nourishing eye cream. The synthetic neuropeptide actually mimics the relaxing properties found in the venom of the Brazilian viper! However, this ingredient is not only safe, it stops muscles from contracting to form new lines.! All of this "goof stuff" is packed into a very emollient cream, dispensed from a silvery bottle with large, silver and white pump top. The lotion is gentle and creamy, but it is fully absorbed after a few minutes. It immediately offers light-diffusing properties to make eyes look younger, but used twice a day for approximately 28 days, it firms, brightens, and moisturizes the delicate eye area for real--no smoke and mirrors! This product isn't a splurge for anyone who wants to pamper and protect that delicate, under-eye area.
I immediately liked the Time Wise Targeted Action Eye Revitalizer from Mary Kay for it's rollerball design that lets you apply the clear, odor-free, non-greasy product without getting it all over your hands. This cooling serum contains an exclusive blend of ingredients (several dozen are listed on the box) specifically formulated to address the multiple causes of dark circles and under-eye puffiness. Like most eye treatments, you've got to use this one for a while to see significant results, but most of us immediately saw the swelling/puffiness under our eyes, diminish, and the cooling sensation is a pick-me-up that lasts for a while, making you feel more awake, too. Intervene Eye Pause & Effect Moisture Eye Cream $42.00 .5 oz by Elizabeth Arden looks dressing table-worthy, in a smoked plastic jar with pewter top. Inside, a unique moisturizing treatment with Biodormin™ technology helps combat the signs of aging around your eyes, diminishing the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, and hopefully, delaying the arrival of future lines and wrinkles. Biodormin™ is a new, anti-aging technology that extracts its key ingredient from the Narcissus Tazetta Bulb. The extract has been shown to help slow the visible effects of aging on the skin. The soft cream feels highly emollient on your face, but it absorbs very quickly and won't leave any grease slicks. Your skin will feel smooth and hydrated throughout the day, making this eye cream a pleasant experience from start to finish. We didn't use it long enough to see diminished lines and wrinkles, but the puffiness and dark circles diminished quickly, which lets us give this one two thumbs up!
WINTER SKINCARE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR FACE: Multi-tasking products not only make it easier to have beautiful skin, they eliminate your excuses! The new, Eau Micellaire 3-in-1 Cleanser, Toner and Makeup Remover for Face and Eyes $25.00 6.7 fl. oz for example, lets you cleanse your face, remove makeup, and even tone and soothe your skin with one step. Simply moisten a cotton pad and swipe it all over your face. A bunch of minerals, a "Detox Complex" and pure extract of thermal plankton immediately removed dirt, foundation, eye makeup, even residual lipstick, soothed our skin, left it glowing, and nourished it. We didn't have to use a basket of product to make it happen! One pass of the pad on each side and we realized just how much "gunk" we always leave behind. Another new product from Biotherm, the Line Peel Polisher $28.00 2.5 oz. is a one-step skin renewal treatment inspired by microdermabrasion. This "bio peeling system" is a light lavender, lightly floral-scented cream that gently activates the skin's own self-peeling process and also mechanically removes dead skin cells with tiny silica crystals, just by sitting on your dry, clean skin. Apply it like a mask, let it sit for 7-8 minutes, then simply smooth it off your face with your fingertips, or wet skin and "polish" your face with it, then rise with cool water. There's a normal/combo formula and one for dry skin, and they're both safe to use 2-3 times, weekly. Most people find that their skin gets more dry in the Winter. If you don't have the time to spend with goop all over your face while you wait for hydration to happen, you'll like the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Masque $45.00 2.5 oz. The clear, odorless gel in a tube is an intense weekly treatment that is eventually absorbed into the skin and you don't have to time it or wash off. You really can't tell it's on your face, so you can actually go outside or greet your boyfriend at the door without scaring people away! The leave-on masque has a generous helping of Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin B5, along with a unique Advanced Moisture Complex containing elements of the skin’s natural moisture factor (NMF). In terms of keeping your skin moist, Hydrating B5 Masque’s Hyaluronic Acid is capable of attracting and retaining 1000 times its own weight in water! The masque is oil-free and can also be used to pamper hands, feet, elbows, knees, and any other rough, dry areas of skin needing additional hydration, especially during winter. I most recently tried it on severely chapped skin due to a Winter cold and it was very soothing. It feels a bit cooling and refreshing--a true pick-me-up that actually makes you feel good as well as benefit your skin. This product is so easy and effective, we'll be using it once a week as recommended from now on. TIP: Put the Hydrating B5 Masque in the freezer or refrigerator to supercharge your treatment. It's safe for all skin types There are many doctors that offer skincare lines to their patients, but Dr. Kenneth Mark's website even has it's own blog. The young, handsome Dr. Mark treats the "fabulous" in places like the Hamptons and Aspen, where looking great isn't just an option, it is a must. The board-certified dermatologist already has a luxe line of skin care products, but his new Antioxidant Hydrating Cream $95.00 1.7 fl. oz (plus shipping) is raising interest, and hopes for better skin for both men and women. This new cream in a simple, white and silver pump bottle, contains a newly-discovered antioxidant called "Astaxanthin" that has up to 1000 times the antioxidant capacity of Vitamin E and 100 times the antioxidant capacity of beta-carotene. This ingredient, along with 7 other antioxidants (e.g. vitamins C and E, green tea, superoxide dismutase, and lipoic acid packs a powerful punch to repair and protect your skin against aging. Our reviewers including our male reviewers, liked the cream, that applies as smoothly as a gel, with no greasy feel or scent. We didn't use it long enough to see the type of results you'd expect, but we can tell you that our skin felt smooth and nourished. If regular helps reduce melanin production, prevent UV-induced collagen breakdown, and undo some of the other possible damage caused by the stresses of dehydration, sun, and pollution as well, it's well worth it!
"Genesis" mean origin or beginning, a fitting description of the new Skin Genesis skincare line from L'Oreal, created to take on the signs of aging with technologically-advanced formulas. The four products in this line are packaged in slim, clear plastic pump bottles with silver rings and wide white pump top. A sugar-derived molecule from the beech wood plant that is able to penetrate the layers of the skin provides the excitement, and the results, in Skin Genesis. This exclusive L'Oreal Molecule, Pro-Xylane," strengthens skin and improves the performance of cell activity layer by layer to strengthen and moisturize skin at all levels. Hyaluronic acid plumps skin from within, literally. Mixed together, the Skin Genesis products actually strengthen and moisturize your skin, make it stronger, firmer, and smoother, and help your complexion to be softer and younger-looking, longer (over time). There are four products $24.99/each for 1.7 oz.: Daily Treatment Serum Concentrate (for all skin types) and three moisturizers: Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 Lotion; Fragrance Free SPF 15 Lotion; Daily Moisturizer Oil-Free Lotion. Women of any age can benefit from these products, but women in their 30's-40's who begin using Skin Genesis regularly have the most to gain. All our reviewers liked the silicone based serum, reporting that it gave their skin a smoother feel and kept their makeup from looking dry and flaky (a plus in Winter), but those with oily skin mentioned break-outs. The moisturizers with their silky, gel-liked qualities also got a thumbs-upl, but the trick is to choose the one best for your skin. If your skin is oily, definitely choose the Oil-Free version. Everyone knows Vitamin C has plenty of do-a-body-good properties, but it also helps tired skin to become smoother and younger looking. An easy way to make sure your skin gets it's "daily C" is with Vitamin + Radiant C Beauty Drops $21.99/28 pcs. from Lumene. Individual, copper-colored "pillows" with twist-off-tops are ideal for travel or tucking into a makeup bag. Inside, a cocktail of concentrated active ingredients help protect your skin with a breathable layer to protect it against free radicals, while arctic cloudberry seed oil (rich in Vitamin C) help to smooth wrinkles and protect your skin against aging. Vitamin C helps to moisturize and nourish your skin. Several reviewers suggested that it worked much like a skin primer, melting into their skin and leaving a bit of a light, matte finish. Others claimed brightened skin. In any case, they agree it's pretty darn good. We're impressed with Lumene. This one is a month's worth of beauty in one little jar.
The Shielding Lotion $25.00 4 0z. from Skin MD Natural is great for very dry skin, with a proprietary formula that has a moisturizing factor at least 6 times greater than glycerin (until now, the "gold standard" for drawing in as much moisture from the air as possible). New to our reviews, this company's product comes in a flip-top bottle and looks like an ordinary moisturizing lotion, but a "shielding lotion" keeps moisture-robbing irritants away from the skin while it's proprietary "super" humectants hydrate the skin throughout the day. Conventional lotions only add surface moisture to temporarily alleviate the dryness or itching. Shielding lotions bond with the skin and protect it for long periods of time, so your skin keeps its own moisture in and has a chance to use it in the deeper layers of the skin to heal itself." Apart from the technical explanation of the bennies, we liked the way it absorbed quickly without any odor, heaviness or residue. After a few applications daily, we found that our skin really did look and feel much more moist, even though it had been very tight and dry previously. The product won't clog your pores, a little goes a long way. It's so versatile, too--use it on face, hands, feet, and your entire body! The simple, no-nonsense white bottle with red top and simple graphic featuring leaves of the aloe plant, is bathroom-appropriate for men and women alike. Dull, dry, flaky skin is not a great look, but most of us suffer from some degree of it in the Winter time. Cornelia Works is an anti-acne line that uses mineral rich Romanian mud extract, exotic natural plant extracts, and herbs and botanicals to work on acne-prone skin without drying it out. The Cornelia Works Advanced Skin Clarifying Masque $125.00 is a clay mask that has soothing, exfoliating and inflammation-fighting extracts. It's so luxe, it comes with a beautiful, mother-of-pearl applicator. The slight tingle says it's working hard to go deep into pores and clean the out, but yet, our skin still felt soft and moist. St. Ives Apricot Cleanser/Mask $2.89 6 oz. is a great beauty bargain. It has a multi-tasking formula that functions as a cleanser, and also as a facial Mask treatment. As a mask, it works with the steam of your shower to remove impurities --in just one minute! Mineral clay draws impurities and oils to remove trapped dirt and particles from your skin, and a mild cleanser made from coconuts deep cleans without stripping moisture. As a cleanser, gentle jojoba esters lightly buff and exfoliate. Mineral rich apricot extract (Vitamin B3 and C), plus Swiss Glacial Water and a unique blend of Swiss Botanicals nourish and condition, while a light, fruity apricot and mango scent adds a spa-like quality to the experience. There's also a nice, multi-tasking Gentle Apricot Scrub $2.89 6 oz. for sensitive skin --rejoice!
SKINCARE FOR BODY AND BATH:
Oatmeal is good for your health, and it's also good for your body! St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Advanced Body Moisturizer $4.99 18 fl. oz has colloidal oatmeal (finely ground oats) that hydrate in water and help to soothe and comfort your skin. The creamy lotion packed into this large, plastic pump bottle also has shea butter (rich in Vitamin A, E and F) to provide hydration and anti-oxidants, olive oil (to provide an emollient similar to human skin oils), moisture guard (a patented blend of moisturizers), Swiss glacial water and a Swiss blend of botanicals (unique to all St. Ives products) including primrose, chamomile, sunflower and elder flower. Silicones help the product glide over your skin and a light, fresh scent makes the experience, a pleasure. The same moisturizing benefits are also present in St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Moisturizing Body Wash $2.99 13.5 oz. The non-drying, nicely cleansing body wash comes in a simple plastic bottle with a flip-top cap. What makes this one unique is the colloidal oatmeal which, activated by water in bath or shower, acts to actually moisturize on contact and locks that moisture in. When you step out of the shower, your skin already feels soft and moist--essential during the Winter months when skin is at it's most itchy, dry and uncomfortable. These products may be inexpensive but they're not ineffective! St. Ives gives you great value.
Everyone knows oranges are good for you, and they smell great, too! The limited edition Feu D'Orange Soft Skin Oil $30.00 3.4 fl. oz by L'Occitane softens your skin and scents it with essential oils of blood orange and sweet orange from Sicily, offering your skin a kiss of warm, sensual scent. The top notes give you a burst of citrus, featuring Sicilian blood orange and sweet orange, Calabrian tangerine and lemon, but the middle notes of Vetiver and Gaiac wood, and deep bas notes of benzoin and incense, take this scent from fruity treat to the dramatic and sensual. The moisturizing properties of the oil are immediate...dry, flaky skin simply disappears under a nurturing coat of the light and easily absorbed oil. The scent is appropriate for men as well as women, so you can tempt him with a V-day spa treatment or a massage with it as well. The gorgeous, glass, "blood orange" tinted bottle with tiny matte silver cap looks beautiful the dresser. We don't know how long everything in this line will be available...get yours now! Per-fékt Body Perfection Gel $48.00 3 f. oz. by Per-fékt Skin is a nifty, multi-tasking gel that nourishes your skin and adds a bit of glimmer, while it nourishes and protects it. If your skin is dry and pale, rev it up in no time with a bit of this super moisturizer with shea butter, isododecane (emollient that conditions and helps maintain hydration) and Hyaluronic filing spheres (re-hydrate skin from within and help firm, tone, and improve elasticity) and get a bit of color, too! There are three shades: "Brilliant" is a light tan for fair skin, "Golden" is a warm tan for medium or olive skin tones, and "Exotic" is a deep tan for deeper skin tones. It's "body makeup" that makes your skin feel super-soft and sensual. All of the Per-fékt Body Perfection Gels are fragrance and paraben-free, and sweat, water and transfer resistant. A little goes a long way, so indulge!
There is something so calming about a soft floral scent. One that I think is both feminine and calming is the Lotus & Bamboo-scented line of products from Mary Kay. Reviewers really liked the lime, white and deep green packaging and the light floral scent that reminded us a bit of lily of the valley, but more "clean" and not so sweet. Revive your dry, Winter skin with the Lotus & Bamboo Loofah Body Cleanser $16.00 8 oz. Little bits of real loofah fiber help remove dead skin cells and make your skin more radiant, without ripping it to pieces. Skin-smoothing botanicals cleanse with mineral-rich bamboo powder and kiwi seeds, and of course, nourish it as well. Follow with a very nice and pampering Nourishing Body Lotion $16.00 8 fl. oz. that banishes dry skin with emollient sunflower oil and a lightly cooling feel. The lightweight formula also includes vitamin E and that calming, Lotus & Bamboo scent. Refresh yourself, any time, with a spritz of Doe Body Spritzed $18.005. fl. oz. This nice, lightly-scented clear liquid freshens and deodorizes your skin and leaves that lovely, light lotus & bamboo scent. This one is a great travel companion, too. These are definitely affordable indulgences. The Cornelia Signature Collection is a specialized range of luxury products that bring some of the treatments from the famed day spa to your home. The super-thick, rich cream of the Cornelia Signature Radiant Body Polish $28.00 5 oz. comes in a flip-top tube, so it won't make a mess, should you want to take it with you. Micro-fine particles of apricot seed powder buff away dead, dry skin from every part of your body without stripping your skin. Emollient antioxidants such as sweet almond oil, Vitamin E and skin-soothing baseball make skin silky-soft. It's a luxurious body exfoliator with the subtlest sandalwood scent that was inspired by tranquil, European forests and is very sensual and relaxing. For all these reasons, our male reviewers liked this product as well as the ladies. Make sure you have a tube on hand to share, for your V-day "spa night." New to our column is Intelligent Aesthetics. Housed in simple, clear plastic bottles and tubes with simple labels, the products are unisex, and organized by need and skin types and in 6 different categories: "Enlighten" (to brighten the skin); "Clear" (alleviate acne, prevent breakouts, and soothe); "Quench," (for dry skin, including eczema. to soothe and moisturize); "Nourish" (control clogged pores, replenish moisture); "Balance," (clarifying /oil absorbing); and "Soothe," (reduce redness and irritation, diminish rosacea flare-ups). The web site has a mini-evaluation you can do online to find the type that suits you the best. We tried some products from the "Nourish" line. We particularly liked the Exfoliating Oatmeal Cleanser $28.00 7 oz which the company suggests is a 90-day supply (so a little goes a long way). This multi-tasking cleanser/scrub cleanses deeply but gently, featuring oat extract, honey, walnut powder, and other good-for-your-skin ingredients. It "polished" the dry flakes skin nicely, but there was absolutely no redness or irritation. We also really liked the Revitalizing Skin Primer $18.00 9 fl. oz, The orange-scented, alcohol free toner conditions skin and cleanses pores, with silky carrot and grapeseed oils. This one helps combat any dry flakes that are left on your skin, too. Add moisture and nourishment with a good moisturizer. Also nice was the orange-scented AM/PM Restorative Complex Nourish Moisturizer $14.00 3/6 fl. oz that soothes and pumps up much-needed moisture with humectants like sunflower seed oil and beeswax, and a dose of Ceramides 3 to hydrate and seal the moisture in. Rice extract and safflower oil condition as well, leaving your skin feeling soft, but not greasy. There are masks and specialty products as well, which we hope to review in future columns. Intelligent Aesthetics products are simple to use, affordable, effective, and pleasant--that's exactly how skincare should be.
A moisturizer makes your skin soft and reduces dryness, but a great moisturizer makes you feel great about bodycare, too. The new, Papaya Body Balm $46.00 7.0 oz. by June Jacobs from their Spa Collection, offers the bennies of papaya to benefit your body and your spirit. Papaya is known for it's healing, softening and exfoliating benefits. In this light but highly moisturizing lotion, papaya fruit oil/extract, derived from the fruit, it is mixed with shea butter and nourishing oils such as Squalane and rosehips seed, aromatic botanicals, carrageenan and algae extracts (humectants to retain moisture) and protective anti-oxidants work together to make skin feel soft, smooth, refreshed and supple. Theoretically, the scent adjust to your personal body chemistry. We found it fresh and slightly fruity, and intoxicatingly yummy. Lavish generous amount of this body balm on your skin and you'll find the scent lasts a long time. The clean, white and sea-green plastic bottle appeals to women and men, alike. This is a lovely, effective, luxe, spa-night moisturizer for your V-day soirée. Can you really enjoy a rich, spicy chai Latte every single morning and never gain a pound? Actually, yes, you can! The Chai Latte Soul and Body Wash $35.00 12 oz by Philip B cleans your body, silkens your skin like nobody's business, and decadently bathes your skin in silky softness while it smells just like the real thing! Indian Spices, including cardamom, cinnamon, ginger root, black pepper and nutmeg are mixed with honey, natural humectant, and naturally exfoliating milk proteins plus black tea...the effect is dizzingly wonderful! Shake the product, lather it on your wet skin, soak in the scent for 2-5 minutes as it soaks into your skin. If you can hold out, you'll have experience one of the most sensual body treatments ever...and it won't cost you an arm and a leg at the salon. It's one of the most incredibly pleasing bath & body products we have ever experienced, and a must-have for dry Winter skin. It will make a great addition to a romantic spa night for two, but it'll make bathing fun for one, too!
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If you suffer from skin conditions such as atoipc dermatitis or eczema or sun-damaged skin, Winter can literally suck the life (and moisture) out and leave your skin irritated and itchy. Two new and remarkable products from Lierac can help moisturize very dry skin with these types of conditions. Hydrofilia Fluid Body Cream for Dry skin 4.97 oz and Hydrofilia Super-Rich Body Cream for Ultra-Dry Skin 5 oz. work hard to stop water evaporation, using essential fatty acids and 60% linoleic acids that create a barrier or "film" effect on skin. The Fluid Body Cream features antioxidant Vitamin E and Omega-3, 6, and 9 (found in extracts of camellia kissi seed oil), plus rapeseed and coconut oils to soften and moisturize, and mint leaf extract (contains anti-inflammatory properties to reduce irritation and redness). Hydrofilia Super-Rich Body Cream for Ultra-Dry Skin has 10% urea and 1% lactic acid that are designed to mimic the natural moisturizing factor in the deepest layers or skin to help it retain water and regular cell renewal. Antioxidant Vitamin E also helps protect skin against the damaging stresses of the environment. Both products are hypo-allergenic, and are nicely scented with a light rose, freesia and white musk mix. These are serious skincare helpers that can bring new hope for those with skin conditions, and add new life to anyone's dry skin in general. Try one and you'll see....results are immediate! True Blue Spa is a line of Asian-inspired bath and body products called the "Far East Escape Collection" featuring natural ingredients such as green tea extract and bamboo. We were impressed with the Self Meditating Body Butter with Rice Brain Oil & Green Tea $15.00. A soft, lightly floral green tea scent permeates a soft and creamy product that has rice bran oil to hydrate even really dry skin, and green tea to protect it from environmental damage. It absorbs quickly and completely, leaving softer, silkier, hydrated skin. We also like the green-tea scented Mystic Silk 24-Hour Ultimate Body Moisture Lotion with Silk Protein & Rice Brain Oil $15.00. White tea is antioxidant, rice brain oil hydrates, and silk protein nourishes. The rich lotion in a pump bottle will quickly become an affordable favorite.
SKINCARE JUST FOR THE GUYS:
The Trish McEvoy Luxe Moisture Balm SPF 15 $18.00 is one of our all-time favorites, and has become a staple on our dressing tables for several years now. However, our "men folk" have become even bigger fans. A small rectangle of frosted clear plastic in a dial-up stick (with shiny black cover) holds a clear, moist, unscented, matte, soothing balm with UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum sun protection is the thing for every part of a person's body that is irritated, cracked or dry! It is a real pick-me-up that instantly smoothes and soothes skin. The ladies can use it for extra soothing protection under a favorite gloss or lipstick, but the guys will appreciate the fact that no one will know they're wearing anything at all. Use can also safely use this under your eyes. The multi-tasking, unisex nature of this amazing and effective skin balm/moisture in a clean, solid package makes it a favorite or singles and couples for travel, too.
FRAGRANCES FOR WINTER AND FOR VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could simply apply your sex appeal? Well, now it might just be possible. Basic Instinct $26.00 .5 oz by Pure Romance, Inc. is a pheromone-based cologne that does something more than just smell lightly of pina colada. This fragrance includes pheromones. Although you might not be aware of it, your personal pheromone messenger molecules are continuously whirling off your body and into the air around you. They rise up from the recesses of your sweat glands, and they linger in strands of your hair. Most scientists agree that humans process pheromones as strong, sexual stimulants. Obviously, an attractive scent is not the only way to attract someone, but it wouldn't hurt to add that extra "something" when aiming Cupid's arrow. The neat, roller-ball applicator makes this an easy "weapon of love" to carry at all times. Pure Romance, new to our reviews this column, was founded in 1993 by "intimacy expert" Patty Brisben. The company specializes in woman-to-woman direct home sales of "relationship enhancing products." Wt think it's a great idea, and hope to bring you more Pure Romance products in the future.
I can't think of a more appropriate fragrance to tell someone you love them than Affection Eau De Parfum $50.00 1 fl. oz. by Mary Kay. This luxury scent is presented in a maroon box with delicate, silvery scrolled accents. Inside, there is a streamlined, clear and red-tinted bottle that looks a bit like a rounded teardrop. It's quite striking. But the scent is the star, and this one is surprisingly sexy, but not overwhelming. We'd say it's a medium-intensity oriental chypre with a top note of spicy pink peppercorn, a heart of Chinese osmanthus and white peony and a bottom of amber woods. This is a woman's scent, not really suitable for a young girl. It won the Essence Readers choice awards this year. Let it warm your heart (or the heart of your special someone), this Winter.
PAMPER HANDS, FEET & NAILS: Essie Nail Polish $8.00 is salon quality and one of our favorite products for nails at a very affordable price. On the confirmed theory that a box of Essie Nail Polish is better (and less fattening) than box of chocolate, treat yourself or a BFF (best female friend) this V-day to the entire Essie Winter 2007 Nail Polish Collection for less than $50.00! Designed to coordinate with the latest Winter fashion trends, Essie's six new Winter colors are metallic, shimmery and bold. Greys are complimented by "steel-in the scene" a medium brushed pewter that looks like molten silver on your nails. Deeper yet is "over the top," a dark grey with lots of shimmer. Winter's reds are complimented by "who's she red" a bold, clear, glamorous crimson. Garnets and berries are represented by two stunning colors: "wrapped in rubies" a deep, rich, gold-shimmered burgundy (amazing with rich fabrics such as velvet or cashmere) and "showstopper," a cheerful, gold-shimmered ripe berry. For a change, "nude attitude" is a semi-sheer, creamy, warm ivory that is kind to less-than-perfect nails, and can be used for French manicures, too. Essie also has an exciting, limited edition (through the end of February). In a partnership with E! Entertainment, Essie has created a bold, clear, red Nail Polish with just a hint of shimmer called "Live From the Red Carpet). The nail polish will be available for purchase on the web at Eonline and essie.com, just in time for awards season. The polish was inspired by E!'s “Live From the Red Carpet” programming. This red-carpet-ready red would be perfect on any movie star. It's classic, glamorous, not too blue or too orange. Check our buying guide for online sales sites. Did you know that the skin on your hands is actually thinner than the delicate skin on your face? It's a fact, and it's also true that there are few oil glands on the back of your hands and on none on your palms. This means your hard-working hands are vulnerable to dehydration and premature aging. Since your hands have little oil production of their own, moisture evaporates more easily. The cold also constricts the blood vessels leading to redness and chapping. All of this means your hands and nails can get seriously dry and chapped, especially if you use harsh detergents or spend a lot of time in the cold. Repair Mains $26.00 2.52 oz. by Lierac is brand new this January, and works wonders not just on dry hands, but also on brittle and ridged nails. The powerfully rich cream has a pretty and light floral scent, and active ingredients of castor plant oil, D-panthenol (pro-vitamin V5), urea and petrolatum, shea butter and Vitamin A Palmitate (to moisturize and encourage the removal of dead skin cells) plus Antarcticine, a protective against the cold and anti-aging properties. Apply the cream to clean, dry hands starting from the tips of your nails to your wrists. Although the softening, silkening, moisturizing effect is immediate, we didn't notice a single bit of oil or greasiness--just hands that felt like they'd had a spa treatment. Genius! Risarium Black Rice Intensive Age-Defying Hand Cream with SPF 15 $19.99 1.6 fl. oz by Perlier is a moisturizing, anti-aging hand "treatment." This multi-tasking moisturizer features black rice peptides, rich in proteins to fight the visible signs of premature aging. We like the pleasant, light "fresh" scent and the fact that this has SPF 15 to protect your hands all day, no matter where you are. So important not only to prevent more skin damage, but to keep hands looking younger, longer. Another feature of this nice cream is the :Micro-pearls" that swell and fill small wrinkles to help smooth the look of hands. The pump bottle makes it easy to apply without a mess (we just love the option of a pump bottle, instead of having to stick our hands in a jar). The cream is very rich, but absorbs quickly, leaving and feeling velvety, moisturized, and visibly smoother. It's a great product that feels high-end at a reasonable price, too.
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Get the What Works" Beauty, Cosmetics, and Fashion Review columns from 1999-2007 at the What Works Archives EYES: WINDOW TO THE SOUL: We didn't receive the Pür Minerals Picture Pür-fect Holiday Box $29.50 in time for our December 2007 column, but we are including it in this column because this amazing, limited edition should still be available the first few weeks of January if they haven't all haven't been snapped up by shopper, already. If Santa didn't give you the box of color cosmetics you wanted for the holidays, now's the time to gift yourself! The Pür Minerals Picture Pür-fect Holiday Box is really two gifts in one. It features a hard-sided "chocolate brown "pleather" keepsake box featuring a clear insert in the lid for your fave 5" x 7" photo. Inside the box you'll find eight mineral shadow and eight shea butter lipsticks, plus a full-sized, dual-ended lip/eye brush. What I like so much about this is that all of the colors are universally flattering, wearable, and appropriate for every season. The lipsticks, for example, are moisturizing and tint lips well, but with believable colors in reds, roses, browns, and peaches that are neither too dark nor wimpy pale...they magically all seem just perfect, actually. The eye shadows flatter in mattes and shimmers (glimmery but not gaudy) shades of champagne, lavender, pearl, gold, brose, pink and a gorgeous, soft but intense matte plum. Pür Minerals are created with super-fine minerals that cover with color, but flatter with a natural look. And, the color comes from pure minerals so even those with sensitive skin can wear them. Shea Butter & Vitamin E bind the minerals together, so you also get good for your skin bennies. Try these, and you'll fall in love Pür Minerals!
Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials $22.00 come in a wanded, lip gloss-style tube, and in six shades, but these are for your eyes, only. The creamy base is waterproof, and coats your lids for a perfect application of shadow. The colors are primarily light pastel, the deepest is "Linen," a medium nude. We tried Vanilla, which is actually a light pink, and there is also an ivory, white, and two shades of nude peach. Wear them as-is for a natural, clean lid look, or as they are actually intended, under eye shadow to prevent creasing, keep the color true to color, and extend it's wear. Any way you use it, once you've tried it you'll see it's a "must-have." The Glitz "Falls For Mauve" Eye Shadow Set $50.00 by Glitz Beverly Hills is a pretty and luxurious grouping of five pressed powder mineral shadows in pinks and lavenders. They're heartbreakingly romantic for Valentine's Day, and will look great right through the Spring. The fabulous, slightly shimmery colors range from a whisper-light pink and lilac, to rose, mauve and a medium plum. The colors are sheer but with layering they can take on a boldness that still looks natural. This Glitz palette is silvery on the outside with a slim, peek-a-boo clear strip so you can see all the colors from the outside. You'll need the interior mirror to see how your eyes have been made expressive, to the max. A nice, dual-ended brush has bristles on one end, synthetic on the other. Use both for different effects and not to worry--whatever you wear, it'll be beautiful.
Dark circles making it look like you've had too many late nights? The Genie Vibrant Eyes Concealer $30.00 can instantly make a difference that's easy to see. This pricey click-it pen is full of creamy concealer that is much, much more. It's full of powerful anti-oxidants A, C and E, aloe vera, collagen, and an exclusive, T-One complex (to reduce the signs of aging). The light reflecting ingredients cover imperfections and reduce dark circles without being sticky, cake-y or heavy. The product is so light it literally floats onto your skin and you can blend it with your fingertips, even though the click-it pen has synthetic bristle brush on the top. The concealer dries so fast you'll forget you have it on (it's quite crease-proof, too), but it'll keep working to reduce bags and puffiness. There are three shades, neutral, light, and medium. Use it as a base for your eye shadow. It's especially great it you have freckles or discolorations that make your shadow look blotchy. Add a bit to the inside corners of your eyes near your nose to make eyes look bigger. Also add it to your brow bone as a highlighter in a pinch. Bourjois Cosmetics has introduced a number of nifty eye products, including some "mini-sized" ones. Here is a rundown of the newest and best:
FABULOUS FACES!
I love powder foundations, but sometimes they just are too drying or chalky for me to manage (especially in the Winter, when my skin is drier than usual). Depending upon how much I apply and whether I use a specific brush, or a sponge, the Function 5 Self-Adjusting Powder Foundation $36.00 by Smashbox lets me adjust how much I apply from a sheer finishing powder all the way to full coverage foundation. Corn derived sugar, Vitamins A, C B5 & E, Co-enzyme Q10 and Peptides, Soybean extract, and mild retinoic Ester Technology help this foundation firm, tone, revitalize, protect, fight wrinkles and lines, reduces redness, and evens skin tone. That's a lot to task from a foundation in a mirrored compact, but this one was made to suit the needs of makeup artists, photographers and models working in studio conditions. In everyday conditions, it's a high performance foundation that's worth the money. Although you can adjust the coverage of other foundations as well, this foundation goes on easily with the included sponge, wet or dry. You really don't need to purchase a fan brush, powder brushes, foundation, and face and body brushes to accomplish the range of coverage, but Smashbox brushes are high quality and worth adding to your collection, anyway. The non-drying, oil-absorbing foundation is particularly well-suited for women whose complexions seem to change frequently, and six shades. There are two Light shades, two Medium shades, a "Fair" and a "Dark" so choosing a flattering color won't be a problem. The sleek, matte, "rubberized" mirrored compact with Smashbox logo is makes a fashion statement, too. We just learned about Per-fékt Skin and their Skin Perfection Gel $57.50 1 fl. oz. that has celebs such as Paris, Nicky & Kathy Hilton, Daisy Fuentes, Jennifer Hudson and Reese Witherspoon singing it's praises. The cheerful, turquoise, white, pink and green packaging holds a metallic, light turquoise, pump tube of a translucent gel tinted moisture product that helps make skin look moist, smooth and more radiant--sort of "airbrushed" but without adding too much color. What I really like about this one is that it comes in five colors so you can get the tint that makes you skin look better, but not "made up." I tried "Radiant," a light wash of color for fair to medium skin tones. The silky gel went on easily and smoothly, and covered up some of the redness and uneven tone --my skin, but better. "Translucent is no color, "Luminous" is a light, neutral shade for fair skin, "Rich" is better for tanned, dark or olive complexions, and "Decadent" is for darker skin or as a bronzer. Vitamins A & E and alpha lipoic acids help fight aging and protect skin. A little goes a long way, so can indulge like the stars do.
I am so excited about the Infinite Glow Palette $30.00 by Tarte for Spring 2008. A slim, antique gold, metallic, "moc-croc" compact with magnetic closure and interior mirror is the size of a credit card case. Inside, three terrific Tarte products put the roses and glow back in your face, literally. You get a generous square of Park Ave Princess mineral powder bronzer, a glorious gold so sheer, fine and blendable, you can even apply it with your fingertips and get good results (but a brush works better). There's also a generous square of the amazing, award-winning Tarte Gel Cheek Stain in "tipsy" that adds a pink blush so believable, you just look healthy and beautiful, but never, obvious. Finally, there's a slim rectangle of 24.7 Lip Sheer in a new shade called "May Flowers." It's a light pink that adds just a touch of color. All three products are universally flattering thanks to mineral pigments. They also contain good-for-your-skin ingredients including: Vitamins A & E (antioxidant); Vitamin C (protects against free radicals); and jojoba seed oil and beeswax (nourish, condition, and moisturize lips). This particular palette goes on sale in February, and is a "must-have" to add some color to your complexion when Winter is doing it's best to make you look wan and pale.
We have reviewed a number of great foundations by Trish McEvoy in the past, but somehow, we missed the Trish McEvoy Even Skin Finishing Powder $30.00. A sleek, shiny black shaker jar with subtle "Trish" logo embossed on the top contains a loose powder so fine, it actually has to be coaxed out of the shaker jar holes! It is so silky and fine-milled, it slides on even over dry patches--perfect for powdering a nose made "Rudolph" by the cold! The formula is sheer enough that it's two color choices: "Beige" or "Porcelain," suit most light to medium complexions. It is designed to wear with foundation to add a flawless, matte touch and keep it looking fresh, longer, but we liked it on our bare face as well, to give it just a subtle finish. While you're fixing your face, don't forget to dab a bit of concealer on problem areas. Trish McEvoy Flawless Concealer $32.00 comes in five colors from light to dark, to hide imperfections and under-eye darkness. The concealer is creamy and blendable, but opaque enough so you won't struggle with coverage or feel the need to glop on too much. We love the brush-tip for clean, precise application, and the "twist-it" pen in shiny silver that lets you take this one, anywhere. It also has a tiny window to let you see the color--a nice touch. TIP: Don't bypass these face-finishing steps--they're a "must-have" for flawless skin! Genie Beauty Products are new to our column this month, and I was really pleasantly surprised with the performance of their Line Smoothing Foundation $40.001 fl. oz with Oxybenzone (SPF 15) that contains an anti-oxidant blend of aloe vera, plus active ingredients to encourage the growth of new collagen, firm and tone skin, while simultaneously preventing future degeneration. All of this would be wonderful in a simple lotion, but this is a liquid foundation in an elegant, gold-rimmed pump bottle. It beautifies your skin as it protects, strengthens, smoothes, and rejuvenates it. The foundation is really impressive. Its' coated pigments seem to skim over your skin without settling into lines and wrinkles. It blends beautifully and easily, giving your skin a moist but natural finish with semi-opaque, layerable coverage. The product contains light-refracting particles to deflect light away from fine lines and wrinkles, and the products stays put, even if you rub it with your hands or a cloth. The four colors from fair to dark will work for most anyone. Genie may be our newest "find." The foundation? Well worth the money. Sometimes I just don't feel like wearing anything more than a simple pressed powder, but sometimes, pressed powder isn't my friend. The coverage is uneven, the colors don't seem to quite suit me, and/or the powder emphasizes every line, and oversized pore on my face. Debuting this month is a new pressed powder that solves these problems: ColorGenius Pressed Powder $8.49 by Max Factor. The oil-absorbing powder has emollients and oil-free, hypo-allergenic minerals that give you full coverage, while the ultra-fine pigment allows skin to breathe. You can customize the coverage depending upon the brush and the amount you use. For example, you can use a foundation brush to focus on blemishes and under-eye circles and then use a larger, powder brush and lightly dust the rest of your face. The result is a polished complexion with just a small amount of product. Makeup guru Pat McGrath created and premiered the three shades (light, medium and dark) during New York's Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion Week. Each compact features concentric rings of color (light, medium and dark) to also let you select and blend the powder just as you want it. Add a hint of natural looking color featuring the same bennies as the pressed powder, with ColorGenius Blush $8.40, in three shades: Roses, Peaches, or Spices. "Roses," with three waves of light, medium and dark rose, gave our Winter-pale complexions a boost without making it look like we had a bad rash! We also used all three shades individually, just because we could! We think you'll love these inexpensive, effective, and pleasing products.
WINTER BEAUTY HELPERS & LIP-LOVING PRODUCTS: Pure Inventions, new to our columns, are antioxidant liquid extracts you add to beverages and drink. You can get similar benefits from pills, but pills can be hard to swallow, and they're definitely not as much fun to use. These supplements smell and taste so great, you'll actually enjoy using them. There are nine different types including a multi-vitamin. We tried The Pure Cocoa Antioxidant Mint Cocoa $34.95 2 fl. oz. This product smells and tastes like a chocolate peppermint patty (also a Chocolate and a Vanilla version). They contain the highest amounts of chocolate antioxidants (associated with optimal cardiovascular health) and recent studies also show that cocoa may help promote healthier skin. They are naturally sweetened with Lo han fruit, so they're sugar-free, artificial sweetener-free, caffeine-free and calorie-free. Appropriate for all ages, they are ok even for diabetics and the lactose intolerant. Although it tastes like a chocolate soda in sparkling or plain water, adult chocolate milk in low-fat milk, a beverage flavored with this could possibly get you through a diet without chocolate withdrawal cravings! And, while we didn't drop it into coffee or anything alcoholic, bit we can imagine the possibilities! The only downsides are the "gooey" drops don't mix easily in cold water, and it's hard to regulate your serving to just two (One serving = 2 droppers full to 8oz of water, 30 servings per bottle). We also wish they weren't in amber glass bottles (we're guessing they shield the product and maintain it's integrity, however). We also tried the Peach Green Tea Extract $30.75 2 fl. oz that smells and tastes just like ripe peaches, but contains the powerful antioxidant bennies of green tea. You can get the green tea extracts in an "original" lemon scent, or vanilla, raspberry, pineapple-coconut, or tropical. Will these change your life for the better, forever? We can't say, but we loved using them. They are a pleasant way to try for a healthier 2008. Stress and Winter doldrums can make it even more difficult to fall asleep and feel refreshed in the morning. Sleeping pills may put you to sleep but you might wake up feeling drowsy the next day, or with other unwanted side effects. Short of "hot toddys" there's little you can do to gently ensure that you won't spend half the night tossing and turning, or counting sheep. MidNite $9.99 is a sleep aid that doesn't knock you out with chemical sedation. Instead, a patented formula uses natural ingredients that you can take any time during the night, that allows your body to relax your body so that your natural sleep cycle will kick in. We tried it and found that we really did fall asleep quickly--and we stayed asleep. But in the morning, we felt rested, not drowsy. Melatonin, lemon balm, chamomile--they work together to induce sleep. We can't say that this product will work all the time for every single person, but we can say it worked for us. It's non-prescription, non habit forming, and easy to swallow. The next time you're wondering how to be "sharp" for that important "next day" event, MidNight could definitely be the right answer.
Colds, we hate them, but they're a fact of life in the Winter time. When you're trying to protect yourself against colds this Winter, washing your hands frequently, eating well and taking Life Fitness Immune Jump $16.99 might be your best defense. The product blends two forms of Echinacea, indigo root, and white cedar leaf (to help boost your body's immune system). The herbal complex also has thuja, used to fight infection. The product comes in fast acting, chewable tablets that won't interfere with commonly prescribed medications. I personally tried this product when friends and family were all coming down with a very bad cold. I also got some of the symptoms, but they started much later and were much less intense, and I recovered more quickly than usual. Protecting yourself against the worst colds this season? Priceless!
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L'Or de Vie Eye $190.00 0.5 fl. oz by DIOR is packaged
like a precious fragrance, in a substantial, white satin-wrapped,
cardboard presentation box. Inside, the chunky square of clear
glass with gold top is literally presented on a raised pedestal, nestled
in a gold-lined well. It's so special, there's even a little booklet
included in it's own, mini envelope, with a round, white and gold "CD"
seal. What's all the fuss about? This is the third product in
Dior's most luxurious and potent line of anti-aging products. L'Or de
Vie Eye featured the company's exclusive L'Or de Vie complex,
created from the antioxidant-rich Yquem vine in the Chateau d'Yquem
region of France. The Chateau D'Yquem vineyards go back centuries,
producing elegant Sauterne wine. Add to this elegant ingredient, a
super-concentrate of cutting-edge items with complicated names
including: haloxyl (targets the underlying
cause of dark circles), eyseryl (reduces puffiness,
moisturizes, smoothes), sericoside (skin restructuring, capillary
protecting activity, wound healing and anti-edema properties, and
ruscogenine (powerful venous vasoconstrictor and de-puffer). Lift the
plastic inside keeper cap, and find yet another, gold-foil logo seal.
You'll feel pampered and special, using this exclusive product,
liberated from it's elegant jar with an included, gold-handed
hard-sponge-tipped applicator. More importantly (although we didn't use
it long enough to report significant effects), with regular use of this
quickly- absorbed, unscented cream, firmer skin and fading wrinkles, are
sure to bring a smile to your face. With just a few applications, our
under-eye area felt moisturized and soft, and less puffy. This product
may put a dent in your wallet, but it is truly the gold standard
of eye products to date.
What's unique about Lisa Hoffman skincare is not just that
Lisa Hoffman is the wife of Actor Dustin Hoffman, but
that she created her products for portability. Her Night and
Day set $20.00 includes a full day of skincare, he Week $120.00/
7 days. The clear, zip-lock-type bag holds two sets of five,
single-use packets of skin products with twist off caps (one specific
set for day, one for evening). If you don't use the entire portion,
re-cap it for later use. The DAY set includes a cleaner, toner, day
moisturizer SPF 15, day eye cream and day lip conditioner. The NIGHT set
includes a night cleanser, Vitamin A&C Serum, Night Cream, Night Eye
Cream and Night Lip Serum. The products are best suited for women with
normal to dry skin. The Lip Conditioners are clear gels, and some of the
best we've ever tired. Each product has some of the most potent
ingredients available to protect skin from environmental damage and
reduce the effects of aging. Some ingredients include: BVOSC (a powerful
form of Vitamin C), Matrixyl 3000 (reducing the depth of wrinkles and
improving skin tone), and Dermaxyl (to smooth wrinkles and repair skin
damage). Natural extracts such as white tea, jojoba and olive oils also
help to moisturize. At $20.00 per day, this can be a pricey way to
handle your skin care needs, but with airline restrictions, it
could be your best way to go. Full sized version of each product are
also available in air-tight, metered dosage pumps $30.00-$125.00
Malachite is a mystical, deep green stone with swirls of color that
only Mother Nature could devise. It's one of my favorite semi-precious
stones. Malachite Shower Cream $18.00 5 fl. oz is part of the
Malachite fragrance collection introduced this year by Banana
Republic for it's "Discover" line. The other fragrance,
"Cordovan" is for men, and it is reviewed in this column in our "For
the Guys" section. In keeping with the magical qualities of the
gemstone, the fragrant Malachite is a mix of delicate and
interesting ingredients that make for a light, feminine floral that
smells clean and fresh. The notes are malachite, mixed with water
hyacinth, imperial peony and sandalwood. Upon drydown, the delicate
peony shines through, making this a floral even non-floral fragrance
lovers will find pleasing. A lot of ingredients are listed on the tube,
including very moisturizing and soothing honey, and shea butter. Our
skin felt clean and soft, and softly scented. You can layer with the
fragrance if you want more intensity, but even without, people moved in
closer for a sniff!
Soap-in-a-sponge isn't really novel, but the Shower Gel in a
Sponge $8.00 (20+ washes) by Spongeables comes in heart
shapes...so perfect and affordable for Valentine's Day pampering!
The "Spicy Mango" sponge for example, is a hefty pink-colored sponge
infused with soap. Once it is wet and you start using it, lots of
bubbling lather with moisturizing and soothing olive oil, glycerin,
vitamin A & E, and shea butter, covers your body with good-for-your-skin
bennies and a light, fruity scent. The sponge doesn't just look pretty
and cleanse skin, however, it also adds a light exfoliation and massage.
These soap-infused hearts give you an overall
"spa-treatment-in-a-sponge." We also liked the white heart featuring
Sweet Jasmine $5.99 7+ washes. These come in different colors
and shapes as well as heart, for the less romantically-inclined, and
guys really go for these. If your "pigpen" man doesn't stay as fresh as
you'd like, a gift basket with Spongeables in it might just get
him to bathe more often!
Another take on the bodywash-infused sponge comes from Spongelle.
Their version, the Spongelle Bodywash Infused Buffer $11.00
is an off-center, deep pink heart featuring one side coated with a white
body polishing surface. The heart arrives in a cardboard/clear
cello presentation box and is good for 10+ washes. The body wash-infused
sponge exfoliates, massages, hydrates and cleanses. According to
the manufacturer, when the soap is gone you can continue to use the
heart-shaped sponge. Our arrived in Spongelle's exclusive "Comme
Moi" fragrance, a fragrant, feminine, floral, Peony-Cassis Infusion with
bergamot, lemongrass, sea kelp extracts and olive oil. 
Ceci Cela, French for "this and that," is new to our reviews
this column and perfectly suited for a luxury treat this Winter. The
company has high-end treatment products that contain pure ingredients,
including natural, nourishing and soothing, anti-oxidants and
emollients. Their new, Almond Moisturizing Bar $10.00 4 oz. smells
just like rich almonds, with a vegetable glycerin base enriched with
oatmeal (to exfoliate), shea butter (to soothe and nourish), and Vitamin
E (to condition and protect). It is an almond-shaped, ivory-colored, hard-milled soap with something extra:
13 raised "nubs" that massage and exfoliate as you wash. You get creamy,
lotion-like lather that washes off leaving a lighter-than-air coating of
silkening moisture. This little luxury will last a long time and
provide spa-type bennies every time you use it. Buy several for
hostess gifts and nestle one or two into a spa basket for special nights at home.
We have always liked Pevonia Botanica's luxurious, effective,
spa products that let you bring the pampering, home. Pevonia Botanica
has just introduced it's first "de-aging" skincare line: Pevonia
Ligne Tropicale featuring three essential products chock-full of
great for your skin ingredients. These arrive in ergonomically-designed
white plastic bottles with bright orange caps, all with a light
papaya-pineapple or mango/passion fruit scent. The De-Aging
Saltmousse $32.00 6.8 oz is a thick orange cream/sea salt scrub good
for all skin types. Mixed with water, it foams and quickly exfoliates
dead, dry skin cells and made your skin feel amazingly smooth. It also
works to release unhealthy, negative ions and infuse the skin with
dehydrated sea water (known for high concentration of minerals). The end
result is truly smoother, softer, brighter, moisturized skin! Follow
with the De-Aging Body Balm $89.00 5.0 oz, a super-pampering,
super-smoothing and moisturizing lotion that covers your skin in true
luxury. Ingredients such as shea butter, collagen and elastic
polypeptides, tegospheres with retinol, Hyaluronic acid and pomegranate
extract nourish, help to strengthen your skin's elasticity, brighten,
guard against moisture loss, and generally makes you feel more
relaxed with aromatherapy bennies. For more body bliss, spritz on the
De-Aging Mist $30.00 6.8 oz. I love this one! There are
so many great things packed into this nifty spray mist we can't mention
them all, but some are: aloe (cooling, healing), chamomile (calming),
pomegranate( rejuvenating), calendula (desensitizing/anti-irritation)
and a host of other minerals and good-for-your-skin ingredients. The
mist will make you feel good now, and it's great for
post-sports pre/post sun, when warmer weather arrives.
Whether you have "little ones" in your house, you like to be pampered
with gentle products, or you just have sensitive skin, California
Baby will appeal to you. This line is meant for babies, kids,
and adults with sensitive skin. The shampoos and bubble baths use Decal
Polyglucose, an effective, gentle, cleaner that is biodegradable. All of
the California Baby body washes and shampoos are naturally
no-tears and can be used for hair, face and body. Reviewers liked the Calming
Everyday Lotion $10.00 6.5 fl. oz with a light scent of French
Lavender. The simple, white plastic bottle with locking pump top
contains a light blend of French lavender, aloe versa, and rosehips and
Vitamin E infused into high quality, cold pressed vegetable oils that
are non-greasy and absorb quickly. If it's safe enough for the face and
body of a baby, it's a good bet to baby your skin, too. Make your V-day
romantic, fun and gentle, with I Love You Aromatherapy Bubble Bath
$12.00 13 fl. oz. The pink-tinted soap is scented with a soft blend
of ylang ylang and sweet orange that's sophisticated enough for
discerning adults, but comes with two "bubble wands" inside the bottle,
for the kid in you. While you're enjoying the bubbly bath
(containing mild vegetable-derived bubbling agents, enriched with a
nourishing herbal complex that works to protect delicate skin), you can
blow a plethora of rainbow-colored bubbles at each other! Even
those with super-sensitive skin can soak safely in this one...kids, too,
of course. 
Mary Kay is not just for
women, they have a nice line of men's products, call MKMen that
we think is the perfect pick-me-up for that special guy. Pamper
him this Winter (or for V-day) with some of these high-performance
products, all packaged in masculine grey and white with medium blue
accents. The MKMen
Face Bar $14.00 4 oz. is a way to get him interested in skin care
(he doesn't really want to use your face stuff, you know)! This solid, light grey, contoured oval face bar
cleans and lightly buffs his skin, leaving it smooth and healthy
looking. If he also uses the MKMen™ Moisturizer Sunscreen
SPF 25 $22.00 3 fl. oz. he will protect his skin from the sun's damaging
rays, and while it moisturizes, also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This
particular moisture/sunscreen is a full spectrum UVA/UVB lotion for
which we give it two thumbs up. Even if he doesn't care about anti-aging, he should
care about reducing the risk of skin cancer so a sun screen every day is
a must! Perk up his daily routine with the MKMen Shave Foam $10.00
6.5 fl. oz in a silver pump bottle with black cap. Our male
reviewers liked the light, fresh scent and the luxe foam, designed to
cling to each whisker, creating a "comfort zone" between his razor and
his skin. The result is a close, non-irritating shave. Pamper him as
well with a tube of Cooling After Shave Gel $14.00 2.5 fl. oz.
The ladies liked this soothing, blue gel as well to guard against razor
burn on face and body.
Your body chemistry changes morning, daytime, evening and at bedtime, so
it makes sense that your fragrance should be adjustable, too.
Although we've never before seen one fragrance suit all the hours in the
day, Lisa Hoffman Variations Fragrance Collection $150.00/each
takes three different pulse point oils in three core scents: French
Clary Sage, Tuscan Fig and Tunisian Neroli, and separates them
into four versions adjusted for morning, daytime, evening and bedtime.
The core scents are relatively light in all four versions, but they are
fairly subtle and refreshing for morning, richer and more full-bodied
for daytime, more sensual for night, and softer and more powdery and
soothing for bedtime. We tried the "Tunsian Neroli" a blend of
French ylang ylang, French golden amber, Italian Lemon, South African
Buchu leaf, and Tunisian neroli. The ingredients could create a
heavy fragrance, but this one is light and refreshingly spicy.
We also tried "French Clary Sage," a very subtle blend of linen and
cotton accords with Sicilian Bergamot and French Clary Sage that smells
clean with a hint of citrus. "Tuscan Fig" blends ambers, musks,
warm woods, honeysuckle, osmanthus, Madagascar vanilla bean and
Madagascar gardenia, Tahitian Tiare flower and Tuscan fig The fragrances
are in glass vials with roller balls, luxuriously housed in a soft
leather pouch designed to compliment the spirit of each fragrance.
The French Clary sage is in deep green, Tuscan Fig in warm amber, and
Tunisian Neroli in burgundy. The scents do smell similar in their
vials, but on the body, they smell similar but with subtle variations
that somehow bring out different attributes of the same notes, almost
like letting a fine wine breathe and serving it in different stemware.
At $37.50 per small vial per core scent, not every woman will appreciate
these sets or feel the need to adjust her fragrance four times a day.
For those who appreciate the subtleties of scents and understand how
scent works, these are a rare find--a fragrance connoisseur's
delight.
Roses are the scent of romance, but some rose scents can be just too
overwhelming to be worn outside of the boudoir. Eau des 4 Reines Eau
de Toilette by L'Occitane $42.00 4.2 fl. oz, $17.00 .68 fl. oz
(Eau de Parfum $50.00 / 1.7 oz)
is a modern take on the loveable rose, combining four different
roses in the heart of the fragrance. This "Fragrance of the 4 Queens"
features four royal roses: Grasse Rose (from the place in
France where fragrance reigns) offers delicate, honeyed notes. Turkish
Rose, a fresh, rose-petal, Bulgarian rose is a bit fruity, and Moroccan
Rose is sensual and velvety. The addition of bergamot,
blackcurrant, violet, sandalwood, white cedar, Musk, and heliotrope
make the scent totally modern. The effect is one of being enveloped in a
bouquet of roses, but with the emphasis on the rose without
overwhelming sweetness that can make rose scents feel a bit "grandma."
I felt like I'd simply been enveloped in beautiful rose
blossoms...romantic and pretty. The elegant, slim, fluted
glass bottle with matte gold top reminds me of the types one sees in
chic boutique perfume shops in Paris. This is definitely a romantic
fragrance that will make a perfect V-day gift, but buy it for yourself
before Valentine's Day, and you might re-direct Cupid's arrow right to
his heart. In any case, wearing this romantic fragrance, you'll
definitely give him something to think about before the big day,
arrives!
There's
something just so sexy about matched "his & her" scent. An
unusual, hip and sexy pair are the Diesel Fuel for Life For Her
$64.50 2.6 fl. oz and Diesel Fuel for Life for Him $59.50 1.7 fl.
oz. Hers is larger, hence the price differential. Diesel is
a designer line, and therefore the bottles are "dressed" in fabric. Hers
looks like an antique perfume bottle and features a feminine, lacy
covering of mesh, his is zipped into a rugged canvas pouch reminiscent
of a whiskey bottle. The women's fragrance starts out screaming "notice
me" but dries down to a more feminine and soft scent. It features
top notes of jasmine, patchouli, blackcurrant, and creme de cassis. The
men's fragrance is a masculine fougčre with notes of star anis,
grapefruit, lavender, heliotrope, vetiver and a surprise...accents of
raspberry! Reviewers responses ranged from "it's a new classic" to
"comforting and somewhat subtle." They reported the women's scent as
light and powdery, feminine, and youthful. Diesel's chic jeans
and such are primarily directed towards the hot, hip, and young. The ad
campaign (featuring impossibly sexy and beautiful people) and even the
packaging of the scents, are branded with the sensual warning: "use
with caution." In actuality, these a user-friendly, wearable scents
that will definitely appeal most to younger men and women and
sophisticated teens, but they are sensual enough for adults, and just
not so dangerously intense you'd be afraid to wear them at work. The fun
packaging and modern fragrances are like love and romance: perfect
together. Get a set for your favorite couple...this makes a nice wedding
shower idea, too.
We have discovered that Banana Republic is not just a "find"
for classic clothes with a trendy twist, but also for fragrances.
In 2006, Banana Republic launched the Discover Collection's first five
fragrances: Alabaster, Jade, Rosewood, Slate & Black Walnut. The
latest are Malachite (for women) and Cordovan $58.00 2.4 fl. oz.
for men. The guys fragrance really is a winner! FYI: shell cordovan shoe
leather is regarded as one of the most luxurious and durable leathers
available. The name is a reference to Cordoba Spain, where the first
cordovan leather was created. The color is a very dark, burgundy brown
with a natural patina that only gets better with age. It seems
fitting that this Banana Republic fragrance takes on this
persona, too. The first thing you'll notice is that the heavy
chunk of cordovan-colored glass with matte bronzed top. It looks like an
old-fashioned inkwell (remember those?) and is packaged in an equally
vintage-looking (pine) wood box with a cherry stain with hidden magnets
that keep it closed. It can be re-used for cufflinks, loose
change, etc. The fragrance is modern, bold and at the beginning,
vibrantly woody, with key notes of leafy green fig, bergamot, raw
nutmeg, white juniper berries, iced lavender, vintage leather, woody
orris and vetiver root. It There's also a nice Cordovan Body Wash
$16.00 5 fl. oz that our male reviewers really liked for it's
multi-tasking abilities: a high foaming cleanser that doesn't strip skin
and leaves a slightly lighter Cordovan scent that lasts long
enough to make him feel energized and pampered. The set makes a
great Valentine's Day gift that says not only "I love you" but "you're
a precious gem, too!
Are your hands super-dry, joints achy? There's nothing more therapeutic
and relaxing than a paraffin treatment. Until recently, these
types of treatments were only available in salons, at hefty prices, but
recently, home models have proliferated. The Artemis Woman Shea
Butter Paraffin Spa $49.99 is a moderately-priced version that we
are happy to recommend. It is relatively compact, holds 3 lbs. deeply
moisturizing, shea butter/lavender-scented paraffin wax. Once heated and
applied to your skin, the wax not only moisturizes, but the heat helps
to soothe joints and sore muscles. This machine is a no-brainer to use.
Just chop up the soft wax into cubes, dump it into the machine, turn the
machine on, and wait (about 90 minutes) until all the wax is melted.
Breathe in the aromatherapy lavender scent and dip your hands several
times into the paraffin (it's warm, not scaling). after hands are
coated, you have the option to cover them with plastic wrap or purchase
a set of Paraffin Mitts and Liners $19.99/pair w/20 liners.
Wait for 15 minutes, then simply pull the wax away from your skin and
toss the liners and wax away. We saw a definite improvement not
only in the look and feel of our skin, but our nails and cuticles, too
(apparently dipping your hands into this wax with a full manicure
actually enhances it). Once the machine has heated up, it takes some
time to cool down and for the wax to re-harden for the next time.
Depending upon how many times you dip your hands (5 is optimal) you
should get a number of treatments out of the first 3 lbs. of paraffin
that come with the machine. A 2 lb replacement of the Shea
Butter Paraffin Wax is $12.99. It is hardly any work at all to
prepare and enjoy this at home, and compared to a salon treatment, it's
a
steal. While you're pampering yourself, shape, buff and polish
your nails with the Smooth And Shine Power Nail Buffer $12.99.
This battery-operated wand has three different heads to smooth ridges
and reduce cuticles, buff out imperfections, and then polish the surface
of the nail for a natural shine. The unit is about the size of a slim
flashlight and takes 1AA battery (not included). You can take this
lightweight nail shaper with you anywhere. TIP: While it
may be tempting to buff out every last imperfection and then buff
nails to a high shine, the speed and efficiency can cause you to remove
more of the nail surface than you would with a hand-operated nail file
and thereby weaken your nails. Be careful--don't overdo it!
The Lippman Lady in Red Collection $24.00 is a limited edition
that didn't make it into our Holiday column, but we think you'll find
the "glam factor" of red nails and lips, perfect for perking up pale
winter skin and making every day a "party" day. An adorable,
barrel-shaped, black leather snap case opens to reveal travel-worthy,
mini-sized bottles of luxurious Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquer.
You get a clear, bold, bright, beautiful red that is amazing on fingers
and toes called "My Old Flame" and a superb Top/Base Coat
that adds even more shine and allure. Also included is the "My Old
Flame" semi-sheer, shiny Lip Lacquer. Could V-day be any more
glam than this? We don't think so. The set is amazingly priced for
the value, and it makes a great "girlfriend gift" too. These products
are not just pretty, they're great performers, too. You can
purchase full sizes as well! TIP: the hard-sized
barrel bag makes a perfect case for jewelry, hair accessories, or
anything else you don't want broken when you're "in-transit."
Curled lashes help make your eye look wide open, but often women skip
the lash-curling step because it's a pain, literally and figuratively.
The Double Curl Gentle Heat Lash Curler $14.99 by Artemis
Woman makes this chore easy, effective, and actually, pleasant. The
battery-driven wand heats up in about 30 seconds, and curls lashes at
both the base and ends of lashes at the same time, using two sets
of heated pads. It's painless and incredibly fast--a small tool that
makes a huge difference. You'll notice, immediately. You'll need
2 AAA batteries for about 30 minutes of heating time (turn the unit off
right after you've used it to save batteries) but the good thing is, you
can take it anywhere and you don't have to lug a plug.
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On a humid evening in October, I attended a
The Designer Modelling Compact Foundation SPF22 $65.00
by Giorgio Armani is a luxury skincare item that packs so many
benefits into it's luxurious, frosted glass jar/compact, that we think
it's a "must-have." The solid but creamy foundation feels silky on your
fingertips, but it is best applied with a specially designed "Expert
Shaping Brush" (included), giving your skin an absolutely flawless, but
not mask-like finish, in a flash. You can use a little for a sheer
coverage that looks polished and nearly perfect, or shape and sculpt
your face by adding more product. Although the product slides on like a
cream, the cream-to-powder formula feels light as a cloud, and never
greasy. We found that it stayed true to color without shine breakthrough
literally, for hours, but our skin still felt moist and soft. We love
the fact that is also has anti-oxidants and SPF 22 help protect skin
from environmental stressors that can cause aging. Even more cause for
joy? Six light to dark colors make it suitable for just about every
complexion, and the formula is good for all skin types. You may relish
the creamy and moist feel of it most now, when Winter is drying out your
skin, but you'll still love it later on, when your skin is transitioning
from Winter to Spring, and beyond. It might just be a perfect foundation
Everyone needs SPF protection from the sun's damaging rays, but those
with pale skin need to be particularly vigilant. I love the idea
of SPF protection and a flawless face...who wouldn't? Therefore, I
love the Diorskin Forever Flawless & Moist Extreme Wear Compact SPF
25 $42.00 featuring 10 shades primarily in pale to medium tones, to
dark beige. The sleek, Dior blue, mirrored compact has a sponge
applicator on top, and the foundation is underneath, to keep it fresh
and clean. There's also a fabric pouch to keep your precious foundation
in so it doesn't scratch or break. So what makes this one special?
This foundation stays smooth and long-lasting in every type of
environment (even humidity), thanks to an exclusive "nano-stretch
network" (inspired by nano-textile technology) to insure makeup will
slide on and look
like a second skin, and a special, hydra-gel moisture-stabilizing system
that keeps skin at a continuously optimal moisturization level no matter
what the humidity level around you.
The result is a creamy powder foundation with medium coverage (blendable
and layerable) that won't rub off, won't fade, and won't give you
breakthrough shine. Apply it once, and forget it! The overall look is matte, but not overly dry.
It looks like
your skin, not a powdery mask, but it will become a bit
more dewy after many hours or a lot of vigorous activity. The
compact is refillable (there's a small hole at the bottom of the compact
to push out the pan). This versatile foundation is sure to become one of
your favorites. Special pigments ensure that the color remains
true, even if your skin tends to be a bit oily. It won't rub off, and it
always looks fresh. It sounds amazing, and it really is! TIP:
Dior foundation
shades come in tones as well as colors. Those ending in "0" (e.g. 010,
100) are neutral, those ending in "1" are more yellow-toned (e.g.
011, 201), those ending in "2" are more pink, and there are some peachy
tones that end in "3."
One of the first foundations I ever
purchased (and I had to "save up" to do it) was a liquid/powder
foundation by Borghese. I was so excited to own this
luxurious foundation, housed in the coveted signature Borghese compact:
jewel-like, black, shiny, mirrored held together with a "ruby"
clasp. Several decades have passed, and Borghese has lots of
foundations. Their Molto Bella Liquid/Powder Makeup $36.00 is a
delight. The moistly-matte foundation provides a perfectly flawless face
good for all skin types. The included sponge nestled on top of the
mesh-covered semi-solid foundation lets you adjust the intensity of the
coverage so it's like getting a number of foundations in one. Even
better, this long-lasting product has SPF 8 (PABA free) and Acqua
di Vita® Complex to condition and protect your skin all Winter and all
year long. It's water resistant, won't clog pores, and clean and easy to
use, so even foundation-phoebes will find this one, friendly. The chic
compact makes it lightweight and portable, too. Add some Blush Milano
$29.50 to add long-lasting, subtle, natural color. This powder
blush also contains Acqua di Vita® Complex, is fragrance free, won't
clog pores, and offers long-lasting, buildable color. We tried "Amalfi
Red," a warmed rosed-red that looked dark in the compact, but added just
the right amount of warmth to our cheeks whether our complexion was
light, medium or deeper. There are 8 pink-related shades that can be
used for blush and/or contour, depending upon your complexion.
This is primo cold and flu season. You may not be able to avoid
exposure to other people's germs, but on the theory that an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure, experts agree that one thing you
can do is wash your hands, often. SkinMilk® Anti-Bacterial
Hand Wash $4.99 16 fl. oz. comes in a family-sized pump
bottle, and contains Triclosan (3%) (Antiseptic) to keep germs at bay.
This gentle soap also has moisturizing
emollients and Vitamins A, D & E to soften and nourish your
skin every time you wash. You can't beat the price, and if you use
SkinMilk® Anti-Bacterial Hand Wash often, you might
just beat cold and flu season! 
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