Latest Beauty Products
Staying up to date with the beauty industry whether it’s makeup, skincare or haircare can be a chore. Lucky for our readers, we have a staff of guest bloggers dedicated to discovering the latest trends and styles taking shape in the beauty industry.
Buxom – Fun and Quality Cosmetics
14 years ago
Sometimes I like to put on Rocker Chick makeup with lots of dark and intense colors in my eyes, lips and nails. In order to achieve the look I want, I put on eyeliner inside my eyelids. The only problem is that an eyeliner that does the job is not easy to find anymore. I had an Almay pencil eyeliner, which is now discontinued, and I used it until it didn’t fit in the sharpener anymore. Since then I’ve been looking for a substitute and finally found one with Buxom cosmetics, I’m talking about Buxom Insider Eyeliner.
Now with the inside eyeliner you get the same quality, it’s very smooth and creamy and stays on for a long time without smudging. Because of my look I got the color Onyx (jet black), but they also have Emerald (evergreen), Amethyst (deep violet), Pearl (tru white) and many more.
Another very cool product is a cream eyeshadow called Buxom Stay-There Eye Shadow which just glides on your lids and the different colors are very easy to combine. The names are very cute like Chihuahua (bright silver), Pug (smoky pewter), Bull Dog (intense royal blue) and many more.
Not long ago, I wrote about Buxom’s plumpling lip polishes. They work great and you do get a little addicted to that plumping fresh and tingly feeling on your lips. As as exclusive for Sephora, Buxom is offering the Buxom Chronicles: Four of a Kind collection with Dolly (muted plum), Katie (pale pink), Trixie (shimmering golden rose) and Violetta (shimmering fuschia berry).
These are very fun and quality products!
Philosophy: Hope in a Jar
14 years ago
One of the best preventive weapons we have against premature aging and fine lines is moisturize the skin, as well as protect it from the sun. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been using a great moisturizer that comes in a plain looking package, but there is nothing plain about the product. It’s called Hope in a Jar by Philosophy with the motto
philosophy: where there is hope there can be faith, where there is faith, miracles can occur.
The moisturizer is very light weight that provides antioxidant protection, helps improve skin texture and tone, you barely feel it on your skin but at the same time the skin feels great. I am using the original formula for all skin types, but if you go to the Philosophy website, you can take skin care quiz which will suggest which products are best for you depending on your skin concerns.
And I really can’t stress enough how important it is to moisturize with quality products, even if you spend less money on cosmetics. I’m closer to 40 than to 30 and I’m very proud on how my skin still looks youthful. I know I won’t be confused with a 20 year old, but looking at the pictures from my late 20’s and early 30’s, I still look the same without the use of Botox or chemicals. Not that I’m against it, when the time comes, I’ll be getting my injections for sure, but I can wait several years for that. But I digress.
Philosophy has created its own cult following with products such as Amazing Grace a perfurmed hot salt scrub, perfumed hand & body lotions, fragrances, shower gels and so much more. Makes pampering yourself an experience. Each product contains a different motto, like in the hot salt scrub which says:
philosophy: if you only had one day to live, how would you spend it? would you smile or frown? watch the sunrise or watch t.v.? take a walk or take a nap? say i love you or show you don’t care? consider this…you aren’t guaranteed tomorrow, so treasure this day as of it’s not your last but the best day you will ever own
You can find Philosophy products at Sephora or directly at the Philosophy website. Hope in a Jar retails from $15.00 to $105.00 depending on size, a true investment in your skin.
BEAUTY REPEAT!!!
14 years ago
As they say in the music game, “put that on repeat”, once you try these beauties – you will repeat application time &; time again…
SCOTT BARNES BODY BLING – famous for giving J Lo her “glow”. Scott Barnes products are OOOOH so flossy! Let’s get real, “every boss loves to floss”. Once you slather this richness on your body you will see why it’s #1 to celeb’s, beauty editors, makeup artist and cosmetic junkies alike. I have this in my arsenal to add a sexy glow to my clients year round – not just summer months. The packaging alone gets their attention, OMigosh… what a beaute, all sleek, metallic-like. Think of this as a tinted moisturizer with a gold pop for your body, hence the name “BODY BLING”. If you have OCD like me, you might be bothered by the residue that’s left on your hands but hey instead of washing it off [waste not want not] rub it on your decollete or where ever you want to see a healthy glow.
Honey, this is a new fave, pick it up to see why!
BLINC – the “it” mascara, period. For many of us, we dwell in the mecca of Silicon Valley if not near it; we all think we’re tech savvy right? Well don’t sleep or better yet “blink” on this tech savvy brand; BLINC cosmetics has a mascara that will get heads turning. Its’ not conventional, no no this baby wraps each lash. Once applied, the tubes bind to your lashes and will not – I repeat – will not run, smudge, clump or flake. It’s a must have for anyone, especially for the “emotional wedding entourage”. Like I said…you will be putting this on repeatedly.
RMS Beauty “un” cover-up is also worth repeating. You might just faint the first time you dab it, slide it, smooth it …but hey, at least if you faint you’ll look good! We all know how hard it is to find a creamy yet solid concealer that won’t run or breakdown on you in 30-minutes after application. RMS Beauty has figured it out, they give you an organic product that can effectively covers blemishes and camouflage to perfection.
It retails for $36 but remember —–you get what you pay for!!
Cargo Wet/Dry Foundation
14 years ago
This weekend was my sister’s birthday and part of the celebration included a trip to Sephora for some makeup, specifically, powder foundation. If you’ve ever been to Sephora, you might feel overwhelmed with the vast selection of products of brands you’ve never heard of. So the best thing to do is rely on the expertise of the beauty consultants there and let them help you find the perfect product.
In my sister’s case, the perfect product came from Cargo, with it’s trademark motto “Be*you*tiful”. According to their website:
In 1996, CARGO founder Hana Zalzal set out to create a professional color cosmetic line that top makeup artists would covet, yet would be easy enough for all women to enjoy. Working with some of the most talented make-up artists in the business, CARGO launched a multitude of award-winning products, never-before-seen packaging, and groundbreaking formulas.
Cargo offers products for face, eyes, lips, cheeks, as well as brushes and applicators. The product my sister got was Wet/Dry Foundation, a vitamin rich, two in one, powder foundation that combines the coverage of a liquid foundation and the setting properties of a powder in one easy step.
I tried it on myself, and I love it, really covered my pores and made my skin tone even. The packaging is really cool as well, when you open the compact you see the powder and the mirror, which opens up and stores the applicator.
You can find the Wet/Dry Foundation in several stores, such as Sephora inside JC Penney and other independent retailers. The foundation retails for $28 dollars and Cargo does not test on animals.
OPI Rocker Chick and Swiss Collection
14 years ago
As if I didn’t have enough nail polish colors at home, OPI just introduced two new lines that are just too yummy to miss. For Sephora by OPI they introduced a mini set called Rocker Chick, with awesome colors that look strong and metallic. I always love the names of the colors, this mini collection includes: Fiercely Fabulous, Just a Little Dangerous, Already Famous, and Go My Own Way. They will give your nails a real kick.
Also, for the Fall/Winter 2010 season, OPI is introducing the Swiss Collection:
“Beyond the borders of a classic neutral palette into a new zone where refined shades of rich color become the definitive go-to hues to wear every day.”
The names of the colors include: Color so hot it berns, From A to Z-urich, Ski teal we drop, Glitzerland, Yodel me on my cell, Cuckoo for this color and many others. With a selection like this, what’s a girl to do?
You can purchase these colors at Sephora, the Rocker Chick Mini Collection retails for $18, and the Swiss Collection can be bought in your local beauty supply store or at www.nailpolishpro.com, where each polish retails for $7.99.
Tepezcohuite
14 years ago
Last week I wrote about Ojon, a company that offers products made from the oil of the Ojon tree, only found in the Honduras rain forest. As I wrote that blog entry, I kept thinking about my own ancient beauty secret, which you won’t find in Sephora in pretty packaging; at least not yet.
I am referring to Tepezcohuite, a pomade made from the bark of a tree found in southern Mexico (Oaxaca and coast of Chiapas) all the way to Brazil. The Mayans used roasted Tepezcohuite bark to treat lesions of the skin for over a thousand years. Powdered tepezcohuite bark contains large amounts (16%) of tannins, which act as an astringent, making the skin stop bleeding. This helps protect the body from infection, while the skin builds new protective tissue. It also contains three kinds of steroid, which have an anti-inflammatory effect.
There have been several instances were Tepezcohuite has been used to treat thousands of burn victims on the aftermaths of disasters in Mexico, such as a very large gas explosion and the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. Extensive research has been performed in labs in Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom. It is now used in commercial hair and skin products for rejuvenating skin.
Tepezcohuite is sold in the form of a pomade and can be found in any pharmacy in Mexico. It’s been a staple on my medicine cabinet since the night I fell down on a sidewalk near the beach and scrapped my knee very badly with sand and concrete. The following day, after I took the neccesary steps to lessen my hangover, I treated the lesion with the pomade.
Several times a day I applied Tepezcohuite over my huge scab and did so for several weeks until the scab just peeled off and my new skin was revealed, not a trace of a scar on my knee. Since then I’ve used it every time I burn myself cooking. If you use this pomade, I recommend you apply it several times a day and don’t get discouraged when you notice the scab getting darker, it is working. It will not give you immediate results, depending on your injury it might take two weeks or more; just be consistent and you will end up with new skin and no scars.
As I mentioned before, this product is sold in any pharmacy in Mexico. I recommend the brand Arbol de Vida, although other brands are available as well. Online you can purchase it from Herbs of Mexico and it can be your ancient beauty secret as well.
Do you use non-conventional beauty treatments? We would love to hear about them and maybe feature them in this blog.
Going Natural.
14 years ago
I used to be a self-proclaimed make-up hound. I would wake up as early as 5 am on school days in order to make sure that my face was perfect. Granted, this was necessary in high school because I had a terrible acne problem (one part due to hormones, the other part due to cheap chemicals in drug store make up that I clogged my pores with) and would rather die than be caught dead with a pimple showing. But it wasn’t just foundation and cover-up I even sported fake eyelashes to chemistry class. To me, beauty and sex appeal was all in the full face makeup. Looking back, wearing all of this for more than 7 hours a day was not only uncomfortable but also completely ridiculous; I didn’t need make up to make me beautiful.
I still wear makeup but I have swapped out my M.A.C studio fix foundation in N15 for Urban Decay tinted moisturizer in Halo. It’s much lighter and lets some of my nature imperfections show, which I now appreciate. It also doesn’t cling as badly to my dry spots when the day starts to wear away at my make-up. Natural makeup just seems to suit who I have become. I think that there is a common misconception in women (and especially teenage girls, I know… I was recently one) who consider themselves stylish that a full face of make up is high fashion or sexy. Let me clarify full face. It’s smokey eye, foundation, blush, bronzer, and lipstick. Every inch of the face is covered. Yes, it can be perfect on the right occasion, but it shouldn’t be an everyday look.
And you know what a lot of make up can do to a girl? … age her. Since I have decided to not wear as much makeup as I used to (some days I don’t wear any at all and I still feel confident!) I have been told that I look “innocent” and “sweet”. I will gladly take these adjectives because I have a feeling that for the rest of my life I will be trying to regain that youthful look that I “covered up” for most of my young life.
Ms. Stone Keeps it Real
14 years ago
In the fashion realm, where models rule the runways, appear flawless in every fashion ad, and even look stunning off duty, it’s hard not to feel insecure. We may, at times, even question, “Why can’t we look that good?” What’s not to love about those long, lean legs, glowing complexions, and striking features? While skinny is always in, modeling standards are becoming more realistic and models with some curves and “imperfections” are becoming highly admired. The main model that comes to mind is Lara Stone. Known for that conspicuous gap between her teeth, her atypical (for a model) size 6 figure, and freckles, she has certainly set the standard for unconventional beauty — and it’s about time! Despite the unrelenting criticism this Dutch beauty has received for her weight, she is still one of the sexiest, sought-after models. She’s walked for countless shows including, Missoni, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Chanel, Lanvin, Miu Miu, Chanel, Prada, Balmain, D&G, Prada, Anna Sui, and many more. She’s graced the covers of international versions of Elle, in addition to Vogue, W, Harpers Bazaar, and Interview. And in 2009, she was featured on the August 2009 cover of W, declaring her the most desired face. 
Without a doubt, Ms. Stone possesses natural beauty, something that we too often disregard. And not only is it her natural beauty that draws us in, but also, it’s Stone’s confidence — she exudes a healthy esteem.
The notion of imperfect beauty is setting precedence, and women are beginning to question conventional beauty. Does it even exist? Is it actually boring? Whether it’s a set of freckles on your cheeks, a gap like Ms. Stone’s, or an uneven set of eyebrows, embrace it, cherish it. After all, perfection is an illusion, so why strive for it?
