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.
Phyto – Scalp Stimulant
12 years ago
This is the time of year when most of us like to take very long and hot showers, which may feel nice, but it wreaks havoc on the scalp. I started using Phytopolleine Universal Elixir – Scalp Stimulant because of my dry scalp, even though I didn’t have dandruff my scalp was very dry and terribly itchy, especially on the area where I normally have a ponytail. So far I’ve used it twice a week for a month and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
This formula harnesses the natural powers of rosemary, sage, cypress, eucalyptus, and lemon to instantly purify the scalp and catalyze microcirculation. It is recommended for those suffering from an unbalanced scalp whether it is dry, oily, itchy, or irritated. A fortifying boost sensitive, weak, anemic hair, it serves as an ideal preparation for thinning hair treatments such as Phytocyane and Phytoaxil®.
As for my personal experience: the first time I tried on the product my eyes almost watered from the scent. It’s a very strong Pine-sol type smell, I actually put on a shower cap the first time. When you use this product it is very important to shampoo, rinse and repeat otherwise you will be left with a slight lingering pine scent. From reviews I’ve read, some people experience a tingling sensation as well.
The results showed from the first application. Even when it’s wet straight from the shower my hair feels “fluffier”, its like my roots came back to life and they stand taller. As the weeks have gone by and I continue to use the product I’ve noticed my hair in general looking healthier and younger.
I was beginning to develop that horrible looking line in the back of my head associated with old age and limp hair, but it has slowly disappeared and all my head looks full of hair. I see more new hair growing and I’ve been shedding less. During this last month I haven’t used any masks, leave-in treatments or oils on my hair, only Phyto, my regular shampoo and conditioner. But the fact that my scalp is getting healthier means that my hair is looking amazing!
The bottle itself is small and using it twice a week I expect it will last me no more than six weeks, but eventually I’ll scale the usage down to once a week….it’s fortunate that I like the smell of Pine-Sol.
Sephora’s Eye Pro Lesson Palettes
12 years ago
In case you weren’t born with the make-up gene, that one that would instinctively tell you what colors to use and how to combine them to make your eyes pop, Sephora has made it easy to get the right look for your eyes with their Pro Lesson Palettes.
Pro Lesson Palettes are the easiest way to learn new makeup effects. You’ll get illustrated instructions for two looks: one for day and another for night. Easy to follow without flipping between pages or looking for cards, the instructions are printed directly on the palette.
This one shows you how to get a beige natural eye and a navy smoky eye.
Pro Lesson Palette: Brown Eyes
You can create a brown natural eye and a purple smoky eye.
Pro Lesson Palette: Green Eyes
Get a khaki natural eye or a black-purple smoky eye.
Pro Lesson Palette: Natural Eye
For those of you who want a subtle look, you can have a natural nude eye or a smoky nude eye.
Pro Lesson Palette: Smoky Eyes
This is the major leagues with the colors and instructions to make a brown smoky eye or a black smoky eye.
My sister taught me a way to make the smoky eye look in a very easy manner, it’s like Smoky Eyes for Dummies, even I can do it. And this is a big treat because she agreed to let me record her, we had a blast doing it while we had one of the Harry Potter movies in the background. The only sad part is that even though we were all made-up and ready to go, we decided to stay home and keep watching movies. Sister’s night in!
YSL Candy Face Spring 2012 Collection
12 years ago
If you are looking for something fresh this spring, you should check out the new Candy Face collection by Yves Saint Laurent. The makeup collection is filled with color and surprising hues. The SS2012 collection includes: the Ombre 5 Lumieres Palette, a palette featuring eyeshadow in soft pink, sky blue, mint green, sunny yellow, and violet; the Vinyl Candy Palette, a quad of pinks and purples; four new Voile De Blush shades; four new Rouge Volupte Perle lipsticks; four new Volupte Sheer Candy lipsticks; two new Golden Gloss hues; and two new Duo Manicure Couture nail polish duos, one in chocolate brown and mint green, and one in tangerine and bubblegum pink.
The Candy Face collection will be available later this month.
‘Tis the Season for Glitter Polish
12 years ago
When it comes to nails, this season is all about bold colors and tons of Glitter! Release your inner tween and get your glitter on! Check out these season’s collections.
Sephora by OPI
Glimmer Wonderland Collection
Inspired by all things bright and sparkly, SEPHORA by OPI’s Glimmer Wonderland Collection captures the energy of the holiday season. These shimmering, color-rich shades are like “the instant glam you get from a sequin party dress or sparkly accessory you throw on to glam yourself up!”
The collection has the following colors: Be-Claus I Said So (clear with medium & chunky red glitter), Sugar Plum Fairies Gone Wild (clear with medium & chunky purple glitter), Don’t Be Eggnogious (clear with medium & chunky copper glitter), Good Tidings We Bling (glittery top coat), New Years Red-Solution (opaque metallic golden red), Stop Stocking Me (opaque metallic golden plum), Chest-Nuts About You (opaque pink champagne with fine glitter), Keep Me On My Mistletoes (opaque champagne gold with fine glitter), Countdown To The Kiss (opaque royal blue with medium glitter), Naughty Is The New Nice (opaque ice blue with fine silver glitter).
OPI
This collection has to do with the upcoming movie and it’s full of glitter. The one that entices me in this collection is the frog green glittery one, which would be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day in March.
The collection includes: Fresh Frog of Bel-Air (clear with green glitter), Rainbow Connection (clear with multi-colored glitter), Warm & Fozzie (warm copper), Designer De Better (metallic bronze), Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It! (red glittery), Excuse Moi! (pink glitter), Meep-Meep-Meep (deep fuschia), Animal-istic (wild red), Gone Gonzo! (blue glitter), Divine Swine (magenta glitter), Wocka Wocka (deep berry) and Pepe’s Purple Passion (best purple ever!)
Orly
Holiday Soiree
Say Oui to dramatic glamour in brilliant jewel tones with Holiday Soireé.This holiday season shimmers and sparkles with deep rich hues and a hint of naughtiness.
The collection includes: Androgynie (glittery black), Ma Cherie (red berry), Oui (glittery pink/purple), Au Champagne (glittery champagne), Le Chateu (navy blue) and Ingenue (glittery copper).
Nails, Inc
Holographic Nails
Now this is not neccesarily special for the holidays, but the pattern is so unique I decided to add them.
A duo of stunning theatrical-effect nail polishes.
The duos are: The Donmar Collection (Chelsea plum black polish, with Donmar Overglaze top coat which contains hand-cut, irregular particles in red and green), The Wyndham Collection (Kensignton teal black polish, with Wyndham Overglaze top coat which contains hand-cut, irregular clear particles) and The Old Vic Collection (patent black Black Taxi polish and The Old Vic Overglaze top coat with UV blue holographic particles)
As an update to this post….I went ahead and bought OPI’s Fresh Frog of Bel Air….I adore it!!
Nails, Inc. Top Coats
12 years ago
Thanks to the new Magnetic Nail Polish, the company Nails, Inc. grabbed my attention and it has held it since! I’ve tried two additional items from the Nails, Inc. product line: a regular top coat and a glitter top coat. Here’s what I thought of them:
Special Effects Electric Lane Holographic Glitter Top Coat
This nail polish is very unique, each brush stroke adds very fine glitter, without looking tacky or like it belongs on a tween. I noticed it tended to matte vibrant colors; but it looks just right on very light or dark polish.
Add it to your bare nails and they will look amazing, it gives a very clean look, subtle but also gets them noticed. One or two coats are just right, but a third coat brings out the holographic effect a lot more. Even though this polish is a top coat I don’t like the glitter’s rough feel, so I add a clear top coat to smooth it out.
This is a perfect polish for the Holiday Season. Right now I’m using it on top of a snowflake design and it looks amazing, very professional.
There are several reasons why this is my new favorite top coat. The main one is their claim that the polish dries in 45 seconds, I used a timer to check for myself and I found it’s completely true. In some cases it completely dries out in 30 seconds, I haven’t used my polish fast-drying spray in weeks!
Another reason I prefer this top coat is that I noticed it helps me “set” my nail art, making the design smoother, as well as very glossy and chip resistant. Using quality nail polish will make your nails look like they’re professionally “done” even if you did it yourself in your pajamas while watching TV.
Brazilian Peel
13 years ago
The latest advance in the fight against aging is the Brazilian Peel.
Brazilian Peel is the first 30% glycolic acid, medical strength peel for at-home use. 5x stronger than other retail products, this unique new Brazilian style peel is clinically proven to visibly brighten, smooth, firm and tone skin for a more youthful appearance. All the benefits of a professional peel in an easy do-it-yourself treatment.
I had a chance to try it thanks to a sample from Sephora and I was very impressed with it. The treatment consists of four once-a-week applications that come packaged in a small double syringe. The way to use it is by opening the syrenge, dispensing the contents in the palm of your hand and mix it with the fingers, once it feels warm, then it’s time to apply it to face, neck and decollete. Rinse after 10 minutes and pat dry.
Since this is a stronger peel than most of the commercial ones, it does warn against using it on irritated or damaged skin and to avoid long exposure to the sun for at least one week after the treatment. In my case, I’ve used peels for a long time and didn’t feel any discomfort with this one, but I can say I did notice a big difference on my skin afterwards. It was incredibly smooth and that was with only one application. Another thing I’ve noticed is my skin looking slightly shinier, but not oily, in a way more alive.
If you have thought about peels, but maybe hesistant to go for the Brazilian Peel which is strong and costs $78 for the four once-a-week applications, then you can start slow with Avon’s Anew Clinical Advanced Dermabrasion System.
Advanced Dermabrasion, the first 4-level at-home system, is so effective because it starts at a lower dose and gradually works up to a maximum dosage of resurfacing ingredients.
I’ve tried this one and it also works great on the skin, but is much gentler, it starts you at a very low level and each week the dosage increases. In this case I also felt a very big difference from the first applications.
It’s always such a treat to touch your own skin and feel it as smooth as it can be, and even better when people around you notice it as well.
The Aussies have it!
13 years ago
Okay, we all know how pricey cosmetic brushes can be so why be neglectful with their care – stay on point with these suggestions!
First off, realize no two brush cleaners are created the same. There are a myraid of choices, from: soap, cleansers, sprays, baby shampoo’s, some resort to Dawn Dish-washing anti bacterial liquid – yup!, you read that correct. Now in previous post, I’ve recommended how often you should clean your handy dandy tools but today’s post is to target what I deem “most effective cleanser’s”.
Below, a short list of tried/true ways I’ve banished dirt, build-up, bacteria, and makeup residue.
SOAP – For $15 bucks, you will simply lust this bar after only trying it once. Becca (Aussie brand) designed this goodness, it nourished my bristles like no other. I know what you’re thinking – “you can just bounty up some hotel soaps and call it a day” – WRONG, this is different! Those other soaps can’t claim they lengthen the lifespam of your brushes like Becca can. When you open up this baby, your nose will know too…I inhaled a beautiful scent, later learning its made of plant-based oils which double as a cleanser & conditioner, who doesn’t want 2 in 1.
For a visual:
Soap Cleansing Bar (Becca Cosmetics)
Where to buy: Becca Cosmetics, Henri Bendel or locally here in SF: Ron Pernell Studio.
(If you choose the later, you’ll walk out with more than just a bar of soap honey! – but a couple of laughs & compliments from Ron himself).
Other ways to wash & preserve your dirty brushes but aren’t as luxurat(ing) include:
Brush Spray – Nowadays everybody and they mama’ makes a brush cleanser. I’ve used M.A.C., Japonesque, Sephora, the list is endless. Pros: you can travel with spray but no real purification takes place outside our bathrooms. Cons: many of them leave a residue or funny oily slip to the bristles, anyways.
So no thanks, onto the next…
Shampoo – From day one, old school Makeup colleagues of mine suggested using Johnson & Johnson Baby shampoo – its gentle, no tears -ha! It works but like I said earlier…I found the Pro Bar (made by Becca) far better, it really IS bar-none!
Bottom line, your brushes deserve something gentle yet effective and whether you pick a spray, shampoo or soap bar (like me). You must wash, rinse bristle thoroughly, squeeze excess water and reshape.
Speaking of reshape…boy! do I have a product to plug for this, until next time beauties…
Bite Beauty
13 years ago
While I’m pretty low maintenance with regards to make-up–I wear a little concealer, more mascara, lip balm, and plenty of sunscreen–lately I’ve been hunting for some bright, fun lipsticks. I’m very passionate about natural ingredients, which is why I stay away from most brands and which is why I’ve certainly struggled to find a brand with fun colors and natural ingredients. Recently, however, at Sephora, I discovered, Bite, and I’m quite taken with the brand. Aside from having all natural ingredients like organic shea butter, superfoods, and food-grade colors, their lip products contain resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant. Resveratrol is supposed to act as an anti-aging agent, and each lip product contains enough of the agent to equal five glasses of red wine. Bite products are formulated without the following: parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, and Triclosan. Sounds wonderful, right? In addition to the safe ingredients, the brand offers a solid array of beautiful colors and lip products, including lip treatments, lipstick, lip gloss, lip rouge, sheer balm, and lip pencils. Being the lipstick amateur that I am, I purchased a few different products and colors to try, and so far, I have been so happy with the results. The lipsticks and lip pencils are smooth, feel great on lips, and provide vivid color. While I have not tried each product, I highly recommend Luminous Creme Lipstick and High Pigment Matte Pencil. And did I mention how affordable they are?
