Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...and those of us holding the mascara wand.

After two decades of covering the beauty industry, I've come to learn what makes it so alluring. Finding the perfect shade of makeup to match your skin tone, adding a swipe of eyeliner to give your tired eyes a lift, discovering an innovative new product line, or indulging in a totally luxurious spa treatment. My experiences have been documented in magazines, newspapers and websites worldwide. I've tested newly formulated products in the lab, explored hair removal options, shopped for lipstick, added shine to my hair and succumbed to massage marathons--all in the name of beauty. I've written press releases, hosted makeover events and co-authored a Do-It-Yourself Beauty book (Alloy). On this blog, I write about products and services that I come across every day as well as those that have been provided by publicists or the companies that make them. Either way, I write what I think. I hope to share some of my insights--and bring you the latest, greatest beauty news right here. Join me in the quest to find all things pretty.


Sunday, November 22, 2009

feeling misty


Always on the lookout for help for my typically normal-to-dry yet sometimes sensitive skin, I recently discovered Sampar. The high-tech line is formulated with natural fibers to enhance your skin, so it's a great general beauty product or anti-aging treatment. Designed to protect against the environment and help renew and restore skin, it's made with an Urban Active Complex that includes shea butter, mint leaf extract, plant sugar and lactate extract. I tried the Skin Quenching Mist ($42)--a spritz on my face, neck and eyes in the AM and PM--and was pleasantly surprised. While it won't take the place of your trusty face cream, it leaves skin feeling soft and smelling like roses. Since it can also be worn over even the finest mineral makeup, it gives skin a refreshing lift when spritzed on throughout the day. The company also makes a roll-on Prodigal Pen ($21) with essential oils that zaps any zit in minutes, as well as the pretty popular Lift Me Up Bust Cream ($78), which naturally shapes busts while reducing stretch marks and reinforcing elasticity. They're available at Beauty 360 or www.3graces.com with the rest of the Sampar collection of skin care products.