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.


Showing posts with label natural. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

have you heard the crazy rumor going around?


The Crazy Rumor is: There's a yummy, organic lip balm in tons of fun flavors that you have to try!


When Edie and Brian Himmel set out to create the best all natural and vegan lip balm in the world--they weren't joking! Made from the purest, natural, certified organic ingredients (no synthetics) like moisturizing organic shea butter and jojoba oil in deliciously fun flavors, Crazy Rumors lip balms ($3.49 each) make your lips feel super smooth and the scents are heavenly!


One slick on Bubble Gum will take you back to those bubble-gum-from-the-gum-machine days. Fortunately, this lip balm lasts longer than your bubble gum ever did. It comes in Berry Bubble and Mint Bubble along with the original Gumball. But there are other fun collections to try too. Look for A La Mode, Soda Pop, Candy Cane and Fresh Squeezed (includes thirst-quenching flavors like Orange Juice, Pink Grapefruit Juice, Lemonade and Limeade). There's even a Mystery Flavor that keeps you guessing!


To celebrate the warmer weather, Crazy Rumors is offering 15% off with the coupon code “FRESH". Spread the word--this offer is good until June 15th 2011. Go to www.crazyrumors.com to purchase.




Friday, May 27, 2011

look like a natural beauty


Summer is fast approaching. Whether you're frolicking at the beach or socializing downtown, you'll want to achieve a natural summer glow. Here, some tips on how to look like a natural beauty from stylist Susan Redstone, as seen today on Atlanta TV.

Prep Your Skin: Red Carpet Primer from emergenC
Red Carpet Primer ($42) from emerginC is a tinted primer that's infused with plant-based plumping micro-spheres and Vitamin C to immediately reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.You'll see almost immediate plumping of the skin surface which reduces small wrinkles within one hour – leaving skin plump, smooth and ready for the red carpet! Available at leading spas nationwide, plus www.emerginc.com.

Show Off Your DNA: Growth Factor Serum from DNA EGF Renewal
Growth Factor Serum from DNA EGF Renewal ($145) is alightweight plant-based serum that accelerates the growth of healthy skin cells so that texture is refined, pores look visibly smaller, and younger, fresher skin emerges. - The line was created by top dermatologist Dr Ron Moy, who is on the forefront of DNA technology and Growth Factors in skincare. Available via www.dnaegfrenewal.com.

Hydrate Your Lips: LypSyl Lip Balm
LypSyl lip balm ($2.99) originated in Sweden over 100 years ago, with a name derived from the Swedish to communicate the soothing and natural benefits of beeswax. Formulated from all-natural, pure Swedish beeswax, LypSyl products combine natural and therapeutic ingredients like organic Shea butter, coconut oil, Vitamin E and Vitamin A, providing unsurpassed moisture and lip protection. LypSyl has a unique creamy texture and lightweight consistency that goes on smoothly and feels better on lips than other leading brands. LypSyl offers a unique patented lip balm delivery system with a sliding bee that is easy to use and helps to apply the lip balm more evenly. Try the LypSyl HoneyBerry SPF at Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid, Shop-Rite and Wal-Mart stores and www.drugstore.com.

Sleek Legs: Schick Quattro for Women Disposable Razor
The new Schick Quattro for Women Disposable Razor ($7) with a handle scented in Skintimate's best-selling scent, Raspberry Rain, keeps your legs smooth for that natural beauty look. The brand's multi-city "shower your senses" mobile tour will be at the Atlanta SummerFest on the weekend of June 4th so you can stop by for product giveaways, fun activities and more. Available at drugstores nationwide.

A Perfect Fit: FIT ME! from Maybelline New York
The first shade-aligned system of foundation, concealer, powder and blush, the new Fit Me! Collection features Maybelline New York’s largest range of shades to date - 18 shades of foundation and powder, 6 shades of concealer, 12 shades of blush and 3 shades of bronzer – all offering coverage that blends weightlessly and matches skin tone flawlessly. It’s a full regimen of lightweight face products tailor made for individual skin tones, featuring a technology that blends and enhances skin tone. All products go beyond basic shade matching, leaving skin the way it was meant to be –fresh, breathing, perfectly flawless and most importantly let’s YOU be YOU. Fit Me! goes beyond matching. It let’s skin breathe without clogging pores – providing a coverage that’s not opaque or dry, but perfectly fresh and natural. The formula delivers ultimate blendability, breathable skin, and True to Her color for a custom-fit effect. Fit Me! Foundation ($7.99) is a unique translucent base combined with ultra-lightweight pigments that allow the foundation to give replicate the shade on the skin and natural coverage. Also try Fit Me! Powder ($7.99), Fit Me! Concealer ($6.49) and Fit Me! Blush ($5.51) at mass market retailers nationwide.

Go Nude: Nyx Cosmetics' Nude on Nude Palette
This beautiful Nude on Nude palette ($25) contains a collection of effortless earthy hues and shades to complement and emphasize your natural beauty, all available in one sleek compact palette! There are 20 eyeshadows and 10 lip colors to choose from. This is one of Nyx’s top-sellers. This is a very popular summer gift for brides-to-be as well. For more info, go to www.nyxcosmetics.com. Talk about looking good in the nude.


Sunday, May 1, 2011

spring fever


It doesn't take much to look good this spring. But you do need a good line of basic makeup products to start with. Lavera delivers with good-for-you ingredients like organic oils and flower extracts for a natural makeup look and feel this season.

The European beauty brand trades in harmful synthetics like parabens, emulsifiers, petroleum, phthalates, lead, synthetic preservatives and fragrances for natural, effective plant-based alternatives that arecertified organic whenever possible. Every cruelty-free, biodegradable product represents a smart, gentle choice for the skin, body and earth.

Luxe Lashes: Whether you're at an indoor business meeting or an outdoor happy hour, you need this mascara. Lavera's Double Black Mascara ($20), made with organic beeswax and oil, includes a precision brush on one end to lengthen, strengthen and separate for ultimate impact, and a volume brush on the other end to create a breathtakingly full fan of lashes and holds lashes in place.

Lip Shtick: Give lips a lift with this formula that's sure to dazzle. Lavera's Glossy Lips ($15), formulated with carefully selected, high-quality olive and jojoba oils as well as a soothing, pampering vitamins and minerals, is a must-have accessory. After just one swipe across each lips, you'll see a soft, healthy pout and a touch of seductive shimmer that really sparkles day or night. Available Shades: Shining Star, Rosy Promise, Magic Red, Almond Kiss.

Skin Is In: Illuminate your skin with this super-smooth, all-natural foundation. Lavera's Natural Liquid Foundation ($20) is a hydrating foundation that blends easily and hides imperfections. Free-radical fighting argan oil, organic blossom butter and vitamins A, C and E protect, rejuvenate and nourish skin. Available Shades: Porcelain, Ivory, Honey, Almond.

For more info or to purchase products, go to www.lavera.com.


Monday, April 19, 2010

brush with nature


The perfect makeup brush is hard to find. It has to handle well, apply smoothly, distribute evenly, feel soft on your skin...and it wouldn't hurt if it was eco-friendly. Priori's eco-friendly, cruelty-free brushes rank high on my list. Their handles are made from bamboo with a stem made from recycled aluminum. The soft bristles offer anti-bacterial protection and flawless application. You won't find these essential tools in just any professional makeup brush set. But you can check them out at www.priori.com. There's the Kabuki Brush ($20), made with densely packed bristles--ideal for buffing, blending and getting into hard-to-reach areas like dark under eye circles or the bridge of the nose. There's a Concealer Brush ($25) with taklon bristles to tackle the heavy duty job of offering heavy coverage. And, my favorite, the Powder Brush ($25), designed for applying PRIORI® Finishing Touch and Sun Kissed products. It boasts shed-resistant taklon bristles for a soft, beautiful finish. I seriously have never felt a softer makeup brush on my skin. It's even said to gently massage and increase circulation to the face. TIP: Use Priori's CoffeeBerry Revitalizing Cleanser to clean them regularly so that they will stay fresh and last longer.
Go to www.priori.com for more info.

Friday, December 18, 2009

holiday gift guide: give wonderbar


Ready to break in a new favorite bar? Make room in your soap dish for Wonderbar--a new facial bar designed to firm, lift and make your skin glow in three minutes. Sound too good to be true? Wonderbar features a unique combination of Chlorey’nahre, an algae-based complex, and the natural, therapeutic 3000-year-old Heilmoor clay of Austria. The new soap alternative promises to reduce redness, tighten and minimize facial pores, remove free radicals and toxins, fight eczema, acne and psoriasis, and balance skin. You'll love the natural, healthy glow you get after just one use...and so will those who you decide to gift it to. It can also double as a shampoo, moisturizing the scalp and leaving hair shiny, or as a shaving foam to reduce razorburn and the incidence of ingrown hairs. The only downside: it won't fit in your soap dispenser. The holiday gift set includes four Wonderbars ($140) which should last about five to six months. Visit www.wonderbarUSA.com to order.


Friday, July 31, 2009

go for the bronze


I've been using my Clinique sunscreen religiously for a month now and I couldn't be happier. Clinique Sun New SPF 50 Face Cream ($17.50) and Spf 50 Body Cream ($20) with SolarSmart UVA/UVB advanced protection have won the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, thanks to their non-greasy formulas that are oil-free, water- and sweat-resistant, non-clogging and great for those with sensitive skin. I've even been carrying the New SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick ($17.50) in my bag for areas I tend to forget like lips and under eyes. But now that the summer is coming to a close, I can't wait to switch to Clinique's Self Sun Face Tinted Lotion ($20) and Body Tinted Lotion ($20). The face lotion acts like a bronzer and makes you look tan as soon as you smooth it on, but will turn into a natural-looking self-tan in two to three hours. Watch your tan appear before your very eyes! The body lotion (I tried light/medium) works the same way--and the fact that you can see the color where you apply it helps you avoid an unnatural, streaky or splotchy look you can get from other self-tanners. Next on my list to try: The Body Airbrush Spray ($20), which offers natural-looking color similar to a professional airbrush tan. It dries in three to five minutes and color starts to emerge in under an hour. With skin color this warm and natural, I'm sure I'll barely notice the change of season... Go to
www.clinique.com and choose the formula that's right for you. And don't forget your sunscreen; Self Sun doesn't have SPF which you'll still need this fall.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

happy mother's day: about face


Moms deserve the best Mother Nature has to offer. So Weleda created two specially designed facial care kits featuring travel-size skin care treats. The Weleda Wild Rose Facial Care Kit is designed to work with the natural rhythms of our skin, supporting cell regeneration and improving overall health. Weleda Wild Rose Facial Care Kit ($14.99) is rich in essential fatty acids to help reduce the visible effects of premature aging. The kit features Wild Rose Cleansing Lotion to gently remove dirt and makeup without drying the skin; Wild Rose Facial Toner, to strengthen and purify skin after cleansing; Wild Rose Moisture Cream to protect skin from dryness; and Wild Rose Night Cream to rebuild the outer layer of skin overnight. The Weleda Almond Facial Care Kit ($14.99) has similar products but is specially formulated to gently heal dryness and reduce redness. It even includes a specially formulated Almond Facial Oil to protect and soothe skin everyday (a bonus: it also gently removes eye makeup). No matter which one you choose, the scents are subtle...which my mom will definitely appreciate. Go to www.usa.weleda.com for more info or to order.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

glimmer with shimmer


What girl doesn't want to get flowers? Excluding one unfortunate friend who's allergic to "the great outdoors," no one I know. That's why you'll flip for Laura Mercier's new Shimmer Bloc Gilded Garden ($38), a limited edition baked illuminating powder. The concept? Baked technology--makeup that's baked under high temperatures to create luxurious pigments with subtle shimmer and long-term staying power. The pigments combine to give the face and body a youthful glow without leaving it looking frosty or metallic. This ethereal effect is caused by light-reflecting properties that give skin a healthy glow and brighten eyes, cheeks and body with natural color and light. Plus, it's oil-free and ideal for all skin types. The best part? Four shades of shimmer powder in a floral motif are set in a sleek, black compact that looks great on any vanity or when pulled out of a makeup bag for a quick touchup. Some women are just in the know when it comes to makeup and Mercier is one of them. She founded Laura Mercier Cosmetics in 1996 with a classic, current palette and has evolved the brand to include skin care, bath and body, and fragrance lines. This is one item to spring for this season; it'll brighten up your daily makeup routine and ensure things are coming up roses, even in these doomed economic times. Pick yours at www.lauramercier.com.