My Personal Skin Saver

May 21st, 2013

This month has been a killer for me. I am sure my friends, family and coworkers are pretty sick of hearing my complaints about my travel schedule, especially since the majority of the month has been fun (REALLY FUN) trips that I scheduled myself- an impromptu marathon with one of my favorite friends, Grandma’s surprise 80th birthday on the East Coast, girl’s trip to Las Vegas, a bachelorette party in Palm Springs, plus a little work trip to NY. All super fun but the back to back trips are starting to take its toll on my sanity and my skin. I am a stick-to-my-routine and eight-hours-of-sleep-per-night kind of girl, so multiple red-eyes, smokey casinos and late nights dancing (with Grandma, not in Vegas) can really throw me off. I generally have pretty resilient skin but I noticed after my most recent jaunt that my skin was looking really dull, I developed circles under my eyes and I was starting to breakout. Who would have guessed that traveling and not sleeping could do so much skin damage so quickly! I asked my go-to skin gurus, AKA my coworkers, what I should do rectify my skin care issues and everyone recommended trying out a serum.

Initially, I was a little skeptical because some serums I have tested leave my skin oily and greasy; however, after reading reviews on DermStore.com, I decided to test out DDF’s Amplifying Elixir. The name alone was enough to sway me- an amplifying elixir was exactly what my poor skin needed.  The first time I put it on, it felt like my skin literally drank it up. I am sure it had something to do with my skin’s level of dehydration but it absorbed so quickly and felt amazing! The DDF skin care product is full of botanical extracts- think lotus flower, banyan leaf, cactus and red clover- that work together to detoxify and hydrate the skin. After just a few uses, I noticed my skin had regained an even skin tone, my breakouts were vanishing and my complexion looked brighter! Additionally, a little bit goes a VERY long way. I don’t think I have even put a dent in the bottle after several uses! This 1.7 oz bottle of skin-saving goodness will be tucked safely in my carry-on this weekend…and the week following… and then the next weekend. Welp, I might not be well rested, but at least my skin will not be what gives it away!

 

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The Super Hero of Anti-Aging

May 20th, 2013

“In 28 years of practicing dermatology, I have never seen such impactful results from any topical skincare product in producing improvements in facial color, texture & fine lines.”-Neal B. Schultz, M.D.

This is just one of the many impressive quotes found on the packaging of the M Lab skincare preview available in this season’s Beautyfix.  Referred to as the anti-aging wonder, the testimonials for this brand are strong and my name can be added to the list. The skincare preview package is the best way to experience M Lab. It’s a little amount of cleanser, serum and eye cream, but it’s all you need to see the effects this product has on your skin. M LAB features 45-74% clinically active ingredients, rather than the 10-20% most cosmeceutical anti-aging lines use to target all visual signs of aging for corrective action. The results are diminished fine lines and wrinkles, and improved clarity, texture and tone in a shorter amount of time.  After just a few uses, my skin was more radiant and I felt more confident about my complexion. I had an all-over even tone and my fine lines seemed to fade. My skin felt hydrated and looked brighter.  I even resisted putting on my bb cream for the day (which is rare). I would highly recommend giving this brand a try. If you have already tried it, leave a comment for us and tell us what you think. Will you be adding your name to the list of  testimonials?

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Bring Lackluster Skin Back To Life With Bliss Triple Oxygen+C Energizing Cream

May 15th, 2013

 

 

 

My new go-to skin hydrator is bliss Triple Oxygen + C Energizing Cream. This lightweight, gel-like formula helps revive dull, stressed or fatigued skin after a long day at the office. It works to improve skin hydration, clarity and enhance your skin’s natural radiance. Use it every morning before applying your makeup foundation to achieve a fresh, dewy glow.

 

Of all the options in the world of skin care, here are a few reasons why bliss Triple Oxygen + C Energizing Cream is a spectacular product that combats lackluster skin:

 

  • Vitamin C boosts collagen production to maintain a youthful complexion

 

  • O2 (Oxygen) reenergizes skin cells to improve the skin’s vitality

 

  • Sodium PCA binds water to the skin to replenish moisture loss and plump fine lines for a smooth appearance

 

  • Grape seed extract maintains skin’s elasticity and protects against sun damage

 

Within three uses, my skin felt noticeably softer. It also brought relief to those dry patches of skin I get on my chin. Now I’m hooked! It really helps “wake up” my skin, even when it’s too early to be up at the crack of dawn and does a fantastic job of really replenishing moisture without feeling heavy, sticky, or leaving a greasy finish. I can’t say enough about this cream. Best of all, it doesn’t clog my pores and a little goes a long way!

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Revitalizing My Mane with Moses

May 10th, 2013

There aren’t many skin care products I can try without causing some sort of flare up on my sensitive skin, so I have to rely on testing all sorts of new hair care products to get my beauty fix! (Pun intended!) I used to highlight my hair every other month or so, until one day when my stylist went on maternity leave and I was referred to someone new in the interim. To put it nicely, this salon newbie gave me a terrible, brassy, hair highlight disaster which forced me to give up on bleach all together. I stupidly stormed to the drugstore, purchased a box of black hair dye, and quickly turned my brown mane with brassy streaks into a blackish purple mop of darkness.

Even though my family hated the dark, drastic color – my hair has never felt as soft and strong as it did when it was black since I wasn’t constantly terrorizing it with harsh bleach! The black color lasted forever, but unfortunately I got sick of it after a few short seasons. Take it from me: there is no easy way to remove permanent black dye except to let it grow out naturally.

I started highlighting my hair again after a year or so to add some dimension and depth to my hair styles. Currently, my hair is in a good state of color that I am happy with – natural brown on top with an ombre style lightening up the bottom. The bad part about this ‘do is the constant detrimental process I keep putting my ends through again with the added bleach! The ends are the most damaged part of my hair already, and now I’m afraid I’m just willingly adding to the issue.

I am happy to report that my issue of damaged ends has subsided thanks to Moses’ line of salon quality hair care! I started using the BeautyFix samples of Moses Smoothing Elixir Shampoo and Hair Mask to try and get the shine and healthy feeling I once had with my black locks back to my new ombre. The shampoo surprised me when I read that Argan oil was one of the main ingredients because it didn’t weigh my hair down like normal products infused with oil. It really locked in the moisture my hair had been deprived of for so long!

Next step was the Moses Hair Mask. I was a little wary to try the mask because I anticipated it to leave my hair heavy and greasy like other ones I have used. Even though I have a lot of long hair, each strand is very thin which doesn’t allow the product to completely absorb. Usually I am left with a waxy feeling following a hair mask; however this product actually did the complete opposite! It relieved my hair of any added weight, maintained a very sheen look, and brought softness to my ends that have been missing for all my days of treacherous bleaching.

I am definitely going to add Moses’ Smoothing Elixir Conditioner into my new routine, as I am sure my already positive results with the shampoo and mask will just keep skyrocketing! Thanks, Moses!

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How to Deal with Aging Hands

May 7th, 2013

Research shows that most people can accurately guess the age of a woman just by looking at her hands. That statement wouldn’t be true for me, because if someone were to guess my age based on my dry and wrinkled hands, I bet that person would say I’m over 60 years old!

Blame that on years of neglecting my hands. Of washing my hands profusely with bar soaps and slathering them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.  Of scrubbing the bathroom floor without wearing any gloves. And of using my fingernails to tinker with just about everything. For years I was convinced I did all my skin care regimen right, cleansing, exfoliating, and slathering moisturizer and sunscreen on my face religiously and accordingly—until I saw how miserably my hands have aged. It was only then that I realized that I should’ve extended the same care and attention I gave the skin on my face to the skin on my hands.

But it’s not just me. In fact, even renowned celebrities like Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie are suffering from the same veiny, crimpled and crepey skin on hands! “The hands are one of the first places where we see the signs of aging, and also the area most people neglect when it comes to skin care,” says dermatologist Rhoda Narins, MD, professor of dermatology at the NYU School of Medicine in New York.

Aside from constant sun and chemical exposure, loss of moisture is one of the most common causes of premature aging on hands. Of course there are several procedures now that can reverse this, like the “hand lift,” Fraxel laser and fillers—but not everyone has enough disposable income to afford those. Thankfully, there are several skin creams and oil-based moisturizers that promise the same effect. Trust me, I’ve tried a lot of them. And while some of them have eased the discomfort associated with dry and flaky skin, I’ve never encountered anything that immediately transformed the look of my aging hands—until I’ve tried AmLactin Ultra Triple Action Alpha Hydroxy Acid Hydrating Body Cream.

I was really amazed at how fast my skin responded to this cream. In just 30 seconds, the lines and wrinkles on my hands softened, and my skin looked brighter, plumper and smoother. It turns out that easing dry skin isn’t all about supplying your skin with enough moisture. In order for that moisture to effectively penetrate your skin, you have to remove the dulling debris that clog your pores. That’s why this cream contains alpha hydroxy acid, to exfoliate your skin first before drenching it with rich humectants and creamy emollients.

Now this cream is nowhere near luxurious. It’s not expensive, it doesn’t come in fancy packaging, and it doesn’t smell like a botanical garden. But it sure does the job well, and for me that’s all that matters. If you want your hands to look younger, I assure you this is the best cream there is.

 

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The Hair Diaries: How to Restore Your Crowning Glory

May 3rd, 2013

One day not that long ago I was having a really bad hair day, I know we all have them when no amount of brushing, combing, curling or styling will get our locks to look good. In this particular instance I would have settled for just better than bad, however it was not meant to be and I ended up putting my hair in a ponytail which affected my entire day, as I was really not in a ponytail mood.

The next day with my hair freshly washed and conditioned I was ready for a new outlook on life and what do you think happened ANOTHER bad hair day! Now I am starting to question the root (pardon the pun) of these increasingly often issues with my hair, is it too much  styling product , too much heat from my blow-dryer or any of the other tools I use or could it be blamed on climate change?

The only way I was going to find out was to start a journal and write down everything I use, how my hair looks and feels and get to the bottom of this problem. I always thought I was good about taking care of my hair. I use the appropriate shampoo and conditioner for my hair type , I mask my hair weekly if needed and go to my hair salon on a regular basis ( very regular , as in every 5 weeks) to get my highlights done and split ends removed. The next time I was at my salon I told my colorist about my issues and she told me it could be MY AGE!

As I thought about what my colorist told me, and yes I am still going to her, I realized she was probably right. I am over a certain age and the problems I am having can be related to age but the good news is these problems can also be fixed. Looking after “Older Hair” is much easier now as anti-aging products are made for hair as well as skin and dedicated to restoring your crowning glory to its youthful best.

How does hair change as you get older and what do you need to look for? Well genetics does play a role in how your hair changes and at what rate and what age, but typically hair becomes slightly thinner and finer in texture, hair also loses water as we age so our hair will begin to look a little duller or dehydrated.

I researched the products, read as many reviews as I could get my hands on and spoke to my co-workers who know a thing or two in the beauty biz. The products I have been using now for a little over 2 months have made a huge difference in my hair and my self-esteem.

Phytophanere Dietary Supplement-These supplements infused with vitamin B, C & E are used for hair, nails and skin and they WORK! They not only have boosted the shine factor in my hair but my hair has grown over ½ inch in the short time I have been taking them . I am not really one to take vitamins on a regular basis even though I know I should but these supplements are fantastic!

Phytolisse Perfect Smoothing Shampoo-This shampoo is very hydrating to my hair and works really well with heat styling products, even helps speed up the straightening process and my hair feels really silky afterwards.

Phytomist Instant Hydrating Conditioner-I love this product because it boosts radiance, protects color and instantly detangles the hair with its lightweight, mist-on formula.

Phytovolume Actif Volumizer Spray-This root lifting spray is formulated with keratin amino acids which help add volume at the roots but does not dry your hair out. It is perfect to add volume to thinning or fine hair and yet still looks natural when you are done.

Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm-I use this product last to smooth down any flyaway strands as it moisturizes, softens and protects your hair while keeping away any frizz that may want to pop up unexpected.

Phyto is a haircare brand that has been around for 50 years and is made with all natural botanical ingredients, this brand was green before green was a trend. When I was researching brands to fit my specific needs I was amazed at how many celebrities are followers of Phyto from Halle Berry, Cameron Diaz, Heather Locklear, Sandra Bullock, Salma Hayek and even Leonardo DiCaprio, the list goes on and on. I am a big fan of this brand and as I continue to use Phyto no one will ever know my hair is aging.

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Beyond Addictive – jane iredale’s Lip Drink

April 30th, 2013

At any given time of the year I can guarantee that a woman will have at least 3 lip balms in her possession. Mind you, that is a really conservative number. The range usually consists of our favorite chapstick that we must have within reach at all times, the one we thought was cute at the register that isn’t always your first choice and the one you had wanted to try or had recommended for you but are very meh about it. Then there are the others. The ones you’ve forgotten about, the one you have randomly in your car, the one in your purse, the one in your bathroom and the one you stole from your boyfriend. If you had chosen correctly this season, you can forget about every other lip moisturizer on the planet. That’s right, jane iredale’s Lip Drink is the holy grail of all lip balms.

Not only does it offer SPF protection, but it quenches your lips and invigorates your senses. How could it possibly surpass all others? It’s packed with all natural, good-for-your-lips ingredients like, avocado and carrot oils, lotus extract and lemon peel oil to help deeply nourish and heal your parched and irritated lips.

It’s extremely luxurious and that’s why I absolutely love this lip conditioner. It glides on so smooth and has the most deliciously light citrus-lemon scent. I suffer from chronically chapped lips no matter the weather and jane iredale’s Lip Drink has helped them make a full recovery. Aside from the ingredient perfection, the tube is top notch in the looks department and can hold its own against rival designer tubes. It also works well with different lipstick formulas. I can apply a thin layer of this lip moisturizer before my favorite lipstick and it really enhances the lipstick color. Needless to say, I’m addicted. If you were smart enough to swipe one of these in your last Beautyfix you’re well on your way to sheer indulgence.

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My New Skin Savior: Zensation Glycolic Acid Essence 10 Percent

April 25th, 2013

I am definitely NOT one of those people who needs to be reminded to exfoliate more. If anything, the opposite is true; you see, when I was in my early 20s, I got my first spa facial.  The esthetician informed me that my skin was so dry and congested that my moisturizer was rendered useless/unable to penetrate … and of course this perpetrated a vicious cycle: My skin felt and looked dry, I’d slather it with a heavy cream that probably wasn’t right for my skin at that age anyway, and nothing would change. Until I got that facial, I mean! That particular facial included a light glycolic acid peel, which righted my wrongs, gently sloughing away dead skin and clearing out my pores. In short, it made my skin receptive to the products that I used (which, by the way, were minimal, as I was a spring chicken and wrinkles and spots were the furthest things from my mind). Since then, I’ve been mildly obsessed with glycolic acid products. I do enjoy a nice coarse scrub from time to time, and I do use a Clarisonic brush to wash my face if I’m removing a lot of makeup. But glycolic acid has always worked for me. Whenever my skin is acting up—be it eczema, breakouts, spots or dullness—glycolic acid proves to be a hero.

 

 

And that’s why I love Zensation Glycolic Acid Essence so much!

With a 10% formulation, this stuff is fairly gentle. (Much more gentle than your standard retinol product, that’s for sure.) Overzealous as I admittedly am, I can never seem to use too much of it. It’s never once irritated my skin, and I can definitely tell a difference when I don’t use it. And not for the better.

Bottom line: I’m all about glycolic washes, glycolic toners, glycolic anything. This product is one of the easiest ways to get some glycolic acid in your life, and if you’ve got skin that’s anything like mine (combination/sensitive), you need it.

Did you receive this gem in your Beautyfix kit this season? If you did, you know what to do! Leave a comment telling us how much you love it.

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Lights, Camera, Action!

April 23rd, 2013

With the launch of our awesome new BeautyTV, I have been spending a lot more time in front of the camera- which I actually really enjoy! It is so fun to work with the video production team and learn about new beauty products before they come out, plus my grandmother loves watching my videos (she might be the only one…). The only downfall is my hair! It is long, thin, stringy, damaged and in need of a serious haircut (we have discussed my laziness when it comes to this, don’t be surprised). As you can imagine, my hair was looking pretty lifeless on camera.  Our hairstylist tried everything to make my hair look camera ready but nothing was working- until we were introduced to Denise Richards Volume Extend by Cristophe!

It makes sense that someone who has spent years behind the camera developed a product line that would cure my onscreen woes! Denise Richards and stylist to the stars, Cristophe, came together to create an amazing line of volumizing and nourishing products that promote healthy and fuller looking locks. Plus, it is cruelty free! The entire line features innovative Voluminis and Aquaflex technology, which adds serious volume. Additionally, antioxidents, such as sea fennel, protect the hair and keep it hydrated. I could tell an immediate difference the first time we used it on my hair! The entire line is fantastic but my personal favorite is the Finishing Spray, which kept my hairstyle in place but natural looking and I never felt as though my hair was stiff or crunchy. I was able to move around naturally and feel confident on camera. I might not look as great as Denise Richards, but thanks to her new product line, at least my hair can!

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Celebrate Earth Day & Go Green!

April 22nd, 2013

If you’ve been wanting to make the switch to organic and environmentally friendly beauty products, what better day to start than Earth Day! You can help preserve our planet just by changing up your beauty routine.

Here are a few beauty brand favs that honor Mother Earth:

LaLicious

After collaborating with Save Our Shores conservation group based in Monterey Bay, natural body care company LaLicious presents this year’s Sugar Reef Collection inspired by the majestic ocean breeze.

Jurlique

Environmental awareness and luxury come together with Jurlique’s recyclable packaging. It’s easy to love the earth with this line of naturally effective skincare, body care, baby care and essential oils.

John Master’s Organics

A favorite of actress Zooey Deschanel,  her “oh-so pure skin treatment” includes John Master’s Organics pomegranate facial nourishing oil, made with organic ingredients and free of parabens, artificial colors, and synthetic fragrances.

LaVanila

This brand doesn’t celebrate Earth Day, they celebrate Earth Month. Throughout the entire month of April, Lavanila will plant 2 trees with the Nature Conservancey for every new facebook fan, twitter follower and instagram follower.

Juice Beauty

Style maven, eco-stylist, model and founder of FashionMeGreen.com, Greta Eagan goes green with Juice Beauty.  Certified organic ingredients make this effective all natural and extremely pure skincare line one of her favorites.

Tarte

This brand goes beyond their green formulas with cases and compacts made to reduce green house gas emissions. Check out their refillable eyeshadow palette . Once you run out of a certain shade you can just replace it with a new pan. These reusable palettes help to reduce waste and the shadows are formulated without parabens.

What do you plan on doing today (or this month) to honor Mother Earth? Is a beauty product change-up on your list? Leave a comment below and tell us!

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