Beauty pro division

The advent of long-lasting make-up and the resurgence of heavy creams are stimulating a lot of dirty activity on skin, contributing to under-surface congestion and an overall dull complexion. Add in our skin’s natural sebum (oil) and environmental pollutants that surround us in the air and we have quite the cocktail of debris lingering on skin and working down into our pores.

Now just think back to that cleanse you performed today: does it seem like it was thorough enough to cut through it all? Chances are it was not, because the average person cleanses their skin for only 20 seconds with a water-soluble cleanser that cannot thoroughly break down and remove all that oil-based debris.

You remember the saying oil and water don’t mix, right? The same principle applies to your water-based cleanser and the oil-based debris on your skin. And if they don’t mix, and instead repel each other, how is your water-based cleanser going to ever remove that oil, dirt and grime?

Truth is only oil can cut through and thoroughly remove oil. (Don’t worry oil-phobes! There are oils that rinse clean from skin without leaving a greasy residue or contributing to any additional oily build-up.) And with the right oil-based cleanser, layers of oily debris are adequately removed, leaving behind nothing but ultra-clean skin.

A Beauty Review Roundup of some of the many products I review on a weekly basis. If you have used any of the products below, please feel free to post a comment with your thoughts on what your opinion is!

Super Glossy Lip Shine from e.l.f. Cosmetics
5 out of 5 Stars
Sometimes the colors you see online are not exactly what they look like once you receive your product, however, e.l.f.'s Super Glossy Lip Shine colors looked exactly how they were presented online; I was thrilled....Read More.

Aussie Hair Care's Mega Shampoo, Moist for Dry Damaged Hair, Dual Personality Mousse and Dual Personality Hair Spray.
4 out of 5 Stars
A few days ago I had a hair emergency of sorts. The night before, my youngest son had a bad dream and wanted to sleep in our bed. He also asked for some milk in his "spill proof" sippy cup. If you are a mom, you know that spill proof cups are not necessarily spill proof. So we'll just say that milk and ovaltine are not good for your hair...Read More.

Clairol Hydrience
5 out of 5 Stars
I choose Clairol Hydrience's Level 3 permanent hair color in Sable Cove, which is a dark brown. This coloring kit is a moisturizing cream and comes with IntensivMoisture After-Color Therapy by Pantene. At the time of this hair coloring, my hair was light brown with blonde highlights. My natural hair color is dark brown, so this was my attempt to go back to basics...Read More.

Neutrogena's MicroMist Tanning Spray
3 out of 5 Stars
Looking at my pathetic white legs the other day made me finally spring to buy a sunless tanner. I've never used a sunless tanner before, mostly because of the fear of orange palms and streak marks. As trial and error has progressed, it seems that sunless tanners are getting better at lessening a beginner's chances of messing things up. Call it Sunless Tanning for Dummies, if you will...Read More.

Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is good for your complexion.

False. In general, people do not need to drink 8 glasses of water a day for any health benefits. It's good as an appetite suppressant and obviously to keep yourself from dehydration, but water alone won't help your complexion. That is based on a combination of genetics, healthy eating habits, managing stress and taking care of your skin with a good
skincare routine.

Cutting your hair will make it grow faster.

False. Hair grows a half inch every month regardless of it being cut or not. It does tend to grow faster in the summer than winter. Hormones play a factor as well, as most pregnant moms know that their hair will grow faster during pregnancy.

There's no need to slap on the sunscreen when it's an overcast day.

False. Clouds or not, UV rays can still penetrate your skin. You should always wear sunscreen when heading outdoors in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter when you are all covered up, you should be wearing a moisturizer and/or foundation with an SPF--and don't forget SPF for your lipcare either!

Shaving makes your hair grow back thicker.

False. Your hair may appear thicker, but it is only because of the angle you cut it at.

Drinking coffee, eating chocolate and greasy foods causes acne.

False. While some of these foods can make acne worse, it is not the cause of it. Acne is a hormonal issue.

Eggs and Mayonnaise are good conditioners for your hair.

False. First, I can't even imagine putting eggs and mayonnaise in my hair just for the smell factor alone. If you want well moisturized, soft tresses, stick to the conditioners you can find in the beauty aisle.

Toothpaste gets rid of zits.

False. Toothpaste will dry out your skin, but it certainly won't rid your skin of acne.

Hair care products can repair split ends.

False. Split ends can be temporarily "glued" back together with hair products, but once the product is washed out, the split ends return. The only way to fix a split end, is to cut it off.

You should stick to one product line for your beauty products.

False. All I ask is why? Nothing bad will happen if you mix and match products, in fact I do it all the time because I love a concealer by one company and love an eyeshadow by another. The same goes for hair care products and skin care. Mix it up!

Dry skin causes wrinkles.

False. Wrinkles are caused by internal and external factors including sun damage. Fine lines are also caused by repetitive smiling and frowning, etc.

Tweezing your eyebrows can be a tricky thing. If you overpluck, it will take a week or so for those hairs to grow back. If you underpluck, then you risk looking like a bushy mess. Here are some tips to achieving the Model Eyeybrow look:

1. Everyone understands where the eyebrow starts, but not where it ends. Line up a pencil at the end of the nose, towards the corner of the eye. That's where the line of your eyebrow should end. This is also where your eye shadow should end, as well.

2. Balance to the eyebrows are very important. You want to make sure that they're not uneven. From where it starts to where it ends, the line of the eyebrow should be horizontal. If you line up a pencil at the beginning and the end of the brow lines up too high, you know you've tweezed too much.

3. The Model Eyebrow is a shape that looks great on everyone. From the start of the eyebrow to the arch, the line is straight. From the arch to the end of the eyebrow, the line is softly curved. It's a classic eyebrow shape that's always in and looks great on everyone.

4. Avoid creating a straightness in your eyebrows by not tweezing above the eyebrow. By tweezing on top, you tend to flatten the shape, making it very difficult to create a high flowing arch. You get your arch only by tweezing underneath, never on top.

5. If you are getting that pinching ouch when tweezing, do what the pros do. Grab the hair with tweezers and pull the hair with the tips of the tweezer touching the skin as you pull. Pull in the direction that the hair grows, and you'll find tweezing to be virtually painless. Why? It's the pulling up of the skin that hurts, not the hair. By keeping the skin flat, you eliminate much of the sting factor.

6. If you find yourself breaking out after tweezing your eyebrows, keep it sanitized. Use witch hazel on a cotton ball before and after you tweeze to avoid those little red bumps.

7. Ideally, the best shape is the natural line that your eyebrow already is. If your eyebrows are extremely thick, a very thin eyebrow will not work for you. If your eyebrows are thin, trying to maintain a thicker eyebrow will be too much work. Just as in hair texture, work with what you have. Softer facial features enhance a thinner, more elegant eyebrow, while a strong bone structure is the perfect face for a thicker, stronger eyebrow.

8. The secret to model eyebrows, is to never completely wax your eyebrow. Models know that eyebrow looks come and go, and if you wax only, you lose the ability to grow in your eyebrows at a later date should you want to change your look. The best technique is to just wax the hairs that are not needed and tweeze to define the shape of the eyebrow.

There are several shapes to tweezers, but the most used are:

The thin tip: Good for grasping fine hairs and plucking ingrown hairs.
The slanted tip: This tip gives you maximum control.
The square tip: Removes coarse hairs or several hairs at a time.

I personally use Esthetic Plus' Slanted Tweezers and find that they work fabulous on my brows. You can learn more about them through my review of them on my blog or simply visit their website at www.estheticplus.com.

(Model Eyebrow tips provided by Elke von Freudenberg, eyebrow expert.)

Today I was reading in Women’s Wear Daily that Estee Lauder will be launching a foundation line under its very popular skin care line Resilience Lift Extreme. The foundation will be debuting in 2007 with a marketing campaign that includes Elizabeth Hurley. While ads with Hurley could never persuade me to buy this makeup, because really now, she’s already gorgeous and doesn’t portray the typical person who would need this foundation; the ingredients and science behind the foundation alone might do the trick.

At the age of 32, I’ve definitely noticed my skin losing elasticity and firmness. Since I am not yet ready to take the plunge into plastic surgery and cannot use anything involving chemicals or hormones due to being pregnant, I look to skin care and makeup to give me a temporary fix. The cocktail in this foundation is said to consist of triterpines, tetra and hexapeptides, just as the moisturizer it is named after does. It also includes Polylift, a protein-rich flexible film, that makes skin feel tighter upon application; a lipid complex designed to restore the skin’s natural surface epidermal layer, and seigesbecka, a plant extra that helps the skin maintain its natural elastin and collagen levels. It almost sounds too good to be true and for only $29.50, it surely sounds like it should have a much higher price point.

While Estee Launder will be mainly taking the traditional approach in marketing this foundation, they will also launch an internet campaign early next year. As a makeup Blogger, I am crossing my fingers and toes that this includes marketing to Bloggers for reviews. I will feverishly raise my hand to be one of the lucky ones to try out this foundation that seems like it may be the (temporary) answer to a lot of my aging woes.

What do you think? Too good to be true or truly good?

ION Silk Solutions Drops
4 out of 5 Stars
My sister in law is in town this weekend and had this handy hair treatment in her cosmetics bag. Since I had my hair colored last weekend, it's been a bit tangly and frizzy. I asked my SIL how it worked on her hair and she reported that it was "magic." So I gave it a try myself…Read More.

Avon Instant Manicure
5 out of 5 Stars
I've been very curious about this product, as I can really never wear nail polish on my fingers for a variety of reasons; the inability to be patient while they dry, chipping by the end of the day, color peeling off, the scent associated with polish. Did I mention the inability to be patient while they dry? It seems that as soon as I polish my nails I always feel the need to wash dishes (lying), fold laundry (lying again) or do housework (hat trick). Kidding aside, I haven't worn nail polish on anywhere except my toes for so long because I hate how soon it wears off…Read More of Part I, then Part II.

Dorit Baxter Day Spa
Review of their 30 Minute Full Body Scrub & 30 Minute Full Body Massage
5 out of 5 Stars
Dorit Baxter Day Spa is one of the top Spa's in New York City, which has been featured in Time Magazine, The New York Times, New York Magazine, CNN and beauty magazines like Allure and W. It is located on 47 West 57th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues on the 3rd floor. As I approached the spa off of the busy street, I wondered how anyone could offer serenity amid the commotion of taxi cabs, bustling pedestrians and the fast pace life that is New York City…Read More.

mark. Hook Up Lip Gloss
4 out of 5 Stars
mark.'s Hook Up is a collection of mascara, creamy eye shadow, liquid eyeliner and lipg loss that can hook together with a connector, creating convenience when you go searching through your handbag looking to freshen your face. So you can hook two lip glosses together, a body shimmer and eye shadow and so on. The Hook Up Connector has been featured in magazine's such as Allure, InStyle and Glamour…Read More.

If you are over the age of 30, chances are that you have noticed your facial skin start to change. Women in peri-menopause and menopause start to notice the loss of elasticity and moisture in their skin, which many times requires them to change the skin care routine they had been implementing previously. I know oftentimes, my mother, grandmother and aunts ask me what products are out there to combat the signs of aging, at least on the surface level without plastic surgery.

Below is a list of the 12 skin symptoms associated with estrogen loss as complied by Dr. Stuart Kaplan, a dermatologist and creator of kaplanMD. As you go through each skin sign, see if you can relate.

1. Accelerated formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Adult acne.
3. Flushing/redness.
4. Loss of firmness.
5. Loss of elasticity.
6. Thinning, colorless or translucent skin.
7. Dull, lackluster skin,
8. Dry, dehydrated skin.
9. Uneven pigmentation.
10. Facial hair growth.
11. Photosensitivity (sensitive to sun exposure).
12. Hypersensitivity (skin is more sensitive to irritation, allergies and bruising).

I remember in my junior year in high school when Elizabeth Taylor came out with White Diamonds. It was kind of odd to see a big name actress extend beyond marketing her movies to marketing a perfume. This time stands out most for me as the first time a celebrity began to mass merchandise their name through not only endorsing a product, but by having a product made specifically to launch sales based on their name being attached and a collaborative effort between the celebrity and fragrance company.

Once Jennifer Lopez's perfume “Glow” really took off four years ago, more and more celebrities have been lured over to creating a perfume line. The latest ventures are with Coty and Gwen Stephani and reportedly, although not confirmed, with Kate Moss. I happen to love Gwen Stephani, but to wear her perfume? I’m not so sure. However, I must be in the minority, as celebrity-endorsed scents represent 23% of the top 100 women's fragrances last year, growing in popularity from 2003 by 10%.

Currently, Kylie Minogue's fragrance is outselling all other celebrity fragrances in the UK, although David Beckham's Intimately Her comes in a close second. So why the surge in celebrity fragrances, and most notably, their surge in popularity? Most likely due to the public’s obsession with the celebrity lifestyle, that somehow by wearing their perfume, one can live vicariously through the scent. Also, the fact that the celebrity is intimately involved in the fragrance creation process. Just as with a song or movie, you want your work to be a hit and not fade into oblivion the minute it debuts, so setting high standards and making sure the scent is just right is a key factor.

What are your thoughts? Do you prefer celebrity perfumes over powerhouse brands?

Looking for longer lasting results to cosmetically combat wrinkles? Then look no further than the newest dermal filler on the block: Radiesse. It was announced just this week that Radiesse has received FDA approval, which means you know that a lot of research and clinical independent studies went into this product and that it can stand by its results.

Dermal fillers are substances that are injected just below the surface of the skin to fill in lines, wrinkles, and scars. Unlike face lifts that stretch the skin, fillers add volume for a more natural youthful appearance. Dermal fillers tend to provide a more natural look than a face lift and can be typically done over your lunch hour.

There are several types of dermal fillers on the market; collagen, hyaluronic based fillers and now Radiesse, which is a calcium hydroxyl apatite filler. Radiesse is made of unique calcium-based microspheres that are suspended in a natural gel that is injected into the skin through a simple, safe and minimally invasive procedure. Using this technology stimulates your skin to produce new collagen.

Of all the dermal fillers out there, Radiesse has been proven to have the longest lasting results. While most last up to a year, Radiesse can last 2 or more years, which means you require less frequent injections.

You can learn more about this new dermal filler by visiting their website www.Radiesse.com or by finding an experienced Radiesse doctor local to you.

For a long while the only scent I would wear was Red Door. However, I’ve found that in each season of my life, my preference towards a certain fragrance changes. While Red Door remains my "fall back" scent, I’ve stopped repeatedly only buying that scent and venturing out to discover new fragrances to suit me.

I’m not alone in my less than loyal approach to fragrances. Many years back, if you purchased a certain brand or fragrance, it became your signature scent and one you would replenish each time the bottle went dry. Now perfume addicts everywhere are moving out of their comfort zone of just one fragrance or brand and moving on to having a menagerie of scents in their collection, not remaining loyal to any one in particular.

Due to our fickle nature, perfume powerhouse brands like L'Oreal and Clarins are seeing a decline in their sales figures month after month, making them race to the drawing board to start over and reconfigure their marketing tactics. Not only their marketing tactics, but creating new scents to keep their consumers happy.

AHAVA, known for its wonderful dead sea salt treatments, has now added another addition to their product line: Pure Spa. The Pure Spa line is an anti-ageing line that contains Dunaliella Sauna, a unique algae living in the Dead Sea that contains exceptionally high concentrations of Beta-Carotene, essential vitamins and antioxidants. Beta-Carotene, which is a powerful, natural antioxidant, helps maintain smooth, disease-free skin, neutralizing the effect of free radicals, reversing the signs of aging, improving skin elasticity, moisture content and suppleness. A lack of vitamin A can lead to oxidative stress, and cause the skin to lose elasticity, to become dry and more prone to wrinkling.

With such products as an Energizing Body Mud Mask, Placid Bath Salts and Body Sorbet Caress, you can’t help but automatically feel ready to be relaxed and rejuvenated by this new product line. The scents involved are Mandarin-Cedarwood and Syringa-Green Apple, which will revive your senses and give you an enduring sense of calm. I don’t know about you, but the Uplifting Butter Salt and Energizing Body Mud Mask seem to be calling my name.

tarte's Little Blot Book
4 out of 5 Stars
When I received my Little Blot Book, it indeed looked like a book. Adorable, yet stylish. When I popped it open, there was a decent sized mirror, mattifying powder, a small brush and blotting papers. It's compact, yet still gives you an enormous amount of product...Read More.

LipSense Liquid Lip Color
4 out of 5 Stars
The LipSense liquid lip color is basically a specially formulated lip color that tints your lips. To get a really nice deep color, you should apply 3 coats. This is a very thin formula, so 3 coats is not thick at all. In fact the lip color quickly absorbed into my lips, unlike lipstick or lipgloss that lay on top of your lips. LipSense Liquid Lip Color doesn't contain any moisturizers or emulsifiers, which is how it is able to absorb into your lips and not come off...Read More.

Besame Cosmetics
4 out of 5 Stars
The Souffle Foundation: At first I thought the jar looked small, however, I soon realized that I didn't need the typical amount of foundation using this Souffle. A little goes a very long way. It is light, goes on smooth and has the consistency in the jar of mousse...Read More.

Lip Glosses from Urban Apothecary
4 out of 5 Stars
Swizzle Stick is a gloss and a lip liner that detaches from the tube. So cool, so innovative. I am so rockin in the Malta color, as well. It's not too dark and has a really great shine to it. It's a thin feeling gloss, not goopy or sticky at all...Read More.

I admit it, I color my hair. If I didn’t, I would have that grey Bonnie Raitt stripe at the front of my hair. When I color my hair it tends to dry and frizz a little more than usual, an existing problem that gets magnified.

I love my Joico products, but also love trying out new things as well. This week for a review I tried out some products by Ojon specifically for dry, dull and chemically-treated hair. From the moment I opened the Ultra Hydrating Shampoo, I knew this was going to be an experience.

While this winter has been a very mild one for most of us, it is still winter nonetheless. That means fluxuating temperatures outside which translates into turning up and down the thermostat. When the weather can’t seem to make up its mind, it means my skin pays the price. When there is no balance in nature, my skin gets dry or overly oily.

Thankfully, I began trying out Skingenic’s new Regenerating Moisturizer in the Fall, prior to the chaos that has been a very strange winter so far. The Regenerating Moisturizer utilizes exotic lychee fruits, which is rich in anti-oxidants, vitamin C, potassium and other age-defying elements. One such anti-oxidant contained in this moisturizer is Idebenone. It is the most powerful anti-oxidant available today, which promises to do wonders for your skin.

Within a week of using Skingenic’s Regenerating Moisturizer, I began to notice a difference. Areas of my face that normally would begin to flake seemed to be soft and supple. By week 3, I began getting compliments that my skin looked great. I’ve also noticed that my previous skin issues have lessened, especially since late fall into the winter are the worst times of year for my skin.

Skingenic also offers a restructuring eye cream, which I have not yet used but would be interested to hear from those who have. You can request free samples on their website at www.skingenic.com.

Nudes and the pale look of lips made its way out of the trend this past Fall and were replaced by red and bold lip colors. Fall into this winter have seen many celebrities and beauty experts making a statement with color. I know that many times color is feared, most especially red, but if you find the right mix of a bold color to match your skin tone, then anyone can wear the colors of the Winter season.

My favorite celebrity to make a statement with color is Gwen Stephani. Many pale-skinned women shy away from cherry reds, but Gwen always looks glamorous, as does another pale skinned music diva, Christina Aguilera.

Spring and summer will have some reds and fuscia’s remain, but it will make the transition to peaches, corals, and browns. The matte look will be back in and glosses out, which I will sorely miss as I love shine.

As we are only weeks away from Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC, I’m already looking forward to finding out what the trend will be for this time next year. What are you predictions?

Nestled away on the beautiful island of Mauritius, a new Destination Spa has opened this month. One that is complete with exclusive spa treatments, luxurious beach-front suites and villas, as well as, leisure and health activities that include a fitness center, yoga and meditation center.

The Shanti Ananda Maurice’s spa treatments focus on Ayurveda to Thalassotherapy using both Contemporary and Traditional methods. Both are rooted in ancient Indian culture and have medicinal and therapeutic values. One example of an Ayurveda technique is called Shirodhara. This involves gently pouring liquids over the forehead. These liquids can be oil, milk, buttermilk, coconut water or even plain water.

Aside from the wonderful spa treatments it provides, the location of this enchanting destination spa alone will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. The Shanti Ananda Maurice is spread over 36 acres of tropical gardens, taking in views of the hills and Indian Ocean.

The Shanti Ananda offers all-inclusive packages that range from anti-ageing to stress management to weight management, among several others. Each package offers generous treatments and are available at a 20-25% discounted rate until April 30, 2007. The Shanti Ananda Maurice is sure to become a top rated Destination Spa.

John gets a car for his 16th birthday, while Vanessa gets a nose job. Sound unrealistic? It’s not and it’s a growing trend among the youth of our country and abroad. Actually, the high holidays are when most of these procedures are done so be on the lookout for very refreshed and well rested teen with effervescent perkiness! Plastic surgery as birthday gifts and graduation presents; what used to be reserved for adults and cosmetic purposes, slowly creeped into the world of those under 18. It began with microdermabrasion and facial peels to help with severe acne, then breast augmentation in respect to reductions or leveling out unevenness, but now has turned into something teens do “just for fun.”

The problem with teens is in how casual they take plastic surgery and do not understand the risks, or are mature enough to handle change or even worse, severe complications. In regards to maturity, most teens want the perfect nose, perfect breasts or to lose the extra pounds simply because they see their Photoshopped idols in a magazine and want to be just like them. Teens see plastic surgery as a quick fix.

The most sought after plastic surgeries for teens are liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. The issue young teenage girls don’t take into consideration when opting to have the liposuction or breast implants is the obstacles later in life should they settle down and have a family. Such issues are not being able to breast feed if you have implants and the weight gain when you are pregnant which post-pregnancy may result in dimpling of your skin from liposuction. Should you be a candidate for bariatric surgery in your late teens, getting pregnant means that all of the nutrition goes directly to the baby and little to the mother, which then requires close monitoring and possible health risks.

Education of the risks, both short and long term, as well as the emotional changes are things that need to be discussed at length with a teen wanting to go under the knife.

Via PRWEB: Infinity Sun is taking Beverly Hills by storm with the world's first and only anti-aging sunless tanning technology. Infinity Sun was co-founded by Veronique Munro, one of the sunless tanning industry's most prominent pioneers and celebrity spray tanners.

Infinity Sun is the first all-natural sunless tanning technology, made with anti-aging anti-oxidants and pure botanicals that not only offer the client the most natural looking customized spray tan, but also hydrate the skin, enhancing natural skin tones and producing a luminescent glow that lasts up to two weeks.

Infinity Sun has joined forces with Jose Eber, world renowned hair stylist to the stars to offer both the famous and general public the most luxurious experience in sunless tanning available. Infinity Sun is enjoyed by celebrity notables such as Jessica Alba and Paris Hilton among others.

Infinity Sun is applied with a proprietary spray system, operated by a sunless tanning professional. The entire process takes approximately three minutes, leaving the skin with a stunning and natural golden brown glow.

Infinity Sun also offers a line of products to maximize the results and extend the life of the tan. Products include a non-abrasive exfoliator, which removes dead skin cells and a prep lotion, which evens the porosity of the skin, enabling the solution to more evenly penetrate the skin. Also available is an extender with shimmer, which extends the tan for an additional two to three days, leaving the skin looking dewy and radiant.

Infinity Sun delights the skin and senses with vanilla-scented aromatherapy in an alcohol-free sunless tanning aerosol. Created with 7 essential oils and vitamin A and E, Infinity Sun aerosol helps to maintain color on areas that are more prone to fading (face, hands and feet) between spray sessions.

Whether you enjoy star-gazing or would like to try Hollywood's latest and greatest advances in sunless tanning, Rodeo Drive is where you can now find this truly luxuriating treatment.

You can experience Infinity Sun at Jose Eber in Beverly Hills.

Joico K-Pak Smoothing Balm
5 out of 5 Stars
Joico's Smoothing Balm is a hair product that is meant for straightening and protecting your hair, while being humidity-resistant. It is heat activated and comes in a 200ml bottle.
It has a yummy light guava (yet coconut) scent and a creamy texture that looks thick, but as you rub it in your palms, is thin to the touch. I only needed a dime size amount for my just-past-the-shoulder length hair…Read more.

Maybe Baby by Benefit
4 out of 5 Stars
This oh so pretty fragrance has Top notes of apricot and white ginger; Middle notes of water blossoms, lychee, bergamont and Base notes of white musk and warm peach…Read more.

Shea Butter Soap by Hollyrose Aromatherapy
3 out of 5 Stars
The soap was larger than expected and I loved the "Handmade" imprint. Holly's custom Aromatherapy blend is a mix of peppermint, sweet orange, bergamont, lavender and rosemary. I absolutely loved this scent. When using this soap in the shower, the scent was really refreshing and invigorating…Read more.

Brown Sugar Scrub from Bath and Body Bliss
4 out of 5 Stars
When you are pregnant, scents are a love hate affair, especially if they are food-related. Some immediately send you running for the bathroom, while others can create some pretty strong cravings. So was the case when I received some products from Bath and Body Bliss. As soon as I opened their Brown Sugar Scrub, immediate memories of Mulling Spices and wonderful Holiday memories came flooding back…Read more.

Clive Owen, a 41-year-old British actor, has been hired to be the latest celebrity to market products for the L'Oreal owned beauty company, Lancome. Previous celebrities that touted the brand are Uma Therman and Mena Suvari, among others. Lancome's hope is that his charming and rugged look will attract more men to feel comfortable purchasing skincare products.

Owen is reported to be getting $2.5 million pounds (you do the math to convert that to US$) for the advertising campaign. Owen will be appearing in ads for Lancome's new men's grooming line, called Lancome Homme, which includes fragrance and anti-ageing products. The ad campaign and products will launch this Spring in the US. However, you can see the products now on Lancome's international website, which I happen to think has a much better layout than their US website.

The almost ex-Mrs. Sir Paul McCartney has decided to take a stab at working in the beauty and health industry. Heather Mills, a former Model, will be launching her own website later this year called, “I Do Care,” offering fitness, health and beauty tips on how to live a green lifestyle.

Mills will also be launching her own line of beauty products that some see as a direct competition to Stella McCartney’s fragrance and soon to be released organic skin care line. Will the two be going head to head?

With an ongoing nasty divorce that involves a lot of he-said-she-said, most especially with a man many see as a musical icon and beloved legend, it’s hard to say if Mills can come out of it unscathed and launch a successful career in the health and beauty industry. Only time will tell.

What do you think?

I came across an interesting beauty line today by a company called SAMPAR. They are based in Paris and recently launched a new line of products called Winsome. The line is comprised of 5 products, which are meant to cleanse, contour, moisturize, protect and invigorate the body. What intrigued me most about SAMPAR is their investment in research to find natural active ingredients that can have a positive effect on the skin and go as far as looking at how their packaging can be beneficial to the product it holds.

The main component in their products is their Urban Active Complex, which contains Shea Butter, Mint Leaf and Vegetal and Milk Sugar. While I didn’t know the benefits of the last two ingredients prior to reading about them, I am well aware of how wonderful Shea Butter is for your skin. SAMPAR combines their Urban Active Complex with essential oils, biopeptides, natural vitamin C and antioxidants.

The Winsome Body line is one that offers protection from the elements such as lead, iron and chlorine found in tap water. While the Dew It Again Shower Gel, Joyous Body Milk and Lap of Luxury Sea Scrub sound divine; I am skeptical about two of the other products. Go Figure Slimming Gel claims to be able to eliminate and break down fats while preventing the appearance of new fat and the Lift Me Up Bust Cream says it can envelop the breasts with an invisible firming film for immediate enhancement. I honestly have yet to find any non-medical beauty product that can do either.

Have you tried any of the products from SAMPAR; what are your thoughts on them?

Add another celebrity to the mix in the fragrance industry. Christina Aguilera has signed a long–term deal with Proctor and Gamble Prestige Products to create a fragrance line in her name. Aguilera, a Grammy winner and popular singer-songwriter, P&G feels Aguilera targets a demographic they are looking to market to according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Aguilera’s deal comes on the heels of many other recent announcements of celebrities launching fragrance lines such as Gwen Stephani, Kylie Minogue and reportedly Kate Moss. There were 37 celebrity-endorsed scents over the last few years and the trend continues to surge. P&G says that they signed with Aguilera not to keep up with the trend, but because they wanted to reach a demographic and that the loyal fan base of Aguilera that is part of that demographic.

In a previous post I mentioned the surge in celebrity fragrances, but I have to wonder if soon the market will see an over saturation of it. While Jennifer Lopez has show staying power with her fragrance, will the over abundance of celebrity fragrances dilute the success of each new celebrity brand that makes it onto the shelves?

What do you think?

Dorit Baxter Day Spa, located in Midtown Manhattan, is now offering a massage specifically for those of us working on our computers, Blackberries and other tech devices all day long. Does your neck ache from hunching over? Your wrist hurt from all that mouse activity? Your fingers stiff from typing away? A tension relieving massage targeted at those areas sounds like heaven.

I’ve been to Dorit Baxter Day Spa and I know the wonderful service they provide. After watching the video of the BlackBerry Massage on Reuters today (once you get past a commercial), I so desperately longed to be back in New York City to have the aches in my neck and wrist worked out. Dorit Baxter and her staff are innovative when it comes to giving their clients what they long for. So I wouldn’t be surprised if this massage came as a result of client request. The “tech” massage is $95, but I’m sure your aching muscles will find it worth it.

As we become busier, so comes our need to find time to relax. Relaxing doesn’t necessarily mean vegging out on the couch. More and more people are taking the time from their schedule to indulge in posh spa treatments as the ultimate relaxation indulgence.

Going to the spa is like taking a step into a different world, it’s peaceful, it’s therapeutic, but it also speaks to luxury. As individuals continue to keep spa treatments in demand, more businesses are beginning to capitalize on this.

Hotels and resorts are beginning to offer spa services for their guests making what would’ve been an average hotel stay into an extraordinary one. One such resort that comes to mind that is local to me is Woodloch Pines Resorts. They recently opened their Lodge at Woodloch this past June (see photo gallery here), which is a Destination Spa that from its beginning stages, demanded high quality professionals for the ultimate in service. Woodloch wanted to stand out among its competitors and become a leader in the industry. They accomplished just that by being listed on the Forbes Top Most Luxurious Spa’s list, as well as being listed among the 100 Best Spa’s in the World by Insider’s Guide. Spa’s like The Lodge at Woodloch are thriving due to the growing demand for pampering in luxury and the overall concept of health and wellness.

Soaps from Bath and Body Bliss
4 out of 5 Stars
I crossed my fingers and hoped that the soap was just as good as the pretty packaging. The Seaweed Soap smelled so nice and you could just feel from the bar that this soap would just glide across your skin. The Seaweed Soap is made of kelp, sage, chamomile and is scented with sage and rosemary essential oils. I loved that this soap was mildly abrasive, exfoliating my skin nicely, while creating a great lather. This soap felt wonderful...Read more.

Bikini Kitty Shave System
3 out of 5 Stars
Bikini Kitty is a Shave Care System to eliminate and prevent razor rash, ingrown hair and provide an irritation free shave. Bikini Kitty's products are vegan and organic. The kit comes in a very handy vinyl bag with handles. It includes a Body Brush, Everyday Magic Spray, Shave Gel, No nick Razor Oil, Razor-burn soother and 2 single blade disposable razors...Read more.

Joico K-Pak Liquid Reconstruct
4 out of 5 Stars
As my hair gets longer, I find that it splits and freys a little more easier, or just seems a little more obvious, and that my hair tangles a lot more causing me to wish (for just one millisecond) for short hair again. This product has been a miracle worker, along with the Joico K-Pak Smoothing Balm...Read more.

Maryam's Soap Nook Exfoliating Body Wash
4 out of 5 Stars
My VIP package came from Maryam's Soap Nook. Today's review will be about her Exfoliating Body Wash with Kukui Nut Oil and Jojoba Beads. This product was sent in an out of this world fragrance---Pomegranate and Wild Berries. This wonderfully pink Body Wash with it's blue-green Jojoba Beads lives up to my expectations of not only smelling wonderful, but also working just as well...Read more.

Kiss My Face was a green beauty company before green became an in thing. Every product they sell is organic without anything artificial at all. Yet going organic certainly doesn’t mean that quality is compromised at any point or that organic means a heavy price point. Most Kiss My Face users will tell you, their products are top notch and won’t break the bank in the process.

It’s not very often that you can go to a company’s website and read the background on how things were started, and if you can find one, you certainly will not find one so personable and down to earth. When you read the story behind how Kiss My Face began and their mission and purpose of their products you can’t help but feel their humor, lightheartedness, and of course their love for our great Earth. Their story is definitely a Squash to Riches story and one I think everyone should read.

Kiss My Face sells a variety of products for your bath, body and more. The products range from hair care to soap to facial moisturizers. Since we all know that organic is not only earth friendly, but also skin friendly, more people who may have a sensitivity to ingredients in other products may find comfort here.

If you use Kiss My Face, what is your favorite product from their line?

In the winter my hair gets so dry. And frizz? It is positively unruly. So this season I decided to take a new approach to my hair by using a daily leave in conditioner as opposed to the wash and rinse kind.

I received bain de terre, which is part of the Zoto’s brand, White Lily Daily Leave-In Renewal Treatment. What’s interesting about this bottle is that the opening is on the bottom with a cap that twists open to allow product to come through a hole in the center. This is the least messy bottom capped bottle I have ever used.

The scent is light, delicate and floral. The conditioner itself is not thick or pasty, but easily workable through your hair (and I have long, thick hair). I only needed a little more than a pea-sized amount for my hair. I rubbed it between my hands, smoothed it through my hair and then used a pick to make sure that it was evenly distributed. This renewal treatment is not heavy and doesn’t weigh your hair down.

After styling my hair as usual, I noticed a wonderful shine to my hair. It makes your scalp feel great too in these very dry months. The white lily daily leave-in renewal treatment has some fabulous ingredients for your hair, such as Soy Protein, Gingko Biloba and Sunflower Seed Extract. It definitely makes my hair look and feel healthier.

You can find it on www.zotos.com under bain de terre Spa Therapy for your hair.

Decleor Paris is a luxurious face, body and suncare line for both men and women. Decleor was founded by a team of aromatherapy experts who use their knowledge of active plant extracts to create a comprehensive line of products that are both preventative and on going natural skin care. Decleor is also partnered by Shiseido, known for their wonderful beauty products, and are also the 4th largest beauty group in the industry.

Essential oils have wonderful healing properties with aromatic fragrances that, depending on which oil is used or combined with another, promotes such things as well being, calm, relaxation and so on, therefore promoting balance of both body and mind.

While Decleor’s packaging makes you feel like you just bought a diamond necklace at Tiffany’s, don’t be fooled that the luxury ends there. It’s what is inside the package that is luxurious, making your skin look and feel like you just spent hours at the spa. In fact, Decleor also offers Salon and Spa treatments at select locations. Within the US, it is at Hotel Sofitel in Los Angeles where you can receive their Aroma Mosaic treatments that focuses on care of your face, body and the effects of the sun. Each focused treatment is broken down to be tailor made based on the needs of each individual.

You can find Decleor products in various cities throughout the country or locate one close to you with your zip code through their website: www.decleor-us.com

I’m certainly not a scientist, but I am pretty educated and try to always read both sides to a story. Just like when everyone screamed that mineral oil was bad for you, it eventually was proven that it was not. However, you still find many companies today touting how awful mineral oil is for your skin while offering you their version of something safer. I have yet to find a website stating that mineral oil is harmful while not trying to also sell you something in the process. I had been skeptical myself, but after some researching of my own and contacting my friends at The Beauty Brains blog (who happen to be both cosmetic chemists with 30 years experience), they insisted it was all hype and that mineral oil was indeed the best moisturizing product for your skin. So I have learned to look deeper into an issue than to be frightened by scare tactics.

Unfortunately, scare tactics are the route that Dr. Epstein of the Cancer Prevention Coalition is taking when going after Origins, an Estee Lauder company. They try pointing out that Origins cannot be taking, "A totally integrative approach to skin care ... to help your skin be as healthy as possible, (and) optimize its defenses against age accelerators" claiming that Origins uses parabens (among other ingredients) in their products. They site that parabens are known to cause “endocrine disruptive.” However, there has not yet been one study that has conclusively, 100% proven this.