Hey guys…yesterday I wrote to the girls about the perks of purchasing gift sets when buying perfumes and other fragrant beauty products and listed three incredible gift packages for them to check out.

So today I thought I’d do the same for you. You’ll find that when purchased as a gift set you’ll get an incredible value and oftentimes a few freebies to boot. I chose three designer fragrances that we women love to smell on our men.

From Kenneth Cole check out the distinguished Kenneth Cole Black Gift Set. At only 72 bucks ($136 value) see what’s included:
• Kenneth Cole Black Eau de Toilette, 3.4 oz
• Kenneth Cole Black, travel size
• Kenneth Cole After Black Shave Gel
• Kenneth Cole Black deodorant

Next see what Calvin Klein has in store for the free spirited man with the incredible smelling CK Free for Men Gift Set. At only 65 dollars ($100 value) you get the following:
• CK Free Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 oz
• CK Free After Shave Balm, 3.4 oz
• Ck Free Body Wash, 3.4 oz

And lastly, Marc Jacobs fragrance hooks you up with the amazing warm and sensual scent of Marc Jacobs Men’s Gift Set. It’s an incredible value at $78 (a whopping $152 value) and it includes these luxorious products:
• Marc Jacobs Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 oz
• Marc Jacobs Men After Shave Gel, 3.4 oz
• Marc Jacobs Men Deodorant, 2.7 oz

You really ought to treat yourself (and us!) because you deserve it!

When purchasing a fragrance one of the best ways to go is to buy a gift set. You get a better value and you usually get a lotion or other item that matches the fragrance in the parfum. This not only gives you the option to wear the fragrance alone (while using just the lotion) for a lighter desired scent or layer the two for an amazing all over scent without the clashing of two different fragrances. One being the perfume itself while the other being whatever the lotion was scented with.

Also, in addition to the better bargain and wearability factors I mentioned, oftentimes you get a free gift such as a purse size cologne or a great bag! So all in all…fragrance gift sets are the only way to fly!

Check out the values of these incredible, delectable fragrance sets below!

Sarah Jessica Parker’s amazing Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Gift Set.

Priced right at 74 dollars ($109 value) it comes with a 3.4 oz Lovely Eau de Parfum Spray and a 6.7 oz Lovely Soft Body Lotion. And for your purse…they’ve thrown in a Lovely Eau de Parfum Rollerball!

Next at just 68 dollars ($92 value) you’ve got to try Vera Wang’s incredible Vera Wang Princess deluxe value set. There are four great Vera Wang scented items in this set.
• Vera Wang Princess Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.7oz
• Vera Wang Princess Satiny Body Lotion, 2.5oz
• Vera Wang Princess Foamy Body Polish, 2.5oz
• Vera Wang Princess Deluxe Mini Eau de Parfum

Lastly I had to share with you the incredible set from Marc Jacobs. At only 95 dollars you’re getting a $165 value! And besides the fact that the scent is absolutely gorgeous…the free signature tote bag is so cute!
Marc Jacobs Gift Set Includes:
• Marc Jacobs Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 oz
• Marc Jacobs Body Lotion, 5 oz
• Marc Jacobs Rollerball Parfum
• Marc Jacobs Signature Tote Bag

Anytime I hear the word phyto as it relates to beauty I get really excited because most of the skin and body care I’ve ever used that incorporates that technology has been extremely effective and results oriented.

So today when I was perusing SkinStore.com I got particularly happy to find a new brand they now offer. The brand is literally called Phyto! What was even more intriguing was it was a line of products specifically formulated for the hair and scalp.  Needless to say I had to try Phyto products!

I purchased three different items and all three get an enthusiastic A+. I purchased Phyto Phytosquame Exfoliating Treatment for my dad who has battled with dandruff for years. The product is clinically proven to improve itching by 88%, flaking by 95% and regulates sebum flow by 61%. In addition, it soothes and calms the scalp and leaves the hair soft and shiny. My pop was impressed to say the least!

For my mom I just had to purchase Phyto Phytonectar Ultra Nourishing Oil Treatment. She had fought with her very dry, unruly hair for as long as I can remember. If there were ever a perfect guinea pig for a dry hair product…she was the one! Again…we hit the jackpot. Her hair was transformed from dry, bristly hair to soft and manageable locks. It’s a pre-shampoo treatment and I’ve never seen anything so effective. Below is a list of benefits:

• Protects hair from environmental stresses.
• Nourishes and restructures hair fibers.
• Sunflower extract neutralizes free radicals.
• Recommended for those with dry, porous, thick, curly or frizzy hair.

And for me I bought a fabulous clarifying shampoo. Phyto Phytoapaisant Soothing and Clarifying Shampoo eliminates build-up and soothes irritated scalps. It’s recommended for all hair types and it works beautifully. I am so thrilled with my new clarifying shampoo. Everyone needs this in their shower!

Phyto brand uses the most beneficial plant properties and active botanical extracts to their hair formulas in order for us to have the most beautiful and healthy hair imaginable.

With all of the hype surrounding the Oscars this week, I got to thinking about actors/actresses in a supporting role and how they frequently allow the lead actors and actresses to shine. In some cases, they are crucial and even more important that the leading roles.

The same could be said for beauty products. Some are used to make other products work better. You might not use them on their own but combined with a “leading product”, they make everything work much better. That said, I have put together my own list of best products in a supporting role.

Best Blemish Product in a Supporting Role:

bareMinerals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy – This is a sulfur based product which should not be relied on alone to clear up acne. However, when added to your existing regimen, it works nicely to reduce inflammation and redness, bringing down that big swollen zit faster. Brush it on before you apply mineral makeup.

Best Primer in a Supporting Role:

Colorescience About Face - Nobody used to use a primer and then a few smart companies started offering them as a way to help even out the skin tone and surface prior to foundation application, making the makeup glide on and wear better and longer. Colorescience About Face is a cream of the crop primer that evens out skin tone and actually reduces redness and inflammation before your makeup goes on.

Best Hydrator in a Supporting Role:

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel - Hydrating serums help to bind moisture to the skin. While you still need a moisturizer to hold in that water, hydrating serums make the moisturizer work much better, providing the essential moisture to begin with. SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel has been a winner for years and still holds up against the competition, allowing other products to shine in their roles.

Best Detox Formula in a Supporting Role:

GliSODin Skin Nutrients Advanced Detoxification Formula – An occasional detox can improve all of the daily steps you take to achieve beautiful skin. When you’re cleansed internally, your skin glows and is more adaptable to your environment and the products you apply. GliSODin Skin Nutrients Advanced Detoxification Formula is a top quality product offering superior results.

We’ve talked about Green Tea before but usually as it pertains to topical products. There are creams and serums that contain green tea. Many of you know by now that green tea is an excellent antioxidant that can protect our cells against environmental damage.

But let’s not forget that originally people only consumed green tea internally, usually in the form of a brewed beverage. I must say that I became a tea nut years ago and really enjoy several daily cups of tea, frequently the green variety. But how much does one need to consume to get the full benefits of green tea?

Opinions vary on the subject. Some experts say that any amount can be beneficial. Others will tell you that you need over 10 cups a day to really benefit. But who on earth drinks 10 cups of tea a day? I don’t like it that much!

So this all brings me to a training that I recently attended by Pure Inventions, the makers of green tea supplements. Each Pure Inventions product is a concentrated liquid full of good-for-your-body ingredients. You just place a dropper full of liquid in a glass of water and drink up! And once you have finished, you have consumed the equivalent of 11 cups of green tea! But don’t worry about the caffeine intake because the product has undergone a natural filtration process to remove all of the caffeine.

What really impressed me about Pure Inventions Products is that they contain no artificial sweeteners, colors or flavors. The products are sweetened with stevia and Lohan fruit only so there are no calories. Lohan fruit also has beneficial properties and is often referred to as the longevity fruit.

In addition to the popular Green Tea formulas, I was also interested in the Pure Inventions Fit and Slender since so many people are looking for help with losing weight. Unlike products that contain harmful chemical stimulants, the Fit and Slender is all natural and helps to curb appetite, burn fat and metabolize carbs. This doesn’t mean you should give up diet and exercise but at least you now have a healthy, worry-free aid.

I’ve been curious about Pure Inventions Reviews from customers since many of us rely heavily on consumer response. I will soon be trying my bottle of Pure Inventions Green Tea – Tropical. Drink up! Here’s to better health!

Everyone is always writing about acne treatments for the face but rarely does anyone concentrate on specific treatments for the body (including me). But today I thought I’d share with you three great products specifically formulated for the treatment of body acne.

Acne sprays are great because they are quick and easy to use and also reach places that you normally can’t reach when applying topical gels or creams.

The incredible Murad brand offers Murad Clarifying Body Spray within its Murad Acne line. This spray will control body breakouts with antibacterial properties that penetrate pores and clear away blemishes while preventing new ones from forming.

Amazing MD Formulations products have been a forefront in superb skincare treatments. Within the MD Formulations brand you will find MD Formulations Vit-A-Plus Body Clearing Complex Spray. It effectively treats and prevents body breakouts and inflammation resulting from excess sebum mixed with dead skin cells and bacteria. The quick drying spray contains acne attacking beta and alpha hydroxy acids and retinol along with rosemary which offers up soothing and relaxing antibacterial benefits to the skin.

Glytone is one of my favorite glycolic acid brands. It’s extremely effective and very affordable. Within Glytone products line you will find Glytone Back Acne Spray. It’s a 2% salicylic acid blend that both treats and prevents blemishes. It dries quickly, is fragrance and colorant free and will indeed promote your skin’s clarity. No More Back-ne!

My whole family used to always tease me about my “hair care” gift sets I used to give to my girls and my niece. I’d always get them great shampoo and conditioner sets. I always considered how much I’d love that gift so I just assumed they would too. And they did!

High quality professional hair care products are expensive and I figured they would like to get really great products without having to pay for them. So one day after years of everyone (but them) saying things like, “oh gee, did your mom get you a hair care set for Christmas?” and teasing me about it…we were all together so I thought I’d end the remarks right then and there. I thought well I’d ask the girls in front of everyone if they indeed liked those gifts or if they’d prefer to get something else….and that it wouldn’t hurt my feelings at all if they wanted me to stop. They all answered in unison…“Please don’t get us something else…we love getting our shampoo kits!” Ahhh…sweet vindication! I knew it! Who wouldn’t love gorgeous, shiny locks?!?”

So today I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite sets and kits in professional hair care. Check them out and try them….cause you will love your hair!

For dry, dehydrated and chemically treated hair:

Neil George offers a shampoo and conditioner duo that contains Indian Gooseberry, a plant extract with mega antioxidant properties.

Neil George Intense Illuminating Duo

For oily hair and scalp:

June Jacobs Spa line offers a shampoo and conditioner that brilliantly cleans and detangles and provokes shiny, sleek and beautifully clarified hair.
 
June Jacobs Citrus Clarifying Shampoo
June Jacobs Citrus Clarifying Conditioner

For frizzy and unmanageable hair:

Frederic Fekkai offers a duo that affords amazing manageability to those of us who want straight silky hair but fight with our frizz.

Frederic Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless Duo

I’m in love with Lancaster products! Have any of you ever tried any of their amazing cosmetics? In particular, their bronzers and self tan line?
 
They have a couple of compacts that are my absolute staple cosmetics in my bag. Check out Lancaster Beauty Variations Illuminating Compact Powder. It’s a 5-in-1 Carrousel Compact Powder. You mix as many of the shades in the compact to achieve your desired sunny glow. And with the swirl of the brush you can customize it to any season of the year. In addition, you can use it as a bronzer, a blush, a highlighter and definer.  At 38 bucks…it’s a beauty bag must-have!

Lancaster brand also offers an incredible self-tanning line. My favorite is Lancaster Ultra Natural Bronze Care SPF6. Priced right at 25 dollars, “This airy, feather light emulsion imparts a delicately tinted, opalescent gleam giving the impression of a radiant and luminous tan while hydrating skin.”  Another must have to get the summer season started early. And considering this long cold winter…we could use a nice little nudge in that direction!

It's definitely time to get your glow on!

I remember using a professional strength cellulite cream in a body wrap treatment I used to offer back when I worked as an aesthetician. Out of all the cellulite creams and serums I’ve come across over the years I had never found one quite as strong as the one I had used on my clients. Having said that, I was also fairly happy with the results of the one’s I had tried…feeling as if many people are wrong who are skeptical about the creams indicated for slimming, toning and cellulite. I knew I could see with my own eyes that I was actually getting results and figured that perhaps the only ones complaining had their own agenda for being skeptical. I understood that most oftentimes the results were temporary but a temporary fix was just fine with me!

However, recently I have found a brand/product that even the most skeptical of skeptics would be impressed with. CelluliteRx offers a kit that I'm absolutely blown away by. It not only rivals the professional product I used in the day spa…it surpasses it!

At 129 dollars, CelluliteRx LipoKit by Institut DERMed Body is amazing! And I’m not the only one saying it. After reading customer reviews on the kit I totally concur with their assessment. Often rated with five stars and with words such as, “It really works!,” “It’s awesome!” and, “My legs are visibly smoother!” you may see why I'm intrigued.

CelluliteRx products offers this amazing three step kit that uses the same concentrations of potent ingredients as professional spas but you can do it yourself at home. You get excellent exfoliation, body slimming (by increasing fat metabolism and detoxifying and minimizing hormonal fluctuations), along with skin firming and toning with collagen loving peptides, all of which make a smoother skinned, slimmer, firmer you!

Have you ever noticed how oftentimes we find the best product for a specific indication by simply stumbling onto it? By that I mean we may have had a product for discoloration (for instance) only to find out it worked amazingly well for fine lines and wrinkles. Or another example might be a product specifically formulated for cracked heels but when we applied it to our elbows or neck we found that it had incredible healing and moisturizing properties for those areas as well.

I recently had such a scenario in my own home with one of my girls (a family friend who is like a daughter to me) who is staying with me while she completes a pre-requisite she needs for grad school.
 
Caitie is constantly upset with the little bumps on the backs of her arms. She has been distraught over this skin condition virtually her whole life. She’s picked at them, cried about them, tried everything for them, and has made many a trip to the dermatologist’s office for them. Nothing has ever worked. Usually she’s referred to the typical products/ingredients of choice for Keratosis Pilaris which are most often regular alpha and beta hydroxy acids. They have never worked for her.

Not long ago I purchased a few products from the incredible M2 Skin Technologies line and noticed a vast improvement in the severe sun damage I’ve had on my neck for years. After using M2 Skin Technologies Body Refinish 15% for a week or two I started noticing the skin on my neck and chest looking much more even in tone and texture. I couldn’t believe it…My skin was repairing dramatically and looked amazing…Probably for the first time in 15 or 20 years.
 
As I was chatting with Caitie about it the proverbial light bulb went off in my head! I wondered if the malic acid and mandelic acids (specific and unique alpha hydroxy acids) that it is formulated with might improve the severe bumps on the backs of her arms. So I told her I would set it on the bathroom sink to remind her to use it daily, if she decided to give it a try. She did and within a week the results were simply astonishing. I’ve never seen her so happy. It was such an amazing repair and she had me rub the backs of her arms and there were no noticeable bumps left. Not visually or tactilely. She was almost in tears. She thanked me up and down and I told her I was so thrilled it helped. I was so shocked to see the mental torment that skin conditions can do to a young girl. She was visibly filled with emotion and gratitude.

I knew almost immediately I needed to get to my typewriter and tell you all about this story and this incredible product.

I hope you give it a try and get the same phenomenal results for whatever your needs may be.
 
I can’t say enough about M2 Skin Technologies products! 

I’m always writing about some newfangled, “cutting edge science” type ingredient which is good and valid because there are indeed many new ingredients out there that are absolutely amazing. But today I was thinking about my all time favorite skin care ingredient and how this one amazing ingredient completely changed and improved my skin. And that was some 12 years ago…and it still continues to be one of my all time favorites.

Vitamin C serums are in my opinion one of the most tried and true skincare ingredients ever discovered. Well, that is, after they were able to get the delivery system to cooperate. At one time the molecule was just too large to penetrate the skin so the serum simply stayed on top. However, my first discovery of an effective vitamin C was that of Cellux-C. Cellex-C products changed my skin and also changed many other’s as well. Reason being they figured out the delivery issue and that opened up a whole new world of skin care and many other brands followed suit.

Today I thought I’d share with you my all time favorite vitamin C products from a few of the most professional skin care lines on the market.

First from the granddaddy of them all as I mentioned above:

For sensitive skin:
Cellex-C Serum C for Sensitive Skin

For oily skin:
Jan Marini C ESTA Serum Oil Control

For normal to dry skin:
Obagi Professional C Serum

Gotta get your daily dose of C…even if it’s topically!

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a moisturizer/(you’re supposed to enunciate each slash…lol) anti-aging/stretch mark/scarring/discoloration/ treatment in one convenient bottle or jar? How about adding the science of peptides and antioxidants and infusing it with an amazing refreshing scent? If that’s not enough what if they made it a larger size as opposed to the typical ounce or two or even better yet it was indicated for the whole body but targeted specifically for the face, neck, décolleté and hands which all show the most significant signs of aging? You could literally have an incredible product that you could throw in your overnight bag or basically leave right there on your sink without a whole regimen of clutter. Well have I got good news for you…HydroPeptide has such a product.

HydroPeptide Moisturize Anti-Wrinkle Skin Firming Hydrator is the best product invented since sliced bread! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this product. I love knowing that when I’m in a hurry I have a primo product that does it all! My skin looks amazing. It firms up, brightens hydrates, improves texture, tone and discoloration, and even helps with stretch marks and scarring. And I use it from head to toe. I love that! My facial skin looks better as do my hands and décolleté. I love knowing that I can smooth it on all over and every inch of my skin is getting the same benefits as my face.

I love all of the HydroPeptide products but I love this one the most. It’s genius!

Not everyone has the time to shampoo every day and those with a drier scalp may find daily shampooing to be too drying. Finally there’s a solution that’s much more practical than the baby powder my friends used to use.

Dry shampoo has become quite popular and one of the best is Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo. Rene Furterer uses natural clays to absorb dirt and impurities. This freshens the hair and scalp, making it easy to skip a day.

I’m actually one of those people who has such an oily scalp that skipping the daily shampoo is out of the question. I also work out almost daily and won’t leave sweat in my hair. However, I do love it on the weekends when I head to the gym before my shampoo. The dry shampoo takes me from a very greasy look to presentable. One of my co-workers has such an oily scalp that by mid-day her bangs look greasy. She uses the dry shampoo to freshen up in the afternoon.

If you’re traveling, look for Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo – Travel Size. It’s a smaller size that’s perfect for camping trips when there’s not much room in the backpack. You can also put it in your hand bag for use during the day.

Make sure you follow the instructions. When I first used this, I sprayed too close to my head and my hair looked pink because of the natural clays. You should spray from a distance of about 15 inches. Be careful not to breathe the product in.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for dry shampoo or have you used the Rene Furterer product and have feedback?

Hi guys. I thought I’d give you some feedback on some great anti-aging products formulated just for men.

I get great feedback on Menscience products and I wanted to share with you the two products in particular that I think you’ll really like.

Menscience Androceuticals is a fabulous brand developed just for you. It is packed with potent, professional grade ingredients that are results oriented and the line is packaged nicely for men. Your skin will become healthier and much more youthful.

Its professional line of skincare include products for face and body and also has kits, tools and an array of shaving needs that are extremely effective and affordable.

The two I wanted to tell you about today are amazing. I know you guys love eye products so I wanted you to check out Menscience Eye Rescue Formula. It’s packed with powerful ingredients that diminish the signs of aging around the eye area, lightens up dark circles, and smoothes out and brightens up the skin.

Next I wanted share with you Menscience Anti-Aging Formula. This is a dermatological grade anti-aging treatment that is lightweight and goes on matte and invisible. It significantly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and firms up sagging skin. You’re going to love this product and at less than 60 bucks…the price is right and oh so worth it!

Have any of you heard about DermaQuest Skin Therapy? It’s a brand that’s been around since 1999 but I only recently discovered it. DermaQuest products are absolutely amazing. You’ve really got to check it out.

This results oriented professional skincare line uses quality ingredients along with cutting edge science. And when it comes to good skincare those are two assets that usually persuade me to give a line a try. So try…I did…and oh how impressed I was!

As per usual…to try out the line my first two purchases were a mask and an eye treatment. I can usually get a really good feel for a line if I like those two types of products within any line.

DermaQuest Skin Therapy C Lipoic Mask is awesome! It’s an anti-aging mask that firms, hydrates, provides anti-inflammatory properties, prevents collagen breakdown and improves skin tone and texture. I loved this mask!

DermaQuest Skin Therapy A and M Eye Recovery was also a treasure to discover. It was an all in one eye product find! It tightens and firms the eye area, works wonders on fine lines and wrinkles, hydrates and soothes the eye area, and even targets dark circles and puffiness. You’ve just got to give it a try…you WILL be impressed!