While attending a recent weekend trip for a wedding I discovered a few amazing tricks of the trade. A bunch of us girls stayed in a hotel room together to catch up, chat about old times, drink some wine and just have some plain ole much needed girl time. And it turns out its quite amazing learning what beauty secrets your friends may know! One of which I got to employ on the big day. I wasn't quite fitting into my dress (and by not fitting I mean the girls weren't quite looking up to par in the bustier top of the gorgeous dress). So one of my girlfriends told me not to worry because she had just what I needed to perk things up. And boy was I ever impressed.She fumbled through her train case and pulled out breast lift tape! Hollywood Fashions offers great products that can be found on www.beauty.com. They have lift tape, nipple covers, clear bra straps and hooks, insider tape, silicone inserts and more. These are brilliant! No more reason to ever worry about wardrobe malfunctions ever again!!

Witch Hazel has always been one of my favorite beauty product staples. I’ve used it as a toner and as eye pads while giving facials by taking a round cotton makeup pad cut in halves and drenching it in the cooling liquid and placing them on the client’s closed eyes. I’ve also treated my daughter’s cuts, sores and bruises with it because my father always did and it always worked really well. It is also said to be effective when used on insect bites, poison ivy and even hemorrhoids when formulated into proper diluted preparations. It is a strong anti-oxidant and astringent and is therefore a superb ingredient for treating acne.

I never knew why my dad always used both Witch Hazel and Aloe Vera but it turns out it is because it has long been used in Native American history which was then passed on to the early Puritan settlers in New England. My dad is Cherokee and apparently his dad and grandma used Witch Hazel to treat his eczema.

When shopping for skin care products (especially for problematic skin) check the ingredients to see if Witch Hazel is one of the ingredients so you can be assured you’re purchasing a product that is more than likely effective and tried and true. You can also buy Dickinson’s Witch Hazel as well as many other quality Witch Hazel products at www.thenaturalstore.com.

Burt’s Bees offers a supreme hand sanitizer that contains both Witch Hazel and Aloe. It eliminates 99.9% of germs and makes your hands soft and smooth all while being 100% natural. It can be found at www.thenaturalstore.com as well.

Witch Hazel is indeed bewitching!

Got floss? If not…get it, use it and love it! And here’s how; even the most flakey flossers can become compliant! And believe me, I was one of them. I acted like it was more bothersome than getting a tooth pulled. Um…pardon the paralleled pun. But I really was either too lazy to do it, or thought I didn’t need to, or just plain didn’t like to. I imagine it was a little of each.

I finally surrendered to this very important task when I found a product that was easy to use. I think that’s all it ever really was, because once it was an easy task I started doing it faithfully. Now I can’t imagine ever flaking on it again. My teeth and mouth feel cleaner, healthier and brighter. Additionally my breath is fresher and I don’t freak out that I need to stop at the store and get mints or gum when I’m on my way to meet up with friends. Not to mention I don’t have to dread the dentist quite as much. And I can even answer truthfully that I do indeed floss…even though I’m sure they always knew I was stretching the truth when I would answer that I did. I’m sure one look at my gums confirmed it.

Anyway, I tried a few products from Drugstore.com after getting a ‘not so great’ bill of health from my dental hygienist and I was suddenly transformed in terms of becoming a faithful flosser. But even she gave me a typical floss that I knew I would never use so I tried searching for a thin floss that would actually go through my tight teeth and that’s when I found the following, fell off the non-flossaholic wagon and became a faithful flossing follower:

Glide Floss Picks

Plackers Dental Flossers Micro Mint

DenTek Dual Action Cleaners

Piksters Interdental Brushes, size 1

Radius Natural Silk Floss

After Karen initiated a discussion regarding the benefits of peony, I got to thinking about how much I love the scent of peonies. I used to grow them in my yard before moving to an area with a climate that’s not suitable for these beautiful flowers. The scent is very inviting, subtle with a delicate, feminine touch. It’s a wonder why more fragrance companies don’t incorporate the scent of peony into their blends.

L’Occitane fragrances are often inspired by floral and citrus scents so it does not surprise me one bit to find a L’Occitane fragrance based on the peony. I could not resist a purchase when I saw the gorgeous packaging for L’Occitane Peony Eau de Toilette. The bottle is actually pink and rounded to look like the flower. I’m a sucker for a pretty bottle! The fragrance is delectable. It incorporates the rich floral scent of the peony with other scents from citrus and musk.

Of course I still love some of the more classic scents from L’Occitane. Citrus is one of my all time favorite scents which is why I absolutely love L’Occitane Verbena Eau de Toilette. Verbena is blended with lemon and geranium to create a fresh, clean fragrance that’s light and subtle. It’s perfect for summer days!

You really can’t go wrong with floral and citrus. Sometimes nature inspires the best fragrance!

So today we get to find out what products that come from the Z brands are primo. Let’s get started:

From Z. Bigatti it’s really no secret. Most anyone who knows about Z.Bigatti brand knows about their signature product Z.Bigatti Re-Storation Skin Treatment. It’s the ultimate multi-tasker for anti-aging benefits.

Zeno brings us their new Zeno Heat Treat Kit. It’s a great product because not only do you get the Zeno zit zapping device, it also comes with their amazing Zeno Heat Treat Serum. And the great news is…it’s the same price as the original devices!

Next we look at Zirh products for men. If I were a guy I would head straight for the Zirh Body Bar which is long lasting, rejuvenating, washes away impurities, exfoliates with alpha hydroxy acids, repairs and prevents future damage. All in a bar of soap!!

Lastly we take a look at ZO Skin Health and if you want one of the very best anti-aging skin care regimens ever to come in a single kit then you’ll love ZO Skin Health DNA Repair Program Kit. Its four steps to youthful, amazing skin!

After reading Karen’s glowing review of the Personal Microderm, I just had to try it. I have never had a professional Microdermabrasion treatment, mainly because of the expense even though I benefit greatly from a thorough exfoliation. The launch of this at-home tool left me very intrigued even before Karen’s report but of course I just couldn’t resist after hearing about how great it is.

I should mention that my skin is the opposite of Karen’s, thick and oily with occasional breakouts. Because my skin is so oily, I suffer from enlarged pores around my nose.  My skin turns over cells incredibly fast and this leaves me with a build-up of dead cells that leads to dullness and breakouts. The mineral makeup I use is very unforgiving on dead cells so I know when it’s time to exfoliate!

I must say that before using the Personal Microderm Tool Kit, it’s absolutely vital to watch the included video which explains step-by-step how to use it. Please don’t consider skipping this step as it’s essential to know exactly how to use the device and see it demonstrated. Once you know what to do, it’s very easy.

I was really pleased with the results of the Personal Microderm Tool. It absolutely delivered the results it promised and the smaller tip was easy to work around difficult areas of my face, like around my nose. That was probably my biggest concern. The larger disks are great for the body and worked miracles on my callused feet.

The only downside is that the tips don’t last very long, especially on super thick, resilient skin like mine. I do wish the tool came with more tips so that I don’t have to buy Personal Microderm Replacement Tips as often. However, I should also mention that SkinStore.com has a current special offer which includes a free replacement tip set with the purchase of the Personal Microderm Tool. It’s a great deal!

It’s time to catch some Z’s and I’m not talking about sleep. Although these Z’s will indeed make you glow and look abundantly rested!

Today I share with you my four favorite brands that all happen to start with the letter Z. All are top notch, highly rated, results-oriented brands.

Z. Bigatti

Z. Bigatti products are probably the most luxurious and upscale creams, lotions and potions on the market and have been for years. Pricey, yet worth every penny if you want to end up with youthful, beautiful skin quickly!

Zeno

This brilliant zit-zapping brand has a new kid on the block called Zeno Heat Treat Kit. But even the original Zeno units are effective in clearing away acne quickly and scientifically. And they are all affordable. Just $39.99!

Zirh

No worries men…I haven’t forgotten about you. Check out your big Z brand. Zirh products offer everything you’ll need for healthy, younger and flawless skin. From shaving to moisturizing they’ll have you covered. It’s a top quality brand with your needs and specifications in mind. It’s easy to use and it doesn’t look, feel or smell like your wife’s beauty products.

ZO Skin Health

ZO Skin Health is one of my very favorite brands on the market. It was developed by well-known dermatologist Dr. Obagi who also developed the famed Obagi line. ZO Skin Health products seem much more anti-aging to me than the original line. For me the original line was more for problematic skin where as this line works just as aggressively but is a good fit for those who just want their skin to look younger.

Remember about twenty years or so there was a huge trend about the “amazing” Melaleuca? I remember thinking I loved that stuff but it seemed as fast as it roared through the beauty and wellness scene it was gone. I think it may be because there was some question about why it was only sold through like a pyramid type multi-marketing thing. That’s just my best guess, because I don’t know that for sure. I felt that sort of gave it a questionable mission or reason to be suspect of its effectiveness possibly. I’m not sure…I just remember thinking it was a results oriented, effective ingredient and as long as I could use it as opposed to sell it, I was a fan!

A little about melaleuca:

Melaleuca (when used as an essential oil) comes from the Ti Tree (also known in our industry as tea tree). The essential oil from melaleuca alternifolia is said to be antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-fungal and antibiotic in terms of the therapeutic properties when used topically. There is another tea tree oil from another myrtle species called Leptospermum which leads me to believe that not all products that contain “tea tree” are indeed from the melaleuca plant.

Due to its unique properties it is a potent effective ingredient when formulated into skin care products, especially for problematic skin and scalp. And recently I’ve rediscovered the Melaleuca type tea tree oil in a few of my favorite specialty products. Many products use tea tree oil which is an amazing skin care ingredient, but I’ve found the products that indicate they’re specifically using Melaleuca Alternifolia turn out to work much better for me.

Now I imagine you’re wondering which fabulous brands and products I’m referring to that contain this form of tea tree oil. So I suppose I should cut to the chase.

For Younger Looking Skin:

ZO Skin Health Offects Exfoliating Polish

For Oil Control, Pore Unclogging and Zip Zapping:

Cosmedicine Speedy Recovery Acne Treatment On-The-Spot Gel

For Purifying and Detoxifying Acne Prone Skin:

ARCONA Tea Tree Mask

For Dynamite Dandruff and Psoriasis Butt Kicking:

Phyto Phytosquame Exfoliating Treatment

Straight is definitely in and I know women who use a flat iron every day. I wonder how much damage is being done by the use of a daily flat iron. I remember how fried my hair used to get when using a curling iron in the 80s and clearly, the flat iron is not better for the hair. Since my hair is already fragile and color-treated, I wanted to find a solution that’s less damaging.

I used to blow dry with a round brush but found it wasn’t easy trying to juggle the brush with the dryer. I always felt like I needed one more arm! After seeing an ad for the Infiniti by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Wet/Dry Straightening Hot Air Styler, I was really intrigued and decided to give it a try.

This is a dryer that dries the hair and straightens at the same time so there’s no need for the flat iron afterwards. It helps to reduced frizz while also taming tangles and adding shine. I have been quite happy with the results! I definitely feel like I’m causing much less damage than I did with my flat iron and can achieve the same straightening and smoothing effect.

If you’re worried about the damage from your flat iron, give the Infiniti by Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Wet/Dry Straightening Hot Air Styler a try. You can find it at Drugstore.com.

I have an amazing new anti-aging secret! DO NOT TELL ANYONE ELSE!! Hehe! Seriously, this is the best tool for making us look younger than any I’ve found in the recent past.

Have you heard about the new sonic tool from Clarisonic? It’s called the Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion System and it’s an absolute must-have!

Imagine using your Clarisonic System to cleanse and polish the skin and then using a 5 Star rated tool that uses sound waves to infuse a results oriented serum into the skin around the eye area (crow’s feet). That’s what the Opal Sonic Infusion System does! It’s my new found secret to having the youngest, freshest, quickest results around the eyes without using Botox!

My eyes are instantly hydrated, revitalized and look much more bright and youthful. It also works cumulatively producing results in elasticity in just two weeks and even more results at eight weeks (including diminishing fine lines, and improving puffiness and dark circles).

I love Oscar Blandi products! And I just got my free sample from Beauty.com’s free samples page of Oscar Blandi Pronto Glossing Cream and it’s absolutely amazing. I’m so glad I got to try it first, because even though Oscar Blandi is a premier professional line and I’ve always loved all their products I’ve ever purchased and used, it’s still nice to be sure you want to pony up the dough before you buy. Particularly for hair products! I’ve found that even using the most professional lines doesn’t always mean that each individual product will be right for my hair, yet may be the dream product for somebody else.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Glossing Cream controls my frizz (my girls call it “Karen Fuzz”), protects from future damage, tames my fly-aways, and infuses the most brilliant gloss and sheen to my locks.

And had I not tried first using Beauty.com’s free sample page I may have never known how beautiful my hair can be. Thank you Beauty.com!

As you've probably noticed I've really been getting into natural brands lately. I used to be kind of a "chemical" girl for lack of a better word! But I sure love when physical science meets nature (or life science!) because that's the ultimate win-win. I also love when the brand is from France! Oooh la la...it doesn't get any better than that!

YonKa Paris is an amazing brand! It leaves your skin feeling fresh, renewed and gives you a sense of beauty and well-being. This is due to its use of high quality medicinal herbs, fruit barks, plant botanicals and marine life. The brand is family owned and has been around since the 1950's! That in of itself, speaks volumes!

Additionally, YonKa Products give instant (along with cumulative), long lasting results. That's my favorite attribute of the brand. We all love instant gratification! My girlfriend Jenna who's a nurse esthetician has always been a YonKa girl but as I said I was just more into strong, almost burning type chemically based products. But after researching more YonKa products (other than my long time fav Advanced Optimizer Duo) I have to say I'm now into the luminosity that it seems only a natural brand can bring. And I'm not stepping backward because natural products have all the necessary ingredients I deem necessary...including AHA's and vitamins.

Reveal your ultimate luminosity...try YonKa!

I had a woman ask me a question today about hair loss. She wanted a recommendation for a good hair re-growth treatment without the harmful effects of some of the chemicals that many hair loss products and brands contain. So I told her to take a look at the Phyto line for hair. I knew I loved it and that I had used it in the past when I had some hair thinning due to a tremendous amount of stress and grief. So that, along with knowing that it was a natural brand I thought it would be a terrific suggestion.

As I pondered her question (and my answer) I realized that I hadn’t taken a look at (or written about) Phyto in quite some time. So of course, I took some time to check it out online and while I was perusing their line I remembered just how impressed I’ve always been with Phyto products.

The company has used plant botanicals long before botanicals were cool! They avoid the use of chemicals, preservatives, artificial coloring and are fragrance free. They select specific plant extracts which contain the most potent properties for the care, beauty and health of your hair.

Phytosolba Laboratories offers a huge array of professional hair care products ranging from shampoos and intensive conditioning treatments to styling products for all types of hair such as lifeless, thinning, dry, damaged, oily and more.

Their slogan speaks volumes…natural. healthy. professional!

I've had so many questions about African Red Tea lately that I thought I ought to dedicate a blog entry to it so we can all understand it a little bit better. As well as learn about why its important to incorporate it into our skin care regimens.

African red tea has many anti-aging properties as well as many other health benefits. Obviously, in skin care products it’s used for anti-aging purposes as well as other unique benefits for beautiful, healthy skin. It’s said to be caffeine free and is very low in tannic acid. From what I gather being caffeine free allows its antioxidant properties to be more potent. The beneficial attributes when the red tea is formulated into skin care products are its rejuvenating, healing and repairing properties as well as being an excellent anti-oxidant prevention vehicle of further free radical damage. The tea (which has also been referred to as Roobios) contains calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium. It’s said to have been used by some South African tribes for the treatment of eczema.

Ole Henriksen is an excellent brand which offers a whole line of African Red Tea skin care products.

For couperose and broken capillaries you can’t go wrong with the two products I’m sharing with you today. They work effectively and the reason being is particular key ingredients that each use. One uses Horse Chestnut which is an excellent vasoconstrictor and strengthens the capillary walls. It also has anti-inflammatory properties as well as increases circulation.

The other tried and true ingredient for broken capillaries is vitamin K. As you know, I’m always praising the effectiveness of Vitamin K for its ability to repair blood leakage issues such as dark circles and compromised capillaries.

My favorite product that contains Horse Chestnut is B. Kamins Redness Defying Lotion. It’s formulated for normal to ultra-sensitive skin types and is fragrance free. It’s both hydrating and reparative giving it multiple reasons to use it. It also contains Acai berry which is one of the world’s most powerful anti-oxidants to keep premature aging at bay.

For my Vitamin K pick, I chose EmerginC D Red Daytime Emulsion. It too is a multi-tasking product that soothes and calms inflamed skin as well as repairs skin cells and improves the appearance of broken capillaries.

You really can’t go wrong with either one of these products. They both work extremely well and both are great for diminishing the appearance of unsightly redness caused by broken capillaries.