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June 2011 - Posts
Naughty But Nice Cosmetics from Nars Virtually everyone knows that when it comes to marketing…sex sells! And makeup and beauty products certainly are not exempt. After all why do we wear cosmetics in the first place? Well I guess second place would be the better assessment or placement; because I think across the board we all use beauty products and treatments to make ourselves feel better…because we all know that by improving how we look on the outside, we tend to feel better on the inside. But aside from the obvious former reason, most all of us also love to make and keep ourselves gorgeous for the attention we may be seeking from others. Particularly those who we specifically want to notice. There are a couple of beauty and skin care companies (and beauty websites) that specifically sell products that not only make us think of sex, but look and feel really sexy as well. The names of the products, the colors and scents they use and the combinations thereof not only transform us in terms of increasing our sensuality but seem to have a powerful law of attraction when it comes to the opposite sex as well. Nars Love Thrill Set which comes with a Lip Color called Sexual Healing, a Cheek Color entitled Orgasm and a Sex Machine Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is an exceptionally powerful kit in and of itself for attracting potential suitors. Not only does the kit do the trick in reeling in the fellas it also makes you feel extremely sexy and ready to conquer the world single-handedly! Next on our naughty list is another sexy lip product by Jane Iredale. Lip Crayon in Naughty Red is a mineral based lip color which actually enhances the shape and the tone of the lips. It enhances the line of the lips and moisturizes and conditions the lips for the sexiest poutiest set of lips you will ever sport. These products may be a tad naughty…but they’re extraordinarily nice!
Most of you are well aware that Gina and I often list our favorite products as our Beauty Research Picks. Sometimes we refer to them as Karen’s Picks or Gina’s Picks or even our Reader’s Picks. But I just discovered the mother lode of all Top Picks. This is the Top Picks List of all top picks lists!
Why? Well, in my opinion, nothing beats a top list of beauty picks more than a great brand themselves choosing their own top picks. I would think that would be a tad risky in the world of marketing and business when a brand has dozens (or even hundreds) of products to choose from. The cynical or suspicious me, would ask why would they do that? Are they trying to get rid of products that don’t sell well, perhaps because of color, efficacy, or maybe just plain overstocked on them? Well in this particular instance...that is most definitely not the case. I'm very confident in saying that, because I’m very familiar with each of these products and am very impressed by each and every one of their individual successes.
So without further ado…I give you Fusion Beauty’s Top Picks Set!
Fusion Beauty Top Picks Set is a limited edition kit which comes with the brand’s top picks in terms of product popularity and brand choice. It contains five travel sizes of the best Fusion Beauty cosmetics and is priced right at only $29! How cool is that?!?
The set includes LipFusion Micro-Injected Collagen Lip Plump Color Shine in Crave, their popular mascara LashFusionXL in black, a pale pink luminizer/line filler called IllumiFill Line Filling Luminizer + Amplifat, the mega volume producing lip plumper known as Infatuation Liquid Shine Multi-Action Lip Fattener, in a beautiful natural color called In the Flesh, and lastly the needle free lip plumper LipFusionXL 2X Micro Injected Collagen Lip Plump.
Treat yourself to this amazing deal...You deserve it! Just get to Spalook.com ASAP and order this proverbial top pick of all Top Picks before they’re all gone! I’m getting extras for gifts too!
Like most anything in life…less is more when it comes to treating acne with topical retinoids and other treatment preparations. Many acne sufferers feel that if a little treatment product is good, then a whole lot must be better. Using too much topical treatment such as retinol creams and gels can cause irritation and dryness. Dry irritated skin can actually undermine acne treatment because of the skin’s natural response of promoting excess sebum production to offset or compensate for the dryer skin condition; As well as the probability or possibility of the user becoming non-compliant with their treatment regimen due to their impatience with red irritated skin and the pain associated with the over aggressive use of treatment chemicals and scrubs. The key is to use a gentle yet effective treatment regimen that not only treats the acne and keeps it in check, but also maintains the skin’s moisture barrier balance and also protects it. My acne regimen of choice both in terms of efficacy, affordability, and sensitivity is MD Formulations Adult Anti-Blemish Kit. It’s a complete regimen for blemished, acneic prone and problematic sensitive skin. The kit contains Facial Cleanser, Facial Lotion (now known as Continuous Renewal Serum), Vit-A-Plus Clearing Complex, Moisture Defense Complex Serum and Total Protector 30. The supply typically lasts one month and is only 45 dollars. It’s a $73 value and makes for a great trial or travel kit. Results are seen quickly and each of the products are available in regular large sizes as well.
For one week only Spalook.com has M Lab Skin Care on sale at an incredible 50% savings. M Lab which is formulated and produced by Milbar Laboratories is a high end physician strength skin care line which is professionally used by dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons and is often their line of choice for recommending to their patients, and has been for over a quarter of a century. The upscale and targeted results-oriented brand has a variety of products and categories which are multi-directional and address each skin issue and concern individually. Thus producing results for treating and repairing signs of aging such as free radical damage, chronological aging as well as correcting unique indications specific to acne, hyperpigmentation and other skin problems and diagnoses. Many women are haunted by a sudden onset of acneic skin and often wonder why they never battled any similar issues when they were younger. But due to such things as hormonal changes they find themselves with two problems…acne AND aging skin. M Lab is somewhat of a pricey line but works brilliantly. Problem is many women feel that it’s just too expensive to succumb to trying the highly respected line. But now with Spalook.com offering the line at a fifty percent savings, it can be tried and used by most anyone, including those of us with a limited budget. If you’re like many who would benefit from an effective regimen that treats both acne and premature aging you should check out M Lab Travel Collection for Anti-Aging Blemish Control this week only for 65 dollars. This is a complete regimen and it's regularly priced $130 and even that is an astounding $237 value. This is truly the time to check it out and see if it works for you. I assure you...you will be greatly impressed and you will indeed get the results you’ve been searching for. Here’s to M Lab and Spalook.com's amazing 50% off sale!!
As promised, part four of the Eureka series is Beauty Research’s A-list of the best products which use plant stem cell technology. First on the list is an amazing anti-aging topical serum. GlyMed Plus Age Management Stem Cell Power Serum is reported to reset the aging mechanism and works by reacting as an instant power surge to readjust the skin’s aging clock by working at the cellular level to protect our own stem cells and also contains four additional peptide chains to stimulate collagen production and stimulate new cellular growth. In addition, its clinical studies and trials actually suggests that it reprograms our aging skin fibroblasts which also boosts collagen production, resulting in a more youthful appearance of soft, supple and radiant skin.
Another impressive stem cell product within the skin care treatment arena has been formulated by the impressive, long standing, tried and true brand known as Juice Beauty. Among many of the wonderful things about this product which uses stem cell technology as well as belonging to an amazing, results-oriented brand (Juice Beauty) is that Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer is a daily use moisturizer which not only hydrates brilliantly, but also repairs the skin by correcting DNA damage and promotes cellular growth. The cream is also formulated with fat soluble vitamin C and other potent antioxidants which eliminates wrinkles, improves elasticity and brings about a radiant youthful glow. This is a technological, cutting edge daily hydrating ‘must-have!’
After writing the first two parts of this series I realized I still hadn’t completely shared the proverbial treasure map in terms of finding which products contain some of the super ingredients mentioned within the series, as well as which ones are truly worth their weight in gold. I also recognized I was remiss in mentioning another precious mineral that will make your skin so beautiful it will definitely provoke your beauty stock to rise!
Rubies are used in Goldfaden Power Scrub as well as Goldfaden Daily Scrub because ruby crystals are an excellent exfoliator which leaves the skin gorgeous, glowing and beautifully revitalized. They are the precious minerals of choice for scrubs and effective exfoliation products because they are noted to be perfectly round (i.e. non-abrasive) which gives brilliant results without irritating the skin. The quality non-abrasive gem dust which has been formulated into a dermatological compound (containing potent skin treatment ingredients such as Red Tea, Seaweed Extract and Hyaluronic Acid) provides for superior benefits because of its ability to cleanse, exfoliate, increase absorbability and protect, all of which bring about magnificent luminous results.
The last of this series (Part Four) will feature some great products which use plant stem cell technology which have been getting great customer and dermatological patient reviews. I know there’s one in particular I’m so thrilled with and impressed by that I’d venture to say that I will never be without it!
With the summer months here, it is absolutely vital to protect your skin against the sun. You may think that we have stressed that point enough but I know that many of our readers are still not protecting their skin adequately. Everyone knows about sunscreen but did you also know that antioxidants can also protect the skin against the harmful effects of the sun’s rays and actually boost the effectiveness of sunscreen products?
SkinCeuticals is an industry leader when it comes to antioxidant serums. These are lightweight serums that absorb quickly, leaving practically no residue behind. However, the protection that remains is unbelievable. For years, skin care consumers have relied on SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic for unbeatable anti-aging and protective benefits. This amazing serum combines stable Vitamins C and E along with Ferulic Acid, another antioxidant which actually boosts the effectiveness of both vitamins. Can you believe that this product actually provides eight times the skin’s natural sun defense? That makes for a powerful weapon against aging.
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF is a more recent product introduced to the market which also contains powerful antioxidants. The serum combines Vitamin C and Phloretin for strong protection against the environment. Like the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, the SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF also helps reduce the existing symptoms of aging skin.
Frankly, I can’t imagine a morning without SkinCeuticals. Every day I work to reduce the signs of aging skin while also protecting myself against future damage. Once I apply the serum, it can’t be rubbed off so I’m protected all day. However, I also make sure to use my sunscreen. Using both an antioxidant serum along with a sunscreen every morning will give you unbeatable defense against aging and other problems related to sun exposure. What are you waiting for?
As stated in my last blog entry (Part One of this Eureka series) I promised I would share with you some amazing and new ingredients that have only recently hit the skin care and beauty scene...within the very recent past. Probably the newest thing to hit the beauty industry in this decade…Actually make that this millennium. However, even that might not be an exact statement because many ingredients that are new to us have actually been around for centuries. We just didn’t follow suit and put them into use until very recently.
First we’ll start with the amazing beauty benefits of ‘caviar.’ Caviar has made a spectacular debut and is a highly sought after ingredient within the skin care and hair care biz. It’s deeply nourishing, improves tone and texture, increases moisture, improves skin elasticity and is highly protective due to its anti-oxidant properties.
My caviar brand/line of choice is Kerstin Florian's Caviar line. And my favorite product within the category is Kerstin Florian Caviar Night Crème. This decadent and luxurious night cream is one of the best night treatments I’ve used in years and seems to regenerate my skin beautifully while I sleep. Love this!
Another ingredient that’s fairly new to me is gold. Yes…I do mean gold! Gold is reported to be an excellent ingredient in skincare due to its ability to rid the skin of impurities, increase oxygenation, and imparts a nice glow to the skin due to its reflective metallic quality. Skin appears to glow and look beautifully revitalized.
Lastly, I wanted to chat about Swiss Apple Stem Cell technology in skin care treatments. When plant stem cells are incorporated into the correct formulations of skin care treatments and products and are then applied topically they can help protect our own stem cells from deteriorating and also stimulate production of new ones. One theory behind the use of stem cells in skin care is that fetal skin heals itself rapidly and does not scar and its wound repair revolves around its own stem cells and fibroblasts. Whereas, adult skin heals by way of an inflammatory response which involves collagen and macrophages infiltrating the area of the wound resulting in a scar. A wrinkle is nothing more than a small wounded area of skin.
Stem cells used in skin care products and treatments (with a very few exceptions, which I’ll go into at length another time) are derived from plant sources such as the Swiss Apple, not from human embryonic cells. However, these cells are highly efficient in delivering high concentrations of amino acids, phytoalexins, lipids and proteins resulting in skin cell renewal, repair and the prevention of further damage.
After hitting the proverbial beauty gold mine (or so I thought) at my neighborhood Ross a few weels ago, I could hardly wait to get home and slather on my new products. The beautiful gold boxes wrapped in fancy cellophane were virtually screaming out my name to come pick them up, throw them in my basket and disregard the fact that they were still too expensive for me (even after the significant price reduction). But the packaging, the description (which were in three languages no less) and the two little words that most anyone from any country can read (Caviar and Gold) won me over completely. These two little boxes had me the second I laid eyes on them. Normally I would have read the ingredients list but it was written in German...but these elegant little jars just had to be good, so off to the cash register we were.
The two main ingredients within these golden jars of luxurious cream were indeed Caviar and Gold. I've known for quite some time that caviar is an amazing skin care ingredient but hadn't yet heard all that much about gold. However, I have to say...it sounded really good in theory...so my mission to learn everything about it (along with a few other avant-garde ingredients such as platinum, swiss apple stem cells and more) came to be.
In part two of this little series I will be sharing with you the benefits of some of the most exquisite ingredients to hit the skin care market along with some products that you'll most likely want to try (as well as some you may not want to try and why) which contain some of these very precious particles.
Stay tuned for the golden scoop!
Dr. Brandt is always on the cutting edge of skincare science and technology. His products are almost always the best as well as greatly sought after, regardless of the skin issue, indication or expectations. Reason being…Dr. Brandt products work and they work well!
My favorite new Dr. Brandt product is Dr. Brandt Light Years Away Whitening Cream. It’s a mega performance whitening/lightening cream which has become the latest 'must-have' for skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation.
In their endless resolve to discover the best in skin care treatments and products Dr. Brandt has turned his focus to the botanical properties of the sea in order to find the best in skin care treatment products. His Light Years Away line is a prime example of his endless pursuit for effectively treating a variety of common skin issues and complaints which include dark spots, discoloration, and aging skin.
A performance leader within the new Light Years Away line is the aforementioned Dr. Brandt Light Years Away Whitening Cream. The cream has an impressive record of efficacy. Some experts even going so far as to say it may just be the equivalent, if not better than 4% hydroquinone!
NuFace Device has been a favorite skin care firming tool of mine for the last couple of years. I first tried it at a big esthetics conference in Las Vegas four years ago…and subsequently bought it a few months later and have been thrilled with it ever since! NuFace technology is based on the Micro Dermal Tone Technique and delivers a gentle electrical current to targeted areas of the face where repeated use of our muscles have created lines and wrinkles over time. The stimulation increases blood flow, collagen production, cellular turnover and skin rejuvenation. Additionally, elastin and connective tissue are increased adding fullness and lift along with the added benefit of delaying future aging skin. The NuFace Kit comes with a free Optimizing Mist by Carol Cole (8oz) which is a superb firming and hydrating mist, a Conductivity Gel, an instructional DVD and a 9 volt battery. The device now comes in white, pink, gray and now teal, making it a great gift for anyone! The NuFace Gray Device is a great Father’s Day gift, choosing the Pink Device is cool because a portion of the proceeds are donated to breast cancer research and the Teal Device is just down right stylish and cute along with being a fabulous anti-aging tool! All color choices are only $325 at SkinStore.com and are a $436 value. And if ordered before 6/20/11 it appears you should be able to use promotional code 20BRAND and receive an additional 20% off! It makes me want to get another one!!
The prescription eyelash enhancing drug Latisse (bimatoprost) has some risks just like any medication, especially for certain people with certain pre-existing conditions. However, in general, it is safe and effective when used as directed and monitored by your prescribing physician. For those without eye disease or other contraindications, there still may be possible eye irritation, eye dryness and eyelid darkening. There is also a very small potential or possibility of iris darkening. OTC eyelash enhancers are probably safer overall when used as directed because they do not contain the same active ingredient known as bimatoprost. Eyelash enhancing products by brands and lines found on beauty and skin care websites such as SkinStore.com work very well and don’t have as many risks. However, some people may be sensitive as with many products that are applied near the eyes, others may not use them as directed, and some may not keep their applicators and other preparations sanitary which most certainly can cause problems. However, when used properly brands such as Jan Marini, Revitalash, Rapid Lash and DS Laboratories have lash enhancers with very impressive results and very few complaints. Even Obagi brand has formulated an eyelash enhancing solution called Obagi Elastilash Eyelash Solution which is garnering some critical acclaim from Dr. Obagi’s faithful followers who are not generally an easy-to-please group. Typically Obagi Skin Care product users are well informed and seek and follow the advice from their skin care practitioner and are steadfast in terms of complying with their Obagi skin care regimens. When a product is Obagi…it’s usually safe to say…it’s going to be excellent!!
Isn’t it funny how when something new is going on in your life (whether it be a heart-wrenching break-up or a new mind-blowing relationship/happiness that has you walking a foot off the ground) the first thing you want to do is get even more gorgeous than you already are?!? It’s kind of that “make everything an opportunity” thing…I think. Well either that, or it’s the look at “what you could have had thing?” or the, “you’re so amazing I want to keep you around” thing! Either way, I think it’s just simple human nature...not drama.
I used to say, if they could bottle new love or freshly brewed heartbreak…it would seriously be the biggest beauty marketing phenomenon since the days of Egyptian or Roman Empire Henna! One could count on it as an effective weight-loss aid (whether it be a motivator to get to the gym or a complete loss of appetite), a reason to buy cosmetics and the newest skincare treatments (no matter the cost), or even a complete change in style which may include an all new hair-do/cut/color/etc., a change in wardrobe or even a complete overhaul of one’s personality, spirituality and intellect.
If you have found yourself in this precarious predicament (no matter the cause), you’ll want to take note of a few of these beautifying must-have items that will indeed be just the right stuff!
Jan Marini C-ESTA Mask is a soothing, moisturizing and skin tightening mask which is nothing short of a skin care miracle in a tube! It’s the proverbial 57 dollar facelift!
Calvin Klein’s seductive fragrance, the aptly named Euphoria Eau de Parfum. It's so sexy, yet so versatile…it’s light, yet long-lasting and a perfect scent for day or night!
And the final touch…a big pouty pair of lips! Talk about a one-way ticket to a man’s heart or memory…depending on our reason for our recent motivation to up the (get beautiful) ante! For serious lip plumping action turn to Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme! No drama here...only dramatic results!
We continually hear about the hair woes of our readers here on Beauty Research. Our hair tends to suffer from all kinds of abuses on a daily basis from blow drying, flat ironing and regular shampooing. To make matters worse, the hair naturally becomes more fine and fragile with age.
I always recommend purchasing high quality products to help address hair concerns. Investing in effective, results oriented products will help ensure a better set of locks going forward.
When nothing but the best will do, go for Alterna. All of the Alterna Shampoos contain top quality ingredients with nothing to strip out color or moisture. Alterna Conditioners complement the shampoos for superior results. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Moisture Shampoo is one of my all time favorites from Alterna. It is great for dry hair that is experiencing the effects of aging or continual exposure to the elements. If your hair is looking dull and tired, consider Alterna Caviar 3 Minute Shine Boost. You only need one weekly treatment to see a real difference in the vitality of your hair.
Hair loss and thinning is a very common problem. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are effective products on the market which can keep you out of a wig. DS Laboratories offers a collection of highly effective products that can put the breaks on hair loss while also stimulating new, healthy growth.
DS Laboratories Revita Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo works for both men and women, attacking the most common cause of hair loss, DHT. The shampoo contains DHT blockers to help stop hair loss. The formula also stimulates the scalp to encourage healthy growth. It’s truly a remarkable shampoo and treatment product in one.
For men looking to aggressively treat their hair loss, DS Laboratories Spectral DNC is the product of choice. This treatment combines two powerfully effective ingredients that can help with both male pattern baldness and thinning at the crown of the head.
If you’re suffering from hair woes, go for gold and arm yourself with the best stuff money can buy. It‘s the only way to see real results and truly attain a better head of hair.
Question: What’s better than prescribed skin care? Answer: Prescribed skin care in which you don’t continually have to pay the hefty cosmetic surgeon’s office fee! That’s why I wanted to share with all of you the two amazing solutions I recently discovered from Dr. Babor. And by "solutions" I mean that word both as a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances as well as the act of solving a problem. Babor brand has launched a professional line of products called their Doctor line (Dr. Babor) which offers two different lines within the category. One is the Biogen Cellular line and the other is called Derma Cellular. Within these two category subsets are a range of powerfully potent yet gentle products for specific needs of the skin and certain skin indications. Biogen Cellular which specifically addresses needs of the skin caused from trauma such as surgery and other aggressors is outstanding for its cellular regenerating properties. Dr. Babor Biogen Cellular Ultimate Repair Cream is a brilliant post procedural treatment as well as a great supplement to our daily skincare regimen for those of us with mature, tired and stressed out skin in dire need of revitalization.
Derma Cellular is a line of targeted skin care products which effectively treat and repair a variety of indications both instantly and cumulatively. This is an incredible line for issues such as aging skin, skin redness, and hyperpigmentation. Solution oriented skin care indeed!
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