ProductWhores

Think Pink!

In observation of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Murad has released an amazing limited-edition Hydrate for Hope set!  Their Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture and Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes come in this adorable pink and white polka-dotted cosmetics bag!  I have to say the moisturizer and the eye cream are fantastic!  I've been using them both religiously for a few weeks now and I love how great my skin looks and feels.  Plus, HUGE bonus, 10% from the sale of each set to retailers goes directly to the City of Hope's breast and women's cancers research, treatment and education programs.  This is a truly great way to have beautiful skin and feel great knowing money has been given to support City of Hope.

Murad’s Hydrate for Hope set will be available at Murad.com and select retailers nationwide in October 2012 and retails for $49.50 (a $79 value!).

Comfort Your Skin

Between the 100+ degree weather, my eye infection, not sleeping much and working a ton, my skin has taken quite the beating lately.  And since I already have sensitive skin, I was not looking so hot.  (And that's being nice about it).  So I turned to my new favorite brand for sensitive skin - AHAVA.  I really wish I hadn't waited so long to try this brand because every product I try from them is fabulous and I could've been using them all along.  Don't you hate it when that happens?

Their new Time to Treat Comforting Cream is my new favorite facial moisturizer because it does everything a moisturizer is supposed to do with bonus calming elements.  It has Dead Sea Mud, Narcissus Bulb Extract, Tomato Extract & Lavender Water in it - all ingredients that calm the skin while also reducing redness, which my skin is prone to (especially when venturing outside feels like walking into HELL, which is how hot Los Angeles weather has been lately).  It also barely has a scent at all - it just has a slight hint of something resembling... water, maybe?  I can't quite place the scent, but whatever is is, it's very light and fresh and not at all something that's annoying to have so close to your nose.  I'm really liking how it feels on my skin too - it's been keeping it smooth and it doesn't feel tight at all - a big achievement in this weather.  Also, for the next three days, you can get 30% off your order at Ahavaus.com by using the code FALLFAN30 at checkout, so there's even more reason to check it out.  (You'll be able to snag it for only $31.50).  Stock up!

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with AHAVA  

A Blissful Feeling

 

I have a Bliss problem.  I'm so addicted to the Bliss Spas - every single one I've ever visited has been awesome - and sadly, I can't afford to go as often as I'd like, so I just cheer myself up by using all their fabulous products in between visits.  Their newest achivement is The Youth As We Know It Anti-Aging Night Cream.  A Sephora exclusive, the cream has a total of 10 aging benefits.  It promises to:

1. Visibly reduce wrinkles with 2x the power of Bliss' Youth As We Know It Moisture Cream
2. Intensely replenishes and soothes
3. Retexturizes skin
4. Promotes collagen and elasticity
5. Visibly fills fine lines
6. Boosts oxygen circulation
7. Evens skin tone
8. Hydrates and plumps
9. Brightens and clarifies
10. Improves skin's firmness

I've only been using it for about two weeks now, so I can't attest to any wrinkle fighting ability yet (also, luckily my total insistence on always wearing a high SPF has kept me wrinkle-free so far, thank God) but I really like it as a nighttime moisturizer.  It has a delightful clean, fresh scent and it's not greasy or oily at all, just light and moisturizing (obviously!)  It's also used in the new The Youth As We Know It Night Time Facial Treatment at Bliss Spas, so that should tell you something.  The cream is kinda pricey at $79, but the jar has a decent amount of product in it at 1.7 ounces and you don't need to use a lot each night, so it should last you a fairly long time.  (Seriously don't use a lot.  I am terrible at taking this advice and every single time I use too much serum or moisturizer, I always get annoyed at how much money I'm wasting).  And just writing about a Bliss product is making me realize that I'm due for another visit to the spa near me sometime soon.  The Double Chocolate Pedicure is calling my name!         

Note: A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Bliss

Juice Your Way To Beauty

I'm all about peels at the moment.  (Well, good peels that work gently, not the kind that leave your skin red and flaky and looking like Samantha in that "Sex and the City" episode where she had to cover her entire face when she went outside to avoid scaring people).  You won't have Samantha's problem when you use Juice Beauty's Green Apple Peel.  It's an AHA enzyme peel that's infused with certified organic fruit juices and raw cane sugar and blended with 12% "real fruit" alpha hydroxy acids.  It's a cinch to use - all you have to do is apply it to your clean skin, then leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off.  I've used it twice now - both times I felt a tingling sensation when it was on my face, but it wasn't painful at all (or even annoying, really).  It has an clean smell to it - fresh and with a hint of apple (hence the name) so it's not harsh on your nose like some peels can be.  Both times after I rinsed it off, my skin was redder than usual, but that disappeared in about an hour and for the next few days, my skin was softer than usual and I definitely noticed a glow to it.  It just looked... better, for lack of a more technical term.  (And I love better!)  I haven't used it long enough to see any long-term effects, but people on Sephora's website seem to be raving about theirs and I'll definitely keep using it to get my own, especially since it's seriously the easiest peel I've ever owned.  Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a simple, at home facial that'll leave your skin fresh and glowing.  (And you'll get a ton of uses out of the $45 jar, so you'll wind up saving money over paying for the spa version, too).  So worth it!        

You can check out all of Juice Beauty's organic skin care at JuiceBeauty.com.

Note:  A sample of this item was sent to me by a PR representative working with Juice Beauty

June Jacobs Spa At Home!

I started using June Jacob's Cucumber Reviving Day Cream and Mandarin Polishing Beads and I had to post immediately because they are amazing!  My skin has never looked or felt better.  The day cream smells slightly of cucumber (duh, as the name suggests) and contains milk protein, cucumber oil, pomegranate oil, as well as green tea oil (it all sounds like a new Snapple, doesn't it?).  All of the ingredients make for a medium weight moisturizer which immediately sinks into skin and leaves my face feeling so soft it's crazy.  It is such a wonderful face cream and is especially great for anyone with sensitive and dry skin!  My other new obsession is their Sensitive Formula Mandarin Polishing Beads which do not irritate my skin at all, yet, leave it silky smooth because they have removed all the dead skin.  I can't believe how gentle this exfoliator is and how fantastically well it works.  My blackheads have actually reduced because of this stuff.  A definite must-have for anyone who likes to use a face scrub but hates the stingy feeling a lot of them make you suffer through.  This one, on the other hand, is so gentle I've been able to use every day without a hint of irritation.  All June Jacobs products are paraben and preservative free and most of their collection is available right now on QVC.com!  So, so awesome.  Get shopping already!

Note:  Samples of these products were sent to me by a PR representative working with June Jacobs.

Made From Earth

 
I was recently introduced to the brand Made From Earth and if you haven't heard of them, they are something you need to check out.  First of all, they are an organic, all-natural body and skincare line that is chemical free, hypoallergenic, vegan and cruelty free!  It's crazy how awesome their products are, especially considering how good they actually are for us!  I was so happy to have been able to try some things and am completed obsessed with two stand-outs.  First of all, their Olive Night Creme is amazing!  Highly-moisturizing, non-sticky and has barely any smell to it.  My skin is so happy when I use it that I've actually been using it during the day as well.  Really great and only $28.00 online right now (they're offering a 30% off promo).  My other favorite item is definitely their Grapefruit Glycolic Scrub which is so gentle, even my sensitive skin was so happy!  The scrub smells incredible, leaves skin feeling soft and exfoliated, and you only need to use 2-3 times a week so the bottle lasts a long time.  I love that it contains aloe vera and the grainy texture is perfect - it doesn't strip my skin!  Love, love, love it and will definitely buy again.  Retails for $29.99.

Note: Samples of the above items were sent to me by a PR representative working with Made from Earth

Who Knew Black Currant Could Be So Luxurious?!

As a general rule, I do not use any oils on my face.  I know that moisturizing oils work amazing for super-dry skin (body), but every single time I've tried one on my face I end up shrieking in pain while I frantically try to wash off whatever junk I subjected my poor face to.  And then there's always the stares from strangers later in the day because my face still looks like someone took sandpaper to it.  So when I checked out Ole Henriksen's Black Currant Complexion Oil I immediately apologized to my face for what I was about to put it through... and... shockingly, my skin loved this stuff!  No redness, no itching, no stinging - just happy skin.  This unique oil contains geranium, which is supposed to calm the skin, blackcurrant oil, which helps to repair environmental damage, and apricot kernal oil, which helps skin survive harsh wintery conditions.  All of these wonderful ingredients make for the most luxurious facial oil - perfect for anyone whose skin could use an extra boost.  It's actually helped to alleviate redness and smells so wonderful I could bathe in it.  The bottle has a small dropper at the top which prevents you from over-using so the bottle will last you a long time.  I have been using it underneath my regular moisturizer during the day and have even been bringing it with me to work to pat some on during the day if my skin is starting to get tight.  I'm so happy I fought my fear of face oils to check this bad boy out.  Retails for $32.00.

Note:  A sample of this was sent to me by a PR representative working with Ole Henriksen

Facial Products My Skin Adores

 

I've always been a huge fan of Origin's Never A Dull Moment facial scrub because it is gentle, works really well, and honestly, I hadn't come across anything comparable... until now.  Collective Wellbeing has made the perfect scrub (sorry Origins) and it's less expensive, uses all-natural ingredients, and is so gentle I've used it every day without any irritation.  First off, I have to talk about the company, Collective Wellbeing, because they definitely practice what they preach - they have taken all these wonderful things in nature (such as carbon - who knew this could be a cleanser) and bottled them up into totally effective products.  1% of their revenue goes to environmental organizations (gotta love that), they are cruelty free and none of their products contain parabens.  Okay, back to the real reason I am posting - their Honey Buff scrub.  This stuff is ridiculously awesome and at only $15.00 for the full-size tube, it's a total steal.  It contains honey (duh), rose hip seeds and orange peel powder (which gives it this lovely citrus scent) and after only using it for a few days, my skin was brighter and felt incredible.  The scrub also just launched in a travel size ($4.99) which I love because it means you can try it for next to nothing.  The other stand-out from this line is their Night Balm ($27.00) which is like silk on your skin.  Made up of Shea Butter and Lavender, this thick yet non-greasy cream goes on smooth and boosts hydration overnight.  I am a religious follower now and have been using it every single night.  In fact, I'm so obsessed that I actually went out to Whole Foods this weekend to see if I could find Collective Wellbeing so I could try their day creams (FYI, Whole Foods does carry the line, just not the FULL line ).  Anyway, look past the dull packaging (which definitely does not do the line justice - I wish I could see some white packaging with delicate flowers or something) and give it a try.  You will be seriously hooked- I promise!

Note:  Samples of these products were sent to me by a PR representative working with Collective Wellbeing

Darphin is the Balm

 

 

When I saw the somewhat hefty price tag on Aromatic Purifying Balm by Darphin Paris, I thought to myself that this had better be some sort of wonder stuff which can recapture my early twenties - y'know, beautiful skin, hot body and that whole excited-that-my-entire-life-is-ahead-of-me-and-I-can-be-anything-I-want-to-be feeling.  Okay, fine, this balm can't take pounds off or transport me back so I don't make all those crazy decisions that landed me in a million unsuccessful directions, but what it did do is make my skin look fantastic!  After only using the balm for a little over a week, I already notice a huge difference. My skin is so soft (no dry patches around my nose) and my face actually glows.  The balm is very thick, so a little goes a very long way (and the seemingly tiny jar really will last a long time, especially because you will only use it a few times a week).  Yes, it's a balm so it does initially feel greasy to the touch, but as soon as you warm a bit between your fingers and pat it onto your face before you go to bed, the greasiness goes away.  I was stunned at how quickly my combo skin looked a million times better - much stronger results than with other treatments I've used.  I love the very spa-like fragrance (lavender and sage) and the glass jar is gorgeous on the bathroom countertop.  This stuff is a miracle worker and well worth the $70.00 retail. No wonder Jaklin Idris, Darphin Skincare expert, has made this a part of her "20 Minute At-Home Purifying Facial" routine.  Now, Jaklin, what have you got for people suffering from excessive debt and soul-sucking cubicle jobs?  Never hurts to ask.

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Darphin.

Zee French Must Have Zee Softest Faces

I’m one of those people who are easily peer-pressured into products.  Just a simple “Oh, you have to have it” and I will obsess about it, until I do own it.  Carita Aux 3 Sources Extra Moisturizing Crème was no different.  I was staying at the luxuriously fancy THE hotel in Vegas where I had a wonderful facial at their spa.  Because the nice lady told me my face would be softer if I used Carita, I had to believe her and ordered it online as soon as I returned home to L.A.  With the hefty pricetag, I am happy to say that the crème comes in a nice glass pot and lasts for a very long time.  You really don’t need to use a lot to notice a difference in your skin.  The smell is very spa-like (if that’s even a way to describe something) - very fresh smelling I guess you could say.  It’s made in France, and although I thought Paris smelled of urine when I was there in the summer, I do think they know a thing or two about skincare because this crème is fabulous.  The nice lady at THE hotel did not steer me wrong.  While it really moisturizes my face, especially overnight, it is a bit sticky initially, so you can’t really put it on and hop right into bed without it smearing onto your sheets.  If you can plan your nighttime routine around the crème, I would put it on, then check out what’s on your Tivo for half an hour before you hit the hay.  The next morning you will see how smart zee French people are.  (with a thick French accent) Your face is softer, no?