ProductWhores

Concentrate On Ahava

Ah, Ahava.  I love their products so much because they're so great for my sensitive skin.  And now they have something even better than regular ol' body products - Dead Sea Osmoter Body Concentrate.  It's basically a serum for your body, which is really cool because let's face it, we can all use all the help we can get.  The serum gives you light hydration (I usually follow it up with an actual body lotion afterwards) and it refreshes and recharges your skin, helping to correct uneven tone and texture.  I haven't been using it long enough to see a difference in that, but it's definitely soothing and it's making my dull "winter" (because "winter" in Los Angeles is still pretty damn mild) skin more glowy than usual.  I put SO many damn products on my face to keep it looking good that I really appreciate having something for my body too.  (Side note - the one for your face is amazing as well).  I pretty much use every Ahava Dead Sea product that I can get my hands on, so I'm really happy to have another one to add to the repertoire.  Now if only I could get an actual trip there, I'd be all set...

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

This groundbreaking body serum adds light hydration, luminosity and clarity to skin from head-to-toe. Dead Sea Osmoter Body Concentrate transforms rough skin by adding a youthful, radiant glow. - See more at: http://www.ahavaus.com/dead-sea-osmoter-body-concentrate#sthash.GOEu9uUw.dpuf

A triple-charged superserum that refreshes, illuminates and recharges dull body skin, correcting uneven tone and texture. - See more at: http://www.ahavaus.com/dead-sea-osmoter-body-concentrate#sthash.GOEu9uUw.dpuf

A triple-charged superserum that refreshes, illuminates and recharges dull body skin, correcting uneven tone and texture. - See more at: http://www.ahavaus.com/dead-sea-osmoter-body-concentrate#sthash.GOEu9uUw.dpuf

Take A Dip In The Dead Sea

I am so all about the serums.  I just think they're a vital part of any skin care regimen and they have so many benefits to them, I don't know why anyone would skip one.  (Seriously, it takes all of one minute to put on.  So worth it).  AHAVA's new Dead Sea Osmoter Concentrate is a moisture and radiance boosting serum that supercharges your skin's cellular functions to counteract aging both when you put it on and over time.  I'm a huge fan of anything that comes from the Dead Sea because it has such proven healing abilities and is chock full o' minerals, so I was super excited to try this one.  (Also, I'm obsessed with AHAVA products.  Obsessed!  If you haven't tried any yet, get thee to your closest ULTA and stock up.  You won't be sorry).  I've been using the serum for about a month now and I kind of love it.  With serums, it's hard to tell how much they're working sometimes because they don't always show immediate results, but I feel like after a month, my skin is looking super healthy and glowy, which isn't always the case.  (I've been pairing it with Bliss' The Youth As We Know It nightime moisturizer, so that's a combo you might want to try out because it seems to work amazingly well).  The serum is definitely hydrating and I love knowing that I'm putting a ton of minerals on my skin, plus 85% of people who tested it out for a week saw more youthful skin, so that's a big plus for it.  (That's what we're all after, right?  I want my teenage skin again.  Minus the zits!)  I'll be using this one 'til the bottle runs out, which if you could see the ridiculous amount of products I have to test out, is high praise indeed.  Now, if AHAVA could only magically transport me to the real Dead Sea for a nice, long vacation, I'd really be set.  How can we make that happen?  

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

SUPERCHARGED SKIN

Dead Sea Osmoter^™ Concentrate is powered by a triple concentration of AHAVA’s propriety Osmoter™, a balanced concentrate of Dead Sea Minerals that restores skin’s vitality, enhancing its natural ability to retain moisture. Ongoing research performed by AHAVA's scientists went beyond traditional levels of mineral content discovering the amazing power of 3 times Osmoter™ to boost cellular hydration, and provide natural radiance from within creating a universal, multi-benefit serum for all skin types and ages. This groundbreaking, skin-optimizing serum boosts hydration, clarity and luminosity and supercharges skin’s cellular functions to counteract the signs of aging immediately and over time. The result is a visibly more youthful complexion. - See more at: http://www.ahava.com/face/serums/dead-sea-osmoter-concentrate#sthash.Vm0I3fRH.dpuf

SUPERCHARGED SKIN

Dead Sea Osmoter^™ Concentrate is powered by a triple concentration of AHAVA’s propriety Osmoter™, a balanced concentrate of Dead Sea Minerals that restores skin’s vitality, enhancing its natural ability to retain moisture. Ongoing research performed by AHAVA's scientists went beyond traditional levels of mineral content discovering the amazing power of 3 times Osmoter™ to boost cellular hydration, and provide natural radiance from within creating a universal, multi-benefit serum for all skin types and ages. This groundbreaking, skin-optimizing serum boosts hydration, clarity and luminosity and supercharges skin’s cellular functions to counteract the signs of aging immediately and over time. The result is a visibly more youthful complexion. - See more at: http://www.ahava.com/face/serums/dead-sea-osmoter-concentrate#sthash.Vm0I3fRH.dpuf

Stock Up On AHAVA

I am a HUGE AHAVA fan.  I love every single product they put out and I always head right for their section when I take a trip to ULTA.  So I'll definitely be picking up this new limited-edition set from Nordstrom as soon as I get the chance.  The Kooba for AHAVA Limited-Edition Set was designed to appeal to those of us who are both beauty and fashion obsessed (Me! Me!).  Three of AHAVA's best-sellers, the Mineral Body Exfoliator, the Mineral Body Lotion, and a travel-size Mineral Hand Cream, all come packaged in an adorable little clutch in one of Kooba's classic prints.  It's available at select Nordstrom stores and on their website and retails for $45.  How adorable is that clutch?  I will totally travel with it.  Kooba bags are the best and finding one stuffed with AHAVA products only makes it that much better.  Don't miss this one!

Save 20% On NARS

NARS is one of my favorite brands, but let's face it, it's kinda pricey.  So anytime you can get some help with that, it's well worth placing an order.  Through tomorrow, you can save 20% off your purchase at narscosmetics.com by using the code NARSFF2012 when you're checking out.  Happy Cyber Monday! 

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  

Ahh... Ahava

So now that I'm officially moved into my new condo and don't have to suffer through using my old bathroom anymore, I can finally, finally take baths in Los Angeles instead of having to wait until I visit family on the east coast.  I'm seriously so excited about it because I love a good bath AND this means I can finally resume my LUSH bath bomb addiction, which had sadly basically dried up in recent years.  I'm still excited about hitting up LUSH again soon, but at the moment, I'm totally obsessed with AHAVA's Eucalyptus Bath Salts. 

I originally got them sent over because they're made with Dead Sea Salt and I know that's really good for your skin, plus I love the scent of Eucalyptus, but I had no idea they were going to be so amazing or I would've bought them years ago.  (Actually, I couldn't have used them anyway, so maybe I'm glad I didn't know because then I would've been sad everytime I passed them on the shelf and really, isn't life hard enough without adding bath salt withdrawal to it?)  The scent of Eucalyptus is so amazingly strong in these that you really only need a tiny amount to make your entire bathroom smell fantastic, plus it's the perfect fragrance to wash away all the stress of the day with after work.  I soaked for far longer than I normally do just to keep smelling it.  And when I got out of the bath, I was so relaxed and happy that I practically floated into bed.  It was delightful.  All the stress of moving was worth it for that one soak alone, but luckily, I don't have to be content with just one because I'm totally planning to use them again tonight.  They're even good for my budget - a huge 32 ounce jar is only $22.  So, so worth it.  (Plus, you can find Ahava at ULTA and they always have sales and coupons, so you probably won't even have to pay full price.  But I totally would!)  Now I'm excited to try some of the other scents too - Lavender and Honey Herbal have my name written all over them.  Getting this excited about bath salts AND buying a condo?  I really am an adult now!

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

Gift Sets To Go Gaga Over

This is the time of year when all the stores are awash in gift sets.  Makeup gift sets, skin care gift sets, body care gift sets...  Sometimes the deals are so good, it's actually cheaper to buy the set and get a couple products than it is to buy a single one of them on its own.  (I call this the "doesn't even need justification, just throw it in my basket as fast as I can" purchase).  Since I'm sure at least some of you are like me and still have the majority of your gifts to buy, here are a few of the sets I'm either buying for myself or handing out to others this year.

Bliss' "Glow"-Ho-Ho Radiance-Revving Triple Oxygen Trio is a limited-edition set with three products - a1.7 ounce Triple Oxygen+C Energizing Cream, a 3.4 ounce Triple Oxygen Energizing Mask, and a pair of Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Eye Masks.  Before I got the set, I'd only tried the mask before, which I love, but now that I've tried the cream too, I like to pair them up for full effectiveness.  It's a great value too since Bliss can be a little pricey and you're getting a lot for your money here.  (And if you like Bliss, make sure you check out all of their holiday gift sets because there are a bunch of them and they're all fantastic values.  I sort of want them all).  This set's a great way to get introduced to their skin care line if you've never tried it before and it's easy to pick up at Sephora at one of your many holiday shopping trips to the mall.

I've been totally obsessed with Ahava's products all year because they're great on my sensitive skin, so I'll take any excuse to pick some more up.  Shoshanna for AHAVA is another limited-edition set that comes packaged in a bright travel bag perfect for a weekend away.  Inside you'll find a 3.4 ounce Mineral Hand Cream, a 3.4 ounce Mineral Body Lotion, and a .85 ounce Dermud Intensive Foot Cream.  I love their Mineral Body Lotion so much that I use it almost every day, so I'm really psyched to have stumbled across this set before I have to pack for my trip to the east coast next week.  More room for another five lipsticks!

Origins is one of those brands that I sometimes forget I love as much as I do and then I'll use one of their products and get all excited about how great it is and want to buy every single thing they make.  Since that's (sadly) out of the question, this season I'm turning to their gift sets as a way to get the best bang for my buck.  I know their ginger products are uber popular, but I hadn't tried them until now and I can finally see why everyone raves about them so much.  I always thought I didn't like the smell of ginger, but apparently I was confusing it with like, the scent of exhaust of something because it's SO nice.  It's all rich and warm and a little spicy and just delicious.  The Ginger To Go and Stay set is great because you get both travel-size and regular-sized products in it, so you can use them both at home and on vacation if you want.  (And I definitely do.  The smaller sizes will also be making the cross country journey with me next week.  They'll be perfect to use in the apparently frigid NJ weather that I'll be flying into).  You get a full array of body products in the set too - Body Wash, Body Scrub, Body Cream...  You'll be able to layer the scent as much as you want, which always makes me very happy.  Now I kind of think that I need the Ginger Essence to spritz on top as a final layer.  It seems very winter appropriate, doesn't it?  It'll be the perfect scent to wear to cheer me up when I'm shivering in my sixteen layers as I trudge through the snow, wondering how I ever managed to spend four years of college in upstate New York with its ten foot high snow drifts.  Los Angeles has made me soft!

Note: Samples of these items were sent to me by PR representatives working with Bliss, AHAVA and Origins

Shop For A Cure

There are so many great products out there that support Breast Cancer Awareness, you'll kick yourself if you miss some of them.  It's a great way to take home a fabulous product and do some good at the same time.  Here are just a few of my favorites that I've heard about so far.

AHAVA Hope Blossoms Mineral Bath Salts ($22) - For every purchase of these, AHAVA will make up to a 15% donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help fund research and promote education and early detection.  Dead sea salts are my absolute favorite bath salts because they're so full of minerals and they're great at helping you to de-stress in the tub.

Darphin Redness Relief Soothing Serum ($85) - For the whole month of October, this cult-favorite product will be decked out in the pink colors of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  For each serum bought, Darphin will give $15 toward Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

Stila Positive and Pretty Palette ($14) - This limited-edition palette is a steal at $14, with four eyeshadows, a cheek color and a highlighter.  (I'm obsessed with these palettes from Stila).  10% of the proceeds will go to a variety of BCA charities, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Don't forget to pick these up on your next shopping trip!