Coarse hair? Read EyeshadowCult.com’s Hair, of coarse article with tips for women of color. The Makeup Divas review on My Chic Things Boutique as well as an interview with the owner. Canadian Beauty reviews an oil cleanser – and loves it. StyleBell shows you how to Create Carefree Curls with a Flat Iron. SugarShock is turning one and we’re celebrating! Enter our contest to win one of 50 Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleansers. Girl Gloss loves Archipelago Botanicals Grapefruit Lip Butter! Raging Rouge gets a taste of Maternity Beauty- Courtesy of Mama Mio. Temptalia has a makeup tutorial for a dramatic, bold green and blue look! Elke announces her new website, "beautyurls.com". A complete beauty aggregator bringing you the latest news, headlines and beauty info in the beauty industry. Visit daily for the latest or subscribe to the blog. Stylish Opinion gives you the scrub of the month club. The Beauty Blog Network Blog welcomes their newest members to the network. A Touch of Blusher reviews a beautifully on-trend eye palette from Chanel. Beauty Blogging Junkie recommends a foolproof way to achieve a smokey eye . Beauty Anonymous invites you to discover the scents of Chanel Les Exclusifs Perfume Collection. What’s really in Origins’ new Youthtopia Eye Cream? The Daily Cookie does a little investigating to find out. Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog visits Shu Uemura’s Lash Bar and finds false eyelash nirvana, where the lashes are affordable and the appointment booking process couldn’t be easier. Mischo Beauty takes her readers to school for a lesson on serums! The Beauty of Life continues to bring you her weekly Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays column. This week, she found some truly amazing deals that are suitable to take with you on the plane! The Muse showcases a Shu Uemura Face Chart created exclusively for readers of Musings of a Muse! Glossypink has the low-down on some sizzlin’ hot lip gloss! Marina at makeup loves me gets a mani/pedi at dashing diva! Beauty Banter asks celebrity Brow Specialist, Sarah, to give a step-by-step tutorial on achieving beautiful brows! 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic tries out Creme de la Mer and discovers why J. Lo slathers herself in it! Pursebuzz.com reviews NYX Chrome Shadows one of her favorite inexpensive shadows. Spoiled Pretty is giving away J.Lo’s newest fragrance, Deseo to five lucky readers. Will one of them be you?
Reviews By Type
Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights: Baked Starburst
I’ve had the opportunity to sample so many different amazing bronzers lately. One of these days I’ll have to publish a summary of them all!
I’d say that one of the most amazing of the bunch is Fusion Soft Lights in Baked Starburst, but smashbox would prefer you not call this product a bronzer! This powder is comprised of pie-slices of 5 different shades of bronze, making skin look tanned and radiant. Apply by swirling the colors together, or use each individually. The individual shades are ideal for creating a bronze eye, or highlighting the cheeks/brow bone.
When you fall in love with Fusion Softlights–and I know you will–be sure to check out the new shade released named "Baked Sunburst", heading your way this April!
Fusion Softlights in Baked Starburst retails for $30, and can be found at smashbox or Sephora.com. While you’re perusing the smashbox website, be sure to check out their beauty tips, solving common problems from how to create the perfect cat eye to how to de-puff post party!
NIA 24- Niacin Powered Skin Therapy
I am a bit fanatical about skin care. I slather on sunscreen at least once daily. I cleanse every morning and night. I exfoliate at least twice a week. I moisturize.
But the truth is, I am a recovering tanorexic. While strolling around campus in the early 90s, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a window, and was horrified. I looked to be part of LeStat’s entourage.
That one event kicked off a spree of tanning bed sessions in the middle of the winter. 20 minute minimum? Hell no, turn that timer up to 30!
NIA24 is a skincare line that utilizes Niacin to repair and fight the visible signs of sun damage (what you and I know of as "aging"). Why Niacin? When Niacin is expertly delivered deep into the skin, it stimulates DNA repair and helps build the skin barrier from the inside out. That’s what I love about this line… NIA24 knows you’ve sinned, forgives you and works with you to repair the damage you did in your youth.
Upon beginning to cleanse with NIA24, I broke out! But don’t stress if this happens to you, breakout can temporarily occur as your skin adjusts to the increased Niacin. The breakouts clear quickly, but don’t start this regimen the week of your wedding!
NIA24’s Gentle Cleansing Cream has the consistency of a mask, it’s so amazingly rich. Jet-setters, rejoice! This cleanser doesn’t even require water to rinse off! You can simply remove it with a tissue, if you need to cleanse during your red-eye flight.
My personal favorite product from the line thus far is the Sun Damage Prevention 100% Mineral Sunscreen, a UVA/UVB SPF 30 with a matte finish. The mineral formula has an almost powdery consistency, excellent for wear under foundation. Added Vitamin E helps keep skin soft and beautiful!
Note: The author used these products prior to becoming pregnant! Please check with your doctor if you are pregnant, before beginning this regimen!
Click HERE to head over to NIA24 to read more about these products, and to find a retailer near you!
Jaqua Beauty: NEW Hand Soaps!
I heard from the team at Jaqua that their latest launch was inspired by their customers. Turns out, Jaqua loyalists had been using their incredibly moisturizing shower syrups and shower cremes as hand soaps! (Upon learning this, I was immediately horrified that I hadn’t thought of doing the same).
Available in Pink Buttercream Frosting (scented like a birthday cake) and Pink Champagne (a citrusy effervescent scent), these hand soaps by Jaqua are incredibly gentle on the skin. Infused with fruit and plant extracts, Vitamin A, C, E and aloe; this hand soap leaves hands both feeling soft and smelling divine.
Each handsoap is available in an 8.5 oz. size, and retails for $14 at Jaqua Beauty.
Maternity Beauty: Mama Mio
Everywhere you look are publications and advertising that attempt to glamorize pregnancy and motherhood. And we pregnant women, made insecure by the physical changes of motherhood, are all too easy prey.
Perhaps my personal favorite affront to the pregnant is the dreaded designer maternity jean… complete with a 34" inseam only suitable to be worn with stilettos. Oh yeah, I'm just dying to shove my bloated feet into a pair of stilettos right now! Please!
I'm halfway through my second pregnancy, and in my opinion there is really nothing less glamorous in the world. As a result, my version of pregnancy glamour is a bit different. Rather than torture my tired body in an attempt to look good, I embrace the changes in my body and indulge in soothing rituals and beauty routines that make me feel good.
A big part of this indulgence is Mama Mio Deluxe Skincare For Supermamas. Developed by three friends with experience in the skincare industry, Mama Mio debuted with Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil, a decadent moisturizer which was soon so popular the team launched an entire range of skincare products to prevent stretch marks, hasten the healing of scars, tone the skin, soothe aches and just help Mommies relax.
Mama Mio maternity skincare is formulated specifically for the pregnant. What does this mean? Not only will your skin be treated to what it needs to survive what Mama Mio refers to as the "nine month s-t-r-e-t-c-h", but you needn't fear that any ingredients would be harmful to your little one. Peace of mind is a wonderful thing, when you're already worried about everything else!
During my first pregnancy, I attempted to keep my skin soft and supple using popular cocoa butters available in any drugstore. Only issue was, the fragrance made me sick to my stomach! Mama Mio products smell absolutely heavenly. The signature scent is called "Gravida", which translates to "pregnant" in Latin. This scent is a carefully selected blend of 10 essential oils known to be beneficial to the pregnant among us (Mandarin Oil, Petitgrain Oil, Lime Oil, Lemon Oil, Neroli Oil, Orange Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil, Lavender Oil, Bergamot Oil and Grapefruit Oil). I am quite literally addicted to this glorious scent, and find that it helps me remember to moisturize!
I've had an opportunity to sample three products from the extensive Mama Mio line:
I'm so crazy about Mama Mio, I'll absolutely continue to use some of the products beyond pregnancy!
Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Butter retails for $35, Boob Tube retails for $38 and Super-Rich Body Cream retails for $26. What an amazing gift these super-rich treats would make for an expecting friend, or for yourself! Click HERE to head to the Mama Mio website.
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