Author: Lindsay

Nuance Salma Hayek Oxygen Activated Foaming Face Wash

There is something so fulfilling about a good, foaming face wash. It is so gratifying to work up that lather. But with drier, winter skin, some formulas can leave a our skin tight and strip us of our much needed hydration. And Cetaphil, while really wonderful for the skin, sometimes leaves behind the daily grime and makeup. So, I am thrilled to recommend a drugstore cleanser that is foamy fun AND won’t parch your skin: Nuance Salma Hayek Oxygen Activated Foaming Face Wash exclusively at CVS.

Salma Hayek wasn’t just a celebrity name to slap on a product line. Her grandmother, a cosmetologist who developed home remedies, inspired throughout the development of the line. Salma was active in the creation of products and you can really see her Mexican heritage in the ingredient list (mimosa, blue agave, camapu & prickly pear extracts – these help soothe and hydrate skin). Mushroom & beet extracts help maintain skin’s natural protective barrier. And O2 complex invigorates skin for a healthy-looking glow. Even with my current dry, sensitive situation, I wasn’t irritated in the least. She covered the basis – this cleanser is : Paraben free, Dermatologist tested, Not tested on animals and Gluten free.

In fact, there is so much I love about this line, I am hosting a giveaway. And its a BIG ONE. Stayed tuned for updates.

NARS Lipstick All-Star Shades

Lately, it seems every time I compliment someone on their lipstick, it turns out to be NARS. Not surprisingly because the man behind NARS cosmetics built his brand off 12 lipsticks, initially sold in Barneys. And so I was off on the hunt for my perfect, bright NARS lipstick. The contenders were:

Heat Wave: a semi-matte, orangey red
Jungle Red: a semi-matte, bright red with slightly more blue undertones
Funny Face: semi-matte, true fuchsia

The semi-matte finish has the perfect shine that wears into a more matte, stained look. But the color stays true: Nars Lipsticks are enriched with vitamin E to increase wearability and keep true color intact. I definitely get a solid four hours of wear out of an application. The creamy formula is insanely pigmented.

Honestly, I love them all. But Jungle Red looks best on me. If you try these shades out, I would love to know what looks best on you. If you love a nude lip, check this out.

Glitter Nails Grown Up

I am definitely on the glitter bandwagon, but I hadn’t quite mastered how to pull it off on my nails. Happy Birthday by Deborah Lippmann has been in my collection for over a year. From time to time, I pull it out. But it usually only stayed on my nails for a couple days. After messing around with combinations quite a bit, I discovered this look and think it is quite perfect. I used my favorite nude (Naked) as a base. For a true opaque, it required three coats. And then I used Happy Birthday on roughly the top 1/3 of my nails. What do you think?

Guerlain Vol de Nuit Perfumed Shimmer Powder for Face & Body

My grandmother wore Shalimar and adorned her vanity with Guerlain Meteorites. So, Guerlain fragrances will always embody glamour for me, particularly the lost elegance of generations past. The recent renaissance of the line retained this beauty, while adding modern elements like ingenious packaging and softer versions of their fragrances. Their refreshed cosmetic line has standouts like Guerlain ‘Terracotta – Terra Inca’ Khôl Kajal and Guerlain Gigolo (70) Rouge G Lipstick.

But when I spotted the Vol de Nuit Perfumed Shimmer Powder, I knew it was every bit of that old-school, Guerlain beauty. The Vol de Nuit fragrance was inspired by woman in aviation in the 1920’s and 1930’s and is comprised of woody, vanilla and powdery iris notes. The powder holds only a hint of the fragrance, but you still can detect clean green and powder scents. I think this is a good thing, as it will not likely interfere with your usual fragrance, but just add another element. Suggested use is for the face and body, but I really like it in my hair. Also works great on my decolletage. On my skin tone, it is completely sheer with blue/silver, iridescent shimmer.

The bottle is a treat in itself. The lacquered glass is reminiscent of the original bottle for Vol de Nuit – a true innovation as the first combining glass and metal. The design evokes the image of a propeller as another nod to the aviators who inspired the fragrance. I am sure to drag this around on all of my holiday travel, but I will enjoy it equally as much with it front and center on my vanity.

Friday Finds

This week I was reunited with some old favorites and discovered new gems. Here’s a taste of some of the highlights in honor of the weekend.

1. Butter London – Limited Edition 3 Free Lacquer in Bluey (in lamplight looks like a holiday evergreen)

2. W3LL People Cosmetics (more to come on them in the near future – local Austin company)

3. Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara (a natural mascara that actually works for $10.99)

4. Solar Rx Cosmetic Moisturizer Sunblock (uses simple natural ingredients to get maximum physical protection)

SircuitSkin Fall Facial – Carrie Berry Skincare

Frankly, I wasn’t really feeling the holiday spirit. Halloween was basically a non-event, having forgot to buy candy (and it isn’t exactly my favorite holiday). Yesterday it was 88 degrees here in Austin – I’m not complaining, but it certainly doesn’t feel like November. But after a blissful hour with Carrie from Carrie Berry Skincare I could have belted out a holiday tune.

Carrie Berry Skincare is located at Bella SALON & Spa in downtown Austin. The salon staff were very welcoming and the spa, in typical Austin fashion, was casual and cozy. Carrie has that friendly, nurturing way about her (she’s a natural with that Oklahoma background). Plus, she finally validated me by conclusively confirming that I do indeed have dry skin, perfectly suited for the fall facial featuring Youth Accelerator Pumpkin Enzyme Peel by SircuitSkin. Actually quite a deal at $75.

SircuitSkin is one of those skincare lines you can’t help but love. They have been in business for almost a decade and I am shocked that more people haven’t heard of them. They have been “green” since inception with focus on pure, fresh ingredients and cutting-edge technology. Products are cold processed and formulated in small batches. And I love they are always cruelty-free and have absolutely no fillers, artificial colors, artificial preservatives or artificial fragrances.

The pumpkin enzyme peel was incredibly gentle – my skin felt hydrated and clean. The peel actually never tingled, which is rarity for me. But I could sense it was active. Pumpkin enzymes naturally remove dead skin cells and deep clean pores while nourishing with Beta Carotene and other nutrients. The fragrance was definitely pumpkin but not in an overly sweet way. I will admit, I had to stop for a Starbucks Pumpkin Latte on the way home.

And it is worth mentioning, I discovered my new favorite cleanser. SircuitSkin X-trap is a super gentle cleanser (can even be used on post-laser/surgery skin and those with rosacea.) But it still has that gratifying foaming action. Smells amazing and works perfectly with the Clarisonic.