Category: bath and body

Best Bronze Sunless Tan Self-Tanning and Illuminate Spray & a GIVEAWAY

Best Bronze Sunless Tan Self-Tanning and Illuminate Spray on Belle Belle Beauty

They may have suffered a loss yesterday, but Brazil is still a winner in my book when it comes to being bronze. So leave it up to our bronzed friends to come up with my new favorite self-tanner. A favorite among Brazilian models and celebrities, Best Bronze is landing on shelves here in the US this month.

Best Bronze Sunless Tan Self-Tanning and Illuminate Spray on Belle Belle Beauty

First and foremost, I love the way this self-tanner is dispensed. The micro-fine spray evenly covers skin with very little mess. Just hold the nozzle eight inches away from skin and have at it. I used plastic gloves to rub product in to ensure evenness. My first application was a pretty light layer of product and I was left with a light-to-medium tan. I am a huge fan of buildable self-tanner, so I liked the option of repeating a couple days in a row until I achieved my desired color (note: two days in a row is the perfect shade for me).

Now for the color: don’t expect any unnatural orange here. The shade is truly bronze and natural looking. And it appears within three hours. I applied before a dinner and saw the tan appear before my appetizer was served. And I didn’t get any product or stains on my black and white dress.

The directions indicated this can be used on your face as well. I don’t foresee a problem – the formula is non-irritating, without any detectible smell and leaves little detectable residue. Right now, I am working on my hyper-pigmentation so self-tanner on the face is kind of pointless.

The tan lasts about a week on me which is what I expect of a luxe self-tanner. I love the way it disguises cellulite and bruises. But that’s not all these guys do well. I have also fallen for their Illuminate, a spray that hydrates and adds a golden glow with Kukui Oil. Kukui nourishes skin while delivering anti-aging ingredients. I love spraying down my shins and on my collarbones. And it also looks great on hair for a shine.

I am really excited to partner with the brand to share one set of Best Bronze and Illuminate with one lucky reader (value $100!). This giveaway is open to those in the US. Enter using the widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

is a quick and easy application that enhances and hydrates both the skin and hair. It provides the skin with an elegant golden glow and is ideal to use after the Best Bronze Sunless Tan Self-Tanning Spray. It also adds a beautiful shine to hair.  Its formula contains Kukui oil, an anti-inflammatory oil from Hawaii, which provides nourishing and anti-aging affects.  It will leave your skin soft and smooth, while drying quickly. – See more at: http://bestbronze.com/luminate-3-5-fl-oz-luminizer-for-the-hair-and-body-with-kukui-oil.html#sthash.TrTLlM68.dpuf
is a quick and easy application that enhances and hydrates both the skin and hair. It provides the skin with an elegant golden glow and is ideal to use after the Best Bronze Sunless Tan Self-Tanning Spray. It also adds a beautiful shine to hair.  Its formula contains Kukui oil, an anti-inflammatory oil from Hawaii, which provides nourishing and anti-aging affects.  It will leave your skin soft and smooth, while drying quickly. – See more at: http://bestbronze.com/luminate-3-5-fl-oz-luminizer-for-the-hair-and-body-with-kukui-oil.html#sthash.TrTLlM68.dpuf

Available at BestBronze.com and Ricky’s NYC.

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Father’s Day Gift Guide on FOX23’s Great Day Green Country

Father's Day Gift Guide on FOX23's Great Day Green Country on Belle Belle Beauty

The girls don’t always have all the beauty fun. For Father’s Day, there are plenty of grooming and fragrance gift ideas that will have any man feel pampered. I am on Great Day Green Country this morning sharing my favorites for gifting this Sunday that will please all dads from gadget lovers to the busy executive to the sporty outdoors man.

Looking for a way to spruce up his bathroom routine? Look no further than Anthony Father’s Day Survival Kit for the dad in your life. Housed in a great looking toiletries bag, you’ll find Glycolic Facial Cleanser, Shave Cream, All Purpose Facial Moisturizer, Instant Fix Oil Control and Wake Up Call. Everything is perfectly suited for travel and contains all that any man would need. Note: Wake Up Call, a hydrating treatment gel, is one my favorite men’s products I’ve come across to date.

Got a gadget lover in your life? I gave my father a Clarisonic a couple years back and he hasn’t stopped singing its praises. The Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Facial Cleansing Brush comes in a masculine grey shade (also with a travel case and cleanser). Ideal for pre-shave, it gives a deep clean and preps for a closer and more comfortable shave.

There is nothing harder than selecting a fragrance for someone – it is such a personal choice. But FragranceNet.com has rounded up a handful of colognes that match your dad’s unique personality. One of these five are sure to please your pops:

  • The Dapper Dad: Tom Ford Noir has notes of bergamot, violet flower, leather, and black pepper – the ultimate in sophistication.
  • The Macho-Dad: Spicebomb by Viktor & Rolf has unique notes including chilli and saffron combined with leather, tobacco, vetiver and pink pepper. This is a lightweight, woodsy scent.
  • The Preppy Dad: Polo Ralph Lauren Blue Sport is a timeless classic with notes of green apples, mint, mandarin, sage and ginger.
  • The Casual Dad: F By Ferragamo Free Time Cologne is perfect for a laid back man with its notes of
    lemon, ginger, pink pepper, cardamom and vetiver.
  • The Sporty Dad: The One Sport Cologne by Dolce & Gabbana has an aquatic feel that is both casual and athletic with notes of rosemary, wood, musk and patchouli.

Looking for a gift set? One of my favorite classic colognes is Ralph Lauren Fragrances Polo Red and their 3-Piece Father’s Day Gift Set is perfect for the energitic dad on the go. Included is Eau De Toilette, After Shave Balm and deodorant. Notes include: red saffron, red grapefruit and red cedar.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Summer Sunscreens on FOX23’s Great Day Green Country

Summer Sunscreens on Belle Belle Beauty

It is officially that time of year again. I haven’t quite ventured out to the pool, but I know this Memorial Day Weekend will require a couple hours lounging in the sun and a splash around. There is nothing more daunting than exposing pale winter skin to intense summer sun for the first time each year. Look no further for some new (and old) favorites to protect skin. I’ll be featuring these this AM on Great Day Green Country:

Hawaiian Tropic has that iconic old-school scent that can transport us to childhood days at the beach. Their new improved formulas elevate these old favorites. Dry Oil Clear Spray Sunscreen contains nourishing antioxidants and remains water resistant for a full 80 minutes. Silk Hydration for the Face works beautifully under makeup. And the Sheer Touch Lotion Sunscreen goes on without feeling greasy and adding just a hint of radiance.

Coola is my pick for organic sunscreen. And their new Continuous Sport Sprays are nourishing and easy to use. These sprays provide environmental protection via antioxidants. The sheer formula is water resistant. I also love the scented versions in Pina Colada and Citrus Mimosa.

To protect my face, I have been turning to Perricone MD Photo Plasma SPF 30 for months now. Not only does Photo Plasma deliver sun protection but also powerful anti-aging benefits. Using mineral sunscreens (which usually play better with my sensitive skin), it provides serious protection against UVA and UVB rays. The pink shade is thanks to Astaxanthin, a rich and protective antioxidant, actually making it look more natural on the skin.

The entire L’Oreal Sublime Sun line immediately transports me to southern France. This sun care can actually improve the look of skin, feels lightweight and has a great scent. I turn to L’Oreal Paris Sublime Sheer Protect Sunscreen Oil Spraywhenever my skin is feeling a little dry. The oil surprisingly gives a whopping SPF 50 and nourishes skin without being greasy.

By now, I am sure we all have an SPF routine and know the importance of protecting skin. But mistakes do happen. When you get a little overexposed, check out Mario Badescu After Sun Cooling Gel that contains aloe and cools distressed skin. Keep it in the fridge for an extra cooling effect. Nourishing sunburned skin can help with the healing process and may mitigate a little long term damage.

Note: With spray sunscreens, make sure to apply liberally all over the body. The spray dispensers make it easy to underestimate how much protection you are getting.

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Cartier Fragrance La Panthere Eau de Parfum

Cartier Fragrance La Panthere Eau de Parfum on Belle Belle Beauty

Need a little luxe in your life? After a girls weekend in Aspen, I’ve been feeling very jet-set. Being on the mountain and visiting all the couture stores made me feel tres chic. Note: I will say I found Aspen to be super-friendly and not one bit snooty. So no surprise upon my return, I keep reaching for my new bottle of Cartier La Panthere.

The newest from Cartier Fragrance is inspired the iconic Cartier Panther. Imagine a fierce but feminine feel. Mathilde Laurent, the in-house perfumer for Cartier channeled florals and musk for a balanced and alluring scent. Expect fruit right up front. Enjoy while you can because that strawberry/apple/apricot dries down to a gardenia balanced with more primal notes. The exotic musk and oak moss leaves a sweet, creamy spice.

While I usually like less feminine fragrances. I love La Panthere just because it is balanced enough and slightly mysterious. Not to mention, the bottle with a sculpted panther looks amazing on my bedside table.

Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program, but as always, opinions are my own.

Making Up Easy on FOX23’s Great Day Green Country

Making Up Easy on FOX23's Great Day Green Country on Belle Belle Beauty

With all the innovation happening in the beauty world, we have no excuse to bemoan a laborious makeup routine. Today’s products make getting beautiful easy (and quick). So if you are a makeup minimalist or looking to speed up your routine, these four beauties featured this AM on Great Day Green Country will rock your world:

Anyone else addicted to lip balm? I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I reach for my pot of Nivea Lip Butter that resides on my desk. But some days, whether it be a professional engagement or a good looking Starbucks barrista, you need a little color on your lips. mark girl all butter now lip treat happens to be my perfect balance of tint and moisture. The formula contains shea, cocoa, and mango seed butters. The coverage is moderate and you’ll encounter an uplifting mango/citrus scent.

I might have mastered the at-home self tan but I can’t say I always have time (or really want) to go through the whole process of exfoliation, application and then drying. Suave Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion kills two birds with one stone: a subtle glow that is buildable while nourishing skin. Almost more preferable than regular self-tanning, you can build a glow until desired depth. And this latest crop of self-tanners doesn’t have that dreaded smell!

Contouring is all the craze and I admit to loving the chiseled look that it gives. But let’s be honest… sometimes you just don’t have time to go through all those steps. Channel your inner Goldie Hawn/Kate Hudson and go for an all over glow. Just swirl a large blush in a hybrid powder like Hard Candy Contouring Face Trio in 3rd Wheel or bareMinerals READY Face & Body Luminizer and use all over the face.

Last but certainly not least, this luxurious multi-tasker is blowing away the beauty world. YSL’s baby doll Kiss & Blush is perfect for on the go (or when you just don’t want to dig through for two products). The unique doe foot applicator with a roller ball coats lips with a matte pop of color. I use my finger to apply on my cheeks to waken the complexion.

I totally fangirl-ed when I was on air right after Hanson. I didn’t listen to them growing up (I’m too old) but they were so charming and cute!


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Early Summer Makeup Essentials

Early Summer Makeup Essentials on Belle Belle Beauty

Well, we’ve hit the 90s over the last couple weeks down here in Oklahoma and pool season has officially begun. Here are some of my favorite summer beauty buys I’ve discovered over the last couple of weeks:

Dior Iconic Overcurl Mascara: this curved brush gets the “wide open” look that really awakens my complexion and I never have had any smudging and flaking, even with the non-waterproof formula

bliss fat girl slim arm candy: not only does this firm arms but eliminates redness making sure I’m ready for “sleeveless” season and I love the massaging dispenser for a little mini-spa moment

Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque: even though I have fine hair, I’ve discovered my dry ends really crave moisture and this mask does just that without weighing strands down (not to mention, I love the beachy scent)

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Kiss Me: the gloss/lipstick hybrids that have been all the craze lately can sometime be drying on me, but this beautiful and feminine nude keeps my lips moisturized

Weleda Skin Food: even with the more humid weather, my skin remains dry and this rich and natural moisturizer doesn’t clog my pores, plus I love the herbal scent

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.