Belle Belle Beauty

HUM Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair

I was facing a double duty beauty hazard: broken strands and destroyed nails. I had resorted to buns for most of the winter. And gel manicures too. Both of those habits leaves me with broken, weak hair and thin, damaged nails. I knew I needed a supplement and a break from beauty treatments to get back into fighting shape.

HUM Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair is designed for a strong, healthy mane. The ingredients are a combination of nutrients including biotin, zinc, PABA, folic acid and fo-ti (a root used in Chinese medicine). Biotin and folic acid help with hair, nails and skin. PABA helps maintain hair color (yay!). And Zinc promotes hair growth (double yay! – went too short last time).

Fo-ti, this Traditional Chinese Medicine has a history of promoting hair growth by strengthening organs of elimination – think the liver. And increasing circulation which makes sense in helping with blood flow and healthy hair follicles.

These little guys were actually a nice treat after dinner. They have a strong fruity taste. And the texture was more substantial than a regular gummy but still pleasant. I have a hard time swallowing supplements so I love to see all these gummy options! Not to mention my nails are completely healed after a bottle of Hair Sweet Hair and a break from gel manicures. My hair appears to be growing faster and my baby hairs around my face have started growing out to substantial real hair!

The formula is vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, GMP certified, and sustainably sourced with no artificial colors or preservatives.

Available at Sephora.

Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser

I am like Goldilocks with my cleansers. I can’t seem to find one that is just right. I love Drunk Elephant Pekee Bar and classic Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser, but they didn’t demand my loyalty. Perricone MD Nutritive Cleanser might not be the end all, be all of cleansers, but it comes close.

This facial wash has a gel-texture but doesn’t strip skin like other gel cleansers. I find that the day is washed away but my skin is still supple and nourished – a delicate balance. The formula is designed to purify skin and remove makeup without removing skin’s natural oils. In addition, it delivers anti-oxidants like DMAE and Alpha Lipoid Acid to help fight aging.

I do need a swipe of makeup remover on my eyes first, but that is likely due to my addition to waterproof mascara. Other than that, skin is perfectly primed for treatment. I cannot detect a strong scent. While it is pricey for a cleanser, I am a sucker for packaging and it looks fab in my bathroom. And I’ve used it for a month and the bottle is still over 3/4ths full. Formula is paraben-free. Available at Sephora.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit

While I kind of always wanted to believe in Anastasia Beverly Hills as a brow brand only, they have proved me wrong with this beauty of a palette. Lately, I am even more about the glow than usual. Maybe thanks to being exhausted from Daylight Savings Time (hate) and a rude, late winter cold (hate more).

I’ll be up front from the start: Anastasia Beverly Hills Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit highlighters are very metallic. Not glittery but highly luminous. So if you are looking for something more subtle, these might not be for you. That being said, they are still refined enough for work. And look fabulous on the weekend with some extra layers. They also make for beautiful eyeshadows.

These six flowers have an ultra-fine formula that work on the face and body. I like to use them with a powder brush, but they have a deepened effect with a damp makeup sponge. The shades are:

Kitty Kat (pink with a platinum shimmer)
Daydream (coral with white gold shimmer)
Forever Young (pink pearl with silver shimmer)
Forever Lit (platinum with lavender shimmer)
Glo Getter (champagne with rose shimmer)
143 (rose gold with bronze shimmer)

The Kitty Kat looks great on brown bones and collar bones. The champagne adds a beautiful glow to cheek bones. And 143 adds a healthy glow to sallow skin with a light, all over application.

Available at Sephora.

Perricone MD No Eyeshadow Eyeshadow

I had quite the love affair with Perricone MD No Makeup Makeup when it first came out. But despite my loving it, it slowly fell out of my rotation. Until I was on a bit of a shopping spree at Ulta a couple weeks ago and happened to hit the Perricone MD section with gusto. More on some other finds to come but for now, I wanted to share Perricone MD No Eyeshadow Eyeshadow.

First, let it be known that I am always rushing around in the mornings. No matter what I do, that snooze buttons, an extra cuddle with the pups, or a must have smoothie always gets in the way. So anything that simplifies the makeup routine is gold to me. This eye-lid color treatment is a think fluid with a lightweight texture. The shade is very subtle but happens to add a natural and smooth look. Not only are my eyes more awake but also more youthful.

The universally flattering shade offers a soft focus finish that looks great on its own. I have also been adding a little gold on top on the weekends for a glow-y, mod look. The serum blends well with zero creasing. I’ve been shaking the cool matte bottle, applying just a small amount with the doe-foot applicator and blending with my fingers.

Available at Sephora and Ulta.

Shopbop Sale Alert

I always look forward to these events to stock up on staples at Shopbop – probably where I shop more than any other site. This time around, I got some new Paige Jeans, and invested in two blouses, this one from Equipment and this one from Vince. Sneak peek is live now with official launch tomorrow morning. Make sure to stop by before the sale ends March 5th at 4:00AM U.S. Eastern Time.

Kiehl’s Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream

No surprise I am a skin care fanatic so it comes as a shock when something totally different hits my desk. Kiehl’s Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream is definitely not your regular moisturizer. Something about the texture and its ability to revive skin makes this transformative. I have used it off and on since it arrived a couple weeks ago. But the biggest difference I noticed was yesterday – I had the day off from work and wore only this on my skin. In the AM, my skin looked tired and a little splotchy. By the end of the day it was radiant and nourished – and this was all makeup free!

This formula is natural but still effective and free of parabens, mineral oils, synthetic colors and fragrances. This thicker and slightly tacky moisturizer goes on rich but not sticky. The ingredients work to increase skin’s resistance to damage. The natural ingredients feature New Zealand Manuka honey – an ingredient I admire but hadn’t found a delivery form until this cream. Korean red ginseng root is also a traditional medicine helps to increase cell turnover rate, improve texture, vitality and glow.

This cream is perfect to transition to warmer weather, nourishing skin and making it glow for those warmer days that call for less makeup. While the texture takes some getting used to, it works well with my drier skin. And I notice only the most slight fragrance that is most like honey. Expect a plump, healthy feel to skin after it has had a chance to absorb.

Available at Kiehls.com.