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Brand Spotlight: Mario Badescu & 5 Products Everyone Should Own

I’ve been deep in the world of Mario Badescu for the last couple of weeks. Not a bad place to be at all. The products, established by Romanian-born Mario Badescu in 1967 in New York, are based on Eastern European skincare with a focus on being simple, gentle and effective. The price point is compelling, bringing luxe results and reasonable prices. Today, the spa attracts stars and beauty gals in the know (I dream of one day visiting). While I have always had mad respect for the brand, I haven’t really had a chance to dive in and discover some of the crown jewels. Today, I am rounding up five of their products that I think every woman (and actually men too) should have in their bathrooms.

1. Glycolic Foaming Cleanser: My obsession with Glycolic Acid is no secret. There is nothing better to break down debris on the skin to reveal more even, radiant skin. This version is super soothing (the formula is amped up with herbal extracts). They recommend using a couple times weekly, but I just can’t stay away – shhhh. This works like a champ with my Clarisonic.

2. Almond and Honey Face Scrub: I may or may not have just gone into my shower and taken a huge whiff of this stuff. Do you like almond scents as much as me? You won’t be able to resist this yummy concoction This non-abrasive scrub has finely ground Almonds and Cornmeal to gently remove dead skin cells. The honey acts to hydrate and soften skin. YUM.

3. Drying Lotion: Is there a more iconic Mario Badescu product? I think not. I’ve owned this in the past, but feeling high and mighty about having my acne under control, it has been out of the rotation. Well, a short day after getting my paws on a new bottle, I got the deepest, most annoying blemish on my neck. SO RANDOM. Anyway, I used this spot treatment loaded with salicylic acid and calamine and that bugger shrunk right up overnight. Don’t shake this stuff – just dip a cotton swab past the liquid into the pink lotion and dot on the blemish. Don’t rub in. (Note: this will also take the itch out of mosquito bites!)

4. Hyaluronic Eye Cream: I’m dry… dry… dry. And nothing looks less cute than a dry, haggard under eye. This calls for the revival skills of Hyaluronic Acid which looks in moisture without leaving a greasy or heavy feel. After a couple minutes of absorption, this eye cream works like a dream under makeup. I’ve been using it day and night and darkness and dryness are banished! You can also use this on the lips.

5. Oil-free Moisturizer SPF 30: I admit, I turned up my nose at first to an oil-free moisturizer. But in the interest of blogging, I tested it out and was so so impressed. The formula has a balance between being lightweight and hydrating (not an easy task for a sunscreen). Green Tea fights premature aging while Aloe Vera hydrates and softens skin. St. John’s Wort soothes and repairs. This is my new recommendation to those who need sun protection after starting a retinol treatment. Dry skin suffers, don’t shy away. This keeps my skin comfortable all day.

So, Mario Badescu fans, tell me in the comments… which of your favorites did I miss?

Shop my favorites here:

Mario Badescu products can also be found at Nordstrom.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS 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.

Current Sniffs: Favorite Fragrances Right Now

Just in time for that little holiday on Thursday, I thought I’d round up some favorite fragrances that have crossed my desk lately.

Tom Ford Black Orchid: One of Tom Ford’s classic scents, this dark and sensual fragrance is just spicy enough. There is a layer of deliciousness with Black Currant, Black Truffle and fruit. Lotus Wood, Patchouli, Incense and Vetiver play prominently. And I love the creamy vanilla as it dries down.

Ivanka Trump Eau de Parfum: I was surprised to fall for this one. But lately, celebrity-created fragrances have been capturing my heart more than I expected. Inspired by grace and beauty, Ivanka developed a very wearable scent that features both sophisticated and playful notes. Italian Bergamot, Apple, Pineapple and Pink Peppercorn set up a playful top note experience. But Rose, Amber, Vanilla and Patchouli round out with a seductive, warm and sophisticated end.

Valentino Valentina Assoluto Eau de Parfum: Already hooked on the original Valentina, no surprise I love the newer, more intense iteration. Absoluto has the freshness with bergamot and peach, but with the fervor of Italian floral Chypre. Jasmine and tuberose are calmed with vanilla. This is such a great spring-time scent with the giddiness of fruit but sweetness of white florals and vanilla.

Kate Somerville RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream

I recognize that I sound like a broken record, always always singing the praises of Retinol. But just face the fact: Retinol is one of the few ingredients out there that is proven to prevent premature aging. And for those with acne, Retinol can help with exfoliation, removing pore-clogging dead skin cells. But more than that – it can actually improve the texture of your skin. So even if you don’t have those dreaded fine wrinkles yet or suffer from acne, it can help with hyper-pigmentation and pore size.

The one complaint I hear readers voice about Retinols is they can often irritate sensitive skin. Enter Kate Somerville’s RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream. Formulated with a patented Carrier System, the Retinol is packaged in a lip shell. The rich cream melts the pure Retinol evenly into the epidermis. Then a bio-derived hyaluronic acid (another ingredient I won’t shut up about) locks in hydration, preventing that annoying Retinol side effect – dried out skin.

After a couple weeks of use, I have no hesitation in recommending this to those who have had irritation with Retinol or haven’t yet added it to their routine. The rich consistency and hydration factor immediately makes my skin look supple and brighter. And on its own, the RetAsphere provides enough moisture for my drier skin. Gone are the days of flaking, red skin when introducing a Retinol product.

Make sure to use this only at night – sun doesn’t play nice with Retinol. And make sure you have a SPF on during the day – Retinol use makes skin more sensitive to the UV rays. I didn’t have any sensitivity, but you can use every other day if you find you have irritation.

Kate Somerville is available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Sephora, and KateSomerville.com.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Covet Waterproof Eyeliners

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet. My requirements for eyeliners are as follows:

Waterproof
Built in sharpener
Velvety, creamy texture
Precise
Varied shades
Smudge-proof

This newest eyeliner from Anastasia ticks all the boxes. They developed an unusually rich, pigmented liner with great shades. Pixiwoo is also a fan of these liners and I love their technique for using them: apply a thin line and then use a MAC 266 brush to wing out and perfect the line. Or wiggle the pencil into the lashes for a tight-lined look. Admittedly, it doesn’t work great on the waterline (for this try this one), but for a great cat eye that is not going anywhere for the day or evening, this is a winner.

note: Pixiwoo is a beauty blogger with stunning video tutorials – check out their you tube channel here.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Covet Waterproof Eyeliner is available at Ulta, Nordstrom and www.Anastasia.net, $19

Shiseido’s Pucker Up Valentine’s Day Quiz

How cute is this little quiz from Shiseido? Check it out for your perfect Valentine’s Day lip look. No surprise my score said I was “romantic”. My current love affair with a nude lip is hot and heavy. The Shimmering Rouge in Temptress is now certainly on my shopping list. xoxo

Nutrisystem Week 11

This week, I lost 1.6 pounds for a total weight loss of 21.0 pounds. Each week, I post these updates with amazement. Part of me wants to say “how did this happen?” Making changes is never ridiculously easy, but for me, Nutrisystem has been just that. Wake up, drink water, exercise and eat the food. I don’t mean to be blase about the commitment it requires, but it just isn’t much of a sacrifice. Especially when each week I get to look at a smaller number on the scale. Everything is portioned for you and easily prepared. Not to mention, tastes pretty darn good.

One thing I’d like to add is my update on dining out. I have had many meals out since I’ve been on Nutrisystem. Mostly dinners since that is how my friends and I usually celebrate the weekends. When ordering, I focus on fish, lean meats and veggies. I skip bread, cheese and desserts. I also try to split entrees or order appetizers as often as I can. Favorites are sashimi, shrimp cocktail, chopped salad (dressing on the side), carpaccio, caprese salad (well, this has a little cheese) and scallops. And for a cocktail, I lean towards low calorie martinis and champagne (80 and 90 calories a serving, respectively!).

Perhaps my best takeaway so far is that Nutrisystem has taught me a new attitude and way of life. I like this way of doing things. It is a heck of a lot more fun. So that makes it a cake walk!

Check out last week’s Nutrisystem post here.

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

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Disclosure: As part of the Nutrisystem Nation Blogger Program, Nutrisystem has provided me with complementary meals in exchange for my honest thoughts on the Nutrisystem plan. The opinions expressed in my posts are strictly my own. No other compensation is being given.