Becca Cosmetics Mineral Blush and Beach Tint

Becca Cosmetics is a company that focuses on natural, flawless skin for every complexion. I love that they offer 34 concealer and 30 foundation shades. They truly offer makeup to ALL women. You don’t hear too much about this line – it definitely flies under the radar. So I wanted to highlight their Beach Tint and Mineral Blush in anticipation of the summer months – both great products to get the sunkissed glow (safely and without sun damage!).

BECCA Beach Tint is a blendable 2-in-1 crème stain for cheeks and lips. The water-resistant formula makes it perfect for the hot summer months – throw it on a bare face before the pool or the beach. Unlike other stains, it doesn’t dry out lips at all. Its dermatologically tested formula makes it safe for acne-prone and sensitive skin. These are ever so slightly scented in a totally pleasant way. You can keep them in a hot car or beach bag without worrying about them melting everywhere.

Becca Beach Tints are available in seven shades: Strawberry (warm orange red), Watermelon (bright pink), Peach (warm orange pink), Raspberry (deep berry pink), Grapefruit (pale coral pink), Fig (tea rose pink) and Guava (bright coral pink). The pigment goes on pretty sheer. Just make sure to exfoliate your lips with a product like Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub beforehand.

The Becca Mineral Blush is loaded with skin care benefits (Vitamin A, E and C). The mineral complex and conditioners give the appearance of smooth and even skin. There is something in the powder formula that allows the blush to blend like a cream. It never looks cakey on my dry skin and there is just a hint of highlight and illumination. It is truly a demi-matte finish. And the silver disk in the compact makes it surprisingly easy to find in a huge purse!

Becca Mineral Blush is available in five shades: Damselfy (coral), Flowerchild (peachy pink), Sweet Pea (rosy plum nude), Wild Honey (peachy nude) and Bolero (bronze).

These two products definitely go hand in hand. The Beach Tint can be layered under the Blush for added intensity. They are also free of parabens and preservatives. You can find Becca Cosmetics at Dermstore.com.

Favorite Foaming Cleansers

Sometimes, I just crave a good foam to get my face clean. There is something gratifying about lathering a foaming wash. And these days, there are tons of options that can be foamy without drying. Here are my five favorites:

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser was just awarded the Most Revolutionary Beauty Product of the last 20 years by the CEW UK (Cosmetic Executive Women). I can’t believe that I was just learning about this cult beauty classic. One is bought every 19 seconds around the world. So, naturally I had to try it myself. And now I know why it is so popular. This is a classic gentle cleanser that can remove makeup like a champ. Any skin type can use the two-phase cleanser. Phase one cleanses the skin with a plant-based rich foam, tackling the toughest of makeup. Then you polish your skin with the included pure muslin cloth to dislodge dead skin cells and help reveal clean, soft and radiant skin.

Freeze 24-7 Skin Glacé has the ability to get skin super duper clean but still leave it smooth and supple. The formula contains a proprietary complex of Bio-transformed Rice Bran and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein that purifies and detoxifies but also hydrates. There is no tight or dry feeling but a balance of moisture. And it is calming. Apply this to dry skin and leave on for two minutes as a mask. The formula magically transforms to a foam on your face (so very cool). Love the mask use for a deep cleaning twice a week. Also great for getting off a full face of makeup after a big night. This works great on sensitive skin as well.

Kate Somerville® Gentle Daily Wash has long been a favorite cleanser but it hadn’t been in my rotation for a while. When I visited her Clinic out in Los Angeles (epic experience FYI), my esthetician, Kimberly, directed me to use it. For the past month, my skin has felt more balanced and less irritated. I also love her Cleansing Milk for a gentle, yet hydrating cleanse. But this gel formula has a little bit more power in removing SPF, makeup and urban grit from my face.

Arcona ‘Berry Fruit Bar’ Cleanser is for those of you who just love a bar soap. This also comes in handy when you are travelling. Since it isn’t liquid, you can easily toss it into a carry-on. This cleanser is packed with raspberry and cranberry extracts rich in vitamin C (antioxidants) that cleanse without irritations. It also calms and hydrates skin, without clogging sensitive pores, with white tea and vitamin E. Not to mention is smells amazingly yummy.

Clé de Peau Beauté Gentle Cleansing Foam is an all-time favorite that I have been obsessed with for years. This cleanser is an ultra-rich foam that polishes skin into smooth radiance. The emollient texture and rich moisturizers are incredibly hydrating. It contains Cle de Peau’s Illuminating Complex, a powerful moisture-stabilizing ingredient that creates a radiant complexion. Skin is left supple with no tightness.

Don’t forget to enter my Stephanie Johnson giveaway. You could win a large Coral flat bag that also doubles as a clutch!

By Lindsay Rogers

GlamGlow Mud Mask

I’m fascinated with celebrities’ glowing, even skin on the red carpets. I know, largely, this can be attributed to their makeup artists. But there is a tool that I have discovered that definitely can play a big part in prepping. In fact, GlamGlow was designed as a ‘facial in a jar’ to achieve an ‘immediate’ camera-ready glowing skin. And it is a “must have” for those big event evenings, even if you aren’t a Hollywood A-lister.

GlamGlow is made from mud from Southern France and contains pieces of tea leaf to help exfoliate and deliver antioxidants. It tightens skin and minimizing pores but without drying. My skin actually feels smoother and softer – a great prep for camera-ready makeup. The exfoliation doesn’t offend my easily irritated skin

I use mine in the tub, max twice weekly. I personally save mine for specially occasions. Apply an even thin layer to clean skin. It drastically changes color as it dries, letting you know when it is ready to rinse off. Remove mask with water in circular motions to exfoliate.

Stephanie Johnson Giveaway

Let’s start out the week right with a giveaway! Last week, I raved about a new collection of cosmetics bags from Stephanie Johnson. You can read more about the candy-colored Malibu bags here. And today, I’m teamed up with Stephanie Johnson to give a large Coral Malibu flat bag to one lucky reader. Enter using the widget below. You get one entry for each step. Open to US residents. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CEW Names Best Beauty Products of the Year

Today, in New York City, the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) recognized the most innovative beauty products of the year. The winners were selected by beauty industry insiders (over 4,600 of em). Since these ladies are literally the pulse of cosmetics, I trust their judgement imensely. And this is a huge honor for the winners. It is quite an endorsement!

They also awarded an Indie Beauty Award for the brightest new start-up in the world of beauty. I’m thrilled Supergoop won!  I am addicted to their City Sunscreen Serum. It is ultra-light, broad spectrum (block both UVA and UVB rays) and hydrating.

The 2012 CEW Beauty Awards winners are:

BATH AND BODY

  • Bath & Body Mass: Burt’s Bees® Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuaçu Butters Body Lotion
  • Bath & Body Prestige: Shiseido Cosmetics America Replenishing Body Cream

FACIAL SKINCARE

  • Acne Treatment: Kate Somerville Skin Care 24-hour Pimple Punisher
  • Anti-Aging Mass: L’Oréal Paris Youth Code Serum Intense
  • Anti-Aging Prestige: Shiseido Cosmetics America Future Solution LX Ultimate Regenerating Serum
  • Cleanser & Scrub: Fresh Sugar Lip Polish
  • Eye Treatment Mass: Garnier Ultra-lift Anti-wrinkle Eye Roller
  • Eye Treatment Prestige: Estée Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator
  • Moisturizer Mass: RoC® Multi Correxion® Lift Anti-gravity Day Moisturizer with SPF 30
  • Moisturizer Prestige: StriVectin TL Tightening Neck Cream

HAIR

  • Hair Care Product: Ojon Instant Restorative Hair Serum
  • Hair Coloring Product: Rita Hazan Salon Temporary Color Root Concealer
  • Hair Styling Product: Bumble and bumble Bb. Texture Hair(un)dressing Crème

MAKEUP

  • Eye Product Mass: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara
  • Eye Product Prestige: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
  • Face Product Mass: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer
  • Face Product Prestige: Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer
  • Lip Product Mass: COVERGIRL Blast Flipstick
  • Lip Product Prestige: Fresh Sugar Passion Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

NAIL PRODUCT

  • Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

MEN’S GROOMING

  • Lab Series Skincare for Men Max LS Overnight Renewal Serum

SCENT

  • Men’s Scent: John Varvatos Fragrance and Skincare Star USA
  • Women’s Scent Mass: Coty Beauty Heidi Klum Shine
  • Women’s Scent Prestige: Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray

SUN

  • Neutrogena Corporation Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 50

ECO BEAUTY AWARD

  • Neutrogena Corporation Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo

For some reason, I was expecting this to be like the facial cleansing oil by Shu Uemura – an oil based, non-foaming cleanser. But that isn’t what Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo is at all. The formula actually quickly forms a foam that delicately (and intelligently) removes build-up without striping the natural oils. The result is a very scalp-healthy, balanced head of hair without a hint of grease.

This unique formula became part of my routine just in the nick of time. It was truly transformative. My very long locks are free of split ends, but slightly dry. I deal with scalp issues like itching and psoriasis. So my hair looked dull and tired from the scalp-healthy routine I had in my shower.

The Cleansing Oil Shampoo returned my head full of soft, shiny and hydrated and hydrated hair. Shu Uemura uses deep-sea extracts to remove build-up without stripping the necessary natural oils. It is gentle on my scalp and free of silicons so my strands aren’t weighed down. I love the calming yuzu citrus scent.

Available online at birchbox or locate your salon here.

By Lindsay Rogers