Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush on Belle Belle Beauty

How does Hourglass possibly follow up the widely acclaimed release of Ambient Lighting Powder? Or the incredibly popular Ambient Lighting Palette? Needless to say… this was bound to be a difficult task. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush recently hit shelves and while the reception was mixed, I’ve found the powders to be unique and almost as special as the powders.

The primary hurdle for most bloggers I know who have tried the product is that “blush” might not be the best name. I’ve been testing Ethereal Glow (a cool pink blush with a moonlit luminosity) which, on me, plays much more like a highlighter and not that different than my beloved Ethereal Light Ambient Lighting Powder.

Each blush is a hybrid of an Ambient Lighting Powder and a classic blush shade:

  • Dim Infusion (Subdued coral blush fused with Dim Light to add warmth)
  • Diffused Heat (Vibrant poppy blush combined with Diffused Light for a subtle halo effect)
  • Luminous Flush (Champagne rose blush fused with Luminous Light to evoke a candlelit glimmer)
  • Radiant Magenta (Golden fuchsia blush combined with Radiant Light for a summer glow)
  • Mood Exposure (Soft plum blush fused with Mood Light to brighten the complexion)

While I haven’t experienced the other shades in person, I understand that the pigment is can be subtle across the board (although it certainly doesn’t look like it online). The shades are buildable, but I find Ethereal Glow to be perfect with a subtle touch for highlighting and an on-the-go touch up powder. My friend, Maree, has a gorgeous swatch of Radiant Magenta here that can demonstrate potential pigmentation.

The distinctive attribute of this blush is the inclusion of Photoluminescent Technology to enhance and provide depth and dimension. The handcrafted blushes are mixed using the Italian miscelare technique meaning no two blushes will look alike. Designed to be used with Ambient Lighting Powder, the Blush can create “multidimensional luminescence”.

My takeaway is that these blushes do add a natural and dynamic finish. The other shades might work well as a blush given that they are buildable. While Ethereal Glow isn’t necessarily a “blush” in my book and might be a duplicate of Ethereal Light, I appreciate the smaller palette for my clutch and the slight cool pink shimmer that works beautifully as a highlighter.

Fragrance, talc and gluten free. Not tested on animals.

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.

Do Peels Scare You?

Do Peels Scare You? on Belle Belle Beauty

By now, most of you know that Gabriel Horn is my trusted source of medical spa services. In fact, he’s known as the Tulsa Skin Guru. And it goes without saying that I trust him implicitly. We have been working together for almost a year now, with much success, in the battle against my hyper-pigmentation and sun damage. Our approach has been moderate strength chemical peels (you can read more about them here). While these peels are both my and Gabe’s choice to reverse sun damage, their aggressive nature isn’t always right given the person or time. So, what do you do if aggressive peels scare you or are inconvenient?

I had a couple things going on in my life last time I visited Gabe (side note: Gabe is also a wealth of advice, wisdom and laughter during my visits). Between a hot date, a Mardi Gras ball and a television appearance, I knew that the regular chemical peel just wasn’t going to work for me. I suddenly found myself in the shoes of some of you readers who have told me peels scare them. The pain, side effects, dry skin and redness just sometimes don’t fit into our lives.

Gabe curated a different treatment that was productive but left my skin radiant, even and supple the following day. He started with a heavy microdermabrasion. Then a 30% Glycolic peel was applied for a short period of time. Thanks to a couple lazy evenings, I had two breakouts on my chin. Gabe spot treated these with salicylic acid. I experienced no tingling or pain. That being said, we must emphasize that these steps require a medical aesthetician. These are not run-of-the-mill spa services. I left the office with a little bit of redness which dissipated throughout the evening.

These types of treatments can lead to dramatic and satisfying results. The difference is that peels like these are like baby steps as opposed to rapid results with more aggressive approaches. But for many people, they just can’t afford the downtime. While the required frequency of more gentle peels might cost slightly more, the lack of side effects might be worth it. Additionally, a more moderate approach might be ideal for summer months. Skin under aggressive treatment can be at greater risk from the damaging sun.

The real takeaway from my last visit is that peels come in a huge spectrum. When we hear “chemical peel” we think of the frightening Sex In The City episode with Samantha’s peeling, red face. But there is a huge range of options and customization available. With proper analysis, a medical aesthetician can design a proper and balanced approach. Even microdermabrasion, a zero downtime treatment, can boost collagen, reverse sun damage and improve skin texture.

The plan for me for now is to ramp up my use of hydroquinone and Retin-A to prep my skin once again for the slightly more aggressive treatment. We are in the home stretch here with maybe only two or three more peels necessary. But I know the time will come again when I just can’t afford the downtime. And it is a comfort to know that there are steps I can take that mitigate the side effects and still make progress against that darn sun damage!

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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.

Fashion Spot: Sale Alert!

Fashion Spot: Sale Alert! on Belle Belle BeautyIt is time to get your shopping on! Shopbop is having their Spend More & Save More even through tomorrow at midnight (PST). This includes all Full-Priced & SALE Items. Just use code BIGEVENT14 to get:

  • 20 % off any purchase of $250
  • 25% off any purchase of $500
  • 30% off any purchase of $1000+

Some goodies I have my eyes on:

 

Some other sales I am giddy about from around the web:

Spend $300, get $75 at Saks Fifth Avenue with code GIFT96 through today.

20% off spring styles at ASOS.

20% off sitewide at Stila Cosmetics plus free shipping with every $50 purchase with code 20OFF till 2/28.

New clearance items at Neiman Marcus up to 65% off.

Save up to 40% on shoes at Nordstrom through 3/2.

Free mini Orgasm Illuminator & mini Aigle Noir Soft Touch Shadow Pencil with the purchase of $25 or more at NARS Cosmetics with code FEBMINIDUO through 2/28.

New Hair Care on FOX23’s Great Day Green Country

New Hair Care on FOX23's Great Day Green Country on Belle Belle Beauty

It is Friday and you know what that means! I’m back on FOX23’s Great Day Green Country and this week I am sharing all that is new and wonderful in the world of hair care from color to shampoo. Every season, it seems as if they are coming up with things bigger and better, from drugstore to salons to keep our tresses looking good. Some of my top new favorites:

Gone are the days of having to spend a fortune at the salon for a change in hair color. I do have some caveats – don’t go lighter or add complex highlights yourself. That is best left to a professional. I’ve been toying with the idea of adding some ombré touches to the ends of my hair myself. It seems this trend isn’t going anywhere. L’Oreal makes this easy with three different formulas. All three use a plastic brush for maximum control and natural looking accents.

L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Ombré Touch is the most subtle effect. Féria Coloured Ombré adds a dash of red, perfect for those who are tempted to go a little edgy or experiment with red tones. Féria Intense Ombré is specifically designed to create an ombré effect on darker hair colors and ethnic hair types. Looking for an all-over change in hair color? Check out  the special edition Paris Lumière Collection with three iconic shades inspired by the lights of Paris. 

Alterna, one of my favorite salon quality lines and partly owned by Katie Holmes, recently launched their Caviar anti-aging product line with flagship product, Caviar CC Cream for Hair. This multi-tasking styling product works on hair in ten different ways leaving strands healthy and shiny. Having some frizzy moments? Check out Alterna Haircare Caviar Seasilk Oil Gel to give a little hold and control. I’ve been so into the return of flat iron styles and Alterna Caviar Perfect Iron Spray allows me to do it damage and guilt free. Lastly, Alterna Caviar 3-minute Shine Boost recharges even the dullest of hair in a jiffy.

Are you a hair color beginner but still shying away from the salon? Look no further than Madison Reed. This new line makes colorists available through an online color advisor, mobile app, live web chat, digital photo consultation or via phone. And they will even send a colorist to you in San Francisco and New York. The formulas are handcrafted in Italy and come in 27 shades. Everything is ammonia- and resorcinol-free ensuring a fade-resistant, salon-quality color.

And back to L’Oreal – they are on fire! I had fallen hard for their Advanced Haircare line (this mask) and based on its success, they just launched their Advanced Hairstyle line with a focus on performance. Five segments offer whatever our particular hair styling needs: hold (“Lock It”), volume (“Boost It”), smooth (“Sleek It”), curl (“Curve It”) and texture (“TXT It”). And you can’t beat the bargain prices. I’m particularly wild about the Sleek It Iron Straight Heatspray (can you tell I am into the super straight look?) and the Lock It Fine Control Hairspray (it might be beating out my beloved Elnett).

Check out my segment below!

// Shop The Post //

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.

Celebrate Hydration Day With Kiehl’s

Celebrate Hydration Day With Kiehl's On Belle Belle Beauty

Anyone else parched? I can envision a bunch of you raising your hands. All across the country, we have all suffered the effects of harsh winds, dry and artificial heat and lack of moisture in the air. Especially you poor souls in the Northeast – you’ve been through a doozy. This all leads to dull, aging skin.  Well, Kiehl’s has just what the doctor ordered.

To the rescue! Kiehl’s teamed up with FIJI to celebrate today as Hydration Day. No better way to introduce Kiehl’s new Ultra Facial Cream Intense Hydration. Ultra Facial Cream Intense Hydration was tested under the harshest of conditions. It was proven to provide 24-hour hydration. Thinking it might be greasy and heavy? Nope! Ultra Facial Cream Intense Hydration is the most lightweight cream to date by Kiehl’s and is great for all skin types.

As a partner, FIJI reminds us to continue to drink water throughout the day to add hydration to skin from the inside out. FIJI, one of my personal favorites, has naturally occurring electrolytes. And I know this sounds silly because we are talking about water, but I think it tastes particularly delicious.

Today, swing by Kiehl’s retail stores for complimentary hydrating facials and FIJI water. No purchase necessary. And celebrate with us by tweeting the hashtag #HydrationDay. Happy Hydration Day!