Tag: cleanser

NEST Fine Fragrances Collection for Sephora

Today is a big day for one of my most beloved brands. I first fell for NEST Fragrances as a home fragrance company. I love their artful candles and diffusers and the character of the company led by former Wall Street-er, Laura Slatkin. Last year, they made a foray into personal goods with amazing body creams, hand soaps and body wash. And then they really wooed me. With their launch of fine fragrances, I had found my signature scent, Midnight Fleur.

Starting today, NEST fragrances are lining the shelves in 160 Sephora stores. The first thing you’ll notice about these scents is the artful packaging inspired by botanical artwork from the 18th century. Appropriately, all five fragrances have an very natural, sophisticated feeling and wear beautifully on the skin. While Amazon Lily, Midnight Fleur and Passiflora have been around for a while, there are two new Sephora-exclusive scents to explore: Dahlia & Vines and White Sandalwood.

Dahlia & Vines is decidedly floral with peony, dahlia, rose and daffodil. Those notes are balanced with amber, vanilla, pink pepper and raspberry. I find this fragrance super feminine and refined. Its the perfect choice for those drawn to rose-like scents.

White Sandalwood, a new personal favorite, has that Asian air with Indian sandalwood and exotic spices. Woody and decadent notes like almond and musk make this scent hefty, heady and sensual.

My signature scent, Midnight Fleur, was a 2013 Fragrance Foundation Awards Finalist for Women’s Prestige Fragrance (what can I say? I have good taste). The woodsy scent is fairly bold but has a gourmand character with vanilla. Patchouli, jasmine and amber join the party to make it completely irresistible.

Amazon Lily is playful, delicate and springy. Delicate florals mix with citrus (Brazilian lime and tangerine). Driftwood and musk anchor the scent.

Passiflora is a statement in green fragrance with notes of passion flower, water hyacinth, lily of the valley. Bergamot and clementine lighten this modern and elegant scent.

All five scents are available in Eau De Parfum Spray and Eau De Parfum Rollerball. Look for the Eau De Parfume Collection and Luxurious Hand Creams in October 2013 (available online now).

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.

psss – get an extra 30% off sale with code FALL30!

Getting Clean With Mario Badescu

A good clean feel can’t be beat, especially on hot summer days. I’ve been turning to Mario Badescu the last couple of months for head-to-toe cleansing. I am completely hooked on their toners and their body washes are balanced and moisturizing (not to mention smell great). Click through below to check out my current favorites:

If you are reading this in an email or reader, be sure to click through for the full experience.

Meaningful Beauty – Meaningful in the Mirror

I’m baaaack! What an amazing vacation. I have to say… the beaches in the Dominican Republic are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. My week was filled with fun, laughter (so much) and festivities. While I can’t say I am totally rested, I did come home feeling revived. Not to mention sun kissed.

I’ve also come home a bit contemplative. My summer has been full of great times and friends. But as the calendar page turns and talk of back to school is starting, I feel like turning a new leaf myself. Don’t get me wrong – the good times are not stopping. But I do want to add a little depth and discipline into my life. I’ve come back with a verve and devotion to my Nutrisystem journey – I am about to start my final month on the program. And I want to make sure that the time I spend with family and friends is thoughtful and personal. Feeling good about my skin, body and relationships is when I am most happy and I want to keep it that way!

On that same note, diving into Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty skincare line is all about empowering women to look and feel their best. The word “Meaningful” hits home and plays well with my new tagline “depth and discipline”. I’d like to think it is great to find meaning in even the smaller parts and moments of our life. To spread the word about this mission, Cindy has launched a new app on her Meaningful Beauty’s Facebook page, Meaningful in the Mirror. Through this app, Cindy’s mission is to allow women to affirm their inner-beauty & self-confidence in just a few simple steps.

Facebook users can simply (1)“like” the Meaningful Beauty Facebook page for access to the app, (2) select a template, (3) type their custom message and (4) share it with friends or on their own page. It only takes a few minutes, but the message is theirs to keep – it can even be used as a cover photo.

I’ve been using Meaningful Beauty over the last couple of months and am completely impressed with the system. The line is all about nutrition for the skin, aiming to protect and renew. Her step by step collection is easy to follow and leads to radiant skin. It is powerful but not irritating, packed with antioxidants and vitamins.

The system is composed of 5 simple steps plus 2 bonuses:

Crème de Serum
Advanced Formula Lifting Eye Crème
Skin Brightening Décolleté and Neck Treatment SPF 15
Antioxidant Day Crème SPF 20 UVA/UVB
Skin Softening Cleanser
Wrinkle Smoothing Capsules (Bonus)
Glowing Serum (Bonus)

Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Crème de Serum is probably my favorite item from the system. I haven’t encountered a richer serum and the effect is fresh and dewy skin. It has almost enough hydration to act as a moisturizer too on my dry skin this summer. The packaging and orange swirl keeps active ingredients suspended until used. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) from rare French melon (orange) and anti-aging peptides (white) work with the Hyaluronic Acid (clear) to hydrate and plump the skin.

Meaningful Beauty Glowing Serum by Cindy Crawford is for those, like me, who are all about the glow. I like to use it as a primer to smooth or even to throw on your purse to add a glow/highlight throughout the day. It contains soy protein, marine botanicals and antioxidants including pumpkin extract to encourage cell renewal.

Meaningful Beauty Skin Softening Cleanser by Cindy Crawford is milky and ultra gentle. While it doesn’t quite get all my makeup off, it does contain a unique apple extract to work against aging. My skin doesn’t feel tight or stripped.

Meaningful Beauty Antioxidant Day Crème SPF 20 Broad Spectrum has become a favorite facial SPF for the days I know I’ll be in the office. I get plenty of moisture and still decent protection. I also love that Vitamin C helps brighten and even my discoloration.

Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Advanced Formula Lifting Eye Crème contains botanicals to lighten and firm that stubborn under eye area. After a late night, I really can tell this helps brighten and lift, plus it works well under makeup.

Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Skin Brightening Décolleté and Neck Treatment Broad Spectrum SPF 15 is a genius product that has definitely earned its spot in my permanent rotation. I have started to realize this often neglected area of skin is the first to betray age. The formula works against age spots, brightens and revitalizes, not to mention, provides that crucial SPF protection.

Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford Wrinkle Smoothing Capsules are my new favorite on-the-go skin care item. This little capsules are so fun to use and provide a portable does of the Exclusive Microencapsulated Melon Complex and dual action Vitamin C.

I think the 5-piece New Advanced System is the best deal. It is great for those times when you want to commit to a routine to do a kind of “reset” on your skin. Not to mention, it is totally affordable at $39.95 plus s/h for 30-day supply or $119.85 with free shipping for 90-day supply. Available at MeaningfulBeauty.com or by calling 1-877-383-1212

Brand Spotlight: Bioelements

Bioelements is a skin care line focused on fostering younger looking skin with professional grade products you use at home. The skin care regimens are custom blended for ideal results according to your skin type. Their formulas are responsibly crafted, always free of parabens, fragrances and colorants. And never tested on animals. One of the biggest joys of using Bioelements is their glass skin care packaging. Not only does it feel more luxe, but it maintains the integrity of the products and is 100% recyclable.

I’ve been surrounding myself with some Bioelements best and brightest for the past month and have been thrilled with results. Not only are the products wonderful to use – they have honestly made my skin look better. My main issues are hyper-pigmentation and redness. The following four items have helped me moderate both and keep safe in the sun.

Again, an oil based cleanser that really can clean, the Bioelements Sensitive Skin Cleanser is gentle and nourishing. Olive oil is used to lift impurities while calming and soothing. And your skin won’t be striped of precious moisture.

Using one of my most beloved skin care ingredients, Advanced VitaMineral C Complex has a double dose because it uses Acerola cherries, which contain 32 times more vitamin C than oranges. This extract is the most scientifically advanced C ester and can fight aging and brighten skin. I’ve been using this day and night and find my skin to be more radiant without any irritation.

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the sun. I know I needed something with a really high SPF on a daily basis to try to keep this sun damage at bay. The Bioelements SPF 50 FaceScreen has that broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection I need. At the same time, it works to firm and reduce the appearance of fine lines. The formula uses chemical blockers so you get that sunscreen smell, but on the plus side, you don’t get any whitish cast. The rich cream leaves my skin ultra-hydrated. Also to note, it was named ‘Best Anti-Aging Sunscreen’ by Dr. Oz’s YouBeauty.com.

I’ve been running more lately and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the way it leaves me feeling. The downside is my redness really ramps up… even hours after I finish a jog. The Bioelements Calmitude Hydrating Solution is one of the very few products I’ve found that can really calm that flare up. The spray soothes and calms upset skin while hydrating.

Find your closest spa here. Or order Bioelements products on bioelements.com.

NEW: Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser and GIVEAWAY

Sometimes I feel like Goldylocks with my cleansers. One doesn’t foam enough. Another is a touch too drying. And another one doesn’t quite get all my makeup off. Well, hot off the presses is a new cleanser from Neutrogena and this one has beauty editors singing praises. I can see why because it does everything I ask of a cleanser.

Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser is formulated with a patented technology that can remove 99% of excess oil, dirt and even makeup, while preserving the skin’s delicate moisture barrier. The formula is clear and can whip up to a fairly good lather. I can only detect a very light and pleasant fragrance. All my makeup other than some stubborn mascara comes right off with just a standard wash. And when you rinse it away, there is no tightness or dryness. It rinses clean, so no residue to clog pores.

According to dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, “My patients often complain they have to choose between their skin feeling clean or feeling moist. The key is finding a cleanser that doesn’t disrupt skin’s delicate moisture barrier to leave skin not only clean, but also feeling soft and never too dry or too tight.” Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser, the little workhorse, can do all of this. Not to mention, leave skin perfectly prepped for any skin care treatments applied post cleansing.

Neutrogena came up with a fun little quiz to help you put your cleanser against their new Gentle Daily Cleanser. Pop over and take the cleansing assessment here. If you are one of the first 5,000 people to sign up, you’ll get a free sample! Check out my assessment here:

I’m so enthusastic about the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser, I wanted to share the love. I’ve teamed up with Neutrogena for a special chance for three of you lucky readers to try out their new cleanser. Enter using the widget below. US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

First Aid Beauty Gentle Cleansing Wipes

What did we do before cleansing wipes became popular? They come in so handy during hot days, removing loads of makeup, and saving the evening when I am just too darn lazy to full-out wash my face. But so often they can be abrasive and be tough on especially gentle skin like around the eyes. After hearing my fellow beauty junkies rave about FAB (or First Aid Beauty), I know I wanted to explore the line and what better way than those cherished wipes?

These wipes are generously sized and super soft. They have plenty of product – enough to do the job but not so much they get messy. While you can use these anytime for a general refresh, they do an outstanding job removing makeup – even stubborn eye makeup. They also work against surface oils making them idea post-workout.

A unique blend of chamomile, aloe, and bisabolol calm and soothe the skin. The FAB Antioxidant Booster (Licorice Root, Feverfew, and White Tea) prevents free radical damage. The thoughtful combo of ingredients along with the super soft material make these a winner in my book. Even at $15 for 30 wipes, you get what you pay for. I’d especially recommend these for those with ultra-sensitive skin.