REVIEW: Mario Badescu

January 25, 2012 at 9:14 PM (Beauty)
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Ahhh yes, a toner.

A lot of people are on the fence about them, some say they’re worthless, some say they necessary.  I say they’re a good way to fit in some extra prepping for certain conditions.  Toner does not mean astringent, nor does it mean alcohol is a mandatory ingredient.

THE RUNDOWN

This specific product is alcohol free and only sports four ingredients, all I can pronounce!  That is highly commendable these days!  I was a bit weary of the name “Glycolic Acid Toner” since Glycolic acid is the last of those ingredients, the others being water, aloe vera gel, and grapefruit extract.  The product claims to “exfoliate, refresh and stimulate dry and congested skin” and reduce acne scarring.

THE RESULT

Eeehhh, not so much.  My skin scars extremely easily and I’m always excited when a product tells me it’s going minimize those pesky dark spots.  I didn’t see much improvement, if any.  In Mario’s defense, this is not a product that on it’s own will preform miracles, but I would’ve loved just a twinge of lightening!  Being pro-toner, I do believe it is a good stepping stone product between a pH stripping cleanser and a moisturizer.  It helps rebalance the skin, and can, as this one states, help with other conditions.  My bottom line is, I wouldn’t buy this for it’s exfoliating claims, but I like the simple ingredients and use as just a plain tone-y toner.

While I’m at it, let’s chat about the Acne Facial Cleanser as well, shall we?

THE RUNDOWN

Of course, cleanser is vital.  Twice a day, everyday.  No excuses!  I used this cleanser at night with my Clarisonic.  I am sadly plagued with adult acne, so I thought this might do the trick to clear me up.  It is formulated with aloe vera gel and chamomile to soothe, hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate and thyme extract and salicylic acid to disinfect.

THE RESULT

Sorry Mario!  Again I have to give you an “eeehhh” I just wasn’t impressed.  Cleansers do not have to foam to work, let me just clearly state that, but I would’ve loved just a teensy bit of sudding.  With Sodium Lauryl Sulfate being such a controversial ingredient, if it’s in my product (Which it is in this cleanser) I want to at least get it’s foaming abilities!  I myself am not fully convinced it’s a harmful chemical in such small quantities.  I’m sure the free radicals hitting you from every angle this very second pose a like threat to your health.

I’m hoping I’ll try a Mario Badescu product that’ll wow me soon!  I hear great things about his “Drying Lotion” for spot treatments, I may just have to add that to my regimen soon.

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Fakin’ It!

January 25, 2012 at 5:35 AM (Beauty)
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Last month, I had the privilege of meeting the beautiful and talented Noel Dalton, of The Vanity Makeup Studio.  Her creativity and commitment blew me away!  Working alongside my friends Redrum Collaboration, they created gorgeous and flawless photos.

(moi!)

Of course, with help from such experts who know lighting, blurring, contouring and smudging like the back of their hand, this is a cake walk!

But what about your ordinary routine in the morning?  Is it possible YOU can cover that pimple that sprouted after your mud mask last night?  Conceal those dark circles so lovingly passed down to you from your mother?  Yes ladies!  With the proper tools and knowledge, we can look marvelous!

Prime Time

For the ladies who sport foundation on the daily, a primer is a MUST.  After your moisturizer, apply a dime size amount to your face to fill in large pores and wrinkles.  This gives your foundation nowhere to hide, forcing it to easily glide over those imperfections, concealing them.  It’s also a great way to keep your moisturizer from evaporating.  I am currently using Trish McEvoy’s Even Skin Face Primer.  It is a good, creamy consistency and has lasted me quite a while!  Remember, overusing products does not make them more effective!

Extra Baggage

I don’t know about you, but I tend to have some extreme raccoon eyes.  As I said before, this can be hereditary, or medical, or even just the shadow cast by your eyelids.  Whichever the reason, it can be diminished greatly.  I love my Boots Beauty Soothing & Calming Eye Base as my “step one”.  I pat this smooth formula under my eyes with my ring finger (always pat, never drag!)  The deep orange color cancels out the darkness beautifully!  Another bonus, it contains anti-puffing ingredients apple and horse chestnut extract.

My “step two” is Trish McEvoy’s Flawless Concealer, which comes in a handy little clicky pen, complete with brush.  A couple clicks gives me just enough product to sweep over any areas that are still a bit dark.  Then, always with the ring finger, I gently pat into my skin.  Don’t forget to get the inner corners of you eye.  Brightening this area instantly makes your eyes look more awake.

Another great product to open up those peepers is Origins Eye Brightening Color Stick.

This chubby eye pencil is great to swipe over your bottom waterline to give you an instant pick me up.  It gives the illusion of bigger eyes and takes the focus off any stubborn under eye darkness.

A Little Dusting

Another great step many women skip is a finishing powder.  This can range from a full coverage foundation (creme to) powder, to a light, translucent sheer cover.  This cherry on top will set your makeup and blur any lines of demarcation from your foundation and/or concealer.  Avon has a great in-betweenie I currently favor.  Their Smooth Minerals Powder Foundation has moderate coverage, but still feels light as air on the skin.  If you decide to use a powder with some color, it is best to use a dense brush.  The fluffier the brush, the sheerer the application.

Who knew it was so easy to fake a flawless face?!  Try saying that one three times fast.  Then go try out your new tricks!

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The Freshest Technology! Plant Stem Cells

January 23, 2012 at 10:17 PM (Beauty)
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I have recently taken a position at an organic salon and am LOVING it!  We provide all natural skin care treatments as well as products.  That’s where I learned about Intelligent Nutrients and their use of plant stem cell science.

This method is not only good for our skin, but also the environment.  The stem cells cultivated in a pure lab without soil, free of pesticides, heavy metals, and toxins.  Now, why plants you may ask?  If you think about it, plants are attacked constantly by all kind of free radical damage.  They are always facing the harsh outdoor elements, from smog to sun.   These cells are packed with antioxidants and are found in the plants most vulnerable spots.  Not only do they fight off the free radicals, they are also anti-bacterial to ward off disease.   It’s a wonder they stay so beautiful and healthy!  I know I’m jealous!  So, why not use a bit of their magic for ourselves?

Intelligent Nutrients chose three specific plants for their products, due to their positive anti-aging effects on the skin. (Have a look at the photo above)

Edelweiss, my favorite song in “The Sound of Music”.  It’s also a pretty little plant that is much tougher than it looks!  They are covered with dense little hairs that protect it from the harsh elements of it’s favored environment of  high, rocky altitudes.

Purple Coneflower, AKA Echinacea angustifolia are a part of the Daisy family.  These flowers have the ability to live through drought conditions.  They also favor a dry, unforgiving environment.

Pennywort, AKA Centella asiatica, are a bit different from the above plants and grow in low lying, wet areas.   They have been used in ancient medicine for their antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Working together topically, these specific stem cells help reduce the signs of freckling and restore hydration.

An A+ for science and skin care!

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Got A Question for the HoneyBee?

January 18, 2012 at 10:05 PM (Beauty)
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Ask me here!

I’ll post the answers in a neat little blog each week!

So go on!  Challenge me!

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Ecze-blah!

January 18, 2012 at 3:34 AM (Beauty)
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Winter in the northeast is brutal on the skin as it is, but if any of you lovelies have to deal with eczema on top of that, I feel for you!  Eczema is a very complex and confusing condition.  Let’s try to sort through this puzzle together, shall we?

Atopic Dermatitis is usually coupled with other allergies and asthma.  This type of the condition is passed along genetically (thanks mom!) while Non-Atopic Dermatitis is strictly skin irritations that aren’t tied to any other allergy and can be caused by products.  Predetermined eczema that is in the genes leaves the skin slightly more alkaline, meaning it has a higher pH, which means a lower moisture level.  This also means there is a higher level of  Staphylococcus aureus, a usually harmless bacteria that secretes ceramide destroying enzymes which further break down the moisture barrier.

In short, you’re left with irritated, dry, itchy, grumpy skin that needs some TLC.  No matter which type of dermatitis you suffer from, the treatments are the same.  Evening Primrose Oil,  Sea Buckthorn and Borage Oil are good supplements for sufferers that reduce inflammation and may alleviate symptoms.

So hang in there, ladies!  Once the dry air of January (and February…Probably March too) is behind us, it’s a bit easier to keep your moisture levels in check.  We’ll get through this together!

 

 

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Give Me Some Sugar(Scrub)!

January 7, 2012 at 1:40 AM (Beauty)
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Happy Friday, Lovelies!

 

It’s that time of year, blistering cold outside, and hot and dry inside.  This can be a killer on your already sensitive and fragile lips.  Wearing lipstick can be a drag (literally!) and look icky without some TLC for your smackers.

Sara Happ makes fabulous lip scrubs in all kinds of yummy scents.  Along with the sugar, they include Grape Seed and Jojoba Oil which both moisturize and protect against free radical damage.  The only down side to these cuties, no applicator.  I’m not a fan of digging into products with my fingers, so I suggest using a q-tip and putting a little on the back of your hand before your lips.  It can be a little goopy and not spread well, so I like to warm it up a bit on my hand first (also you don’t have to deal with cotton whispies on your lips, hate that!)  Twice a week, in the morning is when I like to indulge in a “scrub day”, as my boyfriend call it.  I do the works!  Lips, face and body!  I scrub my lips after I scrub my face, before I rinse because their tissue off method doesn’t do the trick.

That being said, my current face scrub iiisss…

ReVive‘s Cleanser Exfoliante!  Now, I have a love/hate relationship with this product.  I really like the fact that it is a gentle, creamy exfoliator that can be used daily, although I only use it twice a week with my daily cleanser.  If you visit their site, you will see it is very pricey.  I highly doubt I would purchase this scrub again, half because of the extravagant price, but also because of it’s lack of anti-aging, results-driven ingredients, and it’s abundance of parabens, sufectants, and alcohols.  I understand it is just a scrub that is washed off, but c’mon!  Give me some more excitement than some orange oil (smells nice) and jojoba (scrubbbers).

BUT…

I do like the gentle scrub and soft cheek I get after using it.

IN CONCLUSION…

There is a new face scrub on my horizon!

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Alright, since we’ve made it this far, I might as well finish the scrub ritual and give you my current body buffer:

Laura Mercier‘s Almond Coconut Milk Scrubs.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the scent of this!  This scrub is packed with glycerine and squalene so it’ll leave your skin silky smooth (and smelling AWESOME, did I mention that…?) The buffers are sugar and coconut shell powder, which is very gentle.  If you are looking for a product that’s going to, dare I say, hurt when applying (some scrubs put on dry skin can result in deep breathing to get through the abrasion sting, but are well worth it!) I wouldn’t recommend this.  Actually, this product really needs a little splash of water to help it spread.

IN CONCLUSION…

Again, a gentle scrub a couple times a week is my forte, so I enjoy this product all around.  Nice subtle scrub, and no need to moisturize afterward.

 

And there you have it!  Scrub day is complete!  Another great way to rid the flakiness is dry brushing.  If you aren’t a fan of scrubs in the tub, this is a nice ritual that can help with lymphatic drainage and even digestion.

 

And farewell to you and your flakiness!

 

 

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Candy Colored Hair Without the Cost and/or Commitment!

January 6, 2012 at 5:31 AM (Beauty)
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So my friend Cahleigh is as cute as a button, not to mention a extremely talented makeup artist.  She posted this video on her YouTube account that is such a great idea!  Using cream eyeshadows as temporary hair color!  Check her out!

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Review: Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum

January 6, 2012 at 1:53 AM (Beauty)
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Drum roll…

My first product review!

THE RUNDOWN

I just finished my bottle of this right before the new year (it lasted for months, even after I spilled some of it!) four or five drops, once a day under my moisturizer (which I still recommend using) It is 30%  Hyaluronic Acid, which may sound drying and scary, but actually retains moisture, which steps your moisturizer up a notch.  This is a great way to keep flakiness away in the dry, cold months.   It also is said to protect against free radicals due to it’s antioxidant content.  Basically, it’s said to retain moisture, which will plump out fine lines and enhance your complexion.

THE RESULT

A little goes a long way, which is good for the money.  Higher end products are generally a good investment, since you don’t have to smear half the bottle on your face for results!  Five drops in the morning left my whole face feeling smooth and supple.  Fortunately (and I guess unfortunately in this case?) I don’t have fine lines as of yet (SPF, ladies!) so I couldn’t really gauge how well it works in that aspect.  After looking at the ingredients, I was disappointed at the amount of antioxidants being only two, and low on the list.  So in conclusion I feel like I got a bit of a moisture boost, but probably not the antioxidant protection I would hope for for the money.  I think this product is best suited for women who have noticeably aging skin and could use a little pick-me-up.

ETC

This product is non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)

Paraben free (although it does contain disodium etda, which is said to have a toxic effect on the body in large amounts)

Fragrance free

Dermatologist tested (As much as I’d love to say this actually means something, it really doesn’t.  All it says is one single dermatologist claimed it caused no skin reactions, so individual results will always vary)

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I’ve now started using Fresh’s Black Tea Age Delay Serum, and will let you all know the outcome!

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New Year, New Blog!

January 5, 2012 at 8:33 PM (Beauty)
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Hello ladies and gentlemen!

I’m so excited to be a fresh part of the blogging world!  Here I’d like to share my thoughts on all things beauty!  But before I do that, let me tell you a bit about me…

A Licensed Esthetician, I have been a part of the beauty world for over eight years now.  I began by working for Origins, an Estee Lauder company.  This is where I learned the basics on cleansers, creams, lotions and potions and fell in love!  After about two years, I decided to enroll into beauty school.  I tried college, and found out like many of us, it wasn’t for me.  I needed to do something hands on that I was passionate about.  It was the best decision of my life!  After six months, I was a licensed professional!  But my learning didn’t stop there.  Every day, I am looking into the newest techniques and innovations in the industry, as well as training on centuries old techniques which are tried and true!  There is ALWAYS something new to get excited about, which is why I know this career path was my future.

So this great year of 2012 is going to be my year to inform and educate you, my lovely readers, on what’s in, what’s new, what’s hot, what’s not!

Here’s to a fresh start and a fresh face!

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