Mythbuster Beauty

Summer is around the bend, and summer brings the heat, humidity, and the blazing sunshine. Unfortunately for oily-skinned gals, the summer heat helps create another type of shine, the skin shine that causes our makeup to slip and slide off within a few hours.

Alison Raffaele Cosmetics has come up with a fantastic set of products to offset the slippery effects of the summer skin oil slick. 

Introducing Alison Raffaele’s “Shine Buster” set: 

Face Forward Primer Acne Response ($44)

Alison’s Face Forward Primer is one of my favorite rave about products and was reviewed on St Patrick’s Day as a great way to go green.   A little bit goes a long way.  This primer not only makes my skin feel like velvet; it helps my foundation glide on beautifully, and it provides an spf 15.

• Foundation primer + acne treatment + SPF 15
• Contains proprietary, time-released (12+ hours) Frutta di Vita antioxidant complex (pomegranate, goji berry, and resveratrol) to shelter skin from damaging free radicals  
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free
• Natural mineral-based sunscreen SPF 15 provides broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection
• Dermatologist Tested and Approved

Alison Raffaele Blotting Tissues ($9)

Unbleached and powder-free, these super-absorbent paper tissues remove excess oil and perspiration from the skin without disturbing makeup.

Transparent Finish To Go ($42)

• New cornstarch-based formula is talc and paraben free for your healthiest skin ever
• Although powder appears white in jar, Transparent Finish is completely clear on ALL skintones, from fairest to deepest
• Suitable for ALL skin types – will not build up or oxidize on oily skins and will not collect in the fine lines of more mature skins 
• Ultra lightweight formula feels clean and comfortable on the skin
• Perfect for setting all liquid and cream cosmetics
• Will not change the color of other cosmetics 
• Banishes shine and provides a natural matte finish
• May be reapplied as necessary
• 100% paraben, talc, oil, gluten and fragrance free, Dermatologist Tested and Approved

Until recently, Sephora was the end all and be all for cosmetics stores as far as I was concerned. With the exception of MAC, they carry every major brand that I whole-heartedly love, and a few I only adore. Everything is set up in an easy to to try manner that just begs you to play. Mirrors and all the other accouterments for cosmetics application are placed throughout the store, and there are samples of just about anything your little heart desires.

Ever since they broke into the market they’ve pretty much had it cornered. Everyone wants shelf space at Sephora, and they’re willing to offer exclusive items to get it. With special gift sets and constant specials, as well as incredible perks for insiders, Sephora is THE name in prestige cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance. The clean layout, black and white theme, and helpful staff are consistent and predictable. Their Sephora brand cosmetics are well made and reasonably priced, and they have the perfect red nail polish.

I just recently heard of Ulta and used my last trip to Seattle as an excuse to go check it out. Unlike Sephora, they offer both mass market AND prestige brands of cosmetics. They also have salon and some spa services, like waxing. I was impressed that they offer what appears to be the entire line of Rimmel cosmetics, while other stores carry only the basics. Their selection of prestige lines isn’t quite as extensive as Sephora’s. They do carry Dermablend though, which I was very excited about since I wanted to find something to cover tattoos, but didn’t want the trial and error of ordering online and risking getting the wrong color. Their store brand cosmetics are buy one/get one, though I’ve not been over the moon for them up to this point. They are on par with most other mass market brands though, and they do have a fair selection of products and colors. I can only speak for the one location I visited, but the staff was sparse and less than thrilled with my presence.

The one thing that really sets Ulta apart from Sephora is convenience. If some of your faves are prestige and some are mass market then you have the ease of picking them up at the same time. Need a haircut and some foundation? Ulta’s the way to go. However, you WILL pay for the convenience. For instance, I saved $10 on only 3 items by stopping at Target on the way home. If cost is a concern to you than you’re probably better off going elsewhere, but if you’re running short on time and can only make one stop then Ulta would be your best bet.

We don’t have either an Ulta or a Sephora in our city, so visiting either requires a side trip during vacation. For my time and money, I’m sticking with Sephora.

Looks like Ulta gets the knock down punch from Sephora, ka-pow!

Mo Mommy is Mythbuster Beauty’s featured reviewer for “Fried Green Wednesdays.” If you like her reviews; you’ll love her blog: Fried Green Madness.

This is my facial hair dilemma.  

As a younger woman, I dealt with thick eyebrows and upper lip facial hair.  Now, those hairs aren’t as prolific, matter of fact, my eyebrows are thinning and graying now.  Come back my thick, dark eyebrows, come back!

Chin hairs are my biggest issue nowadays.  I almost daily pluck these obnoxious stray hairs on my chin.  The amount of hair isn’t enough to warrant waxing or shaving (thank goodness), however, they keep coming back, and sometimes the the plucking causes an irritation or inflammed bump around the hair follicle.  

I looked into a laser hair removal treatment of my chin and upper lip hair, and it isn’t cheap.  The hair removal clinic also informed me if the hairs are light that the laser will not be effective.   And since about 50% of my facial hairs are blond or gray, and I wonder if the cost would still be worth it and would achieve the desired result. 

In general, laser facial hair removal works best in those with dark hair on lighter skin, however newer technologies have made the procedure safe and effective in those with darker skin as well. Blonde, red, or gray hairs are generally less responsive to laser hair removal treatment.  Coarse hair (terminal hair) responds much better to laser hair removal treatment than fine hair or “peach fuzz” (vellus hair). - Vaniqa website

I have also wondered if anyone here has used Vaniqa with any success?  Vaniqa is the prescription strength cream that was developed to remove unwanted facial hair. 

VANIQA (eflornithine HCl) Cream, 13.9% doesn’t remove hair like other products you may be using. Instead it actually reduces the growth, and complements your current method of hair removal, which you should continue to use.

The Vaniqa site also suggests a slight improvement in permanent hair removal if you use this cream in conjunction with the laser hair removal treatments.  Makes sense to me, but between the cost of the cream and the laser treatments, I bet it will end up costing about $500.  Ugh!   I would rather try one, and see if the other is still warranted.  The question is, which one?

I would love to hear about your experiences with facial hair removal.  Any successes or horror stories are welcomed.    

After skimming through my newly received Summer 2008 “Calendar Girls” Sephora catalog, I noticed on the back cover a blurb about Sephora’s 2008 Sun Safety Kit.

What really grabbed my attention is that this kit contains some of my favorite new skincare finds:

• Cosmedicine’s Medi-Matte Oil-Control Lotion
• Tarte’s 24/7 Lip Sheer
• Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Moisturizer
• Smashbox’s Photo Finish Foundation Primer with SPF 15

Yes, these are all just trial-sized items, but between all 11 products in this kit, you will probably have enough products to get through the summer with them!

*Sephora is also donating $21.55 from each sale to the Skin Cancer Foundation.  Another fringe benefit for doing something good for your skin!

Mother’s Day, Ugh!  This is a post about why my Mom is the hardest person on the planet to buy something for.  Let me explain.

My Mom is a beauty minimalist.  She doesn’t wear foundation, and cannot wear eye makeup.  Very sensitive eye issues make it impossible for her to wear mascara or eyeshadow.   She uses her lipstick on her lips and than dabs some on for her blush and voila!  She’s gorgeous.

[What do you think Mo, does her hair style look familiar to you?  Yes, that is me in agony on Santa's lap.]

She loves antiques and collectibles, but I never go to auctions or to flea market shops where they sell these things.  First, I have no idea how to assess anything there accurately, I don’t enjoy bartering, and it is a nightmare bringing small kids into places that have wall to wall breakables.  My Mom could literally host the “Antique Roadshow” on PBS, and unfortunately I am completely clueless in this arena.

I really don’t know what she has or doesn’t have.  We live 2,000 miles away from eachother and I am not up to speed about what she needs.  She has also lived out the country for 4 of the last 6 years overseas in Cambodia and Indonesia. 

She loves jewerly, but the good 18K kind, and real gems.  Big bucks, sorry Mom, no can do!

She loves to gamble.  Lottery tickets might work!?

Maybe just a card, with some cash.  Oh, crap, she isn’t even home right now.  She is out visiting her family in MA and selling her wares at the Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Show!  My card won’t get to her on Mother’s Day, but this Smilebox slide show will have to suffice.  If you are at Brimfield this week, and recognize this woman, tell her I honestly tried!  She doesn’t even own a cell phone!!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

 I love you Mom!  The only person probably more difficult to buy a present for is me.

As Mo pointed out, warmer weather brings about new skin challenges.  Many of us are looking for a safer, effective, fool-proof way to get a little color and moisture on our skin. 

From my experience, there isn’t exactly any one sunless tanning product that is 100% fool-proof.  However using a sunless tanner while following Bionic Beauty’s tips for Sunless Tanners will dramatically improve your chances of achieving a beautiful glow!

Here is a new sunless tanning product to consider.

Clinique Touch of Bronze Moisturizing Body Lotion 5 fl. oz. $18.50:

Safe is the new sexy, so find a sunless way to give your skin a natural-looking bronze radiance. This daily body moisturizer with a touch of self-tanner provides an allover, faux glow. Just smooth on this mistake-proof formula to gradually build or maintain even colour. Skin feels soft, looks luminous.

Like I said, nothing is 100% “mistake-proof,” maybe “nearly mistake-proof” is a more accurate description.  Clinique’s Touch of Bronze when applied using Bionic Beauty’s tips, is a very natural looking, moisturizing sunless tanner.  If you don’t use her tips, you might notice some blotchy patches around your ankles or knees, so take heed to BB’s advice!  I also like that the Clinique lotion doesn’t have a strong scent and my sensitive skin tolerated it well (even my newly shaved legs)! 

I felt like Clinique’s product works marginally better than my other favorite drug store brand Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, mainly because it feels slightly more moisturizing and is better suited for sensitive skin.   However, you cannot beat the price (around $7) for Jergen’s product and the fact that you can purchase it at your neighborhood grocery or drug store.

For another great sunless tanner product, check out Mo’s review of Urban Decay’s Santa Tanita Body Bronzer.

Don’t forget to use a SPF while using these sunless tanning products. “Safe is the New Sexy!”

Loose Lips NY is giving back big time!

• Hint of Mint Lip Gloss (Full Size) and my personal favorite!
• Glitter Gloss 
• Lumishine Lip Gloss
• Vo-lip-tuous Lip Serum

This post is in direct response to a post written several months ago by Mo called, “Color Intervention 101.”

“Every day I decide who I want to be and apply my makeup accordingly. I’m known around these parts for outlandish color combinations and a foolhardy devotion to the newest thing. Is it really my expertise that makes these experiments work?  Of course, I’m a genius, didn’t anyone tell you?  Actually, it’s just the fact that I feel comfortable enough to try something new.  A lot of the wearability of a color comes directly from you and your confidence.”- Mo

So yesterday, Mo sent me this picture.  This is an incredible look for you Mo!

My Mom used to wear her hair with the same cut (different color) in the 70’s.  I will have to round up a picture to show you.

Mo labeled this picture “Tragic.”  The only thing tragic about this is picture is that I don’t know how to re-create this look for myself, and I don’t know if I could pull it off either.  Tell all Mo; this is fabulous!

You know how prestige lines love their collections and limited edition products. Well I found one that requires your immediate attention because they’re going fast and they are hot, hot, HOT!

[Jen side comment:  Check out the guy's abs, and that lip mark on them!  Nice touch MAC!]

MAC has created a collection of sheer perfection with their Naughty Nauticals. They even have a gorgeous red lipstick in Port Red, but I had just bought yet another red lip color in my quest for the perfect red, so I had to pass. Check out the colors online, but be sure to go in store if you can because they are SO much better in person!

Yep, I picked up a couple things already. Can you guess which products I just had to have?

Another must have are the Dazzleglass Lip glosses.  Also limited, of course, they are beyond beautiful. Lipglass with super fine shimmering particles added.  Not the slightest bit grainy.  Just super shiny, super shimmery lip lovin.  I picked Ms Fizz, it reminds me of a lip gloss Urban Decay used to have that I adored, though picking just one was incredibly hard.  These are the perfect summer colors, but that means they are disappearing fast.  So dash to your nearest MAC counter and ch-ch-check it out!

Mo Mommy is Mythbuster Beauty’s featured reviewer for “Fried Green Wednesdays.” If you like her reviews; you’ll love her blog: Fried Green Madness.

Needing a brilliant Mother’s Day gift?

Here is something sure to thrill most women.  It sure would thrill me!

How ’bout a Supracor Bath Mitt paired up with Caudalie’s Spa Radiance Set?

Supracor uses a flexible, Stimulite® medical grade material to create the ultimate bath mitt.  This bath mitt cleans, exfoliates and massages your skin.  Use it wet with your favorite soap or shower gel to create a foamy lather.  Or use it dry, brushing your body with upward strokes toward the heart, stimulating the lymph system and releasing the toxins that produce cellulite.  Supracor’s Stimulite® honeycomb material is naturally antifungal and antibacterial, it dries very quickly. 

I have fallen in love with this exceptionally hi-tech bath mitt for exfoliating my back, arms and legs.  I love how this mitt feels and scrubs gently, and how quickly this mitt dries out.  No worries about breeding bacteria or it becoming funky smelling.  I would imagine this mitt will last for long time, well worth the price.  The Supracor bath mitt would be a fabulous Mother’s Day gift, or for anyone who loves bath and shower accessories.  I also have my eye on their stimulite® body scrubber, for those hard to reach areas like the shoulder blades and back.

You can purchase the Supracor Bath Mitt at the Supracor website for $32. 

Pair this bath mitt with the Caudalie’s Spa Radiance Set ($56), a match made in heaven!

What it is:
If you haven’t heard Kate and me gush about how much we love Caudalie, now is a great time to try this outstanding skincare line.  The Caudalie Spa Radiance Set is a Sephora exclusive.  It consists of a set of six of Caudalie’s most sought-after spa favorites.  A 1 oz Beauty Elixir, a 5.3 oz Fleur de Vigne French-Milled Soap, a 8.5 oz Nourishing Body Lotion, 1 oz Vine Peach Shower Gel, a 0.5 oz Hand and Nail Cream*, and a 1.6 oz Sauvignon Scrub.

What it does:
This exclusive set features a selection of products to pamper you with the signature natural ingredients Caudalie is famous for. Grape seed oil, a powerful antioxidant with an anti aging effect, and moisturizing shea butter.  Scented with natural fragrances such as grape blossom, orange, almond, rosewater, and grapefruit. 

*Caudalie’s Hand and Nail Cream smells fruitacular (with grape and citrus notes), it is such a bright and natural scent.  The Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream became my favorite go-to hand lotion and healed my dry, chapped hands all winter! 

**All Caudalie’s products are gentle, all natural, and contain no sodium lauryl sulfate!