We often hear the benefits of using Vitamin C and E in skin care, but do we honestly know why?

One of my favorite skin care sites, SkinCareRx.com recently added some very well researched content articles on several ingredients and skin care conditions. Here is a little excerpt from their Vitamin C page:

“Vitamin C is an antioxidant which protects skin from the sun and neutralizes free radicals. It effectively promotes collagen production and tones and tightens the skin to help repair the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has also been proven to reduce skin discoloration due to sun damage, aging, and acne scarring. Vitamin C is very unstable and can easily oxidize, making the compound ineffective, so it’s important to pay attention to expiration dates on products.”

Vitamin E is another highly praised antioxidant ingredient, and when used topically can hydrate and heal the skin, as well as reduce the scars left by acne.

In honor of Vitamin C & E, Mythbuster Beauty is giving away two SkinMedica Vitamin C & E Complex (Retail Value of $90). I have enjoyed using this complex because it leaves my skin feeling smooth and protected. The Vitamin C is suspended in silicone to prevent the dreaded oxidation (read quote above), and enjoy the extra hydration of the Vitamin E, as well as the added Bisabolol which is an anti-inflammatory.

And with this contest, there is a question. On the SkinCareRx.com Vitamin C page, which form of Vitamin C is found in SkinMedica’s C & E Complex?

As much as I hate to admit it, I often choose to pick up dinner on my way home from work for the family. I know this is not the most economically or nutritionally sound choice, however, I have found a couple of local take out joints that offer yummy vegetarian dishes that don’t cost too much. (and if you have any great, easy veggie recipes to share – please send them along)!

Just like great take out, I often crave the trip to the spa for a super relaxing facial or skin care treatment, but cringe at the thought of the price tag associated with this luxury. I just discovered the best at-home microdermabrasion device, and after trying it out, was really wow-ed! I used the blue disks which are the finest gradient, and lightly went over my face and the back of my hands. The results? Super smooth, polished skin.

A very easy-does-it approach and watching the instructional DVD is highly recommended. The Personal Microderm is a serious skin care tool, and if you are a fan of microdermabrasion, this device can give you comparable results without the repeat spa visit pricetag – a must try!

Mythbuster Beauty is giving away one Personal Microderm System (retail value of $179). Be sure to enter and get some fantastic “take out” skin care for yourself!

Do you know what yesterday was? If you said “Thursday” then you get partial credit and a warning that nobody likes a smart aleck What “it”was in my neck of the woods was the counter launch for MAC’s To The Beach collection.

I went in about a week ago asking about the collection, since Karla at TNBTTGSY swatched them and made me want them SO BAD. Seriously, she swatches like nobody’s business. Anyhow, I was just dying for some of the collection and I hopped in to see if it was out yet. It wasn’t on the counter but my gal Jessica let me sift through the spanking new testers and pre-order what I wanted. You can bet your buns I went straight down after work yesterday to pick up my new babies. Good thing too, 3 of the 5 items I picked were already gone and the store had only been open for 3 hours! This is a really fun , not too bright(imho) collection and I will get tons of use out of my purchases.

For a full selection of swatches visit Karlas posts here and here. And click through at the end for my pictures as well

I nabbed Sweet & Punchy and Humid($14.50), two gorgeous shadows and Float on By($14.50), which is a beautiful dark green/turquoise eye pencil. Since no purchase is complete without lip color I also grabbed Lipglass in Splashing($14), a pretty pink, and a lipstick in Funbathing($14), a bronzed plum color. Funbathing is almost exactly a more sheer version of my favorite lipstick ever, MAC’s O. It’s a perfect way to wear my favorite color through summer and I’m so tickled that I just might have to go buy another one before it sells out. I highly suggest you run to your nearest MAC counter ASAP and give this collection a whirl, I love it. And hurry, some of these products are already sold out online! Read the rest of this entry »

Or, Ingredients Matter.

I had my first serious reaction to eye makeup about a week ago. The thing is, it was ultimately my fault.
I have in my possession some mineral shadows that contain dyes. While these aren’t strictly “mineral” shadows, the range of color offered from these dyes gives me some of the variety I crave. I am aware that many D&C dyes and other synthetic colors can be a problem, particularly in the eye area, but I decided to use the product anyway.
This isn’t a new concept for me. Writing here and researching certain common ingredients has led to an increased awareness on my part about the possible hazards of cosmetics. Knowing this I make my choices accordingly. I know the hubbub about parabens, and I understand it, but I will still purchase products with parabens. However, I have issues with ingredients like bismuth and dimethicone, and try to avoid them as much as possible. I have a responsibility to myself and the other women in my life to weigh risks and benefits and decide what is most important. These are personal decisions, and I won’t ever fault anyone for purchasing strictly organic products OR for not giving a damn and purchasing whatever they feel like. If you have the information you need then, well, you’re a grown up and you are entitled to do whatever you please. Read the rest of this entry »

Has anybody here NOT heard of Beautyfix yet? This is a really awesome service that sends out a bag of beauty goodies each season right to your door. Yep, 4 times a year you get a treasure trove of deluxe sample and/or full size products shipped straight to you. You can pick your products or just be surprised with their recommendations, it’s up to you. Normally all these treats are $49.99 a box, but if you use the code BFIX1 you can nab it for only $19.99, including shipping. This is a super fun and totally inexpensive way to try new products and pamper yourself. And with the promo code it’s almost too good to pass up!
(via Raging Rouge)

Who took advantage of the Urban Decay Friends and Family deal this time around? *raises hand* Ooh, ooh, I did! There were some new spring goodies available and of course I added a couple of them to my basket as well.

The two things I just had to add were the new makeup setting sprays by Skindinavia. There are 3 formulas available, but I just grabbed two to try out, the De Slick spray and the All Nighter formula. With my active job and the stuffy air in our work space, makeup has a tendency to slide right off of my oily/combination skin. I’m always on the lookout for anything to help keep my face in place, especially if it means I don’t have to touch up my makeup every hour or two and pile on powder. Read the rest of this entry »

Hello Mythbuster Beautiful People! Who doesn’t love long, thick lashes?

I am very happy to announce a very fabulous giveaway of one of my personal favorite lash enhancing products, Marini Lash from Jan Marini Skin Research!  I tried and reviewed Marini Lash over a year ago and had amazing results.  This product really works, but it costs a small fortune ($160). Considering that eyelash extensions usually run at about $200 and last for 2-4 months, and this product works and lasts for a full 6+ months, the price tag doesn’t sound as unreasonable as it first may seem.

Marini Lash is formulated using a proprietary peptide and avoids the use of Bimatoprost which can cause irritation, darkening of the iris, and/or upper lash line.

So, a few weeks ago I had hair trouble. My normally pin straight hair suddenly went wavy, overnight. After 4 helpless days trying to whip it into shape I finally just called my stylist and begged for emergency intervention. She cut and styled, and as she finished she mentioned that my hair could use a little love. “It’s been almost two years since this hair started to grow” she said, “you should think about treating it with an oil to perk it up and give it some life”.  I stashed the thought in my “someday I’ll try to remember that” file and went on my way.

A couple days later I was browsing online, as  do occasionally(okay, all the time) and came across something that opened my “someday” file right up. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s here! One of my favorite things to hear is “Friends and Family Sale”, and this time is no exception. I’ve already placed my order AND received my goodies, and I’d hate for you to miss out just because I forget to tell you about it!

Some new items to consider trying out for 30% less than usual:

Makeup setting sprays. Seriously, I’ve used mine for the last few days and I’m in love. Can’t wait to write up a review and really let you know what I think.
De-Slick in a Tube. If you love the oil absorbing powder(I do!), try it in gel form
24/7 anything. I love it all, eye liners, lip liners, concealer. Can’t go wrong with these and there are some great sets available too.
Tinted moisturizers. I haven’t tried these yet, but they’re NEW. I love new things!
Stardust eye shadows. Another review in the making for these bad boys. Lovely colors and glitter with no fall out.

Plus, it’s all 30% off. Just slap 1SFNF in the coupon code box and save yourself some lunch money! Urban Decay F&F runs through April 19th.

I was, sorry to say, defeated in my quest to own the Stacked1 set of pigments from MAC ($32.50 if you manage to find some). I did manage to hit the counter right after they recieved a second shipment of the stacked2 sets. While Stacked1 was a set of beautiful purples, Stacked2 is earthy tones of gold and light copper with an olive green thrown in for good measure.

Holy shimmery shine Batman, these pigments are super shiny metallics with just a tiny touch of glitter to really make them glow. Like most MAC pigments they’re super multi-use, and can be mixed with just about any product you have. I prefer mine foiled with a shadow sealant as an eye color, but I’ve used them above my cheekbone for some highlighting as well. I’m not a huge fan of the crumbly texture rather just a smooth powder (Temptalia has some great pics of the texture in the jar), but it blends and applies well without feeling chalky or chunky. The shiny color stays in place well with a sealant, and be sure not to get any on your clothes or you’ll look like a glitter bomb all day. One thing about these stacks that is both good and bad, there is a ton of product in each jar! If you’re like me and rarely repeat colors often then this will last forever.  I don’t think I’ll ever get to the end of these jars unless I start finding some serious extra uses for it. Since we’re still in the last dying clutches of winter here, I can’t think of a better way to coax the sun from its hiding place than by wearing something to give it a little inspiration, like these shiny reflective pigments!