I’m sure you have all heard that getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night is optimal for your health. Sleep is our bodies’ way of renewing itself and recuperating from the stress and the daily wear and tear of life. I honestly try to get my full 7 to 8 hours, heck, and I’d love 9 if I could manage it, but realistically women have many responsibilities that don’t always stop when the lights go off.  Between pets, kids and toys that spontaneously start *bleeping* in the wee hours, we often don’t get what our bodies need.

I recently received a letter from a busy mother of four even busier children. Becky writes,

Dear Jen,

I have a question for my friend the beauty blogger….what can I do about these puffy, dark eyes that I have? (Thanks in large part, I am sure to my beautiful new daughter! ) Do you have any ideas? I am currently using a Bobbi Brown eye moisturizing cream, but it does not seem to be doing the trick. I’d love any ideas.

I completely understand Becky, the one place that really shows the lack of sleep (and our age) are our eyes. (more…)

No matter what the price, a good eye treatment formula should have no strong fragrance or color, absorb quickly into your skin without leaving a greasy feeling and contain beneficial ingredients that will soothe, protect and repair your skin.

This year two of my favorite eye products have been: Caudalie’s VINEXPERT Anti-Ageing Serum Eyes and Lips, and DERMAdoctor’s Wrinkle Revenge Rescue & Protect Eye Balm (which is the eye formula I am currently using). These two formulas are not cheap and priced in the $60-$80 range, and I liked them because of how they felt, absorbed into my skin, and that their ingredients accomplished what they claimed.

Active Ingredients in Caudalie’s Vinexpert Anti-Ageing Serum Eyes and Lips ($70):

grape-seed polyphenols (OPC) – antioxidants that protect skin
ceramides 3 – are lipids that act as a barrier to hold in moisture and protect the skin
tetrapeptides-
horse chestnut – known to increase strength of veins and capillaries (may lighten dark circles)
liquorice/licorice- an antioxidant known to reduce inflammation and soothe irritation.
plant glycerine – moisturizer
calendula – known to soothe and protect the skin (more…)

Is the No. 1 wash from Clinique? Neutrogena? Nope!  I am feeling some Mythbuster Beauty validation because several of my favorite picks for cleansers are on the Total Beauty reader’s best list such as, Suki’s *Lemongrass Cleanser, Caudalie’s Foaming Cleanser, and *Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple! 

(*Click on the links to read Mythbuster Beauty reviews!)

A cleanser is a cleanser, right? Don’t they all do the same job? Hardly. Our readers gave us their two cents about which cleansers made their faces squeaky clean — without leaving their skin feeling like the Sahara. What product was ranked No. 1 by TotalBeauty.com members? Read on to find out.

See cleansers

The cooler weather is upon us and the cooler-drier air creates drier skin. My lips are constantly needing the protection and comfort from a good lip balm. I recently finished up my favorite Caudalie Lip Conditioner and found myself in the market for something new.

The last time I visited Sephora, I picked up the infamous Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15. I had heard so many wonderful things about this balm that I had to try it. So I picked it up for the hefty sum of $22.50 and have enjoyed its soothing, hydrating benefits.

However a few weeks ago, my friend Laurel gave me as a gift (thank you!) a “My Lip Stuff” lip balm in lemon buttercream. After one use I was hooked. Moisturizing, protective, basic lip balm that feels and smells wonderful, pretty much everything you crave from a lip balm. But something also struck me while using this lip balm, its uncanny smell and resemblance in texture and scent to the much more expensive Fresh Sugar product!

Again I have learned a very valuable lesson in beauti-economics, and that is many times the same or similar formulas are found in products that cost much less. In this case, Fresh’s container is a bit more substantial and the lid screws on so that there would be no accidental lid-loss, but for the savings you could buy several My Lip Stuff Balms (like 12). My Lip Stuff has a huge variety of lip balms with 400 different flavors to choose from like Crème Brulee, French Toast, Peanut Butter & Jelly (PB&J), and even Dog Poop Lip Balm (a yummy blend of Caramel & Coffee). You can also order their, “Pick Your Own Six Pack of Lip Balm” for $11! Now that’s a sweet deal.

Just browsing through the Beauty Exclusives you can pre-order now at Nordstrom.  These items caught my eye…

shu uemura Anniversary Lash Set (Nordstrom Exclusive)  Includes an Eyelash Curler that delivers the perfect curl; full-size Mascara (a lightweight, waterproof gel mascara that keeps lashes perfectly curled all day); and High-Performance Cleansing Oil (1.7 oz.) for $40.

I have been coveting after this eyelash curler for far too long!

CAUDALIE Anniversary Kit 2008 (Nordstrom Exclusive) This set includes a full-size lip conditioner (0.14 oz.), a mini bar soap, nourishing body lotion (1 oz.), gentle cleanser for face and eyes (1 oz.), hand and nail cream (0.5 oz.), and two skincare samples (contour cream for eyes and lips and energizing fluid) for $27.  A great way to sample my favorite skincare line! 

Laura Mercier Twilight Colour Collection.  Twilight Mini Eye Mosaic, with the help of a Double-Ended Smudge & Angled Eye Colour Brush, creates endless looks. A mini Purple Sapphire Kohl Eye Pencil and full-size Black Mascara enhance the dusky, smoky effect. Lips are in alluring shades of pinky mauve with Cinnamon Lip Glacé. A French Vanilla Hand Creme plays on the trend this fall to complete your look for $55.   This set is making me drool, what a great collection!

Now the hard part, what will I order?  What are your favorite Nordstrom Beauty Exclusives?

Times have been a-changing over at my favorite beauty webiste, including a new group of beauty reviewers.  Here is a great read for this week from Kate at Megsmakeup.com:

“July is always Skin Solutions month at Sephora.  It has really come to be one of my favorite animations over the years. Because as fun as makeup is – It’s important to take care of your canvas and there are some fabulous products that can make you look whiter, brighter, younger, more awake in just a couple steps –whether skincare or color or even fragrances! The mantra this month in our stores is “Truth or bare: Dare to bare your skin” and they’ve highlighted this little philosophy to go with it:

No more hiding your face behind oversized sunglasses or your legs in capri pants. We dare you to bare your skin (every last inch of it!) with solutions to your biggest bare-it-all beauty dilemmas–sun damage, short lashes, wrinkles, bikini lines, pale legs, no-makeup makeup; they’re all fair game here. So pick your beauty poison and peal off those layers to reveal skin that looks better in the buff. C’mon, we dare you.”

If you are looking for some new suggestions for some awesome skincare solutions take a walk on over to this post at Megs:   SKIN SECRETS! SATURDAYS AT SEPHORA! 

Two items that have caught my attention at Sephora are:

In Skincare, MD Skincare Skin Happens-Clear Up! Kit ($100 Value for $45)

Included are 15 applications of the Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, a 1.7 oz Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion, a 1.7 oz All-in-one Cleaning Form, a Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 15 sample, a 0.17 oz Correct & Perfect Spot Treatment deluxe sample, and a 0.5 oz All-Over Blemish Solution deluxe sample.

(This kit comes in three combinations:  Clear Up!, Calm Down!, and Even Out!)

In Makeup, Korres Mediterranean Sun Color Collection Kit ($62 Value for $35)

The kit includes a Illuminating Bronzing Powder (0.39 oz), a Deep Colour Mascara in Black (0.30 oz), and a Cherry Full Colour Lip Gloss in Fuchsia (0.20 oz ), in a reusable makeup bag.

This is a repeat post from a few months back, with some minor revisions…

Back in 1986, some of my high school friends and a few band geeks organized an event called the “Battle of the Bands.” The idea isn’t original, but their music certainly was. One of them even videotaped it and published it on YouTube! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpMhPx1B0vw) They all had visions of becoming the next Neil Young.

The memories of that teen scene bring me to the current topic. While the bands had their battles, I battled with bouts of acne as a teenager. I tried everything: antibiotics, Retin- A, benzoyl peroxide products like Clearasil, Noxema, cleaning pads like Stridex, and the lists goes on. All with varied results, I hated Retin-A.

I also loved to tan. I used baby oil and aluminum foil while laying out. Sunscreen? Are you kidding me!? I spent most of my babysitting money on trips to the tanning beds.

Now, as a mature, knowledgeable adult, I don’t tan anymore and religiously use sunscreen. However, due to hormones, stress and sun damage, I still battle with break outs!

Since a year ago, when I finally said ENOUGH, I set out on a quest for a real break out solution. I have been seeing a Dermatologist regularly. I use daily sunscreen & avoid the sun when possible. And, I invest in highly-recommended skincare lines and cosmetics.  My skin is making progress.  Slow, but real progress.

1. Consider Retin-A again, Renova and/or Generic Tretinoin Cream (it is an emollient and is much less harsh than what I tried as a teenager). I have read that every person over 30 can benefit from using Retin-A. That is unless you are pregnant or nursing…
2. Benzaclin Cream:  Px topical cream with both antibiotic and drying/healing properties. Good stuff for keeping zits at bay or spot treating an existing blemish.
3. Monthly Glycolic Peels: expensive procedure, but easy to do. There is no downtime and, over several peels, this procedure will improve your skin cell turnover rate, improve clarity, even tone, lighten pigmentation, etc.

OTC:

• Excellent Skincare Lines:  Caudalie, Suki, Cosmedicine, Kate Somerville, Philosophy… On a budget?  Cetaphil Lotion is a great cleanser.  Organic is nice to consider as well.  I try to avoid any cleansers that are harsh or that strip my skin.  Squeaky clean is not a good thing.
• Exfoliate: Lots out there, but I love Suki’s Lemongrass Cleanser, yummy lemon smell and both a scrub and a cleanser.  This leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed.  Be careful not to use facial scrubs on areas that are inflammed or currently breaking out.  Scrubs will only aggravate your breakouts.
• Facial Peels.  Removes dead skin and increases cell turnover rate.

1. Fruit Enzyme Peels.  One of my favorite fruit enzyme peels is from LooseLipsNY.com called, “Natural Pumpkin and 5% Multi Fruit Complex Peel.” Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes one a week and follow with a soothing lotion.
2. Another fantastic but not cheap peel is from Murad.  Murad’s Intensive Resurfacing Peel ($164 and used for 12 weeks) is the closest product that I have tried that is somewhat like a low concentration gylcolic peel that you would receive at a Dermatologists office.  Little bamboo beads, glycolic and salicylic acid provide a wonderul exfoliation.  The little plastic dispensers are infuriating and wasteful, but the product is great.  Both of these peels offer a good alternative to the Glycolic Peel from a Dermatologist and are a lot less expensive.

Everyone has a different skin journey to travel.  My heart goes out to those who suffer from acne.  Please feel free to share any of your solutions or favorite skincare products. 

As music legend Neil Young sings,“Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World!”

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!

I recently read an article at msn.com called “Overnight Beauty.”  I wanted to point out and discuss a few of the tips they suggested.  Overall it is a great read with very good information.  Note the concealer product that is recommended.  YES, our very favorite theBalm Anti-Aging Concealer!

Zap Zits  (Spot Treatments):

“Pimples may disappear like magic if, before retiring, you treat them with a product containing an antibacterial ingredient (bacteria can cause acne) and a sebum controller like zinc, says Kansas City, Missouri, dermatologist Audrey Kunin, M.D., associate clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. (Try Bio Jouvance Clarifying Iris Extract or Repêchage Hydra Refine Pore Perfecting Serum.)”

I have become a big fan of a prescription benzoyl peroxide/ antibiotic cream called Benzaclin.  I use it as a spot treatment, or on areas where my skin is prone to break outs (around my nose and chin).  I store it in my refrigerator and it will last for at least a year.  You can also read about other suggestions for spot treatments at this post.  My beauty blogging friend Christine at Temptalia recently wrote a great review about the Zeno Acne Clearning Device.

Moisturize Your Undereye Area:

“Hate the taut feeling of too-dry skin but find soothing eye gels too greasy? Dab on TheBalm Time Balm.  A concealer created to be worn day or night, it manages to feel superlight while delivering a slew of hydrators, including beeswax, soybean oil, and panthenol.”

I am not sure if I would personally wear this product at night time, but for a daytime concealer theBalm’s Anti-Aging concealer really rocks!   Another very luxurious and my personal favorite eye serum is Caudalie’s Anti-ageing Serum Eyes and Lips, full of antioxidants and soothing for the eye and lip areas.  This eye and lip serum penetrates my skin without feeling greasy or heavy, a great skincare investment.  J’adore les Caudalie!   Kate wouldn’t you agree?

Makeup Lingerie \mæk-ËŒkÉ™p lÉ‘n-jÉ™-ˈre\ n.  1. The beauty products that you cannot live without.  2.  The beauty items you always go to, the essentials, the must use them or I would feel wacky ones.  3.  The “bra and panties” that provide the foundation before you put on the rest of your daily “makeup wardrobe.”

(As in:  “I consider my makeup lingerie my mascara and my eyeliner, without them,  my eyes would be completely nondescript.”)  

- “Kate2004Rock’s Unabridged Dictionary“

After reading Kate’s post, I asked myself, what does my “makeup lingerie” consist of?  So, I decided to share with you some of my “intimates.”  Let’s start with skincare shall we?   I know skincare isn’t technically “makeup,” but your skin IS your canvas.  Beautiful and healthy skin is best way to assure everything else you put on will look its best.

A great cleanser:  Suki’s Lemongrass Cleanser.   Yeah, it is a broken record, I cannot live without it.  This was my #1 beauty find for 2007.  It is a gentle exfoliator and leaves my skin feeling clean but not over-stripped.  I use this once a day, usually in the AM.

A toner:  Suki’s White Willow Toner.   Removes any remaining cleanser product, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and balanced.   Look what Suki put in this remarkable toner!  A must for acne prone or sensitive skin.  The ingredients in this toner are:

organic rose petal, chamomile, calendula & tea tree infused in purified, filtered water, standardized white willow & chamomile extracts, white willow bark extracts distilled in fermented sugars, chamomile & rose, witch hazel distillate, pure, organic, food grade aloe vera, natural vitamin liposomes c & retinol, seaweed extracts & pure, premium, steam distilled essential oils.

A Treatment/Serum:  Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: 

If you haven’t heard me mention Caudalie before, stop and make note.  This is a fantastic skincare line.  The smell alone, Oooh la la! Vineyard grape goodness.  Rich in antioxidants, this serum really feeds and moisturizes your skin.  Please Kate make any comments below!

This is a very good start, and I am feeling a little bit exposed right now.   Feel free to share some of your favorite “lingerie” items, and remember we’re talking about beauty products here.