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.

The amount of skin care and cosmetics products available is dizzying. New brands with new claims and new “miracle” products pop up every day. It would be great to know the true efficacy of all the products, the safety of all the ingredients, and the honesty of their “studies prove!” claims. That’s why Mythbuster Beauty came into being, to try and wade through the schlock and find the truth. After all, who wants to spend an obscene price for a big time moisturizer that amounts to nothing more than your average drugstore face cream?

Enter Paula Begoun’s ‘Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me’. This tome is often referred to as “the cosmetics bible”, and Paula labels herself “The Cosmetics Cop”. With names like that you’d expect a thorough, accurate detailing of products, ingredients, and results. On some points, it surely doesn’t disappoint. Now in its 7^th edition, ‘Don’t Go’ covers most major prestige and mass market brands. With her easy to understand rating system, Paula details ingredients and efficacy for skin care products, with the additional details of color and coverage for cosmetic products.

Pointers for blemish prone skin are devoted their own section, and she covers the basics of skin care before launching into reviews. And reviews are what this book is all about. Covering 151 brands, the thick review section is organized alphabetically and covers everything from Banana Boat to Mary Kay and La Mer. A broad disclaimer about personal preference and skin type handily covers liability for adverse reactions, not to mention libel from some of the companies she ruthlessly tears apart in her pages. A “best of” section at the end highlights the best performing products in each category, meaning you don’t have to skim every brand to find what might work best for you. The detailed entries about ingredients and the revelations about their actual effects are worth the price of the book, since protecting your skin should be of the utmost importance. But I do have some issues with this book.

Paula Begoun is a proponent of certain cosmetic styles I believe to be outdated. Some of her phrasing about certain products is insulting to their users. One brand review in particular calls into question the consumers self esteem. Several products that we here at MBB adore were rated poorly, with reviews entirely contrary to ours. Other products that we’ve had less than lackluster results from were given high praise. One of the only mascaras I have that doesn’t flake or smear on me gets low marks from her for flaking and smearing, while a cheap and chalky eye shadow is highly recommended, so it’s hard to tell exactly how some products will work for you. Just take a peek at Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-on pencils(a product we love) to see what I mean: “…isn’t the best fit for anyone’s “on the go” lifestyle, and the colors are mostly clownish”. The clownish part isn’t terribly surprising, since Paula doesn’t recommend shades of blue, violet, green, or red, or shadows with any shine. As she says, “Makeup that speaks louder than you do may be kicky and fun, but it doesn’t help empower a woman or help her be taken seriously. But, if being taken seriously isn’t your goal in life, then feel free to ignore my color and shine recommendations” (passive aggressive much?). Wow, way to set women back 20 years. Let’s fit into that box ladies, don’t stand out or be different, the only way to be taken seriously is with your looks, not your poise, speech, or intelligence. I have issues with that statement and the “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude behind it on so many different levels.

Paula advocates a matte finish on skin as well as matte eye shadows. I personally feel that a dewy finish to your face looks much more like your natural skin than a matte finish, and with the advances in the staying power of foundations, there’s no reason to be stuck with an overly matte finish. Matte foundation, powder, eye shadow, and semi matte lipstick together create a terribly 80’s shoulder pad type of look, a time when women were struggling to be acknowledged as capable and powerful. We’re past that now, and our cosmetics should be too. Rather than saying something might not be suited for every skin tone or age range, we are counseled to altogether avoid the things she deems too garish or unsuitable. Discounting her color critiques, the formula and finish reviews are helpful and accurate for the most part. Different regions have such varying climates that products which work well in the Pacific Northwest simply might not have the same staying power in D.C., and I would have liked to see some recommendations that were geographically based. Also missing are some of our favorite brands that have recently made it to the big show, such as Tarte , Caudalie, Cargo, and Alison Raffaele.

I would take some of her reviews and motives with a grain of salt. Only one line manages to get all positive reviews, and it should come as no surprise that it is her own. While she likely wanted to simply formulate a line that met her standards, there is clearly a desire to sell something that makes oneself money. The glowing reviews reserved for her products put into question reviews of competing brands. Also, the end of each product section guides you to Beautypedia.com, a subscription service that charges $24.95 a year to access complete updated product and brand reviews. You can, however, access a more limited range of free information at Paula’s website, Cosmeticscop.com.

I had high hopes for this guide that sadly weren’t quite met. All in all, ‘Don’t Go’ is a comprehensive, helpful, and informative guide about ingredients and claims. I think it should be considered akin to parenting advice books, in that it’s a good place to start but don’t take it as concrete and immovable gospel.

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?