Beautiful Faces Wins Best of Westport Award for the second consecutive year!!!

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beautiful Faces Receives 2009 Best of Westport Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., March 20, 2009 —

For the second consecutive year, Beautiful Faces has been selected for the 2009 Best of Westport Award in the Hair Salons category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2008 Award recipients qualified as 2009 Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

We’re a Finalist for 2009 Small Business Awards

Beauty defies beastly statistics 

Despite persistently sluggish news about consumer spending, BeautifulFaces studio in Westport is seeing an upturn in new customers as compared to last year. Apparently, the worse the economy looks, the more important it is for women to look good. Gail Sagel, BeautifulFaces founder & owner, who was once an investment company executive herself, isn’t surprised. Long before the word “recession” was being used, she offered a steady stream of discounts for hair services and cosmetic products on her website.

All this hasn’t gone unrecognized. During the past year, BeautifulFaces won its second national award as “Best of Westport Hair Salon” from the U.S. Local Business Association. Another national award came from Chapeau Blog Awards naming BeautifulFaces winner of “2009 Best of Health and Beauty.” The latest award is from the New York Enterprise Report. Out of 500,000 small businesses in the tri‐state area, competing for 2009 Small Business Awards, BeautifulFaces is a finalist in the Sales and Marketing category.  We’re proud to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of Beautiful Faces,”said Robert Levin, Editor‐ in‐ Chief and Publisher of the New York Enterprise Report, the only media in the tri‐ state area exclusively for leaders of small businesses.

“These awards are extremely gratifying,”says Sagel, “and I believe they’e due to the expertise and skills of my hair and make‐up staff and the standards of perfection I demand for my product lines.”

We’re a Finalist for 2009 Small Business Awards

Beauty defies beastly statistics 

Despite persistently sluggish news about consumer spending, BeautifulFaces studio in Westport is seeing an upturn in new customers as compared to last year. Apparently, the worse the economy looks, the more important it is for women to look good. Gail Sagel, BeautifulFaces founder & owner, who was once an investment company executive herself, isn’t surprised. Long before the word “recession” was being used, she offered a steady stream of discounts for hair services and cosmetic products on her website.

All this hasn’t gone unrecognized. During the past year, BeautifulFaces won its second national award as “Best of Westport Hair Salon” from the U.S. Local Business Association. Another national award came from Chapeau Blog Awards naming BeautifulFaces winner of “2009 Best of Health and Beauty.” The latest award is from the New York Enterprise Report. Out of 500,000 small businesses in the tri‐state area, competing for 2009 Small Business Awards, BeautifulFaces is a finalist in the Sales and Marketing category.  We’re proud to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of Beautiful Faces,”said Robert Levin, Editor‐ in‐ Chief and Publisher of the New York Enterprise Report, the only media in the tri‐ state area exclusively for leaders of small businesses.

“These awards are extremely gratifying,”says Sagel, “and I believe they’e due to the expertise and skills of my hair and make‐up staff and the standards of perfection I demand for my product lines.”

We won this year’s Chapeau 2009 Best Blog for Health and Beauty

I feel like Elle from “Legally Blonde” in the final scene when she graduates from Harvard and she’s at the podium and cheers, “we did it!”

We won this year’s Chapeau 2009 Best Blog for Health and Beauty.

I’ve got to say that I think that’s really awesome. And, that’s because of all of you. I thank you - my readers, my bloggers. You give me inspiration and you give me great stories to share. Every day that I come into work someone shares a feel-good experience with me, or a special occasion or a part of themselves that I hold on to. I feel really lucky in life. My work is my passion and my pleasure and everyday that I go in, if I manage to make you just little happier, or feel a little more special than you are, then I’ve had a successful day.

 I want to personally thank all of you for your support and I look forward to our road we will travel going forward.

Be beautiful,

Gail Sagel

Peter Thomas Roth – Acne Treatment Kit

Wow for $35 what a deal. Peter Thomas Roth says, “We want to make one thing perfectly clear” and he does….your skin. Peter is a real guy who started off in the skin care business because he needed to clear up his own acne. He cleared it, and started this company and he has so many great products. I especially like this kit for fast action acne attack. Kit has a beta hydroxy acid wash, an AHA/BHA clearing gel, a sulfur/glycolic spot treatment, an oil free moisturizer and a mattifying gel to absorb excess oil. It’s like magic. Acne be gone!

Sue Devitt – E-Z Eye Roller Ball Eye Shadow

Roll em, roll em. Sue Devitt has the most amazing shimmer shadows and love her colors!! Easy to apply and easy to carry in your bag. These shimmery little wonders of eye shadow. are so great, especially at holiday time. Take your daytime eye makeup to an evening look in no time. Roll it on and let the good times roll. You are good to go anywhere

Becca – Water Resistant Color for Cheeks and Lips - Beach Tint

Ever wonder how some women look so good with no makeup at the beach? Or, wake up looking lightly blushed and radiant? Well, a few lucky ones do it naturally, but for the rest of us… I’ll let you in on the secret. Shhh…its a little tube of a crème stain called Beach Tint by Becca. This creamy little tint is kiss-proof and water-resistant, and it dries to a perfect, streak-free, non-greasy and non-drying finish. Use this tint on your cheeks and lips for that oh so natural look. It’s great for traveling, especially for vacationing and those sexy moments when you want to catch his eye, you are walking out of the water, wind in your hair and rosy blushed cheeks! Fabulous girls!

Voluspa – Seasons Collection Black and Violet Box

With so many different types and scents of candles out in the market how do you even begin to choose? Me, being such a visual person, I go first for the look. I need good packaging to get my attention. Then I like scents that are interesting, not too identifiable and always leave you feeling good. To me a good scent is like a good song, it captures a moment and leaves you with a memory that each time you walk into a room with that fragrance in the air – it just recalls a good feeling. These Voluspa candles are in very pretty little etched glasses, each 4oz and burns for 45 hours. And, the box… well the box is so cute all wrapped up in self wrapping ribbon. Here’s what really got me about these candles – all 4 are different scents but are designed to smell good together. So, I can burn one candle in my bedroom and another in the living room and another in the bathroom and the last one in the kitchen and the aromas of them together is just wonderful! The Black Voluspa Collection includes: Ginger Vanilla Clove, Winter Snow Flakes, Golden Pear Palo Santo, and Makassar Ebony & Peach. The Violet Voluspa Collection includes: Violet Box Fleurs de Fete, Deep Lilac Muguet, Lemon Frosted Biscotti, and Yuzu Rose Bubblebath.        

Sue Devitt- Gold Coast Bronzer

Remember when bronzers were orange and russet in color? I do and I remember always longing for a nice, neutral, cool toned bronzer. Well, the Gold Coast by Sue Devitt gives me, and you that color. Imagine it… It’s not orangey, it almost has a blue under-tone, it looks good on women who have any sort of ruddiness to their skin and it looks so natural – like the sun just gently bronzed you. I especially like this color to be used as a contouring product. Most of the times, when I’m doing makeup, I’ll place a bit of Gold Coast bronzer under a woman’s  cheek bone so I accentuate her bone structure. And, then I use a little blush over the cheeky area and blend right into the Gold Coast bronzer. It’s a beautiful effect. So before you buy your next bronzer, give this one a look. But, try it on. Things are not always as they seem- especially where women are concerned.

Buxom Lips - Bare Escentuals

Who says every body part needs to be small? This product plumps and stimulates lips like no other. It plumps your lips with 100% Bare Escentuals ingredients. Plus, the colors are great. Amber is a real crowd pleaser and it provides the PERFECT neutral color. Isn’t it liberating girls to finally be able to say the “bigger the better” and not be judged? And, it smells like sugar cookies and peppermint. Yum! Girls you need to “call in” to buy this product. Bare Escentuals doesn’t want us to sell it on line. Oh, and when you call us, ask us when the new Buxom colors are expected to come in. The new colors are gorgeous and have a lot of body to them. They are not as sheer as the Amber; they have more color and are more opaque.

Dr. Brandt’s - Laser Tight

Another Randi favorite, especially when she rises at 4:15 every morning for her favorite spin class. We all know that our face might need a little lift at this hour before one meets the world. So, she applies it first thing in the morning and within 20 minutes of getting to the gym, her face is not only lifted but revitalized.  Who says you can’t have it all, a lifted butt, and lifted face! I say go for it all! While Randi is using Laser Tight for her morning pickup, I use it for my evening “get me looking good to go tonight” cream. Maybe Dr.Brandt didn’t mean for it to be used that way, but after a long day at work, when I freshen my skin for the evening I like to spread the Laser Tight along with my tinted moisturizer or my foundation or whatever I’m wearing that night. It lifts me immediately. And, I love that little tingle. It’s like a glass of champagne for your skin.

Becca - Shimmering Powders

‘Tis the season to shimmer and shine! I just love adding a touch of shimmer, especially in the holiday season. It just makes me feel so cheery. So, I took a survey of a bunch of women who came into Beautiful-Faces and asked them what they liked the least about shimmer powders. The over all problem with shimmer is the glitter. I know that sounds funny, shimmers should be shimmery, but not glittery. I know I want to be able to wear a fine powder with a touch of shimmer both day and night, and maybe add on just a bit more for night. These Becca shimmer powders are the perfect weight and the perfect amount of shimmer – NO GLITTER. The Becca Shimmer powder adds a bit of radiance to your skin and I like that! The shimmer deflects light and makes us girls look more glowy. Take a full brush and shimmer away on your cheeks, your cheekbones, your neck and décolleté, your shoulders and all over your body. Don’t forget to add shimmer to your lips, too. It’s so… festive!

Fresh - Sugar Body Oil

When my husband tells me how much he loves my soft skin, I have to say that makes me feel good. I love to moisturize and I always have. Starting off with Jergens as a preteen, I quickly discovered the many attributes of body moisturizers. I love them and I am happy to try them all. Here’s one that I like, especially in the winter. It’s Fresh Sugar Body Oil. It has such a soft sweet smell. It’s a gentle oil filled with many essential oils and extracts, vitamins, antioxidants, white lily, calendula and passion flower. So it smells good, it’s calming to your skin and its healing oils improve of the overall texture of your skin. I like it right out of the shower, while my skin is still moist. It’s also great for massages, not too oily. And, we have a special price for it right now. Normally is $45, now its $40.50 and free shipping.

MD Skincare – Demand Results

Well here’s a great product and a great deal all wrapped into one and ready for the holiday season! If you haven’t ever tried the MD Skincare line, this is a great opportunity to get on board. This line is what I call result-oriented. You will see a difference in your skin within just a few days. It’s not a line that‘s designed to over hydrate you and just plump you up with all of the super hydrators. This line is known for its ability to actually change and improve your skin tone, skin texture, elasticity and radiance. The kit is valued at $185 and is now selling for $138. Inside of this kit, you get the infamous Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel Pads for 30 days use. You get small sizes of the Hydra Pure Firming Eye Cream, the Hydra Pure Antioxidant Firming Serum and the Hydra Pure Vitamin C Serum. All fabulous products… And, save all of your containers – they’re great for traveling, just refill them. I do wish they had included the Hydra Pure Intense Moisturizer. It works so well with the other products. Well, try the Demand Results and if you’re happy, then come back for the Hydra Pure Intense Moisturizer. I’ll see you soon. And, you know I’d love to hear what you think.

DDF - Silky C

I’m going to tell you all of the benefits of this Silky C serum, but one of my clients came in and she really said it best. Tina said, “I’m not calling this Silky C. I’m calling it ’Liquid Silk’. My skin never felt so smooth!” Not all vitamin C serums are the same and they’re not supposed to be. You can compare vitamin c serums from DDF to SkinCeuticals to Dr. Brandt to Darphin and you are going to find that they are all formulated differently and do not have the same effect on everyone. So here’s the secret about DDF’s Silky C – to me it’s the perfect C to use in the winter and the perfect C to use if you have dry skin or mature skin. It glides on like silk. As you may know, some C serums evaporate quickly and can leave your skin tighter immediately… And, that can be good sometimes. But, this serum is meant to soften your skin, while giving you all of its benefits. And the list of benefits is quite long. Silky C is an advanced blend of vitamin C, retinol, co-enzyme Q10 and phyto nutrients all designed to promote cellular renewal in your skin. It helps to increase your tone, improve your overall hydration and makes your skin smoother very quickly. I like a product that mixes the retinol and the coenzyme Q10 together. I think that helps to reduce the depth of your wrinkles, rather then just plumping them up, it seems to be actually refining them and smoothing them out.

Vincent Longo – Americana Lip Stain

This lipstick is what I call “starter red”. It’s the perfect red for women who are scared of red. It won’t overwhelm you. It’s sheer and looks great on everyone. Many younger women who are trying red lipstick for the first time will really love this color. There are other benefits of this Vincent Longo lipstick, too. It is a lip stain, so it actually leaves a bit of red behind and never totally wears off and it won’t bleed out of your lip line. Also, it has SPF15 - always good to get the sun protection. And, it has a glossy finish, so it’s not matte and drying. And, of course it’s hypoallergenic! Love it! Got to try it! Go Americana!!

Dr. Brandt - Microdermabrasion (In a Jar)

Exfoliating is really so good for your skin. It makes it younger, it gets rid of old, dead skin cells and lets the younger ones up so you can shine! But, is there really a difference from one exfoliator to the next??? I mean if I go into the drug store, I can find exfoliators for a fraction of the price of this one from Dr. Brandt. So, the question is do I need to spend more? Am I getting anything more? The answer is YES and YES. First, there is the composition of the crystals. Dr. Brandt’s crystals in this product are so smooth and perfectly spherical that they never irritate or scratch your skin. Most physical exfoliators are made of a material that gets crushed into small pieces and while we can’t with our eye see the jagged edges, many of the crystals are jagged and then they scratch our skin and can also break our capillaries. I know that we can’t see this happening, but certainly when you experience the smoothness of the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion, you’ll realize just how smooth, smooth can be. After you use this exfoliator, every skincare and makeup product you have will work and look better. Really!! My serums penetrate deeper, because they don’t have to get through layers of dead, old skin. My makeup looks better, smoother, and prettier – again because it’s not resting on any old, dead skin cells. Not only does my skin look better immediately, but it keeps its glow all day and for several days. I only use this Microdermabrasion about once a week, in the summer I use it twice a week, when there’s more humidity in the air. It’s great and it’s noticeable a step above many others.

Sue Devitt – Microquatic Hydrating Marine Minerals Blue Waters Eye Palette

This eye shadow looks like a picture – as pretty as a picture!! But, will it look good on me? It will…. Let me show you how… All of the shades of blue are very blendable and wearable. Here’s what I do. I take an eye liner brush, add a little water and dip it into the darkest blue and make eye liner. I like both top liner and bottom liner, too. Then, using a overall eyebase brush, I take the teal/blue shade and blend it over my lid to make a smoky blue eye lid. Then working right up the palette, I use the white as a highlighter. I also like to take a bit of the white and blend it just into the corner of my eye, at the lid area. For the night time, I will do this technique and make it deeper and I’ll also add in her eye intensifier pencil in either Chang Mai or Black Lavender. So, besides all the pretty eyes we’re making, I have to tell you that this eye shadow is actually good for you too. Yeah, yeah… I know. I’m always saying if you can wear a product; why not make it a healthy product? So, Sue Devitt initially became famous for her seaweed foundation formulas, which included ingredients to increase collagen production and revitalize cellular tissue. This new eye shadow offers extraordinary hydration for your eye area, never looking dry, but not getting creases either.

Susan Posnick – Color Flo Mineral Foundation Powder

There’s no better way to stand behind a product, then putting your name on it. Susan Posnick truly believes in the value of her brand. Her signature product is ColorFlo, which she developed as her response to getting proactive against skin cancer. Susan Posnick, a professional makeup artist since the 1970’s, had to face her own fight against skin cancer. Susan refocused her attention from the world of supermodels and photographers to answer the needs of so many women by creating a substantial sun protection mineral makeup that would help protect facial skin and potentially prevent skin cancer. Her mineral foundation, ColorFlo is an easy to use and looks great too makeup product. It is a mineral powder foundation in a refillable applicator, that’s easy to carry in your bag. It is available in 13 shades. Surely there will be a shade that will look good on you, too! What a great concept. No need to go without sun protection, when it’s so easy.

Frederic Fekkai – Glossing Products

Do you have long hair that you wish looked better? It can be especially hard to keep long hair looking strong, shiny and healthy. First my hair had to endure the summer sun and heat which was totally drying and damaging. And now it seems that I am constantly fusing with my hair, which means a non stop abuse of blow drying, flat irons and curling irons. One day I wear my hair straight, then another with curls - both processes requiring heat, which stress out my hair. What’s a girl to do? I gotta have shiny hair, but I like to style it, too. Have you tried the Glossing products from Frederic Fekkai? This is Fekkai’s most popular product line and for good reason. It’s because of the olive oil that makes it so good. The purpose of these three products is to wash your hair, condition your hair and treat your hair to a healthy dose of olive oil. The olive oil adds shine to dull hair and restores brilliance. It’s really great. No more lifeless, dry hair for me!! I love when people come up to me and say, “What did you do to your hair? It looks so shiny!” It’s the glossy products from Frederic Fekkai; they make my hair noticeable smother and more radiant. Got to love that!!!

Becca – Crème Blush

A four time Allure winner of best crème blush!! That’s right this little blush from Becca, an independent makeup brand has won the Allure Award for best crème blush for four years in a row. Becca, started by Rebecca Morrice Williams, is a cult cosmetic brand from Perth, Australia. Rebecca, well- respected for her choice of ingredients and desire to create makeup that looks natural, has certainly succeeded with this blush. This is the blush that makes you look like you’ve been kissed by the sun. Each one of Becca’s crème blush colors is rich in pigment and sheer in texture. I like to use them to finish a makeup look. Put your face on. Do your foundation, your eyes, your bronzer, your powder, your lips… and now you think you’re done? Now, put just a bit of Becca Crème Blush on your fingertips and gently glide over the very top of your cheek, just above the apple. That’s a gorgeous blush!! I like this technique of applying the crème blush at the very end. It heightens your cheek bones and brightens your eyes. As Rebecca says, “A face without blush looks flat.” True, true.

Peter Thomas Roth - Chamomile Cleanser

I love a cleanser that cleanses my skin, removes my makeup, doesn’t strip my skin of oils and doesn’t irritate me. I’m always searching for products and people that don’t irritate me. No, really…. You know what I like about this cleanser is the chamomile. It’s so soothing. Whenever one of my kids has an upset stomach, I always make them a cup of Chamomile tea. Chamomile is a natural herb that constricts blood vessels and calms the irritation. This is not a cleanser meant to work on specific skin concerns, but it is an overall general creamy cleanser. Peter Thomas Roth does make many cleansers that are geared to address specific skin concerns, but this one is a very good gentle one. It is a product that is excellent for everyone’s skin.

Napoleon Perdis – Auto Pilot

So, first let’s agree that makeup lasts longer with a primer. It does. So, does the paint on your house last longer when primed first too. Ok, so what’s so special about this primer? “Us beauty” knows, so let me tell you, too! Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer is filled with vitamin A and Chamomile extract. The chamomile calms your skin and evens out redness, even good for women with Rosacea. My friend Lori, a professional makeup artist for 14 years is now freelancing for Napoleon and absolutely swears by this primer. “It puts a barrier between your skin and your makeup, leaving your skin smoother than it actually is – it makes your skin look better than you could believe possible.” This primer is water-based and great for all skin types from oily to mature. When I wear Auto Pilot it keeps my makeup on all day long, it keeps the hydration in, yet it doesn’t make me shiny. And, I like the smell. I’m not sure what the scent is, but it’s fresh and clean. So, remember prime before you makeup and give this Auto Pilot a try. You’ll like it.

Per-feKt – Skin Perfection Gel

How many times have you looked at your face just two hours after applying your makeup and you’re oily? Your forehead is over-glowing, your nose, your chin… So, you grab for your pressed powder and dab. Or, maybe oil blotting sheet? I’ve tried both and sometimes I look over powdered and cakey. This Skin Perfection Gel is awesome! It keeps my skin cool, oil-free and pulled together. It’s sweat resistant and water resistant. It smoothes out my skin and fills in some of those imperfections, while it keeps in the moisture I do need and keeps away the oiliness I don’t need. It sounds almost too good to be true. Right? I know. And, it’s oil free, fragrance free and paraben free. And, and, and… could there be more? Ok, so it has alpha lipoic acid, vitamins A and E which all help to repair my skin and help fight against environmental skin damage. It’s a one of a kind product. It comes in translucent or tinted skin tones. Some times I wear it alone. Most of the times I put it either under or over my tinted moisturizer or my foundation. Women always ask me if Per-feKt should go on first or after makeup. I say try it and see. Some days I start off with it right from the start and other days, I use it as my touch up to go out for the evening. It just depends on my mood and what kind of day is ahead for me. Try it for yourself. You’ll see.

L’Artisan Parfumeur- Premier Figuier Eau de Toilette

L’Artisan is the queen of fig! They are the original fig perfume. And, fig, while always beautiful, is hot again! It’s green and that’s good! It’s a great blend of sweet leaves, the fruity fig, and the woody, earthly scent of the fig tree. But, what’s the smell really like? It’s intoxicating! It’s sexy! It’s deep and real. It’s like a woman walking into a room with a fabulous, confident smile with eyes dark and smokey and sensual. Like that sexy woman, Premier Figuier Eau de Toilette just draws you in and leaves you wanting more...

Hourglass Cosmetics– Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss

I bet there aren’t many of you who have heard of this little beauty of a company located in Venice, California? They are known for their high quality of ingredients in their cosmetic products. The press is certainly on to them. And, they for sure have noticed this new lip gloss, called Extreme Sheen. It is the crème de la crème of lip glosses. It’s pure luxury. It goes on very smooth, thick, but not goopy. It’s not too sheer. It has just the right amount of pigment; in so that it gives you color, but not overwhelming. It has not forgotten that it is a lip gloss; it is not a lip stick. I have fallen in love with the color, Ignite. It’s like a pale mocha with crystals in it. Sort of reminds me of a latte… Decadent…. Hmm…yum!

Susan Posnick - Color Eye Define

Susan Posnick is such a great makeup artist. I like her because she’s always so practical and gives us girls, products that we want and we need. She’s done it again with this Color Eye Define pencil and shadow all in one stick. I know that’s a mouthful. She created an eye shadow and eye liner that is on one applicator that gives beautiful color, it’s easy to use, and it fits snugly in your pocketbook. This single stick has one side of eyeliner and one side of eye shadow. No more cramming your bag with numerous items that get lost or crushed. Simplicity at its best! Besides all that ease and good stuff, I really like the colors. They’re so creative. I love the sapphire, the platinum and especially the amethyst!! Try them all; you can’t go wrong.

MD Skincare- Dr. Dennis Gross - Alpha Beta Daily Facial Peel

I wouldn’t think of letting a day go by without brushing my teeth and I wouldn’t let a day go by without gently exfoliating my skin with this one of a kind 2-step facial pads system. Exfoliate a little every day is my motto. That way you never get unnecessary irritation, redness or downtime. This mix of salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid keeps my skin clean, blemish free, smoothes away my fine lines and every day it increases my radiance. It’s true; it gets better every day. When this product first came out, they didn’t make travel packettes, just the at home containers. So, when I would go away for a weekend, I didn’t bother to take it along with me. I hate to pack so many things. I noticed that my skin always looked bad after a weekend away. At first, I chalked it up to drinking too much wine and staying up too late on my little weekend get always, but then I realized my skin was missing its daily dose of alpha betas. Now, when I go away, I’m smart. I take the travel packettes. It still amazes me that so many women don’t know of this wonder skin treatment. It’s gotten so much press from Allure, In Style, Lucky and I don’t how many others. Let’s just pass on the good word.

Alaur Skin Solutions – Virgin Skin

The name alone will get most people’s attention. Is it that it makes your skin young again and does it give it the never been sun-damaged, never touched by free radicals look? Sort of. On it’s own it’s a very nice moisturizer filled with vitamins and botanicals to nourish your skin. But, used in combination with the Clock-Stopping C and Rederma both from Alaur Skin Solutions, it’s really quite the trio. Another plus, that MK pointed out is that you don’t need a primer before you put on your makeup. It’s so smooth and acts as a moisturizer and primer all in one. Your skin will feel softer, smoother, and younger.

NAPOLEON PERDIS – MADAME BEYOND MASCARA BLACK

Napoleon Perdis, lawyer turned celebrity makeup artist, sure gets us girls and the affinity that we have for long lashes. He says, “Extend yourself”, but what he’s really saying with this Madame Beyond mascara is “extend” your lashes. I know that there are so many mascaras out there. It’s true. The next time your mascara that you’re using is getting to the end, and you’re about to replace it, don’t go and get the same ole’ mascara. Get this one. You’ll really like it. Everyone does. It’s very black, very glossy and never clumpy and yucky. I like the wand. It lets me wiggle up real close to my lash line, so I can get mascara into every little crevice possible. I need to do that, because my lashes are blonde and I want them dark and sexy. Madame Beyond does that!

ALAUR SKIN SOLUTIONS – CLOCK STOPPING C

Ok, well I’ve probably helped my teenagers write too many papers. Because as I was reading the list of ingredients in this new product, I came across the word, silymarin and the first thing I did was to go to Wikipedia to look it up and find out what it was. Anyway, I’m not writing a paper, but here goes. “Clinical tests have also shown its ability to protect against certain types of cancer (skin and prostate), probably due to its antioxidant properties.”

The point is that it is a very strong antioxidant and combine that with the 25% vitamin C solution and you get a very potent, but not irritating C. And, that’s because the C comes from Green Tea and in combo with the Meristem, which is the oak tree calming extract the key word to this product is anti-aging, yet calming and very effective.

ALAUR SKIN SOLUTIONS – REDERMA

Skin care does differ in many ways and new ingredients are always coming out. This line is created by Dr. Albert Lefkovits and one ingredient sets it apart from others. It’s called “TGF  beta 1″. It is a man made human growth factor made to stimulate collagen production and stimulate it does! So, what else is special? It has more than 75% green tea from polyphenols. That’s the green leafy part, the part that’s best for you. And, you know many medical studies are showing that green tea helps prevent skin cancer when applied topically. And, it has soy which shrinks larger pore size. And, it has caffeine which reduces redness and puffiness by constricting cappillaries.  Of course, I tried it myself and I gave it to a group of women to try it too. Everyone liked it. After just a short period of time, my skin was more radiant and fuller. A also saw that for some people it was calming, even for women with Rosacea and for other women it tightened their larger facial pores. It was pretty amazing how visible the results were. The product Rederma is unique. I haven’t seen that potent of a mix in anything else. It’s this mix of ingredients that increases your skin cell turnover and repairs tissue. Thos wrinkles better watch out, Rederma is going to smooth them away.

UE DEVITT - GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT LIPSTICK

You know what I like about this lipstick? I like that after it’s worn off, there’s still a little color to it. I mean it stains your lips a little. Not so much so like a lipstain that can be drying. But, just a little. So, when I put on this Sue Devitt lipstick just in this color – Great Australian Bight, along with my lip liner and a touch of gloss and I wear it and enjoy it, I find that many hours later, after drinking, chatting and eating, I still have the deep plum shade resting on my lips. I love that. Because when I’m really busy and I have no time to re do my lips from the start, It’s so easy that I can just pop on a bit of lip gloss right over this after stain and I know that my lips will be refreshed enough to keep me going until I can do the re application. By the way, I do love so many of Sue’s color’s but this is the only one that I’ve found has this special staining effect.

VINCENT LONGO - LIQUID EYE SHADOW

Don’t you just wish you could find an eye shadow that would just stay on all day and not move? Ok … I found it! It’s Vincent Longo’s Liquid Eye Shadow. First of all it looks great in all of the shimmery bronzy shades. It looks great all by itself or you can layer other powder shadows on top of it. But, I tell you … I can put it on first thing in the morning, before I run the morning school carpools, work all day,  do dinner and it’s still there at 11 o’clock at night when I look in the mirror to wash up for bed. There it is, this liquid eye shadow looking all fabulous and perfect, while the rest of me is absolutely exhausted. How dare it be so perfect! Check it out.

It’s all about GOLD!!!!

The price of Gold climbed to a fresh record above $1,200 an ounce yesterday.

The world LOVES gold. Everyone wants it. I love gold too, especially gold makeup. And, gold is so hot, too. Put gold everywhere, on your eyes, your lips, your cheeks, your body – I love GOLD!!!!

Got to have GOLD eyes…

• Napoleon Perdis Loose Dust in gold #1
• Becca Eye Tint Water Resistant Gilt Pour Les Yeux

• Bare Minerals Antique Pearl gold eye shadow loose powder

GOLD EYE PENCILS:

• Susan Posnick – Bronze/Copper
• Becca – Ibiza Line + Illuminate Pencil

Gold Cheeks:

• Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Opal
• Vincent Longo – Gold Solare Hydro Stick Bronzant
• Sue Devitt Gold Coast Bronzing Powder

And, GOLD shimmering lips:

• Lumesh – Sheila
• Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips – Joy
• Vincent Longo Pompeii Gold Lip Gloss

And…. For the gold bodies – got to glow with Glitz Sunkissed perfume with glitter and the St. Tropez Glitterati powder puff.

Razzle and dazzle with lots of gold jewelry too.

Check out the Lauren G Adams gold stackable rings.