June Jacobs – Brightening Moisturizer

I love a great lemon meringue pie - light, sweet, tangy… and the texture is just magical. You know it’s the citrus, the acidity of the lemon that gives the meringue its smooth, yet fluffy texture. I know because I’ve mastered the technique, after ruining numerous lemon meringue pies over the years. If you’re wondering what all this talk of meringue is about… It’s because June Jacobs new Brightening Moisturizer reminds me of lemon meringue pie. The texture of her moisturizer is just so cool and light and airy. I feel like I’d like to put a bit on a spoon and just take a little nibble.

brightening-moisturizerOkay, so the texture makes this moisturizer feel very different, but it’s the ingredients that really set it a part from others. First of all is paraben and preservative free – for those of you looking for au natural; this is it. Of course lemon peel extract is a main ingredient. Lemon helps to rejuvenate the skin and detox out the impurities. Then there are a slew of natural botanical lightening ingredients and antioxidants: bearberry root, mulberry root, licorice extract, gigawhite, pomegranate, gogi berry, grapeseed, red tea, green tea and white tea. This moisturizer is a real winner, especially in the warmer months when you want your skin to look clear and bright, but not laden down with heavy moisturizers, which can make your skin look tired. Wake up and try the June Jacobs Brightening Moisturizer. This moisturizer will bring a new luster to your skin. It is sure to brighten your day.

Dr. Brandt - Crease Release

Just when you thought Dr. Brandt couldn’t be more in tune with a woman’s needs, you stumble upon Crease Release. Put this product in your creases (face only ladies) and right before your eyes, your creases ceases to exist. Turn back the hands of time, in minimal time, with this powerful product. A further plus, is that it extends the life of your injectables which we all know is also a necessary evil in pursuing our quest for eternal youth. Remember girls, it is all good…

Dr. Brandt’s Crease Release is not a new product to the market. It’s now what I would call “tried and true”. Most women who are in their mid 40’s or younger absolutely love this product. Try using it on the little lines between your brows, the little lines by your eyes, and also the lines from your nose to your mouth. Crease Release makes the lines just disappear - instantly! I will add that the younger you are, and the shorter the time that those lines have been there, the more likely that Crease Release will have an elimination effect. Crease Release has a slight numbing effect and even for the lines that it doesn’t remove, it definitely relaxes them. As always, we have samples of Crease Release and we welcome you to try it before you buy it.

Occasionally some women, especially those with deep set lines, don’t get the promised results. So, try a sample first and see how it works for you. Also a little tip – your skin needs to be well exfoliated for Crease Release to work well and to blend into your skin. Some women complain of a white chalky finish, but that just happens if your skin is dry and won’t allow the Crease Release to penetrate into your skin and to do its job. You know by now that one of my favorite exfoliators is Dr. Brandt’s Microdermabrasion.

Sue Devitt – Monaco Electric Sheen Eye Shadow

Lately I’ve have many clients ask me for the “perfect” one color eye shadow. What would I recommend? I do love the style of wearing lots of black eye liner and then just one simple (but, it has to be perfect) eye shadow. So, here’s my suggestion. Sue Devitt Monaco Electric Sheen Eye Shadow. It’s just right for so many women of so many colors.

Monaco is a pinky, oatmeal, pale bronzy color with a slight movement of color – not a shimmer, but actually more like a sheen. It can stand alone. Just like the Principality of Monaco stands alone as an independent state in the heart of Europe, so can Monaco eye shadow be worn alone.

June Jacobs Spa Collection – Papaya Purifying Enzyme Masque & Perfect Pumpkin Peeling Enzyme Masque

Yesterday all of the June Jacobs Spa Collection arrived. It’s so exciting! I feel like a kid in a candy store. I don’t even know what to try first or what to share with you first. There’s just so much to talk about. Over the next several weeks, I’ll be using Junes’ products, my estheticians are all trained on them and we’ll be experiencing our clients’ reaction, too. Where to start? Last night I treated myself to a double peeling mask. That’s sort of like going to the gym and taking a 40 minute run on the treadmill, followed up by a great yoga class. Meaning that both forms of exercise are really good for you, but that they do different things for you body. Or, in this case these two masks do different things for your facial skin.



An occasional facial peel is a great way to loosen dead skin cells.  A good peeling mask will improve the texture of the skin while restoring elasticity. A good peeling mask will also relieve congestion, reduce pore size, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone and stimulate collage production.



pumpkinLet’s look at the two peels. First I did the June Jacobs Pumpkin Enzyme Peeling Masque. This is a great mask for sensitive skins or skin prone to acne. It’s not as intrusive as glycolic can be on some skins. This pumpkin peel mask has the richest source of beta carotene and also contains a full complement of Vitamin A derivatives. The antioxidants from pumpkin are amazing. They do so much good for your skin. They provide cellular rejuvenation through enzymatic exfoliation, strengthen cellular responses, and acts as a humectant to increase skin hydration. It is the perfect remedy for blackheads or dull, congested skin.



papaya1After my pumpkin peel, my skin felt great and looked so much clearer and brighter. I could have stopped there and on most nights I would have. But, honestly I was so eager to try June’s masques that I thought I’d treat myself to the Papaya masque too. The Papaya Peeling Enzyme Masque offers extensive benefits. This peel is loaded up with fruit extracts, which are just another way at getting at and removing the surface dead skin cells. Papaya is really effective at smoothing out wrinkles. And it is chock full of Vitamin A, which accelerates the formation of new skin cells, and lots of Vitamin C. And you know by now how great Vitamin C is for you skin and how much you need your fill of C. Papaya’s fruit extracts are so gentle to your skin that it’s hard to believe that it’s actually doing anything. There is no stinging or peeling and it smells so good. 



Both of her masques smell amazing. June has used all fresh, all natural ingredients and wow! After you wash off this mask, you skin will be like silk – mine was. And, it is today. Now I probably won’t do another back to back of the June Jacobs Pumpkin and Papaya Masques. Time is always an issue for me. But I will keep both of them and alternate their application. It’s hard to describe how each masque offered different benefits to my skin, but they did. Again, it’s sort of like being back at the gym. What’s better for you: a jog, an aerobics class, lifting weights, palettes, yoga….? They’re all good for you…. differently. That’s the best analogy I can give you.

One masque is better than none, but two or more types are even better.

Peter Thomas Roth - Power K Eye Rescue

My high school friend, Gina contacted me about how to get rid of under eye circles. It seems that she was asking me on behalf of her husband. And no woman as attractive as Gina wants a husband that has dark circles under her eyes. She deserves better than that. So, Gina – this is for you. A brief tutorial on under eye circles and what works and what doesn’t.



I will start off by telling you that not all darkness is fixable. Sometimes, it’s skin color or hereditary – and that’s not fixable. Sometimes its diet – too much caffeine can cause darkness or dehydration can be the problem. As with everything in life eating a well balanced diet, drinking lots of water and limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol will always help. Gina, your handsome husband looks like he could benefit from a product called Peter Thomas Roth “Power K Eye Rescue”.



powerk_eye_rescue_thumbJust read the ingredients in this oh so effective product: vitamin K, Coenzyme Q-10, kojic acid and vitamin C. So without sounding like I am one of my teenagers writing a term paper on the “Power K Eye Rescue”, I’ll give you a brief summary of the effects of these ingredients used topically and then you can determine for yourself if you should try it.



Peter Thomas Roth Power K Eye Rescue combats the underlying cause of darkening. This cream will remove or significantly lessen the appearance of dark circles under your eyes over time, no matter what the cause of your dark under-eye circles. Here’s what makes it work.

Vitamin K - Now, vitamin K is the best vitamin to remove dark circles under your eyes. Vitamin K removes dark circles under your eyes and the puffiness that comes along with it by healing the damaged capillaries and arteries under the skin and helping the blood circulating around the eyes to clot. To boost the results of this cream you can supplement your diet with more food containing Vitamin K. Vitamin K is found in most green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and is also found in avocados and kiwi fruit.

Coenzyme Q-10    What can Coenzyme Q-10 do for your skin? It gives you more collagen!  In most people over thirty, levels of Coenzyme Q-10 in the skin are below optimum, resulting in a lesser ability to produce collagen, elastin and other important skin molecules. Coenzyme Q-10 works to boost skin repair and regeneration and reduce free radical damage and it is a very small molecule that can relatively easily penetrate into skin cells. This means that it can actually work.

Kojic Acid was discovered as a natural product derived from a mushroom in Japan in 1989.  It has been successfully used to lighten pigment spots and skin discoloration and considered as an inhibitor for melanin. Kojic acid can eliminate free radicals, strengthen cell activity and lighten your skin.

Vitamin C  - It’s pretty well known that vitamin C increases collagen, removes free radicals from the skin and protects the skin against damage from the sun. But, it’s also potent in removing dark under-eye circles. I recently did a blog about vitamin C and how it can be unstable. You’ll notice on the label of this product that the ingredients are encapsulated in caviar. What that means is that the ingredients are in these little sterile containers that only are opened and exposed to the air as you use it each time – so it’s fresh and it’s stable. VERY UNIQUE and EFFECTIVE. Don’t complain about the price of this eye cream. It’s $100. Chalk that up to hefty ingredients and caviar technology.

Dr. Brandt - Laser Lightening Serum

Laser facial treatments are amazing and can be very effective, but you don’t always need the real laser to get real laser results. If you have some skin hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin tones as a result of blemishes, maybe some freckles – then you should try lightening them with Dr. Brandt’s Laser Lightening Serum. This serum can reverse the hands of time and reverse visible signs of photo-aging.

I like this product because it lightens and evens the skin without the ingredient hydroquinone. Instead this Laser Lightening Serum uses Albatin as the active ingredient. This Albatin is part of the skin whiteners’ or skin lighteners’ class, products which prevent the appearance and reduce the intensity of pigmented spots. It works at the intracellular level, as well as the intercellular level to help inhibit your melanin production. What I like about this product is that I’ve never heard of any adverse side effects; either it lightens and evens your skin or it doesn’t. But, it doesn’t cause any issues either way. This product works well on so many women. I’ve seen really dramatic results for so many women. And, for other women the resluts have been milder. The reason this product doesn’t work for everyone, is that some of the damage, UV damage in particular, is too deep for this product to have any effect. In this case, you may be a candidate for the real laser.

Now you may be wondering why I like a product that is hydroquinone free. Hydroquinone does lighten skin. It lightens your skin by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme needed to make melanin, which makes skin turn darker. Hydroquinone cream is very well tolerated by many women, but I‘ve seen too many women experience minor and temporary skin irritations, mild itching, stinging or reddening of their skin. I’ve also seen some women get more hyperpigmentation and get even darker skin due to using hydroquinone too long. So, it’s not an ingredient that I would reach for first, when looking to fade away some freckles or even out my skin tone.

I would first try the Dr. Brandt Laser Lightening Serum. Try it for about 3 months, but be sure your skin is very well exfoliated. Dr. Brandt’s Microdermabrasion for the face is an excellent way to prep your skin for the Laser Lightening.

Napoleon Perdis – Whipped Dream Tan Enhancer

Ok, Susan had to have this product too!! This Napoleon Perdis Whipped Dream is the creamiest streak-free enhancer that she’s ever used. And, this girl loves to be tan…so she’s tried them all. Susan loves the glow. This Whipped Dream creates a wonderful sheen. She wouldn’t dare wear a short dress without her Napoleon Perdis Whipped Dream on her legs. And, she swears that any time she’s gonna get naked she uses Whipped Dream. I recommend that you let it air dry and wash your hands after you apply it.

Napoleon Perdis – Summer Lovers Self Tanning Mousse

Susan just got back from Florida with a fabulous tan. She’s bronze and thin and looking fabulous and she wants to keep it that way. So, besides eating right, doing a little exercise, she’s using this tanner that works progressively.

Napoleon Perdis’ Summer Lover’s Self Tanner helps her prolong her tan and its moisturizing properties keep her skin looking like she just stepped off the beach. It’s a very sexy mousse and smells a bit tropical. Mmmmh…. This is a great self-tanner for women who try to avoid the sun, too. Susan swears by it. She says, “if you use it consistently, you too can have moist, bronze skin.”  Ok, Susan, so I know how to get the tan – now give us the scoop on your awesome figure! We want to look that good in our Rock & Republics too!

Dinner with Dr. Albert M. Lefkovits

He’s listed in the Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare; he’s listed in the Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, the Who’s Who in America and the Who’s Who in the World.

 And, it’s no wonder – Dr. Albert Lefkovits is just brilliant. He’s all about keeping skin healthy and keeping it young and tight. His work preventing skin cancer and developing treatments against melanoma has been widely recognized throughout the world. He is equally recognized as an educator of Botox® and his work with Restalyne®, Juvederm® and laser surgery. Dr. Lefkovits is up on every treatment that’s offered both here in the U.S. and in Europe. And, that makes him very qualified to know what our skin needs to preserve it, correct it and maintain it. It’s with those goals in mind that he created the Alaur Skin Solutions.

alaurlogolIn the last few months since we’ve started carrying his products, my clientele has never sang such praise. It’s a great line! Every client sees and feels immediate results. After this ever so informative dinner, I decided to bring in another product of his. Watch for the arrival of Alaur Skin Solutions Continuous Improvement Super ‘A’ Retinol.

 It really was an informative and fun evening. It ended with amazement as we watched the magic of Oz Pearlman. Oz made hundred dollar bills disappear and Dr. Lefkovits makes wrinkles disappear – they have quite a lot in common.

Dr. Brandt – “C” Gel

Dr. Brandt – “C” Gel

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. NOT ALL Vitamin C serums are created equal. You do need to use vitamin C everyday. If you have issues with your makeup lasting all day, then you should check out the Dr. Brandt C Gel. This Vitamin C will make your makeup look better and stay on longer. The Dr. Brandt C Gel has a nice, smooth texture and I just love that it also doubles as a makeup primer.



c-gelsmallIf you’re not sure why you need a Vitamin C serum everyday, then, let me remind you. Vitamin C Serum might be the single most important product to add to your daily skincare regimen. Vitamin C serum will protect you against the harmful effects of the sun, as well as work to fight free radicals with its potent antioxidant. It is the best anti-aging ingredient, as it stimulates your collagen production. One of the pluses of the Dr. Brandt C Gel is that it has a silicone texture which leaves the skin feeling silky and smoother.



When looking to purchase a Vitamin C Serum, you need to pay close attention to the concentration of Vitamin C contained in the product. Be very cautious when looking at most lotions or moisturizers as they have such a small amount of Vitamin C, it’s usually just enough so they can claim it is in the product, but in the end their product will offer little to no benefit to your skin. Don’t throw your dollars away on a supposed deal; don’t get caught up in the “Madoff Effect”. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably isn’t all that effective.

A good Vitamin C is expensive to manufacture, because the C formula tends to be unstable. A good stable vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or a good Vitamin C derivative (ascorbyl palmitate and magnesuim ascorbyl phosphate) costs around $80 to $125. Most Vitamin C formulas are highly acidic and therefore produce exfoliation, which is so necessary to remove surface dead skin cells. And, a good “C” will give you added stimulation for collagen cell formation, which will give you a more youthful appearance as it will reduce your fine lines and wrinkles.

Overall, a good Vitamin C serum packs a powerful punch for the skin.

Vincent Longo Cosmetics that Shimmer

A singer, who shall not be named, came in today for me to do her makeup for her performance tonight. She was looking for a very shimmery look. So, here’s what I did. I strolled over to our Vincent Longo counter, because he is known for his pizzazz.

After applying his wonderful Dolce Vita Lashes, I began her eyes with Vincent’s Liquid Eye shadow in Crème Flesh applying all over the lid, into the contour and just above the contour, leaving room for a highlighter. While the Liquid Eye Shadow was just a tad wet, I applied the Vincent Longo Eye Shimmer Soufflé in Argento. What a great combo! Dazzling actually…. I followed with both his black pencil and his black liquid liner and LOTS of it. Then I used his Dry Diamond Eye shadow in both Sparkle White and Midnight Taboo for highlighter and with a loose brush I added a light touch of shimmer everywhere. And then lots and lots of Vincent Longo black volumizing mascara. LOVE that Shimmer.

Gotta Get PerfeKt

So, if I told you that I could make your legs look smoother in just a few minutes - you wouldn’t believe me. And, if I told you that I could cover up most of your varicose veins and stretch marks in just a few minutes - you wouldn’t believe me. If I told you that I had discovered a product (not laser) that could even out uneven skin tones, cover your skin imperfections and make your legs look as smooth as sheer stockings - you’d listen. PerfeKt Body Perfection Gel does all that I say.

So, I’m down in Florida and between my self-tanner and a bit of the real sun, I’m definitely bronze and I do look better. But, let’s face it - I’m not 25! LOL. My legs have a lot of wear and tear on them and PerfeKt is just the remedy they need. I do love this trend of bare legs/no pantyhose. But, my legs do need some camouflage help. The other night I wore a simply fab dress, after gliding PerfeKt all over my legs, from toes to thighs - I went out and I felt sure that my legs looked great! Got to try PerfeKt Body Perfection Gel.

Peter Thomas Roth - Buffing Body Beads and Natural Self-Tanner

February break is a great time to get away. By now I’m just so tired of winter, the cold and all the snow. We had our first snowfall before Christmas and by now I’m ready for a little Florida sunshine. But, I’m looking at my pale, pasty skin and wondering how can I ever put on some of my little summer outfits with my legs, my arms, just all of me looking so winteresk. So, about a week before jetting off, I start exfoliating and self tanning.

I grab my Peter Thomas Roth Buffing Body Beads to give me the smoothest, silkiest skin ever. Then every night I start applying the PTR Natural Self Tanner. Each day, I exfoliate and “self-tan”. Love the effect - it’s so natural. The Buffing Beads are so gentle you can use them everyday. These beads are filled with lots of vitamins and nutrients to revitalize your skin.
The Peter Thomas Roth Natural Self-Tanner is great for all skin tones and there is no smell. Really.I like that I can control the depth of color that I want. If I use just a little then I just get a bit bronze. But, with daily use I can make my face and body a very deep bronze tan. Love it!! My friend Debbie is coming to meet me in just a few minutes and my tan is going to make me look like I’ve been here for a few weeks, not a mere few days.

Juice Beauty – Organics to Clear Skin

Are you looking to clear up your teenage skin, but you want the products to be healthy, natural and free of toxins? Well, take a look at Juice Beauty’s ”Organics to Clear Skin”. This 30 day kit is the perfect organic solution to clear, healthy skin. The kit includes a gentle citrus cleansing gel, a green apple peel for exfoliating and refining your pores, the Blemish Clearing Serum and their ever so popular oil-free pomegranate moisturizer. The kit also has a cute little eco-bamboo headband for when you wash and apply your peels – best to keep your hair out of your face.

Juice Beauty is filled with ingredients that are derived from fruit juices which make their products 95% organic. Lots of antioxidants in those juices, as well as alpha-lipoic acid, DMAE, peptides, vitamin C and coenzyme Q10. A big plus – no animal testing, all vegan, no artificial colors, no dyes, parabens or sulfates. All good stuff and none of the bad…. But, the main point is that these natural ingredients do clear the skin. Remember pimples come from bacteria. Keep your skin clean and pimples will never have a chance. Use Juice Beauty “Organics to Clear Skin” and your skin will clear up without any abrasive products to harm your precious young skin

Dr. Perricone - Health & Weight Management

How about a way to help you lose weight, increase your energy and put you in a better mood? I’m all for that! Lately I‘ve been feeling a bit dull and just kind of off. I’ve also picked up a few unwanted winter pounds and feeling bad about that too.

weight-lossSo, I’m walking around Beautiful-Faces and right under my nose, sitting right on the shelf is my answer – NV Perricone’s Health & Weight Management kit. Dr. Perricone put together his recommended group of vitamins and supplements and put it all into a 30 day kit. So, I was feeling down and I wanted to try something new, just to feel a bit better. And, you know what? It worked. After about 2 ½ weeks, I really am feeling chipper. This mix of vitamins boosts my metabolism, so I burn more body fat and it somehow also decreases my appetite and it lifts my spirits. Dr. Perricone has packaged these supplements into morning, noon and evening packets. Very convenient, because I for one would never take the time to open each bottle and take each pill.

 The packets include antioxidants, Tyrosine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, L-Carnitine, DMAE, Acetyl L—Carnitine, Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Evening Primrose Oil and Co-Q10. I didn’t know what all of these individually meant and I looked them all up on the Internet and it makes sense. Dr. Perricone knows how to manage our weight and mood

Vincent Longo – Dakota Red Lipstick

So last night, after working all day, I ran to the tailor to drop off a dress to be shortened for my daughter, then rushed home to prepare her dinner and then I thought I would quickly freshen up to go off to a local women’s function that promised to be very inspiring. So, I looked in the mirror after my day and I was quite uninspired.

I looked exhausted and I had no time for a real redo. I ran a brush through my hair, I pumped a large amount of Perfekt and gently blended it all over my tired face (You’ve got to try this Perfekt.) and then I grabbed my favorite red lipstick – Vincent Longo’s Dakota Red. Oh baby – it brought life to my face. It’s like a light bulb was just turned on. All of a sudden my cheeks had life, my eyes a tiny bit of sparkle. I didn’t even bother with a lip liner or gloss. Lately, I have been going for the intentionally “not” to be perfect lip. I put on a bit, smudge my lips together to get my natural lines and then go over that just a bit…so it looks more like a stain with lots of color but not too heavy and definitely not so much as to ever get that lipstick on the teeth thing happening. Anyway, thank you Vincent for the Dakota Red. You made my night, along with all of the wonderful women at the meeting. Thank you Lisa Wexler and Jill Zarin. Oh, btw, I did Lisa’s makeup earlier and she looked fresh and perfect and simply gorgeous.

February is the month for Sexy Things

The month of cupid does call out for us girls to get sexy and gorgeous and Vincent Longo, that hot Italian, very sexy himself, makeup artist has put together a little kit with all the tools we need to get sexy. The Vincent Longo Sexy Things Kit is just fab and on sale now too, for only $43.50.

I love his duo pencil. Put on lots of the Brown Orofila and smudge it with the other side the Golden Moss. You can never put on too much of these colors; they’re so smokey and soft. The Soul Trio of eye shadow really makes your eyes pop. You can use each bronzy shade separately or blend together. Love the shimmer! And, then “The Curl” mascara keeps your lashes turned up with that little lift at the end. A touch of concealer, where needed… the Clover Mist blush for that glowy moist…just waiting to be kissed fresh look. Love Toast Lipstick is a soft natural lip stain that shades your lips with just the perfect amount of color to enhance, but not overtake your lips. Follow with a touch a Bronzella Perfect Shine Lip Gloss and you are one hot and sexy lady.

If you have more questions about how to apply these Vincent Longo cosmetics to get the best look for you, then just email me your picture and I’ll give you a personal look and advice just for you!

I met June Jacobs

I had the pleasure of meeting with June Jacobs. June is the co-founder of the Peter Thomas Roth line of skincare and she is the owner of June Jacobs Labs, which is a laboratory that manufactures skincare, body and hair products for many companies, including her own spectacular line.

June’s line has all the buzz words. Paraben free, no toxins, preservative free, and all natural loaded with lots of fresh ingredients: cranberry, papaya, pumpkin and citrus, along with result oriented clinical products, like her Age Defying Copper Complex and the Brightening Serum and Moisturizer.  June just glows herself and it’s clear to see why. She uses all of her wonderful products and she takes great pride in all of her creations. And, she should. They are unique and very different than most botanical products on the market. I’d say that the most refreshing difference is the amount of all of the good stuff she puts in – one smell and you’ll know it’s the real deal.  I’m sold. I bought the line for us. So keep your eyes open and we’ll have all of June Jacob’s Spa Collection goodies here for you soon.

Sue Devitt - Automatic Concealer Bermuda Triangle

Sue Devitt’s, the makeup artist from Down Under has a silky smooth concealer called Automatic Camouflage Concealer. Bermuda Triangle is the color to own. As its name indicates it hides all.

It’s actually a peachy pink nude shade that is designed to counteract blue and green under-eye circles, making them disappear. No mineral oil here, instead Sue’s secret ingredient is Nylon-12, which allows the concealer to expand and contract with each and every facial movement, so when you move – it moves, instead of creasing like so many others. This uncreasable concealer leaves a soft finish and provides long lasting coverage. Apply just a stroke or two under your eye and blend. I also put a dab at the hollow of my eye to deflect any dark spots. A bit of Bermuda Triangle will ensure that you look well-rested, even if you’re not. I love the little sky blue roll up stick. It makes it so easy to find in my makeup bag or at the bottom of my pocketbook.

RevitaLash

This is a life changing product! Randi, who works with us, can’t stop raving about RevitaLash.  This summer, she was barbequing dinner when a barbequing mishap occurred. The barbeque blew up in her face and singed her face and eyelashes. For the next four weeks she used RevitaLash religiously every night before she went to bed and voila, her lashes grew beyond her wildest expectations.  With this fab find, she actually wonders whether her eyelashes are too long. So, she convinced me to try it.

Now…. I’ve never had good lashes.  I think when my mother was pregnant with me she was having daily cocktails and her evening cigarette, not knowing that she was forever ruining her unborn daughter’s eyelashes. Anyway , I used it for about 4 weeks and I too now have much better lashes. They grew longer and they are a bit thicker. I didn’t have the dramatic results that Randi has had. Her lashes are really to die for – but mine are much better then before RevitaLash.

So, even if you don’t have a barbeque mishap, RevitaLash will exceed all of your wildest eyelash expectations and it will be one less part of your body that you will angst about.

Vincent Longo - Hydro Stick

I know a lot of women think about bronzers in the summer, but this is one bronzer that is amazing in the winter. The packaging is easy; it just rolls up. The consistency is cool and gel-like. That’s because it’s mostly water and goes on feeling a bit wet, but then dries down instantly and leaves you looking glowy and moist. It gives a very youthful glow. That’s Vincent Longo cosmetics.

Hydro Stick comes in 4 great colors.  I use it everywhere – my checks, my neck, my eyes, my lips, my chest – it just glides on so smooth and easy. Two of the colors are bronzy like gold, which look amazing on darker skin women. I use the darker shades too -  to create contour. I like to contour just under my jaw line to accentuate contours I wish I still had. You can also use the darker shades in the sucked in part of your cheeks and then use the pinkyish shades to give a touch of blush right at the top of my cheekbone.

Or, mix this Vincent Longo Hydro Stick bronzer with your powder bronzer. Just put on your regular bronzer, then come back and glide this Hydro Stick over the top of your cheek bone, and blend upward with your fingertips. And, Wow! –Your cheek really pops. The color is so sheer, moist and natural looking. All 4 of them are. Be sure to put the top on tight when you’re finished using the Hydro Stick – don’t want it to dry out.

Bare Escentuals – Buffing Brush Collection

I always say that your makeup is only as good as your brushes. It’s true. You can have great makeup, but if you don’t have the right tools to apply it, then what’s the point? Bare Escentuals mineral makeup needs the right brushes to get the best look, as does every line of makeup. And, this set is a great value at only $48.

You get 5 brushes: the buki brush, the angled blush brush, the tapered eye shadow, the crease shadow and the slanted eyeliner brush. If you’ve been waiting for some company to give you a reason to treat yourself to a new brush set – here it is. Love the pewter carrying case!

MD Skincare – Hydra Pure Intense Moisturizer

There are so many good moisturizers to choose from that sometimes it’s hard to know what to choose. I love the MD Skincare products philosophy.

Dr. Gross always starts each product with this component that neutralizes heavy metals on the skin, unseen metals that block and clog the skin. Even the most potent antioxidants cannot get through dead skin cells. This is important because this moisturizer removes the dull skin first and then allows the antioxidants and the active ingredients to penetrate deeper into your skin. I think Louise’s reaction to Hydra Pure Intense Moisturizer told it all. She was hesitant at first to spend $125 on a moisturizer, but after one week of using it she came back in and bought the MD Skincare system. She was convinced. A radiant, glowing complexion and several complements later from her friends and even her husband were proof. Hydra Pure Intense delivers a lot of moisture, while it is still light weight and does not clog pores with heavy oils or fragrances. It also decreases redness and irritation. Got to like that!

I’ll help you clean out your makeup bag…

Aaah…. The first week of the New Year has passed and I feel like I’m inundated by my New Year’s resolutions. I’m trying to eat better, trying to exercise more regularly. What else do I need to do to get off to a good healthy 2009? I’ve been cleaning out my cabinets and drawers and disposing of old or “can’t use” kind of stuff. And, then I come across my makeup bag – and I realize that it’s time to clean out my makeup bag. Come on, I’ll help you do yours, too.

Let’s start with your mascara. Does a tube of mascara have an expiration date? Probably not. You may think to yourself. . .”Do I really need to replace my mascara every 60 days?” YES! Think about it for a minute. Where do bacteria breed? In dark, wet places. Now picture the inside of your favorite tube of mascara. . . .  Your mascara lives in that hotbed of bacteria and everyday it touches your lashes. Do I really need to go into that in any more detail? I hope not! Sometimes your mascara may even need to be replaced before 60 days. If your mascara clumps, flakes or is dry – get rid of it, even if it’s before 60 days.

What else do you have in your bag? Concealers are good for about 12 months and try to keep it clean. If you keep sharpening your eye pencils and lip pencils, you’ll keep removing the bacteria and keep it fresh. This way you should be able to use it until there’s nothing left to sharpen.  Powder eye shadows can last about 2 years, before they become a haven for bacteria, same with powder blushes or bronzers. Cream eye shadows last only about a year, same with cream blushes and cream bronzers. And, if you use your shadows wet, I’d only keep them for about a year. Loose powder lasts the longest, about 2 years. Powder foundations can last up to 2 years, while liquid foundations are only good for about 12 - 18 months and if it’s pressed, if could be even shorter. Lip glosses are good for about a year, while lipsticks may last for 2 -3 years. If you keep them in the refrigerator, you’ll prolong the life of them. But, if your lipgloss or lipstick ever smells bad, even if it’s shorter then the time I’ve spoken about – throw them away! And, lastly in your makeup bag are your brushes – your most important tools to great makeup. Brushes need to be washed about every 6-8 weeks. I like to use a mild soap, like a shea butter soap. Wash them gently, rinse them, reshape the brushes with your fingers and then lay them flat to dry. If you use makeup sponges, wash them weekly and replace them often. And, now I’m going to treat myself to a nice new, fresh, clean makeup bag!

My New Year’s Resolution – Take Care of My Face

You can buy new shoes all you want, but it’s your face that everyone is looking at all day. So, take care of it. We all want to put our best face forward. Make it your New Year’s Resolution to pay more attention to the largest organ of your body. . . Your skin! Here are some tips to a fabulous new you!

Stick to a regimen: Find products that are best for your skin and stick with them. You can’t expect any product to work if you are only using them here and there. Everyone should be using a cleanser, toner, moisturizer and eye cream daily. Other products like masks, exfoliants, and spot treatments can be used on an as-needed basis depending on your skin type and skincare concerns. All of these products can be confusing, so I recommend visiting a local skincare specialist for a consultation. You can always email me if you have any questions.

Most important is to get organized. Write down your routine for the week and post it inside of your medicine cabinet. Everytime you open your cabinet, whether to brush your teeth, floss or whatever… That list of how to take care of your skin is right there - in your face! Follow that list diligently, until you have muscle memory. Be patient and remember that your skin takes about 28 days to renew itself, so it’s going to take about that long for you to notice the major difference that your new routine is making. Stick with it and your hard work and determination will definitely pay off

Peter Thomas Roth – Exotic Collection of Buffing Beads

I love this little goody for traveling. These are the ever so famous Peter Thomas Roth botanical buffing beads which leaves your face and body oh so soft. It now comes in three other scents which will just intoxicate you. The set includes the Original Blue, Parisian Passion, Asian Sensation, Moroccan Spice and Caribbean Sunset Scents. This scrub is one of the best around. Ultra-fine jojoba beads and botanical nutrients work in two ways. First, they help exfoliate your dead skin cells, which allow your treatment products to actually penetrate and do what they are supposed to do.  These beads also help open up clogged pores and clear away blackheads and whiteheads. They do all of this with any irritation. I like using these products on my body before I sun bathe or before I self tan. It makes my tan look so much smother and deeper. It’s a good value too! Only $36.

Voluspa – Kyara Mini Ceramic Candle

My daughter got this as a secret Santa gift this year. What a sweet little surprise. The packaging is so nice. It looks great on her window sill. Her room is accented in orange and cranberry, so it matches great. But, the big surprise from this little ceramic jar is the scent. Kyara. I never heard of it before. It’s Japanese inspired, a deep earthy blend of precious woods and amber. It’s sweet, yet deep. I’m adding this to my “what to bring for a little token gift” when we go to friends’ home for dinner. My husband will probably still bring the wine, but I’m going to be special and different and bring my little Voluspa - Kyara.

Napoleon Perdis – Lip Lacquer

Is it wet or is it dry? It’s so wet that it looks like glass. There are so many different finishes for lip glosses and everyone has an opinion about what makes a good one. This product is slick, wet and easy to apply. This gloss is a favorite among our customers. Lips look so much like glass that you could probably see your own reflection in it.  And, unlike most glosses, this Napoleon Perdis Lacquer has real staying power.

Five gifts under $25 that show you put thought into choosing….

Do you need a little help finding those last minute gifts? Beautiful-Faces.com has fantastic gifts for under $25. So whether you’re looking for a gift for a friend, daughter, teacher or work mate, consider one of these thoughtful gifts.  Or maybe you just want to get a little something for yourself while prices are unbeatable! Great little stocking stuffers!

Frederic Fekkai - Anti Frizz Silkening Cream - A great find. She’ll be so happy to get this! A styling product that makes everyone’s hair so shiney and managable. $25

Lauren G Adams

Kisses and Hugs blue stackable ring -  $21.00

                                          Napoleon Perdis - Barely Blushing Cheek Tint  -$19.00

                                                       For the most natural blush…

Napoleon Perdis - Lip Lacquer - $20                   

1.            Oh… what gorgeous lips!!! 
2. Sue Devitt – Wicked Lash Line Enhancer - $20
3. Apply at your lashline for thicker lashes… 
   
   

Meristem Peels - Alaur Skin Solutions

We all had mini facials last night. What a great holiday treat! Sarah and Cheryl from Alaur Skin Solutions® popped in yesterday afternoon and Sarah just started talking to our clients and before you know it she was prepping skin and painting on the Meristem Peel–Off Mask.  We all looked like shiny aliens. But, after she peeled off the masks our skin was so soft and so hydrated. Susan says don’t be shy about putting on the mask; it’s got to really cover your skin. And, let it dry. We used blow dryers on our faces, some of us were so anxious to experience the results. One of our clients wanted to go home with the mask on her face, so the cold air would chill the mask. Masks generally make your skin feel clean and tight, and this one does that, but it’s also really hydrating and plumps up your skin. Meristem is the key ingredient, along with sage, arnica, matricaria and chamomile. Meristem, a natural oak tree protein, is an extraordinary anti-aging ingredient. Together these ingredients refine skin texture and release dead skin cells to encourage new cell growth. Mask one or two times a week. Meristem Mask is a winner of the “beauty awards - insider’s choice”. Thanks Alaur!! I vote for any product that makes me look young or younger.