Banish Dry, Flaky Skin!

Recently, my friend and I were having a heart to heart about our troubles with our largest organ...skin.  I confided in her that when I wear my black yoga pants it looks like someone clapped chalkboard erasers together near me.  My waistband, at the very least, is always covered in white powder.  Not really believing me I proved it to her by lightly rubbing my stomach.  Poof, epidermis everywhere!

Let me start by assuring you I take every possible measure to hydrate my skin and body.  I drink at least (most likely 16) 8 glasses of water a day, eat healthy, avoid salt (try to), exfoliate, use moisturizing body washes, put baby oil on when I'm still wet, apply lotion when I've toweled off, and often use lotion at bedtime.  You'd think I'd be able to slide across the floor like a wet seal, but sadly, nope.

Frustrated, I sought the help of my go to beauty guru, Sephora :o).  I searched almond oil and voila, I was presented with L'Occitane's Firming and Softening Supple Skin Oil.  SOLD!  When it arrived I was even more convinced it would work because of all the consumer test results and massage application instructions that were so attractively presented on the box.  I couldn't wait to shower and apply this heavenly (yet very faint) smelling oil on my chalky body.  Well, one week later I can happily tell you my skin is smooth, hydrated, free of flakes, and smells amazing (I keep smelling my forearm)!

Today, the L'Occitane's Cleansing and Soothing Shower Oil I ordered arrived and now I can't wait to add that to my shower regimen!

For all you mom's to be, this oil is also said to be great for pregnancy and stretch marks.  And I quote, "Product Plus:  Ideal before, during and after pregnancy."

Best Hand Lotion EVER!

Lotion is notorious for being slimy but it's the price we must pay for soft, itch free, crack free hands.  Or is it?  For years I've been using, and turning people on to, Jack Black's Industrial Strength Hand Healer.  "But it's Jack Black," some girls will say, "isn't it for guys?"  Does it really matter?  Nope.  This non-greasy, vegan, eucalyptus and vitamin packed lotion is the best for chapped and cracked hands and problem spots.

Also great for you and your guy (Kris may not say he loves it but always lets me know when we're out), Jack Black's Face Buff Energizing Scrub.  The menthol cools and invigorates and the scrub removes dirt and dead skin.  Your guy will love how easy and close his shave is after a once over with this wash.

Red Carpet Ready Mask

First, you should know that I rotate several masks.  A deep cleaning clay mask, an antioxidant filled pore clearing peel mask, and this one, Nude Skincare's Miracle Mask http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P212426&categoryId=C18820.  How did I find out about this mask?  Samples from Sephora http://www.sephora.com/, of course!  Did I commit to the $62 (free shipping) sticker price immediately after one use?  No, but I would have if I didn't have so many samples of it and the other products in the Nude Skincare line.  I have to say, I love all the products but I don't really feel like shelling out all that cash so I decided I would get the item that REALLY makes an immediate difference.  In short, this mask is supposed to make your face radiant.  I used it Sunday night since I'd been feeling kind of blah (mind, body, face and all) and as always, it did wonders immediately but I went to bed and kind of forgot I had used it.  Well, last night when I washed my face I thought, "gee, my face looks really pretty"and kind of left it at that.  Then this morning I thought the same thing about my skin, then remembered I had used my Nude Skincare Miracle Mask.  You can check it out and read what it does and how it does it but what's important to me is that when I use it I feel like my skin looks like it just received some Hollywood facial.  I usually reserve the use of this mask for special occasions and travel.  Use it the morning after a flight for that much needed skin refreshing or in the morning before a family get together or a night out on the town.  I actually bought the bottle so I could save my samples for travel.

Just give it a try.  If you have a Sephora store near you all you have to do is ask for a sample.  If you live near me I'm happy to let you try mine.  You can also just go ahead and order it online from Sephora http://www.sephora.com/.  They have free returns if something doesn't work out so what do you have to lose!?

Roots Be Gone!

I personally can't stand my hair the two weeks before my next appointment.  My hair has been completely gray since my late 20's.  I used to DIY with boxed color until I was introduced to my great, and reasonable, hairdresser who now does it for me every 6 weeks.  That's all fine and good but my hair grows pretty fast and gray roots are VERY noticeable with brown hair.  There's always been the option of grabbing another box of color or calling in for an emergency touch up.  I've even tried going every 4 weeks for a while but I felt like I was always having a hair appointment, plus the cost starts adding up.  So what do you do between appointments?  Well, there's a variety of messy touch up DIY boxes that all claim to be easier and blend better.  You could get those touch up pens or wands that deposit globs of color and paste your hair to your scalp.  And what about if it rains or you sweat?  Until recently, I was using a foundation brush to apply dark brown eye shadow to my roots.  The drama of it all just about makes me want to "go gray gracefully."

My saving grace (or what saved my brown hair) is this amazing new root concealer from Rita Hazan.  This master colorist has created a product that is the lightest aerosol mist from a pinpoint actuator (like the "straw" attached to your can of keyboard cleaner).  The water and sweat resistant color is sprayed exactly where you want it, dries almost instantly, and won't come off until you shampoo it out.  I know, I've slept with it on and it's never gotten on my pillows or sheets (even looks great the next day).  Since the application is so fine the four shades blend almost flawlessly with your color.  Really!

Now my color can look salon perfect 6, 8, even 12 weeks after my hair appointment.  People I've told about Rita Hazan's Root Concealer have been amazed and thrilled with the results themselves.  Extend the life of your color, and save money too.  Get yours now, only from Sephora http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P282611&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=6008(Amazon shoppers can purchase from Sephora through Amazon).

Truly "Fabulous Foaming Face Wash"

I'm a freebie junkie, thus, I'm the perfect customer.  It's like I'm screaming, "send me more, more, more so I can fall in love and BUY more, more, more!"

Not too long ago I found out my tried and true face scrub had been discontinued.  Now, this would have been tragic had I not just received a sample size bottle of Bliss' Fabulous Foaming Face Wash http://www.blissworld.com/bliss-fabulous-foaming-face-wash/.  Now, "Foaming" is not something that's going to sell me on a product, exfoliation is.  A lot of products say they exfoliate and I'm sure some actually do, but I have to FEEL the actually scrubbing while it's exfoliating.  So there I was, out of my favorite facial cleanser, forced to use a product I'd always thought wasn't something I'd love.  Boy was I wrong.  I had no idea there were tiny little scrubby particles in the Fabulous Foaming Face Wash.  The bottle says it exfoliates but you can't see anything in it and the blurbs about it in Bliss' catalog never mention tiny scrubby particles.  I couldn't believe it, it felt great and my skin felt great.  It wasn't as scrubby as my previous wash but it accomplished the same feel.  I loved it!  It feels fresh and light, smells great (not slightly medicinal like my previous wash), and, of course, it does what it claims to do.  Needless to say, I'm now on the second of my purchased full size bottles.

I highly recommend trying Bliss' Fabulous Foaming Face Wash for yourself.  You can walk into any Sephora and ask for a sample or you may even have one on hand from your last Bliss http://www.blissworld.com/ or Sephora http://www.sephora.com/ purchase.

Earn More Points At Sephora With Mascara

Calling all Sephora Beauty Insiders.  Now until 9/27 if you purchase any mascara (maybe badGal in Plum http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P222454&categoryId=B70 ) you will receive double points for your whole order.  You know what double points means, more deluxe samples and other goodies.

If you're not a Sephora Beauty Insider yet, sign up http://www.sephora.com/beautyinsider/index.jhtml%3B$sessionid$R3GQVBKDCVPFMCV0KSKBHOQ;jsessionid=R3GQVBKDCVPFMCV0KSKBHOQ.  It's free and easy.

No code is necessary to earn your double points so enter one of their other codes at check out like SKINSTARS and get 7 free skincare samples in addition to the 3 you always get to pick.  And, as always, shipping is free on purchases of $50 or more.

http://www.sephora.com/

Amazing Lashes-Be A BADgal

It won't take long for the world to realize I'm a self proclaimed Sephora Whora!  It's my go-to store and site for everything bath, body, beauty, and fun.  http://www.sephora.com/

You've asked so here it is, Benefit Cosmetics has my absolute FAVORITE mascara!  BADgal Plum Mascara intensifies your eye color as well as making your lashes look long and beautiful in a "natural" way.  I love the way it's not so in your face like black mascara and in the rain (or the lake) if a little smudges under your eyes you don't look like a raccoon.  http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P222454&categoryId=B70

I encourage everyone to head to their local Sephora (or my house) to try BADgal Plum Mascara on one eye...you'll notice that "I can't quite put my finger on what's so gorgeous about her" look right away and immediately apply to the other side!  While your there sign up to become a Beauty Insider for loads of free samples, birthday presents, deals, and a whole lot more.  Or sign up online.  Plus, you get free shipping on purchases of $50 and up.