Get Your Glow On With Jergens Giveaway…

How do you get your glow on during the summer months? Are you a bronzer kinda girl, self tanner expert, or do you just do it the old fashion way and slather up that baby oil while frying in the sun? Remember a few years back when Jergens first came out with their Natural Glow moisturizer? OMG, what a frenzy, retailers couldn’t keep the tubes on shelves. Fast forward to now, more and more people are opting to continue with this safer way to get that glowy color year-round…

To remind sun worshippers to trade in their tanning routines for a healthy glow, the Jergens® Skincare Team and The Skin Cancer Foundation enlisted award-winning actress and singer Jane Krakowski to spread the word. In a new video, Jane is divulging how she gets beautiful, natural-looking color with Jergens® natural glow moisturizers and is encouraging everyone who views her message to pass it on to someone who needs to get “in the glow” about the smart, safe way to get gorgeous color.

Each time the video is viewed from now until August 31, 2010, Jergens® Skincare Team will make a $1 donation* to The Skin Cancer Foundation. When you remind your friends and family to glow the safe way this summer, you’ll be helping save others’ skin, too.

To get a glow the healthy way this summer, try Jergens® natural glow REVITALIZING Daily Moisturizer. The newly upgraded formula delivers healthy, gradual color that lasts two times longer** with a powerful blend of antioxidants and Vitamin E. For a luminous, glowing complexion, try Jergens® natural glow HEALTHY COMPLEXION Daily Facial Moisturizer, specifically formulated for the face. Developed with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 20 protection, the dermatologist-tested, oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer helps prevent premature aging and protects against future damage as it delivers natural-looking color after several applications.

The Beautynista and Jergens has teamed up to give one lucky reader both the Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer and Healthy Complexion Daily Facial Moisturizer. To enter to win, simply leave a comment below. Contest ends Monday, April 5th @ 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen on Tuesday, April 6th.

Don’t forget to watch the video for a great cause!

*Jergens® Skincare will donate $1 per view, with a maximum donation of $20,000.  Campaign runs from March 19, 2010 – August 31, 2010.
** Than the leading lotion sunless tanner

Makeup Brushes 101…

I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone the other day, you know who you are, while she was out shopping for makeup brushes. When I asked her why was she looking for new brushes, she told me it was time to get some new ones and also because she’s NEVER washed the ones that she’s had for yeaaarrrssss. WHAT! Needless to say, she got an earful of why she should clean her brushes, I mean really. Frequent washing of your makeup brushes keeps them – and your face – clean and healthy…

There are tons of makeup brush cleansers out there to choose from. I myself use Clinique’s makeup brush cleanser, but honestly, good old dishwashing liquid or mild shampoo will do the trick.

The process is very simple:

1. Run the bristles under warm running water.

2. Apply a small amount of cleanser to bristles and rub it in. As you’re doing this, you will notice the makeup coming out. (Now imagine all that stuff being buffed into your skin every day.)

3. Rinse the bristles under running water. Do this until the water runs clear.

4. Lay your brushes flat on a towel to air dry. DO NOT have your brushes standing upright to dry. Doing so allows the water to run down into the handle of the brush, which can loosen the glue and cause the bristles to fall out.

5. Once brushes are dry, reshape the bristles.

Try to clean them weekly if you can. Doing so will keep them in tip top shape and save you money.

Tina Fey: Esquire cover…

Have you seen Tina Fey’s Esquire cover?  AOWWWW!  Do you think J.Lo helped her with that pose?

Elizabeth Arden: Sprung/Summer 2010…

Get Your Bronze On is this year’s sultry, summer color collection from Elizabeth Arden. If you are looking for a fresh, glamorous look to brush off those winter days, our Spring/Summer collection is exactly what you need!…

Get Your Bronze On is filled with luxurious products, including our star product Pure Finish Mineral Bronzing Powder. This amazing new formula conditions skin with fresh-ground, micro-light minerals that give you a beautiful natural glow, perfect for any summer day. The compact also comes with a collapsible kabuki brush, a must-have for every makeup bag. 

To achieve natural looking, even-toned skin, we’re introducing Pure Finish Mineral Tinted Moisturizer SPF15. This summer essential comes in four universally-flattering shades and is infused with micro-light minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. Shades include fair, light, medium and deep.

Ceramide Cream Blush, our first cream blush, is the perfect way to balance your sexy glow and complement your feminine cheek bones with a hint of color. Offered in three gorgeous shades, nectar, pink, honey and plum, the ultra-sheer formula will give your cheeks a hint of color, while leaving your skin looking fresh and vibrant.

Complete the look with new hot and sexy shades from our Ceramide Plump Perfect Lipstick line, which will turn heads and give you a fresh, sultry look. Ranging from a hot pink to scarlet red, they’re the perfect touch to a hot summer’s night out.

Available online and various department stores.

The Truth About Vitamin C…

Vitamin C, aka Ascorbic Acid, is one of the most popular ingrediens in skincare products today.  With promises of glowing, younger looking skin, who wouldn’t want to have it in their daily regimen.  Yes, it’s true that Vitamin C is great for your skin cells, but there are a few things you need to know…

Let’s start with the good news.  Vitamin C benefits skin in two very important ways:

First, it is essential for the synthesis of collagen,  the most abundant protein in the body.  Adding vitamin C to skin cells can dramatically increase the synthesis of collagen which results in younger looking skin, aka Halle Berry at 40+ giving these young chicas a run for their money.  Second, vitamin C is a great antioxidant that protects skin by neutralizing free radicals, which would otherwise destroy skin and its components.  As a result, wrinkles are less visible and your skin texture improves.  Sounds great right!!??

But here’s the problem:

Vitamin C is very unstable, unless it is in dry form.  Most of the skincare products out there promoting it as their main ingredient, are serums and moisturizers.   In the presence of air, it is easily converted to oxidized form which makes it incapable of boosting collagen synthesis or weakening those free radicals. You would need high concentrations of it to even have a chance to work by actually penetrating your skin.

So what’s a girl to do?  Well, one option is to try and get a dry product.  As mentioned above, the dry form of Vitamin C is not as unstable as the liquid form.  Philosophy’s Turbo Booster C powder is a topical powder that claims to be 99.8% effective.  The way you use it is to apply a scoop of the powder to your moisturizer daily.  DO NOT pour the entire bottle into you moisturizer people, you want it to be a fresh mix every time you apply.  A few years ago, I purchased this product at Sephora, but never used it long enough to notice any results.  Honestly, I just like the sound of mixing products together, it was my own little chemistry project.  I was in my mid twenties at the time and barely had any aging issues with my skin.  However, now that I’m a few years older, I want to incorporate vitamin C in my regimen and think this would be my best option at doing so.  I’ll letcha know how it goes in a few weeks…stay tuned!

Available at Sephora for $35.

Amber Rose’s Pink Lip…

Now this is how you rock a pink lip.  Take note Ashanti.  Amber’s a bad mamma jamma!  FAB!

Would you rock a daring color like this?

Spa Review: Ettoré Spa…

Ettoré Spa is a local spa in downtown Philadelphia located at the Marriot hotel.  I’ve been in and out once or twice to purchase hair products and have always been meaning to come back for a spa service.  So this past Sunday, at the last minute, I decided to take advantage of Spa Finder’s Deal Days and book the Stress Relief massage…

So here we go….

Staff:  When I first arrived, there were two ladies at each of their front desks.  I was not greeted when I walked in.  Once I said hello and asked where should I check in, I was told by one of the ladies, “either here or there is fine”.  A little awkward standing in the middle of two desks.  Once I was checked in, I was seated in the waiting area to fill out paperwork. 

Ambiance/Decor:  I didn’t get the spaaahh feel when I initially walked in but figured that was due to the hair salon being downstairs, which is normal when you have a spa with a hair salon located in it. I figured once I got upstairs it would be more serene and relaxing. The waiting area was small. Iced water available for guests. Uupstairs was not at all what I expected. It was quieter than downstairs, but nothing was spa-like about it. No waiting area upstairs. I was taken straight to the massage room to get undressed. Decor was basic. Walls were neutral colors and simple.

Service:  My female masseuse greeted me downstairs and escorted me upstairs to my room.  Once I was changed, she came in and began the massage.  I was not asked about my trouble spots, what type of pressure I like, etc.  Some of these questions were asked on the form I filled out, but I still think there should be some discussion or review of my answers.  Moving on, the massage itself was basic, nothing to run home about.  The pressure was not as deep as I like. Honestly, I barely felt anything.  She used way too much oil and was just slipping and sliding all over my body.  The massage felt rushed and was not very relaxing.  The best part of the massage was the warm towel placed on my back to take off the oil.  That was more relaxing to me than the actual massage.  When it was over, I still felt tense all over, especially in my upper back/shoulder area, which is where I carry all my stress if you will.  No stress was relieved.  Lastly, after the massage, I was never offered a glass of water, but was told several times how important it was to drink water after a massage.  hmmmmm?

The Highs:  Convenient location, accomodates last minute appointments.

The Lows: Staff not very attentive, barely any communication between masseuse and guest, service was not customized to my needs/concerns.

Final Verdict:  Even with the discounted rate, I was not impressed and will probably not return.  I feel there are better spas in the city that are worth the money. 

Ready, Set, SPA!…

Once again it’s on!…. Spa Week is next month from April 12th – April 18th.  Spa treatments for $50 and appointments are going fast.  I’m all booked for a facial at Deva spa. 

Where will you be heading?

2 Tips On How To Apply Mascara…

We all want to get the most out of our mascara.  Truth be told, it’s all about technique.  You can get pretty much any mascara to produce great results just based on how you apply it…

The first tip is one beauty editor Tia Williams learned from the pros (click pic below to watch)…

 
 
The second tip is from yours truly.  Well, not really from me, but I learned this a few months back while attending a MAC makeup class and It’s pretty simple.  Picture the motion your windshield wipers make on your car.  Use that same motion when initially applying your mascara.  Hold the wand upright, and using the tip of the wand, go back and forth, from left-to-right, across your lashes just like a windshield wiper.  After you’ve coated your lashes this way, go back, holding the wand horizantally this time, and reapply.  This helps get every lash coated, for a more even application!

What techniques do you use to apply mascara? 

Spa Review (Reader Review): Chill Spa…

A friend of mine recently visited NYC’s Chill Spa for a much needed massage. He caught a deal on Lifebooker and booked a deep tissue massage for $50 and wanted to share his experience (and a few pics) with us…

Ambiance/Decor:  Superbly clean, well lit and good ambianace music but decor was dated and low end. Equipment was also low end from the massage tables to towels to blankets to wall decorations. Free tea, coffee, mineral water and fruit/snacks in the waiting room.

Staff: Extremely friendly, appointment punctual, money transaction smooth. 

Service: Massseuse was knowledgable, communicative and had excellent hands, pressure was nearly perfect and constant, troubled areas were massaged so that,s how I knew she knew her stuff. Spent a good amount of time in each area. Basically covered 100% of my “massageable” body.

The Highs: Very good massage, incredible bang for the buck, very clean, very friendly staff.

The Lows: no high-end amenities.  Appeared to be understaffed and didnt have a dedicated person at the front desk, so I was left alone a couple of times.

Final Verdict: I would recommend and go back myself at the discounted price, but for the regular price of $95, I may consider going to a more high end place.

Thanks for the review A.  I think I will adopt that “massageable body” term. : )