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Jan 25, 2012

BB Creams: What the heck are they?

Whether you call in a Beauty Balm, like the brands launching them in the US are doing or a Blemish Balm like they've been referred to in Asia it's very likely that you've been seeing them pop up all over the place.  So let's chat a little about what these BB Creams actually do for your skin.  Beauty Balm creams offer up good coverage for the skin while providing benefits for the skin, so think a treatment cream mixed with a foundation.  The skin benefits you get will vary based on what brand you choose, but typically they are on the thicker side in texture and have some type of silicone in them for provide the perfect finish.  


Let's look at a few of the top contenders:  




1. Dr. Jart Water Fuse Beauty Balm - A moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum, this all-in-one product also hides imperfections.  Listed first because this product has a bit of a cult following, people swear by this stuff.  


2. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream - This multitasking tinted cream formula with SPF 35 hydrates, primes, perfects, controls oil, and protects for flawless skin on set and beyond.  Plus, it comes in four shades including medium and dark for us brown beauties!  




3. Garnier BB Cream - Hydrates for 24hrs, evens tone, corrects blemishes, boosts healthy glow, UV Protection SPF 15.  Up side, this will be available in drugstores as opposed to speciality beauty stores but it only comes in fair and medium so far.  Not exactly brown girl friendly.   


So as you can see these BB creams are the Over Achievers of the makeup world.  Will you be trying them out?  


9:30 AM by Joi 0 Cents , .



Jan 24, 2012

Versace Yellow Diamond Fragrance



The new fragrance by Versace, Yellow Diamond is a beautiful feminine citrusy scent.  It's an upbeat happy scent that's perfect for Spring.  Yellow Diamond features notes of citron, pear sorbet, bergamot, neroli, orange blossom, freesia, mimosa, nymphea, amber, palo santo wood and musk. 



"The yellow colour recalls the brightness, sensuality and great energy of this fragrance, able to depict and emphasize the charm and femininity of a woman"
Donatella Versace

This scent had some decent staying power for me and the dry down is a smoother and warmer than the initial scent.  Also available within this line are a shower gel and body lotion.  Available at Macys.com  


9:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents .



Jan 23, 2012

CND Shellac Spring 2012 Collection




CND, pioneer of runway nail fashions, is releasing six gorgeous brand new shades of Shellac Power Polish to the line-up in March 2012.  CND Shellac is the effortless alternative to basic polish because it dries instantly and delivers endless mirror shine with absolutely no chipping, smudging or dulling.  Plus, CND is rolling out a new certification program to make sure when you go to the salon and request CND Shellac that's exactly what you're getting, for more on the CND Salon Certified Program, click the link.  


The new collection features two shades that are meant for layering over any color, Silver VIP Status and Gold VIP Status.  Both offer a sheer shimmer effect.  Next up, is Dark Lava a deep raisin color.  Fourth from the left, is Rubble a mushroom taupe shade that I'm dying to try.  Then rounding out the new colors are Cityscape, a creamy dove grey (also on my list to try) and Silver Chrome, an iron metallic shade.  


Look out for these new shades March 2012.  


9:13 AM by Joi 0 Cents .



Jan 20, 2012

Beat Winter Dry Skin

There is nothing worse than dry, flaky, itchy, cracking skin and the colder it gets, the drier your skin can end up.  From your toes and heels, all the way up to your face and lips, and everywhere in-between Beauty Blvd. is here to help keep that dry skin at bay!   




In the Shower:  When you are in the shower, try using Lowila Care Cleansing Bar (Amazon.com) It is a dermatologist recommended, soap free cleanser that helps relieve dry, irritated skin that is so common during the winter months. It’s different from other cleansers because it is soap-free, which means that it works to hydrate skin more so than bar soaps do, making it ideal for anyone with skin sensitivities – adults and children alike.  I love that it has no scent and thoroughly lathers to cleanse my entire body without any irritation.   


Moisturizer:  Once you hop out the shower, try LAC-HYDRIN FIVE Moisturizing Lotion, (Amazon.com) it is a non-greasy, alpha-hydroxy-acid lotion formula that has been clinically proven to relieve the dryness and scaliness associated with dry skin.  The AHA in the lotion helps restore moisture to the skin by repairing the skin’s natural barrier. For those rough patches bust out the Seaweed Bath Co. Wildly Natural Seaweed Body Butter, www.seaweedbathco.com.  The packaging reminds me of a stick of deodorant but the buttery formula glides over your roughest areas to make them soft and smooth in no time.  


Face:  Mama Mio Clean Slate Cleanser is a paraben-free cleanser infuses skin with essential oils, firming proteins, pre- and pro-biotics and omegas to gently cleanse without over-drying, unbalancing or irritating skin.  It's highly fragranced but luckily it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, it actually smells like the spa.  After cleansing my skin, I immediately apply cream.  My favorite for right now is MD Forte Moisturizer, it's my when all else fails moisturizer.  


Lips:  Keeping your lips soft and smooth in the cold blistering weather can prove to be a little bit of a challenge, especially since you tend to go from dry heat, to the cold, to dry heat and back again.  I always have a stick of lip balm on me at all times, my favorites are Yu-Be, Bliss Fabulips, and MoistStick.  At night I always coat my lips with Waxelene, the petroleum jelly alternative.  


Skin Expert Dominique Tinkler of OMIC Skincare provides tips on what foods to avoid when you have Dry Skin.  Drinks like coffee and black tea dehydrate your internal tissues and skin. Most fried foods contain trans fats and hydrogenated oils which can often deplete levels of good fats and can lead to dry skin.  Instead you should focus on drinking lots of water and eating foods with good fats (which will help to keep cell walls strong and prevent water loss) like avocado and olive oil as well as citrus and kiwi (the potassium they contain regulates the body’s water levels). Cabbage has sulfur which can help to prevent dry, irritated skin. 


9:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents .