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Jun 7, 2009

10 Summer Beauty Must Haves

Top 10 Summer Beauty Must-Haves

TotalBeauty.com


Beauty products and tips for great beach hairstyles and glowing skin

New bathing suit? Check. Cute beach tote? Check. Glowing skin from head-to-toe? Ummmm... If you're not quite ready for the sand and swim season, check out this guide to look and feel your best all season long.

See tips


12:00 PM by Joi 0 Cents



Neon Tips


You know how much my mom loves Everlasting French Nails from Kiss right? If not here is the proof. Anyway, when I showed her these new nails she flipped out. She's always looking to me for new beauty trends and things, so when she saw me sporting bright neon nail polish of course she wanted some too. The downside: nail polish and my mom just don't mix, by the next day her manicures are full of chips. This is why the new Neon Limited Edition Everlasting French Nails from Kiss are perfect for her and anyone else who has the same polish issues. The Neon Everlasting French Nails come in three fun colors: hot pink, orange and green.
The Neon Everlasting Nail Kits will be on shelves now through out July 2009 at all major drug stores nationwide including Walgreens, Duane Reade, and Kmart for just $5.99


7:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents .



Jun 6, 2009

Waxing War Stories

Hair Removal War Stories

TotalBeauty.com


How bad is a Brazilian, really? Real women tell all!

We polled Total Beauty readers about their most common hair removal tortures. Find out what hurt the worst, and how to avoid the same mistakes.

Read stories


1:45 PM by Joi 0 Cents .



Banana Republic Beach Candle


There is nothing like sitting beach side on a hot summer day, if you can't get there Banana Republic will help you turn your own home into a Beach House with the limited edition Beach House Candle.


Top notes of beech tree leaves, sunny marigold, purple wisteria and honeysuckle nectar mingle with mid notes of English lavender, blooming white hydrangea, lily pond lotus and pink peony petals. The scent is grounded in a base of plush oakmoss, sun-bleached teak wood, burnished sandstone and South Hampton hedges, stirring the senses and transforming your environment into a seaside cottage. Available for a limited time at Banana Republic stores for just $20.


8:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents .



Jun 5, 2009

Estee Lauder Offer


There is an amazing offer going on right now at EstéeLauder.com!


With ANY purchase of $39.50 or more, customers will receive over $100 worth of free products -- and the BEST part? YOU get to choose the products you want!


Choose a 14-day supply from our best-selling moisturizers:

Time Zone (2009 CEW winner for Best Moisturizer)
DayWear Plus
Hydra Bright
Resilience Lift Extreme

And then choose which color collection suits your skintone best!

Warm Shades include the following Estée Lauder products:

High Gloss in Honey
*Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Coral
Double Wear Stay-In-Place Shadow Stick in Golden Peach
8 Estée Lauder Eyeshadows in shades Peach, Apricot, Chocolate, Praline and Amber Honey Quad


Cool Shades include the following Estée Lauder products:

High Gloss in Rose
*Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Tiramisu
Double Wear Stay-In-Place Shadow Stick in Pink Shell
8 Estée Lauder Eyeshadows in shades Mulberry, Lavender, Sugar Cube, Berry Ice and Smokey Pink Quad

Every gift includes a sample of Aerin Lauder's Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia fragrance and a chic City Square cosmetics bag! Available until June 14th so act now!


12:34 PM by Joi 0 Cents .



Mantastic: New AXE shower gels

With Father's Day right around the corner, why not make dad a great gift he will actually use while also saving money. The answer is a basket full of AXE products, in particular the brand new shower gels along with the AXE detailer. The brand new AXE shower gels are part of The Fixer's Collection, featuring 4 transformational body washes and 3 bodysprays to help keep guys keep up with their demanding social lives.

Me and the boyfriend have tested each one of the new AXE body washes, check out our he said-she said style reviews.



Shock – Shower Gel and bodyspray feature deep sea mint and menthol to wake guys up and keep them going throughout the night. She says: The shock shower gel has a slightly cooling feeling, but nothing too over the top and intense. It didn't exactly wake me up, but it was refreshing. This scent is very masculine so I don't see myself "stealing" this shower gel. He Says: The scent is nice, but the real shock is once the menthol and deep sea mint make it to your area of unmentionables, it's a intense tingly feeling on the family jewels.




Fever – Shower Gel and bodyspray feature Brazilian hot mud and dragon fruit to help guys ignite their caliente spirit and get the party going. She says: This is by far my favorite of the four shower gels, the scent is very unisex and reminds me somewhat of Fruit Punch. I also noticed a hint of scrubbers in there. He says: I like this one the best of the four too. It has fine scrubbies that work exfoliate well. Smells like juice.





Recovery – Shower Gel and bodyspray feature invigorating electrolytes to help bring guys back to life after a long night. She says: I skipped this shower gel because of the green color, I know it's meant for guys, but I just couldn't do the green gel. He says: It's okay, I didn't feel any more energized, but I did feel clean.





Snake Peel – Shower Scrub features cactus oil and desert minerals to help guys shed any regrets they may have from the night before. She says: Now this is the type of scrub action I'm used to in my shower gels. This scrub really gets in there and get's the exfoliation done. My skin felts smooth and soft after use. He says: Compared to Fever these scrubbers are like rock salt. I'm just getting into exfoliating scrubs and things and this was a bit too much for my baby soft skin. Haha - Baby soft skin? Riiightt.







The AXE detailer ups the action featuring a scrub side and a lather side. I had a very hard time finding the detailer in local drugstores, but it is available on drugstore.com if you are having the same problem.


12:01 PM by Joi 0 Cents .



Summer Fragrance - Pure White Linen Pink Coral


The newest fragrance from Estee Lauder will have you wishing for longer summer days and nights, Pure White Linen Pink Coral is a light and feminine fragrance.


Pure White Linen Pink Coral opens delicately with a gentle mist of Chinese Berry and Pink Peppercorns. When combined with juicy Apple Blossom, Water fruits and Clear Aldehydes, a sparkling crisp wetness and a dreamy bright floralcy greet you in the top notes of the fragrance. Next comes a perfect floral fusion that lingers with the pure innocence of Jasmine, Camellia Flower and a perfect accent of Honeysuckle. A blushing bouquet of Sweet Pea, Cherry Blossom, and Pink Peony follows closely behind, evoking the tender serenity of the ocean at daybreak. In the end, the petals float softly away leaving in their wake a peaceful whisper of creamy Sandalwood, sheer Vanilla and a caressing touch of Heliotrope.


As soon as I got the bottle my mother was there and squealed about how pretty and simplic the bottle was and once she took a whiff, she was in love. I agreed with her that the scent is very nice, but she was head over heels so I let her keep the bottle. She has been wearing it everyday since and I must admit when I catch a hint of the fragrance it is quite lovely.
The fragrance is available at EsteeLauder.com


12:00 PM by Joi 0 Cents .



Curel Giveaway Winners

Thank you so much to everyone who entered to win the Curel giveaway! Without any more delays here are the winners:

Commentor #22 Carrie
Commentor # 6 Hawaiian1
Commentor # 8 Shelli
Commentor #21 Aimee
Commentor #18 BonafideLatina

Please email your mailing address to thebeautyblvd(at)gmail(dot)com, subject Curel as soon as possible to claim your prize.

If you did not win, please stay tuned for another great giveaway coming very soon.


11:21 AM by Joi 1 Cents



Jun 4, 2009

Sunglasses - Tom Ford Style

What would summer be without a fabulous pair of sunglasses?  It just wouldn't be right, that's why when I spotted these sunglasses my heart nearly stopped.  I present to you, The "Miranda" by Tom Ford.  

When I saw the price tag, I think my heart did stop or at the very least skip a beat.  Priced at $450 these sunglasses are officially on my lust list.  


8:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents , .



Jun 3, 2009

Perfect Teeth: Expected Outcome


A while ago I shared with you that I was getting my teeth fixed once and for all.  I'm getting Clear Correct braces (similar to invisalign) and my dentist was nice enough to share the image she received from the company for approval.  


Here is how it works:  First you visit your dentist and they take molds of your top and bottom teeth.  It's pretty simple and then they ship out your molds so the company can then make your virtual mouth.  Once they create your virtual mouth, they can move your teeth around virtually to show what you teeth will look like once the whole process is complete.  Clear Correct sends the before and after image to your dentist for approval, once it's approved they create your trays (the braces) and ship them out.  This would thing takes a little over a month, I'm scheduled to get my first set put in next friday, so I'll keep you posted.  


12:00 PM by Joi 1 Cents .



Marc My Words



Marc my words, by the fall I will have a Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag.  I'm so lusting over several designs and colors, but I can't seem to make up my mind and buying two or three is out of my price range at the moment.  

Check out the interior of this bag, isn't it so cute?  It's large enough to carry all my essentials, yet not in the "over the top huge category." 


10:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents .



MD Spot Treatment


MD Skincare All-Over Blemish Solution is my brand new favorite spot treatment.  The texture is similar to Smashbox cosmetics primer, it's smooth and matte.  I love this spot treatment because it actually works, and you can apply throughout the day without anyone knowing.  The completely clear formula goes on clear and dries clear to provide discreet blemish fading action.  


Here is how it works: 

"It is known that like dissolves like.  We are the first to effectively formulate a base that is an oil-like, lipid loving, substance.  this enables it to go deep into pores to dissolve plugs, while delivering a powerful combination of active ingredients ~  breaking down existing blemishes faster by working from the outside-in and preventing future blemishes from the inside-out.
  • Salicylic Acid helps lift and remove the blackhead or waxy plug that is clogging the pore.
  • Farnesol kills bacteria found deep in a pore that leads to breakouts.
  • Bisabolol helps soothe redness and reduce inflammation.

    • All-Over Blemish Solution also helps reduce shine, pore size, redness and inflammation."




    7:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents .



    Jun 2, 2009

    Fade Away

    Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Acne Mark Fading Peel is a new addition to my skin care regimen. I am still using the Advanced Solutions Cleanser and moisturizer, I have just added this in. Every few days I apply this product in attempts to help fade the proof that I have acne issues. The product goes on like a cleanser with microbeads to help exfoliate as you apply the peel to your face. Once it's on you just let it sit for about 15-20 minutes, it does not burn on tingle my skin unless I have a pimple, then it stings a little bit on that spot. Once your 15-20 minutes are up you just rinse it away with warm water. So far so good, my spots are fading slowly but surely thanks to this and a few other products I am using.

    Has anyone tried this Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Acne Mark Fading Peel Acne Treatment? If so, what are your thoughts?


    7:00 AM by Joi 1 Cents .



    Just a Pinch




    Have you ever heard that old wives beauty tip, just pinch your cheeks for a nice rosy hue? Well not only does it only work for a split second, if you have hypersensitive skin like me you might end up with a nice swollen whelp. Instead, MAC Cosmetics Just a Pinch Gel Blush is all you need for a wash of color without the sting. I have to admit that when I was browsing around at the MAC counter for some new stuff, the gel blush was the last thing I thought I would leave with. I'm usually not a blush kind of girl, the application can be tricky and the results can look less than natural, but the sales girl talked me into letting her apply some on one cheek just so I could see. Once it was on I loved it, but I really couldn't imagine being able to pull it off alone. She was nice enough to give me some pointers and really the MAC Cosmetics Gel Blush is easier to use than it looks. The next time you're at a MAC counter try some out!

    Since the color is very sheer you build it up as much as you want, in my opinion less is always more. So start with a small amount, because you can always add more later, it gets trickier if you want to remove some. Added bonus: MAC Cosmetics Gel Blushes can be used on lips too.


    7:00 AM by Joi 0 Cents .



    Swimwear for Your Body Type

    Summer has arrived!  Time to break out those bathing suits.... Tell me you already have your bathing suit, right?  No, okay okay me either, but our Fabulous Stylista T. Wade is here to share with you the best suits for your body type.  

    Full Coverage Halter-Top





    A full coverage halter-top swimsuit is best for top heavy women. Usually a C cup or larger chest women look exceptional in this type of swimsuit. The girls will sit up nice, no need to worry about the gravitational pull. Small chested women should stay clear of full coverage halter tops as the triangular silhouette will only cover her chest.


    Tankini


    Tankini swimsuits are essential when there's a problem area in the abdominal region of your tummy. Perhaps you just had a little one, or "it's that time of the month" and you're bloated. A Tankini can solve that issue right away because it covers this area effectively without looking like an old lady. Also if you're on the curvy side and a bit insecure about your body type but you still want to look sexy, the tankini is a great alternative. You can keep up your sexy without having to be totally covered up.


    Bandeau Tube Top


    Women with small chest can only wear the bandeau tube top. Have you ever been to the beach and you see a women with double D's in a tube top? The result will always be spillage. She will be forever spilling out the tube top and constantly tugging to try to keep those girls in place. Usually women with an athletic built look great in the Tube Top swimsuit.






    Monokini

    This swimsuit exudes confidence. The only recommendation for taking the monokini risk is a sexy body and confidence. If you are positive that you possess these two elements then I'm sure this swimsuit will work for you.








    One-piece



    On the contrary from the monokini, the one-piece swimsuit is for all the curvy women out there. This swimsuit will offer you total coverage with just a little tiny bit of sexy.






    Triangle Teeny Bikini


    "She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini." Most of us know this song and remember the girl in the commercial eating nothing but yogurt. Well, I wouldn't take it to that extreme, but I would recommend a lean body in order to pull this off. Long torsos, lean physiques can successfully pull this off.







    Basically, the most important aspect when swimsuit shopping is you must know your body type. 

    Fashionable Tip: Denial exists in all of us, however the camera doesn't lie. We all have camera phones, bring your most honest friend with you and snap away. This great technique will help you sifter out what works and does not work.


    7:00 AM by T. Wade 1 Cents .



    Jun 1, 2009

    Curel Giveaway


    Don't forget to enter to win Curel's Continuous Comfort Original Formula Lotion and Targeted Therapy Fast Absorbing Hand & Cuticle Cream.  Enter here


    1:00 PM by Joi 0 Cents



    Turn your bathroom into Planet Spa

    Avon helps you turn your bathroon into a Planet Spa on the cheap.  I'm such a sucker for Avon products and I was beyond excited when you were finally able to order online, but there is still something about ordering from a catalog.  Anyway, my most recent purchases from Avon were from the Planet Spa collection.  





    PLANET SPA African Shea Butter Brown Sugar Body Scrub is an awesome scrub and great value for the money.  It only costs about $7.  It thoroughly exfoliates your skin and instead of drying you out it actually has moisturizing properties, without the base of the scrub being an oil.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for an oil based scrub but sometimes it's a little too much work.  This is perfect to switch it up a bit.  




    To finish up the experience moisturize your skin post shower with PLANET SPA African Shea Butter Whipped Body Balm.  This whipped body balm is super thick and creamy, yet rubs in relatively quickly and gives your skin long lasting suppleness.  The scent is very coco butter-ish to me and I love that, it reminds me of back in the day when my Gram would slather me down in coco butter.  


    12:00 PM by Joi 0 Cents .



    Summer Ready Face


    Spring and Summer 2009 is all about clear skin, I mean seriously when is it ever not about clear skin? But not just clear skin, runway faces were fresh and radiant, radiant skin and clear skin are two different animals. Clear skin is just the beginning! Getting skin to the next level, where radiant skin lives requires a few extra steps.

    1. Exfoliation - exfoliation is not just for the body. Kenzo Exfoliating Flakes are a good pick if you don't mind a mild fragrance to your skin care products. These exfoliating particles are not bound up in a cream, but delivered just as they are. Full of vitality, these micro flakes free the complexion of all impurities. If fragrance is not your thing, try Dermalogica dermalogica daily microfoliant.  If you prefer your scrubers to be contained within a cleanser of some type check out the Beauty Blvd. picks.  
    Beauty Blvd. Picks:  Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Warming Scrub and Suki Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser

    2. Deeply moisturize - radiant skin has no rough or dry patches, so use a heavier moisturizer at night to maintain healthy hydrated skin.
    Beauty Blvd. Picks:  Bigelow Acai Repair Night Cream 

    3. Sun Protection - Wearing a good sunscreen during the day will save you from a few wrinkles down the road.  My skin is acne prone so finding a sunscreen that does not break out my face is a challenge, throw on top of that, I'm a brown girl and I don't want that weird greyish tint and finding a good sunscreen is a major hassle.  
    Beauty Blvd. Picks: Cosmedicine Speedy Recovery Acne Treatment Daytime Blemish Lotion SPF 15

    4. Don't Pick it! - Normally, I'm all for a little session of at home extractions. I know it's wrong and I shouldn't do it, but I still do. Anyway, during the summer months it's better that you stop. I'm really going to try my hardest to stay out of my face and stop picking at bumps, because increased sun exposure leads to an increased chance of permanent scarring. Instead of picking try a spot treatment at night.
    Beauty Blvd. Picks: DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask to dry out pimples and Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Acne Mark Fading Peel Acne Treatment for the dark spot you already have. 

    *  Side Note: Doesn't singer Amerie have amazing skin?  Anyway, her new video for the new single will be out very soon and AJ Crimson did the makeup and it is FAB!  Be on the look-out for that.  


    7:00 AM by Joi 1 Cents .