WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

It's been awhile, I know. But I've been crazy busy with a myriad of beauty inspired projects (to be discussed in later blogs...).
So let's move on to some beauty banter. This week's must-have is a product that I recently resurrected from the mucky shelves of my bathroom. It's a product that I purchased some time ago in my favorite vacation spot, St. Barth. It is also a product with various uses (a "two-in-one" if you will). Ligne St. Barth's Avacado Oil (see below) is a fabulous skin AND hair oil that moisturizes and replenishes dry, broken and chapped areas of the body.

I use it in conjunction with a regular lotion to add shine and lustre to my skin. And I even use it on the tips of my hair to help calm the frizzies. It smells delicious too - not too potent but subtle enough to evoke a "just been on vacation" aura.
The back of the bottle reads: "Applied on damp skin it's softening and soothing. As an oil bath on damp hair (30 min.), it gives renewed vitality, life and body to your hair. Wash out with a mild shampoo."
However you choose to use the oil, I can assure you that this product will become one of your absolute favorites!
P.S. Take a look at the ENTIRE line of Ligne St. Barth body and hair products!

A Helping Hand...

Jackie O reportedly commisioned New York apothecary, Cambridge Chemists, to order 100 tubes of this British hand cream. After importing the cream for the American heiress, Cambride Chemists decided to carry the lotion and sell it (for a pricey $17.50 for 70ml) to the average folk. They are the only store in the United States (sans online vendors) to distribute the self-proclaimed "One and All" complete treatment for hand and nails(somebody correct me if I'm wrong here...). Innoxa Hand Cream is a unique product in that it isn't oily and greasy like most lotions, yet it still effectively moisturizes, protects and softens the skin (and it's said that it actually promotes nail growth!).
A word (or several...) from the company:
"One and all hand cream is a major advance in hand and nail treatment. It's unique moisturising ingredients and rich nourishing proteins strengthen nails, improve cuticles and soften hands. Not tested on animals and hypoallergenic."
So I've tested this product and here are my results:
The fragrance is non-obtrusive.
The cream definitely works to moisturize without leaving a greasy film behind.
With continued use, it did in fact improve the horrific state of my nails.
It's absolutely not neccesary to re-apply a gazillion times a day (like other hand creams).
Product Rating: 8 out of 10.
I suggest that you walk - make that run - to your nearest online vendor and purchase a tube. Your hands will thank you...

THOSE EYES... Revealed!

And the winner is...
NO ONE!
So sad to say that not ONE SINGLE PERSON guessed all seven celebrity eyes correctly...
But here they are anyhow (in order):
Jessica Alba
Marilyn Monroe
Jessica Simpson
Kelly Lebrok
Elizabeth Taylor
Kate Moss
AND....

SHE'S GOT BETTE DAVIS EYES!!!
Better luck next time!

Blow Dryer to die for

No winners yet! Is the famous eyes challenge really that hard? I'll give you a clue. Here is number *3*...JESSICA SIMPSON!!!

As for some beauty banter, I'm still really into straight, blown out hair, so while you all guess away, check out this awesome blow-dryer, complete with three different sized attachment brushes and ION energy! Vidal Sassoon's Fast Dry, Professional Styling Dryer, 1875W VS540.I'm a huge fan of the dryer as it cuts down my straightening from hours to minutes.... literally. And with the ion power, it doesn't dry out your hair! ALSO, make sure to always use a styling product prior to blow drying to safe-guard your hair. Try Bumble & Bumble Prep. Besides acting as a detangler, it also provides protection against heat from a blow dryer or flat iron!
What's your pre-blow-out product of choice?

FAMOUS EYES CHALLENGE

Okay, that was too easy! Yes, Yes, Yes, the famous eyes were Mona Lisa. Now, I propose a challenge: guess these 7 famous eyes in order... whomever gets them ALL correct WINS! (the prize is to be determined - but it will have to do with a personal pic and profile exclusively on Beauty Banter!!!)
Good luck and have a BEAUTYfull day!

*1*

*2*

*3*

*4*

*5*

*6*

*7*
HAPPY GUESSING!!!!

EYE CREAMS REVIEWED

Check out this eye cream review... Click Here. It rates eye cream in categories of:
ability to improve dark circles and puffiness, long term effectiveness for treating dark circle, ability to strengthen eyelid capilaries, ability to smooth, firm and delayskin cell aging, and ability to improve eyelid wrinkles and fine lines. In total, 30 eye products were put to the test. The best score, 5 superiors, wasn't won by any eye cream but one particular product did score a 4 out of 5.
So check to see what they say about your favorite eye cream and leave your rants and raves here! (FYI - my fave eye cream isn't even mentioned on this list... hmmm, we might need to have our OWN, more extensive eye cream review sometime in the very near future.)
ALSO, can you guess these famous eyes (below)? This is a REALLY easy one...
Leave your answer in the comment portion of the blog - first one to guess the correct answer wins!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

I'm pretty psycho when it comes to my skin (I've actually had a couple of dermatologists ask me to find medical advice elsewhere...). Ever since my mother unknowingly offered me a magnifying mirror as a young child (the kind that lights up and magnifies your pores to the size of small craters...), I've been a picker. I know, it's not a good look. But the smallest imperfection leaves me obsessive and totally insane. I don't try many different face products... in fact, up until recently, I didn't even use face cream (always eye cream, however).

But then a friend told me about Jurlique's Calendula Cream (she hyped it by saying that Michelle Pfeiffer (right) swears by the products... and hey, lets be honest here, Michelle has fab skin!) and I've been hooked. The Australian based company uses all natural, fragrance free ingredients. It's ideal for sensitive skin types (like mine). The calendula cream can be used as a face moisturizer or a cream for any chapped area of your body. It smells divine and works like a dream - never oily or greasy, always soothing and fresh leaving your skin glowing like a light bulb!
A word (or several...) from the company:
Calendula Cream is a powerful moisturiser for any skin type. Contains a high percentage of Calendula extract, which soothes and calms the skin. Calendula Cream is an excellent moisturiser for chapped or sun exposed skin.
Hey, if it's good enough for Michelle Pfeiffer, it's good enough for us!
Try it and let us know your thoughts!!!

BODY BUTTER MAKES IT ALL BETTER

Sage-Onyx Body Cream
MUST TRY body cream... don't you wanna be all buttery? With black coconut (I only knew of white ones...), tobacco (like the kind you smoke? - and all along we are led to believe that smoking is BAD for the skin...), vanilla (yummy), amber and sheer musks, this lotion not only moisturizes, it actually smells divine!
Try it and let us know!!!

Homemade Hair Treatments

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a little obsession with hair. Straight, curly, colored, or natural, beautiful hair is my weakness. And recently, since reading the Grazia, "100 New Beauty Rules You Need to Know for Autumn,I have been religiously blow drying my hair straight. I'm in LA and the heat is intense. Mix 100 degree smoldering sun, with quick jaunts into the ocean (salt water + colored hair = disaster), and blow drying, and you've got dry, stressed, tattered tressles. For a self-proclaimed hair obsessor, this is, "so NOT a good look." So I decided to do some web research... what treatments could I put on my tender lockes? Here are some favorites that I came across (***NOTE*** these can ALL be made from the comfort of your own home. TRANSLATION - no salon visit necessary!)

*1*Olive Oil Hair Mask
Mix 5 tablespoon of olive oil with 2 eggs. Apply throughly to hair. Wrap head with plastic wrap or a shower cap. After 15 minutes rinse well.
*2*Honey & Olive Oil Hair Mask -1
Mix 2 tablespoon honey with 3 tablespoon olive oil. Apply throughly to hair. Cover hair with plastic wrap or a shower cap. After 15 minutes shampoo and rinse well.
*3*Beautiful Gorgeous Hair Mask
After you shampoo your hair, pour 1 cup fresh lemon juice or vinegar through hair and massage and rinse with water. Apply your usual conditioner and wash with water. It will remove all the dirt and your hair will be shine sparkling. Do not repeat this method before 2 weeks.
*4*Beautiful Gorgeous Hair Mask
Grind fenugreek (methi) seeds soaked in water overnight. Massage this paste on scalp and hair and leave it for15-20 minutes. Wash it off with a mild shampoo. This paste is good for all types of hair problems, viz. dandruffs, falling hair, thinning of hair, baldness, split hair, etc.
*5*Hair Rinse for soft and shiny hair
Mix 1 Tbsp of following herbs with enough boiling water and let it stand for 1/2 an hour. Add 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and mix well. Shampoo your hair. Pour mixture over hair repeatedly. Vinegar will seal the hair cuticle. Use the herbs as following:
For hair general care: rosemary leaves, nettle, burdock root, elder flowers
For dry hair: chamomile flowers, comfrey root, nettle, elder flowers
For oily hair: lemon peel, , peppermint, lemongrass
*6*Shining Hair
Mix juice of one fresh orange, water, 1 tablespoon Honey and a few drops (5-7) of sandalwood oil. Use as an after-shampoo rinse.
Beat two eggs in a tablespoon of milk and apply on your hair. Rinse your hair after 5-7 minutes to get an instant shining.
Add a 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in water and rinse your hair.
*7*For Damaged Hair
Mash a ripe banana with a few drops of almond oil and massage into hair. Leave it for about 15 minutes. Rinse with soda water and then shampoo and condition.
*8*Dry Hair
Mix 1 tablespoon of honey in half cup of full cream milk. Massage on the scalp and leave it for 15 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo.
Combine 1 banana, 1 egg, 1/4 cup honey, about 3 Tbs of milk and about 5 Tbs spoons of olive oil. Massage on the scalp and leave it for 15 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo.
Zinc and essential fatty acids (pumpkin seeds, nuts, vegetable oils) are good for dry hair. Eating the foods rich in zinc help.
*9*Falling Hair, Hair Loss
Rub Indian gooseberry (Amla) into the scalp regularly. It can show wonderful results, it will stop hair falling.
Eat a protein rich diet inluding green leafy vegetables, carrots, mango, dried apricots, whole grain cereals, sprouts, lentils in the daily diet for the hair loss and falling hair.

Source.
So try out a treatment and let us know how it works! Or email us with your own, do-it-yourself hair treatment!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

I am definitely a fan of anything (and everything) that "plumps my pucker." And I've tried just about every gimmicky product on the market from DuWop's Lip Venom(which I love) to the outrageously over-priced, Lip Fusion XL (not sure I get all the hype for a $50.00 bottle of what exactly???). Well here's another one to try... it's colorful, smells good, and doesn't sting like a pack of bees. TheBalm's Plump Your Pucker Tinted Gloss even reduces the look of fine lines around the mouth area!
Here's a word (or several...) from the company:
Formulated with a special combination of folic acid, menthol and vitamin C, the product increases circulation to the lips and reduces the look of fine lines. But the lip building benefits have only just begun. . . What makes this product unique is an additional ingredient called maxi-lip, which works cumulatively over time to create lasting fullness. If worn consecutively for 30 days, you will see magnificent results!

Plump your Pucker Tinted Gloss is available in sixteen sexy shades with corresponding sassy scents that will add sexiness to even the shyest of lips.
My favorites:
Bing My Cherry (left) - a sheer, shimmering, hint of red color....
AND
Spike My Punch (right)- a sheer berry/ fruit punch infusion.
Try one and
VOTE for your favorite plumper product!!!