WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

Earth Day came and went, but that doesn't mean that we can just simply stop thinking about our envirnment!
I was recently sent an incredible product. It is one of the coolest, most inspiring products that I have used in a long time.
How can a lipstick be inspiring, you ask? Sustainable beauty. Changing the world while looking beautiful...
I love it!



Introducing Cargo Cosmetics PLANTLOVE: a collection of 12 lipsticks, in eco-friendly packaging, and part of the proceeds of the sale of the product go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the world's pediatric cancer research center.
Wow. Talk about a lipstick doing a lot of good!
And the best part, the lipsticks are actually amazing! I tried the "Sarah Chalke" (suiting considering my name is Sarah too...), designed exlusively for Cargo by Ms. Chalke (other celeb designers include Evangeline Lilly and Lindsay Lohan). It's a sheer pink hue with a dash of shimmer. And it looks fab on tanned skin - perfect for summer.
The lipstick is made completely of botanical ingredients: vitamin E, shea butter, jojoba and the formula is environmentally friendly containing NO mineral oils or petroleum.
The tube is made from corn - yes, corn! Thus, it is 100% biodegradable!
And the outer box is made from flower paper with real flower seeds. You can actually plant the box and flowers will bloom... seriously!

I can't urge you, my fellow beauty whore's, enough of the importance of using products that evoke change in our world. And I hope that other cosmetic companies follow in Cargo's bold footsteps and start selling products that not only make us look beautiful, but do good for mankind. We can ALL help change the world... so cliche, but so true!

PLEASE BUY ONE OF THESE FABULOUS LIPPIES TODAY!!! CLICK HERE!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

Earth Day came and went, but that doesn't mean that we can just simply stop thinking about our envirnment!
I was recently sent an incredible product. It is one of the coolest, most inspiring products that I have used in a long time.
How can a lipstick be inspiring, you ask? Sustainable beauty. Changing the world while looking beautiful...
I love it!



Introducing Cargo Cosmetics PLANTLOVE: a collection of 12 lipsticks, in eco-friendly packaging, and part of the proceeds of the sale of the product go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the world's pediatric cancer research center.
Wow. Talk about a lipstick doing a lot of good!
And the best part, the lipsticks are actually amazing! I tried the "Sarah Chalke" (suiting considering my name is Sarah too...), designed exlusively for Cargo by Ms. Chalke (other celeb designers include Evangeline Lilly and Lindsay Lohan). It's a sheer pink hue with a dash of shimmer. And it looks fab on tanned skin - perfect for summer.
The lipstick is made completely of botanical ingredients: vitamin E, shea butter, jojoba and the formula is environmentally friendly containing NO mineral oils or petroleum.
The tube is made from corn - yes, corn! Thus, it is 100% biodegradable!
And the outer box is made from flower paper with real flower seeds. You can actually plant the box and flowers will bloom... seriously!

I can't urge you, my fellow beauty whore's, enough of the importance of using products that evoke change in our world. And I hope that other cosmetic companies follow in Cargo's bold footsteps and start selling products that not only make us look beautiful, but do good for mankind. We can ALL help change the world... so cliche, but so true!

PLEASE BUY ONE OF THESE FABULOUS LIPPIES TODAY!!! CLICK HERE!

Purple Power!

Lancome Colour Dose Crazy London is a lip and cheek stain that I've been craving... and (GASP!) I don't think that Lancome makes it anymore!!!

But eBay has it!!!! (SIGH!)

Why I love this product: It's a great alternative to the red tints - this purplish hued stain looks amazing on fair-haired chicas... and it stays on ALL day, no joke. Sometimes red is a little too extreme, but purple, well, purple is sassy and retro... bring back the 80's!!!

Try it ASAP... before they're ALL gone! CLICK HERE TO BUY!

Fabulous FACE

Check out THIS amazing article on healthy, gorgeous skin from this month's issue of Women's Health Magazine.

You know how the beauty whore feels about a fabulous face...



SOURCE.

HAPPY EARTH DAY

Organic products are just so much more environmentally friendly. Like driving a hybrid (I do!) and conserving energy (turn off those lights, computers and plug-in vibrators!), companies that pay considerable attention to the environment while still making beauty products that consumer's can enjoy, are companies worth celebrating!

So, today, on Earth Day, lets take a moment to reflect on some of our favorite eco-friendly products!


Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick with Eco-Harvest Tea Tree Oil: A blemish touch stick for those retchid lil pimples... All natural tea tree oil, rosemary, lavender and thyme help to make this product a must-have zit zapper! Can be applied to blemish up to 6 times a day. With it's roll on applicator, it makes it easy to use on the go. I LOVE this product... I take it with me everywhere!


Soy candle - White Flower Lei: Handmade soy candles with fragrances meant to destress and aid in meditation. The candles are vegan, kosher and organic! The wax can also be used as a perfume is applied directly to pulse points! This candle is so yummy!


bareMinerals 2-piece Powder Foundation & Brush w/SPF 15: A cult favorite, Bare Minerals loose powder foundation does not contain additives, binders, preservatives, or fragrances. It is literally made of crushed minerals. And it helps to control shine and fight acne, all the while giving your skin a flawless glow. My sister is OBSESSED with this product as I'm sure many of you are too!


The Body Shop's Satsuma Shimmer Lip Balm: This lip gloss combines shimmer with a burst of color to create the perfect pout. It uses organic beeswax, more specifically, Community Trade beeswax from Zambia. What does this mean to YOU? Well, as the Body Shop puts it, "Community Trade Information Beeswax is a Community Trade ingredient from the remote tropical forests of North West Zambia, where the extra income helps more than 3,000 beekeepers preserve their traditional way of life." In other words, sustainable beauty! Giving back... we heart the body shop!


Smooth Synergy Organic Tan: Okay, so I've never ACTUALLY had this done as I am in LA and the spa is in NY, but I received an email about this incredible service... just in time for earth day! If you're in the nyc area, give them a call and tell me what you think!
What they say: "Smooth Synergy’s Organic Sunless Spray Tan offers a unique combination of mineral salt bronzers and the approved cosmetic tanning agent DHA20 to produce a natural looking tan. The UV-less tanning product contains no alcohol, oils, perfumes or potentially harmful chemicals or preservatives. This vegetable-derived product can even be sprayed over makeup. The Smooth Synergy UV-Less Tan lasts 5-7 days depending on your skin type and preparation."

Wow. Organics R Us! Tell beauty banter what organic products you just DIE over!!! Leave a comment or email us at beautybanter@gmail.com

Happy Earth Day!!!

About Last Night...

Last night, I went to a party for Hanes Comfortique Pops Up on Melrose Place Hosted by Jennifer Love Hewitt!
Parties are fun, but the real reason to show up is for the gift bag on the way out!
Last night's gift bag came filled with Hanes goodies... t-shirts, tankes, boy shorts and boxers... if I had a boyfriend, I'm sure he'd love the freebee's.
However, tucked neatly in the inner pocket of the zebra-striped beach bag was the real treat...
A gift certificate for a free skin conseltation AND facial at famed LA facialist, Kate Somerville!!! (it's the place where Paris and Kirsten Dunst call their second bathroom...) How exciting! Going next week for my facial! Will let you know my thoughts then...

Some beauty-full celebs at the event: J Love, obvi, Tara Subkoff and a radiant Amber Valletta spoting a brown do- I swear, she's like a fine wine... keeps getting better with age!

Bathing It Up... A-List Style

There are few things that I like more then a relaxing bath - (a clear complexion, cuddling with my dog, sex, tv, movies and being in front of the camera... fine!) - so when I come across a product that makes bath time that much more fabulous, I can't help but boast about it!

My in-the-know friends over at The Silver Spoon (luxury celebrity gifting event coordinators) gave me Ligne St. Barth's Papaya Peeling Shower Cream and let me tell you, this product is fit for an A-lister. It smells of a Summer day on a far away island, it actually lathers WHILE exfoliating and it leaves the skin so smooth it feels like silk. I've used it EVERYDAY since alloting it personal residence in my shower shelf.

Other Ligne St. Barth products to try: Cocunut Oil Sunscreen with SPF 2... only use if you want a dark, island sort of tan... the natural oils moisturize.

Avocado Oil... CLICK HERE to read an old post where I proclaimed it a "Weekly Must-Have..."

And to view the entire range of delicious products, CLICK HERE!

MARK the Spot...

Avon's color line, Mark, is both bold and understated. An oxymoron, I know.
It is bold in choice and color, understated in marketability.
I tried out the new Flip For It Spring Color Kit and I've got to say that I was tres impressed. Basically, it's like a face palette, with everything that you need to beautify all in an easy access compact. Two eye shadows, a blush and four lip glosses/ highlighters... what more could a girl ask for?
The compact comes in three color combo's: New York, Paris and Milan. I used Milan, full of rich golds and browns. The shadows went on easily and STAYED on... and the blush really breathed color... it wasn't that half-color that you tend to find in so many less expensive products... Mark alludes to a statement. Young, hip, fresh, sophisticated.
I feel forced to repeat myself - this is soooooo not the Avon of our mother's generation!

Murad - Acne Complex Intro Kit

People keep emailing in - what products would you recommend for acne prone skin?

Well, this is my recommendation for acne-prone skin. Murad has been known to work well for sensitive- oily prone skin. They combine AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) with other natural ingredients. ALSO, check out the Murad website CLICK HERE and take 1 minute 30 seconds out of your hectic day to take a mini skincare evaluation test. It will personalize your skincare regimine! Genius!!!

Even better, Murad is offering a 30-day supply of the acne start-up kit for a very affordable $29.99!!! (via Murad)

Au Natural

Wayne over at Natural Skincare did us a great justice by promoting beauty banter and one of our at home recipes on his site! In return, I am going to post one of his many great at home recipes.... this one is for skin moisturizer (considering that LA is pretty windy at the moment and everything from my lips to my toes are cracking!)

Do try to make this: it's easy and effective:

Ingredients you want to consider when creating your own homemade skin moisturizers are:

Natural plant oils like olive, almond, avocado, and borage oils natural botanicals nutrients like Vitamin A & E antioxidants like Vitamin A, C & E and pure essential oils

SKIN TYPES

Dry skin is best treated with rich oils such as sesame or olive oil.

Normal to oily skin should be treated with light oils such as jojoba, grapeseed, or avocado

Homemade Moisturizer for dry skin types:

Thoroughly cleanse your skin, and apply olive oil or vitamin E oil directly in the evening.

Olive oil, lemon and eggs are a great (mayonnaise) natural skin moisturizer. Apply and let stand for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

INGREDIENTS

* 1/2 cocoa butter * 2 tablespoons of beeswax (grated) * 2 teaspoons of distilled water * 3 tablespoon of sesame oil * 2 tablespoon of coconut oil * 1 tablespoon of olive oil

PREPARATION

* Combine beeswax with water and melt over low heat * Add cocoa butter and blend * Gradually add coconut, sesame, and olive oil * Pour into a glass jar, the mix will thicken as it cools down * Apply on the body

Coconut oil is rich with vitamins and fats that soften the skin. Cocoa butter combined with coconut oil protect the skin from wind and cold. This moisturizer creates a protective layer on the skin's surface.

Sesame oil is also a good way to protect from damaging sunrays as it can be used as a natural sun blocker. Olive oil moisturizes and smoothes the skin.

Honey is a humectant which means it attracts and retains water, which moisturizes our skin. Mix 1 ½ tsps. honey, ½ a lemon, 3 tbs. yogurt and a whipped egg white and apply to face. Let stand for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

Mix 1 tsp. each of almond and mil powder along with two tbs. glycerin and a tbs. each of lemon juice and almond oil. Mix all the above and apply once a week.

Melt the following ingredients together over a water bath: 3 tablespoons coconut oil 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon almond oil, and 1/2 tablespoon beeswax

Directions: In a separate bowl dissolve 1/2 teaspoon borax in 3 tablespoons of heated water. Then slowly add the heated water to oils, and stir until a cool cream is ready.

Ingredients Sunflower seed meal (finely ground) 1/8 cup Applesauce 1/8 cup

Recipe Mix the ingredients into a paste.

How to use Apply the paste with gentle circular motions into the skin. Allow the paste remain on the skin for about 10 minutes. Then rinse with warm water and gently pat dry.

Also, for tons more awesome do-it-yourself recipes, check out wayne's site by CLICKING HERE and visit his many many categories from foot recipes to baby skin care!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

I'm not sure if it's a lot of hype or if it's the hottest product on the market..... BUT my eyebrow specialist SWEARS that Damone Roberts Brow Gain actually works!



What it does:
As told by the ones who created it.... "The perfect eyebrows are rich, full and show the perfect arch. Whether by nature or over plucking, at times, you can suffer from a thinning of our eyebrows. This can affect the entire look of your face. Brow Gain helps to create healthier looking, fuller eyebrows by stimulating the surrounding hair follicles. Generally, results will be seen about 6 to 8 weeks after use begins. Individual results may vary. Your face deserves the perfect frame. With The Eyebrow King’s Signature Brow Gain as the catalyst, that goal is within reach."

I have a sick obsession with my eyebrows thus I am pretty much a sucker for any brow shaper/ tool/ tamer on the market. They swear to give me fuller eyebrows? I'm so down to try this.

Let you know in 6-8 weeks how those unruly patches of hair above my eyes are doing....

until then, check out all of DAMONE ROBERTS EYEBROW PRODUCTS... they are fierce!!!!

Fellow Brit Beauty Whore Recipes...

I just received this in an email from a fellow Brit Beauty Whore:

"I also want to recommend an amazing self made mask its my mums recipe.
Honey, Yogurt, Olive oil and lemon mix together, place in fridg for an hour
then apply on your face for half an hour then wash... Ahhh feel how soft and
refreshed you will feel."

Hey, if you don't like it, don't blame me! It's how the Brits refresh their face!

Also, she recommends...

"I haven't noticed you mentioning a particular item unndubotyl once you use
you will not stop. It is a liquid busher called BENETINT by Benefit.
TIP you
must apply moisteriser before you apply it or it will look blotchy."

For those not yet in the know, Benetint is a lip and cheek stain. As the company raves, "it is kiss-proof and water-proof!" I do happen to like this product, but only apply it under a gloss because otherwise it tends to make my lips feather.... It is very red, so use sparingly (but when applied correctly, it does give that au natural "blushed" glow!)

The Brits do it Best

I just received this in an email and after my Boots rave, thought this was worth posting and trying out... After all, I love a good rave!



Breaking Beauty News: Boots Restore & Renew Beauty Serum Sells for Over $130 on eBay--Serum Sold out in the U.K. Available at Target

Boots Restore & Renew Beauty Serum (called No7 Protect & Perfect in the U.K.) is making news in the U.K, where an independent study by the BBC just uncovered that No7 Protect & Perfect’s affect on collagen production is on par with the performance of retinoic-acid or Tretinoin - prescription drugs used to treat severe sun damage of the skin!



The experts, based at the Dermatology Department at the University of Manchester, have been studying Tretinoin for years and they were convinced that no over the counter anti-ageing cream could match its effectiveness. However, they were surprised by the results achieved with the Boots product.



Professor Griffiths, who is Foundation Professor of Dermatology at the University of Manchester, said: "At both basic science and clinical levels Boots No7 Protect & Perfect has been shown scientifically to repair photo-aged skin and improve the fine wrinkles associated with photo-ageing."



Boots describes the cream as a 'skin-firming and complexion-brightening serum'. The ingredients include peptides, which have been shown to increase the levels of supporting collagen in the skin, and white lupin extract. This is claimed to reduce the breakdown of collagen by enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases.

Boots No7 Renew & Restore is sold at Target nationwide for $19.99.

CLICK HERE TO BUY IT!!!

Just in case you're feeling LUCKY...

"Lucky is giving away the ultimate shopping trip for two to the incredible Ala Moana Center in Honolulu—a giveaway worth over $4000.

Ala Moana is the largest open-air shopping center in Hawaii and contains hundreds of exquisitely upscale shops—from Neiman Marcus and Jimmy Choo to Chanel, Burberry, and Bottega Veneta—all nestled among it’s leafy, sun-drenched courtyards.

This ultimate shopping excursion includes the following:

$1,000 shopping spree to the incredibly lush Al Moana Center
Round-trip airfare
Six-day/ five-night stay at an amazing Waikiki hotel.

Readers can register for the chance to win beginning on Thursday, April 5th at Luckymag.com/deals and the winners will be selected on May 31st, 2007."

BACK FROM BRITAIN

My internet connection wasn't working properly but I'm back in the states and ready to dish on my fave british products!!!

Jo Malone French Lime Blossom Bath Oil - Superbly subtle and soft. The perfect addition to a lovely bubble bath in London's regal Dorchester Hotel (where I stayed). Jo Malone is best known for their yummy candles but the bath oil is where it's at!

You can't go to London and not buy something from London beauty megahouse, Rimmel. (Kate Moss does the ads??? Ring a bell?) Well, my favorite product from Rimmel is their fabulous eyeliner. Not to mention, the prices are so reasonable, you can actually stock up ten at a time! Try Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Jet Black, a perfect basic that will make your eyes pop! Hey, if it's good enough for Kate Moss, it's good enough for me!

Boots Cucumber Facial Wipes, my new obsession. Everything that Boots makes rocks, and it's pretty damn cheap, but you must try these cleansing wipes! I use them to clean my make-up brushes. Ever since my friend Kim made me anal about clean brushes, I now clean my brushes after every application. And it actually does help the make-up application process!
Also to try:Boots Coconut & Almond Oil Creme Shower: Smells so fabulous and it's only about 3 dollars!!!
P.S. Boots is an ultra famous pharmacy chain in London, England and their products are simply divinie!

Ok, more to come tomorrow... I'm so tired, I must sleep.... jet lag!!!!!!!!!!!

British Invasion!!!

I am leaving for London tonight and will be gone for about a week. I will try to post while away... all European products, of course.



Watch out London, the Beauty Whore is on her way!!!!!

Your Body Is Your Temple...

I have just discovered the most incredible new line of body products. Wel,, new to the United States. They've been around Italy for ages. But now, finally, they are avialable through drugstore.com.
Yes!
Cleo body products are fun, affordable and deliciously scented! As the company says, ""The Italian bath and body line is infused with natural moisturizing extracts from yogurt to continually improve the texture and elasticity of your skin."
I tried the Showercream in RED FRUITS and the KARITE BUTTER Body Cream. The showercream lathered perfectly but it also moisturized. I didn't leave the shower feeling dry or chapped. I immediately soaked my body in the Body Cream and, let me tell you, this is a gift from God. It is thick, rich, super hyrdrating and, best of all, the scent isn't so overwhelming, but rather light and a little mysterious. AND I didn't ahve to reapply throughout the day. The cream actually kept my skin moisturized! This is definitely a new favorite!

Try the entire line - it is affordable and a real treat for your temple (body!)