Review: Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm

"I’m a not-so-closeted makeup addict. I love testing, trying, buying and applying! This guilty pleasure began early on in life while in boarding school. A two-mile walk got me to a CVS, which was about as thrilling as it got. So, naturally, I went bonkers and I bought every moisturizer, shampoo and eyeliner possible.

The therapeutic euphoria of perusing the isles of a drugstore remains as strong, 10 years later. My roomie has to interrogate my Walgreens joy rides as if she were questioning the whereabouts of a rebellious Tween. “Where were you? What did you buy? How many? How much? Didn’t you just buy a lip balm? What is Witch Hazel and why?” But I thank her for it, because without her policing, I would be broke and homeless with a ton of moisturizers.

But I digress… Let’s talk lippies!

During my last therapy session at Walgreens; I landed on the Neutrogena section. I love me some Neutrogena. Maybe it’s marketing, maybe it’s the truth, but I feel like their products will actually protect and help my skin, versus clogging my pores.

So, when my eye caught this gem, I knew I had to reach out to Beauty Banter about it:

Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm. The product description from Neutrogena: “This sheer tinted balm with patent-pending ion_complex™ instantly moisturizes lips, leaving them looking fuller and more defined.” Ok, I believe that’s fancy talk for ‘this is a lip balm’. But in all seriousness the tint is great and subtle, and it does go on smoothly.

“In just one week, it helps improve lips’ texture and restores the look of rosiness, so lips look naturally beautiful even after you take it off.” I’m actually going to call truth on this one, my lips were chapped like a cowboy on Monday afternoon and by Friday, I didn’t even need lip balm! 

“SPF 20 helps protect lips and keeps them looking healthy.” TOTES! Love the SPF factor! Neutrogena does a great job at sneaking in SPF into their lippies, making it worth the extra $ versus my $1.99 chap stick. We gotta protect those lips so we don’t end up with the mouth lines of a 90 yr old Atlantic City Casino regular.

Pros:

• Truly hydrating. I applied only once or twice a day and it really did save my lips. I mean, this is not Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream repair style, but it goes beyond what your average tinted balm does.
• Moisturizing: My lips are always chapped; pretty sure I sleep with my mouth open, so I look like I’ve returned from an expedition to Siberia every morning. I don’t need a lip salve, I need a lip saver. This one saves my lips.
• Lasts long: Nothing news-breaking, but it stayed on my lips thru a diet Pepsi
• SPF 20!
• Fab Colors:
Sheer Shimmer: delicate shimmer, so you don’t look like you put your disco lips on for breakfast. Which is, depending on your lifestyle, either a good or a bad thing. Tip: Put a dab on your bottom lip for a subtle lip plump.
Healthy Blush: Sold out in all the Walgreens I visited… so I’m guessing its fab L
Sunny Berry: Bright yet not overwhelming pink red color; stands out for sure; perf for beach!
Petal Glow: Favorite! It’s a dark pink- lavender shimmer (looks great on blondes and pale folk like moi).
Soft Caramel: I have way too many pink undertones for this color to ever look good on me, but it would work for olive skin complexions. Looked good on my friends.
Fresh Plum: dark terra cotta red; great for going out when you rock heavy mascara and cat eye look, but want something other than a shimmer as a lippie.
• Flavor: a very subtle, pleasant hint of fruit can’t but barely detectable.
• Texture: Smooth, light… feels similar to Nivea lip care
• The tube: the tube is flatter, more oval shaped, so more precise application and not as noticeable if put in back pocket. It’s nothing special in terms of design, but it’s a subtle sophisticated black tube. It also won’t roll off your desk, makeup counter, etc.
• Peeps agree: 4.8 out of 5 rating on Neutrogena

Cons:

• The tube: While it looks sleek and sophisticated, It’s also hard to locate in your purse
• The taste: Ok, it’s got SPF 20; so if you get some in your mouth it does taste like sunscreen, but I’d rather that than lip lines, for sure.
• Expensive: retails at $8.99. If it didn’t have the tint, I wouldn’t pay that much. I would just go back to a personal favorite and beautybanter.com discovery: EOS lip sphere
• Other comparable products:
 - Burt's bees tinted lip balms: $7. Tried it… definitely not a fan of the color I bought… a bland Flintstones-vitamin orange. (Hibiscus). Also, no SPF

BOTTOM LINE: I’m a believer! They provide a lot of color for being lip balms and would look great for a day at the beach and girls night out. From one drugstore Junkie to another, I highly recommend"

Thanks to our fabulous reader Laura Healy for writing in with this wonderful product review! We, too, are believers! xo, Beauty Banter.

The Moroccan Method.

I spent this past weekend in the Hampton's with my dear friend, Arden Wohl, and I couldn't help but notice how incredible her hair looked. It was mildly wavy, shining and completely healthy. When I asked what she'd been doing to get her hair in such great shape, she quipped, "The Moroccan Method." Now, I like to consider myself an avid beauty enthusiast but even I lamented, "oh, Moroccan Oil. Yeah, that stuff is awesome."

Well, trusted readers, The Moroccan Method is not to be confused with Moroccan Oil, as I soon discovered. So, I asked Arden to review and explain the products in her own words. Here's what she had to say:

"I find that my friends and I are constantly thinking about putting the purest and cleanest elements inside of our body but not so much when it comes to our beauty products. when I discovered the Moroccan Method hair products my entire view of appropriate beauty regiment changed. This is the most graceful RAW product hair. You can get it at Organic Avenue. Why just eat raw/vegan, shampoo raw!!

The Moroccan Method leaves hair non frizzy - flaxen, shiny,  - it doesn't foam up - at all - and you can't tell the shampoo or conditioner apart. They both look like thick, sludge and mud. They have green algae and other aquatic plants in the recipe. If you've lost curl due to damage and color damage it will bring the curl back without frizz. It seems to feed the hair.

Since using these products, I've never had more compliments on my hair. The hair looks alive and full of structure and shine. Full integrity to the hair!

Its definitely not a sexy product and you have to clean the shower well after using. However - its the cleanest most amazing, truest product I have ever used!"


The Moroccan Method is 100% Natural, Wild Crafted Organic, Raw - Vegan and Gluten Free Hair Care.

Flawless Skin From A Fellow Beauty Enthusiast: Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation

"The week before Sarah moved back to New York she gave me several products. This is one of many times that she has given me products to try that have now become some of my beauty must-haves.


This time I left with 2 tubes of Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation. Just in time for the winter weather and chapped skin conditions, this Japanese makeup line that has proven to be nothing short of amazing! She gave me 2 different shades; the light one is color 01 and the second is color 02. As I am very pale, my skin requires light shades. Depending on the season both of these shades work well for me. A few dots out of the tube and I'm ready to go and my skin looks flawless, not cakey or bearing that "foundation" look. It's also High Definition so it's really covers - every fine line and blemish is gone with one simple stroke of the foundation brush. I might be crazy but I swear it improves the look of my skin with continual, everyday use. It's miracle makeup and it's fabulous for dryer skin as it actually moisturizes while it's covering.

Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation retails for $55 but it lasts longer than you would ever imagine. I went from using Laprarie ($250 a bottle) to Koh Gen Do and I can honestly say that it is truly one of the best.

Thank you Sarah for making me beautiful! ;)" -- Carly Hoftman

What's your Winter weather foundation?

French Find: Homeoplasmine

There's nothing like a French pharmacy, with all of those amazing brands and incredible products stacked on top of one another. It can be so much fun and slightly overwhelming.

Luckily, I walked into the place with a purpose: Pick up a tube of Homeoplasmine: a product that my friend, Jessica Stam, said is a must-have. I trust Jess' picks so I uttered in my broken French, "Homeoplasmine, s'il vous plait?" And the grumpy French pharmacist handed me a box of the ointment.

Mind you, I had NO IDEA what this stuff was... I just knew that my gorgeous, supermodel friend who gets beautified for a living implored me to stock up. She said it's the most amazing product for dry, cracked skin, sunburn and lips. She continued that every French makeup artist has a tube of the ointment in his/ her beauty bag...

Okay, tried and tested and I'm obsessed.

Basically, Homeoplasmine is the French version of our Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream and Japan's Yu-Be. It's a multi-purpose ointment that soothes, protects and moisturizes the skin. A little bit like Aquafor, sans the sheen and more natural. What I love about this stuff is that it's not at all greasy like 8-Hour cream. In fact, it kind of has an au naturel, matte finish. And it is KILLER for dry lips, literally reattaching the flakey skin and filling in the cracks for hydration without the sheen. Perfect to use prior to makeup for a smooth, silky palette. So great for all flaky, dry areas including sun or wind burn. A little goes a long way and the ointment penetrates for hours.

Click here to buy! You can't find in the US (I don't think...)

Organic For Summer

Fellow beauty enthusiast and contributing editor, Alex Asher Seers dishes on her favorite organic picks and beauty tips for Summer.

Read on, ladies, this is need-to-know info!

Alex's beauty cabinet

"As a third generation Angeleno, it’s probably sacrilege to say I hate the heat. But I do. And so does my skin. Growing up with Mlle. Howard, summer was a never-ending pool party. Those were the days when my tan was real and my highlights were a mix of too much sun and pool chlorine. SPF, what?

These days I stay out of the sun, and try to keep my beauty choices eco-conscious and organic whenever possible. As a writer and photographer, some days I’m at home writing without a scrap of makeup and others I’m on a shoot hoping my mascara hasn’t smudge across my entire eye after hours behind the camera. Here’s what’s cluttering my vanity these days:

I’m a Dr. Hauschka devotee. I use Dr. H’s Cleansing Milk, Clarifying Toner and Normalizing Day Oil everyday. Perfect for combo skin but even better when the temperatures rise. If I need an exfoliator, I can’t say enough about Arcona’s Cranberry Gommage. It cleans without feeling as abrasive as some scrubs I’ve used.

I use California Baby Shampoo year-round and Giovanni Organics Tea Tree Conditioner in warm weather when hair feels oily. My hair is naturally wavy if I don’t blow-dry it and in summer I don’t even think about it. I spray in Korres Leave-On Conditioner to defrizz. If I want more texture David Babaii’s Bohemian Beach Spray smells amazing and 10% of profits go to WildAid.


As much as I love finding a discovering a product, some people are a wealth of information. Like my friend Erin Harding (www.yourlastlooks.com). Since the age of twelve I’ve been getting beauty tips from her. Now she’s an Emmy Award-winning makeup artist and she’s always there with expert advice. When I found mineral makeup bothered my skin she explained why.

“Many women come to me asking why mineral makeup irritates their skin when it’s supposed to be better for them. With nearly every cosmetic company trying to ride the green money train it's important to remember that not all mineral makeups are made equal. Many brands cut production costs by including different additives into their products. One of the big culprits appears to be BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE, a color and texture enhancing product, which can cause redness, itching and dryness.”

Her pick? Jane Iredale mineral cosmetics for, “their quality and sensitivity tested ingredients.”

For makeup, I begin with Erin’s own primer by The Eris Collection. It’s the first primer I found that was paraben free and oil free and it gives everything from tinted moisturizer to foundation serious staying power. For tinted moisturizer, I mix Lancome UV EXPERT with Dr. H’s Translucent Bronze Concentrate. L’Oreal Bare Naturale mascara and a bit of Tarte cheek stain and I’m set.

The last few months left my skin really dry. I use Korres Yoghurt Body Butter every day. I love Weleda Skin Food, too, but Erin turned me on to Egyptian Magic (http://egyptianmagic.com) which she adores. “From my children to my clients, I have relied on this little jar for every skin ailment you can imagine. I'm not quite sure which ingredient is the "magic" that makes it so special, but I'm beginning to think it's the love..."

And speaking of love, for fellow dog-lovers out there, I am a huge fan of SPA DOG by Fleurs de France. They use natural ingredients and lavender essential oils from their native France in their shampoo and dog spray. I use it on Truffaut at home or bring it to the groomer. His coat is amazing and lavender is a natural flea repellent. Since their skin can’t handle washing more than every 3-4 weeks, the spray is like dry shampoo. It smells great and has silicone, which repels dirt. They also have a great line for people, too.

Today almost hit triple digits. While I can’t go back to the summer of ’88, I’m thinking I’ll channel the happy days of childhood with a few highlights, some Lavera organic self tanner and a pedicure in Zoya’s neon pink Ali polish. Ready or not, here comes summer.

So many incredible products, so many summer necessities...

Have a great organic product that you can't live without?
Let us know!

Do The Leg Work

Once again, recent NYC transplant and West Coast Director of celebrity services for Alberta Ferretti, Annelise Peterson, discovers a hidden LA gem that she'd like to share with you Beauty Banter readers...

"I have more beauty news to report from my new home on the sunny California coast!

New York City may be hard on your high heals, but it's great for the gams. For the past 13 years, I have walked everywhere and never had much need for personal training to keep my legs thoroughbred lean.

But my days of walking to Starbucks for my soy green tea latte are all but over. Life in West Hollywood calls for a car and little legwork.

What's a girl to do? More than sample size is a sin in the business of fashion finding.

The answer? Wael Fitness, my friends. (Pronounced "why-Elle"). He is the trainer of choice when it comes to getting sexy sculpted legs perfectly suited for that Little Black Dress for Saturday night! The beauty business is more than just great hair and skin, it's also about having a body worth bantering about.

Wael kicked me in to shape with band training, stair climbing, and light resistance work that had me sweating for more. Wael's beauty boot camp for the perfect Brazilian body is a must have for any girl that wants legs like Heidi Klum. Driving my Mercedes for my green tea latte may be my new AM routine, but Wael fitness is my new morning regime.

Yes, gas may cost me an arm and a leg, but it's not costing me my gams! Who says a girl can't have long legs and love them too?"

Wael Fitness contact: waelfitness@yahoo.com

Hotness!

Summer Tan In A Winter Wonderland

Here's a recommendation from my friend, Omi Rajpal... now pay attention, because Bostonians know what it means to look hot in the freezing cold!

"Okay you little LA bitches, west coast life may be hard to contend with, but it is time to bring you all a voice from beyond---Although it may seem foreign at first, no worries, style does live outside of the Hills. So, let me invite you to jet set to the city I call home, Boston. Beauty travels beyond borders and who can call themselves a true fashionista without extensive knowledge of all cosmopolitan cultures?

And Boston is not so far-flung from the life of SH, your resident beauty whore, who not so many moons ago, graced the pavement of the city in the ultimate fashion displays of collegiate life. Divas are hard to come by but SH and I had some stylish misadventures that will remain confidential—at least for now!

There are so many gems in this city for us fellow socialites and I hope in the future to unlock the doors to my faves, but this time around I want to introduce you all to a product that is at the top of my winter list and a MUST have as this dreadful season approaches. Cold, bitter, and grey the city is not conducive to glamour after September. In addition, along with this misery, we have to deal with our summer tans fading, as we eagerly await our island getaways in January. Not to fret, the perfect antidote does exist, and fortunately does not require a trip to the, dare I even say, tanning salon…

I think the days of orange skin, and Lindsay Lohen, are long gone and anyone with even a hint of je ne sais qua avoids the not so-chic bake ovens. Enter, L’Oreal Sublime Bronzer. I have tried my range of self-tanners, leaving my bathroom in desperate need of a Clorox overload, but this drugstore find is fantastic. I did go through a period of believing any self-tanner worth gracing my body had to cost more than $75 and live outside of a drugstore shelf, but I was proven wrong.

L’Oreal Sublime is the prefect bronzer, with a hint of moisturizer, and Vitamin E for smooth skin. The lotion itself is void of any typical nasty tanner smell and doesn’t leave your palms, or sink!, the color of pumpkin pie.

Even better, the product has a “face” bronzer as well as body; in other words, you don’t break out the day after you use it. The pump dispenser makes it easy to apply and the plastic cover keeps it mess free and perfect for transport.

Although I have a natural olive complexion, I too start to turn a strange shade of, well, just bland after the summer months. The medium shade is perfect for me, and doesn’t leave me looking overcooked or like a victim of Wal-Mart. Rather; it leaves you with a natural glowing tan, that lasts 2-3 days, and makes you forget that three more months remain before sunshine returns. For under $10 this is the ultimate drugstore find!

Check out SH’s write-up on Loreal’s Sublime Glow, a great body moisturizer with gradual color build (click here to read the review) for another perfect pairing.

Au revoir my fellow beauty lovers and sun on!"

PRICE TAG: $9.99

I Spy An Eye Primer

Fellow beauty enthusiast and Beauty Banter reader, Amanda Adwell, gives a "5 kiss" recommendation for Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

I've never used this stuff, but after reading Amanda's rave review, I'm heading to my nearest Too Faced retailer (or clicking HERE) to purchase a tube!

Here's what Amanda has to say:

"In a nutshell, this stuff is a godsend because I normally end up with creasy eye shadow halfway through the day. The first day I used it, I put my makeup on at 6am for work and by the end of the day it was still looking as fresh as when I first put it on, which has NEVER happened before. I even use it if I am just wearing mascara because it makes my eyes look brighter. The tube will last me a long time as well, the tiniest dab of it covered my entire eyelid. A little goes a long way and it comes in a super cute tube, too!"

Bye-bye crusty, creasy eye shadow!



**P.S. I always encourage recommendations, so if you LOVE a product, tell us about it!!! We want to share the beauty! After all, this site isn't called Beauty BANTER simply so that we can have a monologue (frankly, I'm sick of hearing myself... kidding!). Let's partake in a dialogue, ladies... Let's banter all things beauty!**

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE!

My very chic and savvy friend Tessa Benson knows a lot about products! Besides being a fellow beauty whore, Tessa is also the Senior Editor at the newly relaunched LA Times Magazine and the West Coast Bureau Chief of Self Magazine. She's kind of a big deal in the publishing world... so when Tessa swears by a product, I listen (or I at least give it a try and then assess).

Her latest discovery has become my newest obsession: Lip Toxyl, a plumping, smoothing and hydrating lip gloss! I'm going crazy for the clear (although they also have 4 sheer colors too). It's the perfect last-step to your favorite lippy. A little Lip Toxyl and your lips are shining like a brand new red Corvete!

Besides plumping my pucker better then any product on the market, Lip Toxyl also fills in fine lines and wrinkles AND boosts hydration. In a study conducted over a 29 day period, applying Lip Toxyl 3 times a day, 60% of users noticed improvement in lip hydration, 40% had fuller lips and 29% saw a reduction in lines! It stings slightly post application, but that makes me think it's really working. And it has a cinnamon aroma, so if nothing else, at least you'll smell spicey! I also adore that the wand is bristled, allowing for a smooth and easy application.

Tessa and I literally fist-fought over who got to hold the tube while out at the MTV VMA After Party! We couldn't stop applying the plumper and pursing our pout in that "come kiss me" way (it was completely targeted to a certain 8 time gold medalist - Michael Phelps. Of course, we fist fought over who was going home with him too... kidding... slightly!!!)

Here's Tessa's sexxxy pout:

**hair styled by Chris McMillan**

Work it, girl!

PRICE TAG: $14.00 for the tube (click HERE to buy)

Dry Skin Goodies

My friend Kaycee Flinn has seriously dry skin (she actually used to slab Eucerin all over her face!). So, when I came upon a couple of dry skin product samples, I knew that Kaycee would be the perfect guinea pig. (That's her on the left, and yes, she knows she looks like Kate Hudson - but hotter!)

Armed with some products and a night of home spa treatments, Kaycee dishes on the good and not-so-good dry skin face goodies!


JUNE JACOBS COOLING AND SOOTHING MASQUE

"This is a product I would definitely recommend. I have dry, sensitive skin that needs a lot of hydration and constant care. This gel based mask is perfect for me! It has a very subtle tingle on my skin without the feeling of it being irritated. The masque stays on your skin as it was applied, meaning it doesn't dry up and get all crusty, which can be a bit annoying and restricting. I followed a tip that was suggested to put it in the fridge and apply the masque as a cooling treatment. This made it even better during the hot summer day."
$56.00

WEI EAST POMEGRANATE ANTI-OXIDANT EXFOLIATING GRAINS

"This is exactly how I like my exfoliator: rough - right to where you feel it actually getting down to the nitty, gritty grime and dirt in those pores. The texture is amazing, hard and grainy - and it doesn't change when oyu add water. And when you rinse it off, you can actually see the difference in your skin. It feels and looks super clean, glowing and healthy!"
$26.00


WEI EAST GOLDEN ROOT RENEWAL MULTI-TASKING DAY CREAM WITH SPF 15

"This is a very simple cream that gives a nice glow. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with oily skin because it does have a greasy feel (even on my dry skin, it didn't fully absorb). And if you are not a fan of the smell of sunscreen in your moisturizer than I also wouldn't suggest this. Other than that, it's bearable but there are definitely better products that moisturize and protect without the pasty sunscreen feel and smell."
$29.98

Nars Red For Summer...

Beauty maven, friend, screenwriter (of the upcoming Eloise staring Uma Thurman), Teen Vogue's Young Hollywood featured starlet, and all around rad chick (at the tender age of 21), Hallie Meyers-Shyer debuts her favorite summer red:


Nars Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (note to self: it's an orange red, so people with more olive skin tones, beware! This hue may be a bit too orange for you. It is, however, great for people who inherently have more red in their skin as it offsets the natural redness with a slight burst of orange-red.)


Says Hallie: "It's a very "in" color. And I like that it's matte, not shiny. It stays put on my lips without needing to constantly reapply. It reminds me of New York City - like a giant red apple."

When Hallie glams up in her Nars Red she wears a pretty bare face otherwise. A little mascara, some bronzer and that's about it!

Summer is all about keeping it simple and sexy. This look does both...

Space is the Place

I read this great article in this week's New York Times Magazine about Space NK's Nicky Kinnaird. For those not in the know, Kanaird founded the apothecary store 15 years ago and has since opened a whopping 52 stores, the most recent being on SoHo, NYC. Talk about a devoted beauty whore!!!!

In the mag, she dishes on the world's best in beauty... here are some of her picks:

• Joshi's Holistic Skincare Gentle Exfoliating Scrub
• Eve Lom's Aromatic Oil Cleanser
• The Amanjena hotel in Marrakesh for clay tennis and fruit smoothies
• AR457's Metaserum Elixir (argan oil which Moroccan woman use to treat scars and sooth skin)
• Nippon Kodo incense kit (for traveling)
• INA Bath Crystals (Himalayan white-gold crystal salt)
• Marcela's nail salon in Holland Park
• Space NK's Seaweed Bath Soak (with Laminaria digitata, a seaweed harvested in Brittany, France)

How great are these goodies??? I can't wait to get my hands on them... oh yeah, and I CANNOT wait to chill poolside in Marrakesh... I've been dying to go to Morocco!

To check out the Space NK website and their plethora of worldly products, click HERE.

Have a favorite Space NK product that we MUST try??? Let us know!

Fellow Beauty Whore Recommendation...

I LOVE when fellow beauty whores send me their favorite products! That's a big reason for having this beauty blog... sharing!!!

Annah Cuthbert of the U.K. wrote in gushing over the skin and body line LUSH (and a fave conditioner from the local drugstore) and now I share it with you...

Here's what she had to say:


"It is such a fab line, the face packs are just amazing. At first i thought the whole organic, homemade tagline (which at the time was rather original) was just another gimmick but now I'm complete Lush addict.

The brazened honey face pack is a powerhouse of effective ingredients for all tired skins, it apparently exfoliates and detoxifies as well as stimulates and nourishes the skin.
Refreshing herbs and fruit juice are blended with warming Ayurvedic herbs and spices. With almonds to polish and moisturising honey, this blend leaves the skin vibrant and re-visited. You apply to clean skin, leave on for 20 minutes until dry, rinse and voila, glowing goddess.

Another great face pack by LUSH is the BB Seaweed, which has a lovely relaxing and reviving fragrant. It is a mineral rich mask to cleanse, soften and beautify all skin types. This blend contains fresh, nutritious seaweed and seaweed absolute. Cleansing kaolin, antiseptic honey, calming aloe vera and rose absolute make this a great mask for everyone. there are also masks for wrinkles, problem skin, you name it, it caters for all.

The dream cream is also really delish, it is an incredibly soothing body lotion for troubled skin. it is Lush`s best-selling product because it makes sore skin feel good again. It calms irritations, reduces redness and banishes blotches. It contains just about everything nature makes for soothing your skin.

I can use every product in LUSH with ease as I trust nature over science when it comes to skincare, and even though I have very sensitive cells, I have not received a single irritation from the line.

Another product I highly recommend which has transformed my thirsty head of highlights, is this leave in conditioner called, Vitapointe. I found it in my local drugstore, right at the bottom, behind some mainstream products. There were only two bottles left, which intrigued me. i asked the sales assistant and she told me it is a really popular product, but got discontinued ages ago, and due to all the latest array of options Vitapointe gets ignored. but the older generations snap it up like flies, and i always think the oldies knew their stuff when it came to beauty ( quality always). the product contains masses of different minerals, vitamins and ingredients such as beeswax, to feed your hair, no muss no fuss. you apply a tiny pearl sized drop onto dry hair and it makes such a huge difference after using it for a month my hair actually appears glossy and manageable which is rare for a highlight addict. the best bit is its so cheap it cost 2 pounds which i think is like $3 or $4. this should def be a beauty classic."

To view the entire LUSH line, click HERE!

How to Wear Red

Red is a bold and sexy color. It is said that red was the first color perceived by man. Thus, red lipstick is not only bold and sexy, but a sure way to grab a guy's attention. And like mascara, it too is a woman's rite of passage.

Wearing red can be a tricky task. The wrong red can have you looking more like Bozo the Clown then they beauty that you truly are. And let's not forget the all too familiar "red on the teeth" or the "bleeding red" mouth. Such beauty faux pas.


I've enlisted the help of A-list make-up artist Sole Alberti (who has painted the faces of Mena Suvari, Jaime Pressley, and Nicole Richie... not to mention the entire cast of my film, I Heart Veronica Martin) to give us her tips on choosing and wearing the perfect red...

"Red lips look great on any kind of skin tone, from Julianne Moore’s fair skin to Penelope Cruz’s medium skin tone to Halle Berry’s dark complexion," says Alberti. "But there are a couple of reds that can work for all skin tones. They are strong, brilliant and bright." (top left, the ultimate red-lipped vixen, Marilyn Monroe)

Sole's Picks:
MAC Matte Russian Red (a favorite of mine as well), Revlon Color Stay in Rouge, Revlon #315 and Josie Maran in Devious.




How to Apply:
First exfoliate lips with a warm towel to get rid of dead skin (or try Beauty Banter's favorite lip exfoliator, Sara Happ's The Lip Scrub)
Next, apply concealer around the mouth area and powder it as well to prevent the lipstick from bleeding. Sole's pick: MAC
Line the lips and fill them in with a red liner, which gives it staying power. Sole suggests using MAC's Brick lip pencil or Cici's Red Plum.
Finally, apply the lipstick.
Sole says, "If you want to be really glam, add a coat of lipgloss like the MAC LipGlass."

Remember, red is a night-long commitment. So, it's imperative that you do mirror-checks often. An old red-carpet trick to keeping the lippy on your lips and off your teeth... VASELINE. Coat your teeth with a sheer layer of vaseline and the lippy will slide right off (not stick around for unwanted attention)!

Sole adds, "When you're wearing red, make sure that your lips are the focus and you do minimal make up on the eyes. It may take several steps to get it just right but it’s guaranteed that you will have heads turning left and right with those perfectly desirable kissable lips. Rock the red lips and feel the love!"

Tell us, what's your rocking red color of choice?

A Canadian Specialty...

Mariame from Montreal just emailed this fantastic facial trick:

"I have an amazing beauty trick I'd love to share- especially if anybody is visiting Montreal or Quebec, look out for this: sea salt with eucaplytus and essential oils!! It is sold at Quebec's drugstore chain Jean-Coutu (the equivalent of Rite-Aid, Duane Reade, etc here). This inexpensive treat is part of Jean-Coutu's house brand, Personnelle.

Now, for ladies with oily skin (like me), try, try this: pour yourself a bath with this sea salt, enjoy the steam and over clean skin, use your favorite face scrub- Clinique's is the best. Everytime I do this, my skin looks phenomenal- not to mention the entire body benefits from the sea salt and essential oils!! You just feel refreshed and new, plus it does wonders for sore muscles.

I'm sure there must be an American equivalent for this product, so look for it! It is my Number One beauty addiction, seriously- and it's inexpensive."


Anyone know of the equivalent product here in the states? Or anyone from Canada ever try this product? I'm dying to own it!!!

Let us know!!!

The Very BEST Blushes

Once again, Guest Editor Di Gaeta is sharing her beauty expertise with you!

Hello, Darlings.

So, Sarah has asked me to share with you my favorite blushies and why, because I seem to have a knack for choosing them. As I’ve had every hair color in the book and am sometimes tan and sometimes not, I am offering up my various picks.

When I’m a pale blondie, like now, I LOVVVE the Apricot Face Tint by Laura Mercier. This blush looks scarily bright in its little jar but one dip, blow, and puff right on the apples of the cheeks and you look healthy and adorable. This is also a really great universal “I’m just in from the cold” color.

When I’m a tan brunette, I’m all about Nars Outlaw. The color is a deep sexy rose, and while too strong on fair skin, is STUNNING on darker tones. This color gives you that “own personal lighting team” effect for it has tiny flecks of gold in it.

Lastly, my two constants that fit everyone no matter what time of year are, Nars Lovejoy and Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon. The Lovejoy is a blend of the best-selling Orgasm blush (a golden peach) and their medium bronzer. This is a perfect pick for when you are ill, sallow, or need a general pick me up. The Beach tint comes in a cute, tiny, little, tube and it is the loveliest shade of, well, watermelon. This is my absolute fave because not only is it a beautiful “on the apples” blush but it is also the most fabulous “Angelina Jolie” lip color because it is both matte and just bitten looking.

Enjoy,

Xxx Di


What's your must-have blush???

Musings From a Fellow Beauty Enthusiast

L.A. weather is as fickle as a man. Some days, it's hot, the sun, shinning, making you happy and healthy. Other days, it's brutally cold and windy.
How is one supposed to keep up?

Alex Sears offers some great tips on how to stay moisturized and keep dry skin at bay.
She writes:

I loooved the scrub reviews...while Arcona Cranberry Gommage is currently my choice I am always ready to find something better!

Quick beauty note, which I will totally give credit to Lucky Magazine for...I am using Jojoba Oil for dry skin and scalp now that our bizarro weather has taken its toll. Dry skin banished, I co-hosted a baby shower over the weekend in a little jersey dress instead of head to toe coverage.


I also use Pure Necessities Shea Butter on elbows, heels, cuticles. And Barielle Intensive Nail Renewal Oil every night whether I have polish on or not. If I'm not outdoors on a photo shoot, I am typing an article or story...my nails get thrashed and Barielle is a bit of magic.
Now, what is your favorite hair mask? Coloring and the weather mixed with natural wave ---- not so pretty. Keratasse? L'Oreal Prof? Something homemade? Help?!?

Be well, talk soon,
Alex.


Any suggestions???

BEST OF SUMMER 2007.... THE RESULTS

I know, I know, I said I'd have the results by September 1st, but it was labor day weekend and even the beauty whore needs to rest!

This is SO exciting! Thanks to everyone who participated!!!

I actually found some products that I had never heard of before... lots of new goodies to try and review...



And now, THE RESULTS:

BEST OF LIPS:
MAC
The colors: Pinkarat, Viva Glam V, Apex, Frenzy
A Close Second: Nars
The colors: Venice, Turkish Delight, Striptease

BEST OF BRONZER:
Nars in Laguna

BEST OF EYE SHADOWS:
MAC (won by a landslide!)
Some of the colors: Cranberry, Shroom, Temtping, Amber Lights, Bare Canvas (paint)

BEST OF MOISTURIZER WITH SPF:
Kiehl's

BEST OF TINTET MOISTURIZER:
Laura Mercier (won by a landslide!)

BEST OF AFTER-SUN BODY LOTION:
Epicuren in Orange Blossom and Aloe Vera

BEST OF BODY EXFOLIATOR:
No Winner!
Some of the votes include, Origins Spicey Odyssey, Cle de Peaux Pour le Corpes, Anthony Logistics Sea Salt Scrub

BEST OF SHAMPOO:
TIE! Kerastase AND Frederik Fekkai

BEST OF CONDITIONER:
TIE! Kerastase AND Frederik Fekkai

BEST OF SPRAYS:
Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

BEST OF SCENTS:
TIE! Kai AND Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B.

There you have it... your votes, your choices!



Thanks for playing! Look for a new BEST OF... later this week....

LAST CHANCE!!!

To help us decide the BEST OF SUMMER 2007!
We will post the results tomorrow, September 1st!!!
Here are the categories:

BEST OF LIPS - GLOSS, STICK AND STAIN
BEST OF BRONZERS
BEST OF EYE SHADOWS
BEST OF MOISTURIZER WITH SPF
BEST OF TINTED MOISTURIZER
BEST OF AFTER-SUN BODY LOTION
BEST OF BODY EXFOLIATOR
BEST OF SHAMPOO
BEST OF DEEP CONDITIONER
BEST OF SPRAYS FOR HAIR (SPF'S, WAVE SPRAYS, DETANGLERS)
BEST OF SCENTS

100% Organic

I've been wanting to do an organic post for awhile now - I was going to wait until Earth Day, but hey, going organic isn't just a trend, it's become a way of life. And now, more then ever, hundreds of companies are realizing just this.

Thanks to my incredibly well-informed fellow beauty whore and recent organic enthusiast, Alex Asher Sears, for her astute knowledge and constant testing of the best organic products on the market!

Here are Alex's recommendations:

www.ethoshealth.info
ETHOS CLARIFYING LOTION
This Austrailian brand will start selling online to the US soon. For now, try Amazon or int'l sellers. The name is a bit misleading as it's actually a spray. Refreshing and toning.
From site:
"Ethos is: 100% free from: artificial colourings, artificial fragrance, mineral oils, parabens, sulphates, Hypo allergenic, pH balanced, Not tested on animals, No animal content."

www.korres.com
Korres Camelia Milk conditioner
I love all things Korres but particularly their conditioners. Never heavy, always nourishing.

www.californiababy.com or at Whole Foods and now Target
California Baby® Super Sensitive™ Shampoo & Bodywash
This is my favorite. Created for "babies, kids and sensitive adults" this shampoo is safe for chemically treated hair, soft on sensitive scalps and not only makes a great body wash it also is a non-drying face wash!

California Baby® I Love You™ Aromatherapy Bubble Bath
This bubble bath smells lovely and won't dry out your skin.
From site:
"No fragrance, scent masking agents, clear formula chemicals, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, or DEA."

www.methodhome.com - or available at Target
METHOD bloq shave cream - eternal optimist | citron leaf
I am fussy about shaving creams as I am something of a pro at cutting myself while shaving. But this lotion is incredibly moisturizing and I have been nick-free.

Method bloq body wash
Also good. I think I'm just a sucker for cool packaging.

www.purenecessities.net
Pure Necessities Shea Butter Hand Foot Balms
My aunt turned me onto this local line a year ago and I fell in love with their shea butter. Smells fabulous and keeps my feet sandal ready year round. This company sells online but has a store in Westlake Village.

www.drhauschka.com and other sites but I generally get mine at Whole Foods.
Dr. Hauschka
Rose Day Cream
For dry, sensitive or mature skin
-I have to credit my grandmother for this one. She's been devoted for years and buys three or four tubes at a time. I use it in winter when my skin needs more moisture. They've just released a lighter version which I may switch to.

Dr. Hauschka Translucent Bronze Concentrate
Add a dab of moisturizer or sunscreen for a subtle glow that looks natural. I thought a good bronzer would be a hard find but this is fabulous. I'm very fair but it's ideal for all skin types.

www.juiceorganics.com - drugstore find
Juice Organics Apple Exfoliating Peel - once a week for soft skin. This surprised me because I thought the stronger stuff I used would be hard to replace.
Juice Organics DAILY NOURISHING MOISTURIZER - I use this after the exfoliating peel as well.

Weleda Calendula Baby Cream
Makes a great face cream for adults with sensitive skin. Also worth checking out is their Skin Food for something a little more emollient.

Rosebud Salve isn't an organic but it's ingredient list rates low in toxicity with the environmental working group. It's not perfect but close. A good reminder that using the EWG's www.cosmeticsdatabase.com (to read more about the cosmetic database, CLICK HERE) is helpful in choosing the best products. I'm searching now for a great organic mascara. And since I pretty much think the world of mascara, this will be interesting....

Thanks to Alex for these incredible organic finds... I, for one, can't wait to try them out!

And remember, organic is better for you and better for the environment! No toxins, no animal testing and no synthetic ingredients!

What are your favorite organic products? Leave a comment in the comment box below!

(above picture taken by Alex Asher Sears)