TURN OFF THE TAP: Waterless Facial Cleansers

Cold is a relative term. Here in Los Angeles what we consider winter weather would make my friends in Aspen laugh. Yet no matter where you live, when the weather changes so does your skin. And while we change the way we dress throughout the year, sometimes we forget that our skin might need a wardrobe change, too. In the new issue of Allure I read that in winter “skin loses about 25% of its ability to hold moisture.” So when it comes to cleansing, the less you strip your skin, the better. Ideally that means cleansers that require little to no water. It may sound crazy but it works. I love Care by Stella McCartney Gentle Cleansing Milk (which is no longer easy to find). You apply it like a face wash and simply remove with a cotton ball.

As the temps drop, put away anything that foams (foam=dry, dry, dry) and turn to cream and oil-based options. For every skin type there is something that works (trust me, oil and oily/combo/sensitive skin make very good friends) and here are some great choices at every price.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Baby Face Cleanser by LUSH ($9.35) looks like a bar of soap carved to resemble the man in the moon. But the solid bar is actually made with shea, cocoa and avocado butters. It removes makeup, cleanses and softens skin and can be removed with a toner on a cotton pad or damp washcloth. Also great for dry skin, too.

La Roche Posay has created a line specifically for very sensitive skin, including those with eczema and rosacea as part of their skincare collection. Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser Gentle Wipe-Off Formula ($19.95) is designed to cleanse the most allergy-prone skin types gently and safely. The lotion is non-comedogenic, fragrance and preservative free.

L’Occitane’s Shea and Organic Cotton line is formulated for sensitive skin, using minimal ingredients and zero fragrance, dyes, preservatives or alcohol. The Ultra Comfort Cleansing Milk ($22) cleanses and tones without parabens, synthetics or water. Made with cotton, rosemary and shea butter simply massage into skin and wipe away dirt and makeup.

MOST SKIN TYPES

Naked Bee Tissue-Off Facial Cleanser ($8.95) does exactly what the name says. This paraben and sulfate-free cleanser is 70% organic and includes SPF. Infused with antioxidant Vitamin C because it helps build skin elasticity. Perfect for daily use on all skin types.

sukiface® created their moisture-rich cleansing lotion ($26.95) with organic lemon, sage and lavender to cleanse and hydrate while maintaining the skin’s natural moisture. Great for normal, combination, dry and mature skin, apply and massage into skin and gently remove using toner soaked cotton pads. Also available at Whole Foods.

Laura Mercier Purifying Oil ($40) comes in two formulas, Light for normal to oily skin and Rich for dry and dehydrated skin. The cleanser and makeup removers are formulated with deep sea water and a formula that “gently removes impurities and provide a truly deep clean without stripping the skin.” Non-comedogenic, you massage the oil into skin and remove with a warm washcloth.

The shu uemera cleansing oils are truly iconic. Using botanical oils to gently cleanse, shu umera offers six formulas to fit every skin type (and season). Using avocado and jojoba oil the cleansing oils are beloved by makeup artists as much as consumers. The High Performance Balanced Cleansing Oil Advanced Formula is the most popular for all skin types but there are formulas for combo/oily, dry, dull/uneven, mature and sensitive skins. Ranging from $32-$72, check out the combo kit for $35 at Barneys.

DRY SKIN

Since 1963, the British brand Beauty Without Cruelty has been making skincare products with eco-consciousness. The Facial Cleansing Milk - Extra Gentle ($11) is a cleanser and makeup remover, made with organic, aroma-therapeutic oils and herbal extracts including lavender, chamomile, calendula and Vitamin E. Can be rinsed off or removed with a cotton pad.


What’s your secret for battling winter dry skin? Feel free to share in comments. A little beauty banter can teach us all a thing or two. xo alex.

PRIME TIME

I think face primers are absolutely genius. Most days I wear little more than a tinted moisturizer with SPF but adding a primer means the color goes on smoothly, reduces appearance of pores and lasts all day. I’ve found several brands that make a great product but most contained less than eco-friendly ingredients. So, when KORRES created a face primer, I was intrigued. I love, love, love the KORRES brand but could a silicone-free primer still do the job?

Absolutely. It was lighter than anything I’d ever used, closer to the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer than Smashbox Photo Finish. With a light, citrusy scent (probably the grapefruit peel oil), I applied the same amount I would with a heavier primer. I added Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20, some mascara and check tint and faced the heat of LA summer. My skin looked great all day. I am hooked.

What amazes me is how much it does while leaving out so much. No parabens, silicone, synthetic fragrance, sulfates, phalates, GMOs, mineral oils, synthetic dyes or phalates. All things our bodies and the environment do not need. While it isn’t oil free, my combination skin has had no problems. Personally, I’ve often found that what causes skin breakouts and irritations are the synthetics and petrolatum based ingredients in products.

Ninety-nine percent natural with 11.19 % organically farmed ingredients, and dermatologically tested, KORRES Face Primer carries the coveted seal of ECOCERT. While it prides itself on “skin soothing botanicals and Vitamin E that refine skin texture, minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce pore size,” you can be assured it also passed the highest international standards for ecology around. That’s beauty inside and out.

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???

The Make-Up Break Down...

...How to achieve the look in 5 simple steps, that should take NO LONGER then 10 minutes... MAX!

Hair-crazed Jenny was in town this weekend and I decided to do a quick and easy make-over on her! She liked - LOVED - it so much that she immediately went out to buy the products!

**1** FOR THE FACE:
Keep it simple. Combine a bronzer, moisturizer AND coverage.
My Picks: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer with a dab of Clinique True Bronze Bronzing Gel in Sunlit Bronze. If you need more moisture, add a dollop of your favorite moisturizer - more coverage, add a bit of your favorite foundation. Then mix all of the products in your hand and apply to face like you would a face moisturizer!
The Look: Flawless complexion with a hint of hue!

**2** FOR THE CHEEKS:
It's all about adding just the right amount of color AND highlight.
My Picks: A dab of MAC Ablaze and a dab of MAC Northern Exposure. I dab each together (even amounts) on the brush and then apply. Obviously, work with the product to see what looks best on your skin-tone.
The Look: These colors work great with just about any skin tone - some people may need more of the highlighter (Northern Exposure) and less of the bold color (Ablaze). The look is natural and healthy!

**3** FOR THE EYES:
Too much eye make-up tends to leave a person looking like the victim of a fist fight. My eye make-up routine is quick in that you use a base color and play with a couple of other colors as "crease colors" just on the outer corners of your eyes! I highly suggest buying some sort of eye shadow trio or quad. It makes the guessing work virtually nonexistant. All of the colors WILL work together!
My Pick: MAC's Smoking Eyes Eye Shadow 4. Work the lightest shade over the entire eye lid. Then combine a dab of the two darker shades on the brush and apply to the crease and/ or outer corner. You never really need to use the darkest color unless you want to line your eyes or you are going to a black tie affair and feel the need for some drama(tic) eyes!
The Look: A more natural take on the smokey eye.

**4** And for mascara, CLICK HERE
to read my extensive mascara coverage. Just choose a brand that works for you. You don't wanna have to spend hours in front of the mirror seperating your lashes or creating volume and length. The right mascara will do this with one stroke of it's wand! As for color, I say always choose BLACK! Black makes everyone's eyes pop!

**5** FOR THE LIPS:
There are so many colors and products to choose from, most promising the same exact thing: BIGGER LIPS! Here's my take - pick a hue that works for YOU, not one that is "of the now." Don't go too dark or too light. Something in the middle, without too much frost, usually does the trick. And if you want bigger lips, line the middle of the top and bottom lip with a NUDE pencil, blend it, then apply your favorite lippy.
My Picks: MAC Lustre Barely Lit with Stila Lip Glaze in Grapefruit. Finding YOUR color is all about layering!
The Look - Natural mauve with a hint of shine!

What's YOUR look? Tell us in the comment box!

Tanning 2007

Here it is! The big, fun filled tanning 2007 guide to beautiful, sun-kissed skin sans UVA and UVB rays (basically, tanned skin without the sun!)

I have tried a plethora of products in my quest for the best! Here, in no particular order, are a couple of tanning products that I just can't live without...

GlowFusion Micro-Nutrient Face & Body Natural Protein Tan: The absolute best spray tan that you can do yourself! Like a mystic tan, just at home. It applies evenly and leaves skin bronzed within seconds. I have very sensitive skin and I use this product on my face without fear of break-outs!!! It rocks!!! PRICE: $58.00 (and well worth every last cent!)


Dove Energy Glow Daily Moisturizer with Subtle Self Tanners, For Medium Skin Tones: It also comes in light, but I use medium because I want a quick, rich tan asap. This is a lotion that you use EVERY day after the shower... it works by gradually enhancing your NATURAL skin color, thus the more you use it, the darker you become. It smells fresh, not like a self-tanner, it doesn't stain clothes AND it actually moisturizes. I tried many tanning moisturizers and what I found is that most don't actually moisturize. This one does it all! PRICE: $7.99


NARS Blush & Bronzer Duo – Orgasm & Laguna: The perfect Summer compact: Two of my favorite colors side by side. Laguna is a rich, golden bronzer, while Orgasm is a subtle pinky-peach shimmer blush. Used together, it makes you look like you just left the beach! All sun-kissed and fresh-faced! PRICE: $36.00


L'Oreal Sunless Sublime Glow Daily Moisturizer, Fair Skin Tones: Like the Dove moisturizing lotion, this too enhances your natural skin tone, but it also adds a hint of sparkle every time you use it! I like to wear this lotion when I'm going out at night because the shimmer accentuates the tan and also makes my skin look dewy. Available in medium too! PRICE: ON SALE for $8.99


Jergens Natural Glow Face Moisturizer, Fair: This oil-free, non-comedogenic face lotion with SPF 20 is ideal for sensitive, acne prone skin types. Not only does it enhance your skin's natural color (building a "tan" the more times you use it), but it is perfect for evening out blothcy, or scarred skin. I love this product and have actually started using it as my primary facial moisturizer! PRICE: ON SALE for $5.78


Tarte Celebutante Dry Oil Shimmer Spray: Most people love the Nars body shimmer but I've gotta say, it's so greasy and always gets all over my clothes. That's when I found this dry oil product. Essentially, it does the same thing: spray on your body and you have a dewy, bronzed glow. But this one is not greasy AND it dries much faster then Nars (it also smells like coconut... yummy!). It's not as deep of a tan as Nars, more of a champagne color, but I'll sacrifice so long as my clothes stay fake-tan free! PRICE: $28.00


Physicians Formula Summer Eclipse Bronzing & Shimmery Face Powder: This bi-colored bronzer provides both a light tan and a golden shimmer! Physicians Formula rules the market in bronzing products - they sent me 23 different bronzers to test! Although I haven't had a chance to use all of them, this specific bronzer worked really well for my skin because it gave a natural glow and provided that dewy look that I love. Plus, it's hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, oil free, non-comedogenic AND dermatologist approved! WOW! PRICE: $11.95


I just can't write this post without once again discussing my all-time favorite face product, Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer in Sand with SPF 20: I use this product EVER day and it completely evens out my blothcy skin-tone PLUS it adds color to my face! The sun is so bad for your skin, not to mention what it does to scars and brown spots, so by using this product, I look tan, I'm saving my face AND I producing a "perfect palette;" even skin tone! I kid you not, when I wear this product, people tell me that I have fabulous skin! Can oyu imagine?! PRICE: $40.00



Have a favorite faux-tan product?! Let us know by emailing the beauty whore at beautybanter@gmail.com!!!

Tan away, fellow beauty whores!!!

WEEKLY MUST-HAVE

Are you in constant search of that one perfect face product that guarantees a flawless complexion?
If you're not, then you're weird.
If you are (like moi) then this is the most important post that you will EVER read.
My friend Kourt Kardashian has been raving about this tinited moisturizer for ages. Being that I have sensitive/ oily skin, I was always skeptical to try it. I mean, let's be honest, an oily complexion doesn't need any additional moisture.
But I finally gave in and the results are fabulous.
Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer with SPF is the end-all to a dull, blotchy complexion. It goes on smooth and actually offers optimal coverage without feeling "weighty." AND it's oil free thus, my face never looked shiny. To top it off, it's already infused with SPF so I don't have to worry about sun damage.
This product has CHANGED MY FACE. I apply every morning after my other new fave, Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. It actually makes my skin appear even-toned and a shade tanner then usual!
But don't just listen to me... try it for yourself. I guarantee that it will be love at first touch!
(Kourt and Sarah in Mexico.... awwww, how I miss the sun!)

British Vogue Reviewed

Fellow beauty whore, Alexandra, has once again offered her keen beauty insight to review January's British Vogue's spring/ summer make-up must-haves from the mouths of the beauty trend-setters themselves!!!

Alex and her Vogue

"I am without shame something of a magazine whore subscribing to almost two dozen publications. As a writer I explain this away as "research" but only a small portion are literary or political. Sadly they don't smell good and rarely look pretty. Hence the pile of fashion and style tomes spilling across my floor. The grande dame is British Vogue which arrives each month wrapped in black wrap like some secret dossier. The layouts are fantastic, the writing the best I have come across and the beauty always less unexpected than what you find in US mags. The January issue includes top makeup artists sharing products needed to create the spring/summer catwalk looks which were all about a nude face, which as anyone knows is always a tricky one to pull off. Take note....

GUCCI WESTMAN, Creative Director for Lancome (Catwalk shows: Behnaz Sarafpour, Proenza Schouler, Peter Som, Rag & Bone)
BareMinerals SPF15 Foundation (left). "My Must have. I use it as a base and apply foundation on top."
Clinique Pore Minimizer "Kate Winslet got me hooked...put a bit on under make-up for a noticeably smoother surface. After foundation, skin really glows."

VAL GARLAND (Catwalk shows: Giorgio Armani, Nicole Farhi)
Shu Umera Flare Eyelashes "The eyelashes of the moment...add fierceness to the season's natural look."
MAC Fan Brush in 184 (right) "It's for applying powder but I use it for cream or powder blush --- this season a pale or barely-there nude is essential."

CHARLOTTE TILBURY, Creative Director Helena Rubenstein (Catwalk shows: DKNY, Zac Posen, Bottega Veneta, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Biba)
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder (left). "Can't live with it - it brightens under eye bags and wakes up dull skin."
MAC Paint in Architecture "This dries matte, giving a lovely fresh contour to the eyes without looking obvious."

Let us know if you agree or disagree with these celebrity make-up artists!!!

Evolution of Colour for Eyes

Laura Mercier is really starting to impress me. First it was the face books, now it's these incredible eye pallettes in Springs most vibrant colors. A must try!!!

I'm thinking I wanna try the pinks and the greys... pink is an interesting hue for the eye. If done correctly, it is tres dramatic! (If not, it looks like a retchid case of pink eye!)

What colors are you choosing for Spring??? (via Laura Mercier)

'Tis the Season...

(pre-NYC transformation)
I spent the past weekend in New York updating my Winter beauty look, and let me tell you, it was quite a glamorous transformation. I died my ever-oxidized blonde locks into a healthier and richer chocolate brown - thanks to the fabulous fingers of uber-colorist, Ludovic at The Pierre Michel Salon. Ludovic has been beautifying A-list clients including Sharon Stone and Michelle Williams for the past 13 years, so needless to say, I was in good hands. Why brown? "Chocolate brown is the color this Winter because it is warmer for the skin," says Ludovic.
Next, I marched on over to the newly opened Sephora on Lexington Avenue and Fifty-Eight Street. The trend of the moment is golden eyes - the more shimmer, the better - and red lips. For blush, a just-walked-in-from-the-cold look is natural and necessary.
So here it is: The Ultimate Beauty Whore... transformed!
(post-NYC transformation)
On eyes, Laura Mercier Eye Book, exclusive for the Holiday Season. I blended the golden color with a bit of the burnt brown in my crease and under my lids. On lips, Bourjois Rouge Heprfix in Rouge Ultime 7. On cheeks, what else but Stila's Convertible color in POPPY!
Send us your Winter wonderland transformations! And remember, it's all about color!