The Eye Cream Diaries: SK1N Probiotics

So I've started using a new eye cream in my quest to find "The One," and I wanted to share my initial impression. Now, eye creams (and really any skin care product for that mater) take a good few weeks to really see the results so I'll regularly update you on my progress.

The cream in question is SK1N Probiotics eye cream, which uses the power of probiotics, typically used to aid digestion (come on, you know the commercial with Jamie Lee Curtis and Activia yogurt). The whole shtick with probiotics is that they regulate bacteria and restore balance, therefore ensuring that there is sufficient good bacteria and that bad bacteria is kept in check. This is the first beauty brand to use both prebiotics, which essentially activate probiotics, and probiotics topically, so naturally, I was intrigued.

The company claims that the natural probiotic ingredients repair environmental damage, rejuvenate collagen synthesis and tighten the eye area to give a lifted look. My initial thoughts? I definitely felt the tightening effect. Within minutes after applying, my eye area looked and felt firmer. The texture is nice, not greasy, which can sometimes be the case with eye creams. So far so good; I'll let you know if I notice any significant results. I'm also using the face serum, but that's a whole other story.

Read up at the SK1N Probiotic Systems website for more info about the brand, it's a cool concept.

Beauty Crush: L'Oreal HIP Jelly Balm

I love the look of a smooth lip with a hint of color and a natural shine, and L'Oreal HiP Jelly Balm will give you just that. It's so hard to find a lipcolor for those days when you don't want the intense color of a lipstick, or the high shine/stickiness of a gloss. But if you're like me a regular old lip balm just will not do; I need some sort of color payoff here. And that whole routine of apply balm, top with lipstick, top with more balm gets old pretty quickly.

I was so happy to find this while strolling through the drugstore one day. I've never tried anything in L'Oreal's HiP line before and this stuff is amazing. It's the perfect balmy consistency, offers a nice natural shine and enough color for a finished look. Perfect for when you're hitting the gym (I hope I'm not the only person who wears gloss and mascara when working out) or when you're having a low key errand running day and need a little something on the lips. My fave shade is Plush, a nice glossy bubblegum pink. It looks whoa pink in the package, but because it's a balm it's sheer enough so that you won't get mistaken for one of The Girls Next Door or a 14-year old. Bonus: it smells and tastes totally yummy.

Holiday Gift Sets for Your Guy

I'm a total sucker for holiday gift sets. Even if they're loaded with crap I'm like, "oooh look at this cute holiday set." While cosmetics sets are usually the most aesthetically pleasing and fun, haircare sets are my favorite because they contain things you'd actually use on an everyday basis. Redken has two great new sets for your guy this holiday season with their Grooming Essentials gift set and Mint Essentials travel kit. Now if you're wondering whether your guy would actually want a snazzy little gift set, if he's anything like mine, he would. My husband loved when I brought home hair products for him, and he has a penchant for the good stuff (no Dep gel in under our bathroom sink!)

Redken for Men Grooming Essentials gift set contains go clean daily care shampoo to hydrate the scalp and strengthen hair, grip tight holding gel for control and shine sans flaking and cleanse acid balancing cleansing bar to smooth and refresh skin. Retails for $21.

Redken for Men Mint Essentials travel kit contains four airport security friendly sizes of mint clean shampoo, cool finish conditioner, mint fix sweat-resistant gel and new mint rush hair & body wash. As an added bonus a sample packette of mint shape forming paste is included. Retails for $12.50.

Scoop up these kits at any salon that sells Redken for Men products. Check out the Redken site for a salon in your area. 

Back From the Dead

I have been sick something fierce since Wednesday afternoon, and I'm just now starting to feel like a human being. I think it started out as the flu, then evolved into a bad cold, and now a cough has suddenly appeared, so I think it might be time to get thee to the doctor.

Now that I'm finally not bed-ridden, I've begun to notice the beauty toll my sickness has taken on me. Totally white skin from lack of self-tanner use, chipped nail polish on nails that need to be filed immediately, grown out eyebrows, dirty hair, yikes. The one thing that hasn't suffered is my skin. No matter how sick I am, I make sure to clean my face day and night.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not standing at the sink lathering and rinsing, being sick (or extremely tired, or after a late night of partying) is the perfect excuse to break out some good old cleansing towelettes - pre-moistened cloths that remove dirt, oil, even eye makeup.  Check out my two favorites.

Olay Definity Illuminating Makeup Remover Towelettes effectively remove everything - even waterproof eye makeup, while also revealing beautifully clean, more luminous skin. Now I'm a sucker for anything that has "illuminating" in the title, because I'm always in search of that glowy look, and these actually deliver. I've used them on many a late night and they really do get rid of the grime without drying you out, and I actually did notice a difference in skin clarity.

Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes go beyond just basic cleansing to detoxify with antioxidants Vitamin E and Grape extract, Vitamin B5, which infuses skin with moisture to prevent overdrying and Green Leaf extract, which soothes and refreshes. The texture of these cloths is awesome - it feels like you're smoothing a super soft t-shirt over your face. 

Stash them in your nightstand drawer and you'll really have no excuse not to cleanse.

It's Fergie, Your Avon Lady Calling

Soon enough out-there artist Fergie will be knocking on your door hawking her new perfume for Avon. The singer, songwriter, fashion designer and actress (come on, you saw Poseidon) can now add perfumer to her resume. Slated for a November 2010 launch, Fergie will be active in all stages of fragrance development - from the scent itself, to package selection, name and the campaign, according to Avon.

Fergie will make her first appearance on behalf of Avon on October 27th, at the Avon Foundation for Women Annual Gala event in NYC, where she will perform in support of Avon's charitable efforts. Fergie joins the ranks of past Avon fragrance spokespersons including Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey, Courteney Cox-Arquette and Derek Jeter.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing how this scent turns out and definitely can't wait to see the packaging. Check out Avon's website for the latest news!

The Eye Cream Diaries

As I was watching my fave new show The Vampire Diaries (vampire mania has not lost momentum with me and I'm beginning to fear it never will) I was thinking it would be fun to chronicle my own hits and misses with a beauty product that I just haven't quite mastered - eye cream. Now by mastered, I mean that I can fire off a reco for any beauty product at will - mascara, sunscreen, masque, shampoo, body lotion - whatever, but when it comes to eye cream, your guess is as good as mine. I have tried all different brands claiming to reduce puffiness, undereye circles, fine lines, wrinkles, do your dishes, and I have yet to find one that makes me say wow, now I REALLY can't live without this.

So, I have decided to really research this whole eye cream business and detail my thoughts here. I've heard from numerous experts that eye cream is completely unnecessary and that your regular old moisturizer works fine as long as you're not getting it into your eyes, so I'll even be trying that out to see if we should just dump eye cream altogether. Check back regularly for my adventures in eye cream, and if you have any favorites or suggestions, drop me a note and I'll check them out!

Steals, Deals and Savings Oh My

Call it the post-Columbus Day beauty blowout; there are some great sales going on right now and now's the perfect time to stock up on your fave products from Too Faced, Bliss and E.L.F.

Too Faced is having a vintage super sale where you can score your favorite classics at up to 75% off. My picks are the five piece Tricks of the Trade kit for only $15, Ooh La Rouge blush for $8 and Candy Bars shimmering highlighters for only $10. Just hop on the Too Faced site and get spending.

E.L.F is offering 50% off it's Studio line of professional cosmetics. Even though it's the high end line of E.L.F, the products are still totally affordable and then add in the 50% discount and you can get twice as much! Just use code EGSTUDIOX to receive 50% off your order of $20 or more. My picks: Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder (so much like NARS Orgasm/Laguna duo), Eyebrow Kit (I can't tell you how hard it is to find a decent eyebrow kit at mass), and High Definition Powder (hello! Make Up Forever makes this for about four times the price!)

Bliss is offering 30% off its best-selling bath and body products at its site, Blissworld. Just enter code 109902 at checkout, but hurry, the sale only lasts till the 19th. Definitely pick up one of the Body Butters, with the cold weather in full swing, you'll need the extra moisture. The Bliss Glamour Gloves and Softening Socks are so indulgent and the perfect remedy for dry, cracked skin. Just slip them on your hands and feet and in 20 minutes all signs of dryness and cracking are gone.

Bare Escentuals Launches First Fragrance

My favorite cosmetics brand Bare Escentuals is launching its debut fragrance, Bare Skin, the first scent in the Leslie Blodgett Perfume Diaries line, exclusively created for Sephora. The concept behind Perfume Diaries is pretty cool - it's meant to revisit pivotal moments in the Bare Escentuals CEO's life. Bare Skin is reminiscent of Leslie's recent trip to Mexico.

"When I have an experience, I like to have a scent behind it. Bare Skin, which is what Mexico reminds me of, is the way you feel when the sun is beating down on you during the day, but then you go out at night and you're still sizzling from the warmth of the day, which mingles with the night air and the music," says Blodgett.

The Bare Skin fragrance line includes a 1.7oz. Eau de Parfum with notes of yummy Vanilla Orchid, Sandalwood and Freesia, a Solid Perfume Compact that comes packaged in a beautiful pocket watch style, and a luxurious Perfumed Body Cream.

This scent is the perfect, everyday wear fragrance or for when you're feeling the fall blues and need a summer pick me up. And isn't the packaging gorgeous? Totally reminds me of a beachy getaway. The Bare Skin collection is now available exclusively at Sephora, and will hit store shelves on the 15th.

OPI Goes Tech with Dell

One of my favorite nail polish brands OPI inked a deal to bring their famous nail polish shades to the tech world via Dell laptops. Dell will offer a variety of their laptop models, such as the Dell Mini, Inspiron and Studio that can be coated with any 26 of OPI's nail polish shades. Dell will first offer eight of OPI's hues, with a plan to include all 26 by February 2010. At first the OPI laptops will only be available on the Dell website, but in the spring you can pick up these computers at retail stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart.

Can you imagine having a Lincoln Park After Dark or I'm Not Really a Waitress colored computer? Might motivate me to get a little more work done.

Discount Beauty

It all started with random sample sales held in NYC lofts, then evolved into online member's only fashion discount sites a la Gilt Groupe and Rue La La. Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing better than scoring a DVF dress for $100, but I always wondered how great it would be to apply this principle to beauty. Well, it seems several people have been reading my mind because member's only, discount beauty shopping destinations have been popping up everywhere all of the sudden.

First we have The Fairest, a member's only shopping destination featuring beauty brands such as tarte cosmetics and Korres Natural Products at up to 75% off retail. More than just a retail site, there is a blog featuring latest news about the site and it's products, in addition to a page on brand education, so you can read up on all the cool brands they feature. Membership is easy, just hit up The Fairest website and register.

Beautyfix is a subscriber-based service where members are charged $50 every three months to receive a kit of about seven deluxe travel or full sized products. What's cool about this site is that each kit is a sampling of of products have been hand selected by the Beautyfix panel of celeb hairstylists, derms, beauty eds and so on. This is perfect if you're a beauty junkie who loves trying out different products from brands you know and love, as well as some cool new or indie lines.

A new site, which is scheduled to launch October 21st is The Skinny, a members-only retail destination focused solely on luxury skin care products and spa services at discounts of up to 70%. The Skinny will also offer educational videos on the site, make product recommendations according to skin type and concern, and a team of skin health experts share tips and answer questions via facebook and twitter. Although the site won't go live until the 21st, you can log on and register now.

Happy (discount) shopping!

Beauty Crush: Bare Escentuals

There are very few beauty products that I'm fiercely loyal to. Maybe I'm adventurous, maybe the temptation is just too much, or maybe I need at 12-step program, but I just can't seem to stick to one brand. Except...when it comes to Bare Escentuals. Ever since I started using bareMinerals about five years ago I haven't touched anything else. As an oily-skinned type who's always greasy rather than glowy, I love the fact that bareMinerals is a super-lightweight powder formula. But as a girl who loves her coverage (no sheer, tinted moisturizer for me!) bareMinerals is a dream. It covers redness, blemishes, dark circles -whatever, all while looking and feeling like you have nothing on.

The best part? It actually improves your skin. Since using bareMinerals my skin rarely breaks out, has an improved texture, tone, you name it. I love the whole Bare Escentuals line which includes glosses, mascara, eye shadows, but if you're new to the brand my must-haves are bareMinerals foundation (in Golden Medium), Mineral Veil (I wish I could bathe in it), Multi-Tasking Minerals in Bisque (covers everything) Faux Tan (the most natural looking bronzer) and Clear Radiance (gives the most beautiful ethereal sheen - no tacky glitter on these cheeks!) Pick up the starter kit at Sephora or Bare Escentuals boutiques.

Splurge Steal: Color Preserving Shampoo

If you color your hair then using a gentle, color preserving shampoo free of harsh salts and sulfates is a must - otherwise you're washing your $200 highlights right on down the drain. The downside? Almost all shampoos contain these harsh cleansers because they're what remove dirt and oil from the hair and scalp. And then Pureology came along in 2001 as the first 100% vegan formula with zero sulfates to preserve the integrity of color treated hair. What I love is that each of the seven different formulas all preserve color, but also tackle specific hair concerns like lack of volume, dryness, straightening, shine inducing, even dandruff control. The only downside? Shampoos, conditioners and stylers will usually run you from $20 to $50 and up a pop and are exclusively available in salons.

If you're looking to keep color in tact and still save a few bucks, L'Oreal EverPure is the solution. The products are 100% sulfate free for color that stays pure up to 32 washes. EverPure is available in three collections - Moisture, Smooth and Volumize with styling products for $6.99 each and you can walk in any drugstore and scoop them up.

L'Oreal actually acquired Pureology not too long ago so the formulas are probably pretty much the same thing.

Three Lippies in One: Bobbi Brown Rich Color Lip Gloss

I'm a huge Bobbi fan - she does the polished, clean look like no one else. She somehow makes everything, even bright colors or glitter gloss look classically chic. And her latest introduction is right up my alley. Rich Color Lip Gloss offers three lippy benefits: the full coverage color of a lipstick, the soft shine of a gloss and the feel of a lip balm. It moisturizes and conditions all day and won't feather.

For anyone who loves the consistency and shine of a gloss, but hates the fact that it slides off in five minutes and never offers enough color payoff, scoop up one of the eight shades - ranging from neutral to deep to bright. I'd wear any of the eight shades, but my top two picks are Pink Buff, the quintessential pinky nude everyone should own and Ruby Red (still riding high on my red moment).

Available at the Bobbi Brown website for $20 each.