Beauty Crush: Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment

The closer I get the twilight of my 20s, the more emphasis I put on skin care and preventing serious signs of aging. I love a good serum and I am obsessed with antioxidants. One of my absolute favorite vitamin and antioxidant-enriched serums is Kinerase C8 Peptide Intensive Treatment. This lotion-serum hybrid goes on super light, absorbs easily and makes me feel like I'm really protecting my skin from the elements. Kinerase is one of my favorite skincare brands because there's real science behind it and the products just work. 

C8 not only prevents future damage, but takes on past damage (really regretting those teenage baking in the sun years now) to improve skin tone, texture and fine lines and wrinkles. Fancy ingredients like Snap-8 and Kinetin help fight aging at every level, while Green Tea and Vitamin E fight off free radicals. Vitamin C brightens and boosts collagen and Beta Glucan stimulates skin regeneration. 

At $98 for a 1oz. bottle it is an investment, but a little goes a very long way so this definitely lasts. Pick it up at Sephora or kinerase.com. There's even a special offer where you can try C8 for $15 for 30 days. Kinerase recently came out with a new membership program where you lock in a low rate for home delivery of C8 every three months, in addition to receiving 20% off select Kinerase products, and a free sample of Extreme Lift Face. Check out info on that here.

RIP: Shu Uemura

Ok, so this isn't a true RIP, because products will live on forever on shuuemura.com, but it was announced today, via WWD, that the recently L'Oreal-acquired Shu Uemura will be closing its US doors. Although it's sad, I definitely get it. Shu Uemura is one of those brands that has absolutely amazing products, but the masses just haven't quite gotten on board. 

Since you can still purchase to your heart's desire on the website, it won't be a mad dash to stock up on eyelash curlers and cleansing oils, and you can even enjoy free shipping with a purhcase of $50 or more.

Get the Look: Keri Russell at the Leaves of Grass Premiere

Maybe I have a soft spot for the first season of Felicity, but I love Keri Russell. She always looks polished and put together, yet natural and not overly made up at the same time. Her look at the premiere of Leaves of Grass was no exception. Created by celeb makeup artist Tina Turnbow, Envision Beauty skincare and tarte cosmetics were used to give Keri defined eyes, softly flushed cheeks and a neutral lip. Check out the details below for products used.

Complexion: "For a healthy complexion, I used a tinted moisturizer and created a peachy-pink cheek."

    * Prepped the skin with The Solution by Envision Beauty ($79), a lightweight, multi-use facial moisturizer    packed with antioxidants like goji and acai.
    * Used tarte's the eraser 4-in-1 natural concealer in fair 02 ($21) for spot treatment.
    * Applied tarte's smooth operator oil-free tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 in Agent 06 ($36) all over face.
    * Dusted tarte's provocateur powder pressed mineral powder with SPF 8 in light 04 ($30) all over face
    * On the apples of the cheek, applied tarte's natural cheek stains in tipsy topped with dollface ($30).

Eyes: "I wanted a soft, smoky charcoal eye with voluminous lashes."

    * tarte's flower child refillable natural eyeshadow palette ($44)
          o In the crease: matte buttercup & shimmering peach combined for a gold shade
          o On the lid: shimmering gray periwinkle
    * Lined eyes with tarte's emphasEYES™ natural high definition inner rim eye pencil in charcoal ($18)
    * Coated top lashes with tarte's lights, camera, lashes! 4-in-1 clinically proven natural mascara($19)
    * Applied tarte's bottoms up on lower lashes ($16)

Lips: "I wanted to create a nude lip with a hint of pink sheen."

    * tarte's double-ended lipliner in dizzy blonde (pinky nude) all over the lip ($19)
    * Topped with tarte's vitamin infused lipgloss in om ($21)

Essie the Art of Spring Collection

Spring fever continues over here at BITNB and I finally got around to trying the Essie Art of Spring collection, which I'm currently obsessed with. Essie is definitely my favorite nail care brand, simply because no matter what shade you choose - from bold red to pale nude - it always looks so wearable. The Art of Spring collection features six new shades that are each creamy and opaque, ranging from pastel to bright. 

Shades include (from left to right):

Lilacism - a creamy lilac with blue undertones

Neo Whimsical - a dusty pastel rose plum

Pop Art Pink - a true, pastel pink

Red Nouveau - a fiery red

Tart Deco - a creamy coral

Van D'Go - a peach cream with pink undertones

Everyone keeps talking about Tart Deco but my favorite of the bunch is Van D'Go. I love a good peach, and this is an opaque, full coverage shade that stands out without being over the top. Check out my diy mani below. It's a little low quality due to the fact that I took it on my blackberry, but you get the idea. 

Head over to Essie.com to purchase, or Amazon where you can get them for about $4 instead of the usual $8.

Invasion of the Scrubby Cleansers

I've been noticing a major trend as of late - scrubby cleansers. I'm not talking about an exfoliating cleanser with beads, these new cleansers come with little scrubby tools attached to get the deepest clean possible and have been popping up en masse at drugstores. I like to call them the poor man's Clarisonic. Clarisonic is a super popular cleansing system that utilizes a brush to majorly deep clean. The only downside? Prices start at $149 for the Mia. Clarisonic is well worth the investment, but sometimes you just can't rationalize dropping that dough on a brush that cleans your skin. Enter, drugstore scrubby cleansers. 

Exhibit A: L'Oreal Go 360 Clean. Each of the four cleansers - deep, deep for sensitive, deep exfoliating and deep cream - come packaged with a cute little scrublet to clean pore by pore. For some reason I expected the scrublet to be hard and plasticy, but it's actually super soft and rubbery. I sampled the Deep facial cleanser and it definitely delivered. My skin felt so soft and really clean, with nary a flake or clogged pore in site. Plus it's a steal at $6.99.

Exhibit B: Garnier Nutrioniste Skin Renew The Brusher Gel Cleanser. So the name is a mouthful, but this cleanser delivers. I'm a fan of Nutrioniste cleansers as it is because they're very nourishing and detoxifying, and the added bonus of a brush attached right to the cleanser is huge. This is similar to the Clarisonic idea, except you have to use your own elbow grease in lieu of batteries. Skin is left deep cleaned and soft. Pick it up for $6.99.

Touch Up on the Go with Tarte and Benefit

I'm one of those people that loves to bring every piece of makeup I used to get ready with me when I go out at night so I can do touch ups. Eyeliner wears off, bronzer fades, so I desperately try to stuff a million products in my 1-inch by 1-inch sized clutch, which never seems to quite work out. That's why I was thrilled when I discovered Benefit to Go Beauty Bestsellers and Tarte Deluxe On the Go kits, which contain deluxe travel sizes of key products. They're a great way to touch up on the go, or sample a product you've wanted to try on the cheap.

Included in the Benefit to Go Beauty Bestsellers:

- 0.08 oz Posietint: A poppy-pink tinted lip & cheek stain
- 0.06 oz Some Kind-A Gorgeous: The foundation faker
- 0.25 oz That Gal: A brightening face primer
- 0.09 oz High Beam: A luminescent complexion enhancer  

Retail price: $10 ($30 value)

Availability: now at Sephora and on Sephora.com

Tarte is offering two sets - high definition eyes deluxe kit and bronzing deluxe kit. 

Included in the high definition eyes deluxe kit: 

- deluxe tarte's lights, camera, lashes! clinically-proven natural mascara

- emphasEYES(TM) inner rim eyeliner in black

Retail price: $15 ($28 value)

Availability: now at Sephora and on Sephora.com until August

Included in the bronzing deluxe kit:

- tarte's deluxe park ave princess mineral powder bronzer

- mini glam-on-the-go kabuki brush

Retail price: $15

Availability: May-August at Sephora and on Sephora.com

New for Spring: Bobbi Brown Color Strips

After a truly heinous winter filled with snowstorms galore, the sun is out, the heavy sweaters have been packed away and I'm officially in a spring frame of mind. This is about the time of year where I just want to toss all of my deep berry lip shades and smoky gray shadows in favor of sheer, shimmer pastels. But lady is on a budget so an entire new spring (makeup) wardrobe is usually out of the question - except for this year. Bobbi Brown's new Color Strips collection is a complete makeup palette that will take you from snowstorms to spring in no time at a very nice price of $60.

I'm a total sucker for palettes because I travel so much and am always looking to pack light (doesn't happen) and have all of my goods in one spot. Each of Bobbi's Color Strips palettes - Aquamarine (blues and grays) Bonfire (bronzes and browns) and Orchid (purples) contain five eyeshadows and three pot rouges that can be used on cheeks and lips. Check out the shades below and literally just choose your favorite. Even when Bobbi does color it's so natural you can't go wrong. Get thee to a Bobbi counter or head online to bobbibrowncosmetics.com.

Aquamarine:

Bonfire:

Orchid:

Gisele Launches Eco-Friendly Skin Care

As if we need another reason to hate her, the totally gorge, always radiant looking supermodel married to Tom Brady who just had a baby and is already rocking a bikini can now add skin care mogul to her resume. Sejaa Pure Skin Care is a 100% natural (check out the extensive ingredient glossary on the web site) skin care line featuring a Day Cream, Night Cream, Mud Mask and a Pure Skincare kit containing full sizes of all three products. 

The line is definitely simplistic and natural - no fancy packaging; it's all made with post consumer waste paper. The Day Cream fights free radicals and hydrates, the Night Cream stimulates skin's natural collagen-producing processes, and the Mud Mask detoxifies and retains moisture. Prices range from $52-$70, with the intro kit regularly retailing for $160, but right now you can scoop it up for $120 since the line is brand new. I usually like my skin care to be full of chemicals and science, but this is definitely luxurious as far as natural skin care goes, and if Gisele is backing it, yours truly is on board.

Head on over to the Sejaa website to purchase and to look at a bunch of lovely pics of Gisele frolicking about that will make you never want to eat again.

Test Drive: L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

With a name like Magic Perfecting Base, I had high hopes when I first tried this product. Most people don't know this, but L'Oreal has a professional hair care division used exclusively in salons. I guess they're taking that approach with makeup and bringing a professional division to the masses a la Studio Secrets, a line of professional makeup available in drugstores that is very reminiscent of Makeup Forever. Even the packaging looks the same to me. 

I had been dying to try Magic Perfecting Base for some time, since I absolutely love primers. A primer is a completely non-sexy makeup product, but I can't get enough of them.

The Experience:

Magic Perfecting Base is definitely not your typical primer, and you'll realize that as soon as you dip your hand into the tub. Now, I have no clue why they opted for a tub instead of an airless pump, because the thought of repeatedly sticking my fingers into something sort of grosses me out, not to mention it's really not the most convenient form of delivery, but all that aside, when you first feel Magic Perfecting Base it's very thick, almost gummy/pasty as opposed to the lotion/serum texture most primers have. Because of the consistency you really have to spread this out, but immediately on contact it feels silky and pores and uneven texture disappear. Skin is left with a natural matte finish. Blotchy areas are even toned down. It's also oil free and non comedogenic. 

The Verdict:

Definitely a go I say. As far as primers go, it's a good one that fills in pores, lines, uneven texture and just generally makes skin look better before you even have foundation on. Also, I have yet to see a decent primer at mass, and at $13, you can't beat the price.

St. Patty's Day Beauty

St. Patrick's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Not sure if it's because I'm Irish, that I like the color green, or that it's a holiday purely focused on revelry, but every year I get super into it. Since it falls on a Wednesday, and most of the world will be sitting in the office and not at an 8-hour bar crawl, you can still show your St. Patty's spirit with a few key beauty products that are office appropriate, in lieu of wearing your "Let's Get Lucky" bedazzled t-shirt (am I the only one that owns this?)

Easiest option? A green hued nail polish. Remember when green was huge in the fall? (Chanel Jade anyone?) Now's the perfect opportunity to break out the green polish for a few days and give yourself a St. Patty's mani. For a subtle green hue, try Sephora by OPI in Dark Room, a deep almost black that shimmers midnight green in the light. Feeling a little bolder? Try Leaf Him at the Altar, a metallic vine green. If you're in a pastel kind of mood, scoop up Essie Mint Candy Apple, a creamy opaque mint shade.

For a touch of green on the eyes, which is actually pretty flattering for most eye colors, try NYX 3 Color Eyeshadow in Spring Leaf/Lime/Green Tea. Each of the three shades are extremely wearable, especially the dark mossy Green Tea hue, which can double as a liner. 

What are your St. Patty's plans?

Kick Start Summer with Marc Jacobs Splash

I've been a fan of the Marc Jacobs Splash fragrance collections ever since I got hooked on the Rain scent a few years ago (and it's still my all time favorite today). I love seeing what new scents he comes up with each year, and my favorite part about the Splash series is how light and natural the fragrances are. 

As big of a beauty lover as I am, I've never been all that into fragrances, and I'm definitely not a musky, woodsy, patchouli kind of girl; I like my perfumes light and fresh. If you're in the market for a light spray of deliciousness, pick up one of the new MJ Splash scents for this spring/summer. 

New additions include: 

Apple - crisp and fruity, with notes of (obviously) apple, lemon, grapefruit, blended with rosemary and cardamom among others to create an energizing fragrance.

Pomegranate - vibrant and exotic, with notes of pomegranate, mandarin flowers, violet mix and vanilla among others. This is my pick because there's something about smelling a tropical fruit that makes me hate my very untropical location just a little less. 

Biscotti - citrus and floral, with notes of freesia, creamy vanilla, orange flower and heart of pistachio blossom among others. If you can't tear yourself away from the Starbucks counter, spritz this on for a mid afternoon pick me up. 

All Marc Jacobs Splash scents are currently available for $68 for an enormous, last forever 10oz size at fine department stores, Marc Jacobs boutiques and at Sephora.

Giveaway: Bare Escentuals

Hey readers! I'm giving away some fabulous goodies from one of my all time favorite makeup brands - Bare Escentuals. Here's how to enter:

Email me at lindsay.mattioli@gmail.com with the subject line: Bare Escentuals Giveaway. Don't forget to include your name in the body of the email! The first two readers to get in touch will receive a fab Bare Escentuals surprise. I'll email the winners for their mailing address.

And if you haven't visited Rethinkwhatmatters.com head on over and register for a chance to score more swag.

Email me now!

New for Spring Bobbi Brown Cabana Corals

I've been having a major coral moment as of late, anticipating the impending warm weather, and apparently so has makeup guru Bobbi Brown since her spring collection centers around coral. The shade can get a bad rap sometimes, maybe it reminds you of a shade that is better suited to your mumu wearing, Florida vacationing grandma, but Bobbi gives this old school shade a major update, making it soft, wearable and totally appropes for spring and summer.

Check out a recap of the new shades below:

Metallic Lip Color

• Coral Reef
• Coral Glaze
• Calypso Glaze

 Lip Color

• Cape Coral
• Guava

Shimmer Lip Gloss

• Coral Sand
• Golden Nectar
• Sunset Beach

Pot Rouge

• Cabo Coral
• Calypso Coral

Shimmer Brick

• Nectar
• Pink Quartz

Cabana Corals is available at major department stores and the Bobbi Brown website.

The Eye Cream Diaries: YBF Correct

Yes, friends, it's the return of the Eye Cream Diaries and I just started using a brand new product - YBF Correct. If you're not familiar, YBF or Your Best Face is a line of ant-aging products that multi-task, are pure and refreshing and well-tolerated. If you visit the site you'll soon realize that founders Darrell and Kimberley are super into ingredients and there's even an ingredient glossary. I love a brand with nothing to hide. 

I was lucky enough to receive a sample of Correct, and let me tell you, I have high hopes for it. According to YBF Correct tones, prevents fine lines, reduces wrinkle depth, lightens dark circles, reduces puffiness, invigorates and moisturizes. I've been using it morning and night for a few days and so far, I'm impressed. Immediately I've noticed that my dark circles have already begun to lighten, and my eye area is looking really tight, toned and refreshed. I must have been walking around looking like a zombie mess and not even realizing it because as soon as I put this on, my eye area was transformed. 

The best way to describe it is that you just look awake. Since I'm only in my late 20s I don't have serious crow's feet or anything, but I definitely have noticed the signs of aging rearing its ugly head. Most noticeably in the form of dry fine lines, puffiness and just a general untoned appearance. Correct solved all that in a matter of days.

As of now, I have to say it's one of the best eye creams I've ever used. Stay tuned for the final verdict in the weeks to come!

Get the Look: Sandra Bullock at the Oscars

Sandra Bullock took home the award for Best Supporting Actress and she also wins in my book for one of my favorite hair styles of the night. Her sleek, simple style exudes elegance and I love that it's not quite straight, yet not quite wavy. Alterna stylist Michael Shaun Corby gives the deets on how to get this sophisticated look at home:

• Start by applying Alterna Caviar Radiant Smoothing Lotion to damp hair and brush through.
• Create a curved side part right above the eyebrow arch.
• Blow dry hair straight using a medium barrel brush.
• Using a medium barrel curling iron, curl the ends of hair only halfway up.
• Once all ends are curled, lightly brush through for a smooth wave.
• Work a small amount of Alterna Caviar Polishing Serum into hair for extra smoothness and shine.

Get the Look: Cameron Diaz at the Oscars

I'm a sucker for the old Hollywood glamour thing, and Cameron Diaz sported the look to perfection with Veronica Lake style waves and a classic red lip at last night's Academy Awards. Get the look yourself with a few easy tips courtesy of Gayle Giacomo, owner and expert stylist, Gatsby Salon in Greenbrook, NJ.

1.      Start with using a volumizer on damp hair’s roots. My favorite is Pureology Root Lift, a super lightweight mousse that injects crazy volume with a natural hold.

2.      Use a blow dryer to remove excess moisture from hair.

3.      Section hair into five sections. A right and left section at the nape of the neck, a section on the right and left sides of your head, and the top of your head.

4.      Blowdry each section using a round brush and dry hair in a vertical direction, pulling the hair straight up from your head to create volume and lift at the root.

5.      After entire head is dried, form the same 5 sections.  Use a 1 ½ inch barrel curling iron to curl sections, beginning at the bottom of hair sections.

6.      To create an arch and bend at the root, place the iron on the root and pull upwards as you move it to the ends of the hair.

7.      Once the iron has reached the ends, keep the curling iron horizontal as you rotate the iron back towards the root area, creating a curl. Once hair is heated in this position, release the iron from the hair, letting the hair fall.

8.      Follow immediately with a flexible hold hairspray (I love Garnier Fructis Style Flexible Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray) and allow hair to cool.

9.      Repeat steps 6 through 8 until your entire head is curled.

10. Allow at least ten minutes for hair to cool entirely before touching it.

11. Turn head upside down and use a paddle brush to brush through your entire head.

12. Create a part that suits your style and use your fingers to tame and place hair to the direction you desire.

13. Complete style by using a holding spray to secure this look.

For the classic red lip, you can't go wrong with NARS Red Lizard. It's a creamy, semi-matte red that is flattering on everyone.

Get the Look: Anna Kendrick at the Oscars

Anna Kendrick was one of my favorite looks from the Oscars last night, which were slightly interrupted due to the whole Cablevision cancelling ABC nonsense. Courtesy of celeb makeup artist Sara Glick, who used Arcona skincare and tarte cosmetics, Anna looked fresh, polished and just all around pretty. Plus I love the fact that she was this nobody with a bit part in the Twilight franchise and now girl's starring beside George Clooney and up for an Oscar. As we all know she didn't win, but I see a bright future in store for her.

To copy the look at home:

Inspiration: Youthful, ethereal beauty--think soft, natural glowing skin.

    * Arcona Skincare--Prep: "Anna has beautiful skin and doesn't need much to make it glow. I prepped her skin with a light, all natural moisturizer to help it stay hydrated throughout the night."
          o Prepped with Arcona's Magic White Ice to protect, nourish and hydrate skin.
                + Magic White Ice
    * tarte Makeup--Cheeks: "For a natural flush, I accented Anna's cheek bones with a coral shade."
          o Dabbed and blended tarte's natural cheek stain in eco-cheek on the apples of her cheeks.
                + eco-cheek
    * tarte Makeup--Lips: "I wanted to create a soft, healthy pink lip with a touch of shine.
          o tarte's LipSurgence natural lip stain in charmed (light pink) as a base.
                + LipSurgence natural lip stain in charmed
         o Topped with tarte's double-ended natural lipglosses in jake & samantha (used the samantha side-pale cotton candy pink) for added shine.
                + double-ended lipgloss in samantha
    * Arcona Skincare--Finish: "I finished with a light spritz of lavender mist for added hydration and an extra dose of calming with aromatherapy."
          o Set the look with Arcona's Lavendar Hydrasol for a fresh and dewy complexion.
                + Lavender Hydrasol

Who do you think had the best Oscar style last night?

Beauty Crush: Biologique Recherche P50

I've spoken about a few Biologique Recherche products before, and you probably still don't know what brand I'm talking about.Get to know the brand people - they have the most amazing product ever invented - Lotion P50. I hate when companies use the term lotion to describe a liquid, which is exactly what this is, but for some reason people seem to be afraid of liquid exfoliators because they immediately think of Sea Breeze Astringent from the 80s. Lotion P50 is dubbed a facial in a bottle by top aestheticians because it does everything - exfoliate, purify, balance sebum, moisturize, balance skin's pH, do your dishes. (ok maybe not that last one).

What you can expect while using P50:

I won't lie, this product is intense. It has three strength levels: P50 for oily skin, P50V for normal/combo and P50W for drier, mature skin. When you initially use the product it burns, stings, irritates, makes my skin itch, not to mention an awful purge period where I completely break out for a week or two. But, the results are well worth it. Once your skin's pH is balanced, the irritation completely goes away and skin is left retexturized, smooth, soft and pores are cleared. With continued use, Lotion P50 actually eliminates the need for extractions. Music to your ears, no? I also found a great way to keep the breakouts at bay for those first couple of weeks. Use Biologique Recherche Mask Vivant 2-3 times a week after using P50 and it solves the problem before it even starts.

I also actually just read that top LA facialist Marc Edward says that under no circumstance should you use a scrub, which is what we all look for when we need to exfoliate. According to Edward, scrubs break your skin out more, break capillaries (check out my capillary woes here) and spread bacteria. Bring on the liquid exfoliators!

Broke and Pale? Head to Hollywood Tans

It's officially March and even though spring isn't quite in the air yet, you can almost feel the warm weather coming. In an effort to kick off the impending spring/summer season, participating locations of Hollywood Tans is offering a free tan on March 6th, including Mystic spray tans, which is what I'll be sampling that day. Just make sure you visit a participating location to get your free tan. You can visit the salon locator here. If you already have a membership, you get free upgrades for the month of March. Head on over to a participating location and get your glow on so you can at least feel like the warm weather's coming, even if you're staring at a foot of snow.