Looking for a cleanser that will get off even the most stubborn eye makeup but be gentle on your skin?  How about one with serious anti-aging benefits?  Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O, is just the ticket.  This is a “cleansing oil”,  but don’t let that word scare you because there is nothing oily feeling about it.  To use, just pump a little into your hands and rub all over your face, add water to emulsify and you get a little bit of lather!  Rinse with warm water an you are done!  Because it is an “oil” you can use it to remove your waterproof makeup/mascara!  So I take a cotton pad and sweep that across my eyes to get the mascara off.  The warm water will get everything else – a multi-tasking dream!!

This particular version is an anti-aging and anti-oxidant skin purifier that gets skin super clean while protecting it against the internal and external aggressions associated with aging. It contains Green Tea Extract, known worldwide for its anti-oxidant properties and leaves skin smooth and protected without drying it out. HUGE plus that it removes waterproof makeup INCLUDING mascara!  What could be better than not having to spend extra money on eye makeup remover?

There are several variations of the Cleansing Oil available, so you can find one that suits your skincare needs.  The cleansing oils are available in 150mL and 450mL sizes at Nordstrom stores and on ShuUemura.com

Last year when Bobbi Brown introduced her palette system….she took some of our tried and trues favorites and made it possible for us to have them in a portable fashion.  One of my favorites is her glitter lip gloss, mostly because it’s great for layering. The shades here are limited-edition and are infused with light-reflecting flecks of glitter, this gloss gives lips a high-shine and high shimmer look that’s perfect for any party and evening soiree. Comes in a sleek, flip-top compact that can be used individually or assembled into palettes.

The Rundown:

• Ball
• Disco Pink
• Martini
• Rave
• Soiree Pink
• Velvet Rope

The glosses are named after a party vibe (so cute) they are sheer and shimmery, PERFECT for summer. If glitter isn’t your thing, try the non glittery shades, or layer the two together.With this new system Bobbi has introduced, you can pop these (and any of the other flip top shadows, glosses or blushes) into the palettes and have your own custom set.

Image:  Bobbi Brown

Drugstore products are defnitely stepping their game up as of late.  Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum is lightweight and has a gel-like texture (which I prefer for serums).  It is a highly-concentrated blend of amino-peptides that regenerates damaged skin, renewing the outer layer to give you a younger-looking complexion.  I used this for 14 days and I definitely noticed a difference (especially in the lines on my forehead).

It contains a host of great ingredients that actually work (which is great considering it’s a drugstore line)

• carnosine (with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties)
• vitamin E (antioxidant)
• allantoin (anti-irritant)
• green tea (antioxidant)

Also included is 2-3% Niacinamide (vitamin B3) which according to beauty expert Paula Begoun, “it can increase the skin’s ceramide and fatty acid content as well as have anti-inflammatory action“.  Over all, it feels nice and is perfect for normal to dry skin types under a moisturizer or alone if you aren’t that dry.  For $18.99, this is a fantastic buy and well worth it if you are looking for a decent drugstore line to save money.

Image: Olay

If you haven’t heard about 3Lab “M” Cream, I am here to tell you that this one is by far the best cream I have tried this year.  It is pricey, BUT it also has some serious science behind it.   This is the first cosmetic product that contains world’s first bio-engineered growth hormone, stem cells from the rare Uttweiler Spatlauber Swiss Apple, which is so rare that only three trees remain in existence.

The cream is luxurious feeling but not heavy (the formula is a gel cream), so you don’t feel like you have a layer of product on your skin.  Dubbed as a skin de-stressing cream, this works to increase resiliency and cellular turnover while giving the skin a naturally radiant glow from the inside out.  My skin has become smoother and over the 8 week period that I tested it moisture was increased, skin was firmed and fine lines were softened.  I have been using it ever since.

The Rundown:

• Nano-Claire GY, a bioengineered growth hormone-like protein that works as a “hormone replacement therapy” for the skin.
• PhytoCelTec™ Malus Domestica, stem cells from a rare Swiss Apple that have been proven to slow down and delay the aging process.
• Happybelle, a phyto-endorphin extract that comes from the cactus Monk’s Pepper combined with antioxidant and moisturizing factors to help revitalize the skin and give it a radiant glow.
• ACS (Anti-Cyto Stressor) to promote an overall bioregulation that follows and respects the cutaneous physiological mechanisms by hindering the alterations caused by stress hormone.
• Osilift, a 100% Natural sugar tensor purified fraction of oat polysaccharides that gives an immediate tensor and long term anti-wrinkle effect to the skin.

This cream is the ULTIMATE anti-aging weapon….anyone over the age of 30 should take a look.

Image:  3Lab

Recently I had the absolute pleasure of meeting a woman who has taken skin care to a completely different level. Pamela Rae who is the founder and creator of Solavie, has created a line of products that actually help to keep your skin looking fabulous in any type of climate. Amazing I know. Who new how different your skin could react to each climate you were in. I certainly didn’t until I met this very fascinating woman who explained the theory of nature vs. nurture.

We spent hours talking, and asking so many questions, and could have spent even more time learning about something so interesting.  Solavie Eco-Global Skin/Hair system was developed from the discovery of how native plants thrive despite harsh conditions in their respective environments. The idea was to have a skin care line and hair care products that were specifically formulated for your body’s reaction to environmental conditions, and thus Solavie was born.  Solavie uses phytonutrients from indigenous plants in formulas developed for each of the six different Enviro-types: Mountains, Urban, Tropics, Shore, Plains & Desert.

Solavie Eco-Global Skin-Hair System

Vitamin E, A and Evening Primrose oils provide a much needed protection in the urban areas while St. John’s Wort, Lavendar, and Echinacea revitalize the mountain areas.  Yarrow extract, Chamomile & Geranium oils will soothe your skin and hair in the plains, and Sage oil, Rosemary, Yucca extracts and Aloe will keep you super hydrated in the desert. Neroli and Cypress oils retain moisture and breath-ability at the shore, and last but not least, Ylang-ylang, Jasmine and Sandalwood will counteract the bacteria and humidity of the tropics. What ever the climate may be, Solavie has got you covered.

Solavie is filled with incredible ingredients, and as if that wasn’t enough also uses an exclusive, naturally super-charged volcanic spring water that is loaded with minerals & trace elements to boost the performance of the phytonutrients and antioxidants.

Over the weekend I gave a set of the cleanser and moisturizer for a desert climate to a friend who also suffers from Rosacea.  She has already told me how much better her skin looks and feels. She is leaving on a trip to Singapore with her two children and I am sending her off with the Urban Set to see how her skin reacts there.

For anyone who is interested in buying the line or getting more information you can visit the site,  Solavie.com

image credit: Solavie

Three years ago while visiting my best friend in Hawaii, I took my first Bikram yoga class. It was quite an experience, and they weren’t kidding when they said hot, but like most people who are afraid of collapsing from the heat, it’s the feeling once you get through a class that makes you want to keep coming back for more.  Is it a commitment that some might find hard to keep? You bet it is, but it is worth it? Yes! Yes! Yes! For your health, mind, body, and because you deserve to feel and look fabulous. 

I have never been much of a fanatic when it comes to working out. I have had gym memberships that never got used, spinning classes that expired, and every gadget for my thighs, rear, and stomach, including a treadmill that my mother now uses to hang laundry. My girlfriend had been talking about Bikram for months and bragging about how good her body was looking. Of course being a skeptic, I knew I needed to see for myself before agreeing that it worked.

My first class was with Katherine who sold me after just one session. Her knowledge, love, and tone when speaking was like a drug, and after just three classes I could already see the effect it was having on my body, and I liked it!  Bikram Yoga is like Hatha yoga in a 105 degree room, sometimes a little hotter. It helps to cleanse the body from the inside out, and when those 90 minutes are up, you feel amazing!!

The story behind Bikram is also a very intersting one, and proof that a diagnosis due to an injury doesn’t always mean you can’t recover. I am lucky enough to have a great studio right around the corner from my house, and Lorne who is one of the instructors is fantastic. My sister and I try to go together at least 2 times a week, but with our crazy schedules it doesn’t always happen.

For anyone wishing to feel good, get toned, and do something nice for yourself, then give Bikram a try. The only workout that I still do, and still love!

To find a location near you, or to check out the official Bikram Yoga site click here.

xx

image credit: examiner.com

La Prairie, one of my first loves in skin care, has just launched an Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream SPF 20 . Their promise is to firm, repair, and protect your skin with this newest cream, and according to Celine Cousteau, who had a hand in this, and is also the granddaughter to the legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, “La Prairie exemplifies how we can responsibly reap the benefits of our ocean’s resources. We need to protect the sea just as much as our skin.”

I’ve been saying this for years, and with other skin care lines like Solavie, and Soliv, both which are using key ingredients from the sea such as algae to repair the skin and literally turn back the hands of time, I have a feeling they will all be getting a lot of attention. The key ingredients in the Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream are: Proprietary Protective Aquaculture Complex of Phytoplankton which works as a defense system against UV exposure & protects your skin against free radicals, Sea Mayweed, Blue Seakale, Inula & Sea Starwort which soothes skin and fights free radicals, Proprietary Firming Aquaculture Complex of algaes sea kelp to firm your skin, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Shea Butter, and Sea Lavender to hydrate your skin, and La Prairie’s exclusive Cellular Complex that stimulates your skin’s natural renewal process while moisturizing and waking it up with nutrients that encourage the most optimal results.

You don’t need to use a lot of this face cream, and the cost will prevent you from over doing it as well. If you love the look of a dewy complexion, then you will love how your skin responds. After only a short time of using the Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream SPF 20, I’ve already noticed how less noticeable my lines are, and I have the added benefit of an SPF for extra protection from the strong sun here in Hollywood.

La Prairie’s Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream SPF 20 is available at Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Make sure to ask for samples of their amazing caviar eye cream.

image credit: LaPrairie

National Skin Cancer Awareness Month is going on throughout May, and long summer days are right around the corner. What better time to give yourself a gorgeous glow the safe way, and protect your skin from all of those harmful rays. Fake Bake for anyone who doesn’t know, is leading the tanning pack with an organically-based formula that gives you the perfect tan without risking your health, or our beautiful planet earth’s.

This revolutionary organically-based tanning formula utilizes a unique recipe of natural tanning agents DHA, and Erythulose, and is Paraben Free!

The Fake Bake Tanning Collection

In addition to being organically-based and Paraben-free, Fake Bake contains anti-cellulite ingredients, anti-oxidants, and anti-aging ingredients such as peptides, all of which have never before been utilized into self-tanning products. It doesn’t clog your pores, is so easy to use with a built in color guide for the perfect application. It is odorless, contains no dyes, and reacts with the skin’s natural proteins in the deepest layers of the skin for the most intense and natural looking tan.

Celebrities like Kelly Ripa, Britney Spears, Denise Richards, Paris Hilton, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are all huge fans of the line. It’s the perfect touch of beauty to give you the most natural and healthy glow without damaging your skin. All Fake Bake products are available in salons, spas, dermatology offices, and online at www.fakebake.com.

In select cities, such as Los Angeles, a mobile Fake Bake professional is available for private at home appointments. Now that’s what I call spoiling yourself good. You know half of Hollywood is tanning with Fake Bake before any red carpet event. You don’t think they’re getting it from lying in sun, do you? I love all of the Fake Bake products and use them regularly on myself and on so many of my clients.

xx

image credit: Fake Bake

Anyone who knows me, knows how I feel about wearing SPF. A recent article in the New York Times confirmed as well that it is important to wear an SPF, but how much can make the difference between protecting your skin, or not.   Dr. Lawrence E. Samuels and founder of Rx Systems PF, has developed and tested a new amazing formula that not only blocks out the sun, but has anti-aging benefits too, and can be worn as a daily moisturizer. Thanks to Dr. Samuels, you can go out into the open, be exposed to the sun, and feel good knowing your skin is protected.

RX Systems PF

Not just your ordinary SPF, this SPF 35 Facial Moisturizer offers broad spectrum UVB/UVA protection combined with skin conditioning agents that restore the moisture content and ph of your skin each time you wear it. Plus the added antioxidants are working with your skin to provide anti-aging benefits as well.

According to Dr. Lawrence E. Samuels, “skin naturally uses antioxidants to protect itself from photo damage.” This is why he enhanced Rx Systems PF with antioxidants to increase the photo-protective properties & neutralize free radicals not blocked by the SPF 35. He added organic aloe vera which calms and enriches the skin, moisturizing ingredients, and anti-inflammatory molecules to restore the moisture content and pH of the skin.  All of this combined enhances the SPF in this must have moisturizer.

I actually mix it with my liquid foundation and make my own custom blended tinted moisturizer. I love the way it gives my skin an even coverage, without feeling too heavy.

Rx Systems PF retails for $25.90 and is available online at:

www.rxsystemspf.com

xx

image credit: Rx Systems

Thanks to the many skin care products available you can choose from a variety  that are affordable and very effective. Most of us are religious about wearing a moisturizer and SPF during the day, but at the end of the evening when we are exhausted from the day, we just want to get into bed and sleep.  I know, because I want to do the same thing, but no matter how well you protect your skin during the day, sun, stress and pollution can bring daily damage, and some that you may not even see.

Taking a few minutes before bed to wash your face and apply a night moisturizer, can make the difference between skin that has an extra layer of protection, and skin that is vulnerable to all of the toxins flying around in the air everyday. Clinique’s potent Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer works overnight to deliver a unique complex of eight rapid and delayed-release antioxidants that defuse this free-radical activity, and help to keep the skin strong and prevent visible signs of aging.

Clinique's Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturizer

A tube will cost you $42.50, but compared to many other skin care lines, this is one beauty bargain to check out. If you do buy it, please take the time at night to use it. I am such a big advocate for skin care, and it is just as important to give your face the same attention at night, that you do in the morning.

xx

image credit: Clinique