Much has been said about “luminizers” as of late and with good reason.  These newer products have the technology to make you look like you have a glow which is a very good thing if you have sluggish looking or dull skin.  The latest on the scene is an exclusive to Nordstrom from Dior,  Dior ‘Diorskin Radiant Base’ SPF 20.

Now, what makes this a little different than most primers (yes this is technically a primer), is that because of the color (slightly golden) you can use this alone, or under makeup base.  The primer factor is important if you have slight imperfections in your skin.  Think of your face as a canvas and primer covers all the imperfections up before you paint.  Radiant base is super light feeling and  is inspired by “golden ice crystals”.  A little goes a long way, you can wear it directly on your face or mix it with your foundation.  The best part for me though is the SPF 20.

Dior ‘Diorskin Radiant Base’ SPF 20 is available exclusively at Nordstrom and nordstrom.com and retails for $40.
image:  Nordstrom

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

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

Labbro Più Paffuto, the lip plumping sensation from Borghese is back again with a brand new tinted version, Tinted Lip Plumper. The original Lip Plumper is clear, which is great for wearing over a colored lipstick, but the new tinted version sounds like something I will have to have too!

Borghese's New Tinted Lip Plumper

The lip-enhancing and instant plumping effect comes from a concentrated technologically advanced formula that will not only give your lips beautiful color, but will also gently plump them, giving them an instant pick-me-up. Your lips will immediately look and feel fuller and smoother. Dehydrated vegetal protein micro-particles penetrate the lips where it plumps with the lips’ natural hydration. It does this with the slightest tingle, and without leaving your lips red and irritated. The result is beautiful, luscious, sexy lips.

These newest shades are quite pretty and perfect for spring and summer, like Rosa Naturale, Flamingo Gold seen here, and Charme Naturale. Labbro Più Paffuto is available now for $31.50 at beauty.com, and will be available online at Borghese after June 23^rd. You can purchase them in store now at Bloomingdales, and Lord & Taylor.

xx

image credit: beauty.com

For anyone who spends a lot of time outside, or for all those gals who can’t go to the beach without a bit of color on their face, then this is something you may be interested in. Tarte Cosmetics is offering up 3 mermaid-inspired, lock and roll creaseless cream and powder shadow duos, and a deluxe lights, camera, splashes! waterproof mascara.

Tarte's EyeQuatic Waterproof Summer Essentials Set

The ultra chic bonus in addition to this great set is this fabulous head-scarf seen here, which I am totally loving. Could be Pucci, could be Gucci, who knows, either way it’s the perfect piece of chic for a bike ride, hike, or lunch at the beach.

The colors are really beautiful and go on effortlessly. I mixed the citrine and tanzanite which looked great together. I purposely applied it to my eyes on a day when I would be working outside in warmer weather to see how they performed. At the end of the shoot I had dinner plans and didn’t have time to do anything but put a little gloss on, but guess what? I didn’t have too because my eyes still looked good.

The EyeQuatic Waterproof Summer Essentials Set retails for $35 and is available at Tarte. A beauty steal & deal for stylin’ all summer long.

xx

image credit: Tarte

Everyone is getting on the summer bronze beauty train, and the colors in Givenchy’s new summer 2009 Le Makeup Collection reminds me of the sun right before it rains. Oh how happy I was to get a glimpse of this gorgeous collection, and have since dreamed about having the entire line for myself and my kit. Just a dab of the Glow to Wear Satiny Body Enhancer, a creamy liquid bronzer, and you can sculpt your body however you like. You’ll get an instant glow, and sexy shimmer instantly that looks like you’ve been on vacation somewhere warm and tropical. Try mixing with a bit of SPF lotion and then applying to the skin.

Givenchy's Summer Collection

Another of my favorite’s are the nine shades of golden-caramel-pink powders in  the Prismissime Mat & Glow Face Powder. Mattes and pearls so the choices and combination’s are endless. The colors look so beautiful on the lids and cheekbones, and you can use your fingers to apply if you just want a wash of color.

The entire collection is definitely worth checking out, including the Pop Gloss Crystal in Sun Coral, and Sun Rose. So shiny, your friends may require sunglasses when you’re around. Available only at Sephora, and a limited-edition.

xx

image credit: Givenchy

Almost every skin care company has a hand in products that protect your skin from environmental stress, sun damage, and ingredients to prevent it from prematurely aging your skin. Dial Soap has just come out with their newest body wash, Dial AntiOxidant Body Wash, and when used it helps to reinforce your skin’s defense system while its moisturizing formula, infused with natural cranberry extracts, provides a healthy clean.

Dial AntiOxidant Body Wash

Antioxidants have become a key word in most beauty and skin care descriptions, and Dial Soap has infused it’s latest body wash with Cranberries & Antioxidant Pearls. It’s an invigorating way to wash your skin and leave it feeling soft and smooth for hours. Ooh, that might keep me in the shower all day long! It’s nice to know there are products to pamper your body, and not only your face.

Dial Antioxidant Body Wash with Cranberry & Antioxidant Pearls is now available in all grocery & mass retailers nationwide.

xx

image credit: Dial Soap

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

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

Every year right before bathing suit season approaches, I say I am going to start walking more, take some extra yoga classes, and do those dreaded sit ups that will give me a nice tight stomach. Well for me, living in a warmer climate, summer is even closer. Yikes!! Well, this year I am keeping my promise, and in addition to doing all of the above, I am also using the Hippie Rehab Lypo- Pallooza Cellulite Kit for even quicker results.

Created by a woman and with women in mind, Hippie Rehab, I just love the name..softens those unwanted dimples with all natural organic ingredients, and not only comes with a Cellulite Fighting Cream, but also includes Cellulite Fighting Capsules. Stacey Sparks, the creator, and amazing woman behind this fabulous kit actually worked on the line of General Motors for 10 years until she headed off for aesthetics school. Like so many of us, Stacey was tired of taking weight off, and putting it right back on. After gaining 20 pounds and trying every popular diet and cellulite treatments around, she decided to create her own products and Hippie Rehab is the result of her determination to develop a product that worked.

Hippie Rehab Lypo-Pallooza

Lypo-Pallooza Cellulite Treatment Kit is the only two step cellulite treatment that works from the inside out and outside in.  The all natural, organic herbs & extracts flush excess fluids and toxins from the body, while strengthening and toning the skin.  To begin the regime it is suggested that you take 2 of the cleansing capsules twice a day to Rock Your Body from the inside.

For those who are slender and are just wanting to diminish cellulite you can use the cream by itself, or try 2 capsules instead of 4 per day. After regular use, usually 3 to 5 weeks you will begin to see a beautiful difference. For even quicker results the cream should be used up to three times a day, and preferably onto warm skin right out of the shower.  Most of us aren’t taking three showers a day so don’t get caught up in that, and just make sure to use it hot or cold:-)

Right now, Stacey and Hippie Rehab are offering a very generous savings of $20.oo when you purchase the kit online. To get this amazing savings and start “rocking your body”, simply enter the code word: PROMO and it will be applied to the total.

I am happy to report I am on week number 2 and am using everyday, 3 times a day. Just about to go in and do my second application. See you on the beach:-)

xx

*Don’t forget to check out Stacey’s before and after pictures on her site. They are pretty unbelievable!

image credit: Hippie Rehab Lypo-Pallooza