Health and Beauty - Smart Girl Consulting » Cosmetics

Signature23 Skincare Review

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:33:38 +0000

Signature23’s exclusive products are designed to help skin of any age or condition to become beautiful, balanced and healthy. Enhanced with vitamins, mineral and nutrients, their proprietary ingredient (Complex 23) fuels skin with the energy it needs to look its best. Signature23 products do not include fragrance, parabens, dyes, or sodium lauryl sulphates. Here is my review of the Botanical Cleansing Gel, The Vita C Elixir and The Ageless Elixir.

Botanical Cleansing Gel
This gentle, soap-free, herbal cleansing gel will help free your skin of impurities without stripping its natural defenses. Formulated with “Complex23″, their proprietary ingredient enriched with anti-aging antioxidants. Botanical Cleansing Gel will help retain moisture and keep skin vibrant. Enhanced with Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) to promote exfoliation, skin will appear clear, balanced and feeling youthful.

This product is (soap free with no harsh detergents, frees your skin of impurities, dissolves skin cell buildup, and is loaded with rich antioxidants, and contains Complex23TM helps boost vitality). The Botanical Cleansing Gel is a wonderful soap-free cleanser. This is one of my favorite products from the line and left my skin feeling very clean and soft without drying it out. Perfect for all skin types, especially those with sensitive skin like myself. I highly recommend trying this product.

Vita C Elixir
A botanical treatment promoting cellular energy, the rich antioxidant formula helps replenish lipids lost due to aging, dehydration and environmental factors while bamboo extract helps to deliver and lock in cellular moisture. This product says it (provides energy to the cells, boosts the skin’s natural defense mechanisms, protects against free radicals and increases blood circulation).

Vita C Elixir does everything it says it does. I noticed a more even skintone and felt really refreshed after using this product. It’s perfect for travel and fits right in your purse. It’s great for summer or winter seasons because it’s also a spray, so you can spritz and go! It is very light and refreshing and is perfect for all skin types. This product did not cause any skin reactions and I highly recommend this one.

Ageless Elixir
A botanical treatment promoting cellular energy, Ageless Elixir helps to reduce fine lines and even out skin tone leaving skin fortified, firmer and more youthful. Matrixyl 3000® repairs skin at the cellular level. This product says it (promotes cellular energy, help reduce fine lines, leaves skin fortified and firmer and contains skin conditioning agents).

Ageless Elixir is similar to the Vita C Elixir because it’s a light, refreshing spray that you can take with you on the go, only it’s designed for ageing skin. I really noticed a different in the way my skin looked. It looked more even toned and my fine lines were less noticable. This product did not break my skin out or cause any negative reactions and I highly recommend it for dry, mature or ageing skin.

I love this line because it’s made with the highest quality natural ingredients while utilizing active botanicals, anti oxidants, peptides, and amino acids to deliver the best skincare. Dedicated to creating safe and effective products, they combin the advances in skincare science with essences from nature, to promote healthy skin now and for the future. I highly recommend you try to their products and see the results for yourself. To learn more or get yours, please visit Signature23 at http://www.signature23.com and follow them on twitter at: http://twitter.com/Sig23.

Get Glowing with Glominerals

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:16:41 +0000

Glominerals is a uniquely formulated mineral makeup collection created with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, triple-milled high-pigment minerals, and an advanced antioxidant complex of Vitamins C, A, K, E and green tea extract. The talc-free formulations provide a broad-spectrum of UV protection to help defend against free radical damage, leaving you with a radiant, beautiful, healthy complexion. Here are my favorites from the line.

Conceal flaws with GloCamouflage
Start with a fresh face and apply the glominerals camoulfage. This concealing formula is ideal for covering scars, blemishes and dark circles while evening skin tones with hyperpigmentation and skin conditions. This concealer is healing and soothing as it nourishes and protects your skin leaving it healthier and more radiant. This formula is available in four different shades.

Even out and illuminate skintone with GloPressed Base
The glominerals pressed base provides a flawless coverage with long-lasting mineral coverage. This popular product contains protective properties from harmful UV rays and prevents premature signs of aging. The formula goes on quickly and easily providing you with an ideal coverage that is going to cover blemishes, uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation. With 22 foundation shades, your sure to find one that works for you.

Illuminate Eyes and Cheeks with gloShimmer Brick
These four glamorous colors can be used to illuminate the eyes or cheeks giving them radiant color. This formula goes on sheer and works well with any skin tone. This formula can be used day or night to acquire the look you desire. Your skin will be left highlighted and glowy with this
multi-tasking pallette.

Finish off lips with gloColor & Shine Duo
Perfect for all skin types and packed with antioxidant-rich green tea, blended with vitamins A, C and E to nourish and condition the skin. This rosy tint and clear lip gloss duo is designed to add natural-looking color to the lips and cheeks while also offering the lips a rich dose of shiny moisture.

Herpes and E. Coli Found in Beauty Testers

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 20:06:55 +0000

Ladies, beware next time you go to the beauty counter! Sharing makeup– even with your closest friends– isn’t the wisest idea to begin with, never mind an entire mall. Which is why we weren’t surprised that makeup testers at beauty stores were found to be virtual germ incubators– think herpes, pink eye, and E. coli. The L.A. Times reported that those were just some of the serious infections found nesting in communal makeup brushes.

Dr. Zein Obagi, a Beverly Hills-based dermatologist, explains to the paper, “If a woman has a cut on her lip and borrows lipstick from someone who has a cold sore, she’ll get a cold sore. You can pass herpes [the cold sore virus], conjunctivitis [pink eye] and all sorts of things through sharing makeup.”

While this may be an extreme case, the amount of bacteria one is susceptible to when sampling makeup is astounding. The article cites a two-year study from Rowan University on public makeup testers. Conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Brooks, the study found that on an average Saturday, 100 percent of the makeup at cosmetic counters was tainted with staph, strep, and E. coli bacteria. (Just a friendly reminder, but E. coli is normally associated with feces).

Now that we’ve completely grossed you out, there are some solutions (if avoiding makeup testers proves to be too difficult for you). Instead of makeup brushes, Brooks suggests using disposable applicators, which most counters carry. As for the actual makeup, Brooks insists, “clean the surface of the makeup tester with a tissue or a tissue dipped in alcohol before applying makeup.” While these solutions may reduce the chance of infection, the safest way to stay healthy is to avoid communal testers completely.

Revitalize Skin with Ahava Dead Sea Skincare

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:41:23 +0000

AHAVA Dead Sea Skincare is the only cosmetics enterprise indigenous to the Dead Sea region. They only use the finest healthy harvest of crystallized minerals, Dead Sea mineral mud and desert plants, which grow in the pure air of this magical region. They carry the highest quality dead sea skincare products including skincare, hair and body care.

About the Dead Sea
The miracle rejuvenating magic of the Dead Sea has been known for thousands of years since the days of King Solamon and Queen Cleopatra. It even says in the bible that the dead sea has healing powers. Dead Sea minerals are natural, pure, non-chemical, and non-pharmaceutical. Located in Israel’s desert at the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea is a unique inland sea, filled with the world’s highest concentration of minerals and salts. It contains higher levels of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromides, sulphates and other minerals than any other body of salt water in the world. These natural minerals all have proven benefits on the skin and body.

Dead sea minerals help control skin disorders by strengthening the skin and removing all of the toxins in the body by flushing them out. Periodically cleaning your skin with products made from the Dead Sea will prevent minor skin disorders from occurring, leaving your skin with a natural glow. In performing essential functions, skin cells ‘communicate’ with one another. Minerals are crucial in facilitating this ‘data exchange’ and help to transmit cell-to-cell signals, which stimulate the cells to regenerate and nourish the top layer of the skin with a heightened water capacity. As you age, the Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMF) in your body are depleted, lessening the skin’s ability to retain moisture and battle the harmful effects it is exposed to on a daily basis.

Click here to learn more about AHAVA Dead Sea Skincare’s wonderful line of products!

The Body Shop Nomadic Goddess Summer Makeup Collection

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:20:25 +0000

The Body Shop prepared very beautiful collection for this Summer 2010 season. The collection is called The Body Shop Nomadic Goddess and includes products with the softest and most comfortable textures. Check out this collection!

The release date is kept secret for now, however the early information about this collection is very inspiring. The baked eyeshadows and bronzers resemble colors of natural stones.

Bronzers,which were baked using Italian technologies, are called Italian Baked-To-Last Bronze.

The brand offers two shades:

Golden Glow
Warm Glow

Baked eyeshadows Italian Baked-To-Last Eye Color in three colors:

Moonstone
Jade
Copper

Lipgloss Love Gloss in three trendy shades:

Sweet Peach
Tropical Pink
Golden Coral

Say, doesn’t this collection remind you makeup products from Pupa?

Lip Gloss that Will Give Your Passion Away

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 10:45:51 +0000

Of course you can always wear your heart on the sleeve but it won’t be so easy when the summer comes… And where better to wear it than on your lips? Oh, you thought about it already but you couldn’t figure out how? For those who did, their wish has come true with The Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss that will change the color of your lips as soon as your interest in the man you’re with deepens.

Having fully deserved an enormous advert at the ”The Magnificent Innovations for Women” in Budapest, the tell-tale gloss starts to go deep crimson as your excitement grows and your thoughts are racing to the subject of a pleasant evening together. There is a color chart included that you can give to your man to study. What better way to let the world know exactly what turns you on?

Spring 2010 Makeup Collection By Sonia Rykiel

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:25:39 +0000

Feel the breathing of spring with new items from Sonia Rykiel’s new spring 2010 makeup collection. The Earth and the Sea convey the idea of two main looks offered by the brand for the spring 2010.

The products within collection basically encompass all makeup trends for the coming spring.

Lip glosses in four shades:

Pearly Brown 10
Pearly Pink 11
Sheer Cherry 12
Pearly Violet 13

Lip liner is available in six shades.

Lip Color Base comes in two shades. It is a unique product featuring nourishing formula enriched with jojoba and grape-seed oil that provides care and color to your lips.

Tinted face powder is available in three shades (limited edition) and can be also used as a highlighter.

Sheer Pearl 00
Sheer Pink 01
Sheer Orange 02

Shiny nail lacquer comes in 20 new springtime shades. Three of them are brand new and trendy:

Ruby Red 01
Pure Red 05
Shiny Cassis 16

In addition, there are three more products for nails:

Perfect Base Coat
Long Lasting Top Coat
Moisturizing Nail Treatment

The collection will go on sale in different countries at various times, but starting February 5.

New Fragrance DKNY Women Summer 2010

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 03:40:53 +0000

Popular perfume brand Donna Karan is presenting its newest product – women’s perfume called DKNY Women Summer 2010. This «skyscraper» from Donna Karan will become available for sale in March 2010.

Just like the previous edition, this perfume proudly confesses the brand’s love to New York – the city of talent and constant creativity, with intriguing cocktail of fragrance notes.

DKNY Women Summer 2010 opens with the notes of magnolia, mandarin, pink guava nectar, mango blossoms, and freesia. The “heart” of the composition captures the notes of red jasmine, lily, and orange blossoms. The base notes include sandalwood, cedar, and white wood.

DKNY Women Summer 2010 will be available as 100ml, limited edition.

Laura Mercier Spring 2010 Makeup Collection

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:36:59 +0000

Laura Mercier Spring 2010 makeup collection abandons saturated colors and makes a heavy accent on elegant lip gloss with warm, pearly glow effect, and sparkling foundation products.

The key products of the collection resemble warm spring days; the base palette is very restrained and natural. This collection is an excellent interpretation of this spring’s trend!

Glory Disk – Radiant Crème Colour (limited edition) is an unexpected trio for blush and main tone. The formula contains vitamin E and antioxidants.

Eye shadows Color Eye Shadow – Eye Color Duo are two-color palettes. Those eye shadows are long lasting and deliver beautiful natural shades.

Even a single layer of Long Lash Mascara will make your eyelashes look much longer and thicker. The product contains elastic polymer, bamboo extracts, rice wax, and vitamins E and D.

Lipstick Satin Lipstick Star promises revolutionary glossy spring colors in addition to intensive care.

Translucent Lip Frozen is a new translucent lip gloss with extra glow.

Best Chemical Free Mascaras

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:40:52 +0000

There’s nothing like mascara to make a girl feel beautiful. Unfortunately, most people don’t know that many mascaras

contain very dangerous chemicals. If you go to the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database and search for Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, my old favorite with the pink and green tube. You’ll find it contains quaternium-15, which is linked to allergies, irritation and formaldehyde contamination, and triethanolamine, linked to immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity and nitrosamine contamination.

I don’t know about you but I’m not comfortable with putting something that toxic near my eyes! Athough these toxic mascaras have nice packaging and may perform well, your better off safe then sorry by switching to a brand that is low on the toxic chemicals and contains all natural ingredients. Here’s The Natural Beauty & Health Blog’s top picks for natural mascara. If you found one that works well that’s not listed, please leave us a comment.

Top Pick! Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara
Jane Iredale Longest Lash Mascara is formulated with conditioning algae extracts, instead of water, and cellulose fibers for thickness. This mascara doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, doesn’t clump or smudge and thickens lashes as it conditions them. It also provides you with the highest quality brush for even application and separation of lashes. Remember ladies, too much mascara can be aging!

2nd Pick! Lavera Volume Mascara
Lavera Volume Mascara adds lasting volume & length to lashes for beautiful, bright eyes! Nourishing extracts of Organic Jojoba & Wild Rose Oils deeply hydrate allowing flake-free volume throughout the whole day. This pure, paraben-free and heavy-metal-free formula rinses off with a mild cleanser and is ideal even for very sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

3rd Pick! Honeybee Gardens Mascara
Honeybee Gardens Mascara Truly Natural is a truly natural mascara! The silky, lash-defining mascara is totally weightless yet provides all day color. The smooth light-as-a-feather base boasts zero clumping due to the absence of clay in the superior lash-conditioning formula. So you can happily bat your eyes and flutter your lashes without flaking and smudging. Perhaps best of all is that this botanically-enriched mascara is paraben free. Water-resistant and work-out proof! Who could ask for more?!

4th Pick! Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara
Organic Wear Mascara is 100% free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, genetically modified organisms, synthetic colors, fragrances and dyes. It’s cruelty free, ophthalmologist approved and won’t clump, smudge or flake. It’s also the first Ever Ecocert® certified organic line of makeup in the US.

These mascaras don’t cost any more than department store brands and they’re not dangerous. So isn’t it time to make the switch?! The reason I love chemical free mascaras is because they condition your lashes and never burn your eyes if the mascara happens to get in your eyes while applying. They are also perfect for contact lens wearers :)