Four Favorites: Makeup Wipes

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Makeup removing wipes can be a fast and effective way to clean your face. Great for travel, gym bag or just laziness – these wipes remove dirt, oil and makeup in a few swipes.

We have all been there… Too tired/lazy/champagne-induced to wash our face before bed. The nighttime hours are when your skin does the majority of it’s repair work. If you sleep with your makeup on, your skin can’t breathe and you will be missing out on allowing it to benefit from that crucial beauty sleep.

Makeup wipes cleanse, tone and moisturize in seconds. Just make sure you are using them properly. Instead of quickly rubbing the towelette all over the face – let the wipe soak on the face for a couple seconds. This allows the formula to start breaking-down makeup and impurities. Concentrate particularly on the eye area to avoid too much rubbing later. Gently rub the wipe, back and forth on the face. It will do the job of taking the makeup off for you.

A good facial wipe should have just the right amount of saturation – not too wet or too dry. It should also leave the skin feeling clean, fresh, soft and hydrated.

Here are my current four favorites:

Bioderma ~ Crealine H20 Wipes: around $18.00 (purchased in Paris..sorry)

*** Great for sensitive skin and eye area – these never make the eyes sting and take off everything with ease while toning the skin.

Josie Maran ~ Bear Naked Wipes: $12.00

*** Super hydrating and smell delicious. 

MAC ~ Wipes: $20.00

*** These are amazing at taking everything off your face – however, I always wash my face after as the formula is a bit strong.

Aveeno ~ Ultra-Calming Makeup Removing Wipes: $6.99

*** The perfect wipe. Soothing, no stinging, face feels clean and fresh. Cost-Effective.

 

Holiday Gift Sets: Skin Care

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With so many skincare products on the market, it can be tough to nail down the right regimen. Luckily, more companies are offering skin solutions in cost-effective kits that deliver the same refreshing results as their full-sized products – but at a much cheaper price. These carefully curated skin care sets are an easy gift or selfish selection to help you stock up on your favorites.

Here are a few winners:

Soap & Glory ~ Smooth Over Darling: $48.00 (sale)

A fabulous vanity bag filled with a full-size Clean, Girls Body Wash, Scrub ‘Em & Leave ‘Em Body Scrub, The Daily Smooth Butter, and Mist You Madly body spray—plus a super sudsing shower puff. Deploy the contents of this bag on dry skin, flaky legs, and rough elbows and watch them simply smooth over. The all-in-one bath and body set with an addicting scent formulated with blackcurrant, freesia, and musk.

LaLicious ~ Luxe Body Bundle: $50.00

A dynamic duo of nourishing and moisturizing all-natural body products. LaLicious Sugar Soufflé Scrub  and Body Butter is made with Coconut Oil, Almond Oil and Vitamin E Oil. The Body Butter has a Shea Butter base that melts into the skin with no greasy residue. Comes in all kinds of yummy scents from Coconut Cream and Tahitian Flower to Sugar Kiss and Peppermint.

First Aid Beauty ~ Smooth Operator Kit: $45.00

Feel luxuriously lush and supple head to toe with this set of clinically-proven moisturizers from the Ultra Repair collection. A four-piece collection of hydrating favorites for the silkiest, softest skin possible. The Ultra Repair Cream is a super-emollient formula with a spectacular whipped, non-greasy texture that treats severely dry skin, whatever the cause. The Oatmeal Mask is a 10-minute fix that provides deep hydration to calm, nourish, and soothe distressed skin. The Lip Therapy treatment is an intense lip cream with the healing power to repair, nourish, and protect your pout.

skyn Iceland ~ Quench Kit: $45.00

Four products designed to harness the power of cryogenic technology from the Arctic to help moisturize, repair and protect super dry, sensitive skin. Ideal for aging or severely compromised complexions, this set is infused with mineral-rich Icelandic glacial waters, replenishing Arctic berries and soothing hydrators like shea butter, collodial oatmeal and Arctic algae. Together they rejuvenate exhausted and depleted skin, bringing back the glow you left behind.

Boscia ~ Little Black Book: $48.00

A set featuring the very best of Boscia’s black collection that work together to mattify shine and minimize pores. This collection of products work together to mattify shine and minimize pores. The cooling Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel moisturizer provides ultra-light hydration as it brightens skin clarity, minimizes pores, and refines skin texture. The innovative, Luminizing Black Mask boosts skin clarity and radiance by removing dirt and impurities, while the multi-tasking No Pores No Shine T-Zone Treatment instantly reduces the appearance of pores and blackheads. The Detoxifying Black Cleanser is a warming gel cleanser deeply cleans and detoxifies, dissolving pore-clogging impurities, makeup, and oil, leaving skin refreshed and revitalized.

Laura Mercier ~ Body & Bath Trio – Fresh Fig: $65.00

Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Body & Bath Trio features a full-size Crème Body Wash and 6 oz. glass jars of Body Scrub and Soufflé Body Crème in the sweet, fresh, intoxicating scent of fresh Celeste Figs blended with dewy fruit bouquets of Apricot Nectar and sensuous Ylang Ylang. Blended with the finest ingredients, each delectable item contains active ingredients that instantly nourishes the skin. This Holiday Trio comes in three of Laura Mercier’s luxurious scents: Fresh Fig, Almond Coconut Milk and Crème Brûlée. Or stop by your local Laura Mercier counter and mix and match your favorites for a truly personalized gift!

The Balm: REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm

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Chemistry 101 dictates that “like dissolves like.” When it comes to cleansing the face, oil is better at binding to oil and dissolving it, which is why it is so often the basis of makeup removers.

Ren’s No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm uses plant-based oils to cleanse the skin. It is extremely gentle on the skin, but powerful enough to remove oil, oxidized sebum (blackheads), daily dirt, and even waterproof mascara. Infused with chamomile oil and pink violet leaf, it calms the skin and soothes redness, while rose oil relieves stress, leaving skin purified and clear.

A totally unique way to cleanse your skin, the creamy clear balm transforms into a rich milk on contact with water. As you rub the product into the skin, the emollient process begins. This gives you ample time to work on a deep-facial massage – a facialist secret and crucial component to great skin. The balm is nourishing and hydrating and leaves the skin feeling clean and supple. It comes with a muslin cloth, which works wonders to remove all traces of makeup, grease and dirt while gently exfoliating the skin at the same time.

Avoiding overly-cleansed skin is key to healthy skin – especially those with acne-prone skin. Dryness sends a signal to your skin to produce more sebum (oil), which can make skin and acne worse. The oils in REN’s No. 1 Purity Cleansing Balm bind to the oil in your pores, and whisk away grime without stripping your skin.  If your cleanser leaves your face feeling tight and dry, you’ve likely been stripped!

New Rules: Bright Whites

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Societal standards for seasonal clothing have been relaxed since the 1960s. Only those interested in following old-fashion/prehistoric rules believe that women are not supposed to wear white before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Throw those silly rules out the window, pick-up some bright whites and wear them whenever you like.

“Summer Whites” are crisp, clean and classic. Not only does the lighter color keep you cool by reflecting the sun’s rays on sweltering days, but nothing goes better with tanned skin.

Basic whites to have on-hand this summer, include:

› A classic white button-down is essential to any wardrobe. Worn over dresses, bikinis or on it’s own, a button-down will give just the right amount of coverage on summer days.

› Go beyond the basic white tank with a more detailed and flowy option. There are a ton of lace, crochet and embellished white tanks to choose from.

› White looks especially good with summer’s brightest tones. Colors like coral, yellow, turquoise even neons are universally flattering and make everyone look fresh and pretty. Try a white skirt and a bold top, or a crisp white blouse with a pair of hot-hued pants.

› Use white as an accent. Enameled white jewelry, bag or scarf will help you get your white fix without going overboard.

› A great-fitting pair of white jeans is a summer staple. Period. They look great with just about everything and every heel height, from towering stilettos to basic flats or sandals.

› To pull off an all-white look, go for a pair of nude or metallic shoes, you want a neutral that doesn’t detract from the white. To keep it from looking too ‘clinical’, show some skin in a low-cut blouse or shorts.

Look fresh in “summer whites” with these clean and crisp pieces.

AG Jeans ~ The Robyn Jacket: $198.00

Club Monaco ~ Kimberly Floral Tunic: 149.50

Rag and Bone ~ Dart Jacket: $535.00

BB Dakota ~ Rasalyn Tank: $ 65.00

Victoria’s Secret ~ The Boyfriend Shirt: $49.50

Kate Spade ~Park Guell Long Necklace in White: $128.00

Trina Turk ~ Enamel Brick Gold & White Bangle Bracelet: $98.00

Love Quotes ~ Linen Scarf in Peace: $98.00

Dolce Vita ~ Archer Flat Sandal: $69.00

J.Crew ~ String Bikini: $78.00

BCBGMAXAZRIA ~ Runway Keylene Dress: $398.00

Zara ~ Skirt with Paillettes: $79.90

J.Crew ~ Ankle Stretch Toothpick Jean in White Denim: $125.00

Nightcap Clothing ~ Fringe Shorts: 143.00

Splendid ~ Maxi Tube Skirt/Dress: $83.00

Drugstore’s Finest: CeraVe

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Recommended by dermatologists everywhere, the CeraVe line of skincare products are all non-irritating, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free. Better yet, they are all available at a drugstore near you.

The CeraVe line was created in conjunction with dermatologists and was intended for use in the treatment of dry skin and other conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea and atopic dermatitis. CeraVe is the first brand to contain essential ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids that healthy skin needs. CeraVe uses a patented “multivescular emulsion” or MVE® system that was only available through prescription not long ago. This system consists of a controlled and steady release of various ingredients over time allowing skin to be hydrated longer and more efficiently with one application. The daily regimen of cleansers and moisturizers helps repair, replenish and protect the skin’s barrier to leave it looking and feeling soft, clean and healthy.

The CeraVe line of skincare products are drugstore’s finest. Here is a review of the first few products I have tried and tested:

CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser: Gentle yet powerful, this cleanser removes makeup, dirt and oil like a champ. It leaves the face feeling soft and clean, not stripped or dry. It contains the brand’s signature ceramides and hyaluronic acid – two ingredients that help lock in moisture so your skin will never feel tight or dry.

CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30: A great daytime moisturizer that feels light on the skin but wards off UVA/UVB rays with it’s standout broad-spectrum sunscreen. It keeps skin hydrated and restores the skin’s barrier with Niacinaminde (vitamin B3) making it less vulnerable to the elements.

CeraVe SA Renewing Lotion: This body lotion does it all – exfoliates, smoothes and softens. Skin can only be truly hydrated when the top layer of dead skin cells are removed. This allows moisturizing ingredients to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. The Renewing Lotion does all of this for you. Formulated with both salicylic acid (used for epidermal exfoliation) and ammonium lactate (a mild exfoliant and humectant) this lotion gently removes dry, scaly skin. While, vitamin D, glycerin, ceramides and hyaluronic acid smooths, firms and hydrates the skin.

CeraVe, in my opinion, is the best affordable line of skincare products. All of the products are gentle, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, non-irritating and readily available at mass retailers and drugstores nationwide.

Perfect Prep: Molton Brown-Warming Eucalyptus & Ginger Body Scrub

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Slough-off winter with Molton Brown’s Warming Eucalyptus & Ginger Body Scrub. This high performance body treatment feels pampering but gets the job done. Designed to boost circulation, soothe muscles and reveal a clearer, brighter skin tone, this body scrub is the perfect prep for summer skin.

I am currently testing the best sunless tanning products on the market. To do this, exfoliation is essential. With Molton Brown’s Warming Eucalyptus & Ginger Body Scrub, exfoliation is a treat. The fresh scent instantly lifts the spirits. The “warming” sensation, caused by ginger root (a powerful natural stimulant) feels comforting and invigorating. Eucalyptus oil, soothes muscle strain, relieves fatigue and tones as sea salts improve skin conditions, relax the muscles and detoxify the body. I told you… high performance.

Molton Brown’s Warming Eucalyptus & Ginger Body Scrub leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed, revealing baby-soft skin in seconds. Prep your skin for summer with a high performance body scrub.

Tried & Tested: They’re Real! Benefit Mascara

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They're Real! Benefit Mascara

Currently loving, Benefit’s new mascara, They’re Real!

Although the formula is nice, wet and smudge-proof, the reverence goes to the brush. This amazing rubber brush coats each lash beautifully, however, the tip of the brush is where the real magic happens.

Similiar to Givenchy Phenomen’eyes mascara, the round sphere of bristles at the top of the brush adds precision and definition. Every lash, even the tiniest hairs are coated, lengthened and plumped.

The formula and rubberized brush is similar to Cover Girl’s Lash Blast mascara, but the technology of Benefit’s brush is in a league of it’s own.

TIP: When the mascara bottle has dried-up, separate the brush and clean it. Dip it into your favorite formula or drugstore mascara.

SALE ALERT: Vince – Waxed Cotton Trenchcoat

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Vince Waxed Cotton Trenchcoat

A trenchcoat can be worn all-year-round and never go out of style. Popular for centuries, this classic coat continues to evolve in both style and design.

This Waxed Cotton Trenchcoat by Vince is simple and clean. Typical in trenchcoat design, the cuff straps on the raglan sleeves add detail as well as protection from wind and rain.  The double-breasted silhouette remains classic as well as the belt that cinches at the waist. This trench is made of waxed cotton that will ensure durability on cold and wet days.

Saks Fifth Avenue online sale is compiled of fantastic spring and summer items. This Vince Trenchcoat is on sale for $197.99 from $495.00. Get it while it lasts!

Simple Sponge: Konjac Sponge

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Konjac Sponge

Konjac is a natural food source that has been used in Japanese cuisine for over 1500 years. Ninety seven percent of Konjac is water and three percent is a dietary fiber. Rich in vitamins and minerals, the Japanese have been using Konjac sponges as beauty treatments for centuries.

The unique net like structure of the Konjac sponge, gently massages and stimulates blood flow and new growth of skin cells.  A naturally moisture-rich plant fibre in the sponge balances the acidity of the skin and leaves it extremely clean and refreshed with no need for additional cleansers or soap.

Available in diferent ranges, according to skin type, the Konjac sponge can be infused with clays and charcoal for added benefits. Pink clay has been used for tired, devitalized skin, green clay for normal to oily skin and red clay for dry and sensitive skin. Also, available in bamboo charcoal for very oily or acne-prone skin.

To use, gently massage sponge over the face and body in a circular motion. A cleansing solution can be added, but is not necessary. If added, the smallest amount is needed as the sponge will create an immense lather. Splash with warm water to reveal squeaky clean and refreshed skin.

Each sponge lasts for around one to three months and can be found at any health-food stores. Can be used on the most delicate, sensitive skin and is even recommended for newborn babies. The Konjac sponge is simple yet effective and works on every skintype.

Weekend Ensemble: Adidas by Stella McCartney

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This Father’s Day Weekend, golf is on the menu.

In 2004, Stella McCartney launched a joint-venture with Adidas. The line of sports performance-wear is uber-stylish, comfortable and my pick for sports attire.

This black polo dress from Adidas by Stella McCartney is my go-to outfit. Simple and easy, this dress can be worn on any golf course. Long enough for strict courses but stylish enough for any occasion. The Vauhti Golf Shoe is classic and clean. With a removable kiltie, this shoe feels like a sneaker but performs like a golf-shoe. Of course one must accessorize any outfit. Paired with a matching sun visor and retro golf glove, I am ready to hit the greens. FORE!

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ashling

Energy-Boosting Moisturizer: Origins VitaZing SPF 15

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Origins VitaZing SPF 15

Origins VitaZing SPF 15 is a tint-release lotion that adapts to all skintones. With it’s vitamin-rich Mangosteen energy-complex, a natural anti-oxidant, this moisturizer provides a bright, vibrant, even complexion.

VitaZing empties from the tube a white color with tiny spheres filled with pigment. The texture and feel of this product is similar to that of  a tinted moisturizer.

As massaged into the skin, these particles magically adapt to the skin and provide a soft, glowing coverage. The skin is instantly illuminated and feels fresh and healthy.

These products are great in the summertime.  It’s multi-tasking abilities, hydrate, energize, protect and cover, simplify any makeup routine.