Silicone Savvy: Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal

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Erase and repair imperfections with Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal. The first-ever naturally derived silicone-based concealer is designed for use on both the under eye area and the face. It will CORRECT, COVER and PROTECT all of your skin’s concerns leaving you with a flawless complexion.

This multifunctional concealer is formulated with the brand’s signature MST complex – white rose and chamomile extracts to calm inflammation, vitamin K to reverse dark circles, and vitamin F to improve skin tone. It also has an additional laundry list of actives to correct all of your top skin concerns:

• Minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet
• Reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness for a brighter look
• Diminish the look of age spots, discolorations and sun damaged skin
• Firm and tone the look of skin in the eye area
• Cover and heal dark spots, blemishes and surface redness
• Smooth, even and easy application, may also be used as an eye shadow base

The silicone-rich formula is what makes this product stand out from the rest. The smooth, velvety texture glides over any imperfection and/or dryness without caking or flaking. It is truly groundbreaking for covering dry-patches and irritated skin/blemishes. When I use retinol products for the eye area, it can get a bit drying. This is the only under-eye concealer that does not accentuate the dryness and/or sink into the creases. All the while, treating and repairing the areas of concern.

ABOUT MIRACLE SKIN TRANSFORMER:

Sarah McNamara tapped into more than 15-years of experience in the corporate beauty world to bring us Miracle Skin Transformer. Miracle Skin Transformer creates the first-ever, one-step application products designed to instantly transform your skin. Developed with naturally-derived silicones, these formulations contain powerful protection and hydration benefits leaving you with a smooth, radiant, airbrushed finish… in seconds.

Over the course of her career, Sarah has repeatedly found that “consumers are choosing to buy less in order to buy better, reflecting a desire for products that possess greater meaning in their lives.” After years of launching multi-million dollar brands within corporations, Sarah is well aware of the industry’s marketing tactics encouraging women to purchase more products than they really need to.

Today’s beauty consumer is savvier than ever. They want products that fit their active lifestyles and their beauty regimes, which include visits to dermatologists and cosmetic spas.

In August of 2010, after one year of extensive research with leading chemists, Sarah launched Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 on http://www.miracleskintransformer.com. Partnering with major beauty magazines, deluxe-size samples were offered to consumers who signed up on the website in the months leading up to the launch. This sampling promotion gave the brand an instant database of consumers, over 350,000 signed up.

In addition to consumer research groups, social media has played a key role in building consumer relationships and validating the concept and formulation of the brand.

Sarah’s vision is to continually pioneer innovation in skincare products with all- natural, ethically-obtained ingredients. All Miracle Skin Transformer products use a naturally-derived silicone base made from sand, and contain the MST Complex – a unique blend of targeted high-performance natural active ingredients, free of petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, parabens, and dyes.

Sarah positioned Miracle Skin Transformer as a prestige cosmetic brand via a successful online and national magazine PR campaign. It has been featured in The New York Times, Redbook, Brides, InStyle, Marie Claire, Shape, Star, W, People Style Watch, and other leading fashion and beauty magazines. It was also featured on the Dr. Oz Show as one of beauty’s “2 Minute Miracles” in November of 2010.

Miracle Skin Transformer currently sells at niche pharmacies and beauty stores nationwide, as well as at http://www.beauty.com. In August 2011, Sarah will unveil Miracle Skin Transformer Body, a body treatment that enhances the skin with color pigments, protects with SPF and natural silicone, and hydrates with vitamins and other plant extracts. Continued distribution in premium retailers and working with top departments across the country, as well as international distribution within next year.

A New Zealand native, Sarah McNamara has lived on 4 continents and held senior positions with Elizabeth Arden, L’Oreal, Unilever, Valentino, Fendi, and even Goldman Sachs. She currently lives in New York City, with her husband and 2 boys, Nicholas and Aidan. Sarah McNamara is available for speaking engagements at functions or events on topics such as “Starting a Business from Scratch” and “Building a Brand through Social Media”. Her achievements and recognitions speak for themselves and make Sarah a great choice as a motivational speaker.

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!

Five Favorites: Lip Treatments

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The product on everybody’s lips… Lip Treatments.

Moisturizing lip conditioners are some of my favorite products. Essential for getting rid of dry, chapped lips, these treatments care and protect all-year-round. Slather them on day/night, in-flight, in-car… anytime. My current five favorites are:

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream: Full Post Review: HERE

Homeoplasmine Cream: One of my French pharmacy favorites, this multi-purpose ointment soothes, protects and moisturizes the lips/skin. The homeopathic cream was originally created to heal the nasal passages from colds, allergies, and treat skin irritations. However, it is amazing on dry lips as it literally heals them before your eyes. I love the non-greasy consistency and the natural matte finish. Great for travel, this cream will quench jet-lagged lips/skin and the aluminum casing ensures the product will last forever. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find in the US. Sorry. 

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy: Brings the healing power of First Aid Beauty’s best-selling Ultra Repair Cream to moisturize, nourish, and protect your lips. This long-lasting, petroleum-free and paraben-free formula will prevent dryness and heal parched lips. On its own, it has a subtle, semi-matte finish. Use this healthy lip balm under lipstick to keep lips hydrated, smooth and soft.

Eco Lips Renew Rejuvenating Lip Balm: Formulated with argan oil, vitamin E and antioxidants this lip balm aids in cell renewal and anti-aging. The organic lip conditioner improves skin texture almost immediately and the petroleum-free formula locks in moisture. The bold Orange Spice flavor is a treat on the lips and kind of addicting.

NUXE Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm: – Used by many makeup artists as a lip prep, this soothing lip conditioner soaks into lips and dries perfectly matte. The richly concentrated balm contains honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit essence to help nourish, repair, soothe and protect the lips. The incredibly creamy, smooth texture glides on the lips effortlessly and smells of sweet citrus.

Holy Grail: Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

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Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara is currently the best mascara I have ever used. Coming from a lunatic that has tested every imaginable mascara, this says a lot. As seen in Glow-T’s Best of 2011 post – I wanted to wait until I thoroughly tested this product to give an honest review. 

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara is all of your favorite lengthening/separating/volumizing mascaras rolled into one. The formula is smooth, weightless and incredibly pigmented. One coat is all that is needed for full/thick lashes, however, the build-able formula is capable of overly dramatic lashes without clumping (statement based on two thick coats). The wand’s handle is weighted, giving support for easy application. The brush is nothing special and on the larger size, but delivers intensely thick, black lashes.

The only criticism I have is the price. A $30 dollar mascara is hard to swallow with so many cheaper products on the market. In consideration, I purchased this mascara in the beginning of November and it is still going strong; no traces of dryness or emptiness.

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara is currently on my holy grail list. At this point, you would think I would never need to acknowledge another mascara again… You would think…

Matte Finish: Nars Pure Matte Lipsticks

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Nars Pure Matte Lipstick ~ Carthage

In lip products, matte textures tend to look more natural than shine and shimmer. This is especially true in photography and video. They also last longer on the lips and seldom feather.

Matte-textured lipsticks as well as long-wear can be incredibly drying on the lips. Nars Pure Matte Lipsticks contain mango butter that provide moisturizing properties to repair dryness and scaling. However, I would not constitute this as a moisturizing lip product, but increasingly better than others I have tested.

Nars Pure Matte Lipsticks are incredibly pigmented and provide amazing color pay-off. They are available in eleven shades from nude to full-bodied reds. Carthage is my current favorite, the most obnoxious hot pink.

Matte lipsticks are a great buy, the pigments are bright and bold and if a little shimmer or shine is needed, just add some gloss.

Tip: Avoid over-applying lipstick, the more you wear, the heavier it looks and the quicker it will wear off.