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Know your ingredients!

Mar 31st, 2013
by thinkbeautifully.
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I love skincare, and I particularly love natural skin care.  There are enough chemicals floating around the world, so who needs to add them to our faces, right?  So when I was asked to try some new products that were natural, and minimally processed, I was excited to find Know Your Ingredients.

KYI’s goal is to created natural, simple products that have high impact changes on your skin.
These are some luscious items, and I hope you try them for yourself!

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The Argan Oil Serum with Vitamin C ($45 for 2 oz) uses a specially formulated vitamin c that is oil-soluble.  Vitamin C is an essential anti oxidant, and a wonderful booster for your skin.  It adds brightness, increases firmness, and helps fend off free radicals.  I absolutely LOVE this product!  I use it all over my body, but especially on my face.  The argan oil we know and love is a fantastic moisturizer, and the vitamin c brightens and firms.  I consider this a combination of Ole Hendrickson’s Truth Serum (which I adore but it’s pricey) and Josie Maran’s Argan Oil (also pricy).  The double whammy impact of this is like BE’s Night Serum, and really gave my travel weary skin a major boost.  Love!
The Sweet Almond Softening Oil is another great moisturizer.  If you suffer from dry skin

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(or, as my dermo likes to call it, “pathologically dry”) this is a no brainer.  Say good by to your scaly skin!  I use this every night, and after every shower to lock in moisture.  After travelling in
Europe, where it was still the dead of winter, my skin was dry and not so happy with me.  This oil reversed that, and comes in several aromatherapy scents (or unscented if you prefer).  At $20 for 8 oz it’s also a fantastic value.  Almond oil has long been a trick in natural beauty and health food stores, so it’s great to see it back.  Rich in Vitamin E, it will make you glow!
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Finally ,the Whipped Shea Butter Mask is a great way to give your face a super charge of moisture.  You know shea butter, it’s been around for years.  The base ingredient in many of your favorite hand creams, this mask will soften and erase those pesky fine lines.  Once again, it’s a great trick for super dry hands, feet, elbows and any other area that is suffering in the winter dry air.
Thank you Know Your Ingredients for making some fantastic products!  For those of you that are looking for natural and affordable products in your arsenal, check these out.

These products were provided by KNI for consideration, but all opinions are my own.

 

Posted in: Shopping, Skin Care.
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My close up sir!

Mar 30th, 2013
by thinkbeautifully.
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We all know that mascara can really make your eyes pop.  But do you look like a 1950s movie star?  Do you look like you just sprouted false eyelashes?

I’ve long been a fan of Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes.  While I have to say Gifted nudged LCL out of the running for my holy grail, I am happy to say that the latest incarnation, Lights, Camera, FLASHES is back in the running as the best mascara ever!

Why?  This über black, über rich mascara lengthens, curls, volumizes, illuminates, and conditions lashes and really gives them that va va voom factor.  My lashes are challenged.  With curly ques that make them curl back in on them selves, and all over, I struggle to find a mascara that doesn’t irritate my eyes, and also makes them look amazing.

Yay for Lights, Camera, Flashes!

This is a very different wand applicator, which is what Tarte claims is the unique factor in this product.  

Why is it different: This amped-up, ultra-rich black mascara lengthens, curls, volumizes, illuminates, and conditions to take lashes to the extreme. tarte’s triple black complex fuses iron oxide and mineral pigments to visibly blacken lashes for a rich, jet-black, intensified look that gives the appearance of longer lashes. It also uniquely reflects light onto lashes, creating a luminous “flashes effect.” The custom-engineered, molded, 360-degree dual-flex mascara wand combines short and long bristles for even-coated, clump-free lashes.

With the dual ended applicator, it’s easy to create thick, full lashes with the dense, soft side.  Then ,flip over the wand and comb out your lashes with the longer, firm-flex bristles.  I also love the limited edition gold packaging!

This is currently a QVC exclusive, and is available for $23, but I got mine in the last TSV (which has the next installment is due soon!)

tarte Lights Camera Flashes Mascara

Image provided by Tarte

Verdict:  Love!  If you want thick, lush lashes, pick this beauty up.

 

Posted in: Makeup, mascara, QVC, Shopping, Tarte.
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It’s like Buttah!

Feb 9th, 2013
by thinkbeautifully.
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It’s winter, and my skin is dry dry dry.  In fact, it’s a bit like the Sarah.  It’s been cold and windy here in San Francisco, and the first thing to feel it are my lips.  Cracked, dry and miserable, I needed help!

Enter the IT Cosmetics  Vitality Lip Flush Lip Butters.  Oh la la!  Now, I have lip products galore:  lip balm, lip butter, lip stick, lip treatments.  But I don’t always want to put a greasy lip balm on if I’m going out, or getting ready for my day.

Now, I am a bit fan of the full color (though sheer and buildable) IT Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush Lipstick Stain, and have been known to wear them to bed to keep my lips moist, these go one step further.These lovelies are perfect, when you want a hint of color as well as a treatment.

The Lip Butters are infused with plum oil, cherry oil, shea butter, aloe and jojoba – all known to be super moisturizer for your pucker.  These sheer butters give a sheer wash of color, while treating and providing hydration.  As always, IT brings innovation and anti-aging in this product, packed with anti oxidants like vitamins A, C and E as well as acai, green tea and white tea.  All of these things work together to provide a powerhouse of moisturizer, anti aging protection.  And of course, they are paraben free, and are made in the USA so you can feel good about buying them.

I have two in my purse right now, as well as Je Ne Sais Quoi Lip Stain and I’m ready to go!  I love most things IT, but these are really special.  They smell good, taste good, are another must have product in my lip arsenal.  I expect I’ll be using these a lot this winter!

For more color, you can layer these over each other, or under your favorite IT Lip Stain as well!  Try Pillow under Damsel or Pretty Woman.  It’s fun!

The Lip Butters are available at ItCosmetics.com for $20 each, or as a set of three on QVC for $35

Posted in: IT Cosmetics, Makeup, QVC, Shopping.
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I’m a good witch!

Feb 9th, 2013
by thinkbeautifully.
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Hello gorgeous!  How do I love thee, let me count the ways…

I just got my precious Urban Decay Oz palettes, and I was so excited to play!  The Glinda pallete, sweet, light and playful good witch, is filled with ethereal violets, iridescent pinks, and gold tons that are sure to set your eyes a glow.

This set, one of two in the series, contains 6 shades meant to invoke the innocence of the white witch, as well as a mini Rockstar eyeliner, and a High Gloss lipcolor in Glinda (a light sheer nude).

The great thing about this palettes is that the packaging is sturdy, in a metal container that snaps shut.  Made with Urban Decay’s Build Your Own palette format, you can swap out colors until you get the perfect set for you.  You can also refill them as you use them up with any of the build your own singles.  Love!

This limited edition collectible set has eight all new and exclusive eye shadows in six pans (there are two split pans).  Every shade features Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives each shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power, and blendability. 
This set contains the following eyeshadows:

  • Tornado (vibrant deep purple shimmer)
  • Aura (iridescent white with blue shift and iridescent white with red shift)
  • Magic (pinkish purple with golden shimmer)
  • Illusion (pale peach satin)
  • Oz (gold with gold glitter and silver with silver glitter)
  • South (warm pale gray shimmer with silver micro-glitter)

I must say, I love it!  What do you think?

Available at Sephora and Urbandecay.com for $49

 

Posted in: Makeup, Sephora, Shopping, Urban Decay.
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Bye Bye Redness!

Jan 29th, 2013
by thinkbeautifully.
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Oh boy!  IT Cosmetics has done it again!  Yes, I know I’m a bit obsessed, but I can’t help myself!  I treated my self to the new Bye Bye Redness neutralizing and correcting cream recently, and I cannot believe how much I love this tiny jar of magic.

Bye Bye Redness™ is a red neutralizing and correcting cream that completely cancels redness in your skin from view. Rich in Peptides, Hydrolyzed Collagen and Anti-Aging Technology, Bye Bye Redness™ camouflages redness and any red-toned skin discolorations from rosacea, broken capillaries, blemished skin, irritated skin, sun damage, scars, age spots, physician procedures and more.

I have to say, I do find that it does what it says.  I have light to medium skin, with golden undertones but lots of pink.  I often get redness, particularly in the winter, and am always looking for something to even out my skin tone.

The Bye Bye Redness was perfect for this.  Packed full of classic it goodies like peptides, collagen, oatmeal and Hyaluronic Acid, this wonder covers, corrects and treats your skin.  It doesn’t have a green or yellow hue like many redness reducers, and looks like a rich cream foundation.  In fact, that is my favorite way to use this – in lieu of foundation.  The QVC version comes with a mini kabuki brush which is great, but I also love to use a small foundation brush from Everyday Minerals, or an Eco Tools buffing brush to buff this on.

Be warned – a little dab will do you.  I used too much the first time, and I to really blend it in.  Start with a dime size amount on the back of your hand and use the kabuki brush to apply Bye Bye Redness all over.  Then use swirling motions to buff it in to your skin.  You can wear foundation on top, but I really found I didn’t need to.  You can build the coverage if you need to, but I found that I didn’t.  The small jar should actually last you a while.  If you prefer, you can just use on problem areas.  I finished with a bit of Bye Bye Pores for a flawless finish.

Love!  available at QVC and ITcosmetics.com for $32.  Check it out!

Posted in: Foundation, IT Cosmetics, Makeup, QVC, Shopping, Skin Care.
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Winterize your skin!

Jan 18th, 2013
by thinkbeautifully.
1 comment

Over the past two years, I have worked very hard to regulate my skin . I’ve had some issues to be sure, including flaky patches, sensative red skin, bumps and you name.  So, finding a skin care routine that actually works for me was crucial.

I recently switched to my winter moisturizer, but wasn’t happy with the way the Miracle Worker from Philosophy was working any more.  It had been great for a while, but just got to be too much.  Mind you, I love that product, but your skin is alive, so your needs changed.

Enter Algenist.  Algenist is a skincare brand that actually was created by happenstane, when a biotech company was researching alternative energy sources here in my hometown of San Francisco.  Mysteriously, the workers who were working iwth the algae that was the source, had hands that looked 20 yeras younger than the rest of them!  What was this amazing thing?

Enter Alguronic Acid.  This miracle ingredient has shown amazing promise in cell regeneration.  The natural process of shedding old damaged cells so that you can grow new, healthy skin cells is no mystery.  However, Alguronic acid showed the ability to stimulate this regrowth by 55%.  This puts them well ahead of both Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid, which are very powerful and until now, the most advanced anti aging ingredient on the market.  The promotion of these new, healthy skin cells is paramount to anti aging.

Enter my new favorite moisturizer!  The Regenerative Anti-Aging Moisturizer promises to restore skin moisture, rebuild firmness, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and regenerate your skin.  The Alguronic acid works in conjunction with Vitamin C, to boost radiance, increase cell regeneration, and give you a more youthful appearance.

Well!  That might be a tall order, but I am here to tell you, I love this product.  First of all, there are no parabens, sulfates, phtalates or any other ickies.  Next, it really does what it says it will do.

My skin in the winter becomes the Sahara desert.  I am contantly combatting dry flaky cheeks and dull tired looking skin.  When I first started using this, I figured, ok I’ll give it a shot.  But within a week, my skin looked brighter, was absolutely moisturized, and the crinklies were less noticeable.  I love the way it makes my face look!  It’s smoother, balanced and just looks better.  At 40, I need all the help I can get!

At $90 for 2oz, it’s pricy, but I am happy to spend more money on something that works.

Have you tried Algenist?  What products do you like?

Posted in: QVC, Sephora, Shopping, Skin Care.
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IT’s new!

Dec 29th, 2012
by thinkbeautifully.
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Check it out!  IT Cosmetics is at it again.  Not only did they come out with some great holiday sets, that of course, I got myself, they are now coming up with some super creations for 2013.

A little birdy told me that the first of these products will preview on QVC tomorrow, December 30th, so make sure you tune in!
First up, a delicious looking redness reducer, in a cream formula.  Bye Bye Redness promises to completely cancel out redness, as well as cover up rosacea, broken capillaries, sun damage and more.  Full of rich peptides, this is another treatment product that is sure to be amazing.

Also debuting tomorrow, will be a new Brow Power, in a skinny version!  This ultra thin pencil is made in the same formula as the existing brow power, but in a precision pencil to create even more high-definition and fine hairs for your brows.

I can’t wait to check these products out!  Psst there will be more newness very soon!

Posted in: IT Cosmetics, Makeup, QVC, Shopping.

New from Neuma!

Dec 29th, 2012
by thinkbeautifully.
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I love my hair, but sometimes it can be the biggest hassle. It can be frizzy, flyaway and dry if I’m not careful. After trying several products, including WEN, Redken and Organix, I’m ready for a change!

Here comes Neuma Beauty. I will be trying it for the first time today, so please stay tuned for a full review! But, how would you like to win a shampoo and conditioner set from the organic luxury haircare brand to try for yourself?

Enter here for a chance to win! 

Good luck!

Posted in: Uncategorized.

Glow your way through Cyber Monday!

Nov 20th, 2012
by thinkbeautifully.
8 comments

Happy Thanksgiving beauties!  Are you ready?  I know I’m not.  But I also know that you can look your best with some of my all time favorite products for the holidays!

As you know, I’m a die-hard IT Girl, and I also love a deal.  Well I’m here to tell you that Jamie and her team have come up with a screaming deal of a doorbuster to celebrate the shopping season!

From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, you can nab the special Hello bright Eyes & Hello Light Illuminizer Powder for the little bitty price tag of $39.50.  Now that’s a $64 value, and frankly – having tried and used both of these products, it’s a deal you cannot pass up.  I know I will be stocking up.

If you have the Vitality Face Disc that came in last summer’s TSV you know that this Hello Light Illumnizer ads a gorgeous moondrop glow to your complexion.  Made with Drops of Light technology, this beautiful illuminizing powder gives you that lit from within glow.  I absolutely love it, and use it everyday.  In fact, I will share with you that every time I wear Hello Light, people notice the difference.  What’s not to like about that?  The micronized pigments of light are packed with IT Cosmetic’s signature collagen and vitamin infused ingredients, but no talc.  Sweep the Hello Light across your forehead, on top of your cheekbones, and anywhere else you want to highlight!  My favorite technique is to use IT’s bronzer below my cheekbones, and the Hello Light just above.  WOW!

In addition to the Hello Light, you will also get the Hell Bright Bright Eyes pencil duo.  These silk infused anti-aging brightening pencils use micronized pigments to make your face look lifted, awake and bright.  You can use them on your eyes to open them up, your inner rim to make you look more awake, those pesky 11 lines (which I personally have and try to hide every day), or anywhere that you want to lift, brighten and make more youthful.  With no pulling or tugging, these silk infused pencils glide like butter and have all the collagen, Vitamin A, C, and E that you would expect from an IT Cosmetics product.  I use them in the inner corner and my 11 lines.  This includes Bright Eyes in two colors!

If you didn’t pick up Hello Bright Eyes at the Friends & Family Sale, now is your chance!  To celebrate the giving season, I will be giving away one Bye Bye Pores Finishing Powder to a lucky reader!  Use the RaffleCopter form below to enter, and GOOD LUCK!

Happy Thanksgiving all!
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Posted in: Events, IT Cosmetics, Makeup, Shopping.
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It’s a sale!

Nov 16th, 2012
by thinkbeautifully.
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I’m so excited about this! IT Cosmetics is hosting a Friends and Family sale, now through Monday – November 19th! That means you can get all of your goodies for 25% off!

This special offer is only good once a year, and as you know, there are no other discounts on IT on a regular basis.

With more and more items being added every day, this is a great time to stock up on basics!  Have some Beauties on your holiday shopping list?  Now is a great time to introduce them to one of my favorite brands.  Go ahead, don’t be shy.  Nab some Bye Bye Pores, a great basic.  Need the world’s best concealer?  Make sure you stock up on Bye Bye Under Eye – which I refuse to leave home without.

As a die hard IT Girl, I can’t wait to take advantage of these prices, and buy a few things for myself, as well as some friends that could use some holiday cheer.

Happy shopping!

Posted in: IT Cosmetics, Makeup, Shopping.
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