Recently in Face Category

If you have a jet setting friend who never knows where she'll wake up next, grab her a box of "The Overnighter" from Benefit cosmetics.  Tucked in the package is also a pair of Hanky Panky underwear, you know, just in case.  The sleepover set includes a mini compact of everything she'll need to look fresh when she heads off to work in the morning.  'California kissin'' lip gloss, 'eyecon' treatment for dark circles, 'benetint' for a well rested glow, and 'some kind of gorgeous' cream to powder foundation.  This is also great for your flight attendant girlfriends!  $38 at Benefit Cosmetics.com or your local Benefit counter. 

My skin has been slowly cracking the last few years, literally. I am so stressed about it I am begging my husband to move us back home to LA. I love Texas, really do, but the weather here is the most harsh and wrinkle inducing I have ever lived in. Never have I experienced 85 degree weather followed by snow/sleet/hail the next day. My skin reacted by cracking and misbehaving, I was able to control it but this year, it got really bad. It went on strike this past Fall and wouldn't take to any amount of moisture masks, moisturizers, collagen masks, or facials. I started exfoliating with Natura Bisse's C+C scrub last month and its finally starting to behave a bit. Apparently exfoliation is key, my beauties. You'd think in dry harsh conditions you should moisturize but that just builds up, you need to exfoliate to constantly assist the healthy young cells in the bottom layers of your dermis to migrate upwards. This is a very gentle yet effective scrub that I keep in the shower and use daily. It has real gems particles (amythest and quartz) and hydrates while it exfoliates with vitamin C and fatty acids. Grab several jars of this and give to your girlfriends for Christmas-- they'll thank you for their glowing soft skin next year! $65 at Neiman Marcus

A little while ago I wrote about the increasing amounts of frugal snob finds and just a few days ago, prior to its national launch this coming January, a limited pre-release of 1,000 Olay Professional Pro-X Anti-Aging Starter Protocols sold-out of pre-sale inventory in only 17 minutes! Given that in the days leading up to the pre-release, 80,000 women visited the Olay website to receive an e-mail reminder for the offer, I can just picture the scene - I'm imaging something straight out of 'Jingle All the Way' where Sinbad and Arnold Schwarzenegger fiercely fight over the same toy! Luckily due to high demand for Professional Pro X, which is Olay's most potent, professional, scientifically-advanced skin care line to date (they say it provides clinically-proven anti-aging results in 28 days), Olay is taking pre-orders for an additional 20,000 Anti-Aging Starter Protocols. I haven't tried this yet myself, but I've used their anti-aging products in the past and have been fairly satisfied. So if you're interested in experiencing the products that caused all this frenzy, you can sign-up now to be on the waiting list and reserve one. You'll also get $10 off and free shipping!

I walked through Neiman Marcus cosmetics this weekend and got a glimpse of all the fabulous gift sets for Christmas this year. You'd never know there was any kind of economic crisis standing there, women were throwing their credit cards at the SA's faster than they could say I'll take it.  The beauty industry is always the last to take the hit in tough times, I know I'd rather go hungry than go without my make up! 

If you're looking for gifts, stop by the Prescriptives counter-- Prescriptives has really chic gift sets that you won't have to wrap (will save you money on paper and ribbons). My favorite is the custom blend set ($115) and have picked it up for a couple of friends (you'll know who you are when you receive it!). 

The set includes • Custom Blend Foundation Bottle & Travel-Size Foundation Bottle • Custom Blend Concealer Vial • Full-Size Foundation Brush • Full-Size Concealer Brush • 15 ml Super Line Preventor Xtreme • Custom Blend Invitation • Deluxe Custom Blend train case

Other gift Sets start at $29.50 so there is something for every beauty budget.  Check them out at Prescriptives.com!

One of my all time favorite celebs is Jennifer Aniston. She has amazing skin and a body to die for (if you must know, I always tell my trainer Lara to "Make my body rock like Jennifer Aniston!). Jen works hard for that body (with a mix of yoga, pilates and running) and despite turmoil in her personal life, she's always carried herself with grace and dignity. She's Vogue's cover girl this month and we found the products that Gucci Westman used on her for that carefree California girl glow.  Have to say I am not crazy about the photo they chose for the cover (red dress upper right).  I prefer the more casual one below right (in shorts sitting with knee up- tres sexy!).  To get Jen's beach chic look:
 

Brows- L'Oréal Brow Stylist 3-in-1 in medium dark brown, $12.99 ($9.99 at drugstore.com)

Eyes- Physicians Formula Organic Wear Origin Eyeshadow Duo in Brown Eyes, $7.95
 
Face- L'Oréal Glam Bronze bronzing powder in Seductive Sunset, $12.99 and Dior Bronze Matte Sunshine SPF 20 Honey Matte 002, $40
 
Lips- L'Oréal HiP Jelly Balm in Luscious, $9

Images via Vogue.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

When all the crap you will eat today gets processed by your body, you better hope it doesn't show up on your face! I know for a fact that there are foods that make me break out, foods that make me oily and foods that make me puffy. But when you can't control the menu, control your facial routine to counteract it! What better way to gently dissolve those dead skin cells than with pumpkin enzymes? This not only sounds delicious, but also like a healthy kick for your delicate skin =) Peter Thomas Roth is one of my favorite companies, and I would highly recommend giving them a try. Pumpkin Enzyme Peel ($44.00) also harnesses the emollient power of vitamin A and anti-oxidants in order to leave your skin refreshed and silky smooth!

I was told off the record that Angelina Jolie uses COVER FX to cover her tattoos for certain movie roles. I have yet to try COVER FX myself (I actually have no tattoos, but I've heard good things about their Mineral Powder Foundation, $32), but they have the most extensive global color palette of any line on the market today and it was created by a corrective foundation artist Lee Graff and a chemical engineer Jenny Frankel. Have a tattoo you regret? Have you tried this out? Let us know!

Get a $503 set of Diamond Extreme Eye and Diamond cream (full size) with a bronze clutch for $395 (25% savings!) for the Beauty Snob in your life this Christmas!  I've extolled on the virtues of Diamond extreme eye often and of course the Diamond cream is the ultimate indulgence in skincare. Natura Bisse never goes on sale so the set is really a great opportunity to try the products! This is one of the best gift sets of the season so don't miss out! $395 at Neiman Marcus.com

Designed for the jet-setting woman-on-the-go, the latest interpretation of COLLECTION ESSENTIELLE DE CHANEL. Multi-Use Makeup Palette was inspired by a romantic weekend in Paris. Each palette creates uniquely different looks, perfect for any occasion, on either side of the Seine. Lumière Tendresse includes soft, muted colours that delicately highlight features for a fresh, sophisticated look. Lumière Romantique includes warm, rich tones offset by vibrant roses for a new, modern take on natural. All-exclusive shades include four powder eyeshadows, one powder blush, two cream lip colours and two lipglosses, plus a trio of makeup artistry tools and luxurious styling add up to pure glamour. $85.00 at Chanel counters worldwide.

själ skincare, an organic approach to scientifically advanced skincare from Sweden, is a favorite among celebrities, models and fashion insiders in Hollywood.  I didn't know what all the hype was about so decided to do a little investigating on my own.  I got samples of the best sellers, orbe (eye contour cream) and kura (intense hydration cream) last week and have been diligently testing them to give you a full report.

sjal orbe: multi-tasking eye cream eye- This is a multi tasking eye cream designed to lift the eye area, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fatty deposits, dark circles and puffiness.  At first I didn't like the eye cream, after applying, it'd 'peel' (a light exfoliatoin process perhaps?).  But after a week, I love it!  The area around my eyes is a bit softer.  It leaves a smooth coating (from pearl powder) which is perfect as a base for eye make up.  There is also loquat leaf for brightening and real gold, silver, germanium an copper for cellular repair.  At $175 it is comparable to the other luxury brands.  I will definitely be adding it to my rotation of eye creams.

(Jump for more!) Buy själ online at eLUXURY.com