beauty review: Juara Skincare faves

Juara recently sent me a few of their products and, naturally, i wanted to share some of my thoughts about them with you. the fabulous Kerri Russell had some of the products used on her skin to prep it for a red carpet event, and like many people, i loved the results ~ what a surprise when the products showed up on my doorstep!

Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner
this toner-serum fusion is a fabulous product ~ it really makes my skin look and feel so beautiful. i first tried this toner in 2009, and in my review i said it was "the most moisturizing toner i have ever used." fast-forward 5 years, i still think it's still a fabulous gem. to quote myself: "this toner is unique in that it provides hydration and moisture without oil, while also soothing and leaving my skin feeling amazingly soft! if your skin needs hydration, this is perfect. if you are looking for a toner with calming benefits, this one will work for you too." it's definitely a gorgeously beneficial step in my skincare routine.

an oil-free gel-cream, the Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer combines radiance-boosting, anti-aging benefits thanks to antioxidant-rich sweet black tea. this beauty is infused with vitamin B, hydrating hyaluronic acid as well as purifying ginger and cinnamon to nourish and keep skin in gorgeous condition. i love how the formula glides on smoothly, absorbs quickly and leaves my skin feeling moisturized with a soft, matte finish.

Juara Sweet Black Tea Eye Crème is quite luxurious, i must say. the silky texture feels amazing to apply morning and night. it's kept the area around my eyes so hydrated. the combination of  kombucha {fermented black tea}, avocado butter, rice bran oil and candlenut oil all work together to nourish, refresh, treat and keep my eyes looking youthful.

are you a fan of Juara products? what are your faves? visit juaraskincare.com for more info and to find a retailer near you.

products featured sent to me by the brand; pics taken by me :)

beauty review: MAC Lightful w/Marine-Bright complex

~ it's a new year, so you may have resolved to start a new skincare routine. and even if that's not the case, we all want skin that's soft to touch and beautiful to look at. to make it reality, good skincare products are essential! to help you navigate through the plethora of products, i've been testing out many for the past few months and will be sharing my thoughts and opinions throughout the month of january. i hope you'll find it useful! ~

nourish, hydrate and brighten the skin with the exclusive asia-inspired formula that defies dull skin while fortifying against key environmental aggressors. enhanced with marine-bright formula, featuring three potent seaweeds harvested from the world's oceans and optimized with vitamin C. this unprecedented skin-brightening complex, made possible through our exclusive technology, improves clarity, evens pigmentation and creates perfectly luminous skin instantly and over time.

this is the description regarding the MAC Lightful range of skincare products; i'm here to say i'm beyond happy with what i have been using {3 of 4 products}: Softening Lotion, Essence and Moisture Creme {there is also a Cleanser, but i have yet to try it out for myself}. each of these beauties are formulated to give skin a healthy glow and feed skin beneficial ingredients to make your skin look its best.

like millions of people, i've always been a fan of MAC; i'm also especially fond of their skincare products, which i think are so underrated and don't get near the amount of hype they deserve {just saying…}. sure, i love my studio fix plus powder, lipglass, and don't even get me started over the assortment of amazing eyeshadows, but MAC's skincare is quite effective. needless to say, Lightful has my heart.

let's take a few moments to take a closer look at the products i've been using, shall we?

 Lightful Softening Lotion

this gorgeous, antioxidant-rich lotion {it's a liquid, though; think toner} is perfect for any skin type, containing a solid mix of antioxidants, repairing ingredients, and soothing agents {created to calm redness and reinforce a healthy barrier function for the skin}. i used this twice daily for three weeks when i began seeing results: smoother and more radiant skin.

Lightful Essence  

a vitamin C serum, highly infused with antioxidants and other fabulous ingredients helps to brighten skin and improve the look of discoloration and uneven skin tone.  the smooth-textured serum comes in a pump bottle and applies fabulously. i used this mainly at night, but did use it sometimes in the morning. overall, i would definitely recommend you try this out for yourself, if you haven't yet.

Lightful Moisture Creme 

my favorite! it's uber-lightweight but oh-so hydrating; the smooth texture absorbs quickly and is simply fabulous. i don't know how it was done, but this moisturizer is packed with antioxidants, and beneficial plant extracts. my only gripe: it needs to be in a pump rather than a jar. 

the MAC Lightful collection is certainly worth a look {oh, and did i mention the sparkly packaging?! so pretty…} if you're considering changing to all new skincare; of course, if you're just looking for one or two things to add to your current routine, i think you'll find them beneficial as well!

visit maccosmetics.com for more info.

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

skincare review: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner

if this time of year is stressful and your skin is showing the signs through breakouts on your skin, i'd like to suggest a great product: Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Triple-Action Toner from Neutrogena...

if you're familiar with the brand, skincare is what Neutrogena does the best {at least in my opinion}. i've been using the Triple-Action Toner on and off for a couple of years, and it's a fabulous product!

to begin with, it actually smells good. so many blemish-fighting toners smell so intense they can be  hard to use. Triple Action Toner has cucumber extract in it, so i believe that helps. the formula is also a little less harsh, so that may be a factor in the way it smells as well…

in a addition to the milder-than-your-typical-acne-toner smell, this toner is gentle yet so effective. i don't get many breakouts these days, but i still swipe a bit of the toner across my face at night following my cleansing routine. when i do spy a little bugger trying to show itself on my skin, i use it twice a day, and it never gets the chance to fully develop {take that acne, haha!}.

the brand credits the effectiveness to its clinically proven MicroClear delivery system, which helps get the medicine down into pores, clearing up your skin; Triple Action Toner also helps eliminate oil and shine and prevents future oil clogs. and finally, the unique formula of skin-soothers {such as green tea and as i mentioned before, cucumber extract}, reduces redness and irritation on the skin.

count me in as a fan...

tell me: have you tried or do you use the Triple Action Toner? what do you use to keep your skin clear during stressful times??

you can find Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control Triple Action Toner in drugstores and mass retailers {like Target, where i buy mine}, both in store and online. 

visit neutrogena.com for more info.

i bought this; pic taken by me :)

skincare review: Shiseido softeners to purify and moisturize

if you're a fan of Shiseido, you know the brand boasts luxurious and technologically-advanced products. keeping with this philosophy, the brand's toners are actually softening lotions, or softeners, and offer gorgeous benefits for skin.

when toners are advertised here in the states, they're typically recommended or aimed at teenagers. but the truth is, we can all use them. for clarifying and sweeping away any last traces of dirt and makeup our cleanser may have missed, toners also help prep the skin for the lotions, creams and serums that follow. Shiseido softeners also do these things, but unlike traditional toners, are hydrating and never leave skin feeling taught, rough or dry.

White Lucent Brightening Balancing Softener hydrates the skin while treating dark spots and improving the look and feel of skin. 

Pureness Balancing Softener is alcohol free, contains rosemary extract to clarify, the botanical extract, palo azul to moisturize, and is a refreshing way to keep skin clear without stripping it of moisture.

after using these for a few weeks, i'm definitely a fan. my skin looks and feels more refreshed, hydrated,  and i love that the pureness softener doesn't have that toner "sting".

visit your local Shiseido retailer {like Macy's or Sephora} to see these beauties in person and shiseido.com for more info or to purchase. 

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

review: Juara Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner

thanks to Beautyfix, i was able to try Juara Skincare's Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner, the most moisturizing toner i have ever used. this toner is unique in that it provides hydration and moisture without oil, while also soothing and leaving my skin feeling amazingly soft! if your skin needs hydration, this is perfect. if you are looking for a toner with calming benefits, this one will work for you too.

the ingredients in this toner are fabulous: tamarind provides skin with hydration, an infusion of white, green and black teas calm the skin, vitamin-rich rice bran extract minimizes redness and any signs of stress your skin may have; nourishing antioxidants fight off free radicals, and moisture-binding hyaluronic acid keeps moisture in the skin. this is one amazing skincare product, to say the least!

Juara Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner can be purchased at juaraskincare.com and visit beautyfix.com to learn more about their sampling program.

xo

review: Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Neroli Water

featured in the Beautyfix 2 kit, Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Neroli Water hydrates and refreshes skin with water and neroli, the blossom from a bitter orange tree. i love it because it can be used in so many ways: spray it on just-cleansed skin, under or over makeup, over a facial mask to keep it moist (as it it used at the Four Season's Hotel in beverly hills), on an airplane to keep skin hydrated, or as an all-over body refresher (this is especially fabulous just after stepping out of the shower).

i admit that, at first, i wasn't too crazy about the smell. it didn't have a traditional sweet smell that i expected it to have-- it was truly bittersweet. somehow that scent has grown on me, and it does really calm my mood. i am sad to find my little sample bottle almost empty!

Kerstin Florian share about Aromatherapy Neroli Water:


Kerstin Florian for Beautyfix

find Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Neroli Water at kerstinflorianusa.com

xo

my favorite drugstore beauty buys 4.17.09

happy friday all! how are things? i was going to film a trip to the drugstore, but i didn't get to it this week-- hopefully next week...

in any case, i've got some fun "green" goodies to share this week...enjoy!



Burt's Bees Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil
this new balm is fabulous because unlike the minty stuff Burt's usually makes, this is sweet. in addition, it smells good and leaves my lips feeling buttery smooth. love that!




Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara uses rice proteins to thicken lashes-- and bonus, the tube is completely recyclable! i can't find this for sale online, but you can find it at a drugstore near you.



Avalon Organics Perfecting Facial Toner with CoQ10 is formulated for all skin types, and really helps keep my oily skin balanced. it contains organic lavender, white tea and arnica-- these ingredients fight against bacteria, hydrate, restore and balance skin-- leaving my skin feeling clean without over-drying.


do you have any favorite "green" beauty goodies? share them with us in the comments!

hope you have a great weekend!

xo

review: Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic is like a refreshing sweet drink to my tired skin at the end of a long day. after cleansing (whether with Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser or not), i swab this over my face, and can't help but i love it.

this never stings or dries my skin out. rather, it feeds my skin nourishing vitamin E and hydrating organic aloe vera, calendula, cucumber and rose-scented geranium, so my skin is left feeling smooth and looking refreshed. it also smells wonderful and has become a welcome part of my beauty routine.

visit lizearle.com for more info about Instant Boost Skin Tonic .

xo

my favorite drugstore beauty buys 10.31.08

wow...the last day of october...can you believe it?

this week's beauty buys come courtesy of my memory because i don't use them anymore. i really don't know why either...i suppose i should...they are really great products!

so, on with the show....


Maybelline Pure.Makeup Shine-Free Foundation with H2O is a product i used when it first came out- a couple of years ago- and i loved it. it felt like nothing i had ever used before, and didn't cause my skin to breakout! the coverage is buildable, and it really helped my skin to stay looking fresh all day.


Alberto VO5 Hot Oil Weekly Intense Conditioning Treatment is a perfect way to deep condition your hair every week. this before shampoo treatment is something i grew up with in a sense. my mom used it, and then, as a teen, i too began to use it. i always loved the way my hair looked and felt after i was done styling...fabulous product!



Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner is the perfect product if you're tired of your skin being super dried-out after using a toner. i loved the fresh feeling it always left, and i never had the tightness or stinging that traditional toners gave. another plus as well is that because this never left me overly dry, my skin never tried to over-compensate for the lost oils- my skin looked fab!


wow...i think i need to get to the drugstore and pick these items up...i just realized how much i miss them!

have a beautiful weekend!

xo