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 :)

spring beauty: new Neroli & Orchid Collection + LE Fragrance Boosting Cream from L’Occitane

 set for launch on april 16th, 2014, L’Occitane has a fabulous new collection, Neroli & Orchid, featuring a limited edition Fragrance Boosting Cream.

from this collection, i have had the amazing opportunity to pamper my senses with 2 products.

first, let me tell you, beauties, the new Neroli & Orchidee eau de toilette smells gorgeous ~ i'm in love with it! infused with notes i already find appealing {orange, mandarin and peach; neroli, orchid and iris}, the scent is so unique. it manages to smell just-sweet-enough fresh and flowery, yet has a warmness to it that is not at all heavy feeling. the overall effect is so intriguing. it's simply a perfect blend of feminine, light and airy ~ a fabulous way to smell in the spring, i would say!

the other product i received to test out was the Fragrance Booster Cream. an innovative, moisturizing body cream. this gem somehow works to enhance your fragrance on the body, then locks it in for added aroma and longevity; it's a perfect match for any L'Occitane fragrance you may want to wear, but is a beautiful compliment to the Neroli & Orchidee.

other products in the Neroli & Orchid collection that also include a shower gel, perfumed soap, body milk and scented candle.

when you get the chance, please do check out this new fragrance collection!

p.s: L'Occitane suggests this fragrance layering technique to ensure your scent stays put day to night:

step 1: wash with the Shower Gel or Perfumed Soap

step 2: nourish skin with the hydrating Body Milk

step 3: apply the Fragrance Booster Cream

step 4: spritz on the Eau de Toilette

any of these products could make a great gift for yourself or anyone in your life that is a fan of floral-fruit scents. visit loccitane.com for more info!

products featured sent to me for review consideration; all opinions and thoughts are my own; pics taken by me :)

beauty review: jane iredale Hydrating Spray

let's face it {excuse the bad pun, LOL}, hydration is essential for keeping skin healthy and looking its best. when skin looks good, makeup looks better, and when makeup looks better, we feel better…

do you see where i'm going with this? 

skincare is important! :)

that said, i'm excited. and it's all because of this beauty from Jane Iredale…

 POMMISST Hydration Spray

beauties, me and my skin are quite enamored.

the jane iredale brand boasts being "the skin care makeup", and this is truly the case {stay tuned for more product reviews!}. this one product is a gorgeous, multi-tasker. there are three sprays in the Hydration collection, and it's been about 4 weeks since i was given the opportunity to test out POMMISST; as previously mentioned, i love it!

with pomegranate extract, white tea leaf extract and rosemary leaf extract {all organic}, POMMISST does what it says it will: hydrate. it also conditions and is fabulous for all skin types.

the multi-tasking element comes in because all three Hydration Sprays can be used to set makeup, refresh skin any time of day, be sprayed on to makeup brushes to moisten them for creating different textures and depth of color {instead of water} and is just great overall for keeping skin in balance.

i find the scent of POMMISST to be beautiful {slightly sweet and citrusy}. it's such a treat to spray on my skin each morning, before i apply my moisturizer, after i'm done with my makeup, and each night just before i go to bed {ok, i may or may not mist my face at other points of the day, but these are the most frequent…*wink}.

the other two sprays include:

Balance Antioxidant Hydration Spray 
this one is formulated specifically to help balance oil production and pH. orange essential oil, orange peel extract, grapefruit peel extract and algae extract calm and feed the skin.

 D2O Hydration Spray
sets minerals, helps to hydrate and plump the skin cells. it contains chamomile as a key ingredient to calm and protect the skin. features a ylang ylang fragrance.

so, what more can i say? as a newbie to the jane iredale brand, i am very impressed with POMMISST and can only imagine how fabulous the other two Hydration sprays are.

find out more for yourself at janeiredale.com!

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 :)

beauty review: Carol's Daughter Lavender & Vanilla Collection

the first week of april has come and gone...

i feel like every day goes by so much faster than the last, and they really must be when my 12-almost-13-year-old daughter agrees {isn't every day supposed to feel like an eternity when you're a kid??}...

in any case, the fast-moving days are quite enjoyable, especially since i've been given the opportunity to pamper myself with the new Carol's Daughter Lavender & Vanilla Collection.

three products are in this lush collection...

 Body Cleansing Scrub ~ a sugar-based formula that sloughs away dead skin and leaves skin uber soft.

 Shea Souffle ~ ooh, lala! this fabulous moisturizer is so rich, but not heavy or greasy in the least.

Dry Oil Mist ~ gives an extra layer of moisture and fragrance, works perfectly anytime of day.

not only do these products leave my skin feeling incredible soft {not to mention looking pretty and glow}, but also gorgeously scented. the combination of jasmine, vanilla and lavender is invigorating yet relaxing. this would-be-overpowering-if-not-done-the-right-way combination of scents comes off so sheer and luxe at the same time.

Lisa Price, founder of Carol's Daughter says, "i've always loved the way lavender makes me feel calm, and i happen to have a not-so-secret love affair with vanilla. cool and warm. fresh and exotic. all at the same time."

it's so true! she's created another winning combination. plus, like the entire range of Carol's Daughter we know and love, the Lavender & Vanilla collection are free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, and artificial colors.

have you tried the new Lavender & Vanilla collection? if not, you really should! it makes each day, no matter how fast it goes by, even more special...

discover more at carolsdaughter.com

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

Valentine's Day Beauty: Soft Lips

whether or not to plan to kiss someone on valentine's day, having soft lips is always a must-have in my book. check out three of my personal faves for getting and keeping lips kiss-ready...




Motives by Loren Ridinger Lip Pumice-- to get rid of those dry, chapped lips, start with exfoliation. this little goodie contains pumice pebbles to gently exfoliate lips and comes in the form of a lipstick, so it's not super messy.




Pur~lisse Pur~Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher-- once lips are properly exfoliated, moisturizing them is key. perfect for applying anytime of day, this fabulous lip conditioner contains mango and shea butters as well as vitamin E to hydrate and pamper lips.




CG Continuous Color Lipsticks in Golden Apricot and Rose Quartz

to add a bit of color without sacrificing a newly smooth pout, i love CoverGirl's Continuous Color Lipsticks. not only does the range have a really good selection of colors to choose from, but the lipstick themselves are uber-moisturizing.


tell me: what are your favorite lips products for keeping your lips feeling and looking smooth?

xo
products featured sent to me by their respected brands for consideration of review.

Get Your Skin Ready for Summer with Soft & Beautiful SKIN

summer is thisclose, so it's time to get ready to bare your best accessory-- your skin! to get it hydrated, smooth and looking its best, Soft & Beautiful SKIN has some products that you may want to check out. since your skin has probably been hidden for months under sweaters and coats, not to mention its been exposed to harsh environmental conditions, it needs intensive hydration and gentle exfoliation. every Soft & Beautiful SKIN formula is dermatologist tested and designed for all skin types to moisturize, nurture, and soften.

these Soft & Beautiful Skin essentials are formulated to keep it soft, smooth, and supple:

Soft & Beautiful SKIN MoistureSoft Exfoliating Body Polish – formulated with sugar crystals and sunflower oil, this luxurious polish gently exfoliates skin while providing hydration and softening skin.

Soft & Beautiful SKIN MoistureSoft Body Oil Gel– created with aloe and olive oil, this quick absorbing formula penetrates skin’s surface without the mess of an ordinary oil.

Soft & Beautiful SKIN MoistureSoft Hand Cream- blended with cocoa, shea, and almond butters, this luxurious cream soothes dry hands and leaves skin feeling supple and refreshed.

stay tuned as i will be bringing you an in-depth review of these products in the coming weeks! until then, visit softandbeautiful.com for more info and visit drugstore.com or your local drugstore to purchase.

xo

Beauty Girl TV: AHAVA Enriched Intensive Foot Cream

the weather is warming up, and that means showing off my feet even more (remember-- i live in cali)! to get and keep them looking great in my summer sandals, i have been using Ahava Enriched Intensive Foot Cream, and i love it!

watch the video for my review...




find Ahava Enriched Intensive Foot Cream at ahavaus.com

xo

green beauty: Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter

on a recent trip to Sephora, i discovered a new "green" product to add to my hair product collection: Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair Butter. i knew as soon as i tried a little bit in my hair that i had to take some home with me-- with no hesitation, the jar went in my basket!

this amazing product contains fabulous hair-friendly ingredients like essential oils of lavender and rosemary; it softens hair, minimizes breakage, and conditions with nourishing shea butter, almond oil, and cocoa butter. it's suitable for all hair types looking to add moisture or prevent damage, and also great as a little moisture pick up for the skin-- i always rub any excess left on my hands into my skin after using it, and it soaks it up.

Healthy Hair Butter is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, so you can be happy knowing you're being a little bit more green, and of course your thirsty hair will love you for using it!

find Healthy Hair Butter at sephora.com

xo

my favorite drugstore beauty buys 3.27.09

this week flew by! did it do the same for you? wow...if things keep going like this for me, it will be 2010 before i know it...yowza!

this week's beauty buys, i have just realized, are all moisturizing. i didn't even plan it to be that way-- funy, huh?-- but here they are. enjoy...




Neutrogena Moistureshine Lipgloss comes in an excellent selection of glitterless colors that make my lips feel like butter. i love that these lippies aren't overly pigmented, but still leaves a good amount of color on my lips. the formula is soft and uber-moisturizing-- love these!



Dove Cool Moisture Body Wash is scented with refreshing cucumber (ahh) and is oh so lovely to use, especially when the weather warms up, because the scent is so light and airy-- it just helps keep my mind off of the heat, if only for a short amount of time- ha! it moisturizes well, too, and leaves behind its yummy scent on my skin...ahhhh



Sunsilk Hydra TLC Conditioner is one product that shocked me when i first tried it. mainly because i wasn't expecting too much. i don't know why-- i should know better!-- but i just didn't think it would be all that great. well, i was proven (way) wrong, and i tell you: this stuff is amazing!it leaves my thirsty hair feeling silky smooth and manageable. my hair loves this conditioner (and the shampoo is great, too).


have a great weekend!

xo