Sleeping Beauty

14 Dec

Some of the best beauty products are the ones that work while you are asleep.  I have fallen in love with the Fekkai Protein Rx PM Hair Strengthener($65 www.fekkai.com)!  It is a protein rich hair mask that you put on before you go to bed to help rebuild damaged hair.  I am the first to admit that I am addicted to my flat-iron and I also color my hair.  This mask not only smells divine (which is one of my top reasons for purchasing a hair product) but it makes your hair incredibly smooth and shiny!  I apply it to my hair and then put my hair in a soft braid.  This is not a typical hair mask, the cream absorbs into your hair so you don’t have to be bothered with wrapping your hair or worrying about getting any product on your bed linens.  In the morning you just rinse it out with your shampoo, for best results use 2-3 times a week.  I use the PM Strengthener in tandem with the other Protein Rx products from the Fekkai line.  The best part about the strengthener is that all the work is done while you are asleep!  It is beauty multi-tasking at its best!

Try It Before You Buy It

13 Dec

Before you make an investment on any department store beauty products, make sure you get a sample first!  All department stores will hand out samples from the brands they carry or make you a custom sample in a jar that looks like the image provided above.  Obviously they aren’t able to provide you samples of makeup such as lipgloss, lipstick, eye shadows, or powders, but if you are unhappy with a product…return it!  Once you receive the samples try them out for 3-5 days.  This will let your skin decide if the product works well with your skin type and it will also let you decide if you like the smell, color, texture and feel of the product on your skin.  I think the best thing to get samples of is liquid foundations!  Department stores do not have the best lighting so I like to get a couple of shades and try them on at home and look in natural light, then I  know if I have that “orange glow” or not.  If you get a department store or beauty counter that does not provide free samples, then do not shop with them.  Samples allow the customer to feel comfortable with the product and feel confident with a purchase.  Also, make sure the return policy on beauty products is respectable.  Beauty products should never be “final sale” items and you should  always have the option to bring it back and find a product that works for you!  Happy Shopping!

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Peel It Off!

11 Dec

I have been using this product for five years and I can’t say enough great things about it!  I have turned  more people on to this product than I can count!  The MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel is  a two-step face peel  that you can do every day and you will receive fantastic results.  I  recommend using the peel at night after you have cleansed your face with the Clarisonic, because then you can really feel the  peel sink into the skin.  Also, you don’t want to pile on makeup after doing something like this in my opinion…but do what works for you.  You take  one peel pad from the step one jar and gently seep it across the face.  I can’t emphasize gently enough!! You do not want to scrub or use excessive  pressure while using the peel pads!  You leave step one on for about two minutes and then follow with a peel pad from step two.  You do not cleanse the face  after step two!  Once step two has set on the face, you follow with your favorite serum and moisturizer.  It is very simple and easy to use!  The results you will receive from the face peel are that they will provide a smoother, brighter, clearer complexion and the long-lasting benefits are that they have anti-aging  benefits.    The product has Alpha Beta and  Hydroxy Acids as well as Retinol.  The pores on my skin reduced  in size and I don’t have enough fine  lines to honestly say they have improved, but it is all about PREVENTION!  I have a good  friend that went to work for this company directly and she is the number one advocate for these peels!  Her skin is amazing and  she has been using them for I believe almost 10 years!  The peels are gentle enough for everyday use and come in a variety of sizes to work with your budget.  They have the peels set up in the jars  from 10-60 Day Applications from $28-$128, there is the travel option where the peels are individually wrapped and the new option is the Extra Strength Daily Face Peel from 10-60 Day Applications for$35-$145.  If this is your first time using the peels I would not start with the Extra Strength right away, use the original  formula first and  work your way up, you don’t want to do too much too soon!  Please visit the Dr. Dennis Gross website  to view all the options on how to “Customize Your Peel” and take advantage of becoming a ‘Beauty VIP Member’ on his website www.dgskincare.com  I hope you all start using and enjoying the peel as much as I do!

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The Magic Wand…Every Girl Should Have One!

11 Dec

                               

First things first we must start with the basics…that means getting the surface clean!  I have been using the Clarisonic Skin Care Face & Body System (Clarisonic.com) for about a year now.  Let me tell you, this brush is AMAZING!!  I was skeptical at first that this was one of those products that was over priced and really wouldn’t do anything for me…I was wrong!  It is so easy to use…first you apply a small amount of your favorite cleanser to the brush, then you pick your favority speed setting and press start.  The brush will work for 20 seconds on your forehead, beep, then you move to your nose and chin for 20 seconds, beep, then move to the right cheek for 10 seconds, beep, then to the left cheek 10 seconds, and then it shuts off.  It is so simple and it only takes 60 seconds.  Everyone has the time to do it!  After using you will notice that the texture of your skin has improved, it helps clear blemished skin, helps improve the results of your other skin care products by 61% and it is also said to help with fine lines and wrinkles which is a war we are all fighting!  After using you will feel that your skin feels “cleaner” and that your products are penetrating the skin better.  There are three options you can choose from, the Clarisonic Mia ($119 Nordstrom.com) which is for the face only and comes with one speed and is a great travel companion! The Classic Clarisonic Skin Care System ($195 Nordstrom.com)  is for the face only but has 2 speeds.   I recommend getting the Clarisonic Face & Body System ($225 Nordstrom.com).  The body brush is wonderful!  You can put your favorite exfoliating scrub (Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Body $65 katesomerville.com) on it and it will make your legs and arms sooo smooth! The body brush apparently helps fight cellulite…that is what sold me!!  I use both the face and body brush in the shower since the Clarisonic is waterproof.  I do not use the body brush on my chest or decolletage (breast area), the skin there is very fine so I use the face brush on those areas which is what the handbook recommends.  It has an easy rechargeable dock that also acts as perfect storage.  You don’t have to use the Clarisonic face wash and body wash with the brush, you can use your favorite products.  The best part is that it comes in a wonderful assortment of colors!!  So, if you still need to send Santa your Christmas list…put the Clarisonic on it!

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The Truth about Beauty…

10 Dec

My name is Kate and I work in the corporate offices of a high-end department store.  I spend most of my lunch hours and pay checks in the beauty department or the designer shoe area of the store…please keep that a secret!  After trying hundreds of products and giving my family, friends, and fellow employees the “latest and greatest” beauty advice…I have FINALLY taken their advice and started a blog.  I have done all the hard work and spent all the money…all you have to do is take my opinion for what it’s worth and I hope you share your opinions and advice with the rest of us!  While reading you will find that I am blunt and completely honest.  You may agree or disagree with my “research” but I hope you enjoy your visit.  Thanks for reading and sharing your great beauty secrets with the rest of us!

XOXO
Kate

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