Beauty Digest: Illegal Beauty

With the growing pressure to look young the popularity of plastic surgery grows every day. Plastic surgery as we all know very well, is extremely pricey. That's why many women decide to turn to underground cosmetic procedures. In the recent story (featured on cnn here) a young woman died after she received injections of a substance, supposedly sillicone, into her buttocks. The procedure cost her 1800 $ and was performed at an airport hotel by a singer known as Black Madam whom police has identified as Padge Victoria Windslowe, 41.

The number of similar insidents is growing. Women are literally dying to change their bodies to "fit" a beauty image currently popular in the society. And it seems to me there is no solution to this problem. Because first it was the pressure to be extremely skinny and people would starve themselves into oblivion. An effort was made to change the "wrong" perception of a female body in the media and as a result we have now the other extreme. Being bootilicious is sexy now and women are having illegal sillicone injections to get volumptuous forms.

Why are we forcing it? Can't we just accept ourselves for what we are and be happy?

Sources:
article about Black Madam on philly.dom
discussion about the crime on websleuths.com

Top 5: Beauty Foods

photo by afraidtomerge at flickr.com
1. Carrots are good for your skin too! Beta-carotene - found in carrots is a powerful antioxidant and will help your skin stay young longer. Some studies also show that beta-carotene can repair sun damage.

photo by infowidget at flickr.com
2. Salmon is not only delicious and is my favorite fish, it is also good for your skin as it is rich in the precious Omega-3 fatty acids. They help maintain cell membranes keeping skin healthy, hydrated and supple. According to some studies Omega 3 helps to protect skin against sun damage.

photo by rightee at flickr.com
3. Tomatoes contain high levels of Vitamin C and lycopene. Vitamin C is involved in collagen production and protects cells from free radical damage. Lycopene is an effective antioxidant which fights the free radicals that damage skin cells, interfere with cells growth and activity.

photo by fotoosvanrobin at flickr.com
4. Spinach is one of my favorites! It contains luitein. Studies show that lutein increases skin hydration, elasticity and skin lipid content.

photo by xlynx at flickr.com
5. Watermelon, be it a fruit or a plant, is not only the best treat on a hot summer day but the right way to hydrate your skin! Which is crusial to its beauty every day! Remember, hydration is absolutely necessary for the best healthiest function of the cells. According to Dr Murad eating water is much more effective than drinking water because this way fluid gets directly into the cells and is not waisted in our swollen ankles and puffy eyes! And listen to this, watermelons are 97% water!

Sources:
MSNBC
nutraingredients
medicalnewstoday
The Water Secret by Dr.Murad

Beauty Shopping: More Gold!

Check out my recent acquiry for my collection of golden makeup!



Guerlain Golden Lash from the last year holiday collection purchased at a huge discount and Isa Dora Wonder Nail Polish that attracted me by promising quick dry and strong hold!

TGIF: Excited

This sets the mood for a party!



Janet has always been an inspiration! Talented, beautiful and sexy!

Beauty Buzz: Would You Buy Beauty Products From A Vending Machine

More and more companies turn to vending machines to retail cosmetic products. BodyShop recently joint the two beauty vending pioneers- beauty retail Sephora and fragrance company Coty. Now Body Shop products are available for purchase though 20 vending machines set up in varios locations in the us in airports and shopping centers as well as in grocery stores such as Kroger Marketplace and Stop & Shop.

More and more luxury high-end products are available for purchase through the vending machines. For example, a company called Chirp is selling bags from Michael Kors, U*tique dispatches cosmetics and fancy chocolates, Retro Sport offers tees with vintage NFL logos.

All of the machines accept credit cards and not cash.

So what do you think? Progress? Or would you prefer to touch, smell, hold a product and buy from a live person?

Cosmeticsdesign
Marie Claire Jan 2011

Best of Beauty 2010

This year I have not been doing enough reviews - I admit... But I have tried and discovered for myself some outstanding products and I thought it would be a good idea to do each year a roundup of the products that I consider best in various categories. So here are my favorites for the year 2010!

Best Skincare Product 2010


This nomination is absoluteky won by Dr Denese’s Advanced Firming Facial Pads

These peeling pads with glycolic acid are absolutely amazing. They make your skin glow and look youthful even on your worst days i.e. you feel like sh** but look perfect!

Best Eye Product 2010


I still consider Guerlain's Happylogy Glowing Eye Care the best eye cream ever!

Best Hair Product 2010



Sheer Blonde: Blonde Hair Repair by John Frieda did miracles for my hair. It literally revived it, maid it look healthy, shiny and bouncy!

Best Makeup 2010


This year my heart belongs to Dior! I have been bewitched and drawn like a magnet to Dior's makeup. As a result I have now 2 gorgeous sets of eyeshadows by Dior which win Best Makeup 2010 title:

Dior's eye shadow from their summer 2010 collection Golden Spotlight 616 ads gold karats to your eyes. You can wear it alone or layer it ontop of other eyeshadow to get the effect of precious gold sparkles.



Dior All-In-One Artistry Palette 008 Smoky Design - everything you need for a vamp smoky eye is in this palette.

Best Quick Fix 2010



La Prairie Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing Brightening Eye Treatment has served me very well the whole year to conceal the tell-tale signs of sleepless nights...

Best At Home Treatment 2010



Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Instant Treatment Eye Mask
These eye pads contain retinol and moisturizing ingredients. They pamper and treat the skin around eyes. I love those!

Best Body Product 2010



Shiseido Daily Bronze Moisturizing Emulsion
This is the most naturally looking tan you can get from a jar. It gives your skin a subtle golden glow. It's a rule: I apply Shiseido Dai8ly Bronze before going to bed and get a ton of compliments in the morning from my hubby!

Best Perfume 2010



Nightshift by Harvey Prince
Magic of the night flowers captured into a bottle of perfume.

Best Natural Skin Care 2010



Last year I tried and was impressed by an amazing natural skin care line from the sunny California - Annmarie Skin Care.

Beauty Shopping: Payot Emulsion Reconciliante Soothing Care

My jar of Estee Lauder Verite moisturizer is about to run out. So yeaterday I dropped by a local beauty store intedning to buy another one but a friendly salesguy trying to be helpful pointed out some discounted products which included Payot Emulsion Reconciliante Soothing Care. And so I got it instead of Verite! It's anyway advisable to change your skin care line from time to time. I already tried the emulsion and it feels really nice! Let's see how it compares to Estee Lauder's Verite...

My New Year Beauty Resolutions for 2011

Even though after the birth of my baby boy, beauty is not my first priority, I still need to set some goals and keep it up so to say! So I was thinking about my beauty resolutions!
I did not do so well with my resolutions this year… Ok! Let’s see...
1. Get regular facials: I got a couple facials but, I sadly admit, they never became regular. On the other hand, I did become a regular customer at a beauty salon down the street dying my hair at least every month and getting manicure or pedicure every month or every other month depending on how much time I have. Trust me it is not so easy to find time for beauty procedures when you have a baby. I think why I did not get regular facials is that they are more time consuming, pricey and I had an unpleasant experience once this year (long story)
2. Start using SPF regularly… again! Check! I think I did well on that one!!!
3. Eat less sweets. I am starting to think this resolution is hopeless! Why did I even put it on the list!
4. Drink more water. Not doing so well on this one… Probably I should try to “eat water” which according to the latest information could be even more beneficial.
5. Eat less meat. Check! I did great on this one. I very rarely eat meat now and I don’t even want meat. I prefer fish which I mostly eat in the form of sushi!
6. Learn something new about Beauty... No time for learning new skills… But I did discover that at home glycolic acid based light peeling products can do wonders for my skin!
7. Try something new in Beauty Blogging. Again a miss on this one because of lack of time!

So here we go: Beauty Resolutions 2011:

1. Do regular facials: maybe I could try to find some time to do them at least at home

2. Eat healthier.

3. Drink (or "eat") more water.

4. Learn a new Beauty skill: makeup application!

5. Try something new in Beauty Blogging: Video reviews or interviews with beauty experts?

6. Organize: I need to get better organized - my makeup is in complete chaos!

Happy New Year!

Beauty Shopping: Last Year Holiday Season Limited Edition Lip Gloss by Guerlain

You won’t believe it but I came across a 50% off sale and saw this gorgeous GOLDEN Guerlain lip gloss from last year’s holiday collection! I love golden sparkle so I couldn’t pass up such an opportunity to add another jewel to my golden makeup collection… Hmmm, here is a thought, or should I say a “golden” thought! Maybe I should really start to collect makeup in golden shades and with golden accents, sparkles etc…

The Gloss is called Gold Princess and it looks gorgeous! The packaging is absolutely beautiful!

Merry Christmas

Beauty Shopping: John Frieda Sheer Blonde Collection

Inspired by what Sheer Blonde: Blonde Hair Repair Mask by John Frieda did to my damaged blonde hair I decided to get more products from the same line. So I got a Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner. It says on the package that they are "Highlight activating... with Light Enhancers". These are made for darker and lighter blonde shades. I got the lighter one "platinum and champaigne". You can choose from various I also received an anti-frizz hair oil for free.I am really wondering how much better can my hair look if I use these products alltogether. Check out the complete Sheer Blonde collection here.

In addition to the products I mentioned I got some eye masks by Talika and Shiseido. (as you can see from the photo) Both of them are so good for undereye area... one solves the issue of puffiness and the other lights up circles!!!

Beauty Tip: Eat Water

We all know how important it is to drink “8 glasses of water “ a day to keep the skin beautiful and hydrated. However according to the recent book by Dr.Howard Murad, the trick is to “eat water” not drink it. It appears if we just drink water by glasses it is quite easy for it “to escape” or get “wasted” and then we just run to the bathroom or get puffy eyes and ankles. However when we eat foods rich in water because this way the moisture will get directly into the cells and connective tissues making cells function at their highest capacity. Try eating watermelon and cucumbers that are 97% water or tomatoes and zucchini which contain 95% of water. Dr Murad promises that “you’ll feel more energized in 10 days, see plumper, brighter skin in 4 weeks, and have a leaner more hydrated body after 10 weeks.


Photo by Hypergurl

Source: Bazaar magazine, August 2010

Beauty Review: Flirty Dermastase Soap, Ageless Ultimate Anti-Aging Bar Soap, Eau Flirt Body Wash Liquid Loofah

As soon as I opened the new soaps and put them into my bathroom a heavenly smell filled the whole room and every time I would pass by, if the door was open, I would pause and take a sniff… and go Yum! It was amazing! And this intense scent lasted for a couple weeks!

So here is what I think about Harvey Prince’s new scented soaps and washing gel. First of all the soaps are just as the Harvey Prince site describes them - luxurious. The scent is just like from a bottle of perfume and it lingers on the skin. Both bars Flirty Dermastase Soap and Ageless Ultimate Anti-Aging Bar Soap have exfoliating natural particles such as Pumpkin and berry seeds which provide soft exfoliating effect. Both of them boast having moisturizing, rejuvenating and anti-aging ingredients with a special “revolutionary” Delivery System. This system takes soap bars to a completely new level as a skin care product. Now soaps not only cleanse but treat skin as well. Some of the ingredients mentioned on the company website include tri peptides, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Green tea, olive oil, Mowrah Butter. The soap give nice creamy leather and are a pleasure to use.

My only criticism would be that the bars are huge and I think if they came as the same volume of product but in smaller bars separately packaged they would feel nicer in the hand and the scent would last even longer!!


Eau Flirt Body Wash Liquid Loofah is very foamy and smooth. Creates nice leather, you can even use it to shave… It doesn’t dry out your skin and I love the scent. Actually I like Eau Flirt scent in this washing gel better than in the original perfume because it is not as concentrated.

In addition to the above mentioned new releases check out Harvey Prince’s body lotions with the scents of Ageless and Eau Flirt! I think a genius idea would be to develop a candle with the same scents. How cool would that be!!!??? Looking forward to Harvey Prince’s new creations!


FTC Product Review Disclaimer: The author of this blog received a sample product for this review.

Beauty Shopping: John Frieda Blonde Hair Repair

In desperate need of some magical treatment for my mistreated blond-dyed hair I first asked my friends to give me as a present for birthday something nutritious and conditioning and got Yves Roche Nutrition Nourishing Conditioner. I was not very happy about the results… So I started looking into other options. Here is something I just bought to try out. Sheer Blonde: Blonde Hair Repair by John Frieda. What do you think?