Honestly, it doesn’t usually get that cold in my parts of Texas…so we get off pretty easy here. However, we do have a couple of cold fronts that take our temperatures down below freezing…and we even got some snow in unusual places this December!
Skin can really take a beating in these winter conditions…and my favorite coping cream for the hands is Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. This hand cream is rich with avocado and sesame oil – so it’s rich but not at all greasy. It also forms a protective barrier against harsh conditions while soothing and hydrating chapped hands.
I can’t remember when exactly it was…but at some point in all my internet surfing I stumbled upon esthetician extraordinaire Renée Rouleau. I started follwing her on twitter and then became a fan on facebook. I must confess I love reading her tweets, updates, and blog posts filled with great skin care advice. She clearly knows her stuff!!
I was recently visiting some family (over the holidays) in the Dallas area, and made an appointment for a facial at the Plano Renée Rouleau Skin Care Spa location. Here’s a copy of the review I posted on yelp.com –
Dallas Divas, are you falling down on the job?!?
Why are there no reviews for this fabulous skin care clinic in Plano? Renée Rouleau is (after all) listed as the best facials in Dallas by InStyle Magazine (Oct 09).
I found Renée earlier this year on twitter, and was transfixed by her down to earth beauty advice and glowing esthetics resume (including a list of notable celebrity clientele). I’ve been scheming to make a trip to Dallas for a facial ever since…I finally got my wish today.
Highlight of the visit – Renée called to personally chat with me before I was ushered back for my blissful treatment. She is extremely responsive with her facebook and twitter accounts – and she took the initiative to call for me after we’d exchanged a view brief messages. She was SO gracious and genuine!
The spa is clean, cozy, and nicely appointed. The staff is extremely welcoming and sociable. (Clearly people here like what they do and who they work for!) There was nary a trace of the Dallas snob factor I recall from when I once lived in the big D.
My esthetician was professional, friendly, easy to talk to, and knowledgeable. My facial bed was like my own personal warm cloud. Seriously, I’m an esthetician, too…this was hands down the most cozy/comfy facial bed I’ve ever been in!! My treatment (Vitamin C facial) was pleasantly relaxing and thorough. My skin felt like a dream after…12 hours later my skin STILL feels awesome.
As far as skin care products go, I’m definitely a label reader – and I like what i see on Renée’s products. I picked up a cleanser and toner duo for myself and another for my Mom. I also snagged a delicious smelling Triple Berry Smoothing Peel. All of this with NO PRESSURE from my esthetician.
Seriously, if you’re looking to give a great one of a kind gift, treating yourself, or need some serious help with your skin – this is a fabulous spot.
I will have to add reviews of the products I purchased SOON!
So, I just recently got married (to the man of my dreams) on November 29, 2009. Our wedding came off perfectly…small & intimate – without a lot of fuss or frivol.
First and foremost – big props to my wedding photographer Katherine O’Brien. She took some amazing photos. She didn’t require much prompting on my part – she just sort of intuitively knew were the good shots where and captured them.
I will have to go into detail on my whole wedding look in another post – but I wanted to rave about the MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Foundation I used. I’ve been eyeing this foundation since IMATS 2009 in Pasadena, but I only finally picked it up a few months ago. One of my makeup artist friends was raving about it and that sealed the deal for me.
As the pictures show – this makeup came off FLAWLESS in photos. It delivered an airbrushed effect. The formula is oil-free and medium to full coverage (it’s buildable). There’s no SPF – to turn your face white in flash photography. The purpose of this makeup is to even out skin, make it look flawless, and appear invisible in film/print – even in HD. I have to say – it lived up to that expectation. Spherical pigments provide a soft-focus effect that really gives skin a nice glow.
I would say it took about 2-3 pumps to build my perfect coverage – I applied using a MAC 190 Foundation Brush over the MUFE HD Microperfecting Primer in Neutral. I also set and finished with the MUFE HD Microfinish Powder. I’m not sure I’d jump to using this combo for everyday – it is beautiful in real life – it’s just a little bit of a high maintenance application. One thing to note – I think this looks best when skin texture is in great condition. I made sure to take care of my skin leading up to the my wedding – so that I would only be working to even out the color of my complexion and conceal blemishes. If I had somewhat dry or flakey skin – I’m not sure I would’ve liked this matte finish foundation.
I recently started using some SkinCeuticals products…I’d say it’s been about a month. That’s enough time to see the initial results of a skincare regime. The line’s mission “is to improve skin health. Dedicated to this purpose, we make one simple promise — provide quality products backed by science.” There is a great deal of scientific research and information (clinical trials) backing up these skin care products.
So far, I’ve used the Gentle Cleanser – A creamy cleanser with a hint of citrus fragrance for sensitive or traumatized skin. This cleanser is calming and soothing and removes makeup and impurities – great for use after various skin rejuvenation procedures (laser treatments, IPL, chemical peels). I prefer to use this cleanser at night – to take off the day & makeup. I massage a small amount over face, neck and chest – splash with water – and remove the remainder with a warm wet washcloth. I’ve also used the Simply Clean cleanser – A skin refining gel cleanser (slightly foamy) that is great for oily/combination skin. I tend to use this one in the mornings – when I need a bit of exfoliation with my cleansing. This cleanser is formulated with 5 hydroxy acids for gentle exfoliation of dead skin cells (smoothes out rough texture) – it also helps clarify the skin (prevents/heals breakouts).
In conjunction with the cleansers, I’ve used the Equalizing Toner. Optimal for combination or oily skin, Equalizing Toner helps balance, refresh, and restore the skin’s protective pH mantle while removing residue.
The SkinCeuticals line is probably best known for it’s vast array of preventative topical antioxidant serums. These serums are formulated with top ingredients that work to neutralize damaging free radicals that come from UV exposure (UV radiation is known to cause 90% of photoaging – fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation). These serums are also formulated with Vitamin C (a patented technology using L-ascorbic acid) which is required for the skin to synthesize collagen. It may take 2-3 months to observe some visible changes in the skin (diminished appearance of lines, wrinkles, and sun spots) – but improvements in the texture tone and clarity of skin are observable within a few days. I’ve tried the breakthrough Phloretin CF – a new class of preventive and corrective topical antioxidant treatment. This serum combines phloretin, vitamin C, and ferulic acid – prevents premature signs of aging and corrects existing photodamage and prevents cell mutation by shielding skin’s DNA. Clinical trial – before and after pictures of consistent use of Phloretin CF are pretty amazing.
By far, my favorite product I’ve tried is the Hydrating B5 Gel. As the name suggests – this formulation contains vitamin B5 (helps with tissue repair and to replenish nutrients) and hyaluronic acid (binds moisture to the skin). This lightweight gel gently moisturizes the skin and quickly absorbs leaving skin feeling supple and smooth. This treatment is recommended in conjunction with the antioxidant serums because it helps to boost their effectiveness.
I’ve been using the Physical UV Defense SPF 30 which is great for sensitive and easily irritated skins because it’s an all physical non-chemical sunscreen. It’s lightweight, PABA-free, oil-free, and fragrance-free.
One of my other favorites is the Retinol 0.5. This formulation contains .5% pure retinol and is enhanced with the latest stabilization and delivery technologies to provide maximum efficacy. Retinol 0.5 helps reduce appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, ages spots, blemishes, and blotchiness.
I’ve really enjoyed the science combined with elegance in all of these SkinCeuticals products. I think they are also improving the appearance of my skin. My skin is clearer and brighter. My skin is also more even (a particular patch of redness on my left cheek has almost totally disappeared). I also like that I’m using products proven to do to some preventative work as far as aging goes – I’m 34 now…and just starting to see those first few fine lines. I think the biggest proof for the efficacy of this line is all the compliments I’ve received from friends to clients on how great my skin has been looking. I’ve definitely been going more days without foundation or powder!
I hate that I’m so busy I don’t get to update much, but I wanted to share one of my newest addictions…
I was shopping in our local Natural Grocer’s, and came across the selection of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. I’ve seen these soaps here and there – even on an episode of Weed’s. So, I decided to try the Peppermint, and I looooooooooooooooooove it.
These castile soaps are formulated with: organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils. They’re delicately fragranced with pure essential oils. Dr. Bronner’s soaps are also made with certified fair trade and organic oils. They are not made with synthetic foaming agents, thickeners, or preservatives. While a look at the ingredients wouldn’t lead you to believe the soap lathers – it produces a heavenly lather. The peppermint in particular tingles, awakens, and refreshes the skin. I must confess that peppermint in one of my favorite essential oils for aromatherapy…it provides such a clarifying and invigorating fragrance.
Dr. Bronner’s has several other scents to choose from – Lavender, Almond, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Unscented Baby-Mild, Rose, and Citrus Organge.
If you need a new shower gel or liquid soap – I highly recommend it.
So, it’s about time that I updated my blog with some info and reviews on my purchases from IMATS last month!!!
I was lucky enough to have The Man accompanying me on this trip. We got a better deal coming in on Saturday and leaving on Monday. So, I missed a bit of the fun on Saturday, but all in all everything worked out pretty well. After getting checked into our hotel and snagging a quick bite to eat – we hit up the convention center so I could get a lay of the land. OH MY!! There were SOOOOOOO many people there!
One of my first stops on Saturday afternoon was the Cinema Secrets booth. I purchased a set of their new pencils (10 for $36), a big puff ($1), a small stainless steel mixing palette ($5), and some of this brush cleaner (8 oz $19) I’d read so much about. Grand total? $61.00 Really great deals overall at IMATS, but as a whole it put a hurt on my pocket-book. haha!
Honestly, I think the demonstration video speaks for itself.
BUT if you want my opinion, I’m really liking this brush cleaner.
Once upon a time, I used Trish McEvoy Brush Bath to shampoo/deep clean my brushes. I also used to wash them nearly every night (using Trish’s Brush Cleaner in between uses). What can I say? I used to work for TM for like 5 years. Anyway, at some point (probably due to laziness) I “graduated” to using Dawn dish washing liquid. It seemes like it did an acceptable job as long as you didn’t use too much. It also seemed to breakdown the creamier products like cake liner, concealer, foundation, etc. I guess it all works because I haven’t had many brushes that I’ve had to “put out to pasture”. Some of my brushes were orginally acquired in 1999, and I think I’m in the heavy use category. 95% of my brushes are just like the day I got them.
So, here’s where this new fangled Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner comes into the picture. It’s really hard to teach an old dog new tricks (especially when the old are tried and true). However, the drawbacks for my typical cleaning method are that it’s time consuming, labor intensive, and most brushes take at least over night to dry and be ready for use again. We all know how great make-up application is with a fresh clean brush! Sadly, most spray brush cleaner formulations designed to tidy brushes between uses and dry quickly simply don’t get brushes very clean.
Say, “Hello” to the answer to all our woes! Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner immediately removes ALL product from the hairs of your make-up brushes – whether it’s cream or powder. Also, small to medium sized brushes dry for re-use in almost a MINUTE. SERIOUSLY!!! THEY ARE DRY IN LIKE 60 SECONDS!!! It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. If you watch my demo video, you will see me constantly touching and feeling the bristles after cleaning…because I can’t believe they’re already almost dry. It’s like there’s relatively no down time for you to move on to the next application with a fresh and clean brush! (Hence, the cheeky music!) Larger powder and blush brushes may take a bit longer to dry but it’s still like 5 minutes tops.
This magic brush cleaning solvent has a bit of a chemical/vanilla odor. It doesn’t bother me at all, and fades quickly. My only curiosity with this product is whether or not it affects the longevity of my brushes. It seems like the product might be slightly more harsh than the old fashioned shampoo method, but I guess only time will tell! I’ll let you know in 10 years!
You can buy Cinema Secrets products online at GETYOURBEAUTY.COM. The cost for the brush cleaner is approximately $4 for 1 oz, $13 for 4oz, and $35 for 32 oz.
So, I picked up the No Foundation Foundation at Sephora a few weeks back. I actually HAD NOT encountered any of the hype regarding this product, but simply found it while browsing the Perricone product shelves. I’ve been rereading Dr. Perricone’s book – The Perricone Prescription recently (and eating lots of salmon!!). So, I was curious to look at his cosmeceutical line (again after several years).
I actually wanted to try a lightweight moisturizer with:
ALA – alpha lipoic acid – topical application arms skin with anti-oxidant protection and boosts skin’s radiance
However, I got side-tracked by the No Foundation Foundation because it contains both DMAE and ALA. Then, ADDITIONALLY this product:
provides a non-chemical SPF 30 with micronized Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide
contains Vitamin C Ester (another super anti-oxidant that boosts skin radiance/glow and smooths the skin’s surface)
contains Dimethicone and Cyclomethicone – (silicone oil and silicone derivative that are found in many popular foundation primers and give a smooth lustrous appearance to the skin)
is considered “oil-free” by FDA labeling requirements (though it does contain traces of Lemon Peel Oil, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, and Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil)
is tinted and offers translucent natural coverage (think tinted moisturizer)
WHOA! On paper, this is an all in one product dream come true!! It is a bit pricey at $50 for one ounce. Nevertheless, it had all the promise of something I would love.
After several weeks of use, I’m not sure I love this product as much as I wanted to, but I do really like it. I think the major drawback, for me, has been that it has an ever so slight heavy/tacky feeling. In my humid Texas climate (especially in the summer), this is not a feeling I want. So, I’ve actually taken to mixing a drop of my daytime moisturizer with the No Foundation Foundation. This makes the consistency JUST RIGHT; however, it kind of knocks down the precedent of being a perfect all in one item. The coverage is what you would expect from a tinted moisturizer – it’s very very natural and translucent. If I desire a bit more coverage, I can dust a little mineral makeup over it. As a side-note – I noticed in various reviews on Sephora’s web site that some people have complained about a fishy smell. I can’t say I thought the product smelled “fishy’ per se. I did notice a distinctive supplement/citrus type smell that completely dissipates after application.
Bottom line: I will keep using this until I’ve finished the product, and I might re-purchase. It’s the closest so far to my ideal all in one for day. However, I will probably keep my eyes open for the appearnce of my dream all in one product with a bit lighter consistency.
It seems like 2-3 years ago…I fell asleep on the couch with the TV on. I was awakened from a dead sleep by News 8 Austin (the local 24 hour news station) and the story of Rochelle Rae and her line of mineral makeup. I suppose my subconscious was saying “Hey! Hey! WAKE UP!!! Here is someone in your own town that has basically accomplished one of your dreams!!!”
That was my first introduction to rae® Cosmetics, and now I’ve sampled the goods! I am in full on crush mode with this product: Climate Control Mineral Tint SPF 20. A signature product for the line, it’s water based yet water (sweat and humidity!!) resistant. That makes it a great summer time “foundation” or tinted moisturizer in hot and/or humid climates. Climate Control is formulated with micro-crushed minerals, pigments, anti-oxidants, and non-chemical sunscreen (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide)…it’s also hypoallergenic, oil and talc free, and non-comedegenic. My favorite part – it beautifully evens out skin and imperfections while imparting a lovely glow…and it feels like you have NOTHING on. I like to dust a little bareMinerals® on top to finish, but that’s totally optional.
Perhaps it’s dramatic for me to say, but I say RUN…don’t walk…RUN to your nearest Whole Foods or other location that might carry the Skin Organics™ line by Ann Webb (formerly Skin by Ann Webb).
I have only dabbled with several of the products so far, but I instantly recognize that the Lavender Silk could change your skin for the better. I used it last night in combination with the Spearmint Tea – Exfoliating Cleanser (equally fabulous by the way), and who would think that something so simple would feel so great and give such great results??
You can use this gentle exfoliating powder to customize your own cleanser or use with one of the Skin Organics™ cleansers. Active ingredients include: sodium bicarbonate, lavender, cinnamon, and chlorophyll. Sodium Bicarbonate crystals (or Aluminum Oxide) are often used in microdermabrasion machines for a light abrasion of the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum) to reveal healthy younger skin cells. Lavender Silk is gentle enough to use daily on face & body. Dead skin cells are sloughed away, excess oil is absorbed, and smooth glowing skin is revealed. Bonus: ingredients are often certified organic or fair trade.
In my spa, we use Decléor products – a French skincare line that focuses on the science of aromatherapy (especially the use of essential oils in skincare). I’ve gotten totally hooked on the Aroma Pureté Matt Finish Skin Fluid. It’s a daily moisturizer that is specifically targeted to combination/oily skin. The drawback of a lot of matte finish products – they are sometimes a bit drying to those more on the combination side of the spectrum. This is not the case with Matt Finish Skin Fluid. Wow, “fluid” is exactly the right term for this moisturizer (it’s not a lotion really or cream either). The product is extremely lightweight, goes on smooth and easy, and immediately dissipates into the skin with absolutely no oily feeling. The finish is velvety, powdery, and matte. Skin feels perfectly hydrated while the fluid works to absorb excess sebum. It’s really a bit of a revolution for matte finish products. It’s non-comedegenic and contains none of those pore clogging mineral oils. It is formulated with essential oil of Ylang-Ylang, White Water Lily, Willow, Bamboo, and Lotus. If you are looking for something to wear everyday (especially with summer coming up) that will keep you hydrated and matte, you might give this one a try.
at Sephora a few weeks back. I actually HAD NOT encountered any of the hype regarding this product, but simply found it while browsing the Perricone product shelves. I’ve been rereading Dr. Perricone’s book – 
