Is there anything better than discovering a little luxury that you gleefully discover you can’t live without? The Advice Sisters have found not one, not two, but a half dozen of them! What follows is our latest review of five very different beauty products and brands that we have discovered really can’t do without. Once you read this review, we’re thinking you might not want to be without them either!
We like wipes, especially when we travel, but we don’t like adding more bulk to landfills. We also don’t like to continue spending money on throw-aways cloths and makeup removers. That’s why we love the Makeup Eraser – Chemical Free Makeup Removing Cloth ($19.97). This little beauty is so simple, and yet so fab! It’s an all-natural method of your removing makeup with just a soft, plushy, wet cloth. All you have to do to use it is wet the fabric with water. Magically (and we do mean”like magic”) the cloth easily removes all your makeup, even hard to remove products like long wearing lipstick and mascara. Eco-friendly, the Makeup Eraser isn’t one of those throw-away wipes that adds to landfills, it is completely re-useable. While it stains the cloth with makeup product you’ve removed, you can wash out a lot of it every time you use it, and then when it’s really “ikky” just put it in the washing machine. The Makeup Eraser will last 1000 washes! Another thing we like about The Makeup Eraser is that you don’t have to use any kind of harsh chemicals or makeup remover with it, so it’s perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. You can get yours in girly hot pink (or get it in black –shows makeup stains less) with a sateen edge. This is also great for travel, and if you want to take your Makeup Eraser cloth in style, get the travel bag for $6.95. We’re totally addicted! Learn more on the Makeup Eraser Web Site
The Advice Sisters are big fans of IT Cosmetics. Everything they do comes out as a high performance, great for your skin product. Even better, their products are actually available for reasonable prices. Our latest love is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Silk Airbrush Powder
You can fix your face with fillers, but large pores will give away your age, since they tend to multiply and get larger as you get older. But this new Bye Bye Pores Pressed is a compact with a bit of magic inside. It’s a new take the popular IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores. The round, matte compact with interior mirror holds the translucent finishing powder formulated to prevent shine (and visible pores) and it works!
How can a pressed powder eliminate the look of pores? The ones that sit on the top of your nose (you know which ones I’m talking about…they’re always visible) are hard to conceal. But somehow, IT Cosmetics® Bye Bye Pores® Pressed Silk Airbrush Poreless Finishing Powder (its full name) does blur the perception that there’s any flaw at all on your face. Dust it on with a fluffy powder brush (I suggest the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Wand Ball Powder #8 with a super soft head of tapered bristles) and instantly (and I do mean, instantly) your face looks more matte, more flawless, fine lines and pores, blurred. This works on bare skin or even better, after you’ve added your sun screen, moisturizers, and foundations to give your face a nearly airbrushed look.
Even better, it contains good for your skin anti aging peptides,real silk, hydrolyzed collagen, and anti oxidants along with optical blurring drops of light technology. What it doesn’t have is any Talc, Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Synthetic Fragrance or Phthalates. Take this little bit of magic along with you anywhere, since it’s a pressed powder (there’s a sponge puff in the bottom compartment of the compact, for travel). IT Cosmetics has a lot of fabulous skin nurturing and finishing products but this one really is pretty astounding. If you prefer, there’s the original, loose powder It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores HD Micro, Finishing Powder
this is the regular Mehron’s Cheek Cream/Poweder Palete $43.50
this is the limited edition Mehron CHEEK Cream & Poweder Palette
Another favorite of The Advice Sisters is Mehron. It’s a company that has been around a very long time (80+ years), providing makeup supplies to actors and actresses, performers of all types, and consumers. In celebration of their longevity in the markeplace and the 2015 Makeup Show, Mehron recently held a unique runway show at Manhattan Wardrobe highlighting fashion and makeup looks from all of the decades they’ve been in business The products are high performance and they are long lasting. Now they’re offering a limited edition CHEEK Cream/Powder 8 Color Palette ($40.oo) with colors selected from the Makeup Show’s Directory of Artistry, James Vincent and Mehron’s marketing director Stephanie Koutikas. .
In this Limited Edition CHEEK Cream/Powder 8 Color Palette you will find a pressed powder infused with a highly concentrated matte pigmentation formula developed at the Mehron research facilities that you can brush on (relatively) sheer or wear it incredibly bold and vibrant. The Cheek CREAM shades are also really highly pigmented, but they simply melt into your skin and look natural if you use a pinch, more dramatic if you apply a lot. The Cheek CREAM colors are: Tawny Pink, Bronze, Pink Coral and Red Rose, while the Cheek POWDER shades are Rosewood, Wineberry, Just Peachy and Bold Red. The intense colors can also be used as lip tints, in a pinch especially on the limited edition palette where the tones are mostly pink, peach and red E.g. “Red Rose” cream adds a very pleasing cool hot raspberry matte tint to your lips. Use a bit of lip balm and then dab a fingertip into the powder shades, dot it on, and you have a long lasting lip tint, too (wash hands immediately as these colors are long lasting). If you miss out on the limited edition palette there is always the still fabulous original Mehron Cheek Powder Palette (8 Colors)
Antonym Baked Powder Blush Rose
Looking for something really certified organic? A new favorite brand of the Advice Sisters is Antonym. The packaging is stunning, but the main reason we love Antonym is that it’sa brand that is completely Ecocert certified, cruelty-free and eco-friendly. For those who care, products certified by Ecocert ensures that ingredients are natural and also serves as quality control standard for manufacturing, packaging and storage. This line is what I’d call the top of the pyramid of “Eco-Luxe.”
Our new can’t live without is the Antonym Certified Organic Baked Powder Blush ($36.00) in Rose, the newest blush color. The first thing you’ll notice before you see the beautiful blush is the packaging: real wood with a magnetic closure and an interior mirror. It looks amazing.Antonym makeup combines the latest technology with the best ingredients, eco friendly packaging and zero tolerance for animal cruelty. The range consist of premium quality eye shadows, lipstick pencils, mascara, eye pencils, baked foundations and baked blushes. Antonym products are free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, petrochemicals or phthalates.
FYI: “baked” is an innovative baking process transforms crème into a finely textured powder. The crème is baked in terracotta pans in a process that naturally binds it into its domed shape. Swirls of color are added to each individual product before baking so these are one of a kind. The baked powder, which retains some of its thick crème properties, feels weightless, ultra smooth and silky when applied to the skin. The payoff is a easy to use, natural (but very layerable for more color) product that looks natural on everyone.
In the photo above, I have accomplished a golden glow with all Antonym products. I’m also wearing The Antonym Certified Organic Baked Foundation ($38.00) in Medium Beige, and Certified Organic Baked lush on my cheeks in Rose, plus a dusting over all of Certified Antonym Cosmetics Ecocert Certified Organic Baked Blush, Copper
Another brand that is so affordable I can’t really call it a luxury, but more of a necessity to collect their products, is e.l.f. (Eyes, Lips, Face) Cosmetics. I’m actually a big fan of this company, whose products basically are so budget minded nothing is over $15.00. I have literally traveled around the world with one of the e.l.f. palettes!
I recently attended a preview and I have individual products to recommend to you in an upcoming products feature, but I’m including two photos to give you an idea of the huge range of products that e.l.f. has to offer, and why I’m obsessed with collecting them! Check out the photo of the brand new for Fall 2015 e.l.f. eye shadow palettes ($10.00 each). The line has all the bells & whistles of a more expensive brand, but for a lot less. Once makeup is on your face, applied properly, no one can tell if the products cost you a lot or a little. Go to the official e.l.f. Cosmetics Web Site to get yours.
Lip Balms are a must-have to keep lips hydrated, but there are lip balms, and there are lip balms that are luxurious little pleasures. For examples, the quartet of newly launched Smile Lip Balms ($9.00 each) from Le Couvent Des Minimes. Colorful graphics on slant tipped squeeze tubes each have a delicate fragrance and 10% Shea Butter to nourish lips, plus gentle Marshmallow Extract to soften and Apricot Seed Oil for suppleness. Each of these lip balms features an original “heritage” formula and fragrance.There’s something just so charming about the history of Le Couvent Des Minimes. 400 years ago, a convent was built in the village of Mane in the South of France to shelter the botanist monks of the Minims, who used their considerable knowledge of plants to tend a garden of curative herbs and flowers. Centuries later, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary continued the original convention of cultivating beneficial ingredients to help strengthen and restore those in need through food recipes. This emphasis on nourishing and reparative care through nature inspired Le Couvent des Minimes’ own simple yet powerful natural care recipes, the basis of a collection of efficacious formulas that draw on the heritage and traditions of the convent of Mane. The rich, plant-based range is formulated with the highest quality botanicals, offering natural skincare solutions in lush fragrances and beautiful textures. The Smile Lip Balms pay tribute to the happiness these selfless Sisters brought. Fittingly, each lip balm is festooned with the image of an angel announcing good news, illustrating the tradition of joyful generosity.
The four new aromas include: Orange Blossom: Made with soft Orange Blossoms and five beneficial plants, this fragrance perfectly complements the Botanical Cologne of Love collection. Both floral and fruity, the scent pays homage to the devotion of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who loved and cared for those in need. You can really smell the romantic orange blossom in this one. Citrus: Inspired by the “miraculous waters” distilled in convents in the 14th century, this balm is the latest addition to the Botanical Cologne of the Minims line. Blending together eau de vie—the “water of life”—with seven beneficial plants and a trio of refreshing citrus fruits, the fragrance is light and sparkling. The citrus scent in this is very tart and uplifting. I think men will like this one the best. Apple & Pear: With the essence of ripe Apple and juicy Pear, this fragrance captures the scent of morning dew in the early light of day as part of the Botanical Cologne of the Morning line. The herbal, fruity fragrance evokes the scent of the garden at dawn for the perfect start to the day. If you love the scent of juicy pears, this one’s for you. Rose & Berries: This luminous, sparkling fragrance pays tribute to the convent’s sunbathed beds of roses joyfully tended by the Sisters. Four soothing plants and Pink Peppercorns blend with the delicate scent of roses for a light, uplifting fragrance as part of the Botanical Cologne of the Cloister line. I didn’t smell much rose, but there is a bright, fresh burst of berry that is quite lovely. You can find these lovely and luxurious lip balms on the Le Couvent Des Minimes Web Site and select products at ULTA Beauty
Exuviance Firm-NG6 Non-Acid Peel $68.00 1.7 fl. oz. by Neostrata is a true bonus for everyone, but especially those with sensitive skin for whom most peels are simply not possible. Although it features a powerful 6% concentration of NeoGlucosamine® that accelerates cell renewal while plumping the skin’s matrix to help firm and tighten skin and improve texture and tone, it works burning or rinsing, and it does it quickly. The NeoStrata Company, Inc., has a unique collection of skin care products featuring unsurpassed Polyhydroxy Bionic Acid and amino sugar technologies to meet the needs of every skin type . We’ve been impressed with other NeoStrata products, and we’re loving this one!
The first thing we like about this product is the all in one, oxygen free pump top that helps you avoid having to stick your fingers into the product, and that delivers a pre-measured dose. To sue it, simply remove the matte, silver cap, and depress the white, pump top with even pressure on both sides of opening. Smooth one to two pumps of Firm-NG6 Non-Acid Peel on clean skin in an even layer without rubbing. Lightly tap any excess into skin. Wait 5-10 minutes while the product penetrates. Once product feels absorbed, follow with an Exuviance moisturizer such as Evening Restorative Complex.
When we think of peels, we usually think of something you have to rub, wipe or literally peel off your face, but with Exuviance Firm-NG6 Non-Acid Peel you don’t even have to wash off the rest of the product, it’s a leave-on peel. – It’s gentle enough to use daily after cleansing, before applying a cream (rub gently and let the product absorb for 5-10 minutes first).
Why does it work? According to the press literature, NeoGlucosamine® , an amino sugar found naturally in skin’s own support matrix, offers similar benefits as Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) but in a non-acid form. Like AHAs, NeoGlucosamine® exfoliates skin, helps build the skin’s matrix to increase volume and reduces pigment to brighten skin. NeoGlucosamine®, Over time, NeoGlucosamine® supposedly encourages skin’s support matrix, improving elasticity and firmness, restoring a more youthful plumpness to skin. So effective, yet non-irritating, you can peel every day and leave it on for better results. Just smooth on clean skin, let it penetrate for a few minutes and follow with your favorite Exuviance moisturizer. Discover younger, smoother, firmer skin. No burn. Just benefits.It worked well for us! The Exuviance Firm-NG6 Non-Acid Peel is available at Exuviance.com, ULTA, and select prestige beauty retailers nationwide.
