Best of 2012 Roundup - Body Care, Hair Care, Etc.

Hello, We already talked about my 2012 picks on skincare and makeup in the previous posts here and here.  This is the last (but not least) installment of the Best of 2012 Roundup, let's get on with it...

Body Care

It looks like soap, but it isn't!  Lush Body Butter in King of Skin is a skin conditioner that is meant to be used after cleansing on wet skin in the shower.  Be sure to keep it in a closed container or you will lose product if it is in contact with water.  It is so convenient to use, I can even skip lotion if I use this.  It is very moisturizing and nourishing.  There are five types of body butters available online at Lushusa.com.  I was informed in store that King of Skin is the most hydrating.  It smells creamy and really good!  Some of the ingredients are avocados and bananas, good enough to eat.  I highly recommend it!

Caudaline Divine Oil was my favorite all-purpose dry oil in 2012.  Read more about it here. Try it!

Hair Care 

When it comes to hair, it was year of Oribe for me!  My hair is thick, dry, and chemically treated constantly.  The Oribe products really keep my hair in tip top shape, my hair has become better conditioned and more shiny.  If you have similar hair to mine, you should consider trying Oribe Masque for Beautiful Color, a deep treatment for colored hair.  Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream is a leave-in conditioner that will tame and add shine to your hair.  Lastly, I am on my second mini bottle of Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray, still loving it!

Also, Ombre is still my favorite hair color look.  I like it because you can always tweak and customize your own look.  I am inspired by Song of Style, her hair is always beautiful...

Image via Song of Style

Etc...

Gel nails has been on my radar in the last few years, but I actually started getting gel nails in 2012.  Do I love it?  Yes and no.  I love that the polish is super shiny and it can remain chip free for two weeks, but it is very drying for the nails and can look artificial.  

From my experience when I am wearing gel polish, it helps to use cuticle oil or any emollient oil on the entire nail and skin around the nail every day.  And if you can find nail salons that use non-toxic gel polish removers instead of Acetone, that will save your nails from becoming further dried out and damaged.  If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out Nova Nail Spa.

Thanks for reading, until next post......

Gelish after one day

Gelish after two plus weeks

OPI Gel

Best of October Roundup - Cellbone Technology, Sunday Riley, Natura Bisse, Lush, Caudalie

Hello, Every year in October, I find myself switching skincare and makeup in time for the new season and in hopes to improve my skin and overall appearance before my birthday.  I admit vanity gets the best of me as my birthday approaches each year.

Let's get started with what I have been loving lately...

Skincare - Cellbone Technology, Sunday Riley, Natura Bisse

Left to right:

Cellbone Technology is a lesser known skincare line from the US.  I buy their products directly from their website.  Cellbone offers pharmaceutical quality products using pure ingredients.  Some of the core ingredients in their products include Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide 3, Idebenone, L-Ascorbic Acid, and vital nutritive botanicals.

I first learned about Cellbone from a Hong Kong blogger, BeautyQQ aka Queenie Chan, about two years ago (see one of her videos below, it is in English and Chinese with caption in English).  This line is apparently very popular in Hong Kong, a very beauty conscious country.  

I have been using various Cellbone products over the past two years and these are some products that I have been using over the past two months:

C23 High Potency C-Serum (Day)

Hydra Repair Skin Repair Gel (Day)

Super AOX Antioxidant Firm Moisturizer Cream - (Day and Night) a Must Have antiaging treatment!

Sunday Riley Start Over Active Eye Cream - (Day and Night) also mentioned here

Natura Bisse Diamond Mist - (Day and Night)

Natura Bisse Diamond Extreme - (Day and Night)

Natura Bisse Diamond Drops - (Day) 

Both Sunday Riley and Natura Bisse products are expensive, but these products are worth every penny and they do last for many months.  I have tried both lines in the past and saw changes in my skin, therefore I am not opposed to repurchasing these brands from time to time.

Makeup - Lush Emotional Brilliance in Intuitive and Perspective

I want to finish where I left off last time when I talked about Lush Emotional Brilliance.  Today I will share with you the other two colors that I acquired, Intuitive and Perspective.

Intuitive comes off as an electric neon green color for the eyes, it is surprisingly wearable and fun.  I use it all over the lid alone or sometime with a darker green color on the outer corners for depth.

Perspective is a mauve pink. It is not the most flattering pink for my lips, but it is a good one if you prefer pinks with mauve undertones.  It is a nice color for Fall if you are not into reds or the darker colors and prefer something more subtle.  I love using it as a cream blusher, it is so easy to blend out and it lasts all day.  

As I mentioned before, I like these bottles of cream colors from Lush.  They are fabulous to play with and they are available at Lush and Lushusa.com.

Body Care - Caudalie Divine Oil

What can I say?  Housed in an elegant amber colored glass bottle, Caudalie Divine Oil is simply Divine!  I use it all over from head to toe.  The main ingredients include the oils from argan, sesame, hibiscus, grape seed, and shea butter.  It is a dry oil, but it is slightly heavier than other dry oils that I have tried.  It is not greasy by any means and it is easily absorbed into the skin.  The scent is a wonderful warm floral, a perfect treat for Fall!

Thanks for reading!  Have a good weekend!  Until next post......