Best of 2011 Roundup - Skin Care, Body Care, Hair Care

Hello, 2011 was a great year with many great products in the market.  Yours truly has tried and tested many good products and some not so good.  Here is a quick run down of the Best Products of 2011 based on my own trial and error, I would consider re-purchasing all of these products in the future:

Skin Care

From left to right:

1)  Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover - I use this to remove stubborn waterproof eye makeup and it is not irritating to my sensitive eyes
2)  Aveda Green Science Perfecting Cleanser - This cleanser contains argan oil which is very nourishing to the skin.  It removes makeup and dirt quite well, yet it is gentle on my dry skin.  It never leaves my skin tight and dry
3)  Andalou Naturals Blossom & Leaf Toning Refresher - This is a newer brand that I discovered at Whole Foods Market.  I was intrigued by the Fruit Stem Cell Science behind the products.  This toner is hydrating and refreshing at the same time.  I really like the fresh herbal scent
4)  Sponge Ladi Avokanto - This is my current night treatment made of avocado and olive oil.  See more information from my previous post here
5)  Aveda Green Science Firming Eye Creme - I have some dry fine lines forming around my eyes.  I can feel the firming action around my eyes when I put this one, it is really moisturizing at the same time.  It is the perfect eye cream under makeup or on its own

Body Care

From left to right:

1)  80 Acres Verde Olive Oil Body Balm - I have written about this body balm in two separate posts.  Can you tell it is my favorite body balm?
2)  MJ's Herbals Lavender E Salve - This is another balm good for dry hands, burns, cuts, scars, headache and stress relieve, etc.. It is an all purpose natural potion

Hair Care

From top to bottom:

1)  Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum - I have very thick and dry hair.  Even for my hair, a little of this product goes a long way.  I use this on damp or dry hair.  It seals and adds shine to my hair
2)  Living Proof Restore Mask Treatment - After seeing the introduction of this product on the Dr. Oz's show, I had to try it.  It is a wonderful hair treatment that I use twice a week, it repairs, tames, and softens my damaged hair like no other

3)  Hot Tools Tempest 2000 Salon Turbo Ionic Dryer - Lastly, I was getting tired with the cheap drugstore hair dryers that keep breaking on me every couple of months.  I decided to splurge and invest in a more powerful and better quality hair dryer.  This dryer is a good one for under $100, it is worth the money.  There are more expensive hair dryers out there, but I am not a professional hair stylist and can't justified spending more than $100 for a hair dryer.  This one comes with the standard attachments and it is easy to use. The biggest benefit for me is that it dries my thick hair in less time compared to other dryers that I have tried.  Low EMFs is another plus

Have you tried any of these products?  I would love to hear what you think about them.  Stay tuned for another Best of 2011 post coming up soon!  Until next post......

New Skincare For The New Year - Sponge Skincare

Hello, Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!  It has been a busy one for me with family from out of town and overseas, hosting a holiday party, and shopping, etc...I am sure you can relate.  But I am back with a skincare post that I have been wanting to write for several weeks now.


Sponge is a skincare line from Greece. I first discovered it after receiving a couple of samples from Barneys New York and used them during my recent vacation.  My skin was exposed to extreme cold and dry weather while I was traveling and the products did wonders for my tired and dehydrated skin.  The line was originally created by a doctor who offered these products to his pregnant patients.  Here is more on what the Sponge's website says about its ingredients and standards:


Sponge uses only the finest organic and wild-crafted ingredients which are naturally extracted by boiling the plants, herbs and flowers to particular temperatures and times based upon the maturity and the region in Greece it was grown to retain the highest amount of nutrients and vitamins. It is a slow process but it is also very pure to help ensure that your skin will ultimately benefit.


The highest sustainable growing standards are upheld where our plants, herbs and flowers are nurtured and harvested. We have also developed a method of testing products for safety and efficacy that is cruelty-free, which has been accepted by the Dermatological Society of Europe.

I have been using Sponge Illuminating Cream for daytime and Sponge Ladi Avokanto for nighttime.  All of the Sponge creams are chemical free, hand blended, and they all have an olive oil base.  The illuminating cream has a blend of mango, gold, and pearl as its key ingredients.  The mango scent smells amazing, almost good enough to eat.  The cream has a subtle sheen that helps brighten the skin for daytime.  It is light, but it is very moisturizing. 


Sponge Ladi Avokanto is their star product.  They call it a serum, but it is really an anti-aging facial oil made of avocado and olive oils as the main ingredients.  This is the first Sponge product that I tried and I was really impressed.  I am obsessed with facial oils and this one fits the bill for me this winter.  This is a luxurious night treatment that I look forward to using every night.  When I need an extra boost of moisture on some days, I would layer Ladi Avokanto and illuminating cream during the day.  It makes my skin look so plump and fresh when I layer the two products together. 

Thanks to Sponge, these products have really saved my dry skin this winter.  Both products come in a glass bottle with a pump.  Sponge is available at Barneys New York  or its website.  


Happy New Year to you all!  Stay safe.  I wanted to share with you Chanel Wishes 2012!  This segment has fabulous graphics with one of our favorite logos!