Best of September Roundup - Colbert M.D., Ellis Faas, Nature's Gate

Hello, I am smitten with everything I am about to share with you today.  These are new brands to me and they have made quite an impression.  Let's get started:

Skincare - Colbert M.D. Intensify Facial Discs

Exfoliation is a crucial step in my skincare routine.  I exfoliate by alternating between enzymatic, chemical, and manual exfoliators at least once a week, but no more than twice a week.   I discovered Colbert M.D. Intensify Facial Discs during one of my many trips to Barneys New York earlier this year.  

This at-home microdermabrasion product is an enzymatic exfoliator.  Here is what it does from the box:

There are 20 moistened textured discs housed in a glass container, so you get 20 uses from it.  I concentrate on the T-zone when I scrub with the disc.  The result is clean pores and smoother skin.  The proof is in the mirror for me.  If your skin is not ultra sensitive, you can use it up to three times a week according to instructions.  I highly recommend this one if you like enzymatic exfoliators.  Available at Barneys New York and ColberMD.com.

Makeup - Ellis Faas Glazed Lips L305

Isn't this a beautiful color?  I have been fascinated by Ellis Faas ever since I heard about her makeup line over two years ago.  Ellis Faas is a Dutch makeup artist who is known for her brilliant color range and the uber chic bullet brush pen concept.  

Ellis Faas Glazed Lips L305 is an orange brown and it is the perfect color for Fall.  It is a bit of an odd color when swatched on my hand, but it turned to be a nice and interesting neutral on the lips.  I think this color complements yellow and olive toned skin very well.  I do not have any color like it in my neutral lip color collection, that makes it special.  The non-sticky formula of Glazed Lips is sheer yet pigmented, glossy, and moisturizing.  Their eye colors are amazing as well! 

Ellis Faas is available at Space NK and EllisFaas.com.  Go check out her website, you will love all the artsy and creative looks and how to videos.

Hair Care - Nature's Gate Tea Tree Shampoo 

This is an accidental discovery while shopping for a new shampoo for Mr. Rola.  For the most part, we share shampoos so I have to keep both of us in mind while shopping for a new shampoo.  

I was surprised to find Nature's Gate Tea Tree Shampoo at Safeway because it is a natural brand.  It looks like Safeway is stocking more natural brands as of late.  This shampoo has been such a blessing for my sensitive scalp, it deep cleanses and soothes my scalp.  My scalp has become highly sensitive due to hair coloring and straightening over the years.  Even if you do not have sensitive scalp, it is a must to use a clarifying shampoo weekly to cleanse the buildup in your hair.  This one is gentle for everyday use.

A look at the ingredients:

Thank you so much for reading!  Have a great weekend!  

Until next post......

Best of October Roundup - Skin Care, Makeup, Body Care, and Fragrance

Hello, Ladies, it is that time again.  In the month of October, I started using many new products and old products alike.  My favorites for the month are products that I have been using for at least one month or longer.  Let's get started:

Skin Care

Most of us are always on the go.  If you have three minutes in your day and you want a quickie cream mask, Super by Dr. Nicholas Perricone Ginger Gingerols 3-Minute Facial is a great one to try.  I am sure many of you are familiar with the Perricone MD products, the Super line is described on the Sephora website as: 


"...a nourishing collection of formulas for your face and body. Infused with phytonutrients derived from some of the most powerful superfoods and formulated with advanced patented sciences, SUPER allows your skin to indulge in nature's most nutritional bounty."


The Super line appeals to me more than the Perricone MD line because the ingredients are more natural and the price points are more affordable.  I have used this product after a long busy day or before a special occasion, it always gives my face a fresh radiant look after three minutes.  I have left it on longer and it is absolutely fine.  There is a tingling sensation when I put on the product, it is tolerable and lasts for a few minutes.  I believe this product delivers the results I look for in a quickie mask, it hydrates and adds radiance to my skin as if I had a mini facial.  This is fabulous and I will re-purchase it.  I would like to try the other skincare products in the line too.


Makeup

I used Maybelline Master Drama By Eyestudio Cream Pencil in 400 Midnight Master everyday in October and this is my review here.  This is my current favorite drugstore eyeliner.  My only gripe with it is that it does not give you a lot of product because I managed to finish it in a month.  Other pencil eyeliners seem to last a lot longer for me.


Body Care


I have tried many body scrubs in the past and Melvita Extra-Soft Body Scrub is one of the best out there.  It is a natural sugar scrub made with essential oils, see the website for the full listing of ingredients.  The texture resembles jelly with very fine sugar particles for manual exfoliation.  It is very gentle on the skin.  The scent is citrus.  I like that it comes in a tube because I can squeeze out the exact amount I want to use.  I highly recommend this body scrub.

Note:  There are no personal photos of this product because my tube is almost used up and does not look appealing.  I did not think the photos would come out very good.

via Melvita USA website

Fragrance

Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne in the middle

I like rose fragrances.  Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne is the cleanest and freshest rose fragrance that I have ever tried.  It is composed of seven roses from around the globe.  I love wearing it alone or layer other Jo Malone colognes with it.  I reached for it a lot in the warm weather in October, it is very light and never over powering.  I get mesmerized by this scent every time I spray it, it makes me feel beautiful and feminine.


Recently I picked up this set of five Jo Malone miniatures at Nordstrom and it contains Grapefruit, Pomegranate Noir, Wild Bluebell, Red Roses, and Vanilla and Anise.   I mainly wanted to try out the new Wild Bluebell, Pomegranate Noir, and Vanilla and Anise.  And I can take a few of these with me when I travel.  Check it out.


Thanks for reading.  Until next post......

First Aid Beauty and Natura Bisse Products Review - Pad and Scrub Exfoliators

Hello, Exfoliation is an important step in my skincare regimen.  I have tried and tested many scrubs and peels in the past and many were too harsh for my sensitive skin.  For the last two months, I have been using two products that I have been loving and my skin can tolerate these products extremely well.  These two products are First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads and Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Scrub.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads - They are pre-moistened pads that contain lactic acid and glycolic acid, along with a host of other natural ingredients.  The FAB pads are free of preservatives, alcohol, colorants, harsh chemicals, and fragrance.  It can be found at your local Sephora store.  I love it because it is very gentle and not drying.  It leaves my skin clearer and  moisturized at the same time with aloe juice and hyaluronic acid.  According to the instructions on the package, it is gentle enough for daily use.  However, I do not recommend exfoliating every day, over exfoliating can damage the layers of the skin.  Always use good judgement on how often to exfoliate based on your own skin's condition.

The pads have a textured side and a smooth side

Natura Bisse C+C Vitamin Scrub - I received the 1 oz. sample of this product in a gift with purchase at Space NK in Bloomingdale's.  If you have sensitive skin and prefer a scrub for exfoliation, give this a try.  It is a fine granule gel scrub made with silica powder that is very gentle for delicate skin.  After using the scrub, my skin felt very smooth and looked brighter.  Other ingredients include orange extract and rose mosqueta seeds.  The scent reminds me of an orange popsicle, it is very citrusy and fresh.  I would consider purchasing the full size product when I finish the sample.

One more mention on another FAB product, it is the Detox Eye Roller.  It is an eye roller with product that is meant to alleviate under eye puffiness and dark circles.  I am not sure if it does all that it claims, though I love the cooling effect when I roll the ball around my eye area. It is a refreshing treatment for tired eyes.  The active ingredients include caffeine and peptides and this product is also free of preservatives, alcohol, colorants, harsh chemicals, and fragrance.  If you look very closely at the actual product, you will find tiny sparkling particles of mica.  The sparkles are very subtle when the product is rolled on the skin.

Until next post......