blushers

Blushers are one of those items that it is very easy to overdo and look like you are part-timing it as a birthday clown. The purpose of blush is to make your cheeks look healthy and like you are slightly blushing.
According to Bill Nye- the Science Guy....
When you're caught ashamed or in an awkward position, your body releases a bit of adrenaline. Your heart rate goes up. You breathe faster. And often, blood vessels that deliver blood to your face dilate--they open up or relax a little. More blood than usual flows to the skin of your face, and your face darkens or turns noticeably red.

There is a new blusher by Smashbox that is only available at Sephora for the time being.

It is intuitive and reacts with your skin's chemistry to turn cheeks the exact color that you blush...believe it or not...it actually works. I tried a sample and it really turned my cheeks the color I blush. It is clear gel and it is hard to believe that a clear gel could do this, but it happens in around 10-15 seconds.

It was a little rosy for my liking, but if it is toned down with a powder like:
Bare Escentuals Mineral veil
http://www.bareescentuals.com/
This sheer powder is amazing for a final step in your regimen. It has a rosy glow to it but is not shiny.
I also find Cle De Peau's Transparent Face Powder http://www.cledepeau-beaute.com/html/make_item_bm11.htm
also does the trick. Cle De Peau is the high end Shiseido line and is wonderful for you skin.

If you like stick blushers, Nars is a great line.
The Multiple
http://www.narscosmetics.com/acb/stores/1/The-Multiple-C43_category_7.aspx
is a blusher, eye creme and lipstick all in one. It comes in very natural colors and blends on eyes, cheeks, and lips very easily.

Another really good line of stick blushers is Body and Soul
http://www.bodyandsoul.com/
Their cream blush sticks give you a dewy look. The best colors for all skin types are Impulse and Mystic.

Stila Color Push Ups are almost transparent, but they deliver even color. The shades are very light and this product makes it look like you were just outside....very natural and dewy.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P42962&categoryId=C12181&shouldPaginate=true

DuWop Blush Therapy is another great stick blush. It is creamy yet transparent and blends easily. The shades look a little dark when you see them, but they are almost sheer. Elixir is my favorite. I use them on my lips too.
http://shop.duwop.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=71
If you are unfamiliar with DuWop, browse their site...they have the most delicious smelling creams and lip venom.

Another creme blush is made by BECCA. This line was created by an Australian Makeup artist, Rebecca Morrice Williams. The creme blush comes in very juicy colors that remind one of strawberries.
It is available at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdor's for the time.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=5717

Pout makes a product called "Cheek to Cheek" and it has two shades which can be combined or used alone.
http://www.pout.co.uk/cheek_to_cheek.php
They are very creamy and blend very well. They give a sheer shimmer to any cheeks! Also work on lips.

I am a big fan of Laura Mercier cosmetics. All I need is the tinted moisturized most days with some lipstick. Her Creme Blush is unbelievable.
http://www.lauramercier.com/products/colour/cheeks/cheek_colour/creme_cheek/
The colors are so natural that this products is the closest to a dewy fresh face that one can get. Many of the other products come in many corals and reds which I would not wear. The Praline color looks great on any skin color. Another great Laura Mercier product is the Body Souffle for real dry skin.....smells too good, you just might try and eat it :)


If you liked Benefit lip and cheek stain and were able to get it to go on just right, then Lorac cheek stamp is your kind of product. It has a stamp like on an ink pad that you stamp your cheeks. The blush is a very powdery consistency. I found it involved a separate sponge to blend or my fingers. If you blended with the stamp then there is too much color. I really like the colors available, especially the "golden glow".
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P172735&categoryId=C12180

Other products like the cheek stamp are Philosophy- The Supernatural Airbrush Blush and Laura Geller- Cheek Sweeps, Dior- DiorShow Powder, Sephora- Piiink my Pretty Blush, Pop Beauty Pop up Blush,

Another line that has really good blushers is Too Faced. They have some great bronzer/blush combo's. The Snow Bunny and Caribbean in a Compact.
http://www.toofaced.com/category.asp?cat_id=2
They do not look like a fake tan and you can use the blush portion by itself. I have used it on my eyes too.
Too Faced is a great line famous for their Lip Injection!

Well, hope you learned some new blushers...I found that a fan brush is great for powders blushers. I never use the brushes that come with the product. They are always way too small...I also combine a sheer powder with powder blush to even out the tone. With the creme products, don't be scared to use them on your eyes and cheeks....some of the "gel" blushes don't blend that well on eyelids, but they all can be used for triple duty.

During fashion week, the look seems to be all about the rosy glow again. Last spring and summer it was about the shiny glow...they shine is gone this season and natural, rosy cheeks are what was being shown. The more natural the blush and rosiness is what you should try and achieve. Also remember that the rosy healthy glow is great for day-time, but glam it up a little for night :)
Love
Bonnie

Rosa Mosqueta - what is it???? What does it do???

I have been using this Rosa Mosqueta oil by Natura Bisse before I put on the diamond cream. My friend has been using it on her legs in the cold dry air. What is it? What does it do??????
Rosa Mosqueta- Rose Hip Oil
Rosehip oil also contains natural Tretinoin, a derivative of Retinol (Vitamin A), which replenishes and helps rebuild skin tissue. The oil has a naturally occuring preservative in the form of anti-oxidant tocopherols (Vitamin E), helping to maintain shelf-life.

Rosehip oil is highly effective in the treatment of premature ageing, producing a dramatic effect on fine lines and wrinkles in just a short period of use.

Rosehip oil helps to reduce pigmentation and raised scar tissue, even on non-recent scars, and can be used to treat skin damaged, marked or scarred by:

* Surgery
* Minor burns
* Stretch marks
* Acne
* Sun exposure

So far I notice that my rosacea is not as red and that skin color is evening out. This could also be due to the fact that I am also using Natura Bisse Glyco-peel 25%/.
http://www.naturabisse.es/detalle_producto.php?idm=ENG&idp=3&sup=0&ps=1&par[idprod]=154

Also got a sample from Luckyscent.com of Sel de Vetiver.
http://luckyscent.com/shop/detail.asp?itemid=25313§ion=1
This scent is part of the new breed of "smoky" fragrances. Dzongkha, Ambra de Venezia and Sel De Vetiver are the top three. I have ordered the Ambra de Venezia so I can't comment on that and I own and have commented on Dzongkha. Sel de Vetiver smells like the salty ocean on a summer day. It has the vetiver smell along with smoke and salt. It is not sweet smelling at all. It makes your mouth pucker at first but the salty smell lingers....I will definitely order the full size!

This is all for today.....more exciting products tomorrow :)

Cleaning out the soap...

The thermometer hit 60 degrees today and already my allergies are thinking it is spring. Get out the zyrtec quick!!!!
Recently realized how much I love the lotion my friend Michelle gave me for Hanukkah. It is by a company caled Olivina. They are available at Beauty Habit - http://www.beautyhabit.com/olivina.html and In the Bathroom http://store.inthebathroom.com/olnava.html
I have the body butter, which is so rich and creamy. All the products are made from Olive and Grapeseed oils. The result is a product that is rich and melts right into your skin. The scent is very woody and olive-ish. It smells neutral enough that a man would even like it. I have also tried the body scrub, which also leaves your skin very soft and moisturized.

I have been cleaning out the products in my bathroom in order to make way for a new shower so I have been putting things into 2 categories. 1 is the items I can't live without and 2 is the items that I will go through again and probably toss. In the "can't live without" pile I have several soaps which merit being lauded.
the first is Seda France Classic Toile milled Soaps. Like most people the shower gels are easier and not as hard to store, but there is something very comforting about a good bar of soap. I am partial to the french milled soaps and this is one of my favorites.
http://www.sedafrance.com/collection/classic-toile/soaps/index.shtml The French Tulip and Japanese Quince are my two favorites. Seda France also makes candles too!

Roger & Gallet is also amazing and readily available in many stores. http://www.roger-gallet.com/ In albuquerque it is available at A and in Santa Fe I have seen them at Wink and Design Warehouse. They are the classic French soap that make great gifts as well as luscious soaps for your own use, All of the perfumes they use are not too overpowering. They have recently launched a line that is called "naturale" that uses more natural, organic ingredients.

The last one that needs to be mentioned is Pre de Provence. These soaps remind me of the ones I make. They are cute sizes that fit in your hand. Many of the typical French soaps are very awkward and large.
http://www.bonsavon.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=soap&Category_Code=0310
The Lavendar and Verbena guest soaps will wake you up with their scents and keep your skin soft and clean.

The final soap that I will mention unfortunately I do not know the name of......The Grand Hyatt in Amman Jordan had the most amazing Olive soap that I have ever used. It was so good we took several bars. The hotel had an explosion several weeks after and probably i will never return to the hotel with the best soap.

I decided on several soaps to keep along with my Philosphy peppermint body wash. I also am keeping the Ahava Mineral Body Gel http://www.ahavaus.com/site/bath_and_hair_showergel.html
If you have not used the Ahava products, they are really good. They are made in Israel and incorporate minerals from the dead sea. The scubs and lotions are especially good. I find that living in a dry climate, the body lotions are especialy moisturizing. If I had to choose two products from Ahava for the first time user, I would choose the Mineral body gel and the hand lotion.

Well, hope you learned a little about soaps.....
Bonnie