For those of you that are new to the brand Philosophy, this is the perfect starter set for you.  It is an effective skincare line and comes at a completely affordable price.  This set includes Philosophy’s best-selling skincare products all designed to promote radiantly clear and smooth skin.  And coming in fairly large sizes, The Miracle Worker will last long enough for you to see real results.  I highly recommend it to those of you looking to try a new line but don’t want to spend a ton on purchasing an entire skincare regimen.

The Miracle Worker contains:

• 8 oz Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser
• 8 oz The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash
• 2 oz Hope In A Jar
• 0.5 oz Hope In a Tube
• 1 oz The Microdelivery Peel Crystals
• 1 oz The Microdelivery Peel Gel

Do any of you use Philosophy products?  I’m a huge fan of their body care line and especially their holiday sets. Check out my previous post on another Philosophy holiday gift set I’m definitely picking up!    And head over to Sephora.com to see more from their holiday collections.

Until next time girls and boys…  xoxo

Glowelle is the ultimate beauty drink that helps fight signs of aging by nourishing the skin from the inside out.  It is a dietary supplement that contains high antioxidant nutrients, botanicals and fruit extracts and is made with all natural ingredients with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.  It comes in two different forms (liquid and powder) and has been clinically tested with amazing results.  The clinical studies have shown that Glowelle:

• helps to protect the skin by helping to reduce some of the skin effects induced by moderate sun exposure
• increases antioxidant activity in the body, which may help slow down skin aging
• helps even skin tone, contributing to younger-looking skin

Now I’ve never been the one to stay on top of taking my daily supplements (especially when they come in pill form).  But not only does Glowelle contribute to a healthy and natural glow by providing the supplements my body and skin needs, it tastes really good as well!  It comes in two different flavors, Natural Raspberry Jasmine and Natural Pomegranate Lychee (my fav), and only counts for 100 calories in the ready to drink bottles and 50 calories in the on-the-go stick packs.  I’ve been using the on-the-go stick packs and absolutely love what I’m seeing.  It’s only been a week so far and I can already see a difference in my skin.  My skin feels smoother and I feel healthier!  How much more could I ask for?

So being the little scientist that I am, I had to do more research and see what exactly is in this wonderful concoction.  Here is what I found out:

• Apple Extracts- rich in polyphenols which is a powerful antioxidant
• Beta-Carotene- the precursor to Vitamin A which is key to fighting free radicals
• Cocoa Extract- a natural source of polyphenols which help to improve the skin’s texture and moisture level
• Coenzyme Q10- a natural antioxidant of the skin which works with Vitamin E to reinforce the skin’s natural protective antioxidant barrier against environmental danger
• Goji Berry Extract- a well-being botanical traditional to Chinese medicine that is packed with beneficial antioxidants
• Grape Seed Extract- a natural source of polyphenols that neutralize the destructive free radicals created by sun exposure
• Green and White Tea Extract- containing polyphenols called catechins which may keep the skin from becoming inflamed after exposure to the sun, increase the survival of skin cells, protect the skin’s structural integrity, and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Lutein- a carotenoid antioxidant which decreases some of the harmful effects of free radicals
• Lycopene- another antioxidant carotenoid that is effective against singlet oxygen- a particularly pernicious type of free radical
• Maritime Pine Bark Extract- a natural source of antioxidant polyphenols which supports a healthy response to skin redness
• Pomegranate Extract- being one of the foods with the highest antioxidant levels on the planet, it provides powerful protection against free radicals
• Quercetin- a type of polyphenol that may inhibit the enzyme that degrades collagen, protect skin cells against free radicals formed from sun exposure, and even out skin tone
• Selenium- essential trace mineral that is a key component to one of the body’s primary antioxidant enzymes
• Vitamin C- essential nutrient for the production of collagen and a potent antioxidant that regenerates Vitamin E
• Vitamin E with Mixed Tocopherols- another essential nutrient that protects the skin’s moisture barrier and a powerful antioxidant that shields free radicals

Wow!  Jam-packed with all those goods, Glowelle definitely has a promising product.  I know I’m impressed!    Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

Until next time ladies…  xoxo

*clinical study and ingredient information provided by www.glowelle.com

Last week I mentioned how much I love La Prairie’s products and how if I could afford the entire line, I would!  What I didn’t mention was how much more my boyfriend actually enjoys the line as well!  He will probably kill me for mentioning this (haha), but its true.  La Prairie is just as male friendly as any other line.  I mean yes, it may come in very pretty packaging, but the efficacy of their products works across both genders.

My boyfriend’s favorite line from La Prairie is the Radiance Collection.  Well just last month, La Prairie came out with The Radiance Premiere Collection, Limited Edition.  It is an introductory collection of travel-size items that allows you to experience the luxury of La Prairie at a fraction of the cost.  Included in this set:

• Cellular Radiance Concentrate Pure Gold
• Cellular Radiance Cream
• Cellular Radiance Eye Cream

Now the exciting news I received last week is that La Prairie is also making The Skin Caviar Premiere Collection (the line that made La Prairie world famous), which will be available in stores next month and The Anti-Aging Premiere Collection (my absolute favorite line from La Prairie) coming out in January 2010.  It looks like I’ve found the perfect stocking stuffers for this upcoming holiday season!    So if you’ve ever been interested in testing out the luxury of La Prairie, I highly recommend picking up one of these collections.  I promise you will never want to experience anything less.

Until next time my loves…  xoxo

Many skin care companies are coming out with lines specifically geared towards sensitive skin, which is great news.  It can be difficult finding the right treatment choices when dealing with sensitive skin.  However, just because a product line claims to be for sensitive skin, I always recommend doing a test patch first.  It’s better safe than sorry when dealing with a condition like this.  The primary goal for treatment of sensitive skin is to calm and cool the skin while increasing the skin’s ability to create a barrier from the environment.  When purchasing a product, stay on the lookout for ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, allantoin, azulene, and licorice extracts which help to calm and soothe the skin.

One skin care line that I’ve always been a true fan of is Origins.  Origins teamed up with Dr. Andrew Weil, the foremost authority on integrative health, and developed a collection of sensitive skin treatments that optimize the skin’s defenses while targeting a wide array of skin concerns.  Made of a potent blend of health-promoting plants and herbs, this line has shown to be a promising treatment for those with sensitive skin.  The entire line includes:

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Face Serum

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Face Cleanser

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Face Cream

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Treatment Lotion

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Eye Serum

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Face Lotion

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Eye Makeup Remover Pads with Therapeutic Benefits

Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins™ Conditioning Lip Balm with Turmeric

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Body Cream

Plantidote™ Mega-Mushroom Skin-Calming Face Mask

In addition to being a great line, Origins still holds true to their Recycling Program taking any empty beauty container (Origins or not) and recycling them for you.  Dr. Weil has also promised to donate all profits from his line of products with Origins to the Weil Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting integrative medicine through training, education and research. And as if this couldn’t get any better, Origins is offering a free Skincare Set with any skincare order until October 3^rd on Origins.com.  With four different sets targeting aging, brightening, firming, or repairing you get deluxe samples of a cleanser, serum, and Origins popular Modern Friction gentle dermabrasion.  How great is that?

So to all my sensitive skinned beauties, I feel your pain but stay positive.  There are so many promising products out there! 

Until next time everyone…  xoxo

A PhotoFacial is an anti-aging treatment that reduces hyperpigmentation, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles through a form of intense pulsed light that safely penetrates all levels of the skin.  It results in a more youthful appearance and normally requires little to no downtime.  Most PhotoFacial treatments start at $1500 for a series and are usually offered at medi-spas.  Now I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t have that much money growing off my money tree.  So when Kinerase came out with PhotoFacials Sun Damage Reversal System Introductory Kit, an at home treatment for $100, I was super excited.

Kinerase PhotoFacials Sun Damage Reversal System Introductory Kit is an at-home system that features three products that reverse the signs of sun damage in as little as four weeks.  The set contains an Exfoliating Cleanser (to be used AM and PM), a Day Moisturizer with SPF 50 (yippee!), and a Night Moisturizer.  Instead of using intense pulsed light, these products are packed with active ingredients that replicate the benefits of an in-office procedure.  This system is truly worth every penny is the perfect way to reverse the damages of summers past.  Just keep in mind that everybody will experience different results.  The more damage you have, the more drastic the results will be.

Until next time guys…  xoxo

Well Dr. Dennis Gross, a renowned New York dermatologist, has created that product.  MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel 30 Day Supply does not actually peel the skin but instead provides a gentle, “microscopic” exfoliation that is safe enough to use every day.  This two-step process combines five Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids at low concentrations to give a more gentle but effective treatment.  In addition to the exfoliating acids in the treatment are green tea extract, genistein (a firming ingredient derived from soy), and retinol.  All of these help yield an improved and luminous look.  These little pads that come as a treatment in Step 1 and a neutralizer in Step 2 literally take only two minutes of your day but give you a smoother, firmer, more even complexion over time.  And it all can go down in your very own home!

Check out this podcast by Dr. Gross himself speaking on the Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel.

I myself have tried this product and fell in love with it from the very first application.  The treatment comes in either a 30- or 60-day supply.  It is so simple to use and the results I saw were instant.  My skin felt like porcelain!  I was amazed.  Not only did my skin instantly feel smooth, but my skin tone evened out over time as well.  The product yielded such great results with my own skin, that I decided to investigate more of the MD Skincare line.

So yesterday we talked about my battle with bacne.  Well guess what?  Not only does Dr. Gross make the Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, but he also makes one for the body.  It is with MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Body Peel that I was able to overcome the hyperpigmentation that resulted from my horrible habit of picking at my back.  Not only did my dark spots fade, but the texture of my back smoothed out as well.  I am a true fan of Dr. Gross’ products and I highly recommend you trying some of them out as well!

Until next time ladies…  xoxo