Now a couple weeks ago I told you all that I would be attending some of the Shecky’s events that were being held in NYC.  Well I did and they were fun!  I purchased some fabulous shadows, one of a kind jewelry, and of course some skin care products.  I also received the infamous Shecky’s Goodie Bag, which came loaded with what else…  goodies!  So I wanted to share with you on this BCB Eco-Friday a brand that I came across called Noah’s Naturals.

I had never heard of Noah’s Naturals before, so when I found some of their products in my goodie bag I was super excited.  I love discovering new organic skincare!  And most importantly, I love bringing it back to share with you.  So Noah’s Naturals is a skincare, body care, and hair care line that is pretty much affordable for anyone!  You can usually find it at your local WalMart and Longs Drugs or online at drugstore.com.

They have two lines called Noah’s Naturals and Organics by Noah’s Naturals that are a family of natural and organic beauty care formulated with the highest quality of natural ingredients and essential oils.  They are certified organic and best of all they are members of 1% For The Planet meaning they donate 1% of all sales to environmental organizations worldwide.  Noah’s Naturals do not contain parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, petrolatums, propylene glycol, artificial colors, phthalates, or animal byproducts and are not tested on animals.  Their products smell good, feel good, and really work well with my tempermental skin.  I actually really, really like it!

The following are products I have tried and genuinely enjoyed:

Grapefruit Shower Gel
Hand Salve with Jojoba and Soy Wax
All Day Moisture with SPF 15 for the face
Rosemary Lip Balm
NEW Age Defying Brazilian Body Polish with Acai Berry

For more information on Noah’s Naturals and their products, visit www.noahsnaturals.com.

Until next time my beauties…  xoxo

Around this time of year, most of you probably switch up your skin care routine and incorporate more hydrating treatments and facial creams.  Well, that’s great!     Just don’t forget about the skin on your body as well.  Be sure to exfoliate more and look for ingredients like shea butter to soothe rough, dry or chapped skin.

In the early 1980’s, Olivier Baussan, Founder of L’Occitane, made his first trip to Burkina Faso and discovered shea butter.  Since then, L’Occitane has worked with a handful of local women and entrusted them with the secrets of shea butter preparation – which is why shea butter is known as “Women’s Gold.”  As a company, L’Occitane has assisted these women in building a stable future for themselves and their families.

Click here to watch a fascinating video on the production of shea butter in Africa.

L’Occitane’s Moments in Africa Soap Set is a new, limited edition holiday set that benefits not only the women and families of Burkina Faso, but also ORBIS, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting preventable blindness around the world.  100% of the proceeds are donated to ORBIS through the L’Occitane Foundation.

So take pleasure in these three hand soaps perfumed with essential oils of lemongrass, eucalyptus, and orange and enjoy the carved depictions of these special moments in African life:  The Morning Harvest, The Wedding Day, and Children at Play.  You’ll be doing a good thing not only for your skin, but for others around the world as well.

Click here to see more of L’Occitane’s Shea Butter Collection.

Until next time my beautiful people…  xoxo

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

Anti-Aging Anti-Wrinkle Eye Line Filler is a skin smoothing formula with powerful peptides that fills lines immediately and works to rebuild wrinkled areas over time.  You apply your regular eye cream and allow it to fully absorb.  Then you gently pat this line filler directly on wrinkled areas around the eye such as crows feet (or even those notorious wrinkles between your eyebrows) and watch them slowly disappear before your eyes.  It’s the perfect pick me up throughout the day.

Anti-Aging Concealer SPF 20 comes in three natural-looking shades that banish under-eye darkness, discoloration and redness anywhere on the face, and offers long lasting coverage for a flawless look.  It also keeps future damage at bay with UVA and UVB sun protection factor 20 and includes potent antioxidants and collagen enhancing ingredients.  Now as a person who cannot leave the house without concealer and SPF, this one I am super excited about!  How often do you get a concealer that not only hides your flaws, but benefits your skin concerns as well?  This is something that La Prairie has always been known for with their makeup.

Being a retail trainer for La Prairie has definitely taught me a lot about skin care and I really have them as a company to thank for where I have gotten in this industry today.  So if anyone has any other questions or interest about La Prairie as a line, please let me know!  I’d love to hear from you.    And don’t forget to check out their 3 new fragrances (Life Threads- Silver, Gold, and Platinum) that are also launching this fall as well.

Until next time dolls…  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

So who here has any nervous habits?  I know I am guilty of having a few!  Aside from biting my lips, I have a tendency to start picking at my back.  I know it’s not the most attractive habit but its something that I’ve done for as long as I can remember.  Whenever I’m faced with a stressful situation, I go right for the shoulders and upper back.  It’s physically natural to tense up in that area during times of stress, so maybe that has something to do with my habit.  But the aftermath of this gesture is not something I am too pleased about.  In fact, it ends up making the situation worse.  I end up with BACNE!

Bacne, or acne of the back, occurs when pores are clogged with skin cells and oil is unable to properly escape.  This causes an inflammation of the skin resulting in acne.  For some people, bacne can be a very frustrating and embarrassing condition.  In the past, I had tried getting back facials.  Now these treatments definitely helped to clear up my problems at the time, but I was looking for something to maintain a clear back when I didn’t have time to run to my esthetician.  I was introduced to Murad Clarifying Body Spray 4.3 oz a few years ago and still find it to be the most effective over the counter treatment for bacne.  This product contains agents that fight propionibacterium acne, the bacteria that causes acne.  It also contains Retinol and Salicylic acid, which helps to keep the pores open by gently exfoliating the buildup of dead skin cells.  By killing surface bacteria, this spray heals existing blemishes while preventing new ones from popping up.  The best part about this product is that it is made with a revolutionary 360° spray that works upside down so that you can get those hard to reach spots.

I recommend using this product daily after cleansing your skin.  It can be used up to three times a day but you should start off with using it only once a day as the product may dry out your skin with overuse.   Murad Clarifying Body Spray dries quickly, has a cooling effect, and doesn’t leave a sticky residue.  It does initially have a medicinal smell but this goes away very quickly in a matter of seconds.

This product is perfect for the summer when your skin tends to be oilier and you’re dying to get into those tank and halter tops.  Please just make sure you are following up with a moisturizer and SPF if you are going to be in the sun.  Any exfoliation of the skin leaves the skin vulnerable to those damaging UV rays.  So like I know you would anyway, please put on that SPF!

Until next time everybody…  xoxo

I’d love to share with you one of my favorite recipes from the book.  I am such a huge fan of coconut and pretty much love anything that has a tropical fragrance.  So if that’s you too, you’ll enjoy this recipe that comes from Thailand:

Tropical Body Polish

½ cup of ground rice

½ cup of coconut milk

1 tablespoon of turmeric

½ cup of fresh grated coconut

Mix ingredients together to form a thick scrub.

Using circular scrubbing motion, apply the mixture all over your body.

Rinse and follow with your favorite moisturizer.

I find this treatment especially helpful during the winter months, as my skin tends to be a little drier.  With the extra need for exfoliation, and a definite desire to want to feel like I’m somewhere other than the freezing streets of New York, I love this home recipe!

Some other great SUMMER tips that come from our South American beauties can also be found in Passport to Beauty: Secrets and Tips from Around the World for Becoming a Global Goddess.  One that I thought was quite interesting was that Brazilian beauties munch on carrots for weeks prior to hitting the beach.  They believe that because carrot juice can cause a slight yellowing of the skin, it can deepen the bronze of their tans.  But like Shalini mentions, “Too much of a good thing is just that – too much.”  Carrots do have a high content of Vitamin A, which in large amounts, can be toxic.  So what I like to do is just have a glass of carrot juice after my beach day to help maintain the color I’ve already gotten.  Its refreshing, totally healthy, and definitely safe – unless you’re allergic to carrots of course!

And I just have to throw this one in there because you know I love you…  If you’re spending a day at the beach don’t forget your SPF!!!

Until next time ladies…  xoxo

Finally, Ladies!  An answer to the infamous question of “What order do I apply my products?”  Well here is a quick breakdown on the basics of what your daily skin care regimen should be:

1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate (usually 2 times per week)
3. Mask (usually once a week)
4. Toner
5. Serum
6. Moisturizer (for face and eyes)
7. SPF (ALWAYS the last step)

Please keep in mind that this is a general scenario and you can certainly tweek it to work with the products you use.  But also keep in mind what your esthetician or skin care specialist has recommended for you.  Everybody’s skin is different and we all need our own specialized treatments.

However, one thing that is an absolute across the board is your SPF.  I cannot stress this enough and I’m sure that you will hear about it more throughout my blog, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE use an SPF of at least SPF15 every day!  Even when its gloomy outside and you would never think those sun rays are getting to you, THEY ARE!  And for those of you who think you’re safe just because you’re sitting inside all day (but under fluorescent lights), you need it too!  So be safe and just make it a part of your regimen.  Your skin will thank you 20 years from now.

And for  those of you who are curious about your Makeup Application:

1. Lip conditioner (always start with this so that your lips are already halfway luscious by the time you get to your lipstick application)
2. Concealer
3. Foundation
4. Powder
5. Blush
6. Eye shadow
7. Eyeliner
8. Mascara
9. Brow liner
10. Lip liner (if you’re not using a lip primer, use your lip liner to fill in your lips before lip gloss or lipstick application.  This will ensure that your lip color stays on longer)
11. Lip gloss or lipstick

TA-DA!  Now you’re looking fabulous!

Until next time ladies…  xoxo