TheMakeupGirl

Get This: Prescriptives All You Need+ For Eyes...

I love a good eye cream.  I've been using them since I was 18 and I honestly believe they are a contributing factor to the lack of lines around my eyes.  This latest edition from Prescriptives is one of the new hybrid gel-cream formulas that is great for people that don't like anything that feels super heavy around the eyes.  It also is awesome at helping ot get rid of the puffies around your eyes.

Fight the first signs of aging, dark circles and eye puffiness with Prescriptives All You Need+ For Eyes, a luxurious new eye gel-cream that delivers all the benefits skin needs to stay looking healthy, hydrated and radiant for a full 24 hours. A combination of vitamins, plant extracts and time-released ingredients work together to help the eye area look younger, fresher and more rested.

Key benefits:
- Helps reduce the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, lines and wrinkles
- Provides 24-hour moisture to delicate eye area
- Helps improve skin texture and radiance
- Antioxidant protection

Non-acnegenic. Fragrance-free. Ophthalmologist/Dermatologist tested. 0.5 oz.

Available now at all Prescriptives counters nationwide, www.prescriptives.com and Holt Renfew in Canada. SRP: $29.50 U.S./$38.50 Canada.

Stay Pretty!!

Take Good Care: Bobbi Brown's Winter Skincare Essentials...

Is winter doing a number on your skin?  It is to mine, between hormonal breakouts on my chin (I pray I am going through "the change" soon) and wacky schizophrenic east coast weather, my skin is dare I say....confused at the moment.

I just took home a few of these Bobbi Brown Winter Essentials to try and get my skin back on track.  My favorite so far is the Intensive Skin Supplement, a serum with white birch (think tightening darlings), and grape extract (for brightening...which I so desperately need).  I also grabbed the Buffing Grains and started mixing it with my cleanser to make my own custom foaming exfoliator.  As you know, my feeling is the best makeup look is perfect skin...without that you can't go wrong.  I would much prefer people to say they love my skin more than they do my makeup.

Skin Pretty...

Pricey Creams: Chanel Sublimage Texture Supreme Essential Regenerating Cream...

Okay....I have never been shy about admitting my lust for expensive skincare.  I do like a mix of high and low but sometimes to me the high is the only thing that does it.  Trust me in certain instances, you most definitely get what you pay for and this is one of those times.  Now Chanel Sublimage is an entire line, so there is an eye cream (which i adore...), a serum and the cream.

The first time I tried Chanel Sublimage Texture Supreme Essential Regenerating Cream, I was at Fashion Week in NY and I had pilfered a few samples from my friends at the Chanel counter at Bendels.  Well those samples with sparse dabs here and there, I was able to make those samples last 6 weeks.  Month one I started to notice a difference in my skin, it was looking more dewy and dare I say radiant. Week 3 I noticed that my skin was actually feeling firmer AND the small dry patches dissipated. By the end of 6 weeks, I was done and ready to sell my soul to the house of Chanel.

Bear in mind, this is a rich cream (described as cashmere-like texture), so if your skin is on the oily side I would try her lighter weight sister, Chanel Sublimage Texture Universelle Essential Regenerating Cream which will be on counters January 2009.

If you are on the fence, do what I did and go to EVERY Chanel counter you can and get a sample, stretch it out and see if you can make it last for 6-8 weeks.  Do your own comparison so you can decide if it's really somthing you want to do.  To me, skincare and how your skin looks is the most important thing (more important than makeup).  So I feel like whatever you buy, is an investment in how you look, I'm not saying you NEED to spend buckets of money to do that, but sometimes there is just no substitute.

Stay Pretty!!

Green Christmas: Suki Revitalizing Essentials Kit...

Looking to switch your skin care to something greener??  I would suggest giving Suki a try...they have this great Skin Revitalizing Essentials Kit for $30 that is easy on the wallet, the environment and your epidermis.

The Rundown:

• Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser
• Velvet Moisturizing Cream
• Sensitive Cleansing Bar

I am loving ALL of the products but I do have a word of caution concerning the Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser.  Since these products are organinc and not made with a lot of fillers and preservatives the shelf life is much shorter.  SO make CERTAIN that you CLOSE THE JAR TIGHTLY after use.  If not it will dry out on you (it happened to me and I was very sad.)

Stay Pretty!!

Get This: Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O

Looking for a little extra care for your skin when the weather turns colder?  How about serious anti-aging benefits?  Look no further because I have discovered Shu Uemura Cleansing Beauty Oil Premium A/O.  This little beauty is a "cleansing oil" but don't let that word scare you because there is nothing oily feeling about it.  To use, just pump a little into your hands and rub all over your face, add water to emulsify and you get a little bit of lather!  Rinse with warm water an you are done!  Because it is an "oil" you can use it to remove your waterproof makeup/mascara!  So I take a cotton pad and sweep that across my eyes to get the mascara off.  The warm water wil get everything else - a multi-tasking dream!!

This particuar version is an anti-aging and anti-oxidant skin purifier that gets skin squeaky clean while protecting it against the internal and external aggressions associated with aging. It contains Green Tea Extract, known worldwide for its anti-oxidant properties and leaves skin smooth and protected without drying it out. HUGE plus that it removes waterproof makeup INCLUDING mascara!  You all know how much I love a good multi-tasker.  What could be better than not having to buy eye makeup remover? How great is that??

There are several variations of the Cleansing Oil available, so you can find one that suits your skincare needs.  The cleansing oils are available in 150mL and 450mL sizes at Nordstrom stores and on ShuUemura.com

Clean Pretty!!

Get This: Suki Intensive Complexion Brightening Cream...

Hello chicas!! I am SO excited to tell you about a skin care line that I discovered when I was in New York for Fashion Week this past September.  Suki is a line that is 100% organic and they have done their homework!  I love how it smells but more importantly how it makes my skin FEEL.  One product that stands out from the line for me is the Intensive Complexion Brightening Cream. 

When I test skin care, I usually like to give it at least 3 weeks to really see if there are indeed results.  With this product I noticed results the SAME DAY.  Let me explain...The weather here in DC has been strange to say the least.  80 degrees one day and 43 the next, so my skin which is usually normal to dry has been all over the place.  Last week, I noticed some extra dry patches on my cheeks (which I never get), so I exfoliated...that made it worse.  So I am digging through my stuff trying to find something gentle and hopefully as natural as possible as to not aggravate the area even more.  I came across the Suki brightening cream, why not I figure....can't get any worse.  I applied it all over my face concentrating on my little patches.  The cream (which is really more like a lotion/serum) was very light and smelled great.  Later in the day (I applied it at 9am) I felt my face and was so shocked I had to run to the mirror.  Please believe me when I tell you, within 4 HOURS the redness was gone and the dry patches were softened, so I kept using it.  Within two days the dry patches were gone COMPLETELY.  I am certain that has to do with the chamomile and calendula which are known for their soothing properties, but what blew me away was how fast it happened.  I have NEVER found anything that I can put on my skin for a true "skin issue" that works on the same day EVER.

So  I have a few more items to test from this line and I will try and get that done ASAP.  If you have any skin issues (dry patches, sun damaged & uneven skin tone, discoloration, rosacea) guve this a try, I PROMISE you won't be sorry.  I also used it under my eyes as it is super gentle.

Suki products are available exclusively at Henri Bendel in New York but you can search for a retail store here as they are also carried at many natural foods markets across the country.  You can also purchase directly from their website at Sukipure.com.

Stay Pretty!!

Think Pink: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion...

Remember this bottle??  I think it may have been one of the first facial moisturizers that I ever used. Either Mom or Nana got it in  GWP from the department store (one would get the GWP and then tell the other so we always ended up with two of everything...which was great for me and my sister!  LOL).  It was light and effective and just perfect for little 12 year old me.

For Breast Cancer Awareness month, Clinique has made a special, limited-edition bottle of its best-selling Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. The extra-large sized bottle comes with a collectible Clinique and Pink Ribbon key chain (so cute!!)

To do their part, Clinique will donate $10 for every bottle sold during the month of October to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation....FAB!!

Available in the jumbo 6.7 oz size at major department stores and Clinique.com.

Give Pretty!!

Travel Approved Beauty...

It's been a while since I have done one of these (frankly because I haven't been going anywhere all that regularly!)  But since I am leaving for BlogWorld in Vegas this afternoon, I thought it appropriate.  I am going to represent the company I work for (as Julia would say, the job that pays the beauty bills),  Voxant in their booth so if you happen to be going to the convention....please stop by the booth and say hi!

These days, there are restrictions, resctictions, and more restrictions.  What can you bring, what can't you bring??  Do I have to check my bag, how big can the bag be...and what about those plastic baggies??  Blah...blah...blah.  Well here is the simplfied version:

1. You can't bring a bag on the plane unless it is a pilot's case (under 22") and it weighs less than 40 lbs....
2. You need those plastic baggies.  End of story.

I found yesterday at Target a nice travel toilitries bag that had a regulation size zipped bag inside which is great if you already have travel size things.  But what if you don't??   

Never fear...PLENTY of companies make your favorite face wash in travel size (which for your information is 3 oz or less).  I always emd up packing my makeup bag because I fear that someone will throw it all away! (don't laugh...I've seen it happen!!) even though I have been told it's not like that anymore I refuse to believe!  My rule is, if the container is more than 3 oz, pack it and check the bag.

Here are a few of my favorite travel approved skin care kits.  Perfect for travel or your gym bag...

Boscia Normal to Dry Travel Kit This comes in an oily version as well, Boscia is a great simple no frills skincare line that airs on the soothing side.  No crazy ingredients AND my favorite oil blotting linens are also included.

Bliss Face Value Kit If you love Bliss, then grab this kit.  Everythng you need (even a mask!) all housed in a regulation size plastic bag.

Anthony Logistics for Men - Grab and Go Kit Can't for get my men out there!!  This one is great for men (very good skincare line and it comes inside a regulation size baggie.

Travel Pretty!!

For Him: Clarisonic Skincare Brush in Gray...

STOP THE PRESSES!  I do love my Pink Clarisonic Skincare Brush...I really do.  It supports Breast Cancer Research, it really gets my skin super clean, it looks pretty on my bathroom counter and I use it everyday.  Something that you should really know about me though is I am one of those girly-girl converts.  I was always was into beauty and skincare but girly dressing, not so much.  I went through most of high school and part of my adult life in clunky men's style shoes and tuxedo pants (I still slip every now and again LOL).  I was clunky shoe girl...LOL.  In the early 90's,  it was clunky shoes, tuxedo pants and a bustier... blame it on MTV.    So a part of me still loves comfortable men's style shoes and everything black (or charcoal....) I covet the skincare brush that is marketed to men...there I said it!!

That being said, the Clarisonic Skincare Brush in Gray (it's a dark charcoal that warms my little clunky shoe girl heart!) is like gold to me.  I won't be getting this, because why would I need two??  I want it though...LOL.  This would be a perfect gift for the man in your life, Or dudes, step up to the plate and grab this gizmo for yourself.  I know several men that have been using the good old white one for a while for a couple of reasons.  It exfoliates your skin so you will get a better shave, your skin gets impossibly clean and it looks cool sitting on your bathroom counter. 

Clarisonic Gray is available at Sephora and retails for $195.

Scrub Handsome...

Skin Saver: Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask...

As regular readers know, I am a HUGE proponent of skin care, and taking care of your skin.  If your skin isn't as flawless and pretty as can be any makeup you put on it won't matter.  That being said, there have been huge advances in the skincare world as our skin problems have compounded.  With the addition of the fleeting ozone layer and our inability to stay out of the sun, it has become necessary to take certain measures for making our skin look brighter. Clarins is one of the skin care giants that is stepping up to the bat.  I used to work for them back in the day and honestly, it i one of the best department store lines I have used.  I love that European philosophy of using plant extracts...plus it smells great!

So a few weeks ago, I got a few items from the Bright Plus HP line to try out.  The one that stood out to me the most was the  the Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask.  This is honestly one of the best products they have introduced this year.  Sold in a box of 8 individual application tubes, this white cream is lightweight and creamy feeling.  I definitely got more than one use out of the tube for sure and I managed to scare my son in the process (bonus...LOL).  This mask is great for age spots, hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, too much sun, or skin that just feels dull.

I tested t out on a Saturday after I did my weekend hair washing and body scrubbing.  I left the mask on for the recommended 10 minutes (it was kinda tingly!!) and when I rinsed it off my skin really looked brighter, I was like really???  I have a few darker spots on my face that were significantly lighter and my skin felt fresher.  This mask is an all in one brightener and moisturizer that I think is an excellent addition to your skincare repertoire.

Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask retails for $28 (which a total steal considering you get more than one use out of each tube) at major department stores nationwide.

Mask Pretty!!