Category Archives: Product Reviews

Classic with a Twist!

Review: Maybelline New York, Great Lash Limited Edition Collection, $6.40 at mass retailers nationwide.

I (like almost every makeup artist and model I’ve worked with) love Maybelline Great Lash! The narrow wand makes it a cinch to apply this clump-free formula plus it conditions, colors, thickens and washes off easily. And now there’s six more reasons to love Great Lash! For the month of August only, Maybelline has launched 6 new limited edition bold shades in the same classic formula everyone loves, “Green with Envy”, “I See Blue”, “So Very Berry”, “Teal Appeal”, “Vision in Violet” and “Wink of Pink”.

To make colored mascara work for you, choose the color that best complements your eyes: purple hues work best for those with green or brown eyes, blue mascara is ideal for those with brown or blue eyes and green mascara plays up hazel eyes. For major impact, opt for the teal or pink.

3 Ways to wear it:

  1. Wear it on top and bottom lashes with neutral-toned eyeshadow.
  2. Try it layered over black mascara on the tips of lashes only.
  3. Apply black mascara on the top lashes and coat the lower lashes with your colorful mascara.

Giveaway: 10 Lucky Readers Will Win Asap Super B Complex!!!

Product Review: ASAP Super B Complex, $89 at SkinStore.com.

For the past few weeks I’ve been using Asap Super B Complex, a hydrating serum containing a high concentration of Niacinamide and other B Vitamins known to boost hydration, give you a more even-toned complexion, reduce redness and even strengthen your skin’s outer protective barrier. It’s great for everyone but ideal if you have dry, sensitive or rosacea prone skin like I do. I’ve been applying one pump of this silky smooth serum twice a day–in the morning on bare, cleansed skin and in the evening with my retinol product (for extra anti-aging benefits). My complexion is softer, smoother and more moisturized with a healthy and radiant glow. You’ll love it!

Get Lucky & Win it!

Asap Skin Products is giving away their Super B Complex to 10 lucky thebeautywall.com readers. Don’t miss out!

To enter:

  1. You must be a subscriber to this blog, thebeautywall.com to win. If you’re not already one, simply enter your e-mail address on the home page and click the aqua subscribe button.
  2. Leave a comment for this story with your name and e-mail address so I can contact you for details if you win. ***Earn an additional entry by forwarding this post to a friend or sharing it on your facebook wall. Let me know you’ve done that in your comment.
  3. Ten (10) winners will be randomly selected by end of day Sunday, 8/11/13 and notified via e-mail.

GOOD LUCK! xoxoNancy

 

 

Eye Cream Extraordinaire

Product Review: Replere by Dr. Debbie Palmer Renew & Firm Eye Serum, $98 at www.replere.com.

The good thing about being a beauty writer is I get to test a lot of products. Unfortunately, that’s also the bad thing about being a beauty writer because when I love a product I’m not so eager to move on in my search for the next great thing. That’s what happened to me with Replere by Dr. Debbie Palmer Renew & Firm Eye Serum.

A few weeks ago Replere’s publicist asked me to give Renew & Firm a try. I’ve been using it religiously for over a month now and it totally exceeded my expectations! My dark circles have really faded and  my under eye area actually appears tighter and brighter. I’m not so quick to put on my under-eye concealer in the morning.

Dr. Debbie Palmer’s entire skincare line is antioxidant focused and free of parabens (chemical preservatives), fragrances and dyes, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Renew & Firm contains hyaluronic acid and olive oil to hydrate plus super-powerful antioxidants including vitamins A, C & E, the berry of the coffee plant, green tea, goji and acai berries and grapeseed and works best when layered under a hydrating eye cream. The $98 cost might seem high but a little goes a long way–it lasts you 3 months.

(photography courtesy of Chadwick)

Mother’s Little Helper

Product Review: Arbonne Energy Fizz Sticks, $32 for 20 sticks at arbonne.com.

A good night’s sleep, a healthy diet and some exercise is a great prescription for feeling good throughout the day. But, sometimes no matter what I do, a mid-afternoon fog descends on me and all I really want to do is take a nap. Since I don’t live in Spain where siestas are the norm and I’m not qualified for the senior rate at the movie theater those naps will have to wait.

I was discussing this conundrum with a friend when she opened her bag and handed over some Arbonne Energy Fizz Sticks for me to try. She told me to give them a shot and see what I think.

The next time that fog hit I emptied the pomegranate packet into a glass and filled it up with ice cold water.  It fizzed a bit and then I drank it down. It has a sweet taste with a slight aftertaste, though not unpleasant. I do like the flavor but what I liked even more was that within minutes I felt more alert and energized without feeling wired the way coffee or chocolate can sometimes make me feel. It definitely got me over the hump.

The company’s website states “high-energy fizz sticks help promote alertness and enhance cognitive performance and also help promote endurance and enhance motor performance. Contains antioxidants. Contains an adaptogenic blend combined with B vitamins and chromium to help boost energy.”

Works for me!

 

 

(photography courtesy of arbonne)

 

 

 

The Bar Scene

Product Review: Lather Vanilla Bean & Shea Soap, $8, available at lather.com.

My name is Nancy and I’m an addict…addicted to soap that is. I’ve yet to meet a bar that didn’t make me want to put it right up to my nose and sniff it. Or immediately rush home, rip off my clothes and step into the shower with it. Over the years, I’m sure I’ve had well over a thousand bars of soap in my stash, some used to freshen drawers and closets, some used as party favors, and of course the majority used to shower and bathe. I just can’t help myself and really, do I need to?

Lately I’d been eyeing one sitting near the top of the pile. Lather Vanilla Bean & Shea Soap is said to work well for all skin types, but is ideal for normal to dry skin thanks to an olive oil base with added shea butter to soothe and soften.  It also contains organic vanilla bean powder to gently exfoliate skin as well as vanilla and lemon essential oils for a warm, happy scent.

Lather Vanilla Bean & Shea Soap  is even better than I expected! After wetting it under the warm spray, it lathered nicely and smelled delicious, but what really got my attention was the vanilla bean powder which you could actually feel–it was grainy to the touch. I rubbed it all over my body, being gentle on the more sensitive areas and using a more vigorous approach on others.

This soap smells amazing and my skin feels fresh, clean, soft, smooth and moisturized. I highly recommend it! Treat yourself, help the world! For every olive oil soap sold, LATHER with donate the equivalent of five bars of soap to Clean The World, a non-profit organization that recycles and distributes soap around the world to people in need.

 

 

The End of Frizz!

Product Review: Arrojo Defrizz Serum, $16 at www.arrojonyc.com

Last night, my in-laws (and 80 of their closest friends) celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at Shanghai Jazz, a gourmet Asian restaurant/bar named one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world. The food, music and planned festivities were absolutely perfect. The weather…not so much!

I had been looking forward to this evening for quite a while. I had my outfit picked out well before the invite arrived, a black silk dress paired with a beautiful baroque pearl bracelet, a gift from my mom. I’d planned on wearing my hair down so I wouldn’t look too formal but the rainy, misty, sticky weather had me worried. I normally straighten my wavy hair–some might call it curly–and in high humidity it tends to get big…very, very big!

I decided to take a chance. This was the perfect opportunity to think of my blog and try a de-frizzer–luckily, I have an arsenal of beauty products just waiting to be tested. Front and center on the bottle of Arrojo Defrizz Serum it says “eliminates frizz, controls flyaways and eases excess volume”–just the words I was looking for! But, would it actually work in weather this extreme?

After shampooing and conditioning, I towel-dried my hair and applied 4-5 drops to my palms before working it through every strand. I blow-dried it smooth and loosely braided it for about 10 minutes for some bend at the ends.

The air was thick with mist and drizzle, so I stepped outside with an umbrella to keep my hair from getting wet. So far, so good. My husband drove with the window half open, humidity filling the car. Still it held. In the restaurant the doors were open for good air-flow to accommodate the large crowd. No problem!

The attached photo is me at the end of the evening, after lots of schmoozing and bumping shoulders and dancing. Normally, under these circumtances my hair would have doubled (or tripled!) in volume. Not once did I feel the need to pull it back into a ponytail to tame it. Arrojo Defrizz Serum is a star!

If you have straight, smooth hair that never changes regardless of the weather, you won’t understand…and you won’t need this product. But if your hair tends to increase in size or frizz with any excess moisture in the air, you will find it life-changing!

Arrojo Defrizz Serum, $16 at www.arrojonyc.com.

Something to Blush About…

Product Review: Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush in In Bloom, $24 at www.sephora.com.

I love that extra boost of energy I feel after a good workout. It gets my blood pumping and brings a healthy-looking glow to my complexion that lasts for hours!

Thanks to a little blush, that glow is easy to mimic. The perfect shade for you is the color your cheeks naturally turn when you’re blushing or exercising. To do, smile and apply blush to the apples with a fluffy brush if it’s powder or dotted on if it’s cream or gel. Gently blend up into the hairline and down and out for instant and natural-looking radiance!

I tried Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush and was more than pleasantly surprised. In Bloom is a pink shade that adds just the right amount of color to my skin. It actually looks a lot brighter in the packaging but is absolutely perfect when applied. With its cool, built-in grinder a little twist gives you freshly ground, mess-free color–the perfect amount every time.

(photo courtesy of Orange County Bride Magazine)

3Floz.com. Because size matters!

You don’t have to be a world traveler to appreciate 3Floz.com. This online shop for those-in-the-know features luxury beauty products exclusively in travel-friendly sizes (3 oz. or less) but it’s also perfect for those looking to try something new without spending a lot of cash…a great way to find a new favorite before splurging on the full size!

3Floz.com  carries over 50 luxe brands, including Fekkai, Phyto and Murad, sized right for a hassle-free baggage check and priced right for minimum commitment. Browse through their curated selection encompassing everything from face and hair care to body lotions, treatment products, products for kids and men and even aromatherapy. Cherry-pick whatever catches your eye or go for the themed kits and best-sellers.

Coming this Fall 2013, 3Floz.com will be in select US airport terminals, carrying the same products available on on their e-commerce site.

photo courtesy of 3floz.com

About Face: How to Look your Best at any Age

If you’re one of the lucky ones you get the opportunity to grow old. And if you’re one of the wise ones you choose to grow old gracefully. I find that growing old gracefully has everything to do with attitude and very little to do with looks. It’s about embracing life and living it to the fullest no matter where you are number-wise. Growing older is one thing, looking it is another thing altogether!

A little effort goes a long way in the beauty department. To look your best:

  • Eat healthy. Fill up on antioxidant and nutrient rich fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
  • Stay active. Experts recommend a few hours of aerobic exercise and 2-3 days of strength training weekly.
  • Treat topically. Anti-aging topical treatments like Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids (AHA & BHA) can lessen fine lines, Vitamin A derivatives (tretinoin and retinol) will help build collagen and thicken the skin, Vitamin C will improve skin tone and texture and Vitamin E moisturizes and heals.
  • Protect daily with sunscreen. Look at the ingredient list and choose a product containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to make sure you’re getting broad spectrum protection from both the UVA and UVB rays.

There’s also much that can be done in a doctor’s office. To educate yourself on the latest anti-aging options available I highly recommend The Face of the Future, Look Natural, Not Plastic: A Less-Invasive Approach to Enhance Your Beauty And Reverse Facial Aging, by Andrew A. Jacono, MD, FACS, an interesting and informative read on the latest facial rejuvenating procedures, from non-invasive to surgical treatments. This book demystifies topical treatments, peels, injectables, lasers, energy-based tightening treatments, face-lifts and numerous other procedures. You’ll also find how to get the most from your skin care regimen, advice on choosing a doctor, what does and doesn’t work, before and after photos  and so much more.

For more info. on Dr. Jacono, click here.

Best Tressed!

Mitch Stone, Celebrity Hairstylist and Creative Director of Mitch Stone Essentials earned his stellar reputation one job at a time. His bio includes fashion shoots for Herb Ritts and Arthur Elgort, runway shows for Armani, Adrienne Vittadini and Patricia Fields, campaigns for Redken, Pantene and Victoria’s Secret and editorial work for Vogue, InStyle and Rolling Stone. He tends to the tresses of many a celeb including Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney. Let’s just say, he’s busy! So busy in fact, that I had to reach him in Bali where he was working, to have my questions answered.

Q: Why does hair lose its luster as we age? Is there anything we can do to change this?

As we get older, the body stops producing Melanin which is what gives hair its color.  It’s also what gives hair its shine.  As the Melanin dissipates, the hair starts to  grey – leaving it more course, brittle and dull.  

Another cause for loss of luster is the elements – wind, sun…and of course the old culprits, blow dyers and curling irons.  One of the  best ways to prevent lackluster hair is to use high quality hair care products and to limit your use of heat appliances.

 
Q: What do you recommend to get super shiny hair?
  • The key to keeping super shiny hair is to have it trimmed every 6-8 weeks and get a deep conditioning treatment at the same time.  
  • Also, what you do for your internal health can help. Be sure to take vitamins and minerals that promote hair health.
  • When styling, one of the best ways to achieve super shiny hair is to start with clean, conditioned, wet hair.  Using a boars hair and nylon mixed brush, pull and stretch the hair in one  inch sections while blowdrying.  Be sure to blow dry down in the direction the hair grows, as this will help to close the cuticle and create a reflective quality to the hair that will shine.   And of course, finish the look with Lustre Drops to seal the cuticle shut and add extra shine.

Mitch Stone Essentials Lustre Drops will give you super-shiny, smooth, humidity resistant hair but the fact that it’s infused with restorative key nutrients to actually improve hair health is what makes it stand out.  Brilliant!

find us elsewhere

subscribe via email

Enter your email address: