Best of Holiday Part II

Hey! It’s Wed and hump day and almost Christmas and Hannukah.. so chin up! It’s got to get better (though can’t say for sure about the the transit strike. )

For great looking skin, particularly in nasty cold weather which sucks the moisture out of skin cells faster than a 3 year old sucking a coke through a straw, you need to treat, treat and treat some more. Doesn’t matter if it’s face or body, the key is to gently exfoliate and then nourish the heck out of your body with lotions, body butters and lots of clothing layers.

Inara 100% Organic Babassu Sugar Rub is an ideal product for body exfoliation. Featuring  Turbinado sugar along with  Babassu Oil (from the Babassu Palm that’s found in the Amazon, along with essential oils of grapefruit, rose geranium, mandarin and sage ( Enliven  Fragrance) , this sugar rub is gently rubbed onto the body and the oils nourish and soothe skin while the sugar exfoliates. A little goes a long way and the fragrance will make you feel great. It’s also availalbe in  Quiet  and  Ignite scents as well. Other products from this organic line are Body Butter, Milk Bath, candles  and  more. Check out

For bath products with some fun, JiliianwithaJ.com is a hoot! She makes cute bath bombs that come in delish fragrances that make you wish that these treats packed in take-out boxes were really available to eat. The chocolate brownie one made me sooooooo hungry. Also for that pet of yours, try the  Doggie Bombs.  No fussing with bottles, just certified organic, non-toxic ingredients that are good for pup’s skin and easy on you.  Just toss in both dog and bomb and make sure you have LOTS of towels. www.jillianwithaj.com

Heading north to the face, which is what most people seem to be concerned about, you might want to check out some cool products from  Caudalie,  like   Vinoperfect Radiance Serum  which will provide you with a more radiant, even complexion thanks to the lightening and preventing dark spots with an eye toward evening out the texture and tone of the complexion. The brightening effect helps give you that "glow" and makes applying make-up easier because there’s less drag, less discolorations and  just  better looking skin! Think of it as an alternative to laser for scar marks and dull skin.  It is highly recommended that you use sunblock with this product so try the  Vinosun SPF 25 as your sunblock of choice. www.sephora.com

Over that gorgeous skin, there are a number of products to try.  Benefit’s Moonbeam –an irridescent complexion enhancer  to be used over, under or blended with foundation is an option to increase that holiday glow.   http://www.benefitcosmetics.com

Want a similar glow for the body? Try Benefit’s  Hollywood Glo Body Luster for a shimmering body finish.

If you are looking for something a bit softer or more powdery,  two different ways to go. For that soft as velvet finish, try  Valerie Beverly Hills Fairy Dust available in several colors and you can buy that fun feather duster applicator (wink wink).  This super silky dust leaves a super soft, sexy, delicate sparkle to your skin. http:// www.valeriebeverlyhills.com

If you are looking for more of a JLO glowing–with the bling bling effect — Scott Barnes  has you covered!  Use this  body lotion in either bronze  or platinum for shine, shimmer, glow and twinkle on legs, arms, shoulders, everywhere– well almost everywhere!  It lasts all day without smudging but comes off in the shower!

If you want a bit more razzle dazzle effect, then check out   Scott Barnes Loose Powder  in  24K Bronze that you can dust anywhere –including hair– for that shimmering effect.  It’s silky soft, low-key for a seductive sparkle and glow.

In case you just want a more luminous glow that seems to come from within –sans sparkle– try  Scott Barnes Luminizing Mist . This hydrating mist will help set make-up and add a bit of a glisten to the face, thanks to its dewy finish. It also has a sublte aromatic rose scent too. It’s perfect to help refresh your make-up or for traveling too! http://www.saks.com

If it’s more lip, cheek or eye color — or using something that is more all-purpose.. we have you covered! Just be patient– that’s for tomorrow’s post! YES TOMORROW!! So I will be back tomorrow with products from Stila, Julie Hewett, Skin Alison Raffaele,  Mally Roncal, and a few others that I have to dig out of the kit.  Hopefully I will finish up eyes, lips and face tomorrow so that Friday’s post is brief and to the point–ditto Sat. and don’t forget that Sunday I am off for the holiday!

See you at the beauty counter!

Stevie

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