A Review of Fresh's Sugar Scrub

Hello Gorgeous! 

This review is the first of many to follow.  I was on a mission to find a great skin care line that won't break my piggy bank and still give me great looking skin!  I finally found one that actually fits the criteria.  My friend Jeffery from Neiman Marcus was kind enough to give me a gorgeous Fresh bag loaded with samples to try for 2 weeks.  Thank you Jeffery!  I can't wait to try all these glorious sweet smelling products. 

Background history on Fresh:

Fresh is a line that has been around since 1991.  The owners, Lev and Alina, started out with just soap.  Soon they pioneered the idea of a skin care line made with natural ingredients.  It all started with SUGAR!  Sugar has healing properties and Lev remembered how his grandmother use to treat his wounds with sugar.  Alina's grandmother did the same, so the two decided to bottle their wonderful idea and share it with the world.    Fresh's sugar line includes lip polish, lip treatments (honey, rose, plum, and sugar), sugar face polish, and sugar body polish. Oh and they also carry a wonderful perfume called Brown Sugar.  If you have read my earlier blogs about homemade facials, brown sugar is one of the ingredients.  




What it does:


Sugar Face Polish has strawberries that are suppose to dissolve the dead skin cells and brighten the skin.  I know strawberries are loaded with vitamin C and rich in antioxidants, so it has to work.  I cleansed my face and left it a bit wet and applied the scrub on my skin and worked it in gently.  You don't need a lot of product when using this scrub.  Maybe a nickel size amount is sufficient.  While applying this scrub I did not feel it gritty or harsh and it smelled wonderful, like sugar.  I left it on for 5 minutes and then washed it off.  I noticed that when I was rinsing it off, my skin felt SUPER smooth.  I kept rinsing because I loved the feeling!  After towel drying my face I noticed right away how bright my skin looked and how it felt incredibly smooth.  I have very sensitive skin, so I know I would have had a reaction right away.  It has been more than an hour since I used it and my skin still feels fresh and radiant, not tight or dry.  This scrub is gentle enough to use daily.  


FYI Sugar is the first ingredient and strawberries are the fifth ingredient.  I truly believe this product is going to be apart of my daily skin regime. 

My little collection of skin care for the next 2 weeks.

I promise you will love this just as much as I do.  If you are like me and don't want to buy something without trying it first, go to Sephora's or the nearest Fresh counter and ask for samples.  Department stores who sell Fresh offer free facials with the purchase of products (most places ask you to buy 2 products).  I had a Fresh facial 3 weeks ago and loved it.  They took me into a spa like room in the back and ask me to put on a plushy robe.  Inside the room the lights were dim and soothing music was playing in the background.  The room smelled wonderful!  Fresh also makes great smelling candles.  They were lit all over the room giving it a peaceful warm feeling.  I didn't want to leave.  I almost fell asleep while the Eustachian did my facial.  I will be back again for more Fresh facials in the future! You can count on it!  

My Look of the Day and a Little Beauty Secret That Gives You an Instant Glow!

Hello Gorgeous!  


Here is today's look using one of my favorite glosses from YSL, Golden Petal #19 and my favorite highlighter by Smashbox.  I love YSL lip glosses!  They go on smooth and are not tacky.  Golden Petal is a medium pink with a yellow undertone and gold shimmer.  It has a sheerer side, but gives my lips color even without a lipliner.   My other beauty item I carry with me in my makeup bag all the time is a highlighter made my Smashbox called Artificial Light Powder.  It is this tiny tube that has sponge applicator  that allows you to apply this shimmery powder in the corners of your eyes, down the bridge of your nose, and on the high points of your cheeks.  If I want a quick pick-me-up, I grab this highlighter and put it on where the natural light hits my face.  I LOVE IT!


On my eyelids I used Stone by Bobbi Brown.  On the crease I used a medium brown matte shade called Hot Stone, also by Bobbi Brown.  On the brow bone I used Kitten by Stilla (one of the best light eyeshadows out there).  For brushes I used a shader brush to apply the shadow to the lid and brow bone.  I used #217 crease brush to apply Hot Stone.  Make sure to blend really well with your crease brush.  I used Bobbi Brown's Gel Eyeliner in Ink Black on my top lid and Smolder eyeliner by MAC on the water line.  I used Hot Stone eyeshadow as an eyeliner under the eye.




I applied my makeup early this morning.  I took this picture at 6:00 p.m.  For a quick touch up I applied artificial powder and gloss.  I also reapplied smolder eyeliner on the water line.  If you read my earlier blog on Fix+ you will know it sets your makeup and hydrates at the same time.  Fix+ is the reason why I didn't need to do much retouching of my makeup!  

YSL Golden Gloss in #19 Golden Petal 

Used Artificial Light Powder in corner of eye.

Smashbox Artificial Light Powder

If You Don't Own This...You Should!

Hello Gorgeous!


Many of us want our makeup to look fresh all day long! Here is something I think every woman should have in their beauty arsenal.  It is called Fix+ by MAC.  MAC says it so well when they described this.  An aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi.  Adds radiance, finishes makeup.  Spray it on.  Skin drinks it up! 


Fix+ truly sets your makeup and at the same time giving you added hydration.  Last winter MAC came out with one infused with lavender.  I didn't buy it!  I wish I had and it was a limited edition.  When MAC comes out with something that is limited and you love it, BUY IT because you might never ever see it again.  What MAC does is see how popular something is and how requested it becomes and that is how they decide if a "limited edition" becomes a permanent product.  


*They also had one infused with rose water (limited edition).  Rose water is great for your skin just like lavender.  

MACs Fix+

 Next blog will be about Rose Water!

The Benefits of Cleaning Your Face with Oil

Hello Gorgeous!

Cleansing oil should be apart of your beauty regimen.  Do not be afraid to apply oil to your face!  I will tell you why!  Oil, my gorgeous beauties, will not bring you blemishes, pimples, cysts, zits, blackheads, or whiteheads.  In fact these are all a result of several different factors which include hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the continuous buildup of them.  Cleansing oil does lots of wonderful things to your skin.  And yes oily skin too!  

Let me tell you that your skin naturally produces oil because it actually needs it!  Oil is there to benefit your skin, allowing your largest organ to do it's job properly. Did you know that the oil your skin produces protects, heals, and lubricates your skin?  When your skin is functioning properly it is beautiful, clear, and glowing!  You need to work with your skin and not against it.  That is why I believe everyone should first cleanse with oil!


I have been using cleansing oil for years now.  I first did my research before I bought any products.  I have used several and found a few that I love.  The one I love the most is Deep Cleansing Oil from DHC.  The reason I love this the best is because I have very sensitive skin and this has an olive oil base (I am also combination skin type).  In fact olive oil is the first ingredient.  If you know anything about ingredients you know that the ones listed first are in the product the most.  I love putting natural products on my skin.  This cleansing oil literally cleans out all the dirt and muck from deep within your pores.  If you are like me and wear waterproof mascara you will love this.   This oil will remove it all, and you won't even lose an eyelash!


I am going to list all the deep cleansing oils I have tried and briefly tell which is the best to buy.      

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

This one is the best and at $25
and sometimes on sale for $20 
Fantastic!

     MAC Cleansing Oil

Works really good 
and costs $24

Amore Pacific Cleansing Oil

not my favorite
I don't like the smell to much.
costs $50

Shiseido Cleansing Oil I use this when I can't order my DHC 
costs $25

My picks are DHC, MACs, and Shiseido. In that order.

The Pin Up Girl!

Hello Gorgeous!

I have become inspired to do a future makeup tutorial on how to look like a pinup girl.  My inspiration is my lovely nightstand I created!  I love collecting pinup girls photos from the 1940s, and was lucky enough to run across a calendar of them. I decided to take an old nightstand and decoupage it with the photos of pin up girls.  Here is what it looks like.  Be ready for a makeup tutorial on how to look like a Pinup Girl!  

A bit of history on Pin up Girls:  

Pin up girls have been around since the early 1900s.  Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren are among the most famous painters of pin up girls.  I have a huge book on my coffee table of The Great American Pin-Up.  In it you find loads of paintings of pin up girls.  This makes for a great conversation piece when entertaining.  I will be getting one of these looks from this fascinating book for my makeup tutorial. 

My wonderful nightstand with loads of pinup girls.  

Chanel Fall Collection

Hello Gorgeous!  

Chanel has done it again with their new fall color collection for 2011.  All of the colors are rich in pigmentation and feel silky smooth to the touch.  ILLUSION D' OMBRE  is a unique mix of silicone and a patented silicone elastomer gel.  This is what makes it feel soft and cushiony.  It glides on smoothly and easily.  It has an intense shimmer effect to it that give the eye lots of drama.  


This gorgeous eyeshadow provides enhanced light reflection.  ILLUSION D' OMBRE is very versatile- it can be worn as an eyeshadow and eyeliner.  I give it two thumbs up just for that alone!  A shadow/liner brush comes with each eyeshadow, so every woman can master the technique of makeup artistry.  ILLUSION D' OMBRE comes in six long wearing luminous shades.  I bought all but the delicate peach because there are a lot of dupes out there on this one. 

  

The 5 colors I own.

FANTASME 81
Shimmery White 

ILLUSOIRE 83
Taupe Purple
Mix MIRIFIQUE with it!

MIRIFIQUE 85
most gorgeous black ever and my favorite!

EPATANT 84
Khaki Green

EBLOUI 86
Reddish Brown.  This is also my favorite too.
This color looks great with brown eyes and green.
Especially if you have a tan!

From left to right:
FANTASME, ILLUSOIRE, MIRIFIQUE, EPATANT, EBLOUI 

Chart that comes with the collection

Beauty Secrets from Old Hollywood Actresses!

Hello Gorgeous!


I have to admit I have a fascination with Old Hollywood actresses.   I wanted to know what their beauty secrets or rituals were, so of course I researched.  These gorgeous actresses to first grace the silver screen indeed had their own little beauty secrets.  Just like the actresses of our time they spent time indulging in beauty regimes and going to spas, but they had little rituals they did at home everyday.  
                                                                                  

Viven Leigh
My all time favorite actress! Viven Leigh had many secrets!  A reporter asked her once what her secret to looking so good and she replied with "rest and lots of sleep".  She is most known for having regular facials.  She never skipped one! 

Bridgette Bardot
She popularized oblong sun glasses and thoroughly made up eyes!  She was the first woman on the silver screen to have the smokey eye or "Italian Eye" as it was called.  Her makeup artist created the famous "cat eye" too. We can't forget that messy gorgeous blond hair!  Every woman wanted it!

Jean Harlow
Known as the "Blonde Bombshell".  She had a ritual of lightening her hair with a potent mixture of peroxide, ammonia, and LUX Flakes.  Can you imagine the smell?  I would die! No pun intended! 

Grace Kelly
The minimalist!  WOW!  Who knew?  Not me!  She is after all known all over the world as the most classic beauty that ever lived.  I believe it!  Her secret was just shadowing in her eyebrows and using 2 blushes on her cheeks to give the illusion of a depth. 

Bette Davis
Those "Bette Davis Eyes"!  She owned them and took good care of them too.  She always put cucumbers on her eyes every chance she got, especially at night.  She would also layer petroleum jelly under her eyes at night to prevent dark circles and puffiness. These actresses put lots of faith in petroleum jelly.  Hey it is still around!  Maybe we have overlooked this little goldmine! 

Sophia Loren
She kept up her youthful appearance by taking baths in virgin olive oil.  Can you imagine?  Amazing! The ancient Romans actually did this ritual. Olive oil is a jealous little fruit.  My mom always told me if you start using it as beauty product don't ever stop because it gets jealous.  My aunt has used it to remove eye-makeup ever since I can remember!  She swears by it! 

Marilyn Monroe
Eron Laszlo was her secret! Dr. Laszlo still has his beauty products for sale in some department stores.  Marilyn had dry skin and she used Eron Laszlo's Active pHelityl Cream (night cream).  When LAPD found her body they also found tubs and tubs of this cream by her nightstand.  She also used petroleum jelly! 

Rita Hayworth
a.k.a Margarita Carmen Cansino.  Born to a Spanish dancer and Irish mother.  I knew I loved her!  She definitely was a true Latina because she started the manicure trend in Hollywood during the 1940s.  One of her beauty secrets was rubbing cream on her cuticles every night.  She had naturally long gorgeous nails.

Katharine Hepburn
Katharine loved exfoliating her skin with sugar, a tiny amount of water, and a squeeze of lemon.  She always finished with a splash of super ice cold water.  Rest and sleep were also her favorite beauty ritual.  How easy is that?  I love it! 

Greta Garbo
Most everyone loves eyeliner and can't leave home without it.  That was Greta!  She made her own eyeliner out of petroleum and charcoal pigment.  Petroleum sure was popular! She always had to have her upper lid lined and a shaded crease to give depth.  She was her own makeup artist! 

Joan Crawford
She had many rituals, but her most famous was splashing her face 25 times with ice cold water and ice cubes. 

Marlene Dietrich
She was ahead of her time when it came to beauty!  Marlene shaved off her eyebrows and drew them on with a kohl eyeliner.  She also did not put mascara on her bottom lashes because she thought it cast a shadow under her eyes in photos. 

Audrey Hepburn
This beauty secret is still used today.  I know because my mom does it.  Audrey separated her lashes with a pin after layering her mascara. 

Veronica Lake
I love Veronica Lake!  She is a classic beauty and great actress.  My favorite movie of hers is I Married a Witch.  She is known for her peek-a-boo bang hairdo.  Her hair was so popular that the U.S. Govt. asked her to please pin her hair back because they feared female factory workers would get their hair caught in the equipment. 

How Plump Red Ripe Strawberries Help Your Skin Look it's Best!

Hello Gorgeous!  

My mom bought this wonderful strawberry facial scrub from Fresh called Sugar Facial Polish.  I tried it and love it.  I know Fresh uses natural ingredients.  Although I love Fresh products and they are very affordable I became inspired to create my own concoction and try it.   I researched what strawberries can do for your skin.  Here is what I discovered.

Did you know that the largest organ is your skin?  Did you also know that your skin produces millions of new cells every day and fully regenerates itself every 30 to 40 days? As we get older the rejuvenating process slows down and we find ourselves with a dilemma!  The best way to treat this is to be CONSISTENT in our skin care.  NO SLACKERS ALLOWED should be your motto for taking care of your skin!  Here is another homemade facial you can use once a week to keep your face glowing and to help with cell renewal.  


All you need is strawberries, honey and brown sugar if your skin feels a little dull!  


Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C!  Salicylic acid and antioxidants are found in these luscious berries.  If used in a facial they can help exfoliate the skin, gives you a brighter complexion, and helps reduce pore size.   Strawberries also reduce redness and swelling and enable the skin to absorb more moisture.  Not to mention that the antioxidants in strawberries help repair damaged skin and counteract the effects of aging.  


This mask is great for normal to oily skin types! 


Here is what you need to make you homemade strawberry facial mask.

• 6-7 Strawberries (mash in a small bowl really well)
• 2 teaspoons of organic honey
• mix well in small bowl 
• apply all over face 
• you can add a bit of cornstarch for people who have oilier skin.
• leave on for 15 minutes.  
• if your skin is a little dull rub some brown sugar onto your skin and use circular motions to exfoliate before you rinse your face clean.

Important Note:  If you think you might me allergic to strawberries it always best to do a spot test for a few minutes on your skin.  You should always rinse with cool water never hot or warm water.  This stimulates your skin and keeps the circulation going!  

*Strawberries are also good for your daily diet!  Research shows that strawberries can help prevent cancer in your intestinal walls because of the antioxidants.  As the saying goes "The darker the berry the better the fruit!"  Enjoy!

The Miracle Drug Aspirin that is GREAT for Your Skin!

Hello Gorgeous!

Aspirin has been around since 400 BC.  Invented by Greek physician Hippocrates.  He used the bark and leaves of the willow tree
(rich in a substance called salicin) to relieve pain and fever.  I am going to let you in on a little secret on how to make an Aspirin Mask.  This mask will help with cell renewal!  Aspirin has what is called BHC (Beta-Hydroxy Acid), which is a great anti-inflammatory for skin.  It causes the skin to unstick itself or exfoliates off dead skin cells so new cell growth is possible. This mask is great for people who suffer from acne as well.  Anyone who wants to naturally  exfoliate look no further!  


Materials:

• Uncoated Aspirin (dissolves faster)
• BC (Powdered Aspirin) not as gritty and dissolves quicker.
• Honey (if you are allergic get Aloe Vera). Honey has enzymes that heals the skin and helps to restore skin making it look younger.
• Little bowl or dish to put aspirin in.

Getting Started:

• Dissolve 3-4 coated Aspirins in a few drops of mild water in a small dish. Just a couple of drops of H2O on the aspirin.
• Add more water if needed until you get a mix that can be applied on the face.
• Add a few drops of honey on to the aspirin.
• Mix well into a paste.
• Make it more gritty for extra exfoliation by using regular aspirin.
• Apply to face and let it set there for 15 minutes.
• Right before you rinse work the aspirin mixture into your skin a bit more and then rinse.

Uncoated Aspirin 

+

+

+

H2O

How often should I do this?

Only do this once or twice a week because you skin will grow tolerant to it.


How much will this cost me?

You will save lots of money too!  All you need is a bottle of Aspirin from the Dollar Tree and a bottle of Honey!

Glow Baby Glow!

Kissable Lips!

Hello Gorgeous!

I thought I would post what Dior's Lip Glow would look like on the lips since I was raving about it a couple of weeks ago.  I always have this in my makeup bag.  It is my "go to" lipstick because I know it will bring out my natural lip color immediately.  I have a picture of what my lips look like without it and then with it on.  I also posted a picture with my favorite lipliner from Urban Decay called Naked.  When I actually have time to use a lipliner this is the one I grab. This lipliner from Urban Decay in Naked is unlike any other!  It glides on! GLIDES!!! I can't believe how smooth this one goes on! 

My lips with nothing on them! YUCK!

With just Dior's Lip Glow! Yummy!

Dior's Lip Glow with Urban Decay's 24/7 Lipliner in Naked!

Here is a larger view with lipliner.

Lip Glow with Naked Lipliner! Kissable lips!

Who is it for?
EVERYONE who wants natural looking lips that are kissably soft!


What it does?
It moisturizes, add sun protection, and enhance your natural lip color.

Lip Glow by Dior

24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Naked