One of my favorite skincare lines has launched a line of body care! How exciting right? Just in time for my trip home to LA and the sandy beaches. There is nothing worse than a youthful face with saggy arms and bum is there? I've been diligently and generously massaging the Firming Body Lotion from Skinceuticals on my bum, thighs, upper arms and chest and I feel so decadent! The cream is amazing, just like its product line for the face and has made my derriere feel extraordinarily taut and smooth. It combines soy isoflavones, pure vitamin E, three nutrient-rich algae, and botanical extracts to firm, hydrate, and protect the entire body. The antioxidant and moisturizing properties counter moisture loss and elasticity while supporting the skin’s regeneration process to restore luminous skin. I am in Laguna Beach at a friend's beach house right now as I type and let me tell you, those teenage girls running around on the beach have got nothing on me! SkinCeuticals Advanced Body Firming Lotion,
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Post by Beauty Snob Michelle
So I’m not going to lie. When I received the Body by Maurices products in the mail a few weeks ago I had never even heard of the store. (Apparently they’re everywhere) I opened the products, smelled them, tried them a bit and then left them on my kitchen table. I didn’t dislike them, I just wasn’t overly impressed. They reminded me of the scents that Bath and Body Works had when I was in high school. Not particularly offensive, just not anything to be bowled over by. I honestly didn’t give them much thought until my roommate came bounding into my room a few days ago. “I LOVE that body spray you left on the table.” I didn’t even know what she meant at first, but apparently she has become obsessed with the Cool Citrus Body Spray. It made me take another look at them and I ended up liking them. The body spray is really refreshing and light and great change from your usual perfume in these hot, sticky days of summer. The Sweet Sage lotion has definitely grown on me as well. It’s a sweet, cucumber-melon lotion. The smell doesn’t dissipate as you go through the day. Sometimes, as I’m falling asleep at night I can still smell it on my hands. The line is exclusively sold at maurices’ stores across the country. For only $8-$10 dollars I definitely recommend that you go check them out! Locations at maurices.com
Do you know what swimsuit models were slathering on during Miami Fashion Week this month? No, it was not self bronzer nor glitter dust. It was Nivea's Good-bye Cellulite gel! I received samples of it last week and have been diligently massaging it on my thighs, buttocks and lower belly every night. I wanted to give it a full week before giving you a report and I think I am starting to notice a difference! Its not that I am any thinner or have lost inches but the skin on my thighs, buttocks and tummy definitely look smoother. The products is made of L-Carnitine (amino acids found on the skin and in our liver and kidneys that help in the consumption and disposal of fat in the body) which they claim supports the conversion of fat into energy when applied on the skin.
This is not a miracle gel but I think with healthy diet and regular exercise this will enhance the appearance of your skin! Nivea Body Good-bye Cellulite Smoothing Cellulite Gel-Cream $11.69 at Drugstore.com
Post by Beauty Snob Michelle
Oh the things I do for you guys! Right now I smell like the earthiest, grossest spa around all because I was determined not to judge a beauty product by its cover. Let me first say that I have nothing against Kathy Hilton. I think she lets her kids run a little wild and I think her reality show “Who Wants to be a Hilton?” was a seriously misguided career choice but otherwise, I’m okay with her. Now she has her own line of beauty products. I tried them out because I thought “Hey, if my daughter was Paris Hilton, I’d have a lot of wrinkles and frown lines too. Maybe she’s taken all her money and came up with a really quality beauty product. I’m not going to judge because of who she is and where she’s choosing to sell her products (HSN).” I really like Jonathan Products for my hair and if I remember Blow Out correctly, Jonathan started selling it on infomercials. This is, unfortunately, not the case with Kathy Hilton Personal Beauty Spa. I tried both the “Hot Effect” Sculpting Treatment and the “Cold Effect” Firming Pack. Both need to be shaken to achieve the temperature effects. The Sculpting Treatment refused to get hot, no matter how long shook it for so I gave up and opened it anyway. The mudlike substance bubbled out of the top and down the side of the container – good thing I was in the bathtub. I stirred it up with the plastic spatula and smeared some on my thighs and some on my arm. This was supposed to tone and revitalize the skin. Maybe it’s something that has to be used for a period of time, but all it did for me was dry, harden, smell bad and then make itself really hard to wash off.
I took a deep breath and tried the Firming Pack next. This one was slightly better. No real odor and it actually achieved the desired temperature when I shook it up. It, however, sat on my neck like Nair and then left a gross residue. It did however leave my skin softer than before.
I imagine these are products that are supposed to be used over a period of time (that’s just a guess – the packaging doesn’t really have much information on it) but after my first use, I definitely won’t go back to try again. Kathy Hilton’s Personal Beauty Snob debuts on HSN on July 31st.
Can walking in a pair of Fit Flops really lead you to slim thighs and a smaller derriere? After I gave birth I bought a pair of the much hyped MBT Masai sneakers, I lost my baby weight and was back in my size 25 jeans within weeks but I have no idea if it was from the sneakers or because I would walk 5 miles a day just to justify a pair of $250 sneakers. All I know is I got a sore back from the weight of those heavy shoes so I stopped wearing them. Now the Fit Flop has come on the scene and are making similar claims but I have my doubts. Here is what they claim:
1. Improves muscle tone (I think any kind of exercise can do that, like walking.)
2. Increases muscle activity and circulation (Again, nothing that a good ol' brisk walk won't do)
3. Improves balance and posture (That will happen when you stop wearing 5 inch stilettos anyway)
4. Burns calories (Uh, don't you burn calories just sitting at home typing on a computer like I am right now?
This is not something I want to try mainly because I abhor flip flops and think they are only appropriate for the park, pool/beach or spa (and running errands if you are mostly in your car, that's borderline acceptable). Maybe it is because I no longer live in LA where I used to live in my Havana flip flops but nothing grates on me more than sloppy women at the mall or airport in flip flops! Anyway, I predict this is all hype but may try it just to prove my point. What do I have to lose except looking stupid right? And really, none of these colors go with any of my birkins. What do you beauty snobbers think? Will you try these Fit Flops? $45 at Bath and Body Works.
I am very fickle when it comes to shampoos and conditioners and am constantly trying different brands. I came across the Cornelia Signature line of hair products while browsing the site to choose treatments for my next trip to NYC (Kelly's sister, Eva, went there last month and has not stopped raving about it - you will read about it later), with a name like Shine Defining shampoo and conditioner, of course I had to try it!
I was surprised to see how pretty the packaging was when I received my goodies, and even more surprised that it was made in England instead of a random cosmetic plant in Jersey. Each box has a silhouette of a tulip and the packaging resembles something you'd buy at Neiman Marcus, it is obvious that Cornelia really made the effort to make its products as high end as its services. I used the shampoo and conditioner this morning and my hair is definitely shinier and softer; it has a fairly strong fragrance from essential oils which made me feel like I was in a spa all day but many of you may not. I loved that the fragrance was floral and not some vanilla or chocolate concoction that are usually popular with spa products, as Kelly always says- we do not need to smell like food! Cornelia Zicu, the owner of Cornelia Day Resort created this line with scents that reminded her of the tranquil forests from her childhood in Romania which is deeply invigorating and calming. I also got the moisture balancing body lotion which has the same fragrance; I can smell it as I type right now and I feel so pampered, it is a light lotion that works well in the heat of summer and made my skin soft, not greasy. Shampoo $35, Conditioner $37, Body Lotion $60. Now that I've experienced the products, I really can't wait to experience the spa but until then, I asked Eva to share her day at Cornelia Day Resort with us.
Every single pair of my Louboutins, Manolos and Choos have a set of Foot Petals in them. They make even the most painful stilettos feel soft and cushy! I love this Strut' N Style set because there are different sizes for different parts of the shoe. My feet are very narrow and slip out of pumps all the time so I need the heel cushion to keep them where they belong and the killer cushions keep my feet from sweating and slipping out of my 4" sandals plus they keep blisters at bay! You'll save money buying the entire set and believe me, you will use it all. Once you become addicted, no shoe will feel comfortable until you stick some petals in them! $44.95 for entire set.
Each set includes:
-One Pair Buttercup:
Killer Kushionz ~ full insole provides ultimate support and can be worn in open-toe shoes
Tip Toes ~ ball-of-foot cushion stops feet from sliding forward
Heavenly Heelz ~ back-of-heel cushion helps keep heels from slipping in and out of shoes
Strappy Strips ~ thin strips that add comfort to any straps
-Two Pair Buttercup Sole Stopperz ~ non-slip protects soles from wear and tear
-One Pair Buttercup Petal Plusheez ~ perfectly plush spa socks with petal shaped slip free tread that soothe and comfort your stressed out feet
Post by Michelle
Working two jobs can take its toll on you. By Friday morning, it takes a full brass band to get me out of bed in the morning. Not even my dog politely nipping at my head will get me up some days. I usually save me Lemon Crème Body Wash from C.O. Bigelow for those days. I love it and would happily use it every day, but am afraid I’d become immune to its invigorating power. The body wash has the greatest, freshest lemon scent that is really effective at getting my eyes to stay open. The soap not only smells great, but works great as well. It’s super sudsy, but washes clean so you don’t have any of that gross film body washes leave on your skin sometimes. Bigelow also makes a hand crème in this scent, but unless you’re a huge lemon fan, I’d recommend using one or the other. The smell from the body wash does linger in a pleasant way, but combined with the hand crème it’s a little overpowering. $16 at bigelowchemists.com
Nobody wants to talk about it but we all know our bikini area is not as naturally cropped and manicured as we'd like. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to achieve this. I don't even want to talk about shaving - hello, stubbles!! And in the summer time we need continuous days of hairlessness and you can't get a close shave the second day when you can see the hair but can't actually shave it off. As much as it hurts and if you can bare the embarrassment (it's not that bad really), waxing is the only real option (other than permanent laser hair removal, electrolysis is not worth the pain and $$$). If you've never done it before, it sounds worse than it is, you do eventually get used to the pain and once you're used to it, it's like riding a bike, you can not go for months or even years and your pain level remains the same (permanent nerve damage maybe??). Do not try waxing on your own. There are kits you can buy but unless you need material for a comedy skit, seek professional service for waxing!!
There are a few things you should be aware of. There are different types of waxes and the quality of the wax does make a difference so spend the few extra bucks for the nice salon (for example DO NOT GET THIS DONE AT A NAIL SALON). They have wax that comes in an applicator where they rub it on like a glue dispenser which alleviates messes but I do not like the sanitation of it (you never know who went before you, I mean think about it where it's going!!). Then there is the kind of wax that does not require a cotton strip, the wax itself hardens to a rubber like consistency and the entire thing is yanked off. It sounds great in concept but the reality is that it is not quite sticky enough so a lot of hair is left behind. I prefer the wooden tongue depressor dipped in hot wax and spread on the old fashioned way. I like seeing progress being made with the strips of cotton full of my much unwanted hair.
So those are your wax options, now for the style options. A regular bikini wax just removes the hair that would stick out the sides of your bikini bottom. A Brazilian wax involves removing all the hair, including the entire underneath side going all the way back to the behind and only a small patch is left in the front, if any. Your style options are in what is left behind, a triangle and the size of the triangle, a landing strip and the width and length of the strip or nothing left at all (I do not recommend the porn star look). It is a totally weird feeling at first but all the girls I know who get the Brazilian will never go back to full coverage. It is quite liberating. The irony of it all though is that the clean feeling from being hairless is actually not the most hygienic. According to gynecologists, Brazilian wax promotes bacteria which leads to all kinds of problems. So you must be extra diligent about hygiene (I am sure this is not a problem for our readers, being Beauty Snobs cleanliness is our first priority).
The aftermath of waxing is sometimes not as savory as the initial results. Many people experience burns, bumps and ingrown hairs. Taking an aspirin or Advil before the wax can reduce inflammation and the pain but it does not take care of the bumps and ingrown hairs. Tend Skin is designed for such problems and I would highly recommend getting a bottle of it on your way out (usually salons that do waxing will have it and is around $13). You must use it everyday, twice a day, for a week. It is a simple application process using a cotton ball. You are now ready for your bikini!
I went for a massage the other day at my spa and surprisingly the massage was not the highlight of that visit, it was in discovering this exfoliating cream from a Canadian line called Fruits and Passion. I was in the lounge area waiting for my massage and of course looking at all the products and trying everything on as always, and then I come across this cream - I read the label and it has the word "exfoliating" on it which immediately got my attention because if nothing else I am obsessed with exfoliating my entire body all the time.
The first one I used was the Monoi and I immediately noticed the tiny grainy pebbles infused in the soft luxurious cream. I was intrigued! I turn the tube over and saw this meter for the level of exfoliation - this one said "Soft" and I made a "I don't want soft" face and looked all the tubes until I found one with an almost full meter that read, "Intense". Now we're talking!! I squeezed a bunch out and went to town on my legs, feeling an "intense" scrubbing action as I rubbed the thousands of grains of this Moringa Exfoliating Cream ($14) all over. I can feel my skin react not only externally but I noticed increased circulation to my legs from all the activity. This was the most invigorating moisturizing I've ever done!! My legs were crazy soft after this one treatment!
Of course, as I'm sure you are all wondering, what happens to all those tiny pebbly grains? Yes, they were all stuck to my legs. I tried brushing it off with my hands but because the cream is so buttery they were pretty well stuck. I simply took a dry towel and gently ran it over my legs and they all came off quickly and easily. I was so impressed with the results of this cream, I went back for more and found the Body Butter with Moringa ($20) (also known as the horseraddish tree, every part of it is used for food or medicinal purposes, including treating cancer). After this 2-step process, I sat there and couldn't stop touching my legs, they were so soft I didn't recognize them as mine!!!
Seriously. When I was getting my massage, my therapist was like, "you have the softest skin I've ever seen". Uh, hello!! I didn't before, embarrassingly I've had dates and boyfriends comment on how my skin feels like paper (they didn't last long). This product is totally awesome, I am so hooked!! My spa didn't carry the Olive which has the full exfoliating level of "Power Scrub" but I ordered it online and can't wait to power exfoliate my whole body with it. (The label does warn against over usage, twice a week is the recommendation but did I listen? Do I ever follow instructions??). You have to try this!!
