Luminizing Lotions - A Trick of the Trade & Treat for the Face!

Although Halloween has come and gone, it's never too late for a little trick-and-treating of the beauty kind.  So, I thought that I would provide my readers with a beauty trick of mine that I personally think of as a pretty awesome treat!  :)  When I first heard about illuminizing lotions, I was definitely intrigued to find out what they were all about.  I mean, realistically, the name alone should tell me ALL that I needed to know.  However, my first experience using one of these lotions was an EPIC FAIL!  I remember taking the cap off, squirting a pretty sizeable amount into the palm of my hand and rubbing the "lotion" onto my face....BIG mistake!  To my horror, I looked like a Glo-worm.  I was literally luminescent and glowing but not in a good way!  lol  And because I used such a large amount, it took about 2-3 washes for my skin to look like normal again. I had thoughts of returning the product to the store but decided not to and it sat in my bathroom for a week or two before my "A-Ha" moment!

One day while getting ready for a night-on-the-town, I came across this luminizing lotion again and decided that I would give it another try.  Only this time, I decided that a) I would use a much MUCH smaller amount and b) I would try mixing it in with my tinted moisturizer. Ooh La La.....Magnifique!  The combination of my tinted moisturizer and the luminizing lotion helped to even out and brighten my skin, while giving me that J-Lo glow (which i'm sure all of you ladies are familiar with).   I was hooked and have incorporated this technique into my beauty routine and especially when I need an added boost for lackluster skin!

I currently use Revlon Age Defying Spa Face Illuminator in Gold Light.  Not only is this product reasonable, retailing for $13.99, but it works just as good as any of the illuminators that the higher-end brands have to offer.  Equipped with a brush applicator, this product comes in 3 shades:  Pink Light, Gold Light and Bronze Light and is formulated with an SPF 18.  In addition, it is oil-free so it won't clog your pores or cause breakouts (which is always a plus)!  I am usually able to find and purchase this illuminator at Walgreens but I must say that sometimes it can be hard to find.  I truly hope that Revlon is not thinking of discontinuing this product....I would be heartbroken!

Here are some other illuminators that I have used and come highly recommended by yours truly:

Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion by Smashbox


The gorgeous shimmer of this luminizing lotion softens the way light reflects off of the skin to add radiance and help hide wrinkles and imperfections.  Caution:  Use a very tiny amount of this product or you may experience the Glo-worm effect that I spoke about!  This Smashbox Luminizing Lotion is available in Diffuse ( luminous pearl), Glow (luminous bronze) and Flash (luminous peach). (Retails for $26; http://www.smashbox.com/)


Illuminator by Nars

This light-reflecting liquid glides on to refresh and enhance the complexion, creating a shimmering incandescence. Wear it alone, or pair it with makeup to transform your skin from ordinary to extraordinary. The Nars Illuminator is available in Copacabana (glistening pearl), Laguna (brown w/ golden shimmer), Orgasm (peachy pink w/shimmer) and Super Orgasm (peachy pink w/gold glitter). (Retails for $29, http://www.narscosmetics.com/)


In addition to using these illuminators on your face, don't forget that they can also be used on your shoulders, neck & decolletage for a sexy, chic look and added glow!

XOXO

~Tiaja

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer - Sheer Genius!

During my time as a cheerleader in the NFL, the use of foundation was a staple in my "game day" make-up routine.  However, I never liked the way that foundation made me look nor was I fond of the way it felt on my face.  No matter which brand I used, they all seemed heavy on my skin and I always looked too "done up" when wearing it.  I did not mind it so much while I was dancing on the field.  I figured I was far enough away from fans for them to notice.  But I cringed at scheduled appearances and/ or meet & greets, self-conscious that people would think that I had on WAY too much makeup.  There HAD to be a better way and it came in the form of Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.  I love love love this product!  In fact, I keep a tube in my travel bag to ensure that I will never forget it while travelling or on vacation.  ;)


Oil-Free Formula in Walnut

Lightweight Flawless Coverage is what she promised and Laura Mercier definitely delivered with her Tinted Moisturizer.  I use her Oil-Free Formula with SPF 20 and it is exactly what I wanted and what my skin needed!  It's not too heavy and provides the ideal level of coverage, leaving skin even & radiant while protecting from harmful UV rays.  I apply about a dime-size of this product all over my face, dust on some powder and i'm set!  For a more dewey look or finish, this product alone does the trick.  And the good news is that the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer comes in 9 different shades & two formulas: Regular (for normal skin) and Oil-Free (for acne prone, sensitive or oily/ combination skin), making it pretty easy to find a formula and a shade that works for you!

Still not convinced that you should use a tinted moisturizer over foundation?  Maybe this will help:

Advantages

• Light coverage, not a heavy look
• Most provide SPF protection
• A moisturizer and cosmetic all in one
• Easy and quick to apply
• Most last all day
• Available in a variety of shades to match every skin tone
• Two products in one is less expensive

Disadvantages

• Won't cover blemishes as well as foundation
• May not off enough coverage for some women
• May give a shiny appearance dependent upon the formula used

If a tinted moisturizer is what you are looking for, I HIGHLY recommend this product   After one use, my BFF was hooked....and she's not an easy sell! lol  It's with good reason that Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer has received the following accolades:

• InStyle Best Beauty Buy - Best Tinted Moisturizer  (May 2011)
• Essence Best in Black Beauty  (March 2011)
• Allure Best of Beauty (September 2010) 

Visit your nearest Laura Mercier counter and see for yourself!  Or, for more product information, go to www.lauramercier.com/.

XOXO

~Tiaja

Don't be a Flake....Exfoliate!

Fall is here and the winter-like weather is quickly approaching!  And being the summer baby that I am,  I'm quite sad about this....but I digress.  Let's get back to the topic at hand -- Dry Skin!  Although dry skin can happen any time of the year, it is most common during the winter months.  Blasting heaters and next to freezing temps can really deplete the moisture from your skin and there is nothing worse than dry, flaky & ashy skin.  With this being said, the following are very important:  Stay moisturized, Drink lots of water, and don't forget to EXFOLIATE! 

In an effort to keep my skin looking and feeling healthy, I have gone through soooo many different products.  Although I am still on the search for a lotion or body cream that I can't live without (any recommendations??), I have found a scrub that I absolutely LOVE....Escential Sugar Scrub by Thibiant Beverly Hills!! 




While visiting a good friend of mine in Los Angeles, I happened across this product in her shower on the last day of my visit.  Yes, I am THAT friend who stays at your house and "tests" your products...so, if you leave anything in the shower or on the counters I am more than likely going to try it.  lol  And I am so thankful that I did! 

Escential Sugar Scrub is AMAZING!  The combination of Manoi Oil with sugar and these natural oils --Avocado, Coconut, Jojoba, Macadamia Nut, Safflower & Sweet Almond....this scrub will transform any shower into a tropical spa paradise and leave your skin feeling baby soft!  And unlike other scrubs that I have tried, it is gentle enough to use every day!

I, honestly, could not believe how soft & moisturized my skin felt after using Escential Sugar Scrub.  It is so emollient, that I probably could have skipped out on using lotion for the day!  Once I returned home from my SoCal visit, I called up my friend to ask her for the name of "that sugar scrub I used in your shower".  lol Once I had the name, it was a wrap.  I located Thibiant Beverly Hills online, placed my order and that's pretty much all she wrote!  :)  It retails for $28.50 (with free shipping) and can be purchased online, http://www.thibiantbeverlyhills.com/ or directly from the spa, if you're in the area!

I know that I have ranted & raved about this sugar scrub and obviously we all have different likes and dislikes.  While I prefer a sugar scrub, others may swear by a salt scrub....it's all a matter of choice and preference!  What's the difference, you might ask?  Although they essentially offer the same results, these scrubs differ in other aspects.  Here are a few of the differences:

Salt Scrubs

• More coarse than sugar resulting in a rougher exfoliant.
• Can efficiently remove dry patches, razor bumps & ingrown hairs while leaving your skin soft and smooth.
• Has detoxifying properties that draw impurities out when applied directly to skin.
• Not recommended for sensitive skin.
• Can sting if you use before and/ or after shaving....OUCH!

Sugar Scrubs

• Softer and more gentle than a salt scrub, making it more suitable for sensitive skin.
• The sugar in the scrub acts as a gentle glycolic acid that helps to break down dead skin cells at the molecular level.
• Sugar scrubs do not have the mineralization benefits of a salt scrub.
• Use a sugar scrub before shaving for an ultra close shave & after shaving to prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs.
• Not suited to those with excessively rough skin, as it is gentle and will not help in removing the dead skin.

Take the time to experiment and come up with the exfoliation routine that is right for you.  By exfoliating regularly, you can achieve & maintain healthy, radiant and youthful looking skin....even in the dead of winter!

Other Scrubs You May Like:

• Bliss Hot Salt Scrub ($36, http://www.sephora.com/) - This self heating formula gently exfoliates with sea salts & stimulates the senses with rosemary and eucalyptus.
• Burt's Bees Cranberry and Pomegranate Scrub ($13, http://www.burtsbees.com/) - A combination of natural sugar crystals, shea butter, cranberry seed and pomegranate oil that gently polishes & conditions the skin.
• Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger Body Scrub ($26.50, http://www.origins.com/) - White and Brown sugars buff roughness away while Dead Sea Salts rejuvenate the skin, leaving behind a hint of Ginger. 

XOXO