Beauty Tip: Sun-Kissed Skin

Summer is right on our heels (SO thankful) but why wait until then to look like you have been kissed by the sun?  I absolutely love the sun!  Maybe it has something to do with me being a summer baby but whatever the case may be, I can never get enough of it.  There is nothing like a good tan!  I absolutely love the bronzy glow I get after laying out.  However, you don't need a trip to the beach to illuminate your skin.  A sun-kissed appearance can be achieved by mixing a touch of gold highlighter with your foundation or tinted moisturizer.  This little trick will give you a natural glow!  And if you are opting for the bronze goddess look like Christina's (see photo), keep the rest of your makeup in the same color family and this will give you a natural effect.  Try using a matte bronzer on your cheeks, a natural color on your lids (like a taupe), and tie it all together with a swipe of gold-flecked lipgloss!

My highlighter of choice is Josie Maran's Argan Illuminizer.  The Argan Illuminizer is described as an ultra light skin brightener with a hint of bronze giving the skin a radiant, luminous, lit-from-within glow that lasts all day.  And I can vouch...it does just that! :)  If that wasn't enough and as the name suggests, this product contains Argan Oil.  Commonly referred to as "liquid gold" or "The Gold of Morocco", Argan Oil is an incredibly rich source of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids.  It has astonishing healing, conditioning and anti-aging properties to help keep your skin nourished and revitalized.  The Argan Illuminizer can be purchased online at http://www.josiemaran.com/ and at Sephora (retail - $28).

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer

Added Benefits of Argan Oil:

1. Soften dry skin - Argan Oil's naturally high concentration in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids work to alleviate dry skin and rough patches.
2. Help Minimize fine lines - Smooth Argan Oil over skin and under your eyes for intense moisture and to reduce appearance of fine lines.
3. Help heal acne blemishes and scarring - With regular use, Argan Oil is widely reported to heat existing acne blemishes, prevent the occurrence of new breakouts and help reduce scarring.
4. Give skin a fresh, youthful look - Argan Oil easily absorbs into skin to give you a youthful, dewy glow.

Glow forth & be merry!! :)


XOXO,


~Tiaja

Benefit's Boo Boo Zap is B-A-C-K & Revamped!!

This news has literally made my day!  I swore by this stuff for years and then out of the blue and without warning, Benefit Cosmetics decided to discontinue the product.  I was heartbroken!!  The product that I speak of is Boo Boo Zap, the magical zit zapper! 

Old Boo Boo Zap

I was first introduced to this wonder product by my close friend, Cole, who worked for the company at the time.  And it was love at first try!  I loved everything about this product, from it's comic book packaging with the zit-fighting superheroin leaping across the SF skyline (see Right), to it's compact size & more importantly, how effective it was at getting rid of my zits.....with this stuff, they did not stand a chance!  I carried Boo Boo Zap with me everywhere I went.  A dab of this stuff and my blemish/ acne problem was zapped away!  So, imagine my horror when I visited the Benefit counter and was told that the product was no longer available.  But today, that all changed with the announcement that this wonder product was back on the market!

Meet the revamped, reformulated and repackaged Boo Boo Zap!  Although there have been a few changes made, its objective remains the same - to banish blemishes and reduce the appearance of redness and swelling.  While it still contains salicylic acid, they have removed the witch hazel and camphor, and added glycolic acid, bisabolol (an extract of chamomile believed to soothe flaky dry skin), PPG-26 and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, a compound some folks try to avoid. Sounds like a MAJOR overhaul, huh?  I just hope that these changes will not compromise the effectiveness of a product that I feel was perfect the way it was.

While doing away with the comic book theme, Boo Boo Zap has been added to Benefit's b.bright SKINCARE line and has adopted its lighter more sophisticated look of green, tan and white packaging.  In addition, you get more product and a lower price tag (which is always an added plus)!!  The new zit zapper will contain 7.4 milliliters and will retail for $16, while the old one held 6 milliliters and retailed for $20.  A $4 decrease is pretty substantial...that's a grande Mocha Frapp at Starbucks!! :)

I have yet to try this revamped formula.  And while i'm excited that Benefit Cosmetics has decided to bring one of my favorite products back, I am equally nervous that it will not live up to its predecessor.  My fingers are crossed with this one!

The new Boo Boo Zap is scheduled to hit Benefit stores and counters in May.  However, if you cannot wait to get your hands on this product, I have good news!  It is currently available online at http://www.benefitcosmetics.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