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April 29, 2005
Oh boy, oh boy - something new and perky from Benefit
I just got the mail and a new box of goodies from Benefit arrived. This time it's their new fall color collection, Roadside Attractions. Okay, whoever has the "name that product" job over there deserves a pat on the back. Check these out:
...my meter's running
...nice ride
...is this going to take long
...ex's make great speed bumps
Each one is a three color palette of either powder eye shadows (both neutral, with one warm and one cool) or glossy lip creams (also one warm and one cool). They'll be $20 a piece and available in August.
Is May too soon for fall colors?
- Heather
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Posted by heather at 2:02 PM
April 27, 2005
Really liking this new lip color compact
I'm playing with this new lip color compact from FYLO (For Your Lips Only) and I just love the palette compact. The creator, Heidi, calls them cubicles because the individual pots of color are in square little cubes that pop in and out of the compact.
Here, check this out:
I like that there are so many choices, too. If you are not into picking out every last shade yourself and you just want the lipstick experts to figure it out for you, you can get a gift set which comes with two coordinating lip pencils for four lip color cubes, and a lip brush (runs $60 for a full size cubicle).
If you want to customize your cubicle yourself, there both lipsticks and glosses ($8 each), plus lip pencils ($7 each). The colors are nice and creamy, the pencils easy to apply and blend, and together they last pretty well through the day. I wore Sonata lipstick with Mimi lip pencil the other day and it lasted nicely through lunch - impressive.
So to make a long story short, these are cool and I recommend you check out the website (fylocosmetics.com). :)
- Heather
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Posted by heather at 1:25 PM
April 20, 2005
A day at the supermarket
I don't get excited about very much in terms of skin care anymore. Everything runs together to me - all that anti-aging, wrinkle removing, lifting, firming nonsense. Please. Maybe someday I'll care, but right now I just want products that work to perform basic, everyday functions. Clean and moisturize. Not too tough.
So on my weekly trips to New Seasons Market here in Portland, I always take a stroll down the skin care and essential oil aisle to see what's what. On a recent trip I spotted something new: Collective Wellbeing, a new brand from the folks who created Davies Gate. Everything is in mellow light green and yellow bottles and tubes, with something for face, body, and hair.
I've tried a bunch of the products, and the ones that stand out to me are:
Cleansing Gel: the first and only gel cleanser I've tried truly removes makeup without a lot of effort, and never, ever considered drying out my face. I have dry skin and gel cleansers usually don't work well for me, but this one is thick, stays in its gel form instead of foaming into a soapy slop, and it feels calming and comforting. I have already used up a whole tube and am on my second.
Enemy of Frizz: In addition to dry skin, I also have a tendency toward dry, frizzy and flyaway fine hair. Talk about a pain. Most styling products to take care of this problem either have way too much hold and make my hair stuck to my head like a helmet, or they are so gooey and greasy that if you make one small error in judgement you pretty much have to wash your hair all over again or find a snappy headband or ponytail holder to hide the disaster. I like Enemy of Frizz because it has some hold and control, but it doesn't make helmet head, and it's versatile so you can find success using it on damp hair and then blowdrying as well as using it as a finishing product for extra protection on those super frizz prone areas.
Night Balm: When my skin is acting dry or just stressed, I really like this super-rich shea butter and lavendar balm to whip it back into shape.
Honey Buff: For those times when I need a scrub, I like this one because it's gritty and a bit astringent, but it's not overkill for my dry skin because the honey has a soothing quality.
Collective Wellbeing has a website at collectivewellbeing.com. Along with the cool selection of products, you can also log in to the site as a customer and vote for which non-profits should get a portion of product proceeds.
Wash your face, save the world.
- Heather
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Posted by heather at 9:16 AM
April 17, 2005
I think I'm gonna like it here
I'm getting back to my roots with Cosmetic Connection with this new format, and it's kind of cool. One of the motivations for starting the site way back when was the ability to "talk" to other women online as if we were all friends sharing makeup tips over a cup of coffee. I'm hoping to get back to that space and have more fun with the site.
See ya 'round the water cooler.
- Heather
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Posted by heather at 3:58 PM
Judith goes crazy with skin care
I've spent the past several months trying out three different skin care lines. Always on the lookout for a super simple, but highly effective skin care program for my mature, normal to dry and somewhat sensitive skin, I'm pleased to tell you about the following three ranges of products.
RODAN + FIELDS
When offered the opportunity to test skincare products from Rodan + Fields, I jumped at the chance! After all, Dr. Katie Rodan, M.D. and Dr. Kathy Fields, M.D., both highly regarded dermatologists and researchers, are the developers of the wildly successful acne skincare line, ProActiv Solution, which has been sold on QVC and through TV infomercials for many years. ProActiv is geared toward those with acne, but Rodan + Fields is not aimed at a specific skin type. Instead, it is an upscale range of products for different skin types. Using the name Multi-Med Therapy, Rodan + Fields claim to blend clinical skin care with prestige beauty.
Rodan + Fields features four different skincare regimes: Radiant Regimen for Uneven Skin Tone, Calm Regimen for Blemishes and Breakouts/Facial Redness, Clean Regimen for Blackhead Distraction, and their newest Anti-Age Regimen for Wrinkles, Collagen Loss and Surface Damage. Also available are individual products sold under the heading of Compounds.
For testing, I was given Rodan + Fields Radiant 4-Step Regiment for Brown Spots, Fine Lines and Photo-Aging. This is advertised as a full skin care regimen that uses FDA-approved active ingredients and botanicals to reverse damage from photo-aging. The Radiant kit contained four products. Radiant 1 Wash Exfoliant Facial Cleanser ($35) is the only facial cleanser included in the kit. I've learned from past experience that using anything resembling cleansing grains daily, such as Radiant 1 Wash Exfoliant Facial Cleanser, either once or twice a day, is not a good idea for my sensitive skin. I substituted Compounds Gentle Face Wash ($25), a rather ordinary soap-free cleanser that was mild and non-irritating, but not strong enough to remove my mascara (my test of a good cleanser!).
The next product in the kit was Radiant 2 Prepare Skin Lightening Toner ($35), which contains 2% hydroquinone (the maximum amount allowed in non-RX skin bleaching products) combined with kojic acid, bearberry extract, beta hydroxy acid (also considered an exfoliator), and vitamin C. This toner was to be used to prepare the skin for Radiant 3 Treat Skin Lightening Lotion ($65), which also contains 2% hydroquinone to fade brown spots and even out skin tone, along with vitamins C and E to soften lines and improve the texture of the skin. I saw no difference in these products than any other non-prescription skin bleaching product I have tried over the years. While the combination of using the Exfoliant Facial Cleanser in the conjunction with the Skin Lightening Toner is supposed to prepare the skin for use of the Skin Lightening Lotion, for those with sensitive skin, I would suggest you test these products first, as all of this exfoliation might be too much for daily use.
The final product in the kit is Radiant 4 Protect Sunscreen with SPF 15 with UVA/UVB protection ($35). Since there was no moisturizer in the regime, I figured this was to be used in place of a moisturizer. First of all, I was shocked that the SPF listed for this product was only 15. Secondly, when I applied it the first time, it burned my face. I've never tried an SPF product that burned my face, so I figured it was because I had done all that exfoliating. I tried the sunscreen three more times during the course of two weeks and each time had the same result. This stuff burns! I won't be trying it again.
Rodan + Fields is marketing individual products as Compounds, such as would have been found in an old fashioned apothecary. Products are packaged attractively in white paper sacks. Sold separately are Compounds Moisturize, a rather ordinary lightweight moisturizer with no further SPF protection. This moisturizer was okay, and probably would be fine for warm weather use, but in cold weather, I need a heavy duty moisturizer or my makeup settles into lines by the end of the day. (My motto is "Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!") The final product in the test products package, which left me absolutely dumbfounded, was a bag of cotton squares, Compounds Details Gauze, designed to hold the exact amount of product to your face. At $6 for 60 cotton squares, I can't imagine anyone would find this a necessity!
I guess you can tell that I was not impressed with these products. I was, in fact, rather disappointed. What with all the hype surrounding their ProActiv line, I figured these new products would be exceptional. In the end, I think that Rodan + Fields, like other successful skincare lines which specialize in the solution for one particular type of skin problem, want to be everything to everyone instead of sticking with what they already do best!
Rodan + Fields Radiant 4-Piece Kit is $125, which offers a 25% savings over buying the products individually. A travel size kit is available for $65. Products can be purchased at Rodanandfields.com, Nordstrom.com and on QVC
YON-KA
Yon-Ka is a French skin care company that features plant-based skin care products incorporating aromatherapy and marine biology. I must admit that I delved into these products slowly and timidly, because I have had reactions to plant-based products in the past. This time, though, I should have not worried, because these products were gentle and produced great results.
The hardest part of this test was deciding which products to test, as Yon-Ka's product list is very long!
Nettoyant Creme ($30 for 3.5 oz. tube) is a rinse-off cream cleanser which is supposed to be for very sensitive skin. I'm not a big fan of cream cleansers, but this did a fine job of cleaning my face. The fact that it contains peppermint, which I've always considered an irritant but Yon-Ka claims calms irritated skin, may be problematic for some with very sensitive skin, as might the strong lavender scent.
As has become my habit when reviewing skin care products, I always try to find a gel cleanser to test, because gels are what I like best. Yon-Ka's Gel Nettoyant ($30 for 6.8 oz.) ranks right up at the top of my favorites list! Not as thick as a gel, it is more like a liquid-gel. It cleans my face beautifully, including mascara, rinses of easily, and leaves my face smooth and not tight. It has a very light lavender scent - not as strong as the Nettoyant Creme. I really like this product and plan to use it again.
Yon-Ka Creme 83 ($43 for 1.7 oz. tube) is a lightweight day moisturizer intended for sensitive skin. It contains calendula and linden extracts to calm and protect the skin, while its complex of aromatic oils oxygenates and repairs the skin. Used in conjunction with Dermol 3 ($38 for .5 oz.), a serum for sensitive skin, these products help fight dehydration and provide an excellent base for my makeup.
An alternative choice for a moisturizer is Fruitelia PS phyto-fruit moisturizer ($60 for 1.7 oz glass pump bottle) with botanical AHAs and 2% natural glycolics, as well as a complex of vitamins A, E, and F, plus rice bran oil, which is a natural sunscreen, and titanium dioxide, which is a physical sunscreen. This lightweight moisturizer is perfect for daytime use. While I've been wary of using any AHA products on my face for quite a while, this gentle moisturizer did not cause any redness or irritation.
In addition to Fruitelia PS, which acts as a natural sunscreen, Yon-Ka also offers Ultra Protection Age-Free Solar Block with Botanicals and Fruit Extracts SPF 25 which is a super sunscreen, working beautifully under makeup or on its own. At $48 for a 1.7 oz. tube, it SHOULD be great!
For my nighttime Yon-Ka beauty routine, I washed my face with Gel Nettoyant and alternated using Fruitelia PS and Dermol 3 under the recommended nighttime moisturizer, Phyto 58 PS for normal to dry skin ($45 for 1.4 oz. tube). Let me warn you from the beginning that if you don't like the scent of Vicks Vap-o-Rub, you will not like Phyto 58, which has a very strong rosemary menthol scent. (I happen to love the smell, but I'm sure I'm in the minority on this one!) Phyto 58 PS is a therapeutic night cream which contains vitamins A and E, as well as the afore mentioned rosemary essence and extract which is supposed to detoxify, oxygenate and decongest your skin. According to the company blurb, Phyto 58 PS "has both healing (yang) and cooling (ying) qualities" which gives your skin a "detox" program while you sleep. I'm not sure I buy this advertising lingo, but it was a nice night cream and didn't cause any problems.
Yon-Ka offers a large range of products for all skin types and is typically sold in salons and spas. All of the Yon-Ka products I tried worked very well and I'm happy to recommend them. The price of each product, though, is high. You may want to check to see if there is a dealer in your area who has samples for you to try. You can locate your local Yon-Ka beauty center or spa by calling 1-800-533-6276. You can also buy Yon-Ka products online at skinstore.com and skin-one.com.
AHAVA
I was fortunate to have spent a week in Israel in February. Ahava is a popular Israeli skincare line made from Dead Sea minerals, and you see Ahava sold at what seems like every other storefront in Israel! Ahava's scientists have researched the benefits of the minerals found in the Dead Sea and combined the best of the minerals, muds and desert plants found in the region. The resulting product is a concentrated extract produced from the waters of the Dead Sea by using a natural evaporation process to produce the Mineral Skin Osmoter™, based on osmosis, which replenishes moisture and helps maintain the natural balance of the skin. The Ahava products target oily skin, regular to dry skin, very dry skin, all skin types, sensitive skin, as well as a new Time-Line range targeted to those in their 30s and 40s to help prevent the ravages of aging (I wanted to try this group, as it is new, but the dealer I was working with told me I was too old!). Most of the products are formulated for more than one skin type.
Despite the abundance of Ahava vendors in Jersualem, I was directed by a friend, whom I must note has exquisite skin, to a small shop near the old city in Jerusalem, where the owner looked over my face and pulled out the products he thought I needed. Of course, being who I am, I bought some other products, too, and will tell you about all of them.
For starters, Ahava offers three cleansers, all of which I have tried. Cleansing Milk for Normal to Dry Skin ($24 for 8.5 oz. pump bottle) is the first creamy cleanser that I've found that actually works better for me than my usual gel. Lightly scented, it washes off completely, unlike many other cream cleansers I have tried. Deep Cleanser ($20 for 3.4 oz. tube) is a lighter weight, but more heavy duty, cleanser that does a wonderful job of removing makeup. You can also use the Deep Cleanser as a mask 1-2 times a week by leaving it on for several minutes and then rinsing. Both of the afore mentioned cream cleansers remove mascara beautifully, but I also tried and like the Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover ($18 for a 6.8 oz plastic squeeze bottle). I keep a tube of their Mud Exfoliator ($24 for 3.4 oz.) in the shower and I use it 1-2 times a week. The grit is very fine and it is completely non-irritating.
For those of you with oilier skin, or who need something stronger for summer heat, try the Purifying Gel for Oily Skin ($28 for 4.2 oz.).
For my daytime regime, after washing my face with either Cleansing Milk for Normal to Dry Skin or Deep Cleanser, I apply Mineral Toning Water for Normal to Dry Skin ($21 for 8.5 oz.), an alcohol-free toner which balances the PH level of my skin. I then use Mineral Beauty Serum for very dry skin ($60 for 1 oz. pump), followed by Smoothing Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin ($40 for 1.7 oz.) and Time-Line Age-Defying Eye Treat ($35 for a .5 oz. tube), a very light and non-greasy gel-based eye cream.
For my nighttime routine, everything is the same, except that after applying a couple of drops of the Mineral Beauty Serum, I use Skin Replenisher for Very Dry Skin ($48 for 1.7 oz. jar) and Mineral Eye Cream for All Skin Types ($40 for 1 oz.). Both of these heavier creams do a great job of moisturizing without feeling too greasy.
Initially, the reason I wanted to visit Ahava was to buy some of their foot cream, which I've always thought to be one of the best moisturizing foot creams on the market. At the time we were on the trip, my hands were suffering from the ravages of winter and I had several split fingers. I was told to forget about hand cream and use Ahava Foot Cream ($16 for 3.4 oz tube) on my hands instead! That was one of the best suggestions for my dry skin I've ever received! I've been using this regularly on my hands and feet since we returned and they have never looked better!
Also, I've been using Ahava's Dermud Dry Skin Treatment Intensive Nourishing Body Cream ($30 for 6.8 oz.) and Ahava's Dermud Soothing Body Milk ($28 for 8.4 oz.), both of which are extremely soothing and very lightly scented. They done a great job helping me fight my post-winter dry, itchy and flaky skin.
Ahava is now my skincare regime of choice. It's straight forward, simple to use and makes my skin look and feel great! I highly recommend it!
Ahava products can be found at drugstore.com. I have quoted retail prices, but there are also several sites online that discount and you can find them easily by doing an online search for Ahava. If you happen to be in Jerusalem, visit the Dead Sea Gallery, 17 Jaffa Rd. at the corner of King Shlomo Street. They ship mail orders overseas. Email dsgahava.netvision.net.il for prices and postage rates.
Happy Shopping!
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Posted by heather at 12:25 PM
Lisa attacks bacne
I've discovered that when you are in your thirties, your skin can really be a mixed bag. While the skin on my face has never been better, the skin on my back is an entirely different story. I have struggled with acne on my back (the dreaded "bacne") since I was a teenager, but for some reason, it has gotten especially bad now. Treating bacne, or any body breakouts, is a tricky proposition; you have to find a balance between moisture and treatment, or else flare-ups can worsen and become even more red and irritated. I decided to try some different over the counter remedies to see if they would help - before the warm weather prompts more revealing clothing, I want my skin to look clear and smooth!
Benefit Bionic Blast Body Scrub ($20)
This foaming body wash has salicylic acid, as well as exfoliating beads to scrub pores and fight bacteria. I liked the fact that these were "soft" exfoliating beads as opposed to a crushed seed/nut scrub, which can be a little harsh on blemished skin. I use it with a puff in the shower about 3 times a week, and have definitely noticed it calms my skin when it is at its worst. The tube design also makes it really portable; pop it in gym bag to shower after you work out, since sweat is especially irritating to body acne.
Clean and Clear Daily Pore Cleansing Cloths ($6)
These disposable cleansing cloths have a slightly nubby texture on one side, and are soft on the other. Just add water, and they work up a nice little lather; use the nubby side to exfoliate, rinse the cloth out, and then use the soft side to remove lather and rinse skin. The salicylic acid content is pretty low, so they aren't terribly drying. I really like them, but I have a very hard time justifying regularly using a product that generates so much waste. However, if you travel, these are perfect. Just toss a few in a zip-lock bag - they take up practically no space in an already-cramped toiletry case.
DDF 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel with Tea Tree Oil ($21)
This was my first experience with DDF, and I was really impressed with this product. This cream/gel is totally non-sticky, and absorbs readily into the skin. It did not over-dry or irritate, and definitely helped prevent new pimples from cropping up. One drawback: I could not wear it during the day because it REALLY bleaches any clothing it comes in contact with. However, using it at night solves the problem because you can toss on an old T-shirt and not worry about it.
Sephora Brand The Great Pumpkin Mask ($30)
This tingly, "active" mask is perfect for face or body, and smells fantastic! Real pumpkin (full of exfoliating enzymes) mixed with extracts of nutmeg, ginger, blood orange, bergamot, and vanilla, rev up cell turnover and purify pores. Start slowly with this mask; leave it on for about 5 minutes the first time, and work up to 10-15 minutes with subsequent applications. If your skin is very sensitive, stick to short applications - you'll still get great results.
So, the struggle for great skin continues. If you have product recommendations or treatments you have found to be effective in fighting body breakouts, drop me a line at lisalinkphillips@insight.rr.com. We are always looking for your input and suggestions.
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Posted by heather at 12:19 PM
April 6, 2005
This and that from Denise
J.Lynne Cosmetics
Jess Miller launched J.Lynne Cosmetics in 2005 after years of using traditional cosmetics that irritated her skin. All of J.Lynne's products are crafted in small batches and are completely free of chemicals, synthetics, fragrances and dyes. These days, mineral makeup is becoming almost the industry norm, so Jess knew that she had to go the extra mile to rise above the ranks. All of J.Lynne's loose power products are made with only titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which provide excellent staying power, and at the same time forming a natural UV block for the skin. I tried several of J.Lynne's products, and I'm a devoted fan!
Mineral Smooth Foundation ($18)
Mineral foundation is one of the marvels of the modern-day cosmetic world, as far as I'm concerned. It took me a while to perfect the process - at first I was applying too much of the powder foundation to my cheeks, which caused them to become dry and inflammed. Once I realized this and corrected my error, I am now able to achieve perfect coverage every time. It never ceases to amaze me what great coverage loose power mineral foundation provides. I tried J.Lynne's Mineral Smooth Foundation in Ivory Neutral (1.3) and Ivory Warm (1.4), which were nearly interchangeably suitable shades for my light skin. This foundation lasts all day long with not a crease in sight. It's a winner in my book! Again, the only caution that I have is to be careful in the application. I think that a lot of women are probably of the same mind set that I was - that a loose powder foundation can't possibly provide very complete coverage with minimal application. Believe me, it can and does! A little really does go a long way.
Finishing Powder ($12)
After using J.Lynne's foundation and powder together for a few days, I quickly decided that they are somewhat duplicative, and unless you have very oily skin, it's probably only necessary to use one or the other on any given day. I use J.Lynne's Finishing Powder in Light/Ivory on weekends, or really on any of my "less made-up" days, and it ensures that my face stays matte and beautiful all day long. This ultra-fine powder is also great for setting color between lipstick coats or putting that final touch on any finished face. It's a definite staple in my makeup kit.
Illuminating Powder ($12)
This is one of those fun products that really adds the finishing, beautiful touch to a face. The pure mica pigments that make up these gorgeous illuminating powders is intense, so I learned quickly to apply it with a light hand. My favorite is Sunset, which is a luscious warm peach shade with golden crystals in it. It looks absolutely fabulous swiped across the tops of cheekbones, or even subtly dusted over the collarbone. Again, the color and shimmer of the Illuminating Powder lasts all day and into the night. What a great product!
Through years of research and careful planning, Jessica Lynne Miller was able to develop an extremely high quality line of products, which are also priced very reasonably. I recommend that you visit her website at jlynnecosmetics.com and choose some sample jars so that you can try a few products or even the whole line - I don't think that you'll be disappointed! It's an added bonus to have the opportunity to support an entrepreneurial woman in her launch of a great line of products that will in turn help us all to look and feel our best!
Benefit eyecon ($26)
As the years fly by, I'm always on the hunt for effective eye creams. By the way, have I told you that I'm counting backwards from 30 now? But I digress... On a recent trip to Sephora, I picked up a jar of Benefit's latest creation, eyecon. I've been a fan of Benefit products for some time now - their high-quality ingredients and fun packaging reel me in every time. Eyecon is no exception. It's touted as a dark eye circle fading miracle, and you know what? It's really true! Eyecon contains orange and apple extracts to nourish skin and essence of japonica leaf to fade the appearance of under eye circles. After the first few days of using eyecon, my under eye area felt less puffy and my under eye circles that I've always battled were noticeably reduced. I use eyecon morning and night, and my eye area is smooth and bright. Another great product by our pals at Benefit! Pick up a jar for yourself at Sephora.com or at benefitcosmetics.com.
Alterna White Truffle Luxury Shampoo and Conditioner - Private Reserve
I've read so much about Alterna's luxury line in magazines, I was excited to have the opportunity to finally try the products for myself. The price tags attached to these stylish plastic bottles are astronomical, around $70 for the shampoo and ranging from $99 to $120 for the conditioner. Now, I've read the ingredient list on these products, and I realize that they are packed full of expensive and rare ingredients, such as European White Truffle oil, Caspian Sea Caviar extract, and Arabian Frankincense, all of which are very indulgent and luxurious. However, for me, the proof is in the pudding. I have no problem spending money on products that are worth their weight in gold, or caviar in this case, so I dove into the Alterna line head first to see how deep my next spending spree was going to get. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that these products are aimed more towards the jet-set who like to claim that they only use the best of the best, and are therefore addicted to Alterna's luxury shampoo and conditioner. Don't get me wrong, I didn't NOT like these products, in fact, I thought that they worked very well. If they were priced a bit more reasonably - even at half the price - I would definitely buy them again. I did not, however, experience earth-shattering results, which would be a necessity in order for me to spend that kind of money on shampoo and conditioner. The Alterna formula is designed to change and heal the hair shaft from the inside out, using enzymes, Omega 3 fatty acids, and high-powered vitamins B and E. White Truffle Oil is a rich source of B vitamins, which do a fantastic job of strengthening the hair shaft. My hair was always soft and shiny after using these products, with never a flyaway to be found. The smell is pleasant, although somewhat nondescript, and the shampoo doesn't foam as richly as I would prefer. One great feature of all Alterna products is that they contain full spectrum UV protection to prevent further damage. I probably won't be joining the ranks of the Alterna Luxury line jet-set, but if you'd like to check out their full line of products, visit Alterna's website at 4alterna.com. The Luxury Shampoo and Conditioner are available at select salons and also online at beautysak.com.
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Posted by heather at 2:13 PM
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