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Red + Hot and New!
Are you a product junkie who wants the scoop on the "Newest of the New" items available? Do you play detective to discover product launch dates, and then wait outside the store on the day they will show up?
I admit it, I LOVE being one of the first to try a brand-spanking new item! My friends laugh at me, but deep down, I think they have gotten used to having me as a resource to ask, "Is this item good?" or "Will I like it better than…?" New beauty booty is FUN, and at Cosmetic Connection, we try to nab the latest and greatest first, so you can get the scoop before your friends (or that slightly snooty co-worker or carpool mom who thinks she has all the answers). Here are a few new and wonderful goodies I have recently tried for hair, body, and face:
Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo and Conditoner (each approximately $20, at an Aveda Concept Salon, or Aveda.com)
This moisturizing duo is my new secret weapon for smooth, shiny hair! When used together, Aveda promises this shampoo and conditioner will reduce frizz by about 60%. Being mathematically challenged myself, I'm not sure how to test the credentials of that claim, but I do know that my hair feels very silky and is resisting the oppressive Ohio humidity beautifully!
Formulated with extracts of maize, guar gum, and aloe, this shampoo and conditioner really does smooth the hair cuticle without making it feel heavy or oily, and leaves behind a weightless layer of protection for heat styling. I was worried how well it would work without blow drying (I usually wash my hair at night, and let it dry naturally, then the next morning I smooth it with a straightening iron or large barrel curling iron, depending on the look I'm going for) but honestly, it doesn't seem to matter that I am not blow-drying. While using this shampoo and conditioner, my hair dries naturally with much less frizz and "weird little waves." If you have thick, wavy, or just plain "unruly" hair, you should give this cleansing and conditioning duo a try!
Jonathan Product Silky Dirt ($28, at Sephora.com)
When my hair was shorter, I used the original Dirt Texturizing Paste® all the time. I loved the way it tamed my hair, and the completely delicious smell always gave me a little lift! However, as my hair got longer, I found that it didn't work as well for me. Even though the original formula is oil free, it is still pretty heavy, and even a slight miscalculation in the amount applied would leave my hair a little limp. So, I passed the jar on to my husband (he loves it!) but I was a little sad to not have a product to fill that gap...
Enter Silky Dirt Shine & Define Creme! This new cream is considerably more lightweight, so it works really well to give longer hair like mine that sexy, messy, day-after "bedhead" look. And, it still has that fabulous lemon-y-vanilla scent I crave! Even more great news: it is still also 100% vegan!
Cake Beauty Satin Sugar All-Purpose Treatment Balm ($24, at cakebeauty.com)
Everyone needs a great, all-in-one product that they can use for a host of beauty woes This sweet-smelling, little jar of 86% shea butter and a "dash of beeswax" certainly fits the bill. It works beautifully to moisturize lips, cuticles, elbows, knees. It even works as a hair smoother for little fly-aways (just know that a little goes along way).
Don't be put off if this balm feels a bit firm and "pebbly" in the jar, because as soon as you warm it a bit between your fingers, it becomes smooth and creamy. I leave my jar on my bedside stand, and it has taken the place of numerous lotions, lip balms, and creams. It is also perfect for travel. A very effective little multi-tasker!
Bliss The Youth As We Know It Age-Fighting Moisture Cream (1.7 oz for $79 at Sephora.com
)
Although I love their Soapy Sap Body Wash and Plum Plum Super Softening Body Oil Spray, I have not really tried anything recently that Bliss makes "for face." So, when I scored a few samples of this cream from Sephora, I was really curious, and excited to give it a try!
Bliss says about their Youth As We Know It Cream:
"An extraordinary age-fighting moisture cream that has it all, including MMP Inhibitors, Wrinkle Reduction Peptides, Visual Facial Fillers, Cellular Respiration Boosters, Hyperdermal Destressors, 7-Day Hydrators, Barrier Repairing Ceramides, Wrinkle Relaxers, Multifruit Complex, and Vitazyme A. The Youth As We Know It is a one-stop shop for wrinkle renovation, exfoliation, oxygenation, binding hydration, surface line relaxation, cellular respiration, and collagen and elastin regeneration."
Whew! That is quite a mouthful of beauty babble! I wasn't sure what to make of this cream, but I was so intrigued that I couldn't wait to try it. I've been using this lightweight, non-greasy cream, morning and night, for about a week now, and I am really, really pleased with the results. My skin looks incredibly smooth, my pores look TINY, and I have a nice glow, despite the fact I am so pregnant I am about to pop, and sleep is just not something I get much of these days! This cream has also caused zero breakout problems for me, which is nice considering that with the "pregnancy glow" comes the "pregnancy sensitivity." While this is certainly not a bargain-priced item, you don't need to use much, so I expect 1.7 ozs will last quite a while.
Prestige Cosmetics Lightshine Weightless Lip gloss in Elba
This is a preview item I received, and I just love it. The bad news is I am not sure when it is going to hit stores, so keep an eye peeled! This vanilla-scented gloss feels smooth and light on lips, and the "Elba" shade, despite the fact it looks a weird-ish color of pink in the tube, makes for a perfectly mod, pale pout. I have never had much luck with pale shades (they always look chalky or too white) but this color is PERFECT, especially with a faux tan! Although I'm not sure exactly what the price point will be, Prestige always delivers great value for a low cost. My suggestion? Make sure you snag a tube of this as soon as you see it!
Hopefully these reviews will give you a head start in picking up some of this spring and summer's hottest new items before anyone else :)
- Lisa
find out about this reviewer and more about the panel...
Posted May 29, 2007
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