Have I mentioned my love of One Bath and Body yet? If not, here goes: Yay for One! This environmentally friendly, Texas-based brand began making waves in the beauty blogosphere when it debuted at Target early this year. “Affordable Lush dupes!” screamed the headlines. Now, I love me some Lush, but the price tag – and the relative scarcity of Lush stores (yes, I still prefer to shop for things in person rather than online, whenever possible) – means that I can’t indulge in their handmade goodies nearly as often as I’d like. So I hightailed it to Target and picked up a honey-scented Bath Fizzer, coconut-scented Shea Body Butter (LOVE this product), and a tiny yet adorable tin of their Cherry Pie Lip Butter Balm. Conclusion: One is awesome. But that’s not all!
If you decide to give One a try, keep an eye out for a little paper insert in the packaging touting “free lip balm” for filling out their online survey. Then, go here to fill out said survey, choose which flavor you’d like to receive, mail in your insert to the address provided, and wait for some complimentary lip love to hit your mailbox. My free tin of “Shea my lips” shea butter balm came a few days ago, and wow – it’s fantastic! So much better than the cherry pie flavor! (No offense, cherry pie.) This balm is soft and moisturizing and non-sticky and has a gentle, sweet smell that is kind of addictive but won’t overwhelm you. I’m obsessed with it. I carry it around with me from room to room when I’m at home. When I momentarily misplace it, I panic. And yet I can’t stop thinking about how I want the Honey cream and Coco-coconut flavors as well! One, what have you done to me?!
Anyhow, don’t let my tale of addiction scare you off. Grab a One product from Target and then send off your insert for a free lip balm today!
Personally, I have several dark marks on my face from past acne breakouts that I wouldn’t mind fading into obscurity. Even if you’ve never had a single pimple in your life, perhaps you wrestle with freckles, age spots, hyperpigmentation or just random skin discoloration here and there.
I’ve never tried a brightener before, but I was definitely interested. Luckily for me, the good folks at Skinbright were kind enough to provide us here at LatestBeauty with a complimentary bottle of their skin brightening serum, and I immediately volunteered for the privilege of testing it out.
? According to their website, it’s a “gentle, yet powerful skin brightener” that uses natural ingredients (like kojic acid, lemon extract and hemp oil) to exfoliate the skin and decrease the production of melanin, fading dark spots while keeping skin hydrated and healthy.
The packaging – a skinny bottle with a pump dispenser designed to keep air out of the product – is attractive enough, and the product itself is easy to use: Just take a little bit (one or two pumps should be plenty) and rub it in to the spots you want to fade. Skinbright recommends that you do this twice a day, everyday, unless you experience adverse effects.
However, I’m willing to give this product the benefit of the doubt and wait the full three to six months that the website claims it may require to restore my skin to pristine, spot-free condition.
In the meantime, I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of this product. Frankly, I expected it to do little to nothing, but within just a few days of starting my twice daily application regimen, my boyfriend noted that my skin looked nice, and asked what I had been doing differently!
One caveat: This was around the time that I also started using my new Bliss anti-acne cleanser, so I really can’t say for certain which one is contributing to my improved skin tone, although I suspect that it may be the combination of
A final note: Skinbright retails for $49 a bottle on the website (although there are price breaks if you order several at a time) – a little steep, although hardly unheard of for quality skincare.
However, it is worth noting that they offer a money-back refund if you’re dissatisfied with the product for any reason. Even if you finish the entire bottle, you can still get your money back, minus your return shipping costs and a $5 handling fee. Not bad, right? If you’re curious about Skinbright, I fully endorse giving it a go.
When summer rolls around, I’m a sucker for flowy, flirty, inexpensive dresses. I am drawn to them like a moth to a flame but I’m trying to curb my spending habits this summer, so I’ve abstained. But last week I was in Target and couldn’t help but try on a few. I put them back and was able to walk away. But there was one that haunted me throughout the week. They h ave
this adorable smocked dress in black and blue and I really wanted the royal blue color. Of course, they didn’t have my size so I tried on the black. Cute, very cute. But I wanted the blue, hence my self-control….
….until I went there yesterday and thought, “Well, let me just check to see if they have the blue in my size now.” And they did. So I did. I bought it.
Shampowder review – which I largely agree with, by the way – provided a basic rundown of the product, its promises and how well it delivers on them, I figured I would use my turn at the LatestBeauty pulpit to answer another burning dry shampoo question you might have: How does Shampowder compare to Tresemme’s Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, which I snatched up for less than $2 at the drugstore? Read on for the details of this heated beauty battle…
EASE OF USE: Fresh Start is dispensed in a spray can, which – as Meagan mentioned – is pretty standard when it comes to dry shampoos.
Shampowder, on the other hand, comes in a cute little tube with a brush for more targeted application. I like that the tube is clear, so you can see how much Shampowder you have left, I love how the bristles are protected when you close the cap, and I love the portability. I ‘ll admit that the brush application did take a little getting used to
Personally, I think it’s somewhat baby powder-esque, but a lighter, more sophisticated version of baby powder. The Fresh Start isn’t terrible, but it’s also a little odd and takes some getting used to. Shampowder smells great from the beginning, and it won’t overwhelm you if
OIL-ABSORBING ABILITY: Okay, I have to be honest here…I haven’t been using the Fresh Start a whole lot lately. Why? Because I keep reaching for the Shampowder instead! It’s so much better at absorbing oil and adding subtle body without forcing you to sit there while it soaks in and then brush it through a million times until the white foam disappears (if you’re lucky). Mineral pigments in Shampowder mean that it’s tailored to match your hair color (blonde, black or brown/red), and the fine texture means that it’s absorbed instantly into your hair.
PRICE: Finally, we have the little matter of the price tag to consider. Tresemme’s dry shampoo sells for around $6.99 (or less, if you can find a deal or you have a coupon – like I said, I got mine for just $1.34). Shampowder, however, retails for $15.99 on the Buttercream Cosmetics website. That makes Shampowder more than twice as expensive. However, I do feel like the quality you get is much higher, and the price tag seems fair.
In seconds, you look like you just stepped out of the salon!”
I am a bit fascinated with the concept of dry shampoo so I was eager to try out Shampowder, sent to us by the lovely folks at Buttercream Cosmetics. My interest was even more piqued when I saw the form of the dry shampoo: Instead of being dished out by a spray can like most dry shampoos I’ve tried, it came in a cute little powder brush. It looked like makeup and I instantly knew this was going to be different. What really intrigued me though was the fact that the inventor of Shampowder, Jayne Polan, says that she uses it almost everyday and only washes her hair every 5 to 7 days. That is a long time to go without a shampoo and water cleansing….was I up to the challenge
There are two things that I really like about Shampowder:
The applicator makes it really easy to target the oily parts of your hair and is super convenient to store in your purse for whenever you need it. The portability of the product goes a long way in its favor. I especially like how the silver portion protects the brush bristles when you put the lid back on for storage. When you try Shampowder out, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I h ate putting
a lid back on a brush and crimping the bristles – a personal pet peeve of mine.
The scent is a light vanilla that is pleasant and in no way overwhelming. The smell of dry shampoos has been a major reason I haven’t used them more regularly. I tried out Ojon at one point and learned an expensive lesson about smelling something before you buy it. It stunk so badly that I used it once and had to take a shower. Not so with Shampowder. I am very sensitive to smells – I can’t even wear perfume – and the scent of Shampowder is very subtle and noninvasive.
As far as effectiveness goes, Shampowder can really increase the volume of your hair which is one reason I like dry shampoo. My hair is pretty limp on its own and Shampowder definitely kicked it up a notch. I tried to go a week without washing my hair, like Jayne does. The first day of not washing, I was really pleased. My hair looked clean and it didn’t feel yucky. The second day of not washing, my hair felt okay in the morning with its second Shampowder application. By midday I was starting to feel a little antsy about it though and threw it back into a ponytail.
By that evening, I had to go back to traditional shampoo and water. I actually think my hair looked good still but I couldn’t break the mental barrier of not feeling clean enough.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Worth your $$. Definitely worth having in your arsenal. Perfect for giving your hair a pick-me-up before going out or on days you don’t have time to do the whole wash-and-dry routine.
(I have no actual proof that using a cheap cleanser compromises the quality of your skin, but after years of using products by the likes of Neutrogena, Cetaphil and – yes – even Ivory bar soap, I decided that a little splurge might be in order.) I headed straight to Sephora and asked the nearest sales associate what she recommended for oily, acne-prone skin.
Her top suggestion was this No ‘Zit’ Sherlock Purifying Cleanser+Toner by Bliss. She said that, despite the somewhat-medicinal smell, my skin would feel “like butter” after use, and I could count on the encapsulated formula to keep battling breakouts even after it had been rinsed away.
(By the way, are you aware of how awesome their return policy is?! You can bring anything back if you’re not satisfied, there’s no time limit on returns, and you only have to have the receipt for cash-back returns; without a receipt, they’ll give you store credit instead.
e? I don’t know about you, but I always relied on other skincare products to do the dirty work when it came to my breakouts, which I would classify as moderate in terms of both severity and frequency. Spot treatments, clarifying lotions, natural remedies (like sea salt or tea tree oil, both of which I still highly recommend)…all were more effective in actually clearing out my pores than anything I used to wash my face.
My skin felt so s oft and smooth after just one use, and it really has cleared up a few spots that were threatening to take over my face – and this is after only 3 days
I also love that it’s a nice combo of natural ingredients (yogurt, meadowsweet extract) and standard acne fighters (salicyclic acid). It’s so awesome, in fact, that I’m planning to pick up the entire trio of No ‘Zit’ Sherlock products, which includes a Correcting Serum (formulated to minimize pores, refine skin texture and reduce the appearance of post-pimple pigmentation) and an Oil Control Moisturizer. Has anyone else had luck with Bliss skincare
a strange choice for me, I’ll admit, but I think I’m going to cast my vote for Gwyneth Paltrow’s stunning, 60s-inspired hot pink Prada minidress as Red Carpet Look of the Week!
(In fact, it kinds of borders on clashing, but I honestly dig that about it!) What I love most, however, is the way Gwyneth has really committed to her cause of wearing pink from head to toe, anchoring
Yes…I have to admit…I wasn’t entirely planning on seeing Sex and the City 2 this weekend. I know that a lot of people are gathering their girlfriends, grabbing some cosmos and buying their tickets – if they haven’t already. The movie officially opened yesterday and I wasn’t sure if I would set aside time to see it while its theaters. But there is something about the above picture of the ladies doing the red carpet thing at the London premiere that makes me want to make some room in my schedule. They all look stunning and I’m wishing I was in on this conversation. Kim has got something juicy to tell, SJP is eager to hear, Cynthia isn’t sure if she buys it and Kristin is shocked. They epitomize their characters in this picture and it makes me want to see the movie, just to feel like I’ve gotten a glimpse into this picture on the big screen. Even if it was just a clever ploy to get me to buy a ticket… it may have worked.
By the way, let’s just talk a little fashion for a moment. SJP is paying homage to her friend, the late and great Alexander McQueen by wearing one of his runway pieces. And notice the black band on her arm? A subtle and classy way to honor a friend’s passing. The color of Cynthia Nixon’s dress is stunning with her skin tone and hair color. And I love the way the bodice pulls off the one-shoulder trend. Can I say enough about Kristin Davis’ dress? From the elaborate gold to the flattering waistband this dress is something I wish I had hanging in my closet. And Kim Cattrall looks like a classic Old Hollywood siren. The cleavage and the slit are sometimes too much when paired together but Kim shows us how to do this daring look just right. Blake Lively should take some notes….
And I love the vibrant color on Kim’s nails. It may just be classic red but this picture makes it look like there may be a slight orange tone to the polish. Fire! I know what color
A quick search over at Essie is leaving me feeling satisfied. Doesn’t this red-orange shade called Vermillionaire look awfully similar to Kim’s mani/pedi? I think it is time to paint the town red-orange with a little help from my girlfriends… both real and onscreen.
I know we’ve posted about First Lady Michelle Obama’s spot-on fashion sense a lot – okay, a lot - but you’re just going to have to get used to it, especially if she keeps showing up at functions looking like this:
LOVE IT. The shimmery sapphire sheen of her one-shouldered Peter Soronen gown, the Jimmy Choo sandals (accented by perfectly polished pink toenails), the curly bob haircut, the earrings…it all works. She even matched her eyeshadow to her dress! Is it wrong that this is the kind of glamor I hope for when I tune in to the Oscars every year? Mrs. O shows the movie stars how it’s done!
Take, for instance, the Queen from Snow White: Sure, she’s asking her henchman to find and murder an innocent young girl simply because she’s a little bit prettier, but check out those perfectly arched brows, those shadowed lids, that ruby pout! Then there’s Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty, who not only turns herself into a dragon, she also rocks purple eyeshadow, tomato red lipstick and some sort of horned headpiece as an accessory.
? Well, you’re in luck – or you will be, come September (just in time for Halloween!), because that’s when MAC is set to launch their Venomous Villains line. The collection, which was created in conjunction with Disney, will include lipstick, lip gloss, blush and powder in shades inspired by four specific villains – although MAC isn’t spilling the beans on which baddies will be represented just yet.
If cheapie fashion retailer Forever 21’s website is any indication, you can get ready to see a whole lot of embroidery this summer. Sometimes embroidered clothes can look a little stuffy or old-fashioned, but when done well, it’s an airy, delicate, feminine look that’s perfect for summer. F21 has a pretty good selection of tops, tunics, dresses and rompers to choose from that all make great use of embroidered detailing, but my favorite is this lovely skirt - only $12.50! Is this a trend you can see yourself getting behind, or are you planning to sit the embroidery craze out for now?
It’s been unusually overcast and drizzly in L.A. lately, but Memorial Day is approaching and that means summer is right around the corner, no matter what the weather has to say about it! In the spirit of ushering in the hottest season of the year, why not check out Bath & Body Works’ seasonal Summer Vanillas Collection?
Pretty much everyone loves the sweet scent of vanilla on its own, but B&BW had the brilliant idea of pairing the perennial favorite with three delicious and complementary scents - namely, Berry, Coconut and Lemon. Berry Vanilla, Coconut Vanilla and Lemon Vanilla are available as shower gels, cooling mists, fragrance mists, candles, hand soaps and scrumptious flavored lip glosses.
If you feel like you simply can’t choose and must have all three scents, fret not: Bath & Body Works is currently offering a Buy 3, Get 2 Free OR Buy 2, Get 1 Free deal on the entire Summer Vanillas Collection. Products range in price from $5 for the hand soaps to $12.50 for the fragrance mist. Which one will become your new summer favorite?
Since I was running out of my coconut body scrub and I had a coupon for $1 off Aveeno products, I decided to try out one of the body washes in their new Positively Nourishing line, which promises “essential moisturizing benefits” coupled with “delicious and exciting fragrances.” The delicious, exciting fragrance I selected was Fig + Shea Butter, because a) figs smell amazing, and b) you don’t see many fig-scented beauty products, especially in the drugstore.
Seriously. I’ve always had good experiences with Aveeno in the past, so I wasn’t exactly surprised, but this stuff smells delicious, lathers up nicely and doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry or tight.
t in that capacity.) The bottle is a nice size as well, and it came packaged with a sample of Aveeno’s excellent shampoo and conditioner, so for the $6 I paid, I’ m very happy.
Incidentally, you can fill out a survey and get a coupon for $3 off any two Positively Nourishing products in the mail. While browsing the collection, my only complaint is that they don’ t offer body wash and body mois
Demystifying celebrities – mainly by showing images of them without the beautifying effects of makeup and/ or Photoshop – is a recent trend that shows no signs of slowing.
Recently, Jessica Simpson went bare-faced for Allure, while an unretouched version of a Britney Spears ad for Candie’s sparked yet another discussion about the role that the media plays when it comes to shaping women’ s perception
When I saw this “model mugshot” that Louis Vuitton released – dozens of models, including a few big names like Laetitia Casta and Elle Macpherson – I figured I would get your opinion: Does seeing celebrities without makeup still carry the impact it once did
Iron Man 2 made its big premiere last night in Hollywood. It was originally supposed to debut in London but had to relocate because of the volcano ash cloud that has been disrupting worldwide travel. But, as they say in the biz, the show must go on! And go on it did as the stars hit the red carpet in their all-white-glory. Gwyneth Paltrow is back for the franchise’s second go-around and she chose to play with fashion by pairing a white blazer with white shorts:
I have to admit: I remember very clearly the summer of ‘08 when Gwyneth burst back onto the fashion world radar with her super-short minis and her new bobbed haircut, when making the press rounds for the first Iron Man movie. I wanted everything she wore. But this look? Not on my all time favorites list.
Scarlett Johansson has joined the cast of the Iron Man sequel as the villainous Black Widow and last night she matched Gwyneth’s color scheme with a structurally intriguing white dress:
Scarlett wins this fashion round for me. Not that we should necessarily pit the leading ladies against one another, but if I were choosing an outfit to wear to the premiere and I had to choose between only these two options….I’d pick the dress.
But that is just my opinion….I’m much more interested in yours. Tell me…..
Stop by Ulta’s website and check out their BOGO (Buy 1, Get 1 Free) sale - there are tons of great deals to be had on Ulta brand cosmetics (including minerals) and beauty tools. You can browse through seven pages of deals, to be exact, on everything from eyeshadow and lipstick to callus shavers and cuticle nippers! Whatever you need, Ulta probably has it…and now, you can get 2 for the price of 1. Yay!
Sometimes a beauty synchronicity occurs here at the Latest Beauty headquarters. Completely independent of one another, Melissa and I were checking out Tresemme products…but we had no idea that either of us were. While she was testing out their new dry shampoo, I was developing a love affair with Tresemme’s Heat Tamer Spray. Here’s how it happened:
I had just gotten the best haircut of my life and I was looking for ways to keep my “fresh from the salon” look going. I was paying careful attention to what products my stylist used on my hair so that I could recreate the look at home. I had already invested in a CHI flat iron so that I could straighten as well as he does. And I started taking the time to blow dry my hair with the aid of a round brush. But I still felt like was missing something. I noticed that he sprayed on some sort of protectant before flat-ironing my hair and I decided that is what I needed. I wanted an affordable drugstore option so I went to Target and began my search.
I was a bit overwhelmed. There are A LOT of products available to protect your hair from heat and I wasn’t sure which one would be best. I ended up choosing Tresemme’s Heat Tamer for two reasons:
1. It smelled really good.
2. It was under $5.
I decided, if anything, at least I wasn’t spending too much if I didn’t love it.
Well….
…I love it.
My hair feels so soft when I use it. And I use it whenever I’m using any heat appliances - hair dryer, flat iron or curling iron. And I recently was on set and the hair stylist commented on how good my hair smelled and then she demanded to know what products I used. I was quick to rave about my Tresemme find. I have very fine hair that is “volume-challenged” so I was worried that using another product might weigh it down…but that’s just not the case. I’ve been having some of my best hair days since I made this little discovery.
Do you have a protective product that you can’t live without? Tell me about it!
* Tresemme did not send us products or compensate for these reviews - both the heat tamer spray and dry shampoo were bought by us and independently reviewed.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area on Sunday April 25th, please check out the Beauty Bus Foundation Event. There will be celebrity guests and a fabulous silent auction, in addition to a gourmet brunch and cocktails. Guests will be able to indulge in a variety of beauty treatments at the drive’s “stations” which will include make-up applications, manicures, and a hair show featuring Hairron Salon owner and celebrity hair stylist Janine Jarman of Bravo’s “Shear Genius.”
About Beauty Bus Foundation: The Beauty Bus Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for homebound, terminally and chronically ill people and their primary caregivers by bringing beauty into their lives. Beauty Bus Foundation provides in-home beauty and grooming treatments, free of charge, to empower their clients, help them maintain dignity and give them respite during a difficult time. Services are focused on people with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), cancer, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, stroke and their primary caregivers. Beauty Bus reaches out to compromised and isolated individuals and brings beauty into their lives. For more information please visit www.beautybus.org.
Celebrity Guest List Includes:
Catherine Dent (from FX’s hit drama “The Shield”)
Jaime Gomez (from CBS series “Nash Bridges”)
Omari Hardwick (film & TV actor)
Lisa Sigell (KCBS/KCAL Reporter) hosting the event
The Beauty Drive will also be holding an exclusive silent auction featuring:
lunch with Amber Valetta
2 VIP tickets to the Indianapolis 500
amazing sports and beauty packages
and much more!
Event Details:
April 25, 2010
11:30 am - 2:30 pm The Mark for Events
9320 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Is it just me, or is drugstore cosmetics brand Milani totally having a moment? They’ve always had a good selection of interesting, reasonably priced offerings, but lately I’ve been compelled to snatch up something new from one of their displays practically every time I set foot into a Walgreens or a CVS. Not surprising, I guess, since according to their website, this year is actually their “biggest product launch ever!” Here are some of their notable new offerings:
3D Holographic Nail Lacquer
3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss
Crystal Eyez Sparkling Eye Shadow
HD Advance Concealer
Mechnical Glitter Eye Liner
Neon Specialty Nail Lacquer
I personally own the purple holo nail polish, the blue (!) Glitzy gloss, the glittery black Crystal Eyez gel shadow, and a color from the “Liquid Metal” nail polish collection, which is apparently so new it’s not even listed on the website yet. (The color I chose is “Dot Com,” which I can only describe as a glowing, burnished plum - so pretty in direct sunlight!) I also have my eye on the HD concealer, which appears to be a dupe for YSL’s legendary Touche Eclat concealer, for a fraction of the original’s $40 price tag.
Have you had good luck with Milani in the past? Are you planning to snag any of these new products anytime soon?
Have I mentioned my love of One Bath and Body yet? If not, here goes: Yay for One! This environmentally friendly, Texas-based brand began making waves in the beauty blogosphere when it debuted at Target early this year. “Affordable Lush dupes!” screamed the headlines. Now, I love me some Lush, but the price tag – and the relative scarcity of Lush stores (yes, I still prefer to shop for things in person rather than online, whenever possible) – means that I can’t indulge in their handmade goodies nearly as often as I’d like. So I hightailed it to Target and picked up a honey-scented Bath Fizzer, coconut-scented Shea Body Butter (LOVE this product), and a tiny yet adorable tin of their Cherry Pie Lip Butter Balm. Conclusion: One is awesome. But that’s not all!
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Disney certainly h as a ravenous fan b
If cheapie fashion retailer Forever 21’s website is any indication, you can get ready to see a whole lot of 
It’s been unusually overcast and drizzly in L.A. lately, but Memorial Day is approaching and that means summer is right around the corner, no matter what the weather has to say about it! In the spirit of ushering in the hottest season of the year, why not check out Bath & Body Works’ seasonal 
Since I was running out of my coconut body scrub and I had a coupon for $1 off Aveeno products, I decided to try out one of the body washes in their new 
Fans of adorable packaging, take note: Sephora is now carrying TokiDok
Stop by Ulta’s 
Sometimes a beauty synchronicity occurs here at the Latest Beauty headquarters. Completely independent of one another, Melissa and I were checking out Tresemme products…but we had no idea that either of us were. While she was 
