Make me look younger.

Now, don’t be fooled by my intro. On average, I look about 26. In fact, no one guesses any higher than 27, ever – and that is usually because they saw the photos of my niece and nephew, 5 years and 6 months respectively, on my desk and assumed they were little mini Jennifer Longs. (But I digress; I love the little people in my life.)

The moral of the story MIGHT BE that I started paying attention to the effects that sun and other environmental elements have on my skin at a relatively young age. So the first time I dipped a finger into something you might call “wrinkle cream” I was barely more than 24.

Needless to say, I was excited when Beyond Beauty Basics had the opportunity to try ZO Skin Health’s Anti-Aging products from Dr. Zein Obagi of Beverly Hills! (Woo hoo!)

My first impression of the products, based on packing and such, was just WOW. But would is pass the smell test? You sensitive skin girls may understand where I am coming from. I watch out for lotions, creams, cleansers, toners, etc., with strong fragrances because they usually mean Breakout City for me. But what little scent this product has was pleasant and I decided first to do a patch test.

After passing the patch test, I was ready to go!

Exfoliating Cleanser

I am probably what you’d call an exfoliating junkie. I’ve got everything for wrinkles, blackheads, acne (I cannot even remember the last time I even had acne!), dry skin, and the list goes on. What I have learned from all of my trials with exfoliation products is this: there is a gentle balance. You don’t want an exfoliation product that doesn’t exfoliate and you don’t want one that leaves your skin red and raw (my teen years saw a lot of these).

The exfoliator is pretty gentle, not too gentle per say, but sensitive skin girls like me appreciate it. Just scrubby enough to make your face feel nice and clean but not so scrubby that you look like you’ve had a chemical peel.

Growth Factor Serum

I am a marketer’s dream. I love anything called serum because it sounds so clinical and effective. However, some of my forays into skin care have left me wary. I want to repair the damage from the sun and environmental stressors, but um… how do I say this delicately? Oh yeah, I’M DELICATE! I don’t want to break out in the trial and error process.

I loved this as soon as I cracked open the jar. Decidedly colorless and scentless, it smoothed onto my skin like nothing else. It even left my fingertips feeling soft and beautiful. Just a tiny little bit goes a long way.

Dr. Obagi, my forehead thanks you. Those fine lines disappeared. It looks like I can skip the Botox I was going to treat myself with for my thirtieth and buy myself those Louboutins I’ve had my eye on.

Radical Night Repair

Radical repair sounds like just what I needed. Hey, I’ve been driving a convertible for ten years and I like Caribbean vacations. I don’t want to look my age and I certainly don’t want to look older. I need something that works with my lifestyle to keep me looking young. Besides, I like younger guys, too (tee hee).

Before trying, I checked Dr. Obagi’s site. It says this product addresses those deep lines, wrinkles, dark spots (sun spots, you sun-worshippers!), loss of radiance, texture and firmness. So basically, all of my problems!

This product contains a high concentration of Retinol – boasting 10 times the industry average, but in a time-release formula. It also contains Vitamins and anti-oxidants known to benefit the skin like Vitamin C and E and Coenzyme Q-10. It also contains Crithmum Maritimum, a Marine Extract that “reduces free radicals and improves cellular function while controlling sebum to restore overall skin health;” and Bisabolol, a calming botanical that reduces inflammation.

The verdict?

Those age spots (doesn’t “freckles” sound about a billion times cuter?) are disappearing. My complexion has taken on a more even tone, and is free of blemishes. The only thing to note is that my skin seems slightly paler than it has at the end of summers past, but I credit that not only to evening out my skin tone, but to the next product: the sunscreen!

Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 (UVA/UVB Protection)

Sunscreen is my new best friend. I seriously only started using it a few years ago after I went for my first professional facial and saw all those cute “freckles” were actually age spots. Ugh.

It is so hard to pick a sunscreen for your face. It needs to work while NOT causing breakouts, drying out your skin, OR leaving a gross oily residue. Plus with sensitive skin, I am overly cautious. One day with the wrong product and I could end up looking like a hormonal teenage boy. I love Dr. Obagi’s because it goes on nice and smooth and it is slightly tinted. It’s a perfect makeup primer for all over your face. The best is, it actually works. It not only helps my makeup set perfectly but I also wore it everyday without makeup for eight days in sunny, tropical, Caribbean Turks and Caicos.

No extra “freckles,” no peeling, no dry spots.

Now that’s a vacation!

photo: Amanda Picone

If you are looking for an eye cream, those words sound like music to the ears, right? Well, you can believe them. I have seen the results for myself!

I gave a friend of mine the Intensive Wrinkle Reducer for Eyes because she had expressed that all of her lack of sleep and daily stress was beginning to show. Now, just to let you know, she is in her late thirties and is a stay-at-home-wife and mom of four children with ages ranging from 3-8. I personally always think she looks great, but we all know our own faces and when things aren’t looking so good, we go looking for help. I had just received this product at the Total Beauty Summit, and I offered to give it to her along with the Intensive Wrinkle Reducer face cream.

This was back in may, and I am happy to report, the fine lines around her eyes have softened tremendously, and her eyes look refreshed. She is so happy with the results and loves the fact that very little goes a long way.

Murad Intensive Wrinkle Reducer for Eyes is made with Dr. Murad’s latest beauty innovation, Durian Cell Reform.  This is a proprietary blend of durian and glycolic acid. Durian is an Asian super fruit and has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine. It is now featured exclusively in Murad’s Age Reform Intensives. Find out more about the entire Age Reform Intensives line at murad.com.

xo
Monique - beauty girl musings

The company is committed to creating highly effective formulations that bridge aesthetics with science to deliver a healthy and more radiant skin. The entire line is free of color additives, synthetic fragrances, harsh alcohols, and completely non-comedogenic.
The entire line is extremely luxurious and effective, however, I always have a favorite and I am in love with the pHaze 25 ExLinea Peptide Smoothing Serum. This serum is formulated to relax the muscles that cause contraction in the skin which really means less expression lines. I know we are all on the quest to stay young and have firm skin. This serum is so incredible that I saw a difference in one application. Argireline is a peptide ingredient that relaxes the facial muscles and reduces the depth of the existing lines. The best part is, you feel an immediate tightening when you apply this serum.

Check out PCASKIN.com for a look into this incredible skin care line. You will love the before and after pics, I was amazed at the results!

Sephora has truly become a destination for all of your beauty needs and they have done it again with their exclusive Sun Safety Kit. It has all the essentials you need to keep your skin healthy, protected and gives it a sun-kissed glow. The sun is the number one cause of wrinkles, and it doesn’t matter what age you are, prevention is the key to staying young. The Sephora Sun Safety Kit contains 11 sun protection products as well as a UV indicator card all in a waterproof pouch.

You have an opportunity to try different brands as well as bronzer and 100% of the profits benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation. This Sephora exclusive is limited edition and is only $25 ($87 value)!

My absolute favorite way to protect your skin is the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral Powder SPF 30 can be tossed in your bag and re-applied all day for extra protection. It is a retractable brush with push button application. You can brush on over your makeup up for added protection or wear alone. Remember, you need to re-apply sunscreen every few hours; this is with all sun protection products. You will fall in love with this just as much as I have!

Another favorite is the Dr. Gross Sun Protection SPF 30 Sunscreen Packettes. These are amazing! They are disposable wipes of SPF protection that you can keep with you at all times. Keep a few handy in your beach bag; you never know when you will need a quick wipe of SPF protection.

Ok ladies and gents, you are now ready to officially kick start the weekend! Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend and remember, always bring your sun protection and enjoy this gorgeous beginning to summer!

What Mom needs is to get off her feet, relax, and soak in a wonderful bubble bath. The latest edition from Philosophy is the delicious bath and body collection called Breakfast in Bed. This fabulous set contains three tasty and sweet products- Café au lait, Fresh Cream, and Belgian Waffles. All three scents are the award winning three-in-one formula of shampoo, shower gels, and bubble bath. Mom can relax in bed AND in the shower!

If you want to give mom an incredible way to soak in the bath, then indulge her with Sake Bath from Fresh. Sake Bath is made of 50% actual sake and will relax every muscle in her body with its rich blend of arnica and aromatherapy oils. This bath is made to allow mom to soak and be completely relaxed and enjoy an incredible night’s sleep. Sake Bath has been known to give even the most stressed out moms the most enjoyable and relaxing bath. Mom will bath like royalty in this Fresh Sake Bath.

If mom needs time to soothe body aches, she will love Carol’s Daughter Body Aches Salt. Just sprinkle ¼ cup in a bath to help mom’s aches and pains melt away. This bath salt is rich in lavendar, essential oils of peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree. This is an incredible way to treat mom to an at-home-spa treatment not only on mothers day but all year long!

Remember, we all should do a little something to make mom feel special everyday not only on Mother’s Day, so do your best to make Mother’s Day relaxing and perfect.

1. Nourishing Cleanser
2. Transport Pads
3. Serum
4. A-Bomb
5. Double Defense Face and Body SPF 30

These are the 5 steps to beautiful, perfect skin. What makes this line different from any other line? I know, I am the biggest skeptic there is, and I am in the beauty business so I feel like I have heard the selling lines one to many times. When I learned about Somme Institute Skincare, I was again skeptical, until I used it and saw an immediate result!

What makes this line so different from all other skin care lines is the technology. Somme Institute uses ultra-violet cameras to detect skin damage beneath the surface to target concerns and the result is visible improvements in the overall texture, tone, and clarity within a week. The patented technology called Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 or MDT5 will recapture a radiant, youthful complexion in just one week. This is a cosmeceutical skin care brand, which means that Somme Institute uses cosmetics combined with pharmaceutical grade ingredients to give you maximum results.

The Somme Institute Regimen is simple, easy, and used the same for both day and night. This regimen has been clinically proven to treat moderate to severe acne, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reverse sun damage and lighten brown age spots, and dramatically improve the skin’s tone, texture, and clarity.

My personal favorite product is the Somme Institute A-Bomb, this is a hydrator packed with vitamin A and E, as well as the powerful MDT5 complex and I have seen an incredible difference in the overall brightness and even tone of my skin since I started to use this regimen.

Check out the SommeInstitute.com for an in-depth look at what these products can do for you, they have changed my skin and I know you will not be disappointed in the results you will have from this line.

I have always heard about the fabulous TanTowel Self Tan Towelette Packetsbut never actually gave it a try, until now. I am so addicted to the whole TanTowel experience that I had to share my excitement with all of you.

There has never been anything easier to use. I have tried other towelettes and I will never talk about other brands in a negative way, so we will just say that the others I have tried did not work. The TanTowel works great to give you the color you want and it is so easy to use.

Before you begin your TanTowel experience, be sure to follow the prep steps we have talked about in the past. Remember to always exfoliate in the shower, Brown Sugar Body Polish by Freshis amazing and your skin will thank you after! You can even use this exfoliator immediately after you shave with no irritation at all. Next, be sure to hydrate your skin with your favorite body moisturizer. I love the new Dove Cream Oil Body Lotion for extra dry skin because after a long winter, my skin is extremely dry and needs the nourishment. Be sure to apply to those rough elbows, knees, and feet. This is always where self tanners like to streak.

When you are ready to use your TanTowel, all you need to do is open the package, and start to apply. Do not unfold your TanTowel until you move onto the next body part. Always start with your arms, then legs, then back, and stomach last. The stomach is last because you are bending and moving while doing the other parts so you don’t want to streak. You can go back and reapply after you have completely unfolded your towel.

My favorite part about this self tanner is that it dries almost immediately. You can get dressed in about ten minutes! You will absolutely love this tanning experience and the scent of the TanTowel is clean and fresh so you won’t stink like self tanner smell all day.

Have fun and look fabulous in your mini dress and hot stilettos at all of your upcoming events!

Available at drugstore.com

Gloves In A Bottle works like you are wearing an invisible pair of gloves all day to protect and hydrate your skin for hours. Gloves in a Bottle is a shielding lotion which bonds with the outer layer of skin cells to protect them from environmental irritants as well as boost the natural moisture underneath. This creates a long-term hydration which you can’t get with conventional hand lotions.

There are a lot of times when we should be wearing gloves and we don’t, but now you can. Once you try it you are going to love the way it feels, as if you have nothing on but at the same time you skin is so intensely hydrated you will feel like you were wearing gloves all day!

Remember, you know you can always tell a womans true age by the look of her hands so we need to treat the skin on our hands as well as we do our face.

To coin a phrase…things that make you go Hmmmm? I haven’t yet tried this or seen it yet in person, so I’ll reserve my comment until I have.

Natura Bisse Black Diamond Magnetic

visit NeimanMarcus.com

to read all about this new product from Natura Bisse. If any of you have tried it, please let us know what you think.

By Terry

VIP Expert

There are four skin care items. Lift and Stretch, Detox and Rescue, Fill and Plum, and Peace and Glow. Each targeted treatment comes in a long tube with brush and roll on applicators. Unfortunately you can not get these products in the U.S yet, de Gunzburg is launching in Sephora in France later this month, and will be coming to the U.S. Sephora’s next year. Be patient, it will be worth the wait.

Get By Terry VIP Expert By Terry Light - Expert 102 Natural Light easily online now from Sephora.com.