Asili Body Butter Giveaway: We Have a Winner(s)

December 3, 2010 / No Comments

We have winners for our Asili Body Butter giveaway. YAY! Congratulations to Elana, Kenya and Kat. Enjoy buttering up! And thanks to Asili Body Products for sponsoring this contest.

We are having contests for free beauty swag all month — check back!

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Editor’s Picks: The Hardest Working Beauty Products for Labor Day

In 1884, just two years after the first “workingmen’s holiday” was celebrated, the Central Labor Union christened the first Monday in September as the official Labor Day holiday. As beauty buffs, we’re insatiable. When it comes to the art of beautifcation, we operate to an 8-count of harder, better, faster, stronger–we’re constantly on the prowl for those products that are always on the grind and keeps us gorgeous. So in honor of this tribute to our nation’s workers, we have dedicated this edition of editor’s picks to the hardest-working beauty products we know. Our Labors of Love are as follows… Editor-in-Chief Tracey’s Labor of Love: Black Opal Brightening Scrub $9 “I love this double duty scrub/mask. I scrub my face like crazy before I get in the shower. Then I let the mask work its wonders while I do my daily duty in the shower. The last thing I do is rinse off the mask. My skin is exfoliated and brightened in one fell swoop. And the best part is that this Black Opal scrub mask duo is under $10. On top of that the benefits are culmulative–my skin gets progressively smoother and brighter while I use this hard working beauty product.” Chelsea’s Labor of Love: Benefit Cha Cha Tint $30 “This mango colored blush in a bottle is the epitome of perfection! I am on the darker side of the spectrum for Black/African-American skin and many tints don’t show up on me. However, this bottled blush is highly pigmented, even on darker skin tones. It has a brush applicator that makes Cha Cha Tint an amazing multitasker—great for lips and cheeks. For a flawless, fetching face, Cha Cha gives a glowing color like no other.” Taylor’s Labor of Love: Coralactives Retinol Exfoliating Cleanser $22 “Simply put, CoralActives Retinol Exfoliating Cleanser does double duty by cleaning and exfoliating simultaneously. This is great because I don’t want to do any more than I have to in order to get the job done.” Staff Labor of Love: Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads $36 “Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads is a powerhouse in a pot. It truly sets the standard for adult acne correctors everywhere since it doesn’t have a traditional, medicinal smell. In fact, it brings the spa to you by incorporating peach bellini! But soothing scents beside, I’ve never experienced such immediate results after using a skin care product. All I saw was glowing, poreless skin. With all the anti-aging benefits, soothing botanical extracts and inclusion of glycolic and salicylic acid, you’re definitely doing your skin a huge favor!” Terez’s Labor of Love: Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme $9 “I’m a huge fan of Burt’s Bees and I can’t say enough about the Coconut Foot Creme. It is nothing short of miraculous and it transforms rough, calloused feet overnight! This creme has a rich, honey-like consistency and smells delicious. I’ve also used this product to moisturize and protect dry elbows, knees and cracked cuticles.” Nalo’s Labor of Love: Estee Lauder’s DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15 $43 “Since it is important to use a moisturizer with SPF in the summer as well as during the cooler months, Estee Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15 works for all seasons. This hardworking beauty product reduces the appearance of fine lines, discoloration and dullness. It also fights free radicals while refreshing the skin with cucumber. Apply daily and at night to reap the benefits. ” Bona Fide Face Deidre’s Labor of Love: DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex $35 “I love when I don’t have to be slave to a great acne product. What’s worse than acne? Having to keep an acne product in tow in hopes of keeping an onslaught of fresh zits at bay. I use DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex about twice a year to give my skin a glowing, renewed state so my products-of-the-moment get their glory. This product rivals treatments at the derm office minus the sticker shock.” Shop the beauty products that work hard for the money: Face Anti-Aging by Estee Lauder
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Trending – Winter Beauty: Dry Skin Care with Le Couvent des Minimes

Is your skin suffering from the cold winter air? Then Le Couvent des Minimes Loving Care Collection could be a perfect fix! Comprised of a face cream, micellar water, lip balm, exfoliator, lotion and a body balm – this collection is ideal for all skin types, including babies! Their products are made from the highest quality botanicals, garden-fresh and blended according to time-honored traditions, these blends are all super-hydrating and healing, leaving skin smooth and bright. The Face Cream for Sensitive Skin ($19): Cream for Sensitive Skin hydrates, protects and soothes. Ideal for daily use or when skin is damaged, it provides instant comfort and leaves skin soft and supple. Containing grape-seed oil to nourish and prevent dry skin, mallow extract to moisturize and soften, calendula extract to reinforce the natural skin barrier and rose flower water to soothe. 3-in-1 Micellar Water ($19): The 3-in-1 Micellar Water removes make-up, refreshes and gently cleanses the face and eye area. Formulated to meet the needs of all skin types, even sensitive, it is also suitable for daily use on the delicate skin of babies. It contains cornflower water to refresh, tone and sooth and mallow extract to moisturize and soften, it leaves the skin clean, soft and soothed. Lip Balm for Dry Lips ($9): The Balm for Dry Lips helps to repair, protect and soothe damaged lips. Thanks to the Shea Butter and Beeswax, the rich formula leaves lips feeling soft and comfortable. The Lotion For Dry Skin ($36): The Loving Care Body Balm Lotion for Dry Skin helps to nourish and soothe the skin. Made with an In-house Galen’s wax to help nourish, repair and protect the skin, calendula extract to soothe and mallow extract to prevent dry skin – this hypoallergenic formula comforts the skin and prevents cutaneous dryness. The Scrub For Dry Skin ($29): The Loving Care Scrub for Dry Skin gently exfoliates the skin. Made with an In-house Galen’s wax to help nourish, repair and protect the skin, mallow extract to prevent dry skin and natural silica to gently exfoliate, the rich creamy texture helps to gently refine skin’s texture. The Cream For Very Dry Skin ($32): Loving Care Body Balm Cream for Very Dry Skin helps to intensely nourish and soothe the skin. The hypoallergenic formula instantly relieves and comforts dry skin. Shop:
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Green Day Thursday: Editor’s PIck—Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter

Baby it’s cold outside, and what better way keep your skin in optimal hydrated condition than with a body butter. But wait. Not all body butters are created equal! Some are greasy, sticky, don’t absorb and just too heavy. Such is not the case with Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter. Here are the details for Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter $15: Smell incredible with our nourishing and anti-oxidant rich ingredients. Our body butter helps fight signs of aging while adding deep moisture and protection. Made with nature’s best moisturizers – shea butter, almond oil and safflower oil – Pacifica’s paraben-free Body Butter is a skin must-have. Now available in tubes in our best-selling fragrances, making them easy to take with you anywhere. A warm blend of sultry fresh coconut, delicate creamy vanilla. DETAILS: Pacifica’s Indian Coconut Nectar is a sensuous and delicious blend inspired by travels to faraway destinations. This warm, sultry blend of coconut and delicate creamy vanilla is pure ambrosia. 100% vegan. Why it’s and editor’s pick: First there is the amazing fragrance — all natural at that. The name says coconut, and you get coconut. Not overpowering coconut, but just enough to smell…nice. Probably because there is a balance of vanilla in the scent as well. Then of course is the body butter itself. Made with shea and mango butters, Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter melts right into your skin and feels just lovely. It’s like whipped butter! A little of the body butter goes a very long way and keep skin hydrated for hours. Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter absorbs quickly and gives those “rough” areas, like elbows, knees and feet enough moisture to keep them smooth and soft. What we love even more is that this body butter is chemical free and made with the best ingredients. Besides shea and mango butter there is Vitamin E, kukui nut, macadamia nut and rose hip seed oils which help nourish skin. I love applying Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter right out of the shower before I go to bed and I wake up with the best feeling and smelling skin to start my day! And, as a brown girl, I have to say that this body butter is a serious #AshKicker as well! Bling Factor: Pro: Moisturizes, lightweight, long-lasting, great scent Con: None Price: $15 Buy Again: Yes Packaging: 5 Blings — cute packaging plus great tube Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredient: Shea & Mango butters Natural/Organic/Vegan: Vegan Cruelty Free: Yes Shop:
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Bad Beauty Habits: We Resolve to Break Them…At Least Try

Sexy crooner Maxwell sang about "Bad Habits," and we all have them. As the beauty veteran at Blinging Beauty, I know I need to practice what I preach. But I don't. Not all the time at least. Unfortunately for me, I have this "all or nothing" issue—either I'm going like gangbusters, or I'm totally DONE! So I'm all over doing the right thing with my hair/skin/body, or I'm just a flat out #loser. I'm trying to learn moderation in all things, and at the ripe old age of 54, to stay on top of my beauty habits. So, I forced asked my Bling Team members to share one bad beauty habit—or maybe that should be non-beauty habit— that they are going to try to squelch this year. Since I am at the helm of this ship, I figure it's only fair that I'm the first to divulge my bad habits. While I only asked them to talk about one, I'm going to spill the beans—I'm sharing my top 10 non-beauty habits. Drum roll please…. 10. Sleeping in makeup. 9. Not sleeping enough. 8. Going to bed with my hair wet (looks really bad when I wake up). 7. Using that tacky razor thing on my eyebrows between visits — I'm already doing better with this one, but I'm starting to resemble Brooke Shields. 6. Not drinking enough water. 5. Picking and tweezing my whiskers (I'm 54, it's a reality). 4. Frowning—it's a family thing, but I noticed I'm getting a permanent furrow in the middle of my otherwise line-less forehead. Booooooo! 3. Applying mascara and driving. This is more of a safety issue… even though I can do it without looking in the rearview mirror. 2. Drinking coffee all day. It's dehydrating, I know, but I really love it. And the biggest, nastiest, grossest habit I have… 1. Picking my cuticles. It's really bad. Every time I get my manicure, Tanya (my regular manicurist) says to me, "Tracey, you stress me out. Why you bite your cuticles?" Well, that answer is simple, I stress myself out. That's why. So with that being said, I'm cutting out stress from my life. Cut the stress, gain beauty, get ungnarly cuticles. Now, to heal my cuticles, I have a couple products that I am using that are wonderful. 1. Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream $30 Professional, emollient-rich treatment — with soothing Sesame Oil and fortifying Japanese Mulberry — forms an invisible protective "glove" that shields hands from the elements, minimizing signs of aging. Softens and comforts dry, chapped, irritated skin. Helps strengthen nails and condition cuticles for youthful-looking hands, naturally. 2. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream $6 Give your cuticles some TLC. Specially formulated, this buttery cream taps Sweet Almond Oil and Cocoa Seed Butter to moisturize and soften your cuticles while Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil nourish brittle nails. Feel pampered and polished from tips to toes. • Moisturizes and softens cuticles with Sweet Almond Oil and Cocoa Seed Butter • Nourishes brittle nails with Vitamin E and Sunflower Oil • Fresh Lemon scent Break that ugly cuticle picking habit! Hand Treatments by Burt's Bees
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Budget Beauty Tuesday: Editor’s Pick SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak

I have had the worst cold in history. Maybe the flu. At any rate, I have been one sick puppy. So between tea, tissue, and toddies I have been laid up on the couch streaming past seasons of Cake Boss and Crossing Jordan on Netflix. Dayquil, Nighquil, and cough drops just kind of dried me up leaving me rather coo coo. And then I remembered! I received a jar of SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak to review. Mind you, I usually only take a soak or bath when in a hotel, so I was quite anxious to check out this natural remedy for my nose which resembled the faucet streaming the water for my soak. I cracked open that jar, and oh my, what a sensory sensation met my nose! About SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak: Detoxifying & Healing Ease the symptoms of cold and sinus congestion with therapeutic Sage and healing Red bush extract. Our essential oil blend of natural expectorants–Peppermint, Rosemary, Thyme and Eucalyptus– help speed recovery in this congestion relief soak. Create a luxurious spa treatment–detoxifying with mineral-rich Dead Sea Salts and sinus soothing essential oils wile healing with Shea Butter. My results: After I slid into the tub, I could immediately feel relief in my sinuses and my head. On top of that, this soak made my skin feel silky-soft to the touch. My sinuses were clear for hours and my chest felt serious relief. In contrast to rubbing that greasy stuff in the blue jar on my chest and under my nose, SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak is a welcome source of relief and a must have for this nasty cold and flu season. Bling Factor: Pro: Relieves congestion, smells great, soothes skin Con: None Price: $9.99 Buy Again: Yes Packaging: 4 Blings — Great size tub, perfect for housing a scoop Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredients: Essential oil Blend, Dead Sea Salts Natural/Organic/Vegan: Yes Cruelty Free: Yes Available in stores at Target, Walgreens and CVS.
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