Beauty, Blinging Mommy, Editor's Picks, Gift Guide, Laura Mercier

Gift Guide: Luxurious Gifts For Mom From Laura Mercier

April 30, 2015 / No Comments

For the mom in your life, no matte what she loves or loves to do, Laura Mercier has the perfect luxurious gift for her. From makeup, to body care, to skin care, Laura Mercier has your mom covered.

For the Mom Who Loves to Give Back:

Laura Mercier offers a gift that’s both beautiful and helps save women’s lives. 100 percent of the profits from the sale of Laura Mercier Bonne Mine Healthy Glow for Face & Cheeks Crème Colour Palette ($48) are donated to the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund. Brighten up your mother’s special day with this ultra-sheer, blendable palette that provides skin with a natural “no makeup” glow that looks soft and sun-kissed.

For The Mom Who Loves Sweets:

Put down the chocolates and impress mom with Laura Mercier’s NEW Tarte au Citron Collection. Inspired by the indulgent aroma of a freshly baked lemon tart in a French patisserie, Laura Mercier created Tarte au Citron, a warm, sugary blend of gourmande ingredients. The luxurious bath & body collection includes: Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron Eau Gorumande Eau De Toilette ($55), Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron Crème Body Wash ($40) and Laura Mercier Tarte au Citron Souffle Body Crème ($60)

For The Mom Who Loves Roses:

While beautiful at first sight, roses will only last a few days. If she enjoys a lovely bouquet of roses, she will definitely appreciate rose-infused skincare products from Laura Mercier. In celebration of her love for roses, Laura Mercier added two new skincare products to her portfolio: Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil ($62) and Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Nourishing Crème ($68). Enriched with Rosehip Seed Oil, the lightweight and powerful oil and cream will help hydrate and nourish the skin.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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Skin Care Review: Arcona Cranberry Gommage Exfoliant

Lately, my typically clear skin has become unrecognizable. My low-maintenance facial routine couldn’t contend with my new facial issues: erupting pimples all over, stubborn dry patches on my cheeks, and oily areas on my forehead and nose. My face went completely haywire overnight it seemed, and the usual routine just wasn’t cutting it! Confession: I’ve been slacking on my sloughing-—big time. Life has been so hectic lately that I’ve pretty much abandoned my regular exfoliation routine, and it shows. When a close friend suggested I give Arcona Cranberry Gommage a try, I figured it couldn’t hurt. Little did I know, it would not only return my blemish-free visage, but give me a more even, smooth complexion over time! About Arcona Cranberry Gommage $47 Exfoliant containing cranberry extracts, volcanic minerals and essential fatty acids, to cleanse and renew all skin types. Smells berry delicious. Cleanses, tones and decongests enlarged pores, leaving skin clearer, smoother and more refined. Unclog and minimize pores with cranberry and raspberry enzymes. Exfoliate and purify skin with salicylic acid, volcanic minerals and sucrose that work deep within the follicular wall and provide antimicrobial, antibacterial benefits. Protect skin with the anti-aging properties of antioxidants that prevent free radical damage. My experience: Fresh out of the bottle, Arcona Cranberry Gommage is a deliciously grape-scented, lavender-hued scrub. Suggested use is twice weekly, but I reach for this exfoliant daily! more often because it’s such a treat. I can feel the difference immediately after applying Arcona Cranberry Gommage to my face and neck. I use a gentle circular scrubbing motion with the pads of my fingers. Rinsing clean, my skin feels so soft and smooth and moisturizer just glides on once I’m out of the shower.. It only took about a week of using Arcona Cranberry Gommage for me to see the results. I received a number of compliments ranging from “your skin looks so good,” and “what do you use,” to “you’re glowing!” Nothing else changed in my regimen, so I have to credit the Cranberry Gommage! While I found the scrub gentle enough for sensitive skin, it also has the right amount of grit to be effective. The polishing action instantly brightens, leaving you with fresh, glowing skin after regular use. For this reason, if you aren’t into a scrub that actually scrubs, what’s wrong with you? Arcona Cranberry Gommage might not be the product for you. Arcona Cranberry Gommage is specifically recommended for normal to oily skin, but my wacky winter combo skin got great results. Don’t be afraid to try it out if your skin tends toward the dry end of the spectrum. Bling Factor: Pro: Gentle exfoliant, smells and feels amazing! Cons: Could be too gritty for some, but i loved it. Price: $47 Buy Again: Probably, will need a new bottle soon! Packaging: 4 Blings—Typical flip-top squeeze bottle. Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredients: Cranberry and Raspberry enzymes Natural/Organic/Vegan: Organic 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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Trending—Bad (Beauty) Habits: Wyminn Resolves to Keep Her Hair Moisturized

Blinging Beauty editor, Wyminn Boyington admits that she needs to keep her hair in better shape with moisturizing. With the current movement toward natural hair, we know that the number one need for hair is constant hydration. Start with moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and use grooming products that also encourage moisture retention in your hair. Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo $10.99 Cleanses, hydrates and repairs dry, damaged or over-processed hair. Sulfate-free. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner $10.99 Detangles, moisturizes, repairs and restores lifeless dry, damaged or over-processed hair. – Made with natural and certified organic ingredients. – Sea Kelp provides mineral-rich nutrition which seals and smoothes hair cuticle. – Argan Oil restores shine while helping promote hair elasticity. – Shea Butter deeply moisturizes while conditioning hair and scalp. Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream $5.29 Stops and mends hair breakage Leaves hair soft, shiny, and manageable, Formulated for severely damaged, dry, or coarse hair. An intensive deep penetrating leave in cream conditioning treatment that is made with pure shea butter and other natural oils to stop and mend breakage, repair split ends, and add manageability and shine with every application. Phytospecific Baobab Oil $40 This intensely hydrating oil can be used on hair, scalp, and body for softer skin and stronger, more manageable, elastic locks. It also provides sun protection for hair and protects against free radicals, which can cause damage and frizz. Shop:
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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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Editor’s Picks: Winter Skin Care Tips & Best Moisturizers for Cold Weather

Cold winter weather can wreak havoc on our skin. Not only does heat from indoor sources zap the moisture from our skin, but so does outdoors cold air and wind. Unfortunately, indoor heat and the winter cold can leave skin dry, dull, irritated and itchy. If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis it may be exacerbated by winter weather. Try these tips for keeping your skin’s moisture level up to par all winter: Use a body wash instead of bar soap. Limit your time in the shower, using warm, not hot water, then pat dry skin. Drink more water. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Moisturizer works by keeping the moisture in the skin and preventing moisture loss. Also consider using a hyaluronic serum to boost the benefits of your moisturizer. Additionally, be sure not to skimp when applying your moisturizer. And, the richer your moisturizer, the better. We rounded up some of our favorite moisturizers for winter skin care that have our seal of approval. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair® Cream Intense Hydration $30 (Ideal for eczema and extremely dry skin) An all-over moisturizer that provides instant relief and long-term hydration for dry, distressed skin and eczema. First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream’s whipped texture is instantly absorbed with no greasy after-feel. Safe for sensitive skin, the cream can be used by all members of the family, even children and babies. Suitable for all skin types, especially dry, flakey skin, this hydrating moisturizer leaves your skin feeling smooth, hydrated, and comfortable after just a single use. Formulated with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, ceramide 3, and the First Aid Beauty Antioxidant Booster, it provides immediate relief and visible improvement for parched skin, and it is clinically proven to increase hydration by 169 percent immediately upon application. OzNaturals Super Youth Retinol Moisturizer $19.95 (Read our review here) A powerful cocktail of antioxidants combine with Vitamin A to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and premature aging. This results-oriented formulation fights free radical damage as well as restores and renews firmness, elasticity. Vitamin A boasts a long list of anti-aging skin benefits to restore your skin to a more beautiful, youthful look. Try our natural retinol cream and experience the results for yourself! Murad Hydro-Dynamic® Ultimate Moisture $75 (read our review here) Hydro-Dynamic® Ultimate Moisture is clinically proven to lock optimal moisture levels in the skin while delivering instant comfort. This super-hydrating antiaging formula is moisture rich, yet light and non-greasy. Collagen support complex helps restore youthful resilience and plumpness to dry skin while avocado, sunflower, and olive fruit oils enhance skin’s ability to retain maximum levels of hydration. Retinyl palmitate and shea butter improve texture and tone while restoring natural smoothness and softness. This gentle formula is safe for sensitive skin and is ideal for use with any Murad regimen as a step three moisturizer. It comforts and restores youthful hydration to dry skin as part of Dr. Murad’s Inclusive Health® System of care. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare C+ Collagen Deep Cream $72 A rich, fast-absorbing cream that energizes and deeply hydrates dry, uneven, tired-looking skin without leaving it greasy for a visibly firmer, brighter, dewy complexion. C+ Collagen Deep Cream features 3-O vitamin C technology that quickly absorbs into skin to correct the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles while helping prevent the formation of future damage. An advanced form of vitamin C is combined with a proprietary energy complex to recharge skin’s battery while targeting damaged skin for accelerated improvement of a dry, tired, uneven complexion. An intense concentration of nourishing oils extracted from camellia japonica seed, sunflower seed, and rice bran provides rich moisture to replenish skin’s barrier and reduce trans-epidermal water loss. When nature’s most powerful vitamins and nutrients are boosted with modern science, the result is deeply nourished, supple skin with a dewy glow. Caudalie Vinosource Intense Moisture Rescue Cream $39 (read our review here) This ultra-nourishing cream is here to save dry, cracked, uncomfortable skin. Grape seed oil and olive squalane nourish and soothe irritation, while shea butter and borage oil repair and replenish cracked, damaged skin. Often times people with dry skin have a thin hydrolipidic layer, and this formula works to strengthen it. By rebuilding the hydrolipidic layer, it fights the dryness that results from harsh weather conditions. The formula also contains grape seed polyphenols to protect against free radical damage (pollution, stress, and sun exposure). This product is vegan, non-toxic, cruelty-free, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic, safe for sensitive skin and pregnancy, and free of all fillers, gluten, GMOs, and synthetic chemicals. SHOP:
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