4 Bling Reviews, Beauty, Beauty Product Reviews, Benefit, Highlighter Reviews, Makeup Reviews

Product Review—Makeup: Benefit Cosmetics Sun Beam

April 12, 2012 / No Comments

When I attended the Benefit Cosmetics Hello Flawless Foundation launch at the San Francisco store on Chestnut Street, I had a professional mini makeover by one of their artists. (Oh the perks of being a beauty blogger!) At the event, I was introduced to Benefit Cosmetic’s Sun Beam, a golden bronze complexion highlighter.

My makeup artist matched my Hello Flawless foundation color on the first try and made a light application. She then applied Sun Beam. Since I’ve used bronzers but not a highlighters, she briefly explained the difference between between bronzers and highlighters. Bronzers can be worn all over the face (and body) for a fresh glowing tanned look.

Highlighters, on the other hand, are used specifically for “highlighting” specific areas on the face (or body). Kim Khardasian & Jennifer Lopez “J. Lo”are known for their glowing skin and make up and use of highlighters, and I wanted in on the look!

About Benefit Sun Beam:

What it is: A golden bronze complexion highlighter.

What it does:
Consider this liquid sunshine in a bottle. This golden bronze highlighter gives you a natural, sunkissed radiance. Dot and blend over makeup onto cheek and browbones for a bronzed glow that complements all skintones.

The Sun Beam Golden Bronze Complexion Highlighter bottle resembles a nail polish bottle and applicator. The makeup artist brushed a little bit directly onto my skin and blended. I immediately saw a subtle yet beautiful and natural glow appear.

My hazelnut brown skin was absolutely aglow! A subtle highlight makes all the difference. As you can tell I really love Benefit Cosmetics. Sun Beam Golden Bronze Complexion Highlighter is now on my list! The golden color reminds me of the GOLD of my hometown’s San Francisco 49ers!

I give Benefit Cosmetic’s Sunbeam Golden Bronze Complexion Highlighter 4 Blings.

Bling Factor:
Pros: Pretty easy to use, gorgeous glow
Cons: Its nail polish type applicator is a bit awkward for me.
Buy Again: Yes
Pricing: $26
Packaging: 4 Blings— Once again the applicator took a little getting used to.
Overall: 4 Blings

Shop here:

Benefit Sunbeam

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Baby It’s Cold Outside: Best Moisturizers for Winter Skin Care

Every woman needs a go to fur (faux) and moisturizer for these winter months. It’s cold outside. We wrap up, blast the heat and even stoke the fire to keep warm. But the fact is that indoor heat as well as outdoor cold can all wreak havoc with our skin. Protect your skin from the harsh ways of winter by keeping moisture level in balance; perhaps bumping up your moisturizer a notch. Even oily skin benefits from the protection of hydrators that keep skin nourished and balanced. My moisturizer picks: 1. Best Anti-aging Moisturizer NeOvadiol Gf Day Densifying Re-Sculpting Care $48 Benefits (to which I can attest) Refined jaw line, toned neck, plumped cheeks, skin is nourished with features appearing smoother and a subtle green tea fragrance. The feel is nothing less than luxurious. 2. Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Creme SPF 15 $35 This moisturizer combines grape seed oil and antioxidants that gives skin a luminous glow while it protects against environmental aggressors. 3. Best Moisturizer for Acne Prone Skin Go Clear Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 15 $33 A fast-absorbing, oil-free, moisturizing sunscreen that provides UVA / UVB sun protection, complexion-enhancing botanicals, and a matte finish. 4. Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin Kinerase Lotion $63 This rich, gentle daily hydrator offers phenomenal antiaging effects courtesy of Kineten (0.1% N6-furfuryladenine), a plant-derived ingredient that helps delay signs of aging, delivers improved tone and texture, and visibly minimizes the look of lines, wrinkles, dark spots, blotches, freckles, and uneven skintone. 5. Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin First Aid 5 in 1 Face Cream SPF 30 $38 This blend is allergy tested, fragrance free, and dermatologist recommended; it excludes harsh chemicals and colorants. Photo of Naomi Campbell courtesy of huffingtonpost.com. Shop:Face Anti-Aging by KineraseSkin Care at drugstore.com
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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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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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The 7 Beauty Products You Need for Winter—Budget to Luxe

Winter chill is upon is and that means our we need to take extra care to hydrate our skin and hair. From the harsh weather to inside heating, the elements — natural and artificial — can deplete our skin of moisture. That’s why we have rounded up our favorite, (tested) winter-worthy beauty products to help you make it through the next couple months. 1. A bomb Lip Balm Why sacrifice color for utility? Stock up on tinted lip balms for your most moisturized pucker of the seaxon. Try: Laura Mercier Stick Gloss $24 This ultramoisturizing lip color is a cross between lip balm, lip color, and lip glace. It cares for your lips while delivering color in a sheer and sophisticated finish. Or Try: Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm $6.99 Adds a Hint of Sheer Color, Nourishes with Shea Butter, Super Conditioning 2. A Mega Moisturizing Night Cream Your skin rejuvenates at night, so feed it extra moisture during these cold months. Try: Jurlique Nutri-Define Rejuvenating Overnight Cream $110 A luxuriously rich, multitasking overnight treatment with Biosome5, a breakthrough liposomal technology, to provide deep, lasting moisture and a softer, youthful-looking complexion. Or Try: Lumene Time Freeze Firming Night Cream $24.99 Helps to reinforce your skin’s firmness and restore it’s elasticity during the night, while smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. 3. A Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Hair needs to be kept moist for ultimate health and shine. Incorporate a weekly deep conditioning treatment to keep hair properly hydrated for winter. Try: Kerastase Maskeratine $62.50 Daily deep conditioning mask,Provides maximum frizz control, extreme softness and suppleness. Seals ends to help prevent future blowdry damage. For Fine to Coarse, Unmanageable Hair Or Try: SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque $12.99 SheaMoisture’s Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque deeply moisturizes and repairs dry, damaged or over-processed hair. 4. Luxurious Body Lotion Your skin deserves to be pampered with the best body lotion in frigid weather. Keep ashy skin at bay with the a rich body lotion. Try: MOLTON BROWN London Oudh Accord & Gold Body Lotion $44 This soothing body lotion hydrates your skin while leaving behind a beautiful fragrance you can revel in all day long. Or Try: Nubian Heritage Goat’s Milk & Chai Body Lotion $11.99 Goat’s Milk, high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, help soothe and nourish skin. Organic Shea Butter, Chai and Rose Extracts blend to create a luxurious and aromatic skin conditioning moisturizer that will leave the skin feeling soft. 5. A Creamy Blush Ditch your powder blush and opt in for a creamy blush that gives your skin a fresh look. Try: Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow $26 A sheer, dewy wash of color for skin that glows with vitality! Or Try: Maybelline Master Glaze Glisten Blush Stick $7.99 Makes cheeks go dewy and gently glazed with sheer blush color. 6. Hydrating Lipstick Try: Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crème $30 A rich, velvety, ultra-hydrating lipstick that delivers a dramatic punch of vivid pigment and endless hours of luxurious wear. Try: IMAN Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick $10 It glides on smooth to condition and moisturize. It provides full-coverage, long-lasting wear. 7. Ultra Rich Hand Cream Try: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream $30 The nourishing formula absorbs quickly to deeply invigorate and tone skin. Shea protects skin against the drying effects of external factors, while also minimizing the visible signs of aging. Or Try: Yes to Carrots Nourishing Intense Repair Hand Cream $8.99 Intense Repair formulas target extra dry or itchy skin with intense ingredients to make your skin breathe a big ol’ sigh of relief! Shop:
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Trending – Winter Beauty: Beauty Hacks from Celeb MUA Joanna Simkin

Whether you’re going on a winter getaway, planning a date night or using the day off to focus on yourself, we’ve got you covered with these makeover Monday “Winter Beauty Hacks” from Celebrity MUA Joanna Simkin. Simkin stresses that beauty begins with moisturized, glowing skin and is fan of using Vaseline® Cocoa™ Radiant lotion for herself and her celebrity clients. Made with 100% pure cocoa butter, this hydrating moisturizer is a cold weather must-have that treats dry and dull winter skin. Don’t skip SPF! The sun’s rays are still out on cold winter days and can even reflect more directly off freshly-fallen snow. Winter is a time you can use heavier formulas of SPF for added moisture as well. To help your moisture absorb and last during the winter season, apply Vaseline® Cocoa Radiant™ lotion all over immediately after showering, then add thin layers of clothing or sleepwear (think Long Johns, gloves, socks). The 100% cocoa butter acts an emollient known to help hydrate the skin and lock in moisture to keep skin soft, smooth and glowing. Dark, matte lipstick is my favorite winter look! Prep lips by scrubbing with Vaseline® Lip Therapy® mixed with raw sugar to smooth. Rinse and pat dry before using a dark lip liner followed by a matte lip formula. The exfoliation will ensure smooth application, while the pat-dry will ensure no shine peeking through. To perk up my complexion in the winter months, I love to mix a golden liquid illumination with my winter shade of foundation. It softly warms the skin to look lit-from-within and provides my face with a subtle, natural glow. Minor skin irritations can be easily caused by dry winter air and harsh winds. I love using a thin layer of Vaseline® Jelly over red, irritated areas such as cheeks – it protects by creating a thin barrier on your skin.
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