Trending-February 14th: Valentine’s Day Must-Haves from Laura Mercier

February 3, 2016 / No Comments

Candy, Chocolates and Candle(lit) Skin:

Whether or not you will be in a candlelit room on February 14, you can still mimic the reflective glow of twinkling candles with Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation, $48. This “lit-from-within” foundation creates a soft, candlelit glow at any time of day with unique light-reflecting pigments. The light-as-air, whipped formula gives skin a double boost of hydration with refreshing waters that provide immediate and long-lasting moisture. Skin is balanced, soft, luminous and beautifully ignited.

A Lip Affair:

Draw attention to the lips with Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour, $28, a revolution in matte lipstick. The highly pigmented, moisturizing lip color couples delicate mattifying powders with moisturizing mango butter to create a velvety texture that is smooth, creamy and long-wearing. Let your lips do the flirting with shades such as Foreplay, French Kiss, Seduction and Lover.

Everything’s Coming Up Roses:

Ensure lips are soft and kissable for the evening with Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Nourishing Lip Balm, $24. This restorative lip balm locks in moisture to smooth lips and helps shield against environmental stressors during the day while conditioning and restoring softness at night. The balm contains a luxurious blend of Rosehip Seed, Kukui, and Macadamia Seed Oils, which help to sooth and comfort lips.

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Simply Saturday: Comfort Makeup — Organic Style

The weather is crisp and it dictates that we take care to nourish our skin. The word comfort comes to mind. Wrappingup in a warm coat, or slathering a luxury cream on our bodies are applies to our faces too. Makeup can be comfortable. So get comfy with these skin-saving tips for Simply Saturday makeup. And to increase your comfort level — try using organic makeup that's über good for your skin. The best way to apply comfort makeup? With your God-given digits! 1. Skip Matte Makeup Instead, try makeup that nourishes your skin and offers double-duty benefits. Look for soft glow and low-level gleam. 2. Use products that multi-task. Double duty makeup is our friend! 3. Keep it simple. As difficult as it may be, pare down to only 3-4 products for your simple, comfort makeup application. Start with Josie Maran Tinted Moisturizer $38 This triple-duty comfort cream is a protective and preventative lightweight moisturizer, sheer foundation, and sunscreen (SPF 30) in one. It contains Argan Oil, which has many benefits such as softening the skin while also toning and firming. Flush cheeks with Vapour Organic Beauty Blush-Stain $28 This multi-use tube of gorgeous color can be used on lips and eyes too. Formulated with a therapeutic base of light, dry plant oils with natural mineral pigments and vitamins. After you apply to cheeks, use the remainder on your eyelids for a pop of natural color. Don't forget your lips! Finish eyes with Tarte Lash Hugger Natural Mascara $18 Seal the deal with Alba TerraGloss $5.95 Simply apply over your freshly stained lips for a touch of shine. Shop: Lip Gloss by Alba Mascara by Tarte
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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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Fight Dry Winter Skin With These Body Creams

The weather has turned frigid and it’s sucking the moisture out of our skin. Not just our faces and subject to dry skin, but so are our bodies. So, to fight dry winter skin, we need to moisturize with body creams, lotions, butters and serums. Look for ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, squalane, avacado and other oils in your body creams to deeply moisturize dry winter skin. Also, body creams have multiple categories. Some body creams can help sculpt and tone your body. Others can help smooth skin or add glow. Many body creams come from natural and organic derived ingredients. Additionally, body creams come in various price points for the budget conscious. And, we love body creams with awesome scents! Shop our our favorite body creams that include clean beauty, luxury beauty, Black-owned brands and female founded brands: Clean Beauty Body Creams: Weleda Skin Food Body Butter $19.99 Perfect for all-over hydration and nourishment. Weleda Skin Food Body Butter is rich in shea and cocoa seed butter, to leave skin feeling velvety soft. Best for indulging your senses and locking in moisture after a bath or shower. Kiss My Face De-Stress Body Butter – Lavender + Ylang Ylang $14.99 Pamper your body and mind with aromatic, calming moisture. Infused with soothing Rhodiola Rosea and Hemp Seed Oil and adaptogenic Ashwagandha and Marshmallow Root, this body butter delivers comforting nourishment while helping improve skin’s moisture retention. The fragrant scents of Lavender and Ylang Ylang Oils relax your senses for a restful sleep. hanahana beauty Shea Body Butter $32 Hanahana Beauty believes that skincare is self care and proudly sources its shea butter directly from the Katariga Cooperative in Ghana. This whipped + fast absorbing formula is made for dry, sensitive + of course, ashy skin. It’s the perfect add to your routine! Multitasking Body Creams: NYL HERE COMES THE CALM Correcting Body Balm $38 Our Tamanu & Amaranth powered correcting balm works overtime to soothe, moisturize and generally bring the zen to eczema, severely dry or chapped skin, and other trouble spots. No balm, no calm. Caudalie Vinosculpt Lift & Firm Body Cream $45 Visibly tighten skin in key areas with this moisturizing, whipped body cream. Delicately scented with orange blossom and powered by an effective blend of grape polyphenols and iris extract, it reduces the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks for a firmer, more lifted look. Biossance Squalane + Caffeine Toning Body Cream $30 This clean body moisturizer extends the benefits of the best skincare ingredients caffeine and niacinamide to the entire body, enhanced by vegan sugarcane-derived squalane to enhance penetration. The rich yet weightless formula absorbs instantly to nourish, and helps to restore elasticity and a sculpted, toned look. Budget Friendly Body Creams: Dove Silky Nourishment Body Cream $8.76 Helps to give you beautifully radiant soft skin. Contains unique DeepCare Complex with skin natural nutrients. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Daily Skin Therapy $8.16 Heals & Softens rough, dry skin with natural Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E for healthier-looking skin. 48 hour moisture.Vegan Friendly – no animal ingredients or testing. Nubian Heritage, Shea Butter, Infused with Patchouli & Buriti $11.99 Shea Butter, infused with Patchouli & Buriti, helps to soothe and hydrate skin. Nutrient rich Buriti Oil enhances and calms in this richly fragranced total body balm. Body Creams With Incredible Scents: Pooka Caliente Man Body Butter $16.99 For the Fellas Bold and tantalizing, this exclusive scent brings together the heady, musky notes of patchouli and the warm, spicy kick of black pepper.Infused with the goodness of ginger and turmeric essential oils, this butter delivers deep nourishment to your skin, leaving it hydrated and radiant. Shea butter and avocado oil moisturize and soften, while beeswax seals in hydration. ELEMIS Frangipani Monoi Body Cream $42 Escape to a tropical getaway with this deeply hydrating body cream. Infused with a conditioning combination of Macadamia, Sesame, Tahitian Monoi and Coprah oils, the decadent creamy formula provides long-lasting, skin-plumping moisture. Naturally fragranced with Frangipani Flowers, skin is left feeling beautifully soft, supple and delicately scented. Jo Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin Body Crème $90 This rich Body Crème is formulated with conditioning oils of jojoba seed, cocoa seed, and sweet almond oils to help hydrate, nourish, and protect the skin, while the delicious fragrance leaves your body scented all over. In Jo Malone London’s signature fragrance, peppery basil and aromatic white thyme bring an unexpected twist to the scent of limes on a Caribbean breeze—a modern classic. CHANEL COCO MADEMOISELLE Fresh Body Cream $100 The ultimate pampering experience hydrates and softens for silky, touchable skin, lightly scented with COCO MADEMOSELLE. The deliciously creamy, non-greasy formula glides on smoothly and absorbs quickly.
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Editor’s Picks: Use These Products to Fight Dry Winter Skin

Winter is no excuse to have dry and flaky skin! Combat the rough winter skin with these staples that will keep you hydrated all year long. Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Body Butter Collection packs pure shea and cocoa butters with skin saving essential oils to deliver instantly softer skin. While other Body Butters use synthetic preservatives and chemicals including parabens, silicone & mineral oils that can clog pores, prevent absorption of beneficial ingredients and accumulate in the body, we pack our natural formula with smart, natural ingredients that that allow for faster absorption of body beneficial vitamins and immediate hydration ($19; Lavanila.com). Korres Moisturising Hand Cream with Almond Oil & Calendula will relieve dry hands with rich yet non-oily botanical extracts. Calendula, combined with almond oil and aloe, helps retain natural moisture of the skin, leaving hands smooth and supple. A blend of natural butters and antioxidants provides additional comfort. Use the 91.9 percent natural formula daily for immediate and long-term relief ($14.50; Sephora.com). Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare Recapture Day + IR Defense Anti-Aging Cream SPF 30 is formulated with a bio-copper complex that helps correct the most visible signs of aging. It uses three effective technologies to revive, improve and protect your skin while recapturing a youthful appearance ($69; Kohl’s). Shop:
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Simply Sexy Saturday: Best Minimalist Makeup for Cold Weather

Winter has reared it’s frigid head, and going bare-skinned can is more of a no-no now than ever. But, with the right minimalist makeup, you can look Simply Sexy, without wearing piles of makeup. The key is double duty, performance driven products that hydrate your skin while keeping you looking “naturally” pretty. Skin care is key, so of course we have to start with the right canvas. Check our picks for fabulous feeling and looking skin to beat the cold. 1. Start with a hydrating moisturizer that locks in moisture. Hyaluronic Acid is the key ingredient. Try: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream $52 A concentrated 30 percent hyaluronic acid cream that transforms atmospheric vapor into fresh, pure water, providing your skin with a continuous burst of intense hydration that lasts up to 72 hours. 2. Even skin tone and continue hydration with a lightweight foundation. Try: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water Broad Spectrum SPF 30 $42 This multitasking BB water with SPF 30 is an ultra-hydrating and oil-free formula that creates a sheer, radiant finish that lasts all day. It delivers a demi-matte complexion that’s never flat, creating a natural-looking canvas, and it minimizes the look of fine lines, pores, and blemishe 3. Add a pop of color with a cream blush. Try: Clarins Multi-Blush Cream Blush $30 A best-selling blush with moisturizing rose, mimosa and sunflower waxes that glides on with the ease of a cream. It transforms into a velvety powder with the heat of your skin, sculpting and illuminating your cheeks. 4. Give lips a dose of color soaked hydration. Try: The Estée Edit Cocobalm $22 An addictive, lightweight, liquid coconut balm that melts onto lips with an instant burst of hydration and a creamy pop of color. Shop:
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