Trending-Summer Beauty: 6 Essentials for a Relaxed July 4th Weekend

July 3, 2015 / No Comments

Fourth of July is tomorrow and whether you plan to spend the day on a beach, in your backyard or avoiding the heat by staying inside, we have all your perfect essentials to keep you primped and relaxed!

1. Good-for-You Moisturizer with SPF

Try: Korres Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil SPF 30 $35

This ultra-lightweight fluid instantly disappears into skin providing broad-spectrum UV protection and deep nourishment. The silky texture wears beautifully under makeup for a weightless, luminous finish—making this an ideal daily moisturizer throughout the year. Yogurt, rich in skin-repairing proteins, helps keep skin nourished and protected from the sun’s harmful rays while a blend of rice and camapu extract offers deep hydration and calming properties to soothe skin during sun exposure.

2. Fresh Underarms

Try: Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Sport Luxe Deodorant $16

This aluminum-free, Sport Luxe deodorant was created for an active life in motion. Bursting with long-lasting, vanilla breeze freshness, our award winning formula is infused with proprietary SmartSport^TMTechnology for high performance defense & nourishment. The crisp vanilla breeze scent blends white jasmine with watery honeydew, green apple and a whisper of powdery vanilla.

3. Pretty Feet

Try: Curél Foot Therapy $5.99

A targeted lotion features highly emollient shea butter, rich coconut milk, and naturally healing vitamin E and works to smooth and soften dry cracked skin in just two uses. Watch as it significantly improves the look and feel of dry feet and cracked heels while exposing your best feet yet .

4. Clear Skin

Try: Bioré Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser $7.49

Helps defend against blemishes before they start with a powerful formula containing salicylic acid. This refreshing liquid cleanser targets and removes dirt and oil that can cause blemishes, leaving you with clear skin. This deep, yet gentle cleanser invigorates and cools as it removes over 99% of dirt and oil.

5. Sexy Summer Scent

Try: Love2Love Bluebell + White Tea $9.99

The latest addition to the captivating range of perfectly paired scents for perfect pairs in love. The perfect summer fragrance, this sensual scent instantly enchants with a burst of Italian bergamot, blueberry white tea and nectarine. The refreshing opening mingles with middle notes of orange flower, bluebell flower and jasmine sambac to completely draw in your senses. An earthy blend of cashmere woods, sheer musk and white amber at the bottom represent the calming feeling that comes from being wrapped in your true love’s arms ($9.99; Mass Retailers).

5. R & R

Try: Hästens Hammock $290

For the perfect backyard addition on the 4^th, allow yourself to relax under a brilliant blue summer sky, enjoying the sun and a brisk, fragrant breeze. Hästens Hammock is 100% premium natural cotton and available in Hästens’ iconic blue and white check pattern ($290; Hästens stores nationwide).

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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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Editor’s Picks: Best Facial Cleansers for Cold Weather

Winter can be a beast when it comes to the way it treats our skin. Cold, harsh weather can dry and strip our skin of it’s natural oils. So, the last thing we need to do is wash away the natural lipids on our skin when we cleanse our face. Rather, a cleanser that’s gentle and replenishes the natural oils on the skin is preferable. Even the oiliest skin types can benefit from a gentle non-stripping cleanser. We have road tested dozens of cleansers and these six are the best of the batch to keep your skin in it’s optimal health during these cold weather months. First Aid Beauty Milk Oil Conditioning Cleanser $26 (read my review here) Remove stubborn and long-wear makeup while you cleanse and condition the skin with Milk Oil Conditioning Cleanser, First Aid Beauty’s modern take on the beauty classic, cold cream. This multiaction cleanser dissolves skin-hugging makeup and impurities in just one step—even waterproof formulas—while simultaneously nourishing the skin. Enriched with skin nourishing oils—meadowfoam seed oil, coconut seed oil, and avocado oil—it protects and boosts the skin’s moisture levels. This “no-water-needed” formula leaves skin clean, nourished, comforted, and perfectly prepped. KORRES Greek Yoghurt 3 In 1 Cleansing, Toning And Eye Make-Up Removing Emulsion $24 (read my review here) The original Milk Proteins Cleansing Emulsion is back and boosted with Greek yogurt for two and a half times more skin-nourishing proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This multitasking, calming, and healing emulsion features euphrasia—also known as eyebright extract—which reduces redness, swelling, and irritation, along with antioxidant macadamia and sunflower oils to moisturize and protect skin. The result is a formula that cleanses, tones, and removes even the most stubborn makeup from face and eyes. Ole Henricksen Empower™ Foaming Milk Cleanser $26 (read my review here) This unique, lightweight milk transforms into a creamy lather to effortlessly and gently dissolve all traces of dirt, impurities, and makeup, while helping preserve skin’s moisture mantel. It’s infused with antioxidant-rich artic cloudberry to protect from the onslaught of damaging free radicals, omega-6 powerhouse nordic cotton extract to deliver weightless hydration, and gentle willowbark extract to smooth skin. This nourishing cleanser leaves skin soft, supple, and revitalized. Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil $32 (read my review here) This effective, multitasking cleanser removes makeup and skin impurities while providing essential hydration. Sunflower, safflower, and grape seed oils cleanse the skin’s surface and renew the complexion, leaving it healthy-looking and refreshed. Ideal for all skin types, the non-greasy texture leaves skin feeling moisturized—never tight or dry. Aromatica Orange Cleansing Sherbet $35 ( review coming) This unique oil-based cleanser starts off solid with a sherbet-like texture and then melts onto the skin to gently yet effectively cleanse the skin of makeup, oil-based impurities and dirt while hydrating the skin. Babassu oil helps clear pores while orange peel extract refreshes and lightly exfoliates without irritating the skin. We especially love that this comes in a super-sized generous tub and think it’s perfect for your double cleansing routine. AHAVA All-In-One Toning Cleanser $30 (review coming) A light, all-in-one, triple performance formula that effectively removes makeup, dirt and impurities from face and eyes. It helps to tighten pores, leaving skin feeling clean, toned and soft. A 3-in-1 Performance: Cleanser, Eye Makeup Remover and Toner for gentle and effective cleansing. Botanical toner with Witch Hazel extract to help minimize pores and rebalance the skin. A vitamin rich cleanser with anti-oxidant agents such as Dunaliella Algae and Date extract. 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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Trending—Winter Skin Care Tips: 5 Unexpected Ways to Use Shea Butter from L’Occitane

Maybe you have an unexpected blind date – or a meeting with a new client just appeared on your calendar. We’ve all been there, and sometimes we’re not prepared to make our best impression. For such moments, you can always rely onL’Occitane’s Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter. Try these uses for L’Occitane Certified Organic Pure Shea Butter: Skin too dry in this winter weather? Rub the Shea Butter on elbows and hands. No time for a manicure? Apply the Shea Butter to your cuticles. Chapped lips? Use L’Occitane’s Shea Butter to hydrate Hurting paper cut or itchy scrape? Allow the Shea Butter to help you heal! Bad hair day? Use the Shea Butter to slick back those flyaways.
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Editor’s Picks: Leap Year Winter Skin Care Essentials

It’s Leap Year. That means you have an extra day this year to do something special for you. Since we are in the throes of winter, with the harsh cold wreaking havoc with out skin, it may be time to check out some skin care products that bump up the level of beauty quotient of your skin. Remember how you used to write a word and associate another word with each letter of that word? Well we are doing just that for LEAP year. 1. L—Lather Choose gentle cleanser that not only get’s your skin clean, but is calming and chock full of good-for-you ingredients. Try: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser $18 What it is: A face cleanser with a whipped texture that transforms into a rich cream when blended with water. What it does: This Face Cleanser gently cleanses the skin—removing surface oils, make up, dirt and grime—and its whipped texture transforms into a rich cream when blended with water. It’s infused with a powerful botanical antioxidant blend that works hard to scavenger free radicals. It calms redness and is PH-balanced to maintain the natural acidity of the skin. Daily use will result in fewer flare ups and reduced skin reactivity. 2. E—Exfoliate Improve texture, brighten and clarity your skin in one fell swoop with a gentle yet effective exfoliant. Try: Jurlique Fruit Enzyme Exfoliator $45 What it is: A fruit-based facial treatment that leaves skin visibly smoother and revitalized. What it is formulated to do: This ideal natural alternative to synthetic chemical peels harnesses enzymatic action to gently exfoliate skin and boost cell renewal for a refreshed, clear, glowing effect. Indigenous Australian extracts help to brighten and invigorate dull complexions, and improve skin texture and firmness. A dose of antioxidants and humectants soften fine lines and wrinkles while contributing to an overall healthier look and feeling. This formula is dermatologist tested. 3. A—Anti-aging It’s never too early to start fending off the ravages of time. Adding a treatment into your daily skin care regimen will slow the clock or turns the hands counter-clockwise. Try: Philosophy Miracle Worker™ Miraculous Anti-Aging Concentrate $62 What it is: An advanced antiaging serum designed to target the appearance of deep wrinkles and loss of elasticity. What it is formulated to do: This versatile, gel-textured, oil-free, age-defying essential features breakthrough peptide technology that bolsters the skin’s self-restorative capacity, supporting natural collagen to increase firmness and elasticity, and minimize lines and wrinkles. The water-based gel formulation helps bind hydration to the skin, maintaining a natural moisture barrier, while multiple antioxidants protect against free-radical attack. – Encourages improved elasticity and firmness. – Helps improve the appearance of deep wrinkles. – Helps protect against environmental attack. 4. P—Pamper Take one day a week to pamper your skin with a mask that adds hydration and nutrients. Try: AmorePacific Moisture Bound Vitalizing Masque $60 What it is: An overnight mask with a liquid-gel texture for improving internal hydration and antioxidant levels. What it is formulated to do: Restore tired, dehydrated skin overnight with this lightweight mask. AmorePacific’s 5-Hydra Complex dramatically improves internal hydration and antioxidant levels. Cellular turnover and youthful metabolism are promoted while moisture loss is prevented, all from the inside out. Get your leap year goodies here: Editor’s Picks: Leap Year Winter Skin Care Essentials Face Anti-Aging by philosophy Face Moisturizers by Amore Pacific
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