5 Bling Reviews, Beauty, Beauty Product Reviews, Lauren B Beauty, Nail Care Reviews

What I’m Loving Now : Lauren B Beauty Nail Couture—Sunset Blvd. & Gel-Like Top Coat

July 2, 2014 / No Comments

I love nail polish. They are second on my list for a quick pick-me-up fix — right behind getting a new red lipstick…

I was recently sent Lauren B Beauty Sunset Blvd. nail polish and top coat to review and I was very, very impressed. And, I’m not usually impressed by nail polish. Yes, I love the colors, the collections, but for the most part, nail polish is nail polish. With the exception of Lauren B Beauty. I’m going to tell you why after I share the details about the brand.

About Laren B Beauty — Nail Couture:

Our products are proudly made in the U.S.A. and never tested on animals. Everything we create is vegan-friendly and free of harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, formaldehyde resin and camphor.

SUNSET BLVD. $18.00

A mood-lifting, good-on-everyone coral red: Dressy and gleaming, it works as well for the office as it does at a cocktail party.

Our advanced, quick-drying nail enamels deliver a high-shine, chip-resistant, long-lasting finish. The brush is packed with twice the standard amount of bristles, all pre-lacquered so your polish glides on smoothly and streak-free. The bottle has a special over-cap, so you can use a square or cylindrical handle for more control. Bonus: Each formula is eco- and vegan-friendly (with no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, toluene or camphor), and proudly made in the USA.

GEL-LIKE TOP COAT $28.00

This crème de la crème gel-like top coat offers the long-lasting gleam of a salon gel manicure, without any dangerous exposure to UV light. It comes off with gentle, non-acetone nail polish remover, so there’s no need to dry out your fingertips either. The formula’s eco-friendly and free of harsh chemicals. Plus, it’s not too thick, so you really can’t mess it up. In other words, genius.

My results:

My first “ooooohhhhhh” came when I started applying Sunset Blvd. to my nails. The polish went on so evenly and easily. I could actually polish right to my cuticles without making a mess. That’s something usually reserved for when I get a professional manicure. I was additionally impressed by the vibrant color. All too often, a polish looks fabulous in the bottle, but once you apply it, it falls flat. Not so with Lauren B Beauty.

Sunset Blvd. is the prefect summer red. Not too red, not too orange, just right. It has a bit of a coral tinge to it, which makes it perfect for brown skin or anyone trying to show off their tan!

The pièce de résistance however, is the top coat. When I saw the price I thought, no top coat is worth 30 bucks. But I have to eat crow. This top coat from Lauren B Beauty is everything. Not only does it provide amazing shine that lasts, but it truly emulates the finish of a gel manicure. My polish had that slightly “thick” look you get from a gel polish and my manicure lasted for over a week without chips. I imagine it would have lasted longer but I changed the color. Beauty blogger here — yet another product to try out, otherwise that polish would still be on my nails as I type this…

You can check out my manicure below:

Bling Factor:

Pro: Vibrant color, easy to use, long lasting

Con: None

Price: $18 polish, $28 top coat

Buy Again: yes

Packaging: 5 Blings

Overall: 5 Blings

Hero Ingredient: n/a

Natural/Organic/Vegan: 5 free

Cruelty Free: Yes

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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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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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: R’Chelle Will Take Better Care of Her Hands

As much as I advocate for skincare and beauty routines to enhance your outer beauty I fall terribly short when it comes to one important area, my hands! Last week I took a look at my hands and they looked like I’d been playing in a box of rocks. Without question my beauty resolution will be to take better care of my hands this year. In an effort to restore the moisture and health into my hands, I’ll be using Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Correcting Hand Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 15 $29.50. What it is: A soothing hand cream that moisturizes and helps create a more even skintone. What it does: This rejuvenating hand cream helps reverse the appearance of dark spots, age spots, and discolorations, producing a smoother, clearer skintone. The gentle UVA/UVB sunscreen and calming botanicals work to prevent future darkening, leaving hands feeling soft, supple, and moisturized all day long. 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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