Breast Cancer Awareness Month Pink PIcks: Smashbox Be Legendary Lip Gloss in Promise

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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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Skin Care Review: Moroccan Magic Lip Balm

Thinking back to when I was much, much younger, I’m sure the first beauty product I used was lip balm. In my mind it was a gateway beauty product — next would be lipgloss and then the golden prize — LIPSTICK! The irony is that now, decades later, I’m still in love with lip balm, and it’s a necessary piece to my makeup and skin care arsenals. I’m sure everyone has a reason for using a lip balm — it’s the perfect lip primer for those super matte lipsticks. Lip balm keeps your lips moist during harsh winter weather. It’s the natural go-to for an errand day or a dressed-down Saturday. Lip balm is pretty much a necessity. I had the pleasure of trying out Moroccan Magic Lip Balms. And pleasure I do mean… About Moroccan Magic Lip Balm $12 for 3 to $30 for 7: HIGH QUALITY LIP TREATMENT: Our balms are ultra smooth, healing and long lasting without that waxy feel or taste. Moroccan Magic Organic Lip Balms are infused with USDA Organic Argan and Essential Oils and are proud to only use high quality, fair trade, USDA Organic ingredients in our products. Our Formulas are non-toxic, cruelty free and always made with simple, pure, clean ingredients from nature MADE WITH NATURAL INGREDIENTS: As a company, we have very high standards for our manufacturing process from ingredients to packaging. We never use synthetic ingredients, parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, phyhalates, chemicals, fillers, animal testing, mineral oils, petroleum. In fact, each ingredient included in our small batch formulas have purpose and are believed to have their own healing properties PURE, SIMPLE, CLEAN FORMULA: Our simple recipe for the perfect lip balm starts with quality ingredients. Each ingredient included in our small batch formulas have purpose and are believed to have their own healing properties. Enjoy Ingredients such as organic beeswax, argan oil, and rosemary extract for long lasting, smooth-as-butter results MOROCCAN MAGIC: As a true lip balm lover, you are most likely (and understandably) very picky about which lip balms you use. That’s good, we are too! That’s why we have created what people are now calling “The Smoothest Lip Balm Ever!” We are proud to offer a better balm, it’s as simple as that. You deserve a higher quality everyday lip balm at an everyday price Available in 8 flavors: ROSE: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic rose essential oil. MANUKA HONEY: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic Manuka honey. PEPPERMINT EUCALYPTUS: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils. LEMON THYME: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic lemon and thyme essential oils. LAVENDER VANILLA: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic lavender extract and organic vanilla. COCONUT ALMOND: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with organic sweet almond and coconut oils. ELDERBERRY AND MANUKA HONEY: This naturally sweet and earthy flavored lip balm was specially crafted with elderberry fruit extract and organic Manuka honey. UNSCENTED: This unscented lip balm was specially crafted to be your new favorite go-to lip balm for everyday chapped lip relief. My results: Moroccan Magic Lip Balms have raised the bar for inexperienced lip balm in a tube. The ingredients are exceptional— argan oil and a plethora of essential oils and herbs to vary the “flavor” and scent of the balm. My favorite use is under my lipstick as I like to use a long-wearing lipstick for work and those tend to be drying. However when I use Moroccan Magic Lip Balm before applying an ultra matte lipstick it saves my lips! These lip balms are also my daily go to as opposed to a lipgloss when I’m having a casual day. Moroccan Magic Lip Balm is also part of my nighttime skin care routine. A touch of this lip balm keeps my lips moist through the night. I do have my favorites–Elderberry and Manuka Honey, Coconut Almond and Lemon Thyme. But they are all wonderful. Bling Factor: Pro: Moisturizing, soothing, long-lasting, great ingredients Con: None Price: $3.99 each plus package prices Buy again: None Packaging: 5 Blings, each “flavor” is easily identifiable Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredients: Organic Argan and Essential Oils Natural/Organic/Vegan: Yes Cruelty Free: Yes
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Trending-Winter Beauty: Try These Products When You Are Stuck Inside!

Has cold weather got you in the house with nothing but time on your hands? Well, why not treat your skin and hair to some spa-worthy treatments? Treat your skin to a clay face mask… DDF SULFUR THERAPEUTIC MASK (SULFUR 10% ACNE TREATMENT) A clay mask and spot treatment with sulfur and purified clays to absorb oil and help keep pores clear ($45, ddfskincare.com) Help your skin recover with an intense moisturizer… Lumene Bright Now Vitamin C Sleeping Cream Restores skins natural balance because it’s packed with antioxidants to help brighten, nourish and vitalize tired and dull skin. ($19.99, CVS and Ulta) Revive your hair with a coconut oil and banana pulp leave-in… Sun Bum Beach Formula 3 In 1 Leave In This spray enriched with Coconut Oil, Banana Pulp and Peel, Banana Leaf, Quinoa Protein and Sunflower Seed Oil will protects, detangle and condition your hair while enhancing and restoring its natural body. ($14.99, trustthebum.com) Don’t forget to brush this product through your hair after applying! Use a Conair Ultra Detangling Wood Cushion Brush Professional quality wood cushion brush that glides through wet or dry hair. ($12.99, Ulta.com) Shop:
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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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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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