Beauty, Elle UK, Lupita Nyong'o, Magazines

CeleBeauty Watch: Lupita Nyong’o Covers January 2016 Elle UK

December 16, 2015 / No Comments

Oscar winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o, star of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, covers the January 2016 ELLE UK sporting glowing makeup. Photographed by Kai Z Feng and styled by Anne Marie Curtis. Photo courtesy of elleuk.com

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Product Review—Hair: Phyto Secret de Nuit Intense Hydration Regenerating Night Cream

I have never used Phyto products before, when I received the Phyto Secret De Nuit to review, I thought it was a night cream for my face. Phyto Secret de Nuit Intense Hydration Regenerating Night Cream – the name and description screams FACE product to me, but to my delight, I received a wonderful night cream for my hair. Here are the details for Phyto Secret de Nuit Intense Hydration Regenerating Night Cream $38: What it is: A night restorative treatment for all hair types. What it is formulated to do: This powerful night cream regenerates the hair fiber and provides up to eight hours of intense hydration, nourishment, and repair. It creates a protective shield against free radicals and oxidation, and leaves hair feeling remarkably stronger, healthier, and shiner. What it is formulated WITHOUT: • Parabens • Sulfates • Phthalates My results: Before I put a new product on my face, I like to smell it. I pumped a small amount on my fingers so I could check the consistency and to take a whiff, see what I’m working with. The texture is nice and creamy with a light, lovely fragrance. I applied the small amount I had on my fingers to my face and went about the rest of my day. Imagine my surprise when I read the directions and realized this product is applied to your hair…oops! I’ve never used a night conditioner on my hair and to be honest, I was thinking I don’t want to go to bed with wet hair and wake up to a pillowcase covered in a gooey mess. Our editor-in-chief doesn’t allow the quick answer of ‘no’ for a product. Just as we have to review and say why we like a product, we also have to say why not. I knew I had to give it a try because like it or hate it, I had to say – why either way. The bottle has a pump dispenser, which dispenses the cream in small amounts. To get the ‘hazelnut’ size amount of product the directions call for, it takes about 3-4 pumps. I apply the cream to my hair by simply combing through my hair with my fingers, the cream absorbs quickly and does not leave my hair feeling wet. I repeat the process concentrating on the ends oh my hair, where I have the most damage and then twist it up in a bun before going to bed. The next morning, style as usual. I am thoroughly impressed. My hair truly feels like it has been intensively nourished, with my ends feeling silky and my hair in general feeling soft. I have found with my hair it’s best not to use the Phyto Secret de Nuit Intense Hydration Regenerating Night Cream on the day I have washed my hair, it does make my hair feel dirtier sooner, but that could be me using too much product as a little seems to go a long way; about third day is perfect for me. I didn’t look at the price of this product before I used it, but honestly, the cost is worth it. It actually works and my hair feels as if it is being repaired, not just masking my frizzed ends. It is paraben and silicone free also, and packed with good natural ingredients to replenish the condition of my hair. I use this 3-4 times a week and the condition of my hair has really improved – I couldn’t be happier. I now want to try other products from Phyto. Bling Factor: Pro: Easy to use, smells great Con: None Price: $38 Buy Again: Yes Packaging: 5 Blings Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredient: Macadamia Oil, hydrates and softens hair. Natural/Organic/Vegan: Yes Cruelty Free: Yes Shop:
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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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Budget Beauty Tuesday: Editor’s Pick SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak

I have had the worst cold in history. Maybe the flu. At any rate, I have been one sick puppy. So between tea, tissue, and toddies I have been laid up on the couch streaming past seasons of Cake Boss and Crossing Jordan on Netflix. Dayquil, Nighquil, and cough drops just kind of dried me up leaving me rather coo coo. And then I remembered! I received a jar of SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak to review. Mind you, I usually only take a soak or bath when in a hotel, so I was quite anxious to check out this natural remedy for my nose which resembled the faucet streaming the water for my soak. I cracked open that jar, and oh my, what a sensory sensation met my nose! About SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak: Detoxifying & Healing Ease the symptoms of cold and sinus congestion with therapeutic Sage and healing Red bush extract. Our essential oil blend of natural expectorants–Peppermint, Rosemary, Thyme and Eucalyptus– help speed recovery in this congestion relief soak. Create a luxurious spa treatment–detoxifying with mineral-rich Dead Sea Salts and sinus soothing essential oils wile healing with Shea Butter. My results: After I slid into the tub, I could immediately feel relief in my sinuses and my head. On top of that, this soak made my skin feel silky-soft to the touch. My sinuses were clear for hours and my chest felt serious relief. In contrast to rubbing that greasy stuff in the blue jar on my chest and under my nose, SheaMoisture Red Bush & Sage Congestion Relief Soak is a welcome source of relief and a must have for this nasty cold and flu season. Bling Factor: Pro: Relieves congestion, smells great, soothes skin Con: None Price: $9.99 Buy Again: Yes Packaging: 4 Blings — Great size tub, perfect for housing a scoop Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredients: Essential oil Blend, Dead Sea Salts Natural/Organic/Vegan: Yes Cruelty Free: Yes Available in stores at Target, Walgreens and CVS.
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Look Better Naked: Top 5 Exfoliating Body Lotions

Who among us doesn’t want to retain the beautiful, youthful and radiant skin we were born in? I’m sure we all do; or at least I do! That is the reason why skin care products are gaining more recognition each day. You can’t turn the channel or flip through a magazine without seeing some new product related to promoting skin health. And then of course there are the models with glowing skin. Kind of like Chanel Iman on the left… With that said, as aging adults (and those of us who never plan on aging, but simply want to keep our bodies beautiful) it is crucial that we include exfoliation in our daily, or at minimum, weekly skin care routine. Body exfoliation is the process that removes dead skin cells and protects the skin from harmful effects of fungi and dirt. As a result, it helps the new, glowing skin to resurface. When we think of exfoliating we often tend to think only about our face.However, it is just as important to give the same attention to the rest of our body as we do to our face, neck and décolleté. Remember- our skin is the largest organ we have! As our age increases, the body's natural ability to shed dead skin cells decreases gradually, making skin pale and dull. To regain the soft, glowing, youthful skin we need to exfoliate on a regular basis. Here are my Top 5 Exfoliating Body Lotions: 1. Alpha Hydrox AHA Enhanced Lotion $9.49 This exfoliating body lotion promotes skin renewal and repair, helping smooth fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet and forehead creases. A 10% glycolic AHA gently exfoliates dead skin, bringing, younger, smoother skin to the surface. Increases skin moisture while leaving skin looking supple and refined. 2. Burt's Bees Cocoa & Cupuacu Butters Body Lotion $8.00 A blend of rich Cocoa and Cupuaçu Butters mingle with botanical moisturizers like Sunflower and Olive Oils. Burt’s Bees Cocoa and Cupuaçu Butter lotion is clinically proven to make your skin feel soft, smooth and super healthy for up to 24 hours. 3. Alba Botanica – Very Emollient Body Lotion Maximum Dry Skin w/AHA $12.00 A natural, maximum moisture body lotion packed with rich botanical emollients and humectants to relieve dry, itchy skin instantly and provide 24 hours of hydration. This exfoliating body lotion blends aloe vera, green tea and chamomile extracts plus antioxidants to nourish, soothe and soften dry skin on contact. Cellular renewal is supported with alpha hydroxy acids, so extremely rough, dry skin develops a fresh and healthy-looking appearance. 4. DERMAdoctor KP Duty $30 KP Duty incorporates medically proven technology including ingredients for hydrated and healthy skin. Medically potent levels of Glycolic Acid blends with Urea, the dermatologist-recommended humectant, to soften and smooth away the driest, roughest skin. 5. Kiss My Face Moisturizer Peaches & Creme w/ AHA $11.95 This quickly absorbing, 4% AHA moisturizer is recommended for daily use on the face or body to help unblock and cleanse pores, speed up the exfoliation process, allow new, healthy skin cells to emerge and reduce discoloration and age spots. Body Lotions & Creams by Burt's Bees
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Bad Beauty Habits: Marna Resolves to Quit Picking Her Face

This year I will work hard to not pick at my skin. Ever since I gave birth to my daughter 11 years ago, I suffered from adult acne. I know that picking at and constantly touching the skin on my face is a recipe for disaster. Hands and nails are the worst culprits of skin problems. So why do I do it? Its a nervous habit I am working hard to break. I remember in high school (ahhhhh the carefree high school years) I had crystal clear skin. I made a conscious effort to not touch my face. In fact, I would get very upset and scream on people for touching my face. I know, that was a little extreme, but look at my pay-off. My beauty resolution is stop using stop abusing my skin and to go back to the meticulous care I gave my skin high school and see what I can do to recapture the beautifullly clear skin of my youth. I plan on using Alba Botanica ACNEdote Skin Care to get my breakouts under control and to clear it up alba botanica acnedote
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