Beauty Blvd. Feed

butter London Lippy Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

butter LONDON has entered the lip gloss world introduction of Lippy – a line of lip glosses in five shades that correspond with lacquer colors already in the butter LONDON collection. One of the big trends the brand saw backstage at the S/S 12 shows was a “matchy/matchy” look, not just with fingers and toes but also lips. What was once an elegant, classic look of the past that may have seemed outdated in recent years has made a comeback in a fresh way. The colors are bolder and the look is more deliberate, sometimes clashing with the pops of neon designers showed in their accessories this season.

On to the review! I'm on the fence about these glosses, on one hand I love a 3 of the 5 colors, Trout Pout, Primrose Hill Picnic, and Snog but the consistency of the gloss is like super thick and sticky. Meaning, it lasts super long which is a plus but it's also like contact paper catching your hair and anything else that comes too close to your lips. The pigmentation of these glosses is excellent. The colors really pop, but Teddy Girl is super hard to wear. It's a white based pale pink.

What's your favorite shade?

Get it here.

Ever Eden Jewelry by Michele Phan

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Glamhouse Founder and CEO, Pascal Mouawad has partnered with YouTube Star Michelle Phan to produce a capsule collection, exclusively for Glamhouse.com

Titled Ever Eden, Michelle’s initial capsule collection is inspired by her worldwide travels, spirituality and inspiring figures like Saint Joan of Arc. The result? Chunky, statement pieces that I'm sure you guys will really like.

My favorites are the Ever Eden infinity cuff ($85) and the Rosace earrings that actually remind me more of a Flamingo Dancer's fan than anything else.

Ever Eden’s pieces are priced between $25 and $95 and will be available at glamhouse.com.

Herbacin Covers all Your Foot Care Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Herbacin has an entire range of foot care products to help you maintain your pedicure. I think the feet are probably one of the most neglected parts of the body, unless of course it's summer time. Start treating your feet to the care they deserve!

My favorite Herbacin Foot Care products are the Foot Peeling Lotion and the Leg Lotion. The Foot Peeling Lotion is a basically a scrub, it smells fresh and it cleanses and scrubs away dead skin off your feet. After I give them a good scrub down, I apply the Leg Lotion from my foot up my entire leg. The lotion has Avocado and Almond oils, plus vasoactive active ingredients from red vine leaves and horse chestnuts improve leg circulation which as a nurse I can appreciate all the improved leg circulation I can get.

You can shop Herbacin.com to find all the products.

Skin Care Advice

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Sometimes we just need a reminder to follow those Skin Care Tips that we HATE hearing. You know the ones like drink enough water, but it's so true. Water is essential to every single body function we have, without enough water whacky things can start to happen and it really takes a toll on our skin. So just drink water, ladies! Add lemon wedges, whatever you need to make yourself like it.

Stop picking at your skin! This is the biggest one for me, personally. I find things wrong with my skin and pick at them until the area is a bleeding mess, I know I KNOW! I have to keep my hands to myself and off my face.

Wear your sunscreen every single day, even when it's snowing, raining, or cloudy. It should be at least SPF 15, but I try to opt for SPF 20 - 30. Don't forget your chest if it's exposed and shoulders!

I don't care how tired you are you need to wash your makeup and the gunk of the day off your face before bed. It's essential for clear nice skin, leaving makeup on your skin will make your skin breakout or leave it very dull looking.

And don't forget to moisturize properly. Don't overload your skin, simple is better. A serum, moisturizer, eye cream is perfect, if you need to target a problem feel free to do that too but stick to what's working.

Feel free to add your own in the comment section!

The Best Cuticle Oil Pen

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I told you guys about the Neem Clay Facial Mask I was using, well I still love it and now I'm loving another Just Neem product. The Neem Cuticle Care Pen is the best Cuticle Oil Pen ever. What makes a cuticle pen great? An even distribution of oil, a secure lock top, a great oil inside, and soft bristles for application. The Just Neem Cuticle Care Pen meets all the requirements and what's also great is that Neem has antibacterial qualities so it's perfect for little nicks in the cuticle area.

Get your own @ JustNeem.com

Butter London Spring/Summer Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Spring/Summer 2012 Butter London Collection of nail polish is fun and vibrant, featuring brights, shimmer, sparkle, and muted colors. The collection features fun names too, Slapper, Trout Pout, Disco Biscuit, Bossy Boots, and Knackered.

Trout Pout

Bossy Boots is a very opaque muted green color and at the other end of the spectrum Slapper is a bright teal color that looks fun on toes! Trout Pout is one of my favorite colors from this collection because it's a pinkish coral color that I'm still in love with. It looks amazing against brown skin too.

Disco Biscuit

My second favorite from the collection is Disco Biscuit, the perfect Barbie doll pink with lots of glittery shimmer. It's a color your daughter will surely steal from you! Perfect on fingers or toes.

Knackered

Knackered is a pretty sheer, twinkling oyster shade flecked with micro glitter particles that would look great over other colors or alone, I love that the shade is buildable.

Get Even & Clear with AMBI

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:00:00 +0000

We tried the AMBI Even & Clear collection ... see what we thought!

Get Sun Kissed without the Orange

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:28:00 +0000

Written by Alyssa for Beauty Blvd.

With summer fast approaching girls of my complexion (Think Lisa Bonet) end up with a problem. As a nurse, I cannot endorse baking in the suns UV rays with tanning oils greased upon ones body. (Although, I will confess to having done it before.) Skin cancer is very real! The American Melanoma Foundation recommends SPF of 15 year round and a higher number for lighter skin.

On the other side, who wants to be pasty all year long? Not me. I have tried the gradual tanner body lotions before, they are quite gradual.

Here is something more drastic! Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Glow Pad, ($25.00 Amazon.com) offers almost immediate tanning results. It also claims to have active Vitamin D in it's exfoliating pads. In a pack you will get 10 small wipes. Think the moist towelettes you may wipe your hands with after dinner only smaller. The pads are also thicker. Here's a tip, WEAR GLOVES! It'll reduce the chances of your hands turning orange. Even after washing them it's still possible. I washed my face and patted it dry. Open your pad and simply rub in a circular motion on the area you want to tan. I did it only on my face because I couldn't imagine wiping a small pad over my entire body in circular motions. It's possible, but time consuming. This pad works within hours. The change was noticeable literally 2-3 hours later. Someone told me that I looked great, but different, although she couldn't recognize why. Score!

Remember not to wipe too close to your eyes, and do your neck as well or it'll look like a mask. It also looks nice on your hands, but you have to be careful with the knuckles and the line of delineation at your palms. The color lasted a few days and is a quick fix hours before you want to look sun kissed. This is just the start of skin season, so more sun alternative ideas to come!

Rembrandt Helps you Whiten Your Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I work the nightshift and that means tons and tons of coffee to keep me wide awake when the rest of the world is sleeping. Over time coffee can stain the teeth and the Rembrandt Intense Stain dissolving strips are easy to use to help keep my teeth nice and white. All you have to do is apply the strips to your teeth and leave then on for 10-15 minutes and the dissolve away, they do leave a little bit of film around the gum line so it's best to just give your mouth a little rinse after the 15 minutes are up.

I've used them for 2 weeks and my smile is a little whiter than before and I experienced no sensitivity which is great. This is the perfect product to use leading up to an important event.

REMBRANDT® INTENSE STAIN® Stain Dissolving Strips dissolve on your teeth in minutes to easily remove tough stains caused by coffee and wine. Get a whiter smile in 2 weeks.

Visit www.rembrandtboutique.com to learn more or purchase REMBRANDT® products. REMBRANDT® INTENSE STAIN® Stain Dissolving Strips & REMBRANDT® INTENSE STAIN® toothpaste together: REMBRANDT® INTENSE STAIN® platform uses 3x Triple Action ActiShield™ technology to:

Remove: helps gently remove tough stains like coffee, red wine and tea
Repel: works like an invisible shield to help repel future stains
Restore: strengthens the enamel to help prevent daily acid wear

Visit www.rembrandtboutique.com to learn more or purchase REMBRANDT® products.

Compensation and product was provided by REMBRANDT® via Glam Media
to facilitate my review. Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies is
a sponsor of Glam.com. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author
and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of REMBRANDT® or Johnson
& Johnson Family of Consumer Companies.

Soft Skin for Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:30:00 +0000

The weather is getting warm, that means less clothing covering up your skin it's time to make that skin touchable! Some simple swaps will make your skin softer and touchable for the summer months.

Instead of your regular wash cloth, use exfoliating gloves to help remove dead rough skin. Swap out your regular bar soap for Proactiv Bar Soap to help keep body acne at bay. Not the bar soap kinda girl? Use Neutrogena Body Clear Body scrub or body wash. Both body washes have salicylic acid to help keep breakouts away! Instead of the regular lotion you're currently using, switch to CeraVE Renewing Lotion that helps restore and repair the driest skin. This lotion also has salicylic acid to help loosen and exfoliate dead skin cells.

Enjoy the summer!

Mally Roncal wants you to Fight the Powder

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Mally Roncal, celebrity makeup artist and president of Mally Beauty, has one nemesis— translucent powder! Mally encourages women to a take a stand and “Fight the Powder.” Transluscent powder can make women look cakey, crusty, funky and settle into fine lines and wrinkles. Mally’s Evercolor Poreless Face Defender, yields a waterclear, featherweight product that diffuses the look of pores, fine lines and imperfections and helps makeup last and last! Finishes a look, mattifies and smooths, without the dry, ashy look of powder.

As the leader of the war on powder, Mally is issuing a battle cry, encouraging women to take a pledge to “Fight the Powder.” Join the crusade against translucent powder, take the “Fight The Powder” pledge on Mally Beauty’s Facebook page.

Now onto this Evercolor Poreless Face Defender, it's weird but fabulous at the same time. It is like an invisible wonder product, it's clear, feels like nothing at all, but somehow makes your skin feel smoother and softer. When I first opened up the package, I was like ummm where is it? It looks like an empty compact, but I applied a little to the back of my hand and I was like that's it?!?

My hand looked no different from the other hand, but then I ran my finger over the area I applied the product to and it was soft and silky. Interesting I thought! So later that day when I was going out I put on my makeup and then ran this over it, not only does it help smooth out everything, it made my skin look more matte instead of shiny, and my face was so smooth. I'm a fan for sure! Get it from Mally Beauty for $40.00

**sample provided for review**

Summer Ready Feet with Votre Vu

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

After keeping your feet tucked away in boots, sneakers, etc. all winter they probably need a little help getting flip flop and sandal ready. Votre Vu Très Magni-feet Traitement Exfoliant Pour Les Pieds, (Exfoliant Treatment for your feet) is a foot scrub that has very tiny particles of benevolent bamboo which gently eliminate roughness and banish excess dead cells. It's super easy to use, just apply and massage onto feet, rinse for super soft skin. It also has pure peppermint, health-bolstering alpha bisabolol and refining citrus extracts effectively deep cleanse, repair and hydrate. It's the perfect thing to keep in your shower to use in-between pedicure to keep feet soft.

Get it here.

Neutrogena Naturals Review

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

We gave the Neutrogena Naturals Collection a try, read the entire review! You'll find out our favorite products from the line, more information about the products, and why you should try them out.

MAC Fashion Sets

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:42:00 +0000

Rebel in New York, Saint Germain in Seoul, Morange in Paris, Russian Red in Dubai - the must–have lip shades that M·A·C fans around the world reach for, and fall in love with, over and over again. Colours so globally gorgeous we worked them into 3-piece collections of go- everywhere lipstick, lipglass and nail lacquer trios in 7 classic palettes that are perfectly coordinated and regionally inspired. Wherever you are, tip and lip the scale in your fashion favour.

Can I just say I'm super excited about this MAC launch! I want every single shade, I'm so loving the matchy-matchy look with nails and lips. The MAC Fashion Sets Collection will be available May 3rd. Here is a list of the colors and which part of the world has made it number one.

Spice - #1 classic best-selling lip pencil in Canada, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, UK, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Argentina, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, India, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Travel Retail

Myth – #1 selling lipstick in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia and Finland

Russian Red – #1 selling lipstick in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Singapore and Venezuela

Snob – #1 selling lipstick in Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Argentina and Travel Retail

Chestnut – #1 selling lip pencil in the US

Rebel – Cult favorite for the perfect sultry, wine colored lip

Girl About Town – A fabulous bright fuchsia, a go-to staple for every fashionista

What colors do you plan on snapping up?!

Neem Clay Mask: Ayurvedic Skin Care

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Sometimes going back to nature is so much better than the pricy chemical laden skin care products. I delved into the world of Ayurvedic practices for healthy hair care, but now I'm learning about Ayurvedic ingredients for skin care. My latest find? Neem Clay Mask from JustNeem.

Unfamiliar with the the ingredient Neem? Well, it's an oil and it's been used for centuries to treat skin issues like acne. No wonder it's the main ingredient in a clay mask right? The Neem Clay Mask is an all-natural blend of deeply cleansing French clay, healing Neem leaves, and hydrating oils, that draws out impurities and promotes clear and healthy skin.

Once I opened the tub, I couldn't help but notice the medicinal scent of the product. Also, I noticed that the oil had separated a little bit from the clay so I needed to give it a good mix. I started with a clean fresh face and applied a small amount of the mask on my skin, avoiding the eye area. I left it on for a little while and immediately I noticed a burning sensation that faded rather quickly. I was worried my face would be irritated and red when I finally rinsed but instead it was smooth and felt great. I plan on using this once a week to draw the impurities from my skin, so far it's one of my favorite masks.

Try it for yourself: JustNeem.com

SPF for Brown Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

SPF is a must have for all skin types but for some reason women of color don't think they need SPF on a daily basis. I'm talking every single day! Here's something to consider, exposure to the skin makes hyperpigmentation worse! I know that some sunscreens cause a ghostly cast to the skin, but the follow options are great for brown skin.

DNA Defense SPF 30+ from DNAEGF Renewal guards skin against the suns’ harmful UVA and UVB rays to fight photo-aging and cellular damage. It is clinically proven with a 3-star rating for advanced protection (new FDA rating). Skin feels light to the touch, smooth and protected with Vitamin A and E. I love the way this feels on my skin, it sinks right in and leaves no trace of white residue on my skin. $45, Available via www.dnaegfrenewal.com

Miracle Skin Transformer is a 5-in-1 tinted, treatment facial moisturizer that hydrates, primes, enhances, mattifies and protects with SPF 20, leaving a silky smooth, matte finish. Miracle Skin Transformer provides oil-free, UVA/UVB, broad spectrum protection with Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octyl Salicylate and Titanium Dioxide and has been featured on Dr. Oz as a miracle skin care product. Fortified with Vitamins E, K and A; Coenzyme Q10 and Ecophysalis, a natural plant extract found in Brazil. It's available in six shades and one that's translucent. $48, Available at Sephora stores nationwide, Bergdorf Goodman NY and online via www.miracleskintransformer.com, www.beauty.com and www.sephora.com

Supergoop Save Face SPF 35+ is is a two-in-one sunscreen-moisturizer that protects against sun and environmental damage in a shine-free, weightless lotion. Again, this goes on without that ghostly white look and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. $28, Get it online at www.sephora.com or www.supergoop.com

For more info on ExtraShade read this!

HOW TO: Natural Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Natural beauty takes a lot of work! Sure, smokey eyes and bold red lips are undeniable statement looks, but sometimes the best declaration you can make with your makeup is being natural. Nothing exudes confidence and femininity more than a neutral-focused complexion. It may look easy, but getting this flawless nude is a challenge. Luckily, Dimitri James, celebrity makeup artist and the man behind Skinn Cosmetics, has you covered - - softly.

You’ve seen the look on the runways of Dolce and Gabbana, Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney. It’s the makeup trend of the 70s back for a second wind. Dimitri offers his tips, tricks and must-have products for creating a timeless neutral look.

The necessities: a skin illuminizer, a sheer cream blush, a powder foundation, a neutral-toned lip gloss, nude, taupe and ivory eye shadows and your favorite mascara. Now that you have the supplies here’s how to make it happen:

Step 1: Coverage - Start by applying a sheer skin illuminizer all over the face and lids, this offers some dimension and glow to your skin. A natural nude skin-toned color works best here. Try Skinn’s Natural Light Skinn Illuminizer, complete with auto-regulating pigments that adjust to your skin tone.

Step 2: Blush Next apply a fine coat of your sheer cream blush to the cheeks, eyelids and lips. Try to avoid too much blush with this application. You don’t want the cheeks to overpower the rest of the face.

Step 3: Powder - Follow up the blush with a light dusting of mineral powder foundation all over the face and lids. Make sure you find the perfect match for your skin by focusing on your undertones. If you are peachy, choose peachy nude shades, if you are olive, go with more of a warm/nude/brown shade and if you are cool-toned, choose colors that have a slight blue undertone. Skinn’s High Definition Cotton & Mineral Foundation is perfect – smooth and natural looking all day!

Step 4: Shadow - Apply your taupe shadow across the upper lid and your nude shadow under the lower lash line. Use the ivory shade under the brow bone.

Step 5: Finishing Touches - Apply separating lash mascara and finish with a sheer-toned lip gloss over your cream blushed lips.

How To: Fresh Face & Smokey Eye

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Celebrity Makeup Artist and Avon Global Creative Color Director, Jillian Dempsey was the visionary behind the young starlet’s stunning beauty look. Jillian put the focus on Kristen's eyes, layering a metallic blue shadow over a blend of multiple shades for a modern take on the classic smokey eye. Jillian then upped the drama by using a dark shadow as liner and swiped black mascara on lashes for the finishing touch. Jillian also darkened Kristen's brows, further accentuating her eyes and framing her face.

To offset the intensity of the eyes, Jillian kept the rest of Kristen's face simple: she added a rosy flush of color on her cheekbones and opted for a nude lip, which she achieved by simply layering a balm over a lipstain for an effortlessly natural, worn-in effect.

To rock the eye look: Use Alcone Professional Makeup Cream Eyeshadow in Lilac 2 ($8) as your base color then add Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional Smokifier in Blue Grey ($8) to smoke it out. Line the eyes with Arcancil Khol Kajal in Bleu Gauloise ($8) and then finish with mascara. To fill in the brows use, Kevyn Aucoin Brow Pencil ($24).

Brighten, Lighten, and Illuminate with Fashion Fair Vantex True Tone

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:32:00 +0000

Hyperpigmentation is a b-otch, it's as if the breakouts aren't bad enough. But once the terrible pimple clears there's a nasty dark mark that's left behind. It's something that plagues darker skin types, but thankfully there's a ton of options to help us brighten and lighten these pesky dark spots and illuminate our entire complexion.

The latest duo I've been using is by Fashion Fair, Vantex True Tone. Because these two products utilize natural skin brighteners it takes a little longer than other options to start seeing results. During the day I've been applying the True Tone Moisturizer with SPF 15, then at night I've been using the Dark Spot Corrector.

The Dark Spot Corrector is very thick and smells like yogurt to me. So far I've seen a very slight decrease in the darkness of a few spots I have on my face. But my skin overall seems a little brighter in general. The True Tone Moisturizer with SPF 15 is a good companion product because SPF is very important when trying to fight hyperpigmentation, but I do wish the SPF was higher. All in all this is a good set if your hyperpigmentation issues are mild.

Get it at your local Fashion Fair counter or online.

A Solution for Dark Armpits

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Summer is coming that means short sleeves, tank tops, bathing suits and just generally showing more skin. With that said, dark armpits have got to go! Luckily, I've never really had a huge battle with discoloration in the underarm region and I think it's partly because of my shower regimen. Ever since I was a little girl I was warned about dark elbows, knees, and even ankles by the older women in my family - I was told in order to keep them from getting dark I was to rub them every single day. So ever since I was little I would wash my body paying close attention to the knees, elbows, ankles, and underarms with a WASHCLOTH.

No one ever told me that exfoliating the armpits would keep them look and feeling good, but guess what? It works. Now along with exfoliation I have Dove's new Clear Tone Skin Renew anti-perspirant deodorant to keep the skin under my arms in check.

Now, let me just tell you straight up, I sweat like a man and I used to think Dove anti-perspirant products were for women who barely sweat and I just knew there was no way it would keep me from being funky. I was wrong, this new formula provides 24 hour odor and wetness protection even for me. Plus, it has Calendula and Sunflower seed extracts to moisturize and help accelerate the natural skin renewal processes which means less dark spots with continued use.

Loving the Julep Maven Program

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:18:00 +0000

Written by: Alyssa W. for Beauty Blvd.

I signed up to become a Julep Maven at the start of 2012. What exactly is a Julep Maven you might ask? Well allow me to tell you... As per their site "Becoming a Julep Maven gives you exclusive access to COLOR. Each month we hand-pick trendsetting new nail colors, cult faves and cutting-edge beauty products that are just right for you."

Always skeptical you may think "Okay, but I can buy nail polish for 99 cents at the beauty supply store." But Julep is ready to dissuade you from making this terrible decision! "What makes Julep so special? For starters, all our nail colors are “4-free,” meaning they don’t contain the carcinogens formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene or DBP. And because we’ve tested our colors and products on more than 100,000 manicures and pedicures in our own Julep Nail Parlors, we have a good idea of what works. Clients and Mavens alike love our long-lasting, chip-resistant formula, delivered by an exclusive flat brush with micro-frayed brush hairs for flawless application."

You can't get THAT for 99 cents! What you do get is this: $40 worth of Julep products for $19.99/month. After taking the style quiz they brand you by your results. I happen to be a "Bombshell" due to my affinity for reds and bright coral colors. Along with 2 nail polish colors you get a special item! So far I have gotten a hand lotion, pedicure cream and Organic Moroccan Argan Oil which is great for cuticles. Other trinkets include an EXCELLENT nail file, toe separators, and some Easter chocolate candy. Also, you are not bound to the colors they pick for you each month. A preview email is sent to you where you can swap colors or skip the month altogether. Cancel at anytime, and shipping is free. Its fun to get my box each month and know that I will like the colors and additional beauty item in it! With summer coming you need to up your arsenal of nail polish anyway!

Want to Join? Use code ANTIHAIRSLAVE to get your box for $5.00!

The Washcloth Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:43:00 +0000

Don't ask me how this convo got started at work but some way or another me and the girls were talking about showering. More specifically whether or not we shower with a wash cloth. I have to say I'm a washcloth kind of girl, I use a wash cloth to lather up and clean my body but I was shocked to hear that not everyone uses a wash cloth. The people who showered sans washcloth just used their hands and the bar of soap to get clean. I'm curious to know what my readers do, so guys use a washcloth or just your hands?

I use a wash cloth because I feel like it gets me cleaner and it helps with skin turn over. I also don't like the idea of rubbing the bar of soap directly on to the various parts of my body. Plus, I have a few washcloth rules, like I only use my body washcloth on my body - it never touches my face.

CEW Gift Bag Giveaway WINNER!

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Thanks so much to everyone who entered to win! The winner has been announced via the Rafflecopter Widget on the original post, but just in case you missed it ... Congrats to @SarahPuffy!

There will be more giveaways to come! Make sure you're on the Beauty Blvd. Facebook page too!

Spa Week Deal: The Woodhouse Day Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +0000

Who needs a little me time in the form of a relaxing spa treatment? Well National Spa Week is April 16th-22nd, go to the website, search for a spa in your area, then call and book your $50.00 treatment!

If you're in the Northern New Jersey area, I highly recommend Woodhouse Day Spa. I recently went in and received the 50 minute Swedish Massage with Hot Towel Foot Treatment. I received my treatment with Stephanie, who was professional and gave a heavenly massage. This was my first time ever getting an actual massage, I usually get body treatments because I always worry that massage will be painful. I have a bunch of back issues, thanks nursing career but this was great. Stephanie was careful to gently massage out all the tense areas without causing any discomfort. The hot towel foot part was very quick but a great little bonus to the massage. Get there a little early and fully take advantage of the Quiet Room and the great tea that's available while you're sitting there. Also, your parking will be validated if you park in the Crescent deck.

National Spa Week Event is happening April 16-22nd and all you have to do to take advantage of the $50 treatments is go to www.SpaWeek.com and search for spas in their area, then call the spas directly to book their appointments. Simple and easy, right?

Clarisonic Acne Clarifying Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Joi) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

I've talked about my love of the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush before but now there's a new kid on the block that I'm sure a lot of you guys will love. The new Clarisonic Skin Care Mia 2 Sonic Skin Acne Clarifying Cleansing Collection has the brand new travel-friendly Mia 2, which is awesome because it has two speeds and a brand new brush head that's made for ultra-gentle cleansing perfect for breakouts. It also has extra-plush bristle gradation for concentrated port flushing, which is perfect for congested pores.

The cleanser that comes with the new Acne Clarifying Collection uses 2% salicylic acid to help keep skin clear. Salicylic acid can help with the management of acne and it helps with some exfoliation but for my skin type 2% of salicylic acid does nothing for me when my skin really starts flaring up. Overall, I'm loving the new smaller size of the Clarisonic Mia 2 and the new acne brush head.

Check it out ... it's available on Amazon.com for about $140.00