Ring in the New Year with DIY Beauty Masks

I am an avid magazine reader- currently subscribed to over 15 magazines, mostly women's interest magazines and some business ones as well.

I received the February 1, 2009 issue of Woman's Day this past week and it's not even the new year and I'm already getting February's issue! I can't complain though because the magazine revolves around getting Discounts/Sales and Ways to Get Healthier! (Two of my favorite subjects)

Woman's Day included an article on DIY masks using all natural, simple ingredients that you probably have in your kitchen or bathroom cabinets. I have been meaning to write a blog post on this because it has been the subject of a beauty consultation I've had recently. The topic was more on getting rid of blackheads but beauty masks seemed the next natural (no pun intended) step.

Since this article is not on their website yet, I will not post their DIY recipes until they do so. (Link to be added soon!)

The recipes they include are Honey-Banana hair smoothie (hint: another ingredient is a tablespoon of yogurt), Milk and Honey Facial Mask (another ingredient is: Powdered milk) and Essential Body Scrub (using sugar and olive oil.)

After a quick internet search, I found many sites that list DIY facial mask recipes, depending on your skin type. Some that I liked are:
Fat Free Kitchen- http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/beauty/facial-masks.html
About.com:Beauty- http://beauty.about.com/od/skinflaws/a/facemasks.htm

Another comprehensive site which lists many recipes to homemade masks is at TotalBeauty.com- Natural Homemade Beauty Care Tips.

Their recipes include:
-Aloe Vera Facial Cleanser
-Chamomile and Oatmeal Facial Scrub
-Rich Avocado Facial
-Honey Lip Scrub
-Pineapple Sage Facial Mask
-Hand and Foot Sugar Scrub
-Lavender Bath
-Skin Firming Clay Mask
-Cucumber-Honey Toner
-Green Tea Toner
-Tropical Eye Cream
-All-Purpose Olive Oil Moisturizer

I had previously tried a recipe similar to the Honey Lip Scrub, but I used for my hands/arms instead. The recipe exfoliates well because of the sugar, so it leaves you with soft skin.

Some masks that I have tried before were simply plain yogurt and plain avocado, but now I have these recipes- with just a few more natural ingredients-to look forward to using for the new year!

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year everyone!!Let me know if you have tried out any of these recipes and which worked best for you!

Product Review: Frederic Fekkai Au Naturel Shampoo

I recently tried a sample of the Frederic Fekkai Au Naturel Shampoo. On Sephora's website, it says it is a "natural hair purifier." I expected it to be a clear shampoo, since I read somewhere before that usually clear shampoos are more clarifying. Regardless, I gave it a try and wasn't in love with it. My hair felt a bit slick even after washing, and I even used another quarter-size drop just to try to make it feel less oily. However, my hair feels really soft. (Could it be the essential oil and organic ingredients?)


source: www.sephora.com

If you want to give it a try, you can buy yours at Sephora too!

Sephora Sale -On Front Page!

In my 5+ years of visiting Sephora's website, I have never seen their Sale section so blatantly advertised. In fact, the only way I can find their sale section is to literally type "sale" in the search box. It's not exactly their thing to have a "Sale" section as one of their categories. So when I checked their website this morning, I was very surprised to see this:


source: www.sephora.com

Although I have seen this page before, it is now easy for everyone to find their sale section..until they take this ad down of course. They had the usual brands on sale, Vincent Longo, their own Sephora brand, Pop Beauty, and also a relatively new line, on10 cosmetics. Their products are exclusively sold on Sephora and specialize in vintage-style lip balms. They have flavors such as 7-Up, Hersheys, Wrigley's DoubleMint, Disney White Tea, and Schweppes! Most of these lipbalms were originally priced at $9 and are now $6.30!

I even saw some Cargo lip glosses on sale :)


To see my Sephora Beauty Sale picks...
The Vincent Longo Amalfi Dream collecion $29 (Originally $58)



This gorgeous set includes an 0.14 oz Eye Shimmer Soufflé in Lily Mist (iced pink), 0.14 oz Eyeshadow Trio in Orbit Dusk (white/ taupe/ silver taupe), 0.24 oz Perfect Shine Lip Gloss in Amalfi Dream (peach), 0.064 oz Duo Lip Pencil in Passion/Soft Pink (rosy mauve/ icy pink), 0.12 oz Velvet Riche Lipstick in Sexy Lady (lavender pink), and a sample of The Curl Mascara (black).

on10 Schweppes Gold Medal set $26.60 (Originally $38)



This set of lip balm includes the following flavors: Orange, Black Cherry Seltzer, Lime, Tonic Water, Raspberry Ginger Ale, Sarsaparilla, Cider, Peach, Grape Ginger Ale.

Yes to Carrots

Source: http://www.yes-to-carrots.com

I've been using the Yes to Carrots Lip Butter in Citrus flavor and it's the best. It smells wonderful, like a citrus candy but unfortunately doesn't taste it, and it is paraben-free. Since I've allergies to SPF-anything on my lips, I have to be very careful with using new lip products. So I would recommend using this All-natural, 95% organic lip product. (Read more reviews on their other products here)

I checked out their website and they have an offer to join their Carrot Club. Or if you're already a member, log-in to get a Buy one Get one Free coupon! Offer valid per account and while it lasts! They have some interesting advertising images...to see what I am talking about


I'm not quite sure if that image makes me really want to join the club, but the coupon offer sure did. :)

Product Review: Burt's Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar

source: http://www.burtsbees.com

I recently tried Burt's Bees Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar for several reasons. First, I want to switch to using more natural, organic beauty products and what better way than to try a brand like Burt's Bees? :) Second, I was tired of using my regular shampoo which just made my hair feel blah and didn't even feel clean sometimes after washing. After hearing mixed reviews about this product, I am pleasantly surprised! My hair was not at its best before washing, if you know what I mean, and after using the shampoo bar, my hair felt lighter and so much softer! It was a bit weird getting used to at first, since there wasn't the usual foam and suds that my other shampoos gave (think: chemicals!!). But after I got a good lather and the mint does really make your scalp tingle, it felt like any regular shampoo.

Not only does this shampoo bar work, it is 99.9% Natural!! Look at their ingredients: vegetable soap base, glycerin, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, yucca schidigera leaf extract, avena sativa (oat) kernel protein, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, urtica dioica (nettle) leaf powder, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, panthenol.

To buy yourself a bar and enjoy $3 shipping while it lasts..Go to: Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar

Free Sample of Calvin Klein Secret Obsession

Want to try Calvin Klein's Secret Obsession? Request your free sample now!


source: http://www.secretobsessioncalvinklein.com



Want another free sample of Escada Moon Sparkle Perfume?
I've been reading about this lately, and I've already posted this at the end of the summer.. Escada Moon Sparkle Perfume

December 18 is Free Shipping Day

December 18, 2008 is the first Free Shipping Day. Online merchants such as below, are participating in this to allow their customers free shipping just in time for their orders to arrive by Christmas. (How thoughtful) Maybe this will be the new trend.. like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.



Hurry! Free shipping ends tonight!!

To learn more...
Check out: www.freeshippingday.com

9 Days Until Christmas !

I have been hearing about EyesLipsFace beauty products, or better known as E.L.F. for a while and have been wanting to try it.

Most of their products are only $1, including eyeliners, brushes, lipsticks ! So they are very affordable if you just want something fun or if you're just learning how to use make-up. They also have a Studio line, for a more Professional look. The packaging looks a lot sleeker, with the cases in black, and also very affordable (only $3). Their Minerals line caught my line, especially since their eyeshadow pots are only $3!! They give you a pot of .03 ounces which may not sound a lot but it's more than what Bare Escentuals give for their eyeshadow pots.

So I was pleased to find in my email box this morning that they are offering $2 shipping (normally $6.95) OR a free upgrade to 3-day shipping, using the promo code: UPGRADE.

To see my wishlist on their site...
Here are the items I am considering:
1) Mineral Eyeshadow.. in ALL colors: (they had a deal earlier where all mineral makeup were 50% off!)



2) ELF Shine Eraser..


3) ELF Nail polish... ALL colors

Free Overnight shipping - Today Only!

Enjoy free overnight shipping TODAY only using the promo code: TB1DAY, compliments of TotalBeauty.com

Terms are: **Offer valid from 12:01 am (EST) - 11:59 PM (EST) on Monday, December 15. Offer valid on orders shipped via Overnight Shipping only. Offer available to U.S. residents only. Overnight service may require a signature upon delivery service and is not available for P.O. Box and APO/FPO destinations, U.S Territories and some locations in Alaska and Hawaii.Click here to see overnight shipping cutoff times and other restrictions.

This code is valid for many popular beauty brands including....


Clnique, Aveda, Estee Lauder, Ojon, Mac, DKNY...
To check out the complete list AND view TotalBeauty's Holiday Beauty 'It' List, go here.

10 More Days Until Christmas!

Christmas is one of my favorite Holidays- it's the holiday spirit of gift exchange and fun surprises. To celebrate JOY, how about receiving free shipping with any order until Tuesday, Dec 16 at Banana Republic?


(source: banana republic email)

The code: JOY applies to Gap, Old Navy and Piperlime!

To see my Gorgeous Find* (a selected item that I would want/wear) at Banana Republic...
The Poinsetta Statement Necklace



Source: Courtesy of Banana Republic.com

Estee Lauder- Free Shipping until Tuesday with $25 min. purchase

Enjoy free shipping from Estee Lauder with any $25 purchase. Don't forget to add 4 wonderful samples to your cart too. Samples, include their eau de parfum spray, Pleasures, Sensual and Beautiful, trial size lipstick pencils, mascaras, and make-up removers.



source: http://www.esteelauder.com/
And here is the rest of it.

Bath & Body Works- Free Item* with any $10 in-store purchase

Source
Get a free item up to$13 in value with any purchase of at least $10! It's a great treat for yourself while you do your Christmas shopping there.

Lucky Brand- Friends and Family 40% off Dec. 7-14, 2008

Use the code: 8DFFEP
Hurry this offer ends on December 14, 2008! To go shop: www.luckybrand.com

Free Sample of AVEENO® Skin Care

I was digging through my beauty/make up sample collection that I have collected in the past several months, and I came across an AVEENO® POSITIVELY AGELESS™ Lifting & Firming Night Cream sample that I found in a beauty magazine. (Can't remember which one it was, although it was probably Allure)

Review: After using it last night, I may pick up a bottle at my nearest drugstore soon. It has a very pleasant smell that you can sleep in and it absorbed quickly into my skin. Since it was just a very small sample, it was enough for one application. My skin feels smoother and tighter, but it may be because I just washed it. :)

If you're looking for a night cream, I would recommend this! To receive your FREE SAMPLE and $1.50 off coupon...


source

check out: http://www.aveeno.com/antiaging/index.jsp


source

Product Review: Bossa Nova

I tried Bossa Nova - Superfruit Juice (Acerola Juice with Mango) this weekend and I am hooked! It's a small petite bottle but each sip is so flavorful and packed with vitamin C. (Reminds me of the Ausome Fruit Nuggets I had earlier this summer) I absolutely love this drink and I can't wait to taste the other flavors. They have Acai juice and Goji Berry juice in all yummy flavors including Red Peach and Passionfruit. Mmmm!!

If you're interested in finding out where you can buy this drink..

Macy's Believe- Be Claus !

Have you heard of Macy's Believe- Be Clause marketing campaign? I was browsing on Macy's website, looking through their beauty products (of course) and I found a link to Macys Believe.. "Prove you Believe and be Santa Claus" was their motto. Of course I believe in Santa Claus! :)

Similar to the concept for elf Yourself (which I heard is better this year) and Sephora's Mistletoe Makeover, this time you get to be the ultimate Santa Clause and not just a servant elf! After you upload your picture and choose your mustache and beard, they dress you up as Santa in a background of your choice


and you can send this e-card via email, text, or simply embed it on your blog!

(One con about the sound effects: Santa yawns! I don't want my e-greeting to be yawning. Where is the Holiday music?)






Now believe in this:
Macy's is offering FREE SHIPPING with $99 purchase. For the code:

The code is: MERRY