bliss

Review: Bliss Fabulips Treatment Kit

September 15, 2011

Have you ever had a facial for your lips? My guess is probably not well I’d like to introduct you to the Bliss Fabulips Lip Treatment.

When I was invited to try this treatment kit I’ll admit that I was kind of skeptical. I wondered if I really needed an entire treatment kit to sooth my dry lips and secondly if there would be any noticeable benefit. Well to be completely honest the kit isn’t a necessary item BUT it’s certainly a luxurious treat for those that suffer from dry lips.

The treatment works in four steps: Refresh, Retexturize, Rejuvenate and Replenish

Refresh otherwise know as Step 1: Just like the first step in any routine, you have to start with a clean palette. This foaming lip cleanser really foams up fast. Simply apply all over your lips and let the delicious foam lift away all impurities.

Retexturize or Step 2 – I was so sure that this would be my favorite step – gently buffing away dry flakes with with a vanilla + orange-flavored finely granulated sugar, almond and walnut shells. But it was really my second favorite step and you’ll see why in a moment.

Rejuvenate aka Step 3 – If a starlight mint were liquified and bottled in a makeup tube it would be this clear mint-flavored lip plumper. Chock full of peptides and cord tree extract, this lush formula is easily my favorite part of the treatment. Delish!

The final step is Replenish or Step 4 – Here is where you get to bombard your lips with all sorts of goodness like Shea butter, grapeseed oil and jojoba.

Overall I loved taking the time out to treat my lips to a little TLC. After the treatment my lips were like silk and my lipstick application, flawless. It’s all about treating ourselves ladies even if it’s in small way.

Tip: The products in the kit can be purchased separately. So rest assured the rejuvenate lip plumper is sure to be in my bag!

Have you given this lip treatment kit a try?

{$45, Bliss}

Disclosure: The products featured in this review were provided for editorial consideration. Receipt of these products did not guarantee review and all opinions are my own.

Waxing, Shaving & Depilatories: Best Hair Removal Products and Tools

May 10, 2011

One of the beauty school fantasies estheticians have is that working in a spa is all facials, all the time. But seasoned estheticians will tell you they usually spend the majority of their time waxing- brazilians came out of the closet as a hugely popular service more than a decade ago, but it’s still a bit easier to wax lyrical about a fantastic facial than a session that gets any of your exposed areas smooth and hairless.

Compounding the share factor is that in order to get a great wax, you must to need a great wax, and lots of spa-goers don’t have the time or patience to sit around waiting for hair to grow and become visible before making an appointment. If you’ve got a stray hair (or a few), chances are you want it gone yesterday. Here are five of the best tools to achieve that end.

1.) Shaving: As someone who is half Sicilian and Napolitano, shaving isn’t just a necessity, it’s a religion. And while you can often find good, inexpensive options in the drugstore, razors are an area in which one cannot skimp. Gillette’s Venus Embrace offers a supremely close shave, making last year’s four-bladed razors seem obsolete. For a more luxurious shave, C.O. Bigelow carries fancy, apothecary-style Geo. F. Trumper Rose Shave Cream.

When shaving, the end of your shower is the most opportune time- hair is less prone to break beneath the skin and become a dreaded ingrown. Best for: legs, abdomen, underarm.

2.) Depilatories: One of the least popular forms of epilation, depilatories generally look good on paper (a cream that dissolves hair!) but carry some downsides that can be significant. Every few years I give them a try, and most smell like a perm and leave a chemical burn. Surprisingly, the most gentle depilatory seems to be Magic Shaving Powder, an old drugstore staple. It clears off hair efficiently with minimal irritation, though the mixing part can be messy. Best for: general bikini cleanup.

3.) Waxing: Waxing is a task generally best left for professionals, but it’s not too difficult to do a general once-over from home if you’re not aiming for a complicated area (like the bikini line) or attempting a major brow reshaping. If you lack the patience for in-between regrowth, there are several at-home waxing options. Bliss’ Poetic Waxing kit is nicely scented and thorough- a “hard wax” that doesn’t require using strips and has a lot of aftercare add-ons. Anastasia’s Pro Waxing Kit is adorable, tiny and comes complete with spatulas and strips.

To wax, start with clean, dry and moisturizer free skin. Smooth wax on in the direction of hair growth, and wait for it to set. Place fingers at the end of the wax or strip to prevent pulling, and quickly tear the wax or strip against the direction of hair growth. Use excess dried wax to remove any remaining pieces, and if you get into the hairline, an oil will dissolve the stray wax.

Use a soft cloth or tissue to smooth on an aloe or oil product to soothe skin and remove traces. Best for: eyebrows, upper lip, chin.

Do you do your own waxing, shaving, plucking or other hair removal? What’s your depilatory secret?

Do You Really Need Toner?

March 31, 2011

Do you really need toner? Toner has undergone an interesting transformation in the past few decades. When I was in skincare school, even our relatively modern study material referred to it by the mostly now-dated term “astringent.” That word conjures up tactile memories of pretty unpleasant sensations for even the oiliest of skin types due to its harshness. (Like “cream rinse” for conditioner and “dungarees” for denim, it appears this term has been rightfully retired.)

As you probably know if you’ve experienced intermittent skin issues, breakouts and irritation often go hand in hand. Even when your skin is producing crazy amounts of sebum, using a toner with lots of alcohol can greatly exacerbate the problem. (The layman’s version of this phenomenon that I’ve been taught is that when oily skin is stripped frequently of oil, it creates even more to compensate. While I wouldn’t advise adding oil, as some believe, I have witnessed this vicious cycle on the faces of breakout-plagued clients.) The vast majority of skin-types don’t require such severe intervention, even if your first impulse is to dissolve the oil away with “stronger” ingredients- essentially, Seabreeze is out.

So as you’re allocating your skincare budget, is toner worth the investment? Yes and no. The best strategy for toner use is not to strip skin, even if it feels temporarily good to get it squeaky and oil-free. Although you won’t find many high-end beauty fans rocking toners like the aforementioned Seabreeze or cleansers like classic Noxzema, ingredients like camphor, clove or menthol products often appeal to oily-skin types and exacerbate the breakout cycle. Toners with harsh ingredients are certainly not going to benefit your skin.

However, toners do have a place both in the cleansing routine and in skincare overall. In facials, estheticians often use the product between every step of a facial, regardless of facial style. Toner has many functions- it serves as a second step for cleansing, removing residual traces of eye-makeup remover and cleanser. It provides a layer of hydration to skin (this is important) before moisturizer is applied- moisturizer, both for face and body, works best when there’s a little bit of moisture to lock into skin.

Toner can also be used to refresh skin throughout the day, and add little moisture. Lastly, toner can be used to set makeup when lightly applied in a spray toner bottle.

For Oily Skin: Try Bliss Daily Detoxifying Facial Toner with hydrophilic hyaluronic acid. Citrus provides a slight astringent effect without stripping skin of essential moisture.

For Dry Skin: Perricone MD Firming Facial Toner has firming Alpha Lipoic Acids to soothe skin and diminish fine lines.

For Combination Skin: DDF Aloe Toning Complex is soothing and provides all over moisture.

For All Skin Types: Rosewater, a common ingredient in certain cuisines, is one of the oldest and most revered toners for all skin types. It’s refreshing and inexpensive, and can be found at food markets and decanted into sprayers for frequent use.

Do you use toner frequently or even daily? How do you work toner into your skincare routine?