The Glamtastic

Just Can't Live Without...Sula Organic Shea Butter

TheGlamtastic — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:17:40 -0700

As the summer progresses, I feel like my purse is only getting smaller, while the amount of "stuff" I need to keep with me throughout the day seems to grow, grow, grow! It started with two lipsticks; one dramatically dark rusted raspberry and one ultra-light pink. Then my collection quickly grew to include powder, mineral shimmer, dental floss, Advil...What can I say? I 'm a Jewish mother in training!

With an overstuffed handbag, the only items I have room for these days are multi-tasking beauty solutions to help cure dry, itchy, thirsty summer skin all over the body. Who doesn't love a beauty basic that heals and hydrates everywhere from your eyebrows to your elbows?

I recently found love when I tried Sula. This purse-perfect small tin is filled with Organic Shea Butter that works to soften, smooth and sooth dehydrated skin. This super soft moisturizer has become one of those products I am now digging through my purse to find.

What can I say? I just can't live without it!

Dying to try them?

Visit http://www.anthropologie.com.

Please note: I received an editorial sample to test.

Ask the Expert: Summer Skin Care Rules to Live By From Dr. David Colbert

TheGlamtastic — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Tocca SPF 30 Sunscreen Towelettes - Stella $28 - SpaceNK

Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunblock Spray SPF 70 $11 - Walgreens

La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Melt In Sunscreen Milk $34 - SkinStore

I wish I had more friends who were doctors, so I could ask them all of my urgent and "oh, just wondering" skin care questions. Dr. David Colbert, Manhattan-based celeb dermatologist, shares his secrets for saving your skin from summer sun damage (and he won't even charge you. :)

Here are Dr. Colbert's rules for protecting your skin from summer sun damage:

#1: Dr. Colbert’s cardinal rule for safe sun start with applying SPF 15 throughout the day & SPF 30 if you're going to be outside and experience for extended periods of sun exposure, like a day at the beach or running on the West Side highway.

#2: Reapply every 3-4 hours, especially if you're getting sweaty or are taking a dip in the pool.

#3: For sunsports, like beach volleyball, beach football, you name it, Dr. Colbert recommends SPF 45 or a SPF 60, which will protect against UVA (rays that age you) and UVB rays (rays that burn you). He also recommends reaching for a waterproof product and applying it inside in front of the mirror before you leave the house to make sure you have covered all areas. Trust me, it looks really weird when you miss a large spot on your chest and end up with a big, white handprint while the rest of the area is tan.

And always stay safe in the sun!

What's your favorite summer sun protection product? I've included a few of my tried-and-true favorites below!

Please note: I did not receive editorial samples of the below items.

About the Expert: David A. Colbert, M.D., New York Dermatology Group Founder and Head Physician, is Board Certified by the American Academy of Dermatology and board eligible in Internal Medicine. He has been established in private practice in New York City since 1995, after studying medicine at La Faculté Libré de Medecine in Lille, France, receiving his degree from New York Medical College and completing his residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York. In addition to being a highly skilled and experienced physician specializing in both medical and cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Colbert has a degree in Internal Medicine and a Fellowship in Acne and Wound Healing. His talents have gained him national recognition, and he is a frequent consultant in Hollywood, and is widely quoted in national newspapers, magazines and on television.

Tone Up + Detox in the Shower with Tone Daily Detox Purifying Body Wash

TheGlamtastic — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Available at drugstores nationwide - $3.99

Sunwashed stripe board short $58 - J.Crew

LOVE these shorts! I just need this model's legs!

My husband has put his foot down and made it clear that he wants me to show a little bit more skin. He doesn't think I should dress like a street walker, but a mini skirt or booty shorts are definitely on his list of upcoming "necessary" purchases. But after most of the summer spent eating Dino's subs my the beach and enjoying just a little bit of color (re-applying SPF 50 every few hours, of course), my insides and outsides needs a detox before I'll be prancing around the pool in a tiny, polka dot bikini!

Enter Tone Daily Detox Purifying Body Wash with White Clay and Pink Jasmine ($3.99). This fabulously floral, light and creamy summer-scented wash helps to rinse away daily impurities on the skin and gently exfoliate dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling fresh and super soft. This summer weight moisturizing body wash also utilizes Vitamin E to nourish dry, dehydrated summer skin. My skin needs all the moisture it can get!

Tried it??? Tell us what you think!!!

No Shades Needed: Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiaging Wrinkle Eye Cream

TheGlamtastic — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:59:39 -0700

David Yurman 'Buckle' Aviator Sunglasses $450 - Nordstrom

Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing Antiwrinkle Eye Cream $42 - Sephora

The damage is done! You've tanned your life away and now, although you may not see much of it on the surface, your're left with massive sun damage. Now with the help of your favorite skin care brand, there is no need to hide behind your big David Yurman aviator shades any longer!

The Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing Antiwrinkle Eye Cream uses a powerful combination of the following ingredients: Quercetin and Oak extracts help to improve skin cell function, Baobab Pulp helps to keep the lift alive , Yeast works to keep the circulation hot and heavy - reducing dark circles below the eye - and sugar-derived Betaine and Rhodiola Rosea extracts fight those puffy sleeping bags that can arrive under the eye area.

You only have a few more weeks where it's acceptable to where your shades inside and out! Perhaps it's time to look for a year-round solution?

Another reason to love - this anti-aging eye saver is all natural, paraben, sulfate and phalate free! I've been eating a ton of Lucky Charms lately - I think that's enough chemicals for me!

What's your post-summer skin saver? Share it with us!!!

Please note: I did receive an editorial sample for testing.

Are Gorilla's Sexy? GORILLA Warfare™ Hair Minimizing Antiperspirant Deodorant

TheGlamtastic — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:02:13 -0700

Dermadoctor GORILLA Warfare™ Hair Minimizing Antiperspirant Deodorant $29 - Sephora

I'll admit it. Perhaps I'm a tad jaded. After working in the beauty biz, it's hard to impress me with a totally unique product; something really innovative, something I have never seen before. Whether my jaw drops in awe or in disgust, it doesn't matter. If a product can get a rise out of me, it's worth further investigation. Scrolling the pages of Sephora,com for my online lotions and potions fix, I spotted it - Gorilla Warfare Hair Minimizing Antiperspirant.

Maybe it's the name that threw me off or the image of the cartoon purple gorilla. Not exactly the sexy, chic or sleek marketing that gets me hot and bothered.

Who likes shaving? Silence. Who likes sweatiy, smelly armpits, B.O.-cursed dresses and funky smelling tank tops? Nobody outside of the zoo! However, as beauty has become more and more aspirational throughout the past few years, promising the consumer a moment in time or a forbidden kiss, seeing this made me think of a smooch from a big, fury friend.

It's created WITHOUT synthetic dyes or fragrances.

Have you tried it???? Tell us what you think!!!

Beach Bag Essentials: Don't Leave Home Without Them

TheGlamtastic — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0700

When I was in high school many years ago, in a land far far away aka Maryland, I used to go tanning with my best friend J weekly. Needless to say, I fried like bacon, my skin sizzling. But no matter how badly I burned, I kept returning to the tanning cave. I would have done anything for a tan.Fast forward, years later, my skin is still a serious Snow White. No Brazilian babe here!

Before I head to the beach, I make sure to pack these skin-saving essentials! Afterall, you never know when you'll need SPF 90...

What is your beauty summertime must-have???

Supergoop SPF 30 Bug Away Spray $16 - Barneys New York

Vaseline Aloe Fresh Moisturizing Daily Body Gel $5 - drugstore.com

NEUTROGENA®Cleansing Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes $6 - Target

Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray Sunscreen Spf 90 $10 - Ulta

Must Try, Beauty Buy, You Decide: Multitasking Summer Cleansers

TheGlamtastic — Mon, 24 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser $35 - DERMAdoctor

Murad Vitalic Energizing Pomegranate Cleanser 5.1 fl oz $26 - Beauty.com

Korres Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam All Skin Types $16 - Sephora

Must-Try:

Lets get real; I wish I had hours to primp in the morning, but those hours are lost answering emails and writing lists of to do's. With my overly hectic mornings, I need products that do all of the work for me, especially in the summer when humidity makes my skin feel like it just took a sludge bath.

This summer, I've found solutions to cleanse, exfoliate, nourish and heal my skin, while I take a quick shower and head off to work. My new favorite is Korres Materia Herba 3-in-1 cleansing emulsion. It's a liquid that transforms into a foam upon contact and when applied to the skin, I forget I have anything on at all. This 3-in-1 dissolves all traces of makeup, pollutants and daily impurities. This recipe of Certified Organic almond oil, Hamaleis flower water, Marigold extract and naturally derived Vitamin E work together to cleanse the skin, leaving it soft, nourished and glowing. This naturally soothing multi-tasker is free of parabens, silicones, sulfates - LOVE THAT!

Beauty Buy:

Are you one of those women who needs her skin care products to smell like fresh fruits or florals and not like cleansers? Go for a fresh, fruity cleanser like Murad Vitalic Energizing Pomegranate Cleanser. This summer-inspired cleanser toner in one quickly washes away impurities. Witch Hazel is used to tone tighten pores, Copper energizes skin and a patented blend of pomegranate artemia extract renews dull skin. A foamy, lightweight multi-tasking cleanser - LOVE THAT!

You Decide:

Can you minimize pores with a quick cleanse? Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser is a mattifying cleanser that utilizes Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oli and Willow Bark for powerful over-the-counter results. But are you better off saving your money and spending it on a facial, where a professional will cleanse, exfoliate and extract dirt from each pore?

This cleanser is also free of sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals...who needs extra chemicals in their life! I know, I don't!

Do you think it's a beauty skin-saver or you should stick with the facialist?

* Please note: I did receive PR samples of Murad or Dr. Brandt products.

Complextion Perfection! Origins Perfect World SPF 25

TheGlamtastic — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 -0700

A Perfect World™ SPF 25 $38 - Origins

Freckles - check. Redness - check. Sensativity - check.

My skin can always use a little complextion pick me-up, especially with all of the harmful effects of pollutants, environmental and sun damage (even at 27)!

I refuse to start seeing wrinkles at 27! That is just not happening. To prevent the premature signs of aging, I'm required to bathe in anti-aging creams, reapply SPF every hour or two, stay under a wide brim hat and away from raw sunlight whenever possible.

Now, Origins is trying to help women fight back against the early signs of aging with the new Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 Age-Defense Moisturizer. This healing moisturizer utilizes white tea, to help us protect our skin from enviremental stressors such as UVA/UVB rays and pollution,toxins, as well as the early signs of aging.

OMG, did I just see a wrinkle?

Dying to try this new Origins A Perfect World SPF 25 moisturizer and report back? This lightweight spring moisturizer is available in April 2010 at Origins locations nationwide and of course at origins.com.

What's your latest beauty find??? Tell us about it!

Pore Perfection: Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk

TheGlamtastic — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:43:48 -0700

No air conditioning. Crazy humidity. Oily, sticky skin that looks like a hot mess. This is me in my office yesterday. It's 80 degrees outside, we have no air conditioning and I'm trying to cozy up next to our office fan for a few seconds of relief.

Is all this heat good for my already dry and somewhat oily skin? Perhaps I'm sweating out toxins, sweating off the surface pollutants...or perhaps not...

This week I went looking for a multi-tasking cleanser and found a cleanser, exfoliant and five minute mask all in one a.k.a the new Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk.

This super gentle cleanser feels like lotion as I rub it onto my palms and onto my face and neck. It's ideal for dry, irritated or super sensitive skin! LOVE THAT!

This creamy cleanser utilizes hydrophilic oils that work to remove makeup, excess sebum, pollutants and dead surface cells.

Wash it off after a minute or two for a quick cleanse or leave this pore cleansing milk on the skin for a deep cleaning five minute mask.

Simply apply this milky cleanser to dry skin and massage it onto the skin followed by a thorough rinse.

What's your favorite summer cleanser? Tell us about it!!!

Please note: I did not receive an editorial sample. This product was purchased and tested by me.

Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk™ $28 - Sephora

Behind the Bedroom Doors...

TheGlamtastic — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Happy marriage year #1! Kind of amazing that we've been married a year.

What's your secret to a successful relationship? Tell us your secret!