The Life of A Ladybug

Aveda supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

 Aveda is raising funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) by selling a limited edition, 150 ml/5 oz tube of Hand Relief.  During the month of October, Aveda will donate $4 from the sale of each Breast Cancer Awareness Hand Relief to the BCRF to help advance the understanding of environmental links to breast cancer.

You can purchase this special tube of Hand Relief at Aveda.com, Aveda stores, spas and Institutes.

 

 

La Mer supports The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in Celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, La Mer will make a donation of $30,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in connection with the North American sales of Créme de la Mer.  A special pink box has been created for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Créme de la mer is available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and select specialty stores.  It is also available at www.lamer.com.

It is quite expensive at $130 for 1 oz., $230 for 2 ozs., and $1390 for 16.5 ozs., but, if you have the moolah, now's the time to buy, as your funds will go toward a great cause.  So, at least for the month of October, Créme de la Mer is Totally Splurge-worthy!!!

Curel Itch Defense Giveaway!

Curel Itch Defense Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion is designed to rebalance and restore skin to its natural moisture levels.  It has even shown signs of being helpful for those who suffer from eczema.  As my daughter has eczema, I'm looking forward to being able to try it on her.

To celebrate the launch of Itch Defense, Curel is offering Life of A Ladybug readers a free bottle!  So, the first five readers who follow me on Twitter (new followers!) will get a free bottle of Curel Itch Defense.  You can find me at @lifeofaladybug.

Ready ... go!

New from MAC: Style Black!

I am a creature of the night.  I love all things dark, decadent and devilishly delicious.  So, it is no wonder that I am ridiculously in love with MAC's collection Style Black.

I'm italicizing my lemmings or what I already have.  Click through to read the details!

Guest blogger Wendi reviews Clearasil Stayclear Oil-Free Daily Face Wash

It has been weeks since I have had this product. I have been using this faithfully and it really works well with my skin!

 

My first thoughts were, "Okay, let's see why this product is any different from the rest. "  As I have

stated before, any product I use for the first time seems to be the best product in the world. It's something new on my face, and I think my skin doesn'tknow how to react during first use.  Normally by the second or third day my skin gets used to the product and everything the product claims to do no longer works anymore.

 

I had yet to find a decent face wash until this one.  The first week and a half, I was faithful with washing my face in the morning and in the evening.  Then the next week and a half, I washed my face once a day -  sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the evening.  I think I was looking

for my face to get used to this product and get all oily and greasy again.  Just the opposite happened. 

Korres Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam

The first encounter I've ever had with Korres' skincare line is the Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam and if their entire skincare line is like this, then I've been missing out!  The foaming formulation isn't one I've enjoyed in other products, having found that my skin didn't feel as clean after use, but this product totally changed my view about cleansing foams.  After rubbing the foam into your skin and rinsing away, you're left feeling as if your skin is properly cleansed, but not at all stripped of moisture.  Because Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam contains "naturally derived salicylic acid", the cleanser helps to prevent blemishes, which makes my oily and blemish-prone skin quite happy.

The cleanser is also certified organic and contains Hamamelis Floral Water, which offers a mild astringent property, so, as the name implies, you don't have to use a toner afterward.

At $27, Korres Materia Herba Toning Cleansing Foam is not a beauty bargain, but if you have the ducats, I am deeming it "Totally Splurge-Worthy!"

Affordable Alternative to Eve Lom Cleanser: Albolene!

If you have read my post on Eve Lom Cleanser or have ever wanted to try it, but have been put off by the (for most people) exorbitant price, I have a great alternative for you!  While reading a beauty thread on a belly dance forum that I frequent (yes, those forums do exist - there are more of us out there than you think!), one of the dancers mentioned Albolene as a tried and true product.  I'd never tried it before and wrote it down in my notebook as one of the products I really need to try.  I always keep a notebook handy, so that I can jot down any post ideas or products that I absolutely must test.

Beauty for a Bargain: Sugar and Olive Oil!

 

Do you, like me, have dry skin, but you're trying to save money, rather than go out and buy expensive scrubs?  Here's a tip: instead of buying high-priced (or even moderately-priced drugstore brand) scrubs, go down to your kitchen and grab a spoonful of sugar!  Sugar makes for a wonderful exfoliator.  Mix a bit in your palm with a dollop of your regular cleanser.  Rub it into your wet skin, using gentle circles.  You will cleanse and exfoliate at the same time.

Sugar also works on your body when used with another kitchen beauty product: olive oil!

Guest blogger Wendi reviews Proactiv

 

This is my friend Wendi, also known as Jahzaal.  When I got the chance to review Proactiv, I gave it a try, but quickly realized it was a mite too harsh for my skin.  Wendi expressed interest in trying it for herself, so I passed on the products to her.  Here's her feedback:

I am not as impressed as I thought I would be with Proactiv.  Maybe because I don't have really acne-prone skin. I have oily skin, but it's pretty clear.   Since I was not suffering as bad as the people they advertise about, I used this every other day or night, I should say, due to the directions warning on the label that read "If going outside use a sunscreen."  Most of the time I forget to apply sunscreen to my face on a daily basis like I should.  It was easier to use this before I went to bed.

 

The most I can say about this is:

• The first day of use my face was completely clear - it worked like a charm.  BUT  this seems to happen the first time I use any new product on my face.
• I used the mask when two pimples popped up on my face during my use of Proactiv. The mask did not get rid of them, but it did bring them down. They weren't as noticeable. They were still there. I like to dry my pimples completely out so that they are gone the next day. When they linger they leave marks on my face. In this case they were chillin' and I am still trying to get rid of the marks.

This is way too time consuming for me. If my face was really bad. I would spend the time. My face isn't that bad for 3 or 4 different applications a night. On top of that, you have to wait for one to naturally dry on your face before you apply the next. I am not saying that this is a bad product. It's just not for me.

So, what say you guys?  Do you agree with Wendi or have you had a different experience?  Let me know in the comments!

Beauty news: Serena Williams announces her new beauty line

Serena Williams has announced her very own beauty line - MISSION Skincare.  On July 23rd and 24th, Serena, a MISSION Skincare co-founder, will appear on HSN to launch the new line, the complete name of which is MISSION Skincare Active-Beauty Line: Featuring Serena Williams. 

The signature product is the Oxygen-Active Daily Facial Cleanser.  It also includes: Honey Sugar Sugar Body Scrub, Honey Sugar Restorative Body Butter, and Lip Balmer SPF 15 in Pomegranate and Pink Lemonade.  The line has been developed with Dr. Bryan Adams, Chairman for the American Academy of Dermatology, which seems to bode well for the product line.

If any of you tune in to HSN and get some of the products, please let me know what you think!