Spa Blah Blah Blog

Spring Break Swag: Free Sample-Stuffed Travel Case with Beauty.com Purchase

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

It's that time of year when school lets out and students disperse to beachy locations for a mid-semester getaway. For the rest of us, reminisce the good old days of spring break with Beauty.com's latest travel-inspired gift with purchase. Bridging the gap between functional and cute, Beauty.com and Chris Benz have teamed up with The Globetrotter Beauty Case designed for any girl on the go. Bright blue and plenty of fun, the sturdy case protects products from getting squished in your suitcase and has a handle for trip-ready toting. Inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2009, Chris Benz's vibrant designs have been featured in publications like the New York Times, Vanity Fair and Women's Wear Daily along with international editions of Vogue, Glamour and InStyle. Like many of Benz's clothing pieces, the Globetrotter Beauty Case puts a modern spin on an old-fashioned train case and makes primping on the go a little more fashionable. Resembling a mini-suitcase, The Globetrotter Beauty Case comes equipped with interior pockets to stash all your beauty essentials. Valued at $130, the charming case is free with any $100 Beauty.com purchase while supplies last. The Globetrotter Beauty Case includes an assortment of beauty favorites from top beauty brands including Origins, Smashbox, Phyto, Nuxe Reve de Miel, Nick Chavez, Urban Decay, Murad, Skyn Iceland, Exuviance and more. For a complete list of products and full details on The Globetrotter Beauty Case visit beauty.com/chrisbenz.

Kick Winter Blues with Buff Hues: Nails Go Beige for Spring

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Not quite ready to flaunt flamingo pink and fuchsia on our nails, we're transitioning into lighter and brighter shades of spring by going beige. This spring, pastel nails rule the polish scene and we're all about easy breezy beiges that put any look together without going over the top. Here are a few of our favorite buff blends in colors that range from sheer and shimmery to semi-bold and opaque.

Essie Nail Polish in Mambo. Spotted in J Crew stores this season, Mambo is a light, pretty nude that pushes preppiness to a whole new level and coordinates with any shade of navy, $8 at jcrew.com.

Lippmann Collection Long Wearing Nail Color in Satin Doll (pictured). Created for Mariah Carey, this sheer beige is glammed up with a silver shimmer twist, $16 at lippmanncollection.com.

Butter London 3 Free Lacquers in Crumpet. An easy to pull off, rich shade of caramel that's classic and chic. Free of formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP, $14 at butterlondon.com.

Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Medium White. A wispy white laced with tan adds flair to an au-natural look. Sophisticated, simple and good for nails without harsh, drying chemicals, $18 at rescuebeauty.com.

American Apparel NailPolish in Palm Springs. A shade of beige that will knock your tube socks and leggings off, this light, unassuming polish packs in the style and shine, $6 at americanapparel.net.

CND Colour in Desert Suede. A little more daring, this darker shade of tan goes on opaque and has a tiny hint of peach, $9 at bebeautiful.com.

Zoya Nail Polish in Melodie. Buff goes girly with pink undertones and specks of noticeable gold shimmer $7 at artofbeauty.com.

Join Philosophy's Birthday Celebration with Daily Prizes and $1000 Shopping Spree

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that presents and cake piled high with frosting are essential birthday staples. But what's ringing in another year without your gang of girls? Grab your frilliest party dress, streamers and balloons because Philosophy is celebrating their birthday with month-long party favors! In honor of turning 14, the beloved skin and body line is hosting a
Birthday Instant Win Game for daily prizes and $1000 philosophy.com shopping spree. Join the party at philosophy.com/birthday by registering with your name and email address. Sign up grants an immediate entry into the $1000 Grand Prize Sweepstakes and from now until March 31, log in each to play the Instant Win Game for daily prizes. Daily winners will receive fabulous Philosophy birthday loot including a Makeup Optional Skincare Trial Kit, Amazing Grace Mini Layering Set, Philosophy's new Miracle Worker anti-aging moisturizer and more. For more information and birthday fun visit philosophy.com/birthday and stay tuned because the Grand Prize winner will be announced April 1!

Product Review: REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Spots! Yep, those bright red pests that crop up at the worst times and in the most noticeable places. Formerly known to tote a small jar of concealer everywhere I went, I've ditched the cover-up act for a product that really gets to the source of the problem, REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask. The light orange gel appears harmless as can be, but as the girl who suffered a red, itchy nightmare after braving a frou-frou chocolate mask, I'm wary to try anything new. Braving the word "potent" on the label I prepped for the home peel with a deep cleanse and scrub. The enzyme-packed gel is almost odorless and one pump easily spread over my entire face. I let the light formula sit for about 10 minutes and halfway through I began to feel a slight warm tingle. Completely painless, I was able to leave the peel on for the full 10 minutes but could definitely feel the formula working. After time was up, I rinsed with warm water and followed with my regular moisturizer. After the first use my skin looked bright and healthy. The scars on my chin from spot picking were less noticeable and flaky dryness was nowhere to be found. Less invasive than a professional peel, I didn't experience any redness or irritation but all traces of dullness were gone and my face felt squeaky clean. Directions call for once-weekly use and I've been keeping up with the recommended schedule for almost two months. Every week I use the Glycolactic Peel Mask and have seen dramatic changes in my skin. Spots and breakouts are few and far between and my complexion looks and feels a whole lot healthier. I've also been using REN before self-tanning sessions to get rid of dry patches. The peel makes the tanner go on more smoothly and doesn't stain or blotch in parched areas. Plus, after a few uses the "working" tingle completely went away and now when I use the product it feels like I have a layer of lotion sitting of my skin. Even though the product does a bang-up buffing job, it's amazingly free of harsh chemicals. Perfect for sensitive skin, powerful fruit enzymes and acids remove fine lines and dead skin without parabens, sulfates and synthetic fragrances. A little on the pricey side, the results are well worth the splurge and after a few months, I've still got half the bottle left. Hands down, this is one of the most effective skincare products I've tried and has become a key player in keeping spots at bay. Get the REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask for $55 at sephora.com.

Trey Cheek: New bliss triple oxygen+C energizing cream

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Oh Miss Bliss. How do you do it? First you get us hooked on your dreamy triple oxygen instant energizing mask and then we're cracking open our piggy banks for the 75-minute facial at bliss Scottsdale. Now, you've bottled the stuff in a daily dose of creamsicle heaven. Brilliant! The new triple oxygen+C energizing cream from bliss nourishes skin with a power-packed lineup of superstar ingredients. The lightweight cream is formulated with a trio of oxygenating components -- Fluid O2, EUK-134 and soy protein -- that energize cells and improve circulation. Add to that a super-charged dose of vitamin C, which promotes collagen while brightening and evening skin tone. The good-things trilogy is topped off with moisturizing ingredients like vitamins A and E, grapeseed extract and marsh extract for hydration. The scent is reminiscent of an orange creamsicle and the formula absorbs quickly leaving skin with light dew. Massage on once or twice daily while singing R.E.M.'s Orange Crush (the latter being only a suggestion). What Miss Bliss will you come up with next? We can't wait! Get bliss triple oxygen+C energizing cream at blissworld.com for $54.

Super Suds: CleanWell All-Natural Antibacterial Hand Soaps

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

When it comes to hand washing, we're constantly stocking our sinks with soap to keep icky germs at bay. Always on the lookout for a cleanser that's economical, effective and maybe even a little fun, CleanWell All-Natural Antibacterial Hand Soaps get our germaphobe seal of approval. With widespread reports revealing the harmful side effects of many antibiotic chemicals, CleanWell is free of toxic ingredients found in your normal pump. Plus, we're fans of the formula's eco-friendly outlook and non-drying formula packed with White Tea and Aloe. Bright and bold, the colorful bottles dress up any sink and kill 99.9% of germs with a unique formula infused with thyme. For added peace of mind, CleanWell Antibacterial Hand Soaps also steer clear of the highly controversial chemical Triclosan. Known to disrupt the body's normal functions (yikes!) CleanWell opts for friendlier ingredients. Antibacterial Hand Soaps come in a quartet of scent options created by natural perfumer Mandy Aftel. CleanWell flavors include Orange Vanilla, Ginger Bergamot, Lavender and Spearmint Lime. Never tested on animals, biodegradable and packed with antioxidants, these powerful germ fighters do good for you an the environment. Get the CleanWell All-Natural Antibacterial Hand Soap 4-pack for $19.99 at select Target locations or online at cleanwelltoday.com.

Sparkling Beauty Report: Tarina Tarantino Launches New Makeup Line

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Yes, we're obsessed with all things pink. And we couldn't help but adore this new beauty line brought to you by the queen of sparkle herself, Tarina Tarantino. Known for her rhinestone-adorned jewelry creations and giving Hello Kitty a hip, new facelift, Tarina Tarantino has just landed a new beauty line any girly-girl can't help but love. Before her jewelry collection hit it big, Tarina worked as a makeup artist for fashion shoots, commercials and music videos in Los Angeles. Putting her makeup artistry on hiatus to create the Tarina Tarintino accessory brand, Tarina is back in the beauty game with a brand new, Barbie-esque line available at Sephora. Dressed up in the brand's signature ballerina pink and studded with rhinestones, the collection contains an assortment of goodies for face, eyes, cheeks and lips. Playing off her over the top jewelry, we can't get enough of the Eye Dream Hypershadows. Available in a rainbow of 24 highly pigmented shades, palettes range from soft to bold and all contain a touch of shimmer. Another product we're eyeing is the Pearl Glow Primer that smoothes and preps skin for foundation and provides the glowing benefits of a luminzer in one. There's also a glitter dust for body, hot pink Fuchsia Revolution brush set and select hair accessories and jewelry pieces to top off the line's girly look. Get the Tarina Tarantino makeup collection at sephora.com.