Skincare Products That Are So Life Changing, They Put Plastic Surgery To Shame

By Charlene Lazewski

We have come a long way with technology and science. But, still no one has discovered the secret to bring our aging clock to a halt. Instead of bringing aging to a halt, they have decided to go a different route. People have given into transformations/enhancements, with the help of plastic surgery. Sure, plastic surgery gives you immediate results….but, it’s costly, and not the safest/healthiest choice for your body. As mentioned before, science and technology has come very far. Therefore, the face creams, night creams, neck creams, eye creams, face masks, etc of today, have reached a pivotal point in their quality and effectiveness. So far have they come, that the results people are getting from them, are keeping plastic surgeon’s offices a lot emptier than 10+ years ago. Because, there’s a plethora of beauty products out there, we’ve rounded up the MUST have products for flawless, eternally young looking skin.

1. Iron Out The Kinks

The geniuses at Clinique came up with line/wrinkle repair lasering, in cream form! Yes, you read right. All that fancy stuff dermatologists do on your face, in a jar. Its official name is Clinique Repair Laser Focus Night. It is formulated with natural collagen, and helps skin appear plumper, while also disappearing lines and wrinkles while you sleep. In the morning you will wake up with younger, rejuvenated skin. ($51)

2. For An Instant Lift

No more knives and staples for a face lift. Shiseido’s Bio-Performance LiftDynamic Cream, firms and lifts any sagging skin, while also disappearing lines and wrinkles. The best part is that it works very fast. You see total transformation results in just one week! This is a luxurious sculpting cream, that helps energize skin’s natural restorative
ability. It restores skin’s elasticity and moisture, while diminishing all lines and wrinkles. ($110)

3. Fountain of Youth Serum

If you want highly concentrated treatments for your face, serums are the way to go. They target problem areas with bullseye precision, and work at lightening speed for maximized results. One of the most revitalizing serums is Perricone MD’s Cold Plasma Face. It’s a powerhouse serum, that resolves all your issues with either aging, or dull skin. It diminishes lines and wrinkles, large pores, and dullness. It will leave you with radiance, even texture, even tone, even coloration, zero redness, no visible pores, firmness, and flawless wrinkle-free skin. It’s your one stop treatment for complete youth, rejuvenation, and healthy glowing skin. ($149)

4. Necks Matter Too

Of course it’s important to keep your face looking young and glowing. But, what good is a youthful face, with a wrinkled, saggy neck? It is vital to give your neck the same daily/nightly care as your face. The goal is keep them both equally youthful. Many necks creams are quite expensive because their composition is quite different from facial creams. The reason for this, is because the skin on necks is a lot thinner, and more sensitive than your face. But, thankfully there are plenty of natural/organic options that have come very far in terms of their effectiveness. Tarte’s Maracuja Neck Treatment is not only a very effective, and decently priced neck cream. It’s also all natural! It’s formulated with Maracuja oil, sodium hyaluronate and algae extracts. It promotes cell regeneration and skin elasticity, and also reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. ($44)

5. The Power Of The Eye

One of the first areas where aging starts to show, is your eyes. Unless you take extra good care of them. And, for that there are plenty of creams and serums. Some are good, some okay, some though, are life changing. Murad’s Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum is a potent retinol eye treatment that targets the key signs of aging ——wrinkles and crow’s feet. It firms your skin instantly and brightens up dark circles. So, basically it’s an eye lift in a bottle. ($85)

Products and Regimens To Follow For Stunning Wedding Hair

By Charlene Lazewski

When you think of the key beauty elements for your wedding day, you of course start with your dress, then your make up. But, let’s keep it real here….without amazing wedding day hair, your dress and makeup will lack. They won’t reach their full potential. Think of hair as the frame, and your dress and makeup, as the photograph. One thing goes with the other. They are complimentary of one another, and produce a beautiful end product, TOGETHER. Sure, you’ll hire someone to do your hair for your big day….or if you’re hair savvy, you’ll do your own hair. But, what good is an up do, waves, curls, etc, if your hair quality is dry, shine free, split ended, or brittle. Hair is a big part of your overall look. So, preparing it for the most important day of your life is a must.

Your usual hair regimens aren’t going to cut it. For your wedding, hair preparation deserves an extra step. But, by choosing the best, most result driven products to care for your hair, you will get locks only seen on a Botticelli painting.

Bring Out The Shine With Protection

Bumble and Bumble’s Hair Dresser’s Invisible Oil is a win, win type of product. It’s composed of various oils and extracts. Some are: grapeseed, safflower seed, sweet almond, and coconut. It absorbs quickly to your hair, and it tames frizz, gives your hair shine, and protects from heat and UV rays. Basically, it’s an all around hair nurturer/protectant.

Split Ends No More

Nothing is more beautiful than even ended hair. It gives you a polished, well kept appearance. Also, if no split ends are present, all hair will dress/wear nicer. You won’t see a single bad hair day. That’s where Josie Maran’s organ oil comes in. This is serum based, and it’s of course 100% pure argan oil. It’s organic, and boosts your hair’s moisture, and seals split ends. Hair perfecter indeed.

The Perfect Finish

When our hair is not cooperative, and wants to do its own thing, we are quick to reach for a bottle of hair spray, or a tube of hair gel. Sure, those products may solve your problem….but, they’re definitely not “nourishing” your hair. Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum, tames your hair, prevents static, gives you shine, while also nourishing your hair with vitamin E.

Set the Right Stage

Even with hair products added in, your hair may not want to cooperate. It has no bounce, no cascading fall, only wants to comb one way, etc. For the days where our hair wants to be stubborn, use Living Proof’s Satin Hair Serum. This product will discipline your hair, and set it straight. You’ll instantly see your limp hair, become completely revitalized.

CPR For Your Hair

We put our hair through so much on a daily basis. Heat tools are a part of our daily styling routine. As important as it is to achieve the perfect do, the consequences are being paid by the quality of your hair. Therefore, it’s good to use a product that will give your hair the TLC it deserves after so much exhaustion. Obliphica’s Seaberry Hair Serum strengthens weak hair, and shields your ends from harm’s way.

Deep Conditioning, Yes Please

Deep conditioning is to hair, like a spa trip is for us. It revitalizes hair, and restores it completely. Therefore, a quality deep hair conditioner/mask is key for having the best wedding hair you could possibly have. Briogeo’s Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Hair Cap is your go to. Your hair will be left with complete shine, softness, and flawless texture. This is great to do a week before the big day.

5 Top Moisturizers For The Fall and Winter Skin Blues

By Charlene Lazewski

It’s that time again. The leaves are falling, the air is cooler, the humidity is gone, and our faces are dryer. As beautiful as the cooler seasons are, our faces are not too fond of them. Many of us tend to lose our glows during the winter weather. And, as a result we see flakiness on our faces, especially around the nooks and crannies of our T-zone area. And, sure there are hundreds of moisturizers to choose from, but some just temporarily quench your skin’s thirst, while others entirely resolve your dryness issue completely, and bring back a beautiful and natural glow. These are the top 5 moisturizers you need to rescue your skin from fall/winter dryness.

Tarte – Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer

This moisturizer is like a spa facial in a small tub. It’s vegan, free of chemicals, which makes it perfect for all skin types. The secret to this soothing concoction is it’s a cocktail of electrolyte-balancing sea salts, and hyaluronic acid. It also has marine antioxidants which plump up the skin, and fight off free radicals, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and big pores. This moisturizer gives you flawless skin. ($39)

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

This is a fantastic moisturizer for when you just can’t bear one more minute of itchy, flaky skin. Put this gel based moisturizer on, and instantly quench your skin, and see a natural glow make its appearance again. It has a hyaluronic acid enhancer which helps your skin hold onto the moisture instantly. It gives your skin a nice dewey finish, making it perfect to wear alone or under makeup. ($39)

Pacifica Dreamy Youth Day & Night Face Cream

This is a vegan & cruelty free moisturizer, that will instantly bring moisture and radiance to your skin. The best part is that you can use it either as day time moisturizer, or a night cream. It’s light, and non greasy. Aside from having peptides and high potency antioxidants, its special ingredient is a superpower Fleuracell Complex. This helps diminish the fine lines, and gives skin a beautiful elasticity. ($16)

Alba Botanica – Hawaiian Refining Aloe & Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer

Alba Botanica is vegan. It’s very lightweight, and one of the best moisturizers to wear underneath makeup. The green tea component makes skin look very alive and full of glow. It also has aloe which helps refine large pores, and instantly softens any rough or flaky areas of skin. It also has a combination of other botanical ingredients that plump your skin, and replenishes it with radiance. ($15)

Tatcha – The Silk Cream

If you’re looking for a moisturizer that not only replenishes skin’s moisture completely, but also takes years off your skin at the same time, than this is the moisturizer for you. It’s gel cream based, and very lightweight leaving the feeling of silk on your face. Its formula is made to mimic the amino acid structure of human skin. This helps provide you with a skin rejuvenation like none other. It’s good for all skin types. It has superfood components that firm skin, while nourishing it to its full potential. ($120)

5 Must Have Highlighters To Achieve Subtle Glow

By Charlene Lazewski

One of the most popular makeup items currently are highlighters. And, rightfully so, as they are essentially the icing on a well done make up job. They bring life to your facial features, with glow and definition on your facial features. While there are so many highlighters to choose from, there are ones that are too chalky or thick once brushed on skin. Hence, giving you a glow that is too harsh under lighting, and away from it. A good highlighter is one that blends in perfectly with your skin tone, and shows as a natural luminescent glow. It should accent areas that the sun is prone to light, such as cheekbones, cupid’s bow, chin, center of forehead, and tip of nose. These are the top 5 highlighters to own, to enhance your facial features with a perfect natural and radiant glow.

1.BECCA – Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter – Golden Opal Pearl

This highlighter has a creamy, very lightweight, texture. Once applied, it leaves a beautiful natural glow. It never looks overdone. It always blends well with any skin tone, making your facial features look incredible. Its highlighting power is inspired by the dazzling light of the midday sun. Its formula is enriched with very fine pearls that absorb, and reflect in a balanced manner, allowing for a very natural and healthy glow on your skin, always. This is the highlighter to get for an elegant and sheen glow. ($38)

2. Benefit Cosmetics Watts Up! Cream To Powder Highlighter

 

Some people prefer the convenience of applying highlighter, brush free. When it comes to stick form highlighters, this is the one everyone loves. It works on all complexions, and it has a cream to powder finish. It goes on nice and sheen, which allows for a subtle yet stunning glow. ($30).

3. Laura Geller – Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator

This highlighter gives you the ultimate natural finish, as it is made to bring your own natural glow to surface. Hence, making it a great choice for every day makeup routines. It applies as a powder, but feels like a cream. This helps it appear translucent on skin, enhancing the colors and hues of your skin tone. ($26)

4. Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighters

All highlighters are different. They all wear differently on your skin. Some are bolder than others, and some are meant for natural glows. Sometimes it all depends on when and where you are using them for. For evening, perhaps a bolder one. And, of course for work every day, a very light highlighter for would be best. This highlighter is a bolder choice, and it goes on beautifully. It blends flawlessly on all skin tones. And, adds radiance and definition to all facial features. ($6)

5. IT Cosmetics Hello Light Anti-Aging Powder Illuminizer

A highlighter that also has anti-aging properties? Too good to be true, right? Wrong. It definitely exists. This illuminizer, as they call it, is packed with anti-aging ingredients. This allows for an airbrushed look, once it’s applied. It’s also meant for a flawless glow on all skin tones, and skin types. This makes it a universal highlighter, in a sense. ($24)

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Don’t Knock Me Down If I’m A Doll

Since I was a pre-teen, I have loved getting dolled up in makeup. Of course, back then it was just a little bit of make up. Very natural looking makeup. Perhaps a little eyeshadow, some powder, and a pale lip gloss. As I got older, I liked to experiment with beauty products. Bolder colors, different styles, different techniques, etc. Now, here’s the problem. There are women who criticize or judge women like me. I have had other women come to my home on a weekday morning, weeks after I gave birth to my baby, and ask how and why I am wearing makeup and a cute outfit, when I JUST had a baby. Um, well because I care about myself. I love myself. And I WANT to ALWAYS look my best. I mean, in the end, I AM who represents myself at ALL times. No one else. So, why wouldn’t I want to look my absolute best. It makes me happy. It most definitely makes my husband happy. So, it’s a win win.

The way I see it, when I open my eyes up in the morning, it’s the beginning of a celebration. It’s another day I have been blessed with. Another day I get to kiss and hold my children. Another day I get to hug my husband and tell him how much I love him. Overall, another day I get to celebrate the life I have created for myself. Keyword: self. It starts with me, this little thing called life. And well, I want to get all dolled up for it all the time! I’m not saying, I’m going to look like I’m going to the Oscars every day. But, I WILL put on full makeup (usually something very natural looking, sometimes something a little bolder and daring – all depending where I am going that given day), every day. Other women have insinuated I like to wear makeup every day because I think I am ugly. The answer is absolutely NOT. I think I am beautiful without makeup. So, why not accentuate that beauty even more with some makeup every day?

Do other women who attack women like me, do it out of jealousy? Or are they frustrated because their views and my views don’t match? Whatever the case may be, women should just live their lives and rock whatever they are passionate about. If they think looking their best is wearing sweatpants every single day, putting their hair up in a ponytail, and wearing no makeup, so be it. That’s what makes them feel their best. That’s what gets them through their days, with a smile on their faces. That is how they celebrate their life. I am different, and I know that’s okay. Every woman is different, and I wish the women that were different, didn’t attack women like me.

I love makeup. I love fashion. I love looking beautiful. I love keeping my husband on his toes with a new hair do, a new outfit, etc. I love it when he looks at me like he did when we first fell in love, and it’s been 12 years together. But, more importantly, I love inspiring other women to experiment with their natural beauty. Sometimes, we women get so wrapped up in our busy lives, that we forget to really take time for ourselves. It doesn’t take long. Give yourselves 20 minutes every morning, and aim to look your best. Get dolled up. Play around with clothing you already own, create an outfit. Accentuate your natural beauty even more, with a little makeup. And finally, don’t forget the most important part of being beautiful….be humble and kind inside. Don’t attack women that aren’t like you. In the end, that is what actually makes a woman ugly.