Recently in Your Face Category

Take advantage of the limited-time special deal offered by Juara Skincare and Ippie Design: $50 in Juara products will get you a free pair of sterling silver Ippie earrings with Swarovski crystals ($45 value). Available while supplies last.

Juara is a natural line for face and body; you may have already seen it in the August 2009 issue of Elle. Ippie's fun, elegant jewelry has been featured on InStyle.com.

Sensible Indulgences, otherwise known as a few of my favorite things!

It's been busy around here, recently I discovered that my soon-to-be three year old poured non-dairy creamer into my Vera Bradley bag (a NICE Christmas gift from my sister), and it had dried and made a big mess.  Swim lessons start tomorrow, but when my oldest tried on last year's bathing suits they were all too small.  Two of our dogs had puppies and I found a new bread recipe that I am in love with.  If you would like it I'll share it!   

Anyway, in my last article I promised a list of my favorite beauty products that work and are reasonably priced.  Some of these items are new to me as they were recommended by friends or discovered in the oddest places and some of them have been on my bathroom shelves for years.  So without further ado and in no particular order here is my list of favorites old and new.

Vitamin E Oil - I always have a bottle of this on hand, it's great for dry skin, but I also use it every day to remove my eye make-up before washing my face.  It helps the skin around my eyes stay moisturized and removes every trace of mascara!   

Natural Instincts hair color - I like this color, it enhances my natural color, adds shine and body and leaves no roots behind.

Tresemme Styling Gel - I have used this for years, it's reliable in any weather and whether my hair is super long or super short it works without making me look like some weird throwback from the 80s.

Suave Extra Hold Hairspray (Non-Aerosol) - Again, I've used this for years, it's in a pretty pink bottle that appeals to my girly side and it works all day without being sticky or stiff.  Plus, I really like their ad campaigns aimed at busy moms like me, they appeal to my silly side.   

Avon Glazewear Lip gloss - For a long time I didn't wear lip gloss since it was sticky and it felt like it was sitting on my lips.  That was before I discovered this lip gloss.  It goes on nicely and doesn't feel weird or sticky.  I like the raisin glaze shade, it's my everyday color.  They usually have good sales too so you can get it for as low as $1.99 or sometimes 2 for $5.00.

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers - Sometimes you want to wear lipstick, but your lips are too dry, or you want to wear lip balm, but would like some color too.  Problem solved!  Burt's Bee's lip shimmers are the best of both worlds, lip balm with color!  In fact I'm wearing the cocoa color right now because my lips are dry.  Note to self: drink more water!

Wet and Wild Ultimate Minerals Foundation - this is a new discovery, mentioned by a friend.  I thought I'd give it a try, I've been using the Avon mineral foundation for a few years now and it works well too, but for $4.99 I thought it was worth looking in to.  Turns out it is a very nice product that offers sheer, buildable coverage and has really good staying power.

Anti Monkey Butt Powder - Funny name, great product!  This is a true story - this winter I got really dry skin, I was in my local Tractor Supply buying dog food and I saw this funny can.  I had heard about the powder at the hairdresser's so I thought why not give it a try and it helped my skin in 24 hours.  Now we all know that sometimes fashion can cause pain, like that bra that makes your bust line look great, but is constructed like some medieval torture device and chafes. And yes, despite our best efforts, sometimes we get sweaty and hot.  Try this product, you will be pleasantly surprised.  I liked it so much that I e-mailed the company for permission to include it in this article and they were happy to say yes.

Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Lotion - I buy this in the big bottle and sometimes I can even find it at our local Big Lots store for $5.00.  I do feel like it's a little more expensive than some of the other lotions out there, but it works really well, absorbs quickly and the moisture lasts so it's well worth it at $6-8 for the big bottle.

Dove Cream Oil Body Wash - This really feels like a little luxury to me.  It's rich and creamy; it smells good, and just feels indulgent.  My local grocery store has a clearance bin (which I, of course, dig through regularly) and I recently discovered 5 bottles of the cherry almond scent marked down to $2.99, so of course I bought all of them.  As a mom, the shower is a big place for "me" time so adding a little luxury into the mix never hurts.   

Colgate Total Toothpaste and my Sonicare Toothbrush are two of my absolute favorite beauty items.  Now you might say "really?"  But trust me a beautiful smile can make any outfit.  The Sonicare might be a little pricey at $75-100, but I had my first one for six years and I just got a new one for Christmas since my other one finally died.  AND there is the added bonus of less time in the dental hygienist's chair because your teeth are so much cleaner!

One-A--Day Women's Vitamins - I truly believe that looking good on the outside starts with taking care of what's inside.  I try to eat healthy and take my vitamins, I like these because they actually have what they say in them in the correct quantities and nothing else (Consumerlab.com tested vitamins a few years ago and these were at the top of their list, some of the other findings were scary).  I also make sure to take extra calcium daily for strong, healthy bones.

Aveeno Skin Brightening Moisturizer - This was a pleasant find, a nice, light moisturizer with SPF that is good for all seasons for $13.99.  I don't know about you, but I haven't left the house without SPF moisturizer on my face since I was 12.  If you don't use SPF moisturizer daily, you should.  I'm 36, but most people tell me that you would never know it by looking at me and they think that I am in my mid-20's.  It really doesn't get any better than that!  I first bought this particular moisturizer after seeing it in magazines and getting a really good coupon and it's a regular in my routine now.

There you have it! These are a few of my favorite things (don't worry I'm probably not going to break out in song, but I can't promise!).  Go out and treat yourself with a sensible indulgence.  You definitely deserve it!

Photo Credit © Graça Victoria | Dreamstime.com

ChicGalleria.com and The Body Shop have partnered to bring you the latest trends in make-up and treats for your body.  As a long time customer of The Body Shop, I was thrilled when they contacted me about our collaboration.  Having not yet tried Nature's Minerals, I trotted to the mall to check out colors.  The manager at the store was beyond gracious and we discussed eye color combinations and how to apply them.  Here are the colors I chose.  You can see me wearing these colors in my pictures from GMHC Fashion Forward 2008 Fundraiser.  I hope you will take the time to visit The Body Shop, check out their new Nature's Minerals and stock up on goodies for the holiday.

The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Foundation.  Best if you want to: Achieve a healthy, radiant complexion with ultra-fine minerals that blend evenly to protect skin and reduce redness and imperfections. Best for: suitable for sensitive skin, provides light to medium coverage How it works: Kaolin clay and Mediterranean clay are absorbent minerals that provide long-lasting coverage. Titanium dioxide and iron oxide protect skin from the sun without clogging pores. Dermatologist-tested with no added fillers, preservatives or fragrances.  I'm currently wearing #03.

The Body Shop Nature's Minerals Eye Color.  Best if you want to: Accentuate your eyes with crease-resistant, blendable color that's made from the earths purest minerals. Best for: suitable for sensitive skin. Mica adds luster and has light-diffusing particles to help disguise fine lines. Titanium dioxide and red, yellow and black iron oxide provide a natural-looking color palette. Dermatologist-tested with no added fillers, preservatives or fragrances.  I'm currently wearing #05 Bronzed Amber and #06 Molten Bronze.

$5 Flat Rate Shipping. Shop Now>

We all have read about the benefits of tea.  Miriam Kleinman, owner and chief scientific officer of Teava Skincare, has taken this gift of nature and put it into a skincare line.  In a recent interview, Miriam discussed her products and why tea is important to use on the skin.


Miriam, please tell us about Teava Skincare and how you got started.

Teava Skincare prides itself on being the world's first advanced skincare line based around the benefits of tea.  For centuries, tea has been praised for its many benefits.  Many people are aware of the benefits of tea as a beverage, but few are aware of the variety of benefits when used in skincare.  Tea is full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and an array of components that address the common skin issues of acne, aging, dry, dull, uneven and puffy skin.   The unique benefits of green, white, black, rooibos, honeybush and mate teas are incorporated into the products.  Each product is formulated with the tea that is best suited for the function of that product.  I believe that effective skincare does not need to be made from ingredients synthesized in a laboratory.  Using natural active ingredients allows skincare to be both effective and gentle.

The first product line released from Teava Skincare is the "Principle Care" line.  This consists of daily skincare products formulated to address three common skincare issues.  The Clarity Collection addresses acne and oil prone skin to reveal a clear, healthy complexion.  The Radiance Collection treats skin that looks dull and tired to expose bright, glowing skin.  The Hydration Collection addresses skin that is dry and uncomfortable to reveal calm, moisturized skin.  Each line consists of a cleanser, toner, day cream, night cream, eye cream and facial mister.  The Body Collection consists of a hand cream, foot cream and body creams and lotions.  These products result in smooth, hydrated skin that also benefit from the antioxidants in tea which prevent skin damage and premature aging.

Teava was born when I was consulting for a start-up tea company and guiding them on blending their teas according to benefits of each tea.  During that time, I noticed that tea contained many more benefits for skin than just the antioxidant qualities.  I also noticed that the current use of tea in skincare products was not used to its maximum potential.  I was particularly interested in the many benefits of rooibos tea for skin, but could not find a product that met my needs.  I knew that if I was this excited about using a product with tea in it and the potential results, then other people would be to.   I spent a year rigorously developing, researching and testing products until each was effective and had the perfect consistency.  The branding and design of Teava Skincare was developed by Viet Le, who has worked on well-known brands such as Serta, Blockbuster, Mazda and Disney/Pixar.  The long hours and hard work finally manifested with the launch of Teava Skincare's e-commerce website on September 30, 2008.

Where do you draw inspiration for your products?

The inspiration for the product comes from scientific research of each tea. I like to describe it as the "technology of tea" and look at all of the innovative ways to use tea in our everyday life.  I look closely at all of the research and composition analysis of the teas and ingredients.  Then I formulate each product using a combination of ingredients that work synergistically to create unique and effective solutions to unpleasant skin issues.


Describe your best selling items?

"Radiant"
10% Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Rooibos Tea Daily Face Cream
Radiance Collection

A light cream that gently removes dull, tired skin to reveal a bright, healthy glow.  This daily moisturizer gently exfoliates and nourishes for a silky, smooth, non-greasy finish.  Fruit extracts containing natural alpha hydroxy acids gently exfoliate to reveal fresh, glowing skin.  Vitamin and mineral rich rooibos tea nourishes and soothes new skin preventing irritation.  Teava's special blend of natural oils moisturize, while the potent antioxidants in rooibos tea combat cellular damage and aging.

 "Preserve"
 Matcha, White Tea, Rooibos Tea and Honeybush Tea Night Cream by Teava
Hydration Collection

A rich, light-weight cream that fights free-radical damage for a life-time of healthy, youthful skin.  This nightly cream corrects damage caused by daily exposure to pollution, sun, smoke and stress.  The powerful combination of matcha, white, rooibos and honeybush teas create a potent mixture of antioxidants that combat the three main forms of free radicals.  Antioxidants ward off premature signs of aging by preventing cellular damage and wrinkles.  Healthy skin is then moisturized with Teava's special blend of natural oils.
"Awake"
 Rooibos and Baobab Eye Moisturizer
Hydration Collection

An ultra-light cream that hydrates, protects and perfects the delicate eye area.  This AM/PM eye cream diminishes puffiness, dark circles and dryness, while preventing wrinkles and loss of elasticity.  Rooibos tea creates flawless eyes by strengthening capillaries to abolish dark circles, reducing inflammation to relieve puffiness and gently exfoliating dry, dull skin.  The antioxidants from rooibos tea prevent cellular break-down, as exotic baobab strengthens delicate skin to prevent the signs of aging.    

What are your future plans?

Teava Skincare will expand its product line to include an anti-aging collection, a men's collection, an organic collection and a sun protection collection, just to name a few.  Each collection is scheduled for a bi-annual release.  Future goals include a line of hair care products and a cosmetic line, all based around the benefits of tea!

Visit www.myteava.com.    Farmington Hills, Michigan

Shannon Levy, owner of The Beauty Closet, has a passion for make-up.  Besides owning her store she also co-writes a beauty blog with celebrity makeup artist (and BFF) Mai Quynh: www.lipglosschicas.com and is  the West Coast editor for newly launched On Makeup magazine, www.onmakeupmag.com.

Shannon, can you share a little bit about your business and how you got started?

The Beauty Closet is a brick & mortar store in Studio City, California that carries high-end, hard-to-find brands. The shop opened in 2004 and after years of phone orders we decided to launch a website that ships around the world at the end of 2007.

After I graduated from USC journalism school, I worked at a trade magazine for professional makeup artists for about 5 years. While there, I wrote product reviews so I was always up on the trends and trying out new products. I became obsessed with talking to makeup artists about products whenever I interviewed them. I learned a lot from so many incredible makeup artists and it really fueled my passion for beauty. At the time, there was nowhere in my area to buy the kinds of brands I liked and read about in magazines except for Fred Segal and Barneys -- but they're kind of a trek for a valley girl like me.  When I would travel, the only sight-seeing I did was at makeup counters. In London, it was Harvey Nichols, Pout and Space NK. In NY, it was the makeup departments of Barneys, Henri Bendel and Bergdorfs. I literally would not make it past the cosmetic departments. It was like being in a candy store seeing brands I had only heard about.  I had this vision for The Beauty Closet and made a list of the brands I wanted and just decided to go for it. I knew a lot of publicists and makeup artists from working at the trade magazine and from freelancing. I had interviewed Scott Barnes and he told me he was launching his line at Saks. I asked if I could carry it as well and he said, yes! As soon as I got Scott Barnes, I just started calling the other brands I wanted, and to my surprise, not one person turned me away.


Where do you draw inspiration for your store?

I am a complete product junkie -- so anything I bring into the store is something I personally believe in and love. If I don't love it, I can't sell it. There were times when I first opened that I listened to other people's advice instead of following my instinct and ended up regretting it. So when it comes to adding products to the store, I am inspired by anything that makes me excited. I read a lot of magazines and WWD so sometimes I find brands that way. A lot of my customers are celebrity makeup artists so I am very much inspired by them, by their work and the products they use. I really love talking to them and getting their feedback on what works and why they're crazy about it.

As far as services go, I am again inspired by what I like more than just whatever the beauty trends are. I have always been obsessed with eyebrows. I think they can make a huge difference in someone's face. When I first opened the store, I had planned to eventually offer brow shaping but it was important for me to have the right person involved. Stacey El Broche, who does the services here, had been doing my eyebrows for a few years and I was lucky to have her came on board about a year after I opened. Our services need to make sense with what we sell here and with The Beauty Closet's philosophy. We are always inspired by magazines and even by the brands we carry. In addition to eyebrow shaping, lash tinting, lash application and makeup application, we just added 15 minute mini facials because we were inspired by the skincare brands in the store (Leaf & Rusher, Purlisse).

Describe your best selling items and your favorite experience with your business?

Definitely Scott Barnes. It's such a fantastic line that has become nearly impossible to find. Luckily we've had it since its inception.  Our best selling items are Scott Barnes Body Bling, Diamond Dust Loose Powder, Lip Slicks in Provocative and Suggestive and all the Chic Palettes.  It's just a sexy line.  Paul & Joe's limited edition lipsticks are also a best-seller. The packaging is amazing and the lipstick is sheer and glossy, perfect for the woman who wants an effortless lip. Around holidays, the Paul & Joe cosmetic bags are also a big seller and The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ.

My favorite experience is having brands or artists that I respect and admire contact me and want to be in my store. That's such a compliment because The Beauty Closet is teeny tiny like a walk-in closet. The fact that I'm even on their radar blows me away. I also love being able to work with makeup artists and build on those relationships. Because of my relationship with certain makeup artists, I have been lucky to carry their brands before everyone else. I was one of the first stores to carry The Lip Scrub by Sara Happ (a college friend), Billy B's brushes and the Beauty Blender, an amazing pink makeup sponge created by makeup artists Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz (customers of The Beauty Closet). Being able to know some of these people and share in their brands growth is definitely one of my favorite things about my business.

What are your future plans?

I've always had a bigger plan for The Beauty Closet. When I opened in 2004, it was sort of like, here's the mini version of what I'd like it to be. And it has been perfect for me.  Eventually, I'd love to expand into a bigger space so I can add more brands. I have a few in mind that I'm crazy about.  When that day comes, I'll also expand on our services.

Visit www.thebeautycloset.com.    Studio City, California

Look in the mirror. Closer.....closer....what do you see?  Do you notice those crows feet just a tad more or is you skin in need of some serious hydration?  Let's face it, we women want our skin to be free of toxins, smooth and glowing.  With all the skin care products on the market today, it's difficult to chose the right product to meet all your skin care needs.

Introducing Adorage MD!  Adorage MD has become the must-have choice for leading physicians and spas across the country.  Their wide range of products contain anti-aging ingredients, including Retinol A, Vitamin C, Glycolic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid.  These are combined with extracts from soybeans, mulberry, yam, sunflowers, shea tree, rosemary, thyme and jajoba.  All are noncomedogenic and hypoallergenic. 

Adorage MD, scientifically formulated in France, protects your skin from the daily stress of toxins in the environment.  Usage reveals a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, adding a youthful appearance to your skin.  The people at Adorage MD are all about promoting healthier looking skin.


Recently seen at the 2008 Oscar Nominations, fans and celebs snatched up Adorage MD skin care products by the bag full.  Adorage MD was also a major sponsor for the Style LA Benefit For The Facial Paralysis Foundation & Stop The Violence/Face The Music at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, California.  There products have received rave reviews in many publications including Zink and In Style.

You can find Adorage MD products at www.adoragemd.com.