beauty maven & more

save me

I just realized I'm having a mid life crisis and the reason it's taken so long to figure it out is that I've been  busy blaming it all on my boyfriend.  My bad. Now I can see that not everything is his fault, however there is still one particular behavior that I seem to have issue with regardless of my midlife crisis. In a nut shell this is it:  my boyfriend has taken to going out all night and coming home at 4 am all excited about his adventures, waking me up to show me pictures and everything.  I'm not sure what bothers me more - being woken up from a deep comforting sleep or the fact that he is out having fun without me.  Granted he sometimes invites me along but I don't want to stay out all night.  I don't want to dance in a trance to dub step music.  I don't want to run (mostly) naked on the beach at midnight.  And I don't want to party with people twenty years younger than me.  But he sure loves it.  Come to think of it, maybe I am confusing his midlife crisis with my own. 

We have always been into doing our own thing as well as managing to spend alot of time together.  You could say that we are attached at the hip by a long long cord.  And it never bothered me before when he went out to dinner with the guys, or other professional activities with men and women, but for some reason this co-ed all night dancing has me rankled.  And it's not that I don't trust him:  he doesn't drink or chase women, or squander his money.  He's most likely having good clean fun and as a loving friend and partner, that's what I want for him, fun.  But it's a god damn paradox: I'm not happy for me but I'm glad for him.  What I really want is perspective.  Am I being unreasonable to not want a boyfriend that stays out all night without me a couple times a week or am I making too big a deal out of this?  I can't tell.  Do I not trust him as much as I thought I did?  Or maybe I'm just jealous because he's having fun and me, in my midlife crisis, am craving more fun and more variety of life too.  The only thing I know that works in this case is to take my focus off him and turn it on myself.  What is really going on with me?  What instigates a midlife crisis?  Is it spiritual or emotional or hormonal?  Probably it requires a bigger fix than just getting a new boyfriend/job/purse.  I guess I'll be exploring this in the next couple postings but in the meantime leave me a comment and let me know what you think about this boyfriend out until 4 am thing.

Sigh. As we all know there are no instant fixes for life or for relationships.  However I do know a few efficient and relatively quick fixes for your skin.  Here are some of my favorite skin savers that I promise will work wonders for you:

I have a new favorite neck cream and, in the world of neck creams, it really isn't terribly expensive. I was turned on to Nectifirm at my favorite spa, and while it is not like getting plastic surgery, it does do an admirable job of contouring my jaw line.  This advanced technology firms and tightens the skin, helps considerably with lines and wrinkles, and even reduces the fatty tissue a little bit as well. I like that it uses a lot of natural ingredients to accomplish the job and my skin is much happier for it.  I'm a big believer in neck creams and if there's one thing I could impress upon you is don't ignore your neck!  Maybe you won't go for the totally fabulous Nectifirm but I beg of you to at least puts something on your neck (all the way up the sides and behind the ears!).

                                       

Another must have item is Dr. Brandt Laser-a-Peel.  This glycolic acid mask is as terrific as anything you'd get done at your local spa - in other words, strong.  It's easy to use, just spread the gel/cream in desired areas and leave on for 3-5 minutes.  Rinse off and your skin will be glowing like nobody's business.  This is a perfect at home treatment (comes with soothing gel) to be used once a week max, for those of you who have skincare concerns such as aging, acne scarring, sundamage, large pores, or lackluster skin.  Just be sure to use your sun screen diligently for a week after exfoliating.  And a word to the wise - it's gonna tingle - but it's supposed to.  So good luck my friends, you're gonna love it, but you needn't bother sending a thank you note, you're happiness is all the thanks I require.

                                                       

Very exciting news:  DermaDoctor came out with a 1% retinal treatment this year.  For an over-the-counter, retail retinal product the 1% strength is sensational.  It is powerful but even better, their Poetry in Lotion Intensive Retinal cream is formulated to not be as irritating as a lot of retinal products are.  This is the perfect answer for adult acne, as retinal keeps the skin clear and exfoliates to speed up skin cell turnover rate, which in turn slows down the aging process.  Others who would love Poetry in Lotion are anyone with hyperpigmentation, large pores, dry mature skin, or even youthful acneic skin.

                                             

Kill two birds with one stone and use Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Foundation spf 20.  This foundation gives a beautiful, creamy, smooth, long wearing, medium coverage and provides skin treatment ingredients as well.  As with all of the Un-Wrinkle line, the foundation contains a patented anti-wrinkle peptide that mimics botox. Unlike many products of its ilk, Un-Wrinkle Foundation can stand alone as a treatment and it can stand alone as a foundation.  Who could ask for more?  I am dying to buy this stuff as soon as my Laura Mercier foundation runs out.

                                           

Epicuren is a professional line of skincare that only the most serious of spas provide.  It is the secret weapon of celebrities whose livelihood relies on looking young and flawless.  Most all of their skincare and bodycare is all formulated with enzymes which counter attack all the ills of aging as well as other problems.  I'd start out with something basic like the Volcanic Clay Purifying Mask which contains volcanic clay and China clay for purifying, and all kinds of botanicals like rosemary, sandalwood, and licorice for more purifying and revitalizing as well.  Because of the exclusivity of this line you need to purchase it through a spa so I suggest going to their website www.epicuren.com for a spa locator or else follow my link on the mask to a spa that you can place a phone order with.  Don't be intimidated, the results are absolutely worth it!

                                                       

The only product on this list I haven't tried consistently is Kinerase Scar Healing Therapy, but based on their reputation of excellent and effective dermatologist recommended skin care I have no trouble giving this product my seal of approval.  Granted, I don't love the consistency, but it serves a purpose which is to smooth the appearance of raised red scars on contact.  And then after 8-12 weeks your raised red scar will be significantly and permanently improved.  So they say.  I'm willing to try it on an old removed-mole scar on my arm, but it is totally safe to use on your face too.

                                                       

They say looking good is a woman's best revenge, so for now I think I'll stick to my favorite skin savers and forgo all the retaliation fantasies I've had brewing about my boyfriend.  Best to lay low until this is all figured out I think.

sweet escape

You know you may not be doing too well when all your friends start hinting that you should go get a massage.  Or a facial.  Or preferably a whole day at the spa.  Yes, the honeymoon period is definitely over now and I am on the rocky road of relationship drama.  Sigh.  But rather than bore you with the dreary details let's live in denial a while longer and talk about something fun.  My favorite escape besides shopping and chick flicks is chic lit. 

As a young woman I was totally addicted to romance novels (who doesn't enjoy a good love story?) usually of the historical fiction variety.  Fiery-tempered damsels in distress were de rigour.  But then along came Helen Fielding and her Bridget Jones Diaries and thus an exciting new genre of fiction called chic lit was born.  Chic lit, for those of you who are not already in the know, is highly entertaining, humorous, sexy, romantic, descriptive, and the perfect escapist read. And unlike the one dimensional fictional romantic heroines of yore, the chic lit heroine is struggling with other issues besides how to get the man.  Chic lit deals with the very real problems of weight gain/weight loss,family troubles, death, abuse, shopaholism or smoking or other addictions, work/career issues, and yes of course the unfulfilling relationship.  Granted there is always a happy ending but we're not talking pulitzer prize here, just a wonderfully delicious escape.  

Don't just take my word for it, pick up a paperback and check it out for yourself.  If you are into high society, fashion, and NYC you might enjoy the Vogue editor and chic lit author Plum Sykes, The Devil Wears Prada prodigy Lauren Weisberger, or the actually quite edgy Candace Bushnell (she has been called the Jane Austen of the 21st century).

If you can't relate to The Shopaholic series you still may want to check out Brit chic Sophie Kinsella's other books because they are diversely charming, funny, and well written.  As a matter of fact British chic lit is the best around, I think.  For example Wendy Holden is super hilarious and Irish Marian Keyes increasingly writes about controversial topics.  Raffaella Barker writes delectable novels whose heroine is an eccentric single mother that lives in the wilds of the English countryside. She is just so evocative I like to read her books over and over again. 

But that's enough rambling out of me.  If you want to know more about chic lit, click on my link ChicLit.co.uk in the My Faves column.  There is tons of fun stuff out there, and as I can't afford a day at the spa, reading is a good way to relax.  Although being the true beauty maven that I am I also decided to give myself an impromptu "day at the spa" at home.  I raided my local CVS and bought up the best skincare treatments I could get my hands on for cheap cheap cheap.  It all came out beautifully so if you want to try it too, here is what I bought:

First I wanted to treat my feet. I set the scene with some lovely candles and Enya on the stereo, then I soaked my feet in a big pot of very warm water. Even though there were some interesting pre-made foot soaks out there I chose to use Aura Cacia essential oils in my "tub".  Alot of drug stores now carry a small selection of essential oils and I like to use them for their very healing properties.  Besides it just seemed more spa like.  Different oils have different effects, such as lavender for calming, tea tree oil for invigorating anti-bacterial,  ylang ylang for sensual stimulation, or sweet orange for uplifting.  You can even combine them for multi-purpose healing because at $5-15 each it's a bargain.

                                       

 

After soaking my feet I sloughed off all the dead skin and rough callouses by giving them a good scrubbing with Sally Hansen Salon Ultra Smoothing Foot Scrub.  This scrub is quite luxurious and hydrating with its various nut oils. It also has dead sea salts and other marine ingredients in it which are super healing and relaxing.  It's a total drugstore find for only $7.99.                                                                                          

                                                       

The final step of caring for my feeties was to slather on some mega rich moisturizer.  Burt's Bees Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey and Billberry Foot Cream did the trick.  This natural cream not only smoothed away any left over roughness but it made my tired dogs sigh with relief.  For an experience that truly smells like a spa, you can get this cream for only $8.99

                                

Now before I moved on to the really fun part, I gave myself a quick bikini wax.  This is not for the faint of heart but if you can do any of your waxing at home (leg,brow,lip) you can save a bundle.  At CVS I bought Surgiwax because the name sounded promising.  It was actually pretty good so if you want to try it, here are a few good waxing tips.  Trim or grow the hair to 1/4 inch in length - anything longer is just going to hurt too much.  Pull the skin on the area to be waxed taught and apply the wax in the direction of the hair growth.  Then WITHOUT HESITATION yank off the wax horizontally - in other words do not pull upwards.  The second the wax comes off, take your free hand and apply direct pressure to the waxed area - this will help alleviate some of the pain.  So good luck my intrepid waxers, for $6.99 of SurgiWax you can't go wrong.

                                                   

I saved the best part of my spa day for last: the facial.  I just used my own cleanser to wash my face, then I held my head (not too close!) over a pan of gently boiling water to open up my pores and loosen up that difficult sebum that calls itself blackhead.  After steaming for five minutes or so I exfoliated all that dead skin off my face, neck, and decollete with Biore Skin Preservation Collection Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator.  I chose this awesome scrub because its exfoliating beads are actually the same crystals used in microdermabrasion machines.  And FYI, Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion scrub has the same crystals but it costs $75 while Biore was only $14.99. 

                                       

                                   

After rinsing off my scrub I massaged Boots Botanic Vitamin Recovery Mask onto my skin for a minute or two then left it on to do it's thing (which was revitalize, hydrate, firm, and protect).  I love the British chemist Boots, now available at Target and some CVS, because they've been around for a million years and their products are actually quite effective, even at such reasonable prices (the mask was only $ 7.99).  As a matter of fact, their stuff is so great it couldn't hurt to make all your at home spa products Boots.  But anyway, after washing off the mask I just applied my regular moisturizer and my face was glowing. Granted it wasn't as spectacular or even as relaxing as a professional  spa but everything I used felt luxurious and definitely worth while.  Not only that but the total price of my home spa day only came to $52, which includes lots of left over product for many more spa days to come.  You could even have a spa party with a bunch of your girlfriends and if you all split the cost of the products it would be super DUPER cheap! 

                                    

 So for now I'm going to try to not sweat the small stuff - or the big stuff -and just chill out with a good book and a hydrating mask.  Will keep you posted.....

fruit frenzy

If I could magically be granted any super power that I wanted I would choose the ability to walk in heels.  High high heels.  Because I don't just have a shoe fetish, I have a heels fetish.  I'd say I have over fifteen pairs of heels, which may not seem like much but given the fact that I never ever wear them because I can't walk in them, it might actually be a bit excessive.  And every once in a while I consider selling them all on Craig's List but in the end I can never bear to part with them.  Is this a sickness?  Is this what a fetish is all about or is it just an obsession?

Webster's dictionary describes fetish as "an object or bodily part whose real or fantasied presence is psychologically necessary for sexual gratification and that is an object of fixation to the extent that it may interfere with complete sexual expression." .  Do I get sexual gratification from high heels?  Um....maybe?  Well, if it is a fetish, it certainly is a cool fetish to have don't you think?  And just like with the super powers, if you could magically be given any fetish you wanted, which one would you choose?  Would you go for something gentle like lingerie, or whipped cream, or Scottish Accents (yes!)?  Or would you pick something a little more riske like bondage, or rubber, or spanking?  As part of my fetish research I was browsing through a catalog of porno flicks and discovered some very unusual fetishes.  There was of course midgets, and peeing, and uniforms (see my posting newness on UPS men), but there were also fetishes with knives, hairy men, and smothering.  Hmmmm.  That's not quite up my alley.

But I am seriously into fruit lately, and though it may not be a fetish per se, I can't quite seem to get enough of it.  I eat it, I live it, I breathe it, and I seek out delicious fruit beauty products to slather on my self so that I can wear it too.  Here are some of my favorite products that are either fruit scented or made with actual fruit in them:

My favorite at home peel EVER is Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel.  This mostly organic, totally safe gel exfoliant gives such a great glow. The fruit acids (a natural form of glycolic acid) completely dissolve any and all dead skin cells without being too harsh.  Don't let the term "peel" scare you, it's not like you are going to the dermatologist or anything, because for fantastic results that can be achieved right in your own bathroom, you can't go wrong with the green apple peel.  It also comes in a sensitive skin formula.

                                           

I never used to be a fan of coconut scent, but in my recent fruit frenzy I realize that I actually quite like it.  Comptoir Sud Pacifique makes a totally summery/beachy fragrance called Coco Extreme that has notes of coconut and a smidgen of vanilla as well.  But rather than be too sweet, it reminds you of sexy bodies slathered in suntan lotion, baking in the sun.  I wear it all year round, just to extend the beautiful carefree feelings of Summer even when it is fifty degree out and raining.

                                       

Practically every product in the professional organic skincare line Eminence is made from fruit.  You won't find the line in any retail outlets and it is best to purchase them from a spa or if totally necessary online.  Even though it is entirely organic, the products are fabulously effective, so even if you are not normally a "naturals" kind of gal, you may want to check this out anyway.  Today I'm into the Apricot Masque which hydrates and nourishes with vitamins, nutrients, and anti-oxidants such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C Ester (the best kind), and Coenzyme Q10.

                                       

On the other extreme is Dylan's Candy Bar Strawberry Licorice Candy Butter Cream.  It is as unnatural as you can get but it is fun fun fun.  The rich, soothing body butter has a tangy scent of strawberry candy, as pungent as if you had a piece right in your mouth.  This scent also comes in a body scrub, body lotion, shower gel, and lip balm, but I adore the creamy texture of the body butter so it it my fave.  BTW it smells nothing like licorice but it is definitely for the young at heart.

                                       

Lush is a playful, natural beauty line from Canada, and for something so unique, the prices are affordable.  I suggest you try their Lemon-Lime Margarita Shampoo that comes (surprisingly) in a tub not a tube.  This shampoo gives body and shine to limp hair and contains real fruit as well as other stellar ingredients such as sea water.

                                       

How can you not love Anthroplogie?  Even if the clothes are not quite your style, the knick-knacks, home items, and beauty products are irresistible.  Take for example the Candela Nectar Tins in Plum Mangosteen:  the mangosteen, Japanese plum blossom, apple, and pink grapefruit scent is heavenly and the adorable floral tin will make a statement in whatever room you put it in.  I have mine by my bedside and I burn it while I read in bed and then I love to catch whiffs of the unlit fruity fragrance as I fall asleep.

                                   

I know I've been mentioning Korres, the natural skincare/makeup line from Greece, a lot lately but they just have so many outstanding products you gotta love em.  As far as fruit goes, you must try their Melon Shower Gel or Melon Body Butter.  It may be a tad bit sweet for some, but for me the light fresh smell is to die for.  The packaging is generous and looks cool in your shower and there are no parabens, sulfates, phalates, or other icky ingredients to object to.

                                                                           

Maybe after you try some of these products you'll end up with a fruit fetish too.  But whether it's fruit or feet, when it comes to fetishes, I say to each his own.

julie & julia part 1

You know how I spent the whole of last year obsessing about James McAvoy in my blog?  Well, now I’m going to start obsessing on the movie Julie & Julia (don’t worry I still love JM).  Sometimes a movie can be pivotal in your life – like how when Grease came out it made me realize that if you want to be popluar and have a cute guy to call your own you need to smoke and drink and dress like a slut ;-)  But I think Julie & Julia sends a much more healthy and positive message- which is good because I am no longer a teenager and any Grease-like behavior would only give me a reputation as a pathetic cougar. 

So one of the things that struck me about J&J was that half of the story was told through the device of letter writing and the other half was partially narrated through a blog.  It’s fascinating how life was documented “back then” and how it is documented these days.  I have always been a writer and have had many a courtship conducted through the medium of the written word. 

 In 1989 I began my relationship with my first ex-husband through letter writing because he was stationed with the Marine Corps in Iraq for Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  We had been acquaintances before hand but our correspondence during the war turned things up a notch.  We totally got to know each other – our hopes and dreams, our likes and dislikes, and even though it was a frustratingly slow way to go, it was deeply intimate and romantic as well.  Needless to say we totally hooked up the second he got home and there was nothing like that first kiss we shared.  I literally almost fainted.

 These days I have been getting to know my “dates” through the written word of email, IM, and texting.  It’s not nearly as romantic as letter writing but it may be quite a bit sexier.  Like my cybersex with the French Canadian (oh Canada) or the dilemas of cyber sex (before the coffee date).  Sexy texting, or “sexting” , is super hot when you are first dating but I find it to also be a great way to keep your sex life going strong when you are into the more staid phase of a relationship.  It’s those sexy one liners that appear at unexpected moments in your day that are just as much of a boost for your sex life as some expensive sex toy.

 But in the movie Julie & Julia I have to say what I related to most was the (modern) blogging and the passion both women displayed for their creative art.  For me of course the creative part is not cooking but the infinite ways and means of using infinite products to beautify your looks.  I am truly committed to and truly obsessed with the world of beauty/skin/cosmetics and now that my blog has been going on for over a year I am going to bring to you my second season of Fall favorites.  Actually, think of this posting as information on Fall transition items, because there will really be lot more Fall products to come – we are only just beginning the Fall/Winter/Holiday barrage!

 So first things first …. You gotta treat that skin that you just abused all summer long (salt water - chlorine - excessive sun exposure - eeek!).  The best way to repair environmental damage – especially sun damage – is with vitamin C.  Murad makes the awesome Vitamin C Home Infusion Kit that is basically a really strong vitamin C mask that you mix together.  Use it not only on your face but on your neck and décolleté as well to restore glow and tone to your skin, rejuvenate with mega antioxidants, and help reduce uneven skin color.

                           

 

A way to treat the dry Summer-damaged skin on your body is to use a super moisturizer that will not only hydrate but also gently exfoliate as well.  I really like Kiehl’s Imperial Body Balm.  This ultimately thick rich cream contains Russian herbal remedies such as shea butter, sea buckhorn berry, honey, and fruit acids to restore dry lackluster skin .  Besides all that, it is perfect for Fall because it smells like Fall – all buttery and spicy – yum.

                                       

 

I quizzed all the cosmetic counter girls and even though not too many Fall colors have reached the market yet, there does seem to be a consensus that dark leafy greens will be “in” (such as the current Bobby Brown Ivy League collection) and of course all the velvety purples and plums that we have started to see, and then there are even some rusts and bronzes as well (check out Smashbox Reign collection).  But one of the prettiest Fall eye shadow palettes I saw was Dior Night Butterfly 5 Colour Eyeshadow Besides loving the name, the elegant colors captivated me.  In the center is a black shadow with micro sparkle.  Also there is a perfect suede gray, a vibrant violet, a soothing lavender, and a deep eggplant.  Yup, this is to die for.

                                  

 

As a perfect accompaniment to the Dior shadow block is MAC Tinted Lipglass in the color On Display.  This easily wearable purple is full of fun and flirtatiousness.  Don’t be scared – it’s not an obnoxious 80’s kind of purple – it is truly pretty and blends well with the natural color of your lips.  While you are at it, check out the other Fall colors in this new MAC collection inspired by the art of the renowned photographer Richard Phillips.  (the color in real life is actually brighter and prettier)

                                  

Next you are most likely going to want to switch your fragrance to something a little more evocative of Fall – opulent and perhaps a little spicy or even cozy.   I like Viva La Juicy byJuicy Couture.  This lavish golden floral fragrance is actually rather complex and features not only wild berry, honeysuckle, gardenia,  and jasmine, but also amber, vanilla, caramel and sandalwood.  It is just lovely for Autumn.

                                    

 Another fragrance to be toted out for Fall is Tocca's Brigitte named after the famous French film siren Brigitte Bardot.  This unique scent is romantically spicy and feminine.  Not at all heavy or overpowering, the eau de parfum contains notes of saffron, ginger, papaya, Morrocan rose, sandlewood and musk.  It is the perfect scent to add to your fragrance wardrobe.

And last but not least are candles.  I think candles are synonymous with Winter and Fall when we literally keep the home fires burning.  I have the perfect candle for this season too.  Belle Fleur makes a candle called Kyara Clove that is all at once a dry woodsy leathery scent that is deeply sensual and sexy.  The Belle Fleur line was created by a florist and actually any of her candle fragrances would be good for Fall.  They all come in an elegant chocolate brown glass container that definitely suits the color theme for this season.

                            

 

This time of year is very exciting –  filled with the thrill of transition and reminiscent of all that is crisp and cozy and comforting.  So start stocking up on your new fall items and while you’re out shopping be sure to send your honey a salacious text message as well.

stuff to watch

I've never been much of a gambler.  Mostly I've never been into it because I suck at it.  But yesterday I took a gamble on love and it was kinda scary.  A little while back I let my hunny replace my little bed with his big California King bed.  Granted it is much more comfortable but I loved my little bed and I continued to hang onto it for quite a while but yesterday, finally, I sold it.  I was betting on the fact that my bf and I will be a permanent thing.  A forever thing. That I will never ever need my nice cushy double sized bed again.  I made sure it went to a good home, but it was like kissing the last of my singlehood days goodbye. Cuz I mean really, who knows how long it will last?  All I can do is take it one day at a time and as my friend K always says "all we have is today" anyway.  On the other hand maybe I just made a stupid mistake.  But I feel like we have now passed a few significant benchmarks in our relationship and the gamble felt somewhat safe.  

For instance we are just winding up a week long fast/cleanse that we are doing together and believe me, it wasn't always pretty.  It reminded me of that episode of Sex and the City where Charlotte and Harry get food poisoning from the fancy French restaurant and have to leap up out of bed every couple minutes to run to the bathroom.  There is a cute shot of them laying on the bathroom floor together holding hands.  I don't think me and my hunny were quite so charming about it.  But it was a trial we went through together that perhaps made us even closer.  And actually most of my symptoms were raging headaches, not trips to the bathroom.  I was very very cranky and he tried to cheer me up and distract me by playing for me one of his favorite films Flash Gordon.  Big mistake.  The cheesy seventies style just annoyed the hell out of me.  I'd much rather have been watching Flesh Gordon, not Flash Gordon. However if pressed I will admit that the make up in the movie was fabulous.  But that's it.  I was unapologetically a bitch on wheels and we survived it.  

Of course after that I made him watch When Harry Met Sally with me, which I haven't seen for years, and it was also a rather dated film (the pants were all so horribly high waisted) but at the same time alot has not changed in the world of men and women.  Sally was describing a first date where after dinner the guy reached across the table, plucked a hair from her head and started flossing his teeth with it.  Ha!  At first that sounded outrageous and unrealistic and then I thought, no, there are really and truly some neurotic nuts jobs out there and I should know as I've dated a good majority of them.  Truth is stranger than fiction they say.  And if you have any dating horror stories,  leave me a comment, I want to hear about them.  Anyway, the film was Nora Ephron at her best and it was a good warm up to seeing her latest film Julie & Julia which was totally fabulous.  It was sweet and funny and romantic and sensual and Meryl Streep was the spitting image of Julia Child.  I could relate to so much of it - especially how she had such a companionable, loving, sexy relationship with her husband.  It was like first love all over again.  And who knew Julia Child was such a vixen?  But most of all I loved the movie because it was so inspiring - how amazing to have such a passion for something (food) and revolve your life around it.  It's how I feel about the world of beauty/skincare/cosmetics.  And because of that I want to share with you some fantabulous acne spot treatments that I feel very passionately about.

The are thousands of acne spot treatments out there and most of them are probably fairly adequate, but if you want something that REALLY works you might want to give one of the following a try (and when I say "REALLY" works I don't mean that they will burn your skin off either). There are several main active ingredients used in clearing up acne and I will go over their differences and what treatment contains what ingredients.  Some people tend to react well to some of the ingredients and maybe not so great to others (ie. an allergy to sulfur).  But either way these are just meant to be dabbed on the occasional spot or two, for the situational breakout, because if acne is an ongoing concern you probably want to address that with a specific anti-acne skincare regimen.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is wildly popular and totally effective.  Normally I wouldn't put something with alcohol in it on my face but for Mario I make the exception.  This miraculous drying lotion also contains the unique ingredient calamine (usually used to heal and reduce the itching of bug bites) to help heal and reduce the redness of the breakouts.  Interestingly the calamine ingredient stays at the bottom of the bottle so you are kinda just applying the essence of calamine and you won't look all pink.   This spot treatment also contains the active ingredients salicylic acid(exfoliates by rooting oil out of the pores) and sulfur (an anti bacterial that dries things up).  I say check out this lotion and check out their website too - they have some pretty interesting information on acne and skincare in general.       

                                    

                                                 

Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot and Area Treatment has a multitude of healing ingredients in it.  I am always a huge fan of Peter Thomas Roth and his maximum strength spot treatment is no exception.  Not only does this treatment contain sulfur (drying antibacterial) and glycolic (exfoliates surface), and salicylic (exfoliates inside pore) but also has many natural ingredients as well such as aloe to soothe redness, and botanical extracts such as lavender (soothes), echinacea (heals), willowbark (exfoliates) to name a few.  And unlike most spot treatments this can actually be used over a whole area of the face, let's say for something like the lower chin.  If you're not allergic to sulfur this is a great way to go.

                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                      Ole Henriksen Roll On Blemish Attack is perfect for those who prefer a benzoyl peroxide (the main ingredient found in Proactive)treatment.  This sanitary roll on contains benzoyl peroxide (kills bacteria & dries stuff up), salicylic acid (exfoliate), clay (absorbs oil), sugar (refines pores) zinc (heals) and my absolute favorite anti-acne ingredient: tea tree oil (soothing and also a highly effective anti-bacterial agent).  So you can see this is star studded with great stuff, the only drawback is that the rollerball gets stuck alot so you either have to take it out or tilt the tube just so - even still, I'd say it's wor            

                                             

Boscia Willow Bark Breakout Treatment is great for sensitive skin.  This natural brand is gentle but effective and is actually the spot treatment that I have at home.  It contains no parabens sulphates or synthetic ingredients and its main active ingredient is willowbark, a natural form of salicylic acid.  This serum soothes inflamed acne, controls the oil and uses soapberry peel to purify the bacteria.  Besides all that, it is jam packed with other fabulous botanical extracts that work in harmony to banish any blemish.          

       

So keep a watch out for one of these treatments, and I recommend always keeping one on hand because, at any age, you never know when that evil pimple will pop up. The bastards!

PS  speaking of movies to watch, when is my boy James McAvoy coming out with something new?!  I need my JM fix!

 

white lies (AKA head over heels)

Sometimes I don't always tell the truth.  I've always heard that a healthy relationship is based on honesty but I know for a fact that even the best of wives hides the credit card bill from her husband from time to time.  I've worked in retail and the service industry long enough to come to believe that it is a woman's prerogative to sneak the occasional purchase past her husband.  It's a fact of life.  And now that I am in a serious relationship I have joined the ranks of women who resort to such measures. The other day I snuck a Victoria Secret's purchase into the house and then pretended that I'd had the nightie for ages.  Yay! I feel that I belong - that I am now a member of the club!

Of course if I am to truly come clean with you I'd have to admit that I also tell the occasional white lie to my beloved.  It's only because I want him to like me/love me/never ever leave me, but I fully realize that inevitably the deceit must stop. Until then I will share with you a few of my more frequently used little white lies that are really only told for his own good.

1.  "What are looking at her for, I know for a fact that those are fake!"

2. "I'm going to save money this season by just reusing the purses I already have."  followed by the inevitable  "What do you mean, this Coach purse was from last season?!"

3.  "Of course I exercised today."

4.  "No, that was not your ex who called earlier."

5.  "Wow Honey, I think you hit my G-spot!"

6.  "Yes I like jazz."

7.  "Sorry, I guess I must have 'accidentally' sprayed on too much perfume." (I use this one repeatedly)

8.  "I don't know where your corduroy jacket is, it must have gotten lost at the cleaners." (thanks Good Will)

9.  "Sure, I'd love to have your parents over for dinner."

10.  "What J Crew package?  I didn't see any J Crew package arrive."

11. "Of course I don't mind if you grow out your beard Honey, I know how much you hate to shave."

12. "Not tonight Sweetie, I still have my period."

So those are some of my favorite phrases that I trot out when the occasion demands.  And speaking of favorites, I know I recently I did a posting themed on favorite products but I'm just too excited about these other products as well, so I MUST tell you about them now. I am head-over-heel for these babies:

Mango Crush Lip and Cheek Stain is the latest addition to a terrific lip and cheek stain series put out by Stila.  This beautiful, universally flattering peachy color comes in an easy to use brush-on pen that fits perfectly in any make up bag on the go.  I usually use it on my cheeks for a sheer, natural looking blush, but it is cute as a bright Summery lip color as well.  I've been using the Cherry Crush Cheek and Lip Stain for years and I only wish they had come out with this mango one sooner.

Normally I am not a huge fan of Benefit Cosmetics but I have to admit that I am very impressed with their Velvet EyeShadow.  The consistency truly is velvety so it goes on with a smooth even finish.  I also find it to be very pigmented for solid color that wears well all day.  And there is a nice selection of colors as well.  Definitely a good buy.

I'm really digging my Bare Escentuals Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer.  First and foremost it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin.  Secondly it hydrates extremely well without being heavy or greasy or causing clogged pores - I would use it on practically any skin type.  Plus it's healthy, it's natural, it has healing minerals, and the piece de resistance is their secret ingredient: resurrection plant extract which plumps the skin for a youthful appearance.  You will find no parabens or other synthetic ingredients here.

I looooooooove the new Givenchy fragrance Play!  Ok, so what if it's for men.  I think it's light enough and not too cologneish so a woman could wear it too.  But even better, buy it for your man - it'll give you a good excuse to get up close and personal with him - sniffffffff.  The spokesperson for the fragrance is the very fresh and very sexy Justin Timberlake and I think he reflects the image of the scent well.  This modern fun fragrance includes notes of bergamot, mandarin orange, grapefruit, black pepper, vetiver, patchouli and the totally warm and sensual amyris wood from the Carribean.

Nothing makes my lips feel better than Lipfusion XL lip plumper.  This clear glossy lip treatment gives an instant plumping effect and with continual use will actually make your lips plumper on their own.  It uses freeze dried, micro injected collagen technology to do the plumping as opposed to most of the other plumpers that use cinnamon or pepper or other irritating ingredients.  This is touted as a night time treatment but I love how it makes my lips look and feel, so you will often find me wearing it during the day.  It is a "must have" item to wear before any date - very sexy!

And last but not at all least, is the quite expensive but extremely effective Skin Medica TNS Recovery Complex serum.  My esthetician turned me on to this product - and you won't find it in any stores.  It is definitely professional skincare taken to a whole new level.  This anti-aging serum works with your skin's natural restructuring process for tremendous regenerative action.  It will reduce appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, diminish hyperpigmentation, improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity, and can help reverse sundamage.  Their secret is a patented ingredient called Nouricel-MD which is a step above the usual retinols and antioxidents.  If you can afford it I say go for it!

Trust me to say, there are no white lies that I've told you about these products.  As for my sweet boyfriend, I guess I'll have to work on it.  But have no fear, I am still head over heels with the guy.

PS  got any good white lies to your honey that you want to share?

hindsight

There are two surefire ways that I know of to lose weight quickly without even trying.  The first way is to get a bad flu, preferably one with puking or fever.  And the second, and much more preferable way, is to fall in love.  Then the pounds somehow magically melt away - probably from all the early relationship sex you are having.  But whatever.  Just the other day I was noticing that my jeans felt looser and it wasn't from the flu.  Yes folks, I am on the falling in love weight loss plan and even though there is no puking involved I fully realize that this soppy news may tend to make others sick just to hear about it all the time.  You have my apologies.  I know I've gone from blogging about kinky sex in the big wide dating pool to postings about conjugal bliss but I'm sure if you ride things out with me I'll eventually find some middle ground and not be so sickeningly in love.  But back to the topic of weight loss and body image.....

Now it is officially Summer and I have been dreading the inevitable - bathing suit season.  Ugh!  My whole life I have dreaded bathing suit season - I was always so self-conscious, but now with hindsight I would give anything to be as "fat" as I was when I was younger.  I had no idea how good I had it at the time but the 40 year old spread that I've put on in the last couple years has me yearning for days gone by.  I had no idea at the time, but when I look back at old photos I realize that I was pretty hot in my twenties.  It makes me sad to think that I spent all those years hating my body when in reality I was absolutely lovely.  So now the lesson is to love my body as-is in my forties because I can guarantee you that when I am in my sixties or seventies I will look back on old pics and wish I looked like I did in my forties and wish that I hadn't wasted all that time criticizing and judging myself harshly.  Of course that's not to say I won't always try to look my best - there's no way I'm going to give up all my lotions and potions!  I believe in trying to make the most with what you have but also trying to balance that with acceptance of yourself as a perfectly imperfect human being.

Of course one thing I do wish I had done when I was younger was to start using neck cream.  Or at least putting my face moisturizer on my neck and chest, because this often sadly neglected area will start showing your age before you know it.  My face may look ten years younger than my actual age but my chest and neck look a few years older than I really am and now I have to work double time to counteract the crepey saggy hyperpigmention.  The skin on your neck and chest is actually fairly delicate so we must treat it with respect.  Thus after several years of experimentation I have come up with a few favorite neck creams that I rotate using according to what I can afford at the time.  Here they are:

I've tried ReVive Fermatif Neck Renewal Cream only once because it is quite expensive.  But if you have the money to spend, I highly recommend the Revive skincare line - they make truly wonderfully effective products, created by an esteemed plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Bays Brown, who was researching the healing of burn victims and came across a whole new way to stimulate skin regrowth. Anyway, their neck cream does it all:  smoothing, firming, hydrating, and even has sun protection to prevent further damage.  It is the perfect solution for those who are desperate to reverse the signs of aging.

  

My current favorite neck cream is StriVectin Neck Cream.  I love this rich cream because it works exceedingly well on that one pesky deep wrinkle I have running down the center of my chest.  It is also great for firming and contouring my sagging jaw line.  StriVectin is known for their superb anti-aging products so if your neck area is already of great concern you might want to give this baby a try.  

       

Clarins is a French skincare line and you know the French are fabulous with skincare.  They have a terrrific silky firming neck cream called Advanced Extra Firming Neck Cream.  This luxurious cream will definitely help erase the tell tale signs of aging if used regularly.  Again, it is not so cheap, but if you need to bring in the big guns to counteract already existing signs of aging - this is your man.  It is especially good for those of us over the age of forty.

 

Dr. Brandt Time Arrest V Zone Neck Cream is great preventative and resorative neck cream.  Made with age reversing platinum technololgy as a delivery system, it's going to really slow down the aging process and give you a little lift as well.  The neck area desperately needs hydration, and this emollient cream will certainly take care of that. Plus it has skin smoothing ingedients of glycolic acid and willow bark extract.  Nice.

Another favorite of mine is Bliss Thinny Chin Chin Neck Firming Cream.  It is not expensive at all as far as neck creams go and gives excellent firming and lifting action.  They advertise it as a bra for your chin and I can honestly say that is not false advertising.  My only reservation with this cream is that it doesn't do much for my deep chest wrinkle but still, I get alot of other benefits from it and for its low price I don't feel that I can complain - it's certainly better than nothing and definitely a good choice for the younger crowd.

                                         

SO START YOUNG, START NOW!  Start young with the moisturizer and sunblock on your neck and start now learning to love yourself as is - I assure you, YOU ARE HOT!

infatuation

I feel like I am living in a Danielle Steele novel - where the couple falls in love within the first week or so of their relationship.  Is that fast?  Is that real?  Most people would probably say it's crazy, but then again, the phrase "crazy in love" must have come from somewhere.  And what about love at first sight?  Is that stuff even possible?  I know with me and him it was LUST at first sight, but now, well, it really feels like love.  And I can't believe it.  It's been years since I felt this way, maybe even decades.  Am I sure it's not just lust (he is so beautiful I assumed he was gay as straight guys are never that good looking) because as a sometimes super slut I tend to have difficulty telling the difference between love and lust.  But this here is definitely infatuation of some sort.  In fact Webster's dictionary describes the word infatuate as "to cause to be foolish or deprive of sound judgment"  and so infatuation is described as " to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration".  Yup, that's me all right, foolish and extravagant to the extreme.

But, I'm just going to go with it - they always say "follow your bliss", right?  The only problem with that though is that I am a total addictive personality so following my bliss may not always be the healthiest thing to do - I often go way overboard.  And he's the same way.  Whew!  It's like that episode of Sex and the City where Carrie is dating that guy who is a recovering alcoholic in his first early days of sobriety and he gets totally addicted to her and thinks it's love when really it's really just his addiction talking.  So I worry, is it me he loves or is it the sensation of infatuation that he's hooked on?  What if, what if, what if, what if?  Being in love is so damn scary.  And risky. And boring for others to hear about....sorry....I'm worried that my blog will suffer now that I may not have any more racy stories to report. No more guys wanting to have group sex or dress up in my underwear.  And while I may miss the novelty of all that stuff, I have to say I am truly happy to finally have what I wanted all along - my soulmate.  Awwwww.

And another thing I am infatuated with, beauty-wise, is oil.  Yes, oil.  Don't say "yuck" until you hear me out.  There are all different kinds of oils that do all different kinds of things and have all different kinds of benefits for your skin - even for oily skin if you can believe it.  People are so obsessed with oil-free products, which granted are fine in their own right, but I say don't be afraid to judiciously use a little oil here and there.  So let me tell you about a few of my favorite oils and their uses, maybe you'll be inspired to try one.

NUDE skincare has the best makeup remover/cleanser ever!  Their Cleansing Facial Oil effortlessly gets rid of every last trace up dirt, makeup, and yes, even oil.  It is good for any skin type, even oily, because oil binds to oil and then when removed, is all removed together.  Make sense?  Plus NUDE skin care is completely biocompatible and all natural right down to their packaging and fair trade practices.  This cleansing oil has gotten (and I'm sure will continue to get) many beauty awards.  And now it is even easier to get because it has become available at Whole Foods markets.

                         

Bobby Brown has a wonderful Shimmering Body Oil.  I'd smooth this dry oil on after the shower to give your skin a beautiful luminous glow.  It is a fact that glowy skin makes you look slimmer and sleeker and definitely more alluring.  I'd use any body oil as an anti-aging hydrating measure but with this Bobby Brown oil you get the added benefit of platinum pearls and a light fresh floral fragrance.  Perfect for baring your Summer bod!

                                   

You've probably come across an article or two about Argan oil, but just to give you a brief summary, this oil is a miracle oil.  It is filled with essential fatty acids and is healing for all skin types, even acne.  And the natural skincare line Josie Maran has my favorite organic argan oil on the market - they buy their argan from a women's cooperative in Morocco.  I slather this light weight oil on my face at night and I have to say it absorbs easily with no greasy residue.  My skin definitely looks younger, firmer, and more hydrated.  I love it!

                       

Not to sound too much like a hippy but using essential oils as a fragrance can really be a great way to go.  They last much longer that those alcohol infused perfumes, and can have added health benefits as well.  Kiehl's makes "essence oils" rollerball fragrances in vanilla, musk, grapefruit, or coriander (don't worry, no patchouli).  They are a nice alternative to try and will store easily in your purse or gym bag.

                               

Decleor is a phenomenal skincare line from France that uses essential oils in all their products.  Essential oils do not clog the pores at all but rather penetrate the skin barrier to enter the blood stream and have a healing effect.  Essential oils have been used in skin care since the dawn of time and Decleor has some aromessence oils that can be used as a serum to further enhance the effectiveness of the other products you are using with it.  For example you could use the Ylang Ylang Aromessence to actually help regulate the oil production of your skin and rebalance it preventing further breakouts it.  There is also rose aromessence for soothing redness and iris aromessence for anti-aging - you get the gist.  Decleor has been around for many years and is a highly reputable brand.  It's a great natural way to go - I say give it a try!

                           

hot

 So he's taken a vow of celibacy for spiritual purposes.  And it is totally hot.  There's nothing like forbidden love (sex) to get the juices flowing.  It's all very Thornbirds - where Maggie and the priest are in love.

The "he" in question is my crush from the posting free spirit.  The free-spirited massage therapist who has no money, no car, and no dress shoes.  And I'm head over heels even though I'm old enough to know better.  But I can't seem to help it.  We are friends and yet so much more than just friends.  Every little touch is heated, sensual, filled with meaning.  We stare into each others eyes with frisson so intense it is certain that everyone in the room can feel our connection.  It's just like in the movie Twilight - I imagine that we should be being portrayed in intense cinematic close up shots to better convey the feelings going on.  Or he'll come over to my house at night and we'll stay up into the wee hours of the morning just talking.  He won't even kiss me even though I can feel him wanting to - but we connnect.....

And as much as I love all this intensity, I am also glad his vow of celibacy is just a temporary thing.  Because when the time comes I definitely want to get down and dirty.  But until then it is very interesting how we are given this time to really get to know each other.  To intertwine on a deeper level.  Perhaps it will give us a better shot at our future.  God knows I've had enough failed relationships behind me to want to try something new.  And especially because I am so over all the booty calls and casual sex.  I am destitute from all the men who have failed to show up emotionally.  My celibate man may never be able to whisk me off to a trip to Hawaii but he fills me up from the inside - from the heart.

So we'll see how it goes.  There's no better time to fall in love than Spring.  Spring is also the time to start prepping your skin to be bared in cute revealing outfits that will require sunscreen, self-tanner, and all the other bits to make you protected and presentable.  Let's take a look at some must have items to prepare you for the sunny weather.

Clarins UV Plus spf 40 is the best sunscreen for people who hate to wear sunscreen.  It is an all natural 100% mineral (titanium dioxide) block and the consistency is super thin and absorbs instantly with a dry finish.  The only bummer is that it comes in a tiny bottle for $40.  For some people that's worth it - it is certainly a best seller.

                                    

Cotz Solar Protection Formula spf 58 is a sensational sunblock for sensitive skin or in fact any skin.  It is also a natural block with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide (very good!). The formula is not white or pasty but is water resistant. I've been using this one for years - it is my favorite.

                                 

DDF Matte Finish Photo Age Protection sunscreen is perfect for oily/acneic skin as it is oil and fragrance free.  This is a chemical sunscreen (as opposed to a physical block) so it is not thick or cakey and it dries well, with no shiny residue.

                                    

Now that your feet will be exposed in cute Summer sandals you've got to keep them smooth and free from crusty callouses - yuck.  There are some really luxurious foot creams out there but I also love the Miracle Foot Repair Cream at Bed Bath and Beyond.  For $9.99 it certainly does the trick, and at that price you can feel free to really slather it on.  Plus not only does it hydrate but it can also reduce odor and itch as well!

                     

Lindsay Lohan may be a hot mess in her personal life but she has co-created, with tanning expert Lorit Simon, a fantastic self-tanner called Sevin Nyne tanning mist - exclusive so far to Sephora.  This fine mist is easy to apply and goes on evenly without streaking.  It is not stinky like most self tanners (instead a lovely coconut fragrance!) and there is some initial bronzing color built in with a gradual self tanner that developes over a few hours.  There is definitely a lot of color in this application. Apply to body only - not face.

                                      

For those of you who want a beautiful, easy to use, luminous bronzer try Laura Mercier Body Bronzing Makeup.  The glow this subtle bronzing make up gives is flattering for everyone, and for those who are scared to try a self-tanner this may be the perfect way to go as it will wash right off.  Very very pretty!

                                               

                                                 

So now you can break out those Summer skirts and sandals, and meanwhile I'll keep you posted on the latest with my romantic free spirited guy.

love it/hate it

I always like to say that I am a gay man trapped in a woman's body but after my experience this weekend I realize that I that I really have no idea at all what it is like to have testosterone.  A bunch of friends and I carpooled up to the city for a party last weekend and we took several cars.  I ended up in a car with me and four (straight) guys. This initially may sound kinda hot but I was miserable.  First of all, they were blasting their violent hardcore misogynist rap music all about "ho's".  Then they started talking about our other female friend's big boobs, and about girls who show their thongs above the waistband of their jeans, and then of course we had to talk about their balls.  The gay man in me was not pleased and come to think of it the woman in me was pretty offended too.  There was way too much testosterone going on in that car.  If guys want to indulge in chest-pounding macho behavior on their own time that is fine - just don't involve me in it is all I say.

I actually prefer a guy who is in touch with his feminine side - or at least not afraid of it.  And so there are a few things I really love and really hate about men.  Here is my list.....

LOVE IT:  when a guy holds/carries your purse for you.  It's so sweet and so chivalrous.  My ex used to do this for me and for his mother whenever our hands were otherwise occupied.  Of course it looks a little geeky but I love that he was brave enough to bare criticism and do the right thing.

HATE IT: when guys stink up your bathroom.  I don't mind too much if the toilet seat is left up but I hate it when the bathroom starts smelling like all the pee in the men's toilets at the baseball stadium.  Please pee IN the bowl!

LOVE IT: when they are actually still little boys- not all grown up.  Ahhhh, the sweet tender shape of the back of their heads.  And they have not yet learned to be afraid to love.

HATE IT:  that they are so LOUD with big testosteroney voices.  Even their "inside voices" are loud but I was sitting on an airplane in front of a row of drunk guys and they were so loud and rowdy and obnoxious I could even hear them through my ipod headphones.  Ugh.

LOVE IT:  when they show a genuine interest and affection for your dog/cat/child.  Nothing is sweeter or hotter than a guy who loves animals or children.  Or at least a smart man would recognize that your dog/cat/child is a very important extension of yourself.

HATE IT:  when you are trying to give a skilled, finessed blow job and the guy keeps pushing down hard on your head.  Gag!!!  This is so dominating and inconsiderate (maybe even barbaric) that luckily I don't encounter it very often.  Perhaps some guys don't even do it on purpose because they are lost in the moment but I think it's just plain rude.  And in high school the guys used to call it "basketball action" which suggests that in fact they were very aware they were doing it.

LOVE IT:  when guys are kind and try to be understanding and supportive when you have your period.  Even though they have no clue what it is like, some men will fearlessly cater to your discomfort.  Now that is love.

But love it or hate it, either way there is nothing I can do about it so I must accept it. So enough of that -  now let's move on the beauty portion of the program (I couldn't think of a clever segue this time).  I want to talk about eyecreams.  Eyecreams are soooooooo important and if you feel like you don't need them because you don't have any lines or wrinkles, I've got one word for you - PREVENTION.  Seriously, if you are not careful, one day you'll wake up and they'll just be there.  So there are beginner eye creams out there that are less expensive and there are high powered eye creams for those of us than need more advanced care, and there is plenty of stuff in between.  I've broken down my favorite eye creams (and believe me, I've tried them all!) into categories according to what issues they address - puffiness, wrinkles, hydration etc.  If you don't have an eyecream at home I recommend you go out and buy one of these treatments immediately.

BEGINNERS:  A terrific beginners eye cream is Caudalie Contour Eyes and Lip** because it is made with grapeseed extract which is an amazing antioxidant and will protect your skin from external aggressors that cause aging.  It is a medium weight hydrating gel/cream and will give the eyes a bright refreshed appearance.  Caudalie is a fairly natural spa brand from France, is very gentle on the skin, and has an excellent reputation - I'd use anything by them -they are paraben free.

                               

PUFFINESS & DARK CIRCLES:  I have yet to find an eye cream that does much for dark circles (and I have tried many many an eyecream) but Fresh Lotus Eye Gel has ingredients that stimulate microcirculation so that ain't too bad - it kinda softens the look.  What I really love about this gentle light weight gel though is that the min ingredient is sea water.  If you can go with marine based skin care - I say do it.  It is so healing.  Either way, this eye cream is a hot ticket and always a best seller.

                           

ORGANIC:  I love Jurlique Biodynamic Beauty Eye Cream - it is one of my all time favorite eye creams!  It is super hydrating (some people may actually find it a little too rich - but not me) and made with lovely botanical ingredients, plus it helps with wrinkles and dark circles and puffiness. This is definitely a great weapon to have in your anti-aging arsenal.

                                       

CHEAP:  If I was going to go with a drugstore brand of eye cream I would use ROC Retinol Corrrection Eye Cream.  I like the consistency of this one and of course the vitamin A is very anti-aging.  ROC is originally a French brand (which speaks volumes, I think) and their whole line of skincare is focused on anti-aging.  They are always being written up and of course you can't beat the price.

                                   

SUPER ANTI-AGER:  I have a two-way tie for the best wrinkle fighting eye creams around.  Murad Renewing Eye Cream and Elizabeth Arden Prevage Eye Anti-Aging Moisturizing Treatment both address a multitude of aging problems:  deep wrinkles, dryness, puffiness, and dark circles, sagging - they do it all.  I really and truly saw a reduction in my crow's feet with these guys.  Of course Prevage has the super anti-oxident Idebenone and Murad is a doctor brand so whichever one you choose, you can't go wrong. 

Unlike with men, there's no "love it/hate it" with these eyecreams I've discussed - I love them all!

**any eye cream can be used on the upper lip to help prevent those horrible vertical lines and lipstick bleeding