These past few years have been a really exciting era for cosmetics. Never did I think that so many innovative products would become available on the market for every day use. Just when I think that cosmetics can’t go any further, something new and amazing hits the industry and really changes the way I think about makeup.

I discovered blinc years ago when I was lucky enough to procure a sample. At the time I had given up on mascara because they all irritated my eyes. I was instantly hooked. blinc Mascara Black doesn’t just paint your eye lashes the way ordinary mascara does. It actually creates these tubes around each lash and then stays put throughout the day. As a fitness instructor, I can attest to just how well this mascara stands up through sweating, rubbing and everything else my eyes have to put up with.

After blinc had so much success with their mascara, they decided to offer other products. One of which is blinc Eyebrow Mousse Dark Brunette. This is a practical solution to thin eyebrows due to age, genetics and over-plucking. You simply use the wand to fill in sparse areas and then let it dry. Once it’s dry, it won’t budge so there’s never any worry of wear off. Now you might think that blinc cosmetics are hard to remove but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Warm water and light pressure is all that is needed to take everything off easily without damage to the eye area.

After all of the mineral foundations hit the market, I wondered what was next. Recently I got a demonstration of Luminess Air. This is a spray on system that is intended to give the average lady the look of the stars. It takes a little getting used to but once you get the hang of the tool, it’s a snap. The result is perfectly even foundation that covers any flaw. The system can also be used to apply blush, bronzers and self tanners. The full New Beauty Edition includes several shades of foundation, blush, bronzer, self-tanner and also a primer/moisturizer. It’s a great value. There are several kits to choose from depending on where your skin tone falls. The choices include Luminess Air New Beauty Edition – Fair and Luminess Air New Beauty Edition – Medium just to name a couple.

Dull and frizzy hair seems to be very common in an age where we cause so much damage by constant washing and heat styling. I have come to believe that the solution is a good quality conditioner to hydrate and protect combined with top quality styling tools that smooth frizz while minimizing heat damage.

When you think about what the typical woman puts her hair through on a daily basis, it’s no wonder we have so many hair woes. Dullness, dryness and unruliness are commonly reported problems that can be tamed with the right products.

Frederic Fekkai is a brand I recommend continually for fabulous hair. Frederic Fekkai Advanced Brilliant Glossing Conditioner is infused with olive oil that naturally conditions the hair. The formula is designed to saturate the entire strand of hair from the root to the tip, building strength and smoothing away dullness and dryness. It works great when paired with the matching shampoo and conditioner.

For colored hair, I always recommend Frederic Fekkai Advanced Salon Technician Color Care Conditioner to preserve the vibrancy of colored hair between visits to the salon. There are actual UV blockers in this conditioner that protect the hair from sun light. After all, the sun is the major culprit when it comes to fading. Make sure you use the shampoo and also a styling product from the same line for best results.

Most of the damage we see comes from the constant heat styling we’re so addicted to. Most of us cannot live without blow drying so it’s best to look for a dryer that will minimize the damage while also giving us that healthy, sleek look. One of my favorites is CHI Air Ceramic Hair Dryer – Fire Red. It uses a sort of ceramic technology that evenly heats the hair, blowing out humidity and frizz while smoothing the cuticle and hair shaft. The whole system is designed to do the job with minimal damage.

CHI Air also makes a great flat iron. Doing the job right the first time will avoid damaging re-styling. The CHI Air Expert Classic 1” Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron – Fire Red uses a similar technology to the blow dryer, working to smooth the entire hair shaft for extra smoothness and shine. You can create all kinds of styles with this handy flat iron.

Aesculus Hippocastanum

Some of my very favorite products contain a common denominator ingredient which is formulated into each of them. It’s a crazy word/ingredient called Aesculus Hippocastanum (aka horse chestnut). Horse chestnut has been used for many generations for skin conditions, but mostly for vascular issues and edema.

The first two products I’m very impressed with that contain horse chestnut or aesculus hippocastanum are by Pevonia and B. Kamins. Both make sense to me that they would facilitate the ingredient because both products are indicated for couperose type skin conditions and inflammatory issues. Pevonia Soothing Sensitive Skin Mask is a fabulous sedating and calming mask and B. Kamins Redness Defying Lotion is one of the best products I’ve used or recommended to clients for use to treat couperose and other conditions that cause frustrating redness.

The last two products contain the ingredient, however, I’m not quite sure why but will keep researching until I find out why that is. However, having said that…these two products work brilliantly and the ingredient is placed quite high on their ingredient lists suggesting that it is a major factor as to why they work so well.

Jan Marini and Talika both use the ingredient in their eyelash conditioning products. Both are rated extremely well and both are noted to be gentle as well. Jan Marini Lash and TALIKA Lipocils Eyelash Conditioning Gel both promote longer, fuller and healthier lashes. I’ve used both and my short sparse blonde stick hairs became fuller, longer, volumized and just plain stunning. I never thought I would have the lashes I now have. Now I just want to know why they work so well…but my beauty instinct says…it’s that ‘horse chestnut’ common denominator ingredient!

Want your hair to shine like it’s wearing a glossy lip gloss? I have the answer for you! It’s called Alterna Caviar 3 Minute Shine Boost and it’s absolutely amazing!

For a silky phenomenal shine just shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would then  apply and leave on for three minutes and then rinse well. It will make your hair manageable, feel silkier than you could ever imagine and all without weighing your hair down. It also repairs your hair and is perfect for color treated hair as well.

It’s only 25 dollars and you’ll look as if you spent 200 bucks for a professional hair treatment at a salon.

If your hair is dull or lacks vibrancy, this product is meant for you. You will love your hair!

You’ve probably noticed my obsession with lips and makeup lately. But I still have one more product to share with you. I’m just crazy about soft, kissable, lovely lips and I think most men love them too. So I’ve just been having so much fun trying so many of them lately (the products…not the men’s lips! LOL) that when I find good ones…I enjoy sharing them with you.

My latest favorite is Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight. It is an intense treatment that keeps lips so soft and conditioned that you’ll wonder why you didn’t discover it years ago. It works immediately and leaves your lips soft and younger looking. It even adds contour, definition and shape.

After using, my lips are moisturized, fuller in appearance and a beautiful rosy color.

I’m in love with Philosophy Kiss Me Tonight!

All you need for the most amazing transformation from looking shabby and old to looking young and chic is one hour and Drugstore.com. My sister was recently here and while we were standing outside in the sunlight I noticed about ten or twenty hairs on her chin and the bushiest eyebrows I think I had ever seen. We were getting ready to go out and I seriously couldn't allow her to be seen like that. I knew deep down she would appreciate my input even though I hated to tell her that she needed a serious pick me up...and she needed it stat!

In addition to the extra hairs on her face the hair on her head needed a quick do-over as well. I had recently ordered a beautiful coconut colored hair coloring product by L'Oreal Paris. It's called Couleur Experte Express from Drugstore.com which I originally wanted to use on myself...but after seeing her drab color and dark roots I knew I had to donate it to her. I also knew I had to use my brand new Tweezerman tweezers on those eyebrows and that chiny chin chin to complete her new gorgeous look.

After about ten minutes of plucking that chin and shaping those eyebrows I broke out my hair coloring kit and applied it. It's a very user friendly product so it was a breeze. I told her to rinse it out and then I took an old pair of hair cutting scissors and trimmed the back of her hair. I took off a few inches and the finished look was absolutely stunning. She looked amazing!

This beautiful transformation was complete and she looked absolutely polished in less than one hour! Bravo! L"Oreal, Tweezerman and Drugstore.com! Thank you!!

NUXE Paris offers an amazing all in one lip treatment product that not only repairs and relieves dry, uncomfortable lips, but also nourishes and protects them. For the ultimate in relieving dry, chapped lips and transforming them into the most soft, smooth and kissable pair you’ve ever puckered up you’ve got to try NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm.

NUXE Reve de Miel Lip Balm is a formulation of rich, natural, highly concentrated ingredients some of which include Acacia Honey, Chilean Rose Oil, Sweet Almond Oil (my favorite!), Shea Butter, Grapefruit Essence and more.

The reviews on this lip product are phenomenal. It’s as if Nuxe Paris has taken all the complaints typically heard about many lip balms such as - doesn’t stay on, too thick, too thin, dries lips out making reapplication frequent and has assured that their lip treatment balm gets none of these common complaints. In fact, the things that you do hear about Reve de Miel are things like - it’s the best!, it’s the perfect consistency, it stays on for hours, and many more statements of praise and affirmation.

I love to slather it on at bedtime and wake up to the softest, prettiest lips I’ve ever experienced.

Thanks to bareMinerals you can glisten and glow and shine like a star. Today I’ve got to tell you about a few kits from Bare Minerals that will make you the center of attention the second you walk into any room.

First bareMinerals Sweet Sparklers will make your lips shine like diamonds in the sun. Colors included in the kit are Sherbet which is a baby pink, Rose Crepe (a blush rose), Pink Prosecco which offers a blushing effervescence, and Kir Royale, a twinkling sheer plum. Even more impressive than combining lip colors with lip glosses for amazing sparkle is the price of the kit. A mere 28 bucks at SkinStore.com!

Next up for a gorgeous glistening you is bareMinerals Bronzed and Brilliant. This kit priced right at $29.50 is a $55 value and will make you look like you just got touched by the sun’s sparkle.

On deck we have bareMinerals Big, Bright and Brilliant. It’s a trio of eyeliners with light reflective pearl to make your eyes pop. It’s even on sale for 14 bucks and comes with three gorgeous colors…Black Gold, Black Diamond and Midnight Moon.

And lastly to bring out the ultimate sparkle and shine in you…check out bareMinerals All Wrapped Up Eye Collection which comes with six glimmering shades that will finish your look off as the belle of the ball. Another great value…it’s priced at a modest 34 dollars yet is a $66 value.

Shimmer and shine with bareMinerals!

It’s no secret that I (along with most other beauty and skincare experts) am very impressed with SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic. I’ve written about it many times as have many top beauty magazine editors and writers. It’s even been named an Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner. Additionally, SkinCeuticals products as a whole are used and sold in most of the day spas, salons, medical spas and dermatology offices I’ve ever been to or dealt with professionally.

The last time I ordered it I noticed on SkinStore.com a new updated web-page dedicated to CE Ferulic entitled “The Latest Research Shows,” so I ended up reading much more about it than I had ever known previously. Needless to say, now I’m really, really impressed!

The latest research shows that because the product contains ferulic acid (one of the newer antioxidant technologies) it potentiates the vitamins C and E. This synergistic action exponentially promotes the antioxidant benefits in terms of photo protection and anti-aging. It also helps with the prevention of sun induced DNA mutations which are associated with the formation of skin cancer.

In my opinion, SkinCeuticals brand is the ultimate in skin care pharmacology to date.

Out of all of the natural ingredients available in skin care, marine algae might just be my favorite. It might have something to do with the wonders and mystery of the sea and the idea that there are magical healing powers contained deep within the ocean waves.

Seriously though, marine algae is rich in vitamins and minerals and can do wonders for the skin. There are hundreds of thousands of different types of marine algae. Each variety possesses different properties that can benefit the skin in different ways.

The brown varieties are rich in iodine and Vitamins C and E. This variety is known for its antioxidant and detoxifying benefits.

Red algae has lots of protein and beta carotene. It helps to encourage circulation and can even help with fatigue.

Green varieties of marine algae are plentiful in Vitamins C, A and E as well as Magnesium. Green algae is generally selected for its antioxidant levels.

Spirulina is a type of blue algae that is high in B vitamins as well as calcium and protein. It’s frequently used to balance and calm the skin.

Astara Spirulina and Sea Mineral Soak utilizes the calming and rebalancing properties of algae in its bath treatment. The formula rids the body of toxins and leaves the skin soft and nourished. It’s a real treat and makes for a nice gift for that stressed out woman in your life.

Kerstin Florian Rehydrating Algae Gel Mask bathes the skin with essential moisture while delivering powerful antioxidants from marine algae. The skin is left super soft as well as calm and balanced.

red flower yuzu mimosa sea algae wash turns your morning shower into a treatment room for you skin. Sea algaes help to purify, balance, calm and hydrate the skin. This gentle wash smells heavenly and feels amazing.

Have you noticed how many beauty products contain milk these days? They’re either named Milk, shaped like milk bottles, or donned in white packaging with the word “Milk” placed largely on the label so you’re sure to know it’s a product that contains the popular new cosmetic ingredient. Sometimes they’re even placed in old fashioned milk carriers that Milk Men used to deliver a half dozen bottles right to your door in!

Well, I’m here to tell you that creative marketing and packaging aren’t the only good reasons to fall prey to the latest beauty ingredient!

Milk proteins, vitamins, minerals and its properties are as beneficial to your outer beauty as they are to your inner health. When formulated into skincare products it provides superb hydration for the skin of your body and face and keeps dryness at bay. Milk also contains lactic acid which is a fabulous exfoliator. It conditions the skin and leaves it glowing with luminosity in addition to boosting cellular turnover stimulation.

Check out a few of the best milk ingredient products on the market today:

PCA SKIN Apres Peel Balm

Korres Milk Proteins 3 in 1 Cleanser

H2O Plus Milk Body Lotion

This ingredient will do your body (and face) good!

You may have been noticing lately how many articles we’ve written about nutrition and nutritious ingredients. You’ve probably also noticed how many brands have started formulating nutritious ingredients into their products.

It’s because it makes so much sense to do so. We now know that many ingredients that make us healthy on the inside help us as well on the outside. Natural brands and products have used this theory for years…and if you think about it…most people who you may know who’ve been riding that movement not only feel healthier…they also appear healthier!

I was curious about cranberry because I’m so amazed at how it has always worked beautifully and used in medicine for zapping potential bladder infections right in their tracks. As you may already know, Cranberry juice is often suggested for treating bladder infections. It’s not to replace medical attention and/or antibiotics when needed, but for me, it certainly has worked wonders to either treat it before it gets to the stage of needing medical treatment, or as an addition to medical treatment. At the onset of what feels to be a UTI (urinary tract infection) I always drink cranberry juice (as I was originally told to do so by my doctor) and it almost always treats mine and prevents further need for medical intervention.

So since I already had an interest in cranberry and its beneficial properties I decided to research it for its possible benefits when used in the beauty and skin care industry. And what I found didn’t surprise me in the least. It does indeed boast and produce many impressive beauty benefits!

One of my favorite Cranberry infused beauty products is one I’ve been using all along and never even realized it contained this precious berry until I started this research. I thought to myself…geez, no wonder this product works so incredibly well!

Alchimie Forever Excimer Plus Gentle Anti-Oxidant Refining Scrub is a luxurious creamy exfoliant that brings about a gorgeous, radiant and beautifully brightened complexion. It contains cranberry and jojoba beads that resurface and exfoliate (both chemically and mechanically) and yet it is very gentle and may be used for all types of skin