Get Gold Medal Treatment from Elemis!

I know so many of you Beauties out there are as smitten as I am with luxury skincare brand Elemis, so when this special offer was brought to my attention, I just had to share it with you all! 

In honor of the 2012 Summer Olympics being held in London, Elemis is inviting you to stock up on skincare favorites from the brand – at 25% off on TimetoSpa.com – from July 26th through July 31st.

Just enter code BRITISH25 at checkout to redeem.

*offer is valid between 12:01am July 26th and 12:01am July 31st.
http://www.timetospa.com/bestofbritish

So treat yourself to some gold medal worthy goodies!!

And it doesn't stop there...

Starting July 26th 2012 through August 31st, 2012 the Bliss Spas of New York City and Hoboken New Jersey want to pamper you with a limited edition Elemis 'Ahh'- lipian Massage!  A specialized treatment that caters to exhausted muscles with a leg massage, skin softening scrub, and (my personal fav) a head and scalp massage to promote total relaxation.  (Could it sound more perfect?)  So go on and let Elemis treat you like the winner you are!

Price: $70.00 for 30 minutes 

Orly Sec 'N Dry Quick Deep- Dry Topcoat

I recently decided to invest my $8.00 worth of CVS coupons in a really decent top coat polish.  After a little research, I ultimately decided on  Orly Sec 'N Dry Quick Deep- Dry Topcoat .  Orly’s mechanics of simultaneously penetrating layers of polish to dry nails quickly and leave them with a protective finish intrigued me. 

I was super psyched to have a quick dry polish in my collection because truthfully, I’ve never tried one before.  (My nails NEVER dry fast enough for my liking and I hate having to put my day on pause).  I eagerly ripped into its cute pink and lavender box to examine its contents; a 6 FL oz bottle with a purple soft grip topper.  I applied my Quimica Alemana base coat, followed by 2 coats of Elle (my hopeless addiction) and topped it off with 1 coat of the Orly. 

It had a very potent smell and its brush was on the slim side but, still covered evenly.  After about 5 minutes I lightly touched my nail and while no polish actually came off on my finger, it still caused a wrinkle.  I could see that it had started to harden but was not done.  I decided to put my nails in front of my little fan on and off sporadically for 3 or 4 minutes intervals.  Ultimately it took about 20 minutes for my nails to dry completely.  While it didn’t dry in seconds (like I had hoped) this was still acceptable to me.  I was pleased that after 20 minutes I didn’t have to be concerned about dents, smudges etc. and I could get on with my day.  It left my nails with a smooth, glossy finish that went over a week without chipping and maintained an eye catching luster.  All in all I’m thrilled with the results and being formaldehyde, DBP and toluene free make it a healthier choice for your nails.  I intend to explore more of the fabulous Orly collections.     

Retail: $7.99   

Softlips Pearl and Coral Glosses

I was contacted by Softlips PR to try out their newest line of luscious glosses and was totally psyched to accept.  I got hooked after using their Sugar Plum Berry Lip Protectant balm and was excited to test drive a gloss. The newest addition glosses in shades of Coral and Pearl are packaged in their signature slim tubes and contain summer’s most important necessity- SPF 10.  They glide on smooth and sheer, leaving behind a whisper of color that works on every skin tone.  As a fair skinned girl, I fell partial to the pearl’s delicate, ballerina-like shade of pink.  It left a soft, feminine finish similar to that iconic JLO glow.   The coral added subtle, spicy warmth to my face that brightened my look without looking overdone.  They had lasting shine power of up to over 3 hours and NOT once did my hair stick to my lips.  They left my lips tingling after application as I felt them actively working to hydrate and soften.  With their addictive, sweet scent, I’ve already inducted them into my summer cosmetic bag and would love nothing more than to give my lovely readers the chance to do the same J   I will soon be posting a giveaway to give nine lucky winners the chance to win one of each color so stay tuned for the details! 

Quimica Alemana Nail Hardener

I’m so excited to share this review because Quimica Alemana nail hardener is one of those stand out products that have actually made a difference in my routine.  I’ve never been fortunate enough to have naturally nice nails.  They’re weak, they peel and they hardly grow.  It seems like no matter how faithful I am to those weekly manis, they never show much improvement.  Quimica Alemana was recommended to me by an associate in my local beauty store about four weeks ago and to put simply- IT WORKS.

I jumped right in and applied it as the base coat for my next mani.  Within 2 days I felt my nails getting stronger and 2 days after that I saw noticeable growth.  I started applying a fresh coat every 2-3 days, slowly cutting it down to every 5-6 days.  (Directions say to apply weekly but I can’t resist painting my nails often!).  It went on clear with an incredibly thick consistency, but dried quickly.  I followed each application with oil around my cuticles (I’m currently loving Elemis frangipani monoi Body Oil).  Since I began using it, I haven’t needed a single manicure and my nails have stopped breaking and peeling.  I have yet to go a day without wearing it so I cannot say for sure how my nails would hold up without it.

I’m pretty content with the shape my nails are in and plan to replenish it when it runs out.  I love this hardener and its effectiveness.  I will post an update on how my nails survive when I start wearing them bare.

Now… any suggestions for a successful top coat?? 

Nivea's Touch of Serenity Moisturizing Body Wash

I received a 1.7 fl oz sample of Nivea's Touch of Serenity Body Wash in Hibiscus Blossom Scent and Aloe Essence in my Shecky’s Girls Night Out gift bag last month and have been looking forward to posting its review.  Some of you may recall an earlier post where I raved about Nivea's Touch of Smoothness Body Wash in Tea Rose Blossom Scent and Almond Essence and declared it the newest permanent fixture in my shower catty.  Needless to say I was eager to try a product from the Touch of Serenity line.   

I applied a small amount of the pearl colored formula to my shower pouf and watched it lather quickly and easily.  Once covered in suds, I was wrapped in a delicately scented cloud of hibiscus blossom and aloe essence, and then whisked away into tranquility.  I felt relaxed as it gently cleansed my skin and left me feeling soothed and refreshed.  I typically have dry skin and it absorbed well, making my skin feel satin smooth and ultra feminine.  Between its lush floral fragrance and creamy texture I felt as though I had been transported to a lavish spa where my skin was being pampered and fussed over.  My favorite element was the lingering feeling of freshness it left behind on my skin.  Nivea’s Hydra IQ Technology continuously works to regulate skin’s moisturization level throughout the day and I adore this because I felt like I was getting the treatment of a high end wash at a more reasonable price.  Overall, I think I am partial to the tea rose blossom scent from the Touch of Smoothness line but, I enjoyed this body wash and will continue to recommend it. 

Redken Beats the Heat!

Ladies, I personally invite you to BEAT the HEAT this summer! Every year I fight the good fight against frizz and humidity to achieve that salon blowout on my thick, curly hair.  I was about to wave the white flag before I enlisted the help of Redken’s new Duo Shield 07 Color Protecting Gel- Cream and renovated Satinwear 02 Prepping Blow- Dry Lotion.  Both products contain Redken’s innovative Heatguard Complex to leave your locks smooth and frizz free.  This innovative forumla combines xylose sugar, ceramides and cranberry oil to strengthen, condition, and protect hair against heat damage.

The Duo shield 07 turned out to be fantastic at taming my unruly mane.  This tube of versatility fuses together a ceramide- rich gel in one chamber and a pearl cream in another, making it literally 2 products in 1.  I first used it on my damp curls which I blow dried curly.  It did a solid job of keeping my curls frizz free and soft (they did not get that crunchy, wet- look like with most gels).  The big “tell all” was when I used it to blow my hair straight and I was left gawking at the sleek, smooth finish.  The ceramide gel seemed to combat the fly always as well as any frizz for a lasting chic look.  It held it's staight form all day without so much as a crinkle or wave.

I applied the Satinwear 02 to my damp hair and couldn’t help but relish its yummy fruity scent!  After I began blow drying my hair I noticed it was drying faster and with a lot of added volume.  Even though my hair is already thick, the end result was a glossy with an enhanced voluminous finish.  Its milky texture was so lightweight that my hair maintained its body and bounce throughout the day.  Its added cranberry oil absorbed into my hair well leaving it with touchable softness.  It inspired me to get creative and I started adding it to my ends at night before bed.  It is NOT advertised as a leave in conditioner (it is heat activated) but I loved waking up to soft, manageable curls.   

These products are perfect for reviving tired tresses and are a girl’s must have weapons to beat this season’s heat!

Retail:  

Due Shield 07 Color Protecting Gel- Cream $19.00

Satinwear 02 Prepping Blow- Dry Lotion $ 18.00