Avene skincare & giveaways

Good afternoon beautycallers. Hope you are all staying cool today, it's a scorcher here.

I first heard of Avene while watching Lisa Eldridge's "My Favorite Skincare Products Part 1" video. I LOVE all of her videos. Because I would LUV to meet her, I've been asking on her facebook page when she will be in the NYC area. You can also find Lisa on twitter.

Avene's products are targeted for sensitive skin. I was breaking out a bit, on the right and left side of chin, usually known as hormonal break outs. Damn those stubborn blackhead suckers. If you are oily, combination or dry, your skin always needs moisture. Hence all of their products contain water. Not just any water, Thermal Skin Water, from the Cevennes Mountain in southern France. Per their website here are some details behind this water:

A 40-year journey in the Cevennes Mountain allows the water in Avène to acquire the perfectly balanced mineral composition and become gradually enriched with the trace elements and silicates.

For additional information read Water, the essential source of skin health.

The three products I purchased were the Gentle get cleanser, for normal to combination sensitive skin, Thermal spring water, for all skin types, and the Cream for intolerant skin.



Here are the cleanser's benefits per their website:

• Gently and thoroughly removes impurities and make-up without drying
• Moisturizes skin and provides anti-oxidant protection leaving skin soft, supple and smooth
• Pleasant fragrance tolerated by sensitive skin
• Oil-free, soap-free
• Avène Thermal spring water to soothe and soften skin
• Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic

For additional information read Gentle Gel Cleanser. I absolutely love this cleanser. I was advised by the girl at the store to gently wipe off with a washcloth. By using a washcloth, you are getting an extra benefit of gentle exfoliation. As I'm sure you all know, exfoliating is SO important.

As I mentioned all skin types need moisture, and this spray is the BOMB. Almost all skincare lines have some type of refresher spray, but I love this one. You know the feeling you get when you put your face in a natural spring source? This feels the same exact way.

Here is additional information on this water spray.


Because those chin areas were itching, I bought the Cream for intolerant skin. I do not have intolerant skin, however the sales girl said this cream will help calm the itching (because this particular girl went attended several training classes, I felt and sensed that she thoroughly knew what she was talking about).

Here are the cream's indications per the website:

• Allergic reaction to fragrance, colorants, parabens, and/or other cosmetic ingredients
• Sensitive, irritated skin
• Burning, stinging, itching, scaling skin
• Post-procedure: Chemical peel, microdermabrasion, laser
• Adjunctive care to relieve the drying effect of acne medication treatments such as isotretinoin

For additional information please read soothing cream.

Here are some additional sites to purchase Avene:

spalook

DERMSTORE

SkinStore

Drugstore.com

Amazon


On a totally different topic, I want to share with you this Essie polish I discovered, yesterday called coral reef.




I always like to share the love, so here are two awesome beauty giveaways:

Check out RedsBeautyBlog's International Giveaway. Sleek. MUA Illamasqua and Beauty UK. Make sure you carefully read the entry rules as there are two parts.

Check out Makeup Diary's Huge "Just Because" Thank You Giveaway! Three Winners!
No doubt about it, this is HUGE.

SAKS FIFTH AVE & Mini Ulta Haul

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been MIA for a little while. Looking for a job is a job in itself. Speaking of jobs, I had an interview on Friday and guess what store was right across the street? That's right, Saks Fifth Avenue. In my opinion, no other Saks store compares.

When I saw the store I thought to myself this would be a great idea for a post, to share some pictures of the bottom floor with you, COSMETICS, SKINCARE & FRAGRANCES GALORE. When any of you are in NYC, you have to go inside the store, and let me tell you, you will DROOL.

How gorgeous is this fish tank with LA MER products inside

I'll take one of all of these please

I'm sorry about the poor quality of these pictures. I was not expecting to take pictures that day, hence I only had my phone. I wish I was able to take more pictures but unfortunately a security guard saw me and I was asked to stop...stupid store policy. However I took a short stroll uptown and took some more pictures which I hope you will enjoy.

Another love of mine CHOCOLATE, especially dark



What do you guys think of this necklace?

I have needed a haircut for a while now. I called the Ulta near me and they were having a special, $25 for cut AND blowdry! Pretty good deal if you ask me. I only purchased two items, Wet n Wild nail polish in "caribbean frost", and Sue Devitt lip enhancing gloss in "coral sands." I discovered Sue Devitt a while ago and love her products. What I love is that they have anti-aging properties so they are good for your skin. I have been looking for a peachy/coral lip gloss and they looked a bit too orange on me. This is the exact color I was looking for. I feel the picture is misleading, it is NOT a pink. I have an idea many of you know this...many Macy's stores now have a beauty section called "Impulse Beauty" where you can find Sue Devitt products.

Can anyone recommend a true teal polish? I'd prefer not so expensive, even though, don't get me wrong, I love Essie and OPI. I'm feeling a nail polish kick coming on. So please share, let's say, your top 3 nail polishes.

Beauty weekend w/ my cousin Lucy

Jason and I had the best time last weekend with Lucy and Sophie, my 9 year old twin cousins. The entire time I was playing with Lucy, a huge girly girl, while Jason was hanging out with Sophie, who's wat at the opposite end of the spectrum. They were playing Wii and video games while Lucy and I were beautifying ourselves.

Friday night we both did our makeup. Lucy told me she had a big party to go to and wanted an all glammed up look, and requested glitter. I wish I brought my Lit Cosmetics bag of goodies that I got at The Makeup Show. Oh well. I still had a couple of glitter products.





FOTN:

Eyes:
Mally Beauty eye primer from my city chick smokey eye kit
Heidi Klum VS eye palette
Milani Infinite liquid eye liner in "endless"
Makeupforever aqua liner in 8, a gorgeous purple
Urban Decay heavy metal glitter liner in "distortion"
Makeupforever aqua eyes in 11L, purple, on bottom lashes
Tarte lights camera lashes mascara

Face:
Motives blush in "lust"

NO NEED FOR CONCEALER OR FOUNDATION. Remember those days when we didn't even have a clue what concealer was? Or obviously had no need for it?

Lips:
Mally Beauty High Shine Liquid Lipstick in "blossom"

Please don't laugh at my makeup. Remember it was done by a 9 year old.

I was begging them to stop making funny faces. As you can see I was not successful.

Face:
Laura Geller balance 'n' brighten in "fair"
Tarte smooth operator micronized clay finishing powder.
Tarte the eraser 4-in-1 natural concealer in "fair"
Tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour blush in "dollface"

Eyes:
Mally Beauty city chick smokey eye kit in plum chelsea (she only used the lighter purple shade)
Makeupforever aqua eyes in 12L, "teal"
La Splash Liquid Eyeliner in "silver dollar"
Tarte lights camera lashes mascara.

Lips:
Tarte lipsurgence natural lip luster in "pouty"
Bare Escentuals 100& natural lip gloss in "glazed donut"

SATURDAY MORNING PEDICURES!

On Lucy's toes we put Brucci "Christina Court" & Essie "Sweet Tart"

I used Essie "Pop Art Pink"