December, 2009 | BeautyStat.com - Part 3
 

December 2009

Everyone loves a hot shower, and yours truly is guilty of this every day. After all, with the temperatures dropping so rapidly, who doesn't like to indulge in a hot waterfall each day to soothe down the daily grind? And the statistics are impressive: if you cut down your daily shower routine by just 1 minute each day, the planet could save 160 billion gallons of water each year. That's a lot of water for the planet to save! And this, ladies and gentlemen, is precisely the reason why Body Conscience was created. The idea behind the brand was the 3-minute shower with body polish (exfoliation), cleansing and moisturization in one. Being a vegan, I'm really conscious of everything that I put in and ON my body. So I am thrilled to discover that Body Conscience is free of petrochemicals, parabens (seriously!...ZILCH), sulfates, chemical sunscreens and cruelty free. All the packaging is biodegradable, of course. Body Conscience's founder, Barbara Schiller, is a mother, chemist and entrepreneur; Gayle Schulman is the President -- both of them are incredibly passionate about conservationism and ecology. I had the good fortune to meet both of them and learn about this incredible line which I hope you'll really take the time to try out -- it deserves to be experienced! The Products body-conscience-Body Polish in a Bar The 3-Minute Shower Bath Bar comes in three varieties. The Champaka/Neroli (shown) is for sensitive skin and has butters and also organic fine sugars to gently exfoliate skin. It's also nut free. I liked the sensitive skin version of the bar but I found it a little difficult to bathe with. It doesn't lather like most soaps (well, because it's sulfate free also). It really is very good for sensitive skins but if you want a soap that lathers, you may find this product is not for you. The White Orchid Vanilla version is for all skin types and contains brown sugar for exfoliation, and the Ancient Amber/ Black Cardamom version has walnut sheets and bamboo for deep exfoliation. body-conscience-body polish The 3-Minute Shower in a Jar ($65) is an exfoliant that is brimming with organic coconut and butters. I have the White Orchid Vanilla and I simply love the scent. This is a very effective product and it makes me feel like a natural woman - seriously! You can seriously skip the lotion after this ritual. It comes in the same flavors as the Body Bar (Champaka/ Neroli and Ancient Amber/ Black Cardamom). You can also get refills of this product without purchasing the container. Oh, and I love the hand carved wooden spoon and dish for the body bar; they are fashioned from reclaimed wood and handcrafted in Vermont. body-conscience-body-veil The Body Veil ($75) is my favorite product in this line. It is a silky, dry mist that is made from essential oils. The light dry oil has kept my skin beautifully conditioned and soft throughout these harsh winter months and it smells AMAZING to boot. If I were to put a golden star on any of these products, this Veil would get it, for sure. It's also nut free for those who are allergic. The mist also comes in the three varieties I mentioned above. body-conscience-wherever-whenever The Body Balm ($65) is a luxurious treat for the skin. It's small in size and therefore very travel friendly. The Champaka/Neroli is my favorite.

Remember that little Lilliputian gadget called the Zeno? The one that promised to zap your zits away in a mere 24 hours? Well the new and improved TINY version (think iPod shuffle version) is here, gals! This is such an economically-friendly alternative to your higher priced...

Ah, the power of lace. We've seen this delicate mesh of fabric dress the sexy bodies and throats of so many celebrities. Don't believe me? Look who's been spotted in lacy dresses recently: Lace is creating alluring fashions on the red carpet, and will also be...

Summer humidity seems a distant dream, but winter brings a whole new set of hair woes: Indoor air sapped of moisture and painfully low temps outside. Fear not - with some bright new products and some good old standbys, beautiful holiday hair can...

So what does the term In the Studio actually mean? When I think of the word studio, I think of professional photographers, celluloid (which is essentially thermoplastic) and professional lighting. Of course, when it comes to makeup, I think of professionally done makeup - the...

Lisa Hoffman Beauty is dedicated to using the most essential skin care ingredients. Lisa Hoffman products are designed for exceptional results while remaining as simple as possible. In the Vitamin A & C Serum Lisa Hoffman showcases her commitment to those essential ingredients by using...

Warm and Cozy is essential now more than ever, with temperatures dropping as dramatically as the United States' Credit Rating. This MAC Collection features: The Lipsticks ($14 each) in this collection include: Spiced Tea Warm bronzed brown (Glaze) Warm Me Up Creamy mid-tone neutral pink (Amplified) Siss (Muted golden beige) The Lipglass...

We've seen a lot of black during the course of this year: MAC's Style Black, and now Estee Lauder's Blacker than Black. As a hardcore New Yorker, I obviously adore black. It's a color that mops up all other colors because it is so WEARABLE. I'm...

I've sat down to write a review of Jemma Kidd's Make-up Masterclass: Beauty Bible of Professional Techniques and Wearable Looks ($24.99 at Amazon.com) at least six or seven times over the past week. I confess that I don't know wear to start. Kidd, however, starts...

Whenever I get that black bag filled with products from BeautyFix, I'm like a kid in Dylan's Candy Shop. I know that a lot of these products are personally cherry picked by experts and I'm always on the hunt for something that's revolutionary or magical (and remember you can reserve your bag each season for $49.99). Here are some of my favorite items from the Autumn Black Bag of BeautyFix Goodies (brands in this bag include 3LAB, Canyon Ranch, Coola, Chella, Frais, Jonathan Product and RAW Natural Beauty): beautyfix-3lab-cleansing-foam 3LAB's Perfect Cleansing Foam is extremely suitable for sensitive skin. This took my makeup right off without overdrying. LOVE it! beautyfix-canyon-ranch-balance-lightweight-moisturizer Canyon Ranch BALANCE Lightweight Moisture with Pronad may well be one of my all time favorites. As light as whipped cream, this creamy lotion hydrates better than most high-priced versions and is PERFECT pre makeup. Remember this moisturizer alone costs $75, so you're getting it for a steal at BeautyFix! beautyfix-chella-enzyme-exfoliating-crema-mask Chella Exfoliating Enzyme Treatment Mask is an incredibly hydrating mask that does what it promises to do: clear excess sebum and remove dead cells from the skin. It left my skin luminous as the moon, and without the need for too much follow-up moisturizer. beautyfix-frais-hand-sanitizer Frais Hand Santizier is tiny as a charm and perfect for your pocket book. Plus it wards off H1N1 with a refreshing smell that's not nauseating. This Australian company gets top marks in our books. beautyfix-jonathan-product-finish-shine-polishing-gloss