Beauty

April 4, 2012

Burberry Beauty for Spring and Summer

[Pictured: the new Lip Cover and Lip Glow shades for spring/summer 2012, and the sheer eyeshadow in Pale Barley. Images Courtesy of Burberry]

This past week I took a tour of the Burberry Beauty counter at Saks Fifth Avenue to become familiar with the layout, as well as get the lowdown on the newest arrivals, a sneak peek of what’s to come, plus learn about the brand’s best sellers.

Guided by John Trau, the Director of Education for Burberry Beauty, I learned that the colour palette for the beauty offerings was inspired by the Burberry Prorsum s/s 2012 collection, and tends to use makeup hues that strive to enhance, rather than dramatize, natural beauty. Continue reading…

April 4, 2012

VMV Hypoallergenics: A Natural Choice, And a FashionPulseDaily Favorite!

by Julia DiNardo

There’s no denying I’m a huge fan of Dr. Vermen Verallo-Rowell’s line of products, VMV Hypoallergenics, with categories range from sun and light protection, to makeup, bath and body, skin care, men, baby, and more. I love using her Know-it-Oil, VCO (virgin coconut oil) as an all-over moisturizer, which comes in as a close second to my love of olive oil as a beauty product. I recently attended an information luncheon on her newest products at her gorgeous Union Square store and spa, and here are the newest items from the line. Tell your skin issues their days are numbered-help is on the way!

Note: even if you don’t live in NYC, you can shop VMV Hypoallergenics 24/7 online!

Skin the Bluff Concealer (pictured), $20, available in four shades (three skin tone and one yellow shade), this little fabulous pot o’ magic gets rid of blemishes, shadows, discoloration, and dark circles while preventing acne and darkening. It includes USA-certified virgin coconut oil, with anti-oxidants, sun protectors, and is 100% fragrance free, dye, phthalate, paraben, and other preservative -free.

Red Better Flare-Up Balm, $50, is a steroid-free salve that is amazingly gentle, yet effective when it comes to calming down inflammation such as rosacea, allergic reactions, bites, infections, eczema, rashes, you name it! This is non-comedogenic, has been usage, patch and clinically tested, and per usual for VMV, it is 100% fragrance free, dye, phthalate, paraben, and other preservative -free.

Red Better Spot Corrector, $25-$40, is a non-drying acne balm that helps deal with rosacea-related acne gently by killing the micro-organisms causing acne and redness, give anti-inflammatory, soothing relief, and provides hydration.

Essence: Clark Wash, $28, is named after Superman, Clark Kent, as it is an incredibly gentle wash that is non-pore clogging, hydrating, and safe for sensitive areas. It is meant to compliment the brand’s existing line of body shampoos.

April 2, 2012

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

by fashion pulse contributor

[Image via Biore.com]

Not the most glamorous of subjects, but let’s talk blackheads for a minute (or in the dermatology world, known as “comedones”). A cleansing regimen may involve a scrub or an astringent followed by moisturizer, and sometimes an occasional squeeze, but sometimes that just doesn’t cut it. Luckily, Biore’s Deep Cleansing Pore Strips $8.99, are here to remove the deepest dirt, that actually clogs pores and causes blackheads.

Disgusting, perhaps, but I’ll have to agree with Biore that it’s “oddly satisfying.” Plus, the process was rather simple. Testing these out, courtesy of the brand, I first washed my face clean. Then, I applied the strip to my nose, with my face still wet (the strip is not made to stick on a dry nose.) After ensuring good contact, I let it dry for about 10-15 minutes, until the strip felt “stiff to the touch.” In fact, I barely noticed it was on my face!

Slowly, (I recommend being careful here) I removed the strip from the edges pulling toward the center. Seeing the week’s worth of dirt buildup in just 10-15 minutes made me wish more things could be accomplished this quickly: a week’s worth of laundry, a week’s worth of emails…the list continues.

-Alana Quagliariello

P.S.: Biore also has other new products, such as the Steam Activate Cleanser, Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser, and a Pore Unclogging Scrub, and an overall new design/look!

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March 28, 2012

Kaplan MD: Scientific Innovation in Skincare

by fashion pulse contributor

We’ll admit, we were intimidated too. Kaplan MD Beverly Hills’ medically advanced collection combines the power of plant stem cells (rose, grape and apple) and certified organic extracts alongside Nobel Prize winning DNA Technology to really prove that it can transform skin. The initial feelings of intimidation shifted toward infatuation as I perused the collection at the Kaplan MD Launch Event. Here’s a few of the collections that I discovered:

The Luxury Concentrate Collection is comprised of Cellular Rejuvenating Concentrate ($295), Daily Moisture SPF 30 Concentrate ($185), Night Replenishing Concentrate ($225), and an Intensive Eye Concentrate ($135). The first product, a serum, is said to actually re-texturize the skin via one dime sized dab. This collection focuses on forcing existing skin cells to act as young cells, redefining texture. A dermatologist formulated and tested fountain of youth, anyone?

The Cleansing Collection, a cleanser and a toner (each $50), is the most important (and first) step in a skincare regimen. According to Kaplan, minimal foaming and milky cleansers are the most effective way to cleanse skin. They gently, yet effectively, remove impurities without over stripping skin of its natural oils. Kaplan also recommends always following your cleanse with a toner. Toning prepares the skin to receive all the nutrients from your treatment products. With 22 USDA Certified Organic Extracts and ginger root extract, the purifying cleanser restores skin’s natural pH. Whereas, the rich milky cleanser uses chamomile and soy to restore moisture.

The Lip 20 Treatment Collection, available in 8 shades, includes moisture therapy lip gloss and balm ($35) with SPF 20 to repair the delicate skin of the lips while enhancing natural fullness.

Saving the best bit of info for last. All of Kaplan MD’s products are paraben free, sulfate free, petrolatum free, castor oil free, Propylen Glycol free, PABA free, and mineral oil free!

Click here to shop the collection, available at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Finally, a science we can really appreciate!