May 2008

Meg here to talk about zits "Fantastic! you're thinking! How does megsmakeup.com always know how to be so chic!

Zits are a part of life. They're like death and taxes. Everybody gets them. What are they?

For reasons no one completely understands, follicles, often called pores, sometimes get blocked. Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the surface gets blocked and bacteria begins to grow. Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a microcomedone. The picture is a microcomedone.

What's the diff between a "blackhead" and a "whitehead"?

Blackheads, yuck, OK here's your science lesson of the day..A blackhead occurs when the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and can not be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface.

Whiteheads, even worse then the blackhead. Well, I guess it depends how visible but here's their deal..
When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. If they were invisible to the naked eye then I'd have no problem. Unfortunately, my whiteheads didn't get that memo.

Lucky for all of us with skin, Boscia has come out with their own Willow Bark Spot Treatment. Unlike a goopy, slimey gel this is a neat, easy to apply pen applicator. Here's what Boscia says "A convenient click pen for on-the-go spot treatment.Boscia Willow Bark Breakout Treatment To-Go pen contains a gel which helps provide relief from breakouts effectively and safely, even for sensitive skin.This preservative-free, botanically-rich proprietary formula offers a gentle and effective means to ensure your skin stays clear and healthy-looking."

please post if your Boscia Willow Bark Spot Treatment to go worked even if you got a D (um..me) in science!




BOSCIA BUY IT HERE!

Every Saturday Kate brings you the best of Sephora as only an insider can!




wonder if there is a technical term for the strange hormonal changes we women go through in your twenties. Not puberty, for me that was around age 13 or so. It's not menopause because I'm not quite old enough for that yet. But I know my metabolism has been hard to keep with. I've gained weight, but only gone up one dress size. And my skin! I used to be glowing and normal-combination. And I suppose I would still be considered combination because I'm not super oily. But I have become acneic. And its really frustrating. Especially at a time in my life where I'm constantly in pictures (wedding parties, mostly). And I am so self conscious. And it was hard to understand because I use great products so it wasn't like I was not taking care of my skin. What was/is the problem?

So I always knew that salicylic acid is anti-bacterial and anti-acne. I've heard it in countless Sephora training. Even so, salicylic acid is my new friend. In just a week using some Skin Effects products (soon up for review) as well as the Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion (Clinique's fancy word for TONER), my skin is looking so much better! And no further breakouts! (When I say breakouts - I mean 10 active blemishes at one time!) This "clarifying lotion" [TONER] is a "gentle, medicated formula exfoliates skin, and unclogs pores. Helps to reduce excess oil that can lead to breakouts." Use a cotton pad or two dampened with this magic potion all over your face after cleansing. You will be surprise (and a little grossed out) at all the makeup that your cleanser does not take off! But be comforted by the fact that it is now on your cotton pad and not your face!

Another great salicylic super hero is Dr. Brandt's Pore Effect. It's a night time moisturizer (or daytime if you're EXTREMELY oily). It is absolutely packed with powerful ingredients to fix up your pizza-face! Things like:

-Tea Tree: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, clarifying ingredient which is exceptional for treating acne prone skin.
-Lavender: Soothes and calms the skin, evens out redness and discoloration in the skin.
-Willow Bark Extract (Salix Alba): Calming and cooling agent. Also is antibacterial.
-Hyaluronic Acid: Plumps up the skin by holding water up to 1000 times it's weight in natural moisture.
-Salicylic Acid (Beta Hydroxy): Anti-inflammatory, controls excess oil, tightens pores, and treats acne while calming skin down.

I also can never say enough good things about the Boscia Clarifying Detox Mask. "This deep-cleansing clay mask contains pure botanicals, herbs, and select ingredients like kaolin clay and phellodendron bark to absorb impurities, control excess oil, detoxify, and renew your skin from deep within. A unique combination of anti-irritants and purifying agents soothe and refine the appearance of pores as powerful antioxidants along with other therapeutic elements revitalize skin and help protect against the appearance of aging. " You can not even imagine how amazing your sking looks after you use this mask! Next time you have $20 in your wallet just head to Sephora and pick it up. Its great for all skin types and you'll feel like you have baby skin!

Salut ladies! Tu as bon goût!! Meg's Make-up is cozy and reliable and I love it too! From now, I will be reviewing the FABULOUS for Fabulous Fridays! As a third generation Angeleno with a quadra-coastal upbringing (Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and Nice), I've seen it all ... From French hydrating guns at La Prairie to German hydrating bathes at Baden-Baden, I promise to bring you only the best - and put the best to the test!! As your new product advocate and critic, I am available to you at all times for your beauty quandaries. Please say hello at CRoman!

What has my face all aglow? New Cle de Peau Fluid Foundation. Goes on smooth and creamy and dissolves into your skin... Minimizing pores and smoothing out discoloration. So what's so different about this foundation? It leaves a pearly dewy finish all over that's a great start to this spring's bronze trends and silvers, golds and bright shades of pink and orange for lips and lids.

Don't be afraid to invest in a stong foundation! Two pumps goes on with your fingertips and lasts all day with no problems transitioning into night. If you're going to spend money don't you think its best spent on your face? I mean shoes are up there but the first thing people see is your face. I love love Cleau de Peau's fluid foundation and it definitely makes me feel like a million dollars!
Here's what they say " A liquid treatment foundation that provides a flawless, radiant finish as if the quality of the skin has improved. Provides dewy moisture and a feeling of resiliance!"
I am so impressed with this and definitely recommend! Nice to meet all of you!

Any other Cleau De Peau fans!?

Cleau De Peau Fluid Foundation! Buy it here!

Meg here to bring you a fabulous, new green line called K Hall. It's all 95% natural, cruelty free and made from all recyclabe and reusable materials. Wow! When this "Green Movement" came it really took hold. K Hall has been practicing their eco friendly practices for a decade!

I was sent a K Hall Grapefruit Mint Milled Shea Soap and a K Hall Scent Difuser in the aroma of "milk."

I was driving home when my roomie Lydia called to warn me about the awful scent that had crept into our home. It was Lydia's birthday a couple weeks back and being the popular gal she is, she came home with tons of different gorgeous floral arrangements in all sorts of vases. Unfortunately, the smell of the water and the dead flowers being cleaned up had fumigated our kitchen into a pretty foul smelling room. It was pretty strong but I told her that I was armed with a new difuser so we could test it out as soom as I got home.

We opened up our new difuser and as soon as we stuck the reeds in we set it in the window ledge above the kitchen sink. It only took about 10 minutes for the putrid smell to be replaced with an inviting aroma! Wafts of Milk, Vanilla and Coconut had now completely masked the original dead goldfish smell!
That was quite a test on its effectiveness and it completely passed with flying colors!

Here's what K Hall says "K. hall designs has been hand making reed diffusers longer than nearly any domestic company and we believe we have found the best elements to a successful product. Thinker reeds enable the scent to travel better and saturate the reeds thoroughly to disperse the scent effectively. We use only the highest quality essential and fragrance oils. We do not add fillers or enhancers. Our blend is made with cosmetic grade ingredients so it can be applied as a personal body scent. Filled in a shatterproof amber bottle, the oil is protects from light until use, maintaining the integrity of the scent. Our glass apothecary bottle is made expressly for k. hall designs and can be re-used or refilled. Finally, packed in a shipping tube, the set travels very well to the shop, shipped or carried home!"

We were both so impressed with K Hall's amazing home line that we were both highly anticipating our next experiment with their huge bar of Grapefruit Mint Milled Shea Soap. The soap smelled amazing as soon as it was unwrapped from the plastic. It lathers and it so creamy! It is packed with shea and cocoa butter so it makes your skin soft as buttah! They only use the highest qualities and I am dying to try the lilac! I loved this soap but since I live in LA I miss the scent of lilacs from back East.

I know I usually link to a sephora but you can get these babies at my favorite Shoprobertson.com. You know when you see in US Weekly the celebs walking out of Kitson and Lisa Kline and all the schmancy Bev Hills shops on Robertson? Well this site has all the same stuff ( at much lower prices) so not only can you find K Hall on this site but tons of steals and deals! Here's a special one for our readers! SO EXCITING! A TWENTY FIVE PERCENT OFF COUPON CODE just type~dealsfordivas25.. 25% entire purchase, including sale merchandise.



Ladies do you love K Hall! What do you think of Bev Hill trend shopping online?!

Shoprobertson.com Buy It Here!.