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Top Beauty Must-Have's of the Summer - a list by palacinka
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About this list:
Palacinka's guide for the top beauty products this summer has you covered; from lip balm, sunscreen, fragrance, blotting sheets for an oily face, hair serums, eyeshadows, mouthrinse, mascara, and more. It provides a quick and stress-free way to stay beautiful and fabulous 24/7 no matter where you are! Our recommendations can be helpful for women "on the go" when they are in need of a beauty product away from home. It's can also serve as a guide of what to bring when going on vacation!
Qualifications:
Beauty go-to for ALL women of color around the world!
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Olay Quench Mousse in Active Hydration
First to recommend
Description
Well, body lotion is one category in which I’m always willing to try something new, and Olay’s newest Quench product (I loved the original lotion) did not disappoint! When I took a look at the Olay Quench body mousse, I knew that I was going to love it. I used the Active hydration formula with green tea and vitamin complex for normal to dry skin. A few quick shakes and a gentle press of the nozzle and I got a nice puff of mousse.
The texture is light and airy of course, but also felt just as light on my skin. I applied daily after my shower. I loved that it offered sheer coverage, instant absorption, and kept my skin hydrated all day. It does have a prominent fragrance upon application, which I would describe as “fresh/slightly fruity”, but it dissipates after a few minutes (for those of you who don’t like lingering body lotions fragrance).
I should note that it is does have a slight bit of shimmer (light reflecting particles to enhance the skin appearance), which is not distracting. It was not sticky (but I only used two or three puffs of mousse for my upper and lower body just to be on the safe side (a little goes a long way!).
I loved the sleek packaging and this is going to be my new body care favorite - especially in the summer (perhaps they will also introduce one with sunscreen?).
Note: For those of you with dry/very dry skin or traveling and living in very dry, cold climates, I would recommend their other formulation with shea butter called Ultra Moisturize. (via Palacinka)
Updated Feb 12, 2008
CHANEL Inimitable Waterproof Multi Dimensional Mascara - # 40 Emeraude
First to recommend
Description
This my first time trying a CHANEL mascara in which I stepped out of my “comfort zone” to try a colored formula. This was amazing!
It made my lashes look long, luscious and thick. I really did do a double take in the mirror the first morning I used it. It didn’t clump and held a curl better than almost mascaras I’ve tried. There was no smudging or flaking and it IS truly waterproof – I went swimming and into a sauna with it, and it stayed put, and looked incredible.
The color of the mascara is a beautiful jade green color, which looks a little deeper on the brush than it did on my lashes – and I liked that it gave a definite hint of green to my lashes, but was still subtle. This is a great color that will work on all skin tones and for those of you who want to change up your eye look. For me, it really did bring out the dimension of my brown eyes as well, which was another plus! This is a beautiful luxury mascara with a color twist that is worth the price. (via Palacinka)
Updated Apr 3, 2008
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Juice Beauty SPF 20 Mineral Medium Tinted Moisturizer
First to recommend
Description
This is a great tinted moisturizer that doesn't contain any chemical sunscreens (it does contain titanium dioxide). It has a nice, light feel and was not oily or greasy feeling. The Mineral Medium is a great sheer bronze color which looks darker in the bottle, but worked with my skin tone perfectly (this will work best up to a Rihanna complexion).
It was very sheer, and it gave my skin a warm glow and provided just enough moisture throughout the day. I had no problems with breakouts or irritations which also made me very happy. It only took a small amount to cover my face and it has a light fragrance to boot. This is perfect for the warmer weather and after going to the gym to go out. (via Palacinka)
Updated Apr 25, 2008
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CleanWell, Natural Hand Sanitizer Spray 6 oz
First to recommend
Description
You know the feeling...you've been traveling, or shaking a lot of hands, or playing with the kids all day but you just don't happen to be near any soap and water! There are hand sanitizing wipes and gels on the market, but without a doubt this product is a dream come true!
Clean Well hand sanitizers are made with all-natural Ingenium which is a patented formula proven to kill 99.99% of harmful germs that can make you sick including Samonella, resistent Staph, and Listeria. The travel sized version (pictured left) is what I used, and it was a great size -- no more than 5 in" long and superlight. The spray pump is tucked away under a flip top cap which snaps closed.
The biggest plus for me was that no water is required. Wherever I needed it, I could whip this out of my bag or my jacket pocket, spray once and I was all set. What I also loved was that is dries quickly but didn't dry out my hands. It still left them soft with a nice pleasant fresh/citrus scent. My hands felt clean, soft and fresh! I am stockpiling these! (via Palacinka)
Updated Apr 25, 2008
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Murad Clarifying Body Spray for Acne
First to recommend
Description
This is one of those products that made me say “How could I have lived without this before?” This spray is incredibly effective. After using for just one week my chest and back was smoother, my little bumps were reduced significantly and the overall tone was better.
I used it each morning after my shower and it also reduced the number of new breakouts I got. After using regularly for several weeks I also saw an improvement in the lightness of darker marks left from previous breakouts. It has a slight eucalyptus/medicinal fragrance, which I will surely live with for these great results.
The design of spray bottle is great and very well thought out. I was able to reach any part of my back with it because it’s a 360˚degree nozzle. It was also quick drying (less than a minute for it to dry). Note: it did continue to have a slightly sticky finish on my body when it dried. However, it didn’t cause my skin to flake or any other irritations during the day.
I let my husband also try this because every year when the weather starts to get warm he gets pimples on his back. He used this every day for a week and was amazed that the pimples were not only gone but after continuing to use, they did not come back! My husband and I are won over and this will be stockpiled in our house for the summer season! (via Palacinka)
Updated May 14, 2008
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Murad Age-Proof Suncare Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30
First to recommend
Description
This was my first time using a Murad product and I was very pleased. This sunblock has a light lemony scent, which I liked. It was not greasy, and didn’t flake or ball up in the heat. I also found it very moisturizing for my drier areas of my face and small lines around my eyes, and even my legs and elbows. The tone and texture of my skin was fantastic after using this daily!
I used this successfully on both my face and my body and I did not experience any irritation or break outs. For the face, it does leave a sheen however, so if you want a more matte look, then it will be necessary to blot it and then apply a little pressed or loose powder over it. I usually wore this during a recent vacation without much other makeup and didn’t mind the sheen. I also liked that the Sunblock didn’t leave a sticky or grayish cast to my skin (which I hate!).
It was definitely water resistant, but after going in and out of the water several times I did reapply as most experts say is necessary. However, when I was home and used it for everyday wear I found that even through very hot days it stayed put and was effective. A little goes a long way with this product which also makes it a great buy. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 23, 2008
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Avene Thermal Spring Water
First to recommend
Description
Many people would say water is water, but I think that it’s not always the case. In Asia and Europe most of my friends and associates always have a water spray on hand and use it regularly. They also have great skin!
I loved this thermal water and can say that it is one of the best water sprays I have used. I think it worked wonders for setting my makeup and also when I wanted to dampen my cosmetic sponge to apply my foundation for a natural, dewy effect. It’s a very convenient sized tube that’s perfect for any bag, the plane or the office/gym. It was so refreshing during the day or after work before touching up my makeup for an evening out. This was also wonderful to use in power masks or cloth masks as opposed to regular water.
It was also wonderful to use on my body after a gym workout or day at the beach – it left my skin soft and hydrated and also more soothed. The nozzle on the bottle is small but spray is a very strong fine mist (only a press or two is enough for the entire face), and there is no fragrance. This also made the perfect starting point to applying my richer night creams before bed. I found that my skin really absorbed the creams better, and after using it this way for several weeks, my skin has never looked better! This is a must have product for everyone’s skin care routine. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 23, 2008
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Phyto PHYTOPLAGE Moisturizing Hair & Body Wash
First to recommend
Description
This is a fantastic, luxurious 2-in1 product that is perfect for summer trips to the beach or just trips in general! From Phyto I would expect no less, since I am a big fan of their hair products which also work very well for me.
The wash is a smooth silky liquid that is thick and rich. It’s very concentrated so just a few squirts of the tube produced all I needed to cleanse both my body and my hair. The lather is super creamy with a rich fragrance that I loved. It’s a lovely, decadent spicy, slightly floral scent that was not too overpowering, but did linger on my body and hair nicely after rinsing off.
Post shower my skin was very soft and hydrated and I skipped using lotion on most days (very dry skins will still need an after shower moisturizer). My hair was soft, shiny and not weighed down at all. All traces of chlorine/sand from the beach were gone from my as well.
Note: As a shampoo, this formula works best on naturally straight, wavy and healthy relaxed hair. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 30, 2008
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Givenchy Prismissime Mat & Glow Compact Face Powder
First to recommend
Description
This is a fabulous palette that also works to cut down on the amount of products you need to use/pack to achieve a really nice, sexy “glow”.
I loved the sleek and modern packaging, with a cute little brush included in the bottom compartment. Although when I used it at home I applied with my bronzer brushes. As a nice little touch it also includes the names some of the most glamorous vacation destinations on the front of the pack in bold pink– Monaco, Tokyo, Ibiza, Capri, etc…
The compact has nine color cubes in all: three shimmery powders (gold, chocolate, bronze); three light to medium tan powders with a bit of a peach undertone; and three medium to chocolate brown powders with some gold elements.
The shimmery shades are separated from the matte shades, which makes it very easy to pick the type of look that you want. During the day I tended to use the mat shades and apply the shimmer as a subtle highlight on my cheekbones and as a highlighter on my eyes. At night I would swirl the brush over all the cubes and build up to much more noticeable shimmery bronzed look on my cheeks and my eyes. The texture of all the shades are silky smooth and the lasting power is very good.
This compact will work best for eyes and cheeks up to a Kerry Washington complexion, however, if used just for eyes and as a highlighter this will work on all skin tones, even as deep as Alex Wek, for example. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 30, 2008
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Yves Saint Laurent 'Everlong' Waterproof Mascara in Ever Burgundy
First to recommend
Description
This is probably one of the most luxurious waterproof mascara’s I’ve ever used.
Of course, being YSL, the packaging is super glamorous (yes it’s one you just like to look at!). The fragrance is also lovely (I liked the decadence of this).
As a mascara, it is also fantastic, but it should be noted that this formula is for a lengthening effect rather than an overall volume and curling effect. I found that it gave me a very long but natural look. The brush barrel is very large and the brush itself is quite different than most on the market, made with tons of very short, thin rubber bristles on all sides which attached itself and “grabbed” on to my lashes very well.
The shade of burgundy was lovely for a chance of pace. The burgundy was noticeable and very flattering with my eye color. I found it was perfectly appropriate for day time, since it’s not over the top. (This color will be more pronounced if you have lighter lashes). Most importantly, it did make my lashes look significantly longer. My lashes were not hard and brittle; they were soft and flexible. The staying power was also impressive, and it was truly waterproof. It did not run or flake when I was in humid weather, which I loved! The mascara really stayed on until I removed it with makeup remover. I will note however, that the formula is a drier one, so I had to make sure that I closed it completely after each use, as I noticed that additional air did make it drier. (via Palacinka)
Updated May 30, 2008
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