Review - Aloette Lumitone HP Pro Brightening Serum

"Brighten dull, ashy skin and target uneven skin tone with Aloette’s nonabrasive skin brightening system and see results in just 14 days! Containing a proprietary blend of five clinically tested peptides and brighteners—including the powerful white daisy extract—in an aloe vera base, Lumitone HP (High Potency) Pro Brightening Serum enhances the brightening capabilities of our existing Lumitone complex to minimize the appearance of red and splotchy skin and help neutralize uneven tone." $69.95 Super Sales Special!Only $24.95 with $30 purchase!

I have used some other products to 'brighten' my skin but I was never really sold on them. This Aloette Lumitone HP Pro Brightening Serum has me sold!! It does smooth out my uneven skin while reducing the appearance of spotty areas. They claim it will "help neutralize uneven tone" and it delivers. It applies very easily and is absorbed quickly, leaving your skin looking much more radiant than before using it. They do mention that it will be 14 days before you really notice so don't put it on the first time and be disappointed. It takes a little while to work its wonders on your skin. The usual price is a bit high but worth the price for what it does -- but -- look now. There is a Super Sale which I have included above. I know I can find so many other Aloette products that are real treats for my skin that I might just get a couple of them at this great deal!!

Hillary says: Aloette was kind enough to give me this product to review, but I can't really do one. You see, I use a prescription retinoid on my skin (Tazorac, it's like Retin-A) almost every night and it seems the two don't mix well. I took the bottle of Lumitone HP Pro Brightening Serum to my dermatologist and asked him if he thought the serum would brighten the skin and he said "Yes". He said it has an ingredient in it which is much like hydroquinone, but gentler. Most doctors would not recommend covering your entire face in hydroquinone as it can be very harsh. So to sum up my "non-review", yes I believe it works, no I don't recommend it for those using a prescription retinoid (nothing bad happened, it just stung a bit).

Review- Pür Minerals Pür Perfection Starter Kit

"4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup: The cornerstone of Pür Minerals, this one-minute mineral makeup miracle is your mineral foundation, powder, concealer and SPF protection all in one neat makeup compact. Completely free of oil, alcohol, talc, fragrances, preservatives and chemical dyes, this mineral foundation is actually good for your skin!" Pür Perfection Starter Kit $35

This is perhaps the best mineral make-up I have ever used. And not only is it good, it's good for you too! I need full coverage in my make-up. There's nothing terribly wrong with my skin, but when you are spooky-white, even the tiniest blemish shines out like a beacon. You can adjust the amount of coverage you recieve from this compact by starting slowly and layering. It has a nice matte finish and somehow doesn't stick to my dry patches like most other powder foundations. The color I got (Porcelain) matches my skin to a "T". Once you've put on the foundation, glow and blush, you've got a totally healthy, natural look. I recommend that everyone who is considering trying the Pür Minerals brand start out with one of these kits because when you put all the components together, the look is fantastic.

"Mineral Glow: A touch of sun in a makeup compact, this mineral powder will impart a natural, sun-kissed glow to your skin."

Ordinarily I wouldn't buy a product like Pür Minerals Mineral Glow because I'm not one for the tan look, but when used sparingly this compact gives you more of (dare I say it) a glow than a tan. It adds a little something to your overall look if you apply it with care. Now I find myself using the Glow with my other types of make-up, I like it that much. But be warned, overdo it and we'll have to send you back to the 80's (of course back then, the tan would have been real!).

"Universal Marble Powder in Pink: Give your skin back that rosy glow you were born with. Universal Marble Powder corrects, brightens and imparts antioxidants into the skin. This multi-purpose mineral makeup can be worn on your eyes, lips and cheeks."

When I first looked at the Marble Powder in Pink, I wasn't so thrilled. I'm not much of a pink person. I decided to have an open mind and I applied it after the foundation and glow. To my pleasant surprise it isn't bubblegummy or clowny, it looks totally natural, like I just pinched my cheeks. Don't ask me how they made a blush that flatters every skin tone, but they've apparently pulled it off as the same color comes in every kit. I wouldn't dare try to buy a pink blush on my own (I still have that lingering clown fear), but this one, I love.

"The Chisel Makeup Brush: The magic behind the mineral makeup look! The only makeup brush to use for application of your 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup, it provides maximum coverage and an amazingly smooth finish."

I use the Chisel brush for both the Mineral Makeup and the Mineral Glow. The brush is shaped like a small kabuki brush with a handle. It gives you more control than a traditional kabuki brush due to it's smaller size and is the perfect firmness to use with the pressed powders.

Amanda S. Says: Like Hillary, I really do believe this is the best mineral make up out there. I have been using Pur on and off for a while, but haven't used all the items in this kit. I am so happy I took the time to try them out and was given the extras because I am really pleased with how everything looks. The brush is super useful too for the foundation (I usually use the sponge, but I am getting the hang of the brush because it doesn't clump the powder at all!).

I tend to get a little sallow looking (I'm surprised no one asks me if I have jaundice to be honest!) in the winter, a little yellowish and pasty. For some reason my olive skin doesn't work out so well when I don't get any sun. I confess, unlike hillary I *do* get some sun, I know it's bad! So in missing my usual touch of color I was pleasantly surprised with the 'glow' powder and the marble blush powder also. I was real afraid they'd go on either too heavy in spots, or else they would just not blend with the mineral foundation underneath them. I am not all that great with blush sometimes, I go a little heavy, but with these it seemed to glide on, and I can imagine if I took the wrong turn applying, it would be easy to brush the extra off.

Pur mineral is great because my super sensitive skin never gets irritated by tons of weird additives and it doesn't make my face look one-tone-plastic. It definitely doesn't cause break-outs and if you're really having skin problems, you can actually apply the 4-in-1 foundation powder over a liquid foundation and trust me, no one will see any flaws and it will last more than 15 hours.

Review - Aloette Look Alive Eyeshadow Base

Remove the appearance of dark circles under eyes with Look Alive Eye Base and Brightening Powder. $20.00

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I have been using this for almost a month now. In the beginning I wasn’t seeing a difference until I didn’t use it for a couple of days. I now realize that I need a base for my shadows. I have been wearing this with loose mineral shadow and pressed shadows. It has a light yellowish color and when I apply it, it does offer a nice light coverage that is absorbsed in and doesn’t just sit on top of my skin. When I layer shadows over this base the resulting effect gives my shadows a creamy smooth appearance. I think the biggest asset is when I am wearing loose shadows – I find that they tend to feather and not stay put. However, with this product I notice that I get much longer wear and the shadows aren’t ending up in the crease of my eyes. I have also worn this alone on the weekend, it give a nice natural look that brightens my eyes and give them a subtle pop! Also this is loose and one morning it did slip out of my hands and dumped over ½ of the contents onto the bathroom floor. UGH! I was very upset. I vacuumed up quickly and didn’t leave any marks on the floor. My advice is use a death grip when using, this is a precious little pot!

Sheba says: This little Aloette Look Alive Eyeshadow Base is one handy little tool for your eye area. Cityslicker said it when she said -- you might not notice any difference unless you stop using it. Then you realize just how wonderful it is. It does its job without screaming out - 'look at me'. Eye shadows stay in place and there is no slipping into the crease. She uses it alone -- I have and I think it brightened my eyes that way. I have also used it as a concealer when I awoke with racoon eyes or just looked ragged at the end of the day. It is so very useful and it works so well. It is a tiny little pot -- but you only need a tiny dab-- so you will get your money's worth for sure. Because it is so tiny -- Cityslicker is so right -- hold onto it tightly. I have actually wound a fat little elastic around it and the elastic gives me a good grip.

Hillary says: When I first got this powder, I didn't really understand how it was for under and over your eyes, so I just jumped in with both feet and started using it. I love it! I use a swipe of it right under my eyebrows to make my eyelids look bigger (I have short ones) and I use it under my eyes to get the perfectly finished and concealed look. Now I don't know what this powder would look like on darker skin, but on my fair skin it blends perfectly, totally eliminating dark circles and the best part- mistakes! The other day I was putting on my make-up on the subway when I suddenly got the brilliant idea to put mascara on my lower lashes. Well it appears my new Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara was not built for the lower lashes. It was clumpsville (otherwise I love the mascara). Anyway, here I am, on the train with racoon eyes. I wiped up as best I could then I applied my Aloette Look Alive and you would never have known there was ever a flub there. I was floored. This is a product I will be buying again and again.

Free Sample- Alterna Hair Care

Click link above for free samples of Alterna Hair Care. As seen in Lucky Magazine.

Free Sample- Murad Sleep Reform Cream

Free sample of Murad Sleep Reform Cream. 1 per household. Click link above.

Free Sample- Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths

Use link above for your free sample of Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths. U.S. addresses only.

Sale, Free Jumbo Samples (w/ order) + Free Shipping @ Smashbox

Check out Smashbox.com for their "Curtain Call" sale and get a great deal plus jumbo samples and free shipping on any order (in the U.S.). Most of the Wicked Lovely collection (as reviewed here) is on sale as well as many other kits and palettes. Definitely worth checking out! BTW, samples and free shipping applies to everything on the site, not just sale items.

Review - AHAVA Dermud Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream

Highly concentrated formula created to rejuvenate even the driest skin. A grease-free blend of mineral enriched mud, Mineral Skin Osmoter™ complex and assorted natural essences works deep to relieve itchiness, redness and scaling and stimulates your skin into moisturizing action.

This Dermud Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream really is just that intensive. If you are like me and you need a little extra love in the winter this just might be what your looking for. It is serious stuff, just a dab will work in and take the edge off, but don't use too much or you will feel a little greasy! After the first couple of weeks you will notice that your hands feel much softer and the oh-so-attractive scaly winter look will be behind you. The smell is not my favorite. I will say that, it is really natural and sort of smells like a clay face mask. Like I said it tends to be a bit greasy if you use too much, so I always apply right before bed and it works like a charm. $25 seems like a lot, but really for how long this 4.2 oz. tube has lasted me it's more like a long term investment!

Review- Fusion Beauty SkinFusion Micro-Technology Bio Active Brightening Minerals

The natural illuminators in this amazing, oil-free mineral powder deliver a flawless finish for instant brightness and a healthy glow. $49.00

I have this in translucent since I am fair. It's so finely milled, it feels like it evaporates into my skin upon application. It's got a light shimmer to it so I don't feel like I am a dancing queen during the day. I think it adds a light reflecting quality and does in fact brighten up my complexion. My skin has been taking a beating this winter, it's been dry so I have been relying on skincare products to get me through (thank goodness for Beautifile!) I have been using this for 2 weeks and will totally use this till I have none left. The packaging does look pretty but isn't really practical. It's hard to explain - you shake it then turn the lid and a small section is open, its very easy to spill and for $49.00 I don't want to loose a single particle. I have made a mess of it so I am super careful with it and keep it on my dresser, this can't go in the train case, it does spill out even when closed. I can recommend on the quality of the minerals and their ability to brighten my skin but don't like the container, it looks cool but is useless!

Review- Cutler Salon on 57th St. NYC

Cutler Salon (Uptown)

47 West 57th St. between 5th and 6th

New York, NY 10019

(212)308-3838

or

(877)308-3838

How do I love my new hairdo? Let me count the ways! The color! The cut! Everything about it is just wonderful. You may have read my review of Cutler Salon Soho a while back and if you remember, I was pleased as punch with my cut and color. I thought it would be a tough act to follow. Not only did my cut and color at Cutler Salon on 57th St. live up to the standard set in Soho, it exceeded it! But it is totally dependant on who I was talking to which salon I would send them to. The two have totally different vibes. The Soho salon is much more relaxed and sedate. The floor plan of the Soho salon makes you feel as if you are in your own little pod and there is far less hustle and bustle than at the uptown location. I, however, have no problem with hustle and bustle and like the lively atmosphere at Cutler's uptown location. And everyone from the coat check lady to Mark and Kara the assistants are as friendly as can be. They really go out of their way to make you feel important at the Cutler Salons.

I had my color done by Laura who did an outstanding job of matching the color which was already on my head. Before I went to Cutler, everyone kept making my highlights blonder and blonder. At Cutler (both times) they gave me exactly what I wanted, lighter brown highlights on my brown hair to hide the greys. The intricacy with which Laura colored my hair was truly impressive. I felt as if every hair was getting personalized attention. And to top it off she's an absolute sweetheart. Chatting with her really made the time I had to sit in the chair fly. I highly recommend Laura if you're visiting the salon, even my hairdresser, Francesca was impressed with her work.

My haircut was done by Francesca, and I have to say, it is one of the top 3 haircuts I've ever had in my life! Last time I got my hair cut with Tyson at Cutler Soho, he couldn't do a thing to the layers in my hair as he said they were already as short as they could be without looking odd (which means-you guessed it- the person before him botched the job). This time my hair was about an inch- inch and a half longer than last time, so Francesca had something to work with. And work she did. I've never had a more thorough haircut in my life. She wields her scissors with such precision, I was floored. She also showed me where my hair needed fixing (I needed more bangs) and once my hair was finished I felt like a model. There was not a split end or fly-away on my head. Francesca is a perfectionist, but don't think you sacrifice personality for that, she's friendly and pleasant to talk to (although I mostly sat in awe of the transformation my hair was getting). Cuts with Francesca are expensive ($110), but bang trims are free and I have to say it's worth every penny.