Belli Skincare Products for Moms & Babies - as featured at the NYC Getting Gorgeous event

Belli Skincare products were featured at the NYC Getting Gorgeous event earlier in April. At the event, bloggers were able to take home samples of their Eye Brightening Cream, Acne Cleansing Facial Wash, & Diaper Rash cream- safe skincare products for mothers, pregnant women and babies! This line uses ingredients that are safe to use around babies, so basically anyone can use them, except for the diaper-rash unless you're a baby!

Thinking of Mother's Day gifts? Check out the rest of the Belli Skincare products...

	This basket full of samples includes their baby diaper rash cream and Acne facial cleansing wash. Some women may get acne flareups while pregnant, so this exfoliating wash is meant to help clear out your pores without using harsh chemicals. Instead, they use lemon peel oil, green tea extracts and cucumber. I liked the fresh scent to this.
	The Eye Brightening Cream contains Vitamin K that is supposed to help revive tired eyes. I haven't been using this that long so my dark circles are not completely gone. But my eyes look a bit brighter when I use this and the area feels more moisturized and cooling.

Check out the rest of the Belli Skincare products at http://www.belliskincare.com/


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Go Green for Mother's Day with Wembe & Yes to Blueberries

Mother's Day is a week away and in case you haven't thought of gifts yet here are a few more ideas. (See my purple-themed gift ideas here.) These are a few natural- green- products that your mom can enjoy. Can't choose among these suggestions? Put all these items in a cute tote bag or basket for MOM!

1) Wembe Amazonian Soul soaps- They sell 100% natural & organic soaps and every whiff of each soap makes you feel like you're in the Amazon! The scents are amazingly raw- and their latest Assai Berry Antioxidant soap is no different. It's light berry scent and moisturizing formula with jojoba oil makes your skin feel incredibly moisturized and natural. The antioxidants in this fruit is great for mature skin but anyone can reap its benefits. Treat your mom to an eco-lux soap this Mother's Day!

See my past review of their Yerba Mate exfoliating soap at PrettyCity.com's Green & Gorgeous event.

2) Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Overnight Hydrating Cream- Blueberries is another powerful antioxidant and this facial cream will help your mom look younger. How so? This light cream is extremely hydrating, formulated with shea butter, blueberries' rich antioxidants, noni fruit and sunflower seed oil. These ingredients combined have made my skin feel supple and even a bit oilier than normal. For those with dryer skin, this would work much better. For me, I will have to wait until the winter months again and just use this sparingly during this time of the year. And did I mention how smooth my skin looked after just one application? :) Get them here at yestocarrots.com

You can win this on FreeBeautyEvents.com April's monthly contest- see details here.

(Disclaimer: I received this soap from this company & the cream from freebeautyevents.com to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Fabulous Spring Haircuts You Should Try

Fabulous Spring Haircuts You Should Try

Temperatures are rising and trends are shifting, which means it's time for a hair change. See what cuts are hot right now

This is a TotalBeauty.com haircut article Here to give us the 411 on the hottest haircuts from the runway and red carpet is celebrity hairstylist and trend-spotter Abby Schlenger. She shares what cuts are "in" and which will look best on you. See haircuts

Promise Me fragrance to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation

This month I attended the launch of the fragrance, Promise Me, which is the first fragrance to benefit breast cancer research with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. TPR Holdings who has worked with the foundation to launch Promise Me, will be donating a million this year to Komen.

Not only is this scent cause-worthy, the combined floral & citrus scents make Promise Me an unforgettable gift for your mum this year. Each purchase will help raise money for this foundation and you'll also receive, for a limited-time only, the book Promise Me, a personal memoir about the founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and her sister, Suzy.

Promise Me comes in an Eau de Parfum for $59 (available at large department stores such as Lord & Taylor, Dillard's, Sephora at JC Penney, etc.) and an Eau de Toilette for $20. Both fragrances comes in beautiful packaging- decorative box and glass (I believe) bottle. For more information, go to: www.promisemefragrance.com

What's in Promise Me?


Here are the notes such as mandarin & blood orange that are used to create the scent of Promise Me.


A delicious cupcake tree!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Get Purple for Mother's Day!

May 8 is Mother's Day! It's two weeks away and I wanted to do a quick gift guide of some items that your mom may like, esp. if you're having trouble thinking of gift ideas. To kick it off, here are two items I've been using this month- the Alicia Silverstone by EcoTools train case and the Soap & Paper Factory hand cream.

	This month, the EcoTools by alicia silverstone collection launched and one of the products I got to preview was the train case. In the gorgeous purple floral pattern, the train case made of natural hemp & cotton, is the perfect sized makeup case to carry your essentials and more! Your mum will love this for travel and/or storage.
	Keep your hands moisturized and soft with the Soap & Paper Factory Hand Cream in Lavender as a gift for your mum, grandma, sis, friend or even yourself. The lavender scent is extremely calming and I love how this is natural lotion is free of parabens so you get nothing but the best for your skin.

Try these green, I mean purple-themed gifts for your mom today!

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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FlipOut Sandals - Spotted at the Getting Gorgeous event

	Are you a fan of flipflops and charms? Well, let me introduce you to FlipOut Sandals! I first learned about them at the NYC Getting Gorgeous event earlier in April. I saw their booth and thought to myself how pretty these gorgeous bling were on sandals. Basically they sell the charms and the sandals and you can switch out the charms (easy to twist!) so it looks like you're wearing a brand new pair. Their charms from their Crystal Couture Collection contains crystal adorned flowers, butterflies, hearts and more! Their flipflops also come in four basic colors- black, silver, copper, and white.
Follow @FlipOutSandals on Twitter! FlipOut Sandals were giving Getting Gorgeous attendees a free pair of sandals and I lucked out by getting a pair of black ones which comes with a black rose with silver trim and a silver rose with gold trim (as shown below.) They're regular flip flops with comfy straps and fit well. These cost $20 which are a good deal since it is like getting 2 pairs in 1! If you prefer, FlipOut also has jellies! Can't wait to wear these this summer!!

Want to get save 20% on your FlipOut Sandals order?

Simply enter GORG at checkout and save 20%! Expires 12/31/11.

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Zoya Nail Polish Exchange 2011

The 2011 Zoya Nail Polish Exchange is back for one week only! It started April 20 and ends next Wednesday, April 27, 2011. Similar to last year, you get to choose from their wide array of colors (just select a minimum of 6 nail polishes) and pay $4 for shipping & handling for each bottle. Considering each bottle is $8, it's a good deal! In exchange for this offer, they ask that you send your old polish bottles (anything BUT Zoya of course!) back to their warehouse so they can recycle it. Last year, they wanted you to send in the polishes first in order to receive your new Zoya polishes. However, this year they changed the rules a bit and it is not even a requirement for you to exchange, though they highly encourage it. Hmm.. sounds like it may have been a bit of a hassle for them last year.
Anyway, get your Zoya Exchange on before the deal ends!!

For more details, go to: http://www.zoya.com/content/38/category/Nail_Polish_Exchange.html

Use this code to get the deal..
EARTHZOYA

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Tom's of Maine Natural Beauty Bar Soaps

At the EcoStilleto.com's Green Girls Night Out last month, Tom's of Maine was there to showcase some of their new products. (Check out my review on their oral care products, including their new Whitening Toothpaste) They have lots of eco-friendly products, from mouthwash to floss to deodorant!

What caught my eye was their display above of Tom's of Maine new beauty bars, including their Gently Exfoliating soap with exfoliating apricot seeds & Sensitive soap with soothing chamomile. One of the first soaps I tried was their Daily Moisture bar with olive oil & vitamin E (got this in my PrettyCity Green & Gorgeous goodie bag) which I really liked. It smells nice and left my skin smooth and moisturized. :)

Learn more about the other soaps...

Gently Exfoliating Soap- this soap smells exactly like the Daily Moisture bar but has little dots (which are made of apricot seeds) to exfoliate your skin. It contains the benefits of vitamin E and olive oil but also scrubs dead skin cells so you don't have to use an additional loofah if you don't have one. I was hoping this would be a bit more apricot-scented but it still smells really nice. It's not harsh at all so definitely like this!

Sensitive Soap with Soothing Chamomile- this soap is also like the Daily Moisture bar but has an additional ingredient- chamomile! It's soothing properties left my skin feeling really nice and the overall aroma was calming. It's great to use after a long day of work and you want to relax with a (almost) hot shower. I have sensitive skin too but all the other soaps were fine for me too.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Natural Hair and Makeup Looks

11 Copy-Worthy Natural Hair and Makeup Looks

Look like you, but better with these natural hair and makeup looks

This is a TotalBeauty.com natural makeup article While achieving the ever-elusive natural, no-makeup makeup look seen on celebs takes a bit more effort than rolling out of bed, it does take a heck of a lot less time and effort than a smoky eye or perfecting bold red lips when done correctly. See tips

Celebrate Earth Day!

Celebrate Earth Day this Friday, April 22, by being more eco-conscious with everything you do. Take a walk or bike to work, if possible. Save paper by not printing waste. Turn off your lights when you leave the room and don't leave the faucet on when brushing your teeth! Simple, easy things you can do everything to make a difference! If you're in NYC, check out the Earth Day Festival at Grand Central station! There will be lots of great exhibitions and sponsors including Larabar and Wembe Amazonian Soul (incl. their new ecofriendly soap Assai Berry Antioxidant!) :)

Will check it out this weekend and return w/ more pictures!


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Burt's Bees Essentials Kit Review

I'm a huge sucker for kits- must be the thought of trying different things all in one convenient packaging that gets me. :D I'm fond of Burt's Bees and have tried sampling their products before (Hello- $25 Holiday Grab Bag!). They now have several kits that make great gifts for friends, your mom (Mother's Day is coming soon!) or even yourself!

The Essentials Kit shown above contains an assortment of goodies for your lips, hands, face & feet:

* Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream 0.75 oz- This cleansing cream is great for my skin- deep cleaned it w/o leaving it oily after a few hours. I was rather surprised b/c it was a thicker cleanser than I normally would use. The bark is kinda interesting but it looks like it's doing its job well. Am definitely going to buy a backup of this!
* Hand Salve 0.3 oz - I already have this and like that it instantly gives my chapped hands, elbows, etc instant gleam and moisture. I've also discovered this for my heels too! Goodbye cracked heels!
* Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Lotion 1 oz- The scent (and formula) is completely soothing and moisturizing. Love the milk & honey combo - it's a bit different from my body butters or my citrus-y lotions.
* Coconut Foot Cream 0.75 oz-It's time to wear those peep-toe shoes and flip flops, so no more cracked heels. If you're like me, you will also use the hand salve for your heels and use this coconut foot cream for the rest of your feet. It smells really nice, like you're on a tropical island! Great for travel too.
* Beeswax Lip Balm 0.15 oz- This lip balm is great for moisturizing your dry, chapped lips. This is probably one of their most classic items and anything with beeswax protects my lips from the wind, cold, and even heat sometimes! This all natural lip balm is one of many lip balms that I have stowed in my makeup bags.

(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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You Style Conair Brush- 2 brushes in 1!

For past couple weeks, I've been using this You Style Conair Brush that is literally a flat paddle brush which can be converted into a rounded brush. I usually use a wide tooth comb but I use this for styling via flat paddle brush to get even straighter hair or via rounded brush for curled in ends. This is great to use b/c I can never find the brush I need when I need it! With this "two-fer" brush, you can save space & money so it's a win-win!

Have you entered my Conair Infiniti Pro hairdryer giveaway ? Hurry! Ends 4/30/11

See how this brush works..
With a simple click, the flat brush turns into a rounded brush. :)


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Tom's of Maine Oral Care review including their NEW Simply White toothpaste

(left: Simply White toothpaste right: products at the Green Girls' Night Out)

At the recent Green Girl's Night Out, hosted by EcoStiletto.com, Tom's of Maine gave out samples of their new Simply White, a natural whitening fluoride toothpaste. If you're tired of using toothpastes that are made with chemicals that you can't even pronounce then you're better off not putting it inside your mouth.. Why brush w/ all these chemicals when you can choose a better option?

The Simply White toothpaste in Clean Mint flavor leaves my mouth feeling minty fresh and my teeth looks even a bit whiter. Def. liking the results and tho I've only been using this for a few weeks, I can't wait to get another tube. (I've also tried their Long-lasting Wicked Fresh! toothpaste) In addition to brushing with this twice daily, I've been testing out the Tom's of Maine naturally waxed antiplaque round floss and their Cool Mountain Mint Mouthwash.

Learn more about these oral care products...

The Natural Antiplaque Round Floss is a strong product that doesn't fray like some other flosses that I have used in the past. Its nylon filaments are twisted together which gives it its strength and with natural wax coating, it easy glides between my teeth and below my gum line to get the plaque out too. There's no flavor which is okay because I use the Cool Mountain Mint Mouthwash at the end to get the minty all-over flavor. This is their newest flavor; they already have a Cleansing mouthwash and an anticavity fluoride rinse in a Juicy Mint flavor (probably citrus-y). They say it doesn't burn which is sort of true.. it's just a bit tingly. But overall, love these products to keep my teeth clean and breath fresh.. ahhh! :)


(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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Degree Women motionSENSE deodorant from Getting Gorgeous

The title sponsor at the recent Getting Gorgeous event in New York was Degree Women. Some of Degree's past launches of new deodorants include their Fine Fragrance Collection and Natureffects. This year's launch is their motionSENSE deodorant and its formulated to release protection with your every move. So instead of waiting until you're sweaty, it gives you what you need with every move you make! So in addition to trying the Hanes Casuals Cushion socks from Getting Gorgeous during my workout routines this month, I've been using this deodorant. It's Fresh Energy scent is slightly citrus-y based and pretty fragrant. After a HIIT workout (see @ToneItUp to learn what that's all about!!) and some basic routines, this is definitely still working. Overall great scent and protection. It definitely smells fresh!!

I also had the pleasure of meeting celebrity yoga instructor, Kristin McGee there!! She shared with me some great tips for transitioning into Spring!
I have been a fan of hers since her MTV 4-set DVD series with Yoga, Pilates, and mixes so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to speak with her and let her know! She recommended twists at the waist each morning and other stretches. She spoke about her classes in NY, including Clay & Equinox studios and I let her know she should do more videos on YouTube!! :) Learn more about her upcoming work on her website: http://kristinmcgee.com/

See my Gorgeous Event in NYC recap here.
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Hanes Casuals Cushion socks at the Getting Gorgeous event

At the recent Getting Gorgeous event, hosted by darlings Vera & Audrey, I learned about new Hanes products, including their cushion low cut socks. They gave attendees a 3-pair pack to try and I have been wearing these since I got them. As part of my fitness journey, (check out my tweets @FitnessAllThat), I've been wearing these soft and comfy socks when I work out. I have a variety of socks - ankle socks, patterned socks, and they're all pretty thin. What I like best about these socks is the CUSHION! Its thick cushiony bottom really makes a difference for every step I take when I'm doing jumping jacks & lunges (a Lean-legs workout from @ToneItUp)

Check out more HANES products..



See my Gorgeous Event in NYC recap here.



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All Natural DIY Skin Care Recipes

9 All Natural DIY Skin Care Recipes

Fix your post winter skin ailments with these homemade beauty products

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care article Along with warm, longer days and a bounty of green, flowers and baby animals (aw …), spring brings a plethora of ingredients perfect for healing, hydrating and alleviating your skin. We've compiled 9 amazing skin care recipes that are made from ingredients found in your local grocery store. See recipes

IMATS New York Recap

For the first time ever, IMATS- the International Makeup Artist Trade Show was in New York! It happened this past weekend in Soho and drew quite a crowd. I fortunately "beat" the crowd by going later in the afternoon, but was still pretty packed. Saw a few of my favorite brands though, including Stila & Naked Cosmetics. There were 3 rooms and it was actually pretty quick to go through and browse the exhibitors.. I'm hoping there will be lots more next year! Enjoy the pictures!

IMATS is produced by the Make-Up Artist magazine

The crowd in general (Eve Pearl is in the background)

Naked Skin Cream

Here's the crowd for INGLOT!! Amazing..

Cover FX and Naime

See more exclusive pictures from IMATS New York!

All the products for TEMPTU Pro- great stuff for makeup artists.

Another view of the INGLOT booth... tried to get a better pic of the banner.

STILA products!! All their lip glazes, cheek colours and eyeshadows!

Here is YABY! I wasn't too familiar with their products but I loved their brightly colored palettes for eyeshadows.. can you say gorgeous!? :)

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Clinique Bonus Time - Spring 2011

The Semi-Annual Clinique Bonus Time at Macy's is finally here! (It's usually in April & October of every year.) This year, you can choose from either a pinks or a violets colour range. Isn't it so pretty? Read more Clinique reviews here.

Here's what you get with your purchase of $21.50 or more at Clinique (only via Macy's):
Gift Option 1 PINKS:
-Clinique Colour Compact: Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Rose Wine - Soft-Pressed
- Powder Blusher in Pink Blush
- 2-in-1 Lipstick & Gloss Duo - Different Lipstick in Think Bronze, 1.3g/.04 OZ - Long Last Glosswear in Air Kiss, .15 FL OZ/4.5ml
Gift Option 2 VIOLETS:
- Clinique Colour Compact: Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Twilight Mauve/Brandied Plum - Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Smoldering Plum
- 2-in-1 Lipstick & Gloss Duo - Different Lipstick in Shy, 1.3g/.04 OZ o Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Mystic, .15 FL OZ/4.5ml

All bags will come with:
- Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, 1oz./30ml
- Lash Doubling Mascara in Black, .14 OZ./4g
- Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips, 1.7 FL.OZ./50ml
- 2 cosmetics bags (one larger, one smaller)

As tempting as it is for me to get this again, I think I will pass b/c I still have the Fall bonus gift I need to finish using.. I will definitely keep an eye out for the bonus this coming Fall though. Check out more past CLINIQUE BONUS's here.

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Innovative Eco-Friendly Beauty Products

8 Innovative Eco-Friendly Beauty Products

You can help the planet and help yourself with these green products

This is a TotalBeauty.com beauty products article With innovative sustainable packaging and environmentally sound, organic ingredients, these products prove that you don't have to forsake beauty and get all crunchy hippie and dreadlocked to be eco-conscious. See products

Scunci Bendini Clip Review

Now you see it, now you don't! Just kidding! The name- Bendini- Scunci's latest hair product sounds like a magic trick and it sort of is! First, it's a hair product that gives your 'do an instant glam feel without taking hours. You bend it one way to "open" the hair comb into your hair. Then, you snap it the other way to close the comb together which tightens magically and stays on your hair. I tried these two Bendini's - 2 smaller ones and one larger one- both sparkly and pretty.

My review here...

These bendini clips are such a fun and incredibly easy to use. They're basically a hair comb that snaps and stays together with a glam design. I like using both sizes, depending on how I do my hair. I usually don't put jewels in my hair but for some nice occasions, why not? It's effortless which is what I love about these!

To see more styles and to get your OWN Bendini Clip, go here:
http://scunci.com/bendini.html
(Disclaimer: I received this product from this company's PR agency to test, try and share my thoughts with my readers.)

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