Our mothers always said “it hurts to be beautiful,” and anyone who has ever suffered a curling iron mishap might agree.  Hair styling iron burns are the common result of misjudging the distance between hair and skin, a slip of the grip, or simply being in a hurry.   Often, they leave red, raised (hypertrophic scars) in the least convenient and hardest spots to treat – forehead, neck and hands.

That’s where ScarAway Daily Discs (www.myscaraway.com) – the right size for those small reminders of trauma, come in.

ScarAway Silicone Daily Discs (www.MyScarAway.com) use an advanced silicone technology to help shrink, flatten and fade new and old scars in a convenient once daily application.  These disposable discs measure 1.375” and are ideal for scars one inch or less in diameter, such as those that might result from a curling iron burn.  They are easy to apply, and nearly invisible due to their thin, low profile and clear, matte texture.   That means they can be discreetly worn on the neck or hands, so you can heal as you go about your day.

Stay tuned! I will be featuring in the New Year!

Credit: ScarAway.

If the heat and sun are taking a toll on your hair, then you need to try Hair Warrior. Hair Warrior adds hydration and protection to your hair during physical activity and fitness. Apply it prior to yoga, running, hiking, or working out and Hair Warrior will work with your body heat to smooth, protect and condition each strand – preventing damage and strengthening your hair. Works on ALL hair types! Hair Warrior is cruelty-free, tested only on humans and solar-manufactured in the USA. Comes in a travel size for $4 or 6 ounce tube for $24. Hair Warrior is sold at gyms and yoga studios nationwide and also online at http://hairwarrior.co.

I received a travel size and highly recommend! I tend to have hair on the dry side and it is color treated and it worked great on my hair!

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post.

My skin always seems drier when Fall and Winter arrive! So, I am always looking for products that help moisturize my skin. Olay is one of my all-time favorite brands so I was quite excited to receive the Olay Age Defying Body Wash. It is not a brand new product but it is new to me. It really helps with dry skin too!  I like that it not only cleans but really leaves my skin soft! It also really works to defend against the visible signs of aging. I noticed a difference in my skin after a few weeks of using. It really is a beauty must-have!  The price is very affordable too! Retails for $5.49 for a 23.6 oz body wash.  I really like everything about this product! Only a small amount is needed, it smells good and goodbye dry skin! You can complete the regime with the Age Defying Beauty Bar, $5.99, 6-bar pack and the Age Defy hand & body lotion, $5.49 for 11.8 oz.

Olay Age Defying Body Wash is available at mass, drug and food stores.

Self Disclosure: I received a free product sample for review purposes. Photo Credit: Olay.

Janet Zeitoun, world renowned celebrity hair stylist with clients from the late Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson to Denzel Washington and Natalie Cole, globally debuts her first hair care line. As a leader in the industry for over two decades, Janet Zeitoun’s NEW! SOTAH (State of the Art Hair) hair care line boasts luxurious salon-quality products that offer perfectly moisturized locks and healthy, natural shine. NEW! SOTAH hair care line consists of three key products that deliver not only the ultimate level of moisture to strands, but repair damaged hair and protect against further harm. From heat styling, harsh chemical treatments (like Keratin) to bleaching and coloring, hair can be put through the proverbial ringer. The exclusive formulas found in SOTAH products quench hair and bring vitality, vibrance and pure shine back to each and every strand. Enriched with vitamins and minerals, the line is sulfate-free and infused with restorative ingredients making it safe for all hair types and textures. With five years of extensive scientific development and over 100 complex trials to achieve the perfect formula, SOTAH’s unique delivery system includes everything you need to help combat hair deficiencies. The secret behind the success of SOTAH is the diverse combination of amino acid derived ingredients. This discipline creates the necessary building blocks to gift the hair follicles and shafts ultimate moisture and conditioning benefits without leaving hair weighed down and limp. The exclusive formula recognizes where hair needs hydration and bonds to the strands to seal in moisture and create natural shine; repairing even the most unruly textures, in just one use. The proof is in the results. “Through all of my years in the hair industry, I knew there was something missing in the products I was using on my clients,” states SOTAH creator and celebrity hairstylist Janet Zeitoun. “I made it my mission to find the solution and provide people with multiple hair types, including those chemically treated, the answer to beautiful, manageable hair. With a simple approach to the everyday needs of busy people – a wash and go philosophy that offers a gorgeous end result is what prompted my years of research bringing SOTAH products to market.” Performance tested and approved for all hair types and multiple hair textures, SOTAH products have proven to work above and beyond the promised benefits. Proven time and again, SOTAH products assist in extending the life of chemical treatments like Keratin by keeping hair balanced in nutrients and moisture, thus saving you time and money on maintenance. From cleansing, softening and detangling to everything in between – all you need is SOTAH in your daily hair care routine.

“I didn’t just create ‘products’ – what I created are must-have products…” – Janet Zeitoun.

I agree! I received samples of the products in this line-up and they really are a beauty must-have! My favorite is the Conditioning Shampoo! I have color treated hair and it left my hair feeling clean and very soft! I really did notice a different after using these hair products.

More info about the line up:
CONDITIONING SHAMPOO: Regardless of how difficult your hair texture is, NEW! SOTAH Conditioning Shampoo will make it more manageable. This multi-tasking, sulfate-free, amino acid based shampoo, simultaneously cleans and conditions by depositing directly into the hair cuticles. Co-washing is the first step in bringing hydration back into your hair from the roots to the ends, while deeply cleansing at the same time. With the ultimate ‘wash-n-wear’ attitude, the end result is supple, sheen infused and manageable – passing the toughest test of all – the air dry test. With extraordinary levels of moisture retention, NEW! SOTAH Conditioning Shampoo reduces mechanical damage caused by combing and/or brushing and helps to prevent breakage and split ends. Highly concentrated, this product offers an increased number of conventional washings per bottle. Paraben & sulfate free; safe for all hair types, $22.00.

MOISTURE BOOST CONDITIONER: Moisture is one of the key elements to achieving great performing hair when properly conditioned. NEW! SOTAH Moister Boost Conditioner has been formulated to deliver smooth, hydrating results to all textures with nourishing coconut oil, kale oil and aloe vera. In combination with ingredients like Panthenol & other naturally-occurring humectants and emollients, it helps to fortify and revitalize even the most challenged hair. With hydrophilic and hygroscopic chemical structured ingredients, water is attracted and binds to molecules, thus offering lasting moisture. Hair becomes stronger, protected and balanced; light reflects gorgeously, offering a natural gloss and shine married with static-free manageability. When used in conjunction with SOTAH Conditioning Shampoo, your hair receives an upgrade in hydration. Perfect for damaged hair that needs some special attention. Paraben free; safe for all hair types, $22.00.

OIL/CRÈME THERAPY: If your hair is combating the drying affects due to environmental wear, bleaching, coloring and straightening treatments, NEW! SOTAH Oil/Crème Therapy minimizes damage and locks in moisture needed for healthy, beautiful hair. Obliterate frizz and achieve the ultimate smooth and satiny finish you’ve always dreamed of with this product’s mixture of coconut oil and kale extracts. Oil/Crème Therapy the unique combination of both oil and select conditioning ingredients, when applied sparingly to strands, offers a flexible, touchable feel with maximum shine payoff. Paraben free; safe for all hair types, can be used wet or dry, $26.00.

The SOTAH Hair Care Line is available for purchase at http://www.sotahhair.com.

 
ABOUT SOTAH: SOTAH (acronym for STATE OF THE ART HAIR) is an expression of beauty and lifestyle. With a discerning whisk of a few strands, a new era of style can be born. It can mimic the past, cultivate the present, and sculpt the future. Before a strand is brushed, SOTAH philosophy begins from within. SOTAH prides itself in establishing a healthy foundation for achieving individual goals in hair care, trend, and style. SOTAH is the balance of chemistry, design,
challenges of the modern day individual. Hair has been an expression since the beginning of time. SOTAH will always strive to continue that expression. SOTAH is not about wearing a style – it’s about wearing you at your best ABOUT JANET ZEITOUN: For nearly 20 years, Janet Zeitoun has been designing the hair of some of the world’s most famous superstars. Janet Jackson has said, “Her [Zeitoun’s] talent is rare and exceptional.” Zeitoun’s longtime clients also include Denzel Washington and Natalie Cole, and the late Michael Jackson. As one of Hollywood’s top hairstylists, she has traveled the globe alongside A-List celebrities, influencers and executives who trust in the unparalleled skills and integrity of Zeitoun. Her encyclopedic knowledge of products and techniques are the signature of her genius.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to post. Photo Credit and press info was provided.

No pain, no gain?  The old adage isn’t necessarily true when it comes to improving your looks.   Here from SmileSimplicity are five positively painless, needle- and knife-free ways to up your game.   Some are inexpensive, temporary tricks that can be used just when you need them, while others offer lasting results that justify the investment.

1. At-home facelift: The NuFACE Mini Facial Toning Device is a microcurrent facial toner that is FDA-cleared for facial stimulation. This petite, portable device gently stimulates the larger surface areas of the face to improve your appearance and provide a 5-minute facial-lift at home, or wherever your travels take you.

It’s a practical and painless way to get a more youthful and beautiful look without resorting to time-consuming, costly invasive procedures.  It may be light as a feather, but the NuFace Mini is a heavyweight when it comes to results.  It is clinically-tested for improved facial contour, skin tone and reduced wrinkles in as little as 5 minutes a day.  In a recent clinical study: 85% of users experienced significant improvements in facial contour, 80% said their face felt more toned and 73% reported seeing significant improvements in skin tone.  Available at www.beautybrands.com

2.  Shapewear:   Flatten your stomach, smooth thighs, lift the derrriere…no nips or tucks needed!   Shapewear has come a long way since it was first introduced, with high tech yet breathable and lightweight compression fabrics.  The key, according to Lori Caden, co-founder of Belly Bandit, is to target problem areas separately.  An all-over bodysuit-type shaping garment is usually not the solution for most women.  www.bellybandit.com

3. Total Smile Makeover: Porcelain veneers are the be all and end-all of smile improvement solutions, because not only do they whiten teeth permanently, but they also correct chips, cracks and other imperfections.  Don’t like the idea of drilling down natural tooth structure (or the anesthesia involved)?   Consider SmileSimplicity, a new generation of porcelain veneers that does not require any sensitive tooth structure to be drilled away and thus no shots.   www.smilesimplicity.com.

4. Non-surgical eyelid lift: Eye Magic lifts droopy upper eyelids without surgery, using medical grade, hypoallergenic tape strips.   They’re a great and affordable way to look refreshed for a special occasion a photo shoot or after a late night out.  They stay on 12 to 18 hours, and some even use them every day.www.eyemagic.net.

5. Bye bye, fat cells….later, lipo! BTL VANQUISH ME is a promising new treatment that uses radio frequency waves to target fat cells, heating them up to cause cell death without damaging skin or muscle.   The non-invasive procedure is cleared for non-surgical circumferential reduction of the abdominal area.  The device never touches the skin, but is suspended about 1” above for treatments which last about 30 minutes with no downtime required afterward.   4 – 6 sessions are recommended and patients have reported achieving 60% fat loss in targeted areas.   To find a doctor, visit www.btlaesthetics.com.

Credit:  SmileSimplicity.

Sally Hansen really does have my favorite nail polishes and here are some of my favorites this Fall!

2 stunning new collections and 6 limited-edition shades also join the Miracle Gel™ lineup.

I love the Miracle Gel Nail shades and I like how the polish lasts too! 

These days, bigger is better when it comes to beauty. Following the major success of the first Miracle Gel launch, Sally Hansen has done it again, developing  the new & improved volumizing Miracle Gel™ Top Coat – adding to the award-winning Sally Hansen Miracle Gel collection: the most buzzed about at-home nail system and the closest thing to a salon gel manicure at home.

When partnered with the Miracle Gel™ shades, Miracle Gel™ Top Coat volumizes as it protects. The Top Coat formula delivers 2x the volume to your manicure – creating dramatically fuller-looking nails with a high-gloss, mirror shine finish.

The result: the look of a gel manicure at home, without the trip to a salon! Miracle Gel’s simple application takes just two steps. First, apply two thin coats of Miracle Gel™ color to clean, bare nails. Then, apply one coat of the new Miracle Gel™ Top Coat. Natural light does the rest, creating a manicure that resembles a UV / LED cured gel polish and up to 14 days of color and shine. The next best thing to a salon gel manicure, without using an UV / LED light AND removes easily with regular nail polish remover.

To coincide with the release of the new top coat, Sally Hansen announces a total of 20 new vibrant colors of Miracle Gel™. The Tribal Vibe collection adds seven new sun-baked shades to the permanent line up.

One of my new favorite shades is Cream of the Crop, which is ivory with a hint of warmth. Check out all the new shades at a retailer near you!

PRICE & AVAILABILITY: The new Miracle Gel™ Top Coat, limited edition duo packs, Tribal Vibe collection, and Boho Chic collection are available at chain drugstores and mass retailers nationwide. Miracle Gel™ Color Coat and Top Coat cost $9.99 each and the limited edition duo pack costs $14.99.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Photo Credit: Sally Hansen.

Choosing the perfect shade is traditionally both the most fun and the most difficult aspect of shopping for nail color; consumers surreptitiously dab color onto a single or several nails to approximate how given shades might look on their hands in relation to skin tones, mood or outfit. ManiMatchTM flips the trial-on- ly-post-purchase shopping experience that has always frustrated nail color shoppers, transforming the process into a moment of discovery, excitement and pleasure. “The app is addictive; everyone who tries it can’t stop herself from checking out more options,” says Jeremy Lowenstein, Sally Hansen Global Marketing Vice President. “The fact that you see exactly how a color will look on your own hands is just pure fun—and incredibly useful. People end up experimenting with shades they’d never normally try.”

“The innovative technology uses bespoke skin tone analysis and an algorithm to map the hand.” – says Kristen D’Arcy, Global Digital Vice President. “It tracks the individual nuances of the user’s hands, analyzes skin tone, finds the nail beds, and photo-realistically simulates our nail polish shades, with shine: the finished manicure appears instantly on the user’s hand. ManiMatchTM generates shade suggestions across all Sally Hansen’s product lines, including Miracle Gel, Complete Salon Manicure, Insta-Dri and Xtreme Wear, so users can easily navigate and experience every color they desire.”

The launch of this app coincides with the release of the new Miracle Gel® Top Coat and new fashionable shades. Available for download for free on iOS platforms since it launched September 2015 (and select Android devices later in fall), ManiMatchTM is poised to revolutionize nail color shopping, both in store and ecommerce. Sally Hansen hosted a kick-off consumer event in NYC to introduce the app. The first users to share the experience with a friend had the chance to become the next Sally Hansen hand model for Sally Hansen social media.

Credit: Sally Hansen.

Looking for the perfect nail shades for the Fall and upcoming Winter? Duri Cosmetics has your covered!

Fall and Winter don’t need to be drab and dreary – especially when painting fingers and toes – according to Faina Ritz, founder of Duri Cosmetics.  With the new “Revel In Luxury” Collection, Ritz elevates autumnal- and winter-toned neutrals into rich nail polish hues that add just the right amount of pop to cold weather’s manis and pedis.

Each shade in this collection has its own unique flare and glamour. Ritz notes, “‘Revel in Luxury’ is made up of robust and lush shades that feature blended multi-faceted, androgynous colors, luxe neutrals and powerful statement-making pigments that are extravagant yet effortlessly sophisticated.”

These twelve brand new polishes are inspired by the trending Pantone 2015 Fall Fashion reports, which indicate a balancing of earthy neutrals with bold color statements.

“We want women to be able to wear a shade both day and night and to go from the office to a swanky night out, all while feeling elegantly confident and polished – and nothing makes a woman feel more polished and put together than a fresh coat of the right color polish,” Ritz explains.

“Revel in Luxury” features twelve new colors that work perfectly with fall and winter.

I received samples and I love the variety of different shades!  I tried out six of the shades below and my favorite are the Revel In Luxury (a beautiful blue) and Chic Chick. I like that only one shade is needed and these shades are just perfect for both day and night. These are Beauty-must-haves this Fall and upcoming Winter!

The following shades are available:

It’s All About Me (659) – a cultivated, vibrant watermelon pink

Posh (667) – an enigmatic, sensual purple

Live It Up! (662) – a soothing moss khaki

In Vogue (666) – a sophisticated and playful salmon

Oh, My Stars (657) – a serene yet confident dark turquoise with just a hint of blue micro-shimmer

Black Diamond (663) – a powerful black saturated with silver micro-glitter

Chic Chick (658) – a luxurious taupe-hued mink

Au Moment (660) – a stately pearly iced pink

Lost In Elegance (661) – a sumptuous chinchilla with subtle copper and silver micro-shimmer

Paint The Town (664) – a tasteful winter amaryllis red

Feeling Beautiful (665) – a dusty, comforting rose

Revel In Luxury (668) – a magnificent shimmering royal sapphire

Indulge in this opulent yet wearable new collection and all of Duri’s polishes, available nationwide at salons, spas and specialty stores, as well as online at www.duri.com.

Duri’s entire collection of 300+ nail polishes are all 3-free from DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde, and are also environmentally friendly, ensuring your nails will look exquisite without all of the questionable chemicals. Individual polishes can be purchased for $6 – pure elegance without a lavish price.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. No other compensation was received.