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30 Days to Healthier, Younger-looking Skin
2008-05-27 00:24:00
On Memorial Day, it's appropriate to remember your skin, no?Last post, I gave you a recipe for a youth-inducing serum.This time, we're going to add some active ingredients to the Fountain of Youth Serum to bump up it's healthful qualities and increase your skin's ability to maintain its youthfulness...and maybe even take a few years off.First, use the recommended quantities. Period. Click on the links to purchase the individual ingredients.To 1-2 tablespoons of plain vegetable glycerin, addpinch Ellagic Acid - antioxidant, cancer preventive, anti-inflammatory, helps improve discolorationpinch Ferulic Acid - cancer preventive, protects the skin against UVB-induced erythema, skin lightener, increases stability of vitamins C (MAP) and E1/8 teaspoon of Coenzyme Q10 - topical application restores mitochondrial activity, increasing energy production plus minimizing energy needed to make new collagen; antiaging, antioxidant, stimulating active, it will push your skin into "high gear"Mi...
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Basic Serum Recipe: Fountain of Youth!
2008-04-06 03:15:00
The following Fountain -of-Youth serum is one that can be used not only on its own but can also act as a base for hydrophilic active skincare ingredients -- those that dissolve in water:1 1/2 tablespoons of distilled water1/2 tablespoon seakelp bioferment (can be purchased from Skin Actives Scientific or any other reputable skin actives site)1/4 teaspoon hyaluronic acid1/8 teaspoon Germaben II preservativeOptional ingredients include aloe vera juice and vegetable glycerin.Seakelp bioferment is a kelp extract containing vital nutrients that feeds your skin. It's the "magic" Miracle Broth? ingredient in Creme de la Mer.Hyaluronic acid (also called hyaluronate or hyaluronan), produced naturally by the human body, is a component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. It's been nicknamed the "key to the fountain of youth" because it has been noted that some people who ingest a lot of it in their diets tend to live to ripe old ages and also because it provides v...
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DIY...Is it all it's cracked up to be?
2008-04-02 06:24:00
In the world of do-it-yourself, there's home repair, tech gadgetry (see make.com for some pretty cool projects) and then there's your skin.I started dabbling in DIY skincare a few years ago. My introduction started innocently enough with homemade lipbalm...some recipes incredibly successful--a chocolate-mint balm that used real chocolate chips...yum--and a few not-so--picture a sluggish mess of shea and cocoa butters sitting on a layer of glyercin goo...ewwww.After a short while, I graduated to essential oils and aromatherapy home-study (ahhhh, lavender oil, the cure-all). The result of a solid year or so of investigation? Not much, I'm afraid, but I do still use a homemade concoction including sweet orange oil to clean my bathroom and freshen my linens. Plus, I know exactly which little smelly bottle to reach for when the signs of a cold sore pop up.About a year and half ago, I found a little website called Skin Actives Scientific. And my DIY hobby became an obsession.Skin Activ...
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Moisture Maximizers
2008-01-22 06:06:00
Follow these 5 tips to ditch winter itchy skin You could wear nothing but cashmere from head to toe. But there's a less expensive way to address autumn's dry-skin miseries: Maximize the moisture level in your skin. Here are five good ways to maximize your dry skin in cold weather.Lather, rinse--and do not repeat. Hot water removes natural oils from your skin that help keep it hydrated. So those long, hot baths rob your skin of moisture, making it dry and itchy. The cure? Shower in lukewarm water for no more than 10 minutes.Slather while damp. Moisturizers work by trapping water in your skin's outer layers, so use creams and lotions immediately after exiting the shower. Give yourself a quick towel-dry so you're not dripping wet and then coat yourself with moisturizer. Need industrial-strength help? Go for ointments or creams rather than lotions, which include more water than oil. (You might even dab on some baby oil or petroleum jelly.) Spring for a humidifier. In the summertime,...
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Take 10 Years Off Your Age Right Now, Pt. 1
2008-01-20 08:30:00
Properly applied make up can make you look fabulous. But unless it's done the right way and using the right amount, make up can actually add years to your face.As a 37 year old former makeup artist, I've learned a few simple tips to follow that will help you look younger starting today:FACEMoisturize your skin--face and neck--with a light moisturizer before you apply your makeup...and allow it to sink in, about 5-10 minutesApply makeup primer BEFORE any makeup. The least expensive and one of the most effective I've found (it rivals Smashbox): Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel. It contains the EXACT same ingredients as most of the best makeup primers. Plus, you can pick up a tube at most drugstores for $5Apply your concealer BEFORE foundation. Using your finger or a concealer brush, pat a little concealer under your eyes, around your nose and on any blemishes or discoloration. Concealer before foundation prevents you applying too much foundation.Apply less foundation. And switch to minera...
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Take 10 Years Off Your Age Right Now, Pt. 2
2008-01-20 08:15:00
A few more simple tips to follow that will help you look younger starting today:EYESGroom your eyebrows. Pluck only stray hairs (those are the ones that fall outside your natural eyebrow)Apply eyeliner to the top lash line only. And unless you have medium-or-dark toned skin, DO NOT use black eyeliner. Brown, grey, plum and green are better for fair-to-light toned skinApply two coats of mascara maximum. One coat for daytime wear is bestCurl your lashes. If you don't like the traditional lash curlers, use an electric version. Sephora's is terrific and a great deal at $16Avoid shimmery eyeshadowEXCEPTION to above tip: Use a shade-lighter-than-your-skin-tone colored shimmery eyeshadow applied with a light touch to your brow bone (the area just below the outter two-thirds of the eyebrow), AND apply a dab of shimmery ivory shadow to the inner corner of your eyes. These tips really open up the eye area--young!Also, avoid 'cool' eyeshadow colors like grey, blue, true green. Opt for colo...
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Take 10 Years Off Your Age Right Now, Pt. 3
2008-01-20 08:00:00
And a few more simple tips that will help you look younger starting today:LIPSUse lipgloss or sheer lipstick--NOT lipstick. Use a shade just deeper than your natural lip color. Avoid 'cool' colors and dark colors. Instead, choose a sheer pink, peach, rose, mauve or berryApply lipbalm or clear gloss when not wearing colored gloss. This will keep your lips moist and young-looking all the timeMore Anti-Aging Tips:Take care of your skin by cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing it every day using good skin care--P.S. good does not necessarily mean expensiveWear SPF 15 (or higher) sunscreen every dayDrink a gallon of water every dayGo for a walk at lunch, shoot for 3 times a week. It's a great excuse to catch up on your window shopping; just don't take your wallet--debt makes you look and feel oldSmile, or better yet, laugh--a lotEat plenty of protein, complex carbs, fruits and vegetablesManage your stress levels. Take up knitting, painting, piano, yoga or meditation. Find something ...
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DIY Skin Care: Save Money and Actually Improve Your Skin
2007-12-02 03:42:00
For years, we've been DIY'ing...our bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. Italian plaster and wood flooring from Home Depot, designer fixtures from Tuesday Morning, luxury cabinets from Lowe's, Talavera tile from a local importer (may be specific to Santa Fe--but I doubt it). We're willing to spend more time to save money.I ask you: why don't we practice this same frugal practicality when it comes to our skin care? We've just handed over our precious beauty to so-called experts. Seriously, do we really trust those famous, celebrity-endorsed "dermatologists" to formulate our most beloved skin care products? Apparently, we do--or least we have for the last decade or so. Not only do we trust them to treat our skin--gasp, our dear faces--but we pay them plenty to do it. I mean, what is up with $500 serum and $1000 skin cream? And the best part? It seem there's always one more to buy: the next generation, the newest active ingredient...it's like we're addicts, and we are hooked, Fol...
More About: Skin , Money , Skin Care , Save Money , Care

Determine Your Ideal Eyebrow Shape
2007-11-24 23:55:00
Eyebrows are ESSENTIAL to a framing a beautiful face. No matter how great your skin and makeup, if your brows are a wreck, you will not look your best. Bobbe Joy, Brow Artist to the stars (ehem, like Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johannsen--beautiful brows on those ladies!) shows you how to achieve the perfect brow shape for your face.
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Must Have X-mas Gift: Pooping Reindeer Candy Dispensers
2007-11-23 01:33:00
What do Reindeers do in the off-season? Doo-doo, apparently. But of course they poop candy! Deer god (ha ha ha)...another gift for someone who has everything EXCEPT a reindeer that s**** candy.P.S. It's never too soon (or too late) to start your holiday shopping list. P.P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!
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GirlPaint's YouTube Connection
2007-11-19 06:18:00
Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com
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Mermaid Eyes for Halloween
2007-11-01 03:16:00
Try this look for a unique Halloween look! It's simply gorgeous.
More About: Eyes , Allo

MAC Holiday 2007 Royal Assets
2007-11-01 02:32:00
You will be DIGGING the all the glamorous golds in the new MAC Holiday collection. They make green-eyed and hazel-eyed lovelies even more so.
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Mouthing off about Light Beam
2007-07-29 07:26:00
I have to mention my experience with a new lip gloss. I'm a lip gloss fanatic (I won't say 'junkie' just because I don't endlessly apply, I'm just obsessed with the stuff, k?).I got a tube (or cube is more accurate) of Rimmel's Light Beam gloss, and I LOVE it! The packaging is absolutely worth mentioning because a) it's a short, rectangular cube-y thing, b) it has a built-in mirror (yes!!) and, c) it has a light. What do mean it has a light? Well, it literally has a light inside the cap. A little button on the top of the cap is expertly concealed, but curiously placed so that you DO notice it. When I got mine, I did the monkey-thing where I spotted the button and of course pushed it...and voila! The beautiful beam of light revealed itself. So great for applying lovely gloss in darkened rooms, like elegant restaurants (when you need a bit of help deciphering the menu), the Opera, or your favorite nightclub when you desperately need lovely lips and you don't want to ...

Do-It-Yourself Anti-Aging Skin Care
2007-07-21 20:19:00
Smart Skin Care In the world of skin care, prices over $100 for a little jar of cream are not uncommon, particularly if a product claims to reduce the signs of aging. If a person buys a few such products each month, the annual cost may be equivalent to a trip to Hawaii. As it turns out, you can often get the same (or even greater) benefits at a fraction of the cost if you make your skin care items yourself. It may sound like a difficult and time consuming task but it is actually quite simple if you know the right ingredients and how to combine them. And it takes very little time, usually just a few minutes. Furthermore, the ingredients you need can usually be easily purchased at your local health food store. You are wondering why hasn't anyone told you about it? Well, perhaps high-end skin care manufacturers have been dying to tell you how to replace their expensive products with affordable do-it-yourself alternatives... but somehow couldn't get a hold of you. Here are ...
More About: Skin Care , Aging , Anti

GirlPaint Up For Grabs!
2007-07-15 23:49:00
Due to several projects pulling me indefinitely away from my beloved blog, GirlPaint , I am sad to announce that I must depart as the blog's sole content provider.I have had 1 1/2 incredible years at the helm and I want to personally thank everyone, in particular GirlPaint's loyal fans and readers, who have brought about the blog's tremendous growth and attention. We have come a long way together in a short period of time!If you are interested in acquiring GirlPaint and continuing to 'grow the brand,' feel free to contact me by email.All the best,
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Fireworks and Barbeque...Happy 4th!
2007-07-04 07:25:00
Greetings, All! I've been absent (no duh!) due to work trips, being busy and other such nonsense. Anywhoooo, just a quick wish for you to have a Happy 4th of July, or for those who don't celebrate the U.S.A.'s Independence Day, I wish you Happy Independence Day wherever you are and however you celebrate it.On to bloggity blog stuff. I vow to publish some posts this month. What with sunscreen and sun protection features, summertime makeup and skincare product reviews and tips...and other such nonsense...summer is just too active a time in our 'industry' not to come up with something great to write about.Until then, be well and enjoy the lazy days of summer (yeah, right. I never did understand that saying. Since I was old enough to work--heck, at 15 years old--I always had a job over summer).Smiles and smooches galore,GirlPaint
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Skin Food from Skin Actives Scientific
2007-06-14 03:49:00
Recently I went through a bout of dermatitis. I am still unsure where it came from but I had been using quite a lot of acids (ascorbic, salcylic and DMAE among them). I'm of the school, "if a little is good, then more is better." Wrong, wrong, wrong.Although my skin was becoming very smooth (hey, look it's smoother...let's put some more acid on it!), I ended up 'burning' my face, neck and the palms of my hands...quite uncomfortable with lots of redness, itching and even some burning. Yikes! Plus, I looked like I'd had a peel, and I guess I had--a self-imposed one.Skin Active s Scientific to the rescue...in the form of an amazingly active, incredibly gentle and wonderfully nutritive serum called Marine Nutrient Serum (MNS)! MNS contains a fully-active formula including sea kelp bioferment, sodium PCA, alpha bisabolol, coconut endosperm, natural active peptides, sodium hyaluronate and guaizulene. What are these actives, you ask?Sea kelp bioferment: a sea macroalgae rich i...
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Look Good...Feel Better
2007-06-08 04:53:00
Ever heard of Look Good ...Feel Bett er? No, it's not a vitamin cream, nor is it a nutrient-infused drink concoction. It is a a free, non-medical, brand-neutral, national public service program founded in 1989 and supported by corporate donors to help women offset appearance-related changes from cancer treatment.FREE. HELP. For women (and men and teens) who have cancer, and are dealing with the effects of the disease...and the treatments...Look Good...Feel Better offers many services.Group ProgramsEach two-hour, hands-on workshop includes a 12-step skin care/make-up application lesson, demonstration of options for dealing with hair loss, and nail care techniques.One-on-One?sTrained cosmetologists provide personal advice in salons using patients? own make-up, as well as a free make-over tips booklet.Self-Help Kits?Just for You? self-help kits in English or Spanish with 30-minute video and make-over tips booklet are offered free to patients who cannot locally access Look Good...Feel...

Protect Your Skin, Be Good to Your Skin...Everyday
2007-06-07 06:34:00
Everyday...be good to your skin. Say hello to Everyday Minerals pure mineral makeup and say good-bye to inferior, damaging, expensive makeup.What's different about Everyday Minerals? It contains only 4 inert ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, and Zinc Oxide. This is 100% all natural mineral makeup, free from oils, preservatives, fragrance, talc, and all other binders that cause skin irritation.What else? Everyday Minerals is the only major mineral makeup company in the world offering superior salon-grade mineral makeup at a price every woman can afford. In fact, their goal is to eliminate the need for mass-market chemical and plastic based products entirely so that every woman can enjoy the benefits of premium all-natural makeup. Wow!I've tried several Everyday Minerals products, including their foundations, concealers and blushes. And I must say that the quality rivals i.d. minerals and Jane Iredale. And you still get the same wonderful, natural protective qu...
More About: Skin , Good , Prot

Free Cancer Screening on June 25 in NYC
2007-06-06 04:53:00
WHO: face to face nyc day spa & a board certified dermatologist from St Vincent's HospitalWHAT: FREE 10-Minute Skin Cancer Screening WHEN: Monday June 25th, from 5-8pm (By Appointment Only, Call 212-633-0404)WHERE: 20 West 20th St, Ste 603WHY: According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. With summer here, there is no better time to ensure that you are melanoma free. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
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7 Steps to Cancer Prevention
2007-06-04 22:58:00
Courtesy of Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation (www.PreventCancer.org)You can protect yourself against many diseases, including cancer, by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Take action to reduce your cancer risk with these seven simple steps.1. Don’t use tobacco. Tobacco use is deadly and causes cancers of the lung, throat, mouth and esophagus, in addition to causing heart disease, emphysema and many other smoking related health problems. More than 80 percent of all lung cancer is related to smoking, and non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk for lung cancer and other respiratory problems. Don't smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes or use smokeless tobacco. If you do use tobacco, quit now! Keep children away from smokers. Help to create smoke-free public environments in your community. 2. Eat a variety of healthy foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. There is an increasing amount of evidence linking diet to cancer. Some research suggests that one-third of al...
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Comments for a Cure Official Kick-off
2007-06-04 22:41:00
Today, Monday June 4, 2007, is the official Kick -off date for Comm ents for a Cure , a Beauty Blog Network-wide cancer fund-and-awareness raising effort.GirlPaint has pledged that for every comment posted beginning today and running through Wednesday, June 6th, $1 will be donated to Komen for the Cure in order to help in the effort to bring a stop to this killer disease that affects 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 3 women.We beauty bloggers appreciate your support and hope that, even beyond June 6th, we're all a little more vigilant and a lot more educated about cancer, its effects and its victims...and hopefully, there are far fewer of them in the days to come.Many types of cancer are partially preventable, so please visit www.PreventCancer.org to learn more...don't forget to share what you learn with your friends and family. If you'd like to learn more about the Susan G. Komen, the Foundation and Komen for a Cure, GirlPaint's selected cancer charity, visit www.Komen.org.
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Long Lasting Soft Lips from TESS Sun-Kissed Lip Balm
2007-06-04 07:38:00
I recently tried another great lip product from TESS (Teen Everyday Skincare System). It's called Sun-Kissed Lip Balm, and all I can say is that this is hands down the best lip balm I've ever used. I love how their website humbly claims "Deeply moisturizes and protects the lips from overexposure to the sun." Well, I'm here to say that this claim is absolutely true. And I'll even add some acclaim to their claim.I've been using Sun-Kissed for several days and my lips have never been softer....and I've never had a lip-balm last so long, and be so pleasant to apply and wear (endlessly). For example, today before I left the house to play tennis, I put on Sun-Kissed--by the way, yummy subtle minty-vanilla scent and pleasantly sweet flavor--and after an hour on the court, Sun-Kissed was still going strong. Seriously, there was still a nice layer of this perfectly textured balm on my lips. And the look is untraditional for a balm. Not waxy, not glossy...just right.So, say good...
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Open Your Eyes to FACE Atelier
2007-06-02 06:18:00
Alert! New "favorite" alert, that is...FACE Atelier eyeshadow. In a word, luxurious. In many words, perfectly balanced colors, rich textures, soft and smooth application, hours of wear, no creasing or caking...I could go on, but let's just move on to a few of my favorite shades. $15MelonLight pinky-peach with a tiny hint of shimmer. The perfect base color for fair-skinned folk like myself. Or wear Melon alone with cat-eye liquid eyeliner...tres chic.Metallic TaupeSimply gorgeous, perfectly shimmery medium-toned warm brown. I LOVE Metallic Taupe when sporting a smoky eye to die for. Much more luxurious than grey or black.Blue SteelThe photo appears more grey than it actually is, Blue Steel is an absolutely gorgeous, oceanic, warm-ish shimmery blue. If mermaids wore eyeshadow, this is the color they'd wear every day. Period. Blue Steel makes a lovely contour shade, and also a fabulous layering color when eye-lining.Ice BurgYum. Ice Burg is one of those eyeshadow colors t...
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Tess Perfect Pout Strawberry Moisturizing Lip Gloss
2007-05-30 06:59:00
TESS (aka Teen Everyday Skincare System) Skin's Perfect Pout is one of those truly surprising products that made me re-think "Teen" skincare. I mean, I'm a thirty-something, but somedays my skin reacts more like I'm a thirteen-year old. So why in the world couldn't my skin, more specifiically in this case: my lips, benefit from a product designed for teenaged skin...well, it could and it does. On to my experience with this more-than-fun lip treatment. First off, from the looks of Perfect Pout, you'd never think it was 'teen' product. The packaging looks more grown-up than some of the truly grown-up products I've purchased. Next, the product itself: way more grown-up than many of the "grown-up" products I've purchased. The gloss is not goopy, but it is substantial. Although it smells of strawberries, it's not plastic-y. In fact, the addition of Aloe Vera gel and Safflower oil really ground this lip gloss and bring it to the level of a lip treatment. But more than t...
More About: Lip Gloss , Strawberry , Stra

Three for May: Cheeks by FACE atelier, beautyADDICTS and Benefit
2007-05-26 06:40:00
Don't be a cheeky monkey. Just be cheeky. Fabulously cheeky, of course.Part of GirlPaint's Three for May focus on FACE atelier, beautyADDICTS brings us to sunny, pretty, spring-summer cheeks.FACE atelier proudly offers Ultra Blush. I have never been a big fan of powder blushes...they tend to look streaky or cakey on me, or they just wear off. Not so with Ultra Blush. Plain and simple, not shimmery or bright, Ultra Blush is available in five fairly neutral, wonderfully professional colors. Plus, it's easy to blend and looks silky smooth for hours. Me being as fair as I am, I love Pink Satin (the same shade used for Madonna's Confessions Tour) which is the perfect pink, not too light, not too deep. Also available are Peach Glaze, Rosewood, Tea and Mocha. And surprisingly, each color looks like it's supposed to...like you'd expect it to. The colors are not cryptic, strange or off. All are lovely...and all were featured, by the way, at New York's Fashion Week to much a...
More About: Face , Cheeks , Bene , Beau

Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good
2007-05-19 08:03:00
CARGO's new lipstick, PlantLove Botanical Lipstick, is lovely in so many ways.First of all, the lipstick itself is this really amazing, high-quality lipstick with an emollient-rich, smooth lip balm built in. Rarely do you find a such a nice, treatment-based lipstick with pigment this dense, but the masters at CARGO managed to pull it off. The finish is low-luster, almost-matte but with amazing softness and conditioning. And guess what else? No mineral oil or petroleum-based goo. Just natural butters and plant-based oils to soothe, smooth and beautify your smile.Next, the packaging--well, it's sorta corny. CARGO PlantLove touts a lipstick tube made completely out of corn (but don't eat it)! And the box is crafted of something called 'flower paper'--you can actually unfold the box, plant it, water it and wild flowers will grow...from the box. I can't get over how cool this is!Last, the heart of it all. CARGO is donating $2 from the sale of every shade of PlantLove to St...
More About: Good , Feel , Look , Feel Good

Johnny B. Takes Shaving to the Next Level
2007-05-19 07:05:00
Although removing hair from your body (or your face, in the case of you guys...or girls who shave your faces. what? anyway.) is not a glamorous task--actually far from it. It's tedious, boring, mundane...but it must be done. Agreed?Well, I'm happy to say that I recently found a fabulous shaving cream (well, not actually a shaving cream--read on) that makes this tedious task, well, kinda fun.Johnny B. Shampoo Paste (GirlPaint, did you say 'shampoo'? Yes, yes I did.) IS it! This tub of cool, funky textured (i liken it digging into icy, fluffy, firm-ish cream) is heaven to shave with. And Johnny B. knows it. Heck, they even claim its double duty right there on the label. The lather is not super-sudsy, but it conditioning properties and cooling sensation (thanks to a touch of menthol and cinnamon oils) make it the perfect shaving cream. Johnny B. Shampoo Paste takes shaving to the next level...leaving your skin smooth and silky with no knicks. And it smells great, too.And bec...
More About: Body , Skincare , Shaving , Ving

Three for May: Background on beautyADDICTS
2007-05-16 04:36:00
For me, I must admit I find very little romance behind the bigger, more well-known cosmetics brands...as nice as they are, they don't tickle my quest for 'the story.' As Oprah says, 'everyone has a story' and I absolutely relish hunting for products that are brought to us by little upstarts, entrepreneurs...dreamers. These are the ones that hold the most satisfaction for me to test, try and ultimately wear. I was a business owner myself for over 10 years, so it must be my desire to support the 'little guy' (or girl), to promote those that are trying their best to push their way into an ocean of well-backed, well-placed products, that really gets me going. Hence...beautyADDICTS.Since I've been testing several of beautyADDICTS cosmetics, I've discovered quite a bit about the line itself. Adam, the Founder & CEO, has an engineering background with lots of high-tech qualifications. He combined his education and techie contacts with an innate love of color and design, and b...
More About: Background , Beau , Three , Round , Addict