Lash Genius Review

Anastasia Beverly Hills is full of new surprises this summer.  One of them is a brand new product that just came out this May.  It is called Lash Genius.  Lash Genius really is genius and brilliant!  This new topcoat can be applied to any mascara to make it waterproof!

This product is revolutionary because it now allows you to decide which mascara you would like to use as waterproof on any given day.  No more buying waterproof mascara for a wedding, reunions, or a day at the beach.  I don't know about you but I have wasted so much money on buying waterproof versions of my mascara only to find I lose them or forget I have them.  Lash Genius can also be used on false lashes to give them a more realistic appearance.   

I used Lash Genius this weekend and it was so nice not to have raccoon eyes while in the pool!  I also liked that it didn't make my lashes clumpy or brittle.  To use, simply apply your mascara, wait a few minutes and apply Lash Genius.  After use, simply remove with waterproof eye makeup remover.  It's that easy!

Lash Genius can be purchased at Sephora or at http://www.anastasia.net/home.php  You can follow Anastasia Beverly Hills on Twitter or use #lashgenius to tweet about this great new product. 


*I received a sample.

Before you Scrub your Face

15 Best and Worst Face Scrubs

Don't waste money on a scrub that doesn't deliver. See the scrubs you should try -- and the ones you should avoid

This is a TotalBeauty.com skin care products article Scrubs can rid your skin of dead skin cells and deep clean your pores -- a good one that is. Our readers say the worst ones will leave your skin feeling raw and your wallet empty. Don't waste any more of your time and money on a bad scrub by checking out this list. Our readers separated the winners from the losers to bring you the best and worst face scrubs. See list

The Worst No. 6: Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub, $8

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.9

"This product leaves an oily, greasy residue on my face. It feels like I rubbed a thin layer of Crisco on my skin."

The Worst No. 5: Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub, $15

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.7

"This is the messiest face scrub ever. After washing my face, I find little bits of strawberry seeds in my hair and nails."

The Worst No. 4: St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub, $9.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.4

"I'm glad I bought this on sale because it has done nothing for my skin."

Want to see what was No. 1? Click here!

Anastasia See and Be Seen...A Sephora Limited Exclusive‏

I have an exciting review for you! Anastasia has teamed up with Sephora to offer a makeup kit with four Anastasia products and it is a great deal!  The See and Be Seen Kit has an $80 value for only $44.  It is limited though so read below and see if you will love it as much as I do!

The See and Be Seen kit includes:

Two new HydraFull Gloss colors in Heiress and Plastic. These limited edition colors were created specifically for the theme of “Make It Happen” and are not available anywhere except in the See and Be Seen Kit. Anastasia’s Hydrafull Gloss contains lip tint to maintain longer lasting color while maximizing lip hydration and fullness.

The new caramel tinted Brow Gel. Anastasia’s brow gel sets your perfect brow look with a hint of tint and is fortified with botanical hair conditioners and essential oils to keep brows feeling as great as they look.

The soft pink and golden hues of the ILLUMIN8 Shadow duo in On Set. ILLUMIN8 Eye Shadow Duos are designed to illuminate, firm, and smooth the appearance of skin while also soothing, softening and hydrating.

So what did I think?

The HydraFull glosses were amazing! The colors are so pigmented and really stand out. It is perfect for a summer party to show your fun side. It fits in with all the bright colored clothing in fashion right now too. These can also be worn over your favorite lipstick color to jazz it up a bit! It stays on really well too. I had to reapply it only after meals.

The caramel tinted brow gel was perfect for me. I have thick brows that need to be tamed and also a few stray parts that can also use a brow gel that has a hint of tint.  This brow gel also has a bit of sparkle to it but not too much.  I really like Anastasia's brow gel because it doesn't bleed or flake during the day so you don't have to worry about little brown specks falling onto your cheeks.

The ILLUMIN8 shadow set was so pretty. The soft pink matched well with the glosses and the golden color added a little sparkle to show summer is here and I am ready to have fun! When is the next pool party or BBQ?

The kit is available exclusively at Sephora and http://www.anastasia.net/. This kit will only be available for the next 3-4 weeks so you hurry to Sephora this weekend so you don't miss out!

*I received a sample for review.

Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Review

Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Review

I purchased this on a whim right before my recent vacation.  I guess I was hoping for the product to live up to it's promise of "for the look of a mini-lift each morning". 

This was my nightly routine, wash face, remove color-stay lipstick, brush teeth and put on my mini lift cream AKA Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream.  I have to admit...it was wonderful.  This product goes on so smoothly that it is hard to resist not adding a bit more here and there.  It is practically fragrance-free and it light purple.  The texture is so smooth.  Ahhhh, it felt so wonderful. 

As for results, my skin did not break out as it has in the past with other Olay products.  I don't know if my skin really looked any better but it didn't look worse.  I think this is a good staple cream to have in the house.  I will definitely buy it again!

Key Ingredients:

AMINO-PEPTIDE, GLYCERIN, NIACINAMIDE, PANTHENOL (PRO-VITAMIN B5), PETROLATUM, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, VITAMIN B3, VITAMIN E
 
*I purchased this myself.

Olay Regenerist SPF 50 Review

Olay Regenerist UV Defense regenerating lotion in SPF 50.

On my recent camping trip I took along this simple sunscreen in hopes of finding a new favorite.  Here's what I thought:

When I first tried this sunscreen I was surprised that it seemed gritty.  I read some other reviews and someone else commented on this as well.  After you get over the gritty feel, the sunscreen works fairly well under makeup.  I have used sunscreen before that seemed to not hold under foundation and literally turned it into goop.  This one worked great. Oh and it doesn't smell bad.  Actually, I think it's scent-free.

As for protection, I am happy to report it worked great.  I was not in intense heat except for two days of my trip but I have to admit, I did work. 

The pump is okay.  There is nothing more annoying than waiting for a pump to work itself back up so you can pump more.  I needed about 5 pumps for my face and neck and maybe a tad more.  I kind of over do it with all lotions. 

Overall, this is a great basic sunscreen with the benefits of anti-aging but it didn't over WOW me.  I would only buy it again if it was on sale. 

*I purchased this myself.

Neova Sunscreen

Oh it's so hot here!  The worst part of the beginning of summer in Arizona is that we have a dry heat that is very similar to a blow dryer.  Add some wind and dust and we become miserable.  Soon enough relief comes when our afternoon monsoons begin to cool us down.  No matter how hot or miserable I am though,  I never forget to do wear sunscreen.  It doesn't mater how tired I am or if I am in a hurry, I always apply sunscreen to my face and body.  Oh and don't forget the kiddos! I have had a few family members with skin cancer and there is no messing around when it comes to my family's skin health. 

One brand that I would trust in a heartbeat in NEOVA.  I have used their products in the past and they are such high quality and really work.  The new NEOVA® DNA Damage Control sunscreens not only meet the highest standards for UVA/UVB photoprotection, they use breakthrough DNA repair technology to reduce visible signs of aging caused by UV rays. All three sunscreens are formulated with DNA repair enzymes that have shown to increase UV protection by 300% in one hour.

Here is the lineup:

DNA Damage Control SILC SHEER 2.0 [Broad Spectrum SPF 40] combines UVA/UVB photoprotection with the cosmetic benefit of a skin-perfecting sheer tint that evens out skin tone and works as an under-makeup primer or as a substitute foundation. Retail price: $45

DNA Damage Control EVERYDAY [Broad Spectrum SPF 44] is designed for daily protection of the face and uses transparent Zinc Oxide and advanced DNA repair technology to deliver optimal sun protection and significant anti-aging benefits. Retail price: $39

NEOVA® DNA Damage Control ACTIVE [Broad Spectrum SPF 43] is ideal for year-round, active, outdoor lifestyles; this 80-minute water-resistant formula includes zinc oxide and Vitamin C. Retail price: $46

All Neova sunscreens can be purchased at http://www.neova.com/index.aspx