Beauty411

Fekkai Salon Color

 

Fekkai Salon Color is a premium hair color collection that offers salon-quality results at home. I've used it twice and like it so much that I may not go back to my hairdresser for color services again! 

Fekkai Salon Color differs from other home-color kits in several ways.  You're probably familiar with the routine of pouring the color into a bottle applicator and then applying to hair.  Fekkai Salon Color instead starts with a pre-treatment conditioner.  Next up, the thick creme colorant is mixed in a bowl with a brush; very similar to the process in a salon.  Finally, there is a post-conditioner mask that is applied after rinsing.  The other thing that is noteworthy?  No chemical, unpleasant smell; instead, a light floral fragrance.  And it is worth mentioning--the formula doesn't drip.

Fekkai Salon Color delivers results that are better than any other at-home color I've ever used.  Your hair feels incredibly soft, the color is true and healthy looking and the gray coverage is exceptional.  Since I've used it twice, I can also tell you that this color lasts.  I was able to go a full 8 weeks between coloring, and except for a few grays around my hairline, I could have gone longer. 

There are 20 shades of Fekkai Salon Color to choose from and because I ordered online, this was really the only difficulty I had.  The first time I ordered, I selected Medium Brown/Juliet, which was way too dark for me.  The second time, I ordered Light Brown/Jaclyn; much closer to my natural shade. 

As with any at-home color system, it's a good idea to completely read the directions a couple of times to familiarize yourself with the steps before starting in. The directions are clear and easy to follow; helpful tips from Frederic Fekkai are included.  The processing time is 35 minutes for Fekkai Salon Color.  Start to finish (pre-treatment to post-treatment), I would say allow about an hour.

Fekkai Salon Color retails at $ 30 and is available at Bloomingdales (stores and online), Beauty.com, and Bath & Body Works. 

Favorite Beauty Products of 2008

Even though we're a bit into the New Year, a group of beauty bloggers and I are rounding up our favorite beauty products of 2008.  I tried and reviewed so many products, that narrowing down a list was really hard.  These were the products that I considered standouts:

Bobbi Brown Mauve Palette and Gel Eyeliner in Black Mauve Shimmer Ink:  I lusted over the Fall Mauve palette the minute I saw it and similar to Stonewashed Nudes, this has been a go-to palette for me.  And the Black Mauve Shimmer Ink Gel Eyeliner is perfection.

 

Chanel Smoky Eye Quad:  This year, I didn't meet a Chanel Eyeshadow Quad that I didn't love and have to own.  But the Smoky Eye Quad is my Holy Grail.  Done in gorgeous gray to black shimmers, I still marvel over its' beauty every time I open it up.

Estee Lauder Private Collection Amber Ylang Ylang Perfume: The fact that I fell for this fragrance so hard and was totally smitten with it from the first time I spritzed it was a complete shock to me.  Amber Ylang Ylang is the second fragrance in Aerin Lauder's Private Collection series.  It's warm, vanilla, sexy, ambery....just a wow!  And the bottle is exquisite.

Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara:  2008 was the Year of the Mascara, with vibrating brushes, special combs and new formulas.  Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes has a genius applicator that allows you to get over and under every lash for truly phenomenal lashes.  Revolutionary.

Kate Somerville Exfoliate:  One of my favorite skincare products, Exfolikate combines a physical and chemical exfoliant to get one great scrub that leaves your face glowing in only a matter of minutes.  I leave this in my shower and apply a few times a week.  No matter how many exfoliators I've tried, this is still my #1.

3 LAB "h" Serum":  I love high-tech skincare and 3LAB "h" serum is one of the most innovative products I've tried.  "h" serum contains a synthetic growth hormone to help reverse the signs of aging by supplementing the growth hormones naturally produced in the body.  Not only that, it feels luxurious.  Exceptional!

Skinceuticals C E Ferulic and Hydrating B5 Gel:  The "Dynamic Duo", I think of these Skinceuticals serums as the foundation of my skincare routine.  The C E Ferulic is a powerful antioxidant treatment, while the B5 Gel nourishes and hydrates.  This line, which also includes the newer Phloretin CF, is a line I trust and believe in.

 

Make sure to check out the Favorite Things from these great blogs!

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Life Of A Ladybug

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Perfume Shrine

Platinum Blonde Life

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The Beauty Alchemist

The non-blonde

Urbane Girl

Vert: An eco-chic beauty boutique

Vert (which means "green" in French) is a Los Angeles boutique that stocks some of the most fabulous, eco-friendly lines anywhere.  Founded by makeup artist Renata Helfman, the shop focuses on beauty products from some of the most popular lines in the natural cosmetics industry.  Renata personally selects Vert’s product offerings, all of which are chemical-free and many of which are organic.

Environmentally-conscious suppliers mean that every purchase is green and guiltless. Names like Josie Maran Cosmetics, L’Artisan Parfumeur, CARE by Stella McCartney, Naturopathica, Nuxe, Red Flower and REN are just some of the luxe, eco-chic brands found at Vert. For the first time, these coveted, beneficial brands are all under one roof at one of Los Angeles’s favorite new shopping destinations.  

Vert is committed to promoting a full, eco-friendly lifestyle.  A key part of its mission is to educate customers through makeup seminars and workshops taught by Renata Helfman herself as well as other experts. Customers flock to her store not only for the products she carries, but also for her knowledge of skincare, eco-friendly makeup and green living.  Renata will also personally create gift baskets for purchase, handpicking the perfect green gift.

You can also find Vert online, which is a great option for those of use who don't live close enough to visit in person.  Vert is making it a little easier, a little nicer and a little more convenient to go green.

Lemon Beauty...Delightful, DeLovely...and oh, so fresh!

 

Lemon in just-about-anything...beauty products, fragrance, heck, even toothpaste has got me hooked.  I love the fresh, citrusy, happy feeling I get when I use a lemon product.  Thank goodness there's no shortage of products for me to choose from.  Today I thought I'd share some of my head-to-toe favorites, many of which are paraben-free and use natural, essential oils.

Kings & Queens Sultan of Granada Lemon Flower Shower Gel is a line brought to us by the Greek cosmetics company Korres.  It's based on herbs and spices that were used by the royals for their own wellbeing.  So it's a little historical, a little mythical, a lot fun and irreverent.   The Sultan of Granada Lemon Flower Shower Gel smells exactly like the fragrance of a fresh lemon tree; zesty and invigorating.  Guaranteed to wake you up in the shower and get you going.

If you like the benefits of a scrub while you shower, NettieScrub Lemon Buff will buff your skin to perfection.  Using sugar and other essential oils, NettieScrubs are handmade in Southern California and come in an adorable little jar.  NettieScrub products would make a great gift for your spa-loving girlfriend! 

You remember my love affair with the amazing Pacifica solid perfumes?  Pacifica has body butters.  Malibu Lemon Blossom Body Butter.  Described as "the scent of salty crisp ocean air ripe with lemon blossoms diffusing their dreamlike perfume in the warm sun".  I couldn't have said it better.  It's rich and emollient (great on elbows and ankles) and I don't need to add a fragrance if I don't want to.  Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom Body Butter....you have me hooked.  I am so loving the Pacifica line!

The ARCONA Studio

                                   

                                      

                                                            

Before the start of the Total Beauty Blogger's Summit, I made the decision to go to LA a day early so that I could experience a facial at the fabulous ARCONA Studio in Santa Monica.  I'm so glad I did, as it was an experience that I won't soon forget!

The ARCONA Studio is a beautiful space, with treatment rooms designed for comfort and efficiency.  My appointment started with a review of my skin and identification of any concerns that I had.  My main skincare concern is a few areas of sun damage.  Debbie was my esthetician for the Fruit Enzyme Peel, which she customized to my specific skin needs. The Fruit Enzyme Peel resurfaces the skin, leaving it glowing and healthy looking. The Fruit Enzyme Peel starts with cleansing and the application of an enzyme complex mask, which removes dead skin cells and helps to restore clarity and stimulate production of collagen.  Application of custom anti-oxidant serums is next, helping to restore the skin's softness and suppleness.  As each product was applied, you can't help but notice the wonderful smell.  The  treatment concluded with LED Light Therapy, which is beneficial for hyperpigmentation and skin conditions such as rosacea.  The LED Light Therapy stimulates collagen production and helps to repair skin damage.  At the conclusion of my treatments, my skin was glowing!

In discussing my treatment products, I shared with Debbie that I currently use several ARCONA products, including the ARCONA White Tea Purifying Cleanser, as well as the Triad Pads.  The Triad Pads are in a league of their own; a multi-tasking cranberry-scented pad that cleanses, tones and hydrates. I like to use the Triad Pads in the evening, when I can cleanse, tone, hydrate AND remove makeup.  In addition to all that, the Triad Pads are an excellent treatment product, as they contain vitamins, phyto-nutrients, essential fatty acids and rice milk.  Like all ARCONA products, they are cold-processed in small batches with active, natural ingredients.

The ARCONA Studio is located at 425 Broadway (across from Fred Segal) in Santa Monica.  More information on the ARCONA Studio can be found here.  Whether to learn about a new skincare regimen, purchase products or to nurture yourself with a skin service, I can highly recommend the ARCONA Studio. You can find ARCONA products online at beauty.com and sister site drugstore.com.