Beauty411

Avon Foot Works Green Tea & Mint Collection

Avon Foot Works Green Tea & Mint Collection cools and quenches feet on a hot summer day like an iced green tea with a fresh sprig of mint.  It's been in the high 90's this week in the midwest.  It's definitely time to pamper the feet! 

There are three steps in the refreshing Foot Works Green Tea & Mint Collection:

Step 1:  Exfoliating Scrub
This revitalizing scrub is designed to polish and buff feet for sandal-ready skin.  Softens rough calouses and smoothes dry feet, the formula retexturizes soles and sweeps away dead skin, leaving your tootsies all aglow.  $3.99

10 Fabulous Last Minute Beauty Stocking Stuffers!

Stocking Stuffers are those "little extras" that aren't defined by price or size.  A stocking stuffer may be an impulse item that you saw at the last minute, or a gift purposefully planned out.  No matter...stocking stuffers are intended to bring a smile to the recipient's face.  When I was growing up, we always got one of the Lifesaver's Candy Books.  Stocking Stuffers have come a long way since then!  Here are 10 of the best beauty stocking stuffers that I've seen this season:

Sally Hansen Holiday Kits:  In prices ranging from 4.99 to 9.95, these kits offer great value.  There is a Salon Mini Manicure Kit that includes everything you need for a salon-perfect manicure: four Salon Nail Lacquer shades, Salon Double Life Base and Top Coat, along with detailed instructions.  There is also Lip Inflation Extreme Out-To-Go-Kit or Just Feet Holiday Kits.  Find these Sally Hansen Holiday Kits at Walgreens, CVS & Rite Aid.  Selection may vary by retailer.

Start Me Up Nail Collection from Lippmann:  This adorable kit is a start to finish nail treatment set.  It's a perfect kit to keep in your travel bag, as it takes up no space and has everything you need for a complete manicure.  Includes Smooth Operator buffer, Cuticle Remover, Cuticle Oil, 2 Second Nail Primer, Rehydrating base coat, Baby Love nail lacquer and On A Clear Day top coat. The Start Me Up Nail Collection retails at $ 39 and is available at Barney's New York, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, C.O. Bigelow and online at www.lippmanncollection.com.

Burt's Bees Sets are adorable as well as practical.  I love the Overnight Bee-uty Bag, which is an adorable little pouch, filled with a Beeswax Lip Balm, Pomegranate Lip Balm, and mini airplane-ready sizes of the Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Lotion, Lemon Buttler Cutice Creme, Peach & Willow Bark Deep Pore Scrub and Coconut Foot Creme.  You can find a selection of gift sets in national grocery, drug, gift and specialty stores and select mass retailers, such as Target.  You can also find them online at www.burtsbees.com.

Lavanila Roller-Ball Fragrance is the perfect way to take your fragrance with you.  Available in 4  luxurious scents, this Lavanila Roller-Ball Fragrance would be perfect for the frequent traveler, as it's airport friendly.  Need a gift for a health conscious friend?  Lavanila fragrances are completely free of harsh chemicals and are formulated with 100% natural ingredients, including pure essential oils.  I love the Vanilla Grapefruit Roller-Ball Fragrance; it's a splash of citrus in a vanilla base. Available at Sephora, Sephora.com and Lavanila.com.

C.O. Bigelow Winter Survival Kit can be given to anyone on your list.  Winter can be so harsh on your skin.  Why not gift this practical present?  Includes a Derma Remedy Body Lotion, Chapped Hands Remedy, Chapped Hands Cleanser and Lip Formula SPF 15.  $ 24.50. 

Space NK offers an incredible selection of stocking stuffers.  Who wouldn't want to get this Tuberoli Fragrance Collection, featuring a miniature Eau de Toilette, a body lotion and shower gel?  This is a perfect gift for someone who works out at the gym.  She can tuck this into her bag or locker and leave smelling fabulous.  Tuberoli is reminiscent of a romantic weekend in Rome. This ultra-feminine fragrance is unabashedly luxurious. $45.

ChapStick True Shimmer lip balms are a practical stocking stuffer.  ChapStick True Shimmer contains moisturizing ingredients and shimmering highlights for beautiful, healthy-looking lips.  It's a subtle shimmer; no need to worry that it will compete with your makeup.  You can wear the ChapStick True Shimmer under lipstick or alone, for a more natural look.  Available in Botanical Berry and Tropical flavors at food, drug, mass merchandise club and convenience stores across the U.S.  The suggested retail price is $2.79.

Some of Kiehl's most popular products are the Ultra Facial Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer and iconic Lip Balm #1.  Now you can get travel sizes of all four products in a convenient travel set.  These formulas in this Ultra Facial Travel Set are gentle and hydrating; perfect for winter skincare.  $ 24.50

Got a teen or 'tween on your list?  Check out C-THRU fragrances! This gift set includes 3 gem-inspired eau de toilette fragrances.  Perfect for the the special young woman in your life who seeks variety and self-expression through her fragrances.   Find C-THRU fragrances at Wal-Mart nationwide for only $20.00.

If you have a $10 limit for Secret Santa gifts or just need a budget stocking stuffer, check out the Manicure or Pedicure Salon Kits by Kiss.  These kits really deliver value--you get 8 essential tools for an inexpensive at-home beauty treatment!  Looks for these kits at drugstores like Walgreens, Duane Reade, CVS and Rite Aid.  

Do you love to buy stocking stuffers?  What are some of your favorites?  Let me know in the comments!

Pink PedEgg benefits Breast Cancer Awareness

PedEgg is supporting the Breast Cancer Awareness cause with the release of a special edition Pink PedEgg.  You know the PedEgg as a foot file that helps to remove callouses, dry skin and helps to keep skin smooth.  If you've never tried one, PedEggs are genious!  With dry winter skin coming up, you'll want to have a PedEgg around to help keep feet in shape.

The Breast Cancer Research Fund will receive $ 50,000 of the proceeds from the sale of the Pink PedEggs.

Pink PedEggs are available at retailers nationwide and at www.pedeggpinky.com.

Back to School Beauty - College Edition

Back to school time always conjures up so many good memories; probably has something to do with allowing me to indulge in shopping and spending money for a legitimate reason.  Back to school shopping has become a huge business for retailers.  Here are seven of my picks for back to school items, beauty--and otherwise--that you might consider adding to your list:

• New from philosophy, the limited-edition soda fountain 3-in-1 shampoo, bubble bath and shower gel in root beer float, fruit punch and not the pits cherry cola.  I love the 3-in-1 products and count on philosophy to always deliver a bit of fun in a product that really works. And helps to avoids clutter! Available at Sephora.

• When your eyes need a break, try the BIORÉ® Enliven Cooling Eye Gel.  When you need a little help with puffiness or dark circles, BIORÉ® Enliven Cooling Eye Gel holds 3 times its' weight in water to provide intense moisturization.  Perfect for after all the "late-night studying" (wink wink). Available in drugstores and mass market retailers.