February 2011 Beauty Round-Up ‘Must Haves’

By April MacIntyre Jan 30, 2011, 3:43 GMT

If you are a movie star or simply want to look like one, get this creamy, shiny, easy to wear fire-engine red. On me, it leans towards a blue-red undertone which is oh so flattering, and the texture is a WINNER! It actually contains Champagne extracts, but no matter how much I licked my lips, no buzz. Great classic red for the purists.

Jack Frost has most of this country in his firm grip, and there is no let up in sight.

Hair and skin are under siege with the cumulative effects of icy cold wind and dry air conditions from forced heat, which combined has done a number on everyone’s complexion, tresses and nails.

This is the time of year to prepare for the coming seasonal changes for Spring, and change up your routines in grooming so you look gorgeous for the fashion-conscious skin-baring seasons.

Monsters and Critics loves companies that use certified organic ingredients, and that stay far away from all animals.

Criteria for our picks in the best of beauty category differ from many mainstream beauty magazines and blogs, in that we look for items that fit the bill for the following checklist: The grooming products must be paraben-free, cruelty free, preferably American-made and unique in concept and packaging.  We love female entrepreneurs and companies started by moms and women who create items that address smart, useful design and function.

All the products listed below are outstanding in performance and are recommended to be included in your beauty regimen (for the applicable skin type).  Like regular exercise, keep your beauty habits on a schedule, planning one day a week to pay extra care to feet, hair and nails and maintain a more rigorous exfoliation and hydrating habit for end-of-winter dulled skin than needs to be dealt with.

Monsters and Critics has put these products to the test, and we have come up with our picks for February 2011 Best of Beauty for products that range from Lash enhancers to hair extensions, unique purse organizers to body care, face makeup and hair products and the best vitamin supplements and energy boosters for the money. 

Tried and true, these clever products deliver what they promise and will not let you down. Take us shopping with you for the best of beauty February 2011.

SPECIALTY BEAUTY

Swiss Skin Care Dr. H. Bellin
www.swissskinrepair.com

You don't have to be pregnant to earn stretch marks, as more than 90% of women (even men) are affected by them.  Swiss Skin Care was developed by plastic surgeon Dr. Howard Bellin along with a team of scientists directed by a world-famous cosmetic bio-chemist.

Rich and fragrance free, Dr. H. Bellin Scar & Stretch Mark Body Cream uses a two-step process that minimizes the look of stretch marks and scars. Then, protective ceramides and firming agents aid repairing the under skin fissures that make the marks visible. Expensive, but an excellent skin repair cream that helps immensely.

NeuLash
http://neulash.com

I first saw this product in action inside the makeup trailer of ABC's hit series, "Dancing with the Stars," and all the artists swore up and down that it worked.  The celebrities each had their own tube of NeuLash that they loved to no end.

I receive a trial sample of NeuLash to give it a whirl, at night I applied NeuLash (paraben and fragrance-free) to the lash line, like you would eyeliner. After two weeks so far, I can see a length difference already in my lashes.  

So can my Mother, friends and even my neighbor who asked if I was wearing individual lashes one day I was leaving the house.  NeuLash is not cheap, but the results are real, and if you have thinning lashes (or mini bald gaps in your lash line like I did), or you have lost lashes due to medication or chemotherapy, please give this consideration. It worked 100% for me, with no side effects or iris color change, as some of these products have been known to do.

MAKEUP

TanTowel Look Good Naked Bronzer
http://www.tantowel.com

Made in the USA, the packaging is sexy, silver sleek, the product is a beautiful light cocoa matte finish that can be all over color, or just for shading.  This particular shade works best for the light to medium skintones, and has a believable hue on the skin. This matte bronzer is an excellent blush replacement, and even looks nice used as eyeshadow.  Not a sunscreen, and made with lots of good for the skin botanicals.

Too Faced Lip Luxury in Runway Red
www.toofaced.com

If you are a movie star or simply want to look like one, get this creamy, shiny, easy to wear fire-engine red. On me, it leans towards a blue-red undertone which is oh so flattering, and the texture is a WINNER! It actually contains Champagne extracts, but no matter how much I licked my lips, no buzz. Great classic red for the purists.

TanTowel Lip Gloss in Celestial
http://www.tantowel.com

A workhorse lipgloss that applies in a clean wand, and has a luminous golden glow that can be worn alone or over a matte lipstick to liven it up. This is a highly flattering beige-y gold that is not sticky or too goopy glass-like, or loaded with fragrance.  Has a slight sweet taste.  Made in the USA, and perfect for Spring and Summer.

Alba Terra Tints Mineral Tinted Lip Balm in Dawn
www.albabotanica.com

Made in the USA. This is a perfect first "lipstick" to get a young lady, or for those who hate lipstick, it offers a soothing wash of tint so lips are kissable soft. Spearmint fresh and cooling, the formula is 70% organic, paraben and preservative free and a must-have for everyday lipcare wear that has flair.  Dawn is a baby sheer shimmer pink that flatters so many skintones.

Alba Terra Glosses - Blaze and Dawn
www.albabotanica.com

Shea butter-based Tube lipgloss with a convenient angled application, these two colors are the perfect light and darker glosses, both sheer and impactful. I love Blaze, it's one of the truly wearable sheer reds that most everyone can pull off. Dawn is the same baby sheer pink frost shimmer as the Lipbalm, and it's a stunner over deeper lipsticks, alone or blended with Blaze. Alba Terra Gloss has a Vanilla candy-like subtle smell and taste, and is thicker and has more "beef" than most, and lasts a bit longer too.

Too Faced Glitter Glue Eyeshadow Primer
www.toofaced.com

Made in the USA, how I love typing that phrase.  Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue is the stickum that secures glitter shadows and loose product so your cheeks aren't sparkle city. A colorless cream formula that insures the loose glitter, pigments and shimmer won't come off until you take them off. Blend a small bead of Glitter Glue directly onto lids or anywhere you want shimmer products to adhere.

Too Faced Glamour Dust Glitter Pigment
www.toofaced.com

Made in the USA, Glamour Dust is a loose pigment powder in four sophisticated, shimmering shades. Warning, be careful when you open it. This highly metallic loose powder glitter can be worn alone or on top of eyeshadow for a mega pop of shine. You definitely want to use the Glitter Glue eyeshadow primer before hand.

The color I enjoyed the most of the four shades was Nude Beam, which makes you a glamazon in an instant.  Versatile, you can also mix this loose glimmer powder into gloss, loose powder, lotion or dust lightly on the face and body with a powder brush.

INNER BEAUTY AND HEALTH

Solanova Rubi QNol Resveratrol Ubiquinol CoQ10

www.solanova.com/

Want to know the supplements the stars really take? I found out by peppering producers, craft service people, editors, sound technicians, makeup artists and anyone with access to the stars asking what vitamins were the best.  Hands down it is Solanova, made in the USA vitamins and supplements. Solanova also makes a fabulous non-narcotic pain reliever we reviewed a few months back. 

We all need Resveratrol. Solanova's newest anti-aging supplement Rubi QNol could be referred to as "The Pinnacle of Supplements." The vitamin has it all, Polyphenols and Resveratrol, and the optimally absorbed reduced CoQ10 Ubiquinol compound, this vitamin enhances energy levels and encourages the body to function optimally by infusing the important enzyme CoQ10 into cells.  I've been taking it for two weeks now and can attest I have never felt better energy-wise.

Red wines contain varying amounts of Resveratrol, ranging from 0.4mg to 0.6mg per five ounce glass of wine. Each Rubi QNol? softgel contains 50mg Resveratrol which is the equivalent of 100 glasses of wine. 

Rubi QNol has top notch antioxidant protection by utilizing the strongest, most effective, supremely absorbable ingredients available in one, easy to take, convenient softgel. In fact, Resveratrol was found to replicate calorie restriction.  Excellent supplement, especially for the middle-aged men and women who need a bit more TLC for dropping hormone levels.

Carni QNol® with Ubiquinol CoQ10 and L-Carnitine

As we age, CoQ10 levels tend to drop in the body. Illnesses, degenerative ailments, poor eating habits and taking statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) all can lower CoQ10 levels. Taking CoQ10 promotes heart health, wards off dangerous free radicals, helps normalize blood pressure, increases energy and strengthens the immune system.  Solanova's Carni QNolcontains CoQ10 in the Ubiquinol form. This stabilized form is the most effective, absorbable form of CoQ10 on the market today.

Carnitine is an amino acid derivative that helps turn fat into energy. L-Carnitine is the natural, biologically active form of Carnitine that plays a key role in cardiovascular function, fat metabolism, energy production and improved neurotransmitter function. Think of this as a pure anti-aging supplement.  Carni QNol also contains Vitamin E and Vitamin C, both well known antioxidants to provide protection against free radical damage.

Carni QNol promotes fat metabolism and thus enhancing energy production, supporting strong musculo-skeletal development, strengthening the cardiovascular system, improving neurotransmitter function, supporting glycemic control and boosting the immune system. Take it with Rubi Q-Nol and Super QNol CoQ10 for a powerhouse roundkick to the aging process. High energy levels are experienced with these three combined.

Super QNol® CoQ10 100 mg Supplements

Super QNol® CoQ10 supplement, could very well be one of the perfect additions to your nutritional regime. Super QNol® is a special formulation of Ubiquinol, a reduced form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

To create cellular energy, the body has to convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol. This process is critical otherwise energy levels cannot be maintained in the body. However, as we age, it becomes extremely difficult to complete the conversion of Ubiquinone into usable Ubiquinol, thus leaving the body lacking proper CoQ10 levels.

Until recently, most CoQ10 supplements have only been available in their oxidized state. These supplements are okay to take if you're in your 20's, because the body can still negotiate the conversion of Ubiquinone to Ubiquinol. But as you get older, the conversion process becomes highly inefficient and these types of supplements are of little benefit.

Statin Drugs Patients take note: Anyone taking statin drugs to lower their cholesterol should talk to their health care practitioner about the potential benefits of taking a CoQ10 supplement such as Super QNol® CoQ10. Statin drugs have been found to suppress the body's natural production of CoQ10. And in some studies low CoQ10 levels in patients on statins have been correlated with the side effects of muscle and joint aches and even serious muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis).

It has been found that CoQ10 can reduce the body's response to blood thinner (anticoagulant) medicine and can decrease insulin requirements in people with diabetes. Talk to your doctor before starting a supplement regimen if you are currently taking prescription drugs.

AGRO Labs Coconut Water Recovery Shot
Energized and Concentrated  3 oz.
http://www.agrolabs.com/

Seen on busy craft service tables for big TV shows and films, this amazing little shot of energy tastes good and full of essential electrolytes you need to replenish after a work out. This is small and easy to tote in a purse, and has a nice, uplifting little buzz (no caffeine) that powers you through the day. Full of potassium & electrolytes, a happy tasty find.

RelaxZen Day and Night Formulas
 www.relaxzenshots.com

I have written about these fantastic supplements before and truly swear by them.  If you have trouble sleeping, the night shot will gently send you off to a dreamy, wonderful deep sleep. The lightly carbonated fruity tasting day formula helps you mentally focus, and neither has any caffeine. 

Lots of B Vitamins and Melatonin in the night formula. My son (who has ADHD) is a natural insomniac; he had the hardest time naturally falling asleep.  He adores this product and relies on it for a good night's sleep aid, and so do I. It is also wildly popular in Hollywood with the celebrity set. Whenever a box is set out on a craft service table, the shots disappear in a minute.

HAIRCARE

Curls Haircare
http://www.curls.biz/

Halle Berry and Zoe Saldana are fans of this natural curly hair line of products for women with curly, kinky, wavy, and/or natural African-American hair. Formulated with natural humectants, organic moisturizers, and curl enhancers. Lush and fragrant, and the results are perfect looking textured hair that is touchable, and glossy.

The products contain organic ingredients and no parabens, mineral oils, silicones, artificial colors or is animal tested. The items are in fun packaging, cocktail inspired with great names like Champagne & Caviar Curl Elixir and Curl Gel-les’c (pronounced Jealousy), to name a few.

L.A. LOOKS
http://www.lalooks.com/

Bang for the buck, there isn't a better mega holding gel out there that can handle a punk rock hairdo or keep the spikey look lasting all day. Yellow but not mellow, this made in the USA hair product is seen all over Hollywood hair trailers, and is under $3. A true workhorse that will not let you down, or gag you with too much fragrance, Smells clean, doesn't leave sticky residue on the hands, and rinses easily out of hair.  Even if you do hot rollers, flat irons or curling irons, a dab of this applied to semi-dry hair after washing and before styling will keep the curls and volume going for hours on end.

got2b Smooth Operator Hairspray 
http://www.got2b.us/got2b-main.htm?got2b

Also huge bang for the buck, nothing comes close to this affordable, made in the USA hairspray. Spotted this item on "Dancing with the Stars" hairtrailer. I used to shell out big bucks for Fekkai's hairspray but no more.  Smooth Operator doesn't flake or crunch your hair, or make it untouchable in any way. The hairspray has a touch of cashmere and it smells clean, subtle and leaves no residue on hands.  Fantastic for all kinds of hair, especially the straight, fine hair that needs a sheer product with legs.

Citre Shine Spray Laminator
http://www.citreshine.com/

Great smelling and effective, this is a nice shine laminator for hair, but caveat, use just a little bit, and hold the spray a foot away when you spray it. I spray it into my hands lightly, and just press my palms on the ends and all over gently to smooth out fine hair. Controls flyaways, frizz and protects hair against damage caused by heat styling. The Citre Shine laminator is loaded with shine enhancing citrus, extracts and vitamins. Alcohol free.

Goody Headbands, new styles, Glimmer Ponytailer
http://www.goody.com/

Fantastic hair accessory and brush/comb line that is affordable. Goody hair accessories are inexpensive fun barrettes, hair bands, clasps, clips, with ribbons, braided cords, fans, flowers and Asian touches that make a headband look fashionable. Great faux gem ponytail holders too. 

Goody headbands stay put and have comfortable shapes that do not give you headaches like some.

Effortless Extensions
www.effortlessextensions.com/

The world of hair extensons has been a mystery to me, and after watching Chris Rock's "Good Hair" documentary, major props to the ladies who shell out such huge dollars for their extension hair. Wow. 

There is a new company out there that has affordable synthetic and real human hair that you put on like a headband, and comb your own hair over the filament that acts as the anchor.  No glue, tape, clips or drama.  I tried out the Synthetic extension, which can be washed, dried and treated with heat tools.

Most synthetic extensions actually melt when coming in contact with heat. Effortless Extensions synthetics can be flat ironed, curled or blow dried without this fear.  Every extension ordered comes
with an Effortless Extensions hair brush. 

Wearing fake hair sounds a bit trippy for some people, but in seconds you are easily rocking the Pamela Anderson mane of sexy hair and it matches perfectly with your color, thanks to their huge color swatch selection. I love this fast look changer. Check my hair out (I am wearing the Light Auburn Extension) in the photographic evidence:

You cannot see where my hair ends and the extensions begin.  Effortless Extensions gives added length or added volume; they are the perfect, affordable way to achieve a celebrity hot look for the club or special occasion (I wear mine while around the house, my UPS and FedEx men approve, it's fun!).

ACCESSORY LOVE

Modella Makeup Bags
Sold at Walmarts everywhere

Girl Authority Purse Kit is my handbag lifesaver. Classic Zebra and Gotta Have It designs are so much fun too. Easy to keep clean, inexpensive, these bags hold so much makeup.  Tons of different styles, clutches to weekenders.  Easy, fashionable, durable and inexpensive. Sold!