May 2011 Beauty Round-Up ‘Must Haves’

By April MacIntyre May 8, 2011, 16:39 GMT

Spring always means more color in makeup palettes and lighter glossier finishes for lips, cheeks. Another must-have item for spring and summer is a great body makeup/lotion to even out self-tanning efforts or use on bare skin to perfect and enhance legs and arms.

May is that magical month when the promise of summertime is around the corner, and the transition from cold weather clothes, boots and shoes yields a closet full of skin baring sandals, heels, and clothing that is lighter in weight.

Your skincare regimen most likely needs a tweak too, as heavier moisturizers and serums can be swapped out for lighter formulations. Spring always means more color in makeup palettes and lighter glossier finishes for lips, cheeks.  Another must-have item for spring and summer is a great body makeup/lotion to even out self-tanning efforts or use on bare skin to perfect and enhance legs and arms. 

Great skin takes some work, so watch the sun and make sure you protect that thinner skin on the neck, face and hands, the places that give away age first. Also protect your hair with habits and leave in conditioner if you go to the pool or the beach. One day of swimming in a chlorinated pool and letting the sun dry your hair can really ruin the color and texture of your crowning glory.

Make sure to get plenty of rest, take skin loving vitamins and eat the fruits and vegetables in season. 

For this month's best bets for beauty round up, I found some fantastic inexpensive cruelty-free items that do what they say and enhance your beauty routine. Have a look at May 2011 Best of Beauty and take us shopping with you.

SKINCARE

Vichy Neovadiol Gf
www.vichyconsult.com

The 'I hate my neck' blues buster is here. This luxe dense cream is ultra rich and really helps that thin neck skin and décolleté firm up.  The fragrance is slightly spa-like, not too strong, and the effect it has on the problem area for so many is real improvement overall in the look of this age giveaway area.

Don't wait until you are 50 to start minding this area of your body.  Women forget to protect their necks when going to the beach, pool or even driving.  If you want to rock a sexy neck and décolleté like Sophia Loren and Raquel Welch, you need to protect and preserve this skin just as much as your face.  I used the Neovadiol Gf for Day formula and am deeply impressed with how good my neck is looking these days.  A great find.  Paraben and cruelty-free.  Made in France.

Fake Bake Face Polish - Bamboo Buffing Platinum
www.fakebake.com

This is one of the best face scrubs I have had the pleasure of using. Slight sweet fragrance, this creamy moisture rich scrub is perfect to let sit on your face as a moisture mask for a few minutes before you do the circular sweeps. It is not too hard a scrub, just right, and perfect before self-tanning and before using serums and nutrient filled moisturizers before bed, or before a big night out.  2 ounce tube. Paraben and cruelty free.  Made in the USA.

Effaclar Duo - Dual Action Acne Treatment La Roche-Posay  1.35 ounce tube
www.laroche-posay.com

This potent little tube of fragrance-free over-the-counter medicine is clinically proven to reduce both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne. Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide [5.5%], an acne medication, penetrates deep to kill blemishes with minimal irritation.

Lipo-Hydroxy-Acid (LHA) [0.4%] is a lipophilic agent that offers precise, cell-by-cell exfoliation to exfoliate 6x more the number of corneocytes (hard scaly plugs) than salicylic acid.

This is to be used on clean skin one to three times daily depending on the severity of the breakout. and it is paraben-free, dermatologist tested, even for sensitive skin. What you really need to know is that it worked miracles on my teenager's inflamed acne.  Pricier than most drugstore acne, fixes but it does the job.  Made in the USA.

Beauty Without Cruelty Hand & Body Lotion Extra Rich Fragrance Free
www.beautywithoutcruelty.com

Best in show for all the body creams and lotions hands down, AND under $10 Bucks. Beauty Without Cruelty's Hand & Body Lotion Extra Rich Fragrance Free is a ultra creamy and absorbs beautifully with no greasy after feel. This BWC pump lotion has a Shea butter, jojoba, and kukui nut base, plus organic aloe vera gel, arnica and calendula and has zero fragrance; you can addend this lotion with your own essential oils or wear with any fragrance. It is as luxe and fabulous as Mercier, Lazlo and any high-end brand of body cream I have used. Paraben and cruelty free, anyone in the home can use it. BUY THIS.  Made in the USA.

Arcona Triad Pads
www.arcona.com

Instant face wash and refresh, these magic pads are great for road trips or those nights you don't want to get up and wash your face. This cranberry milk-based formula is a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer all in one. Convenient cotton pads in a sleek jar are perfect for your gym bag or desk at work.  I love the entire Arcona line of skincare, first told about it by Heba Thorsdottir (ScarJo's makeup artist) about four years ago. These Triad pads are perfect to exfoliate and deep cleanse without running water. Men love these pads too, as they help with the razor bumps and deep cleanse for a nice glowing complexion. Cruelty and Paraben free. Made in the USA.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter with Vitamin E SPF 15 UVA/UVB Protection  3.38 ounce tube
www.palmerscocoabutter.com

New packaging for this entire line of reasonably priced skincare. This light lotion absorbs quickly into the skin and has a light scent.  It gives hydrating moisture and sun protection, and does not feel too heavy on your skin. The newly repackaged skincare line includes a cleanser, exfoliant scrub/cleanser, day cream with SPF 15, night cream and eye cream.  Inexpensive and best suited for normal to drier skins. Made in the USA.

Sibu Sea Buckthorn line, replenishing night cream, hydrating serum and pump cleanser
www.sibubeauty.com

All the Omegas (3, 6, 7 and 9) are representing in this fantastic and simple skincare line based on the Sea Buckthorn berry extracts. The pump dispenser cleanser has a soft grain suspended in the gel cleanser that really polishes the skin right up, morning and night.  I even use the night cream in the day over the hydrating serum which is thinner than most, and all fragrance-free.

Natural sea buckthorn oils in these products did improve my skin tone and texture, and help brighten my complexion.   I have combination skin that skews oilier in the hot months, and can actually feel my facial skin firming when the serum and cream settle in. I have told everyone about this fair trade, all natural cruelty-free paraben free line; you need to give it a try too. Moderate price range.  Made in the USA.

Decleor Aroma White C Intense Brightening Mask  5 individual sachets
www.decleorusa.com

This is everything a mask should be: Refreshing, actually makes a difference in the color and tone of the skin, and easy to apply and remove.  This is the perfect product to apply before watching a good TV show while lying down or laying back in a chaise. The ingredients obliterate hyper pigmentation (pregnancy mask, brown spots, freckles, uneven skintone) with a special plant complex, Sodium Hyaluronate, plus Licorice extract and Vitamin C.  The mask is pre-soaked, all you do is lay back and think of England.  Hydrating too.   Made in France.

Decleor Baume Slim Effect
www.decleorusa.com

The French have always loved potions and creams that are for cellulite reduction, and this is one of the newer products.  The Decleor Baume Slim Effect does help facilitate massage techniques that do reduce the look of cellulite, and the rich formula improves skin elasticity and the act of rubbing it in is beneficial for microcirculation and removal of toxins.

Bottom line: Along with exercise, diet and rest (sleep makes you skinnier), massaging your skin with beautifying ingredients (the Baume has Jojoba seed oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Grapefruit Extract, Rosemary Leaf Oil and more) will make the uneven pockets of sub-dermal fat (aka cellulite) look a hell of a lot prettier than if you do nothing.  You must be consistent and you will see results.  Made in France.

HAIR

Suki Hair and Scalp Conditioning Oil
www.sukipure.com

This is a miracle worker and a multi-tasker for the whole family: A leave-in conditioner, an intensive treatment for fragile brittle hair, a soothing and healing treatment for eczema, dermatitis and dandruff.  Vegan and cruelty-free, this serum/oil is comprised of Rosemary, Lavender and rose extracts with Neem extract, a tropical Indian evergreen that promotes healing and hair growth.  Use small amounts, 1 to 2 pumps maximum. Brush through the hair or work directly into the scalp.   I do a treatment twice a week, and my hair ends are always shiny and never split or dry looking.  Made in the USA.

göt2b Rockin' It Encore Fresh Dry Shampoo 4.3 ounce can
www.got2b.com

I can go for up to three days between shampoos in dry Southern California if I have no big plans. I color my hair so I try not to torture it too much, because the last thing I want is oxidized hay hair.  Dry Shampoos are great for the quickie pick up to pump up flat hair that has a lot of oil at the root.  göt2b Rockin' It Dry Shampoo is specially formulated with rice starch and collagen to allow you to style your hair and stretch it for the between shampoo times. Spray in short bursts about 8 inches away from your head and don't smoke anywhere near it! Inexpensive. Cruelty free. Made in Germany.

BWC Daily Benefits Shampoo
www.beautywithoutcruelty.com

You heard me rave above about their lotion, and for a daily shampoo, Beauty Without Cruelty's home run shampoo is plant based with aroma-therapeutic oils to give it a heavenly scent. Birch, clover, nettle and sage are just some of the beneficial ingredients. I color my hair and this shampoo does not dry my hair out at all. This highly affordable unfussy skin and haircare line should be in every household; it's that good and a hell of a deal. Made in the USA.  Disclosure: It has a matching conditioner as well, which I have not tried as of yet. Made in the USA.

SUN

Fake Bake Flawless Spray Self-Tan Liquid and Professional Kit - 6 ounces
www.fakebake.com

Smelling of tropical coconut and all things delicious and not at all funky, this realistic deep self-tanner will not make you orange. In fact, Fake Bake's Luxurious Golden Bronze has one of the best resulting colors that is easy to manage and apply.  Their secret weapon is the special mitt included that makes rubbing this in the best way to ensure you cover all the areas instead of using bare hands. Fantastic product, and my new favorite self-tanner hands down. Made in the USA.

MAKEUP AND COLOR

Pretty Woman Airbrushed Nails
www.prettywomanusa.com

Blinged out murals, embedded stones and decals are raging for spring and summer. If you want to bust out the look but want to save big money, these sets of already airbrushed painted false nails are shaped in a rounded squared tip, and come with glue and instructions.  I even glued one on my neighbor's dog whose nails were ridiculous. It actually looked good. Maybe there's an opportunity here. This is really trippy fun for people who go wild on their nails, but for more classic manicure types, they make glue on French manicure nails too.  Inexpensive.  Made in China.

Black Opal Mosaic Bronzer
www.blackopalbeauty.com

This is the best beauty steal of the year, for white girls who want a gorgeous bronzer that looks like Chanel, Dior or MAC, this bargain buy Mosaic Golden Bronzer is highly pigmented with just a hint of shimmer in a base that also contains an oil blotter.  I have written this up before but please believe me - if you are light to medium-skinned Caucasian, this is your summer blusher! $10 bucks! Cruelty free and no parabens. Made in the USA

Lime Crime Lipsticks, eyeshadows, eyeshadow helper
www.limecrimemakeup.com

I first found this line of makeup when I was recently at Dancing with the Stars' makeup trailer, digging around Emmy Award winning makeup artist Melanie Mills' kit. The packaging first caught my eye (A glittery silver Unicorn on a Lavender purple high gloss bullet case) and the color range is Alice in Wonderland amazing.

My seasonal hot picks you need to check out are Coquette, a J-Lo beige pink matte yet luxe creamy lipstick to be blended or worn alone and Countessa Flourescent, a pop of pure pink, also in a matte yet creamy rich formula. 

Hands down the prettiest new red lipsticks to hit the market are their Retrofuturist, a rich deep pure sophisticated red; Glamour, a brown-based deep red that is my favorite and Centrifuchsia, a deep fuchsia matte that will transport you to 1988 in a good way. Ultra Moist formula. The eyeshadow helper base Candy Eyed Eye Shadow Helper is reminiscent of Painterly, (MAC Paint Pots), but creamier and easier to spread on the lid. Perfect eyeshadow base that intensifies color, prevents creasing and is moisture-resistant.  Cruelty-free and no parabens. Made in the USA.

Gleam Body Radiance
www.gleambymelaniemills.com

The replacement for panty hose; the skin perfector that hides stretch marks, blemishes, light scars and blends hyper-pigmented knees, elbows and spots. 

This is not your mama's shiny body lotion for special nights, but a skin finishing makeup that is transfer-resistant, and comes in four shades so the deepest skins can look lit from within, velvety without a hard shine.

This product was invented on the set of Dancing with the Stars by the head makeup artist, Melanie Mills. who created the face and body makeup look for the show in her five years there.  This is your secret weapon for flawless legs, arms, décolleté and neck, and can be used on the face as well. You will fall in love with this light mousse-like creme.  Use in place of your lotion. Paraben, phthalates, sulfate and cruelty free.  Jojoba oil, olive oil and botanical extract base. Made in the USA.

Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Foundation
www.dermablend.com

If you have some serious concealing to do, this line - around for many years - is the best water resistant and lasting makeup base that can cover everything thrown at it.  Port wine stains, scars, broken veins and plain old blemishes are obliterated.  For the body, I used the Honey Beige (I self-tan) to cover spider veins and any little marks and problems in the legs and arms. It is highly pigmented and invaluable to have for the summertime to perfect legs, décolleté and arms. People who are looking for serious coverage and a lasting effect need go no further.  Made in the USA.