Consumer Health Features
August 2012: Back-to-school best new beauty must haves
By April MacIntyre Aug 17, 2012, 4:04 GMT
These are great products to have stowed in your freshman\'s college dorm care pack.
The dog days of summer mark the end of all the fun in the sun and the return to reality for kids heading back to college or high school.
This is that time of year when we get the hottest weather, and the cumulative effects of sun, chlorine, sea water and humidity of the East and South, or extreme dryness for the desert/Western states has done a number on everyone’s skin, hair and nails.
Time for a skin and hair reboot!
All the products listed below range from drugstore buys to slightly more expensive, and are outstanding in performance and are recommended to be included in your beauty regimen (for the applicable skin type). These are great products to have stowed in your freshman's college dorm care pack.
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-summer parched 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 products that do the job.
Tried and true, these clever products deliver what they promise and will not let you down. Take us shopping with you:
Calgon Ageless Bath, 26 ounces,
Calgon Ageless Mineral scrub and Soak, 24 ounces
Made in China
www.takemeaway.com
Packaged in a clever milk bottle, this clean smelling potion is heaven to bathe in, and is a nutrient-enriched milk bath with serum beads. Their new Vita-Pearl technology contains pearl powder, vitamin E and collagen. Skin feels soft, smooth and it's perfect for a long stressful day rewind.
Exfoliating Mineral Scrub & Soak also has the same Pearl powder and vitamin infusion, and is a great all over exfoliant that has the same clean smell as the Milk Bath. Their unique 2-in-1 formula exfoliates dead skin cells and relaxes the body as bath soak. It's great on feet too, and helps to get rid of fading self-tanner coloring in the skin lightening fast.
Only negative: Made in China. Priced under $10 for both.
Spa MD Vitaphenol Daily Defense Cream, 1.6 ounces
Made in USA
www.vitaphenol.com
La Jolla Spa MD Vitaphenol Daily Defense Cream is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, free-radical scavenger and superior skin hydrator. Fabulous to pair with caustic glycolics or retinoids for deep exfoliation for fine lines and repairing sun damaged skin texture.
This is the most expensive item listed here, but Vitaphenol Daily Defense Cream ($95) is an effective, soothing, handy hygienic pump of ultra absorbing lotion that protects skin and is perfect for both men and women, especially those who veer to oily. This excellent day lotion is a special formulation made with powerful antioxidants and moisturizers, including green and white teas, mangosteen, and pomegranate extract. EGCG, found in green and white tea, prevents oxidative stress as well as increases antioxidant enzymes after UV irradiation when applied topically.
St. Ives Timeless Skin Apricot scrub, 6 ounces
St. Ives Sensitive Skin Apricot scrub, 6 ounces
St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot scrub, 6 ounces
St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub
www.stives.com
Made in USA
Iconic St. Ives Scrub, which has been around forever, finally got a formula makeover rand the results are brilliant. The company wheeled out these new renditions as 100% sulfate-free formulas.
Perfect for extra-gentle, post-summer exfoliation, these cult-classic scrubs are formulated with 100% natural exfoliants, helping to get rid of flaky, dry, dull skin and have it serum and treatment ready. Suggested retail price is under $6 bucks, and you get a ton of product, and they are easily available at select mass retailers, drugstores and supermarkets nationwide.
Particular note: Really love the St. Ives Blemish Control Green Tea Scrub for problem skin, it is fantastic.
Fake Bake Body Polish, 6 ounces
Fake Bake Skin Smoother Dry Oil Spray, 8 ounces
Fake Bake Tan enhancing Lotion, 6 ounces
Made in USA
www.fakebake.com
Prep and exfoliation are key to the self tan. The perfect way to start the self tanning process, Fake Bake Body Polish gently removes dead skin cells, and feels and smells great while you do it. Their botanicals in the formulation include aloe vera, chamomile, yarrow, sage, fennel and marigold oil.
I love, love, love Skin Smoothie Oil, a quick to absorb unique dry-oil spray that seals in moisture and locking in your sunless tan. Spray on the Skin Smoothie Oil right after you shower, while wet, and then towel dry. This heaven sent delicious product prolongs the life of your tan, leaving your skin feeling refreshed, hydrated and ultra smooth to the touch. Shake the Skin Smoothie well and mist over your entire body. Use daily, after showering. (Not recommended for use on the face).
Ole Henriksen Loofah Body Scrub, 12 ounces
Ole Henriksen Sugar Glow (face), 3.5 ounces
www.olehenriksen.com
Made in USA
Ole Henriksen makes very interesting targeted skincare, and I like the line very much. Their Loofah scrub is meant to help you rev up your metabolic processes for daily scrubbing, from your extremities towards the heart. This daily gently scrubbing (some people also use dry brushes) helps with the elimination of toxins while topically providing the skin with a luminous glow from the vigorous exfoliation. The Loofah Body Scrub is cooling, and contains gentle jojoba beads to exfoliate.
Another treat is his face scrub, the Sugar Glow, made from honey, organic sugar, pomegranate and grapefruit juice. I love it, and I leave it on too as a natural humectant moisture pack (honey) for stressed out days. The pomegranate seeds and raw organic sugar act as an exfoliant to dislodge dead skin cells for dry aging skin that may be too sensitive for harsher scrubs. Meanwhile, the honey and citrus juices work to polish the skin leaving skin hydrated and luminous.
Cygalle True Holistic Volcanic Clay Scrub, 4 ounces
Cygalle True Holistic Sea Pearl Elixir, 1 ounce
www.cygallehealingspa.com
Made in Canada
Cygalle Dias created the Cygalle Healing Spa, an innovative, eco-friendly wellbeing sanctuary that offers specialty treatments, spa management, design, and marketing. In 2009 she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her trailblazing work in Holistic Health by the New York College of Health Professionals. Her latest entries to the skincare line include a Cygalle True Holistic Volcanic Clay Scrub, made with mineral exfoliants harvested from a rich volcanic source that gently exfoliate and deep cleanse without stripping. Ingredients include Kukui Nut, which contains Vitamins A, E, F, Linoleic and Linolenic Acids, helps revitalize and restore skin’s normal activity. Pineapple Enzymes and Pulp add additional skin conditioning benefits.
Her excellent pump delivery (we hate jars, and this is so packable too) Cygalle True Holistic Sea Pearl Elixir is a fabulous nutrient-dense serum that absorbs quickly, leaving skin flawlessly smooth. This super hydrating potion contains organic seaweed extract and humectants such as natural Aloe, Squalane, and Phytohyaluronate. Men and women can use this, even the oilier skins too.
Burt's Bees Orange Petalooza GUD natural Nourishing Shampoo 12 ounces
Burt's Bees Orange Petalooza GUD Natural Body Wash, 10 ounces
Burt's Bees Orange Petalooza GUD Conditioner, 12 ounces
www.gudproducts.com
Made in USA
This is heavenly in fragrance and works like a charm for very little money. Orange Petalooza is a concoction of blood orange and hyacinth, with top notes of Blood Orange, Pomelo, Green Tea mid notes of Orange Flower, Rose, Hyacinth and dry notes of Musk, Sandalwood. Like their other products, there are no parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals and it's never ever tested on animals. A blended refreshing fragrance with an energizing boost, allthree products are great buys and leave skin and hair looking great.
Arbonne Pure Mint Toothpaste, 5 ounces
Arbonne Pure Mint Deodorant, 1.7 ounces
Arbonne Pure Mint Mouthwash, 14.5 ounces
www.arbonne.com
Made in USA
The power of pure mint is what makes this new oral and body care line soar above other similar natural toothpaste and deodorant lines. It's a pleasure to use, and the deodorant actually works, unlike some other competitors whose offerings fall short quickly. Contains no artificial flavors, the fluoride-free gel toothpaste cleanses and brightens teeth. Just the right combination of mint and spearmint flavors, plus added white tea, ginger, grape, pomegranate and cranberry to freshen breath.
The Pure Mint Mouthwash is addicitve, with the flavor of spearmint plus extracts from cranberry, grape, pomegranate and ginger. This minty formula alcohol-free, paraben-free, and formulated without sodium lauryl sulfate. Safe for all to use.
The Pure Mint Deodorant is an aluminum-free, paraben-free deodorant infused with mint and extracts from white tea, ginger, lemongrass, sage, and tea tree that fights bad odor and helps you feel fresh all day. Baking soda and vegetable enzymes neutralize odor, blocking the effects of odor-causing bacteria for gentle protection.
Bremenn Research Labs Emergency Zit Stick, .07 ounce
www.Bremennlabs.com
Made in USA
Targeted, fast acting and not expensive, this super-concentrated, instant acting formula reduces redness and sweeling on contact while it begins to heal and clear the underlying blemish, without caking or drying. Works like a champ, and packs discreetly in a makeup bag or backpack.
S&P Hand Cream
2.3 ounces
www.soapandpaperfactory.com
Made in USA
This company works me in a great way; I love their reduce, reuse, recycle ethos and the product we tried - Marine Hand Cream - was heaven in a tube.
This rich, velvety hand cream is beautifully perfumed and loaded with the finest oils available in nature, handcrafted with botanicals and free of paraben, phthalate, and petroleum. Not tested on animals.
This natural recyclable, reusable line is designed with the environment in mind. They use recycled papers to wrap their boxes and tubes, also packaging is made from recycled materials to hold products. Your hands also look amazing after usage.
April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor who loves to visit and celebrate small American businesses when she can. You can contact her on Twitter
