Donation of the week - December 18th, 2008

Uh oh...It is one mere week before Christmas and you haven't accomplished any of your holiday goals! You got presents for all your co-workers, your sister and your mom but you still haven't found that perfect toy for your niece and nephew. AND you haven't made any kind of charitable donation!

Well folks, this weeks DOTW is your place to go for both of those things!!

Hit up Kmart! (It's not just for Jaclyn Smith designer clothes anymore...I am in love with the Martha Stewart line.)
Not only do they have amazing gifts for everyone on your list - toys for sure but awesome clothes, home decor and electronics as well - they partner each year with St. Jude's Research Hospital to help fund healthcare for children who cannot afford it. Working with St. Jude's they offer the Thanks and Giving^® campaign. At participating Kmart stores, customers can buy $1, $5 or $10 "add-ons" to their purchase. It is a quick and easy way for you to not only get your shopping done, but do a little good for sick kids while you are at it.

So get out there- one week to go and lots of holiday love left to spread!

Keep Looking Fabulous,
BGND

If you are shopping for...

Your mother (or mother in law or step mother etc...)!

Moms are tough to shop for in my experience. Either they have absolutely everything and want for nothing, or they are set in their ways and don't like to go out of their beauty box. My solution to this problem? Perfume. I know it seems weird because scent is such a personal item but I think for mom's - scent is the way to go. Either they have a signature scent (in which case - gift done!) or they never buy it for themselves but as a child you can guess what she might like.

So today I present you with the 3 best fragrances (in BGND's experience) for any mom on your list...

1) Chanel 5
THE classic. Timeless, beautiful and elegant. Many many moms swear by this and if they don't wear it now they may have in the past or always wanted to try it. An elegant multi-purpose and timeless scent.

2) Clinique Happy

Fruity, fun and floral. Inexpensive yet delicious. A great every day kind of perfume for any kind of mom. And you know if mom doesn't like the perfume she will like something at Clinique!

3) Angel by Thierry Mugler

Soft and sweet. Reminiscent of baby powder. This is a great perfume for a mom who likes a hint of scent but nothing too strong, musky or flowery.

So hopefully these three scents are a good place for you to start. But don't forget, perfumes are a super easy gift to return, they usually cost enough that Mom can get something else decent that she would prefer instead and if you want a product but don't want a perfume, there are scented lotions, powders etc in most fragrance lines.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

If you are shopping for...

Your good friend!

As we all get older, the whole gift giving thing gets a little into the gray area don't you think? We all have expenses and commitments and sometimes on top of the $ we are spending to travel far and wide for the holidays, there isn't a lot of cash left over for presents. And most of my friends are so busy this time of year, it is hard to even hand off a present if we have one for each other! Well regardless of gifts or no gifts we all love each other and don't need anything at this time of year other than our friendship. But sometimes if still feels good to give you know?

So... if you are out there with a little extra cash and looking to get something for a gal friend...here are my BGND approved selections.

Luxe Noir Bling Pocket Brush Set by Sephora - $12 (Sephora nationwide and online at Sephora.com)

I LOVE this little kit. It has all your brush essentials, is perfect for your purse or travel, comes in an awesome little case (available in three colors!) and it is Sephora- all for $12! True love!


Tarte Tres Cheek Limited Edition Mini Cheek Stain Set - $25 (Sephora nationwide and online at Sephora.com)Now this is a killer cosmetic gift. I love these cheek stains...as you loyal BGND readers know I have featured this cheek stain in a POTW before. Here you get three separate colors glammed up for the holidays in a fantastic gold clutch all for $25. (A full-size Tarte cheek stain goes for $28). Stylish and multi-faceted...true BGND!



Soap and Glory Scrub Triangle Mini Gift Set - $9.99 (Target Nationwide and Target.com)


Soap and Glory is so cute, so stylish and best of all- totally affordable. This cute little three pack has all you need for super soft skin and at such a discount that I recommend ditching the box it comes in and buying one of the many cute cosmetic clutches available at Target and throwing the items in there. Voila! An awesome pampering gift for under $20!

So readers, I hope this helps with your shopping dilemma of the week....

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Donation of the Week - December 11th, 2008

So here is a little something different for the DOTW this week. At the holidays I think we all love to be with family and friends. We love to honor our traditions, eat the foods we love, play the games we play every year, go to the parties and hug and kiss those closest to us. Sadly, there are many people who will not get the chance to do any of those things. The men and women of the United States Armed Forces risk their lives every day to protect the freedoms in this country, but in order to do this they often spend a majority of time away from the comforts of home. Needless to say this must be especially painful at the holidays.

Well, if you are looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season but only have limited funds, sending a care package to the men and women in uniform might be just the thing for you to do. We all love care packages and right now the United States Post Office offers a flat-rate on care packages for US Soldiers- a mere $10.95.

So if you are looking for an economical and great way to spread some holiday cheer- hop on over to the P.O.!

For a list of items that our service men and women need most (and where to send them), check out these helpful websites:
www.anysoldier.com/
www. soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=adopt-a-soldier

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Hark how the deals, sweet online deals.....

So we all know the economy is a stinker right now...However, we all love giving a little something at the holidays....and sadly the two don't always go hand in hand. Well have no fear!

Today BGND is back for another round of "online discount codes"!!! Back in October I gave you, my fearless readers, a list of discount online codes so that you could buy yourself some Halloween treats. Well today I present you with an up to date list so that you can go out and save some money on all those gifts you are buying...or perhaps just save a little on something for yourself!

So here are the latest codes in no particular order....

Happy Online Shopping!

Sephora: Free Shipping on Orders over $50 - Enter SHIPPING50 at checkout.

ELF Cosmetics: 50% your entire order - Enter BATH50 at checkout.

Macy's: 10-15% off your entire order and free shipping - Enter GIFTED at checkout.

Benefit Cosmetics:

$10 off when you spend $50 or more, $25 dollars off when you spend $100 or more - Enter BEAUTY10 or BEAUTY25 at checkout.

Free standard shipping on $25 or more - Enter DECEMBER at checkout.

Free shipping on $50 or more - Enter PRETTY50 at checkout.

Clinique: Free Holiday Sample Trio of Clinique Favorites plus free shipping on $50 ore more - Enter TRIO at checkout.

Estee Lauder: Free shipping on orders over $25 - Enter CREG0202 at checkout.

Lancome: Free Shipping on any order plus free deluxe sample collection with $40 or more - Enter HOLIDAY8 at checkout.

Prescriptives: Free standard shipping on $35 or more - Enter FREESHIP2 at checkout.

ULTA: 20% off any one item( some exclusions) - Enter 97176 at checkout.

Keep in mind BGNDers - these are only the tip of the coupon code iceberg- there are many many deals to be had..I just picked a few of the best to share with you. So if you want a deal on something and you don't see it here- be a cyber sleuth and go find it! Chances are it is out there!

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Makeup "all in ones" aka palettes are some of the most tempting products out there. They are well designed and the packaging always draws me in. Not to mention I look at all those eye shadows and lip glosses and I think- what a deal! 25 eye shadows and 10 lip glosses all for $45? SOLD! Well of course what we all realize sooner or later is that more often than not, most of these package deals that make-up lines offer are not the greatest deals to be had. The colors do not work or you only use a few of the shadows (and the portions are miniature anyway), no one ever uses the lip gloss choices (a giant palette is not the easiest thing to stick in your purse) and so on and so forth. Most of the time what you get is one eyeshadow that you have spent $45 dollars on...um...not exactly frugal.

However, every now and again an all in one combo comes along that blows my socks off. The colors are great, you like everything in the pack and it is a good deal. My recent discovery that fits this bill?

Cargo's Holiday Nights Collection - $25 (exclusively at Sephora and Sephora.com)
This is THE holiday dream. The picture above does not truly do it justice. You get 4 FULL size shadows, a giant sized blush, a beautiful and once again full size eyeliner and a fun little tube of holiday sparkle - all for $25. Not only that, the colors are fantastic, perfect for the holiday season and they work beautifully together, alone or mixed in with whatever you already have in your make up kit. In other words, you just paid $25 for what you would pay almost 3-4 times for under normal circumstances. (To give you an idea, Cargo shadows normally run $16 each. ) It is a beautiful set and a heck of a deal.

A word to the blue/silver shadow nervous....I know you may be fearful if you have warmer toned skin...but this set is available for trial at Sephora and I am confident that the colors will look nice on almost everyone. Try the shadows on your inner wrist and see if you like the results...I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Enjoy this great deal and keep looking fabulous,
BGND

P.S. I LOVE the Pucci- inspired satin covering the outside of this kit!

Reader Favorites!!

First of all I want to thank all you lovelies who wrote in and told me what was in your make-up bags- keep those emails coming!!!

Today I am going to share with you my favorite reader's favorites... perhaps YOUR next favorite is one of these wonderful items.

1) DiorShow Mascara - $24 (Sephora nationwide)
(Submitted by Jen H.)

Jen's comments on Diorshow: "My new discovery that I can't live without is DiorShow black mascara! I LOVE how it makes my lashes huge and my eyes pop!"

Um- sounds like a winning endorsement to me! Not only did Jen rave about this mascara, it is one of "Sephora's best" and has raves posted nearly everywhere i looked online. Known for it's glamour inducing rich color, this mascara is great for those looking for bold deep lashes. Best of all it is available in not only the usual brown and black but very cool Azure Blue and Plum!
Thanks Jen!!

2) Philosophy The Supernatural Airbrushed Canvas SPF 15 - $35 (Sephora nationwide)
(Submitted by Lauren F.)
Lauren's comments on The Supernatural: "It's all about the packaging! I swear that they were one of the first to do the whole, 1 piece, powder/face puff/mirror on the lid packaging and it's the best! I'm always putting my makeup on, on the go, so there's no way I could lay out a powder, tap the lid and use separate brushes to get a great look. Also, it's a great foundation, stays on all day, the face puff is removable and replaceable (only $1 per extra puff), so a jar will last 6 months, easily, and it won't get all gunky, so you're skin stays clear - and it has SPF, which I know you love."

I don't think I need to elaborate any more than that! The new go to mineral foundation for every BGND reader!! Thanks Lauren!

So for your Friday, here are the two new "reader faves" that I am now a fan of as well....I love the tips so keep them coming!

Thanks to my friends Jen and Lauren for today's post features!!

Keep looking fabulous and have a great weekend,
BGND

Donation of the Week - December 4th, 2008

So as you may be able to tell from the title of today's post there isn't a POTW this week - sorry all! Instead, as a nod to this time of year and the fact that as much as I love the products and I am often extolling you to rush out and buy something new, for the month of December I am dedicating my POTW blogs every Thursday to something nice we can all do in order to help others this holiday season. So today I give you my first "donation" of the week. But not to worry, this is actually something we all can do that costs only the amount of a postage stamp and should easily fit into your holiday shopping schedule.

The Macy's Believe Campaign

Macy's is teaming up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation this holiday season to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses everywhere. The Macy's campaign is called "A Million Reasons to Believe" and it is beautifully simple and easy to take part in. Simply write a short letter to Santa and then drop off the stamped letter addressed to Santa at the North Pole in the official RH Macy Santa Mail Letter Boxes in all Macy's stores. For every letter stamped and addressed to Santa at the North Pole, Macy's will contribute $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to 1 million dollars). To see the official MAW website dedicated to the Believe campaign - here you go : http://www.wish.org/help/macy_s_believe.

A actual sample letter from a child:

Dear Santa,

This is Emily. I can't wait for Christmas this year! My cancer is gone and I have great presents to give to my family.

Christmas is always about how much you get, but how much you give. There are not many things I want this year because I already received the best gift.

I can't wait to see all the lights and Christmas trees! This time of year is so beautiful and magical!

I hope no one's been naughty this year!

from,

Emily

That last line is classic! I a big supporter of MAW and have seen firsthand what they are capable of doing and how they change the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses and their family and friends. Sadly in recession times, charities and volunteer organizations often lose a lot of funding since to many who donate and support these organizations the funding they give is an "non-necessity" expense and something they can eliminate in hard times.

So get out there and write a letter to Santa. You can drop it off on your way to the MAC counter and it is a great, low cost way for you to make a difference.

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

P.S. Here is the link to the Macy's Believe website : http://www.macysbelieve.com/#/Home?ga=MakeAWish

If you are shopping for....

Hey all! So today I start a special holiday- themed blog series..."If you are shopping for..." Once again my brilliant friend Beth has come up with a great blog idea (you are the best Beth- keep them coming!!!). She suggested that I do a series of gift ideas for my readers...and I thought that was BRILL! So here you are ladies and gents, the first in the series!

So...

If you are shopping for....

Your lovely co-worker!

It is always awkward trying to get something for a co-worker. Do you just bake them cookies? Do you simply give them a card? Or do you go with the easy gift card route? Well today I suggest you hop on over to your local favorite store and mine - Sephora. They have about a million gift ideas and the one that caught my eye today?

Philosophy The Recipe Box - $18

Okay seriously - how cute is this little package? Philosophy is always tops when it comes to packaging and design and when you want to impress your co-worker and get her something she will swoon for but don't want to spend $50 then this is the way to go. You get three fabulous and yummy scents of Philosophy's 3 in 1 cleansers plus this adorable "recipe" box with recipe cards to mix and match the 3 scents. Love it!!

Now, if you want to spend a bit more and get even more into the holiday spirit....

Philosophy The Holiday Cookbook - $35

Here you get 6 instead of 3 seasonal scents and they come in a realistic sized "cookbook". SO cute!

Now if you don't think either of the above would be good for your co-worker...fear not, this is just the tip of the gift iceberg at Sephora. There are many many options to go round, a bunch of them under $25! Gotta love that. So get out there and get a little something to impress your cubicle mate and if you don't need (and/or want) to buy anything for your work neighbor- get one for yourself!

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Party like it's 1999....

Not that I don't want to seem ungrateful or anything but sometimes it seems like December has become one very looong party. From the office shindig, to your neighbor's wine and cheese soiree to your mother in law's caroling tradition, it can feel like all you are doing during the holidays is trudging from one party to the next! What's worse? After a while the last thing you want to do is get all fancy and you end up wearing the same black satin shift you have worn for the past three years with the same tired party-make up look.

Well have no fear BGNDers! Today I present you with the one, the only tool you will need in your holiday make-up arsenal.

Presenting the AMAZING...drum roll please.....

Benefit High Beam - $24 (Benefitcosmetics.com and Benefit and Sephora counters nationwide)

I have been buying this dream lotion since college- and believe me that is a long time! It is the perfect pick me up so that fun party make up is a no-brainer. It will give you just enough glow, just enough sheen that all you will have to do is apply a fresh coat of mascara and then dot this miracle worker in the right places and you will be good to go.

If you are leaving work and heading out for the night, this will take your daytime look into night time seduction mode so you will end up underneath the mistletoe just like you wanted.

Seriously though, there are a few places where High Beam works best. The brow bone, just at the top of the cheek bones, the center of your bottom lip and the inner corner of your eyes. Just take the brush, dot a few dots in your desired area and then use a finger to spread those dots but don't smear. Dab at those dots to spread them. Think of how they always apply lip gloss in movies? You know what I am talking about right? The ridiculous dab technique? Well use that to spread your High Beam and you will be right on track.

However, there is too much of a good thing so I recommend picking 1 to 2 spots only to apply this lotion. You don't want to look like you are weirdly white and shiny. We are going for illumination only.

And let's not forget, this lotion is not just for the holiday season...it can work to give you that extra glow all year long. LOVE that.

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Food induced coma....

Hey BGND readers- I am back!!

Sorry for the lack of posts last week...with family in town and hosting the big day of food at our place, the week was INSANE. However I am back, post-Turkey and ready to give you your BGND fix on this first day of December. So what is my first December post about? What products am I loving post-Thanksgiving?

Cellulite cream of course! (hahaha...I couldn't help myself.)

Now granted, it is winter time, so depending on where you live you are probably bundled up and no one but you, your roommates and perhaps a love interest are seeing you in your skivvies. Well, the sight of myself in skivvies is enough - yikes!! One too many helpings of stuffing and my thighs and backside need some serious help. In general, I think expensive cellulite creams are really not worth the money. We all know that they only way to get rid of the majority of cellulite is to tone up and lose some weight. However, 85% of women have cellulite- and it doesn't matter if you are Uma Thurman or someone who does not look so killer in a bikini- cellulite will strike young and old, thin and heavy. (I am not going to post any cellulite pics today- we all know what it looks like and those celebs with "cellulite" look pretty damn good to me and they are picked apart enough!)

So even though genetics has a lot to do with it, and even if you are skinny, you sometimes still have cellulite, there are some creams that can help tone and tighten the surface of your skin. No cream is going to get rid of cellulite but they can make the appearance of it slightly better. So here are my budget friendly picks for cellulite cream. Have fun but please don't rush out and spend crazy amounts of $ on cellulite creams. Go with something cheaper that works well and you will be satisfied - besides your roommates/love interest like you just the way you are!

For the multi-tasker:

Suave Firming Moisturizer - $4.49 (Drugstores and online nationwide)

This lotion is fantastic. First of all, it has a key anti-cellulite ingredient- seaweed extract. It is inexpensive, it works like a dream and it smells great- YES please!!

For the Budget babe:

Soap and Glory Slimwear Puff-Draining Peptide Balm - $13 (Target Nationwide and online at Target.com and Amazon.com)

This lotion uses the same techniques that eye creams use to de-puff bags, but applies it to your saddlebags - haha- I am full of jokes today - I know! Seriously though, this lotion held it's own when compared with others 5 times the cost.

For the Sleep-on-it gal:

Bliss Fat Girl Sleep - $38 (Sephora nationwide and online at Amazon.com and blissworld.com)

This thick pot of gold comes stocked with lotus extract (comparable to caffeine's tightening tricks) and algae. You rub this one is for 30 seconds and then sleep on it. A night time massage that helps reduce the appearance of those dimples- LOVE IT.

So there you have it kids- my picks for the best cellulite reducing (and by that I mean reducing the appearance ) creams out there. If you want to go out on your own and test some out - please do and report back! Just remember, I do not recommend spending more than $40 and make sure you look for something that has caffeine, algae, seaweed, lotus extract or peptides.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Calling all BGND readers!!

Hey BGND folks!!

So today my blog post is going to be a little different....instead of me blabbing on about my new favorite product or practice, I have a request for you.

I would like to know YOUR favorite products! Once again, my brilliant friend Beth gave me an idea....

I am going to start doing a "make-up bag" recurring blog...but not my make-up bag...your make-up bags! I would love to know what the products are that you can't live without and which ones are your new favorite discoveries. Then I can share all of your fabulous and hard earned beauty knowledge with my readers. Because, let's be honest....we ALL have been playing around with products and make-up for years..not just me! So I would love to know what you think!

Email me your make-up bag contents at beautygirlnextdoor@gmail.com.

And if you, like Beth, have any great blog ideas- let me know- I love the input!!

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

And so the lion fell in love with the lamb...

Last week Quantum of Solace, this week Twilight. Yup, it's movie madness over here in BGND land. Well, I thought this week's movie du jour was the perfect springboard for the newest trend that I have been 50% scratching my head at/50% itching with curiosity to try.

What trend you ask? Why the oh so glam (oh not so glam?) and vampire trendy black lipstick. Yup...black lipstick is not just for Halloween anymore. If you have not noticed, it has been ALL over the runways and in the magazines this fall. I have not seen many big stars out and about rocking the dark hue but you know it is just a matter of time before Gwen Stefani works it and then a succession of trend loving but not as cool starlets will try the look (Yes - you Miley Cyrus and Paris Hilton!)

Well, as I said, I am not totally sold...but for those of you brave of heart (and maybe for those of you who just want to look Alice Cullen-ish at Twilight this weekend- hehe)...here are a few tips to make the black lipstick thing work for you.

1) Do not go halfway there - go all the way. If you are going to work this lipstick, you must own it...otherwise you will just get stares.

2) Match the rest of your make-up accordingly. Don't go too sparse or you will actually look un-dead and don't go too heavy or you will look like the Elvira. You want to have even skin tone, some color to your cheeks and a present but not too smokey neutral eye look.

3) Layer it over something else to get a dark look without being too severe. My favorite for this is a deep awesome red lip color. That way the black is still present and bold but not in a costume way. Another option is to don a nude lipstick, top with black and then dab some shimmery gloss in the center of your bottom lip. Think Ziggy Stardust and glam rock.

4) Don't go out and get the premiere gold standard Yves Saint Laurent version straight out of the gate (besides it has been hard to find and in some instances sold out for months). Buy an affordable lipstick or lip gloss first and get your feet wet. Then when you love the look, go get the main attraction by YSL. Or even better? Buy a Wet n' Wild black eyeliner, line and fill those lips then swipe some clear gloss. Cheap and Chic!

5) Just try it! I am sure some of you scoffed at the black nails 3 seasons ago and now it is just an everyday color mixed in with the thousands of bottles at your nail salon....who knows...black lipstick could be the same! Maybe someday it will even be the free color you get in your Clinique gift with purchase...okay maybe not....

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Product of the week - November 20th, 2008

I think most of you BGND readers know that I am kind of obsessed with blush. I own a lot of it. It seems to be the product that I always end up buying even when I don't need it and there are many unopened containers in my make-up case at home...you know what I am talking about you girls who always buy lipstick or eyeshadow- I know you are out there!

Well, today as I was getting ready I was reminded once again why I LOVE this week's product of the week. It is my go-to powder blush and for a gal who loves blush, that is saying something!

Covergirl TruBlend Minerals Blush - $6.56 (Drugstores and online nationwide)
(shown below in True Romance - my shade of choice)

This blush is the only one I have found out there that gives you the same gentle flush of color that a gel blush can provide. It goes on smoothly, looks amazingly natural and is made of minerals - great for the skin. It does not streak or have that dreaded stripe-like blush look. It simply looks like you have a lovely color to your cheeks with just the tiniest bit of sheen. Genius!

I actually found this blush off of a cover look in a magazine. I believe it was an old issue of Allure that had Rihanna on the cover and I loved her look so much I actually read the make-up credits page and went out and bought this blush. I could not believe it was only $7 and it is a HUGE container. I was also astounded that not only did this blush look great alone, it layered well with other colors or with gel blushes if you wanted more intense color. Plus, something that can look good on a pale freckly gal and Rihanna? I am sold. And I think you will be too! Go check it out!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Serum Schmearum....

Well it is official. What is the one thing I get asked about most since I have started this blog?

Serum!

Is it necessary? Will it help fine lines? Wrinkles? Age spots?

The answers - yes, yes, yes and let me think...YES. Serum is your friend. If you are not already using a serum - you should be. It is the first thing that should go onto your freshly washed skin at night before your night cream. It will give your face all the fantastic miracle workers it needs and will help your night time cream work even better than it does alone.

A good serum is the first step in your anti-aging arsenal. It locks in moisture and deposits the anti-agers and smoothers that you need to actually make a difference. Most good serums will have some of the following..Retinol, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Peptides and moisturizers. However, like most facial products, serum are not one size fits all. I myself have tried many many serums and will bounce back and forth between a few different options. However, below is my current list of faves. These serums are either accepted industry wide as the best of the best or serums I have personally tried and enjoyed. (In no particular order...)

1) Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Serum - $19.99 (drugstores and online nationwide)

Pro - Chock full of the ingredients that you are looking for and at a reasonable price. Con- I have found the scent of this serum odd- almost like maple syrup. Strange but true.

2) Clinique Repairwear Deep Wrinkle Concentrate - $55 (Clinique counters and clinique.com)

Pro - One of the best out there for deep wrinkles, prompts major collagen production. Con - could be too strong for some younger skin.

3) Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Treatment - $155 (Online at beauty.com and elizabetharden.com, also at select department stores)

Pro - The gold standard. Created in conjunction with the company responsible for Botox. Con- expensive and perhaps too intense for some.

4) Kinerase Pro+Therapy Advanced Repair Serum - $132 (Sephora and various online retailers)

Pro - Great for those that need the help but have sensitive skin. Con- Expensive and hard to find.

5) Prescriptives Super Line Preventer Extreme - $48-$76 (Prescriptives.com and department stores nationwide)

Pro- Intensely moisturizing yet gentle. Con - Can be hard to find since it is so popular. One time went to 4 different Prescriptive counters before I found it...but then again- is that a con?

6) Boots No. 7 Restore and Renew Serum - $21.99 (Cvs.com and Target and CVS stores nationwide)

Pro- the miracle from across the pond. A best-seller in Britain for years. Con - Soothing but might be too light on the good stuff for those who need serious help. Also, a small amount for the $.

So there you have it readers. One note- many people can stand serum both morning and night but for some that may be too much and cause a bad reaction. If that is the case, apply once at night. Also, if you are someone with mature skin who needs more help - go with #2, #3 or #4. If you are someone new to serum or just looking for something to moisturize and give you vitamins - go with #1, #5 or #6.

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Travel season! Yup, the long airport lines...the many many hours in the car..they are all before us. Well, today I was thinking about all the new fees that the airlines have been imposing (those baggage fees are NOT fun!) and it got me pondering ways to cut back on the amount that we all travel with.

And lo and behold, as they have done many times before, Sephora has come through with a great answer to the packing dilemma we all face.

Right now Sephora.com exclusively has some amazing holiday palettes which are not only full of beautiful shades and wondrous products from some of BGND's favorite lines, but with the code SHIPFREE25 all of the palettes will ship free of charge!! (This code is good if you spend $25 or more.) There are collections from Stila, Bare Escentuals, Too Faced, Tarte and Smashbox among others. AMAZING.

http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C17625&view=all&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081114+palettes-_-bi+hol08std-_-palettes&dicid=366750:14502686684:5757118

New fun colors, awesome products and free shipping. Plus a way to make room for all those presents in your luggage!!

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Beauty Girl, Beauty Girl Next Door

Here in the household of BGND - James Bond is a BIG deal. Framed posters adorn our walls, Bond soundtracks fill the air and both members of the BGND household stayed up way too late last night watching the delicious Daniel Craig on Jimmy Kimmel (hilarious!)...So today, in celebration of the release of Bond 22 aka Quantum of Solace, at the suggestion of my good friend Beth (great idea!) I am doing a James Bond themed post.....

I have decided that what better way to honor the legacy of James Bond in BGND fashion then to discuss my favorite Bond girls and the killer looks that they have rocked over the years. There have been many Bond girls as you know (there are 22 movies and counting after all) and while they all are great in their own way, there are some that are more stylish and glamorous than others. So here are my personal top 5 Bond girls, chosen not by their acting or story lines but by their classic looks that you can emulate when you are looking for a little glamorous inspiration for a night out on the the town.

1) Honey Ryder (as portrayed by Ursula Andress in Dr. No)

You really can't have any list of Bond girls without listing the original. Not only did she set the standard for all Bond girls to come, but her classic beachy look can still be rocked today.

To achieve:
- bronzer
- striking eyes (black liner and a bit of smoke)
-neutral cheeks and lips (Smashbox lipstick in Elegant is my go-to choice for this...http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P159000&categoryId=B70)
- hair should be tousled although need not be wet like this shot....a good beachy spray will achieve fullness and a windblown look (Bumble and Bumble surf spray is a good choice)

2) Solitaire ( as portrayed by Jane Seymour in Live and Let Die)

If you have never seen LALD, you are missing out on Jane Seymour in her first starring role at the young age of 22! She plays a Tarot Card reader and her look is simple and elegant. Great for a night out look for those who want drama but aren't into heavy makeup.

To achieve:
- either a professional blow out or a blow out at home (utilize a straightening serum or cream - John Freida serum is a great affordable option for all hair types)
- grey palate of shadow for the eyes with black or grey eyeliner
- light pink lipstick with sheen (Clinique's Bamboo Pink- available as lipstick or lip gloss - is a great choice for the lips here - http://www.clinique.com/templates/products/sp_shaded.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY4903&PRODUCT_ID=PROD743)

3)Paris Carver (as portrayed by Teri Hatcher in Tomorrow Never Dies)

Before she moved to Wisteria Lane, Teri Hatcher was indeed a Bond girl. And even though this movie is more than 10 years old, her looks holds up well. A great bob, dewy skin and great make-up- that never dies (hehe).

To achieve:
- volume spray for your bob (I like Cat Walk Root Boost)
- skin highlight (Benefit High Beam is one of my all time faves - http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/gp/product/B000FBNYRU/sr=1-12/qid=1226689957/ref=sr_1_12/187-5945004-1288429?ie=UTF8&n=164983011&bcBrand=core)
- thick lashes (L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara is great for super dark and thick lashes)

4) Jinx (as portrayed by Halle Berry in Die Another Day)

Oscar winner Halle Berry is the newer version of Ursella Andress's beach babe in this 20th anniversary Bond movie. She looks fabulous and is an alternate beachy look for those who do not have blond hair and blue eyes.

To achieve:
- bronzing lotion to give you the sun-kissed color and the sheen (Clinique's Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator is great)
- bronze and gold shadow palette to smoke the eyes in a non-traditional way
- clear or gently tinted lip gloss (L'Oreal Color Juice Lip Gloss would work well here - http://www.lorealparis.ca/en/cosmetics/index_colourjuice.asp)

5) Camille (as portrayed by Olga Kurylenko in Quantum of Solace)

Definitely a Bond girl for 2008. She is beautiful but natural, and looks good in rags or in couture.

To achieve:
- a great blow dry lotion to seal but give body ( I love Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-Dry lotion - http://www.redken.com/products/styling/mild-control/satinwear-02)
- primer to smooth out lines but look natural (the classic Smashbox Photo Finish Primer works for all)
- great mascara and neutral lipstick

So there you have it BGND readers! Go out there and see Quantum of Solace this weekend and if you are looking for a new make-up or hair look, remember all the great bond girls who have come before! (For a full list - www.bondmovies.com/girls)

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Product of the Week - November 13th, 2008

As most of you BGND readers know, I am a fan of Dove soap. I think it works fabulously , it is affordable and it is kind to the environment. However, I know there are some of you out there who prefer a body wash and are always looking for the next great one to try. So today's POTW is to all of you shower poof loving BGND folk....a fabulous body wash to soothe your sad winter skin.

Olay Body Wash plus Creme Ribbons - $4- $6 (Drugstores and online nationwide)

Now even though I have switched to the Dove, this lovely body wash still tempts me every time I walk down the skin care aisle at Target. It is creamy, smells fantastic and is truly moisturizing. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a rich, smooth body wash that feels luxuriant. The only downside is that this body wash can be pricey but for all of the elements you get, I think it is worth it. You will use less lotion after your shower and be relaxed while you are showering. I love it!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

More harm than good...

So here in LA you will see many many things that women try to do to look younger...the most obvious of course being plastic surgery. You will see some good plastic surgery but plenty of bad when you are walking in Beverly Hills. But even if you don't live in LA, you know bad plastic surgery when you see it. It is almost like a bad face lift is screaming at you "I am trying WAY to hard! I know my skin is all stretched and weird but it has technically gotten rid of my wrinkles! Just don't look at my neck because that will give EVERYTHING away!"

Well as sad as it is too see all that money spent unsuccessfully, there are many things that the average gal does to try to make herself look younger that are not as drastic as plastic surgery but can make you look bad and years older than you are. Yesterday I was in a casting office and I saw woman after woman, beautiful to be sure but many doing the worst things they could- techniques and habits that are sabotaging their look. So today, I present you with the cardinal sins of skin care "age" - avoid these habits at all costs- they do nothing but add years to that beautiful face of yours.

1) Using too much "base" makeup

We all wake up some mornings, look in the mirror and say - "where the heck did that wrinkle/line/spot come from?" And then we reach for the concealer, the foundation, the thick tinted cream and try to cover it up. Well next time - stop yourself. If I see one thing over and over again, it is too much make-up sinking into fine lines and swollen pores making them look worse. You all know what I am talking about, the pretty woman who has piled on foundation trying to make her skin look better only to look like she has bad skin but is trying to cover it up with cake.

The solution?

- use a primer...it will fill in any fine lines and make them appear less than they are...then whatever foundation or powder you apply will not sink into your imperfections but mask them as intended

- use the least amount of "base" you can....take care of your skin and you won't have to mask it with heavy foundations....try to do what you can so you aren't layering things over and over on your face...if you can, go with powder or minerals. If you need more? Work your way up...try tinted moisturizer, if that doesn't work, thin foundation and so on...

2) Neglecting moisture

Just like foundations will sink into fine lines and make them worse, if your skin is dehydrated- everything will show. Imagine your skin in the morning after a bad night of drinking - tired, saggy and full of lines. The same thing will happen if you do not moisturize properly and if you do not drink enough water. Whenever people start to drink the amount of water that everyone says you should their skin improves.

So?

- use a moisturizer that has sunscreen and is intense enough for your skin

- drink your 8 glasses of water a day (at least)

- if you still are having dryness, cut back on caffeine- limit coffee and soda and see the improvement

3) The wrong colors

Ever notice how whenever a star has a bad red carpet look there is always something off about the colors on their skin? When Charlize Theron won her Oscar - her dress was killer but her skin was orange and she looked OLD. Other good examples of this - your elderly neighbor with the bright coral lipstick or the current look that Jenny is rocking on Gossip Girl (hers isn't bad but makes her look 5-8 years older than her 15 years)....You have to be careful about what colors you are using...If you want to look younger, don't go overboard and go fresh. Saturated rich lip and eyeliner colors can be awesome but they are meant for special occasions and to achieve a certain look. Be aware that heavy and bright colors can add years.

So cut out these habits and go forth with fresh young faces!

Keep looking fabulous.

BGND

P.S. I think Renee Z looks fabulous in that photo....

Put your online shopping addiction to some good..

It is the holiday season folks and we are all going to be avoiding long lines at all costs in favor of some good old fashioned-in your pajamas- online shopping. Oh who are we kidding, we love online shopping all year long especially for our beauty products! Well thanks to REAL SIMPLE magazine I have some good news for all of us BGND gals. Whenever you shop online, instead of feeling guilty that you spent another $75 online at Sephora, you can feel great that your money is at least partially going to charity. How you ask?

Well in this month's REAL SIMPLE they mention the fabulous site - http://www.goodshop.com/. Goodshop.com will automatically donate a percentage of your total purchase to the charity of your choice. AMAZING.

You simply go to their website before your shopping binge and pick your favorite charity and then from the goodshop.com website you can link to many many sites- including Sephora, Drugstore.com, Target.com, Walmart.com and many many more!

So yay for guilt free online shopping at Sehpora and all your other favorites....

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Oh Johnson's we heart you...

So today I just want to give a shout out to Johnson's Baby Products. My little niece is having her first birthday party tomorrow and it got me thinking about babies and all the amazingness that comes with the little ones. Then I realized (sadly my thoughts are always BGND related) that the first products we all used were most likely good old Johnson's baby. And yet somewhere in the passage of time, as we got older and were seduced by fancy packaging, bigger price tags and trendy names...we left our original product line in the dust.

Well I am here today to tell you it is time to return (if you have not done so already.) There is a reason that Johnson's Baby is SO successful. They know what they are doing and they have been doing it well on THE most gentle, soft, sensitive skin out there for years. And all those products that our parents so lovingly used on us years ago are all still around, effective and in many ways just as good for our adult skin.

Body dry and itchy?

Johnson's Baby Lotion will do the trick!

Have severe dry skin?

Don't forget about the wonders of Johnson's Baby Oil and Baby Oil Gel.

Want a clean and simple shampoo?

Johnson's Baby Shampoo is the original!

Have super fine hair but still need conditioner?

Johnson's No More Tangles is a friend indeed.

This list is of course just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many powders, lotions, gels, creams etc to try that it is really like a whole new product line waiting out there to be discovered. Plus you know that they will all be hypo-allergenic and of the gentlest nature since they are designed for the newest of skin. Johnson's has even added a naturals line- how can you resist?

Just remember to replace whatever you steal a product from your baby's lotions basket!

Keep looking fabulous,

BGND

Product of the week - November 6th, 2008

Well the election is over, there is a new man soon to be in office but sadly the economy isn't turning around anytime soon. We all still have to pinch a penny here and there, especially with the holidays coming up. And since it can feel majorly guilty to splurge on cosmetics at a time like this, today's POTW is a economy staple that works for all.

Cover Girl Eye Enhancers in Cafe au Lait - $3.94 (Drugstores and online nationwide)




This eyeshadow trio is the BOMB. It is three fantastic colors that work on ALL skin tones. You heard me right. These colors will work for everyone. They are shimmery but not too sparkly and they can be applied lightly for day or layered for a dramatic night time look. This shadow literally can be your natural and neutral daytime look and your smokey, shimmery and sexy night time eye. And all of that for $4!!! This is a steal, it is the one eyeshadow that I buy over and over again and use the whole palate till it is gone.

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Bed Time Blues

Dear BGND,

Whew! The election is finally over and I stayed up WAAY too late watching all the results coming in. Well, when I got up off the couch to wash my face and go to bed I once again lamented my late-night routine confusion! I never know exactly what I should be doing when it comes to my skin care before bed. What order should I apply things? Is serum really necessary? Do I use one eye cream in the morning and a different one at night? HELP! When I crawl into bed I want to drift off into blissful sleep, not toss and turn because I am not quite sure if I did things correctly!

Tired in Tennessee

Dear Tired in Tennessee,

Fear not my friend. Your night time routine should be something you look forward to, not something you cringe away from because you are lost and confused amongst row after row of product and cleanser. The best way to think of your night time routine is that you are getting (hopefully) a blissful 7-8 hours of uninterrupted time for your skin to breathe, recoup and absorb whatever you want it to. Think about the morning...you wash and prep your face and then bam! The minute you step outside the house you are faced with so many things trying to destroy all your hard work, from pesky weather and UVA/UVB rays to the nasty things that float around in our air that we don't even know about- and they all land on and in your pores! Well the lovely night holds no such barriers to skin success. What you put on your skin sinks in for hours and when you wake up you are infinitely better than when you hit the sack if you have done things correctly. So Tired in Tennessee, here is my step by step breakdown of what your nighttime skin care routine should be.

1) Remove Eye makeup

The skin around your eyes is the most delicate on the face and the easiest to wrinkle/show signs of age, so it is all the more important to take good care of it. The first step to that is to use a proper eye makeup remover that will gently cleanse the eye area and get you ready for your facial cleanser. Do not rely on your facial cleanser to clean the eye area. Nine times out of ten, your facial cleanser is NOT appropriate for your eye skin and you will do damage trying to wrestle eye makeup off with the wrong product (or even worse, you will go to bed with residual eye makeup on and that will do nothing but clog and damage your pores and delicate eye area).

2)Cleanse

This is of course very personal to your skin type. The one thing that is true for all is that you should use your "serious" cleanser at night. This is the time to use the heavy duty cleanser that is right for you, whether that be something to fight acne or to even skin tone. Either way, those good ingredients will continue to work all night long. Many people in fact do not need more than a gently cream cleanse in the am, so this is their one and only true deep clean.

3) Serum/Concentrate

This is the most skipped step and in BGND's humble opinion, one of the most vital. Serum is your one true chance to get all the active ingredients you want directly onto fresh skin when they will work their best and for their longest. There are many, many serums out there so you have plenty of chance to find exactly the anti-agers you want and what will work best for your skin. But whatever you do, go out and find a serum you like and stick with it. It will help with fine wrinkles, it will seal moisture in and it WILL make a difference in the health and glow of your skin.

4) Eye cream

Just like serum, there are many many eye creams out there and there is one that will work for you. It should go on after serum and before your moisturizer.

5) Night Cream

Don't think that the lotion you use during the day is the one you should use at night. Like I have said many times during this post...nighttime is your chance to get the heavy lifting done. Pick your serious arsenal and make it work for you. This includes an anti-aging, moisturizing night cream that will work for you while you rest.

Well Tired in Tennessee, hopefully this breakdown helps you.

Remove Eye makeup

Cleanse

Apply Serum (include neck and upper chest area)

Eye Cream

Night Cream (include neck and upper chest area)

5 steps and you are done!

No more restless nights for you and rock that new skin!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Vote your way to moisture!

Happy election day BGND readers! Hopefully you have all gone out there and done your civic duty (whether your blood runs blue or red). I have a feeling that some of you had to stand outside waiting in line or even more likely, walk a bit to your polling place? And I bet the weather at your polling place was one of three options depending on what part of the country you live in. 1)Cold and blustery, 2) cold and clear or 3) dry and clear. Now, just like that "I Voted" sticker is displaying your patriotic spirit, your skin is showing the effect of today's election and the weather you faced to cast your ballot. So in this post, I am finally going to address the TON of mail that I have received about the effects of winter weather on our poor faces. (I recently addressed dry skin on the body (see the post from 10/30/08) but today, the face is front and center.)

We all know winter skin is different from summer skin. And often times it seems like as soon as we get one skin care routine down pat, the seasons change and we are faced with a whole mess of new skin irritations to deal with. To clear up some of the confusion and help you survive the gray months, the following is my list of winter skin MUSTS...things that will not only help your skin during the dry and/or cold winter, but will allow you to come out ready to rock some glowing skin come spring.

1) Exfoliation is not just for summer

Just because your skin is dry and patchy, maybe even irritated, it does not mean you should stop exfoliating. Now, don't go crazy with super harsh scrubs because they can make things worse but use a creamy scrub that will allow for the cell turnover you need during this time of the year but won't cause any more redness than you already have thanks to the elements. If you don't exfoliate, all those sad, dull, dry skin cells will just sit on the surface of your face, making things worse than they already are.

2) Winter is not another term for "no sunscreen months"

NOPE. Don't even think it. Ever gotten burned on an overcast day? You always need sun protection and just because the sun isn't beating down doesn't mean those pesky UVA and UVB rays aren't sneaking through.

3) Winter clothes, winter moisturizer?

One common winter mistake is that people switch to a winter cream but do not go with the right one. I have seen 25 year old girls buying cream designed for mature skin just because they want something super thick and hydrating. You have to make sure that what you are using is right for your unique set of problems, and not just something that looks heavy duty. Always make sure it still has the ingredients you need but doesn't conflict with anything else you may be doing. So if for instance you are someone with dry winter skin that is noticeable flaky or irritated, look at what you have been using in the summer months - see what the ingredients are and they try to find a creamy or richer version of that. This will usually do the trick. You will be moisturized but not missing or conflicting with any of your other regimen steps. A good example of this kind of "step-up" would be the Clinique moisturizers. They offer many that come in different moisturizing strengths..so if you are someone who generally uses their Oily skin level, drop to the more hydrating combination skin level and see if that extra surge of moisture does the trick. It usually will and you will still be getting all the good things you need into your skin.

(A side note on this, if you are not using a serum- please start. It truly is the first step in getting nutrients into your skin and sealing in moisture. A good serum can make more difference than any different or new moisturizer could. That may be all the switch or winter upgrade you need. More on this in tomorrow's blog post.)

So all, whether or not your candidate wins today - at least your skin will look winning!

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Learning from the best...

Just like anything else in life, sometimes inspiration is hard to come by. No matter how hard we try, no matter how long we sit and brainstorm, sometimes the creative bug is just hiding for the day. For BGND, this causes a problem- what to do/what to write...Some days I have blogs for days, so many ideas bumping around in my head that I write 5-6 blog entries in one afternoon. And then sometimes.....crickets.

So today, a slow Monday, left me in the creative doldrums. As a result, I decided to look outside of myself and see what information was out there to inspire me. I wanted to talk about fall makeup colors but was having a hard time picking one favorite to write about.

Well, in my researching I found this fabulous article on www.ivillage.com.

http://beauty.ivillage.com/makeup/makeuptrends/0,,82mw8f1v,00.html

This entry is exactly what I was looking for today.....Not only did the people at ivillage lead me to the fall makeup information I was looking for, they provided the top 6 looks for fall from some industry leaders including Bobbi Brown, Stila and M.A.C. among others.

And the cherry on the sundae? A lovely 4 minute make-up video.....a quick easy time saver that will make your skin fab.

So enjoy what ivillage brought to me today. I know it inspired me to some new makeup ideas for fall and I hope it will do the same for you!

Keep looking fabulous!

BGND

Scary Steals!

Well, Halloween is here....the costumes, the candy, the deals! That's right...Halloween may really be for the kiddies but you can still trick or treat - for beauty items! Many many websites have deals at Halloween time....those lovely little secret discount codes that you enter to save you shipping costs, give you a free gift or even get some % off your purchase. So tonight, curl up with your laptop and in between answering the door for your neighborhood cuties, order yourself some treats online!!

But beware, all of these are ONLINE ONLY discounts and many of the codes expire before the end of the weekend and in some cases at the end of today so catch them before they disappear!! BOO!!

Sephora:

Givenchy - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19802&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-giv&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258272

Smashbox -http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19806&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-smash&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258352

Marc Jacobs - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19804&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-mj&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258354

Frederic Fekkai - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19801&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-fekk&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258356

Bliss - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19800&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-bliss&dicid=364742:14450575544:5258358

Jean Paul Gaultier - http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C19803&cm_mmc=email+ret-_-news1+20081025+promo-_-modl+likebrd-_-jpg&dicid=364742:14450575544:5155818

Benefit Cosmetics:

FREE U.S. SHIPPING at http://newsletter.benefitcosmetics.com/W0RH00428479E17A7811A29B093E30!
Enter promo code SPOOKY08 at checkout.

FREE some of a kind Gorgeous Mini with a purchase of $35 or more, enter code LOVEMINI at checkout.

Bath & Body Works:

Add $10 of Bath & Body Works merchandise to your bag. Add your free True Blue® Spa or Aromatherapy item, up to a $15 value. At checkout, enter promo code FREESC.

Clinique.com:

FREE shipping and a FREE travel-size Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief with $35 or more, enter code MSURGE at checkout.

E.L.F. Cosmetics:

Buy one item, get the second for 50%, enter code GET50 at checkout.

Kiehl's:

Free ground shipping on all orders over $75, enter code KIEHL at checkout.

Prescriptives.com:

Free shipping on orders over $35, enter code FREESHIP2 at checkout.

ULTA Beauty:

$5 off $10 or more, enter code 96306 at checkout.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Product of the week - October 30th, 2008

Boo! Halloween is scary and frightful...and so is your skin! Dry, patchy, tired, sad and scaly....In other words, your winter skin has arrived. So in honor of all of the very dry skin out there on legs, arms, feet and everywhere you can imagine...I present you with not one but two of my favorite affordable body lotions for the winter season. (Why two? - because lotion is personal and not everyone likes the texture or smell of certain lotions.) But have no fear, both of these lotions will fix all your dry patches and make you baby smooth.

Option #1:

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion (Original/Regular) - $10.99 (Drugstores/Health food stores nationwide and online at Drugstore.com)

I found out about this lotion (amazingly) from a male friend of mine. He had a bottle of it in his bathroom and I tried it out and LOVED it. I quickly went out and bought some for myself (back in the day that it was only available at Whole Foods!) and was hooked. It smells fantastic and literally makes my skin softer and smoother than any other lotion out there. There are versions that are unscented or with SPF, so there really is something for everyone. This lotion is AMAZING. You will not be disappointed. Thanks Mike!!

Option #2:

Olay Quench Body Lotion for Extra Dry Skin - $9.99 (Drugstores nationwide and online at drugstore.com)

I am generally pleased with most Olay products. Some are not as great as others but this thick moisturizer I have found to be one of the best creamy lotions out there. It smells great, has amazing lasting power and you will notice the difference in your skin within one day. Best of all, you get a pretty decent sized bottle for $10 so you really feel like you are getting a luxe lotion for a steal.

Scary Scaly Skin officially gone!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND