AVEENO Celebrates Earth Month with a Best Things in Beauty Giveaway Contest (US Only)

Earth month is here, and going green is easier than you may think. This month, reach for the eco-friendly AVEENO Pure Renewal Hair Care Collection ($7.49-$8.49 per product) featuring Active Naturals Balancing Seaweed Extract. As an AVEENO Active Natural Ambassador, I have received these products, used them, and love them.

AVEENO's Hair Care Collection was formulated by AVEENO scientists with the help of eco-friendly celebrity stylist, Patrick Melville. This collection offers sulfate-free cleansing without parabens or synthetic dyes.
The folks at AVEENO knew it was important to provide consumers with a product that offers non-abrasive cleansing with the lathering benefit not seen in other sulfate-free hair care products. The brand also took additional steps to make this product especially earth-friendly in terms of the ingredients, packaging, and innovation - even how the product is transported to retailers.

The formula is 90% renewable and produced using a low-energy, solvent-free process that yields zero waste AVEENO uses a starch-based formula, derived from potatoes, that delivers the performance of traditional shampoo without releasing polluting chemicals into the environment.

AVEENO is offering Best Things in Beauty readers an opportunity to celebrate Earth Month with a giveaway featuring AVEENO's Pure Renewal Hair Collection. The winner will receive the entire collection: AVEENO Pure Renewal Shampoo, AVEENO Pure Renewal Conditioner, and AVEENO Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo - along with a special tree planting kit that we hope you will use to add some green to our earth.

I have one prize to give away. How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many readers, such as GFC - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" and "AVEENO" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, April 27, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open only to residents of the United States. AVEENO will send out the winner's prize. The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photos courtesy AVEENO; collage made by yours truly

Giorgio Armani Skincare Luminessence Bright Infusion Biocellulose Mask

Giorgio Armani Skincare's Luminessence Bright Infusion Biocellulose Mask ($175 for a pack of six) snuck up on me. Rather than writing a coming attraction feature, I find myself writing an "it's here" feature. I'm feeling a bit behind the curve.

This new mask is Armani's first brightening mask, designed to reveal radiant, supple, and smoother skin. Who wouldn't want that?

Luminessence Biocellular Mask is made with natural and renewable materials. The biocellulose mask fits like a "second skin" and adapts perfectly to the contours of the face. I've used plenty of full-face masks similar to this one, and while they look creepy, they provide a relaxing and skin-improving experience.

Each mask if produced one by one and pressed between two rollers to obtain optimal thickness. Armani Skincare says it's the first cosmetic material to accelerate wound healing and scar reduction. Whether it's the first or not is subject to debate, but I know that such claims (e.g, Dr. Brown at RéVive) are actually backed up with science.

Armani's mask material is made up of hundreds of tiny fibers - one thousand times smaller than a strand of hair - and absorbs a high concentration of liquid, allowing the active ingredients to penetrate the skin. The results promised? Immediately, your skin will be softer, smoother, and more radiant. Over four weeks of use, you should see a 10% reduction in the intensity of dark spots.

The ingredients are its key to success.

• Mint extract - limits induced melanogenesis by decreasing the number of most pigmented cells. Melanogenesis is a fancy term for the process by which skin cells produce melanin, a pigment found in the skin, eyes, and hair. This process leads to a long-lasting pigmentation (think skin darkening and sun spots). The action spectra of sunburns and melanogenesis are virtually identical. In a quick search, I found one patent relating mint extract to melanogenesis reduction and one medical-grade skin-care product with similar claims for its effectiveness. Armani must be onto something fairly new.
• Brown algae extract - limits the production of brown melanin
• Vitamin C - anti-pigmentation effects linked to its acknowledged free-radical fighting properties
• Licorice extract - known to help lighten the skin
• Salicylic acid - a well-known exfoliating agent
• Beech buds extract - another exfoliating agent

Armani says to apply the mask to clean skin and experience the cool, soothing effect for 10 minutes. Massage the excess formula into the skin and follow with serum and/or moisturizer - your favorite or Armani's. Use the mask twice/week for optimal results.

Naturally, being an Armani devotee, I want to try this new Luminessence Bright Infusion Biocellulose Mask. I am concerned about its salicylic acid ingredient because, unlike most people, I find it extremely - not mildly - exfoliating. I'm not enthusiastic about a skin burn (my normal reaction to SA). However, I'd love to sign up for a test drive. If it's Armani, it enchants me.

I have not seen the new Luminessence Bright Infusion Biocellulose Mask at counters, but it's available at the Armani Web site.

Photo courtesy of Giorgio Armani Skincare

NEOVA Copper Peptide Complex Intensive Lip Repair

I have appointed myself the lip treatment queen. If I find one that looks interesting, I'll do anything to get my hands (well, my lips) on it. Is there a lip treatment ever that I haven't tried? It turns out the answer is yes.

I found out when the nice folks at the Neova company offered me a press sample of NEOVA Cu₃ (Copper Peptide Complex) Intenstive Lip Repair ($22), they didn't realize it was like offering candy to a six-year-old. I opened the package and started using the tube immediately - in the dead of winter. I was already parched, despite my frequent application of lip balms.

NEOVA Copper Peptide Complex Intensive Lip Repair is a lip treatment designed to restore and visibly repair the lips from irritations, including wind, extreme temperatures, and dehydration caused by low humidity. The serum formula replenishes moisture loss in delicate skin and reduces lines around the lips for a younger looking appearance. Copper Peptide Complex, a registered ingredient, helps build an essential barrier around the lips, protecting them from future irritations.

What's Copper Peptide Complex? It's a protective delivery system that allows the body to recognize and accept copper into the cells to optimize skin health. Making the association between DNA damage and premature skin aging, Neova developed products to repair DNA (using a liposome-encapsulated DNA repair vehicle for enzymes that help prevent visible damage from surfacing) and its Copper Peptide Complex to provide complete, continuous, optimized care.

Their award-winning Combination Therapy Skin Care products target photodamaged skin and help to visibly improve it. Their products are special - so special that Neova products are available through dispensing physicians, including dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and medical spas. Fortunately, they are also available online at Neova's Web site, SkinCare.com, and Drugstore.com - to name a few sources I found online.

They made a "Smart Sunscreen" that looks really interesting. I'd love to try it. It's said to offer complete photoprotection with a spectacular cosmetic finish on contact. It's the latter part of that description that caught my eye.

Anyhow, back to the Intensive Lip Repair. It feels like a more fluid version of another product I use often, Aquaphor Lip Repair - a serum, as advertised. You can use it alone or under lipstick or gloss. It absorbs nicely, but leaves behind a protective coating that makes my lips feel hydrated.

It seems to last longer than many lip treatments I've tried. My test for hydration is to rub my lips together. If they are hydrated, they will slide easily. They feel smooth. If they are not hydrated, they start to feel uncomfortable, They don't slide, and if too much time passes, the dry skin will feel rough, not yet chapped, but not comfortable - and certainly not a good surface for lip color.

I used the NEOVA tube they sent me. It's almost empty (sob). I feel that same panic that I experience when gasoline level light comes on in my car. My tube lasted for a little more than two months. I'll admit, though, that I used the Lip Treatment far more often than expected. My lips are that dry. When I'm home, I'll apply it multiple times a day as I pass by and see it. It's almost reflexive.

Here are the ingredients.

• Copper Peptide Complex [CpC]. Also known as Bis (Tripeptide-1) Copper Acetate, a delivery system that uses the body’s natural protective carrier to deliver proprietary copper peptides, an essential micronutrient for skin health, for maximum restorative benefit.
• Petrolatum. Forms an occlusive film on the skin’s surface, preventing moisture loss due to evaporation and protects against irritation. [NEOVA is much nicer than the time-tested Vasoline at bedtime routine.]
• Mineral Oil. A non-comedogenic, occlusive substance that helps improve the epidermal barrier function.
• Glycerin. A humectant that attracts essential moisture to the skin.

There you have it. NEOVA Copper Peptide Complex Intensive Lip Repair offers anti-aging, hydrating, and healing benefits that you can wear under your favorite lip color. Can't beat that! This is a press sample I will definitely purchase after I've squeezed the last life out of my tube.

Photo courtesy of Neova

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color - Part 2

Bobbi Brown's new Sheer Lip Colors ($25) excited me, so after purchasing a three at Saks, when presented with a Friends & Family event, I bought two more. I selected Cherry Pink (#6) and Tutu (#14).

Bobbi Brown calls Sheer Lip Color "mistake-proof, no-mirror lipstick." Check. That's one reason I adore sheer lipsticks and glosses. They are forgiving.

Bobbi believes that lipstick should be quick and easy - and Sheer Lip Color is exactly that. This super-lightweight formula glides on smoothly and evenly, delivering a sheer and slightly glossy finish that’s highly wearable. Formulated with luxurious shea butter, murumuru butter, and apricot kernel oils, Sheer Lip Color rejuvenates and nourishes, improving the overall condition of lips instantly and over time. Plus, the unique translucent base allows its true color to last for hours without feathering. It's available in neutral, bright, and deep shades (the hardest part is having to choose).

Here are my newest colors. Cherry Pink, shown on the left, appears in the tube to be a beautiful wine shade. The online swatch looks very dark, but I knew it wouldn't be. Tutu appeared to be a warm peachy pink - a shade I've grown to adore. Both lived up to my expectations. I'm thilled to have them.

I took swatch photos in full afternoon sunshine, swatching straight from the tubes. Cherry Pink is shown at the top of my arm, with Tutu below.

Cherry Pink is darker on my lips than it appears on my arm. It's a dark cherry or a cherry kissed with grape. Need color on your lips, color that will make your eyes pop? Cherry Pink is your color (as long as you can wear blue tones).

Tutu is even prettier than I had expected. It's described as a shimmery neutral pink coral. I think the color description is accurate, although it's not more shimmery than other shades I've purchased.

As I mentioned in my earlier feature, I think these colors are scrumptious. An extra-added benefit is that the color lasts much longer than with many other sheers. Perhaps that's because of their pigmentation. They aren't see-through; they offer a semi-sheer finish. There is no discernible flavor or fragrance.

Even though these Sheer Lip Colors are scheduled to arrive at Bobbi Brown counters in May, both Saks Fifth Avenue, where I purchased mine, and Neiman Marcus have them available - as does Bobbi Brown's Web site. If you like sheer lip color, you must go see them. I'm smitten. You know I love them when I keep buying.

Photo at top courtesy of Bobbi Brown; other photos by Best Things in Beauty

Sunday This and That

I haven't had much luck growing tree peonies, but I have one that has limped along for years. I noticed it was blooming a few days ago and snapped a photo. It's not a perfect flower, but it's all I've got to enjoy its beauty.

As we open a new week, my heart is still in Boston. I've looked for logic where there is none. How could those two young men, basically raised in the United States, adopt radical Islam and cavalierly kill and maim innocent people? Why? I'm struck by the bravery of the hundreds of officers of the law who worked for days on end and placed themselves in extreme danger to catch the bombers. As the stories begin to trickle out - the officers who engaged in gun battles with the two; those who tackled the injured Tamerlan Tsarnaev; those who approached Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to take him into custody the VMI graduate, Richard Donohue, who was gravely injured in the battle - I am thankful for their bravery. I mourn for those killed. Their stories are heartbreaking. I hope for those severely injured. I've never experienced such appreciation as I watched the people of Watertown cheer the police, FBI, SWAT teams, firefighters and EMTs, and the countless officers of the law to thank them for their service. Think about that the next time you get a speeding ticket. One minute they are seen as villians; the next they will risk their lives for you.

I cried as I watched Kevin Corcoran describe on NBC the incident and his wife's and daughter's injuries. Sydney suffered severe injuries as a result of being hit with shrapnel, and Celeste has lost both her legs below her knees. Kevin wondered out loud how they would ever pay for the care they were receiving in the hospital. I was so pleased to learn that the world responded. In five days, 7,954 people have donated a total of $518,323 for their care. If you can help, even with $5, every dollar will help. You can find the donation site at GoFundMe. It's legit. Please be careful, though, in selecting a charity. There were scammers out there attempting to collect money almost immediately after the bombings. You can find other legit ways to help here or on other credible media sites.

I read with horror the tweets of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev after the bombings. Nothing makes sense.

I could write for hours - about the solidarity of the American people and our friends across the world - whose actions, large and small, have expressed the sentiment, "We will not give in to terror. We stand united." Who would have ever thought "Sweet Caroline" would become an American response to our support for Boston?

Be careful. Be vigilant. We don't know whether the actions of these two young men were part of a coordinated campaign of terror or "simply" the radicalization of two disaffected, uprooted, misguided kids who took advantage of our welcome to Russian immigrants before turning against us. There are more of "them" out there - people who want to hurt us. When will another succeed?

I was also saddened that the U.S. Senate could not pass a benign gun control law: expanded background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. One senator remarked that it would inconvenience law-abiding gun purchasers. Was Gabby Giffords inconvenienced? How about the theater-goers in Colorado or the families in Newtown? What about the victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy? Inconvenience? That senator hasn't a clue what the word "inconvenience" means. I hope all of you will be taking a thorough look at that vote the next time you vote. I will never vote for Senator Mark Warner of Virginia again. I thought he was a good representative. Now I know who he represents. Don't misunderstand me, please. That vote wasn't about the right to bear arms, which the majority of Americans support. It was about assuring that guns don't fall into the wrong hands - to the extent that we can today. My father collected guns. I'll bet he would have supported the bill. It was a sad day in the United States. Common sense suffered a severe blow.

Additionally, as I've watched stories of the devastation in Texas, flooding of communities, and ricin sent through the mail to the President and a member of Congress, I've developed a general sense of anxiety. I think this has been a very, very, very bad week. How have you been feeling?

Changing subjects entirely, Bonnie remarked in the comments that Smashbox seems to have "disappeared" from the blogging world's attention. I agree, but find it weird as well. Smashbox was purchased by the Estée Lauder Companies a few years ago (apparently because of its strength at Sephora), and the executive team has changed. Thia Breen, now leading the company, recently expressed in an interview with WWD a renewed focus on skin care. That's crowded turf. I wonder whether the company's growth strategy will pay out as she intends.

In August, Michael Kors will launch his beauty line with color and body care. Quoting from WWD, here's the slightly edited scoop.

"Working with his beauty and fragrance licensee, the Aramis and Designer Fragrances division of the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc, Kors channeled [his thoughts about his grandmother and mother and glamour] into three distinct collections: Sporty, Sexy, and Glam. Each emotion has a fragrance, along with key color products: two $24 Lip Lacquer shades, two $24 Lip Luster gloss products, and two $18 nail polishes apiece. Colors range from Diva Lip Lacquer and Hint Nail Lacquer, both nude-taupes in the Sporty range, to Sexy’s blue-red Bombshell Lip Lacquer and scarlet Sensation Nail Lacquer, to Glam’s edgy plum Icon Lip Luster and dark violet Envy Nail Lacquer. Three $50 Bronze Powders - Glow, intended to add light to skin; Flush, a shimmery tan; and Beam, a deep coppery glow - will also be offered, along with a $45 Bronze Powder Brush. Sun and body products will include Indulgent Body Creme, $60; Liquid Shimmer Dry Oil, $60; and Shimmer Bath Beads, $45. The collection is rounded out by three sun basics: Liquid Self Tanner, $32; After Sun Gelee, $32; and After Sun Lip Balm, $28. The balm is a nod to the Eighties zinc oxide sunscreen look, imparting a hint of white on the lips." Are you a Michael Kors fan? Will you be waiting to see his new delights?

Have you tried the new La Mer sun products? I'd like to give them a test drive, but I don't have the money right now. If you have used them, please let us know what you think.

There is so much more news, but no time left to write. I've got to go get dinner for Mom, so I'll bid you adieu for now.

Photo at top by Best Things in Beauty; other photos courtesy of Michael Kors

Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette Giveaway Contest

Urban Decay's Naked Flushed ($30) palette is a silky bronzer, highlighter, and blush - all in one sleek, take-along compact. The bronzer is a medium bronze satin. The highlighter is a soft pink champagne shimmer. The blush is a dusty rose satin with a hint of shimmer. All three products in the compact are full-sized. The sleek case has an easy-open magnetic closure and a big mirror that's compact enough for travel or mid-day touch-ups.

 You can use these pressed powders individually or blend them together to create just the right effect - and let this seemingly straight-laced trio morph into a tangled color love-fest. Then bask in the radiant glow and let people wonder where you've been. Urban Decay’s micronized, jet-milled formula has a luxe, featherlight texture that feels amazing on your skin. And the finish? Flawless. Light-diffusing particles enhance and perfect to give your skin a fresh, glowy look…even when late-nights have you feeling anything but. The color is intensely pigmented, yet blends beautifully, and the universal shades are versatile enough for any skin tone.

I have one to give away. How can you enter to win this giveaway contest (technically a sweepstakes)? Just leave a comment on this feature (not in another BTiB post). After you comment here, feel free to send me an e-mail at bestthingsinbeautycontests@gmail.com (the contest address, not my "personal" e-mail) and identify your comment. You can never be too careful about sharing an e-mail address you care about on a blog, so feel free to follow this step (an alternative is to code your e-mail, e.g., myname at gmail dot com, in your comment). Please make sure I have your e-mail. If I can't notify you, you can't win - even if your number is drawn. I can't believe the number of winners I haven't been able to find in the past.

You can earn extra entries. Follow this blog (through an e-mail subscription, GFC, or though one of the many Google readers - see sidebar at right) to earn a second entry. If you are a follower, it would help me tally entries if you tell me in your comment how you follow. You don't have to follow to enter. I want everyone to have a chance, but I also want to reward my followers. I must be able to track this entry.

You can earn a third entry by tweeting this contest. You must include "@BTiBeauty" (without the quotes) and the contest title in your tweet. Remember, tweet the contest title - if you don't, that entry won't count. I will tweet the contest early this evening, and you can simply retweet it to earn that second entry - if that's easier.

The deadline for entries will be Saturday, April 27, 2013, at midnight. The next morning, I will use a random number generator (random.org) to select the winner. I will e-mail the winner on Sunday morning. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to my message and provide a shipping address. After 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your e-mail - and look in your spam folder - when the contest ends.

This contest is open to anyone anywhere. Here are the terms. I will carefully pack and ship the prize (as I always do). I cannot insure the prize for overseas shipment - it's amazingly expensive to do so because of the way I have to send insured mail. If it's lost or stolen in transit, I may not be able to replace it with another prize just like it. I'll do my best on this end; let's see if your mail service does right by you on the other end if we have an overseas winner.

The winner must be able to provide me with a "mailable address," meaning the U.S. Post Office recognizes it or its street, province, and other "elements" the way the winner provides them. I've had some trouble with both U.S. and international addresses lately.

For all the legalese related to this contest, please see the Contests/Sweepstakes page at the top of the blog. Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Urban Decay

Tom Ford Summer 2013 Beauty Collection - Swatches

My local Neiman Marcus received some of the testers from the Tom Ford Summer 2013 Beauty Collection - but not the for-sale product - so I went over to swatch them today. The photo above of the partial collection they had received was taken with my iPhone. I had taken my camera, but the moment I turned it on, it gave me the dreaded "No battery" message. I was sure I could eek out a few photos when I checked the battery level before I left home. I came home ever so carefully, not letting my arm touch anything, charged the battery just enough, and went outdoors in full sun to snap swatch photos.

I will be showing you photos again when I get my own pieces next week - and I'll make sure they are better. For now, I wanted to share a few swatch photos with you - just in case you haven't decided what to purchase. I will warn you that each store is receiving a limited number of each piece (something like 18), so I would pre-order if you want to order locally.

Here is a slightly edited version of the marketing blurb for the collection. For Summer 2013, Tom Ford created a seasonal color collection that captures the luminous and sensuous effect of bronzed skin. This limited-edition collection features the new Tom Ford Skin Illuminator, the Tom Ford Illuminating Cheek Color, and a harmony of shimmery and sheer shades for the eyes, lips, and nails. The face and cheeks are illuminated with peach-pink and bronzed amber; eyes are dewy and mesmerizing with delicate tones of pale pink and nude peach; nails are given a pearl wash of white, and lips are lacquered in shimmery golden pink pearls.

I applied the Escapade Cream Color for Eyes ($40) is at the top of my arm. The Pink Lust Lip Lacquer ($30) is shown below. The two Illluminating Cheek Color ($58) sticks follow, with Bronzed Amber pictured above Blushed Guilt. The Fire Lust Skin Illuminator ($65) is the largest swatch at the bottom on my arm. I'm sorry I listed the names of these products incorrectly yesterday. I'll blame Elle.

The Escapade Cream Color for Eyes is a shimmering peach. Tom Ford describes it as peach-pink, but I don't see a pink hue, either in the pot or on my skin. I think it's drop-dead gorgeous - even if it's not unique. Nieman Marcus did not have the tester for Pink Haze, but I understand it's "definitely pink."

Pink Lust Lip Lacquer is a stunning, light pink with a golden pearl. It coordinates perfectly with the rest of the collection.

The Illuminating Cheek Colors are utterly fabulous. I love cream sticks, and these are both must-haves. They are also generous in size. They apply very sheerly, and you can build the color. My advice to anyone who might be afraid of the darker one, Bronzed Amber? Don't be! Bronzed Amber is as perfect a bronzer as I've seen in recent years. There isn't even a smidge of muddiness in the color (on my skin). Blushed Guilt provides a natural, radiant glow in a shade that's going to send pale faces rushing to the counter. Both shades offer a bit of wearable shimmer.

I adore the Fire Lust Skin Illuminator, so I pre-ordered it at Neiman Marcus. My original opinion, that it might duplicate other liquid illuminators I own, was incorrect. It is a shimmering peachy pink. Love, love, love! I'll just have to wait for it to show up at Neiman Marcus since my box from New York is already on the way.

Since I had to get all the colors on my arm before I left the store, my photos are small. Just click on them to enlarge the swatches. Neiman Marcus had not received the Nail Lacquer or the Bronzing Powders (repromotes). They did have Sahara Noir (for you fragrance experts).

One thing about the collection that impressed me immediately is its elegance. It is magnificent, but not flashy. It's makeup for makeup mavens, designed to flatter, not draw attention from your face to your makeup. Does it get better than that?

As Carolyn shared and I tweeted yesterday, the collection is for sale at the flagship Saks store. If you would like to pre-order from Neiman Marcus at Tysons Galleria, call Enrique Valentino at (703) 761-1600, extension 3295.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty