Clarisonic Mia- Worth the Hype?

 I got my first Clarisonic the start of this year, and fell in love with it. I even raved and recommended this to my friends, who purchased this shortly after I did. My skin loved this, until it didn’t anymore, simple as that. It used to do great things for my skin, and helped clear it up, but now it breaks me out, so I don’t use it anymore. I’ve gotten emails from people who ask me why the Clarisonic doesn’t work for them, and my response is, “it won’t work for every single person. Listen to your skin. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t use it!”

Now, I do want to point out, I still adore my Clarisonic, I just don’t use it on my face on a daily basis anymore, just on the days where I did a little more exfoliating. My little pink Clarisonic makes for the best body exfoliator, and I love using it with my shower gel. It makes me feel so super clean, and afterwards I love how soft my skin is. So if you have invested in one, and it’s not working for your face, and you are frustrated, try it on your body! The skin on your body is able to withstand more exfoliation, so even if your face is too sensitive your body probably won’t be.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Why or why not? Even though I don’t use this on my face anymore I still use it daily, and used to love it on my face. I believe that this is a terrific product. 

Worth the hype? Yes. Just don’t go into the purchase thinking that it 100% will work wonders for your face. It probably will – but just know that it doesn’t work for everyone!

xx, CGP

Glam Tip: How To Pack the Perfect Makeup Bag

Make no mistake: there is a definite art to packing the perfect makeup bag.  If you’re like me, you prefer not to leave the house without a few basics for mid-day touch-ups or in-flight primping. Unfortunately, deciding between products can be a challenge, especially if you plan to create a few different makeup looks from one kit. Here are some quick tips to master the packing essentials: what you need, what won’t weigh your purse down and what to skip.

 1. Plan ahead: Unless you’re a budding YouTube beauty guru or celebrity makeup artist, most of us end up using our same favorite products repeatedly for our daily “look”.  Think about what you use everyday and give top priority to these staples. Eyeliner, mascara, a nude lipstick, whatever they may be – set these aside first.  If you have space afterwards then throw in that fun lip color, a bronzer or a great eyeshadow so you can switch up your look if you want.

2. Embrace the multi-taskers: Benefit’s “Benetint,” the famed Nars “Laguna/Orgasm” blush and bronzer palette: they’re classics for a reason. If cutting down on space is your goal, look for products that serve two purposes and leave you with room in your kit.  For example, a cheek stain in a flattering coral or rose can double as a lip tint, leaving room for eye products.

3. Invest in to-go brushes: There’s no reason to cram full-sized makeup brushes into a smaller travel bag.  The bristles will end up crushed, and those heavy handles add unnecessary weight.  Leave these brushes on your vanity at home for morning application and invest in a quality travel set, like thisBobbi Brown collection, for the road.

4. Shrink your bag: Another tip for conserving space is to replace your staple products with their more petite versions.  Take your favorite perfume for example, many brands offer a roller-ball tube size rendition of their standard larger bottle, allowing you to have your signature scent no matter where you’re headed.  Also, the next time you go to your favorite beauty counter to replace your foundation, ask for samples in your shade (perfect for when you’re going through airport security).  By packing your products sensibly you’ll be ready for any adventure.

5. Know what you love: Sometimes there’s no magic do-it-all product that works for your lifestyle.  If it’s worth it to tote around three travel sized products and two full-sized ones that you absolutely love, than do it, because what makes sense for you is really what matters!

xx, CGP

Gluten-Free LA

Drop that bagel and check out these fab eateries! No more bread! If that prospect makes you cry, or you've recently been advised to start a gluten-free diet, don't despair. Having a gluten-free diet doesn't mean a one-way meal ticket to The Cabbage Soup Diet. (Yes, that is a legitimate diet.) Luckily, since I live by the city where the next big food and diet trends begin, gluten free meal options are plentiful, and I've rounded up my fave fab culinary gems.  Breakaway Bakery 5264 W. Pico Blvd., Mid-City, 310-968-9380 We can’t believe it’s not gluten! This little gem of a bakery is tiny with just a couple of seats, but they serve a mean Raspberry Cranberry Crumble and Vegan Cherry Chocolate Cookie. And if you want to surprise a friend with some gluten-free goodies, Breakaway offers a delivery service within 50 miles of the bakery. Hooray! True Food Kitchen Santa Monica Place, 310-593-8300 Fashion Island, Newport Beach, 949-644-2400 Science meets gastronomy in Dr. Andrew Weil’s True Food Kitchen, a chain of restaurants based on the doc’s famous anti-inflammatory diet. Dr. Weil’s philosophy is that better food leads to healthier, longer lives. Pretty simple, especially when the food is delicious. Our fave dishes? Go for the Farmers Market Salad, Turkey Lasagna, or the Panang Curry. Pulse Cafe 1426 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, 310-394-6700 This cute Santa Monica cafe offers a menu full of gluten-free meals and smoothies, including a unique hot smoothie. (We still prefer cold ones.) It’s perfect for an afternoon date with a girlfriend or a quick bite after a grueling Bikram yoga sesh. Try one of their choose-your-own-adventure Energy Bowls with fun toppings such as kimchi edamame or kale beets. xx, CGP

Luscious Locks

The Little Mermaid had it. So did Sleeping Beauty and Princess Jasmine. We aren’t talking about a castle or even a dreamboat prince chasing after them. I am referring to long, luscious hair. Ever since we could walk and talk, we have been hardwired to covet long locks, so it’s no wonder the obsession continues into adulthood.

Not all of us have been able grow out our locks to the dreamy length we desire and some of us even fake it till we make it with extensions! While there is nothing wrong with adding a little sumthin’ sumthin’ here and there, the real deal is hard to beat.  I decided to get some professional advice from hair guru Missy Craig, who gave us all her tips and tricks for long, luscious hair.


Missy said “long, healthy hair starts at the scalp.” She suggested brushing at night with a boar bristle brush (her favorite is a Mason Pearson brush) which will “stimulate the scalp and keep it thriving.” No need to pull a Marcia Brady and count 100 strokes, though!


Missy is also a big advocate of washing your hair less often and relies on dry shampoo in between washes. Her go-to dry shampoo is René Furterer Naturia. When you do shampoo, she recommends using a strengthening shampoo and conditioner like Aquage.
Two other tips for mermaid hair: don’t pick split ends and be sure to switch up the height of your ponytail to minimize breakage at the same spot.

xx, CGP

The No-Powder Powder

There's no denying I'm a love all things summer and I'm definitely a warm weather girl, but the heat in California right now is next level. I'm trying to remind myself of all of those freezing cold mornings that I couldn't feel my fingers but it's becoming more challenging as it keeps getting hotter and hotter.

One of my biggest beauty challenges during the summer is trying to keep my face from being shiny but not layering on a ton of makeup. I could easily keep a powder in my bag and touch up throughout the day, but by the time I look in the mirror my skin looks like a cakey mess. I've tried a lot of different products that I can take on the go and my favorite is the Mally Poreless Face Defender. The best way to describe it is if your powder and primer had a baby. I keep it in my bag and if I'm starting to get shiny I just pat a little on my face with the sponge after I blot with a blotting paper. Any shine is gone without leaving behind the matte, ashy look of powder and it diffuses any fine lines and pores I may have which is always a plus in my book!

xx,

CGP

Physician's Formula Super BB Beauty Balm Powder: Review + Swatches

Physician's Formula has great face powders, so I was excited to try their new Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Powder.  This product is part of their new Super BB line that also features a cream and concealer.

I don't get excited about face powders easily-- in my eyes they are one of the more "blah" products of the makeup world.  However, I am really impressed by this one.  It has a medium to full coverage and somehow makes my skin look fantastic.  The company claims this product "provides a smoothing effect that instantly diffuses imperfections, evens out skintone and minimizes the appearance of pores."  I experience all of these when using this powder.  It isn't very often that a product actually lives up to all of its claims!

This powder comes in two shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Dark.  I have the Light/Medium and find it is a good match for my complexion, though I do think only two color options is quite limited... surely they won't match everyone!

The powder has a slight sheen to its finish, which is hardly visible but must contribute to why it makes my skin look so great.  I've been lightly applying this on top of my Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm and the combination has perfect medium coverage.

This powder comes in white compact casing, and has a bottom compartment that includes a mirror and small brush.  I don't really ever use these sorts of things in compacts, but for people who use them on the go they can be handy.

Bonus: this product contains SPF 30!  Another reason I'm loving it for summer.  I find that this powder wears all day on my skin with no problems.  If you are looking to try a new face powder that has some coverage, I highly recommend this one! (My only complaint is that it is called a BB Powder... can we stop with the false BB naming already?!)

The Physician's Formula Super BB All-in-1 Beauty Balm Powder retails for $13.95 (8.3g) and can be found in most drugstores, as well as Drugstore.com!

xx,

CGP

July 2013 Julep Maven Box

July 2013 Julep Maven Box (Boho Glam)

The California Coast Collection for July is my third Maven Box.  I am happier with each monthly Maven Box I receive!  This time around I decided to pick out the Boho Glam box, which included two nail colors and a dry body oil.  There’s always an option for an all nail polish box, but I liked the idea of trying out some of Julep’s beauty products.

The two included nail colors are gorgeous rich summer shades.  I swatched them on nail wheels, but please note that the photo made them appear much darker than they do in person.  The colors set up somewhere between how light they look in the bottles and how dark they appear on the swatches.  Karen is described as a “peach bellini frost" and Faye as a “liquid bronze shimmer."  Both polishes have the standard thicker Julep formula and set up beautifully when swatching.  I plan on painting Karen on my nails today!  Faye is a color I would gravitate more towards in the fall personally and I look forward to trying it when the whether turns cool once again.

I also purchased one of the offered add-ons for the month, which they now ship with your Maven Box instead of separately as before.  Fireworks is a multidimensional glitter topcoat featuring red, blue, and silver glitter pieces in various sizes suspended in a clear base.  I wore this for the 4th of July over Julep’s Bunny.  It was the perfect patriotic flair for the holiday!

I haven’t used the Beach Tonic Dry Body Oil yet, but I thought it might be a nice, lighter alternative to moisturizer this summer.  It smells amazing!  The box also included a package of Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers, which have come in very handy as I’ve been super oily for the past week. I keep this on my desk to keep oil at bay while I’m working. I couldn’t find these on the website, so I think they must have been a special Maven Box extra.

Each Maven box comes with a quote - this month’s quote is:

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen

I also just ordered my first Maven Mystery Box, which I am excited to receive, hopefully next week!  I will definitely share photos and my thoughts when it arrives.

xx,

CGP

Laura Mercier Soufflé Body Crème Review

Being a person with super dry skin (even in summer), I am terrible at remembering to apply moisturizer on my body consistently.  I never forget to hydrate my face, lips, hands, or feet; it’s just the rest of my body that gets ignored. Plus, I'm picky with scents in any body products. So unless I'm completely in love with a product, I won't even bother using it routinely.

I recently picked up the Laura Mercier Soufflé Body Crème after getting multiple recommendations in the scents Almond Coconut or the Fresh Fig. After smelling all of them at the counter (several times), I was torn between Almond Coconut, Fresh Fig, and another option (just what I needed!), Crème Brûlée. They also had two other scents, Crème de Pistache, which was okay, and Ambre Vanillé, which I didn’t care for at all. I ended up taking Crème Brûlée home, after asking 20 opinions and taking way longer than acceptable to choose a body lotion.

And… I’m in love. This scent was inspired by Laura’s French upbringing, of the aura and aroma of the French patisserie. It has notes of warm caramel, spun sugar, and French vanilla bean, which blend to create a delicious and warm fragrance without being overwhelming. The consistency is ultra-whipped, super soft, but not greasy.

I absolutely how this product feels and smells. This soufflé has vitamins a, c, and e for nourishment, shea butter for moisturizing, and a ton of other good-for-your-skin ingredients in addition to feeling luxurious.

Overall, I love it. It smells fantastic, it absorbs quickly, and it's super hydrating. Plus, the packaging is luxurious and looks very chic beside my tub. I like to use this right after I have stepped out of the tub or shower, while my skin is still damp, because I find that this locks in the moisture and I end up using less of the product. It's a bit pricey, but it will be something that I repurchase. It's heaven!

xx,

CGP