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Now more than ever, it really pays to save. But there’s also something to be said for making a smart splurge or two—especially when you find a beauty product that you absolutely love.

These six summer buys all get the MARS seal of approval, despite their drastically different price tags. It’s up to you to decide which warrant spending some extra cash and which don’t require the extra dough. (We, for instance, love Not Your Mother’s Beach Spray, which is only $6 and one of the best summer-hair spritzers around. IOHO, of course).

Read More (Mamasarollingstone.com, May 16 , 2013)

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Whether you always find yourself in a weekday-morning rush, or just want to enjoy a lazy Sunday without a completely bare complexion, there are some fantastic products that make getting made-up practically effortless. Here are seven of our faves:

Read More (Mamasarollingstone.com, May 13 , 2013)

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If you haven’t yet gotten a gift for Mom, don’t fret. We’ve got a great roundup of beauty goodies that she’s sure to love, as well as an easy-to-enter contest that could score you a free Mother’s Day gift set.

So get clicking—Sunday’s coming quick!

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, May 7, 2013)

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Sometimes, beauty can be so simple. Here’s how to create a natural, sun-soaked look with just three key products. (Make sure you start off with your favorite sunscreen, of course.)

Read More (Mamasarollingstone.com, May 2 , 2013)

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Beauty products make the greatest gifts. They’re perfect for the holidays, birthdays, Mother’s Day (which is coming up quick; mark your calendars for May 12!) and as lovely thank yous for friends or even for yourself when you deserve a splurge.

Here are six of our favorite giftable beauty finds, three of which are perfect for Mom.

Read More (Mamasarollingstone.com, April 30, 2013)

Staying Sober (and Keeping My Skin Soft) 
with FarmHouse Fresh's Watermelon-Basil 
Vodka-tini Body Scrub

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While my drinking days are over—after a long-time-coming, life-changing and life-saving decision I made over a year ago (I’ll have 17 months on May 3rd!)—that doesn’t mean I have to shy away from cocktail-inspired beauty products. As long as I’m not chugging perfume, I figure I’m pretty safe when it comes to my beloved lotions and potions.

So I’m getting my skin ready for summer with this Watermelon-Basil Vodkatini Body Scrub from FarmHouse Fresh, a brand I recently discovered and absolutely love.

It’s perfect for this time of year. The juicy basil and watermelon scent makes me anticipate the upcoming summer season while I slough away dead skin cells. It’s a wonderfully revitalizing scent, plus the scrub is paraben and sulfate-free, so while it works well, it’s also gentle on my skin, leaving it incredibly smooth, soft, and smelling sweet.

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, April 29, 2013)

Beauty Buys: Get the Look
Statement Lipsticks for $10 and Under

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You don’t have to spend a fortune to show off an eye-popping pout. We’ve rounded up four fun, vibrant shades (and one lovely nude), all of which cost just $10 or less.

Read More (Mamasarollingstone.com, April 24, 2013)

Current Obsession: 
Drybar Southern Bell Volumizing Mousse

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I’ve never been a mousse girl. My naturally curly hair has plenty of volume, and when I blow it out straight, I use so much de-frizzifying product that mousse just seems like an excessive shot to add to my already potent hair-care cocktail.

But that was before I visited Drybar, an amazing chain of salons that does one thing and one thing only: blow outs. You’ve probably heard of them by now—no cuts, no color, just blow-dried styles and lovely VIP treatment.

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, April 23, 2013)

Sun Care for Your Hair:
5 Fantastic Protectant Sprays

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It’s easy to forget that our hair is just as susceptible to damage from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays as our skin. Venturing out with unprotected tresses during spring and summer can wreak havoc on your hair’s texture, robbing it of moisture, natural oils and luster, as well as causing brassiness or washout if your hair is color-treated. It’s also important to protect your scalp from sun damage, as well.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to show off an eye-popping pout. We’ve rounded up four fun, vibrant shades (and one lovely nude), all of which cost just $10 or less.

Read More (Mamasarollingstone.com, April 23, 2013)

7 Must-Have Essentials for the Perfect 
Summer-Must-Fest Beauty Bag

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Coachella kicked off  this past weekend, putting the summer music festival season in official full swing. Whether you’re joining this celeb-filled Cali-based jam (there’s more to come this weekend), attending the equally buzz-worthy Bonnaroo in June, or hitting any number of the amazing outdoor concerts scheduled this summer, you don’t need to be a celebrated VIP to enjoy the revelries.

But you do need some basic beauty essentials if you want to fully embrace the scene (and protect yourself from serious sun damage). Here are seven goods that every music-fest fanatic should have in her beauty bag.


Read More (Meetsobsession.com, April 15, 2013)

Oh Honey!
9 Sweet Beauty Products Perfect for Spring

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Spring is coming at a maddeningly slow pace here in New York City, but finally, the signs of post-winter renewal are starting to appear.

Nature is doing its thing: the temps are warming, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and those little black-and-yellow honey bees are starting to get busy. Pollination is their gig, and they work hard so they can return home to their hives and make honey from the nectar they’ve harvested during their shift.

We all know that honey is a sweet treat for our taste buds, but it also happens to be a beneficial ingredient for skin and hair.

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, April 10, 2013)

Eco-Friendly Fashion Made East: KCA By Fashioning Change

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I like to think that I’m fairly mindful of the earth in my everyday life. I recycle. I eat organic foods (most of the time). I never, EVER litter. I’ve even started paying attention to the ingredients in my cosmetics, and thanks to the lovely ladies at La Bella Figura, I now make much wiser choices when it comes to skincare.

But on the fashion front, I’m afraid I fall short. It’s mostly due to laziness—finding eco-conscious lines that are truly fashionable takes way too much research for this lazy shopper. It also takes away most of the fun.Until now.

A friend recently pointed me in the direction of FashioningChange.com and I’ve got to say, it’s like this website was created just for me (i.e. the glued-to-the-couch online shopper who already knows the labels she likes and doesn’t care to click around).

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, November 8, 2012)


How to Keep Your Hair Healthy at Any Age

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Maybe you've mentally prepared for the coming crow's feet, wrinkles, and sagging skin. (Hello, aging.) But what about when your hair starts to age? Trust us, there's more to it than simply going gray. Damage from sun exposure, heat styling and hair dye plays a major role, as do changing hormones and the body's decreasing ability to produce hair-friendly substances such as sebum (a fancy word for oil) and the pigment melanin. 

It's important to adjust your regimen to meet the specific needs of changing tresses. What you can get away with in your 20s may be essential to avoid in your 40s. And practicing healthy hair habits at a young age will most certainly pay off later in life. No matter your number, the following advice will help you get your mane into its best shape — now and for decades to come. 

Read More (StyleUnited.com, October 29, 2012)


The Beauty Bitch

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Dear Beauty Bitch:

I have oily, blemished skin that’s quite prone to clogging. Because of the humid environment in New York City (especially during the summer), I avoid a full face of make up whenever I can. I usually get by with spot concealer, pressed powder blush, and translucent powder to absorb oil and set the concealer.But I’m very curious to try cream blushes. I love the natural flush of color that they give cheeks, and I wonder if the color would hold up better and last longer than powder blush. But I’m worried that they might clog my pores, or that any spot concealer I put on before hand would be rubbed away when blending in the blush. I’m getting married next summer and I’d really appreciate any help in figuring out if this kind of product is right for me. Thanks!

Tex G., NYC


Dear Tex:

Congrats on your upcoming nuptials! And thanks for writing in. Unfortunately, it appears that your fears are not at all unfounded. “For oily, acne-prone skin, cream blush can be tough,” says Dallas-based makeup artist and beauty expert Penny Sadler. “The color won’t hold up better than a powder—in fact, it will wear away very quickly on oily skin. And it also will remove any spot concealer that’s applied before it’s blended in.”

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, May 14, 2013)

The Beauty Bitch: Dark Circle Drama—How Do I Cover My Ugly Under Eye Spots?

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Dear Beauty Bitch:

Like a million other people, I have dark circles under my eyes. 

I have tried many products, but still “bags ahoy.” 

Don’t get me started on concealers. Everyone makes them and they do very little—at least for me! Can you help?

-Jane R., NYC


Dear Jane:

You are certainly not alone in your frustration. How to deal with ugly under eye circles is an incredibly common beauty bitch. It’s not an easy task and quite frankly, I suck at it as well, so I reached out to two pro makeup artists to get us some answers.

Both experts made clear that there are three major factors for successful coverage. 1: Determining the true hue of your dark spots. 2: Finding a product (or products) which contain pigments that will properly conceal said discoloration. And 3, learning how put on your concealer properly.  Concealer is not a “one product fits all” situation and getting it right requires a little know-how in terms of application.

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, March 26, 2013)


The Beauty Bitch: How Do I Know If a Beauty Product is Really All-Natural?

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Dear Beauty Bitch:

I’ve heard that a lot of products claim that they are “all-natural” when really they’re not.

Is this true? How do I know for sure if a brand is 100% organic?

Are there some basic guidelines to follow? I’m a lazy shopper and need help.

Thanks!

Clueless Beauty Consumer, NYC



Dear CBC in NYC,

It’s true—you can’t judge a beauty product by its cover when shopping for all-green goods. “The American cosmetic industry is still unregulated by the FDA,” explains Victoria Fantauzzi, CEO and Co-Founder of organic skincare line La Bella Figura. “So it’s a free for all for some companies to make all kinds of claims and it can be very confusing for the consumer.”

So what can you do? Step one is to start looking closely at labels. “The first thing I tell a customer who asks about what makes an organic product organic is to read the label,” Fantauzzi says. “Natural and organic brands do not use fillers, chemical emulsifiers, parabens, nanoparticles or petroleum based ingredients.”

Read More (Meetsobsession.com, June 19, 2012)


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