Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog

On her hunt for the perfect foundation for issues with her pregnant skin, The Working Girl purchased Kevyn Aucoin foundation stick, which she loved, but she choose the wrong color.  So without twisting Mother Blogger's arm, the mother-daughter shopping team made a return trip to Sephora to return the foundation stick for a ligher color -- Linda.  (The return policy at Sephora is extremely generous, but remember, girls, please don't abuse it.  Staffers reported that some women will return empty containers weeks after purchase. )

The Sephora staff greeted us like we were their long-lost friends and graciously returned the product and found the right match for The Working Girl's skin.

While The Working Girl was consulting the staff, Mother Blogger was making her quick trips down the isles again, sniffing new parfums, layering on 12 different foundations, coating her hands in butter and shea creams, and keeping an eye out for great gifts.

Product that are noteworthy:

Sephora's samplers -- from mascaras to skincare to makeup to fragrance trumped by the Sephora Collection ultimate blockbuster sampler for 2009  ($400 value for $48) makes a great gift for your girlfriend who can't make an executive decision or who loves makeup more than beauty.

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One of Mother Blogger's favorite gifts to give and to get are Philosophy's gift sets.  What sounds cozier than Philosophy Winter Escape. The set contains Peppermint Hot Cocoa Shampoo, Shower Gel and Bubble Bath;  Marshmallow Souffle; and Marshmallow Lip Shine. 

Philosophy's Recipe Box, containing Red Velvet Cake and Sweet Cream Frosting bath products and adorable recipe cards, is a great hostess gift. 

An all-time favorite of Mother Blogger' s and Hubbers', though, is ANYTHING Philosophy Amazing Grace. 

Check back tomorrow for more products on our radar screen from Sephora.

Disclaimer.  This post was not sponsored by Sephora or the manufacturers...just our love of beauty products. For more information, please click here.

We need something to tantalize our Tuesday.  Buried under more than a foot of snow with a blizzard right around the corner, we are dreaming of free giveaways from beauty blogs and magazines to cheer us up.

Enter now.

Beauty Product Review: Philosophy Hope in a Jar SPF 20 - NEW!

Whenever we ask a dermatologist, "What is the No 1 anti-aging cream?" they always answer, "Sunscreen!" Just in time for summer, Philosophy's cult favorite Hope in a Jar has added SPF 20 to the mix. We not only love the snippets of philosophy that are provided on Philosophy products, but we also love the results.

What it is formulated to do: Give your skin the drink of water it's thirsty for while protecting it from the harmful effects of the sun with Philosophy Hope in a Jar SPF 20. Hope in a Jar high-performance moisturizer with SPF 20 hydrates the skin, provides a gentle exfoliation, and helps improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and tone. This multi-tasking moisturizer helps prevent further sun-damage with multiple antioxidants and broad spectrum sun protection while inspiring a healthy, rosy glow.

0.5 oz:Active Ingredients: Avobenzone (3.00%), Homosalate (3.00%), Octisalate (5.00%), Octocrylene (2.75%), Oxybenzone (4.00%). Inactive Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Lauryl Lactate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Diethylhexyl Syringylidene Malonate, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyl Dimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Polyacrylate-15, Polyacrylate-17, Beta Glucan, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Panthenol, Arginine, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Edta, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol.

Unlike the original formula, the world-famous therapeutic moisturizer contains lactic acid, but the orginal formula contained "lauryl lactate," which did not have the exfoliating abilities as claimed. The souffle of ingredients are light and fluffy and are absorbed into your skin quickly, leaving your skin smooth and soft.

Brains on Beauty: With the addition of SPF 20 and lactic acid, it's not the fountain of youth, but it is hope in a jar. Any woman's skin should benefit from the exfoliation, and of course, the SPF.

Where to buy: Only at Sephora ($18 for 0.5 ounces and $45 for 2 ounces.)

philosophy: where there is darkness, there can be light and where there is light, there must be sensibility

For more independent beauty product reviews, go to Total Beauty.

Image: Sephora

"Turbo Booster C Powder What is it? Daily topical vitamin c powder for all skin types. What it is formulated to do? The benefits of a topical antioxidant - one of the gold standards of dermatology - is as simple as adding a little sprinkle of this easy to use Vitamin C powder to your moisturizer. Featuring 99.8% potency, this treatment powder protects skin from one of the leading causes of premature aging - free radical damage - during the day. Vitamin C also gently lightens hyperpigmentation, for a more even and radiant complexion."

I have used Cellex-C High Potency Serum (Sephora $100) and N.V. Perricone Vitamin C Ester Amine Complex Face Lift (Sephora $90) in the past, but both vitamin C beauty products turned a dark color in a short period of time, which signifies that the vitamin C is not stable and ineffective.

Brains on Beauty: I love the ease of Turbo Booster C Powder. In the morning, you add a tiny capful to your own moisturizer, mix together, and apply to your skin. With the $50 to $60 difference in price and the stability of the vitamin C, it's a smart choice for women who want to prevent sun damage and reduce lines and wrinkles at the same time. Don't forget to eat your fruits and veggies every day, too.



For other independent beauty product reviews, visit Total Beauty.