Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog

Although it has warmed up to zero this morning,  we've had a few readers write that their brains are frozen when it comes to finding the perfect hair and makeup look for 2010.  Take this quiz and see which celebrity muse is right for you. 

Don't get stuck in a style rut, switch things up! It's so easy to do with this quiz. Answer a few questions and you'll get tons of ideas of ways to update your hair and makeup -- personalized just for you! Check it out and start wowing people with your new look.

Take the quiz

Mother Blogger's and The Working Girl's Results: Classic and timeless beauties like Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift, as well as their backyard animal muse, Mr. Squirrel.  Remember, you are never too old to get outside and play in the snow!   That's real beauty!

Yesterday, The Working Girl and Mother Blogger spoke of yearning for the softer side of life, and it seems they are not the only ones.  Whether it's home design and decorating *, fashion, or nails, pastel green is trend-on for spring 2010 -- especially mint green. 

(The Mum is currently housed in a mint green robe surrounded by walls with varying shades of green paint, while the mint green-tipped nails of The Working Girl type this post.)

Green symbolizes the country’s eco-friendly spirit and inspires a restful mood..The nail color provides an exotic pop to the hands without being too bright and distracting. 

With Chanel (Jade), Essie (Mint Candy Apple), and Exhibit (Mint Green) already offering greens, it is sure to be a trend that sticks. 

*For our home decorating enthusiasts, Benjamin Moore's Cedar Green, 2034-40, a yellow-green, is the IT color for 2010.

These babies will give you softer, clearer skin in a flash

Forget the pricey dermatologist, TotalBeauty.com readers say you can get the same microdermabrasion results at home -- if you use these products. Don't believe us? Then check out their reviews for proof, they claim these products gave them less breakouts, wrinkles and more! See products

No. 10: Physicians Formula Derm@Home Mineral MicroDermabrasion System, $30.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.4

"Gives results like you just had a facial …"

No. 9: Estee lauder Idealist Micro-D, $49.50

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.4

Readers actually describe this product as "so fun" and "the best beauty product ever invented …"

No. 8: Neutrogena Advanced Solutions At Home Microdermabrasion System, $44.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.5

"My skin positively glows after each use. I've noticed a definite improvement in allover skin tone …"

Want to see what's No. 1? Click here!

Is there any Monday more manic than the Monday after the long holiday?   Well, stress not, dear readers because KMR Communications is pleased to offer one lucky reader of Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog an “Ultimate Serum Giveaway” package including products from PHYTO-C, nuNAAT and AminoGenesis worth over $210.00. Serums, known for their ultra-concentrated formulas, pack more punch.  So take that, Manic Monday!  . 
 
 
PHYTO-C Supreme Serum
This anti-aging serum not only has anti-cellulite properties, but it reduces scar tissue and is formulated with powerful antioxidants.  Formulated with an anti-aging agent, the active ingredients refine skin texture as it smoothes and firms the skin.  Providing extraordinary protection against Photo-damage, Supreme Serum facilitates collagen production and reduces the appearance of stretch marks. Worth: $64. www.phyto-ceutical.com

 AminoGenesis DermaScyne 2 Intense Daily Serum
This intense serum delivers 25 key biological building blocks to the skin enabling it to replace and repair the skin’s essential proteins as they breakdown to maintain a youthful, radiant and healthy appearance. AmnoGenesis’ DermaScyne supports proteins like collagen and elastin as well as other key proteins which bind water to the skin for maximum hydration. Worth: $139. www.aminogenesis.com

nuNAAT Naat Serum
Specially formulated to smooth over frizzy hair, restore split ends and provide an intense shine while protecting your hair from external elements. Massage through wet or dry hair and leave on for sleek, hydrated hair. Worth: $6.99. www.nunaat.com

Remember, it's just a Monday.  Breathe!

Top 10 Tips for Beauty on a Budget

Short on cash? You'll still look great with this advice

Instead of pining over pricey Chanel or Lancome products, why not try some at-home beauty goodies that'll do the same job for mere pennies? It may sound too good to be true, but it is! You can have beautiful skin and hair using products found in your kitchen.  The Working Girl has been making her own sugar scrub for over a year, and Mother Blogger uses a baking soda clarifying rinse (and then a heavy conditioner) on the night before her hair color appointment.   Check it out here! See tips

Are you planning on having a big night out tonight?  Mother Blogger and The Working Girl will be the quintessential party-poopers this New Year's Eve.  With The Working Girl still dealing with The Voms of Pregnancy and Mother Blogger recuperating from pneumonia, the ladies of the blog are hanging close to home tonight. 

In her twenties, Mother Blogger, not from the 212 area code, made more than a few treks to New York on the eve of a new year in order to ride The Ball down in Times Square.  Oh, how the stories have taken on a life of their own. Can you say the word "confabulate"?  Yes, the dear old Mum unconsciously replaces fact with fantasy.  When asked to respond to these allegations, Mother Blogger proclaimed, "Hey, let the good times roll!"

Whether you are tucked in your bed watching the ball fall or falling into bed in the wee hours of the morning, there is nothing worse than the morning after riding the ball down. You feel awful and your face shows it. And the older you get, the harder it is to look fresh if you go to bed later than 10:00 p.m.!

If you can sleep it off, great! But if you have to get out of bed and face the world, here are a few tips on how to hide the fact that you rolled in the door at dawn.

If you have the mental capacity before you go to bed, wash your face (and drink a glass of water or Gatorade).  Both ladies of the blog are too exhausted to wash their faces on an average night so they house baby wipes by their bed to remove their makeup. A pound of CVS baby wipes will only cost you $4 --an  über-inexpensive beauty secret. 

In the morning, hydrate your dry, tired, and thirsty skin.  Slather on an intense natural hydrating mask like Skin Nutrition with Phytomins Hydrating Mask (CVS $9.99). Then grab another Gatorade and roll into bed for a few more zzzzzzz's.

If your eyes scream “I had one too many last night" after mega-hydration and the extra zzzzzz's, use a few drops of Visine Advanced Relief ($4.89, cvs.com) to get rid of that bloodshot look and soothe your peepers.

Lastly, to get rid of that pasty and dry look, Clinique Non-Streak Bronzer from the men's line  ($15) will produce a natural- and healthy-looking glow.  Remember that your skin is already dehydrated, so using a powder bronzer on it will only make you look older!!!! 

Have a happy, healthy, and safe New Year's Eve!

Relaxing DIY Spa Day Idea

If your pennies and your peds are pinched after your holiday expenditures, take a minute to unwind and give your feet a treat at home!  Mother Blogger and The Working Girl gave it a test-drive and their feet are feeling fabulous -- as well as their wallets!

Whether you have five minutes or five hours to relax, you'll love this step-by-step at-home pedicure. It's an easy way to put your feet up (literally) and have a few calm moments to pamper yourself and reflect on all the fun you (hopefully) had this holiday season. See step-by-step

With a new baby on the way, The Working Girl  (and Grandmother Blogger) have attempted to seek out  non-toxic beauty products, so they were delighted to test-drive a new line of beauty products created by Rebecca Gournay.  In Rebecca's search for the most potent ingredients  the (seed) + ceator found the answer inside a itty-bitty grape seed. The company harnessed the nutrient-rich grape seed, which is a by-product of the wine-making process -- Cheers! -- and created a fabulous new line of natural beauty products.  (seed) + products are enriched with linoleic essential fatty acids, Vitamin E (antioxidant) and phytosterols to nourish and moisturize skin. 

The moisturizing bar was a treat to the girls' senses.  Invigorating Citrus Thyme is a crisp and refreshing scent that invigorates the mind.  Sensitive sniffers can also purchase the bar sans scent. 

The all natural body bar is enhanced with grape seed oil,  and refined pomegranate, apricot and strawberry seeds are added to gently exfoliate and cleanse.  The girls are big fans of daily exfoliation.

The Ladies of the Blog were also invigorated by the price:  Six bars for under $20!

(seed) + is a Brains on Beauty winner!

(seed) +’s website

Disclaimer

What is the Wonderbar?

 

The Wonderbar is not a soap. It is a facial bar which is enhanced by the unique combination of Chlorey’nahre, a proprietary complex extracted from algae, with 3000 year old Heilmoor clay of Austria, a natural therapeutic ingredient. According to the manufacturer, the use of nanotechnology to develop Chlorey’nahre results in quick and complete absorption into your dermis to help your skin stay supple, radiant, and youthful.

 

The Benefits:

• Firms, lifts and puts a glow on your face in as little as three minutes
• Minimizes the redness associated with Rosacea  
• Tightens and minimizes facial pores
• Removes free radicals and toxins from your face, and replenishes it with the right nutrients
• Fights Eczema, Acne, and Psoriasis
• Brings balance to skin – oily skin becomes less oily and dry skin less dry
• Gives your face a natural, healthy radiance
• Lightens pigmentation and freckles
• Moisturizes skin after every wash (due to Chlorey’nahre)
• Works equally well as a shampoo as it helps improve the scalp and hair to become soft and shiny
• Works well as a shaving foam to reduce razor burn and the incidence of ingrown hairs

 

Results:

• The Wonderbar was beautifully packaged and could hold its own as a lovely gift.  
• Lightly scented.
• Mother Blogger found the facial bar to impart intense moisture to her estrogen-deprived, dry skin. 
• Mother Blogger gave the Wonderbar a test-drive on her hair and was pleasantly surprised to discover that it left her locks in a soft and manageable condition.  She has added it to her gym bag for a shampoo-alternative.
• The Working Girl's acne-prone skin seemed to clear up significantly after using the Wonderbar for a week.  Or could her hormones finally be leveling out?
• Too pricey for a long-term plan.

 

The product line:

• The 25gm Wonderbar from Wonderbar USA, 6-8 weeks supply ($40)
• The 80gm Wonderbar from Wonderbar USA, 3-4 month supply ($105)
• This gift set contains 4-25gm Wonderbars, a 5-6 month supply,is individually boxed ($140)

 

Disclaimer:  Product was supplied by manufacturer.

 

Beautiful Skin and Hair for Pennies

With these at-home beauty product recipes you can save money without sacrificing quality

Spend a little too much this holiday season? Well, one way to get your bank account back on track is to spend a little less on products. Thankfully, with these at-home recipes, you can save plenty of cash but still have glowing skin and shiny hair. See recipes