If you are traveling at all by air this Summer, listen up. You see, when you fly the friendly skins, the air is not that friendly to your skin. The extenuating circumstances that can cause dryness and travel-stressed skin due extreme humidity levels, dry cabin air and jet lag can take its toll on skin and cause it to become dry, uncomfortable – unhealthy. Not a good thing.

While there are a great number of travel friendly (sized) products out there, I had yet to find any that were created soley for this purpose, until now.

Estee Lauder just introduced Super Flight Creme Continuous Hydration for Face and Super Flight Creme Continuous Hydration for Eyes - available exclusively in airports and duty-free shops. These both are beautifully packaged in a portable carrying case – the perfect size for any carry-on that meets current U.S. security size restriction. The powerful duo offers “flight insurance” for global frequent flyers, keeping skin super hydrated in the face of low cabin humidity and jet lag. These moisturizing products last eight hours and will leave all stepping off the plane looking visibly rested and radiant.

CONTINUOUS HYDRATION FOR FACE
A lightweight, non-greasy, fast absorbing gel-cream. Formulated with Algae Extract and Hyaluronic Acid, a highly effective moisture magnet, as well as a powerful complex of anti-irritants including Glucose and Glycine to calm and visibly soothe the skin. This powerful combination enables skin’s appearance to better recover from long flights and the effects of travelling through multiple time zones.

CONTINUOUS HYDRATION FOR EYES
A feather-weight, non-greasy gel crème that absorbs into skin leaving it silky smooth, soft and protected. Contains a unique revitalizing complex to soothe and strengthen the delicate skin around the eye. Skin looks vibrant, less puffy and the appearance of dark circle is dramatically diminished.

Alos, be sure to check out Estee Lauder’s new informational duty free web-site is printed on the packaging so that, no matter where in the world you are, you can easily learn more about other Estee Lauder duty free products and discover new duty free beauty exclusives and get helpful travel tips.

A high definition volume mascara describes Perfectionist Mascara from Estee Lauder the best. This must-try mascara was hidden deep in my bag I got from the CEW Beauty Awards that I attended with Total Beauty, in what seems like ages ago.

It is no wonder that Projectionist is a finalist out of the 600 some products entered. This is a mascara that gives me volume while separating my lashes and keeping them long, all at the same time. I love the bigger spooly brush and how it is tapered at the tip, making application on my lower lashes a cinch. I have found that slowly working the wand up and through my lashes works best, and usually only this one coat is needed. A night time or for extra drama might have may applying another coat or two, depending on how much I want to play up the lashes.

From Estee Lauder: 

"THE FORMULA
VolumAire™ formula creates weightless volume and sharp definition that resists clumping. Hollow spherical polymers act like inflated balloons that volumize and lift.

THE BRUSH
ProDefinition Brush™ draws out even tiny lashes with infinite precision and separation control. Lets you lavish attention on every single lash, every single day. Blends two kinds of fibers: hollow fibers to hold formula, plus solid rigid fibers to comb it through and separate.

THE COLOR
Pearl pigments mimic the luster and color of natural hair for a lustrous, healthy look. " Choose from Brown or Black.

If you are in the market for a new mascara, you really need to try Projectionist. It retails for $19.50 at your favorite Estee Lauder counter, or online at esteelauder.com.
 

Pink makeup = romantic makeup. And wouldn't it be nice to wear your romatic makeup on Valentines Day?

I am lucky to be fair skinned in which most pinks look nice on me. I prefer the soft pastel pinks, but I like just about any type of pink makeup. If you are not that into Pinks, take a few of my suggestions, and I bet I change your mind.

Sephora has a cute line of products, entitled appropriately enough, Piink. And like they say, "The best things in life are pink". I love this lip gloss crayon ($5) in the line, especially in Milky Rose - the most beautiful shade of rose petal pink. It's ease of use in that is glides on like a lipstick out of it's chubby stick but it looks sheer and glossy and low price tag are a huge plus! I also like to use their My Miistic Shadow ($9) in Tender Pink, which is a loose powder eyeshadow in pink with a hint of gold. It is in the cutest container that you dip the sponge tipped applicator into to get to the shadow.

For blushing in pink, I have a few favorites.

Click to read more ...

Lest we not forget that it is still Summer. With all of the info I have been reading about what is hot for the Fall, I remind myself - it's August and it's 90 something degrees. And I am tan (mostly from my love of self-tanning) and want to stay that way!

So, here are my favorite products I have been using this Summer.
 
To keep my face feeling moisturized and looking tan while at the pool or beach, I have been using XEN-TAN Face ($22). It is a facial self-tanner with a daily dose of treatment. The Face lotion contains Vitamin E for awesome antioxidant benefits while the blend of gentle fruit acids smooth my delicate facial skin. And the instant olive based color looks perfect when applied - and it helps make sure that I didn't miss any spots as well.

To keep my Summer body smooth and moisturized, I recently discovered Cake Beauty's Desserted Island Creamy Body Buffer ($24). This wonderful smelling (like vanilla frosting with a hint of coconut cream - yum!) cream is mixed with some of the world's finest ingredients: Apricot Seeds, Jojoba Beads, and Shea Butter. The Apricot Beads are finely ground and are used an a natural exfoliant, while the pink Jojoba Infused Beads use Jojoba Oil to gently moisturize and exfoliate, and the rich Shea Butter is added for it's regenerative emollient and protectant properties. While the directions say to use it 2 - 3 times a week, I am addicted, and use it in my shower daily.

While on the subject of my body, I hate to admit it, but I do miss a spot in my self-tanning ritual now and then. To remedy this, I turn to Benefit's Jiffy Tan ($24). Jiffy Tan is NOT a self-tanner, it is a tinted body lotion - think of it as a body bronzer, that instantly evens out self-tanning mishaps, or leaves pale white skin tan in  - you guessed it - a jiffy! I use this on my legs daily. It evens everything out and give them the darker color I crave. And it lasts, only coming off with a few minutes of scrubbing gently with soap (for this I suggest their Wonder Mitt). And be sure to wash you hands well after using too.

As far as makeup goes, I use different products for day and evening. 

During the day, I keep a minimalist approach in the high heat. Tarte's Rock Royalty Palette  ($30) does my entire face. The palette includes a mineral powder bronzer, which I apply first, over my forehead, chin, cheeks and nose, then a bit swept across my eyelids. Then I apply the powder blush on the apples of my cheeks and blend over my eyelids too. Then I take the gold high lighter and apply that on my brow bone. Whoola! Now a quick lip is easy with Benefit's Color Plump ($20) in Yoo Hoo, a perfect natural honey color. And the extra little plumping you get from this pencil (yes, plump from a pencil) is a great bonus - it makes my lips look a bit fuller and healthy! And eyes are simply complete with a quick mascara application. I am really liking Bobbi Brown's No Smudge Mascara ($20) in black for a natural look - with the benefit of it not running or smearing from the heat and humidity.

In the evening, when I am apt to wear more makeup, I have been using a few products faithfully, while mixing in color now and then. As I use no foundation in the Summer, I start out using XEN-TAN's Perfect Bronze  ($28) powder bronzer to enhance my natural (self) tan. It is silky smooth (never cakey or dry looking) and is best applied naturally where the sun would tan you more: swept over the forehead, then down over the nose and chin, then swept from side to side over the very tops or the cheeks and across the nose again.  I simply top this off with a light dusting of MAC's Studio Fix ($24) in NC40, my perfect Summer tan shade, to set it while it helps even things out just a bit more. On my eyes I vary the colors by outfit or event, and I have been using a lot of Bourjois, especially their new Intensely Luminous Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow ($13.50). They have long wearability, and the light reflecting pigments really catch the light at night. Parme Electro, a beautiful violet and Rose Disjoncte, a real pure pink are my favorites. Eyeliner is a must for me at night, and I have been picking shades from my Smashbox Cream Eyeliner Palette ($32). They are full of pigment, and the cream formula makes application a cinch and they last all through the night.  To top off my eye look, I am loving DuWop's Lash Lacquer ($18) in Carbon Black. It is a two step product, making it easy to first add long and thick lashes before using the second coat to top the lashes with an orange oil that adds gloss and makes the lashes waterproof. For the lips, I am a gloss queen in the summer. Lipstick need not apply!!! My favorites are MAC's Tinted Lipglass and Ligelee ($14) in various shades, Estee Lauder's High Gloss ($16) in Honey, Flamingo, and Bronze, and my newest favorite YSL's Golden Gloss ($25.50) in Simply Gold and Golden Pink. YSL is a bit expensive for a gloss, but these glosses actually contain real 24K gold in them - and they are about the most beautiful glosses with any hint of gold I have ever used.

Please do not forget that Summer is still here, and keep using your Summer's Best!