Pen Pretty

O-M-G: BirchBox is a beauty godsend

Beauty-filled boxes in the mail for $10 a month? Sign me up!

http://www.birchbox.com/

 

Featured Beauty Ingredient from Hawaii: Coffee

This Anti-aging cream by Malie is what they use for the Lomi Lomi facial at the Turtle Bay Resort's Spa Luana. There is Hawaiian Coffee Fruit Extract in it, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps with everything from middle-age acne (me!) to brown spots (me again!). I couldn't leave without taking a jar home with me. You can feel it's effect immediately when you put it on. It's a funny cafe latte color so it sort of feels like your putting coffee on your face:

Here's another island fave of mine with coffee in it, the famous Maui Babe Browning Lotion. I've been slathering this stuff on everyday because the color you get with it is unreal. I spray on an SPF30, then put this on top for the perfect islandgirl tan:

Aloha from Hawaii -- Indulging in island beauty rituals

The indigenous Pineapple Pedicure at the Turtle Bay Resort in the North Shore is to die for. Here, my legs are exfoliated with Hawaiian Sea Salt, Kukui Nut Oil and raw coconut, then drizzled with Hawaiian Honey and a layer of crushed Pineapple. Next, my legs are wrapped in warm towels so my beach weathered skin soaks in the island goodness while I listen to the sounds of the ocean. BEST Tuesday morning EVER! -j

Special Delivery

My Body Deli products arrived via Fed Ex and refrigerated with dry ice and a styrofoam box. How cool is that. And did I mention the products smelled so fresh and amazing? This is truly yummy skincare...

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Special Delivery

This stuff is so fresh, each item has a batch number and "Use By" date...believe me, this stuff will be all gone before then!

 

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Special Delivery

...my fresh, made to order skincare from the Body Deli has arrived!

 

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2011 Summer Beauty Wrap-Up

This summer, I got hooked on Sula's peel-off nail polishes, then became obsessed with their new beauty line. The brand is still small and boutique-y, prices are just right, and their idea of beauty is on par with mine: simple, natural, easy. Thanks to Sula, I do my own nails now, and use only their nail polish for a better-for-you manicure. Thank god because I don't think I can take going to another non-English speaking salon. (Sorry, I know that's bad, but it's true.) My faves: Champagne Sugar Perfume, Paint and Peel Duo in Azure, and the blushes in Forget Me Not and Girl Next Door. 

 

Get ready for the ultimate Summer pedicure! My friend just got back from Greece and told me about this insanely strange spa treatment called the "Fish Spa." You basically submerge your toes in a fish tank where tiny little fishes go to town on all your calluses, hangnails and whatever dead tissue you have on your feet. Here's the description:

A natural pedicure method originating from Turkey and practiced all over the Far East. This unique skin treatment massages your feet using Garra Rufa fish. It is a great individual or group pampering experience which is something new that feels fantastic.

Your feet will feel amazing, refreshed and healthy. These clever fish can also stimulate acupuncture points helping to rejuvenate the nervous system, relax the body and release fatigue. Your blood circulation and flow is also greatly increased during the treatment.

She said it didn't hurt, actually tickled, and when she pulled out her feet, they felt like silk. Don't believe me? Check out the website for yourself. (There are pictures!) Can't wait for this to come to the States. Sigh. The things we (I) do for beauty.

My Favorite Summer 2001 Beauty Purchases:

1. A spa membership at Burke Williams. $79 a month gets you credit you can use for any of their spa services at 25% off. Need I say more? Let's just say, the day I redeem my credit is a day I look forward to all month. Where would my (currently) silky-smooth skin be without my monthly Hunter's Retreat treatments?

2. Aveeno. Not the new facial stuff. The OG body lotion stuff in the beige bottle with green pump. I have been slathering that stuff on all summer, and my skin has never looked and felt better--including my face! And you know what's funny? After using it I realize there is no difference between using the expensive stuff vs. the affordable drug store variety. If it works it works, regardless of how much you paid for it or where you bought it. Thanks Aveeno, for saving me a ton of money.

3. I used my hard earned eBay Bucks to snag this baby--it's called the TopStyler. Instead of rollers, it uses ceramic clam shell-shaped clamps. You set a pin curl and clamp it on. That's it! Once it cools (about 10 minutes is all I need) you take them out and you get gorgeous curls that eventually turns into sexy waves. Now, I can wash my face, brush my teeth and get my hair and makeup done in 30 minutes flat. Now that is a serious beauty accomplishment!

Back to my SK-II favorites

As you all know I went on a mission to see how well SK-II worked a year-and-a-half ago, and last fall, I ventured off it for a few months testing natural brands like Arcona. Well dear readers, I am happy to report, I am back to SK-II again and my skin is more than happy about it. While on the other stuff, I had weird irritation issues and ugly bumps, and now that I am back on the Facial Treatment Essence and Serum, my skin is calm and smooth again. But if you are reading this but dreading the effect SK-II will have on your wallet, let me give you a little shortcut. These are the MUSTS in the line that you need to get. You can pretty much skip the cleansers and do the masks once a month (if you can afford it), but get these items for everyday:

1. Facial Treatment Essence 

2. Facial Treatment Serum (night)

3. Facial Treatment Milk (day)

If you must pick one of the two moisturizers mentioned above, get the Serum and use a less expensive moisturizer you like on top. And my last tip? For god's sakes buy them from Bon Bon Cosmetics.

Even though Bon Bon is out of the country and it takes a little while to get it, you save nearly half price and it comes from Japan where SK-II originated. Who cares if the writing on it is in Japanese. It's the real thing baby! My hubby got me some stuff when he was on a business trip in Taiwan (where Bon Bon is I believe) and it was the real thing from Japan as well. 

Unless SK-II goes under, I will never stop using these 3 products again. SK-II, my skin missed you!!

 

 

 

A fusion of beauty AND fashion: Lavender-scented ballet flats! http://www.refinery29.com/ballet-flats-the-smell-like-lavender-1

Genius Idea

...an IKEA laptop workstation as an in-closet vanity. Love it! (Real Simple June 2011)

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