The Ugly Truth Vibram FiveFingers Workout Shoes

When it comes to working out, you’ll endure all sorts of humiliation to reach your goals. (See: pole dancing on a Power Plate.)

Confidence, meet your match. Vibram FiveFingers, new fitness shoes with space for each toe (like gloves for the feet), are about as sexy as tractor tyres.

Engineered for running, walking and yoga, the shoes act like a second skin, with thin, flexible rubber soles that grip any surface. They’re lined with stretch polymade fabric and require no socks.

The benefits are similar to reflexology: they stimulate acupressure points (aiding ailments like fatigue, poor digestion and muscle tension), strengthen muscles and improve balance, agility and posture.

What’s more, they help you run faster. Minimizing the time you can be spotted wearing them.

Available from www.amazon.co.uk

Daily Candy.

Two weeks’ notice. Lash Lab’s New Semipermanent Mascara Treatment

Along with an empty bank account and perpetual hangover, smudged lashes are a holiday inevitability like crying during A Charlie Brown Christmas, sweating off a sugar cookie binge, etc.

Since the pain of removing waterproof makeup turns you into a Grinch, simplify your routine with Lash Lab’s new semipermanent mascara treatment — it stays on a full two weeks.

Technicians mix the treatment to order, and a variety of wand thicknesses means you can decide between naturally blessed and Twiggy-thick. They even curl your hairs pretreatment. After just 30 minutes, you’ll have budge-proof eye makeup that will make you look wide-eyed and fresh during even your most cringe-worthy shenanigans.

Unleash the tears of joy.

This post first appeared on Daily Candy.

Serums – Skincare’s new Superheroes

Serums have undoubtedly become the superheroes of skincare.  Demand is growing so quickly for high potency serums that Olay’s waiting list reached 10,000 for its new serum Regenerist 3 Point Super Serum. After using this product for a month it’s easy to see what all the fuss is about, it really does work just as well as many of its more expensive counterparts (Cost €38)

How do serums differ from face creams?

A serum does not replace your moisturiser, rather it should be layered beneath your daily face cream where it will act like a bespoke troubleshooting treatment. They are designed to be intensive, penetrating beyond the top layer of the epidermis, creating real results which can be seen the morning after you’ve applied a serum -even for the first time, and it allow you to give yourself the type of treatment which was previously only available in salons.

Some of the Best Serums on the market.

Sisleya Radiance Anti-Aging Concentrate  (€310)

Sisleya Radiance Concentrate is a very high-quality anti-aging product with convincing results.

Cliniques Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle and UV Damage Corrector (About €40)

This ‘cocktail’ of potent enzymes, peptitdes and antioxidants help smooth existing lines and protect against future damage.

Chanel Sublimage Essential Revitalising (€320 )

The Miracle Mask, my best find for 2010, refines pores – incredible.

Every night I generously lather on anti-aging creams and each morning I slap on copious amounts of sunblock, in between there are face masks, eye creams and high-tech facials, all doing their little bit to help slow down the aging process, but in reality I won’t know if these products are really working until many years down the road.  I hope my face won’t be blueprint of the late hours, excess wine drinking, hangovers and ten years of smoking  which were my twenties (I know, insert much eye rolling) –  instead I hope the healthy eating, expensive face creams, fitness and moderate wine drinking of my thirties will pay dividend – but we’ll have to wait and see.

So you can imagine my excitement when I found a product which worked instantly.  Let me introduce The Miracle Mask (NUDE skincare) which dramatically refined my pores after only one use.

Oddly, this product’s label didn’t make any claims about refining pores, however, it did promise to ‘dramatically improve skin’, but they all seem to promise that so I didn’t take much notice. In truth I just carelessly dabbed some of this mask onto my face, vacuumed my bedroom while I waited for it to ‘work’, and then washed it off some minutes later.  In the time it took me to clean my bedroom floor I was, unknown to me, getting a new skin.  My opened pores were reduced by at least seventy per cent and my skin felt taut and new without the dehydrated tightness that often accompanies products like this which contain AHAs, though these AHAs are from milk, which means they’re natural and this may have made all the difference.

Lots of products have the word ‘miracle’ in the name but few have earned the title.

What it is: A facial mask for instant radiance and skin-brightening results.

What it is formulated to do: Nude Miracle Mask exfoliates and stimulates skin for a revitalised complexion. It contains natural alpha hydroxyl acids, which benefit the skin with their light exfoliating and moisturising properties, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, skin lightening and firming, and increased collagen production.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:– Parabens- Sulfates- Synthetic Fragrances- Synthetic Dyes- Petro-Chemicals- Phthalates

What else you need to know:The perfect pre-party mask, this incredible treatment is recommended for all skin types except the very sensitive.

(Sephora.com)

Here’s a link to Space NK’s Miracle Mask http://bit.ly/bJnJZu if anyone knows somewhere in Ireland to purchase this please let me know and I’ll add it here.

Link to Miracle Mask site http://bit.ly/9LAuZw

For more independent reviews: http://bit.ly/9LanfG

Frownies – patches that reduce wrinkles while you sleep

The Promise

• Frownies are a simple method to reverse deep expression lines Frownies repair wrinkle-damaged skin without dangers of injections or toxic chemicals
• Dramatically reduce lines and wrinkles safely and naturally
• Trains the underlying facial muscles to regain the strength and tone they have lost
• Use daily or nightly; leave on for a minimum of three hours

The Results

There are many things I’d do for beauty and going around with tape stuck on my face is one of them. Yes, no shame, no gain.

Now that I’m in my 30s  I’ve started to notice frown lines so I gladly stuck on these frownies every night for a week. They may not do much for one’s sex kitten status but  they do  smooth out brow furrows to such an extent that you can’t even see see the lines anymore. With consistent use you will see results but don’t expect to see a dramatic change after one use.

Paying for the science is worth the money – Perricone MD High Potency Eye Lift

Perricone MD High Potency Eye Lift.

In truth I would pay all sorts of ridiculous sums of money or even pull out the big guns in the form of my credit card if I was guaranteed that a beauty product would work, that it really would do what it says on the label.  And I too know the disappointment of spending a vast sum of  money on a product which is about as potent and effective on lines as whipped cream, so I don’t say this lightly –  Perricone MD High Potency Eye Lift works.

What you’re not paying for is an expensive perfume  or fancy packaging, what you are paying for is scientifically proven ingredients.

I saw this product working immediately, after the first application the fine lines around my eyes began to blur and ultimately dissolve.  It also tightened the skin without causing that drying sensation I’ve experienced with other eye products.

I would not hesitate in buying it again, even at this price, it’s worth every penny and it was no surprise to later learn that this product is a best-seller and recommended by dermatologists.

Price €95

One Night’s Sleep Away From Wrinkle Free Skin.

Chest-A-Peel

Chest-A-Peel’s pillow pads aim to prevent creasing and reduce wrinkles while you sleep – that’s what the advert promised (insert eye-rolling).

I gasped at the picture of said product and laughed, I mean do they think we’re complete morons or something, but still I couldn’t help myself, I did a quick search for reviews because I thought they’d be hilarious. They weren’t. In fact they were praising this device. Still, I didn’t really believe them.

So I got my hands on a Chest-A-Peel Pillow (even the name is all wrong, isn’t it). After enduring many jokes from husbands – jokes which won’t be repeated here but let’s just say the road to beauty isn’t always pretty or sexy – still, undettered I tried said pillow, which involves cushioning it between one’s boobs.

How it works:

When a woman sleeps on her side, the body’s natural weight distribution causes her skin to fold between her breasts. As skin loses resiliency with age, these folds become unsightly wrinkles and permanent creases on her chest.

The patented design of the heart series pad actually prevents the skin folds that occur during typical side-sleep and also actively works to repair existing wrinkles and creases on the chest. The heart-shaped pad actually absorbs the wrinkles that would otherwise develop on your chest while you sleep and protects your décolletage from further damage.

Just apply the pad at bedtime, and by the next morning, you’ll see a noticeable reduction in both the quality and quantity of wrinkles on your chest. Affordable and durable, Chest-A-Peel is for women of all ages, and can be worn as frequently (or infrequently) as desired.

The results

Okay, so pride is a hard boil to swallow but I had to shove it back down my throat and warn it to stay there because this product works and it works quickly. Creasing disappeared and after a few weeks of use my skin was totally unmarked.

See http://chestapeel.co.uk for before and after pics as there are many humiliations I’d go through for beauty but posting pics of my boobs isn’t one of them.

and also, www.chestapeel.com

Price £34.99

Courtney Love’s stem cell facelift- amazing results.

The singer is said to have been attending a New York based surgeon for non-surgical face-lift treatments called the stem cell facelift, in which a patient’s complexion is revamped using their own grafted fat tissue.

The treatment is not commonly available and is costly but is said to last for  five years, plumps up and tightens the skin and stops the neck from sagging. Anything which is an alternative to using a knife wins favour with me, and it has to be said she looks like a new woman.

See pic below – before surgery.

Inside Kim Kardashian’s Makeup Bag. Her must-have proucts.

Did you ever notice how celebrities rarely seem to suffer from the unattractive shiny face us mere mortals do when we’re photographed, Kim says it’s thanks to Blot Film by MAC, “Blottting is a must for every bag. It’s super portable and perfect to touch up my skin – and get rid of the shine”

Kim’s favorite most versatile product is Glam Balm, which she says she uses to tame flyaway hair, moisturise her lips and keep her brows in shape.

I’ve used it too and it’s a much nicer texture than the Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream, though quite a bit more expensive. I do love it too though, it’s also great for cuticles and even feet!

To keep her glow Kim applies a Blushable Creme Stick by NYC New York Colour, “This is a super blendable blush that can act as a lipstick in case I need a touch up,” she says.

Her preferred foundation is Makeup For Ever HD Foundation and Powder and she also regularly uses – M.A.C. Zoom Mascara and is a big fan of La Mer The Lip Balm.

Filling in the road map and pot holes left by time – Filextra Facial Revolumnizing.

The claim:

FILEXTRA ™: Facial Revolumizing Treatment with Collagen is an all-over facial moisturiser that helps to plump the appearance of aging skin for a more youthful, toned, radiant appearance.

As the skin ages, loss of natural collagen in the mid-face sink– a sunken and hollowed look to the cheek and under eye area and unhealthy, sallow and thin looking skin. These signs are as much an age indicator as wrinkles, dark circles and uneven skin tone. To address this specific anti-aging concern, Good Skin Labs introduces Filextra Facial Revolumizing Treatment with Collagen, to visibly corrects the “mid-face sink” with a potent mix of technologically advanced ingredients

The results:

When I read this product promised to plump up my face I had images of looking like Jordan. But to my surprise the results were instant and not at all Jordon-like.

The product is thick and goes on smooth. After only application my skin glowed as if I was a regular gym goer (sigh) and it looked and felt ultra hydrated.

As the weeks rolled on my skin appeared more toned and taut, but most importantly I’m happy to report that the area under my sunken under eyes was filled out, so much so that people began to comment how well rested I was looking.

Gadget or Gimmick. The Wrinkle Zapper

It’s a gimmick, right?  Maybe even a joke.

This was my first reaction when I was given the PerriconeMD Cosmeceuticals Light Renewal Skin Rejuvenation Therapy gadget.

As I grasped the gadget in my hands I didn’t know if I should make a phone call with it or change the TV channel, instead I stretched a wide grateful smile across my face as the recipient of a gift should.

The giver said, “see, now you won’t have to pay for all those light therapy treatments.”

Which makes me sound like a lady who lunches and then drops by her dermatologist for a little ‘work’ before tea, but in fact it was to treat the type of scary adult acne that makes you want to hide from the world, and it did help, by the way.

Anyhow, back to the PerriconeMD Cosmeceuticals Light Renewal Skin Rejuvenation Therapy, it uses light-emitting diodes (LED), visible red light and near-invisible infrared beams to smooth away lines. An independent study 83% of users said they noticed a difference in their lines after 9-12 weeks of use.

I’m not sure if it made a dramatic difference to the fine lines around my mouth but it certainly did help with my open pores, and the overall texture of my skin was more taut and smooth.  The longer I use it the more results I’m witnessing, so I’ll be interested to see if the results have now peaked (after almost three months use) or if they’ll continue.

I like that it’s simple and easy to use and there isn’t a chance that it will spill in my hand luggage.

It’s cheaper than having professional light therapy with your dermatologist but of course it’s still not cheap retailing at around €300.

Available from  PerriconeMD Cosmeceuticals Flagship in New York and Sephora or http://www.perriconemd.com/

Drink yourself beautiful

We all know that beauty comes from the inside but now the beauty industry have taken this quite literally and are bringing drinkable cosmetics to the market.

BORBA Skin Care Products offer drinkable products for different needs from treating acne-prone skin to reducing fine lines and wrinkles, hydrating skin and firming elasticity.

Even the companies we don’t necessarily associate with healthy drinks like Coca-Cola are jumping on the band wagon and developing a tea-based drink with L’Oréal, destined for the beauty shelves.

Similar products in Japan such as the phenomenally popular Nutraceutical drinks are one of the fastest growing areas of their drinks industry.

There is no debate that what we put into our body is reflected in our skin and bodies and I’ve no doubt these cosmetic drinks will be huge. These products are not yet available in Ireland so I’ll be sticking to Aloe Vera juice and water, both help to rebuild and maintain the skin.

Best on-line beauty stores with worldwide delivery.

On pay day I used love nothing more than skipping into an upmarket department store to sample the delights at the cosmetic counters, but over the years some haughty sales people staffing these counters have turned it into a fairly traumatising experience.

You know the type, they look you up and down, are snippy and condescending when they realise you’re not going to buy a 200euros tub of face-cream without sampling it and I don’t just mean a dab on the back of my hand because that’s about as helpful as lawnmower. I need a proper sample, a sachet which will let me test the product at home, when I’ve had a chance to wash off the day’s grime and can investigate the product’s possible merits. Even though the sales person has a drawer of samples, her reply to my request is, ‘sorry, samples only come with purchases’.

If I were purchasing the product I wouldn’t need a sample, I explain, but she gives me one of those withering looks sales people reserve for such annoyances as customers.

In truth, it’s more their tone and bad attitude that kills me, so much so I now do almost all my cosmetic shopping on-line, which is not only cheaper but also more convenient without the chance of being looked down upon.

Here’s my top three on-line cosmetic stores.

No. 1 StrawberryNet
Fantastic selection of well known luxury brand cosmetics. Free shipping world-wide and 5%  discount for purchasing three or more products, the more times you return to this site the greater your discount will be. I use this site for birthday gifts for friends and family living abroad as the site also offer a free gift wrapping service.

www.strawberrynet.com

No. 2 Drugstore

Shop for an extensive selection of great every-day products as well as many American brands which are not freely available here. They also have fragrances, hair care and perfumes. I particularly like their Avalon Organics body moisturiser and Reviva products, which are a little cheaper here than else where.

Delivery to Ireland is now available.

www.drugstore.com

No. 3 Beautyhabit

Hand-picked assortment of the best independent beauty. Free samples are included with every order from this American websites. They also offer an outlet section with 20-30% off and deliver to Ireland.

www.beautyhabit.com

Surgery-free and proud: Julia Roberts.

Asked about her decision to embrace the ageing process, she said: ‘The secret ingredient of beauty is being happy. And maybe a little eye cream.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1304836/Julia-Roberts-proudly-displays-wrinkles-Eat-Pray-Love-premiere.html#ixzz0xBqIthUb though I’m not liking the terrible picture the Daily Mail have posted of her, clearly this is just a bad pic. because she will always be a pretty woman.

Charlize Theron’s favourite in-flight face product

Charlize is a fan of Truth Serum Collagen booster by Ole Henriksen – a vitamin C product which claims to plump up skin and keep blemishes at bay, while anti-oxidants protect from pollution, boost  collagen and promote a flawless complexion.

I thought to myself if this product only lives up to half these claims I’d be bathing in this stuff, irrespective of price, besides I was already a fan of the Ole Henriksen range.

Charlize likes using it on long-haul flights as she jets around the world.

At last, a celebrity who uses something other than Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream when flying, so I was excited to try this. I lathered it on for my drive from Derry to Tipperary, it’s about as long-haul and glamorous as I get right now.

My ‘truth’.

It really is a long ways to Tipperary.

I don’t always take my make-up off after a night out.

I have skin envy.

My Mui Mui wallet is fake.

I have bought weight-loss dvds from infomercials in the middle of the night.

I saw no  immediate results from this products, but I can be a persistent little fecker when I have to be so I continued with the regime.

I’ve almost finished a whole Truth Bottle and I don’t think I’d buy it again because for the price I paid I would have expected to see results.

Instead nada.

The Scent

Presumably it’s the vitamin C which gives the product its very orangey scent, though it’s not a smell I particularly liked because it seemed synthetic and over-powering.

The Pump

I also found the pump dispensed too much product. Even when I distributed it on my neck and chest it still remained sticky and clammy.

I’m a big fan of vitamin C products but I think the levels available in this product are perhaps too low and would work best for those with very sensitive skin. For those of us with lizard skin I’m all for nuclear levels of vitamin C because I need to see results!

Available from Harvey Nichols.

Smooth skin – Magic Peeling Exfoliating Glove

Magic Peeling Exfoliating Glove

The claim:

The Magic Peeling Glove® is made of a cellulose fibre extracted from the plant broom of the Ginestra plant.

Promotes the skin’s natural exfoliating process and Improves the flow of OXYGEN to the skin

Eliminate impurities

Replaces chemical peeling Process in a totally natural way

Enhances the effectiveness of the active principles in ANTI-CELLULITE, MOISTURIZING, ANTI-WRINKLE, AND ANTI-STRETCH MARK creams

The results:

The skin on my legs has never been so soft, allowing body cream to be instantly absorbed, in fact I had such good results on my legs that I even used this on my turkey skin neck (I know, disgusting, but it happens to us lazy girls who only exfoliate our faces) and chin, again resulting in super soft skin as if I’d just had some type of dermabrasion, except without the burning.

The material used in this glove is not abrasive, though it did make my skin a little pink, I was, however, using quite a bit of pressure when working the glove on my body, this reaction disappeared quickly afterwards leaving smooth soft skin.

If I could only keep one body product, right now, I’d choose this.

Be warned.

Stand in the shower or the tub when you’re using this glove as you won’t believe the amount of dead skin that will flake off!

Purchase: www.magicpeelingusa.com

Price: Under €30

The Adult Acne Miracle Cure – Salicylic Acid 20% Gel Peel, 30ml (Professional) by Skin Laboratory.

The Claim:

Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production and improvin

Visibly reduces pore size

Evens skin tone, minimizing areas of discoloration

Effectively treats stubborn skin conditions, such as acne and environmental/sun damage

The results:

Having had clear skin all through my adolescence the onset of mild adult acne at thirty was a cruel twist of fate. I went directly to the doctor and then to a dermatologist – I tried all the usual treatments including antibactrial soaps, antibiotics, toptical creams, retina -A, even laser, but I never got results, instead my skin became dry and tried.

On a trip to the States I picked up a bottle of Salicylic Acid 20% Gel Peel, 30ml (Professional) by Skin Laboratory, it was inexpensive and I thought worth a try.

I  used the peel once a week for about six weeks and for the first time in months the acne is resolve and my skin tone is more even than ever before.  I also had some minor scarring which has improved.

I would highly recommend this product, but don’t apply it the night before a big date or interview, it was my experience that the acne worsened after the first treatment – wait it out – it will improve dramatically thereafter, but if in doubt please consult your doctor before using this product. All I can offer are my personal experiences and I know everyone’s skin reacts differently, what works for one acne sufferer will not necessarily work for another, but at this price it’s worth a try.

It retails for under twenty euros

Available from

www.skinlaboratory.com/

Neutrogena’s Advanced Sunscreen SPF 100

I’ve been on a major freckle alert all Summer but thanks my newest favourite find I’ve had nothing to worry about. Neutrogena Spectrum SPF 100 is must-have for anyone who wants to stay young, skin cancer-free and basically avoid burning or even tanning. In fact I think anyone who has skin should own a tube of this.

The claim:

• Ultra Light
• Clean Feel
• Non-greasy, leaves skin soft and smooth
• Waterproof, sweatproof, resists rub-off
• Light fresh scent
• Oil free
• PABA free

Sunscreen with high-factor tends to come in a sudocrem like consistency, with a greasy texture that just sits on my skin and stain my clothes – and let’s not even mention tiny flies drowning in it and having to peel them off my skin. There is nothing sexy about sunscreen. In fact, a burka has sometimes felt like a more favourable option. But this sunscreen is different.

Neutrogena has developed a breakthrough sun protection technology complex specifically engineered to deliver very high, very broad and photo stable UV protection.  Unlike other sunblocks this one is ultra lightweight, so much so that I didn’t even feel like I was wearing anything on my skin. It’s non-greasy, absorbs in seconds and lasts for up to five hours.

I’m a devotee.

Where to buy it:

I had trouble finding a stockist in Ireland or even the UK and ended up buying it on Ebay, though I see http://www.amazon.com are also stocking it.

This week’s beauty find

I love nothing more than pointing my readers towards a product that really does work and isn’t all gimmick and no gain.

Lancaster Differently Nuti-Dermo Skin Engergy Flash Skincare brush glides on via a flat brush applicator, which I had a few issues over because I’m not sure it’s so hygienic, but still, it is convenient if you’re on the go.

Hyaluronic acid combined with collagen stimulator to restore density & resilience.  Blend of essential vitamins, trace elements & omegas 3+6 to provide healthy shine. Perfect for popping into your handbag without having to worry about spillages, convenient to use any time whenever your skin shows signs of fatigue, I’ve even used it over my make-up to revive my dry skin, though this isn’t what this product is intended for and is best used on a clean face.

For me, someone with dull skin who doesn’t get much sleep, this is a perfect find.