Swell!

When Hairy Met Shiseido

7/20/2015

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Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: Shiseido Facial Razor
What I love: Facial hair. I don't love it. On myself, that is. 
If you've ever experienced unwanted hair, you know what a bummer it can be. If you've read this far, maybe you, too, have experienced that particular annoyance that is a stray chin whisker, or perhaps you developed a lady 'stache in adolescence that required monthly bleaching, or have been humbled by a fine layer of peach fuzz in your adulthood that knows no shame, taking up root on your cheeks, jawline, or forehead. 

Having experienced all of the above in varying degrees of awefulness, and having investigated (and tried) myriad solutions over the years, I'll start by sharing the bad news: High tech can't help all of us here. Lasers only do their job if the color contrast between hair and skin color is distinct enough, which means having fair skin and very dark hair.

Electrolysis can help, but it's painful, takes a lot of time, and isn't a great solution for a downy layer of fine hair. (Though it will work on pesky moustache hairs if you only have a few.)  

Waxing? Meh. It's OK, but leaves you red for hours and, sometimes, like it did for a friend, ignites skin problems such as rosacea or infections from recycled wax.  

Bleach is OK, though it entails regularly slathering a layer of chemicals on your face. Ditto for hair-removal creams, which i confess to not having actually tried--only because the thought of that much chemical activity seems--on a personal level--extreme to the point of dermal abuse.

Recently, after a series of discreet queries among women- friends, I decided to investigate the facial razor. It sounds awful, right? Shaving? Your face? When you're a woman? Many of us have read or been told that shaving makes hair grow back thick and more bountiful, and whether on your legs, 'pits, or sideburns, will leave tell-tale, stubbly, "I'm-a-lady-who-shaves!" evidence for all the world to point and laugh at. I'm here to say it ain't so!

Just visit YouTube and search "Facial razor for women" and you'll see oodles of videos on the topic. Most all the woman brave enough to document and broadcast their experiences say they use one of the Japanese razors on the market. I bought the Shiseido razor on Amazon, and the pack of three razors arrived in pastel-colored glory about two weeks later (they were coming from Japan, afterall.)

So: How do they work? Well. Very well! 

It's been four days since I tried it and my skin is still smooth and soft and hair-free. I'll report back after the hair starts growing back in to let you know how that part of the experiment works!

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Thai Treat

5/4/2015

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Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: Supaporn Turmeric Face Scrub
What I love: For two decades, I've been drawn to Thailand for its balmy climate, great food, friendly people, gorgeous landscape, AND its incredible beauty products. 

Whenever I visit the Land of Smiles, I stock up on my favorite Thai skincare treat, facial masks, which are easily procured at mainstream drugstores from Kao San Road to Koh Phi Phi, and even those ubiquitous 7-11 stores found on every street in Bangkok and beyond.

One of the most popular skincare brands is the not-what-it-sounds-like Supaporn brand. Most (but not all) of the company's products are free from animal ingredients, and are based on plant extracts and herbs, such as aloe, tamarind, and ginger. My go-to is the slightly antiseptic smelling, and very purifying, turmeric, tamarind, and vitamin C mask. The vitamin C comes from watermelon and guava, but it's the turmeric powder which really gives this mask its potency.

To prepare, you simply mix it with water, give it a stir, and slather it on. Ten minutes later, you wash it off, and voila! Your skin feels soft, clean, and detoxified. 

Aren't planning a trip to Thailand anytime soon? Supaporn products are available at Amazon.com and other online retailers. Woot woot! Before making a purchase, definitely read the ingredients labels (printed in English and in Thai) , since some products contain honey and, weirdly, milk powder.
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Before: Jetlagged and not too pretty!
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Many Thai beauty products are marketed as "whitening" or "brightening," reflecting a cultural preference for fair skin. The "whitening" is actually a gentle peeling, that gives your skin a bit of brightness.
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After: Still jetlagged, but skin is definitely more lively!
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Youth Dew

1/29/2015

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Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: Caudalie Eau de Beaute Beauty Elixir 
What I love: There was a perfume that older ladies wore when I was a kid called Youth Dew. The name didn't really match the scent, which was heavy and sweet and a little musky, and would make you feel faint if you were trapped in an elevator or stuck on a long car journey with someone wearing it. The name "Youth Dew" would have been a much better match for this skin spray made by the French company Caudalie. 

This fountain-of-youth-in-a-bottle is made with a variety of pleasant-smelling essential oils (which you'll see floating on the top of the bottle) and, like many products of European origin--where the ingredients standards are a little more stringent than in the US--this spray contains no funky sodium laurel sulfate, parabens, or petroleum-based ingredients. 

What I love about this spray is the gentle sheen it gives my skin; just enough of a dewy glow to look natural and make my skin feel good. What I don't love is the price; a tiny, one-ounce bottle costs around $20 at Sephora, and about half that at French drug stores, so consider stocking up the next time you vacation in France!
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Purple Reign

11/27/2014

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Reviewer: Melissa
Product: Benecos Natural Eyeshadow Quattro in Beautiful Eyes 001
What I love: In case we’ve never met, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melissa and I have a borderline unhealthy obsession with purple eyeshadow. I can’t remember exactly when it started, but for at least a decade, purple has been my go-to color.

I was already well into my purple-propelled passion when a makeup artist told me that this hue is an excellent choice because it complements my green eyes. What luck!

So I could barely contain my excitement when I saw the Benecos Natural Eyeshadow Quattro in Beautiful Eyes 001. This four-pack features two shades of purple (one is a dusty lavender and the other is a deeper, darker eggplant color) and two brownish hues (think the color of a very almond-milk infused cappuccino and a Mexican hot chocolate with little glimmers of cinnamon… is anyone else suddenly craving a coffee?).


Each of the colors glides on smoothly—I barely applied any pressure with my brush and got plenty of product. It’s not overly powdery, but I did get a few specks on my temples, so make sure to tap and/or lightly blow on your brush before you apply it. The luscious color lasted all day, but came off easily with my regular makeup remover. Note that you’ll need your own shadow brushes since none come included with the shadow.

I’m tickled pink (or, uh, purple) that I’ve found a new shadow to keep my lids looking lovely!
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Dream a Little Cream

11/11/2014

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This light night cream works for day, too, if you're that kind of rule-breaker.
Reviewer: Jacqui
Product: True Natural Anti-Aging Rose Night Cream
What I Love: I usually stay away from beauty products labeled for “mature” skin. Yikes! Who wants to be called an old lady when I’ve been told by very reliable sources that I still have it going on?  I attribute my youthful glow to Mediterranean genes, obsessive exfoliation followed by equally obsessive hydration, and a natural curiosity and sense of wonder.

Though True Natural’s night cream is marketed as an anti-aging product for dry/mature skin, this ain’t your grandma’s nightly cold cream.  I have nothing but love for this sophisticated updated version (even though I had two small breakouts when I first starting using it, which is normal for me when I try any new beauty product) and recommend for all skin types.

It looks like a rich and creamy custard, but when applied, it’s oh-so light and velvety smooth.  It absorbs quickly, but leaves a nice glow. Because it’s so light, I tried it for daytime, too, and my makeup stayed intact and my skin felt dewy, not oily, throughout the workday. 

I’m blessed with a sharp sense of smell, and whether stinky or aromatic, my journey through life is enhanced because of my dear nose.  I don’t even have to read the list of ingredients to recognize the natural scent of wild roses in this large jar.  All little goes a long way; after two weeks, the jar is still three-fourths full. 
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Pure Polish

11/5/2014

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No parabens, synthetic dyes, or petrochemicals in here, though this polish does possess a pungent aroma reminiscent of its mainstream counterparts!
Reviewer: Melissa
Product: Benecos “Happy Nails” Nail Polish in Vintage Red
What I Love: The name of this vegan, cruelty-free polish is 100% accurate—this “Vintage Red” hue conjures up images of a classic Corvette, a ‘50s pin-up’s heart-shaped lips, a classic movie star’s manicure (and now mine, too!)

Benecos bears the “International Organic and Natural Cosmetics Corporation” seal and its products are free of parabens, silicones, petrochemicals, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. I’m not going to lie—for better or worse it smells exactly like unnatural, synthetic polishes. (But at least you can use it with a clear conscience… I’d just recommend opening a window, too.)

The texture is a little thin going on, and the large cap can be slightly unwieldy at first, but the good news is that two coats was all it took to achieve a lacquered, shiny, rich look. After several days, this polish still looks as luxe as it did the first day I applied it—no chips or fading.

I’m also excited about some of the other colors in the series like the fun and flirty “oh la la” hot pink and the slightly more sophisticated dusty pink “Sharp Rose.” 
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Cream de la Creme

10/7/2014

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Luxe Lounge Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: Holistix Rose & Frankincense Moisturizing Cream 
What I Love:  I met Laura, the owner of this natural, 100-percent vegan skincare company, at the annual VegFest event in London this past September. Within a few minutes of talking to her and explaining how I've been searching for a really effective moisturizer that doesn't contain beeswax, Laura took the time to ask me about my skin and issues I was experiencing. I liked that. After assessing my needs, she pointed me toward her delicious-smelling Rose and Frankincense cream. While I didn't like hearing that I was a good match for a product aimed at "maturing, blemish-prone" skin, facts are facts (!), so I bought  a jar and took it home to try. 

For the past two weeks, I've been using this cream every morning and evening. It glides on smoothly and melts right into my skin, leaving it soft and supple but not at all greasy. While I don't think it actually prevents breakouts, it seems like it helps my skin heal faster than normal, and with less obvious red marks. I really, really like the smell, and would slather it all over my entire body if it was sold by the liter. It is actually sold by the small, 60 ml. jar,, and costs the equivalent of $16 US.
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Hair to Dye For

9/16/2014

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Luxe Lounge Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: Color & Soin Hair Dye by 3 Chenes
What I Love: Like clockwork, about every three weeks, I’ll catch a glimpse of something shiny in my hair mid-comb stroke. It takes roughly two seconds for me to realize the shiny thing isn’t in my hair, it is my hair. 

The gray: It kind of sneaks up on you before it takes over. Then you’re left with agonizing decision-making. How do you grow it if you wanted to? Is shaving your head necessary, or are there people out there who actually suffer through months and even years of half-and-half head, before ultimately deciding that they don’t look good in gray anyway?

While mulling over these and other very important questions, I do what I always do: Tackle the roots. My new favorite hair dye for the job is French drugstore brand 3 Chenes (also sold in American natural food stores and online.) Besides matching my original hair color (medium golden brown), I love that it doesn’t contain ammonia or any animal products, and isn’t tested on animals.  
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Skin Care from the Sea(weed!)

9/2/2014

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The body balk is the bottle on the left!
Luxe Lounge Reviewer: Jacqui
Product: Osea Anti-Aging Body Balm
What I Love:  I can spend hours exfoliating, extracting, moisturizing, and primping my face, neck, and chest. But the rest of my body?! Truth is I'm super lazy and often neglect any body lotions, opting to pour naturally scented oils in my bath, which keep my skin soft and hydrated. 

I use my fancy body lotions maybe (?) three times a week.  I can honestly say, none of them compared to my experience with this body balm. This is my first time trying a body product with "anti-aging" in its name, and the quick results amazed me!
 
At first I thought,
 ooh that’s a small bottle for a body lotion, and I have a lot of body to cover.  But this product melts in your hands and very little goes a long way! I’ve been using it every day for three weeks, and I still have half the bottle left. 
 
I have to mention the scent. It’s very unique, and not like anything I’ve ever smelled before in a body lotion.  I know it’s a very natural (marine) smell, I just don’t recognize it. What I can be sure about, though, is that if you’re looking for a perfume-y scented lotion, this is not for you. OSEA uses marine ingredients, like gigartina algae and  alaria esculents, and the scent is reflective of that. 
 
Side note: are "Gigartina" and "Alaria" not the cutest names for my next pets?
 
I was excited to try the product right away, not only is it beauty from the sea, but did you hear it’s also anti-aging!? Wink wink! So I lotion up and let the magic happen.  There is a bit of a sensation when you first apply, not enough to call it tingling, but there is definitely a sensation on your skin. It’s magic!
 
I have sun damage on my chest from years of neglect and it’s amazing how smooth it looks after 3 weeks. I love this body balm and so happy to recommend it.
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A Very Rosy Glow

8/5/2014

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Luxe Lounge Reviewer: Aurelia
Product: DeVita Moroccan Rose Toner
What I Love:  I was so excited when fellow Luxe Lounge lady and product-loving fiend (I mean friend!), Jacqui, surprised me with a bottle of this lovely smelling facial toner.

I'm not sure whether Jacqui knew  it or not, but I'd been wanting to try DeVita products ever since interviewing the company founder, Cherylanne DeVita, for a beauty feature a couple of years back.  I loved her personal story, and am always stoked to discover a company that reflects my cruelty-free vegan values.

My favorite way to use this product is to give my face a few spritzes of this stuff after applying my makeup. It instantly imparts a youthful, post-work out kind of glow. If you're a fan of the dewy look, you'll likely love it, too. It smells of roses and the bottle is made from a heavy, solid glass. Quality all around!
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    Meet the Luxe Lounge Ladies:

    Product-loving women who are invested in the idea of healthy living, plant-based eating, and cruelty-free beauty. They hereby swear to only offer their honest, unbiased reviews, and to only recommend products that they themselves would purchase and use on their own bodies.

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    Jacqui grew up in Latin America surrounded by beautiful landscapes, gorgeous beaches, and lovely people. She learned at a young age that you can make your own beauty products with simple ingredients like lemon, vinegar, papaya, and raw sugar. Her mom is well known for her perfectly arched Liz Taylor eyebrows, a skill Jacqui did not inherit and has yet to perfect. 

    Product Obsession: I have two--one I pay for: Sonage's Harmony, botanical glycol. Skin looks brighter and smoother! The other is free: An inner smile, which I'm convinced will keep you wrinkle-free longer!
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    Melissa gets a thrill every time she enters a Sephora, duty-free cosmetics shop, or even the local drug store (and in her current neighborhood, that just happens to be a super chic Pharmaca). She can spend hours perusing nail polish (the sparklier the better) and eyeshadow (she's always on the quest for the perfect shade of purple). Moisturizer with SPF, liquid liner, mascara, and lip gloss are her beauty essentials. 

    Product obsession: My oil-blotting papers from Yojiya. They come in the tiniest little package so they're super portable, but instantly tame any shiny spots.
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    Aurelia has been crazy about skin creams since the age of 12, when she began reading fashion magazines and fretting about future wrinkles. Today, she's still a sucker for serums, moisturizers, and anti-wrinkle creams, which she uses alongside adult-acne ointments (no magazines touched that subject!) and hyperpigmentation treatments (all-natural, of course). 

    Product Obsession:
    Definitely perfume. I never leave home without a spritz of my signature scent, Diorella.

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