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It's that special time of year... when commercials start pushing notebooks and pens, ten pound September issues overfill our mailboxes, football season gets underway, and we all start trying to undo the sun damage of the previous three months (or thirty years... sunscreen, schmunscreen!)

I myself have found a most fantastic facial regimen that leaves my complexion feeling soft, looking luminous and ready to take on my favorite season. Step right up dear readers! It's right this way!

Summer Skin Saver Product #1: LUMENE Pure Radiance Day Cream SPF15

This Vitamin C+  moisturizer with Arctic Cloudberry is the bomb. It smells great, goes on and sinks in superbly, doesn't clog pores and leaves my skin feeling noticeably glowy.  I start every day out with it.

Summer Skin Saver Product #2: JOEY New York Quick Results Line Up for Wrinkles on Face and Eyes

The scent of this product is like a spa in a bottle. After moisturizer, I apply it under make-up every morning around the eyes, nasolabial folds (or smile lines for you high class folk), and then tap the remainder into the middle of my forehead. This serum contains young tender green coconut water with Indian Ginseng Extract Complex and Hydrolyzed Collagen to help smooth the appearance of individual wrinkles on the face. You really can feel it sinking in and plumping. Ain't no lie— Wrinkles bye bye bye!

Summer Skin Saver #3: Biopelle Retriderm Serum Mild
Every anti-aging skin care regime needs a retinol. This is definitely one of the best ones I've ever used. Although it has a somewhat egg-yolky look to it, it sinks right in, smells great, doesn't leave skin flaky with daily use (only 0.5% retinol) and definitely improves the overall look and feel of your complexion. Just a reminder- make sure you use adequate sun protection when using any sort of retinoid, as it majorly ups your skin's sensitivity to the sun!

I honestly can't tout these three wise wonders enough... They've taken over my routine and I would be lost without them. 

Hey Dude! Sweet Hair!

When I asked my (insanely gorgeous) husband to test out Redken for Men Full Impact Bodyfying Shampoo, I promised that (brilliant, amazing) guy two things: first of all, his (already perfectly perfect) hair would get a treat, as Redken boasts a plumping, volumizing, and lifting formula in this wash (my husband rocks!). Secondly, I vowed to sing my (sexy, strong) husband's praises on the internet, in return for his (manly, oh so manly) services. Have I mentioned what a fantastic husband I have?

The love of my life reported that he definitely felt a boost in volume and control with this shampoo. He was most excited about the scent of the stuff! He said that it has a "refreshing, sweet smell". I agree. This product certainly made my already delicious smelling man, smell that much sweeter.

Husband tested. Wife approved. 

Forever and Ever and Ever and Ever

The smell of vanilla instantly takes me back to 1989, in the kitchen of my childhood home. I'm baking homemade chocolate chip cookies with my brother and my mom. Always a loving, selfless sister, I never fought my brother over the licking of the mixing spoon. Why? Because while he was busy smearing raw dough all over his mug, I was sneaking spoonfuls of vanilla extract into my mouth! I promise, it never made me sick. (Okay, there was that one time...)

Lavanila Laboratories Forever Frangrance Oil in vanilla grapefruit takes me back to this dear memory of mine, with strong, sweet notes of vanilla, married with a balancing citrus, giving this classic flavor a mature, delicate blend.

I love the rollerball application too-I can't help but wonder how I could have worked a rollerball full of vanilla extract into my mouth back in the day...

What Rhymes with Biore? GIVEAWAY!!!!

Peanut Butter loves Jelly and Spaghetti adores a good Meatball. like Cereal and Milk, Biore's Acne Fighting Cleansers and Deep Cleansing Pore Strips are the perfect pair, one makes the other better! 

If you asked any one of theses duos, I am certain they would confess that they simply could not live without their counterpart. So, we at Brainy Beautys ask: What is it that YOU simply cannot live without?

Tweet your love to #JustCantLiveWithout by August 11th, 7pm (eastern). Our editors will award their fave, most heartfelt chirp with a free Biore set including a 6.77 ounce bottle of Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser and a box of 14 Deep Cleansing Pore Strips!

Tweet on, peeps! 

You Cheeky Cow!

Cowshed is an England based line of holistic products and treatments that originated in... drum roll please... a cow shed!

They feature natural botanicals from sustainable resources containing the highest quality oils and guarantee the following extensive karma boosting list:

• No Parabens 
• No Petrochemicals (petroleum bi-products)
• No Sulphates (artificial foaming agents)
• No Animal Ingredients (spare a little organic beeswax and wildflower honey)
• No Artificial Fragrancing or Colours
• No Animal Testing (not now, not ever)  

They were gracious enough to pass two of their indulgent products my way and as soon as they arrived I planned a relaxing home spa experience.

 Left: Cowshed Knackered Cow Relaxing Bath & Body Oil, $31

Right: Gorgeous Cow Blissful Bath and Shower Gel, $25

The Gorgeous Cow Blissful Bath & Shower Gel is truly delicious. It features "Madagascan Ylang Ylang, Moroccan Rose and Indian Palmarosa to evoke happiness and French Lavender and Linden blossom to soothe." It's a sophisticated shower treat to wind down a hectic day, or even to use in the bath for a relaxing soak.

The Knackered Cow (love it!) Relaxing Bath & Body Oil is unlike any other product I've experienced. I actually have never used a bath oil before... I felt as though it necessitated a vintage silk kimono, martini, bouffant and long cigarette holder. And maybe some jazz in the background? In other words- it felt super posh to draw a bath and pour in some exquisitely smelling bath oil. The bath water itself also felt different- richer and thicker, and you could see some oil beads on the top. After rinsing off and patting dry, my skin felt hella soft and lightly scented.

I'm also a sucker for pretty packaging and Cowshed definitely delivers there too. 

If you're looking to up the ante on your shower and bath rituals, definitely take a trip to the Cowshed!

Cowshed is available at Barneys New York, Barneys.com and Cowshed.com

Can I Get an Amen?!

Relais and Chateaux Le Couvent des Minimes Hotel & Spa was born of a shared passion for the convent and for the beautiful region of Provence. 




I'm not one for mass, and if you offered me a million bucks I wouldn't be able to name the current Pope is (Francis? John? Kanye?), but using Le Couvent des Minimes collection is one religious experience I can get behind!

Le Couvent des Minimes is a product line of natural skincare, fragrance, and bath and body formulas founded on the heritage and traditions of the convent of Mane. It was built 400 years ago in the village of Mane in the south of France to shelter the botanist monks of the Minims, who used their extensive knowledge of plants to tend a garden of curative herbs and flowers. Centuries later, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary continued the monks' original convention of cultivating beneficial ingredients to help strengthen and restore those in need in their community.

Each formula is crafted using age-old phytotherapy (that's something with plants!) and aromatherapy (but way better than spinster candles!) practices honed over centuries, blending effective ingredients to nourish and replenish. Plus, the packaging is fantastically gorgeous and the company also donates 1% of total sales to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary association to support health and childhood projects.

Preach!

I was fortunate enough to sample three of the extensive product offerings: The Complete Moisturizing Cream, Eau des Minimes Botanical Fragrance, and the Smile Lip Balm Honey, Rich Formula. My breakdown, dear beauty parishioners:

1) Complete Moisturizing Cream: I just want to tote this jar around in my purse and pull it out and use it everywhere to show everyone how fancy I am (and then subsequently fall right on my face). Firstly, it smells amazing. Secondly, even though it's a rich formula it doesn't feel heavy on the skin and sinks right in. Thirdly, its active extracts of four beneficial roses and hydrating grapeseed oil make skin look radiant and feel ridiculously soft. (1.7oz, $33)

2) Smile Lip Balm Honey, Rich Formula: What's not to love?! It's packed with softening honey extract, nourishing shea butter, beeswax and royal jelly. Load up that kisser! (0.5oz, $13.50)

3) Eau de Minimes Botanical Fragrance: If you read this blog at all (and dammit you had BETTER), you would know that I am quite a picky b when it comes to fragrances. So when I tell you how I OBSESSED I am with this and that it smells like sunshine and rainbows and freshness and wonder, you had best believe it is capital L-O-V-E. It's my new daily go-to and is so perfect for the summer and early fall. Praise be! Besides my expert opinion it might also be helpful to know that it includes a mix of lemon, blood orange, and grapefruit, as well as seven plants selected for their beneficial properties. (16.9 fl oz, $69; 8.75 fl oz, $49; 3.4 fl oz, $38; 1 fl oz, $14)

The full Le Couvent des Minimes collection is available at usa.lecouventdesminimes.com and select items at ULTA Beauty.

All photos courtesy Tractenberg & Co.

A Fragrant Buffet

A brief history of my scents sense:

Middle School: GAP Dream and Love's Baby Soft (classics!)
High School: Bath & Body Works assorted body sprays (too many to count!)
College: Lancome Oui (sadly discontinued!)
Post-College: Dior Addict 2 (totally designer you guys!)
Post-Post College: Marc Jacobs Daisy (Ahhh smells SO good, I still wear it on the daily!)

Clearly I am a devoted donner of habit when it comes to perfumes and something has to truly move me to make it my everyday aroma. Out of the eight offerings in Avon's arsenal, I can honestly say I found one winner and a lot of okays.

Unplugged: Too creamy and got to be a bit much the longer I had to smell it.

Outspoken by Fergie: Started off a bit much but dried really nice into its notes of black leather.

Outspoken Intense by Fergie: She should've kept this one to herself. Too fruity and flowery!

Far Away: Too sweet at first, but settles and dries into something rather lovely.

Far Away Exotic: Would be nice for a date night, but too much for daily wear. 

Rare Pearls: Powdery and feminine, it dries to nice amber notes. This one was my runner-up fave.

Secrets to Keep: These names are ridiculous, no? Although this scent was ok.
 
And now my winner:

Step Into Sexy:  Cheesy name, great fragrance and my favorite by far! It's violet leaf and golden amber make it a perfect choice for a seductive date night.

You can find these scents and more online at Avon.com