Pure BIOBLISS

Like, OMG! It's the "new anti-aging advancement in skin care!"

Hallelujah! Woot woot! Yeeeeeee-haw! Wheeeeeeee!

I mean, come on- every new anti-aging product/system/treatment/etc makes this claim. And as mentioned in previous posts, I am a, shall we say, maturing woman (what? 30 is no 19 people!) and therefore increasingly down with experimenting with the latest wrinkle preventing lotions and potions. But I am also increasingly realizing that most all include fantastic, fancy ingredients that will indeed improve the look and feel of skin long term. So when it comes down to it, you really just have to find something that you love and that you feel works for you. Perhaps that something will be BIOBLISS.

The BIOBLISS System offers a range of products in order to prepare skin and extend the anti-aging effectiveness of its treatments:

Clean: This mild and refreshing cleanser includes calming cucumber extract, Aloe Vera and skin protecting antioxidant Vitamin E. Plus, it smells awesome and left my face feeling super clean.

Srub: I had no idea this was even an exfoliating scrub until after I used it (labels?! who needs em'!?) because it was so extremely gentle. Once I read the packaging (those blasted labels again!), I discovered that it's derived from coconut, olive, macadamia nut, sunflower and avocado. Nothing abrasive about any of those!

Lock It In Serum: This was my least fave of the bunch. Personally, it smelled funny and had a weird texture. And it's specially matched to the Anti-Wrinkle Treatment Patch, of which I did not receive a sample. HARRUMPH! (But my skin did feel super soft after using it.)

Hydrate Lotion: My oh my did my face feel soft and supple after using this! La-la-la-loved! I did feel though that it is better suited to fall/winter months, as it was a bit thick for the current hot and humid Michigan climate. At $60 a pop it's an investment, but definitely a splurge-worthy pick!

To learn more about BIOBLISS, these and other products visit www.biobliss.com

Listen to Your Mama

We at Brainy Beautys hunt for intelligent and attractive products on the daily, so when a treat like Mama Mio's Mighty Moisture comes along, we cannot help but find ourselves with the happiest of happy faces!

What gets me most excited about products by Mama Mio is the mission of four brilliant women to provide feelings of gorgeousness for other sexy mamas by using only the best ingredients. All Mama Mio gems come in bright, cheery packaging that provides a snapshot of the company's history and intention, a bit of info on the goodies inside, as well as a few hidden positive affirmations. 

Mighty Moisture is packed with massive strength, including proteins, peptides, and humectants intended to plump, hydrate, firm, and balance your skin. It's like a trip to the smoothie bar for your face!! This beautifully scented (seriously-the smell alone of this stuff takes my brain to a 5 star spa!!) lotion goes on smoothly and lightly and there are instant moisturizing effects once applied. 

A bonus feature to this (like many products by Mama Mio) moisturizer is the "Little book of confidence" that is tucked inside. This pumped up pamphlet includes several exercises (think: facial yoga!) to help rehab your facial muscles, tighten your skin, and increase Mighty Moisture's mightiness! 

Fancy French Fabulousness

Hooray! Another product to keep us ladies from looking like decrepit old hags!

Which, as I've mentioned before, I am all about these days! 

Eau Thermale Avene Innovation D-Pigment Riche is based on the principle of three active ingredients scientifically recognized by dermatologists to reduce excess pigmentation: Melanyde, Pre-tocopheryl and Retinaldehyde.

Ooooh, sounds fancy! Plus, it's French! 

Avene actually has a laboratory and hydrotherapy center in southern France where they treat patients with dermatological disorders with Avene Thermal Spring Water. Declared to be of "public interest" since 1874, the spring has a unique, anti-irritating composition that's been scientifically proven to improve skin quality and sensitivity. The skin care line is based on the water and developed with the most sensitive and intolerant skin types in mind.

The D-Pigment Riche should be applied in the evening to concerned localized or extensive areas. Optimal effectiveness of course means regular and prolonged use. 

I really love this product.  It sinks right in, leaving skin feeling soft and supple, and it's inclusion of three specific scientific complexion boosters leaves me confident for seeing fantastic long-term results. 

And who wouldn't say "Oui! Oui!" to that?!

Eau Thermale Avene D-Pigment Riche can be found at drugstore.com and dermstore.com and retails for $49.  

The Ultimate Brow Job

There's an old family picture taken around Christmas circa 1997 and I am sportin' some mighhhhhhty bushy brows.

Oh what I would give to get those back! 

Thanks in part to model of the moment Cara Delevingne as well as spring and fall runway beauty looks, bold, beautiful brows are IN. 

                      Current fashion it-girl, Cara Delevingne

If yours are like mine and in need of a little rescue, Boom Boom Brow Bar has your solution: Brow Job. This tube promises to take your overtweezed, skinny eye-caterpillars from drab to fab. And with its natural ingredients of vitamins, peptides and amino acids, it's safe to use around the peepers. Simply swipe Brow Job onto the eyebrow area every night after washing your face, concentrating on sparse spots. Results should start sprouting up in 4-6 weeks, with full results in four months. 

I've been using this gem twice a day for almost two months now and I definitely see the difference! Skimpy areas appear fuller and their overall shape is more complete. 

I'm comin for ya Cara!

Boom Boom Bar Brow Job retails for $49 for a 3-month supply and can be found at www.boomboombrowbar.com

This Wei to Anti-Aging!

I used to flip right through anti-aging articles and rolled my eyes at ads hawking the latest wrinkle reducers. And then I turned 30. 

This whole aging thing? Well, it's apparently real kids! 

Which isn't to say I'm a wrinkly-dinkly-complected mess. I've always worn sunscreen, moisturized and even Retin-A-ed my skin to pretty decent shape. It's just that the prospect of awakening to a suddenly fallen face seems a lot more realistic now. So Wei Correct-Zen 24-Hour Herbal Anti-Aging System is definitely a welcome addition to my daily regimen. 

The big draw to the potions are their inclusion of Gentian Root and L'obelia extract. According to Wei, the former has long been used by Chinese women to achieve their "well-known spotless porcelain look," while the latter's muscle relaxation and pain reducing properties diminish the appearance of existing fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep. 

Sounds good to me!

The Daytime Complexion Corrector has a pleasant, fresh fragrance and leaves skin feeling quite soft. Two small drawbacks though: 1) It doesn't contain SPF and 2) It created a bit of a funky texture when I applied foundation shortly after. Perhaps I didn't wait long enough for it to sink in though? 

The Overnight Wrinkle Reducer is a bit lighter in texture but also leaves skin feelin' good. 

As for whether or not these two will REALLY make a difference to my complexion remains to be seen... Ask me in five years! 

Caldrea's Subtle Sophistication

Pleasant surprise of the week! Caldrea, a company created and known for their chic and better smelling home care products, also has mighty fine aromatherapy body lotions. 

Luxurious and soothing, each selection and is hydrating and wonderfully scented. Each also features shea for deep hydration and chia seed oil to help maintain skin's protection and fight free radicals. 

No. 3 Coconut Fig Leaf was my personal fave for its fresh yet exotic essence. No. 1 Aloe Water Apricot and No. 2 Tea Olive Lime are perfect springtime selections with their light, feminine fragrance and skin softening properties. 

Each one made me feel fantastically indulgent and like I was whisked away to some wildly elegant spa. Obviously, me likey!And  me highly recommend! 

Muggles Need Not Apply

As the previous post mentioned, Davines is a hair care line for wizards! 

Yes, it would indeed take a well-versed mane maestro to fully utilize the No. 3 Universal Mattering Mousse and OI Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion. I don't know if it was just me and my lack of skills, but these products just didn't do anything for me. 

The Oi Oil's best aspect is that it smells divine- Very aromatic and relaxing. When I used it on my fine, semi-wavy hair it left it a bit limp. So probably a product to use for those hair-straightening, shiny glossy days. 

The No. 3 Universal Mattering Mousse (which I always want to type as "mouse". A mattering mouse! Would that be like Muffy the Mouse from Today's Special?!) also left my locks a bit lackluster... And crunchy too, even though I made sure to work the foam adequately through my hair. It also smelled nice, but was more candy-sweet than the hair oil.

In my opinion these hair products are overall nice smelling, but better left to wizards and their hair care shelves.

You smell so nice, but you made my hair so sad.

Smells like candy, works like meh!

I wonder if you can find this on Diagon Alley.