Beauty

What is Beauty?

Beauty comes in many forms. Here are a few of our favorites...

How to Best use Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat

May 7, 2017 · 1 Comment

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat is an iconic beauty product. A brightener and anti-aging wonder. But are you using it correctly? Read these tips to find out.

Learn the Secret Hacks for YSL Touche Eclat

HOW YSL TOUCHE ECLAT WORKS

Ever watch a makeup artist “age” someone for a movie role? They add lines of a dark grayish brown darkness to select areas of the face to make it appear sagging, hollowed and haggard. Touche Eclat can be used to do the opposite by adding peachy light to these same areas. Touche Eclat brightens without being shimmery or glittery.

HOW TO Best USE YVES SAINT LAURENT TOUCHE ECLAT

Some of my favorite tips include:

ANTI-AGING: Subtle signs of aging are excess darkness on some areas of the face, a light application of Touche Eclat counteracts this:
- Applying a light upside-down “U” shape in the indentation of the chin
- Applying it under the nostrils where many of us get broken red capillaries, to lift the nose, which tends to droop with age
- Apply it to the sides of the mouth where they turn down to lift drooping lips
- At the arch of the eyebrow, blend a dot of Eclat into that highpoint.
- CONCEAL LAUGH LINES: Smile and draw over the lines with the Eclat. Blend to hide the lines.
SMOKEY EYE CLEANUP: If your smokey eye has become too dark, clean it up a bit with some eclat on the highlight section. This cleans up and lightens your look without disturbing that otherwise hard-earned blended smokey look on the rest of the eye.
FOR THE UNDEREYE: If you have little in the way of dark circles, Touche Eclat is enough to brighten under the eye, but if you have something to cover, you will need more than Eclat for actual coverage. I like to use my standard foundation or concealer, and then dab a TINY bit of Eclat on top of that for some brightening. If you brighten the entire circle, there is no natural contour to your undereye, which looks old and weird. But less is more when it comes to undereye Eclat use.

YSL Touche Eclat on smile lines makes them visually disappear

Tips from Wayne Goss, YouTube makeup artist

Wayne Goss has an excellent video that explains the dos and don’ts of Touche Eclat and shows how to use Touche Eclat to do the following:

SLIM THE NOSE: Draw a vertical stripe down the bridge of your nose makes it appear straighter
LIFT THE EYEBROW: Draw a line atop each eyebrow
ADD LIGHT: Apply to your lower forehead and feather the product upward to help draw light to your face
AWAKEN EYES: A spot in the inner-corner of the eye will make you appear more awake and looks more natural than shimmery white shadow
TOP OF THE CHEEKBONE: Just below where you do your concealer, highlight the top of the cheekbone for more light and definition.
MAKE LIPSTICK POP: after putting on lipstick, lightly apply Touche eclat to the outside areas of both your top and bottom lip as well as the cupid’s bow, to pull focus and definition to the mouth

See Wayne Goss demonstrate how to use YSL Touche Eclat:

Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheets: an Affordable Investment in a Good Night’s Beauty Sleep

April 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Quality bed sheets are an affordable luxury that makes for a better nights’ sleep. Better sleep means a restored body, improved metabolism, glowing skin and feeling mentally alert and more energetic. The more rested you are, the better you look and feel. Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheets are not only soft and comfortable but have several features that make them worth owning.

Cosy House Bamboo Bed Sheets are perfect for spring weather

Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheets are perfect for spring weather, silky soft, breathable and come in so many beautiful colors!

ABOUT COSY HOUSE COLLECTION BAMBOO BED SHEETS

The Bamboo Bed Sheet set comes with:

1 deep pocket fitted bottom sheet with elastic all the way around
1 flat sheet
2 pillowcases
A zippered tote

Cosy House Collection Bamboo Sheet Set in the color “Baby Blue” is perfect for a springtime look and feel to your bedroom

FABRIC: WHAT COSY HOUSE COLLECTION BAMBOO BED SHEETS ARE MADE OF

Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheets are a silky Microfiber Blended with Rayon that is made from Bamboo. The result is a combed soft, silky yet durable combination.

HOW COSY HOUSE COLLECTION BAMBOO BED SHEETS LOOK

We got the Queen size “Baby Blue,” a bright color just in time for spring. Contrary to the name, they are not juvenile looking, they are vibrant and look beautiful with other pastels, brights, or sea greens, sandy browns, whites and blues for a beach house bedroom look. The sheet set is available in several vibrant colors including Black, White, Cream, Burgundy, Gold, Lavender, Taupe, Baby Blue, Grey, Chocolate, Tan, Purple, Royal Blue, Sage Green, Dark Teal, and Navy Blue. I love all the vibrant colors that can mix and match with your style and personal collections to make a statement in a bedroom, and they are so versatile.

The sheets are available in Twin, Full, Queen, King and California King sizing. I find my Queen set to fit well on both my bed and my pull-out couch for guests.

HOW COSY HOUSE COLLECTION BAMBOO BED SHEETS FEEL

The sheets are a fabric blend of 40% rayon made from bamboo and 60% microfiber polyester. The microfiber feels silky, and the bamboo feels very soft. Bamboo sounds like it would be scratchy and uncomfortable, but it makes for soft, durable fabric that is hypoallergenic and very comfortable to sleep upon.

So soft and silky smooth to the touch!

Not only are they comfortable to sleep on, but they are wonderfully cozy for lounging around on a relaxing Sunday morning, having a leisurely breakfast while watching a movie or catching up on a good book.

Sheets so soft the beg for a lazy Sunday breakfast in bed

Cosy House Collection Sheets are so soft and relaxing that theyÂ beg for a lazy Sunday breakfast in bed

ABOUT BAMBOO IN BEDDING

If you have found microfiber comfortable to sleep on but flimsy and unable to withstand washing, you will like this set because it has the soft combed comfort of microfiber, but the Bamboo makes them durable. They hold up to laundering in the washer and dryer without frayed stitching, fading or shrinkage. The elastic retains its’ strong tension springy-ness without stretching out or fraying even after washing and drying.

The sheets are also stain and wrinkle resistant.

The properties of bamboo make for an excellent bedding fabric because of its’ softness, strength, durability, anti-microbial and ability to keep a hypoallergenic environment that is as clean as possible.

HOW THEY FIT THE BED

In addition to how soft and durable these sheets are, one of my favorite features of this Cosy House Collection sheet set is that the elastic on the fitted bottom sheet is so durable. It is elasticized all around, so it stays put on my deep pillowtop mattress all night without needing to refit the bottom sheet again each morning. The deep pocket fitted bottom sheet is 39″ x 75″ and easily fits on oversize mattresses or mattresses with an egg crate, foam or another mattress topper that is up to 16″ deep in total. There is also a bit of stretchy give.

Durable elastic on a deep fitted sheet fits mattress up to 16″ deep

Another feature I like is how the pillowcases have a special fold-over design to secure the pillow inside the case so that the pillow does not slip out during the night.

Special internal pocket and flap keeps even long pillows in place inside the pillowcase without slipping

HYPOALLERGENIC

Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic. These sheets resist pollen, dust mites & harmful bacteria. Suitable for those with allergies and asthma, both children and adults.

PUTTING COSY HOUSE COLLECTION BAMBOO BED SHEETS TO THE TEST IN WARM WEATHER & COOLER TEMPERATURES

A very desirable feature of the Cosy House Bamboo Bed Sheets is that they are breathable. This makes them cooler to sleep on in the summer and warmer in the winter. Bamboo absorbs moisture four times better than cotton, wicking and evaporating it away from the skin. Here in New England this week, we had a few very chilly nights and a few days we reached temperatures in the high seventies, and I found these sheets and the pillowcase to be refreshingly cool when it was too warm yet remain cozy when I was chilly. This makes for a perfect year-round sheet set or for these transitional temperature times of the year.

The breathable Cosy House Bamboo Sheets are ideal for the fluctuating temperatures of spring in New England

The breathable, adaptable Cosy House Collection Bamboo Sheets are ideal for the fluctuating temperatures of spring! Moisture wicking in the heat, but still cozy on chilly nights

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Wash in cold water with similar colors, air dry or low heat.

GUARANTEE

The Cosy House Collection sheets come with a Full Lifetime Warranty. If you do not like these sheets, contact Cosy House (see the contact information on the packaging) and they will refund or replace your sheet set.

Cozy, inviting, soft and breathable bed sheets

CONCLUSION

Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheets an Affordable Investment in a Good Night’s Beauty Rest. Soft, comfortable, silky, durable, hypoallergenic, wrinkle and stain resistant, these sheets fit deep mattresses up to 16″ with a bottom sheet with sturdy elastic all the way around, not just on the corners. They come in several vibrant and versatile colors to complement your decor and make for a very charming guest bedroom. Good sheets make for a much better sleeping experience and Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheets feel luxuriously soft while being durable.

Find the Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheet at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJTBDNG

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F1-hbQjD0A[/embedyt]

Style Chicks received the Cosy House Collection Bamboo Bed Sheets in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer: The Collagen Building Trifecta

April 12, 2017 · Leave a Comment

No topical remedy revitalizes skin faster than a combination of Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic Acid. Got Acne? Brown Spots? Wrinkles? Dullness? Sagging? Uneven skin tone? Scarring or Hyperpigmentation? Redness? Stretch marks? All of the above? No matter what your skin woe is, the combination of these three ingredients has you covered. Typically, it takes buying three products to get this collagen-building beauty trifecta, but Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer combines all three into one moisturizing, twice a day product. And it’s super-sized at a whopping 2.8 ounces!

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains a beauty trifecta of skin care: 2.5% Retinol, Vitamin C and Hyaluronic plus moisturizer all in one.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Retinol Cream moisturizer has the terrific trio of skin care: Retinol, Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic acid. Together, they erase wrinkles, boost collagen production, encourage skin cell turnover, smooth and refine skin texture, fade scars and discoloration, and quell even active acne breakouts. Despite containing powerful ingredients, Lordsbury Retinol+C Retinol Cream moisturizer is neither irritating nor drying to even highly sensitive skin.

Typically, one would apply Vitamin C during the day and Retinol at night, preferably with a layer of Hyaluronic Acid and then a moisturizer on top of that. Lordsbury Retinol+C Retinol Cream moisturizer combines these steps into one cream.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Retinol Cream Moisturizer has a beauty powerhouse of ingredients

HOW VITAMIN C HELPS SKIN

Vitamin C helps skin create collagen. We lose collagen as we age, starting at 30. As collagen depletes, the building blocks that retain the skin structure weaken, creating wrinkles and sagging. Collagen also helps scars, discoloration and sun damage fade and gain a more even texture.

Vitamin C also protects your new skin cells from free radicals and pollution, both of which contribute to accelerated aging of the skin.

HOW RETINOL HELPS SKIN

Retinol is a Vitamin A derivative that is FDA approved to make skin clearer and smoother, expunge impurities from pores, reduce fine lines, and speed cell turnover to even out discoloration, generally in less than one month.

HOW HYALURONIC ACID WORKS

Hyaluronic Acid holds massive amounts of moisture to plump out wrinkles and fine lines while making skin look dewy and young. Hyaluronic Acid also can pull active ingredients deeper into the skin, including Retinol and Vitamin C. The deeper these ingredients get, the better the supporting collagen structure becomes, and even older and darker scars fade. When Hyaluronic Acid helps Retinol sink into the deeper skin layers, it helps eradicate uneven skin texture and tone, including sun damage and deep scars.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer for face, neck, decolletage, and hands

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer is a powerful yet nourishing anti-aging treatment for face, neck, and decolletage

ANTI-AGING TREATMENT FOR FACE, NECK, DECOLLETAGE & HANDS

The result is a retinol cream that moisturizes, regenerates, and nourishes your face, neck, decolletage and hands. An anti-aging cream with Retinol for the hands is a big get, as we often neglect anti-aging treatments for our hands until we see tell-tale brown spots and other signs of aging. But hands respond quickly to a moisturizing Retinol and Vitamin C combination treatment, and this makes for an excellent treatment to revitalize hands and restore their youthful appearance.

On my hands, I focus on the brown discoloration on the knuckles, and the joints at the point of the palm and finger. This area gets heavily lined as it is always in motion. It also tends to get red and dry. Apply directly to any brown spots or discoloration. If you have a problem with ragged and dry cuticles, apply sparingly to the nail bed as well. The skin on the hands will quickly start to look more youthful. During the day, use a lotion with sunscreen on the hands.

Uniquely powerful yet emoillient, it does double duty as a hand treatment

Uniquely powerful yet still nourishing and emollient, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer does double duty not just as a face, neck and decolletage treatment, but as an anti-aging hand treatment as well

FEATURES

It is a HUGE 2.8-ounce size; many Retinols are less than an ounce. Only a pea to dime size amount is needed for face and throat.
It has a pump top that ensures not too much product is dispersed at once.
There is a removable stopper plug and opaque product packaging to keep the product fresh
It is suitable for use on face, neck, shoulders, decolletage, and importantly the hands. Hands show signs of aging like brown spots, discoloration, wrinkles and lines, and they respond very well to Retinol, especially when combined with other active ingredients, like this one.

Opaque packaging and stopper plug keeps the product fresh

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The scent is pleasant and dissipates within a few minutes of application. The cream is rich but the consistency is lightweight, and it spreads evenly. I like the dewy but not oily or greasy feel on my skin. It takes a minute to completely soak in and leave a smooth finish, like a regular moisturizer. It only takes one pump to cover my face, throat and some decolletage. I can apply makeup immediately after application without my face feeling too greasy or oily.

I expected it to feel heavy on my skin because it seems so rich and decadently creamy when pumped out of the bottle, but it spreads very quickly and absorbs so well, my face and especially my throat just drank it up. Watch the video at the end of this post to see how smooth and lightweight the product becomes when spread on the skin.

One pump is all you need for face, neck and decolletage.

One pump is all you need for face, neck, two pumps for face, neck, decolletage and hands

INGREDIENTS: WHAT SETS LORDSBURY RETINOL+C CREAM MOISTURIZER APART

In addition to 2.5% Pure Retinol, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, it contains natural and certified organic ingredients like:

Wildcrafted Green Tea is an antioxidant that soothes irritated skin
Vitamin B5 helps soothe and regenerate skin
Vitamin E softens rough skin patches including scars
Organic Aloe Vera feeds the skin and softens the texture. It also helps moisturize and defend skin from irritation.
Organic Jojoba Oil restores youthful properties to skin, nourishing, balancing and moisturizing it.
Organic Sunflower Oil softens the skin
Shea Butter heals scars, nourishes the skin
Propolis is a bee product, it fights infections and heals wounds. It allows for an aggressive Retinol and Vitamin C cell renewal program without skin becoming too red, irritated, flaky or raw. Some Retinol programs leave skin dry and peeling; the Propolis helps keep skin at its’ best. If you are allergic to bee products, take note.

It does NOT contain additives, harsh chemicals, parabens or dyes.

Contains natural, certified organic ingredients to soothe & nourish skin

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply day and night after cleansing the face, neck, decolletage and if you wish, to hands.

CONCLUSION

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer is a fantastic deal! I was concerned that a combination product would not be as effective as my favorite Vitamin C or Retinol products when applied separately, but I was pleasantly surprised to see it was equally if not more efficient within the one product. Combined with the Hyaluronic Acid and all the skin nourishing natural ingredients, it makes for a great go-to skin moisturizer for face, neck, and the often neglected hands. And the price for the size just can’t be beat: 2.8 ounces!

If you have sensitive skin and have been unable to tolerate a Vitamin C and Retinol skin care plan, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer is a viable option for you, as it contains several soothing ingredients to counteract the harsh drying effects associated with many Vitamin Cs and Retinols.

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=lordsbury-20&linkId=80ce0c85b497e19a5480f6b096cc3147

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LKE1zNi0ZI[/embedyt]

Style Chicks received Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Keep Hands Young with a Hand Grip Strengthener

April 7, 2017 · Leave a Comment

In Season 1 of the TV series Younger, Jane Krakowski’s character Annabelle tells Liza, who poses as 26 but is in actuality, 40 years old: Be careful of your hands, sweetie. They’re a dead giveaway. Annabelle speaks truth. We slather our faces and necks with beauty treatments, moisturizer, and sunscreen but often neglect our hands. StyleChicks recommends three-prong attack on hand-aging that includes applying sunscreen and Retinol to hands and keeping them in top physical shape with a Hand Grip Strengthener with Adjustable Resistance.

“Be careful of your hands, sweetie. They’re a dead giveaway.” – Younger

WHY USE A GRIP STRENGTHENER FOR YOUNGER LOOKING HANDS?

A Hand Grip Strengthener quickly builds up tone and strength in the hands, wrists, and forearms. Stronger hands make for graceful, feminine, and agile movement.

Your hands, like your legs and arms, look their best when skin drapes over toned muscles and ligaments. Resistance training makes hands look healthy, improves blood flow and makes them appear slimmer and longer. Low resistance hand exercises counteract the “old-lady” look that hands can take on with age. Stronger hands and wrists are also less likely to need to pick or pry things open with your fingernails, which subjects them to breaking and damage.

Homai Hand Grip Strengthener

WHY USE THE HOMAI HAND GRIP STRENGTHENER TO STRENGTHEN HANDS?

I was only familiar with the hand grip strengtheners that guys tend to use like my Dad had when he played baseball or the ones I see weightlifters at the gym use. I found that type of hand strengthener too difficult to use. But a Hand Grip Strengthener is just the right level of difficulty for me, and it feels like a better fit in my hand.

ADJUSTABLE RESISTANCE SUITABLE FOR WOMEN WHO WANT STRONG BUT DELICATE HANDS

A ballerina is an example of appearing elegant and graceful despite the grueling strength workouts. That is the goal with an anti-aging hand workout. Hands appear elegant and slim, not bulky. If you do an upper arm and upper body workout, a workout for your hands is a logical addition for an elegant, long-line look. The Homai Hand Grip Strengthener adjusts to a lower but challenging weight resistance to build strong hands without excessive bulk or making hands appear masculine. Rather, strong hands make for graceful and agile movement on a woman’s hand, elongating the appearance of the fingers, and making hands look younger and more attractive.

Adjust the resistance from 20 to 110 pounds by simply turning the knob

Easy-to-use tension knob, turn left or right to increase or decrease tension

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM USING THE Homai Hand Grip Strengthener

Athletes and recreational sports enthusiasts: Those who want to improve aspects of sports technique including hitting, throwing, pulling, pushing, and holding. Also ideal for rock climbers, golfers, tennis and baseball players and body builders.
Musicians who want more finger strength, dexterity, speed, and agility, including pianists, guitarists, harpists
Hairdressers who want to increase their grip and stamina to steadily scissors and styling tools
Makeup artists who want to improve their stability and precision
Medical Personnel: Nurses, doctors, phlebotomists, physical therapists, EMT’s, Massage therapists, Physical therapists all need strong and steady hands.
Rehabilitation for arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, tennis elbow and improve sensitivity of aging hands or those with nerve damage
If you do lots of hands-on work, such as mechanic, a grip strengthener can help prevent injury
Hobbyists that requires precision and a steady hand, such as model building, painting or drawing, building hand strength can improve your stamina.

HOMAI HAND GRIP STRENGTHENER SUPERIOR DESIGN FEATURES

Longer finger handle and the palm handle, so that it fits well in the hand for males and females
Ergonomic, non-slip rubber grip handles for easier use
Spring-loaded grip offers varying levels of resistance from 20 lbs up to 110 lbs allows you to adjust the resistance to exactly what you need.
Compact and portable size

Longer, cushioned handles make it easy to use

Longer, cushioned non-slip handles make it easy to use

PUTTING THE HOMAI HAND GRIP STRENGTHENER TO THE TEST

The Homai Hand Grip Strengthener can be used either every other day or every day, depending on your strengthening goals. I do it every other day while watching TV, Netflix or when I am online checking my email.

I use it on the lowest resistance setting, the 20 lbs, to start. Next week I will increment up a bit. It is just the right amount of tension and difficulty for beginners; it is not too easy and not too difficult. See the video below for how to adjust the resistance to as low as 20 lbs up to 110 lbs.

The adjustable resistance weight range is a very nice feature on this grip strengthener, making it suitable for men, women, kids and even seniors who want to increase their hand strength and combat arthritic changes.

The spring-loaded grip does not snap back on me if I lose my grip mid-squeeze, which is a nice feature.

RESULTS

I quickly felt my hands getting stronger and agiler within a short period of a few weeks of using the Grip Strengthener. I also find that after using the Homai Hand Grip Workout Griper a few times a week, that I’m less klutzy and accident prone with agile, flexible hands and toned wrists.

Surprisingly, a benefit I did not expect from using the Homai Hand Grip Strengthener is I have an easier time applying my makeup because I have steadier hands, especially when applying eye makeup on my “other eye,” my liquid eyeliner game is improving with a steady hand. My arms also get less tired when I am using hair styling tools overhead like hairdryers, curling irons, and the Instyler hair straightener.

CONCLUSION

For youthful looking hands, regular grip strength training is vital. Combining the consistent use of the Homai Hand Grip Strengthener with sunscreen and a topical retinol cream, hands can look younger and smoother.

The padded handles make the Homai Hand Grip Strengthener much easier to use, and the adjustable tension makes it ideal for anyone in the family to use, whether sports enthusiast, musician, kids, or seniors who wish to build up strength in their hands. A sturdy and useful product that is easy to use while watching TV.

Find Hand Grip Strengtheners at Amazon