Want to know what I absolutely ADORED in 2009? I’ve gone through every skin care item, makeup product, trend, and ounce of hair care that I tested, or discovered, over the past year and came up with Bionic’s Second Annual “Best of Beauty” awards. And just for fun, I included some stuff at the end that’s not beauty related, ’cause you know… we’ve got to keep it balanced!

The winners of Bionic's "Best of Beauty 2009" awards! (Click for a larger image...)

And the winners are… in no particular order…

• YBF Skincare’s Boost – I’ve covered and discussed the benefits of YBF’s products on Bionic Beauty many times; they just keep churning out the winners. Boost is geared towards those of us with “problem skin”. It helped decongest the pores around my nose, dramatically reduced a breakout cycle on my cheeks, and really helped to balance my combination skin. And since I have very sensitive skin, it didn’t burn, irritate or create any redness. Yippee! It’s $65 for a bottle (at ybf-skincare.com), but that will last you 3-4 months with daily use.

• Purely Cosmetics’ new Diamond Perfect Finishing Powder – I adore PC’s mineral makeup, but this finishing powder should be in every woman’s makeup case. Even if you only use it on “special occasions”. It softens the look of lines and pores, and even makes your skin feel softer to the touch. If you splurge on one item, this IS it. $18.50 at PurelyCosmetics.com, and it’s now available in a tinted version! (Full review and photos are coming soon!)

• Purely Cosmetic’s Fiber Optic Duo Brush – It’s a synthetic and goat hair combination so get best of both worlds, plus it applies the above Diamond Perfect Finishing Powder (or any powder for that matter) in a swift, easy, and non-clumping manner. Definitely worth a spot in your makeup brush stash! $18 at PurelyCosmetics.com.

• L’Oreal HiP Kohl eyeliners – These powdered, highly pigmented kohl eye liners are my eye makeup obsession. I can’t stop wearing them! Granted, it does take some time to get the hang of the application method, but it’s truly worth it. Smokey eyes, smudged lines, cat eyes, waterlines that *stay* lined, rocker eyes… it’s all possible. And the colors are simply gorgeous! If you’re on a budget, keep your eyes open for a “Buy 1, Get 1 50% off” sale at your local drugstore.

• Lexli Skincare – The majority of skin care these days is full to the brim with water and other fillers, Lexli is different. It’s aloe-based and developed by a wonderful physician (Dr. Abdullah who I had the honor of meeting in person- he’s a true pleasure to chat with!). Every ingredient is well-thought-out. For cleansing, I rotate between the Aloe-based Cleansing Lotion and the Acne Cleanser (I’ve got a full review on the Acne Cleanser upcoming); for day- Day Moisturizer with SPF 15; in the evening- the exfoliating AloeGlyC and 15 minutes later the Night Moisturizer. If I have a breakout, I use the Acne Clarifying Lotion. During winter, dry spells, airplane travel, etc- I use the Moisture Intensifier Serum, which is also handy patted under your eyes after makeup. It keeps concealers and powder for settling into lines!
  If you try one Lexli product grab their AloeGlyC- especially if you are looking for the results of a chemical peel, but with the ease of at-home use. It’s shrunk my pores, helped reduce discolorations and works great as an all-over treatment (including under eyes!). My full review is here; and you can view all the products at Lexli.com.

• Jeune D’age Organic Skin Care – There are many, many skin care lines out there that call themselves “organic”… Jeune D’age is the rare breed that actually IS organic and WORKS. Bionic Bronnie put the whole line through a very rigorous test and she’s a huge fan. I have their Toner and absolutely adore it! If you’ve been on the hunt for a natural and organic skin care regimen, Jeune D’age is new, but it’s making giant waves in the industry.

• White Sand’s 24/7 The Cure hair treatment – White Sand’s makes some of my favorite hair treatment products like ER Fusion and Porosity The Fix. I guess it’s no surprise that I’m a fan of 24/7 The Cure. I use it after flat-ironing or styling to seal any split ends, tame any frizz, and keep encroaching humidity at bay. It does come in a glass bottle, so it’s not perfect for travel, but that’s easily remedied by squeezing a few pumps into an old lip balm tin. ($29.99 at WhiteSandsProducts.com)

• Launch of the new makeup brand PRIIA Cosmetics – PRIIA’s mineral makeup is grand, but their Skin Complexion Enhancers absolute blow me away. I call them the tinted moisturizers of the mineral makeup world. I wear them alone or mixed with my regular mineral makeup. And one of the best eye shadows colors this year, PRIIA’s Sea Turtle is a mix of blue, green, and gray. Absolutely stunning!

• Cactus and Ivy Skin and Body Care – Not only are all Cactus and Ivy products hand made, natural and cruelty free, but they smell delicious, offer superb customer service, and are actually darn affordable. Come on, venture outside Bath & Body Works and get something unique. One of my favorites is the Body Bath and Massage Elixir which I use on my feet before bed, my nails and cuticles, my legs after shaving and even lightly on my hair for a bit of extra conditioning and to tame flyaways!
  And then there are the Body Scrubs with sugars, oils and cocoa butter… yumtastic. Here’s my super secret hint for sunless tanner application: Use one of the Body Scrubs in the shower to really get your dead skin cells off. You’ll end up with a smooth and prepped skin surface for a streak-free tanner! Cactus & Ivy also has face lotions, sampler packages, lotions, souffles, and even products for horses!

• Lancome La Vernis nail polish in Indigo Paris – Dark polishes are my favorite, but I still like to see some color. Lancome’s fall release of Indigo Paris swept me off my toes. It’s a deep shimmery blue that seems to be lit from within!

• L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate-free Shampoo, Conditioner and UV Protect Spray – Finally drugstore hair care has caught up with salon/spa/luxury brands!! EverPure has dramatically reduced my color washout, really keeps my hair smooth and shiny, which reduces my need to flat iron. EverPure is a must-have in my shower and I recommend this line to all my family and friends. You can’t beat the price either, and the scents are even better than those pricey brands, in my opinion. If you’ve ever longed to try Pureology but the cost is prohibitive, this line is modeled almost exactly after that. Want more info? Here is my review of the UV Protect Spray and the Shampoo and Conditioner.

• New Herbaria Soaps – Just like last year, Herbaria makes this year’s Best Of Beauty list with their new soap additions: Shaw’s Garden, Licorice (if you are a fan of black licorice, this is the best scent ever!), Coffee (Percolates me right up in the AM! $7.50), Ginger Neem, Lycopene Tomato, and Lime Coconut Aloe (my in-shower island getaway). All bars are $5.95 unless I noted them otherwise. If you’ve heard the rave reviews of Neem Oil for your skin, but found the scent uh… yucky… then Herbaria’s Ginger Neem soap is the way to go. It’ll give you all the benefits with a fantasmic scent! This is one of those few brands that I’ll 99% guarantee you’ll love. But be warned, they are incredibly addicting!

• Anatomicals’ Another Bloody Shower Gel – Perhaps it’s because I’m a Twilight fan, or because I’ve always liked classic horror flicks, but this shower gel rocks! It dispenses a deep, blood red and is scented with blood oranges! Plus the entire Anatomicals marketing campaign makes me giggle.

• Discovering Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish and actually getting to order some! I saved up some fun money and ordered four bottles of their nail polish. I’m wearing Scrangie in the picture above: it’s a unique frost duochrome that shows purple or blue depending on how the light hits. The wear is incredible and the coverage is full in one coat… so I’m using a third less polish than with other brands! I’ll post a full review soon…

• Ultra cheap and ultra awesome Hot Topic eyeshadows – Want further proof? Check out my Under the Sea and Sunny Citrus eye makeup looks. These shadow palettes are full of color, accessible to most anyone near a mall (or online), give you an easy way to try fun colors!

• The Matte Nail Trend – I know some dislike this trend, but I really can’t get enough of it. I used to put glow-in-the-dark or matte basecoats on top of my polish to cut down the shine. Now there are top coats designed specifically for the matte look!

• Three Custom Color’s lipgloss in Whisper – Three Custom Color lip glosses are full of amazingness in any color, but 2009’s Whisper gloss is one of those colors that flatters pretty much any skin tone and won’t ever leave my makeup bag.

• Dermelect Launchpad Anti-Aging nail polish base coat - I’m really not sure if this base coat has anti-aging properties, but it certainly makes nail polish cling! I typically lose my polish within a day to peeling, but with Launchpad everything seems to just stay put! I make my bottle last by only using when I want extended wear (i.e. not while swatching multiple colors in an afternoon), and also by using a cheaper drugstore basecoat on my pedicures. I haven’t posted a full review yet, but some of my thoughts are listed in my matte nail trends article. Launchpad base coat is $18 at SkinStore.com.

• John Frieda’s Root Awakening “Health Boosting Detangling Spray” – Here’s another drugstore hair care winner! I love the entire John Frieda Root Awakening line, but the real standout is the Detangling Spray. It provides light leave-in conditioning properties, a bit of shine, cleansing essential oils (great for your non-shampoo days), UVA/UVB protection *and* it amps up your volume! Not to BIG hair status, but enough to make your hair full and bouncy. The fresh scent is another bonus, not to mention the cheaptastic price! If you haven’t tried this hair care line yet and you’re love bargains, pick it up on your next drugstore run!

• Target gets invaded by e.l.f. cosmetics – Yeehaw for $1 makeup at your local Target!!! Let’s all party, shall we? And maybe we can finally put those darn “Nordstrom’s is selling makeup for a dollar” rumors to bed… I mean come on, it’s been over a year, and I’m still getting those dang emails!

• Beauty Blender sponge – Ahhh the Beauty Blender. I love my beauty gadgets, that’s for sure! This pink, egg-shaped, spongy wonder applies powdered makeup, creamy concealers, blush, liquid foundation. My highlights: Keep it clean (I wash mine weekly) and it’ll last you at least 6 months; you can send it back for recycling; and it gives your mineral makeup that flawless “I’m not wearing any makeup” look.

• Tubing Mascaras – I adore Blinc Mascara even though it’s a bit pricey ($23.50 at PurelyCosmetics.com), totally worth it, in my opinion. While “tubing mascaras” are nothing brand new, I’m thankful I discovered Blinc mascara this year. It’s my special occasion mascara… giving me uber-long, separated lashes that don’t flake or smudge. Especially handy when you know you might be crying a bit… (trust me on that). If you haven’t heard about tubing mascaras, basically they create little socks on your lashes. It’s like a polymer that wraps each lash rather than your typical “cover up” mascara-goo. To remove the socks, you soak your eyes with lots of water and rub gently with your hands. The little strings will slip off once they are saturated (and are kinda funny to look at too!).

Outside of beauty, things that made my 2009 memorable…
Seeing the New Moon movie with my sister… Our collective consensus: this movie was SO much better than Twilight.

My 2009 Halloween costume - Jill Valentine from Resident Evil

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince- I loved going to a midnight premiere, even though the company could certainly qualify for a “Worst Of” list. Humpfh! They almost ruined it for me. Almost.

Star Trek – Ahh… my geektastic love of J.J. Abrams (or as I call him, Jbrams) continues. His movies and TV shows are layered with action to please the masses, and plenty of below-the-surface goodies for obsessive fan-girls like me. Mentions of the Slusho drink, the number 47, and Rambaldi’s “red matter” had me bouncing!

The musical musings of Lily Allen – Feeling a bit angsty? This girl’s surface-sweet voice will amp you up with her snarky lyrics. My favorite album is “It’s Not Me, It’s You”.

Starting a new life – If you had asked me in early 2009, I would’ve said I had lost every bit of Powerful Beauty in me. Some of you saw the destruction via my posts on Twitter and Facebook. Your messages and letters (thanks for the cupcake lipbalm Yvonne!!) brightened my days! Once things settled, I knew my life changes were certainly for the better (divorce, big move, splitting up my pets, having barely any budget, etc). It’s made me stronger, and I realized how much I had let myself become smothered. Now I’m getting back to loving my slightly quirky, very g33ky, creatively writing, animal-adoring self. I’m spending more time with family; spent a week horseback riding in the Georgia mountains; and I’m 100% happy!

A successful Halloween! Even though many people didn’t know who I was dressed as, I adored my handmade Jill Valentine costume (she’s a character from the Resident Evil video games, and general bad-a$$ zombie killer). Plus my fog machines, spooky music, grave yard and other decorations got mentions as “best they’d seen” from the adults, children and even the local police!

What were your best beauty finds of 2009? And what were some of non-beauty things that rocked your year?

Interested to know which products made Bionic’s Best of Beauty in 2008? Check out last year’s results!

I didn’t get any compensation/kickbacks/backrubs/brownies/etc for listing any of these products on Bionic’s Best Of Beauty list. They are honestly my favorites from the past year. Just wanted ya to know. *grin*

Every Thursday night, I eagerly await the start of a new Vampire Diaries episode (8pm ET on The CW). The cast has good eye candy (woo hoo!) and the story lines are even better than it’s book series namesake (in my opinion, anyhow). While watching, I couldn’t help wondering how they kept all the gals’ hair bouncy and non-frizzy during the heat of an Atlanta summer. Well it turns out, that some of my favorite hair care products are working their tails off behind-the-fangs… White Sands to the rescue!

Vampire Diaries series hairstylist, Randa Squillacote, shares her secrets to creating the beautiful hair looks we see each week.

Actress Candice Accola as "Caroline"

Candice (who plays Elena’s slightly shallow, sometimes plotting, sometimes friend Caroline on the show) has thick, naturally wavy hair. To achieve her look Randa follows these steps…

1. Shampoo and condition hair with White Sands Vegan Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner to thoroughly cleanse, while infusing a vital moisture balance back into each strand.
2. Blow dry hair with a medium round brush for fullness.
3. Spray entire head with White Sands Liquid Texture Firm Hold. Section off 1-inch partings starting at the nape area. Take these 1-inch sections and using a 1-inch barrel curling iron, curl hair from ends to scalp (like a roller). Remove iron and clip into place until entire head is set. Wait until cooled.
4. Remove clips and brush out for a soft, sexy, wavy style. Spray with White Sands Infinity Finishing Spray for a flexible hold that repels outside moisture, while providing a long lasting style: a must on set!

Actress Nina Dobrev as "Elena"

Nina (who plays Elena Gilbert) has medium thickness and a natural wavy pattern to start. To achieve this look…

1. Shampoo and condition hair with White Sands Vegan Volumizing Shampoo and Volumizing Conditioner for a clean canvas.
2. Blow dry hair with a large round brush, spraying sections with White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Hold for its thermal protection and color enhancers. This technique creates volume and shine with just a round brush in hand.
3. Using White Sands Liquid Texture Firm Hold, flat iron hair in sections starting at the crown and lift straight up. Turn iron slightly at the middle of each hair strand to the ends for a slight bend and beautiful wave. Iron all hair sections in the same direction and let hair cool.
4. Brush and finger comb in place and spray with White Sands Infinity Finishing Spray.

Actress Katerina Graham as "Bonnie"

Katerina has medium thick and relaxed curly hair to start. Katerina’s character, Bonnie, just discovered she’s descended from a long line of witches.

1. Shampoo and condition hair with White Sands Vegan Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner to improve hydration levels and stand strength.
2. Spray on White Sands Porosity the Fix and apply Curl up in Silk Medium Mousse to define texture and remove frizz, drying tresses under a hairdryer.
3. Spray entire head with White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Hold. Take 1-inch partings, starting at nape. Gather each 1-inch section and hold a 1 ½ inch curling iron vertical and wrap hair around barrel from scalp to ends.
4. Let curls drop and separate with White Sands Smudge Texture Creme for a soft relaxed curl look.

Don’t miss any of my previous reviews of White Sands hair products!

Want some good news? White Sands’s products are now available on their website WhiteSandsProducts.com And even better news is you can now check out my absolute hair must-haves: Porosity the Fix and the new 24/7 The Cure!

All photographs are credited to: Andrew Eccles, The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This week’s Bionic Asks… What are your favorite hair styling products?

Currently my favorites are L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate Free UV leave-in spray, John Frieda’s Root Awakening conditioning spray, White Sands’ The Cure (I’ll be posting my full review after I have finished the long-term testing on this product), White Sands’ Porosity The Fix (my review), AG Hair Cosmetics Split End Spa (here’s my review), and good old fashioned Jojoba Oil. And don’t forget there are a ton of ways to use Jojoba for your hair care ritual.

As you can tell, I’m not big on “style holding” products- instead I focus on making sure there’s enough light moisture in my hair to lock out humidity and keep dryness and frizzies at bay.

So, what are your favorites?

Bionic Beauty has got the secrets to the backstage hair styling processes on the Dancing with the Stars National Tour! Do you love the styles but have trouble getting your hair to cooperate? Personally, I’m hair challenged. I have a hard enough time curling my hair, so achieving an actual style can be a bit difficult. But since I already adore White Sands’ hair products (read my previous reviews…), I was thrilled to see that’s what they are using on DWTS!

And now Hair Department Head Russell Latham and Hairstylist Robert Wilson share their tips to achieve that star style with ease:

Russell Latham styles dancer Karina Smirnoff in fab, loose waves!

Voluminous Curls
Clean hair was blown dry with a tiny spritz of White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Hold. Before setting with a curling iron, a tiny bit more Liquid Texture Medium Hold was applied, curling the dancers’ tresses in the desired pattern of the night and clipped. Upon returning from makeup, the clippies were removed and hair would be teased at the root. Curls were then fingered out into gorgeous waves, securing the look with White Sands Infinity Hair Spray. As each dancer arrived backstage before the show, White Sands Stuck Up was applied to lock in that hairstyle for the rest of the night.

Dancer Lacey Schwimmer using White Sands Stuck Up spray to keep her hair straight.

Bone Straight Tresses
Clean wet hair was lightly sprayed with White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Hold and blow dried straight. White Sands Infinity Hairspray was then applied, flat ironing this into the hair to remove frizz and create shine. Next, a dab of White Sands Smudge was rubbed between the hands and run through the hair to help keep it straight, shiny, and full of movement. Finally, on set, an application of White Sands Stuck Up was added to the front top of the dancer’s hair to keep it from falling in their face as they danced.

All products can be purchased on the White Sands website or on Beauty-Mart.com.

There ya go ladies! And… may I ask, are there any Dancing with the Stars fans amoung the Bionic Beauty readers?

Shower stalls have all sorts of shelves, hanging ability, nooks and crannies to stow body care goodies.
Shampoos, conditioners, body washes, soap bars… oh my!

Wanna peak in Bionic’s shower? Here’s my stash…

• Dove Cream Oil Body Wash (very moisturizing shower gel which I use in the winter to prevent dry skin. Get a free sample from Dove!)
• International Orange “Cleanse” body wash (yummy! my review)
• Body poufs for all over exfoliation
• Body brush for skin brushing and scrubbing my back
• Jojoba shampoo bar by Herbaria Soaps (Y’all know I seriously heart Herbaria. I use it for my body, face and occasionally my hair. I love the soft bubbles and that it’s all-natural, baby!)
• Y-Y Ocean: Exfoliating body scrub (this is an amazing body polish. I use it when I’m going to wear a dress, sleeveless shirt, or a swimsuit. Smooth skin instantly!)
• Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut shampoo and conditioner (great scent for a winter pick-me-up! Did you read my shampoo classified ad?)
  
• AG Hair Cosmetics Colour Savour shampoo and conditioner (it’s sulfate free & gentle so perfect for my colored hair. Read my previous review. )
• Davine’s Alchemic shampoo and conditioner for brown hair (nicely moisturizing and natural. It’s great to help make my color last longer! But be careful cause it’s packed in glass bottles…here’s my review.)
• ER Fusion reconstructing hair treatment by White Sands (I use this at least once a week for a deep conditioning treatment. It works fab!)
• Noxema face wash
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash cream cleanser
• Venus Vibrance razor in pink
• Skintimate Energizing Citrus shave cream

So hop on over to your shower with a note pad, jot down your findings and report back with what you’re using during shower time.

Image is the copyright of White Sands

White Sand’s has a product they term “makeup for hair” which is Porosity the Fix. Think of it as a “concealer” for your hair.

If you damage your hair, and you’re working on fixing that damage (say with deep conditioners, trims, growth), Porosity helps make your health appear healthy in the meantime.

I spray a 3-4 mists around my hair after rinsing out my hair color (whether it’s bleach, permanent dye, vegetable hair dye, etc) then dry normally. Or if my hair is dry and I’ll be using a curling iron or flat iron, I spray a bit of Porosity on my brush and run it through my hair before ironing. It really helps the cuticle lay flat and prevent flyaways. Be very careful not to spray too much as this product contains oils. It *will* make your hair flat and icky if you overdo it. Like I said, 3-4 sprays should do fine for mid-length hair.

If you color or highlight your hair at home, I’ve also had excellent results by adding 2 sprays of Porosity into my color mixture. My color lasts longer, penetrates better and my hair comes out smoother & shinier immediately after coloring.

Overall, I adore my bottle of Porosity. It is a professional product, but worth the money. Bionic will definitely be repurchasing!!

White Sands hair products can be purchased at salons and spas. You can check their website to find a location close to home.

Every time I color (or bleach) my hair, I follow it up with the White Sands ER Fusion.This is an amazing “salon treatment” deep conditioning treatment. The bottle says results last once a month and if you have normal hair, I would guess that should be enough to keep you in the proper moisture level.

I use mine a bit more often since I love to play havoc with my hair. My ER Fusion goes on once every week (in the dry winter season) or every other week (in the summer).

This product keeps my hair healthy and even after bleaching it gets my hair right back into shape. Leaving it soft, shiny and bouncy; and the cuticles sealed. I have fine hair and it certainly doesn’t weight it down one bit, nor does it leave an icky buildup on my scalp.

I highly recommend this product if you have damaged hair, need some extra moisture, or are possibly a bit rough on your hair (like me).

White Sands hair products can be purchased at salons and spas. You can check their website to find a location close to home. Stay tuned for more reviews (by me) on different White Sands professional hair care products.

Shampoos and Conditioners are some of my favorite products to test. I love picking up new brands, especially ones that are lesser-known and more independent. I guess it’s the uniqueness. I’ve been testing a whole range of White Sands’ professional hair care products lately and really enjoyed their Phase One Nourishing Shampoo and Phase One Corrective Conditioner.

Both of these products are specifically designed for colored hair with the perfect pH of 4.6 making your color last longer, helping to prevent fade, and locking color into the hair cuticle. The Phase One shampoo and conditioner also contain White Sand’s own “Clear Micro Shield” to seal hair and add shine. Additionally, there’s the fancy-schmancy Heliogenol: “an herbal extract that protects tinted hair from color loss by neutralizing the oxidative radicals generated by daily UV exposure and slowing down the oxidation of hair dyes”.

Basically, it’s a fantastic combo of products if you color your hair. I was battling this summer trying to keep my brunette hair from fading in the Florida sun (I’m a natural dark blonde/light brown but dyed my hair dark red brown). The Phase One products really helped put the halt on fading and color wash out.

White Sands hair products can be purchased at salons and spas. You can check their website to find a location close to home. Stay tuned for more reviews (by me) on different White Sands professional hair care products.
Photograph is the copyright of White Sands.

Since I’m not a big mousse user (Love to eat chocolate mousse, but I just don’t use it in my hair…I digress…) I handed the White Sand’s Curl Up in Silk Texture Defining Volumizing Mousse (that’s a mouthful) to the Bionic Hubby (BH) to test.

Overall he said it was a good product (he’s a daily mousse user). He wasn’t too keen for the fruity smell, but most guys aren’t. But when pressed he admitted that the White Sands’ scent was a whole ton better than Garnier Fructis’ mousse (which he pitched in the garbage can 2 days after I bought it for him!).

BH also thought it worked more like a foaming gel rather than a full-on extra frothy mousse. On the HUGE plus side, it left absolutely NO product buildup or residue and washed easily from his hair after the day was done.

White Sands hair products can be purchased at salons and spas. You can check their website to find a location close to home. Stay tuned for more reviews (by me) on different White Sands professional hair care products.

Terra, Misty, Channah, Paula and Beata are the 5 Bionic Beauty readers who have won the White Sands Porosity and pHormulate hair care gift pack giveaway! Congratulations! I hope that you all enjoy trying these products out. I would love to hear your thoughts once you’ve tested them.

Thanks to everyone who entered. You made this contest a huge success. Please stay tuned for our next giveaway in August.

Cheers,
Bionic Beauty