Category — Skin Care

Every gal likes to smell good, right? So I’m here with a suggestion for your next “special night out” perfume; or parfume as the fancy-schmancy types say it. John Varvatos’ fragrance. It’s packaged in a very sleek light pink orb that looks just perfect sitting in my retro sixties bathroom (yep, it’s pink too…). I will admit, I wasn’t an immediate fan of this fragrance, but once I wore it and it warmed onto my skin I started to enjoy it. It’s certainly not for everyday (due to price and it smells a bit too fancy for prancing around dusting the house); but I like it for date nights with Bionic Hubby.

Is it for you? Hmmm… hard to tell since our preferences are all so unique. So I’m going to run through the scent layers to better help you decide if this is something you’d be interested in.

Introductory Scents: Coriander flower, Georgian apricot, Damascus plum, Golden mandarin from Sicily, Aromatic Grappa “Di Nebbiolo” accord.

Background Scents: Tolu balsam, Adriatic oakmoss, Styrax from Laos, Patchouli extra pure, Wild honey from Spain, Tonka beans from Venezuela, Hibiscus seeds from Ecuador.

John Varvatos Eau de Parfum is available via their website in either 1.6 oz ($70) or 3.3 oz ($92) bottles.

It’s sharing time! Just like back in elementary school. So come on everyone… What skincare and/or makeup items are you wearing today?

I’ll kick things off with my “retro”-ish look for today…

• My skin: I’m trying out a new skincare regimen and wearing Your Best Face’s Defend; topped off with a healthy dose of CO Bigelow’s Extra Light oil-free face lotion with SPF 15.
• Foundation: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer. I topped it off with the Organic Wear face powder in my T zone (hoping to stop some shine).
• Brows: Clear mascara by Cover Girl.
• Lips: Sonia Kashuk’s Lip & Cheek Stain.
• Eyes: Jane’s cream eyeliner (Be Pure Mineral Gel Eyeliner) in Dark Brown applied on upper lashline with a slight retro “wing” for fun. My mascara is my usual: Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear in Black.
• Cheeks: A super light application of NARS’ The Multiple in Orgasm.

Now it’s your turn! And keep in mind, there’s no deadline to this, so if you don’t want to share your makeup wardrobe until tomorrow, or next week, just stop back by then and post up your list.

We’re heading into fall and if you’d like to preserve some of your summer glow (faux glow, I’m hoping!) check out Lancome’s Flash Bronzer “Glow n’ Wear”. I grabbed some earlier in the summer and am proud to report it didn’t turn my skin orange and with the proper preparation there was no streaking! Best of all, it dries so quickly! No more waiting around the house half-nekkid while your sunless tanner dries.

The Flash Bronzer gives you the instant gratification of a bronzer while building up a sunless tan gradually. It’s packaged in a convenient pump dispenser which kept it from leaking all over my bathroom floor or cabinets. The formula itself is a gel. It does contain alcohol (which helps with the speedy drying time) so you may want to moisturize a few hours afterwards, but I didn’t feel it was an urgent necessity (meaning my legs weren’t itching and screaming for lotion).

Just think how great your new fall clothes will look on a subtly-tan you! Lancome’s Glow n’ Wear sells for $31 for a 5 oz bottle. It’s available in 2 shades: Natural Tan (which Bionic uses, that’s me!) and Shimmer Tan (which adds a teensy bit of glimmer to your skin).

I recently reviewed the Gloves in a Bottle shielding lotion; now you have a chance to do your own trials!

To request your free sample, visit Gloves in a Bottle’s website and follow the instructions. You’ll either need to send them a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) and please make sure you have enough postage or use the checkout option for 3 samples and you’ll be charged $2 for shipping and handling. This offer is open to US and international beauties!

I do! I do!

And for extremely smooth skin all over my body, I’ve found my must-have item. Lancome’s Resurface Microdermabrasion for Body.

The product is a cream filled to the max with high-grade Aluminum Oxide crystals which polish your body’s skin. I tested the product after regular soap, non-moisturizing body wash, and a moisturizing body wash- all with excellent results. The cream in Resurface seems to keep the exfoliating action from over-drying your body.

I exfoliated my legs, arms, and chest. The aluminum crystals are small enough to not scratch or be too harsh. It was similar to using a light loofah on your skin. And it was an absolutely wonderful prep step for sunless tanner. I had zero streaking after using Resurface!

We all think, research and test products for the best face skincare results, but often neglect to use the same care on our bodies. Lancome’s Resurface has me smooth and polished for the summer ahead. Without fail, my hubby comments on how soft my skin is after I use Resurface (yippee!). Highly recommended by Bionic!

Lancome’s Resurface Microdermabrasion is available at Lancome’s website or at your local Lancome retailer. A 6.7 fluid ounce tube runs $46.

I’m becoming quite the Lancome fan-girl. When I can afford it, that is. And with gas prices on this crazy trend, I’ve certainly been watching my pennies more and using that time to find more freebies.

I did give Lancome’s High Resolution Eye with Collaser-48™ a drive. It’s a “deep collagen anti-wrinkle serum”. Let’s get the easy stuff out of the way first: the packaging is sleek silver, very spa and very glam. This serum is in a little pump bottle (0.5 fl oz) so it stays sanitary and uncontaminated (LOVE that!).

You apply this serum every night after cleansing and before bed. I have been testing it off and on (and been slacking on writing the review for some reason) for 3-4 months now. It’s really a superb product. The cream sinks in so quickly around my eyes. No stinging, no irritation. I wake up with firmer skin and less baggies.

If you have thin skin and/or the beginnings of wrinkles around your eyes, I have no problems recommending this product for you. Lancome is reliable and actually does the research to back up their claims. Don’t expect overnight results (as with any serum- no matter *what* the ads may say…), but with continued use, you can certainly see improvement. Bionic thumbs up!

Unfortunately this grand product has been discontinued (so I’m making my little tube count!). But Lancome’s released the next-generation with High Resolution Eye with Collaser 5X. Very similar product.

Walmart.com is offering free samples of Gillette’s mens hair care products including shampoo and conditioner. It looks like you’ll also get a nice coupon too! Request your free sample for the man in your life at Walmart.com. Hurry, these samples usually go quickly!

Also, a quick note- last week I posted about the Biore facial skincare freebies at Walmart.com and they sold out so quick. It looks like they have more in stock, so if you missed out, head over there quick to request yours!

Read about the other freebies found by Bionic Beauty.