While a great hair dryer is an important aspect of achieving hair greatness, a great brush is also vital. I found a great round brush that allows me to dry my hair into a decent shape and get as much volume as possible from my extremely fine, flat hair. I picked up my round Spornette brush at a Pure Beauty shop downtown, but you can find them online at Folica.com or any other beauty supply store. My Spornette is from their Provo collection, which uses boar and tourmaline enhanced nylon bristle. The contour of the brush allows for easy styling without un-due pulling. I have the 3" diameter size but it comes in four sizes, so you should pick the one that is appropriate for your hair length. It really is lightweight and helps to dry my hair faster and with style. Try one out yourself!

Brush Lovely1

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I have written about Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer before, but it has a steep price tag at $36. If you like a primer that smoths out your face and mattifies your skin, then head towards the Sephora Brand display and try their Smoothing Primer. It seems to be identical in form and function to Smashbox's, but at $22 the Sephora one is a bit more of a steal!

Smooth Lovely!

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As I have talked about before, I have struggled with acne since I was a teen. It comes and goes, sometimes it's manageable, sometimes it's the bane of my existence. Recently it has been particularly bad, probably due to stress. Just when I had given up all hope, a package arrived!
The Somme Institute's 5 step system is based on their exclusive patent pending technology breakthrough - Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5), a formulation of highly engineered vitamins A, B (B3 & B5), C, D & E at high concentrations that has been shown to produce profound visual changes in skin texture, tone, and clarity to recapture a radiant, youthful complexion.

I've been using the 5 step system for about 2 weeks now, in the morning and evening, and I like what I see. Each product is in a simple white container with a different color dot on each one. I love the Transport pads (purple dot) because they really feel like the AHA and BHA are getting into my skin and cleaning it right up! It feels like it is pulling out all the gunk in my pores. I've still had a few breakouts but they seem to be improving. The science behind the products is convincing. You can see for yourself in the before and after shots on their site. The whole system is a bit pricey but if it really cures acne and reverses sun damage it just might be worth it.
They do have a travel sized mobile kit for $85 with the whole system in smaller sizes. If you are reluctant to invest in the full sizes, this might be a great option!

Cleanse Lovely!

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The nice people at AfterGlow Mineral Cosmetics, based close by me in San Carlos, sent me one of their organic lose mineral Glow Bronzers to try out. They come in three shades: Light, Medium and Deep. I got Deep, but it isn't too dark for my extremely pale skin if I use it sparingly. I need a little help in the color department these days, living in San Francisco. I dust it all over my face and neck for a touch of "sun" without the damage. Mica is the first ingredient, so it is slightly sparkly to add to the glow. I like that AfterGlow uses certified organic extracts, like grapefruit and rosemary. Natural and organic is all the rage right now, so they are smart to use these in their products. If you are interested in having the products you wear on your face be made from ingredients you've heard of and can pronounce, check out the site and see what else they have to offer.

Bronze Lovely!

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Bored if my usual rosy blushes and golden bronzers, I headed over to the NARS display at Sephora the other day to find something new. I love my Orgasm blush, but I wanted something fun and different. NARS has a huge selection of powder blushes and they all have great texture and pigment. They may be on the expensive side (25$ each) but they last forever and the compact is so sleek and chic. I ended up getting Crazed, a raspberry red with a shimmer. It is incredibly bright, so I just dust on a little on the apples of my cheeks. It's a fun look but not for every day, though it is definitely in tune with the spring trends toward bright vibrants colors. Try one out too...everyone needs a little change in their life, why not start with your blush?!

Pink Lovely!

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