DivaDebbi's Best of Beauty 2011- Skincare

Are you ready to get your gorgeous on for 2012???  Here are my star skincare beautifiers this year.  You may recall I'm in the midst of a trial of  La Peau's potent, but simple Swiss anti-aging skincare regime...so far, so great but since I have not yet hit my 28 day mark, you will hear more about my results in January...

In the meanwhile, here's are my faves from 2011:

We Have a Winner!!!

Congratulations lucky number 18, Diori!!!   Diori will be receiving 3 full size Lumene Day Time moisturizers all infused with SPF 15.  Diori was a sun worhsipper who saw one of her dear friends and long time tanning buddies face disfiguring melanoma surgery. Here's to smart, safe sunning.  We know soooo much more now, than we did then.

Thanks to all my readers who left comments.  Hope it will be you next time.  Happy, healthy summer all.

xox,
DD

Diva and You: A Giveaway You Deserve

Let's try to take better care of our skin, shall we??? I love when I have opportunities to share giveaways with my readers and when it's something that can help keep our skin stay healthy, so much the better!

Wishful Thinking

In my youth, my skin was normal to oily. It drove me mad, particularly in the summer months, when I would invest in mattifying products by Lancome, to pre-treat my T-zone, which were amaz-ingly effective.  Every handbag was also equipped with its own set of Shiseido Pureness Oil Blotting Control Sheets, which soaked up spills quickly, without clogging my pores with heavy powder.  As a consolation, I would tell myself  wishfully,  that the silver lining to oily skin would be skin that aged well.  Happily, I wasn't wrong!

Now, however, my problem has reversed.  I find my skin feeling tight and dry during the day and I have been searching for ways to add moisture quickly without disturbing my makeup.  (Isn't it funny how we always wish for what we don't have).

Take Off

I just received new TotalBeauty Bits about makeup remover "towelettes". I was hooked for a very long time on Olay's Total Effects towelettes, but like most beauty items, no matter how deep my devotion, I have strayed... Good for them! They made the readers top 10 list.

I think I just realized that I am equally obsessed with taking off my makeup, as I am putting it on. Yes, I do like to start with a towelette. At the moment, I am happily getting the ball (of wax) rolling, with CVS's cleansing and makeup remover towelettes. The package reminds us to "compare to Pond's Clean Sweep"...no need. I will take their word for it and save a few nickels in the interim.

Having finally reached the bottom of my Burt's Bees Radiance Cleanser, I was seduced by a sample of Dr. Jeffrey Dover's Skin Effects Glycolic Cream Cleanser. Anything that drops the "G" word has my rapt attention. Residual mascara is whisked away with Lumene's Sensitive Touch Eye Makeup Remover on a triple size cotton ball. As back up, I do a face sweep with L'Oreal's HYDRAFRESH Toner. Every other night, while brushing my teeth, I do a one minute application of Peter Thomas Roth's Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads. Rinse-rinse.

All that Dahlings before I haven't even gotten to the serums, spot remover, eye cream and night cream. Geez! This is insane...get a life Diva!!!

My Mother Joan, a Dove and Nivea Gal, will be shaking her head as she reads this, wondering for the millionth time, if I was switched at birth. I'm pretty sure I'm all yours Mom. I think you should read the Beauty Bits, this "towelette" thing, suits you perfectly...start to finish.

xox,
DD

Readers' Top-Rated Face Wipes

See which facial cleansing towelettes topped our list

This is a TotalBeauty.com best and worst skin care products article Nothing quite takes the place of washing your face with cleanser and water, but the next best thing is a face wipe, no? TotalBeauty.com readers share which towelettes are their BFFs for removing grime post-workout, after a late night of partying, etc. See products

No. 9: Almay Makeup Remover Towelettes, $1.45

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.2

"I am in musicals and wear a lot of makeup, so I need a good remover pad …"

No. 8: Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes, $5.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.4

"These remove all my makeup/gunk and …"

No. 7: Dove Daily Hydrating Cleansing Cloths, $5.69

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.4

"They cleanse my skin with a gentle scrub and leave it …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

An Apple A Day...

I so like Fairy Tale endings and when my beauty stars align...Last month I was getting a much needed pedicure (plus an extra 10 minutes of foot massage love) and perusing Vogue.. Naturally, I always zoom in on the Beauty features first.

I was immediately taken in by a story about the endangered Utlwiler Spatlauber a Swiss apple tree, that while not beautiful or sweet tasting, was none-the-less remarkable. What was discovered was that when the skin of the is punctured, it repairs itself! A light bulb moment! Was it possible to figure out what was happening on a cellular level and replicate that resistance into a topical cream for human skin?

Apparently, yes! The first maker was Clark's Botanical Cellular Lifting Serum and despite the $355 price tag, developed a devoted clientele, (allegedly including MOBama, who did ask about the possibility of developing the same properties in a cream that would be more affordable).

Wishes do come true...MO's and mine. The very next day, I received an email from my friends at Kaplow P.R., who represent Lumene a Scandinavian company that sells their product at CVS. Their Excellent Future Deep Repairing Serum and Deep Repairing Cream both retail for under $30. The key ingredients, was "Applexcell", which they derived from "modern apple extract and ancient white peat"...(whatevah)! Over 90% of women who tested it saw improvement in their skin. Would I be interested in test driving them??? Naturally!

One month later, I still have more than half left. I like the silky texture of the Deep Repairing Serum, which glides on, and instantly readies my skin for the Deep Repairing Cream, (which I am using both day and night). It smells heavenly, vaguely fruity and has a luscious, luxe texture, which absorbs immediately. I am notoriously fickle, yet still enamored, enough that I will use it till the last drop. I am a cheerleader if nothing else for my preservation.

How is the nearly extinct Utlwiler Spatlauber being preserved??? Quite nicely! The remaining 7 are protected by a European environmental group and immortalized on a Swiss
postage stamp.

The End.

xox,
DD