Fifty-cent Head

Elope Island Beauty

Wanna smell like a sports model?

No... not that stinky I've-been-running-for-4 hours-during-this-photoshoot kinda smell! Of course not. This is a beauty blog, not a fitness blog. Geesh...

ANYWAY, Caroline Attwood is a sports model who has fallen for the tropical islands she probably visits frequently for her photoshoots. I guess that's not too shocking, but what's great is she decided to literally bottle it and we're all going to benefit!

Enter Elope Island Beauty. This bath and body collection contains natural ingredients found on those tropical islands and are a nice little elopement from the real world - a trip to somewhere quiet, beautiful, and pleasant smelling!

The Scoop:

The collection currently consists of Body Milks and Body Butters. The Body Milks are lotions that are made with Kukui Oil, Tamanu Nut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Passion Flower Extract and Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, while the Body Butters are made with Illipe Butter, Shea Butter, Kelp Extract, Hibiscus Extract, Beeswax and Vitamin E.

Both formulas come in your choice of 3 elopements:

• Seychelles | Refreshing and revitalizing and fruity, with tangerine and pink grapefruit citrusy goodness.
• Maui | Floral blends of ginger lillies and frangipanis.
• Maldives | Warm and decadant coconut and dark chocolate.

The Review:
I had the distinct pleasure of trying the Seychelles Body Butter and the Maldives Body Milk, and let me tell you: this is some good stuff!

The Body Milk is light, but hydrating and the "coconut and dark chocolate" sounds like it could be cloyingly sweet - but it isn't! It's quite amazing and delicious without making you feel like a cake. In fact, it's my favorite of the two and I just love slipping it on.

The Body Butter also suprised me: I expected it to be heavy which seems like the type of thing you wouldn't want on your skin when you're somewhere hot. The Seychelles scent is a surprisingly good one (surprising because I don't usually like fruity stuff). The Body Butter is light and whipped (very similar to the consistency of Whish Shave Crave products, for those of you familiar with that product) and quite light - but it still has that uber-hydrating feel of something classified as "butter".   

The scents don't linger terribly long, which is fine with me - I just like the scent to hang around during application and a little while longer.

All in all: an A+ from FCH!

Purchase Elope products directly from the website for now - but expect to see more of this line!

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For those who like to put a face with a name, this is Caroline Attwood (you're welcome, male readers!):

Trilogy at Beautorium - 20% off this week only!

Trilogy at Beautorium - 20% off this week only!

Rose hips. No, these aren't the parts of a rose that hold up its jeans - they're the fruity little doo dads that you can find on a wild rose. They've been used in cuisine and used medicinally for years, and have also made their way into the cosmetics realm. Reportedly good for you in that high Vitamin C an-apple-a-day kinda way, they're also high in antioxidants and may have some impact on rheumatoid arthritis, bladder infections, and other ailments.

(rose hips image courtesy of mooseyscountrygarden)

Trilogy, a skincare line from New Zealand, focuses on products created with all-natural, 100% organic rosehip oil. Why? The line -and many other folks- believes in rose hips and their ability to hydrate and soften skin for hours, protecting it from the environment and dehydration. According to the company, rose hips have been clinically proven to improve skin's moisture by up to 44%, reduce the appearance of wrinkles up to 23%, and improve skin's smoothness by up to 21%.

We know I like organic, we know I like Fair Trade products (yes, Trilogy works only with Faie Trade ingredients) and we know I love a company founded and/or run by women!

Haven't heard of Beautorium, yet? Shame on you! It's a great online bonanza featuring the best natural and organic beauty products in the world. It's fab! You don't have to research and track and study a line- Beautorium does it for you so you know anything you buy there is healthy organic fare.

Go on over to take a look at Trilogy @ Beautorium - everything Trilogy is 20% off this week only.
I'm going to review some in the near future - keep your eyes peeled.

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Eco-Facts to know about Trilogy and Beautorium (copied from the Beautorium website):
Trilogy Rosehip Oil featured as the "Star Product"" in Vogue Australia! And was the "Editors Favorite" in Marie Claire Hong Kong. It was also "Applauded" by the French in French Vogue! And Hello! UK had this to say: "The new formulations can be used for cleansing and hydrating, and even in place of serums and night creams. Try some of the best and discover how well they perform. Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil, famous fans of this Antipodean range include Dannii Minogue.

Trilogy products contain 100% natural active ingredients. The rosehip oil is certified organic by Bio-Gro of New Zealand; many other organic ingredients are certified by Eco-cert. Trilogy products contain no parabens, petrochemicals, PEGs, pesticides, synthetic colors or fragrances, GMOs , or harsh surfactants. 100% vegetarian.

             

	Trilogy uses innovative fiber recycled from sugar cane waste for all its sales materials. All products and packaging are biodegradable.
	Beautorium is delighted to be one of the first retailers in North America to stock the full  line of Trilogy products.
	Products selected by Beautorium are not tested on animals.

FCH Review Round-up: Clinique Even Better Skintone Corrector

Review Round-up: Clinique ~ Even Better Skintone Corrector

While we're on Clinique, I have to touch on a product that really disappointed me. Even Better Skintone Corrector offers an economical and safe method of softening the appearance of pigmentation, uneven skintone and the dark remains of acne scarring. Since it's from Clinique, we know it's not going to break us out, and they say its even safe for darker skins- many products of this type are not.

The Verdict: Well, I'm sad to say I saw little improvement after using it twice a day for several weeks. Granted, it says you'll see results in 4-6 weeks, and maybe I didn't wait long enough, but I just couldn't hang in there without seeing ANY results whatsoever. I like how quickly Philosphy's Help Me works, and I also get good results from the Elizabeth Arden/Allergan product Prevage. You? If you have sensitive skin, don't want to use retinoids, are dark-complected, or can't swing the hefty Prevage pricetag, give this a shot. Me? I'll pass.

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Read the other posts in the Round-up:

• FCH Review Round-up
• Whish Shave Crave

• Olay Difinity line

• Clinque ~ Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief
• M Lab Skincare
• Stila ~ The Kitten collection
• Bobbi Brown ~ Almost Bare
• Clinique ~ Even Better Skintone Correcter
• Clinique ~ Superbalm Moisturizing Lipgloss
• Sally Hansen ~ Lip Fix Lip Repair

Rosy Cheeks, courtesy of Berwick Beauty

Everything's "coming up roses" at Berwick Beauty, or so they say. I was honored to receive a full-size jar of each of the products shown above, so I could test and review them. This was just after Earth Day Week, and of course I was stoked to try a new botanically-based skincare line and I want to tell you all about it.

Above, you see three of the products in the 5-item line. From left: Balancing Day Cream, Eye Contour Gel, and Restoring Night Cream.

I'll tell you a little more about the line and why I thought the night cream could possibly rival the well-known cult classic Crème de la Mer in one aspect... but you have to keep reading!

 

MAC News, courtesy of Specktra.net and other sources

The gorgeous lassies and lads at Specktra.net have been posting away, letting us know about the upcoming collections at MAC. I've been waiting a bit to show you what's coming up, 'cause the collections don't release 'til next week or a few weeks thereafter, but I wanted you to have time to plan so today's the day!

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Naughty Nauticals, May:

A great seafaring collection, this is the big Summer releases typical in May. It includes the mandatory "let's pretend we sell bronzers" selection - and beware: it apparently is a bit better than last year's offering, but still isn't waterproof and still may transfer onto white/light clothing. Grrr...

Details provided by Specktra.net, of course. Read more here/color story, here/discussion, and here/swatches. Some of the swatches are amazing!

See some great pics of the promotional collateral for this collection here at Specktra.net.

Lipsticks $14.00USD

Ahoy, There! - (Lustre) (LE) ~ the nude
Buoy-O-Buoy - (Glaze) (LE) ~the pink
Port Red - (Frost) (LE) ~ the plum
Party Mate - (Lustre) (LE) ~ the red

Lustreglasses $14.00USD

Bateaux (LE) ~ the nude
Ensign (LE) ~the pink
Hey Sailor (LE) ~ the plum
Love Knot (LE) ~ the red

Eyeshadow $14.00USD

Meet the Fleet - (Matte) (LE)
Illegal Cargo - (Frost) (LE)
Pandamonium - (Lustre) Smoky Grey with silver pearlized pigments (LE) (Repromote from       Pandamonium Eyes in Balloonacy)
Submarine - (Frost) (LE)
Shore Leave - (Veluxe Pearl) (LE)

Pigments $19.50USD

Lovely Lily - (Frost) Lilac with red pearl (LE)(Repromote from Lingerie)
Bell Bottom Blue (Frost)
Larkabout (Frost)
Wave (Frost)

Techakohl Liner $14.50USD

Smoothblue- Ocean blue with frost (Repromote)-
Greyprint- Rich pewter grey with frost (Repromote)

Mascara

Prolash in Coal Black - Lengthening, thickening, non-flaking, non-smudging.

Nail Lacquer $10.00USD

Naughty Nautical - (Frost) Dark royal navy blue (LE)
Shirelle - (Cream) Classic she's a dame red (Repromote)

This collection includes a Nordstrom exclusive quad: Stowaways.

Awash (Frost) - Lightest tan off white with gold and pink pearl (LE)
Crest the Wave (Frost) - Light, frosty yellow with yellow and white pearl (LE)
Satin Taupe (Frost) - Taupe brown with silvery bronze shimmer (Repromote)
Sea-Cadet (Satin) - Grayed dark navy blue (LE)

See swatches here on Specktra.net.

The Skinsheen portion of the collection is the "let's pretend we're tan" part:

Skinsheen Leg Spray $22.50USD - A sprayable, light weight gel formula that provides a sheer wash of colour and glow to the legs. (LE)

Medium - Soft golden caramel with soft gold nuances ~ International only

Medium Dark - Soft bronze with golden tan pearl

Dark

Deep Dark ~ North America only

 

Body Buffer Brush $52.00USD

#179 - A short handled brush with large, flat, circular shaped top for efficient distribution of body makeup. Recommended for smooth application of Sundressing and other powder products. 6.5 cm long. (Repromote)

Specktra's Skinsheen discussion  and Swatches.

 

FCH must-haves for Naughty Nauticals: Larkabout, Illegal Cargo, Mutiny, and Bell Bottom Blue. I'm a pigment whore. :(

 

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Tendertones, end of May:

I loved Tendertones right from "go!". I thought the scent was incredible (kiwi and strawberry) and the color payoff was great, too, 'cause it was just so light and sheer. Doubters abounded, though, and I had a hard time selling the green one last year (fools, you!). So, according to Specktra.net and members mezzamy and Erine1881, here's the new Tendertones scoop:

 

Deep Sigh | Sheer bronze with red pearl (LE) (Repromote)

 

Pucker | Sheer raspberry pink (LE) (Repromote)

Sweet Tooth | Sheer coral w/ white pearlized pigments(LE)

Take a Hint | Sheer intense mid-tone pink (LE) (Repromote)

 

Hush Hush | Sheer peach with gold pearl (LE) (Repromote)

Hot n’ Saucy | Soft cherry red (LE)

Tread Gently | Soft lime green w/ yellow pearlized pigments (LE)

Honey Bare | sheer peach w/white pearlized pigments (LE)

E-Z Baby | Sheer milky pink (LE)

Sweet & Nice | Sheer red grape w/ red pearlized pigments (LE)

PS: Read the Specktra.net page carefully and you'll see that the rumor mill says we may see Tendertones as permanent additions to the Pro collection at some point. YAY!

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