Viva Woman

Here are this week’s best in beauty, fashion and shopping from the Splendicity community:

BEAUTY

• Aging Fabulous tried out some anti-aging products from L’Oreal’s Skin Genesis Line. Stop by to see what they were and what she thought.
• NY Spender pampers herself with two new products that won’t break the bank.
• Beauty Bento Box tells us how important it is to give our bare legs a sleek, sexy and glowing look that’s perfect this summer.
• Beauty Secrets Revealed a Homemade Lip Plumper Recipe.
• See how Beauty and Fashion Tech made her own mineral makeup using a Bramble and Berry Mineral Makeup Kit complete with pictures and swatches!
• Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to create an orange, gold and teal eye look with Nars Cosmetics.
• All That & a has a review of Not Just a Pretty Face, a book about the dangers in our makeup and skincare.
• Beauty Match meets Candace Bushnell author of Sex & the City.

FASHION

• Style…a work in progress proves that hope springs eternal…and finally gets her fingers on Heimstone’s Perfecto jacket…
• Tops 2 Bottoms lets you in on the latest swimwear trend.
• Would you wear a red wedding dress? Just A Formality features this gorgeous Justin Alexander Red Bridal Gown.
• Kim at Indie Style File needs to be more graceful to be a ballerina, but can look like one with a tutu tank dress by ouma.
• Her Accessories wonders why we need camouflage Louis Vuitton? Pardon me, it’s called “Monogramouflage” - for the urban jungle perhaps?
• Style Manila talks about a current styling project.

SHOPPING

• CelebLOOK found some hot zebra print bikini’s that will have you looking as hot as Lisa Rinna in hers.
• Enter to win this M Z Wallace handbag valued at $335 at Glamour Gift Guide.
• Shoe Blitz features an assortment of Prada boots that are perfect for fall.
• Shopalicious is pining over these to-die-for python heels — and they’re on sale!
• ShopDiary says you can pre-order Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusives before the sale officially begins on July 18.

Enjoy your reads!

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I should be pleased that I am using the safest and most effective sunscreen - Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock SPF30 (Broad Spectrum Sunblock UVA & UVB Sun Protection with Nano Zinc-Oxide) - as rated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) according to their latest investigations into 952 name-based sunscreens.   In fact, I also own Lavera SPF40 Neutral Sunblock, rated the sixth safest and most effective in the list.

Top 10 safest and most effective sunscreen list
The list compiled by EWG is based on sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB radiation, remain stable in sunlight, and contain few if any ingredients with significant known or suspected health hazards. Unfortunately, apart from Badger, California Baby and Lavera, you’ll probably have to purchase the other brands online as they’re not available in Singapore. In addition, I don’t see any Asian brands in the list of sunscreens investigated at all.

Sunscreens to buy
To be effective for best protection, EWG says a sunscreen should have SPF 30 or higher and contain at least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for broad spectrum protection. 

Sunscreens to avoid
In addition, their advice is that we should avoid sunscreens containing oxybenzone or benzophenone-3 which can cause hormone disruptions or allergies, as well as spray and powder sunscreens with nano-scale ingredients because the particles might absorb more easily through the lungs than the skin.

Micronized & nano-scale ingredients are safe
And interestingly, EWG is also now stating that both micronized and nano-scale zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in sunscreen provide strong UVA protection, and are considered safe because “repeated studies have found that these ingredients do not penetrate healthy skin, indicating that consumers’ exposures would be minimal.”

Product reviews on the safe list of sunscreens
If you’re interested to find out how some of the products stack up, you might want to check out my reviews of them as follows:
Product review on Keys Soap Solar Rx Therapeutic Sunblock
Product review on Lavera SPF40 Neutral Sunblock
Product review on Badger Sunscreen SPF30
Product review on JASON Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas Mineral Based Physical Sunblock SPF 30+

My experience tells me that usually the higher the content of zinc oxide, the greasier the sunscreen. Even in the case of Keys Solar Rx Sunblock, I can never use a lot of it at one time. Which is why I’m not sure if I want to continue using it again though I quite like it.  Well, I’ll just have to see how it goes.

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Here’s this week’s best read from the gals at Total Beauty community:

Beauty’s Spot visits another Anastasia Brow Studio at Nordstroms. Check out the results.

Alison of the AdviceSisters Guide to Life, Success & Happiness Blog finds that UnWrinkle Powder by Peter Thomas Roth has true star power:

Come aboard The Makeup Divas and set sail for the Mac Naughty Nauticals review!

A Mom in Red High Heels has found another multi-tasking super star in the world of cosmetics. Find out what it is!

Beauty Tyrant finds comfort in a multi-tasking blush. Can Global Goddess’ Chai Cheek Color really do the trick?

Fabulous Over Forty reviews another Sonia Kashuk product. See if you should have it in your makeup bag!

Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog provides The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of growth factors in wrinkle creams.

Beauty Blogging Junkie test-drives Kate Hudson’s and David Babaii’s collaboration, David Babaii for WildAid Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner.

Beauty411 shares her new summer fragrance. Check it out!

Beauty Anonymous brings you Paul & Joe Fall 2008 Makeup Collection.

Jeanne of Periodic Style poses a tough question: lip gloss or nail polish?

Another one in The Life of A Ladybug’s Bronzers for Brown Girls series: MAC Bronzer in Refined Deeper Bronze and Loose Iridescent Powder in Golden Bronze!

The Jet Set Girls preview this fall’s Hottest Nail Color.

How to lighten your eyebrows by Talking Makeup.

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having another giveaway! This time it’s a basketful of Olay products valued at over $300!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings shares her first, but not to be her last, experience with Smashbox Cosmetics.

Enjoy your reads and have a great weekend!

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I received a sample of the Sexiest Musk by Prince Matchabelli and was struck by how much it smelled like the L’Occitane Almond Milk Concentrate.  Very sweet!

This is the latest fragrance from Prince Matchabelli for ladies and it is being positioned as the world’s sexiest fragrance.

Wearing Sexiest Musk is like slipping on an exquisite piece of lingerie.  Sexiest Musk is a long-lasting, warm oriental fragrance that dries down to a sensual combination of amber, musk and vanilla.

I don’t know about feeling sexy but I have to say the fragrance is pretty long-lasting.  I dabbed a little of it and the scent lasted me an entire day!  And what’s incredulous is, the 1.2oz Sexiest Musk by Prince Matchabelli Eau de Parfum Spray only cost US$9.99!

Also available is the new KING 2.6oz Exceptional Cologne Spray which is a refreshingly sexy scent for men that blends energizing citrus notes of bergamot with fresh outdoorsy notes of fir balsam and masculine dry down notes of moss and clean sandalwood. The price is equally unbeatable at US$14.99.

If you’re looking for a new scent which won’t burn a hole in your pocket, check these out at www.parfumsdecoeur.com.  However, do note that they only ship within United States for now.

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