Updates & Thanks

Hey guys, I've been gone for a few days. I want to start by saying that due to a lot of my fabulous readers, I cured my own toothache. Who needs a dentist when I got so many brilliant readers? The trick: gargling with salt and water. I did that after every meal, and my teeth are like new again. Also Clove oil is great for the pain. You guys are wonderful. Love you all.

Anyway, this week has been incredibly bittersweet. Two of my vision board dreams came true,  and then I lost someone incredibly dear to me. I"ll elaborate soon in another post. Anyway, because of the strength that I got from her, and because she loved beauty too, I will be back soon. Here are some sneak peeks of what we're doing:

Zoya's new Summer Collection-This is just one part of their gorgeous summer collection.

Lorac's new summer Collection-again this is just one part.

Telling you how I got rid of my acne/including before/after pics. The before pics may scare you, so get ready.

Life Lesson: Don't listen to what anyone says about another person. Make your own judgments and why.

How my "no meat" plan has been going...not so good.

Some drugstore products that I'm loving

A fun video that I shot with Target. 

A salon located in midtown Manhattan 

And I get this question alot, my five favorite natural conditioners for under $10.00

Also, I'm aware that my "older post" button doesn't work. I am working on it with my fabulous web designer Christina. 



Have a great weekend.


Hugs,

Milly

Target Beauty & Spill YOUR Beauty Secrets to Win

 I remember when I first moved to Manhattan. Although I was so happy I had finally moved there (always had wanted to live in the big city),  I was not thrilled, that there weren't any Target stores around. I would have to troop all the way to another borough, Queens (45 minute ride)to get my Target fix. Literally, I would plan my whole weekend around heading to Target. What can I say!  That store has absolutely everything I need, groceries, toys,electronics,  clothes, and my favorite: a massive array of quality beauty products.But, last year Target opened a store near me, and I am seriously there twice a week especially in the beauty aisles.  Some of my favorites from their new spring collections are:

Sonia Kashuk’s Small Treasure 4 piece brush Set

Have you seen Sonia Kashuk’s new Small treasure 4 piece Purse Brush Set. First of all, this set is unbelievably beautiful!!!! It includes smaller sizes of Sonia Kashuk’s brushes and to me her brushes are incredible quality for a very affordable price. My all time favorite eyeliner brush is her angled one. I use that one every day.  This set contains 4 of her brushes with gold trimmed wooden handles, and they are packaged inside a soft golden burlap pouch printed with tribal systems that mean Love,Strength, and unity. For $14.99, this set is a steal!!!

Sonia Kashuk Spring Awakenings Palette

The new Sonia Kashuk Spring Awakenings palette is gorgeous too and has everything a mom and neutral eye lover like myself could ask for. First of all instead of me looking through my makeup bag for stuff, I could just open up this palette, and create a whole look from eyes to cheeks to lips.  Everything is in this palette.The eyeshadows included, are a metallic bronze, a shimmer champagne, a matte tan, and matte brown. That shimmer champagne in the inner corner of the eye, really makes your eyes pop! There’s an eye intensifier which is basically a powder liner, a coral blush (coral blushes this season are huge for the spring!) and three very pretty lipsglosses that are nude, cocoa, and rosewood. Beautiful colors. The eyeshadow has great color payoff, and the lipglosses are all pretty sweet, and the best thing is this is only $20 bucks. Yippeee!

Jemma Kidd South Beach Blush

Jemma Kidd is another brand that Target carries, and her new South Beach blush for the spring really is gorgeous. This blush is more of a bronze with a slight hint of pink and a hint of  shimmer. If you’re looking for a sun-kissed natural glow with a slight flush, you need this in your life asap.

One thing you girls know I love is to share my secrets for staying pretty. Beauty secrets from others are always so much fun to learn. Like the last two days, Lil man has been up all night because he has his first cold.  We're talking runny nose, coughing, screaming. Poor lil guy! So in two days I've probably gotten three hours sleep, but when I do my makeup, instead of using black mascara or eyeliner, I whip out my, blue mascara and blue eyeliner which really bring out the whites to my eyes, and make  me look like I got a good eight hours rest. LOL (I don’t even remember the last time I got 8 hours sleep!) 

What's your favorite pretty secret? Target wants you to Spill your prettiest little secrets for the chance to win some sweet swag from Target Beauty www.target.com/beautyfans

What are your favorite Target beauty products?



Hugs,


Milly

Target Beauty is the premier destination for high-quality, low-priced beauty products. No matter your style—glamour goddess or laid-back casual cutie—Target Beauty has the essentials and the extras you need to keep your beauty routine fresh. From hair spritz to makeup glitz, you can save big on old favorites and new treats all in one convenient place.

 Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media”

 The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target”

 

The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder-Review

                             Kim and I yesterday.

I'm a beauty book lover. Any book that comes out pertaining to beauty,I've usually got my hands on it. So when I found out friend to the blog Kimberly Snyder was coming out with her new book The Beauty Detox Solution,  you know I had to get my hands on it ASAP. I loved the book, and not only that I read it twice, which is real hard when you have the worst toothache ever. But, honestly I couldn't put it down because so many things made sense, and were life changing. Also, she writes this book in such an easy to read manner that anyone can enjoy it. I hate books that are too technical. After about the second sentence my mind starts wandering, and  I start thinking about other things, but this book is such an easy read.

I got to hang out with Kim yesterday at a blogger event (she even made her glowing green smoothie) and she's actually making a a video for Beautylogic, answering our reader questions. I love this book because Kim doesn't ever say, "You have to stop eating this! "(Well except for dairy.)She believes that any meat eater, can follow her plan too. I love that. Anyway, here are some things I learned:

1) Kim really became interested in beauty and nutrition when she visited poor countries, and noticed that the people there looked a lot younger and healthier than the US. 
2) In order to lose weight and look your most beautiful, you must free up energy from digestion.
3)  Meat ages you. Why does it age you? Because meat is a very acidic substance,  and the energy that should be used for beautifying you, gets wasted on trying to digest meat.
4) Kim has a great chapter called "Beauty Foods", where she talks about foods that beautify you-this is definitely my favorite chapter.  But here's what she says about dairy "No one should eat dairy period." She has a lot of valid reasons, but the one that stood out the most is that dairy has casein in it which has a strong link to causing cancer. You can also get your calcium from plant sources like kale, cauliflower, collard greens and cucumber.
5)She also list a lot of beautifying fruits, which I'm very happy to say many of them I put in my green smoothie. But you must eat fruit on an empty stomach! Fruit goes in and out of your body in 25 minutes. If it has to sit on top of foods that take longer to digest, namely concentrated foods like starch and protein, it will ferment and acidify the whole meal. You never want that to happen because you want your body to be more alkaline. Alkaline bodies have more oxygen in their system and are more beautiful.
6) She talks about Beauty Food pairing,  foods you should and shouldn't eat together. It's based on the science of how foods digest optimally in your stomach. Once you start pairing certain foods together, you free up a lot of beauty energy from digestion which we can now use to rebuild our skin, hair and nails.
7) Here's something interesting, Gorillas and humans have about 94% of the same DNA. Gorilla's are considered the strongest animals on earth, and their diet is pretty much greens. 
8) I also love Kim's True Beauty Stories, where she talks about her clients, and how they have changed their beauty and their lives using her solutions.

I can talk about this book all day. There is so much more to learn. She also includes great easy recipes. This book  definitely changed my life.  I notice lately every time I've been about to eat something I think of The Beauty Detox Solution.

You can order it here.


Hugs,

Milly

Ouch & Help Milly!

Hey girls

In 21 years of living (stop looking at me that way!) I've never had a toothache. I have had one for the last three days and can't take it. The pain is excruciating. I don't know which is worst, this pain or childbirth. They are both neck and neck. And worst part is the oral surgeon can't see me for two weeks. WTH!! I have to live with this agonizing pain for two weeks. The only thing that has been making me smile lately is Lorac's new summer collection (which I plan to review as soon as my head isn't spinning ) and Zoya's new summer polishes. Unbelievable!

Anyway, just wanted to keep you updated on me because I haven't blogged in a few days.
I'll be back tomorrow (maybe) with my interview with Kim Snyder (or maybe Monday).
And I haven't done a giveaway in a while, but I've got a few AMAZING ONES coming soon.

Have any good recommendations for a toothache?
 

Hugs,

Milly

Kim Snyder The Beauty Detox Solution Is A Must Read!!

Hey guys, do you remember Kim Snyder. If you don't, Kim is a wonderful nutritionist who we met a few years back. You can watch the youtube I did with her around two years ago.



That interview really stands out in my mind because I was just learning how to use a film camera, and I screwed up like 20 times. First I forgot to turn the camera on, so we had to shoot again, then I forgot to turn the audio on, so we had to shoot again. It was horrible and so embarrassing, but through out it all, she was so wonderful and kind!! Anyway, since we did this interview, Kim has done so many amazing things.She's been the chef on many top grossing films, and has become the nutritionist to many A-list celebs like Drew Barrymore.  Kim's new book The Beauty Detox Solution is coming out  March 31. I had a chance to read it last week and even re-read it this weekend, and my full review is coming up on Friday. The reason it will be up on Friday is because I'm interviewing Kim on Thursday but let me just say this book has CHANGED MY LIFE.

My mom who is a vegetarian and has been for over ten years has been trying to get me to stop eating meat for years. All it took was for me to read Kim's book and this weekend, I didn't want to even touch meat.  Do you know how hard it is for a  girl who has been eating meat forever to not touch the stuff especially since I still cook meat for hubby? But armed with facts from this book, I really didn't even crave it so much.

You can pre-order Kim's book  here.

Also check out Kim's blog when you can here. 

Follow Kim's twitter here. 
 
FYI: Kim's hair is amazing. She loves coconut oil too!

If you want me to ask Kim any questions, let me know, as I'll be meeting with her on Thursday. And full review of book coming on Friday.

Update: The book review is here


Hugs,

Milly

Spa Merge Organic Plant Stem Cell Facial $50 During Spa Week

One thing I try not to scrimp on is my facials. I try to get one once every two months. If you notice, I haven’t reviewed a facial in some time because well I haven’t been loving the ones I’ve been getting and to answer your questions, yes a lot of them are provided to me gratis because I am part of the media, but you know my policy, if I don’t like it, I don’t post it. However, Spa Merge recently invited me to try their new Plant Stem Cell Facial which will be available during spa week for $50.00, regular price $175.00 and this facial was definitely worth writing about. The spa itself is beautiful, and located in a prime location. When I walked in, I was led to a relaxation room where I was given a delish cup of coffee, and told to wait for my esthetician.

I was then introduced to Mariana or as I like to call her “Hands of Gold.” First she began by explaining to me what the purpose of the facial was. She told me the facial was from the organic company Naturopathica, and the idea of the facial was to stimulate new growth, and slow cellular aging.  (You girls know how I feel about aging!!!!) She then began working her magic. First, she exfoliated my skin with an enzyme exfoliator while using the steamer. The steamer is actually what activates the enzyme. She then did a facial massage with essential oils to bring everything to the surface. I would pay full price for that massage! That woman's hands were unbelievable.  Then she did a very gentle extraction. I so dread extractions! But,Mariana’s extractions were so gentle, I barely felt them.  Then she used a ultrasonic machine all over my face to help the penetration of the ingredients.After the facial, I definitely noticed a difference in my skin, but when I came home, and hubby said “you are glowing” I knew Mariana’s had worked some serious magic. (I love my husband, but the man notices nothing. I once colored my hair from  black to red, and he noticed a week later!)The facial was beyond amazing, and believe me, I’m one discerning person when it comes to facials. This facial will be $50.00 during Spa Week. If you live in the tristate area, I highly recommend you get it.

Spa Merge

102 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 - (646) 484-4104
Open Weekdays 9am-8pm; Sat 9am-7pm; Sun 10am-6pm

Agadir Hair Moisture Masque

Remember when I went to the International Beauty Show two weeks ago, and the company Agadir asked me to be a hair model. Well after I was done, the company gifted me their new  Agadir Moisture Masque to try out. I finally got a chance to try this product and here’s the deets on  it. First of all, when I first grabbed some of this masque, I noticed it was incredibly thick. It was so thick that I really thought it would weigh my hair down. I was a little nervous about that, but since I’m a guinea pig for you guys, I kept the masque on anyway. After five minutes, I then washed it out and began styling my hair. This mask contains  argan oil, keratin, vitamin e,  and it also contain silicones. So if you're against silicones this may not be for you. I also noticed that  argan oil was kind of down on the list of ingredients. I thought that was a little strange considering this is supposed to be an argan oil masque. Anyway, after trying the mask, my hair was shiny, and it was also very bouncy, and full.   I was kind of shocked that it wasn’t weighed down because the masque was so thick, but it wasn’t at all. This masque also claims that your hair will dry 40% faster and I felt that my hair did dry much quicker than normal.  Honestly I loved the results my hair was left with, however, they really need to lay off the fragrance! This stuff is way too perfumey and after a while, the scent annoyed the heck out of me.

Hugs ,

Milly

Guest Post Dr. Murad: What can I do to look 21 Forever?

So I recently asked friend to the blog, famed dermatologist, and founder of Murad Skincare, Dr. Murad, "What can I do to stay looking 21 forever?"

Don't look at me that way. It's a valid question.

Here was his answer...

"Wouldn’t looking 21 forever be wonderful? If only it was scientifically possible! The good news is that there are easy steps that anyone can take to help us look and feel younger than we do today. 

One of the key barometers of health and wellness is the ability of our cells to hold water. As we age and our bodies experience free radical damage from a variety of sources, our cell membranes become more porous, meaning that our cells begin to lose their ability to retain water the way younger cells do, giving skin more of that dry, wrinkled, sallowed look.

Based on data I have gathered after seeing tens of thousands of patients, we now know that we can improve cellular water, helping us to look and feel younger, through a multidisciplinary approach that I call Inclusive Health.

Inclusive Health optimizes the health of the whole person, beginning at the cellular level through a 3-prong approach that focuses on Topical Care, to protect and reinforce the body’s barrier, Internal Care, nutritional guidance and dietary supplementation to build strong cells, and Emotional Self-Care, to reduce cell damaging stress.

Here are some easy things you can do right away to help you look and feel closer to 21 through an Inclusive Health Approach:

•Add more colorful raw fruits and vegetables into your daily diet. By consuming fruits that contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, you’ll find more energy and minimize the risk of disease. Pomegranates, the most powerful of them all, help to boost the body’s natural sunscreen level while building a stronger immune system.

•Take your ordinary approach to skin care to the next level. Sun damage is just as harmful in the winter as it is during the warmer months, so make sure you apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily that also contains anitoxidants, anti-inflammatories and hydrators to help build your skin’s barrier function. 

•Make time for you.  Cultural Stress is a major factor in the erosion of health and happiness in the modern world. We’re now “logged-on” 24/7 which makes us all increasingly disconnected from real human connection. This lack of time drives us to make poor choices, including eating poorly and starving our most important relationships, which in severe cases, can eventually lead to more severe health problems including sleeping difficulty, depression and anxiety. To combat Cultural Stress, find time to relax, decompress and do the things you love. Remember - putting yourself first is the best line of defense against Cultural Stress.

Follow these very simple, yet extremely effective tips to help make your 21^st year, and every year following, the BEST possible.

Thanks Doc!

FYI, Murad just came out with a whole new skin care system called Hydro-dynamic. He says it includes the most hydrating moisturizer he's ever created and it will NOT leave your face greasy.

 

I'll have to look into that.

I'm so depressed I can't stay looking 21 forever.

booo hoo

Hugs,

Milly

Laura Geller Blush N-Brighten Baked Cheek Color-Apricot Berry

Words can't describe how fabulous Laura Geller's Blush N Brighten in Apricot Berry is! I received this at the QVC event I blogged about last week, and this was the blush I had on this whole weekend. The best way to describe this stunning shade is a mix of gorgeous gold, coral, berry and apricot. Sounds insane! But seriously this blush is all that and a bag of chips!! (Do people still say that?) Anyway, It has a tad bit of shimmer, but it's not bad at all. It just adds to the  warm glow that this gives your face. You must apply this with a light hand, because honestly this stuff is no joke. When I first applied, I was rushing to take Lil Man to a playdate and he was screaming bloody murder because I had him in his stroller (and he hates being in his stroller if we aren't moving). So I was rushing, and I  grabbed my blush brush applied this super quickly and with a heavy hand, and it was wayyyyyyy too much. I looked like I had rosacea! I had to wash my face and reapply, and once I applied with a lighter hand, this color just blended so beautifully with my tan skin and gave me a coral golden glow.  I'm so obsessed with the formulation of this blush. It applies like silk and it also contains antioxidants like white tea and vitamins for the skin.I also love this because you need so little of this product, that it will last a long time. Click to enlarge:

Also, during the playdate, I was running with Lil Man, my face was rubbing against the mat (life of a mom) and this blush was still going strong. I love the longevity of this. I  highly recommend this especially if you are a medium to dark complexion. This is perfect for the spring!

Nordstrom Spring Beauty Trends

                                Cheri Botiz (Nordstrom National Beauty & Fragrance Director)


Hey guys, It's the first official day of Spring, although if you're in NYC, you really can't tell. The weather is kind of crappy today. But anyway, one of the reasons I love Spring, besides the warmer weather, is because of the new spring makeup and beauty trends. Spring makeup and beauty trends are always so much brighter than Winter! It just makes me happy!  Nordstrom recently invited Beautylogic to their Spring Beauty Trends event. We got to sit with some of the biggest names in beauty from Cheri Botiz (Nordstrom National Beauty & Fragrance Director), Ricky Wilson (Celebrity makeup artist for Dior),  Rick DiCecca (Estée Lauder Global Makeup Stylist),  Deborah Lippmann (Celebrity Manicurist and Creator of Deborah Lippman Nails) and Jerry Johnson (Laura Mercier Celebrity Makeup Artist). We were also introduced to new programs that will only be available at Nordstrom. First let's get to the spring Beauty Trends. For the spring, you'll find:

1) Bright Lips-We're talking fiery reds, hot pinks, bright corals, make those lips POP!

Ricky Wilson said Dior is launching their newest lipsticks Dior Addict which are  44 new  bright not all light shades. He says they are creamy, and stay on really well. His favorite color in the collection is called Fashion which is a watermelon color. Jerry Johnson of  Laura Mercier  says that they make a product called stick glosses which is a combination of lip balm, lip gloss, and lip color all in one. He says it wears like a  lipstick but shines like a gloss so very  bright reds will look a little softer. His favorite shade is Poppy apparently this is Paris Hilton's favorite too. So if you're not really into lipstick, this may me a good alternative.  Ricky Wilson also added if wearing lipstick, make sure you do your lips twice a day. Don't just apply lipstick once a day and think it's supposed to look fabulous for the whole day, it won't. Reapply!



2) Iridescent Eyes. It's all about iridescent metallic eyes this season. Jerry Johnson of Laura Mercier says that every woman no matter what age can wear iridescent.  Ricky Wilson says anything in moderation is OK. Balancing your textures is going to give you the best look. Don't use all mattes.It will makes you look like a desert.

3) Bold Nails! Deborah Lippman who did Anne Hathaway's nails during the Oscars, and Lady Gaga's nails for her new video, says it's all about glitter and bold colors. She loves glitter. For the spring, she's releasing a new color called Yellow Brick Road. It's a yellow with a jelly finish, not opaque, not quite sheer. Her other colors for spring are Naked, a nude color, and Glitter In The Air,  which is a sheer blue, with pink and silver lilac glitter in it. Also, Girls Just Want to Have Fun is her new coral color,  and I Know What Boys Like, is a  slightly edgier blue, very creamy, very rich periwinkle.

4)Bright Fresh scents-  Fresh fruity floral with musk undertones for spring seasons. My personal fave was Marc Jacobs Daisy.

Nordstrom Programs


Also, Nordstrom is now  offering trend shows to its consumers. It's where they have a panel of experts talk about the latest trends  and where they will also showcase  Nordstrom exclusive products. Customers get gifts with purchase. Follow Nordstrom Facebook for details on when the next trend show is happening!

Nordstrom also  offers complimentary beauty stylists too. This expert in beauty, and fragrance will find what's perfect for you. To schedule an appointment with a Beauty Stylist, simply call your nearest Nordstrom or 1.800.7beauty to get connected.

Also Nordstrom has a great sample program going on now exclusive to Twitter @nordstrombeauty and Facebook. On Fridays on Twitter and Facebook, they will announce a sample that they will be giving away on Saturday. Then on Saturday all you have to do is go to Nordstrom and request the sample. Easy 1,2,3

Last but not least, exclusive to Nordstrom is the new Clarisonic Mia in tangerine. You girls know how I feel about my Clarisonic. If it was a choice between Mr. Milly and a Clarisonic Mia on a deserted island, I might have to think about that one for a few moments. lol, J/k. But I do love my Clarisonic Mia and I'm loving the new spring tangerine color exclusively at Nordstroms.

What are your thoughts on these spring trends?

Will you be bold, and do a bright lip?

Do you love that new Clarisonic Mia?

Hugs,

Milly