Product Review: Clarisonic Pedi

The answer to smooth, silky feet has finally been answered by the Pedi Gods... The Clarisonic Pedi Sonic Foot Transformation

Just when I thought Clarisonic couldn’t top their facial devices (my absolute favorite device/ product in the entire universe), they come out with the must-have Clarisonic Pedi System. It is an absolute treat for the feet and makes a world of a difference on rough feet. Give your feet the transformation they need before flip-flop season is here. The Clarisonic Pedi device was designed for the most incredible at-home foot care regimen, on a professional level. The features for the Pedi are 3-speed settings, waterproof for in-shower or bathtub use, an adjustable timer, and a 2 year warranty. The sonic foot frequency   proves 10 times smoother feet than with manual buffing. When you buy the Pedi you’ll see that the system comes with a Pedi Balm, Pedi Boost, Pedi Buff, Smoothing Disc, and Wet/Dry Buffing Brush Head. Now how do use all of the contents to their utmost potential? My suggestion would be to use the regimen Clarisonic provides by following the daily Buff & Balm, and the twice weekly Intensive Smoothing Treatment.

I was a bit iffy about using the dry buff head, but it wasn’t harsh and you could see the dead skin being removed. I highly recommend the scrub and balm, the balm has a lovely scent to it. Using the Pedi I have seen great improvement to my feet, especially with calluses that I get from those damn high heels.

It’s been a few weeks since I purchased the Pedi System and so far I give it 5’s across the board. If you still need to buy gifts for your family and friends, the gift of sweet feet is one you just can’t beat!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Audrey Hepburn

Glitz & Glamour are words that come to mind when thinking of Audrey. This makeup was fab then and now. So for this Throwback Thursday I thought it would be fun to bring back this glittery, gorgeous look.

To get this look you'll need these key items:

1. NYX HD Eye Shadow Base
2. NYX Roll-On Shimmer- Nude
3. NYX Curve Liquid Liner
4. Crease Brush
5. Blending Brush
6. Sweet, pink lippy -NYX Vanilla Cream Pie
7. Taupe Shadow
8. Colorescience Mascara

Start out by applying the Eye Shadow Base, then roll-on the shimmer on the entire lid. Now take the taupe shadow and brush it on with the crease bush. The last step for this bold eye  is using the liquid liner. I prefer using the Curve liner because it fits perfectly in hand and the ergonomic design helps make lining much easier. Line your crease and your upper lash line with a wing tip. Take the blending brush and lightly sweep over the crease liner. Finish off with a generous amount of mascara and top off with NYX Butter Gloss in Vanilla Cream Pie on your lips. Great look for a GNO!

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. -Audrey Hepburn 

TUTORIAL TUESDAY: How to Cover and Treat Blemishes

blem·ish

ˈblemiSH/

noun

1.    1.

a small mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something.

                               

So what can we do to get rid of those awful, red, inflamed flaws on our face? Well first you must treat, then comes the covering up. Start off the treatment with probably the most obvious thing, washing your face, but what you wash your face with can make all the difference. A face wash with glycolic acid is best for blemishes. The reason for the glycolic acid is that it is anti-inflammatory and an anti-bacterial. Cleansing the skin is always crucial, so you can work with a clean canvas and treat any skin problem. Peter Thomas Roth has an awesome glycolic wash that i have been using for some time now and I can't get enough of it. Follow the wash with a serum that also has glycolic acid, and then apply your favorite moisturizer. A blemish is an inflammation on the skin and needs to be treated like any inflammation so you can't cover it up with makeup just yet. The next step helps tackle the swelling of the blemish to prepare your skin for the cover up; hold an ice cube over it and that will reduce the inflammation and redness. Next, grab your favorite concealer/camouflage(if you don't have one try the gloMinerals camouflage  that's my fave, see link below.) Once you have applied the camouflage  finish off with a few touches of translucent powder. Yellow color corrector is also a great product to use since it hides the redness extremely well. Best way to cover the blemish with the concealer is not just directly on it, but outwards all around with a brush or with your beautyblender. Blending is essential to getting the perfect cover. Finally, apply foundation and if in the process you take off some of the concealer, don’t fret just reapply with a light dab and again brush on a little powder. Last thing to aid in all your skin problems is to drink water and stay hydrated all day, water can work miracles.

Product Recommendations:

1. beautyblender

2. Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 3% Facial Wash 

3. Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel 

4. gloMinerals gloCamouflage    

5. Ben Nye Banana Powder                                   

MANI MONDAY: GOLD STUDDED by essie

WINNER WEDNESDAY!!! STYLING GIVEAWAY!

Mani Monday: Vinylux Bright Neon Nail Art

Items (links)  you'll need:
- Vinylux Black Pool
- Vinylux Lobster Roll
- Vinylux Bicycle Yellow 
- Vinylux Limeade
- Vinylux Tutti Frutti
- Vinylux Grape Gums
-Vinylux Seaside Party
-Triangle Sponges
-Nail Brush

Mani Monday: OPI Evil Eye Nail Art

Mani Monday!

   OPI Polishes needed: 

 Spring/Summer 2013 Euro Centrale Collection shades

• My Vampire is Buff
• Can't Find My Czechbook
• I Saw..You Saw..We Saw..Warsaw
• OY Another Polish Joke
• Eurso Euro 
• Alpine Snow (classic)

Tutorial Tuesday: How to Hide Dark Circles

We all tend to have the occasional sleepless night or our skin is just losing elasticity and gets thinner as we age. When the skin gets thinner, blood vessels show through making your under eye look tired, dull, and discolored. The number one product to hide the horrible darkness is concealer. Under eye concealer is a cosmetic bag must-have and a dark circles worst nightmare! 


 How to Hide Dark Circles

• WHO: you, the one walking around with those dark circles under your eyes
• WHAT: a yellow-based tone concealer, 2 shades lighter than your color, I like to use GloMinerals Under Eye Concealer Duo to get the perfect color for my skin tone. -- use a concealer brush to apply the concealer or my favorite tool your finger. (a finger works great because it gives off a light touch) Don't forget to seal the concealer with a dust of sheer yellow-toned powder; try the ever popular Ben Nye Banana Powder
• WHEN: dark circles take over your face and keep you from looking fresh and glam
• WHERE: apply concealer along the lower lashes into the inner corners of your eyes and hollows of your nose. 
• WHY: so you look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed all day! 

Product Recommendations:

1. GloMinerals Under Eye Concealer Duo

2.  Ben Nye Banana Powder

3. GloMinerals Brush- Camouflage/Concealer 

WINNER WEDNESDAY! Mama Mio Skin Tight Giveaway

TIP TUESDAY: Summer 2013 Color Trends

TIP TUESDAY:

Summer is almost over and the color trends will be changing soon. Fit some of the hottest colors of Summer 2013 into your makeup, nails, or clothes before the season comes to an end and Fall colors take over. 

THROWBACK THURSDAY: How to Get the Rita Hayworth Look!

It's Throwback Thursday and this week I will be highlighting the ever beautiful, femme fatale Rita Hayworth. In order to achieve such glamour there are a few steps that you will have to take. 

To get Rita's hair you will need some products and follow these steps:

Frizz taming cream or fluid, a finishing serum, and hot rollers. 

Her hair was always very tame and never a hair out of place, this is what the frizz cream will be great for, try Davines Momo Moisturizing Anti-Frizz Protective Fluid. The fluid will keep your hair soft and smooth for easy control. Next, you'll want to make a side part and when the hair is close to dry put your curls up in hot rollers. Take your hair down when the hot rollers are ready and carefully smooth the top part of your hair with a fine comb so the length is left wavy. Finish off with a light serum to keep fly aways in place, so that your hair is sure to be left neat and polished like Ms. Hayworth herself. My favorite finishing serum will always be Alfaparf Semi Di Lino Cristalli Liquid, it’s lightweight and leaves your hair perfectly shiny. 

Now that your hair is glamorous and ready it's time to get her sultry look with makeup! 

Rita's skin was always perfectly matte and powdered, NEVER caked on. A great way to get the flawless, matte look would be a mineral foundation, followed with a translucent setting powder (see product recommendations below). 

Eyes are extremely important when trying to nail the Rita Hayworth look. The "cat eye" and lashes are a must!  Prime the eye and apply eye shadow a shade lighter then skin tone before you apply the liner. The cat eye can be done with a bold, black liquid liner and a sweep of the brush to extend the line, or "tail". Now ladies, I’m not saying it's the simplest task, so you'll definitely need practice and patience to get the ideal cat eye! Personally, I use the NYX Curve liner because it is way easier to apply the line, since it sits so comfortably in hand (between us, I can’t use any other liner "/). 

The last step, the finishing touch is a perfect, vampy lipstick. A deep red or maroon will be just right for this look. Your femme fatale makeover is now complete and you have brought old, Hollywood glamour back to this era. Now get out there for a sexy and sophisticated night out on the town. Have fun, be confident, and make Rita proud! 

Product Recommendations:

1. Davines Momo Moisturizing Anti-Frizz Protective Fluid 

2. T3 Voluminous Hot Roller Set

3. Alfaparf Semi Di Lino Cristalli Liquid

4. GBS Mineral Liquid Powder Foundation SPF 15

5. NYX The Curve Liner - Black

6. GBS Luxury Matte Lipstick- Casablanca 

WINNER WEDNESDAY: Mama Mio Skin Tight Giveaway!

TUTORIAL TUESDAY: How To Get the Perfect Curl!

We're all in search of the perfect curl and here's an easy way to do it yourself (she cuts to the chase too, no fooling around.. which I LOVE!) : 




 Products( + links) I personally used to achieve the look:

• T3 SinglePass Whirl Wand 
• Davines Defining Texturizing Style Spray
• It's a 10 Miracle Finishing Hair Spray

Braids are all the Craze! Here's How To Get The Look

Wanna rock these Fishtail Braids?? It's super easy and so much fun to wear.



First things first, prime your hair before you start the braid with a texturizing spray, try Davines Defining Texturizing Style Spray. 
The best way to to use this product is to spray on roots and all over hair, comb through and then blow dry. 



Next, put some funk in your braids with POP Clip-In Color for some extra zing in your look. 

Finish off with a hairspray to give the braid extra hold and frizz control from these hot summer days; I personally love the Alterna Bamboo Anti-Humidity Hair Spray.   




Here's a cool tutorial on fishtail braids:

Fishtail Tutorial

European Pharmacy Favorites Part 1!

Bonjour! Buongiorno! Guten Tag! It’s European Pharmacy Month and with so many brands and products I just wanted to highlight a few of my absolute European faves in the upcoming days! Strolling into a pharmacy in France is probably one of my favorite activities to do. Displayed in the pharmacy are some of the best beauty products Europe has to offer. Luckily, you don’t have to travel very far to pamper yourself with Europe’s finest skincare, hair care and more. Lines such as Nuxe, Phyto, and Rene Furterer are just a click away from our website or around the corner at your local GBS store. So sit tight with your chair in the upright position while I take you around Europe and give you the scoop about some of my favorite products!

Klorane, a hair care line hailing from France has a product for every hair type. My favorite thing about the line is that every product is plant based, hypoallergenic and is known for their therapeutic benefits.

Klorane’s Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner with Mango Butter are fantastic! They smell great and are so beneficial to dehydrated hair by nourishing your strands and restructuring the hair shaft. Mango Butter is used for its high content of fatty acids and nourishing properties to fill in the cracks on the surface of your hair.

Whether you’re in Florida year round or trying to get through the summer with fabulous, frizz-free hair Klorane’s Papyrus Milk Leave-in is a must!  Apply 2-3 pumps to the length and ends of your towel-dried or dry hair and style as you normally would. The Milk coats and protects your hair from thermal attackers and the nasty, unwanted humidity. Plus, it gives your hair a nice shine and doesn’t weigh down your hair.

Ciao for now! Stay tuned for the next couple of days when I highlight the rest of my favorite European must-haves. 

Ardell Lashes Galore backstage at Dancing with the Stars!

Behind the scenes with Dancing with the Stars its quite obvious they're a little obsessed with Ardell's lashes, but who isn't?! Ardell is the ultimate choice for lash lovers everywhere to get the alluring beauty look! Lashes are a great option to emphasize any eye makeup and dress your face up for that special night out. 

EXCLUSIVE Butter London Royal Collection!

Get ready for the new launch of the Butter London Royal collection at GBS; we are one of the few stores who were lucky to get this fabulous set! The limited edition trio includes three colors that will make you feel like a queen: Pitter Patter, No More Waity, Katie, and Lilibet's Jubilee. The color purple has been known to be associated with power, royalty, and wealth. Pitter Patter was appropriately created for the butter London collection to celebrate Will and Kate's little arrival to the Royal Family joining the gorgeous opaque, No More Waity, Katie. My favorite aspect of this collection is that Lilibet's Jubilee is a retired color from the line and is only available in the set! Pitter Patter and No More Waity, Katie are available individually. Along with the rest of the butter London lacquers, these are of course free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP (phthalates), Camphor, and Formaldehyde resin. This set retails at $39 which is a great deal for 3 lovely lacquers. The exclusive Royals collection is fit for a queen... I mean, who doesn't want to feel like royalty? 

5 Tips for Luscious Lips

Get The Oscars 2013 Living Proof Look!

Living Proof stylist Chris McMillan says, “The key word is natural. She’ll be one of the only people there who is able to actually touch her hair. Jen’s Valentino gown was such a daring fashion choice, so we wanted her hair to make her feel comfortable. I created a look that would last the entire night, from the red carpet to when she presents.”

Click the Links to learn more about these amazing Living Proof products!!


1. Full Shampoo & Conditioner: Apply to wet hair. Lather. Rinse.

2. Prime Style Extender: Apply to wet hair and massage through for a lasting style with natural movement.

3. Using a large round brush, blow out the hair straight with a deep, side bang.

                                                                            4. Hold Flexible Hairspray: Apply to roots for height, and              

lightly spray the rest of the hair. 

Sara Happ Body Scrub

There is a scrub craze and it has Sara Happ written all over it! We all can't get enough of our favorite Sara Happ Lip Scrub and now there is a body scrub! The luxurious body scrub is extremely hydrating and not oily. It'll get your skin super-smooth without being so rough. The body scrub comes in Vanilla Bean (the lip scrubs top flavor). Exfoliate with this sugar crystal scrub so you  get rid of all the dead skin resulting in newborn, soft skin. The sugar crystals are huge and melt right in which is hard to come by. What I truly love about this scrub is that it doesn't leave a residue like most. If you haven't tried the Sara Happ line yet, your lips and body do not know what they're missing! This is defintely the perfect scrub for all skin types which will leave your skin glowing and craving that sweet, sweet Vanilla Bean Body Scrub. Go ahead and pamper yourself, Happy Scrubbing!

RAIN! RAIN! GO AWAY!! GOT FRIZZ?!

Hurricane season is coming up and seems like it's coming sooner than later. Rainy days does not have to mean bad hair days! The humidity and the rain dont mix well with hair that we know and the outcome is annoying, resistant frizz. Tame your frizz with Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Frizz Conditioner. This Alterna conditioner is extremely moisturizing and infuses each strand with intense hydration to tame split-ends and banish frizz. Follow with Davines Momo Fluid Moisturizing Anti-Frizz Protective for those with straight hair or curly and/or Davines Momo Serum Moisturizing Curl Enhancing Serum for those with curly locks. Just apply to towel-dried hair from roots to ends and blow dry to have your hair smooth, soft and frizz free. To finish and seal your hair cuticles use the Alterna Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Spray. This Anti-Humidity spray isn't sticky and repels humidity. These 4 products will help you stay frizz-free all day long no matter the stormy weather.

Colorscience Sunforgettable Mineral Powder SPF 50 Brush

 Colorscience's Sunforgettable is a high-performance skincare in a bring-everywhere-with-you retractable brush. Take this with you to the beach or the pool because it is very water-resistent. It shields your skin from the harsh damages of the sun and the environment. Not only will this handy brush keep you safe with it's SPF 50, it will also defend your skin against aging. Sunforgettable is not heavy at all! Its light-weight formula is easy to put on and not irritating. This is product is even safe for kids. It's such a convenient brush that I always carry it in my purse so I constantly keep my skin safe from the sun. Get your hands on this suntastic product this Memorial weekend and Summer!


Check out this feature of Colorscience's Sunforgettable in Vogue's June 2012 issue.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Overnight Hair Rescue

 The Alterna Overnight Hair Rescue saves hair, any kind of hair! I am more than impressed with this treatment. This one product will take care of the dreaded 3 D's of hair: dry, damaged, and dull. While softening and repairing the hair it will also protect your hair  Apply the hair rescue before going to bed from roots to ends. No need to worry about ruining your favorite sheets because this Rescue is not messy at all, so it won't stain or ruin your pillowcase. The Overnight Hair Rescue absorbs and moves easily through the hair thanks to it's lightweight formula. Unlike other treatments, it doesn't have that greasy, "silicony" feeling to it. When you wake up, shampoo it out and follow with conditioner, your hair will be left feeling like silk! Once your out of the shower you don't even need any styling products; it will leave your hair controlled, smoothed, bouncy and fabulous for the rest of the day.        
                                              

Tinsletown's Secret to a Perfect Pout | miami.com

Check out GBS The Beauty Store and Sara Happ featured on Miami.com

                                          Tinsletown's Secret to a Perfect Pout | miami.com

Repairing and Hydrating Hair Cocktail

 You MUST try this sensational hair treatment. It works for every hair type and best for damaged and dry hair. Take Davines NouNou Pak and about 1-2 pumps (depending on hair length) of Davines OI/Oil and mix them together. Apply to wet hair,  leave-in for 15-20 minutes and rinse. Use this cocktail once or twice a week and it  will surely have your hair feeling like a million bucks!

L'Oreal Mythic Oil

  This amazing new oil from L'Oreal has a deliciously sweet and light floral smell. The Mythic Oil is great for all hair types and leaves a shiny, glossy look. Your hair becomes tamed and supple with a lightweight feel. A little goes a long way with this product, one pump will do the trick. We at GBS cannot keep our hands off of this oil for a great finish for any style on dry or damp hair.

Sara Happ's The Lip Scrub and Lip Slip

 Scrub and slip right into Summer with a kissable-ready pout. The Lip Scrub and The Lip Slip by Sara Happ are the ultimate must-have duo for every girl’s handbag (your guys will secretly love it too). The Lip Scrub exfoliates to diminish fine lines, naturally plumps without the burn and softens those smackers; while The Lip Slip used right after, moisturizes and gives your lips a natural shine. Don’t worry about those sticky, greasy glosses any more ladies, cuz ya won’t find it here!  BTW… this tasty twosome will make you feel like you just inherited Angie’s lips and had a guilt-free dessert all in one shot . Find The Lip Scrub in Vanilla and Green Apple, The Lip Slip in gloss and the balm in a jar at GBS The Beauty Store.

Beauty Quickie:  Use The Lip Scrub and The Lip Slip by Sara Happ before applying your favorite hue of lip color…you’ll thank me later!

Get Jennifer Lawrence's Sexy Oscar Waves

We're still obsessing over Jennifer Lawrence's Oscar hair - big sexy waves, with volume AND shine. Here's how to get the look:

1. Apply L'anza Healing Style Design Mousse to damp hair. Blow dry 2-in sections with Olivia Garden's Nano Thermic Round Brush while turning the brush several times to add subtle roundness to the length.

2. Avoiding the top, take a 1-inch vertical section of dry hair and mist with Moroccan Oil's Luminous Styling Spray. Wrap the section around T3 Body Waver and hold for 5 seconds to set the curl. Release and repeat in the same direction until all sections are done.

3. Run fingers through hair to break up the "piecey-ness" and finish with the styling spray for added hold.