Skip to content

Posts from the ‘Skin’ Category

Jan 24

“Dr Hauschka’s Volume Mascara”

Makeup by Regina Harris - SerafinoSays.comMakeup by: Regina Harris

 

Guys and Dolls….. she’s back! The Skin Care Guru  is going to share another one of her products reviews but this time she has dove beyond the comforts of a skincare regime.  We are excited to be witness to the evolution of  “The Skin Care Guru”and what better do so than with a tube of makeup.

Written by: The Skin Care Guru

So.  You’re probably wondering why TSCG is writing a review on mascara.  Mascara isn’t a skin care item, its a beauty product!  (Then again, I’m assuming that you’re putting that much thought into this whole dealie, which in fact is unlikely to be the case….anyway.)  Yes, its true, mascara isn’t a skin care item.  BUT if you’re allergic to your mascara, or sensitive to it, or it runs and stains the skin around your eyes, causing you to vigorously rub it off, it becomes a skin care issue.  Why?  The skin around your eyes is one of the first areas to lose elasticity, so chronic puffing, pulling, stretching, and other no-no’s are likely to accelerate signs of aging.

Does that sound like I’m reaching for an excuse?  OK, maybe, because like most women I’d rather stroll out naked than without mascara.  However, I’m wildly sensitive to any number of ingredients and thus prone to redness, puffing, itching, etc.  After one particularly nasty reaction that left me looking like I had parasites invading my eyelids, I turned to mineral mascara, which seemed like a dream come true.  No parabens!  No phlatlates!  Then, my mineral mascara of choice was discontinued.  After sitting shiva for a week, I started an epic search for its replacement.Dr Hauschka's Volume Mascara

Last week, I received a tube of Dr. Hauschka’s Volume Mascara.  Every granola-eater knows Dr. Hauschka, one of the most venerable organic skin care lines.  But mascara?   Huh.

PACKAGING:  Plain black tube in a nice, normal size.  When did mascara packaging start looking like something better kept discreetly in a bedside drawer??

BRUSH:  Medium density spooly, no taper.  Fibrous.

CONSISTENCY:  Semi-wet.  Not so wet that your lashes stick together, though, instead, it goes on like silk without the downsides of a wet product.  Pretty much the ideal;  allows the user to brush on several layers quickly without snags.

CLUMP FACTOR:  Zero.  I mean ZERO.  As in none.  Kind of amazingly none, given that it does actually give your lashes some heft.  (See below.)

COVERAGE:  Medium.  One or two swipes looks fairly natural, three or four starts to look dramatic.  But still without a single clump, and even better, without the buildup at the tip of the lash that’s so common (and icky looking.)  So while the drama factor climbs, the undesirable stick-lash look is never a risk.

SMUDGE FACTOR:  Medium-high.  This was really my only gripe;  for my day-long mascara, I do expect staying power, and staying power that I don’t have to think about, as I am totally unlikely to look in the mirror between 7:30 a.m. and the end of the work day.  (Who wants to see herself in flourescent bathroom lights??)  At day end, I did find smudges under my eyes three days out of five, though not huge raccoon smudges.

Conclusion?  I would absolutely buy this mascara again.  Need to experiment a bit with smudge control, but love the effect, love the lack of clumps.

Love this review? Make sure to click here for “The Skin Care Guru’s” review on MenScience Facial Tone Enhancer.

“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

Dec 20

“MenScience Facial Tone Enhancer”

Facial Tone Enhancer - SerafinoSays.com

Did you ever catch yourself glaring at the woman standing in line while you’re mesmerized on how stunning her skin looks?  Did you desperately want to ask her what magical cream she uses?  Does she use a toner?  Does she exfoliate?  Does she use bar soap or bottle soap?  Questions are swimming around in your mind.  Just about then the lady behind you in line, not so subtlety, nudges you with her shopping cart.

Ladies and gentlemen, we know just that type of women.  And better yet, she is going to share her secrets and review women & mens skin care products while you relax in the comfort of your chair.  SerafinoSays is proud to introduce to you; The Skin Care Guru!

Written by: The Skin Care Guru

Strangers stop me on the street to ask me about my skin.  Not sure if its because my skin is so amazing, or just improbable for my age.  (I’ll take the former, thank you very much.)  Some suspect expert makeup.  Some suspect unfair gene-allotment.  Some suspect the truth, slavish obsession with skincare.  My obsession began EARLY, because I have KP, and growing up, I looked like Red beard, thanks to having KP not just on the backs of my arms and tops of my thighs, but also on the sides of my face and upper lip. (Yikes.)  Dermatologist?  Big yawn on the home front.  So I used my babysitting money to experiment with exfoliating scrubs, moisturizers….and voila, a lifelong habit was born.

This time of year, my days are planned with military precision.  Coffee, gym, work, cocktail party, cocktail party, cocktail party, crash.  (Yes of course I diligently take of my makeup prior to ‘crash’.)  Is there any time in between ‘work’ and ‘cocktail party #1′ for a clothing change and full-on glamazoning?  NO.  And by the end of the work day, we can all use a bit of glamazoning.  The good news is, with a few key products, a bit can take you out the door looking like 1) you got a great night’s sleep the night before and 2) you had plenty of time to re-do your makeup before you ran out the office door, change of pumps in hand.

I am looking awfully pale these days, so I was uber-happy when the Facial Tone Enhancer from Menscience showed up on my desk.  As a product designed for men, it is packed with skincare ingredients, and designed to put directly on bare skin.  OR perfect for end of day, when one’s makeup has worn off, one’s skin has dried out, and one urgently needs a good glow.  Off to the testing lab.  Er, bathroom.

Packaging:  Tube with fully detachable top.
Texture:  Watery.  Careful!!  Because the product is packaged in a tube, I was expecting a gel, and it really is as thin as water.
Color:  Glow-y bronze.
Coverage factor:  Low.
Key ingredients:  CoQ10, Peptides, Hyalauronic Acid, Squalene, Green Tea, Vitamin A.  In other words, a full lineup of what you’re looking for to firm, plump, moisturize, and increase skin density while protecting from environmental stress.  Always good things to put on your face!

I dabbed a bit across my nose and cheekbones, and looked a bit like I had come back from a weekend away.  Nice!  I am going to try this under mineral powder on bare skin, and use it all over my face and neck.  It absorbs quickly, and is sheer enough that there is no risk of looking like George Hamilton.  Why not let my whole face take advantage of this one-step wonder?

“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

 

Nov 20

“Popeye Loves Spinach And So Should You”

Written by: Kristan Serafino

At SerafinoSays we don’t make it a practice to re-post material, but we just thought this one was worth sharing again…

“I’m strong to the finsh, because I eat my spinch! I’m Popeye the Sailor man!”  Yes, 80 years later and Popeye never looked better.  Of course we all know Popeye attributes his abundance of muscles to a healthy diet of spinach.  But, what Popeye didn’t tell you is spinach is chock full of nutrients and vitamins to improve your hair and skin.  As Popeye would say, “I ain’t no physcikisk, but I knows what matters!”

Fortunately Popeye used his fame to make a positive influence on the American diet and therefore the health of Americans.  Let me explain; The popularity of Popeye during the 1930′s & 1940′s helped boost spinach sales by nearly 35%.  That’s astonishing!  There was a direct correlation between  Popeye’s gain in popularity and increased consumption of the leafy vegetable.  Then again in the early 1980′s there was a resurgence of spinach sales after the release of the live-action film staring Robin Williams.  This character created for comic strips by the Fleischer brothers, Max and Dave, was so persuasive that the spinach-growing community of Crystal City, Texas, erected a statue of the Popeye in recognition of his positive effects on the spinach industry.

But WHAT does this mean for our Skin & Hair?

Spinach contains a very high nutritional value and is extremely rich in antioxidants, especially when prepared fresh, steamed, or quickly boiled.  It is a rich source of vitamin A (and especially high in lutein that improves skin elasticity and hydration), vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, manganese, folate, betaine, iron, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids, iron and calcium.   Collectively these nutritional properties promote healthy hair and skin.  A single serving of Popeye’s favorite meal will inevitably improve more than you muscles.

“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

Jun 22

3 Comments

“Best Sunblock For Your Skin And Hair”

Written by: Kristan Serafino

If you have not noticed from my earlier posts, I am a HUGE advocate of SUNSCREEN!  Growing up in South Florida, my early years were spent looking like a local girl from Impanema.  Consequently, I preface this post with the admission; “do as I say, not as I did!”

It was not until the semblance of my first wrinkle around the eyes that it occurred I no longer have the skin elasticity of a baby’s butt.  Geeez, just another of a growing line of beauty deviations while growing up I was confident I was impervious to such as graying hair, weight challenges, cellulite, and surrendering to gravity in certain areas.  To make matters worse, I would constantly study my new wrinkles under a high intensity lamp in a magnifying mirror thereby making the wrinkles appear like a topographic map of the Grand Canyon.If I was going to SLOW down the wrinkle process it would take immediate and drastic measures.  First, substitute my generous lathering of baby oil with a quality sunscreen; second, remorsefully destroy the customized tin foil cardboard that I would strategically position around my neck to bounce the perfect sunlight on my face.

Seriously… exceedingly more important than my vanity, was my realization that I wanted to take steps to decrease the risk of skin cancer.

This post is certainly not meant to harp on the morbid realities of a childhood spent obsessed with carefree tanning, but more of a seasonal wake-up call to children and parents of sun worshipers.  What better way to deliver a serious message than share hard core facts from the American Cancer Society.  Then, true to the philosophy of  SerafinoSays, if a problem is presented then I also want to provide a solution.  So, I will offer a few of my favorite products to help protect your body from those “Bad UV Rays”.

The Facts: According to the American Cancer Society, “Sunburns are thought to increase your risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. But UV exposure can raise skin cancer risk even without causing sunburn.

Furthermore: “Sunscreen is a product that you apply to your skin for protection against the sun’s UV rays. But it’s important to know that sunscreen does not provide total protection against all UV rays. Even with proper sunscreen use, some rays get through, which is why using other forms of sun protection, is also important.”

Now, I am NOT saying don’t expose yourself to the sun and stay inside an imperviable shell like a hermit.  I am “Just Sayin’” ladies of all ages (I’m also preaching to the young sun goddesses), wear sun block on your face, eyes, body and hair.  Yes, I said “hair”!  Here are a few of my favorite sunscreen mechanisms that will still allow you fun in the summer sun, but block the your body from harmful UV rays.

Here are a few of my favorite sunscreen mechanisms that will still allow you fun in the summer sun, but block your body from the harmful UV rays…. Read more

Apr 25

“Freckles”

Written by: Erica Hungerford

I love my freckles, but that is something I have had to grow into.  They don’t cover my entire face like most cases, but instead they are noticeably concentrated on my nose, cheeks, and a little bit of my forehead.  The little spots are actually one of the first things people point out to me.  They would say “you have freckles” to which I would respond “yes….?”

At first people mentioned it to state a matter of fact because it was the first thing that came into their mind when they saw my face.  But within the last couple years the comments have become more and more complimentary.  The fact is freckles are in!  And if you got them, now is the time to flaunt them.  I have developed a couple techniques that I use on a daily basis to best show off my freckles.

I have been using Clinique Perfectly Real Compact powder foundation for years because once I found my perfect shade I stuck with it.  Don’t use a heavy concealer or liquid foundation over a freckled area because they tend to look cakey over freckles.  Powder is better to use because you can manipulate it more.

Every morning I follow the same technique to insure my freckles get noticed.  I apply the Clinique powder all over my face with the powder puff, including the freckled area.  Then I use both hands to sweep from the bridge of my nose to my cheeks twice to remove excess powder from my freckles while still keeping the foundation evenly blended overall.  For a finishing touch when I am going out and about, I take a dab of Chanel’s Sheer Illuminating Fluid and run it along the bridge of my nose and a little on my cheekbones to create some definition.

With blush, however, it’s a different story.  The pigment in powdered blushes has a tendency to cover freckles.  I recently came across the most amazing product in Sephora.  It’s called the Josie Maran Aragan Color Stick in Petal Pink and it has become my new favorite product.  It’s a do-everything stick that can be used as blush or lipstick (it looks great when used as both!).  Freckles love this color stick because, like the foundation, it is a lot easier to manipulate than a powder blush, in my opinion.  I draw a line with the stick from the center of my cheek to the top of the cheekbone and then blend lightly with three fingers until the color melts into my skin.  Instead of covering or overpowering my freckles, it compliments them, giving my face a natural, rosy glow.

Please “Like” SerafinoSays on Facebook

Please “Follow” SerafinoSays on Twitter

“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

 

Feb 16

“Lela Rose Fall Fashion Show 2012″

Have you ever wondered how a model’s skin looks so radiant walking down the catwalk? SerafinoSays interviewed Bevin who was partnered with Arcona Skin Care backstage at the Lela Rose show.

Let’s hear how to create glowing runway skin:

The key to ARCONA’s effectiveness is its active ingredients and the way they are combined and processed. Cosmeceutical-grade ingredients, such as enzymes, antioxidants and amino acids, are formulated to work synergistically to deliver powerful results. These active ingredients are cold-processed at very low temperatures, in small batches, to keep them active and effective. Because cold processing is labor and time intensive, most skin care products, even the expensive ones that may begin with quality ingredients, are heatprocessed, which ultimately leaves nutrients lifeless and ineffective.

xxx

 

Dec 21

43 Comments

Daily – “Philosophy Giveaway”

TODAY… the 21st of December, is the 10th day of SerafinoSays 14 Days of Holiday Giveaway.  We will randomly select 3 Philosophy WINNERS. Two winners selected from the SerafinoSays Blog Contest and one more winners selected from the SerafinoSays Twitter Contest :  (Click here for Official Rules)

The Prizes:

(1) Winner will receive Philosophy  Amazing Grace Fragrance layering collection: Perfumed Shampoo, Bath & Shower Gel, Spray Fragrance & Perfumed Body Butter. (Value $80.00)

(1) Winner will receive Philosophy Parties for Hosting: Cherry Berry Crisp Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath and Body Lotion (Value $20.00)

(1) Winner will receive Philosophy The Gingerbread Girl:  Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath and Body Lotion (Value $20.00)

How to Win:

To increase your chances post on both  SerafinoSays and Twitter.  Remember, we are choosing winners from the Comment Section (2) & Twitter (1)!

  • The Blog:  Type the word Happy Holidays in  the “Comment” section.  The “Comment” section is located under the Date of each blog post.  Enter just once for each days contest.
  • Twitter: To enter the Twitter contest you will need to “FOLLOW” @SerafinoSays and @lovephilosophy Then copy and paste the following: @SerafinoSays I want to win the @lovephilosophy Holiday Giveaway! #SerafinoSaysPickMe
  • FaceBook:  “Like” SerafinoSays

 

***Grand Prize: Linea Pelle Hand Bag No special entry is required to register for the Grand Prize contest.  Each day’s names registered for the SerafinoSays Blog contest is automatically submitted once for the Grand Prize drawing.  Each day’s name registered for the SerafinoSays Twitter contest is automatically submitted once for the Grand Prize drawing.  The best chance to win the Grand Prize is for you to register for both contests each day.
 

“Like” SerafinoSays on Facebook

“Follow” SerafinoSays on Twitter

“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

Dec 21

1 Comment

Daily – “The Perfect EyeBrow”

 Written by Robyn Tamura

First, you’ll need to establish what look you want to achieve.  I recommend you begin by looking through a stack of magazines and pictures of different people to get an idea of what you’d like to try.  Keep in mind the contour of your face, as well as the natural angle of your brow.  Forcing a different shape onto your face doesn’t always work.  Eyebrows can vary from silver screen siren thin to thick 70s Brooke Shields and anywhere in between. Outside of that, there are common basics to best frame the eyes:

1. Take a pencil and hold it vertically, next to the side of your nose, the inner corner of your eye and up to your brow. If you have brow hair that grows past the pencil between the eyes, pluck!

2. Then place the pencil to the side of the nose and diagonally to the outer corner of your eye. Anything that falls farther out of the brow line, pluck! Try Maybelline Define – A – Brow Pencil

3. Then, look for any stray hairs that are growing around your brows. Pluck those as well.

4. Use a brow gel to brush the hairs in place.  Try Chanel Forme Sourcils Brow Shaper

Use this basic technique first before attempting to do more detailed techniques, such as plucking thin…then come back here to get more techniques for specific brow looks!  The right eyebrow shape complements your face while enhancing your eyes.

“Like” SerafinoSays on Facebook

“Follow” SerafinoSays on Twitter

“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

Dec 21

1 Comment

Daily – “Clinique Giveaway WINNER”

Congratulations to our Clinique Winner on Day 9 of the SerafinoSays 14 Days of Holiday Giveaways:  (Keep entering, 5 days left to WIN)

The Blog Winner:

Jennie Alderson Winner will receive Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay Mate Hydrator, Pore Refining Solution Correcting Serum & Chubby Stick (Value $143.00)

Susan Caruso Winner will receive Clinique Even Better Clinical, Repair Wear Laser Focus & Lid Smoothie Currant Affair (Value $115.00)

 

Twitter Winner:

@CoutureMonstre (1) Winner will receive Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2, Liquid Facial Soap Mild & Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion (Value $135.00)

* Please email Linsey@SerafinoSays.com with your mailing address.

*Winners are picked at random.

“Like” SerafinoSays on Facebook
“Follow” SerafinoSays on Twitter
“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

Dec 20

49 Comments

Daily – “Clinique Giveaway”

TODAY… the 20th of December, is the 9th day of SerafinoSays 14 Days of Holiday Giveaway.  We will randomly select 3 CLINIQUE WINNERS. Two winners selected from the SerafinoSays Blog Contest and one more winners selected from the SerafinoSays Twitter Contest :  (Click here for Official Rules)

The Prizes:

(1) Winner will receive Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay Mate Hydrator, Pore Refining Solution Correcting Serum & Chubby Stick (Value $143.00)

(1) Winner will receive Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2, Liquid Facial Soap Mild & Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion (Value $135.00)

(1) Winner will receive Clinique Even Better Clinical, Repair Wear Laser Focus & Lid Smoothie Currant Affair (Value $115.00)

 

How to Win:

To increase your chances post on both  SerafinoSays and Twitter.  Remember, we are choosing winners from the Comment Section (2) & Twitter (1)!

  • The Blog:  Type the word Happy Holidays in  the “Comment” section.  The “Comment” section is located under the Date of each blog post.  Enter just once for each days contest.
  • Twitter: To enter the Twitter contest you will need to “FOLLOW” @SerafinoSays and @Clinique_US Then copy and paste the following: @SerafinoSays I want to win the @Clinique_US Holiday Giveaway! #SerafinoSaysPickMe
  • FaceBook:  “Like” SerafinoSays

 

***Grand Prize: Linea Pelle Hand Bag No special entry is required to register for the Grand Prize contest.  Each day’s names registered for the SerafinoSays Blog contest is automatically submitted once for the Grand Prize drawing.  Each day’s name registered for the SerafinoSays Twitter contest is automatically submitted once for the Grand Prize drawing.  The best chance to win the Grand Prize is for you to register for both contests each day.
 

“Like” SerafinoSays on Facebook

“Follow” SerafinoSays on Twitter

“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino

Dec 20

2 Comments

Daily – “La Prairie WINNER”

Congratulations to our La Prairie Winner on Day 8 of the SerafinoSays 14 Days of Holiday Giveaways:  (Keep entering, 6 days left to WIN)

The Blog Winner:

Nancy Cohen is the Winner of the  La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Revitalizing Emulsion FACE • EYES • NECK & Advanced Marine Biology Eye Gel  (Value $240.00)

Twitter Winner:

@MsCinnamonKiss is the Winner of the  La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Revitalizing Emulsion FACE • EYES • NECK & Advanced Marine Biology Eye Gel (Value $240.00)

* Please email Linsey@SerafinoSays.com with your mailing address.

*Winners are picked at random.

“Like” SerafinoSays on Facebook
“Follow” SerafinoSays on Twitter
“True beauty isn’t about perfection. By liberating people to realize this simple fact, we help them see the real beauty within themselves.” Kristan Serafino
Page 1 of 212
Increase your website traffic with Attracta.com
Rimons twitter widget by Rimon Habib