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My New Obsession: tarte Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss

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After reading about tarte founder and CEO Maureen Kelly in the March 2008 issue of Oprah magazine, I am officially a tarte cosmetics fan. The woman is truly an inspiration, working towards a psychology Ph.D. while starting her cosmetics company, losing her first husband in 9/11, and prevailing to be the head of a very successful company today.

With that said, I am loving tarte Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss ($21.00, tarte.com). Here’s why:

A plethora of antioxidants

tarte Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss contains a number of potent antioxidants, including the t5 super fruit complex™, with goji berry, açai berry, maracuja, acerola, and pomegranate.  When added to antioxidant vitamin C, tarte Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss really packs a powerful antioxidant punch.

Hydrating, tinted, and minty

Despite the fruity ingredients, tarte Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss contains peppermint oil and has a peppermint fragrance, which many women find pleasant (hence why C.O. Bigelow Mint-Scented Lip Gloss is such a hit at Bath and Body Works).  tarte Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss is also lightly tinted from mineral-based pigments, and very hydrating due to its shea butter content.

Benefits Sambazon’s Sustainable Acai Project (SAP)

According to the tarte Cosmetics website:

“With the purchase of every tarte double dose berry boost & gloss, you’ll be helping to preserve the Amazon Rainforest through forest conservation, improved living conditions and educational opportunities for communities in Brazil. We’re supporting Sambazon’s Sustainable Acai Project (SAP), a member of the Organic Trade Association and the Fair Trade Federation.”

For more on the Sambazon Sustainable Acai Project, please click here.

Overall:  I love it!

With antioxidants, hydrating shea butter, mineral-based pigments, an inspiring founder, and benefits to charity, I am truly loving tarte Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss!  Now, if only it contained sunscreen and was a little cheaper…!

Product Rating:  8/10  (High concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3.  New technology: 3/3.  Value for the money: 2/3.  Sunscreen: 0/1).

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March 23rd, 2008 Posted by futurederm | Anti-Aging Treatments, Antioxidant Treatments, Best Products, Best Products, Natural Products, Product Reviews, Skin-Benefitting Cosmetics | no comments

Product Review: Jillian Dempsey for AVON Horizon Blush

Horizon Blush

Photo courtesy Avon.com

I normally don’t review cosmetics. But when someone recently asked if I’d be willing to try out Jillian Dempsey for AVON Horizon Blush ($7.99, Avon.com) I jumped at the chance. Surely a woman who is that beautiful, a make-up artist, and married to McDreamy would know how to make a good blush! :-) So here’s my two cents…

A great assortment of colors

The blush is called “horizon” because it goes from darker to lighter shades of the same hue, like the horizon. I tried Pink Horizon, and the darker pink is a bit too much for daytime on my cheeks. It does make a dramatic statement for evening, however, particularly when I use the darker side for “contouring” and the lighter for “highlighting”. :-) Either sweeping the colors from dark to light pink, or just using the light pink looks great anytime too!

Makes cheeks look smoother

The main ingredient in Jillian Dempsey for AVON Horizon Blush is talc. It is the softest mineral, and is often used in oil-absorbing cosmetics. Although talc has been speculated to cause skin cancer in the past, this is because older forms of talc contained potentially carcinogenic asbestiform amphibole fibers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers non-asbestiform talc to be Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use in cosmetics.

Mica, the ingredient in second-highest concentration in the product, is used to create a bit of shine or sheen. Because the oil-absorbing talc and light-reflecting mica are only applied to the cheeks, the overall effect is a smoother skin appearance.

Don’t forget to blend…or get a new brush to go with it!

My least favorite part of the product is the brush. It’s a skinny little brush that makes concentrated spots on your cheeks, rather than evenly distributing the color. After using the brush, I actually have to rub my face a bit to spread the color around. A better option is to use a different brush with this blush altogether. I have been doing that for the past week, and it’s been working a lot better.

Avon?! I thought Jillian Dempsey worked for Delux Beauty…

She did, but Delux Beauty doesn’t exist anymore. According to a Spring 2007 press release for AVON, Jillian Dempsey said, “Avon was the only beauty brand in my house when I was growing up. I’ve always known it was a global beauty leader…As a makeup artist, I am passionate about helping women recognize their own beauty, and so it’s an honor to collaborate with Avon and embrace their philosophy that every woman can have great style.” She’s doing well with Jillian Dempsey for AVON Horizon Blush!

Overall opinion…

I love the blush. I would recommend switching out the brush that is included, though, unless you’re more skilled at putting on blush (which may very well be the case!) :-)

Ingredients in Jillian Dempsey for AVON Horizon Blush

TALC
MICA
ZINC STEARATE
DIMETHICONE
METHYLPARABEN
PROPYLPARABEN
MAY CONTAIN:

RED 28 LAKE
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
IRON OXIDES
RED 7 LAKE
MANGANESE VIOLET

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March 7th, 2008 Posted by futurederm | Skin-Benefitting Cosmetics | 2 comments