By Melissa Stephans

An Arcona-fan, Julia Roberts

Arcona is a brand that has long been on my beauty bucket list.  The name itself brings me comfort, thanks to the steady magazine coverage it’s earned throughout the years.  So, now that I’m stuck in L.A. (“Bitter, party of one” needs a plane ticket to NYC ASAP), I’m making great strides to experience places and products that really represent the city.

Arcona was created by a chemist who believed that quality ingredients could be combined and processed in a way that keeps the enzymes and antioxidants active and effective.  The company’s studio, which is in Santa Monica, has helped celebrities and civilians protect their skin from the daily abuse hurled at them from smog and sun.

The holistic skincare line boasts a hoard of celeb fans, including Julia Roberts.  In case you didn’t see Eat Pray Love, I will save you two hours and fifteen dollars:  Roberts goes to Italy for good food, India for spiritual growth, Bali for love…and, clearly, Arcona for beauty.  Since I want nothing short of movie star skin, I’ve decided to go to Arcona, too.  This is what I found:

“The Basic Five” is the way to go.  Arcona groups skincare into categories, each with five basic steps.  I used a variation of The Basic Five for problem skin:

Raspberry Acne Bar

Raspberry Acne Bar — I was a little terrified to use a cleansing bar on my face.  The idea that bacteria can sit and grow on it horrifies me, so I was pretty shocked that this worked so well.  It left my skin soft and it smelled yummy.  I made sure to let it air dry before closing the container.

Cranberry Gommage

Cranberry Gommage — Oh.  My. God.  There is no way to describe how fruity and fragrant this scrub is!  Seriously…I completely ignored the fact that this is not a mask, and just left it on for hours so I could smell as mouthwatering as this product.

AM Acne Lotion

AM Acne Lotion — This thin antibacterial serum is sticky and moist, but it really did the trick.  Unlike many acne lotions, it does not have a pungent odor.  Plus, it actually moisturized my skin while obliterating blemishes.

Raspberry Clarifying Pads

Raspberry Clarifying Pads — Loved these.  I carried them everywhere, and they didn’t leak once.  This product was one of my faves because it was not harsh at all.

Reozone 40

Reozone 40 — This SPF 40 sunscreen has a subtle tint mixed into its “whisper light” texture.  I’m happy to report that this did not leave my skin greasy!  Also, the tint was not too dark for my difficult-to-match skin tone.

Though you don’t have to invest in all of these products to make a difference in your skin (the ones here range from $32-$38 a piece), this combination did work brilliantly on mine.  Two people actually commented on how much better my skin has looked in the past month.  Luckily, you don’t have to live in La La Land to get the goods.

Arcona’s additive-free products are available online (www.arcona.com) and is newly available at www.Nordstrom.com.

Have you ever tried products from Arcona? What did you think?

By Melisa Stephans

Am I the only person in Los Angeles without fake breasts?  Possibly.

At times–usually during a night on the town–I notice the hoards of artificially enhanced women around me and begin to feel like a 12-year-old girl waiting to grow.  I  try to compensate in other ways–by having better style, makeup, and conversation than your average Angeleno.  Though I’ve fought the good fight, I’m officially worn out and have decided to get Falsies…

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

As in, Maybelline Falsies.  Every woman should know her assets and one of mine is my eyes.  Playing up the eyes is a great way to feel feminine, so I spent the last few days experimenting with mascaras.  I tried various brands, but the one mascara that rose above all others was Maybelline’s Falsies.  

Here’s why:  The formula provides volume without being goopy or fiberous.  The brush separates lashes evenly, while helping extend the length of each lash.  The mascara dries on lashes with a slight stiffness, but is not noticeable unless you touch your eyes–and most of us don’t walk around stroking our lashes.  My favorite quality about this product is that it’s able to stay on lashes and not run or smear…and it’s not even waterproof!

Since using Falsies, six people have commented on my lashes and how pretty and “fake” they look.  I guess that means I’m now just another impossibly beautiful Barbie-like creature roaming the city.  Okay, maybe not–but I have some damn good lashes to carry me through the day.

Maybelline The Falsies Volum’Express Mascara is available at amazon.com for $5 (or $8 at drugstores).

By Melissa Stephans

Kourtney Kardashian stocking up on L'Oreal's Elnett products

I’ve become so intrigued by the images of Kourtney Kardashian hoarding bottles of L’Oreal Elnett at her local drug store, that I wanted to see what this hairspray was all about.  I’ve heard a lot of positive reviews about Elnett, and, let’s be honest–there must be something damn good about this spray if one of the three Dashkateers is stockpiling it by the dozen.   I am not a huge fan of hairspray, since it usually feels heavy, sticky, or both (every time I buy a hairspray, I end up tossing it).  But I trust my Dash Dolls and decided to go for the gold, er, bottle.

The result?  I am hooked. The can may look like gold, but what’s inside is pretty priceless:  a formula that doesn’t leave a single strand feeling hard, gummy, or flakey.  My hair was soft and touchable, with no frizz in sight.  I knew I could trust Kourtney, and I’m guessing BATF’s giveaway winners are equally pleased.  I admit that the $14 price tag had me wondering why I was getting myself attached to such an extravagant drug store purchase; but then I heard a little voice in the back of my head say, “like, because you’re SO worth it.  Bible!”  (at least, that’s what I imagine a Kourtney L’Oreal-endorsing tweet would sound like).

Anyone else try the line? What do you think?

By Melissa Stephans

Audrina Patridge getting pampered at the Garnier launch event

Garnier recently held a party in Malibu to celebrate the launch of a bevy of new hair and skincare products. The event, which drew beauty writers and bloggers—including moi—also drew a pretty flawless looking Audrina Patridge.  Her hair was effortlessly breezy and her skin had a remarkable glow, which convinced me that Garnier’s new products are definitely worth a look.

Thanks to a very hefty swag bag — a.k.a 10 pounds of product tucked into a Helen Kaminski raffia tote — I was able to road test some of the goods. Here’s what I found:

Garnier

Garnier Nutritioniste’s Moisture Rescue line: This new line is unique because it uses fruit water extract to hydrate skin without leaving a residue. Grape seed water extract provides antioxidants that protect skin from environmental damage, and apple water extract helps to maintain the skin’s moisture barrier.

Refreshing Gel-Cream: Left my skin soft and moisturized, yet it was light enough so my skin was not greasy. Great at night. On my skin, this gel-cream delivered what it promised.

Lightweight UV-Lotion: This lotion absorbs so well! I was able to maintain the moisture throughout the day without morphing into an oil slick. I wish it had a higher SPF though, as it is only SPF 15.

Skin Renew Anti-Dark Concealer: I wanted to love this concealer for its light, easily-absorbed formula; however, the sheer tint was too dark for my pale skin. It felt great going on, plus, the lemon essence mixed with caffeine is bound to be an effective combination for many people.

Fructis Fortifying Shampoo and Conditioner: Both of these smell like a juicy, ripe piece of fruit. Plus, they actually work! My hair felt soft and silky. They didn’t weigh my hair down with waxes or dry it out.

Next on my list to try is Garnier’s Fructis Style Blow Dry Perfector. It’s a kit that smoothes your hair in two steps and it lasts, according to the box, seven whole shampoos…but I will let you know.

Oh, and take a look at the delish treats Garnier provided!

Chef Manouschka of Private Chefs of Beverly Hills fame catered the party, and for someone who served up some seriously savory bites, she was remarkably humble.  The talented chef checked in on guests as they practically inhaled her refreshing watermelon gazpacho and juicy mini burgers.

But back to Garnier’s new products, is there anything I mentioned that you are already dying to try? Let us know…you never know what’s going to inspire our next BATF giveaway

By ASy
***Read til the end for a Philip Kinglsey Giveaway!***

I’m a sucker for two things: good kicks and good hair. Whether you own a pair of Jordan’s, Puma’s, or the John Varvatos Chuck Taylors, each unique sneaker has its own personality and usually tells a story about who you are, your character and style. Like a fresh pair of Nikes, a good hair style does precisely the same.

But time and time again, whenever the American Crew Pomadeor the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shaping Creamcontainers come to an end, I find myself wondering what product I’ll buy next, because I am never fully satisfied. I make do, but sometimes at the expense of too much product, it results in a heavy feeling and most importantly, a stiff, flaky look.

I’ve struggled to find a good reliable product, until now…

Philip Kingsley, also known as the hair doctor, really does the trick with his Texture and Hold. This product, aimed at giving a firm hold with shine was originally a bit misleading. Playing with it at first, I was a hesitant about putting it in my hair since the paste itself was really thick and sticky…almost as if it was just asking to dry up and make my hair rock solid (reminded me of my baby brother’s Joico Ice Hair Water-Resistant Spiker). But after rubbing the paste into the palms of my hand and my fingertips and slowly spreading and shaping it throughout my hair, I was definitely happy with the look and feel I got from Kingsley’s product.

If you have short to medium length hair, and are looking for a light weight product that gives you a good hold, Texture and Hold is for you. It is seriously better than any American Crew, Paul Mitchell, D-Fi (also by those guys at Crew), ENJOY and so many others. In the past seven years, I have gone through at minimum 20 different types of product and can only think of one or two that can come close in comparison to this Philip Kingsley one.

The paste does dry up and harden a little bit (how else will you get a firm hold?), but if you mix in a dap coconut oil into your hair afterward, and it feels ten times better.

You can order Kingsley’s Texture and Hold on their website or amazon.comfor $35.

GIVEAWAY: Want to test a Philip Kingsley product too? This is a special for our curly-haired friends: Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win Philip Kingsley Curl Activator (which recently won SELF magazine’s Best Curl Cream award and is worth $28!

To DOUBLE your chances, tweet “RT @BeautyNDFeast Win Philip Kinglsey’s Curl Activator http://ow.ly/1Hkei, voted best curl cream by SELF!”. Last day to post/tweet is Thursday, May 13th. Winner will be drawn and announced the following Monday. Good luck!

I don’t know about you, but my hair loves to go POOF after I blow dry. It’s so annoying. You can even finally get your style down right and there they are — the frizzies.

I’m not keen on oily serums that can make your hair go flat (and apply too much and you just went from shower fresh to grease ball). Then I was introduced to TIGI Bed Head After-Party.

It started YEARS ago when I still lived in Chicago. I went to Frank Gironda in Wheaton and after my hairstylist (I think her name is Shelly…I wonder if she still works there??) layered my hair, she went on to teach me how to blow dry it, applying just a dime size of After Party on my hair. It smoothed it down and was completely weightless. It also defined my layers, making them shiny, not stringy.

The trick with this one is to use VERY very little — a lot goes a long way. Just rub a little in your hands, then I like to just run my hands starting from under my hair (like from right above my neck working my way in) and then down to the ends; afterwards, I go back and smooth the frizz on top. It barely feels like you’re applying anything at all but it works wonders.

So this normally retails for $18.99, but it get it on amazon.com HERE for only $10.99.

x
Shy