A Squeaky Clean Face!

Ever since the Clarisonic face brush came out I've been looking for alternatives because it was pricier. Here are the alternatives I found and the Clarisonic (yay! I finally got it!). The good, the bad and the ugly on 3 different brushes I tried.

The Sephora Manual Brush.

Rating: Great for starting a routine but not so great for lazy gals

My first choice naturally like at about $6 it definitely made a difference in my routine. But, if you get lazy you won't be doing it everyday at 6,000 revolutions (like a Clarisonic). Also, they're disposable, once the brushes get icky this brush gets tossed!

The Sirius Sonic Brush.

Rating: Not very popular but Budget Friendly

What I thought was truly going to be an alternative to buying a Clarisonic truly served its purpose for a while. The first days were puppy love and obsession with the Sirius Sonic. The problem is...I tried the Clarisonic and its smooth,soft bristles and vibrations on my skin and it left it baby-butt soft. The bristles on the Sirius Sonic get a little tough after a month or two. It uses two AA batteries and I never had to change them once I started using it.So that's a great quality.

Finally! The Clarisonic Mia 2

Rating: Pricy but a great investment in the long run

Truly worth waiting for. 2 speeds. One I use for face wash and the slower one for my bi-weekly face scrub. Never have my creams and serums melted into my skin as deliciously as they do after using the Clarisonic. I use the Clarisonic's smooth bristles all over my neck and chest as well. The ergonomic shape of the brush fits perfectly in my hand and doesn't slip in the shower. Brush replacements are a bit pricy and there's one for every type of skin. Truly an investment to make all your face products work so much better!

Stay beautiful!

Iconic Hair Care

I've been using these hair products for over a month particularly their India hair line and it's rich, amber musky scent is a spa experience in my steaming hot shower. I like to leave on their conditioner for a while to work it into my color treated hair. Their Argan hair oil is great for my split ends, and a little goes a long way on my straight,fine hair (if you have very fine hair like mine, don't apply at the roots or it will limp your hair-style!)

On the rest of my hair I'll apply their replenishing spray which is a lot lighter so it doesn't weight my hair down. Whether I decided to blow-dry it or let it air-dry my hair felt smooth and bouncy with a very light scent. I'm a heat addict (it gives me volume!)so I use their spray as a heat protectant and it makes my hair voluminous and manageable.

Tips: The India Argan oil is great as a treatment to protect your hair at the beach or pool. I like to drench my tips with some oil right before I lounge at the pool. It truly is a relaxing experience while laying in the sun and your strands will thank you. Carry the travel size replenishing spray with you and spray the rest of your hair with it where you didn't apply the oil.

Even though the products are not currently available in Texas you can visit their website , like their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram @iconproducts for product updates and their behind the scenes at their Icon Salon Lab in L.A.

Interesting fact: Icon keeps it honest by being an Icon ECOTECH Concept Product: Sulfate-Free, Anti-Agers,Color Safe, Anti-Oxidants, Paraben-Free, Vegan, A, C, E Vitamins.

Pili Montilla, music and entertainment reporter in L.A. (check out her new music project: Te Para Tres ) always pays the Icon Salon Lab a visit to keep her blonde strands healthy, beautiful and camera ready! I can't wait to get to visit their salon in L.A. as well!

Photo from Pili Montilla's Facebook

For information on where to buy products directly or if it's available in your state call 800.951.ICON or e-mail ICON Director of Operations, Michelle Lepire mlepire@iconproducts.com for more information.

Stay Beautiful!

Dolce & Gabbana Make-Up Class

I love make-up and even though you might see me wearing hot pink lips or a deep plum lipstick I'm kind of scared of color on my eyes, specially if it's something I haven't used before. Let this post inspire you to wear pink and purple! This class took place at Saks and we got to pick out our make-up palette and put it on ourselves.

I highly recommend their Cleansing Oil, even for oily skin. The make-up artists told us about how this oil breaks down the oil in your skin and it really makes it feel great!
I've also been using their creamy foundation; one word: flawless and a little goes a long way.
The nail polish I got in my goody bag in "amethyst" is to die for and it stays on without chipping! Look at it here!
Have I inspired you to wear pink? I hope so!

Soft & Girly Spring Looks

Pink & Girly

Nars duo eyeshadow palette in Bouthan,NARS Eyeliner in Black Moon and NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Rue Saint Honor

Soft and Sophisticated

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Potion in Sin and the classic Urban Decay eyeshadow palette in NAKED

These are two very wearable looks that can transition from day to night. I love how Crystal (the Sephora make-up artist) managed to use the NARS palette from the new summer color collection and use my favorite color so delicately, I was so scared of using pink on my eyes! It was a first! TIP: Combine your blue and black eyeliners to make your eyes pop!

The smoky shadow/natural look was also a first and using the Urban Decay NAKED palette she created this amazing brownish smoky eye! Smoky eyes don't always have to be black. Another thing: we did not apply liner of the bottom lash line. This makes it day-friendly make-up. Add some liner to the bottom lash when you grab cocktails with your friends at night. Tip: Using the Urban Decay eyelid primer in SIN makes your shadow stick, essential for a smashing smoky eye.This primer in particular is a new discovery that I love! Both looks were created by Crystal Mateos in the Meyerland SEPHORA inside JCP. Thanks Crystal!

Stay Beautiful!

My Skin Update & Meet Your Skin Specialist

Last week I visited IOMA to get my skin analyzed and found out I had some redness in my skin and some clogged pores. This week, Jessica, the skin specialist at IOMA, along with the IOMASPHERE suggested the 4 IOMA moisturizer which soothes redness and swelling. Not only did the moisturizer tone down the redness in my skin it also made my make-up wear so much longer during the day, without retouching, even in this Houston humidity.

Me inside the IOMASPHERE, getting my face analyzed!

I also got the privilege of experiencing a facial with Jessica and my face was soft and looked brighter the day after. I had also woken up that day with a rash on the side my face, probably a reaction to some other product I was using and it completely disappeared the day after. The facial is completely non invasive and 100% relaxing; it made my skin feel hydrated and soothed.

Meet Jessica

Jessica, the skin specilist at IOMA inside Saks Fifth Avenue in the Galleria trained at the London School of Beauty and Make Up in 2009. She's also been trained by the IOMA French specialists in Houston that ensure her techniques and knowledge are of the highest standard.

She's originally from South Africa (which you will notice from her lovely accent), the home of Bio-oil(the popular and miraculous oil that helps with scars, skin problems and dryness).Her goal at IOMA with every client is to personalize a skincare treatment and regime to the specific needs and lifestyle of each individual.

Jessica's skin really glows! She uses an IOMA skincare regimen and never sleeps with her make-up on.

Jessica's current favorites:

Lipstick- MAC lipstick

Face Cleanser- Ioma Moisturizing Cleansing Milk

Hair product- My hot rollers and anything by Fekkai

Skin lotion- Ioma Youthful Moisture Cream Day and Night

Hand lotion- Ioma Cocoon Hand Cream (I keep this in my car and my husband loves it too!)

Visit the IOMA counter at Saks Fifth Avenue for a skin analysis and complimentary 3 day trial samples. No purchase necessary.

For the purchase of an IOMA product you get a complimentary facial by Jessica at the SAKS spa room.

Stay Beautiful!

IOMA in Houston

The IOMA skin care line has arrived to Saks 5th Avenue in Houston and I can't be more excited to get my skin evaluated and have my skincare products customized according to my exact needs. The IOMASPHERE is unique in its kind and you can only find it in Saks inside The Galleria.

As you can see, the IOMASPHERE analyzes TONE, TEXTURE, PIGMENTATION, UV DAMAGE & PORE CONDITION,factors that can age us if we do not treat our skin properly. I'm ready to target my clogged pores!

Even though I'm wrinkle free (yay!)and my tone and texture looks great I have many clogged pores that IOMA is helping me target with their 5 Repairing Gel. After analyzing your skin, the IOMASPHERE dishes out a receipt-like prescription with the recommended products for your skin, no guessing or assuming, just a deep analysis of your skin revealed. I'll be back to the IOMASPHERE in a week to track my changes. I'll keep you updated!

Stay beautiful!

Old Hollywood Glam

I had the funnest time this week with Bumble and Bumble hair products because I got to be a hair model for their styling classes. This was such a great opportunity to discover more of the Bumble & Bumble hair line (I was a fan of their Surf Spray before going full force!) and all the goodies that can make my fine and sometimes lifeless hair a Victoria Secret model creation (the VS Angels do have the best hair!).

My favorites this afternoon were the Bumble & Bumble Does it All (molds my hair into anything my heart desires), The Thickening Spray (Light Vavoom volume!),Styling Creme (creates amazing, smooth, touchable volume close to the crown) and the Quenching Masque (to love my tresses at home).

My finished look!The stylist used BB Prep as a hair primer to make my hair soft and make the product stick to my hair! Nice!

When my awesome stylist ,Tiffanny, finished my hairstyle---it was perfect, very old Hollywood glam! Can you come to my house every day and do this to my hair? Please!? Miguel, my husband, who never notices my hair changes, loved it especially because it was very touchable.

If you ever want to participate in any of the future styling classes (and have shoulder blade length hair) e-mail Roxana(she manages all the Bumble&Bumble models) at houstonmodels@becreativehouse.com with a recent photo of yourself showing your hair in its natural state and you could be booked as a model for an awesome styling session + a consultation with a B&B expert (to tell you know what products are best suited for your hair), not to mention a free full size product after your visit. Mention The Beauty Bag blog if you write to her!

Stay Beautiful!