Now why didn't you think of that? Brini Maxwell and Avon

Yes, this Saturday I’m quoting that Forever-Fabulous-Queen-of-Everything-That-is-Right-With-America, Brini Maxwell. I first saw Brini Maxwell (aka Ben Sander) when the show aired on the Style Network a few years back. Why it had such a short run, I will never know. Brini and her sheer amazingness are forever embossed onto my memory and decoupaged upon my heart.

For those of you who have not had the unique and soul satisfying pleasure of experiencing La Maxwell, here is a quick video.




Kind of like “That Girl” meets Martha Stewart (only several million times cooler). Brini is the cool, stylish, unflappable creative diva goddess genius that I wish I could channel at a moment’s notice. Right now, my refrigerator is unattractive and disorganized. What would Brini suggest? The window insulation around my air conditioner is being pecked away from the outside by a bird. Brini would know just what to do! And it would have panache.

And now for a really contrived beauty segue way…

One thing I know Brini would approve of is this nifty package of Avon ANEW CLINICAL Advanced Retexturizing Peel Pads.
Blurb: The at-home answer to chemical peels. Now, in 1 easy step! No appointment necessary. The advanced exfoliator safely retexturizes and resurfaces skin. Formulated with soothing botanicals that help nourish and calm skin. Peels away dullness and visible age damage so healthier skin cells can surface.

This is about the handiest glycolic product I’ve come across. Great for those of us who swear by regular exfoliation to help with breakouts and keep skin looking vibrant. Just take out a pad and swipe it across your face (or use as a spot treatment). That’s it – super easy!

The formula is very potent, so I would definitely test out a small spot to see if you’re sensitive. And start by using sparingly (I never used this more often than every other day). I experienced the tingling feeling described; but other than that initial tingling, my skin felt fine. And it worked really well as a spot treatment on a couple of little “areas.” Handy and homey – Avon did think of that!

For those of you wanting to check this out, it’s available on the Avon website (or from an Avon representative).

And for those of you wanting to check out more Brini Maxwell, you can find her all over the web, including her website. You can even shop the Brini way at Felix Populi. And now, for more happy Saturday viewing, here’s another video with highlights from her show:

Avon Skin So Soft Satin Glow (review)

I fully realize that I’m a zealot when it comes to sun protection. Probably because I’m such a recent convert. Growing up in Southern California, I had a year-round tan which I managed to boost every summer by laying out in the sun with a layer of baby oil (I know – yikes). When I lived in San Francisco, it was much colder, so my sunbathing stopped. But I still didn't think I needed sunscreen, because I didn’t burn. I didn’t even own sunscreen (again – yikes). But I found there are other "things" to worry about besides sunburn. After seeing the beginnings of brown spots on my cheeks (YIKES), I finally got all gung ho about SPF and have remained gung ho ever since.

Truthfully, I think my skin looks nice without a tan – with one exception. My impossibly ghost-white, glow-in-the-dark legs. Not only are they several shades whiter than the rest of my body, they also have some faint scars from past clumsiness. And because I wear sandals, the tops of my feet tend to be slightly darker. Weird.

I’ve been looking for something that would give a little bit of color to my legs without lots of hassle and/or expense. And among some Avon products I received a while back was yet another fine surprise: Avon SKIN SO SOFT Satin Glow Continuous Mist Airbrush Spray.

Blurb: A flawless, sunkissed glow...in just 4 days! Get a natural summer glow! 360° aerosol delivers a quick-drying mist for all over coverage—even hard-to-reach areas.

This met my needs perfectly. It’s a fine spray mist that is extremely easy to apply. It also dries very quickly (about 30 seconds). It takes a few hours for the color to show up fully, so resist the urge to overspray. I used it over 4 days and the color deepened gradually just as promised. No streaks and the shade was a very believable brown. I have it in “fair” - it also comes in “medium” (but not in “ghostly-white”). Be sure to follow the directions and use on clean, exfoliated skin (do not use after shaving). And, as with other self-tanners, be sparing around ankles, knees and elbows. I'm really happy that I can easily get natural looking color where I desperately need it.

FYI: right now, there is a bath and body sale on the Avon website (buy 1, get one for 99¢).

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Avon Calling – The Sequel

As I mentioned before, I have been trying out a whole slew of Avon skincare products lately. Although I only recently started checking out their skincare; Avon has always had a special place in my heart. I have vague memories of the Avon Lady visiting my mother, and crystal clear memories of the Avon catalogues. And remember those decanters? My sister and I were crazy for those. I think she still may have one or two of them.

Anyway, as I also mentioned before; I've been taking a look at Avon's vast website and realizing that this is not the Avon of old. It seems like they have developed new lines and products for everyone. This week I'm reviewing two products from their liiv Botanicals brand. This botanical-based skincare is part of their "wellness" division, which also includes "Planet Spa" and "Curves." Here's a little info on the 2 items I tried:

Item #1: liiv botanicals Vitalizing Face Serum

Blurb: Plant Essence Technology™ - Customized with a unique revitalizing blend of one or more active plant extracts, including flax seed oil, green tea, portulaca, fennel and crape myrtle.

Item #2: liiv botanicals Vital Night Moisturizer
Blurb: What's our secret? Potent formulas enriched with powerful botanicals...dye-free and preservative-free to breathe new life into your skin. Recharge skin at night with rich botanicals and rejuvenate skin’s texture and tone.

Both products seem to really agree with my oily, sensitive skin; but I think my favorite of the two is the serum. To begin with, the consistency is slightly more gel-like (= easier to apply) than most serums and it has a very nice fresh scent. It goes on easily and absorbs quickly. What I especially liked was the slight (but instant) smoothing effect – and the fact that my pores definitely looked smaller (or "refined" as they like to say).

I haven't used the night moisturizer long enough to judge its long-term effects, but the short term effects are delightful. The cream is hydrating and sinks in quickly. At first there was a slight tingling, followed by soothing feeling that lasted for the rest of the evening. In the morning, my skin felt soft and very calm, but not oily.

This brand is really interesting and diverse. In addition to wallet-friendly, botanical skincare; they also feature products like a durable tote bag and a re-usable (= earth friendly) aluminum water bottle.

I still kinda wish they'd bring the decanters back though.
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Avon calling! (review)

I have recently been trying out a bunch of new skincare products from Avon. I wish I'd received them from an Avon representative knocking at my door (but they came in the mail).

I vaguely remember the "Avon Lady" visiting my mom. How awesome is that? A nice person rings your doorbell and THEN they come in and show you beauty products in the comfort of your own home. Wow.

Actually, there are still Avon representatives. And what with today's newfangled technology, you can also shop from the comfort of your home by going online. I poked around on the website and discovered that this is definitely not my mother's Avon. It's really worth checking out. They have a huge range of products and lines. I even took a fun skincare questionnaire.

The two products I'm reviewing today are from their ANEW REJUVENATE skincare line: Day Revitalizing Cream (SPF 25) and Night Revitalizing Cream.
Night Cream blurb: PM Lightweight gel-cream works while you sleep, so you awaken to skin that looks fresher and more vibrant.

Day Cream blurb: Like Rejuvenate Night Revitalizing Cream, this lightweight day cream with a patented sun-protection system is uniquely engineered with a breakthrough fusion of pioneering technologies designed to replicate the steps of a professional anti-aging facial.

The night cream really surprised me. It felt very rich and creamy but absorbed really quickly into my skin (both face and neck). My skin felt hydrated, but not goopy. In the morning, my skin felt balanced and calm. What I really like is that it did its job and looked good. After putting it on, my skin looked dewy and fresh. You know, girls, there might be times in life when a person wants to take care of her skin and still look good before bed time…I'm just saying.

The day cream gets high marks too. It also absorbed quickly and had great finish (not too shiny, not too matte). And it was excellent under my makeup. In the afternoon my skin still felt hydrated, but not oily. Extra bonus points because it has an SPF of 25.

I will be trying out some other Avon items I received and writing about them later. For now, let's take a trip back in time by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74aDOHL9S6g
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