NOYA Lip Balm

As I was leaving Cosmoprof North America Las Vegas this summer, I ran into a booth called NOYA where I met two lovely people - Sarah and Josh.

They wanted to know if I'd like to try their all natural, kosher-certified lip balm.  Unlike many products on the market, NOYA only has 3-5 kosher ingredients - all that you can pronounce and recognize: Extra virgin organic olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax and natural flavor.  NOYA is free of all preservatives (parabens, sulfates etc), safe to use on any skin type, not tested on animals and working on developing eco-friendly biodegradable packaging as well.  

NOYA currently comes in 4 flavors - Cherry, Spearmint, Vanilla and Classic (unflavored).

When I originally told Sarah that I was a nail blogger, not a makeup blogger, she told me that I could use NOYA as a cuticle balm so I grabbed a Classic for the road.

Fast forward to now: I've been sick for a few weeks now (again) and one of the first things to go on me is my lips.  They are cracked, sore, and not pretty.  That's when I remembered I had my tube of NOYA in my bag.  I put it on and immediately felt some relief.  Between the oils and the beewax, it keeps my lips soft as I try and re-hydrate myself.  The tube is no bigger than a tube of Chapstick, so it fits well into a pocket or purse (net wt 0.15 oz).  The lid is slightly grooved for a tight fit, which is big for me because I tend to throw it in my purse and I have other brands that have lids that just slip off constantly.  My only complaint is that I don't prefer the unflavored - so I purchased the other 3 this evening.

This has been my lifesaver this summer and I'm super glad I ran into this booth.  At only $3.99 a tube, it's extremely affordable and you definitely get your money's worth.  I am definitely going to be a repeat customer.  (At press time, my order was $12.77 even - no shipping fee!  I was able to check out with PayPal as well which I always prefer.)

Edit: After a reader commented that the shipping/tax was too much for one tube, I did some searching and found this image on their website.  So if you want free shipping, you can buy 3 tubes (I recommend all the flavored ones!) and then you don't pay shipping!

NOYA [Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+] can be found in over 100 stores in the USA or purchased on this website for $3.99 a tube.

Disclosure: The product[s] in this post was [were] provided to me by the company for consideration.  For more information, please read this post.

LVX 3-in-1 Nail Treatment

I used this for my Christmas manicure - while not a "quick dry" formula, I did find that this helped my manicure last a lot longer than I sure expected it to!  Please enjoy the following from LVX!

VEGAN LUXURY NAIL LACQUER BRAND LVX ANNOUNCES THE

RELEASE OF THEIR FIRST BASE AND TOP COAT TREATMENT.

LVX nail lacquer will release a 3 in 1 treatment: Base, Top and Strengthener in one.

Chicago (November 2012): LVX, a brand known for delivering only the top and best quality products, is releasing the first ever vegan and 5-free “3 in 1” nail treatment. A nail strengthener, base coat and high shine topcoat--here is how the triple function treatment works:

 Strengthener

·      Provides intensive treatment and will help nails become noticeably stronger within 2 weeks

·      The nail strengthening property promotes nail growth, conditions and helps normalize the natural nail plate to promote strong and healthy nails

·      The treatment contains horsetail, a healing herb rich in nutrients and high in silica, proven to help natural nails grow faster and stronger

Base

·      As a basecoat it prepares the nail surface for optimum nail lacquer application

·      The formula contains incredible adhesion properties that improve nail lacquer wear

·      It protects the nail surface from staining by creating a barrier and smoothes minor surface imperfections

Top

·      Provides an extremely high shine finish

·      Maximizes the wear characteristics of nail lacquer

·      The clear shield provides a bright transparent color enhancer

·      The treatment provides a reinforcement and protects nails

As a strengthener only, apply treatment to a clean and dry nail 2-3 times a week for approximately 2 weeks. This intensive treatment will deliver results within 2 weeks of regular use and help promote the growth of strong and healthy nails.

LVX products are VEGAN and formulated without the use of Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, DBP, Toluene, and Camphor. The brand is dedicated to providing top quality, socially responsible, and eco-friendly, luxury products without compromising quality, durability and finish. LVX nail lacquer is cruelty free. All products are produced in the U.S.A. The new treatment product will be available December 1, 2012 on www.shoplvx.com. 

Pretty Serious They Came From Beyond Space!

Please enjoy the latest from the Australian polish company, Pretty Serious!

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... 

Just kidding.

Zooming in from the furthest reaches of the darkest corners of the cosmos, Pretty Serious Cosmetics is proud to unveil our newest mini collection: THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE!

This out of this world mini collection consists of a trio of fabulous multichrome foils that are guaranteed to put stars in your eyes.


ATOMIC BRAIN is a brain melting purple multichrome foil with extraordinary colour shifts from rich purple through to pink, plum, gold and olive bronze.

GALAXY INVADER is a mind blowing blue multichrome foil with spectacular flashes of royal blue through to aqua and purple.

PHANTOM PLANET is a startling pale green multichrome foil with a stunning aqua and blue shift.

I know what you're thinking. When? Where? How? Why?

The when is November 10th, 9am AEST. The where is pretty-serious.com. The how is our secret. The why is because we love you!

RRP is $9.95, with a 10% discount for buying all three shades! Pretty Serious Cosmetics also ships worldwide. Check out our site for more details.

Bottle volume is 11ml/0.37 fl.oz. Pretty Serious Cosmetics is 100% Vegan and Cruelty Free.

CND Holiday Season

Okay, so maybe Christmas is over, but if you're like me (cough), there are some late gifts being delivered.  Why not give the gift of CND?  I especially am gaga over their Scentsations (I have a bottle on my desk of the Lavender and Jojoba) and this year the special edition Solar Oil smells AMAZING (I found sample in a magazine).  If you can scoop any of these up, DO IT before they are gone.

Fall/Winter CND Shellac

A luxe line-up of rich tones with shimmering metallics becomes the perfect accent to any holiday party outfit! Manicures range $25 - $45 and pedicures $40 - $60. CND certified salons for gift certificate purchase can be found at cnd.com/find-salon.  

Holiday Scentsations

These scented lotions moisturize skin and bring holiday cheer to the senses. Choose from Celebrate (hint of vanilla, berries and fresh floral), Enchant (hint of sandalwood, amber and floral), and Delight (hint of amber and floral). $12.00 US/$15.00 Canada.

Special Edition SolarOil

The tried and true cuticle saver special edition formula features a new fragrance of heliotrope, vanilla, and golden amber. $11.50 US/$14.40 Canada.

Cucumber Heel Therapy

Prevents moisture-deprived feet in the cold winter months by aiding cellular repair and speeds the healing of dry skin. $15.50 US /$18.80 Canada for a 2.6 oz jar.

Sally Hansen Gel Strips & Polish

Back in November, I posted this photo on Instagram for the new Sally Hansen Salon Insta Gel Strips

Now here is the press release on them and the gel polish they came out with!

Salon results at home, no manicurist necessary.

The at-home alternative to a salon mainstay: the gel manicure. Professional, high-shine, no dry time and long-wear—these are the qualities that have made millions of women gel manicure converts. But as any gel manicure devotee can attest, these perks are also what make the manicures so expensive—and time-consuming.

That’s why the innovators at Sally Hansen are taking the manicurist out of the equation and putting professional results at your fingertips with the new Salon InstaGel Strips™ and Salon GelPolish™, two unique systems that equip you with everything you need to replicate a state-of-the-art gel manicure. Delivering mirror shine, no dry time and indestructible, chip-free wear for up to 14 days, each easy-to-apply system makes you your own manicurist at a fraction of the price.With Sally Hansen, you can effortlessly get the salon manicure you covet without leaving home—or breaking the bank.

FOR PROFESSIONAL RESULTS IN 2 EASY STEPS

Speed up your gel manicure and get the same lasting results with the Salon InstaGel Strips™, a breakthrough, easy-to-use innovation exclusive to Sally Hansen featuring UV-cured real nail polish appliqués. The two-step gel manicure is quick and simple: Just cleanse nails and apply the nail polish strips, then apply the gel top coat. Cure nails under the Mini LED light, swipe nails with the cleaning pad, and voila—maximum shine and wear. Available in 16 solid colors and 8 designs and infused with nourishing Vitamin E, the easy-apply strips come off fuss-free with Acetone polish remover. 

The Starter Kit features everything you need for a complete Salon InstaGel Strips™ manicure, including:
• 16 V-cured real nail polish appliqués (8 size choices for the perfect fit)
• Quick-Cure gel top coat
• Mini LED Light
• Application Accessories: Cuticle stick, buffer and alcohol cleaning pad

FOR PROFESSIONAL RESULTS, MINUS THE MANICURIST

If you’re a tried-and-true manicure maven who’s ready to stop frequenting the salon and start saving money, go for the Salon GelPolish™, a professional-grade system that delivers the total salon experience at home, at a great value complete with 16 exclusive shades. Just like at the salon, the system “cures” nails using an LED light for a fast, long-lasting gel manicure with no dry time. In just three easy steps—applying base coat, gel nail color, and gel top coat—the system delivers salon results. 

The Starter Kit features everything you need for up to 10 manicures, from prep to application to removal:
• Cleanser Pads
• Base Coat
• Color (choice of three shades)
• Top Coat
• Remover
• LED Light
• Application Accessories: Cuticle stick, buffer and alcohol cleaning pad

Ready to keep coloring? Replenish your gel manicure essentials with the Prep Kit, which includes everything you need—Base Coat, Top Coat and Cleanser Pads—at a great value.

What They Cost: Salon InstaGel Strips™ Starter Kit ($29.99), Salon GelPolish™ Starter Kit ($69.99), Refill Kit ($19.99).

Also available for sale separately: Salon InstaGel Strips™ ($14.99); Base Coat, Top Coat & Nail Color ($12.99 each); Alcohol Wipes & Remover ($4.99 each).

Where To Find Them:  Beginning November 2012, these Sally Hansen launches are available at chain drug stores, food stores and mass retailers nationally.