728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
 
Spring Into New Health
and Beauty Products!
By Belinda Clarke

Spring is just around the corner, and as you may have noticed, cosmetics companies, department store beauty counters and magazine publishers are having a ball bombarding us with bright, new, “ springy ” products! And why not? As we prepare to emerge from another long winter, it’s time to have fun and see “ what’s new ” in health and beauty for spring.

Skin Care

Fight Blemishes
Philosophy, one of the more innovative (and inspirational!) skin care companies, has introduced a new series of On A Clear Day products for problem skin. Containing botanical ingredients, these products are gentler than most, so they can help clarify without drying. Philosophy products are available in department stores nationwide. Try:

  • Super Wash for Oily Skin – A creamy cleanser that uses sulfur as a natural antiseptic and ingredients to help heal.
  • Botanical Blemish Cream – A thick cream to help prevent breakouts that includes aloe to promote healing.
  • Blemish Gel for Adult Acne – Contains salicylic and glycolic acid to treat blemishes and keep skin clear.

Have a Milky Complexion
New Almay Milk Plus™ Smoothing Skin Refinisher helps resurface skin and improves skin texture and tone for a radiant healthy complexion. It contains Almay’s patented milk complex plus ingredients to enhance the overall moisturizing effect such willow bark extract, grape extracts to help fade the look of dark spots and discolorations, vitamin E and green tea extract to help neutralize free radicals. Available in drugstores.

Tame Cellulite
Can you have smoother and firmer skin in just 14 days? Chicago-based H2O Plus says so, with the new H2O Plus Dual Action Body Contour Gel. This dual-action firming product helps eliminate deep-seated dimpled skin. It combines a tonic cream-gel rich in powerful slenderizing active ingredients with a massage system to ensure comprehensive treatment of localized cellulite.

According to the company, advanced technology and state-of-the-art ingredients are the keys to cellulite reduction:

  • Caobromine-Caffeine (slenderizing): Extracted from cocoa beans, this plant is rich in caffeine, theobromine and flavonoids, which work to slenderize skin by stimulating the elimination of fat.
  • Sepilift (firming): Obtained from natural botanicals and composed of an essential amino acid for the synthesis of collagen fibers, this ingredient stimulates collagen fibers, protects against elasticity breakdown and combats free radicals.
  • Cystofiltrate of Fucus (draining): This algae facilitates the elimination of excess water and toxins.
  • Glycerin (hydrating): This ingredient is recognized for its superior ability to hydrate the upper layers of the epidermis.

H2O Plus products are available online and at H2O Plus locations nationwide. For more information, or to order products, visit www.h2oplus.com or call 1-800-242-2284.

Enjoy Shaving
Pamper, protect and please your skin. With the newest addition to the Calgon family, shaving has become an everyday luxury. Silky Skin Shave Mousse in Morning Glory, Hawaiian Ginger, Fresh Sorbet and Cool Sunshower is enriched with hydrating skin conditioners. This mousse product provides a comfortable cushion between you and your razor, for a perfect shave that will leave your skin feeling smooth. Aloe soothes, while added lubricants help the razor glide over skin effortlessly. Silky Skin Shave Mousse contains a unique blend of natural flower extracts, including chamomile leaf and geranium. Calgon Silky Skin Shave Mousse is available in drugstores.

Go for the Australian Aroma – in a New Soap
This new vegetable-based low pH soap from Australian company Aesop contains Ylang Ylang, Wild Lime and Bergamot Rind for gentle yet thorough cleansing for people who appreciate aromatic experiences. The Aesop Body Cleansing Soap is free of synthetic fragrances, color and foaming boosters. For more store information on Aesop, call 888.223.2750 or for information log on to www.aesop.net.au.

Improve Facial Hair
Bioré brand introduces Beyond Smooth Daily Moisturizer, the first and only widely available moisturizer to “go beyond” moisturizing – making unwanted facial hair softer, finer and less visible in no time. True to the brand’s heritage of developing distinctive products (like the nose strips!), Bioré Beyond Smooth Daily Moisturizer promises the reduced appearance of recurring facial hair while providing replenished, moisturized skin. This product is perfect for women facing the challenge of undesired facial hair, but also offers an ideal alternative for men who desire easier shaving with less irritation. Available in two formulas, Normal-to-Dry and Normal-to-Oily (oil-free), Bioré Beyond Smooth Daily Moisturizer is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. Available in drugstores.

Makeup

From Revlon
Revlon introduces its Spring 2002 Color Collection, "Love Her Madly" – a fresh collection of enticing pink tones flushed with the bubbling effervescence of love at first sight. Available in March at drugstores and mass merchandisers, this collection contains spring colors for eyes, lips, cheeks and nails!

For Eyes: Choose from two Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow quads: Love Her Madly, with shades of frost to petal pink and bright rose, a collection of neutrals from palest lemon to peach and bronze tones. Add a touch of dreaminess with Revlon Defining Duo Shadow & Liner. Sweep shadow across lids and highlight eyes with a softly shimmery or creamy liner in four options: Pink/Chocolate, Lemon/Khaki, Gold/Bronze and Rose/Grey.

For Cheeks: For softly blushed cheeks, blend on Revlon Blush Stick in Flushed for a rosy, face-brightening effect.

For Lips: Lips and tips are inviting with playful sheens and textures for spring. Select from four Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks in Flushed, Flirt, HeartThrob or Love Her Madly.

For Nails: Brush Nail Enamel in Flushed, Flirt, Tease or Love Her Madly on nails for pretty, polished tips.

She Shells for Spring!
BeneFit cosmetics offers up two adorable, portable products in a limited-run selection of eye shadows and lip crèmes. All come in little plastic shell-shaped compacts and are perfect for a spring day. BeneFit products are available at select department stores and online at www.benefitcosmetics.com or by calling 1-800-781-2336.

Eye Cremes
She Star – Iridescent yellow-green

She Breeze – Iridescent pink green

She Shore – Iridescent pink coral

Lip Cremes
She Coral – Coral tint neutral

She Tide – Buff neutral

She Splash – Rose tint neutral

High Tea Beauty
Forget the tea and scones – here’s your chance to sport the prettiest spring shades in this new High Tea Collection from Stila. The eye shadow quartet features a range of three muted tones and one vivid hue that give you two looks (Ceylon green, Darjeeling floral and lotus infusion). Stila products are available at select department stores, and online at www.gloss.com, www.sephora.com and www.stilacosmetics.com. For cheeks, the spring cheek duo offers matte shades of sheer apricot or sheer pink. Finally, for lips, Stila's individually formulated shades in Olivia and Nicole, contain sunscreen for protection and humectant to lock in moisture.

Fragrances

Romance in Bloom
New from Bath and Body Works is a line of colognes called Romantic Blooms — a collection of eight floral-inspired scents that perfectly complement an exquisite collection of floral fragranced body care luxuries. This inspiring collection of colognes includes a wide array of floral scents, including:

  • Clean, crisp Absolute Tulip – a blend of tulip, peony, fresh water and green accords.
  • Pure, fresh Cotton Blossom – the soft scents of cotton, mandarin blossom and freesia blended with a hint of peony.
  • Soft, romantic Moonlight Path – a harmonious combination of floral bouquet, hyacinth and lavender.
  • Light, magical Night-Blooming Jasmine – a captivating mix of lilac, jasmine, peony and fresh air accord.
  • Wild, exotic Plumeria – a combination of plumeria, gardenia, ylang ylang and jasmine.
  • Sweet, enchanting Sweet Pea – a blend of sweet pea, watery pear and wild lily.
  • Playful, delicate Sheer Freesia – a gentle blend of fresh freesia, morning dew and green accord.
  • Gentle, serene Water Blossom Ivy – a watery mix of green accord and white peony

Sexy Graffiti!
Sexy Graffiti is the 10th seasonal scent from Escada. This time, it’s an ‘80s-inspired scent that’s packed with fruity notes such as raspberries, strawberries and blackcurrants. The packaging is bright pink and fun, and the fragrance is and fresh. Available at department stores.

Want to see more?

About the Author: Belinda Clarke is a senior editor for iParenting Media.