Latina Beauty

I’m not a big TV watcher but this week I’m really excited about a new show–Jessica’s Simpson’s new docu-series called “The Price of Beauty”. This show takes Jessica Simpson around the world in search of the meaning of la belleza. Jessica talks to chicas from all over the world, takes a look at local fashion and explores dietary fads and beauty regimes to bring us an interesting look at how la belleza is defined by various cultures–definitely a must-watch.

What I like about the show is that it gives chicas, especially teenage girls, a different perspective on how they should look. I also like how it explores all the different views on what makes a woman bella so whether you’re tall, short, blond or brunette, there is a culture out there that considers you bella.  Besides the body issues themes that Jessicas touches on, it will bring you all the unusual things people do around the world to achieve their belleza ideal. ¿ Sabías que brasileñas get butt implants to make their nalgas bigger and las francesas shun plastic surgery? Who knew!

Here is a sneak peek at Jessica Simpson’s new show.

The Price of Beauty premieres tomorrow at 10 pm ET on VH1. ¡No te lo pierdas!

Attention H&M fans, now you can get your beauty fix at your favorite store while you shop for clothes.  The Swedish fast-fashion chain launched this month a new Eco-Cert line of shower gels, body lotions, scrubs and lip balms at insanely cheap prices.  ¡Imagínate! Body care products each cost less than $5, with only a toiletry bag reaching the $7.95 mark.

The shower gel contains the juice of organic apples, while organic apple juice and apricot seeds are key ingredients in the body scrub. Organic apple juice and oils from sunflower seeds make up an essential part of the body lotion, while the hand cream has organic apple juice and oils from organic almond seeds. The lip balm contains organic ingredients of jojoba and beeswax, and all of the products are scented with natural perfumes derived from essential oils.  ¡Que divino!

Delivered in recyclable packaging, the paraben  and phthalate-free products are also not tested on animals.

Pretty Swede!

If you’re into mineral powder foundation but hate paying top price or can’t find the right shade to match your Latina complexion you’ll like the new Black Opal Mineral Brilliance Powder Foundation.

I came across this new mineral foundation thanks to the brand’s PR Chicas and even though I don’t wear foundation on a daily basis, I was pleased with the overall outcome. I usually stay away from foundation since finding the right shade for my skin color is always a challenge, but I was pleased with the options that Black Opal offers in this new line.  Plus the foundation didn’t feel heavy on la piel and was surprised to find that wearing the foundation did not make my oily skin go completely loca.  In addition to excellent color options for darker skin tones, this product is also hypoallergenic, oil-free, paraben free, fragrance free and talc free.

To apply, you can use the same swirl, tap and buff method that Bare Escentuals has made so popular.  However, make sure you use a kabuki brush to get an even application on la cara.  When applying, you definitely want to start out lightly and then build up more coverage as needed–what’s great about this foundation is that since it’s so weightless, you can achieve varying levels of concealment.

Available in Light, Golden Tan, Medium-Dark, Dark and Very Deep.  It sells for $10.95 at drugstores nationwide.

If you’re addicted to heat-styling tools or live in a dry environment that causes el pelo to look drier than the Sahara desert you may want to try Motions Salon Hair Care Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion.

I was a little skeptical about the product when I received a sample from the company’s PR Chicas since I don’t have relaxed, pressed or weaved hair.  And while it’s a great product for those types of pelos, it also does a good job for chicas like me who have medium to coarse hair and over-use heat styling tools but don’t want to spend a ton of $$$ on heat-protectant products.

All you need is a little bit of the product on wet pelo prior to blow-drying to protect it and get smooth and silky melenas.  While the instructions recommend about a dime-size quantity, I would say a little less than that for past-the-shoulder pelo is probably better unless you have a serious case of dryness.   Also, use s-p-a-r-i-n-g-ly along the hairline and roots if you like to wash el pelo once or twice a week.

This product is formulated with shea butter to hydrate, panthenol to strengthen and keratin to protect el pelo from heat damage.  It also comes in oil-free and light-oil variations.

Motions Salon Hair Care Oil Moisturizer Hair Lotion at drugstores, Target and Kmart stores nationwide for $3.99.

You’d never know the number of hours I put in at the office from the look of mis ojos.  ¿Porque? Because I’ve using the new Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream.  Thanks to it I have no puffiness, pronounced lines around the eyes or dark circles to show for all those long, brutal nights.

This refreshing eye cream brightens this delicate area and reduces the appearance of fine lines and dark circles.  It contains one of my favorite antioxidants–vitamin C, which boosts surface-cell regeneration–as well as magnesium to energize and hydrate and lycopene to protect against environmental aggressors.

If you are very sensitive around the eye area, you will particularly love this product.  Recently, that area got super sensitive for me (after using a much too strong eye makeup remover) and this was the only eye cream that didn’t sting and further irritate la piel.  Bonus?  The formulation is 100% oil free and sinks in leaving the area moisturized and soft.

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream sells for $13.49 and you can find it at drugstores and supermarkets nationwide.

Hola Chicas

About a couple of weeks ago I held my first product giveaway.  The giveaway basket was valued at $70 and included full-size samples of Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Shampoo & Conditioner and other hair goodies.  And finally, here are the two winners, who were selected at random.

• The Jaded NYer
• Tessie G.

¡Felicidades!

To read the review on Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Shampoo & Conditioner click here.

Hola Chicas,

I’d like to apologize for the absence of posts this week.   Unfortunately, my day job got a little more hectic than usual and I was unable to write at all.  I was actually in Los Angeles all of last week due to a client launch event, which kept me working around the clock.  La buena noticia is that my event is over and I’m back in New York.  I have tons of beauty news to tell you and posts will continue as usual as of mañana.  Please stay tuned and again I’m sorry that I’ve kept you waiting.

Besos,

Claudia

If you are a fan of olive oil, you should definitely look at products that contain olive leaf extract–AKA OLE.

Bellezas who suffer from rosacea and cystic acne will especially love this ingredient’s anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-histaminic effects and find it will help calm and help their piel issues. But if anti-aging is your belleza focus, you’ll love the research that shows how OLE’s oleuropein compound possesses extremely high doses of antioxidants.

This antioxidant comes from the leaves of the olive tree.  And because it’s on the leaf where photosynthesis occurs, it accumulates particularly high levels of antioxidants, which can help neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals. This is why this ingredient is used to fight rough, damaged, and dry piel that’s compromised by the environment and wrinkle-causing UV rays.

Here are some OLE containing products you might want to try.

iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ alleviates redness, dryness, and irritation.  Excellent for rosacea, acne, eczema sufferers, it combines vitamins A, C, and E with OLE.  It sells for $125 and you can find it online.

L’Occitane en Provence Olive Tree Organic Toning Face Mist provides long-lasting hydration and protection to la piel. This Ecocert mist contains organic olive tree leaf extract and leaves skin without a greasy feel and a hint of citrus. It sells for $22 and you can find it at L’Occitane stores nationwide and here.

Lorac Natural Performance Foundation gives you picture perfect coverage for a loooong time.  In addittion to OLE, it contains vitamin A to protect, nourish and soothe sensitive piel.  You also get a natural finish in ten shades without parabens, sulfates, phthalates and synthetic dyes/fragrance.  It sells for $36 and you can find it Sephora and department stores nationwide and here.

I’m a lip balm addict so I’m always on the lookout for balms that have some different to offer.  Here are some that deliver the goods in unique or pretty packaging that will make you want to look for any excuse to apply.

Guerlain Terracotta Baume Au Coeur High-Shine Soothing Lip Balm gives the benefits of both a balm and lip gloss.  This high shine balm combines wild mango butter, luffa oil and marula oil to give los labios ultimate nourishing and pampering action.  Added bonus? It comes with a small mirror tucked inside the cap for touch-ups on the go.  It comes in three shades–Rose Venus, Coeur Caramel, Cocoa Love–and sells for $30 at fine department and sephora stores nationwide.

Dior Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm soothes, plumps, hydrates and protects los labios in style.  This new, chic balm has SPF 10and gives los a labios a muy bonito shade of pink and a delicate rose scent.  It sells at fine department and Sephora stores nationwide for $25.

*eos Lip Balm Smooth Sphere keeps your pucker moist and smooth.  Packed with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil, this unusual-looking balm does the job perfectamente bien.  USDA certified organic balm comes in recyclable packaging and in three flavors–honeysuckle honeydew, summer fruit and sweet mint.  It also comes in a smooth stick in vanilla bean, pomegranate raspberry and sweet mint.  Added bonus?  It is not tested on animals.  It sells for $3.29 at Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid and here.

*Product sample supplied by PR Chica.

When it comes to taking care of la piel we usually tend to focus on the lips, face and body.  Few us think about the scalp, right?  Well, this is exactly why I’m focusing today on el cuero cabelludo. The most neglected part of the body, el cuero cabelludo is the foundation to a beautiful melena.  It houses over 130,000 deeply rooted follicles, which keep hair strands shiny and saludable by distributing oils and nutrients from root to tip.  So if you want to have a melena bonita during the colder, drier months, it’s really important to look for haircare products that also moisturize el cuero cabelludo.

To help your cuero cabelludo stay in good shape, I am partnering with Head & Shoulders to give two bellezas the opportunity to win a $70 valued basket of hair goodies and full-size samples of the brand’s Dry Scalp Care Shampoo and Conditioner.  This Head & Shoulders line improves the health of el cuero cabelludo and moisturizes dry locks–perfect for this time of the year!

While this shampoo and conditioner contain the dandruff-fighting pyrithione zinc that doesn’t mean it won’t work wonders on a winter scalp that’s in need of a little TLC.  I’ve been using it for a while now to fight itchiness and flakes caused by dryness and I’m happy with the results.  With regular use, it’ll leave la melena flake-free, soft, bouncy and shiny.

To participate on this,  my very first giveaway, post a comment below, between now and February 28, and tell me what home remedies you have used or heard of that help el cuero cabelludo and melena stay healthy.  To participate you must live in the U.S.  The two ganadoras will be chosen at random on March 1st and announced on this blog.

¡Buena suerte!