More Holiday Gift Ideas: Burt's Bees, Laneige, Buxom Cosmetics and Proraso

More Holiday Gift options to consider! We at B.I.O.A. are giving you as many ideas as we can so you do not stress out. We feel you.

For the Lip Balm Fanatic

For the holiday season, Burt’s Bees are making things PERSONAL! Create a custom gift for your family and friends that everyone will be raving about. Simply go on www.BurtsBees.com, pick your flavor and customize with a name or message!
Price: 4 Pack for $20
Where to Buy: www.BurtsBees.com

For the Skin Care Junkie:

With the dry winter season upon us, everyone needs to add some extra hydration to their skin care routine. The newest gift set from Laneige is SURE to give you intense hydration to your skin and lips all winter long. The Dream and Glow Set includes a full size Water Sleeping Mask, a travel size Moisture Cream and, of course, our #1 selling Lip Sleeping Mask!
Price: $39
Where to Buy: us.laneige.com

For the Beauty Queen:

Who doesn’t love Mini Lip Glosses? Buxom Cosmetics has just launched their Party All Night Mini Lip Plumping Vault for the holidays and it is flying off the shelves! The limited edition vault comes with 12 pieces including four lip liners and eight shimmery glosses. Get the $125 value vault for only $49!
Price: $49
Where to Buy: www.BuxomCosmetics.com
www.Sephora.com
www.Macys.com

For Your Man Candy:

Can’t think or something for the special man in your life? The Proraso Beard Tin is the perfect go-to gift for any man in your life! The set includes, Beard Wash, Beard Oil and Beard Balm. The set also comes in three different scents, Wood & Spice, Cypress & Vetiver and Azur Lime.
Price: $45
Where to Buy: wwww.BigelowChemists.com

Stay Smooth This Summer With These Essemtials

While a little Vitamin D can always help relax your mind, there's no question it causes stress on your beauty routine. Dry, dull skin and frizzy, unruly hair are just the beginning.

Let these essentials from DDF Skincare, John Frieda Tools, Burt’s Bees and Conair help keep you smooth for the summer.

DDF Micro-Derma Crystals Polishing Gel, $50.00

Dr. Sobel’s Micro-Derma Crystals exfoliate to provide a more even skin tone, promote skin clarity and brightness for a healthy glow. Available in UTLA stores.

Burt’s Bees BB Cream, $15.00

Available in 3 mineral-rich shades, Burt’s Bees BB cream offers instant, light-weight coverage, as it firms and conceals to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Wake up to the true, natural you – perfected.

John Frieda Sleek Finish Flat Iron, $54.99

Advanced ionic conditioning enhances manageability and transforms dull, lifeless hair into smooth, sleek strands.

Conair Flip Side Collection, $12.99

With a unique double-sided design, this collection offers twice the styling power. Start by styling wet hair with the nylon-bristle side; then, once hair is dry, flip to the boar bristle side to finish the look.

M

Burt's Bees: BB Cream

With Spring finally in the air and Summer around the corner, it’s time to ditch that heavy coverage foundation. Enter Burt’s Bees BB Cream ($15.00): light-weight, super hydrating and armed with SPF 15. 

Available in 3 mineral-rich shades, Burt’s Bees BB cream offers instant, light-weight coverage, as it firms and conceals to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Formulated with Noni Extract, a nourishing relative of the invigorating coffee bean, BB Cream offers a citrusy, multi-tasking pick-me-up for skin. Wake up to the true, natural you – perfected.

Burt’s Bees® has been offering distinctive earth-friendly, natural health and beauty care products for 30 years. From a beekeeper’s backyard in Maine to the leading edge of natural, Burt’s Bees knows natural body care solutions from head-to-toe and operates with The Greater Good™ top of mind. No parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS and no animal testing.

Burt’s Bees® BB Cream is available now in national grocery, drug, and mass retailers and via burtsbees.com.

Valentine's Day Prep Ideas

Look good and feel great from head-to-toe this Valentine’s day! Light a candle to set the mood, lather your body for radiant skin, spray on some perfume to smell your best, and keep your hair looking great all night long with these V-day essentials.

To set the mood – Molton Brown’s Single Wick Candle creates a tranquil atmosphere in your home. Light up a room with a subtle, relaxing glow with an elegant wax candles. (www.MoltonBrown.com $49)

For a radiant glow – Burt’s Bees Radiance Body Lotion moisturizes and enhances skin’s natural radiance from head to toe. (www.BurtsBees.com $9)

To smell fresh – Krigler’s Pleasure Gardenia 79 is an intense floral, voluptuous, elegant and feminine scent with base notes of jasmine, vanilla and mimosa meeting a creamy mix of musk and Gardena petals. (www.krigler.com)

To help your hair look amazing all night long – KMS California HAIRSTAY dry xtreme hairspray gives you extreme, volumizing hold, is dry-to-the-touch, has a shiny finish, 24-hour hold, and is high-humidity resistant. (www.KMSCalifornia.com $17.99)

Get The Look: Ariel Winter at the 67th annual Emmy Awards

Photo courtesy of Toby Fleischman's IG feed. 

Makeup Artist, Toby Fleischman, created the ultimate lip and flawless skin for Emmy-nominated actress, Ariel Winter - see below how she created them by using Burt's Bees. 

THE LIP: She and her team were all undecided as to whether they go with a red lip to match the red gown or keep everything simple and clean.

• Ultimately, with the gown's modern aesthetic and her beautiful sleek waves, I didn't want the makeup to be too literal, so I chose my favorite nude lip, Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands. 
• Then, to give her pout additional "juiciness", I popped a little Burt's Bee's Lip Shimmer in Cherry, on top.
• LINKS: 
  • Lip Crayon 
  • Lip Shimmer

THE SKIN: 

• In order to prep Ariel's skin, I opted for Burt's Bees Brightening Eye Treatment around the eyes, because day or night, eye cream is something that no one should be without.
• Then, I layered the Burt's Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum and Burt's Bees Hydration Day Lotion and applied them all over her skin to enhance her beautiful and youthful glow. 
• LINKS: 
  • Renewal Intensive Firming Serum
  • Intense Hydration Day Lotion

Products To Help You Savor Every Minute of Summer

Savor every last bit of summer by breaking out your brightest, boldest summer beauty looks before it’s time to box up the season’s styles. Try these warm-weather beauty must-haves to end your summer with a statement:

Perfect your red lip with Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon in Napa Vineyard, ($9, burtsbees.com) ! For a truly beautiful matte lip color in a modern crayon you can stand out on any given day. The lightweight moisture gives for a comfortable, everyday wear formula infused with Shea Butter, Kendi Oil, and Jojoba Oil your lips will stay moisturized.

Add a little shimmer and sparkle to your weekend by applying Josie Maran’s Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow ($18, available at josiemarancosmetics.com) for an instant glow to your eyes. 50% Coconut Water, 100% Hydration. Like a refreshing sip of coconut water for your eyes, this pigment-packed liquid shadow instantly makes eyes look and feel more hydrated. It has two layers: one layer of fresh Coconut Water, and one layer of Argan-infused pigments that instantly give eyes a more youthful appearance.

Swatched in Rio De Rose Gold.

Enhance your eyes by adding a final touch of Avon Big & False Lash Mascara ($9, avon.com). The breakthrough formula and exclusively-designed brush deliver real lash volume for fuller lashes that look big and bold for your busy days and nights!

Finally, keep your hair free from fly-aways and humidity with KMS California Hair Stay Anti-Humidity Seal ($18.99, kmscalifornia.com). With 24-hour humidity-blocking formula, heat protection, and frizz protection your weekend won’t get ruined, leaving you worry free with a shiny, weightless finish!

Celebrate National Honeybee Day with Burt's Bees: 8.22.15

Yes, you read that correctly and although Burt’s Bees celebrates honeybees EVERY DAY, you too can celebrate them on National Honeybee Day (this Saturday, 8/22)! 

Here are some wonderful options below:

Burt’s Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion: Creamy and sweet—and just what your skin needs to feel loved from head to toe. Our dermatologist-tested nourishing lotion combines Milk, Honey and Vitamin E, along with Coconut and Grape Seed Oils for an ideal blend of nutrients. $8.00

Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm: Loved by nature and perfectly sweet. Kind of like you. This natural balm helps nourish your dry lips with a touch of golden Honey and Vitamin E, leaving them soft, supple and super happy.$3.00

Burt’s Bees Honey & Bilberry Foot Cream: Show your feet just how much you care with our therapeutic foot creme. Bilberry Extract, a natural Alpha Hydroxy Acid, helps exfoliate dry skin and soften calluses as Honey, Jojoba Butter and Rosemary Extract lovingly help replenish moisture. $7.99

Available at burtsbees.com, Whole Foods and select drug stores.

Get The Look: Gina Rodriguez, Teen Choice Awards 2015

What a great show and our family had a bit of six degrees of separation with the lovely host, Gina Rodriguez. Our family friend, Nicole Gomez Fisher had cast Gina in the lead role of her movie, Sleeping with the Fishes! My daughter of course recognized her, as well, from Jane the Virgin. Last night proved to be a great show with great presenters as well as performers (yes, my daughter had to fill me in on a few). Thank you, Emma!

Get the Look: Gina Rodriguez, Host of The Teen Choice Awards 

Created by: Makeup Artist, Carissa Ferreri using Burt's Bees 

Carissa assured Gina had brilliant and smooth skin all night courtesy of Burt's Bees Renewal Firming Day Lotion w SPF 30

Learn about Renewal Face Care here. 

- Lip Look #1: Carissa first prepped and primed lips with the Burt's Bees Strawberry Lip Shimmer before layering Burt's Bees on the Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Carolina Coast and Lip Gloss in Nearly Dusk to make lips POP. 

Get the Lip Shimmer here.

Get the Lip Crayon here. 

Get the Lip Gloss here. 

- Lip Look #2: For Gina's second Lip Look of the evening, Carissa applied the Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Fig to moisturize and then Lip Gloss in Starry Night. 

Get the Lip Shimmer here.

Get the Lip Gloss here. 

- Lip Look #3: Third times a charm! The third look Carissa created for Gina was a mixture between the Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Caramel Daisy, Lip Crayon in Sedona Sands and Lip Gloss in Sunny Day. 

Get the Tinted Lip Balm here.

Get the Lip Crayon here. 

Get the Lip Gloss here. 

Carissa's Tip: Use gentle makeup remover wipes to remove lipstick whether you are in between sets, or at night! Her pick? Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract.

Get the Towelette's here. 

Photo courtesy of Gina Rodriguez 
Instagram Feed (@hereisgina).

Summer Beauty Essentials

Summer is finally on its way and whether you’re jetting off to a tropical destination or enjoying the warmer weather in your own backyard, now’s the time to stock up on beach babe beauty essentials.

These summer must-haves will ensure you stay looking fabulous as the sun rises.

Burt’s Bees Renewal Day Cream with SPF, ($20, burtsbees.com): This lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer is clinically shown to help improve firmness and reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles. Powerful natural anti-aging ingredients help restore the appearance of your skin’s smooth, firm texture, while natural broad spectrum SPF 30 protects against sun damage.

Kiss winter good-bye- with Avon’s Ultra Color Indulgence Lip Color, ($9, avon.com): Their most indulgent lip color yet - Ultra Color Indulgence created with Avon’s breakthrough formula made with weightless hydrating gels and completely free of heavy waxes to deliver addictive hydration and an incredibly smooth feel. In a consumer perception study, 96% of women loved the moisturizing feel and smooth texture. This rich, creamy, indulgent lipstick provides an unforgettably lavish feel in 12 decadent full-color shades.

mark Touch & Glow Shimmer Cream Cubes All Over Face Palette in Coral Glow, ($16, meetmark.com): The sequel to the cult-favorite palette finally arrives! Features nine shimmery shades of coral, bronze and gold. Color goes on sheer for a gorgeous-on-all-skin-tones glow that’s just as fabulous as the original.

Avon’s Rare Amethyst Fragrance: ($23, avon.com): With Irina Shayk’s allure and regal spirit, she effortlessly embodies the luxurious and opulent feel of Avon’s Rare Amethyst Fragrance. Sparkling and exhilarating, Rare Amethyst infuses bergamot nectarine with mouthwatering accents of purple passion fruit and juicy wet plum. Radiant blooming freesia and mysterious violet LMR, as well as gardenia petals bring a touch of elegance. Underneath it all lies a rich, opalescent layer of cascading raspberry patchouli oil, shimmering sandalwood, and airy musk, creating an addictive and sensual fragrance. This is definitely a precious gem you will want to keep.

Happy summer to be! xo

Get The Look: Shailene Woodley at the MTV Movie Awards

I just adore her spirit as Shailene seems like a truly lovely human being! We have a signed poster from TFIOS that we won at a school auction as she is loved within my house...

Best Female Performance winner Shailene Woodley rocked the carpet this past Sunday at the 2015 MTV Movie Awards with a French inspired, bold yet naturally radiant look, created by Celebrity Makeup Artist Roxy.

  

To achieve this look, Roxy hydrated Shailene's face by applying Laurel Whole Plants Organic Skin Facial Elixir to her face, neck and decolletage. Next, to even out her skin tone and achieve a flawless finish, Roxy applied a sheer foundation with a beauty blender sponge. She then softly played up the definition of Shailene's cheek bones with a warm cream RMS Bronzer. Following this, for extra radiance, Roxy applied RMS illuminizer down the bridge of Shailene's nose, above and around the corners of her brows, in a C shaped manner.

For her eyes, Roxy applied a chocolate brown liner along the top and bottom lash lines, diffusing it softly with a petite eye brush. To emphasize the eyes a bit more, she layered a soft black liner on her top lid with a subtle smudge.

Last but not least, Roxy focused on Shailene's lips, applying a mixture of Burt's Bees Lip Crayons in Napa Vineyard and Redwood Forest ($9, www.burtbees.com), for a rich, bold and creamy red that finished the look flawlessly.

Help beat the "Winter Blues" with these products!

Yes, we know this weather can do damage to our skin, hair and nails. Just yesterday, I bought hand warmers for myself and the children as I was afraid we'd get frostbite from this uncanny weather.

Lately it's been unbearably cold — freezing, in fact. With negative wind chills and uncontrollable snow storms don’t let your beauty suffer from dehydrated skin, chapped lips, cracked hands or frizzy hair. Even though thunder, snow, and frigid winds may ruin your day, your hair and skin will be safe with this beauty roundup. B.I.O.A. readers- I've got you covered-literally.

NEW! Burt’s Bees Sheer Body Lotion, ($10; burtsbees.com): If you’re looking for a lightweight moisturizer with a light-weight scent–look no further. It’s formulated with Safflower Oil Oleosomes, which are clinically shown to instantly moisturize skin and leave it feeling silky and smooth. So spritz away and let your skin (and nose) feel fragrantly refreshed.

Lauren B. Beauty Nail & Cuticle Balm, ($30; laurenbbeauty.com): This rich hydrator absorbs instantly to restore parched, straggly cuticles to their prime. Our advanced amino acid complex and biotin promotes healing; sweet almond oil, mango & shea butter, and Vitamin E add moisture; and beeswax creates a water-resistant barrier for extra protection.

Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Replenishing Hand Cream, ($15, moltonbrown.com): A replenishing hand cream blended with white truffle extract and rose. This intensive hand cream is an instantly absorbed daily treat for delectably soft and luxuriously moisturized hands with temptingly sweet aromas.

Josie Maran Argan Hot Oil Self-Heating Hair Treatment, ($36; josiemaran.com): This expert treatment repairs and restores hair in just one minute. Its gentle formula is infused with Argan Oil, which contains a large amount of vitamin E to reverse damage caused by heat and over-styling, leaving hair smoother, shinier, and healthier. In the shower, the oil warms itself up to the ideal temperature for penetrating strands to effectively seal in moisture.

Carol’s Daughter Sacred Tiare Anti-Breakage and Anti-Frizz Restoring Hair Mask, ($15, target.com): Ensuring your hair is healthy and fortified is the only way to keep it frizz-free. To really restore damaged hair that’s prone to breakage and frizz requires major nourishment found in this deeply restoring hair mask.

NEW! Burt’s Bees Squeezable Beeswax Lip Balm, ($3.99; burtsbees.com): It’s the original Beeswax Lip Balm you love—just squeezable. This version of the Burt’s Bees classic balm is softer and smoother with a slanted tip for precise application. This 100% natural formula contains moisturizing Beeswax and Vitamin E to keep lips soft and replenished—and, of course, a splash of Peppermint for that signature tingle.

New! Burt's Bees Squeezable Beeswax Lip Balm

It all started with a tin. Then there was the familiar yellow tube. Now, the Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm transforms yet again with the launch of  the new Squeezable Beeswax Lip Balm.

It’s the original Beeswax Lip Balm you love—just squeezable. This version of the Burt’s Bees classic balm is softer and smoother with a slanted tip for precise application. This 100% natural formula contains moisturizing Beeswax and Vitamin E to keep lips soft and replenished—and, of course, a splash of Peppermint for that signature tingle. Perfect to have on hand at any given time as I know these colder months have been more harsh on my lips. 

NEW Burt’s Bees Squeezable Beeswax Lip Balm, ($3.99) is available now at select natural, grocery, drug, and mass retailers, and via www.burtsbees.com.

A New Kind of Collaboration from Burt's Bees Featuring Us The Duo

Burt's Bees joins musicians and Vine sensations US THE DUO to create "flavorful" original songs! I love sharing stories such as this one and am excited to hear your original entries, if you feel inspired to do so... 

Husband and wife folk-pop group, Us the Duo, also known as Michael and Carissa Rae Alvarado, have been making waves recently with their viral 6-second Vine covers of beloved songs. Now, the online musical sensations are lending their talent to Burt’s Bees to create Burt’s Bees lip balm flavor inspired songs. From November to January Us the Duo will record and release four Vines all about their lip-loving favorite flavors. Guess what? Burt’s Bees wants fans to do the same.

Find the original songs at https://vine.co/UsTheDuo and https://twitter.com/burtsbees. Like Us the Duo’s wildly popular 6-second covers, which feature the couple’s faces from the lips down, the new Burt’s Bees inspired Vines will also be made in their signature lip-centric style. 

Tad Kittredge, Associate Director of Marketing at Burt’s Bees explains, “Us the Duo’s lip-centric Vines and their compelling love story caught our attention. We’re thrilled to see how they musically interpret the flavors of our natural lip balms with their flare for delightful six-second riffs.”

Check out the debut Coconut and Pear Vine with the lyrics, “Coconut & Pear, you’ve got the flowers in your hair. And we’re in love.” Or enjoy the all new Wild Cherry ode, “Wild Cherry I like to savor. Pull it out ya pocket and uncap the flavor.” 

Then, be inspired to create and submit your own Burt’s Bees lip balm flavor Vine. Share your original song on social media by tagging @BurtsBees and using the hashtag #UnCapFlavor, for the chance to be re-Tweeted and re-Vined by Us the Duo and Burt's Bees. With Us the Duo’s 4.2 million Vine followers and 134,000 Twitter followers plus Burt’s Bees’ 86,200 Twitter followers, your video could catapult you to virtual stardom, just like Us the Duo.

To find out more about Us the Duo’s Burt’s Bees must-haves, visit the Burt’s Bees Facebook and Instagram accounts for exclusive content. 

Carol's Daughter, Burt's Bees and Dana's Bakery

A few major things happened in 2014 for these three well known brands...

In 2014, Carol’s Daughter transformed the hair of people with curly hair with the new Marula Curl Therapy Collection, but also became a part of the L’Oreal family. Burt’s Bees changed their lip color game with the new Burt’s Bees Lip Crayons. And for Dana’s Bakery, Dana Loia opened a new Mac Bar at Gansevoort Market and brought many smiles to customers worldwide, including my very own family!

Carol’s Daughter Marula Curl Therapy Collection: Formulated to deeply rejuvenate each curl so they are trained to always be what you want them to be: soft, shiny and beautifully free. Available at Ulta and Ulta.com

· Marula Gentle Cream Cleanser, $18.00
· Marula Oil Softening Serum, $18.00
· Marula Softening Hair Mask, $24.00
· Marula Diffusing & Styling Lotion, $20.00
· Marula Curl Therapy Collection 3-Piece Starter Kit, $24.00

Swatched from left to right: 

Sedona Sands, Carolina Coast, Hawaiian Smolder,

 Redwood Forest, Napa Vineyard and Niagra Overlook.

Burt’s Bees Lip Crayons, ($9, burtsbess.com): These 100% natural lip crayons deliver a creamy matte finish and moisture-rich wear. Grown by nature, these harness the best of nature’s beautiful color and caring wisdom. With six available shades, plus 100% Natural ingredients like Shea Butter, Kendi Oil, and Jojoba Oil, Nature’s Crayons are now in full bloom.

Dana’s Bakery Champagne Celebration, ($30, danasbakery.com): Ring in 2015 with an little bite size treat with a Champagne Celebration from Dana’s Bakery – the best toast for ALL ages! Dana’s Bakery Champagne Celebration is available year round at danasbakery.com, 800-477-1816 or at the Mac Bar at Gansevoort Market!

Steven Alan: How to Get the Look using Burt's Bees, Vapour Organic Beauty and Ilia Beauty

Burt’s bees steered the make up look for the Steven Alan Fashion show. Steven Alan’s shared vision of natural beauty was the perfect complement to Burt’s Bees notion that nature is the original color expert. The likeminded brands agreed that the collection was best paired with a natural makeup look that placed full emphasis on the color of the lip.

  

   

HERE IS A BREAK DOWN OF THE LOOK: 

Step by Step:

·   Glowing, dewy skin was a critical part of the overall aesthetic and to deliver a truly ethereal glow, she prepped the skin with a Jenette Be Happy Toning Mist and applied a few drops of Burt’s Bees Radiance Serum.

·  Then, she applied a sheer wash of Vapour Organic Beauty Cream Foundation to the T-zone only using a Dermablend Foundation brush for the lightest of application. A dampened Beauty Blender was then patted over the foundation for the perfect natural looking finish.

·For luminosity and dimension, a lightly shimmer-infused sheer highlighting cream, Polkadots and Moonbeams from Ilia Beauty, was applied to the places on the face where light first reflects: bridge of the nose, cheekbones, apples of the cheeks, cupids bow and eyelids. Katey used a Vert feathery stippling brush for maximum effect and sheerest application.

·    For eyes, Katey applied no shadow or liner to keep the focus on the lip and skin. She simply curled the lashes and brushed the brows upward and at an angle to emphasize the models’ natural arch. W3ll People Brow Pigment Powder was lightly feathered into the outer 1/3 of the brow.

·  To finish the look and create the focal point Katey took the custom matched Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon and filled the models lips in with layers of color building to the desired intensity. She used her ring finger to pat a bit more color to the center of the lips for added definition.

·   Lastly, Katey applied Vapour Beauty Concealer to the under eye area to combat dark circles and around the nose to eliminate any remaining redness or discoloration.