Beauty Buzz: Budget Battle #1

In the middle of The Great Recession, what's a lady to do when she needs to buy a face lotion? Not just any lotion, but a magic in a bottle, change my life, skin enhancing potion that costs more than your newborn child or at least the stroller baby will ride in.  I love-Love-Love La Mer face creme. Especially, this time of year! It's decadent, it really does affect the skin, and even though I know there are healthier products on the market, it has that revolutionary, burn healing, yummy "Miracle Broth" that makes my skin glow like a teenager! Plus, my husband noticed a difference in my skin after just one day of using this delicious creme! Isn't that enough? Shouldn't that be enough?

Well, it's not.  Priorities. Priorities. And unfortunately uber expensive beauty products aren't on the top of that list.  So, instead of sulking at the beauty counters hoping someone will throw a sample at me, I have decided to seek out cost effective equals or at least runner ups!  These beauty on a budget buys have been tested, compared, and reviewed with surprising results! So wipe those budget blues away and step up to my No Need to Sell Your Baby Beauty Bar!!!

BUDGET BATTLE #1: 

La Mer: Creme de La Mer; $130 for 1 oz  VS   

Origins: Make a Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream; $36 for 1.7 oz

While visiting Denver Diva, I was in the process of healing myself from the Bottom of the Bottle Breakout so lotion was of topic.  Luckily, I was reintroduced to Origins via the beautiful new global store and Pekoe Sip House.  I had used Origins years and years ago and it was fun to partake in a full circle beauty product journey!  I was instantly reminded of all that I loved of Origins: "natural and certified organic ingredients, 100% natural essential oils, free of: parabens, phtalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, PABA, Paraffin, DEA, animal ingredients, and animal testing", and to boot products that work!!!  I was overjoyed by the reminder of this company's commitment to health, beauty, and our environment!  So, of course, I went home with a product or two, including the Make A Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream.  

All I can say is: WOW!!! This new Ultra-Rich version of Make a Difference is amazing!!!  Instantly, it's incredibly soothing, hydrating, healing and yet, so luscious, and light!! A lot of super emollient creams are heavy and after a few hours can start to "melt" off your face.  This cream feels like a night cream designed for the daytime!  It seems to really be healing my skin as much as it's hydrating it!  Plus, at this price I feel like I can apply a nice coat without feeling anxious!  Though you don't really need it!

This product, is completely able to hold it's own against the Creme de La Mer! It seems lighter, spreads with ease: so a little goes a long way, has an equally pleasant aroma, has no nasty preservatives, and has a MUCH better price point. It makes my skin feel and appear smoother, plumper, dare I say younger, and overall healthier.  With this cream my skin feels protected against the elements and even more so layered on top of Origins: A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian.  Even though I will always accept gifts of La Mer, Origins Make a Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream will from here on out be my day cream of choice!!! 

With all that said, I can gladly announce the Budget Battle #1 Winner is Origins Make A Difference Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream!!! Yeah for beauty on a budget! Who says you can't have it all?

Beauty Buzz: My First GIVEAWAY!!!!

I am sure by now you know I love trying out new beauty products. I am constantly seeking out something that will help me look and feel my best with the least amount of effort, cost, or care.  Really, what I want is that crazy tube machine in the Jetson's that you just walk into half asleep and magically come out looking perfect and caffeinated! If that came in a jar I would be a lifetime supply!!! 

With that said, I am probably only wowed by 1 out of 6 products I try. It's exhausting! I have such high hopes for all those semi-finalists that actually make it onto my face, hair, body.  So many of the times these start off as superstars and then after a few days/weeks they have some weird side effect that bumps them off my shelf.  So sad! But, I don't loose hope. I know there are awesome products just waiting for me to run into them that will transform my life!!! When I find them, I will let you know!!!  

With that said, I think I found one!!! Excited? I bumped into something new for my hair to love! I am kinda a loyalist when it comes to hair products. But, when the planets aligned for theBottom of the Bottle Breakout, I knew it was time to explore! Where better to look than my hair inspiration Kate Hudson.   She recently started a new line of hair products with her stylistDavid Babaii of which 10% of all profits are donated to WildAid, a global wildlife conservation group.  Plus, these products aren't tested on animals, free of sulfates, parabens, and petrochemicals, and have won tons of beauty awards already.  You can even find them in beauty stores like Sally's and online at Folica.com. If all that wasn't awesome enough to get you up right now, the price point is just right at $10 for shampoo/conditioner and they are good sized bottles at 13.5oz. 

I have been using the Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner for a couple weeks now and love, love, love, the feel and texture of my hair.  I have wavy, thick hair and this product seems to smooth out the frizz. I feel like I don't really need a leave in conditioner anymore.  My hair feels plump, smooth, healthy, and surprisingly light. With all the cupuacu butter in there I thought for sure it would leave my hair heavy or weighed down.  But what I love the most is the aroma! When I opened the package they shipped in I was flooded by the familiar scent of Hawaiian Tropic sun tan lotion and Lord do I LOVE that smell! (Sometimes I put it on as lotion in the summer!!!) It's the hydrating conditioner!!! So every time I take a shower it's like I am washing my hair under a waterfall in Hawaii!  Yet, after washed out, the aroma is a slight lingering memory on your hair. It makes me smile! 

Given all this new product love, I can't help but share it with you!! You just have to try this shampoo and conditioner; so, I am giving a set away!!!  I know I am so excited too!!!! Here's how to earn a chance at winning:

1. Become a follower of wholemomma.blogspot.com (make sure to leave contact info) and/or

2. Comment about this giveaway on your blog (send me a link so I can check out your blog too!)

Giveaway enrollment ends October 30Th 2:00 pm Pacific Time and will be announced Nov 1st 2009.  One winner will be chosen at random to win one bottle of David Babaii Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner. Check in to see who the lucky winner will be, maybe YOU!!!

Beauty Buzz: Bottom of the Bottle Breakout!

Every year or so, the planets align in the right way and all of my beauty products seem to go empty around the same time.  This phenomena I call the "Bottom of the Bottle Breakout" which to me means all that extra oxygen mixing with the 1/2 inch of makeup, cleansers, or lotions starts to turn the product a little funky and full of potential free-radicals, bacteria, or just plain old inert stuff working against, instead of with my skin.  This BOTBB always starts me on a quest to seek out something better or more advanced on the market. Inevitably, I start over exfoliating my skin, using too many strong ingredients, causing a complete barrier chaos of teenage acne prone skin!!! It's not pretty! Then, of course I start decreasing all my new finds and heading back to basic, basic stuff to bring my skin back into balance! Nod your head if this ever happens to you so I don't feel so alone!!! Thanks! 

So, with this year's solar eclipse, I have found one product that has really helped me get through the chaos.  It has been on my shelves for years and has found it's way back into my life with open arms; that is Aveda Acne Balancing Infusion in the little teeny brown glass jar.  Whenever I break out I usually use Retin-a Micro which I got from my dermo. It usually helps in a pinch and when applied lightly can do the trick without too much over drying.  Unfortunately, with the BOTBB causing so many blemishes this stuff turned my skin into a red, flaky, irritated mess.  Again, not pretty; especially for someone in their thirties!!! SO, I used basic cleanser, toner, lotion, and spot treated with this balancing infusion at night. This instantly took away the sore, tight feeling in my breakout, helped decrease redness, kept any neighbors from popping up, and helped heal the blemishes from the inside out so there were no super gross exploding white head days I always dread with any bump on my face!!! The healing process took a little longer but with such less damage-no post acne hyper-pigmentation, scarring, flaking, or expanded pores! Plus, as an extra bonus, the aromas especially the lavender in this product, be it strong, helped soothe me into a deeper, relaxed sleep.  Aveda Balancing Infusion you have made it to the front of my medicine cabinet! Congratulations and Thank you!