Stem cell research is usually used to cure diseases. Lovely, I know. So what’s this have to do with beauty you ask? Lancome is using research in stem cell technology to create a skincare formula that stimulates cell regeneration for a younger appearance. Though the words “stem cells” usually lead me to yawn – my ears perked when I learned there is a pretty reason, so sit up and listen.

Lancome has used their knowledge of how skin ages along with stem cell research to create Absolue Precious Cells – a treatment specifically for women over 50. Around age 50 the skin cells that regenerate & keep skin looking young and radiant diminish in power. This, naturally, leads to aging skin. Lancome Absolue Precious Cells works to stimulate this regeneration process and revive these tired cells. Clinical results show that skin looks smoother and more radiant and wrinkles are reduced after 4 weeks of use.

We didn’t actually try this product seeing as we have a few decades before turning fifty, but results seem promising and the science behind this breakthrough is solid.

$145 at www.lancome.com

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

Many organic skin care lines tend towards granola-y packaging – jeune d’age on the other hand delivers organic ingredients along with packaging that still feels lovely and luxurious. jeune d’age organics is a skincare line that is free of synthetic chemicals, fragrances and preservatives and is loaded with proven skin-friendly ingredients. We loved their four piece product line – a full skincare regimen with serum, cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

The 93% Organic Premiere Cleanser and Mild Exfoliator has a creamy texture and leaves skin feeling soft and exceptionally clean. In addition to a cocktail of antioxidants, the formula includes green papaya, pineapple and papaya extracts to gently exfoliate. $19.95

The Prevoir Face and Body Lotion is not only loaded with antioxidants and moisturizing ingredients: it can also be used on the face and body. We love a good multitasker! $29.95

The Firming Anti-Aging Serum is packaged in individual packets to keep sensitive ingredients stable and effective (many ingredients including Vitamin C become unstable when exposed to air). The serum is loaded with antioxidants – Acai berry, CoQ10 and Vitamin C as well as Vitamins A, B and E. They’ve also added Hyaluron and DMAE to keep skin soft and supple. Not only is this a very effective serum – the box that the individual packets are presented in is made from flower seeds and can be planted to create a flower garden of your own. $39.95

Though we loved the whole line two items stood out – Firming Anti-Aging Serum and Prevoir Face and Body Lotion. We loved the multitasking of the moisturizer and the easy portability of the serum – not to mention the flower garden you can grow yourself. Find the full collection at www.jeunedage.com.

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

From King Kong to Prince Charming

Does your man secretly envy your collection of grooming products? Do you catch him using your moisturizer on the sly? If you wanna treat him to his own beauty arsenal, here are some of our favorite manly grooming kits – he will look good and still feel like a manly man:

Kiehl’s Ultimate Man Collection includes White Eagle Shave Cream, Facial Fuel, Ultimate Man Scrub Soap, Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash, Ultimate Strength Hand Salve $48.50 www.kiehls.com

Zihr Starter Kit includes four Zihr favorites for a perfect male complexion – Zihr Clean, Correct, Protect and Shave Gel. $59 www.sephora.com

Anthony Logistics For Men – A Clean Start Kit is a five piece set with everything a man needs for grooming – Glycolic Facial Cleanser, Facial Scrub, Shave Cream, After Shave Balm and Lip Balm. $40 at www.sephora.com

Lab Series Daily Essential Set is a three part regimen for men’s skincare. Set includes Multi-Action Face Wash, Maximum Comfort Shave Cream and Daily Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 15. $29.50 at www.sephora.com

We absolutely love this as a stocking stuffer for men because it is all encompassing: a richly lathering minty scent envelops this Redken for Men Mint Rush Hair & Body Wash. The best part is that one tube is perfect for EVERYTHING that your man wants: shampoo? Check. Conditioner? Check. Body Wash? Check. This is the stocking stuffer that keeps giving (and it won’t break the bank). $12.83 at Amazon.com

Axe Deep Clean Shampoo & Hair Scrub is an intense cleaning process for the man who wants to “deglue and remove oil” from his hair (or buy it for him as a hint). We recommend a gift trio with the Smooth & Sophisticated Look Shine Pomade along with an Axe Detailer Shower tool that will exfoliate his skin cells. All at Amazon.com. Girl and gift approved – naturally.

International flights tend to be two things – long and drying. Being on a plane for 14 hours is tough (as I learned recently on a flight to China) but even tougher is the parched lips caused by the dry cabin air. Luckily a couple of days before my flight I was given a tube of Payot Hydration 24 Protection Levres / Spf 10 long lasting hydrating lip balm – and it absolutely rescued my lips! Hydratation 24 Protection Levres is part of Payots’ Les Hydro- Nutritives line – a line of specific products to hydrate, nourish and protect dehydrated skin.

Payot’s highly moisturizing lip balm is enriched with avocado, macadamia and jojoba oil and vitamin E to moisturize and protect lips for up to 24 hours. The lip balm was designed to hydrate, soothe and protect lips including sensitive ones. I found it absorbed quickly and kept my lips moisturized for the duration of my flight.

Now if only there was a tinted version…

Payot is carried in spas. Find it at your local spa – payot.com

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

Dry winter air is notorious for causing parched skin. From your face to your feet, the lack of humidity is sure to take a toll on the largest organ on your body. Lisa Hoffman Spa Bath – Hand and Foot Butter is ideal for those of us suffering from this malady on our hands and feet. This creamy concoction is part of Lisa Hoffman’s Spa Bath line – a five piece line that is equally lavish and eco-friendly – Lisa Hoffman uses ingredients and fragrances that are harvested from rainforests worldwide in a sustainable manner. This shea butter cream is infused with botanicals and antioxidant acai and grape seed oil. The texture is creamy and luxurious and it smells divine – fragrance notes include Madagascar orchid, Jasmine, Orange and Bergamot.

Usually by this time of year (and it’s not even winter yet) my hands are dry and scaly and my cuticles are all torn up. I have been using Lisa Hoffman Hand and Foot Butter religiously for days and my usually ragged cuticles are beautifully moisturized and healthy looking. This highly effective moisturizing butter is packaged in a luxurious air tight jar with a special pump that you press on to distribute just the right amount of product -so every pump is fresh. Find it at LisaHoffmanSkincare.com $35.50

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

Estee Lauder introduces Ultimate Red a Limited Edition collection of deep rich reds and golden accents for the ultimate holiday allure. Inspired by the runway and the red carpet, Ultimate Red is a luxurious and sophisticated collection perfect for gift-giving (or giving to yourself).

Check out our favorites from this opulent collection:

For smoky eyes in shades of plum, burgundy and grey with metallic gold, Estee Lauder brings you two Limited Edition eyeshadow quads housed in decadent gold compacts:

Eyeshadow Quad in Gold Opulence $35.00

A look with Estee Lauder Gold Opulence Quad

Eyeshadow Quad in Lavish Plum $35.00

A look with Estee Lauder Lavish Plum Quad

Available just for the holidays the Opulent Shimmer Glosses give you a sheer, shiny finish:

Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Gold ($18.00)

Opulent Shimmer Gloss in Cranberry $18.00

Create a smoky look or a precise dark line with Estee Lauder’s new Gel Eyeliner in Black.

Gel Eyeliner in Black $19.50

Find this dramatic collection at Estee Lauder counters and Esteelauder.com.

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

I love flavored lip products! As a kid you could not separate me from my Lip Smackers – they went everywhere I went. Now I’ve found a grown up version -Winter Cordials by Bath and Body Works and C.O. Bigelow are flavored to taste like your favorite holiday drinks. The delicious flavors are:

Triple Hot Chocolate $7.50

Warm Spiced Cider $7.50

Vanilla Cream Eggnog $7.50

Hot Buttered Rum $7.50

Mini Mentha Frosty trio $10.00 – Spearmint, Cinnamint and Peppermint flavors

All of the flavors are incredibly sweet and have a hint of mint. I can’t decide if my favorite is Warm Spiced Cider or Hot Buttered Rum – I guess I’ll just have to use both.

Unlike my Lip Smackers which were mostly for flavor – the Winter Cordials give you a hint of shimmer and shine – so I can have a sweet and shiny pucker.

Find them at Bath & Body Works stores or bathandbodyworks.com

Every holiday season I look forward to the new offerings from my favorite beauty brands. I can always find a new palette (or two) to add to my beauty collection. This year is no different – Laura Mercier’s holiday kits have made it onto my wish list. Here are the latest contenders for center stage on my vanity:

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Palette features five perfectly paired baked eye colors in one convenient palette. Also includes a double ended mini brush to contour and define eyes.

Shades in the palette include: champagne, sepia, mink, malt and sterling

Included Brushes: Crème Eye Detail Brush and Eye Colour Brush, $48

Laura Mercier Petite Eye Palettes are pocket sized eye shadow palettes available for warm and cool tones.

Warm palette includes eyeshadow shades: Sandstone, Stellar, Bamboo and Truffle.

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Cool palette includes eyeshadow shades: Morning Dew, Rose, African Violet and Twilight Grey, $28 each

Laura Mercier Deluxe Mini Brush Set is a kit of mini versions of Laura Mercier’s professional brushes perfect for when you’re on the go.

Included Double-Ended Brushes:

Crème Cheek Colour/Cheek Colour

Secret Camouflage/Camouflage Powder

Ponytail/Eye Colour

Brow Groomer/Lip

Flat Eye Liner/Smudge

$85 (value of $274)

These fabulous gifts are available October 2009 at Neiman Marcus and lauramercier.com.

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

Looking for a chic gift? Here are our picks from Chanel’s Holiday offerings. Head to your nearest Chanel counter and scoop up one of these luxurious kits:

Les Minis de Chanel Makeup Brush Set – this six piece set of professional, travel makeup brushes

includes:

Powder Brush for seamless application

Blush Brush to sculpt and highlight cheeks

Concealer Brush to target flaws

Eye Brush for precise eyelining

Eye Brush for precise shading

Lip Brush for flawless coverage

All in a luxurious travel case with iconic CHANEL signature. $120

Les Deux Levres Scintillantes Gift Set- this set of 2 lip glosses and lip definer includes:

Gloss in Spark a golden berry

Gloss in Praline a beige rose (exclusive to the set)

A mini LE CRAYON LÈVRES Precision Lip Definer in Nude

This glossy set comes in a chic signature makeup bag. $50

Trio Exclusif de Vernis Gift Set - this set of three polishes is perfect for the holidays:

Shades include:

Tulipe Noir a pearly plum black

Allegoria a pink nude

Trapeze a silvery grey

Packaged in a chic travel case. $65

Chanel Fragrance Wardrobe - dress yourself in a selection of 5 fabulous Chanel fragrances in 0.12 oz bottles. Fragrances included:

Allure

Chanel N°5

Chanel N°19

Coco Mademoiselle

Coco

A great way to try 5 different Chanel fragrances. $105

Le Regard de Noir Smokey Eye Essentials Gift Set – this set has everything you need for a smoky eye look – kit includes:

LES 4 OMBRES Quadra Eye Shadow in Smoky Eyes

LE CRAYON KHÔL Intense Eye Pencil & companion sharpener;

EXCEPTIONNEL DE CHANEL Intense Volume and Curl Mascara in Noir

LE PINCEAU OMBRE #2 Eyeshadow Brush Mini

DÉMAQUILLANT YEUX INTENSE Gentle Biphase Eye Makeup Remover

All in a CHANEL makeup bag with monogram $140

- Catia Carvalho Trooskin

Has the economic situation made you think twice about spending on expensive dermatologist and spa treatments? Do you want dermatological results but are afraid of undergoing a medical procedure? In the US there are over 10 million surgical and non-surgical procedures a year – 80% of those procedures are non-surgical. If the thought of sitting in a dermatologist’s chair makes you queasy – have no fear – many technologies that were previously only available in spas and dermatologists offices are now available over the counter for home use. Whether you are battling acne, trying to diminish the signs of aging or looking for easy hair removal we’ve found a home solution for you. These are effective & easy to use home gadgets that promise to save you money and give you the results you seek:

ACNE

Acne affects about 80% of the US population. Most acne issues are treated with over-the-counter medication however acne is the leading reason for seeking dermatological treatments. If you are looking for an effective at home solution with dermatologist-like results the below are for you:

Thermaclear is a heat-enabled acne clearing system that works by releasing a beam of heat directly to acne spots. It claims to clear acne pimples at least twice as fast as acne not treated with Thermaclear. Users have found Thermaclear to be highly effective, especially when used at the onset of acne spots. It only takes two seconds of use to start the acne clearing process. There is minimal pain from the heat, which is similar to tweezing for some and more like waxing or using an epilator for others. The biggest difference between Thermaclear and other heat-enabled acne clearing devices is the easy two second treatment time. $149 amazon.com

ZENO is another heat-enabled acne clearing device. Unlike Thermaclear’s treatment time of two seconds, Zeno must be used for two full minutes on each spot you wish to remove. The tip heats to a pre-set temperature and upon contact with acne spots releases heat into the follicle killing acne bacteria. Users reported acne clearing up in just a few hours as opposed to topical treatments that take days to show visible effects. $149 amazon.com

ANSR Acne Care Kit uses a combination of red and blue LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights and topical treatments to get rid of acne. Most LED devices used to treat acne only use blue LED lights – the ANSR system uses both blue and red LED lights in order to eradicate the acne pimples and then diminish redness and scarring. Users reported a noticeable difference in the appearance of their skin. Kit includes LED gadget and topical pre-treatment cleanser, moisturizer and night gel. $195 blissworld.com

Evis MD Platinum Blue Light Therapy – is a handheld LED device that uses blue light to treat acne. Uses the same level of LED light as professional machines for a once a week treatment as opposed to other LED devices that require daily use. $249.95 amazon.com

Tanda Acne Light Therapy Treatment also uses blue LED light to kill acne-causing bacteria removing pimples and preventing future breakouts. It is to be used along with a special cleanser and anti-blemish gel that were designed specifically to work with the Tanda device. Users found the Tanda device significantly improved the skin’s appearance. At around $75 per blue light treatment at a facial clinic the Tanda pays for itself after only a few uses. Set includes Tanda device, Light-Optimized Cleanser and Light-Optimized Anti-Blemish Gel. Can also be used with a Red Light treatment head to reduce the signs of aging ($75 sold separately). $250 Sephora.com

ANTI AGING

The majority of cosmetic procedures are those aimed at rejuvenating skin. That is no surprise – since about 8000 people in the U.S. turn 60 each day. Aging is a fact of life but the appearance of aging skin doesn’t have to be. The below at home treatments promise to help in the battle against wrinkling, sagging, age spots and rough texture:

Nuface Micro current Device uses micro currents to instantly lift skin. Studies show a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles over time. It is FDA approved for use in toning the face. The micro currents increase blood flow for more collagen and elastin production. It is handheld and convenient and only needs to be used for a few minutes a day. $325 blissworld.com

Tanda Regenerate Anti-Aging Starter Kit is dermatologist recommended and scientifically proven to reduce the signs of aging. Improves skin tone, texture and color and diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines using red LED light therapy for results that are close to dermatologist treatments. Kit includes Light- Optimized Cleanser and Anti-Aging Serum to be used in conjunction with device. Can also be used with Blue Light treatment head to combat acne ($75 sold separately). $275 sephora.com

ANSR Skin Rejuvenation System uses the same LED light technology as the ANSR Acne Care Kit. The only difference between the two kits is in the anti-aging topical treatments included in the Skin Rejuvenation System. $195 blissworld.com

Evis MD Platinum Red Light Therapy is another handheld device that uses red LED light technology to reduce the signs of aging. Just like Evis MD Platinum Blue Light Therapy, this version also uses the same level of LED light as professional machines for a once weekly treatment. $249 amazon.com
DEEP CLEANING

Deep Cleaning helps to brighten skin, remove dead skin cells and enhances the penetration of topical treatment products. One deep cleaning at home product stands out among the crowd:

Clarisonic MD Professional Skincare Brush uses sonic technology for a deep clean. It works at a 300 time per second oscillation to remove makeup and clean six times better than regular cleansing. Pores are clear and diminished in size. Skin is noticeably clearer and even. Clarisonic has a cult following among beauty lovers and users rave about the dramatic results. $195at clarisonic.com
HAIR REMOVAL

Bliss/Phillips Bikini Perfect Deluxe Spa Edition is an electronic grooming kit used to remove hair. Instead of springing for expensive spa hair removal, this kit allows for at home hair removal using six shaving and epilating attachments for different levels of hair removal. It even includes and eyebrow comb and micro trimmer for maintaining your arches. $59.99 sephora.com

No!no! uses thermal transference to send heat to the hair follicle for easy, no pain hair removal. No!no! literally burns the hair by use of a built in wire that transmits heat. Used in conjunction with the included buffer no!no! removes hair over time. Not for a quick fix, this is a long-term solution that requires continued use. $99 sephora.com

Tria Laser Hair Removal System is an FDA approved device that uses laser technology to remove hair below the neck. You simply zap the hairs and the hair falls out within two weeks. Regrowth takes longer than waxing, leaving you free from waxing appointments. Though expensive at $795 it is a value when compared to professional laser hair removal.

Blissworld.com

Silk’n Sensepil uses FDA cleared Home Pulsed Light technology for long term hair removal. It is dermatologist recommended and clinically proven to remove hair using optical energy to disable hair growth. It has a built in skin sensor that tests whether your skin is the right color for treatment – damage can occur in darker tones. This device can be used below the neck for effective hair removal.$499 silkn.com

LESS EXPENSIVE OPTIONS

Pretika Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Brush is an alternative to the Clarisonic brush. Many users found Pretika’s Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Brush comparable to the Clarisonic at a quarter of the price. Pretika uses sonic high frequency micro-pulsating cleansing technology to remove the dry and flaky outer-layer of skin. It reveals smoother skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Also helps with acne, large pores, oily skin and dryness.

$49.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond, Target and QVC.com

Dove SkinVitalizer Facial Cleaning Massager is a deep cleaning vibrating face massager that revitalizes skin for smooth, soft skin. It stimulates surface skin for a glowing, more beautiful complexion. Users reported super soft exfoliated skin. Kit contains a vibrating device and pads to attach to device. $7.99 amazon.com

Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser is another deep cleaning vibrating face massager. It removes oil, makeup and dirt better than using regular cleansers. It is available in one or two speeds – for two speeds look for the Neutrogena Wave Duo. Users found skin softer and clearer after use. Neutrogena Wave $12.88 and Neutrogena Wave Duo $15.99 amazon.com

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Rejuvenator uses a vibrating device and rejuvenating pads to reveal softer, younger looking skin. Puffs use ultra-fine aluminum crystals to exfoliate and micro-vibrations stimulate skin to increase cell turnover. Users reported fresh, glowing skin and reduced pore size and blackheads. $29.60 amazon.com

- Reporting by Catia Carvalho Trooskin