It's not even summer yet but here in New England the warmer weather already is upon us. We're having a crazy spring. Some days it's been cool, even blustery, and last week parts of New England even had snow. But other days have been downright warm. So it's time to break out the layers. Of fragrance, that is. For much of the year people in New England have to layer their clothes, even in spring and summer. Mornings can start off cool, and then temperatures could reach into the Seventies by the afternoon. But when the weather gets hot, I... Continue reading

The Estee Lauder Company has acquired yet another major competitor with the purchase of L.A.-based Smashbox Cosmetics. Just off the newswire, via Reuters: News Estee Lauder to buy Smashbox makeup brand 02:32 PM EDT By Alexandria Sage SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL.N) said on Monday that it would buy Los Angeles-based Smashbox Beauty Cosmetics Inc to expand the prestige brand at home and internationally, but did not disclose terms. Estee Lauder said the deal, which is expected to close in July subject to regulatory approval, will add to earnings in fiscal 2011, before transaction and integration... Continue reading

BADgal Brown $19) by Benefit is the newest addition to Benefit's BADgal collection of mascaras. Designed to give you fuller, thicker lashes without clumps, BADgal Brown has a thinner brush than the original BADgal mascara in black and the BADgals in blue and plum. But don't be misled. The skinny brush is perfectly capable of giving you fatter lashes. When I wear it, it almost looks like I'm wearing false eyelashes. I used to use two different kinds of mascara - a thickening one and then a lengthening or curling one on top of it - to get the effect... Continue reading

For years I've been seeing bars of Kirk's Original Coco Castile Soap in an old-fashioned general store in a seaside town on the North Shore of Massachusetts that I love to go to. And for years I've been ignoring it. Just like the Clearly Natural soaps, I thought they looked cheap and of poor quality. But it just goes to show you that you can't judge a book by its cover. Because this soap is the best soap I've ever used on my face. And it costs around $1.50 a bar. We've all been told we shouldn't use soap on... Continue reading

In January I blogged about makeup artist Tarina Tarantino's new line of makeup exclusively for Sephora. The line has been in the stores for a few months now, and I recently purchased her Dollskin face powder ($32). The pink compact with hand-set crystals was so girly and cute that I had to buy it, but I was impressed with the product itself when I tried it on in the store. I tried shade #2, the lightest one. It looked pink-toned, which is perfect for me because I have a pink undertone to my skin. The coverage was good and it... Continue reading

In my never-ending search to find the perfect skin care regimen, I think I've found a winner in the moisturizer department. Beauty Without Cruelty's Maximum Moisture Cream ($16.95) strikes the perfect balance between moisture and texture. It looks rich in the jar but it goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. It reminds me of my most favorite moisturizer ever, Origin's Constant Comforter moisturizer for sensitive skin, which was discontinued a few years ago. The consistency and feel are almost identical. The fragrance is similar too, although a little more herbal in a bitter kind of way. But it's not an... Continue reading

I've been seeing Clearly Natural soaps in my local supermarkets for a few years now. I have to admit that I overlooked them because they look cheap. Too cheap. And the $1.99 price tag didn't help Clearly Natural look any better in my eyes. But lately I've stopped buying expensive department store skin care. I've been searching for inexpensive, back-to-basics skin care products. I've tried a variety of facial soaps (the most basic skin care item I can think of) from supermarkets and drugstores, but I've gotten bored with the usual Dove, Purpose, and Cetaphil bars which tend to dry... Continue reading

Zia Naturals is a skin care company that has been crafting personal-care products from natural ingredients since 1984. I was recently sent a sample of their Moisturizing Cleanser ($17.95) to review. Zia's Moisturizing Cleanser is a soap-free, milky cleanser that hydrates as it cleanses. It contaings Grape Seed and Soybean Oil to inhibit collagen damage, and Aloe Gel to soothe and help heal dry skin. I apply the Moisturizing Cleanser to a wet face in the morning, and a dry face in the evening when I have to remove makeup. I find applying this lotion cleanser to a dry face... Continue reading

This Thursday, April 22 will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held in 1970, when the ecology movement helped raise awareness of pressing environmental issues (I remember as a child I had a backpack with the ecology symbol on it, although I didn't really know what it meant). As an adult, I went to Earth Day's 20th anniversary celebration in 1990 in Central Park, New York City. My sister and I went to attend the concert and to see one of our favorite bands, the B-52s. Only it was a disaster. It was raining.... Continue reading

Bargain of the Week: The April Showers Microfiber Facial Scrubber is a round, two-sided facial scrubber that exfoliates skin when used with your favorite cleanser. One side is terry cloth to gently exfoliate. I use this side to remove eye makeup remover and any excess eye makeup. The other side has a polyester-blend honeycomb texture for a stronger exfoliation. It comes in a 3-pack and is available in assorted colors. I've been using my microfiber facial scrubber every day with a facial cleanser and I prefer it to my Clarisonic, which I never use. And the kicker is that I... Continue reading

I found this at TJ Maxx today. Cute as Hell Violet and Quince Body Wash is a fruity-fragranced gel with little moisture-filled micro beads that burst when you wash, along with aloe vera and algae extract. It's manufactured by Blue Q, makers of such irreverent bath and body brands as Wash Away Your Sins, Miso Pretty, and Total Bitch. Like these and other Blue Q products, clever names and funky graphics disguise mediocre products. Cute as Hell Violet and Quince Body Wash is just a basic shower gel. It's decent enough, but nothing special. The body wash lathers as well... Continue reading

I first used Pears soap when I was in high school, many, many years ago. The fact that it was British had appealed to me as an Anglophile, especially the prominent Royal Appointment seal that graced the box at that time: "By Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother." While I've since strayed to other brands, I find myself every once in a while buying a bar of Pears whenever I'm feeling nostalgic. The rosemary fragrance reminds me of washing my face with Pears in the morning before going off to school. There are many people, much older... Continue reading

It's a fair assessment to say that the average teenager today is more concerned with texting, Facebook, and the Twilight saga than with most other things in life. But Ava Anderson is not your average teenager. Last December, at the tender age of fifteen, she launched her own line of skin care products. Ava Anderson Non Toxic is the world's first line of skin care products in which every ingredient scores a zero on the Cosmetics Database toxicity scale. Everything that we put on our body ends up in our body, absorbed by the bloodstream. The Cosmetics Database scores the... Continue reading

Avon has announced it has acquired Liz Earle, the British naturally active skin care company. Liz Earle has a large following in the United Kingdom, where their most popular product, Cleanse and Polish, has an almost cult-like status, but the company has far lesser brand recognition among American consumers (apart from a brief period several years ago when it was sold on QVC). Earle and co-founder Kim Buckland will continue to manage the company as a stand-alone brand from their offices in England. The company has a US website, www.us.lizearle.com, so you can continue to buy it online. Here's hoping... Continue reading

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the name of this blog. For three years, it's been Wicked Beautiful. I wanted a name that ties into Boston, the area where I live and work. But it always sounded kind of awkward to me. Also, I always worried people outside of New England might not "get" the name, a take on New Englanders' use of the adjective "wicked" to mean "very," rather than "evil," i.e. "It's wicked hot today." So I've changed my URL from www.wickedbeautiful.com to www.bostonredlox.com. It may take a few days for the url change to take... Continue reading

Did you know that 1.4 million children are dying from water-related diseases every year? And a United Nations report, released today, found that polluted water kills more people than war does. Clean water is essential for life, but one in eight of the world's population does not have access to it. World Water Day will take place on March 22, 2010 to raise awareness of the global water crisis, one of the largest public health issues of our time. Nature’s Gate is a proud partner of WaterAid America , an international non-profit which helps poor communities in Asia and Africa... Continue reading

March Madness is upon us, but I don't usually get swept up in the hysteria that accompanies the NCAA basketball championship season. I politely decline the invitation to join the office March Madness pool because the only brackets I understand are punctuation marks. But even I could get into March Madness with Twist & Pout's University Collection. Twist & Pout is a lip balm contained in a unique orb-shaped container that comes in a variety of different designs. You twist the orb apart to reveal a rich, citrusy-tropical flavored lip balm that upon first glance resembles petroleum jelly. But Twist... Continue reading

One of my newest guilty pleasures is Be Good Johnny Weir, the Sundance Channel reality show that follows the flamboyant figure skater's antics both on and off the ice. Before his reality show, all I knew about Johnny Weir was that he was the skater who wore the swan costume during the last Olympics. But after watching his show, I came to like him. I started watching it right before the Olympics, so when I watched his performances at the Olympics I wasn't quite a "superfan," as his Japanese fans call themselves, but I was definitely rooting for him. And... Continue reading

wet n wild has revamped their product line with new products and new displays that look more like prestige drugstore makeup, while maintaining their very reasonable price points. Their new MegaLength Mascara is a good example. Its appearance reminds me of Covergirl mascaras, and it even comes on a card like Covergirl mascaras, but at $2.99, it's much more affordable - perfect for girls on a budget like myself. MegaLength Mascara boasts 80% longer-looking lashes. According to wet 'n wild: "One sweep of this superior lengthening formula creates hypnotically long lashes that last. In clinical tests, this fabulous mascara was... Continue reading

Today I purchased the Glycolic Cream Cleanser ($12.99) by Skin Effects by Dr. Dover. This line of cosmeceutical products has grown exponentially in the five years since it was first introduced. Dr. Jeffrey Dover is a renowned dermatologist with a successful practice just south of Boston. His Skin Effects line of products are sold exclusively at CVS drugstores nationwide. The Glycolic Cream Cleanser is a fairly recent addition to the range of Skin Effects cleansers. I always check out the skin care aisle when I'm in CVS, and I never noticed this particular cleanser in the Skin Effects section before.... Continue reading

Hard Candy display at Walmart I'm not talking about Almond Joy or Snickers bars at discount prices. I'm talking about Hard Candy cosmetics. Hard Candy was an early pioneer in the now-booming independent cosmetic companies industry. They were largely responsible for the funky-colored nail polish craze of the mid-to-late-Nineties when they introduced their iconic nail polish, in unusual colors like bright blue and mint green, with matching jelly rings. First sold in department stores like Nordstroms, and later in Sephora, Hard Candy underwent a few changes in ownership before disappearing altogether from high-end cosmetic stores. Now Hard Candy has reappeared... Continue reading

Breaking news from London: fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead today in his London home of an apparent suicide. He was 40 years old. McQueen, who brought tough, Rock and Roll elements like skulls to high fashion, dressed celebrities and musicians such as Lady Gaga, Bjork, Kate Moss, and Sarah Jessica Parker (above). Continue reading

On a recent trip to the mall, I discovered a line of Estee Lauder skin care I haven't seen before. The Nutritious line debuted in Asia in 2007. In America, it's sold exclusively at Nordstrom's. The Nutritious line uses the power of pomegranate and minerals to renew and energize skin. The products are packaged in sleek red and white bottles, jars, and tubes that look more youthful and modern than the traditional Estee Lauder packaging that to an extent reinforces the misconception that EL products are only for (ahem) older women. But the Nutritious line seems to market itself as... Continue reading

This Thursday, February 4th, is The Body Shop's Love Your Body Customer Appreciation Day. Members of the Love Your Body program receive 20% off all purchases instead of the usual 10%. Now is the time to stock up on your favorite products, or try new ones. If you don't have a Love Your Body card, click here to learn more. Love Your Body members get 10% off all of purchases now and throughout the year, as well as exclusive member-only events and discounts, a special birthday gift, and a point-based rewards system. If you're already a Love Your Body member,... Continue reading

When I saw the commercials for L'Oreal's new Go 360 Clean line of cleansers, I was intrigued. Included with each cleanser is a rubber "scrublet," a cleansing tool with nodules to exfoliate your skin. The Go 360 Clean Deep Cleansers are available in four formulas: one for oily, dry, or sensitive skin, as well as an exfoliating scrub. I purchased the cleanser for sensitive skin. I bought the sensitive skin formula because I thought it was non-foaming, but when I used it I discovered that it actually lathers. However, it's a light lather that didn't dry out my skin, so... Continue reading