Merry Christmas from all of us at Groomed L.A. !

December 25, 2010

Have a beauty-filled Christmas everyone!

I'm in Canada freezing my ta-ta's off and will return on January 1st.

Until then, a gazillion thanks for all your eyeballs!

Hugs, kisses and MWAHS and tune in for exciting news about Groomed L.A. in 2011.

Starting with the unveiling of her mini-face lift.

Like all great broads, this one needs a little nip tuck.  

When she's totally healed she'll make her debut. 

And now I'm going to stop talking about the blog like it's a person cuz it's getting a little weird.

 

HAPPY HAPPY!

XOX

Kid’s bed design of the year goes to: The New Traditionalists

December 24, 2010

Bed

This aint yo mama's Ikea.

Chic-est kid's bed ever.

The Regency Youth Bed.  

All I want for Christmas is a (starting at)  $2100 kid's bed.  

What, you gotta problem with that?  It's sustainable harvested hardwoord, non-toxic, hand applied with water based lacquer and look at it… It's stunning!  And you can pick your finish and create your own style in any color combination imaginable. 

The New Traditionalists motto: "If you believe that 'traditional' and 'cool' are not mutually exclusive, you are one of the new traditionalists."  Could that be me?

Handcrafted in New England, designed in NYC, hand-rubbed finishes, environmentally smart.  

When I get bought out by a biggie, I'm gettin me mine.

 

Bed2

Bed3

 

 

Rae Cosmetics – Flawless skin, sunscreen and jammed with vitamins and anti-oxidants all in one.

December 23, 2010

Climate_control_mineral_tint_-_spf_20-1

This town is filled with multi-hyphenates.  Actress/model/bottle hostess. Writer/producer/interior designer.  It only makes sense that a high impact beauty product better be rocking at least two to three slashes to make it in L.A.

A major beauty obsesh of mine is the combo foundation/moisturizer/sunblock.   If I can knock smooth, flawless coverage, moist skin and a wicked sunscreen in one product, then it gets the starring role.   While I'm gaga over products, I'm into super simplicity and a mayyjorrlly low maintenance routine.  I have more tubes then you can imagine crowding my bathroom.  I want less, not more.

RAE COSMETICS, created by make-up artist Rochelle Rae nails this and then some with her Climate Control SPF 20 Mineral Tint ($39).   Not only am I covered in the sunblock department with some serious SPF 20 – but the foundation coverage is SICK!   It's not thick and goopy like most of these double duty foundation/suncreen posers.  It's light, it moves, it glows.  It's a fricken wonderland of luminescent creaminess that doesn't sit on the skin but rather is absorbed by it, becoming the ultimate moisturizer and skin perfector.  Fresh, clean, light and flawless.  Uh, helllooo!!

It's water-based, non-chemical and rocks antioxidants all-in-one.

Oh and check this out: It's water-resistant.  It stays on all day, even when you sweat.

Hypo-allergenic, oil, fragrance and talc free, it's made from a micro-crushed blend of minerals, pigments and potent anti-oxidants form crystals that overlap on skin, forming a barrier that protects from free radicals, pollutants and sun damage, while allowing the skin to breathe and function normally, as if wearing nothing at all.  Ahhh….

It's also jammed with Titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, ginkgo biloba, chamomile and vitamins A, C and E to protect, moisturize and heal even the most sensitive skin, while evening skin tones and masking imperfections.   It's designed to withstand heat and perspiration and won't crease or smear while at work or play. 

I've been working two different shades, alternating and sometimes mixing together.  

The rest of her line kicks-ass too.  Her bronzers are sweeet and lip glosses are awesome.

Simplify your routine and get fresh and pretty with Rae here.

http://www.raecosmetics.com/

 

 

SOMME INSTITUTE – closing out the year with this gorgeous skin care line

December 22, 2010

 

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I've been blabbing about rounding out the year with a "BEST OF" post – featuring Groomed L.A.'s top picks on all our fave subjects.  Looks like this tired mama 'aint getting to it.

But I did want to go out with a skin care bang and one company I lost it over this year was Somme Institute.

I was sent their line and told to use it exclusively for 5 weeks.  And I tried my hardest to, which is tricky when sampling skin-care is what I do.  But I did my best to use it as my primary line and the results were stunning.  I heard nothing but:  Holy crap, your skin looks amazing!  What?  You just had a baby?  Your skin looks insane!  And more of that sort of stuff. Not kidding.   Yes, I did a VI PEEL or two but I am quite certain, it was my diligent application of this 5 step process ($298), daily, that sent my skin into a gorgeous, glow-y universe.  

The stylish, minimal, modern packaging is clearly and cleverly designed with giant color dots and once you get going there's no thinking about what product comes first. You simply get the colors in your head and then you can grab the right one in your sleep.  It's that easy.

Ok, here's the deal:  Somme Institute has developed and patented a revolutionary and radical new technology called MDT5 (Molecular Dispersion Technology).  Containing free radical fighting anti-oxidants, MDT5 allows 5 highly engineered essential vitamins (A, B3/B5, C, and E) to penetrate the inner skin layers in their active forms at high concentrations. These free-radical fighting vitamins are bound in a scientific matrix of polypeptides that target specific skin cell receptors permitting Somme Institute to benefit the skin by:

• Delivering intense hydration and moisture
• Repairing sun damage and discoloration
• Smoothing fine lines, wrinkles and crepiness
• Increasing the density of the dermal matrix
• Increasing skin elasticity with continued use

This unique formula penetrates deep within the skin without oxidizing or losing potency when exposed to air or light.

The result is the most profound visual changes in skin texture, radiance and overall appearance ever achieved in cosmetic history without a prescription.

THE 5-STEP PROCESS INCLUDES:
Step 1: Nourishing Cleanser (non-foaming/non-irritating)
Step 2: Transport (gentle exfoliant)
Step 3: Serum (with Vitamin C)
Step 4: A-Bomb (moisturizer with Vitamins A and E)
Step 5: Double Defense (SPF 30+)


 READ MORE ABOUT IT AFTER THE BREAK

 

continue reading →

BORGHESE FANGO BRILLANTE BRIGHTENING MUD MASK FOR FACE AND BODY

December 21, 2010

Borghese-fango-brillante

 

I've always loved everything about BORGHESE.  When I was a kid my mom's dresser was over-crowded with their products.   It was a constant battle for dresser top real estate between Borghese and Erno Laszlo.  I was always dipping my finger in the various pots of creams with the name I couldn't pronounce.  I've been dabbling in their stuff ever since.  

Being a mask diva, I recently sampled their FANGO BRILLANTE MUD MASK FOR FACE AND BODY and was happy as could be with it.   With Vitamin A, Citrus Unshlu Peel Extract along with natural vitamins and mineral rich extracts I was extremely pleased with my post-mask skin.    The Italian Mud is full of natural vitamins and mineral-rich extracts that even out skin tone and help remove dead skin cells and erase the effects of environmental debris.  The Acqua di Vita® Complex - rehydrates and nourishes skin, revealing clearer, younger looking skin and the Vitamin A & Citrus Unishiu Peel Extract  are in their for a brighter, more radiant complexion.

The 7oz. tube is $33.50 and the yummy 17.6 oz. pot is $61.00

A classy holiday gift for the mask junkie in your life!  

OH, and it's pronounced BOR-GAY-ZAH. 🙂