Confession: This is my beauty dresser.

Sure, I’ve told you that part of my job means being inundated with cremes, serums, toners, makeup, oxygen in gel form, etc… but I never did claim to keep them neat! Admittedly, from time to time, things get out of control and it looks as though Allure Magazine has exploded on my dresser.

However, that is not the point of this blog post.  The point is, you’ll notice a beaming ray of organized yellow sunshine on the bottom left hand corner, otherwise known as the Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C Hydra-Moist line. It’s the set of products that has emerged from the depths of my dresser top to the highly coveted forefront, and with good reason. I’ve been using this product line every day lately, and my been skin’s la-la-loving me for it! THE CLOSE UP:

It came in this sweet faux-pony hair pouch that I use ALL the time now:

And here’s what it looks like as as a basic set, in excellent lighting (get the whole thing for $59):

My morning and evening routine as of late has included a number of these products: The Hydrating Cleanser, the Concentrated Serum, the All Day Cream, the Eye Radiance, the Illuminating Eye Pads, a few others here and there… and my skin has been obeying, radiating and illuminating like the tubes say. It’s the kind of vibrancy that makes me feel comfortable going without makeup. The products absorb quickly, contain just the right amount of fragrance, and are also quite convenient for traveling. They’ve helped smooth my skin, minimize the appearance of blemishes, and all in all, make me look much like that ray of happy brightness amidst my scary-looking dresser top.

In the yellow spirit… here’s my EG Vitamin C-doused self on the subway:

And rocking the eye pads before a wedding (nevermind the teeth whitening tray and collagen lip plumping strip…):

Just like Vitamin C in a tall glass of OJ helps cure colds and stave off illness, it also has a similar effect when it comes to repairing and preventing skin damage. How does C do it all! Here, Elizabeth Grant’s Beauty Director and VP of Global Direction, Margot Grant Witz, shares:

6 Skin-Enhancing Benefits of Vitamin C:

1. Clears up hyperpigmentation, brightening and lightening your skin.
2. Reverses the effects of sun exposure and sun damages.
3. Blocks pollution, free radicals and other environmental gunk floating around.
4. Most women by age 25 have accumulated enough sun damage to create freckles and dark spots that can easily be reduced with Vitamin C treatments.
5. Even if you’re a religious sunscreen addict, you may suffer from uneven skin tone that can be evened out with Vitamin C treatments.
6. Re-energizes tired, ruddy, problem skin back to life.

Browse through Elizabeth Grant’s Vitamin C products and treat yourself to a helping of the stuff!

And just in case you’d never take a recommendation from someone whose counter top looks like the above, I JUST moved… check out the new home for my stash in the bathroom! So neat, so clean, so logical! Yes, I do feel slightly more civilized now.

P.S. If you’re wondering where my EG products went – that’d be my bedroom. ;)

Cleopatra. Her name resonates opulence and glamour. She will forever be associated with a handful of women (Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Helen of Troy, Marie Antoinette… Kim Kardashian?, etc.) who have earned a reputation for extravagant indulgences and making powerful men fall to their knees. Cleopatra’s secret? Pickles! She attributed her good looks to bathing in warm milk and a daily diet of pickles. For centuries, people all over the world have believed in the power of pickles. In ancient Egypt, everyone from peasants to Pharohs consumed pickles for their nutritional value and because they were thought to enhance beauty. Even Roman emperors believed they could boost the physical and spiritual strength to their troops.

In honor of the historical and healthy pickle, join us in celebrating National Pickle Day!
Pickles have their own day because they are healthy, low-calorie (the average dill pickle has just 15 calories) and are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins (including Vitamin C). Cucumbers used to make dill pickles contain ascorbic acid, known as caffeic acid and Vitamin C. These nutrients help improve skin’s health and reduce irritation, while vitamin C can boost your  immune system. In addition, research has also shown that vinegar can help with weight loss.

Need another reason to add pickles to your diet? They’re the favored snack of Snooki! Convinced? We thought so!

Happy National Pickle Day!

Images via and via

Wrinkles! We all love the idea of growing older, becoming more independent and all that comes with it, but if there was a way to get the package sans the sagging skin, frown lines and crows feet, we would surely take it. Anybody would.

Anti-aging as a phenomenon has grown out of this world. Teens are trying Botox and women meet the enemy square in the face with the ritual glance in the mirror each morning. Celebrities are doing anything to prevent them as maintaining a youthful look coincides with success. According to Showbiz Spy, High School Musical alum, Vanessa Hudgens has already started using anti-wrinkle cream. “You might as well start now, put a little lotion on rather than having to get wrinkles. I think it’s smart to start soon, really. It’s a good beauty tip.”

Proper skin care begins at a young age by applying sunscreen on a regular basis, sufficient vitamin-A intake and antioxidants. Even with all these precautions, you still may need to take a more hands-on approach to turning back the hands of time. No worries, we’re not referring to surgery or Botox, because many non-invasive treatments at the spa can do the trick.

Here, a few of the best anti-aging treatments around. Each one of these can be found in our spa deals this month for a bargain, so book yourself a spa visit and give those wrinkles the pink slip.

Anti-Aging Spa Strategy #1 – Bio-Roller Anti-Aging Facial

New FDA approved skin care device, that increases absorption of active ingredients by 400%. Improves skin elasticity and texture by promoting collagen formation. Desert Bloom Skin Care Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Anti-Aging Spa Strategy #2 – Non-Surgical Face Lift

This ultra technology facelift that re-educates the facial muscles and provides dermal nutrition to increase collagen and vital nutrients in the skin. Using ultrasonic microdermabrasion, micro-current, ultrasound, and light therapy, all four technologies combine to improve both the tone and texture of the skin, producing healthier, firmer, more youthful skin. Bella Reina Spa in Delray Beach, Florida.

Anti-Aging Spa Strategy #3 – Anti-Aging Me

Target the aging process with firming peptides, vitamin C and fruity acids. Put time back into your skin with this luscious facial. The Carriage House Spa & Salon in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

Anti-Aging Spa Strategy #4 – Vitamin C Light Therapy

This is an Advanced Anti-Aging Treatment with no down time and helps heal sun-exposed skin. Facial Leaf and Water Holistic Skincare in Seattle, Washington.

Check out more anti-aging spa strategies on our Spa Deals page.

Images Courtesy of InhumaneExperiment.blogspot.com, Recreate Yourself , FirstAntiAging.com, Go Get Healthy Now, and Chivasom.com