Belli is a skincare line that includes three branches: Belli Pregnancy, Belli Motherhood, and Belli Baby. Belli Pregnancy products are teratology screened to make sure that ingredients have never been associated with birth defects. Belli Motherhood products are Lact_med screened to make sure that it doesn’t contain ingredients that are problematic during nursing. Belli Baby provides incredibly gentle produts for the baby that exclude xenoestrogens (like phthalates) that may be potentially harmful.

I know we definitely have some moms on Temptalia, and I imagine we have some mothers-to-be, if not mothers-in-planning. Even though I have no plans [ever] to have children, I think it is worth every penny to ensure you give your baby the best health you can. Teratology screening is important when it comes to the products that may be absorbed through your skin.

Here are some products that you should definitely take a peek at, because I found them to work just as well as my normal skincare products based on trying and testing them out.

Belli Pregnancy | Acne Clearing Facial Wash ($22.00) exfoliates and uses acne-fighting ingredients without being drying. It uses hydroxyacid, and it is safe to use during pregnancy, unlike other acne treatments. Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator ($24.00) is a body scrub with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, and it is often used to prep skin for other Belli products. Elasticity Belly Oil ($42.00) helps prevent stretchmarks occurring–just like with anti-aging, prevention is more effective than repair.

But you know what products I want to REALLY try? Some of their stretchmark minimizing products! Unfortunately, mine are old and have nothing to do with pregnancy, LOL.

Check out some more product photos… Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re living in a naturally warmer climate (cough, California!), it’s easy to confuse spring with the beginning of summer as blue skies dominate and the sun shimmers down. But whether you’re jonesing for a touch of summer in your life or are already breaking out your booty shorts, bronzers are often turned towards for a subtle, sunkissed glow that is an earmark of summer and fun.

1.  Flirt! Bring on the Bronze Bronzing Powder ($12.00) comes in two shades, Foxy Bronze and Golden Minx. What I like about both shades is that neither is too dark, which makes it easier to go natural rather than overboard. I loved Golden Minx, just because it is a really great shade of peachy-bronze that is perfect for summer. The packaging is interesting and unique (slides out, flips up), but I found that I felt a bit like I could easily break it.

2.  Face Atelier Ultra Bronzers ($30.00) have three shades, ranging from a medium bronze to a deeper color bronze. Face Atelier uses micronized pigments wrapped in silicones to make a bronzer that lasts longer on the face and doesn’t emphasize fine lines or wrinkles. It is incredibly soft, smooth, and it has decent buildability. It is also meant to be moisture, heat, and sebum resistant. I personally found it wore well throughout the day with noticeable fading.

3.  Cover FX ‘Bronzed FX’ Bronzing Powder ($28.00) uses “micro-nutrient” technology, which is Greek-speak to me, but it is wax-free, oil-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free. What I really liked about this line of bronzers is that it comes in five shades, but not all of them are just “bronze” colors. They have Garnet and Pink Topaz, both which look like blushes with golden sheen. Gold and Bronze are more typical of the bronzer family, while Golden Peach reminds me a lot of NARS Orgasm, with more gold shimmer.

4.  Jane Iredale Moonglow & Sunbeam ($46.00) are compacts that have four colors inside them. The shades feature bronze and copper shades to be used alone, together, or in combination thereof. It is a bronzy highlighter to help warm up skin in a natural way. In case the price tag made your heart stutter, the gold shimmer is the result of 24 karat food grade gold flakes. You can use these all over, because it doesn’t contain and FD&C dyes or irritants.

Make sure you didn’t miss part one or two!

Find these bronzers and more at Nordstrom.com or Sephora.com.

Burberry The Beat is the fresh, new fragrance from the iconic house of Burberry. This youthful scent merges the energy of music, fashion and dance with an irreverent twist to embody the hip, British It-Girl. Agyness Deyen, International Top Model personifies this girl from her punky hair to her personal style. “Young, Modern, Energetic, Dynamic, Expressive, Fun, Vigor, Verve, and Spiritedness… all words that describe the mood, inspiration and sense of ebullience that we wanted to evoke as we created The Beat,” says Burberry Creative Director - Christopher Bailey. A sparkling woody floral, with notes of Ceylon tea, bluebell and iris combine for a sexy and contradictory fragrance. Further celebrating the energy of music - UK music sensation, The Fratellis have partnered with Christopher Bailey to create a special track entitled, The Beat.

Like any healthy beauty addict, as the seasons change, so do my fragrances and what I reach for (and what I push back for another mood).  This spring, I’ve been on the hunt for something that is fitting for my age, and yet sophisticated enough that it doesn’t make me feel like I’m in my teens (since even though you can ask me how old I am, and I want to respond 18, I’m really 21–closer to 22 now).  My fall-back fragrance is and, likely, will always be Dior’s Addict (it’s really like the ponytail; it always works!), but I’m extremely satisfied with what I found in Burberry’s The Beat for Spring 2008.

A touch of sweetness, soft florals, and something innately fun marks the scent.  It is entirely fitting for the spring season with its burst of fresh blooms, but the sweetness that accompanies it makes it utterly feminine and flirty.  There is an afterhtought of woodiness in the background, especially when it dries down fully, and I like it because it tames some of the overt floral notes you may initially catch a whiff of.  And for those who prefer more potent scents can find refuge in The Beat Intense Exlixir, which is more concentrated than eau de parfum.

The packaging is perfectly in line with the Burberry brand and image, which is exactly what I would expect (and I don’t usually love surprises–so this works for me!).  I love their version of a flask, and the beigey-pink glass is upbeat and reminds me of spring.  I have to admit that the Intense Exlixir packaging has me awfully tempted, just because it is so sleek and masculine, despite the fragrance being intensely feminine.

Could the hunt for the perfect spring scent before over?  Perhaps!   Sniffed this?  Share your thoughts!

Burberry The Beat is available at Nordstrom.com, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. 

• Eau de Parfum Spray (2.5 fl. oz.) $80.00
• Eau de Parfum Spray (1.7 fl. oz.) $62.00
• Eau de Parfum Spray (1.0 fl. oz.) $50.00
• Body Lotion (5.1 fl. oz.) $39.50
• Shower Gel (5.1 fl. oz.) $35.00
• Intense Elixir (1.3 fl. oz.) $130.00 (pictured below)

Temptalia spoke with Danna Pomeroy of Fiji Time Swimsuits & More, which offers free consulations for women so they can choose the right swim suit for their body and style so they can best choose a swimsuit from their retail shop.  She offered these tips for Temptalia readers to help gear up for swimsuit season:

Know your body type. Be honest with yourself about what your best features are – and what parts you shouldn’t accentuate or highlight. Just like a pair of pants or a dress, certain fits will make your body look better than others. For instance, a bandeau top is typically more flattering on women with smaller busts. Larger breasted women should use an under wire top or something with extra support.

One-pieces are great for plus size women, but just because you are not a size 2 does not mean you must shun a two-piece. If you have larger legs and a smaller torso or if you have very broad shoulders a one piece might actually emphasize your flaws. Don’t automatically assume a one-piece bathing suit is more flattering than a bikini.

Pay attention to detail on the suit itself: Colors and patterns are very important and can make your body look better or worse. As an example, a solid color usually draws less attention to the rear. Conversely, if you are small busted and self conscious about it you can play up your bust with a swimsuit top that has bold patterns and colors. Playful suits with ruffles, logos, or really bold designs in certain areas can help draw attention towards one area of your body while masking others.

Fit is everything. Just like a business suit, a wedding dress, or a pair of jeans, the fit of the swimsuit is the most important item. Don’t worry about what size you are wearing. Too many women get hung up on trying to “fit into” size X because they don’t want to be in a size larger. If a 10 fits better than an 8, even if you are usually an 8, get the 10!

Find a suit that does not pinch (you should not get bulging above and/or below any of the straps or material). Go up a size if you feel pinched.

The swimsuit bottom should not be baggy in the front or the back. You want the bottom to contour your rear without pinching and without sagging. Women who would like to elongate their legs should wear a tie side or a thin hipster bottom with a high arch. Tie sides make the legs look longer.

With the top, always do the bottom strap first as tight as possible (don’t lose circulation!) and then tie the top around your neck. This has a dramatic effect on how the top looks.

Women who want to de-emphasize their butt should wear less fabric. The less fabric you have the smaller the target for peoples eyes. The more fabric, the bigger the butt will look. Also, another tip to draw the eyes away from the buttox would be to wear a top that is eye catching. It can be more colorful, have jewelry, have a pattern or anything else that would catch attention. Then pair this top with a solid darker color

State of mind is important: Do not go swimsuit shopping after a long day of eating or shopping or after a hard day at work. You will think NOTHING looks good because you are already in a tired, possibly negative state of mind. If possible, try to go swimsuit shopping in the morning or early afternoon after you’ve exercised and drank lots of water (no sugary soft drinks!). Your body always looks its best after a workout and ample water.

REMEMBER: We are our own worst critic. You probably look better than you think! Don’t compare yourself to how another woman looks in a swimsuit. Focus only on what bathing suit makes you feel most confident in YOUR body.

Self-conscious or don’t know where to start?  Try Fiji Time Swimwear & More’s private fitting service or online consulation.

If you’re living in a naturally warmer climate (cough, California!), it’s easy to confuse spring with the beginning of summer as blue skies dominate and the sun shimmers down.  But whether you’re jonesing for a touch of summer in your life or are already breaking out your booty shorts, bronzers are often turned towards for a subtle, sunkissed glow that is an earmark of summer and fun.

Estée Lauder ‘Bronze Goddess’ Soft Matte Bronzer ($29.50) is part of their summer Bronze Goddess launch.  It’s a smooth, silky bronzing powder that minimizes oil to keep skin looking more matte throughout the day.  The compact comes with a contoured brush, which I adore.  I don’t love sponge applicators, and usually, that’s what you get in a compact.  Instead, you can tote this easily transportable compact with a fabulous little brush inside for last minute touch-ups.

Dior Essential Bronzing Powder ($40.00) is very much like your typical bronzer, though I will say it goes on like velvet and feels like silk.  It also blends incredibly well with my natural skin tone so that it really does create a subtle bronzed look without being too heavy or unnatural.

GlowFusion Micro-Tech Intuitive Active Bronzer GlowFusion ($39.00) is Fusion Beauty’s answer to giving you glowing skin.  It is supposed to help fill in fine lines and wrinkles to help give the appearance of healthier skin that glows.  There are “soft-focus luminzers” to help give you that bronze color by their InvisiSkin complex.  With all their techy and patent-speak, it makes me skeptical.  I actually happened to get this when I attended a Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show a season ago, and while it is deliciously smooth and feels like silk on skin… I can’t say that I would ever splurge $39 on it.

M·A·C Bronzing Powder ($20.00) come in three shades that have a touch of shimmer (very fine, very subtle!) to help highlight and color naturally.  I only own one bronzer by MAC, and it will probably last me a lifetime.  I think the shade I own is Golden Bronze or something like that.  Each summer, MAC launches their summer skin/bronze line, and that’s usually a great place to pick up a bronzer.

Stay tuned for part three (did you miss part one?)!

Find these bronzers and more at Nordstrom.com or Sephora.com.

Wei East China Herbal Intensive Eye Treatment ($36.00) are moistened pads that you place on your eyes for ten minutes to help rejuvenate them by helping to alleviate dark cirles and puffiness. I didn’t really notice too much of a scent other than a bit of an herbal aroma with a little bit of floral in the background–but really subtle. These actually did a good job relieving some of the allergy-related puffiness I have been having with my eyes lately as spring is finally [officially] upon us. You get sixteen packs (each has two pads - one for each eye), and I personally feel like I’d only use these once a week (maybe twice if it was a particularly stressful week), so the price does stretch out. Nonetheless, if you break it down, it is $2.25 per pack, which is not much at all. For me, the hardest part is just laying around for ten minutes, so I definitely need to use these when I’m very tired and all I want to do is close my eyes! I’m too much of a multi-tasker otherwise.

Find these at www.weieast.com or www.hsn.com.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream ($14.99)

Ultra thick and creamy, this Moisturizing Cream is designed to help with the driest, cracked and chapped skin. It includes ceramides, glycerin, water, etc. to help fatty acid esters get deep into the skin. The product claims that you can moisturize once, and you will find yourself moisturized all day. Believe it! This is a great heavy cream for dry spots, cracked elbows, and the like, especially in the winter months. It is a little thick for everyday use for my personal skin, but I know others suffer dry skin year-round (like my sister!), so this is a fab product find for her. You get a 16 ounce tub of this moisturizer for a good price.

You can find CeraVe products at your local drugstore!

Have you tried this cream? Thoughts?

Zeno ($149.00 to $200.00)

As a bit of a gadget geek, high-tech beauty products are always on my radar, including Zeno, a handheld device designed to treat acne. Zeno works using ClearPoint Technology that uses heat to treat P. acnes (read more about this type of acne at Wikipedia), which accounts for nearly 90% of blemishes according to Zeno.

The device takes thirty seconds to heat up after turning it on, and then it is applied to each pimple for two minutes, treated by a heated tip at 118.5 degrees F. Zeno beeps every thirty seconds, and then it does a little video game-like sound to signal that it’s been two minutes. You wait thirty seconds in between treatments before you can treat another pimple, and you can only treat three per session. After three, Zeno automatically has a safety mechanism that kicks in and forces you to wait another two minutes before treating additional pimples.

First and foremost, yes, I saw results, and yes, they were amazing. Zeno manages to “dry out” pimples within 24 hours, which means they’re healed within two or three days. When you have just one or two pimples that aren’t noticeable, it’s not a big deal, but when you’re plagued with more or ones that you can see easily, it is a godsend. The heat is also not at all painful—it’s quite like holding a warm washcloth against your face, soothing and pleasant.

So I must rave about the results, because who doesn’t want a way to treat unsightly acne? I’ve yet to find a cream/gel that actually produces such impressive results in the same time frame. Zeno does work better on newly developing pimples than ones that have already fully surfaced, though I personally found that it still worked well on that type, too.

The bad news about Zeno is that is cost-prohibitive. The device itself has a hefty pricetag, ranging from $149 to $200 (it is available in three versions—Zeno with 60-uses-tip, Zeno Pro with 90-uses-tip, and Zeno MD with 150-uses-tip). I wouldn’t mind spending that on a device that would last me quite awhile, but each tip will only work for a certain amount of uses—60, 90, or 150, depending on your version. Tip replacements are $25, 35, and 55, and if you think 60 is plenty of uses, think again!

Say you need to treat five pimples, and you’ll need to do it 4 days out of the week. For effective treatment, it is good to treat each pimple two to three times a day. Just treating each pimple twice for four days (5 pimples x 2 treatments/day x 4 days) is 40 uses. Stay with me—think about your yearly usage, is 100 days out of the question? If we were going at 4 days per week for the year, we would end up with over 200 days. In 100 days, you will need 1000 uses (5 pimples x 2 treatments/day x 100 days)! If you opt for the 90-uses-tip ($35), you’ll need 11 of them, bringing you to a yearly total of $385.

While the results were amazing, I think my money could be better spent on prescription acne treatments, and at the very least, the long-term thinking and cost pattern of Zeno makes me more inclined to think about what’s causing my acne instead. I think the Zeno would be worth it for those who are not acne-plagued; for those who only need to treat one or two pimples a week or less. It is even great for treating that solitary pimple that shows up right before a big date or fancy occasion. Simply put, if you don’t need to use your Zeno that often, you won’t need to replace the tip as often, which means it comes to you at a much lower cost.

(By the way, I am aware that several users try to “cheat” the system that Zeno uses—as once your uses are up, it stops working—by simply using the heat that emanates from it as it heats up, but 1) it is not as effective as a full treatment cycle; 2) I’ll probably forget to do this half the time.)

Conclusion? Pick up Zeno if you only have a few dastardly pimples in a month, but look for other treatments and alternatives if you have persistent, regular acne.

Have you tried Zeno? Love it, hate it, worked for you? Is it worth it?

P.S. – Next week, I will bring you a review on ThermaClear, a product that is often compared to Zeno, so watch for that!

T3 Bespoke Labs Featherweight ($200.00)

T3’s Featherweight Dryer revolutionized styling for professionals and women everywhere with T3’s pioneering use of Tourmaline and innovative design. With its sleek, lightweight design, this dryer boasts up to 60% faster drying time than conventional dryers and controls the frizz, improves the shine and delivers healthy-looking, well-conditioned hair. Perfect for everyday use and a real time-saver in the morning.

The secret is T3’s patented Flawless process for infusing high-quality tourmaline deep into the ceramic componentry of the tools to create the maximum negative ions and far infrared heat, eliminating static electricity, decreasing drying times and creating sleeker, shinier, healthy-looking hair. As well as first-class patented technology, the range of T3 tools include premium features such as pro-length, swivel cords which ensure ease of use for top notch results.

Before I get the  dryer’s effectiveness, let me tell you more about my hair and routine, so you can understand my own expectations in a dryer.  I have normal hair in terms of dryness or oiliness, but I have a lot of hair, and it is very thick.  Whenever I go to my hairdresser, I am bound to hear, “You have enough hair for two heads!”  Generally, when I get my hair trimmed (layers), I also get it thinned a bit.  However, it has been quite awhile since I’ve had a trim, so I’m sporting fairly long hair (past my breasts), and it has thickened since my last thinning.

Normally, I never blow dry my hair dry from start to finish.  Usually, I throw my hair up in a towel for twenty minutes or so and vigorously use towel-drying to get rid of a lot of the water.  I’ll blow dry my hair in five minute intervals (I hate blow drying, it feels like such a waste of my time!), and it will take approximately 15-20 minutes of high-heat blow drying to dry completely.

I have been toying around with the idea of purchasing a more high-tech, high-end blow dryer, like the T3 Featherweight, which I have heard raves about.  The idea of paying $200 for a dryer is something that makes me cringe, because I simply could not believe that it would be worth it.  I mean, I’ve been using a Conair that I probably paid $20 for that’s travel-size with a retractable cord, so it was a big leap.

It is worth the price.  As soon as I received my T3 in the mail, I went to take a shower and wash my hair, because I could not wait to see whether it would live up to the hype.  I asked my boyfriend to time me from start to finish–I was going to stand there until it was done, no matter how much time went by–and guess what the time was?  Five minutes.  Five full minutes and my long, thick hair was entirely dry from root to tip.  For me, that’s about a 60 to 75% decrease in the amount of time I need to get my hair dry.   The way the air blows out is in a conical shape, sort of a precise shape, and it doesn’t come out too hot, despite being an 1800 watt dryer (whew!).  It is incredibly light, weighing in at 13 oz (honestly, it felteven lighter than that to me!), which is always a plus.  My hair also dried with good volume and few flyaways, which is always a concern. 

The only drawbacks about this product is that on the Featherweight model, you have two speed settings (high and low), plus a cool shot, but the speed settings is right on the handle and it is pretty easy to flip it on/off while admist drying.  I’d probably want more of a button than a flip switch, but I imagine you get used to it once you are conscious of it.  Also, I very much loved the retractable cord feature on my previous blow dryer, because it makes it a breeze to pack and put it away.  Nonetheless, these are small negatives, and the positives completely makeup for them.

I do wish I had tried out the Evolution model instead, after realizing how easy to use it would have been (I was totally intimidated by the eight speed/heat settings and whatnot–I thought it would be more dryer than I needed).  But when T3’s dryers come with a four year warranty, I don’t see the Evolution in my future any time soon!

Have you tried one of T3’s dryers?  Loved it?  Hated it?  Share your review!

– Get more information on T3 and its range at www.t3tourmaline.com.

At Temptalia, we are all about buying beauty and supporting a good cause at the same time.  theBalm is supporting Multiple Sclerosis by offering a limited edition BalmShelter Gloss called “Kiss MS Goodbye.”  It will retail for $18 at www.thebalm.com.

In honor of March being National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Week (March 10th-17th) - and to support the efforts of the NYC Chapter of the National MS society, theBalm has created a limited edition KISS MS GOODBYE version of their best-selling “Girly Girl” BalmShelter Gloss. I’d love for you to do a posting come March on this philanthropic partnership, the more sales, the more money gets donated to the MS Society.

During the month of March, theBalm will donate 25% of proceeds from the sale of this shade- a wearable coral hue infused with SPF 17 and a delicious strawberry banana scent- to the cause.

The New York City Chapter of the National MS Society helps the thousands of New Yorkers impacted by MS to move their lives forward. They provide comprehensive support services and educational programs to people with MS, their family and friends, and raise funds locally to support the National MS Society’s research initiatives

Help KISS MS GOODBYE in the most glamorous way possible- after all, looking good is one thing, but doing good in the process just makes everyone that much prettier.