I Can't Believe It's Not Pudding

One of Ms. New Beauty's greatest joys in life is eating and eating well. She's not so much a "foodie" as she is a "greedy" - meaning that she can rarely turn down the opportunity to eat really, really good food. Naturally, MNB loves to eat out. From 5 Star restaurants (on the cheap during restaurant week) to local Mom & Pops, if you cook it, Ms. New Beauty will come. She also loves eating out with friends and of course, tasting food from their plates. What never ceases to amaze MNB is some of her friends funny eating habits. Like one fabulous lawyer friend of hers who always wants to try something that the restaurant does not specialize in. She'll order Moet at a small town pub or even cheesecake from a greasy Thai joint. (In the latter instance, said cheesecake proved to be of the frozen Sara Lee variety and came to the table completely melted as the waiter had put it in the microwave to defrost). Ms. New Beauty has another close friend, we'll call her D, who is more predictable than Tyra "that's fierce/she's pretty, [dramatic pause] but is she a model?/you're dead behind the eyes" Banks on ANTM when it comes to eating. If a restaurant serves pancakes, that's what D will order. If you offer D pudding, she will eat it, even if she's full to the point of sickness. Well, Ms. New Beauty just found a delightful pudding for D that won't make her wish she could resist.

Epoch Baobab Body Butter

This body butter is perfect for dry, parched winter skin that hasn't quite adjusted to the slightly rising temperatures. Named for the African tree that's known for it's ability to survive droughts by storing water, this body butter is ridiculously moisturizing. It is packed with shea butter, which any person who has ever been ashy knows is one of the world most moisturizing ingredients, macadamia nut oil, and the actual fruit of the baobab tree. The texture is smooth and creamy without being too thin. It sinks right in and leaves my skin soft and supple without being greasy. I've found a lot of shea butter moisturizers leave trails of grease in their wakes that almost make you prefer being dry and ashy.

What I really love, and what D will die for, is the fact that it smells just like vanilla pudding. It's sweet, but for some reason, it doesn't make me want to chuck it, which is normally my reaction to the gourmand scents. This one smells like vanilla, but doesn't beat you over the head trying to make its point. It just kind of wafts up and lets you realize that all that smooth, creamy moisture smells good too. It's a humble body butter, if such a thing ever existed.

$29.50, available at nuskin.com


Find treats for your friends that treat their quirks too but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Sexy Time

February is here. That means all of Coupledom is aflutter arranging plans for the 14th - Valentine's Day. Lots of twosomes are scrambling to get reservations to the city's most romantic candlelit eatery or tickets to the hottest show in town. Of course, some guys will just present the obligatory bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolate or maybe even tiny boxes only big enough to hold pretty, little things that sparkle. For others, Valentine's Day will bring intimate nights at home showering each other in love. If your plan involves hanging the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your front door, Ms. New Beauty knows being everyday beautiful might not be enough to really set the mood. This night might be the night that Pretty Paula wants to vamp it up a bit and Sexy Susan for a night. So MNB encourages you to try some of these products to make the most of that sexy night with your special someone.

Laura Mercier Diamond Duster

One of the most indisputable laws of sexy is "when you feel sexy, you look sexy." That subtle shot of confidence, just knowing you are hot stuff, is enough to let the rest of the world know it too. Start your night off right but treating yourself to the sexy delicate touch of this light duster. It has all the glamour of a feather boa without the all the hooker/brothel-esque connotations. Lightly dip this into your favorite loose shimmer powder, like this one from Too Faced. Then, dust along all the places where you want his eye to travel, like your collarbone and sternum, gently along your shoulders, and just atop your cheekbones. This brush will tickle both your skin and your inner goddess.

$22, available at Sephora


Victoria's Secret So Sexy Natural Hold Hairspray

To make sure sexy is the first thing he thinks when he sees you, you definitely want to have a head full of sexy, shiny hair. Regardless of what your texture is or the style that you choose, you absolutely want to have hair that moves. Helmet head is never sexy. But if your hair needs a little more help to stay in place, reach for this hairspray. It'll give your hair and style the volume and definition that it needs but it's flexible enough so that your lucky guy can run his hands through it without getting stuck. This will also make your locks look shiny and healthy. Remember, with hairspray, less is always more. I prefer to spray a mist up in the air and let it settle down onto my hair rather than spray it directly on my head. For any flyways, spray a quick shot on comb and gently slide through to tame without making your hair sticky and tacky.

$8.50, available at Victoria's Secret


Trish McEvoy Sexy #9

For Valentine's Day, you want to smell as sexy as can be. For some women, that means wearing a heady musky scent. For others, it can be something light, fruity and floral. But regardless of your choice, you certainly don't want to rely on that old reliable scent that you wear day in and day out. The last thing you need to be reminded of at Valentine's is sitting in your cubicle and staring at a computer screen. Try this sensual scent that is a complete break from everyday and will get you in a sexy kind of mood. Even the bottle is a departure from the average and is a throwback to those days of Old Hollywood glamour when women got done up for dinner regardless of whether it was downstairs in the kitchen or uptown at the Russian Tea Room.

$95, available at Saks


Agent Provocateur Titillation Lip and Nipple Balm

The sexy lingerie brand known for its exquisitely detailed pieces and cult-like celeb following also makes sexy little fragrance and beauty offerings. This kitschy, tongue-in-cheek duo is the perfect beauty gift to give your man. One of these black orbs is packed with a rich and moisturizing lip balm to keep you kissable. The other, well it's got a nipple balm inside to moisturize and, ahem, stimulate your senses. I bet you never knew your nipples needed balm until now. And, I'm sure your date for the night will enjoy kissing both balms off of you!

$40, available at Bloomingdale's



Feel sexy, look sexy, and stay sexy all night long, and you don't have to tell your man that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Oh, and just in case "sexy" isn't in your Valentine's vocab, stay tuned for a beauty recommendations for a night out with the girls, a date with someone special, and for a night in with numero uno.

Mustang Sally

In some aspects of life, Ms. New Beauty can be the walking definition of the marketing term "brand loyalty." When MNB finds something she likes, she sticks with it and accepts no substitutes. Like, she will reach into the depths of her wardrobe for clean clothes before she does laundry with anything less than Tide. The taste of any orange juice but Tropicana just assaults MNB's palate. When it comes to her beauty products, Ms. New Beauty is a little more willing to venture out and try new things. She can't afford to pledge her utmost loyalty to any one brand because not every product works for her every time. She may love a company's moisturizer but find their face scrub not "scrubby" enough. Normally, MNB finds that of the brands she love, their products always work, but sometimes they just don't work for her. Except for one brand in particular - Sally Hansen. Sally Hansen has the peculiar ability to create products that Ms. New Beauty absolutely loves, like this dark polish from fall, and simultaneously promote products that are just plain old crap and do not work, like this so-called "colorless"airbrush foundation. (Notice how "no color" certainly has a color that is a shade that wouldn't even match most fair-skinned New Beauties). So, this post brings us both an all-star product and an absolute Money Saver from a brand that's as hit or miss with beauty as a 6-year-old little leaguer.

Sally Hansen Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit

This is one product by Sally that I always have on hand. Anyone who's been waxed regularly realizes that the waxing process is pretty straight forward. Submit yourself to an esthetician's spatula enough times and you'll have the procedure down pat. And, you'll realize that only certain areas take real skill to make hairless. When it comes to eyebrows and bikini lines, it pays to let a professional handle those hairs. Anywhere else though, you can do it yourself. And, this kit makes that so easy.

There's no mess from goopy wax that needs to be microwaved or cotton strips that shed strands. In this kit, you'll pre-waxed plastic strips that are pretty much ready to go. Just rub between your palms to warm the wax a little and pull the plastic apart to give yourself two strips that are ready to rip. Smooth them on in the direction of your hair growth, grab the skin tight, and pull quick in the opposite direction. You'll end up smooth and hairless. Rub on a little bit of the included oil to remove any stray wax and you're good to go. The best part is, you can wax your whole body for way less than you would pay to just get your brows done at a salon or spa.

Around $8, available at drugstores

Sally Hansen Gentle Peel for Rough Lips

Any loyal New Beauty knows that dry skin is my declared nemesis. I never leave the house without lotion and lip balm lest my mortal enemy catches me slipping. I am also known to vigorously overscrub my lips with a toothbrush in pursuit of a perfectly soft pucker. So, when I first saw this product featured in a magazine, I thought it could be the cure to my toothbrush lip scrubs and just knew I had to have it. I went right out to the drugstore, searched the beauty section until I found it and had swiped it on my lips before even pulling out of the parking space.

This treatment is a fruit acid based peel that gently exfoliates lips to get rid of dry, chapped skin. It comes in a small tube that makes it simple to give your lips a peeling treatment any time. The concept behind it is great! Sadly, the exclamation points of excitement stop there. The concept is wonderful, but the result could not be more disappointing. After using this religiously for weeks, it made no difference. I actually didn't notice any less dry skin after the first use, but I stuck with it for a few more weeks just to be fair. And, I can fairly say it didn't do a damn thing. It actually felt like my lips were a little drier than before after each application. What's worse, this product comes with a felt tip applicator that started to smell bad after a week or so. Something in the formula made the applicator smell like gym socks after repeated use and that is absolutely the last thing I want to smell as I'm approaching my face with a product. This could have been revolutionary if only Sally had gotten right. If only.

About $10, but save it and buy the wax strips instead


Love Sally Hansen when she's lovable, but save your money when she comes with the crap, and this time, tell a friend that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Give Skin

Here we are, just a week before Christmas, and Ms. New Beauty still has presents to get. Between long work hours and ridiculous crowds at every store, boutique, and mall that she passes, it's been easy for MNB to completely put off shopping until the last minute. Especially since she's had the hardest time thinking of what to get for her family and friends. But, last week, she went to the most delightful launch part at one of the most amazing beauty boutiques around. TotalBeauty.com gathered some of the best beauty bloggers and online editors at Space NK to tour the site and go shopping at the store. Space NK is much more a beauty boutique than it is a regular old apothecary. The store has such a well-edited and selected collection of the top brands in beauty. Needless to say, the back of MNB's hands were covered in product from all the testing and trying she did. And, whenever you have that many product junkies and outright beauty fiends in one room at one time, you get the best product recommendations. Ms. New Beauty left that event with some great goodies for myself and all the info she needed for a great beauty post just in time for the holidays. And here we have the best products out there to give the gift of beautiful skin.

Eve Lom Deluxe Collection

Skincare is a tricky thing to gift. Give someone a jar of wrinkle cream a few years too soon and you risk telling them they look like hell without actually telling them they look like hell. So, when you give skincare, it is only appropriate to give something uber-luxe and completely universal that anyone could use. Enter Eve Lom.

This was a brand I'd never tried before but apparently, I was the only one who'd missed the Eve Lom boat. This line has such a huge cult following. The sales girl at the store told me that this is one of the products that women try and then can't live without. This Deluxe Collection gives you the best of the brand all in one box and at one price. Included are the cleanser, the eye serum, mask, moisturizer, SPF 15 sunscreen, hand cream and lip balm. The cleanser is the product that you'll probably fall hardest for. It's a very emollient scrub that's used totally differently from most cleansers on the market. On dry skin, you simply smooth on a good dollop of this cleanser and let it sit for a few minutes. This will remove makeup and surface dirt and oil. Then, you use the included muslin cloth and dampen it with hot water. Use the cloth to gently massage and rinse the cleanser away and you have your own at home cleansing and exfoliating facial. The Rescue Mask is just as luxurious and intensely hydrating for dryed out winter skin. This is the perfect gift for your spa-junkie mother or your best girlfriend with the glowing skin.

$400, available at Space NK

Space.NK Luxury Collection Enrapture

Giving bath and body sets as holiday gifts has gotten terribly cliched. People pick up any three body products and put them together thinking they've hit the nail on the head when it comes to gift giving and completely forget that gifts are supposed to make the recipient feel special and loved. I know it's the thought that counts, but if I open up a box of sickeningly sweet smelling shower gel, I wonder how much you really think of me. Honestly, who really wants to walk around smelling like food? Ranting over. Gift suggestion begins.

If you want to give the gift of body care, do it with a brand that is high quality, a scent that's widely pleasing, and packaging that's adorable. This gift set from Space.NK's own house brand is much more like something you'd get after a luxurious spa service and not in a Secret Santa trade. The Enrapture scent is subtely sexy and absolutely pampering. Plus, it comes in this adorable box and not shrink wrapped to a cheap basket filled with tinsel. This is the kind of gift set that any woman, like a boss or co-worker would be happy to display in her boudoir.

$195, only at Space.NK

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Trio

Now I know I just went on a whole rant about how much I hate those foodie scent bath products. (I know the proper term is gourmand, but that sounds too nice to describe things that often smell so bad). But, at the same time, I know that many women all over the world love, love, love those products that smell like delicious, delectable desserts. My 90 plus year old grandmother loves stuff like that. And, I try to keep my product snobbery to myself. I don't judge others for their taste in beauty (unless it's just downright tacky, but tacky people deserve to be judged don't they?).

So, if you love those scents or know someone who absolutely does, gift them with something that they truly will love. But do with a gift that's far more fabulous than your average drugstore offerings. Laura Mercier's bath and body line feels divine. It would share space in my bath with all my other goodies if I enjoyed the scent. Her creme brulee scent is the most popular, but even in my most non-judgmental state I can't recommend something that smells like frosting. The Almond Coconut Milk Trio has a sweet scent but it's not so overpowering that people on the street will stop you and ask you what you were baking. So you can give this gift in good conscious. And, your sweet smelling grandmother, or maybe even your kids' teacher, will love the honey bath (with wooden dipper!), body cream, and body scrub.

$65, wherever Laura Mercier is sold

Give beautiful skincare gifts, or maybe pick up something great for yourself, but don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. MNB knows this post was ridiculously late, but she promises the rest of the gift guide will be posted soon. And you know you haven't finished your shopping anyway!

Return to the Scene of the Crime

Ms. New Beauty takes keeping her skin soft and smooth very seriously during the winter months. Just a few posts ago, she extolled the virtues of moisturizing in the shower before even drying off. One component of that "winterizing" process that MNB had to leave out of that post was regular exfoliation. Unfortunately, Ms. New Beauty picked up a tub of body scrub that was so not up to her standards that it earned the dubious Money Saver distinction on this blog. So, she headed back to Target, hell bent on redeeming herself and her innate ability to pick up great product. She happened upon a tube of scrub so cute that she just couldn't resist and Ms. New Beauty was even happier when she got it home and felt how wonderfully it worked on her skin.

Soap & Glory Scrub of Your Life

Soap & Glory is a new brand created by the woman behind all of those wonderful, yet cheeky skincare solutions from Bliss. So, now you can get great product in cute packaging with funny little names for a lot less money. Even the brand's name gives you a little hint that this is going to be a line of fun and functional cosmetics. And everything comes in this cute, slightly retro, but ridiculously girly pink packaging.

The description of this scrub on the tube is written like the answer to all of your love problems. And for good reason - once you try it, you'll certainly fall for it. The texture is thick and gummy, so it won't run all over your tub. But, it's still packed with tons of exfoliators to slough off that dry, scaly skin that can easily make your itch in cold weather and rose oil to soften and moisturize. I've gone through almost my whole tube in less than a month because I've been scrubbing down my entire body daily. But, at a price this low, I can afford to stock up and keep enough on hand to make it through the winter.

$14.99, available at Target


Scrub down and fall in love with your scrub in the process, just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Winterize Your Shower

Ms. New Beauty is from that part of the Northeast where around this time of year (or about a month earlier in pre-global warming times), most people talk about "winterizing." Family and neighbors are all abuzz with discussions of what it's going to take to get ready for winter. The cars need to be winterized. Meaning, snow chains need to get put on the tires, fresh anti-freeze goes into the engine or battery or whatever receptacle under the hood that holds the anti-freeze. Fresh ice scrapers go in the back seat and heavy duty windshield wipers get put on the windshield. Those particularly well adapted to cold weather crises even stock a five pound bag of sand or no frills kitty litter in the trunk for icy days. The house needs to be winterized too. Drafty windows get repaired or lined. Space heaters get pulled out of the basement. And, those heavy duty blankets get toseed on the bed. All this talk of winterizing and Ms. New Beauty is always amazed at how people neglect to winterize their skin. A true ash-phobe like MNB just cannot sit idly by and let the harsh winds and cold air suck the moisture out of the knuckles, knees, and lips that walk past her everyday. This post is now dedicated to preparing your skin to weather a weary winter without drying out.

In The Shower

The first step to keeping your skin soft, smooth and sexy this winter is in your shower. Moisturizing your situation is more than just slapping on some lotion before you get dressed. You've got to think about the end from the beginning and adjust accordingly. So, the products in this post will help keep you moisturized before you even towel off.

Now, most dermatolgists and women's magazines will advise you to take a lukewarm, not hot, shower this winter since high temperatures can dry your skin out even more. I, on the other hand, love a piping hot shower when the temperatures are dropping, so I've figured out others ways to compensate for it.

Carees Exotic Oil Infusion Body Wash

The first step to keeping your skin soft and smooth is to use a moisturizing body wash. As a rule of thumb, you only want to use opaque body washes in winter because they contain more moisturizers and are less drying. If you can see through it, don't use it.

The most moisturizing body washes I've used are the latest cream oil formulas and this one is my favorite. The texture is rich and creamy. It almost looks like a thick lotion or body cream. When I first squeezed this onto my loofah, I almost didn't expect it to lather up. But it did. It produces a really rich lather with a great scent. The best part is that it is such a gentle cleanser that doesn't leave your skin stripped. This body wash features a blend of cassis cream and starflower oil. I'd be lying if I told you I knew what those are. I do know that whatever they are and where ever they're from, they work. After using this, you'll feel clean and moisturized, but not the slightest bit greasy.

About $5.99, available at drugstores

Neutrogena Body Oil

A lot of people like to mix a little bit of body oil in with their lotion in winter for extra hydration. But, by the time you've dried off and wrapped up in a towel, you've already lost the benefit of all the water you just doused yourself with in the shower. Before you step one foot out onto your bathmat, reach for this oil.

This nourishing sesame oil is the lightest oil I've ever used and has a decidedly pleasant scent. Just smooth it all over your skin before you get out of the shower. The oil locks in the moisture from the shower without leaving your skin coated in a heavy layer of grease. I find that by the time I'm done, I barely even need to towel off. Just be careful in applying it. Oil plus a wet shower floor can equal you busting your ass.

You can also skip your normal body cream or lotion after you're done smoothing on this oil, but that just feels so unnatural to me. I still use a lotion afterward, but I'm delighted by the fact that I don't really need to. In my mind, my lotion is just an added layer of protection and who couldn't use a little extra help in the War on Ash?

About $10.99, available at drugstores

Now, I know a lot of people swear by baby oil and this new body oil gel that are out on the market. I've tried them myself and I'll let you know why I chose to recommend this liquid formula instead. Baby oil and the Cocoa Butter Gel are mineral oil based formulas. And, though it coats your skin and leaves it feeling soft (if not, greasy), mineral oil cannot penetrate your skin. What it does is leave a soft layer on top of it. In doing so, it clogs up your pores and actually inhibits your skin's own system of moisturizing itself. Eventually, you'll find that the more you use these oils, the dryer your skin feels, and then the more you need to use them. So, I prefer to use only natural oils that are thinner and penetrate better.

Winterize your skin right in the shower, and standout as a soft, smooth beacon of light in this wintertime world of ashiness and dry skin, but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

And please don't forget to sign up for the M.A.C. Holiday Collection Giveaway! There's only a little over a week left to sign up and win.

Liking It Rough

Ms. New Beauty is really not one for the roughness of modern life. She prefers things soft and gentle. She simple adores her uber-soft high thread count sheets. She consistently wears an almost neon pink sweatshirt because the inside is as soft as egyptian cotton. And, MNB does not go for those harsh physical assaults that some spas call a massage. She'd much rather have a gentle rub down with hot stones placed strategically on her back and limbs. But, there is one place where Ms. New Beauty likes it rough. (No, not the bedroom, all you Filthy McNasties). MNB likes a little roughness from her scrubs. She fell in love with a rough body scrub when she had an authentic Tunisian gommage that made her skin feel as if it was being sandpapered off during the procedure and then instantly clean and softened after it was over. Since then, she's always taken pleasure in a rough body scrub in the shower. With the temperatures changing and wintertime dry skin just around the corner, Ms. New Beauty is in the market for an expanded repertoire of rough but just gentle enough body scrubs. Sadly, the last one she tried just isn't going to cut it.

Boots Mediterranean Olive, Bergamot & Walnut Body Scrub

I picked this up at Target about a month ago when I was there scoping out the Alice Temperly Collection. The price was so low and the jar was so big that I just knew it was going to become my new favorite shower staple. Whenever the weather turns cold, I always like to have a good body scrub in the shower to help exfoliate that dead, dry skin that often turns itchy. I typically go for a sugar or salt scrub with an oil based, like my lovely Brown Sugar Body Polish, but this one had me intrigued. With a base of creamy moisturizing olive, bergamot and walnut oils, I thought it could get the same job done for a lot less money. I was wrong.

The first thing that turned me off once I got this home was the texture. Initially the creamy texture made me think this would be like an in-shower lotion and body scrub all in one. Wrong. This scrub is really, really runny. It's way too runny to be in a big tub like this and would be better suited for a squeeze bottle. When I first used it, it ends up splattered all over my tub. Given it's pale yellowish-green color and brown scrubbing particles, it really looks like I've come down with a mid-shower case of the flu and vomited all over my tub. But, the worst part is that the scrubby particles meant to exfoliate are far too fine and far too few. I generally like big exfoliators that I can see, but I'll use a finer formula if it gets the job done. This does not because there really aren't enough particles here to exfoliate your body well. This really wouldn't even do much for your face either. This scrub isn't even as good as trusty old St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Boots needs to at least double or triple the amount of scrubbers in the formula for it to really have any impact. You can get a better exfoliation by rubbing yourself down with a loofah than you can get from this.

I'm not heartbroken that this was disappointing, but next time I'll surely spend my ten bucks on something that will make me happy, like the new L'Oreal H.I.P. Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Purple or Navy.

$9.99, available at Target and CVS.


Save your money for something's that rough just the way you like it, and get your mind out of the gutter, but just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. There's still time to sign up to win a ridiculous amount of M.A.C. goodies from the Holiday Collections, so don't forget to enter for your chance to win.

We Invented The Remix

The original is always good, but Ms. New Beauty loves her a remix. Remixes have such potential to fail miserably, but when they don't, when they actually succeed, a remix is like a revelation. Ms. New Beauty feels like she's discovered some whole new aspect of something she already loved. She swooned as a child when Jodeci beckoned her to "Come & Talk to Me." But when they remixed it and started singing "come and talk to me I really want to meet you girl, I really wanna know your name," she yelled her name in response and then almost passed out. It was like K-Ci and Jojo were singing right to Ms. New Beauty. All of a sudden the song she had always loved took on a whole new meaning. And, MNB often has this same reaction to other wonderful remixes. Chips Ahoy 100 calorie packs and the myriad permutations of reality shows starring, featuring or copying off of Flavor Flav come to mind as quick examples. But, when it comes to her cosmetics, MNB tends to be a purist and stick with the originals guaranteed to please rather than risking disappointment from a "new & improved" remixed version. Yet, there is one product that has been remixed to death, but Ms. New Beauty is still going along for the ride and enjoying every minute of it!

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine

The Mentha Lip Shine is one of the most popular and most loved C.O. Bigelow Products. It is consistently their best selling product. The original debuted just two years ago, but it has become a staple in the makeup kits and purses of women everywhere. The concept is simple yet ingenious at the same time. A non-sticky lip gloss infused with peppermint oil to freshen breath while it leaves behind a subtle shine on lips. I had a moment when I first discovered Mentha Lip Shine. I just had to pause and have one of those "why didn't I think of this?" dialogues in my head. But that moment soon passed and I started telling everyone I knew about this ingenious little lip gloss. So, needless to say, me and Mentha have been in love for a while. But, I am also in love with everything Mentha does and every remix he gives me.

$7.50, everything is available at C.O. Bigelow or Bath & Body Works

Mentha Vitamin Body Wash

This product has been a long time coming. And, it timed its debut perfectly. Just as New Beauties everywhere are in the throes of sweltering, tortuous heat waves, this body wash appears on shelves to bring us some cool to our boiling hot days. Imagine that you've just spent all day at school or work, then decided to be healthy and sweat out your stresses with an hour at the gym or maybe even a hot yoga class, and now you have to deal with a 30 minute car, bus or train ride until you finally get into your own home and A/C. Infused with peppermint oil, this is the product you will reach for once you finally get in the house and out of the heat.

The mint cools off your tired skin and brings your body temperature down fast. Then, once you're done and the shower is turned off, the air hits the water on your skin and makes you tingle all over. You'll feel as if you've just taken a dip in a Scrooge McDuck sized pool of Vick's Vapo-rub, sans the greasy residue. Plus, it has vitamin A, C, & E infused beads to really treat your skin right.

$14

Black Cherry Mentha Lip Shine

I'll admit, I even like the flavored versions of the original Mentha. What worried me at first was how the flavors would work with the mint. I initially imagined a horrible taste in my mouth, one reminiscent of what happens when you sit down for a glass of OJ or plate of pancakes too soon after brushing your teeth. But, the Bigelow Chemists definitely deserve a raise because there is no such bad interaction here. At first, when you apply it to your lips, you'll taste the flavor of the lip shine. Then, that'll pass and leave behind the cool taste of mint and a little tingle on your lips. I don't know how, but it works.

Black Cherry is part of the soda pop Mentha remixes. I love it! It takes me back to the days when Bonne Bell Lip Smackers were the only makeup I was allowed to have. I had two favorite flavors - Grape, which tasted like Kool-Aid to me, and Dr. Pepper. Come on now, you know you loved the Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker too. The Black Cherry Mentha Lip Shine is the grown up version that you will not have to be embarrassed about pulling out of your purse and putting on in public. The Soda Pop Collection also has Cream Soda and Root Beer flavors too.

$7.50

Citrus Mentha Minis

This one I just picked up last night. It was sitting by the register and the bright colors beckoned me. The cashier had already rung me up but I just had to slide this in with the rest of the purchases. Shame is, I have a degree in Marketing and still fall for all of those tricks. I know better, but I don't care.

Anyway, this is a great little trio. Three small lip shines in Lime, Grapefruit, and Orange flavors. The sizes are perfect to fit in the teensy tiny clutches that go so well with your night out on the town outfits. So far, Grapefruit is my favorite flavor but the lime is coming up a close second for me. I'm not really a fan of the Orange, but then again, orange in general does nothing for me. I never liked the Orange flavored Tic Tacs and that's exactly what this tastes like to me.

$10 for the three


Let the mint make you tingly from head to toe, but remember C.O. Bigelow really invented the remix, and tell a friend that Ms. New Beauty told you!

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for the gift bag giveaway. You only have until Wednesday at midnight to subscribe with feedblitz and be included in the drawing!

Single Sexy & Free

Television, magazines, radio, and just life will make you think that Valentine's Day is rough if you are currently unattached. Well, Ms. New Beauty believes that's all BS. V-Day is a time to show your love, and who's more deserving of all your love and affection than yourself??? Nobody, that's who. MNB is loving herself with all her heart right now. She never has more fun than during the times when she is completely head over heels, butt crazy in love with herself. And when's she loving herself, Ms. New Beauty loves to spend time with other women who love themselves just as much. So she's found the best products to feel beautiful and sexy night out with the girls.

Farouk Biosilk Silk Therapy

It's a universal truth that we are all attracted to things that glitter and sparkle. Diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend. Everybody loves them. Even if you didn't get a sparkly little bauble today, there's no reason that you still can't have something shiny and sparkling in your life. Make it your hair. Just a few drops of Biosilk will give your hair a 100 watt shine, the stuff that Pantene commercials are made of. Completely free of alcohol, Biosilk smoothes out your hair's cuticle, protects it from heat treatments and helps repair split ends. I have not been without a small bottle of this stuff since I graduated high school. And my hair is always so shiny that you can almost see yourself in it. Smooth in, and shine on.

Farouk is technically a salon product, but I have never bought it from there. In almost any drug store or Target, you can find it in the "Salon Products" section of the haircare aisle. $12.49, available at drugstore.com

Urban Decay Cocktail Collection Flavored Body Powder

Add just the slightest hint of shimmer to the skin you're showing with this big fluffy brush filled with sparkling powder. Swipe this across your decollete, down your arms, and right in between your cleavage to give yourself a little oomph. And, because no night out with the girls is complete without gossiping over the appropriate libations, these powders come in delicious cocktail flavored scents. The Pina Colada is a white shimmer powder perfect for very fair complexions. Mai Tai is golden and looks great on women of color and those with warm undertones. And the Cosmopolitan is a pretty pink that works well on women with medium complexions and cool undertones.

$30, available at Sephora.

Shu Uemura Flare Eyelashes

I know it's supposed to be a night out with the girls. But that doesn't mean you can't get all dolled up just for yourself. Try full on movie star glam eyes tonight. Line upper and lower lashes with black eyeliner and smudge. And, don't forget to complete the look with false eyelashes. Glue three or four of these individual false lashes along the outer corner of your lash line. Just this subtle touch will give you the fullness of falsies but still keep your lashes looking naturally full and lush. Perfect for batting your eyes demurely and giving just the hint that you might be interested.

$15, available at shuuemura-usa.com

Fresh Rose Face Mask

Don't wait for a man to send you flowers. Pull a Cher Horowitz and send them to yourself. Or use this luxurious face mask to clean and tighten your skin. Packed with crushed rose petals, this mask smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. Use this after your night out to get the makeup and public grime off your face. Plus the tightening agents will make sure that you wake up looking fresh and fabulous, just in case you and the girls knock back one too many.

$55, available at fresh.com

Be your own true love, but keep it fabulous for a single girls' night out, just don't forget Ms. New Beauty told you!

In The Mood For Love

February is one of Ms. New Beauty's favorite month's. Only in February does she get to celebrated her anniversary, her birthday, the history of her people, and love all at once. She's already celebrated the first three, but unfortunately, she'll be on her own with the last one. That's right, MNB will be all alone on Valentine's Day. Such is the life of a woman in a long distance relationship. But, she will be alright. Instead of wallowing in her loneliness at home, she's going on a date with some of the loves of her life - her girlfriends. They're going to eat fattening desserts, watching girly movies, and celebrate one of the greatest loves of all, true friendship. But for you ladies that will be celebrating the day of love with a significant other, MNB has found some of the best Valentine's date perfect products.

100% Pure Chocolate Mocha Body Scrub

What Valentine's beauty post could be complete without a mention of chocolate? Not this one. Soften up your body and eliminate any dry patches (dead skin is so not sexy) before the big day with this decadent body scrub. This rich scrub is made with Belgian dark chocolate, a rich source of antioxidants, cocoa butter and moisturizing grapeseed oil. A touch of Hawaiian Kona coffee increases circulation and caffeine is known to tighten any "loose" spots. Soften up and get sexy for your man. And enjoy this chocolate guilt-free because it will not end up on your hips in the morning.

$18, available at Bath & Body Works.

Kitty Lixx Lava Lotion Body Candle Massage Oil

Most adult product lines offer very few items that wouldn't embarass you in front of your mother if you accidentally forgot to put them away. But, Kitty Lixx has struck gold in this ingenious candle. It's perfect for a romantic evening at home. Burn the candle for great mood lighting and to scent your room. And, then blow out the flame and use the melted wax as a massage oil. Be forewarned, just a little of the melted wax goes a long way so use sparingly. Don't ask me how I now.

This candle comes in three scents, Vanilla, Strawberry and Jasmine, for $17.99. Available at KittyLixx.com. (Note - the Kitty Lixx website is probaby not safe for work)

Lush Joy of Jelly Shower Jelly

Lush is one of the most innovative cosmetic companies around. And, I have been head over heels in love with their shower jellies since I first stepped foot into their store. These jellies are all natural and made by hand. The Joy of Jelly is their sexiest scent, combining notes of musky jasmine, ylang ylang, rose, and tiger lilly. But the best part isn't the scent, it's how you use it. Instead of just squeezing onto a loofah (how boring), you rub a hunk of the jelly all over your body to produce a fragrant and luscious lather. This will make for tons of fun in a shower for two. Get your man dirty and then clean him up. And let him return the favor.

$5.45 for a 3.5 oz hunk of jelly, available at Lush.com.

Healing Garden zzzTherapy Pillow Spray

Before you lay yourself down to "sleep," make your bed more welcoming with this pillow spray. Spray in the air above your bed and let the light scent of vanilla bean, chamomile, and orange blossom fall into your linens. Don't let the name fool you, this scent is perfect for creating a very awake sensual mood in your bedroom. And, this is just one product from a great line. The Healing Garden is one of the best drugstore brands available. Their body splashes and sprays are strong enough to last all day and use fragrance notes that smell just as good as expensive perfumes.

$6.99, available at drug stores.

This post has been for those couple perfect products. But single New Beauties need not worry, a special Valentine's Day post just for the unattached is forthcoming.

Share the love ladies, and look fabulous while doing it, but don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Beach & Body Works

Ms. New Beauty is finally back from her much needed vacation. She spent the past week in Dominican Republic laying on the beach and playing in the ocean with her boyfriend. She was so relaxed she could barely drag herself from her chaise to grab pina coladas from the beach bar, but somehow she managed. Just before leaving for her vacation, Ms. New Beauty rediscovered the wonders of an American shopping mall staple - Bath & Body Works. Having sworn off the store years ago because of all of those sickeningly sweet smelling lotions and shower gels, MNB has gotten her beauty fixes from so many other places that she had completely forgotten about B&BW. Desperate for a good sunscreen, MNB just happened to pop into the store before her trip to discover what the rest of the world has apparently known for a while, Bath & Body Works has gotten a serious upgrade. A "Beyonce singing about Cartier Tie Clips" worthy upgrade. Both before and after her trip, MNB was surprised by the quality and level of products being offered at Bath & Body Works and is profiling two of her most satisfying recent purchases in this post.

Peter Thomas Roth Oil Free Sunblock SPF 30

I know I've blogged, lectured, ranted and raved about the importance of sunscreen before. I have had a few favorite sunscreens for years, so I haven't really been trying any new ones. But, two days before our trip, I was looking for a spray sunscreen for my body and came across this one.

Peter Thomas Roth Oil Free SPF 30 is the lightest sunscreen lotion that I've ever used on my face. Despite claiming to be oil free, a lot of other sunscreens still leave my face looking greasier than a bucket of the Colonel's Extra Crispy. But this one is so light. I slathered it all over my face, neck, and decollete (and eventually my whole body) during our whole trip and I never once got greasy. It kept my skin protected and my forehead shine free. Now, I did still get darker after all those hours on the beach under the Dominican sun, but I'm not complaining because a sista was pasty before she left. I've read that any change in skin color, i.e. getting a tan, is a sign of sun damage, but I'm not quite sure if that holds true even when using sunscreen and reapplying religiously. But, that is a question for The Beauty Brains.

This is not listed on the B&BW website but is available in stores and at other retailers for $26.

Breathe Delight Deep Nourishment Body Cream

It was so warm and balmy in DR that I barely needed any lotion for the whole trip. Just a quick dollop on my hands and feet did the trick and my skin never felt dry. I was in for quite a rude awakening as soon as we got back. I stepped off the plane in Atlanta and the dry air hit me like a slug to the chest. My whole body instantly felt itchy and dry, which caused as "ashaphobe" like me to almost have a mental breakdown.

While we were waiting for our connecting flight, I dashed off to the B&BW in Terminal B and bought a big jar of this heavenly body cream. Breathe Delight Deep Nourishment Body Cream is nice and thick, just what my dry skin needed. As soon as I finished paying for it, I went straight to the ladies room and slathered this cream all over my legs, back, shoulders, and arms. I felt instanly refreshed.

Available at Bath & Body Works for $16.50.


Stay protected and hydrated ladies, find treasures sitting in a mall near you, just don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Scrub a Dub Dub

Some of Ms. New Beauty's fondest childhood memories involve spending as many minutes as possible at her grandmother's house in West Philadelphia. MNB loved sitting out on the porch and watching the people walk by, waiting for the trolley to stop on the corner to see who might be getting off, running across the street to buy candy from the corner store, and waiting for her grandmother to serve up some of the best food to ever bless tastebuds. It must be written in a Holy book somewhere that no one on earth is allowed to cook better than a black grandmother. One thing MNB did not enjoy about those trips was sitting on the edge of the tub while her grandmother pulled out a nail brush and scrubbed her knees and elbows. Convinced that their darker color was a result of playing outside, Grandma New Beauty would scrub those joints until they were sore. One day, MNB's Aunt J intervened, finally convincing Grams that knees and elbows were supposed to be dark. And, Ms. New Beauty never had her knees scrubbed again.

That fairytale ending was set to hold on in perpetuity until just a few days ago. MNB was reading about skin lightening on one of her fave blogs on beauty and life from a black woman's perspective, Afrobella, when she came upon a link to another blog discussing darkened knees and elbows. 55 Secret Street says that they can be lightened with simple exfoliating followed by sunscreen. I guess Grams was right all along. Trying to do her family proud, MNB has been religiously scrubbing her knees and elbows in the shower. And, thus we come to her new favorite body scrub.

Maryam's Shea Butter and Dead Sea Salt Glow

Until today, I had been a die hard Fresh Brown Sugar Body Scrub girl. It was that or nothing else. But, I'm going to be a Maryam devotee from now on. Chocked full of essential oils, like avocado, olive, and jojoba, Maryam's Shea Butter and Dead Sea Salt Glow moisturizes as it exfoliates, an absolute essential for dry skin. Since winter has finally hit Boston (the weather dropped 40 degrees almost overnight; this global warming is no joke), my skin is starting to dry up faster than little old ladies on Miami Beach. This scrub exfoliated me and left my skin as soft as a newborn's.

But, I must say that the Fresh body scrub does the same thing. That was one of the main reasons why I fell in love with it in the first place. So merely meeting the standard was not going to be enough to make me leave my baby. What pushed me over the edge, you ask? The texture!!!!! Maryam's scrub uses fine salt particles to scrub gently and the scrub itself is of a thicker consistency than any I've used before. Most scrubs, including Fresh, are runny and the ingredients seperate, forcing you to stir with your finger before trying to slap it on your skin as it slips through your fingers and runs down the drain. There is none of that here. This one has a thick jellylike consistency so everything stays perfectly blended and you don't end up spilling more product on the shower floor than actually gets on your skin.

I used the Ginger Cardmom scent and my bathroom smelled like heaven. It felt like being at a very relaxing spa in the South Pacific, somewhere like Bora Bora or Fiji. Let's just go with Bora Bora - it sounds more tropical to me. My ramblings about locales aside, the scent was exactly what I needed to relax me today.

I am also loving Maryam's Shea Monoi Whipped Body Butter. It was the perfect follow up to the scrub. The whipped texture is divine, and we remember how I feel about a body butter's texture right? It was so soft and smooth and melted right into my skin. After a hot shower using that scrub and following with the body butter, I just could not wait to hop on my laptop and start raving about these products. Check more of Maryam's fabulous handmade bath luxuries at Maryam's Soap Nook.

Scrub those knees ladies, do your grandmothers proud, and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Getting the Good Stuff

Ms. New Beauty loves a good sale. And, she especially loves it when one of her fave beauty brands has a big blowout for the new year. As soon as she finishes typing up this post, she's headed right over to stock up on some L'Occitane to start the new year off right. No crusty feet or ashy elbows for her. MNB sees lots of shea butter body creme, almond shower gels, and lavender scented candles - all for up to 75% off. If you're in the market for some L'Occitane goodies, you better hurry - the sale stated today and ends on Tuesday.

Stock up on the good stuff ladies and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you.

It's Like Buttah

For some odd reason, it's still unseasonably warm in Ms. New Beauty's little part of the world. By this time, it's normally frigidly cold and Ms. New Beauty is trying her damnedest to stay moisturized and fight off the dry, itchy skin that winter air can bring. After having lived through two of said dry winters, MNB has gotten the winter moisture thing down pat and it's all about the body butters girls.

Thicker than lotions or cremes but still creamy and soft, body butters are the key to preserving your sexy during cold temperatures. The best body butters, in my opinion, have a soft, smooth, almost pudding like consistency, but sink in and keep you moisturized until your next shower. I have tried plenty and I'm giving you the best of the best today.

Jaqua Sinfully Rich Body Butter

Jaqua specializes in making those "foodie" scented body butters. Normally, I find those scents sickeningly sweet and way too reminiscent of the Bath & Body Works lotion and body spray craze that took over my high school in 1998. But, my favorite scent, Banana Spice Cake, is so sumptuous that I completely forget all memories of girls lathering themselves in Jolly Rancher scented lotion. The scent is a perfect autumnal blend with hints of ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon with a subtle staying power. When I get home after a long day and take off my street clothes, I get a subtle whiff of the scent, but it's light enough that I can put on perfume without over powering the noses of every person I meet.

The Jaqua Body Butters often have that coveted pudding consistency, but I've noticed that it can be irregular. Certain scents can be thicker and less smooth than others. I always check to make sure I'm getting the smooth kind I like before I buy.

Korres Natural Products Body Butter

You wouldn't expect a rich, moisturizing body butter to come out of this bottle, I know I didn't, but it does. I'm so used to the short, fat tub of butter to slather all over myself, but this one comes in a convenient pump bottle. It's still rich enough to keep the winter itch away, but it's light enough to smooth right onto skin without lots of vigorous rubbing that those super thick formulas can require. Made from all natural ingredients, it contains Quince extract and shea butter (a must have ingredient for dry skin) to soften and moisturize and almond, sunflower, and avocado oils to smooth the skin.

My favorite formula is the Quince, but the Guava is divine too. And, you know I love this because the bottle is the perfect shape to drop into some of my larger purses. This one fits very well into my Botkier Trigger Fan Hobo.

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Creme

The granddaddy of body butters, this cream barely needs any description. L'Occitane's body creme has a high shea butter content, 25%, and contains a cocktail of natural oils to soften even the driest of the dry skin. Even my good friend's Sahara-esque case of eczema was no match for this creme. If this doesn't soften your skin, get thee to a dermatologist post haste.





Body Butter Money Saver - Biggs & Featherbelle

I originally tried the Biggs & Featherbelle Body Butter early this fall. The concept of a body butter bar intrigued me. It's a solid bar that you rub over your skin. The heat from your body melts the body butter right in. What?!?! So innovative. You know I had to try that, so I put in my order for two different kinds - Lavender & Bergamot and the Ylang Ylang & Patchouli.

The scent of the Lavender & Bergamot was so strong and overpowering that I could not even use it. Literally, I could not even bring myself to put it on my body because just opening the jar almost knocked me out. The second one, Ylang Ylang & Patchouli, was strongly scented, it wasn't as bad so I gave it a try. The concept was great - the bar just melted onto my skin and left nothing but soft body butter in its wake. But, the scent never faded away. I smelled like Patchouli all day. I don't hate Patchouli, but I surely don't like it enough to walk around smelling like the Health & Beauty section of Whole Foods.

But, scent alone is not enough for me to post something as a money saver. Some of you may love, love, love a scent that I can't take, so I reserve the Money Saver distinction for products that truly aren't worth the money. What did it for the Biggs & Featherbelle? The fact that the body butter that melted so gloriously onto my skin never absorbed into my skin. It just sat on top and resolidified, eventually leaving a Patchouli scented body butter lining in my clothes. Make me smell like a health food store, but don't go messing up my clothes!! That's where I draw the line.

Well, stay soft ladies, banish that nasty winter itch, and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Endless Summer

It's warm outside and Ms. New Beauty is scared out of her mind. She's not paranoid, just wondering if all of those end of days prophecies on supermarket tabloids are finally coming true. It's mid-November and not one flake of snow, sleet, hale, or any other winter precipitation has fallen from the Boston sky. It's actually balmy today, MNB didn't even put on a coat when she walked nextdoor to use the free internet. It's 62 degrees today, and while that's nothing to be happy about for my ladies in perenially sunny climates like Florida and Cali, in Boston, anything above 60 is practically summer. So, in honor of the unseasonably warm winter, MNB is dedicating this post to two beauty workhorses that get a lot of attention in summertime, but really should be used year round - sunscreen and bronzer.

Sunscreen

Ladies, if you don't read one more word and never come to see Ms. New Beauty again, please take this message and keep it close to your heart from now until forever - wear sunscreen EVERYDAY! Not just in the summer on when you're on vacay, everyday. That means days when it's cloudy, when you're only running from the car to the office, when you can't even see the sun. As long as it's light outside, you need to wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreen is the best protection against skin cancer, a disesase which a growing number of young people are developing. And, on the slightly more superficial but no less important tip, sunscreen keeps you looking younger, longer. 90% of the signs of aging, like wrinkles and dark spots, are caused by sun damage. Oh, and black women, this public service announcement definitely includes you too. Sunscreen is not just for our paler sisters. The melanin in your skin does offer some sun protection benefits, but it is not enough alone. Supplement that natural protection with sunscreen.

Okay, spiel over, product review begin.


DDF Matte Finish Photo-Age Protection SPF 30

This is a great sunscreen for women with oily skin. Sunscreens come in two forms - chemical and physical. The chemical sunscreens filter out the bad rays, but they tend to be a bit on the greasy side. That can turn a naturally oily forehead into a high beam spotlight. This sunscreen though uses a physical sunscreen, a chemical that actually prevents the sun's rays from hitting the skin. The matte formula prevents any additional shine and keeps skin protected and looking smooth. One caveat - physical sunscreens tend to be white and can be hard to blend on darker skin tones. Women of color, if you use this product, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to blend it in before you leave the house or you will end up looking ashy, and that is never cute.


MD Skincare Suncreen Pads

Isn't it great that dermatologists are getting into the beauty business? We, the obsessive consumers, get the benefit of all of their knowledge and great products that work wonders. Both this sunscreen and the last one were developed by dermatologists.

These sunscreen pads are literally at the top of my best inventions of the new millenium. Time magazine picked YouTube, but they are sadly misinformed. These sunscreen pads come with an SPF 30 protection, they are packed with Vitamin C which has great anti-aging benefits for the skind, and best of all, they are so portable. You know how I love products that I can fit in my purse without weighing it down. No bigger than a wetnap but ten times more useful, these pads fit into my tiniest bags. And, one pad has the perfect amount of sunscreen to cover face, neck, and decollete. I use one in the morning and carry another with me during the day. This is a chemical sunscreen, so it can be a little greasy, but I like to follow with a mattifier for my problem areas and then a bronzer. It gives me a dewy look.

Bronzers

Bronzer isn't just a replacement for a real tan in the summer. It is a year round staple that gives women worldwide a healthy glow and look of inner warmth. It really is key to grabbing a hold of that ever elusive "natural" look. Bronzer adds color and sheen to the face in just the right places and when done right, you never can tell if she's born with it or maybe it's Maybelline.

Becca Brazilian Bronzing Sheen

I have been on a search for a great bronzer since summer ended and my "living my life like it's golden glow" gave way to the normal Massachusetts pastiness. You know it's bad when even a brown skin girl looks pasty. I tried a bunch of powder bronzers, but none of them offer the right amount of color for me. The basic rule is to use a bronzer one to two shades darker than your skin for a natural look of warmth. But for darker girls, you have to use a bronzer that's darker than your skin but still has a lot of gold in it to give you a glow. That's pretty hard to find. Most of the powders I tried were basically indetectable on my skin. I didn't get any kind of glow. I tried Tarte Park Avenue Princess, Kimora Lee Simmons, and Cargo. Couldn't do a thing for me.

But then, I went back to my roots, back to my girl Becca. She never disappoints me and true to form, she had the perfect bronzer for me. The color is dark, but sheer at the same time with plenty of gold in it to warm up the face. It's dark enough to show up on women of color, but sheer enough for fair skinned girls to take advantage too. This is one of those few shades that is universally flattering. The Brazilian bronzing sheen isn't a powder. It's a light gel solid, similar to my Tarte Cheek Stain. Just dip a finger in the pot and smooth on a little on cheekbones, temples, the bridge of the nose, and just a smidge on the chin. That's enough to give the whole face a warm glow without looking like you have one of those hideous fake tans of the competitive body building scene.



Michael Kors Leg Shine

While this isn't quite a bronzer, it is an absolute necessity for a body that glows with the healthy look of someone who just got back from an oh-so-fabulous vacation. In three shades, Michael Kors Leg Shine adds just a hint of color and shimmer to body for the look of an inner glow. The shimmer is very very subtle, so you don't have to worry about looking like you've revisited that horrible body glitter trend of the late 90's. It comes in a solid stick looks like a fabulous reincarnation of deodorant. Perfect to use apres beach or for any night out on the town. Added bonus, it's lightly scented with Michael Kors' original perfume for a subtle aroma with notes of freesia, tuberose, and tamarind. The scent is so light that you can wear your normal perfume while using it and you will not be bringing tears to anyone's eyes or setting off allergic reactions in public.

Stay young, glow, and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty told you!

Blame It On Brazil

Ms. New Beauty isn't necessarily what most people consider an adventurous kind of chick. She pretty much sticks to the basics of life, except of course when she's traveling. Once that passport gets stamped, MNB is willing to try almost anything. This explains why she decided to have all the hair below her eyelashes removed on whim at a cute little spa in Tunisia. She could do without the little old woman who spoke only Arabic and bathed her head to toe after the waxing, but my oh my was she in love with the results. She was head over heels with the smoothness until the first of those nasty little hair bumps popped up. Since then, she's been on a crusade to rid the word "ingrown" from her vocabulary. Well guess who just hit delete in the MNB personal lexicon?

Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Pads

To combat the ingrowns, I typically armed myself with surgical tip tweezers and an alcohol soaked cotton ball and headed into the bathroom daily to perform my own little mini surgery to extract the ingrowns. Despite the huge sense of accomplishment whenever I actually got one out, that routine was tiring and probably really unsafe. But, no more self-operating for me.

These little ingenious pads work wonders. My partner in crime (and by crime I mean shopping, clubbing, and all around fabulous living) has been using these since her first waxing and convinced me that they work. Ever the skeptic, I finally tried them last month and I have not had one ingrown, that's right not-a-tender-ugly-painful-damned-one hair bump. The combination of hydroxy acids and green tea extracts must be some magical potion because I have had a smooth and simple regrowth period. Use everyday after your shower to keep those nasty little bumps away because honestly, is the waxing worth the $75 you spend when the very hairs you snatch out revolt and ruin your Brazilian after only a few days? I didn't think so. And, unless you're in the mood to waste money, skip these and stick with the Bliss pads.

Try it, use it, stay smooth, and don't forget Ms. New Beauty told you!

Natural Honeys

Ms. New Beauty is so busy lately, trying to find herself a job in a completely different industry than the one she's studying in school, on top of her classes and extracurricular commitments. And, you know she has to maintain her social schedule. So, the networking, studying, planning, and partying are just wearing her out. The only thing that's kept her sane is her favorite natural bath soak. And since Ms. New Beauty loves everything she's ever tried from this line, and gives them as Christmas gifts, she's dedicating this post to just one company.

In recent years, natural beauty and hair care products have gotten a lot of attention. There's one brand in particular designed for and by black women that's become a mainstream hit and gotten some celebrity backers. I don't have anything against this line, I'm just not that impressed. I have however completely fallen in love with Oyin Handmade. Named for the Yoruba word for honey, Oyin's products are all natural, of superior quality and really nourish hair and skin.

Everything that Oyin makes is completely handmade with only naturaly ingredients. With recent reports that some beauty product additives may be harmful, knowing ever ingredient on the back of a bottle is comforting.


Fizzy Milk Bath

Luscious is the only word to describe this bathing experience. Oyin's Fizzy Milk Bath contains powdered milk to give the whole bath a Cleopatra experience. The lactic acid from milk really helps soften skin. Plus almond oil and cocoa butter beads that melt in the hot water to just soothe your skin. And, the bath powder comes in a mini ice cream carton, so cute.

Oyin take me away!




Whipped Pudding

This is truly the jewel in the Oyin crown. If you only try one product, this should be it. Whipped Pudding is a shea butter cream whipped up to the lightest and most decadent texture. It's so soft and light but moisturizers better than any other product in Ms. New Beauty's cabinet. Not only can you use it on your skin, it also works well on hair. It can give natural curls the moisture they need without weighing them down. And, because each jar of Whipped Pudding is handmade, right when you order it, the scent is ever changing. Sometimes it has more of a cocoa smell, other times, the vanilla scent is stronger. Every time you put it on, the pudding just melts into your skin and gives off the best sensory experience. You can also microwave your whipped pudding jar for a few seconds for a soft heated product, great for massages.


Greg Juice

This is the best leave in conditioner Ms. New Beauty has ever used. She was a faithful Infusium 23 girl for years, but nothing compares to Greg Juice. It's like a salad for your hair, literally. Started with a spring water base, Greg Juice contains vegetable extracts to condition, moisturize and detangle hair. Use it after washing hair and before styling or spray it on whenever curls or braids need a little pick me up. It has a light citrusy scent that drives that "salad" point home.

Now, the same formula is used to make Frank Juice, it's Greg Juice with Frankincense and Myrhh, for a spicier scent.









Although these three products are her favorites, Ms. New Beauty also loves the After Bath Oil. She blends in her own natural jasmine oil to customize the scent. She's been having a love affair with jasmine since she lived in North Africa and that sweet sensual scent wafted through her windows every day as she woke up. Her gorgeous and fabulous friend Didi loves to use the Shine & Define Styling Serum for her hair ever since MNB gave it to her as a Christmas present.

Check it out, be a natural honey, and don't forget Ms. New Beauty sent you!

A Beautiful Cure

So it's a double posting day. I'm sick, stuck inside the penthouse with nothing but magazines and the internet to keep me occupied. Well, actually, I should be reading for my tax law class, but this is more fun. Onto the cosmetics!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the beauty and fashion industries have always stepped up to the challenge to find the cure. So many companies have introduced or redesigned products specifically to raise money for breast cancer charities. Here are some of the products that I will be trying and buying to do my part.

Bobbi Brown Pink Bouquet Shimmer Lip Gloss

A new product created just for Breast Cancer Awareness, it's the perfect pink shimmery lip gloss. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.





Philosophy Pink Ribbon Shower Gel

I love Philosophy shower gels. The three-in-one products can be used as shampoo, bath gel, or body wash. And, even though it's not one of the selling points, Philosophy shower gels make great shaving creams. The best part is 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Women's Cancer Research Fund.



Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Therapy

You know I barely need an excuse to try a new lip balm. Now, pomegranate is my favorite fall fruit and has so many natural antioxidants that it's basically a given that I'm going to try anything that has it as an ingredient. And, this one has an SPF 15 with 10% of the proceeds going to breast cancer research.






L'Occitane Ultra Rich Body Cream


Again, I don't really need a reason to buy L'Occitane body products. And this body cream is an all time favorite of mine. But, just for October, it's going to come in a pink box and 15% of the proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.







Stila Breast Cancer Awareness It Gloss Trio

We all love Stila lip glosses, they add just the right hint of color and shine without all of that ridiculous goopiness. This trio comes with three shades, named Courageous, Enticing, and Inspiring, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.






For more products that benefit breast cancer research and charities, visit Sephora, All About the Pretty, and Beautiful Makeup Search.

(Note: the proceeds is the money that the company brings in from a product, not just the profit it makes after its expenses. Seems pretty basic, but I was a little unsure until I looked it up myself. Just passing on the knowledge as always.)

Try, buy, support a great cause, and don't forget that Ms. New Beauty sent you!