Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions

I recently sampled a new product from Smashbox called Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder.   Is it possible to be in love with a powder? 

Here is a description of Halo, from Smashbox:

A powder that reduces fine lines & wrinkles in 10 minutes? It’s not magic, it’s new HALO HYDRATING PERFECTING POWDER. HALO is the first anti-aging powder with the science of skin care built in. It’s advanced formulation of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids and a powerful peptide deliver powerful anti-aging benefits while the patented hydration system continuously revitalizes skin for a brighter, more radiant complexion all day. HALO’s innovative built in shaver gives you the perfect amount of luminous loose powder every time with no mess. Finally, a powder that multi-tasks as much as you do.

I can attest to the claim that within minutes you will see a decrease in wrinkles.  I am the first to doubt any such claim, as I find that so often the product never quite lives up to that promise.  However, Halo DOES deliver.  I was truly amazed with how my skin looked, wrinkles were less visible, my skin did not feel tight or dry as it can with some powder products, and I truly felt I got a flawless finish.   I truly felt that my skin glowed, without getting greasy, nor flaky as the day wore on.  In fact, running into a few friend was quite the ego boost…one of them quietly pulled me aside and asked me if I had gotten Botox or some kind of laser treatment.  She confirmed that my skin looked radiant…and obviously she, too, saw fewer lines!

I have my compact on order, and I recommend you get Halo as well.  I love products that multi-task and live up to their promises!  Click on the image below to take advantage of great savings on Halo and other fantastic makeup for Spring!

I am a member of beautystat.com (and encourage you to become one as well, great site!) and came across an anti-aging product that gave me pause…anti-aging perfume? According to beautystat.com, "New York-based perfume company Harvey Prince & Co. has received accolades from millions of women as well as the press for its fragrance, Ageless Fantasy, the world’s first anti-aging perfume."

So, I put it to a few friends for their opinions, and the overwhelming response was, "Yes, you CAN smell old!". Even one of my girlfriends told me that she recently had to have "that talk" with their mom, discretely telling her mom that she kind of smelled a bit like a grandma! She asked for the website and said she will order her mom a bottle for an Easter gift. I thought about it and realized that it is true, there is something to be said about a certain "grandma" kind of smell. For some of us, that can be quite lovely…maybe we think of the smell of baking, or old fashioned perfumes. For some of us, however, we may associate it with more of a smell that is not so pleasant…stuffy and…well…old.

More on Ageless Fantasy, from beautystat.com:

"I sat down with the founder, Kumar Ramani, and asked him if he really believes "youth" has a distinct scent. "Absolutely," he says. "The easiest way to think of this is to imagine a nursing home…doesn’t it have a distinct "older people" smell? The same applies to youth."

Ramani’s proof is in the pudding. Simply stated, as men and women age, the body produces a chemical that breaks down and causes "an unpleasant greasy odor," according to Harvey Prince. This is the "natural body odor of aging." Ageless Fantasy masks the skin’s natural age-revealing scent. Research has "proven" that men around women who use Ageless Fantasy believe them to be at least 8 years younger.

How exactly does this work? "Clinical trials" conducted with 75 men revealed that the participants associated the smell of grapefruit with youth. So Harvey Prince combined pink grapefruit with a smidge of mango, pomegranate, jasmine and musk-said to be other youthful notes-and voilà: a fragrance was born. Let’s put it this way, when I wore the fragrance, people sat up and took notice."

I even did my own experiment. I have a perfume that has similar base notes, mainly grapefruit, and sprayed it on to see what comments I might elicit from my loved ones. I just sprayed a bit on and went about my usual routine.

Husband: "Looks like you slept well last night" and big hug and peck on the cheek.

Daughter: "Good thing you are not grouchy, you usually hate Mondays." (did I mention she is a teenager)

Son: "Mom, you smell like juice." (ahhh….love that little guy!)

So, my conclusion? From my husband’s perspective, smelling fresh and citrus-y is associated with looking and seeming well-rested. That works! From my daughter’s perspective, perhaps that scent conveyed that I was upbeat, happy, optimistic. To my son, I smell like juice, and I guess that just means I smell like juice!

I highly recommend you check it out, and treat yourself to a great ant-aging perfume. Ageless Fantasy is available at http://www.agelessfantasy.com.