FashionsWeek: Beauty, Fashion, Travel, Tech & Dining By Maya Litovsky

Salma Hayek originally partnered with CVS in 2011 to launch a Body, Skincare, and Makeup line. However, last month Salma revamped her entire collection and changed up the formulas to be more botanical and includes ingredients found in ancient beauty secrets by women all over the world.

A big believer in science and chemistry Salma is very involved in the formulations of her collection and is quite a perfectionist when it comes to rolling out a line of products. Being on the red carpet for a large portion of her life she has experienced every product and has learned what works on certain skin types and what doesn’t.

Every product in the makeup collection is under $20 but maintains quality ingredients and pigments. The Flawless finish liquid foundation ($14) is creamy and light and is easy to apply and I found the shades to be easily blendable. The Naturally Luminous Concealer ($12) is light and doesn’t cake up when applied under the eyes and the shades complement the shades of the foundation.
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Paula Begoun  has been a skincare guru and best selling author for over 20 years and has introduced several collections of Paula’s Choice Products all with her expertise and knowledge of ingredients that belong in skincare products and ones that do not. With a belief that everyone has sensitive skin to some degree whether it’s genetic, hormonal, or environmental ,Paula just launched her brand new “Calm” collection to tackle these needs.  The line consists of six products that deals with redness and skin sensitivity and is available for normal to dry and normal to oily skin. The regimen which can be used together or paired as needed is:  Available at PaulasChoice.com

• Cleanser: Gentle ,water -soluble removes dirt and makeup with light lathering while soothing reddened skin. $17
• Toner: Super Gentle toner with nourishing antioxidants to reduce redness and inflammation. Also removes any remaining dirt and makeup. $20
• 1% BHA Exfoliant: Lightweight lotion texture containing salicylic acid to unclog pores and soften skin while reducing redness. $26
• Repairing Serum: Contains antioxidant-rich and anti-aging ingredients that soothe irritated skin. $32
• SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer: Paula believes sunscreen is the most important part of long term skincare. This mineral moisturizer replenishes and soothes dry, sensitive skin while protecting it from sun damage. $28
• Nighttime Moisturizer: Plant extracts and antioxidants provide calming nighttime relief to dry, reddened skin. $28

Estee Lauder has been a global giant in the beauty industry for over 75 years so they know a thing or two about what the business model should look like. These days it’s all about The Millenial generation and offering products with the quality backbone, but with a focus on trendy products that deliver instant results and are packaged and priced to a engage a younger demographic.

The Estee Edit is an 82 piece skincare and makeup collection that launched on Sephora.com March 1st and will be available in Sephora stores on March 15th. Guest Editors Kendall Jenner and Korean Model and Social Media star Irene Kim post pictures and beauty tips on the Estee Edit Blog and with their combined huge social media reach have created an interactive universe between the brand and consumers.(@theesteeedit) #beautyattitude
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Just in time for Spring when it’s finally time to shed our winter layers and to get our skin ready for spring and summer Jane Iredale has launched her brand new BeautyPrep line. Awarded with the ECOCERT Natural Cosmetics Certification this three step skincare regimen is good for all skin types, easy to use and contains nutrients that provide protection from environmental pollutants and free radical damage. The three products are:

1. BeautyPrep Face Cleanser, $28  A no-rinse cleansing water that deep cleans pores with nourishing Oat Amino Acids. Removes makeup and cleanses skin prior to toning and moisturizing. Contains a proprietary micellar water with dual Cucumber Extracts that hydrate, smooth and protect the skin.
2. BeautyPrep Face Toner, $33 This toner refines pores and prepares the skin for layering moisturizer and makeup and is infused with Herbasome, a fruit extract infused water, to provide deep skin hydration. Contains: Organic Lemon Grass, Apple, Pear, Carrot, and Coconut Water to balance pH and restore the surface of the skin.
3. BeautyPrep Face Moisturizer, $45. This soothing moisturizer helps prevent transepidermal water loss while protecting the skin from airborne pollutants. Prepares the skin’s surface so that makeup application is easier and it stays on longer. Contains four organic Rose Stem Cell Extracts. White Rose, Damask Rose, Rosa Canina (Rosehips) and Pale Rose.

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As a beauty and lifestyle writer I am always intrigued at how many new products are introduced that promise new technology and great results so I was very excited to try this new at home facial exfoliator.

The concept behind DERMAFLASH is inspired by Dermaplanning, an in office procedure where the aesthetician uses a sharp blade or scalpel together with light feathery strokes to remove dead skin cells and peach fuzz to achieve healthier and younger looking skin. I decided to try this product because Dermaplanning or shaving the top layer, has been a technique used for ages, even though many women would not admit to shaving their face.

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