The new Clinique Medical Dry Spot Balm is a must have skincare product. It is great for any dry skin irritation on your face, it moisturizes your skin without feeling heavy or causing a breakout.

I have lips that tend to be dry so I always have gloss or lip balm on. I started using the Clinique Medical Dry Spot Balm on my lips at night before bed and it has made a world of difference. Now throughout the day my lips feel soft and smooth and I don’t need to constantly apply balm or gloss! Dry Spot Balm has earned a permanent spot in my heart and makeup case.

Clinique Medical Dry Spot Balm:

Help for those with dry, sensitive skin!

Look your best and brightest this festive season and avoid dry or irritated skin with Clinique Medical’s new line of gentle products that are especially formulated to give your skin the TLC it needs. When you have dry skin, your makeup does not go on smoothly and we all know a flawless face is very important to completing “the look” for any holiday party. Try the Clinique Medical Dry Spot Balm formulated with Sea Whip Extract, which according to Clinique’s development team is soft coral.

The benefits of this ingredient have been studied but generally Sea Whip Extract helps reduce the appearance of redness, irritation and dryness and relieves skin discomfort. This is especially helpful for skin in cases following treatments (peels, etc.) and for those with naturally sensitive and dry skin. It’s the perfect soothing balm!

Key ingredients include: A calming, concentrated marine botanical extract (Sea Whip Extract) to help reduce the appearance of redness, irritation and dryness.

An extremely rich formula for comforting dry, peeling and flaking skin.

Description: Dry Spot Balm is designed to treat areas of extreme dryness and discomfort. Using ingredients such as shea butter and coconut oil, it replenishes hydration, minimizes redness and heals cracks. It also boosts the protective lipid barrier to minimize moisture loss and protect against environmental damage.
Recommended Use: Apply as needed.

$24.00 suggested retail price for a 15ml. tube. Go to cliniquemedical.com to find a dermatologist in your area.

CONTEST: The Lancome Le Vernis contest will run from today November 20th, to November 27th, Thanksgiving!

TO ENTER: Tell us what you are thankful for this year and leave your name & email address in the comments.

RULES: US residents only, please.  One winner will be chosen at random.

Good luck!

Lancome Le Vernis

Le Vernis
Divine Lasting Color & Shine
Limited Edition

It is Lancôme’s most technically-advanced nail polish. Your fingertips and toes will love the boost of color and lasting shine that stays put for up to seven days. Its cutting edge, soft-sculpt brush embraces the shape of each nail for perfectly even coverage in one coat with no clumps.

Shiny and Shock Free
Shield Plasticizers keep nails flexible, shiny and more resistant to shock and abrasion. Chip-free for days!

Strong and Healthy
Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane (MSM) is a naturally occurring substance known for its diverse health benefits, including support for healthy nails. It is known to boost the production of keratin, a tough protein from which finger and toe nails are made. MSM paired with Shield Plasticizers make nails much stronger and more flexible.

$18.00 Lancome Le Vernis

Shang High: The Cibu Volume Collection is a 5-part regimen designed to add body, texture, and volume for all hair types. Start with Cibu Shang High Shampoo and Conditioner, and then follow with any combination of styling products to customize your volumizing regimen.

Read more about each product for details.

INVIGORATING
NEW CITRUS CIBU SCENT!

CIBU SHANG HIGH
Volumizing Shampoo

Start your day with Cibu Shang High Volumizing Shampoo and get volume that lasts - high noon to night.

$16.00 Cibu Shang High Shampoo

CIBU SHANG HIGH
Volumizing Conditioner

Luxury, volume, condition, and shine - your high-ness deserves nothing but the royal treatment of Cibu Shang High Volumizing Conditioner.

$17.00 Cibu Shang High Conditioner

CIBU SHANG HIGH
Root Booster

Has flat, lifeless hair got you down? Lift your spirits and your roots with Cibu Shang High Root Booster.

$20.00 Cibu Shang High Root Booster

CIBU SHANG HIGH
Volumizing Mousse

No city is built in a day, but you can create skyscraping volume in an instant with Cibu Shang High Volumizing Mousse.

$20.00 Cibu Shang High Volumizing Mousse

CIBU SHANG HIGH
Thickening Paste

Addicted to volume? Give your hair the ultimate high with Cibu Shang High Thickening Paste, buzzing with energizing Ginseng and Hemp Seed Oil.

$18.00 Cibu Shang High Thickening Paste

Anastasia just continues to come up with amazing products, and priced so everyone can afford them! They have hit the nail on the head again with this wonderful, new collection!  How excited would you be to see this in your stocking this year?  Men, if you’re reading this (your secret’s safe with me!) pick this up for your wife or girlfriend, and they’ll forever thank you!

Mini Brow Kit is a miniature set of Anastasia’s essential tools.

Anastasia Mini Brow Kit includes mini must-have versions of Matte Camille Highlighter, Tweezers, and Clear Brow Gel. The calibrated tension of the Mini Tweezers does not break the hair and cleaning up unwanted brow hair is a snap. Mini Matte Camille Highlighter tricks the light by bringing subtle focus to the eye area and the Mini Clear Brow Gel helps to hold pesky brow hair in place. It’s the perfect miniature brow kit for any woman on the go!

This set includes:
- Mini Matte Camille Highlighter
- Mini Tweezers
- Mini Clear Brow Gel

Size: 0.04 oz Mini Clear Brow Gel/ 0.095 oz Mini Matte Highlighter

$25.00 - BUY IT HERE!

ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, put dozens of blow dryers, straightening irons and mascaras to the test, revealing that you don’t have to spend a lot to get the top-rated products.

So which ones blew the testers away? Details are below and in the January 2009 issue of ShopSmart, on newsstands today, November 18.

ShopSmart Tests Reveal Beauty Staple Standouts

—January Issue Features Ratings for Blow Dryers, Straightening Irons and Mascara—

YONKERS, NY – If you’re looking for a good blow dryer, hair straightener or mascara, you don’t need to spend a lot of money – that’s according to the latest lab tests results of these products by ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports.

“You can pay anywhere from $20 to $200 for a blow dryer or a straightening iron, but it doesn’t really matter what you spend. ShopSmart found standouts at both price points that will give you plenty of great hair days,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief, ShopSmart. “The same goes for mascaras, so before you reach for that department-store brand, check out our smart picks.”

Blow Dryers

Winner: CHI Pro Dryer GF 1505, $80.19

ShopSmart tested 10 models of blow dryers on swatches of human hair in an environment chamber (to keep temperature and humidity steady).  Additionally, a panel of 10 staffers used the dryers at home. Despite big differences in price and wattage (ranging from 1,300 to 1,875), drying time did not vary much. But once noise and other features were factored in, ShopSmart found three standouts. ShopSmart’s smart splurges include the CHI Pro Dryer GF 1505, $135 and Bespoke Labs T3 Featherweight 83808-se, $200. The bargain buy, Revlon’s Ionic Ceramic Pro Stylist RV484, $20, had one bonus pricey dryers lacked, separate heat and speed settings so you can control temperature and airflow. It, along with the CHI, comes a diffuser and concentrator.

Straightening Irons

Winner: Infiniti Nano Silver by Conair SS9, $100

Nine straightening irons were tested in a humidity chamber and nine staffers tried them at home. Results of in-house tests and user feedback revealed that these products claims of ionic, tourmaline and nano silver technology did not make a difference in straightening performance. ShopSmart’s choice for smart splurge, the Infiniti Nano Silver by Conair SS9, $100, had all three features, but the bargain buy, Revlon Perfect Heat Ceramic RVST2001C, $30, had none. Paying a higher price also did not guarantee a better straightener and neither did the brand names. Conair was the maker of the top and bottom rated models while the CHI Ceramic GF-1001, $130  was the second-most-expensive straightener tested but did not rate anywhere near the top.

Mascaras

Winner: Lancome Definicils $24.00

Thirty-four women tested 16 lengthening and/or thickening formulas of mascara. While the top-rated wand was the more expensive Lancôme Definicils, $24another very good choice was the affordable Max Factor Lash Perfection Volume Couture, $7. Another surprise was how beauty magazine staple Maybelline Great Lash Washable mascara fared in the tests. While it rated very good overall, several panelists said it was nothing special and some complained about clumps.

The full reports on blow dryers, straightening irons and mascaras are featured in the January 2009 issue of ShopSmart magazine.

About ShopSmart magazine:

Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. Subscriptions are now available at www.ShopSmartmag.org.