When Julia Roberts’ lips instantly plumped from the business end of a bee in the treatment scene of “Mirror Mirror,” we thought this was a brilliant alternative to expensive and painful surgery. But who are we kidding?  What woman would actually use bee venom as a cosmetic? Turns out, more than we thought.

Manuka Doctor, an all-natural cosmetic powerhouse from the U.K., has recently launched at Sephora and is featuring their Rejuvenating Bee Venom Face Mask. Manuka Doctor prides their line of skincare products on healthy and holistic ingredients, including honey, rosehips, blackcurrant oils, Shea and cocoa butter, and most currently, bee venom.

Dubbed as “nature’s Botox” by leaders in the cosmetic and health industries, purified bee venom (PBV) is said to significantly improve aging and problem skin for both men and women, including those who suffer from acne.  The main component found in bee venom – a protein called Melittin – is a proven blood stimulant that not only helps circulation, but produces keratinocyte, which act as a protectant barrier for your skin. 

Manuka Doctor’s award-winning formula has been selling out in the U.K. since its inception in 2012, and the company’s director, Nicola MacFarlane, can’t help but boast about it.  After winning ‘Best New Brand’ by the prestigious Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) UK Beauty Awards, MacFarlane brags “winning ‘Best New Brand’ opens up a number of new possibilities for Manuka Doctor, including expanding distribution worldwide into new markets.”

“This is great news for our growing company and sends a clear message to other entrepreneurs who are looking to break into overseas markets,” she adds. 

With U.S. Sephora stores now carrying the line of buzzworthy products, we predict more and more consumers will be jumping on the venom bandwagon. 

Want to try Manuka Doctor’s Rejuvenating Bee Venom Face Mask for yourself? It sells at Sephora’s nationwide for $85. For reviews and product information, visit www.Sephora.com.  

The post Buzzworthy Beauty News: Bee venom is the new Botox appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

You know that woman. Maybe you see her dropping her kids off at school when you pull into the same parking lot. She may even frequent the same grocery store. Her skin is glowing and her eyelashes are long and dark without looking false. She’s a natural beauty…or is she?

In recent years it seems like everyone has been trying to pull off the “I woke up like this” look à la Beyoncé. Long gone are the days of looking like you meticulously applied your eye makeup and straightened your hair. For many moms, this laissez-faire approach to beauty is very welcome. The hard part: looking natural isn’t as easy as it appears.

Thankfully there is an assortment of products on the market that caters to women who want to look naturally beautiful without all of the work. When you use these five products, you’re five steps away from looking naturally, and like the title of a recent Beyoncé hit, flawless.

 1.  SimySkin Face Serum

When it comes to achieving the no-makeup look, great skin is key, but a busy mom doesn’t need a time-consuming, multi-step skincare routine. That’s why the SimySkin Face Serum collection is a dream. The serum comes in two types: Phase I for women ages 25 to 45 and Phase II for women 45 and older. Phase I is a hydrating serum that protects against signs of aging, while Phase II repairs and firms skin. Both serums provide sun protection, so applying a heavy sunscreen is one more step you can mark off your to-do list. Simply apply the serum twice a day post cleansing to start seeing results.

2.  Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation

Finding a foundation to match your skin can be difficult. What’s even more difficult: finding one that doesn’t look and feel like foundation. Maybelline is known for its impressive liquid foundations, and the SuperStay Better Skin Foundation may be one of the best ones yet. This baby provides medium-to-full coverage and improves your skin over time thanks to the bonus ingredient Actyl-C, a stronger form of vitamin C. Users claim the foundation looks and feels like real skin and they’ve been complimented on their skin since they started using it. Sign us up!

3.  Physician’s Formula pH Matchmaker pH Powered Bronzer (for lighter skintones)

These next two products are take-your-pick options. Physicians’s Fomula, the reigning queen of drugstore bronzers, hit the ball out of the park with the pH Matchmaker pH Powered Bronzer. Unlike most bronzers, this bronzer (available in Light Bronzer and Bronze) has a brown undertone rather than orange so you won’t have to worry about that dreaded fake tan look. The product’s formula also reacts to light, transforming into your perfect shade in 60 seconds or less. Dust the powder on your cheeks, nose and the sides of your forehead for the perfect sun-kissed glow.

4.  L’Oreal Paris Magic Lumi Highlighter Deep (for darker skintones)

If you have deep or dark skin, then you’ve probably had difficulty finding bronzers or contour shades to suit your skintone. Drugstore products and makeup brands in general are notorious for not having a wide enough range of colors to suit darker skintones. When it comes to creating a natural look, however, you don’t need a ton of bronzers, contour shades, or different concealers. You just need a little highlighter. The L’Oreal Paris Magic Lumi Highlighter in Deep doubles as a brightening concealer as well, so any signs of a late night can be covered up using this handy highlighter. Apply the product under and in the inner corners of your eyes, down your nose, across the middle of your forehead, and above your cupid’s bow for glow that looks lit from within.

5.  Milani Color Statement Lipstick – Nude Creme

Behold; this may be the nude lipstick to end all nude lipsticks, and it’ll only cost you around six dollars. The Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Nude Creme has a creamy formula that is easy to apply and is neither matte nor super shiny. While most nude lipsticks work on just a few skintones, Nude Creme is a neutral pink that looks great on everyone. The color will look like your natural lip color, just better. Want something a little brighter? Milani offers a variety of shades in the lipstick, ranging from pinks to purples and corals to reds. Plus, the gold packaging is super chic.

The post 5 Products for Achieving that ‘No-Makeup’ Makeup Look appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

According to recent data by leading market research company Lucintel, the global cosmetic industry is forecasted to reach nearly $265 billion by 2017. That’s billion with a ‘b,’ ladies.  This number is not all that surprising since a decent drugstore bronzer or mascara can cost upwards of $17 these days, however it does pique our interest regarding brand loyalty and recognition. Many brands have become household names, yet how much do we really know about the brand and how it got started? For instance, did you know that Benefit Cosmetics was founded by twin sisters from Indiana? Or that one of your favorite nail polish brands was peddled to salons in Las Vegas before hitting the global market? Today, you’re getting a lesson in beauty basics, starting with the phenomenal women who founded some of your (and our!) favorite beauty brands.

Jamie Kern Lima: Perhaps you remember Lima from her QVC spotlight before making it to the big leagues with her now $100 million cosmetic company, IT Cosmetics. Lima’s entrepreneurial prowess was kickstarted after she quit her day job as a news anchor in 2008 and starting cranking out Bye-Bye Undereye Concealer – a product of the company which was being run from her apartment in Studio City, Calif. Lima’s high performance cosmetics are developed alongside top-ranking plastic surgeons using the finest ingredients and latest anti-aging technology.  IT Cosmetics can be found at beauty megastore Ulta and online at itcosmetics.com.

Lisa Chetrit: Growing up in a Moroccan-American household, Kesh Beauty founder and CEO Lisa Chetrit was no stranger to the now coveted and highly sought-after Argan oil. A staple not only for beauty routines with hair and skin but an edible accoutrement for an array of home-cooked meals, Chetrit was familiarized with the golden liquid at an early age. It wasn’t until her trip to Marrakesh in her twenties, however, until she truly realized Argan oil’s value.  Kesh Beauty was birthed upon her return home, and the rest, as they say, is history. Sourcing only natural ingredients of the highest quality for her products, Chetrit’s line is 100% organic and benefits the women’s cooperative from which it is sourced in the mountains of Morocco. Kesh Beauty has a bevy of eco-friendly beauty products for hair, face and body that every women should have in her arsenal.

Tamika Fletcher: Meet Tamika Fletcher – hair guru, DIY devotee and founder of under-the-radar product line, Earth’s Nectar.  Fletcher is all about women embracing their natural locks, so she created a haircare line specifically for women with curly hair who want to go au natural.  As the co-owner of Natural Resources Salon, Fletcher knows a thing or two about hair, and teachers her clients about the benefits of going chemical-free. In fact, her entire product line is designed to make women feel good about their natural curls, even if they’ve been damaged by hot tools or chemicals in the past. These eco-friendly products can be found in stores and online at Sephora.com.

Shannon Dellimore: Originally designed in 2010 for exclusive backstage and professional use throughout Hollywood’s award industries, GLAMGLOW was eventually made available to the public market after its staggering success in Tinseltown – thanks in part to co-founder Shannon Dellimore. Alongside husband Glenn, this dynamic duo created a cosmetic empire from the ground up that includes a plethora of seemingly magical facial mud masks that boast stunning results.  Dellimore’s skincare brand comes with a sterling reputation, and she has the awards and accolades to prove it! All of Dellimore’s products include a patented formula with TEAOXI technology that works with all skin types for both men and women.  Check out GlamGlowMud.com to learn more about Dellimore and her line of youth-restoring facial products.

Jean and Jane Ford: The cosmetic industry got a double dose of beauty in the late 70’s when twin sisters Jean and Jane Ford outgrew their small-town Indiana roots and headed west to make it big in the beauty business. There were a few speed bumps on their path to cosmetic celebrity, however.  The sisters tried their hand at modeling in the Big Apple, catching their big break when they landed a few national commercial ads for Calgon bath beads. The two quickly realized that the model life won’t last forever, and took their catwalk capital to San Francisco where they opened Face Place, later to be known as Benefit Cosmetics. That’s right –the nostalgic, feel-good, quirky and oh-so-original beauty brand was founded by twin sisters whose mantra “make-up doesn’t have to be serious to look good” teaches us all that laughter is the best cosmetic. Ford’s daughters Maggie and Annie are now the faces of the company too! A truly family-run empire. Become a Benefit beauty by visiting BenefitCosmetics.com.

Sasha Muir:  At the forefront of fashion stands butter LONDON nail polish, founded by British entrepreneur Sasha Muir. Muir has launched three successful brands from the ground up, making her a cosmetic connoisseur in our book. Her line of luxurious liquid lacquer is a catwalk veteran, donning the nails of models from the U.S. to Milan and everywhere in between. Her beloved butter LONDON lacquer is by far one of our favorite beauty products, with an assortment of brilliant colors, perfect for the diva in us all. Browse her colorful collection here – butterLONDON.com.

The post The Ladies Behind the (Cosmetic) Lines appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Looking to upgrade your beauty routine? Shop our list of favorite products so you can put your best and brightest face forward this spring.

IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil ($24)

IT Cosmetics’ best-selling product is without a doubt the Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil – and the name speaks for itself! This seemingly magical pencil is developed in collaboration with leading plastic surgeons that deliver serious results.  Infused with an innovative and anti-aging blend of brow-conditioning ingredients including saw palmetto, nettle extract, green tea, biotin, lecithin, vitamins A, C, E, and grapeseed, this mighty makeup tool easily covers gray and thinning brows for an effortlessly enhanced look.  We suggest you polish up your pencil practice and give this brow beautifier a go!

La Roche Posay Effaclar BB Blur ($30)

Acne is not in this season, and neither are acne scars.  If you’re a victim of bad breakouts and have tried everything under the sun for treatment (include the sun itself), maybe it’s time to step up your clear skin game with La Roche Posay’s new BB cream from their award-winning Effaclar line. The active ingredients Airlicium, Perlite and BB Pigments rapidly absorbs oil, shine humidity and sweat while optically smoothing skin and covering blemishes for an all-over flawless coverage. Need further proof? This creamy concealer for light to medium color skin won’t clog pores or cause breakouts, guaranteed. It’s the best way to give your blemishes the boot this year without a trip to the dermatologist.

e.l.f Skincare Soothing Serum ($12)

Boasting one of the most affordable cosmetic lines on the beauty market today, Eyes Lips Face (aka e.l.f) has upped the ante by branching out with a new line of skincare products that are definitely worth a try. First on our list is the Soothing Serum, a twice daily facial formula that helps reduce redness and irritation while illuminating your skin.  All of e.l.f’s new over-the-counter offerings are paraben, sulfates and phthalates free, while nourishing ingredients like vitamin E, cucumber, aloe and jojoba make it a stand-out skincare line that’s sure to pass the beauty bar without breaking the bank.

Philosophy ‘The Microdelivery’ – Overnight Anti-Aging Peel ($82)

Leave it to the peel experts at Philosophy to concoct a sleep mask that works wonders while you’re snoozing. This two-step anti-aging peel begins with Philosophy’s revolutionary micro-exfoliation power that restores and revitalizes tired and aging skin. The alpha/beta hydroxy acid formula delivers gentle resurfacing benefits through the night while the youth-extending night gel enhances skin’s ability to produce new skin cells and improve the look and size of wrinkles and pores. Bottom line – you definitely won’t wake up on the wrong side of the bed after using this peel.

Lira Clinical Mystiq Perfecting Eye Cream (sold exclusively to certified estheticians; prices vary)

This award-winning global skincare company is making serious waves in the industry, and we are tagging along for the ride! Founded by a group of aesthetic professionals devoted to perfecting the science behind modern skincare, Lira Clinical has crafted seven customizable lines with a plethora of products for all complexions and skin types.  Lira Clinical’s products are tailored to cleanse, resurface, recover, lighten/tighten and shield by utilizing exclusive formulas from multiple plant stem cells, advanced peptides, exclusive botanicals and various skin nourishing vitamins and minerals.  Ask your esthetician about Lira Clinical’s Mystiq Perfecting Eye Cream with PSC, a wrinkle-reducing salve with Botox-like results that diminish dark under-eye circles while lifting and firming aging skin.

Ciaté Kiss Play Stay – ($14)

A shout out to the makeup gods is in order for providing lipstick wearers with a product for truly long-lasting color! And who’d have thought it would be nail-polish purveyor turned makeup brand, Ciaté?  This über chic London-based brand has brought to the market an affordable topcoat that keeps your lipstick bold and beautiful for hours. Its invisible protective shield also prevent smudging and smearing. And did we mention it has a white chocolate soufflé essence? Touché, Ciate. You’ve outdone yourself this time and made a product that is truly irresistible to any woman who loves both lipstick and chocolate.  SO, pretty much all women.  This explains why it’s sold out on their website. But fear not! Click the link above to purchase on Sephora’s website. You can thank us later!

The post The Best Products for Your Best Face! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Join Nordstrom Beauty for one-on-one time with savvy beauty experts and industry insiders. They will share the latest beauty tips and tricks while you’re pampered with a free makeup or skincare consultation. Afterwards, get access to FREE deluxe samples and exclusive gifts with purchase (while supply lasts). Admission is free — so don’t miss it!

Readers can simply RSVP or ask for special accommodations by calling or stopping by their favorite cosmetics counter, located within Nordstrom.

The post Kicking Off Fall with Nordstrom Beauty Trend Events appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

(BPT) – The back-to-school season will hasten the pace of morning routines for everyone, from busy moms to college students. Fitting your makeup regimen into a hectic schedule can make it challenging to achieve just the right look.

Moms need a quick, easy look that holds up to daily demands with little maintenance. College women need versatility that will carry them from the classroom to the club. And first-time makeup wearers will experiment and explore to discover their own personal style.

The pros at EcoTools maker of beauty tools using renewable, recycled and cruelty-free materials, offer some advice for creating three easy-to-manage looks for mothers, college students and new makeup wearers as back-to-school season gets underway.

Mom’s flawless face

As the days grow shorter, so does morning primping time. Getting the kids and yourself out the door on time doesn’t leave much room for a beauty routine.

No one wants to pull up to the carpool line with under-eye bags and sallow skin, but painstaking makeup application just isn’t practical. Focus on the products that will provide the most impact in the shortest amount of time, including concealer, mascara and blush. EcoTools Fresh & Flawless Five Piece Complexion Set speeds up morning makeup application by putting every brush you need at your fingertips.

First, apply a coat of your favorite foundation over your entire face. A tinted moisturizer or foundation with SPF can be great time-savers. Cover imperfections with concealer, and buff out the edges to seamlessly blend together. Apply translucent powder to eliminate shine and create a smooth canvas and then eliminate any visible makeup lines with a clean brush. Apply mascara, blush and lipstick, and you’re ready to head out the door in pulled-together perfection.

Chic college night out

For daytime classes, concealer, mascara and blush serves college students well. At night, play up your best features while staying on-trend for fall. The EcoTools Six Piece Day-to-Night Clutch Set makes the transition from demure to diva a snap.

Use concealer to touch up any unevenness in your complexion, and stop shine with a translucent powder. A round powder brush can do double duty as an applicator for bronzer or blush. Apply bronzer just under cheek bones and swipe blush just above the bronzer. Metallic eye shadows are hot this fall, and a stay-there shadow brush allows you to give lids a wash of copper tone. Create a smoky effect by applying and blending a darker brown shadow to the outer corners and creases of your eyes. Smudged dark-brown liner and two coats of mascara complete the sultry eye effect. Finally, finish up with a neutral lipstick and let your eyes take center stage.

Back to basics

As first-timers begin to experiment with makeup, it’s best to keep things simple. Stick with the adage “less is more” to avoid clownish cheeks, over-lined lips and embarrassing class photos. The EcoTools Six Piece Starter Set makes it easy for even a makeup novice to achieve an effortless, clean minimalist makeup look.

Use a concealer brush to gently dab concealer over blemishes or imperfections. Set in place with a layer of translucent powder, and apply a rosy pink shade of blush to the apples of the cheeks. For the eyes, choose a neutral shadow that is close to your skin tone and apply it to the entire eyelid. A second shadow, two shades darker than your skin tone, can help define the crease of your eyelid. Apply dark brown gel liner close to your lash line and one coat of black or dark brown mascara. Bold brows are in, so don’t over pluck. Instead, use a lash and brow groomer to tame any stray hairs and brush brows into place. A swipe of sheer, shimmery lip gloss tops off this fresh, youthful look.

To learn more about the looks mentioned and the tools needed to achieve them, visit EcoTools on Facebook.

The post Fresh makeup looks for busy back-to-school routines appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

In my last article, New Year, New You! Feel Beautiful! I wrote about a few different ways to change up your look and put your best foot forward this New Year.  Now I want to add a follow up on my favorite part the body that I think deserves a little more attention, the eyes.  Your eyes are the first things that people notice when they see you.  That’s how people can tell if you got enough sleep last night or if you were up with a sick kid.  You can play them up to create a dramatic sultry look, or keep them simple and bright.  “They” say that your eyes are the windows to your soul, and while I am not sure if that is true, they are a window to how you are feeling emotionally and how you feel about yourself.

The tell tale signs of a woman with too much on her plate are the puffy, dark circles around her eyes.  I have had them most of my life and I thought that they were just something that I would have to live with, until I found a product that was truly a dream come true!  My go-to eye product that I swear by is the Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller.  It is a concealer that stays put all day and works to decrease the puffiness and darkness over time!  Two-in-one products are lifesavers when you want to look good in a hurry.  This easy to use roll-on applicator is gentle on the delicate skin around your eyes dispenses the perfect amount of product.  So how does it wake up your tired eyes?  The secret ingredient caffeine, how else?

The foundation of any great eye-look is a set of long beautiful lashes.  If false lashes have never seemed appealing, your alternative is maximizing your natural lashes.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of cheap products on the market that just don’t work but the good news is that if you are willing to sift through the bad, you can find some truly great products that produce amazing results!  There are two main things to consider when looking for a serum, the brand and the reviews.  For example, Le Métier de Beauté is a luxury skin care company that is sold at high-end department stores (and online) and has an amazing reputation!  So, when they came out with Peau Vierge Lash Growth Serum, the beauty world was set a buzz.

Along with a great brand, look for great reviews!  People can be brutally honest when it comes to leaving reviews on products, so you know what to expect with the product!  It is hard to find a product with better reviews than GrandeLASH-MD Lash Serum.  You can see the quality of their product simply by going to their website selecting the product and scrolling down to see what people are saying about it!

There are few things that look worse than the raccoon-eye that develops through out the day from eyeliner smudging and smearing.  This is my problem with most crayon/pencil liners, they look great immediately after application, but by noon I look like an angst-filled teenager.  If this is a problem for you as well, try a gel liner.  I know that they can seem intimidating at first but I promise they are easy with a little practice.  My favorite gel liner is Maybelline Lasting Drama by EyeStudio Gel Eyeliner.  Not only does it stay perfectly in place all day but it also gives you way more control over the thickness of the line.  Invest in a flat, angled liner brush (I literally use a $5 drug store one) and give gel liner a try.  Just be prepared to say goodbye to raccoon eyes forever!

For daytime looks I love matte shadows in a color that complements your eyes, but for night looks there is one universally flattering choice, a champagne shadow with a light shimmer.  Somewhere between a gold and a light brown, champagne complements all skin tones and eye colors.  This is an easy, wearable color that helps to brighten even tired eyes.  To create this elegant look sweep the color over the entire lid from lash line to the bottom of the brow bone.  Finish the look with a thin line of eyeliner (in whatever shade you prefer) and few swipes of mascara.

Try: Shimmer-Wash-Eye-Shadow in Champagne by Bobbi Brown

If you give your eyes a little attention, you can transform your entire appearance.  Now go out into the world confident, batting your perfect peepers!

The post New Year, New You! Perfect Peepers! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.