Nic’s Beauty Pics

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Summer-ize Your Beauty Routine and Treat Yourself to These Head-to-Toe, SkinPerfecting Must-haves!

GoGirl Writer Nicole Gratson photo credit Todd Liebman

As a beauty blogger, editor, and copywriter for some of the biggest brands in the biz, a lot of products make their way across my desk. I’d be remiss if I didn’t divulge the deets with my GoGirls — and GoGuys — on some of the get-glowing go-to’s I swear by. Some can’t-live-without cult-classics, others “new and now” beauty breakthroughs. Meet your skin’s newest BFFs with these beauty bag must-haves.

Mind your beauty business and be sure to stockpile these latest and greatest glow-getters:

MD Glam (mdglam.com)

Designed and created by celebrity plastic-surgeon-to-the-stars, Dr. Cat Begovic, this boutique, 6-piece collection is simply medical-grade skincare meets self-care glam. The luxury-level line-up includes all the basics to keep all your beauty bases covered: Deep Pore Foaming Cleanser, Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub, DMAE Antioxidant Day Moisturizer, Hyaluronic Acid Night C-Complex, Sunshout 50 SPF Sunscreen, and Retinol-C Intense Eye Serum. My faves are the Enzyme Exfoliating Scrub and both the day and nighttime moisturizers. The scrub gently buffs away superficial cells and preps my skin for all the extra goodies I give it like, serums, treatments, K-Beauty sheet masks, and moisturizers. The clean, beach-scented, glycolic acid-infused formulation doubles as a mask when you leave it on for ten minutes. Its cool, tingly sensation leaves texture smoothed, skin finely tuned, and is like hitting the reset button on your beauty routine. Indulge in the ultimate spaaaamazing experience right in the comfort of your own bathroom. Both the day and nighttime moisturizers are akin to swathing your complexion in a sea of sweet, plush marshmallows, as they bring bounce back to tired, dehydrated skin.

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Inspired by the iconic hairstyles of Brigitte Bardot, the French actress, singer, and fabled sex symbol of the 60s who graced big screens all over the world, Bardot haircare features a volumizing shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, and texturizing spray that collectively imbue my strands with big, bouncy, va-va VOOM, voluptuous volume and touchably soft, tousled tresses. A must-have, hair-raising arsenal for lazy GoGirls who like to embrace the perfectly “undone,” piece-y, lived-in look without putting in too much effort. Hot tip: unabashedly claim sexy starlet status with smudgy eyeliner, aka “morning-after makeup.”

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Sea Salt Scalp Scrub

(Christopherobin.com)

Perfect for GoGirls and GoGuys on-the-go who can’t live without dry shampoo, textured spray, and other products that cause scalp buildup, this sea salt-infused scalp scrub is your scalp’s savior as it effectively and gently removes all the gunk and junk blocking your follicles, while leaving strands soft and smooth. I always follow one palmful of scalpsoothing scrub with a single serving of ‘poo to keep my ‘do looking and feeling like new.

Before I even get into this one, let me preface by acknowledging the pretentious price tag of this iconic lip balm. Retailing at $60, the By Terry Baume De Rose lip balm is a lip balm like no other. And, as a self-professed lip balm and butter buff, I’ve been on a perpetual pursuit to reach pout perfection. With this thick, rich, creamy pot of lip lusciousness, it’s pure euphoria for lips. The thick, non-sticky formula stays put on my pout all day – even through eating and drinking. So, don’t let the sticker shock scare you off. You will get a lot of bang for your beauty buck with this sexy mother pucker!

Pixie Beauty Rose Oil Blend (pixiebeauty.com)

If you’re looking for a luxury-level face oil that won’t break your beauty budget, this is one to try. I became an ardent fan of Pixie Beauty about eight ago after discovering their cult fave hero rose and botanical oil -infused Glow Mist. It was the ONLY facial mist that didn’t leave my skin feeling like the Sahara at the time when facial mists were all the rage, but all equally drying. What I love about the Pixie Beauty Rose Oil Blend is its beautifying blend of other botanical oils, like sweet almond, rosehip, and jojoba oils that leave my complexion plump and pampered. In the winter months, I layer it with my MD GLAM nighttime moisturizer for an extra dose of dewiness. Other rose oils price from $80 to well over $200 (I am looking at you, Darphin Skincare!), so this one is a steal that’s pretty slick.

Allies of Skin 35% Vitamin C+ Perfecting Serum (alliesofskin.com)

By now, every GoGirl should know that a requisite vitamin C serum is a non-negotiable, beauty no-brainer. And, I’ve tried them all! From SkinCeuticals to Obagi to Sunday Riley and countless others. Vitamin C should be a staple in ANY skincare regimen for its brightening and collagen-boosting effects. What I love about this multi-functional, breakout brand is it combines two different forms of supercharged, highly stabilized vitamin C to yield a 35% high active dosage with every two-drop application. It’s so effective, I can even skip a day! Just be sure to patch test on the inside of your arm before indulging in this beauty, as 35% vitamin C may cause irritation for our Sensitive Sally’s and Sam’s. Lightens, brightens, tones, and tightens, leaving my skin looking bright, while providing all-day antioxidant protection from environmental aggressors.

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Admittedly, another investment skincare product (it retails for $230), but worth every skin-perfecting penny. This luxurious, retinol treatment is infused with a supercharged, 1% pure retinol (most brands contain .05% or less!) and a rich, beauty-boosting blend of coconut, sweet almond, and grapeseed oils, leaving my skin baby soft and super smooth without interfering with my moisturizer. Diamond particles help deliver the retinol deep into the skin for revolutionary efficacy. I just make sure to let this performance-grade retinol oil fully absorb before applying my moisturizer. Word of caution: If you want to be a wrinkle warrior and win the war on wrinkles, sunspots, rough texture, and other aging woes, retinol is your first line of defense. Just be sure to protect skin with an SPF of 30 or higher in the day and don’t forget to re-apply every two hours if outdoors. Protect your investment!

Tula Rose Glow and Get It Cooling and

Brightening Eye Balm (tula.com)

I was so excited to try this product when I first spotted the pretty pink packaging sitting on the shelf at Nordstrom’s. As soon as it went on sale on Dermstore.com, I grabbed a tube and haven’t regretted it. It’s a purse-perfect, lightweight eye balm you apply any time of day – before makeup, after makeup, or whenever your poor, precious peepers need a quick pick-me-up. The main ingredient is caffeine, which helps depuff and send those bags packing. But, what’s really, ahem, cool, is its instant cooling effect upon application. Perfect for those scorching summer days when your eyes are begging for a little touch of TLC. Refreshing rosewater, hydrating aloe, and antioxidant-rich watermelon make this the perfect summertime skincare treat. And, it’s only $30! I’m still on my first tube, which I purchased over six months ago and I use this every morning. The subtle shimmer adds just a touch of glow to help diminish under eye circles and doubles as a highlighter you can use anywhere. From beauty bag to makeup bag, who doesn’t love double-duty beauty?

Okay, hear me out on this one. As a fair-skinned flaxen-haired gal, I’ve been melanin-challenged my entire life. Twenty-five years ago, I happily renounced the damaging tanning beds and the sun’s unforgiving rays and settled for self-tanner to help rock a faux glow. I am the self-tanner GURU! I can apply the bodybronzing stuff in the dark without missing a spot or slipping up. But, what I love about Mine Tan’s Violet Gradual Tan Foam self-tanner is it goes on clear using innovative violet undertones that cancel out any yellow tones in my skin, resulting in a deep brown, sun-kissed color. No one will ever believe your bronzed body came from a bottle. The formula is buildable, believable, and blendable. When it comes to successful self-tanning/ spray tanning, remember the payoff is in the prep: wax/shave, exfoliate, and ALWAYS use a tanning mitt to easily blend the product to avoid those tacky, tell-tale hard lines and orange palms. A GoGirl never gives away her glow-getting secrets.

Hydra Bloom Pearl Shimmer Oil (Lucybsbeauty.com)

Imbued with the intoxicating notes of Australian pink frangipani and coconut, this floral, tropical-scented shimmering body oil leaves a weightless veil of succulent, long-lasting dewiness head-to-toe and acts like an allover body highlighter without the dreaded disco ball effect. However, I only use this in the summer over a self-tanner or spray tan to enhance the bronze hue, while adding depth and dimension to different areas of my body, specifically shoulders, décolletage, tummy, and legs. One of Oprah’s “Favorite Things,” too, the super-subtle, pearlescent pigments add just the right amount of champagned-toned, glow to the skin, making this the ultimate finishing touch to your summer skin routine.

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Jeunesse NV

Their exclusive makeup line, these skincare-infused bestsellers fly off the virtual shelves and it’s easy to see why. The effect of high-definition, pictureperfect makeup with the beauty of advanced, proprietary skincare ingredients and formulations, the Jeunesse NV line has all your bases covered. Developed by celebrity makeup artist Yolanda Halston, each innovative NV makeup product is exclusively imbued with the Jeunesse APT-200 proprietary blend of powerful polypeptides, plus plant-based stem cell technology. Hello regeneration on a cellular level! Read: complexion-plumping collagen! Yolanda Halston NV Developer

BeautyBar.com

All products in this coveted line are free of oil, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, and talc. The luxurious, weightless formulas provide long-lasting hydration without caking, crinkling, or crumbling. No more midday makeup meltdowns. And, their quick, spray-on formulas mean no more messy makeup!

NV Foundation

With nine, made-to-match, sexy shades, this spray-on makeup mist is a breeze to apply. A dream-come-true for magazine CEOs and GoGirls on-the-go, this lightweight NV foundation hides, heals, corrects, and protects the complexion leaving you looking flawless in a flash. Because it’s an actual “spray foundation,” you get that instant, airbrushed, photo-friendly finish minus all the blemish-causing bacteria, contamination, and color oxidation that the bottled versions are guilty of. If you’re a traditionalist and prefer to apply your foundation the original way, this NV foundation formula can also be lightly sprayed on a foundation brush or Beautyblender®-like sponge and applied to the skin. It’s totally up to you.

BeautyBar.com

Jen also loves to give her finished base an extra spray to “set” her look. Using a makeup sponge, one of her GoGirl makeup brushes, or the super-soft NV pad, she simply buffs and blends her entire look for seamless perfection. This buildable NV foundation is a makeup must for any GoGirl who loves to play and experiment with makeup to find her personal preference. So, spray and slay away! #Nofilterneeded

NV Primer

Next, Jen is jamming on the NV primer. A first-ever spray-on primer that instantly fills pores and smooths fine lines for a soft-focus finish, this oil-free NV primer evenly covers your entire complexion with a one-second spritz! No buffing, blending, rubbing, or tugging. Bursting with beautifying botanicals and the Jeunesse proprietary APT-200 technology, this is a great way to get your “canvas” ready for all your cosmetics with the benefits of supercharged skincare.

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AntiAging&SkinCare

Naara

Drink yourself gorgeous with this Jeunesse drinkable collagen. Jen likes to sip on this naturally, slightly sweet-tasting, delicious elixir infused with the Jeunesse proprietary TruMarine, skin-supporting collagen. Collagen is the substance that naturally keeps skin elastic, firm, lifted, luminous, and youthfullooking. Naara has been clinically proven to boost your skin’s natural collagen synthesis and is your wrinkle warrior in a glass. The purse-perfect packets are great to take on-the-go or when you’re in a pinch.

Instantly Ageless

If you’ve been chronically burning the midnight oil, feel super stressed, or look puffy from allergies, Jen’s got a quick face fix to share. These magical little vials of micro-cream deliver instant depuffing action to under eye baggage, while ironing out deep wrinkles within seconds! Forget your lines and watch your baggage go bye-bye right before your eyes with results that last up to 9 hours! A YouTube tutorial hit, Jeunesse has unsurprisingly sold more than 50 million applications of this mind-blowing miracle worker. These are best for when your skin really needs a pick-me-up and sleep isn’t an option.

So, there you have it, GoGirls! If you want to winterize your beauty routine and get your skin Holiday Party Ready with these GoGirl + Jeunesse game-changers that combine cutting-edge cosmetics with innovative, advanced skincare formulations, be sure to visit GoGirlBeautyBar. com. Don’t forget to share and show YOUR favorite finds with the GoGirl glam fam!

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AntiAging&SkinCare

Luminesce Line

Luminesce is Jeunesse’ signature skincare line and is also infused with their proprietary APT-200 plant-based stem cell and polypeptide blend, plus a bevy of beautifying botanicals and anti-aging extracts. While Jen will always be a makeup maven at heart, she knows taking care of her skin is the foundation of aesthetic beauty. If your complexion is congested or suffering from redness or inflammation, no amount of makeup is going to mitigate the madness. It’s all about correcting before concealing. These are the products from the Luminesce line that keep Jen’s complexion glowing and gorgeous from coffee to cocktails . . .

Jen likes to clean up her act morning and night with this gentle, yet effective, cleanser that leaves her skin clean, hydrated, and baby soft. She especially loves the pure scent and the feeling of the silky-soft suds that swathe her skin when she’s at the sink. The lightweight formula is the perfect way to summer-ize your skincare regimen. NO more dirty little secrets (like sleeping in your makeup)!

Cellular Rejuvenation Serum

Jen applies this Jeunesse super serum morning and night to her entire face, paying close attention to age-prone areas, like expression lines, neck, chest, and tops of hands. After using this Jeunesse gem for a little over a month, she’s noticed a visible reduction in the fine lines around her eyes and a more even-toned complexion thanks to the formula’s infusion of anti-aging coconut and sweet potato root extracts, vitamins, and antioxidants. See spot run.

Advanced Night Repair

BeautyBar.com

As every GoGirl should know, beauty sleep is one of the best (and free) ways to score sexy, ageless skin. After all, they don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing, right? While you sleep snugly between your comfy sheets, remember your skin is hard at work doing the night shift. Jen knows her complexion is getting a much-deserved restorative and rejuvenating bedtime boost with this bestselling beauty pick that’s a dream-come-true for her complexion. Each dewy dollop drenches her tired skin with long-lasting, succulent moisture, while the powerhouse antioxidants undo the day’s damage. GoGirl Glow Tip: Slumber on satin or silk pillowcases so you awake without those telltale creases and crinkles etched across your complexion. Plus, the silk/satin material won’t absorb all your fabulous Jeunesse gems. Sweet dreams!