Bionic Bronnie reviews one of ColoreScience’s most popular, and versatile, skin care products…

ColoreScience Line Tamer and Skin Brightener is a yellow-toned serum that absorbs into facial skin nicely. I started using it under makeup since it’s also designed as a primer, now I sometimes use it even without makeup. This is a great treatment for dark, puffy eyes. It reduces redness and is very soothing following waxing, microdermabrasion or facial other potentially harsh skin treatments.

While it’s not perfect as a moisturizer, it is effective as a pore reducer, skin mattifier and line refiner. My skin loves this serum! I keep a bottle in my purse for a quick touchup, especially on hot or humid days. Plus, it packs SPF 20! The bonus sun protection makes this little multitasker even more powerful. ColoreScience’s Line Tamer uses natural ingredients including Green Tea, Beta Carotene, Grape Seed and Vitamin E.

Colorescience Line Tamer, Primer and Skin Brightener is available for $45 at SkinStore.com.

Another Friday, another Powerful Beauty! Susan Murphy is a graduate psychologist, counselor and adviser. Her training allows for a unique perspective on how she defines Powerful Beauty. Susan works to help individuals find self-esteem and confidence in themselves through cognitive therapy and positive affirmation.

It sounds like Susan is certainly a Powerful Beauty!

What does it mean to be beautiful? If you are under forty, it probably equates with ‘sexually attractive’. It might mean that you keep up with the latest trend, or feel very good about yourself because you can get into those pants and you have a new haircut. It takes a few years before a woman learns to understand that beauty means much more than those things.

Eventually, we learn that beauty is not something we add to alter our outer appearance; it is drawn from within, and is expressed through our character, our actions, our way of being. This is Powerful Beauty.

I knew a lady in her late eighties, who never wore makeup, never even noticed what was in style, and she was one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. Her face glowed, she always had a sweet smile and a very kind word, her outlook was always optimistic, even throughout what other people would call hardship. Her secret? Her focus was totally on others, and how she could show them love. You might scoff and say that ladies that age seldom do concern themselves with trends and makeup. Well, I give you that. However, this woman was always that way: an amazing, unforgettable person.

Would you honestly say upon seeing her for the first time that Whoopi is beautiful? But she is!
Compare Queen Latifah, Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. None of them look alike, none of them fit the standard image of ‘beautiful’. Yet I find each one to be beautiful in her own way. We can all be beautiful in our own way.

Look at yourself in the mirror, not as the person you see every morning, but as a new person whom you have never met. Now just let all your facial muscles go slack. Like what you see? Now look away and run the tape in your head that says: you should lose some weight; your feet are too big, you could have been a success if only you had ___________ [fill in the blank yourself]. Keep the tape running for a minute or two, then glance back into that mirror.

Next, look away again. Close your eyes, inhale deeply, and as you slowly exhale, let all the negativity inside you go away as you breathe out. Inhale once more, deeply, letting your shoulders lift as you do. Feel yourself being filled with fresh energy, peace and contentment. Again, exhale, releasing tension and worry as you do so. Breathe this way twice more, allowing your neck and shoulders to relax when you exhale. Now, look back into the mirror and see who you could be showing to the world. Is there a difference? Of course there is.

This person has a little smile, and fewer lines. She looks interested in you and the world. She looks friendly, capable, and powerful!

So ladies, what do you think of Susan’s words? Did you do the exercise she outlines?

Catch up on the rest of the Powerful Beauty features. And remember to check back each Friday for another dose of how to Achieve Powerful Beauty!

Like the Jeune D’Age Organics’ serum I reviewed last week, their Marin Toner also “makes my face giggle”. I tell you, I’m one happy skin care gal with this line around!

Toner is such an important part of a proper skin care regimen, yet it is so often overlooked. Jeune’s Marin Toner’s purpose is the balance the skin’s pH level, tighten pores, act as an anti-inflammatory, provide some hydration, stimulate new cell growth. It is even loaded with ingredients that help activate the product you follow it with (usually your moisturizer). Many ingredients are derived from sea water and natural algaes that are chemically similar to skin- making this toner very gentle and non-irritating.

Bionic Bronnie reviews Jeune D'age Organics' Marin Toner!

The beauty (sorry, no pun intended!) of Marin Toner, and all Jeune D’age products, is Jeune’s focus on pure, natural ingredients and without additives like parabens or synthetics. I don’t have to worry about irritation due to chemicals or potential long term effects!

Jeune D’age Marin Toner comes in a generously sized jar with application pads. There is so much extra toner in the bottle, that I used the two of the included pads (which are great for exfoliation!) plus a cotton pad sandwiched in between. This “toner sandwich” was perfect for my neck, chest and back. You could also use a Qtip or cotton ball for application on small, delicate skin areas.

Marin Toner is rich in various sea minerals and Dead Sea salt. This concentrated formula has over twenty skin-healthy minerals-

• Kelp – Draws out impurities and helps bring amino acids back into the skin.
• Blue Green Algae – Builds soft tissue, packed with vitamins.
• Hyaluronan – Dermal hydrator that plumps and smoothes skin.
• Willowbark Extract – A topical astringent that’s a natural source of Salicylic Acid. Helps slough away old skin, stimulate new cell growth, and clear acne.
• Tea Tree Oil – An antibacterial, anti-fungal, natural cleanser, that’s also great for acne!
• Aloe Vera – Acts as a moisturizer and a carrier for the other ingredients into the skin.

I LOVE this stuff!! If feels amazingly good and leaves a natural glow. I went through my full size bottle for this review, bought another bottle just so I could use it on my chest and back. Now I’m so taken by this toner, that I’ve placed a third order! From my results with this brand, I have a feeling that Jeune D’age is going to explode into the skincare world and create quite a stir!

Jeune D’age Organics “Marin Toner” costs $24.95 for 6.76 oz. jar or check out the full line Gift Set for $97.50 (a savings of $17.30!).

Stay tuned for my next two reviews of Jeune D’age skin care!

~Bionic Bronnie

It’s no secret that our society looks to celebrities frequently for fashion trends, product endorsements, and just plain entertainment.

As for celebrity makeup, I typically like Kristen Stewart’s edgy kohl-smoked eye and Katherine Heigl’s old Holllywood look: understated eyeshadow, long lashes and red lips. However I rarely copy celebrity looks since I enjoy playing with colorful eyeshadows. It seems that most stars don’t wear the brighter eye makeup colors.

This week’s Bionic Asks… Have you ever copied a celebrity makeup look? If so, which celebrity did you choose to emulate? And do you have a favorite celeb whose makeup always looks flawless?

I typically don’t wear false nails since I’m always swatching nail polish colors. And quite often, the nails themselves are incredibly uncomfortable on my flat nail beds. However, it seems glue-on nails have made some steps forward… Nailene recently sent me a few boxes of their new nails to test out and review for the Bionic Beauties out there.

Bionic Beauty wearing Nailene's new Couture nails.

I got a pack of Nailene Couture nails (french manicure style with accented, sparkly tips), So Natural (which are shorter and softer so they flex more than normal glue-ons), and So Real (medium length but still very thin on your nail).

To start- I removed my nail polish, roughed up my nails slightly with a soft emery board and then started gluing the nails on. They lasted seven days on me- a person who is not using them as built-in screwdrivers (like I do!) would probably get ten days. And the new softer plastic is MUCH more comfortable than the older, thicker styles which forced my nail beds to bend.

My only complaint is how I can never seem to get all the air bubbles out when I apply glue-on nails. I’ve tried less glue, more glue, letting the glue dry until tacky, etc. And I still get some air bubbles.

With that said, these nails are great for a special occasion, or if you just broke all your nails off before a big night out. I applied mine in under 10 minutes and headed right out the door

Nailene glue-on nails are available at your local drugstore or mass market retailer for around $4 a box.

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.

After an extensive freebie hunt, I’ve found some new samples for all the Bionic Beauties out there. So request away ladies!

• First, thanks to BJ for writing in about the new samples that Walmart is offering! You can grab a freebie of the new Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun-Damage eye cream with SPF 15. The Garnier samples are usually a pretty generous packet size. Perfect for at least a week of use!
• Dove has launched some new samples of shampoo and conditioner. You can choose from either their Heat Defense Therapy or Intense Damage Therapy hair care lines.
• For the indie-brand lovers, Pristine Skincare products is offering some freebies of their skin care line. While the sample form doesn’t specify what you’ll receive, it’s usually fun to try out a new brand.
  
• Head to your local Aveda salon and mention that you saw the offer in O (Oprah) Magazine for a free sample of their skin care. However, be sure to check for your local participating locations first.
• Also, while you’re at the Aveda site, you can register for their birthday program. You’ll get a coupon good for one free scented body care or other item to redeem on your b-day!

Remember that most samples go very quickly, and that I don’t ship/sell any of the samples from Bionic Beauty – I just locate them during my web travels. Have fun, Bionic Beauties!

Welcome to another Bionic Beauty giveaway! Thevi Cosmetics has kindly sponsored this contest so you all have a chance to win one of their High Impact Lipsticks in True Rouge. These lipsticks are super comfortable to wear and are rich in pigment… they are a favorite of The Bionic Mom!

Win a Thevi High Impact Lipstick in True Rouge!

In order to win…

Simply leave a comment below with what your “normal” makeup routine includes. Do you wear only a certain brand, just brown eyeshadows, have a favorite mascara or lipstick?

For a second entry, you can Twitter about this giveaway! But be sure to include @BionicBeauty and @Thevi in your tweet, as well as a link to this giveaway (you can use this one – http://tinyurl.com/WinLipstick).

The Rules: One (1) winner will be chosen randomly from the qualified entrants and will receive a Thevi Cosmetics lipstick in True Rouge, as detailed above. Retail value is $13. To qualify for entry, you must follow the entry rules as outlined in this post. This giveaway is open to USA and all International residents. Please enter only once; duplicate entries will be detected and discarded. Entry deadline is November 19th, 2009 at midnight USA ET. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced here on Bionic Beauty and contacted via email. *Please note that I will never share your email address with anyone! I only use your email address to contact you if you are a winner. However, if you do not enter a valid email address, you will be disqualified. Please do not post your email in the comment itself… *just* in the email box (for your own safety).

Don’t forget to sign up for the Bionic Beauty blog newsletter (or you can subscribe in your favorite RSS reader) so that you can keep up with the product reviews, beauty and makeup samples and giveaways offered here.

Good luck Bionic Beauties!!

Every Thursday night, I eagerly await the start of a new Vampire Diaries episode (8pm ET on The CW). The cast has good eye candy (woo hoo!) and the story lines are even better than it’s book series namesake (in my opinion, anyhow). While watching, I couldn’t help wondering how they kept all the gals’ hair bouncy and non-frizzy during the heat of an Atlanta summer. Well it turns out, that some of my favorite hair care products are working their tails off behind-the-fangs… White Sands to the rescue!

Vampire Diaries series hairstylist, Randa Squillacote, shares her secrets to creating the beautiful hair looks we see each week.

Actress Candice Accola as "Caroline"

Candice (who plays Elena’s slightly shallow, sometimes plotting, sometimes friend Caroline on the show) has thick, naturally wavy hair. To achieve her look Randa follows these steps…

1. Shampoo and condition hair with White Sands Vegan Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner to thoroughly cleanse, while infusing a vital moisture balance back into each strand.
2. Blow dry hair with a medium round brush for fullness.
3. Spray entire head with White Sands Liquid Texture Firm Hold. Section off 1-inch partings starting at the nape area. Take these 1-inch sections and using a 1-inch barrel curling iron, curl hair from ends to scalp (like a roller). Remove iron and clip into place until entire head is set. Wait until cooled.
4. Remove clips and brush out for a soft, sexy, wavy style. Spray with White Sands Infinity Finishing Spray for a flexible hold that repels outside moisture, while providing a long lasting style: a must on set!

Actress Nina Dobrev as "Elena"

Nina (who plays Elena Gilbert) has medium thickness and a natural wavy pattern to start. To achieve this look…

1. Shampoo and condition hair with White Sands Vegan Volumizing Shampoo and Volumizing Conditioner for a clean canvas.
2. Blow dry hair with a large round brush, spraying sections with White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Hold for its thermal protection and color enhancers. This technique creates volume and shine with just a round brush in hand.
3. Using White Sands Liquid Texture Firm Hold, flat iron hair in sections starting at the crown and lift straight up. Turn iron slightly at the middle of each hair strand to the ends for a slight bend and beautiful wave. Iron all hair sections in the same direction and let hair cool.
4. Brush and finger comb in place and spray with White Sands Infinity Finishing Spray.

Actress Katerina Graham as "Bonnie"

Katerina has medium thick and relaxed curly hair to start. Katerina’s character, Bonnie, just discovered she’s descended from a long line of witches.

1. Shampoo and condition hair with White Sands Vegan Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner to improve hydration levels and stand strength.
2. Spray on White Sands Porosity the Fix and apply Curl up in Silk Medium Mousse to define texture and remove frizz, drying tresses under a hairdryer.
3. Spray entire head with White Sands Liquid Texture Medium Hold. Take 1-inch partings, starting at nape. Gather each 1-inch section and hold a 1 ½ inch curling iron vertical and wrap hair around barrel from scalp to ends.
4. Let curls drop and separate with White Sands Smudge Texture Creme for a soft relaxed curl look.

Don’t miss any of my previous reviews of White Sands hair products!

Want some good news? White Sands’s products are now available on their website WhiteSandsProducts.com And even better news is you can now check out my absolute hair must-haves: Porosity the Fix and the new 24/7 The Cure!

All photographs are credited to: Andrew Eccles, The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Calling all the Twilight fans!! Want to have a bit of fun leading up to the New Moon movie premiere, play with makeup, and possibly WIN some mineral makeup too?

Look no further… Mixology Makeup is holding a Twiology Look-A-Like makeup contest!

To Enter - Go to MixologyMakeup.etsy.com and order your Official Twiology Character Sample Kit for $2 in our TwiContest Section and choose your character (we need you wearing our Twiology makeup to make it official). Then wait patiently for your little bundle of joy to arrive in the mail. Next, apply your new Twiology Makeup by Mixology to create your character’s look. Your job is to use our makeup to create your character, but you may use your own lip color and mascara. Pictures must be high resolution 300 dpi minimum, you may submit up to 3 photos of your look, one MUST be a headshot. You don’t need to hire a professional photographer, but we do need usable pictures so think about setting, lighting, etc… You may enter more than one character category, but you may only win in one, we need different people for each look.

7 categories - Bella, Alice, Rosalie, Esme, Jane, Victoria, and You Choose = don’t see your character? Want to create a look inspired by one of the books, the town of Forks, or maybe La Push? Then grab the “You Choose” sample kit to show us your unique look and tell us the story behind it.

All photos must be received by November 28, 2009 at midnight US ET.
For full rules, judging information, check out the Mixology Makeup Blog!

Don’t forget to check out some of the sponsors either. I can personally vouch for Bella Bejeweled. I have her “Bella Moonstone Ring” in Sterling Silver and it’s JUST like the one Bella wears in the movies. I get compliments on it constantly!

Bionic's Bella ring from Bella Bejeweled

Who plans to enter? I’m thinking of a great Forks-inspired look. It started brewing in my mind last night. So I guess I’d better place my sample kit order!

Bionic Bronnie introduces us to the new organic and eco-friendly skin care line – Jeune D’Age Organics!

Jeune D’age Organics skin care is one of the most amazing brands I’ve reviewed. The line consists of four products that compliment each other; plus they are relatively affordable and exceptionally high quality. I’ll be reviewing all four products on Bionic Beauty in the coming few weeks, but the facial serum is first because, in my opinion, it was the best!

The first time I used Jeune D’age Serum my face felt so good that the only way I can explain it is it “made my face giggle!”. It was such an amazing experience to use Jeune D’age and I haven’t said that about many products before.

Bionic Bronnie reviews Jeune D'age Organics' anti-aging facial serum!

The Hydrating, Firming Anti-Aging Serum gave my face a healthy glow that lasted most of the day. I’ve pretty much stopped wearing makeup and use the serum along with a touch of lip color and mascara!

This serum comes in a beautiful recycled black box with a coconut wood button and gold tassel. The neatest part? When you are finished with it, you can plant the box and it will grow wildflowers!! But it’s so pretty, I couldn’t bury it. You have to see this packaging to really appreciate it.

The serum’s active ingredients include:

• Acai berry
• CoQ10
• Vitamins A, B, C and E
• Natural DMAE and Hyaluronan
• Natural AHAs and ALAs

These carefully chosen ingredients hydrate skin while they also plump, lift and oxygenate. This face serum helps to regulate and speed up cell renewal and turnover (i.e. exfoliation). It also promotes collagen growth (and reduces collagen loss), and lessens wrinkles in a BIG way!

Inside the box you’ll find thirty single use packets of serum. The individual packages allow for no contamination and no oxidation… and since everything is sealed until use, there’s no need for parabens (Parabens are not necessarily bad. They typically function as a preservative to help your products have a longer shelf life- such as three months instead of three days).

I adore this serum so much I’m using it twice a day. I’ve had such a positive response to this serum that I even had some friends test some as well. Everyone loved it! Out of everything I have tested so far this year, Jeune D’age Serum is what I’m giving as holiday gifts. I’ve already ordered a box of serum for my Mom (who is so skin-sensitive she can hardly use anything) and a serum refill for myself.

Jeune D’age Organics is a vegan, eco-friendly company that doesn’t test on animals and uses as much recycled, and recyclable, packaging as possible. Very green mindset!

A 30 packet gift box of Jeune D’age Serum is $39.95; or buy a set of the refills (if you choose not to bury your gorgeous box!) for $29.95; and if you’re looking to grab the full line of products, check out the special Gift Set for $97.50 (a savings of $17.30!).

Also, be sure to check out the Jeune D’age Organics skincare website for more reviews, ingredients information and to see the full skincare line.

Stay tuned for more reviews of Jeune D’age Organics skin care products including their Marin Toner, Premiere Cleanser, and Prevoir Face and Body Lotion.

What are your thoughts on Jeune D’age ingredients in this serum? Do you like their green mentality? Or maybe you’ve tried the line and want to share your thoughts in the comments section!