We all have that one beauty product we’d buy vats of if we could (now, where some of us would store those vats in our tiny apartments is another story, but we don’t worry about details like that in fantasy world). In the case of our Spa Brand Manager Gillian, that product is laboratoire remède’s translucent uv coat.

Since she worships the featherweight SPF formula (I hear she has some sort of shrine to it in her bathroom, but that could just be a rumor), I asked her to elaborate on her love for it—and did she ever. Here’s what she had to say:

check out that spiffy new packaging!

“I’ve been using translucent uv coat for seven years. I love it because I’m not a foundation wearer, but it gives me a little coverage and just really evens out the tone of my skin. I don’t end up too shiny or matte, and it doesn’t clash with bronzer or powder if I add those to the mix. What makes it so special is that it’s not a heavy moisturizer—you can get light coverage/color and UV protection and still use your favorite moisturizer underneath. I love that it has SPF 30 so I can use it over a non-SPF moisturizer without feeling guilty.

I turned my friend onto it who has amazing, smooth, fair skin, and I can tell when she has it on—her skin just looks like porcelain perfection. Maybe it’s the soft-focusing powders. Now, of course she’s addicted too.”

Gillian could go on about it all day (believe me when I tell you that was just a snippet of the praise she lavished on this product). And after reading that, I bet you’re just a little bit curious to try it yourself if you haven’t already. Well, lucky you—there’s a way for you to try it free with this special spa offer:

Get a free translucent UV coat with any Laboratoire Remède purchase and/or Alchemy Facial through October 15.* (Shade availability may vary by location.)**

Now go get yours and make Gillian proud!

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

*Sorry, but this offer isn’t available at Bliss Ft. Lauderdale, Washington D.C. or Atlanta – Downtown.
**You’ll receive the original UV Coat packaging and formula with this offer, but keep in mind for future purchases that Laboratoire Remède has recently made some changes: the UV Coat bottle has a fresh new look, and the shades are now slightly darker, so longtime wearers should test before buying if possible.

When I was a kid, my brother and I wanted to know once and for all if the tooth fairy was real, so we devised a plan. The next time he lost a tooth, he’d put it under his pillow with a very fine string tied around it. The other end of the string would be tied to his finger, so when the tooth fairy pulled that chomper from under his pillow, he’d feel a tug, wake up, and be face to face with the pearly-white-loving sprite. When the big night came, we set it all up and were ready to go—but he chickened out at the last minute and ditched the string. Magically, he still woke up the next morning with some cash under his pillow.

Now that we’re older, most of us would still be excited to wake up a few dollars richer—but we’re willing to bet you’d be just as stoked to wake up looking a few years younger. All it takes is a visit from the ‘youth’ fairy. Starting today, she’ll give you a free travel-sized the youth as we know it moisture cream ($24 value) when you buy the full-sized cream (while supplies last). You can take advantage of her generosity online, or at one of our spas.*

Hey, if you’ve lost your ‘youth’, I think discovering more wrinkle-free skin beats discovering a few bucks under your pillow any day. (And I’ll vouch for the fact that the ‘youth’ fairy is real—no scary string trick necessary.)

Miss Bliss

*We’re sorry, but the ‘youth’ fairy won’t be visiting Bliss Ft. Lauderdale and Bliss Atlanta – Downtown.

One of the perks I get from working in this industry is free beauty loot. Naturally, I can only slather so many serums onto my skin before I don’t even know which one is doing what. So where does my stash of surplus stuff usually go? That’s right: my mom. Of course she loves being a guinea pig in the name of glam—it’s like Christmas every time I show up with a bag of the latest cleansers and creams. (Does that make me Santa? I’ll take it, sans the red suit and milk-and-cookies belly.)

My favorite part about giving her products is hearing her reviews. Working with this stuff all the time can leave you a bit jaded, and hearing a real person rave about a product really reminds you of why you do this in the first place. My favorite things to ‘test’ on her are anti-aging items. After all, she’s a better judge of their efficacy than I am being that she’s a few years older than me. (Just a few, mom.)

When I first gave her a jar of the youth as we know it moisture cream—our August product of the month—she was skeptical. Let’s be honest: not every formula I’ve foisted upon her has been a winner. But once I explained the idea behind it—that it’s a one-stop shop for everything you’d ever want in an anti-aging moisturizer—she was sold. Like most people, she gets confused by all the different moisturizer options: this one firms, this one lessens lines, this one brightens, this one does your laundry… you get the idea. So she loved the fact that she could have it all in a single jar.

After using it, she called me up raving. She said she could actually feel it working when she massaged it on, and she loved the way it made her skin look. (I can verify—she looks a lot younger than her years.) She was even crazy about its texture and fragrance. And the true test of her devotion? She’s tried some other moisturizers since she started using the youth, and she always, always goes back to it. It’s her ‘desert island dew’, if you will.

Let me just tell you: my mom knows what she’s talking about, and she keeps it real. It’s kind of what’s she’s known for. When she tells you to try a beauty product, you listen. So take her advice and try the youth as we know it. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself saying, “How is she always right about everything?”

‘Skin’-cerely,

Miss Bliss

Zits, pimples, blemishes, breakouts….whatever you call ‘em, the only thing that matters is that they go away!

Our secret weapons against blemishes are about become very public knowledge!
1. Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask: It’s not only good for brightening and hydrating. It’s detoxifyin! Did you know: blemish-causing bacteria are unable to survive with oxygen present. Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask detox-es by creating an oxygen environment on the skin which helps prevent bacteria from causing breakouts.

How is this different from an oxygenating product that contains a form of hydrogen peroxide?
The oxygen delivery system in Triple Oxygen Energizing Mask is a more advanced, efficient way to deliver oxygen to the skin surface. It is truly the next generation of skin care. Also, hydrogen peroxide based products have been known to bleach eyebrows if not carefully applied!

Can you use the Triple Oxygen Energizing Mask with other masks?
Yes! The Triple Oyxgen Energizing Mask is not exfoliating. It is energizing and detoxifying. So you can definitely use it several times each week AND still use our steep clean mask (which is enzymatic and exfoliating) or peeling groovy (an amino acide based exfoliating, decongesting, pore minimizing serum).

2. Bliss Steep Clean Pore Purifying Mask is our professional-strength mask for clearer skin. It’s a once a week, 15-minute facial in a bottle that declogs and minimizes the appearance of pores, brightens the skin, and regulates oil without drying. We use this mask every day in our instant mattification facial.

This pore plunging, clog clearing mask will transform skin into a scene of extremely clean when used weekly for 15 minutes. Intensive exfoliation, oil elimination, and deep pore purging are a perfect for all (but especially pimple prone) skin types.

Cheers to getting ‘clear’!
Miss Bliss

Are you feeling a little committaphobic (with your purchases, that is) lately? With the economy in an ultra super mega slump, it’s sometimes difficult to justify big purchases. I know I have a much easier time letting go of $30 on a great cleanser that will last me through the summer than it is to spend $200 on, well, ANYTHING right now.

No need to fear-frugal Miss Bliss is here! Recessionistas no longer have to tremble at the beauty counter because there are absolutely affordable and, might I say, adorable try-me-sized beauty buys out there.

Our sure-to-please bet is our Sink Side Six Pack, which features travel-friendly sizes of Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (our best-selling cleanser!), Bliss Lemon+Sage Soapy Sap, Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter (our best-selling body product for 10 years), Bliss Lemon+Sage Supershine Shampoo, Bliss Lemon+Sage Conditioning Rinse, plus a ’small but still fab’ 1.8 oz Bliss Lemon+Sage Soap Slab.

Now available on blissworld.com are travel-friendly deluxe try-me sizes of:
our best-selling product ever: the youth as we know it moistirizer

our dry-skin savior: high intensity hand cream

Now you can get a very generous trial sized version of our best-selling products without committing to a full-sized version until you’re 100% sure you’re in love. It’s like living with your boyfriend before you marry. Luckily, our try-me sizes are totally lovable!

Happy trials and safe travels!
Miss Bliss

Q: Dear Miss Bliss,

Thanks for the tips! If possible, can you elaborate on how long of a shelf life each type of product would have? I know generally the shelf lives of makeup, but wasn’t too sure about moisturizers, face washes, and the like. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Self Life Savy

A: Dear Shelf Life Savy,

Great question! This is an easy answer. The period after opening symbol or PAO symbol is a graphic symbol that identifies the useful lifetime of a cosmetics product after its package has been opened for the first time. It depicts an open cosmetics pot and is used together with a written number of months or years.

In the European Union, cosmetics products with a shelf-life of at least 30 months are not required to carry a “best used before end of …” date. Instead, there has to be “an indication of the period of time after opening for which the product can be used without any harm to the consumer”. The EU Cosmetics Directive defines in Annex VIIIa the language-neutral open-jar symbol, which manufacturers should use to indicate this period.

The time period is most often represented compactly as a number of months, followed by the letter “M”, as in “36M” for a period of three years, written either onto the front side of the depicted pot, or to the right of it. The letter “M” is the initial for the word month not only in English, but also in many other languages.

If you flip your lovely skin care around, you’ll see something that looks like this:

This particular product would be good for 30 months after opening. So if you opened that product today 4/10/2009, it would be good until 10/10/11 *checking my mental math*

The POA (period after opening) varies by product, so I recommend checking it when you open it to ensure freshness. Hope this helps!

Bliss Kisses
Karen

Q: Dear Miss Bliss,

I found this entry from searching for more information on Remede’s High Energy Eye Contour Creme being discontinued. Was this brought back in another form or is there a new alternative for that now?

I’m in my twenties and don’t have wrinkles. I just really liked the product because it was light enough to wear during the day or night and was great for moisture.

Could you please let me know?

Sincerely,
I scream for eye cream

A: Dear I scream for eye cream

I feel your pain! I loved the High Energy Eye Contour too and almost shed a tear when I found out it was being discontinued. Remede made this fantastic chart to help us navigate their new skin care line. So according to the chart, if you liked the High Energy Eye Contour, you’ll love Hydra Therapy Eye Creme. Hydra Therapy has a gorgeous exture and has a very similar finish to our beloved High Energy Eye Contour. What I love most about the Hydra Therapy Eye Creme is that it has no caffeine.

Does a caffeine-free eye cream really work?
Ab-so-lutely. Instead of caffeine, Hydra Therapy Eye Creme contains citrus peel and Sorb Tree bud extracts, which promote circulation and diminish dark circles and puffiness, while eyes are illuminated with soft focusing powders. If eye puff doesn’t particularly concern you, you’ll reap the benefits of:
Glasswort Extract: reduces water loss and provides visible and prolonged moisturizing benefits to dry and/or sensitive skin

Trehalose: improves skin’s ability to retain balanced moisture levels even in the harshest conditions; helps prevent dehydration and protects skin infrastructure

Cottonseed Oil Lipids: a combination of ceramides containing omegas 3, 6, and 9, helps nourish, soothe and calm irritated skin, reducing inflammation, easing dryness and tightness

All in all, a thumbs up!

Bliss Kisses
Karen

I am a self-proclaimed beauty pack rat. I am currently moving from one apartment to anther and I keep finding beauty products from the dinosaur years that needed to go to beauty product heaven. Sad, but true. No use crying over spilled cleansing milk, right?

Have you ever opened up your beauty cabinet and thought to yourself “Hmmm…how old is THAT? I wonder if it’s still good?”

We all have (please tell me I’m not alone here!). Since I have acquired a *ahem* LARGE amount of beauty products in the past year and a half, I have devised a system to ensure freshness with my beauty products. Spring is coming and I highly recommend taking a peek in your medicine cabinet. Out with the old, in with the new!

Tips for keeping your skincare fresh!
1. When you open up a new product, take a permanent marker and write the date that you opened it. So if you opened up a Youth As We Know It Moisturizer today I would mark the jar 4/9/09. In case it gets buried in the depths of my medicine cabinet and I don’t see it again until ohhh….say 7/14/15 I know that it’s time to go buy a new one.

2. Keep your beauty products away from excess heat and light. Store them in a cool, dry place. Active ingredients can go bad if they’re exposed to extreme light and heat. I once left an eye cream on top of my heater (which doubles as a shelf for vases, folded laundry, and such) and forgot about it for a couple of days. My eye cream was totally cooked and had to go in the trash. Bummer!

3. Don’t buy more than you’ll ever use. This sounds like a no-brainer, but I have seen women at sample sales buying 15 of the same cream because it was “such a great deal.” The most expensive products are ones that don’t work! Find multi-purpose products that you *love*-you’ll get more bang for your buck.

My favorite multi-taskers:
Fabulous Foaming Face Wash a 2-in-2 gel cleanser + exfoliator

Intensive Double Serum Vitamin C helps brighten, lighten, tighten while Oxygen helps prevent blemish causing bacteria, energizes the skin and boosts clarity

Zo Skin Health Oclipse Sunscreen + Primer moisturize + protect in 1 easy step

Bliss Kisses!
Karen

You’ve skipped your triple grande vanilla skinny latte at Starbucks every day for six months. You’ve given up taking cabs (unless you’re wearing heels, of course). You’ve learned how to cook to make up for all of those luxurious five-course dinners. But a girl’s gotta live once in a while, right? Sometimes it just feels too good to ’spa’-lurge on a luxury beauty item.

When the economy is booming again, how is your skin going to feel? Stop watering a plant and it dies. Stop moisturizing and protecting your face and it, well….wrinkles. Protect your most important asset-YOU! If you’re going to splurge, do it wisely. We’d eat ramen for weeks just to keep these skin saviors in our regimens.

If I were being sent on Survivor and they told me I could bring one beauty product, I’d bring the Clarisonic skin care brush system and I’d be a totally happy camper. I love it that much. It makes my face feel so super clean and it enhances the absorption of products used after cleansing. My favorite product to use it with is clog dissolving cleansing milk.

If you’re a slave to shaving and waxing, why not trade it in for the tria personal laser hair removal system. If you’ve been waxing for more than a year, this at-home device would have already paid for itself.

Plagued by puffines? I am! Zelens Intensive Triple-Action Eye Cream has 20 natural ingredients (including 14 antioxidants) and will help you put puff in its place. This eye cream is serious business when it comes to under eye puffiness and leaves the under eye area with a beautiful primer-like finish. I find that my concealer goes on super smooth whenever I use this eye cream.

‘Skin’-dulge and your skin will thank you!
Bliss Kisses!
Karen

Once in a while it’s nice to splurge on a pricey beauty buy (helloooooo creme de la mer 16.5oz!), but right now most of you beauties are pinching your pennies. Here are my top 5 favorite beauty bargains under $60.

1. Kate Somerville Anti Bacterial Clearing Lotion-perfect for breakout prone skin, it delivers the most advanced Benzoyl Peroxide formulation on the market (encapsulated and time-released so it’s not drying to the skin) $39

2. klein-becker instant deep wrinkle filler. Need an oil change-go to the mechanic. Need to fill in fine lines + wrinkles-go to StriVectin. ‘Nuff said!$59

3.
Laboratoire Remede UV coat SPF30 is my can’t-live-without-it tinted moisturizer. This UV coat has been on vacation with me, to the beach, to weddings, under my foundation, as my foundation, and everything in between. If UV coat were my boyfriend, I’d propose. It comes in 3 shades and 1 untinted shade so even your man can partake in the SPF action without looking like he was sifting through your makeup drawer.$40

4. ren glycolactic skin renewal peel mask is my favorite mask for when I’m getting in touch with my high-tech natural side. Ren is synthetic and petrochemical free with high tech bioactives that stimulate improvement in the skin without any harsh ingredients. Recommended for congested and mature skin, and works well on post acne scarring, blemishes and blackheads plus sun damaged skin. After just 2 months out on the market, this mask won InStyle’s best beauty buy for 2008. A must-have for every medicine cabinet.$55

5.
Bliss Best of Skintentions, a daily moisturizer with vitamins, minerals, omegas and SPF15 with a pa++ rating to protect the skin against UVA and UVB damage. It’s got a light citrus scent and leaves the skin with a primer-like finish for easy makeup application.$35

BEAUTY BONUS!
While this item caps out my $60 price point, the value is just too hard to resist. Freeze 24/7 daily essentials skincare system includes Includes 2-in-1 skin glacé daily detoxifying cleanser and mask (3.3 oz), resurfacing icecrystals anti-aging prep and polish (2.5 oz) and nourishing icecream double scoop intensive anti-aging moisturizer (1.7 oz). A $235 value for only $150