National Grapefruit Month: 9 Skincare Sensations Celebrate Citrusy Goodness for Your Face & Body

Photo by John Steven Fernandez

I developed my love for grapefruits from my paternal grandmother. She ate them for breakfast with her oatmeal and as snacks during the day. Not only did she possess youthful skin as she aged, but she ended up living a long, healthy life. I'm convinced that her obsession with the fruit had a lot to do with her radiant complexion and longevity.

Named after grapes since they grow in clusters, grapefruits have a distinctive citrusy taste--sweet, sour and sumptuous. They contain lots of minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients, which help reduce the production of cholesterol, and promote better digestion, weight loss and overall health. 

The pulp, oil and juice from these large globes of goodness also nourish and protect the skin. Grapefruit seed extract serves as an effective antibacterial ingredient, so it's commonly utilized in cleansers, masks and scrubs to refresh your face and body. Plus, its deeply moisturizing effects enhance the suppleness of your skin.

In honor of National Grapefruit Month, we present the following creams, clarifiers and cleansers. They utilize all aspects of the fruit to brighten and beautify your complexion. Enjoy the celebration!

SHINE: 100% Pure Pink Grapefruit Nourishing Body Cream, Pink Grapefruit Hydrating Body Wash and Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub. BEAUTY: Soften your skin and give it a healthy glow with pink grapefruit peel oil, and goji berry and pomegranate fruit extracts. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Also contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colors.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Pink Grapefruit Clarifying Masque. BEAUTY: Pink grapefruit juice, pulp and peel, kaolin clay, alpha lipoic acid, and vitamins A, C and E help rebalance your skin and banish blemishes. BEACON: No animal testing. The company plants one tree for each product sold through its Forests For the Future program.

SHINE (clockwise): LATHER Pink Grapefruit & Ginger Illuminating Creme, Manuka Body Butter with Grapefruit & Juniper, and Pink Grapefruit & Ginger Sugar Scrub. BEAUTY: Lock in moisture and smooth your skin with grapefruit peel oil, aloe vera leaf juice and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates and parabens. Also utilizes eco-friendly packaging.

SHINE: Veria Innerdosha Sheer Delivery Hand & Body Lotion, and Clarity Found Body Wash. BEAUTY: Grapefruit and orange oils, aloe vera leaf juice and neem seed oil aid in hydrating your skin without any heaviness to leave it feeling refresh and revitalized. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty-free. Contains no parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, artificial colors or GMOs.

Va-Va-Voom Looks for Valentine's Day: Luscious Lipsticks & Nail Lacquers

Photo by Sture Jonasson

Cupid goes a little cra-cra today, so you know what that means? It's Valentine's Day! Not only do couples have a chance to express their love for one another, they also get to spend the evening under the glow of a full moon this year. 

It's been said that the lunar spectacle may prompt intense emotions and behaviors. This creates the ideal setting to take part in the most romantic day of the year and everything that the celebration typically yields--candlelight dinners, candies, cards, champagne, jewelry, flowers and heartfelt sentiments. 

Photo by Sean McClean

Since the evening sky will be filled with bright moonlight, you should glow too. Luckily, it doesn't take a lot of time or effort to design a dynamic duo effect with your lips and nails. Check out these luscious lipstick, gloss and lacquer looks. They're color coordinated to create the perfect pucker and mesmerizing manis.

Pouts and polish make a great team--just like you and your lover, and a full moon and Valentine's Day!   

SHINE: Alba Botanica Mineral Terragloss. BEAUTY: Make your pout stand out with this tantalizing trio of lip glosses--Garnet (pinot noir shimmer), Bloom (pink shimmer) and Blaze (red shimmer). BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, phthalates, artificial colors and silicones. Supports Farm Sanctuary.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: Create lots of memories and manis with Rekha (bold blood red with a glossy cream finish), Sweet (pale bubblegum pink cream) and Maura (electric crimson cream). BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.

SHINE: Hemp Organics Lipsticks. BEAUTY: Sneak a smooch with your significant other in Pink Satin (shimmering pink) and Rose Petal (sheer light pinkish red). BEACON: No animal testing and USDA Organic certified. Free of gluten, artificial fragrances, parabens, SLS, phthalates and FD&C colors. Supports The Library Project.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: Love will conquer all with these captivating colors--Jolene (pink cream) and Zanna (light rose-mauve cream). BEACON: No animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.

SHINE: Pacifica Coconut Kiss Creamy Lip Butter. BEAUTY: Create a kissable moment wearing Stardust (silver nude). BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Free of parabens, petroleum, carmine and FD&C colors. 

SHINE: SpaRitual Lacquers. BEAUTY: Make a style statement with Silver (metallic shimmer) and Twig (light latte). BEACON: Vegan, and free of toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate and camphor.  

SHINE: Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Perfect Performance Lip Color. BEAUTY: Make your lover's heart melt with this hot shade--Perhaps (light pink shimmer with hints of gold and silver). BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Noreen Fraser Foundation and Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: The champagne will be sparkling and so will your mani with this chic shade of Shimmer (light pink with gold and silver glitter undertones). BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate.

SHINE: SpaRitual Lip Glosses. BEAUTY: Set the mood with these sultry and chic shades--Radiant (red shimmer), Glow (pink shimmer) and Clarity (nude shimmer). BEACON: Free of sulfates, fragrances, GMOs, gluten, petrochemicals, phthalates, triclosan and parabens.

SHINE: SpaRitual Lacquers. BEAUTY: Keep the romance alive with candles, candies and lots of color--Intention (red shimmer), Love Is In The Air (bright pink cream) and In The Buff (nude cream). BEACON: Vegan, and free of toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate and camphor.  

SHINE: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Lipsticks and Mighty Shiny Lip Gel. BEAUTY: Put a little pop in your pout with Tangelo (orangey/red), Flaunt (brilliant pink with a hint of golden shimmer) and Blushing Nude (pink caramel beige). BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, talc, alcohol, and artificial fragrances and colorants.

SHINE: Color Club Professional Nail Lacquer. BEAUTY: All you need is love and these lively lacquers--In Theory (bright coral), Warhol (expressive pink) and Nature's Way (light latte). BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde. 

Pretty Peepers for Valentine's Day: Glam Your Gaze with Must-Have Eye Makeup & Moisturizers

Photo by Chris Willis

Smize... Valentine's Day arrives on TGI Friday!

Smizing refers to a term Tyra Banks coined while hosting "America's Top Model." It involves the art of fierce self expression by smiling with your eyes during a photo shoot.

Tyra Banks: The art of the smize.

Smize, which blends the words "smile" and "eyes" together, reminds us of another popular saying--"Eyes are the window to the soul." It means if you look directly into someone's peepers, you can determine how they really feel or what they're truly thinking about.

Will that special someone in your life see love or passion in your eyes--or perhaps a smize--on Valentine's Day? After drinking a glass of champagne or eating a few chocolates, there's no telling how you might feel. To help glam your gaze, we present the latest eye-popping looks using liners, shadows, mascaras, pencils and skin care. They're designed to perk up your peepers for a more radiant appearance on the most romantic day of the year. 

So smize for your significant other, and keep your eyes on these prize beauty products. Have a happy Valentine's Day! 

EYE MAKEUP

SHINE: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Ultra Lengthening Mascara (Black Tea) and Fruit Pigmented Tahiti Satin Eye Shadow (Shimmery Champagne). BEAUTY: Lengthen and thicken lashes with this vitamin-rich mascara and make your eyes sparkle with this velvet-textured shimmer shadow. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colors.

SHINE (clockwise): Honeybee Gardens Pressed Mineral Eye Shadow (Canterbury), Eyeliner (Smoking Gun), Truly Natural Mascara (Espresso) and Pressed Mineral Eye Shadow (Antique). BEAUTY: Create a sweet treat for your peeps with this captivating quartet. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of parabens and gluten.

SHINE: LashEm Colour Strokes Liquid Eyeliner with Lash Enhancing Serum. BEAUTY: This liner features a smudge-proof formula, which emphasizes your eyes while also nourishing your lashes, and a precision tip brush for easy application. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, fragrances and prostaglandins. 

SHINE: Mineral Fusion Eye Shadow Trio (Diversity). BEAUTY: This pleasing palette contains an on trend trio of stunning shades--rich plum, shimmering pink and matte taupe. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of gluten, parabens, SLS, phthalates, artificial colors and synthetic fragrances. Supports the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

SHINE: Pacifica Eye Pencils (Jet, Bare, Fringe and Gun Metal). BEAUTY: Create luscious looks with these buttery smooth, waterproof pencils that utilize shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamins C and E. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of parabens, petroleum, SLS, sulfates, phthalates, talc, carmine and FD&C colors.

SHINE (clockwise): Sormé Treatment Cosmetics Mineral Botanicals Eye Color (Exotica), Smearproof Eyeliner (Navy Blue) and Bio-Natural Eye Shadow (Peace). BEAUTY: Look like an A-lister with these atypical but highly alluring shades. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and talc. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. BEAUTY: Give your lashes a lush look with this formula of rice bran wax and peptides, and an hourglass-shaped brush that helps hold your natural curl. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of glutens.

EYE TREATMENTS

SHINE: 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream. BEAUTY: Minimize fine lines, puffiness and dark circles, and maximize elasticity and firmness with aloe vera leaf juice, green coffee seed extract, rosehip oil, and vitamins C and E. BEACON: Vegan, and gluten and cruelty free. Contains no detergents, synthetic chemicals, or artificial fragrances or colors.

SHINE: B-Leve B-Bright Eye Roll-On and B-Youthful Face & Eye Serum. BEAUTY: Peptides and fruit cell extract from grapes help soften your orbital area and ease inflammation, fine lines and dark circles. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: BioBliss Anti-Wrinkle Patch Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Optimize moisture retention and prevent premature signs of aging with hyaluronic acid, peptides, okra plant extract, and vitamins B3 and C. BEACON: Contains no parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs or triclosan.

SHINE: Coola Suncare Environmental Repair Plus Calm Glow Eye Gel. BEAUTY: Rose flower water, and rye seed, black currant and linseed extracts help soothe, shield and smooth the delicate skin around your eyes. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: Intelligent Nutrients Renewal Complex Eye Gel. BEAUTY: Hydrate and heal dark circles, age lines and puffiness with cucumber fruit extract, pumpkin and raspberry seed oils, and plant stem cell culture from edelweiss, marigold and pennywort. BEACON: No animal testing and USDA Organic certified. Vegan and gluten free. Contains no phthalates, sulfates, artificial fragrances, parabens, triclosan, propylene, glycol, petrochemicals or silicone.

SHINE: Phytomer Youth Contour Reviving Wrinkle Correction Cream Eye and Lip Care. BEAUTY: Shea butter, vitamin E, and red, green and brown algae soften existing lines and wrinkles to restore a youthful appearance. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Refineé Anti-Aging Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Step up suppleness and smoothness to revitalize radiance with green tea extract, peptides and aloe vera leaf extract. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Systeme 41 Revitalizing Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Sunflower seed oil, shea butter, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid aid in making fine lines and dark circles appear less noticeable. BEACON: No animal testing and hypoallergenic. Free of parabens, artificial colors, fragrances, surfactants, detergents, mineral oils and glutens.

Winter Olympics Giveaway: Go For the Glow with Gold, Silver & Bronze Nail Polishes

Photo by Preston Keres

Let the games begin!

Athletes from 88 nations have gathered at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia to show off their record-setting sporting skills. Almost 300 medals will be awarded to first, second and third place finishes in a variety of high-performance snow and ice events, including alpine skiing, speed skating, snowboarding, ski jumping and ice hockey. 

In honor of Team USA, we've put together a special giveaway of gold, silver and bronze nail polishes. Valued at approximately $250, these luminous lacquers from Dazzle Dry, Milani Nail Lacquer, OPI, SpaRitual and Zoya Nail Polish will help you create must-have medalist manis. 

Photo by Robert Trubia

So go for the gold, silver and bronze! The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 23, 2014, at 9 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). Good luck!

UPDATE: Congrats to followers Ruth, Sparklepuss Polish, Niki T. and Megan Russell! Ruth won prize packages from Dazzle Dry and SpaRitual, while Sparklepuss Polish nabbed lacquers from Milani, Niki T. snagged swag from OPI and Megan Russell took home polishes from Zoya.

THE PRIZES

(PRIZE #1) SHINE: Dazzle Dry. BEAUTY: Jazzy Gold, Yellow Topaz, Silver Lamé, Diamond, Unforgettable and Autumn Promise. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, camphor or nitrocellulose. RETAIL VALUE: $54

(PRIZE #2) SHINE: Milani Nail Lacquer. BEAUTY: Gold, Gold Glitz, Silver Stilettos, Silver, Morning Coffee and Disco Lights. BEACON: Cruelty free. Contains no dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde. RETAIL VALUE: $27

(PRIZE #3) SHINE: OPI Nail Lacquer. BEAUTY: Disco Dolls (Nicole By OPI), Gold Texture (Nicole By OPI), Your Royal Shine-Ness, Servin' Up Sparkle, Can You Tapas This? and Rally Pretty Pink. BEACON: Contains no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate or toluene. Supports the American Heart Association and the Leukemia Research Foundation. RETAIL VALUE: $48

(PRIZE #4) SHINE: SpaRitual. BEAUTY: Electrum Shimmer, Aurum Shimmer, Looking Glass Shimmer, Ha...Ha... Glitter, Rusted Lux and Death By Chocolate. BEACON: Vegan, and contains no toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP and camphor. RETAIL VALUE: $72

(PRIZE #5) SHINE: Zoya Nail Polish. BEAUTY: Goldie, Richelle, Laney, Luna, Kym, and Faye. BEACON: Vegan and no animal testing. Free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate. RETAIL VALUE: $54

THE RULES

Three Steps To Enter:

1. If you're a legal resident of the continental USA, become a follower of SHINE Beauty Beacon via Google Friend Connect (GFC).

2. In the "Post a Comment" section below, tell us your email address and which prize or prizes you're interested in winning (i.e., Prize #1; Prizes #3 and #5; or Prizes #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5). NOTE: You'll be disqualified if you comment more than once.

3. Finally, please let us know which social media platforms you posted this giveaway (see "Entry Key" below). 

Entry Key

Please provide appropriate links for verification purposes.

--One entry: Become a GFC follower of SHINE Beauty Beacon.

--Two extra entries: Post this giveaway on Facebook.

--Three extra entries: Follow SHINE Beauty Beacon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ShineBeautyBcn and/or tweet (or retweet) a link to this giveaway.

--Four extra entries: Follow SHINE Beauty Beacon on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/shinebeautybcn/ and/or pin a photo from this giveaway.

--Five extra entries: Post this giveaway on your own blog (must include our URL).

THE FINE PRINT

This giveaway is open only to legal residents of the continental USA. Winners must be able to supply a residential address, as merchandise cannot be delivered to a P.O Box. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. The giveaway will end on Sunday, February 23, 2014, at 9 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). More than 15 entries must be received by this date for a winner to be selected. A winner will then be chosen by Random.org and notified via the email address provided in the "Post a Comment" section of this post. Odds of winning depend upon the number of entries received (see "The Rules" above). No cash substitutions allowed. The winner must respond within 48 hours of being notified or a new one will be selected. Void where prohibited by law. Any tax is the sole responsibility of the winner. By entering the giveaway, you release SHINE Beauty Beacon from liability, and waive any and all causes of action, related to claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages arising out of or in connection with the giveaway or delivery, misdelivery or acceptance of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory. SHINE Beauty Beacon isn't affiliated with Dazzle Dry, Milani, OPI, SpaRitual or Zoya Nail Polish, but we purchased or received complimentary samples for review purposes.  

We look forward to your participation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at shinebeautybeacon(at)gmail(dot)com.

Dry Skin Woes: Punxsutawney Phil Predicts 6 More Weeks of Winter

Photo by Reinhard Kraasch

Deep freeze... arctic plunge... polar vortex--no matter how you say it, baby it's cold outside.

When will it end? According to groundhog guru Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow when he emerged from his burrow on Super Bowl Sunday, winter will last six more weeks. 

Not to take anything away from the famed furry forecaster, but this news comes as no surprise. Sub-zero temps have gripped the country off and on for the past several weeks, causing the cold weather to wreak havoc on our skin. Symptoms typically include itching, cracking, flaking, irritation and extreme dryness. 

To rescue your face and hands from the elements, we've assembled the latest hydration helpers. These products contain plumping peptides, moisturizing hyaluronic acid, and nourishing fruit, nut and seed oils. They're designed to minimize dermal damage and maximize silky skin--even if you see your shadow.

FACE

SHINE: Alba Botanica Even Advanced CC Cream Tinted Mineral Perfector SPF 15 (Light to Medium). BEAUTY: Prevent sunburn with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and smooth your complexion with aloe vera leaf juice, orange peel oil and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, phthalates, artificial colors and silicones. Supports Furry Friends Rescue, Farm Sanctuary and Kitten Rescue.

SHINE: CellCeuticals InterActive Moisture Serum. BEAUTY: Peptides, hyaluronic acid and green tea extract strengthen your skin, while olive, apricot and avocado oils promote a gotta-have-it glow. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates and parabens. 

SHINE: Coola Environmental Repair Plus Fresh Relief Face Serum. BEAUTY: Stimulate collagen production and cell renewal of stressed skin with aloe vera leaf juice, hyaluronic acid, Japanese seaweed, and licorice and radish root extracts. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of paba, parabens, petroleum and phthalates. Supports Save Our Seas.

SHINE: Hada Labo Tokyo Protecting Day Lotion Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 18. BEAUTY: Avobenzone and three types of hyaluronic acid help shield and soften skin to prevent premature aging caused by exposure to the elements. BEACON: Free of fragrance, parabens, dyes and mineral oils.

SHINE: ilike Organic Skin Care Apple & Lemon Whipped Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Repair age spots, acne scars and dull skin with alpha hydroxy and salicylic acids, and step up suppleness with peppermint and lemon oils. BEACON: Vegan, and no animal testing. Free of artificial colorants.

SHINE: MyBody MyHero Ultra Rich Anti-Aging Growth Factor Cream. BEAUTY: Shea butter, peptides and hyaluronic acid restore radiance to flaky, aging and sensitive skin. BEACON: Contains no parabens, phthalates, sulfates, gluten or dyes.

SHINE: ProBios Transderma A Vitamin A Serum. BEAUTY: Revitalize weather-worn skin with vitamins A and E to create a younger looking appearance. BEACON: Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. No animal testing, and free of preservatives, fragrances, oil and alcohol. 

SHINE: Refineé Hydrating Gel Mask. BEAUTY: Argan oil, vitamin E, cucumber fruit extract and dragon's blood extract from the Amazon's croton lechleri tree soothe dermal damage from environmental stressors. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Swedish Skin Care Prosanol Instant Soothing Spray. BEAUTY: Relieve and repair irritation and itchiness with a pump spray that produces a light mist of nourishing oils. BEACON: Free of parabens, fragrances, synthetic dyes, sulfates and steroids. Supports the National Psoriasis Foundation and Burn Survivors Throughout The World.

SHINE: Veria Innerdosha Soak It Up Highly Hydrating Mask. BEAUTY: Sunflower seed and almond oils, aloe vera leaf juice and hyaluronic acid deeply moisturize dry skin. BEACON: Vegan and cruelty free. Contains no parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, artificial colors or GMOs.

HANDS

SHINE: Desert Essence Pumpkin Spice Hand Repair Cream. BEAUTY: Moisturize and mend dry hands with pumpkin fruit extract, aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter and sunflower seed oil. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Hand Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe, apple, lemon and white grape juices, as well as peptides, help address hydration and hyperpigmentation issues. BEACON: USDA Organic certified. Free of parabens, petroleum, propylene and butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances.

SHINE: M-61 Vitablast C Hand Cream. BEAUTY: Dehydrated skin disappears with grape seed and avocado oils, aloe vera leaf juice and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances and dyes. Supports Action Against Hunger.