Mardi Gras Masques: How to Brighten and Beautify Your Fat Tuesday Celebration

Bring on the parades and parties--it's Fat Tuesday. Mardi Gras, as it's more commonly called, takes place in the French Quarter of New Orleans on the day before Ash Wednesday. Raucous revelers forego polite society in favor of fun, frivolity, fancy floats, face painting, bead tossing and wild costume creations.

People also like to adorn their faces with a variety of masks--the more outrageous the better. It's believed that the custom dates back to the 18th century, where the wealthy wore them to hide their identities while the working-class used them as their admission ticket into the prestigious parties of the time.

Today, these guises serve as a way for revelers to help release their inhibitions. But before you rock your favorite Mardi Gras mask, make sure you give your skin a party of its own with a refreshing facial masque. This nourishing treatment addresses common concerns such as acne, aging and dull skin by providing moisturizing, calming, detoxifying or deep-cleansing benefits.  

So jump start your Fat Tuesday festivities with the following cream, gel and lifting masques. They're designed to brighten and beautify all types of complexions, as well as any Mardi Gras celebration. 

SHINE: Ecco Bella Dark Chocolate Mask. BEAUTY: Soften and smooth skin as you clear away dead skin cells with aloe vera, organic cocoa powder, and vitamins C and E. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of gluten, talc, synthetic oils and fragrances, alcohol and FD&C dyes. Supports Friends of Animals.

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Strawberry Kiwi Gel Masque. BEAUTY: Aloe gel, ginkgo biloba extract, vitamins A, C and E, and hyaluronic acid cool, calm and nourish the skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens, or artificial colors or fragrances. 

SHINE: Naturopathica White Tea Antioxidant Mask. BEAUTY: Firm and fortify skin for glow on the go with aloe vera leaf juice, white tea leaf extract and sunflower seed oil. BEACON: Free of sulfate detergents, PEGs, DEA, TEA, parabens, glycols and urea. Supports the American Botanical Council and The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

SHINE: Sjal Skincare Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask. BEAUTY: Sapphire powder, silk proteins, tamanu seed oil, and ginseng and ginger root extracts help minimize pores and maximize cell regeneration. BEACON: Free of parabens.

SHINE: Somme Institute Boost. BEAUTY: Purify, plump and protect skin with peptides, vitamin E and pumpkin fruit extract. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Systeme 41 Rejuvenating Masque. BEAUTY: White clay, sunflower seed oil, pomegranate and papaya fruit extracts, and hyaluronic acid help to decongest pores and restore radiance. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, artificial colors and fragrances, surfactants, detergents, mineral oils and glutens.

SHINE: Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask. BEAUTY: Replenish the skin and lock in luminosity with green tea leaf extract, hyaluronic acid and red algae extract. BEACON: Contains no parabens, mineral oil, synthetic colors or fragrances, sulfate detergents, urea, DEA, TEA or phthalates.

Face Lift-Like Skin Care: Paradise on Mother-in-Law Day

The coastline of Kona, Hawaii.

My mother-in-law grew up on a coffee plantation in Kailua (Kona), Hawaii. The good news is she spent her entire childhood living in paradise. The bad news is her skin took a beating from overexposure to the sun, which prompted signs of environmental damage later in her life.

The latest tightening and brightening formulations rescue loose, lackluster skin typically suffered by more mature women. Many contain plumping peptides, healing antioxidants and hydrating hyaluronic acid, which are designed specifically to promote a smooth and supple appearance. They provide face lift-like results without the pain or expense.

This Sunday, October 28, marks Mother-in-Law Day. Give your significant other's mom the gift of lift in a jar with the following firming formulations. These moisturizers, serums, gels and peels seek to repair and renew, which are benefits that may extend to your relationship with her after she experiences their transformative powers.

SHINE: Abrioné by VB Cosmetics Face Lifting Serum. BEAUTY: Minimize sagging and wrinkled skin with green tea and marine extracts, peptides and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Elizabeth Grant Collagen Re-Inforce Intensive Face Lift. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and aloe vera leaf juice promote suppleness and firmer skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the HollyRod Foundation and World Society for the Protection of Animals.

SHINE: Éminence Organic Skin Care Bamboo Firming Fluid (for normal to dry skin types). BEAUTY: Soften wrinkles and crow's feet, and strengthen skin with bamboo, apple plant stem cells, and coconut and neroli oils. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and American Cancer Society.

SHINE: Garnier Ultra-Lift 2-in-1 Wrinkle Reducer Serum + Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Shea butter and vitamin E provide healthy hydration to smooth wrinkles and boost firming benefits. BEACON: Supports TerraCycle. Carries the Forest Stewardship Council logo.

SHINE: HydroPeptide Anti-Wrinkle Polish & Plump Peel System. BEAUTY: Experience microdermabrasion-like results without irritating crystals with orange peel and lime oils, peptides, alpha hydroxy acid and green tea extract, which enhance elasticity and smooth skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, synthetic fragrances and phthalates. Supports American Cancer Society.

SHINE: Innovative Skincare Instant Smoothing Gel. BEAUTY: Apple and watermelon fruit extracts, peptides, and vitamins A and E help tighten skin, and strengthen and repair the dermal structure. BEACON: Contains no parabens. Supports Washington Cancer Institute, Revlon/UCLA Breast Center and Stars For Stripes. 

SHINE: Lily Herbceuticals Goji Berry Youth Restore Complex Firming Serum. BEAUTY: Accelerate skin cell turnover and restore a youthful looking appearance with goji berry, green tea extract, peptides, hydrolyzed silk and vitamin E. BEACON: Free of petrochemicals and parabens.

SHINE: Luzern Laboratories Serum Absolut Clinical Collagen Booster RX. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf juice, peptides and hyaluronic acid help hydrate skin and stimulate new collagen. BEACON: No animal testing. Contains no parabens, preservatives, fragrances, dyes, glycols or petrochemicals.

SHINE: Murad Rejuvenating Lift for Neck and Décolleté and Time Release Retinol Concentrate for Deep Wrinkles. BEAUTY: Restore suppleness of skin, and minimize crepiness and sagging with peptides, vitamin E and pomegranate extract. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Pevonia Ligne Esthébuste Restore Neck and Bust Concentrate and Cream. BEAUTY: Chamomile flower extract and kigelia africana fruit extract smooth skin's texture and renew youthful elasticity. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Somme Institute Neckline. BEAUTY: Promote tone, texture and clarity of the skin with marine extracts, peptides, and vitamins A and C. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens. 

SHINE: Sumbody Antioxidant Lifter. BEAUTY: Argan, carrot and jojoba oils, black, white and red teas, and coenzyme Q10 act as hydration boosters and anti-wrinkle actives. BEACON: Contains no parabens, animal oils, sodium laurel/laureth sulfates, artificial preservatives or synthetic chemicals. 

SHINE: VENeffect Anti-Aging Intensive Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Reduce fine lines and wrinkles caused by hormonal aging with resveratrol, grapefruit seed extract, peptides and hyaluronic acid. BEACON: Free of parabens.

Superstar Strawberry Skin Care

 Photo courtesy Agricultural Research Service

Lights, camera, action! Strawberries bring divadom to an entirely new level with their seductive, sweet and slightly sour goodness. 

Freshly picked strawberries steal the spotlight during the spring and summer months. Known for their characteristic aroma, rich red color and juicy texture, they often make superstar appearances in decadent desserts and mouth-watering margaritas, and jams and jellies.   

Packed with vitamin C, strawberries also contain a supporting cast of fan favorites. Folate, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants called flavonoids help prevent disease, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve brain and heart function. 

Thankfully, this popular fruit now takes center stage in the beauty industry due to its healing benefits. May marks National Strawberry Month, so we present the following showstopping formulations. They deserve a standing ovation! 

SHINE: Nature Pure Labs Strawberry Kiwi Gel Masque. BEAUTY: For rave reviews, hydrate and nourish your skin with aloe vera leaf juice, strawberry and kiwi fruit extracts, and vitamins A, C and E. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, petroleum derivatives, and artificial colors and fragrances.

SHINE: Saian Strawberry Cleanser. BEAUTY: Get ready for your close up as strawberry oil and lycopene remove surface impurities, and soothe and firm the face. BEACON: Contains no parabens, or artificial colors and fragrances. 

SHINE: VB Cosmetics Brown Sugar Strawberry Gel Scrub. BEAUTY: Be prepared to steal any scene as antioxidant-rich strawberry seeds, green tea extract and aloe vera help to exfoliate, moisturize and improve circulation. BEACON: No animal testing.