2013 Summer Follower Giveaway: Lifeless to Luminous Skinsations

June Gloom recently arrived in Southern California. This unusual weather pattern occurs during early summer and creates overcast conditions in the morning with cooler temperatures. However, the gray gradually gives way to sunny skies at about mid-day. 

Our latest giveaway from Babor, Fleur's and Refineé emphasizes the blah to bright beauty of the June Gloom effect. Valued at approximately $700, these serums, eye creams and gels, moisturizers and masks allow you to turn lifeless skin into a more luminous complexion for a younger looking appearance. 

The deadline to enter is Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at 9 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). Good luck!

UPDATE: Congrats to follower ZESTYWONDERLAND! She's the lucky winner of all three prize packages. 

THE PRIZES

(PRIZE #1) SHINE: Doctor Babor Derma Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster For Lips, Doctor Babor Biogen Cellular Ultimate Repair Mask, Babor Moist & Lipid Algae Active Fluid and Babor Body Line Thermal Vitamin A-C-E Body Cream. BEAUTY: These must-have moisturizers give your complexion and body a healthy and hydrated appearance. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Dolphin Aid. RETAIL VALUE: Approximately $225.

(PRIZE #2) SHINE: Fleur's Eye Contour Expert Youth Eye Cream, Hand Cream Velvet Hand Care, First Wrinkle Cream, Intensive Wrinkle Firming Serum and Rose-Jasmine Shower Gel. BEAUTY: Prevent premature aging and preserve youthfulness with these powerhouse products. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of fragrances, dyes, sulfates, petrolatum, alcohol, mineral oil and parabens. RETAIL VALUE: About $225.

(PRIZE #3) SHINE: Refineé Protective Day Lotion SPF 15, Anti-Puff Brightening Eye Gel, Line Stop with Pep-Syn Complex, Micro Derma-Peel with Vitamin C and Green Tea, and Firming Mineral Moisture Cream with Marine Peptides. BEAUTY: Soothe, soften and shield your skin to achieve radiant results. BEACON: No animal testing. RETAIL VALUE: Approximately $250.

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 #1 and #3; or Prizes #1, #2 and #3). 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 Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at 9 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time). More than 15 entries must be received by this date in order 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 Babor, Fleur's or Refineé, 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.

Glow Gift Guide: Must-Have Mother's Day Skincare Sets & Kits

Photo by Gareth Simpson  

Mother's Day arrives on Sunday. This means you've got less than seven days to pick out one or more gifts for the special ladies in your life--your mom, mother-in-law and/or maternal mentor.   

No need to stress. We've compiled a Glow Gift Guide of skin/body care sets and kits. These serums, SPFs, eye creams and lotions serve to protect, nourish, heal and soothe--all the things moms typically do for us. They also help her maintain a youthful appearance. 

There's no better way to say thank you than with skin care. We hope you agree. Have a Happy Mother's Day!

SHINE: Apothederm Anti-Aging Skin Care System 4-Piece Kit (Firming Serum, Hydrating Eye Cream, Moisturizing Cream and Moisturizing Cleanser). BEAUTY: Quench thirsty skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce visible signs of aging. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, phthalates and fragrances.

SHINE: Caldrea Coconut Fig Leaf Body Wash and Body Lotion. BEAUTY: Reawaken radiant skin with chia seed oil and fig fruit extract. BEACON: Free of parabens and phthalates.  

SHINE: Gingi Eye Treatment Gift Box (Instant Eye Lift Mask and Instant Eye Lift Cream). BEAUTY: These eye care essentials contain hyaluronic acid and cucumber extract, as well as aloe vera gel and shea butter, to maximize elasticity, and minimize puffiness and fine lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Malie Organics Anti-Aging Facial Set (Anti-Aging Firming Elasticity Cream and Anti-Aging Cream Cleanser). BEAUTY: Hawaiian coffee fruit extract helps repair and revitalize skin to reveal a natural glow. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Free of petroleum, sulfates and parabens.

SHINE: Pevonia Botanica Myoxy Caviar To Go Timeless Renewal (Timeless Balm Cleanser, Timeless Repair Lotion and Timeless Repair Cream). BEAUTY: Promote regeneration, restoration and age-defying results with this travel-size trio. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports the Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: Prana SpaCeuticals Reishi Mushroom Serum and Reishi Mushroom Shield SPF 45. BEAUTY: This dynamic duo protects your skin against sun damage, and prompts cellular vitality and longevity. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and SLS.

SHINE: Skin Authority Bright Skin Duo with Gift Travel Tote (Age Defying Moisturizer SPF 18 and Brightening Serum). BEAUTY: Lock in luminosity, shield skin and diminish existing discoloration. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: vbeauté Eye Never Eye Creme, Buying Time Everyday Creme and Undercover Agent Anti-Wrinkle Protecting Serum. BEAUTY: Utilizes Swiss Alpine Rose Botanical Technology to boost hydration levels and counteract the effects of aging. BEACON: Contains no parabens, fragrances, gluten, oats or nuts. 

SHINE: VenEffect Anti-Aging Lip Treatment, Firming Neck & Décolleté Creme and Anti-Aging Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Smooth, soften and supersize the suppleness of your lips, eye area and neck/décolleté with grape and grapefruit seed extracts, and peptides. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

Healthy Aging Month: Restore, Renew & Revitalize Your Skin

Photo by Andrea Raffin

Gwyneth Paltrow turns 40 on September 27.

Gwyneth Paltrow defies the odds of aging. The Oscar-winning actress looks better with each passing birthday. And her milestone celebration of the big 4-0 should be no different this month. 

The mother of two seems to balance her career, family and marriage to Coldplay's Chris Martin with ease. She's known to eat sensibly and exercise on a regular basis. She also gives back with her charity work. She's an artist ambassador for Save the Children and a board member of the Robin Hood Foundation, which strives to eliminate poverty in New York City.

September marks Healthy Aging Month. Created by Healthy Aging Magazine, the observance brings attention to the positive aspects of growing older--which have been embraced by celebrities such as Paltrow and millions of other people. It also encourages community events that promote personal responsibility for one's financial, social, mental and physical well-being.

It's never too late to take control of your health--especially when it comes to skin care. In honor of Paltrow's birthday and Healthy Aging Month, we've assembled an assortment of moisturizers, serums, eye creams and facial toning devices that help you age gracefully. 

Here's to a healthy glow!

SHINE: Abrioné by VB Cosmetics Cell Enhancer Hydrogel Moisturizer. BEAUTY: Green tea extracts, hyaluronic acid and peptides stimulate the production of collagen and promote new cell growth. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: Basq Ultra Rich Illipe Body Butter. BEAUTY: Improve resiliency of stretched, taut or dry skin on your body, belly and bust with illipe seed butter, coconut oil extract and shea butter. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens and phthalates.

SHINE: CellCeuticals Regenerative Skin Treatment. BEAUTY: Vitamins A, C and E, and peptides diminish visible wrinkle depth and renew skin's smoothness. BEACON: No animal testing and vegan. Contains no artificial colorants or fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates or parabens.

SHINE: Clarisonic Opal Sonic Skin Infusion with Anti-Aging Sea Serum. BEAUTY: The serum minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with hyaluronic acid and peptides, while the sonic technology helps infuse skin care more effectively than fingers. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens.

SHINE: Kelly Teegarden Organics Vitality Rose & Cucumber Eye Cream. BEAUTY: Aloe vera leaf juice, cucumber fruit extract and shea butter minimize puffiness and under-eye darkness. BEACON: Cruelty free.

SHINE: Murad Intensive-C Radiance Peel. BEAUTY: Protect against free radical damage and boost skin's elasticity with vitamin C, glycolic and hyaluronic acids, and orange and grapefruit peel oils. BEACON: No animal testing. 

SHINE: Naturopathica Plant Stem Cell Serum and Beech Tree & Ginseng Daily Moisturizer. BEAUTY: The serum slows signs of aging with hyaluronic acid and pomegranate seed oil, while the moisturizer nourishes with beech tree bud and gogi berry fruit extracts. BEACON: ECOCERT certified. Contains no synthetic colors, silicones, sulfate detergents, parabens or glycols.

SHINE: The Nordic Treat Champagne Hydrogel Eye Patch. BEAUTY: Apple fruit extract, aloe vera gel and green tea extract minimize puffiness, dark circles, crow's feet, and frown and forehead lines. BEACON: No animal testing.

SHINE: NuFace Trinity Facial Toning Device. BEAUTY: The handheld microcurrent system revitalizes facial contours of the forehead, under-eye area, cheeks, jawline and jowls. BEACON: Supports Look Good...Feel Better.

SHINE: Organoderm Natural Green Energy Serum. BEAUTY: Maximize skin's elasticity and suppleness with hyaluronic acid, algae extract and peptides. BEACON: USDA organic certified. Vegan and cruelty free.

SHINE: Pevonia Power Repair Marine Collagen Cream. BEAUTY: Hyaluronic acid, safflower seed oil and vitamin E moisturize deeply dehydrated skin. BEACON: No animal testing. Supports Beauty Bus Foundation.

SHINE: SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 Maximum Strength Refining Night Cream. BEAUTY: Restore and renew skin with retinol and shea butter while you sleep. BEACON: Contains no parabens.

SHINE: Systeme 41 Revitalizing Eye Treatment. BEAUTY: Shea butter, macadamia seed oil and vitamin C smooth the delicate eye area to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. BEACON: No animal testing. Free of parabens, artificial colors and fragrances, surfactants, detergents, mineral oils and glutens.