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Lucire Living 2003

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Sonicare Elite


MAIN IMAGE: Sonicare Élite—spending $139·99 now might save money at the dentist. TOP: M. K. Johnson was able to replace her favourite fragrance, Annick Goutal Eau du Sud, with (second row) Clarins Eau Dynamissante. THIRD ROW: Still testing by Johnson, Avon Cellu-Sculpt Anti-Cellulite Treatment (left). Neutrogena Anti-Cellulite Treatment (right). ABOVE: Rubis tweezers—deserves a splurge at $35–45.

Budget Beauty battles cellulite
THE WAR is heating up over who has the best firming treatments and in the battle for customers and credibility, companies are backing their gimmicks with numbers. Every company's advertisement quotes studies and measurements in a frenzied effort to get their products flying off shelves. The really good news is that you needn't spend $50–100-plus for effective (albeit somewhat temporary) cellulite treatments.
   Avon's Cellu-Sculpt Anti-Cellulite Treatment promises up to an inch off each thigh in one month. Who could resist that? It gives skin a hydrated toned feel instantly. (I'll have to let you know in a month
The really good news is that you needn't spend $50–100-plus for effective (albeit somewhat temporary) cellulite treatments
how the measurements turned out.) Only $15 from your local Avon representative or from Avon.com.
   It's all about inches at CCB-Paris (ccb-paris.com) as well. This low-cost luxury beauty catalogue offers its own range of slimming, tightening products. Their Cosmence Skin Care line boasts ¼" to 1¼" reduction in thigh circumference with their product, Toning and Firming Gel Immediate Smoothing Effect, for $24. Cosmence also offers 14-day Toning Concentrate with Seaweed and other botanicals that may reduce thigh circumference 1¼" in 14 days, and even up to 2" in 28 days. Fourteen vials (two applications per vial) are $24.
   Another favourite, for those looking for refining as well as tightening treatments, is Neutrogena's Anti-Cellulite Treatment with Retinol. My local grocer had it for $17·50—a steal compared to similar products from the department store. (Remember, whenever you use a retinol treatment, protect your skin from the sun with an SPF 15 or higher.)

When you just have to splurge …
WELL, you can't scrimp on everything. Some things are worth the price! Here are some resources for when there is simply no substitute, (particularly if your skin is highly sensitive). Here are a few of my favourite web sites for finding fab deals on department store goodies.

  • Strawberrynet.com (www.strawberrynet.com): a Hong Kong duty-free online boutique with a huge selection and great prices. They've initiated a loyalty programme that really adds up to great savings.
  • NeoBeauty.com (www.neobeauty.com) specializes in Asian lines and is a great place to get Shiseido, Pola, and hard-to-find Korean products.
  • Beauty.com (www.beauty.com), a partner site to Drugstore.com: not a discounter per se, but they very frequently have free gifts and great deals on seasonal and discontinued products.
  • Vitacost.com (www.vitacost.com): for great deals on Jason and other natural skin care lines, as well as supplements, this site offers wholesale prices that can't be beat.
       Two beauty products that are frequently scrimped on, I highly recommend splurging on:
  • tweezers by Rubis. Yes, they're expensive at between $35 and $45, depending on where you get them. (I found a fabulous deal at Sally Beauty Supply at about $33 for the dual slant-point tip pictured.) They are worth every penny!;
  • the Sonicare Oral Care System. Dental hygienists everywhere recommend this for keeping teeth clean and polished—and cutting down the length of cleaning time in the dentist's chair. Now that is a beautiful thing! (The new Sonicare Élite, pictured, is available at most drugstores and at Drugstore.com for $139·99.) •

    M. K. Johnson is director of beauty—special projects for Lucire.
    All prices are in US dollars.

     

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