aestheticcoo

Shu Uemura 50% Off and Other Rambling

2010-09-18T06:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a long work week even though I took off Monday. I kept looking at the clock almost every day this week thinking, oh, it's gotta be time to close shop but the clock screamed that I still had a few hours left before I could respectably leave. I still brought work home with me but it'll be knocked out pretty quick. I'm just glad to be home in my comforting surroundings...

So, more information about the title of this post. A few months ago, I stumbled upon a pharmacy website based out of Connecticut, www.familymeds.com. They are having some sales in their Beauty area. I've ordered a few things from them: Decleor (70% off) and Urban Decay (also, 70% off) about a month ago. A few items are still available but the most recent offering is pretty darn good, Shu Uemura, 50% off. As many of you may know, Shu pulled out of the United States. Their website still has a few items but when compared to other countries, it looks like they will not be re-stocking because there is not much selection.

The caveat with ordering off this site is that it's not updated. When I put in my order for some Urban Decay items, I received a response saying that 3 products were out of stock. Please keep this in mind if you decide to order. I've had no issues with the shipping. It's not quick but I did receive it within 12 business days so keep that in mind as well.

Please let me know if you do order some Shu as I won't be partaking of the wonderful sale. I've been indulging too much anyway. I picked up a few items from the Korres site during their one day only 25% off sale in honor of New York's Fashion Night Out event. They also included free shipping and free goodies when you spent a certain amount. A few days ago, I hit up Sephora online when I spotted that they were doing a gift with purchase. The "gift" was a mini bottle of Shalimar. It's the new design by Jade Jagger. Since I didn't have any Shalimar, I thought I check to see if there was anything I "needed". Well, they did. They have these cute little Fresh sets. I picked up two. I'll get some photos taken soon and show these off. The package came in today and I'm in scent heaven. I picked up two fragrances as samples and used my VIP points for a mini Tom Ford Black Orchid perfume. The bottle looks just like the regular sized bottle but in miniature(as is the Shalimar).

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Please comment if you've made any recent purchases because you just couldn't pass up a sale or gwp:)

(Closed) Contest Courtesy of Ooglemakeup and Apothica.com

2010-09-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

Ooglemakeup has been a great friend to me over the last year in the blogosphere. I love her insight into makeup and the 'goings-on' that occur within the beauty community. (Oh, and she spoils me with wonderful swaps too:) She is also very thoughtful and I couldn't have asked for a better person to know in this community. So with that said, I'm more than happy to support her in this amazing contest she is having that is being sponsored by Apothica.com.

I must say when she asked me to take a look at the site, I was impressed. There are a lot of niche brands, which I love, like Becca and Paul & Joe. Also, as an aside, they carry a great selection of fragrances too. I think the site offers an abundance of lemmings - too many to mention here but I encourage you to take a look see. Also, please visit Gail's blog, Ooglemakeup to sign up for the contest. She has given us plenty of ways to increase our chances at the prize!

Thanks Gail!xx

Paul & Joe Limited Edition

2010-08-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist a couple of items from this collection. The packaging is lovely and made from printed paper but still has a sturdy feel to it. You just have to avoid water so that it doesn't degrade.

Paul & Joe - Limited Edition - Lipstick C - Clair de Lune (066) - 3.5 g Look closely. Do you see it? Yes! That is a kitty face on a lipstick. Some may find it creepy. I just get the giggles when I look at it. And yes, I will use it even though the novelty will be gone - no nine lippies with this haul! I will bid adieu au le chat drole de petite tete. C'est la vie...

I think Clair de Lune is similar to MAC's Patisserie.

Paul & Joe - Limited Edition - Face & Eye Color CS - Paper Moon (068) - 7.7 g
These eyeshadows have a great fire to the shades. These are nicely pigmented and feel creamy. Really love the whole effect from packaging to application and wear.

I really am going to enjoy these products. I couldn't ask for anything better. The packaging is beautiful and the concept whimsical. They put a kitty head on a lipstick! I love these guys! Anyway, check it out and let me know if you pick anything up. Have a great rest of the week!x

The Great Make-up Migration

2010-08-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Every week or two (or four), I rotate out my makeup or 'shop my stash'. I have a makeup bag that I keep on my vanity with things I want to use for however long. When I feel it's time to rotate, I empty out that bag, put all the products back in it's proper place (I like it organized, please), then fill the bag back up again with other products. It's a process I began about 6 months ago when I changed up my makeup organization and I like how it's working.

I moved a 4-tier book shelf into my closet which is off of my bathroom. It keeps all my make-up and perfume organized (and close by) for those quick changes. The good thing is that I'm using more of my collection because there are things I haven't even touched yet, like,...*ahem*...Stereo Rose...*ahem*...As long as I keep it all contained in that book shelf I'm okay with it but should it ever (and I just won't let that happen) migrate beyond the book shelf...well then, I suppose it will be time to call TLC to discuss them bringing over an expert to help me the "make-up hoarder".

So anyway, the make-up migration is now contained to the book shelf and to a medium-sized bag on my vanity.

I thought I'd write about this 'make-up migration' as a jump off to share what I've been wearing the last few weeks. This summer has been easy peasy with the make-up to the point of "Are you wearing make-up?" It's been so very hot in the Southeast that the humidity (and the bum breaker on the air-conditioner at work) has insisted on keeping it simple. However, I did bump it up a little the last couple of weeks after my organizing frenzy of make-up and perfume. When confronted with that, I felt it necessary to add a few more products because it ain't gonna apply itself, right?

So I did and here's what I think:

I will never be without Kerstin Florian Spa Face Aromatherapy Neroli Water. Love it! I just spritzed myself:) Think MAC Fix+ (but better IMO) in a better bottle too.

Sugar Tropic Tan Face and Body Bronzer. Love it because there is no orange and looks au naturale.

No. 7 Radiant Glow Beauty Lotion. Love it. I add a pump to foundation to lighten it's texture.

Rimmel Lasting Finish (color: 200 Soft Beige). Like it. Too heavy by itself so I cut it with the Boots No. 7 Radiant Glow. Does last well but fades around 3pm if I put it on around 7am. Not bad though at all. I like it better in the cooler months. One thing I really don't like is the tube opening because too much product comes out - I probably won't repurchase for just that reason.

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain in Chic. Pretty peach color with lots of sheen. Not the best shade for me but I'm trying to use it up. Works just fine in the summer but will not be using in the Fall/Winter.

ELF Studio Blush in Peachy Keen. I like it but there doesn't seem to be enough color but more of a peachy-golden sheen. Doesn't work that well as blush for my skin tone but good as a highlighter. However, as much as they wish to emulate Nars in packaging, they fail in the longevity. It's gone by noon.

Elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer. Just as good as UD's Primer Potion. No complaints. Just a little thicker in consistency so you don't need to apply as much. Works great for my oily lids.

Visine Tears Lasting Relief. Good stuff and necessary after looking at a computer screen all day. I did pick up some other eye drops that had on the packaging it would give a cooling effect...the cooling effect is menthol. What the hell were they thinking? You're incompacitated for 5 minutes while waiting for your eye balls to warm back up to room temperature. Don't recommend it at all and I will now stick with Visine.

Rimmel Sexy Curves Full Volume & Curve Mascara. Love it. The wand is small enough to reach the inner eye lashes as well as the tiny outer ones. Now, I want to try Fairy Drops mascara.

Redpoint NOC-out Cover-up Compact. Like it. Three colors: a salmon, a beige and a yellow. I use the salmon corrector quite a bit. It's pigmented so a little goes a long way. The beige color is not my exact skin tone color. I've never used the yellow. I think you can get the salmon on it's own and would re-purchase that.

Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadows in Naked and Secret Service. I love UD's matte eyeshadows, especially the Naked. It works so well with my skin tone for crease definition. Just that and I'm good to go for a working day. For more definition, I'll add Secret Service to the outer corner of my eye and blend into the crease. Highly recommend. Especially when using a blush with lots of sheen like the Elf Peachy Keen and Tarte Chic.

Stila Eyeliner in Tiger. Not sure about this. I used this on my under eye area using both of the above mentioned UD e/s. It just didn't work for me...The red in the brown came out too much and made my eyes look sickly. It's strange because when swatched on my hand, the red is not as conspicuous.

So that's it. I won't get into the skin care aspect of it but you can always bet I'll have a high spf moiturizer. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Urban Decay Clean & Sober Oil Free Makeup Remover

2010-07-30T17:23:00.000-07:00

Yea! It's the weekend here! And while some of us will be "clean & sober", some of us will be enjoying some spirits to kick off the first night of being free from work. I think I'll have a glass (or three) of red wine, please.

But I digress....I heard about this makeup remover years ago but never picked it up. Recently, while shopping around I found it for steal so I could finally put my wondering to rest if this could be my holy grail eye makeup remover. Unfortunately, it's not. However, I do like it but really for only the superficial reasons not because it works. First off is the fun packaging. It has a sultry mermaid with a light violet writing behind her waxing on & on about this product. I tried to read all of it one night but my eyes gave out. The writing is very small, thin, almost transparent but I like the sentiment. The bottle is plastic with the lavender gel that colors the majority of the container. Plus, it has a pump.

The bad is that it takes several swipes for me to take off mascara. My eyes become irritated from all the gentle rubbing. The gel itself isn't irritating at all. In fact, it has a lovely cooling effect and doesn't burn.Fragrance is nice too - soft and quickly dissipates. It's just that it takes to damn long and too much product to get off the product!

Now, at first I thought I'm just not leaving this on long enough before wiping it off. I gave it another try by putting some on a cotton pad and holding it against my eye for awhile. This time it did take more off but I still had to do several swipes. A no go for me. I do believe that the thoughts of Caulalie's Cleansing Water are creeping around in my head again. I've been searching for something similar but with a better price tag. I just haven't found anything quite as good as the Caudalie.

While I'm still on the subject of cleansing without water/make-up removers. Finally, I found a wipe that's a good price point and does it for me. It's Boots No 7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 wipes. Really good. I should say thank you to the blogger who mentioned these but I'm not sure who that is...maybe it was British Beauty Blogger? Anyhoo, very happy to have these too. These are not quite as nice as the Shiseido Pureness wipes but the price and availability is well....you know...priceless:P

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Now, I'm off to have that glass (or three) of red wine.

Update: Paula's Choice RESIST BHA & AHA Products with Hydroquinone

2010-07-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! (yea right) Mondays are not my favorite day of the week but it's going okay so far.

I thought I'd give an update to how I'm finding these products I mentioned in this post. I posted on June 1 it looks like and started it a couple of days later so I'm well into the 6 week mark. Unfortunately, I haven't seen that much fading of the hyper-pigmentation above my lip. However, the information with the product did say to give it 8 weeks. Plus I only have used about three-quarters of the tube so I still have quite a lot of it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Other than the lack of lightening the hyper-pigmentaion (maybe it has just a bit but I still notice it), I've had no issues with the gels. A little goes a long way so layering over with moisturizer works well. No break outs or bad reactions either. I make sure to wear a high spf so not to un-do any progress made.

I'll check back in another month on the progress. In the meantime, I hope to make a post soon about some this bright idea I had about changing cleansers as well as other bad choices with a brand. It only lasted for three days because if I continued, I would have had to scratch my face off (it wasn't Paula's Choice - heard of IQ Derma?). Luckily, there are things in this world that will neutralize and help heal these bad choices. I always keep Neosporin with pain relief and Aquaphor for just these types of emergencies.

Hope everyone has a great week!

China Glaze's Cleopatra Nail Polish

2010-07-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

This post is long overdue. However, after seeing witoxicity's recent post of her first gorgeous, green, glittery nail polish (like the alliteration there?) I was reminded to share this polish with you. The name of Cleopatra is fitting because of the all the gold glitter with flashes of turquoise. It's also one of my first glitter nail polishes. Since I'm no longer 12, I don't find myself buying these types of polishes but some are hard to resist. At least we have toes and shoes to hide our transgressions away.

This nail polish is by China Glaze. I've no idea if this is limited edition but recent trips to Sally's Beauty (where I originally picked this up) suggests that it possibly is - I haven't seen it on the main display. The base of the polish is clear, while the rest of the color is all glitter. The majority of the glitter is gold with turquoise and purple flashes. It does take several coats but what I like to do with this polish is dab a lot on, at one time, to build the polish up quickly. The process to take off is time consuming, as I suspect this is same for all glitter polishes.

Here is what looks like a "doctored" photo that shows a more enhanced turquoise eye on Elizabeth Taylor in her role as Cleopatra. I was able to catch this movie a couple of weeks ago. It's a lot of fun to watch and the I'm amazed at the sets. Cleopatra's entry into Rome was staggering. I wonder if this is out it really went down in history? Here's a link to a youtube video that plays this particular scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-dspv6LJHM

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Tweedledums and Tweedledees: Items Bought in Pairs

2010-06-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having or had a good weekend. Mine is busy as usual but I wanted to make a quick post about some items I picked up last week.

The first images are of two nail polishes by Color Fever. I picked these up together at Rite Aid while looking for a product that I think now is discontinued. So these little guys consoled me a bit. I think it may be a fairly new line to Rite Aid. These are cheap...I think I paid about $1.60 or so but no more than $2.00 usd. I like the colors of these two. Definite cheap trendy thrills.

The colors have a dusty or sort of a heathered look. The colors are great but the application is just so so. A little streaky and two coats are a must but I think for full opacity three is better. The brushes are bit thin but I'm smitten with the wide, flat brush on the OPI bottles that I may be a little biased. The finish is sort of dull and I think the polishes look much better with a shinier top coat such as Seche Vite.

The next two images are of the WEN hair care conditioners in Sweet Almond Mint and Tea Tree. QVC has this duo for sale. I made a post last week about cleansing hair with conditioner. What I did is just experimented with a L'oreal and a Suave conditioner on two separate days. My thoughts are that the drugstore conditioners work just as well as the WEN. Now granted, I've only tried each conditioner once but the initial results were all similar for all three. However, the caveat will be if the product builds up on the hair shaft over time making it necessary to use a lathering, detergent based cleanser, i.e. shampoo to cleanse the hair. I've read MUA reviews that this will happen over time. However, that may not be such a bad thing. As long as I can keep the color from fading and my ends less dry I won't mind a shampoo every once in a while.

Want That Innovative Beauty Product? Look Around You May Already Have It

2010-06-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is not a new revelation. We in the beauty community are always looking for multi-uses in our products.

I found this to be true when my Mother introduced me to Mally's Beauty Poreless Face Defender (she has it on order - 45 day wait list, OMG!). The innovation comes in a new format and use, which is a silicone product in a solid compact form. It seems like all silicones products have been marketed in tubes or pump containers in a liquid/gel form. However, instead of using a silicone product as a makeup primer, Mally's product is for over the makeup to set it.

New format, new use but essentially the same product - a 'cone based product. The Poreless Face Defender is to replace powder, whether it be translucent, setting, etc. Mally explains in the QVC spots that powders make your skin look dry, dehydrated, emphasizing those wrinkles and the finest of lines. And I agree with her. Even though I have oily skin - I don't like setting powders much and use the lightest hand when applying. She notes as well that even when the powder is marketed as invisible, it truly isn't when photographed. I think we all have a photo where our faces are the shade of Edward Cullen and our bodies are well...not - it's darker because we don't use powder on our bodies....you get the point of where she is going.

When I realized this product is filled with silicones, I knew I had something similar in my beauty stash. One is the Bliss Instant Mattification Gel with Salicylic acid (packaging is now different but still in a tube), the other is MAC Matte gel (also in a tube). I've been using the Bliss and it works really well. I apply it according to the recommendation of Mally as if using her product. After all my makeup is applied (and I mean all makeup) I squeeze the Bliss gel on the back of my hand, smooth it around, dab the product on a sponge (sonia kashuk's blending sponge), then dab (not drag) the product on my face, focusing on my t-zone. Of course, her product already comes in a compact so my hand becomes the "compact" after I've spread out the product. Make sense?

Bliss Mattification Gel

Like I said this works well and I think the salicylic acid helps the most. There was hardly any oil breakthrough on my face during the day. I didn't need to blot quite as much. The application over the makeup seems to be the key. The real test will be with the MAC Matte as this does not have any salicylic acid but is straight up cones. Normally, I would use these products under my makeup and I'm sure that these both are marketed to use under and over. I just didn't but now I know better thanks to Mally's product.

Mally's Beauty Poreless Face Defender

The other innovative product has taken the old stand by and has given it new life. Conditioner, not shampoo cleans your hair and it works. It's brilliant really. However, I believe any conditioner may do just as well as the Wen System created by Chaz Dean.

I've already tried L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise For Color Treated Hair/Rosemary Mint Everpure Sulfate-Free Color Care System Volume Conditioner. Again, I applied this product just like as if I were using the Wen product. It took a lot of product but it worked! I let my hair air dry - no oilies...just soft hair that looked healthy. Even this morning, my hair wasn't as oily as normal. I didn't have to put on a hat to cover the oily roots. I plan to try out today a Suave brand conditioner to see if the results will be similar.

I'm so drawn to this because of Dean's insistance that his system helps keep your hair color true. Since January, I've had my hair lightened a couple of shades with a few highlights. The major issue is dry hair with brassy tones. I've tried Clairol's Brillance for Blondes (the purple ooze) and it helps with the color but drys out my hair. I'll report back about the Suave conditioner and the Wen system. I ordered the two below to try out and see if these are any better than store bought conditioners. Looking forward to my little experiment! Hope you all are having a great weekend.

L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise For Color Treated Hair/Rosemary Mint Everpure Sulfate-Free Color Care System Volume Conditioner

Wen System Sweet Almond Mint and Tea Tree Conditioners

The Summer IT Color (again)

2010-06-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Every Summer it seems the color coral plays a role in a color story. It seems this year, it's playing the lead role. The thing is... is that a coral lippie just screams hot weather...it must be that tinge of orange or red vibrancy. I have several to use this summer. I've collected these up and taken photos to see if you have any of these (if so, let me know your thoughts) or something to help you find an IT color for this Summer.

Also, if you're not sure what coral color may be the best for your skin tone, the July issue of Marie Claire can help (not at all affiliated and not being paid...I got my subscription with an ELF order). On page 150 under the title, "Full Spectrum: How to Match the Season's Beauty Trends to Your Skin Tone" is a selection of makeup products (eyeshadow, bronzer, coral lips and bright lips). I've broken down what they suggest for coral lips. You can go to your local counter/drugstore to see these in person.

Fair:

Lancome Color Design in Corset

Dior Addict Lipcolor in Pop Red

Rimmel London Royal Gloss in Candy Rush

Medium:

Rimmel London Royal Gloss in Candy Rush

Elizabeth Arden Cerimide Plump Perfect Lipstick in Perfect Melon

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine Lipstick in #520

Mary Kay Liquid Lip Color in Sherbet

Tan:

Mary Kay Liquid Lip Color in Sherbet

Chanel Aqualumiere in Canari

ELF New Studio Minty Lip Gloss in Miami

Deep:

ELF New Studio Minty Lip Gloss in Miami

Lorac Couture Shine Liquid Lipstick in Iconic Legendaire

BareMinerals Lip Gloss in Rose

Below is my stash. It varies from pink, orange, and dark corals. Most are still available except for MAC Popster which was an LE but you may still find it on evilbay. I've swatched most of these - I think I'm missing three? The computer must have eaten the photo. Also, the top left MAC lipstick is ????. It starts with the letter C. The identifying sticker fell off the bottom. If I remember, I'll make an update....Found it. It's called Charismatic. Hope everyone is doing well!

Skin Care: Paula's Choice AHA & BHA Products with Hydroquinone

2010-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

I've been using the gel formulation of Paula's Choice BHA 2% and AHA 8% products. However, when recently hit (several times) with promotional emails I took a look at the site again. She now offers these formulations with hydroquinone (RESIST line)which is to help with hyper-pigmentation, or lightening of the skin. I've found when I hit my thirties that skin changes. Unfortunately, with that change came a bit of hyper-pigmentation over my lip. At first I thought I was getting a mustache but once I waxed off those little hairs it was confirmed to be a darkening of the skin. I'm not sure which is worse: darker skin or a darker hairs.

Anyway, in the past I would (and still) make sure that my lip is heavily covered with a high SPF (I recommend Shiseido's 55) to keep the sun from doing its' damage. Even though this darkening of my upper lip occurred after turning 30 my skin has always been prone to darkening with spots. It takes months before my skin alone will heal. This is why I swear by AHAs. It speeds up the process with a chemical exfoliation creating a more even skin tone.

The combination of both the exfoliation and a lightening product seem worth a try. I've only been using these for two days so I will report back in three weeks and at the eight week mark. These time frames are reportedly to be the time when you will see a noticeable improvement. Fingers crossed while I apply a thick layer of SPF 55:)

The beige bottle with the green cap is Paula's Choice AHA 10% for the body. Why not? It's summer and I still haven't "de-scaled" from the Winter months. I bought two since these were half price. They are redesigning the bottles. I'm guessing that the price will go up as well. I'm thinking that maybe I should order more? The bottle is only 8 ounces but I've found that a little goes agood enough way in covering myself. The only folly I see with this product is no SPF. So in my thinking and questioning how will I get the most out of this product. I take morning showers.My greasy hair demands it. I wear an SPF all over every day so if I apply the AHA 10% first, then apply the SPF second? Will this cause a chemical breakdown of either products efficacy? Or I could take nightly showers and apply the 10% AHA lotion to freshly cleansed skin and won't have to worry about a second layer. I'm still deciding if I want to change my whole routine for just some damn lotion. I'm leaning towards the change of taking nightly showers and just wash my hair in the morning because who doesn't want smooth KP-free arms and even toned bum? :P

Who cares about the product, look at the cute packaging!

2010-05-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

I think we all occasionally do this - we buy something for the container. I've done this a couple of times with perfume bottles but I've stopped that madness (too many misses). Luckily, this purchase was a cheap thrill. I fell for the cute box thinking that once I used up the soap inside, how cute this box would be on my shelves above my desk. I love containers anyways but not anything plastic (unless it's hidden). This fits the bill with a little bit of kitsch. The soap inside smells just like the real thing too. I picked this up at my local TJ Maxx for about $4usd.

I Gave It A Go: Lisa Eldridge's Quick Smokey Eye (and yea...I'm back)

2010-05-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

I hope all is well for everyone. I've been more of a voyeur in the beauty community rather than a participant for the first part of this year due to my Father's poor health. He moved back to his home over the Christmas holidays and my weekends are spent with him. He is doing much better and I'm glad to be back. Fingers crossed all will continue go well and I'll have some time to contribute more to this blog.

So, with that said I've tried a look I'd like to share.

It's from Lisa Eldridge's Youtube channel. I just used colors from my collection that are similar. I don't usually go this heavy but I think this is why I was drawn to it - completely different for me. I quite like it and just wish I had more appropriate events that would warrant such a look!

From a few feet away I look a bit like a raccoon. I don't think I'm used to having on so much eye makeup. However, close-up it's a nice look..Hmmmm....will have to try around others - preferably close, non-judgemental friends.

Here you can see a bit of the cheek color I used. I've added text of the brand and color to the photo below.

Products used....

Some new stand-outs in my collection is the purple blending sponge from Sonia Kashuk. Not so stand out when flash photography is being done is the Revlon Photo-Ready. I sparkle like the top of the Empire State Building. Really, I just look like a greasy hot mess:(

The Becca brushes are amazing. I highly recommend these. Super soft and well made. Very much worth the $$$.

Have a wonderful weekend and if you're in the States a great Memorial Day! Happy BBQ!:)

Vincent Longo

2010-02-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great week. I'm so glad it's now the weekend. I'm taking full advantage of it by waking early to take care of a few things. We have a holiday on Monday so I very happy about this as well.

A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that I made a purchase from Vincent Longo during their Friends & Family 30% Off Sale. Below is what I got. They were out of the Cassata powder so that is missing.

I picked up another cheek and lip stain in Liquid Kiss. The one below it is Baby Boo that I've had in my collection for quite some time now. I've talked about these in previous posts. I love these for what they do to my face - these make me look alive and fresh. These work best over cream or liquid foundation - beneath foundation it looks like your glowing from within and the most natural looking. On top of foundation, I add a dab to the apples of my cheeks for more color.

The furry thing at the bottom is a lamb's wool paddle. According to the Vincent Longo site, it's a "Professional tool with visible results; full proof for streak free photo ready finish; tones down color ensuring natural, polished appearance." (click here). I put the dollar bill below so that you can see how small the paddle is. I haven't used it yet. I don't see it holding up well to cleaning once used. The wool seems fragile since it's attached only by glue to the paddle. If anyone has any suggestions on to use it and clean it, please let me know.

Swatches of the lip and cheek stain. Left is Baby Boo right is Liquid Kiss.

Have a great weekend~!

Perfume of the Week: Badgley Mischka

2010-02-04T17:49:00.001-08:00

The best buy from last year is the paperback book Perfumes: The A-Z Guide by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez. I have had that book in my hand perusing reviews more times than I can count. Since then, I've ordered a few samples from The Perfumed Court and keep my eyes open in the perfume aisle of TJ Maxx for good deals.

I came across this good deal...I picked it up a very low price. I was curious since it's rated with 5 stars by Tania Sanchez. Plus, I do love the clothing and accessory designs by Badgley Mischka. One of my bags (here is the style but I have it in black) is from them and I love the quality as well as the utilitarian design. It holds everything.

The perfume...The juice is nice but not a favorite of mine. It's more of an everyday perfume for me right now...I'm not in love but more in like. The bottle is squat with an acrylic rectangular top that has the Badgley Mischka name on a silver-toned plate. Tania Sanchez describes it as an executive paper weight...she's right.

It's been described as a fruity floral. The initial spray is fruity but the brightness fades quickly for my nose. Then it becomes a creamy fruit blend (forgive my lack of descriptive words...I'm new to perfume). No particular fruit shouts out to me. There seems to be an underlying floral but I've no idea what floral note is/isn't shining through. I can't say I've got that great of smell memory for flowers. The dry down is a warm, non-descript and nice. It's not too sweet or cloying. It's a pretty (is this an offending word for perfume?) fragrance.

Top Notes: Wild red berries, peach, creme de cassis

Middle Notes: Osmanthus flower, white peony, jasmine

Base Notes: Musk, Indian sandlewood, amber, patchouli

Here are some pics:

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Rimmel's Steel Gray Nail Polish

2010-02-04T16:51:00.001-08:00

Here is the latest addition to my nail polish collection. I like the price and the brush. It's wide like OPI polishes for easy coverage. However, for me it takes three coats to get it opaque and streak-free. The name is not quite accurate to my eyes. I think this has a more lavender undertone. It's a good trendy but cheap buy that I recommend.

My nails look hellish. I rarely bite my nails but the other day proved to be that rare blue moon moment. I chalk it up to a stressful, pissy day that I was going through....

Here are some pics:

Again, I seem to forget to rotate pictures....

From left to right: three, two and one coat

Against a gray fabric that I think is more of "steel" gray.

The weekend is just one more day away!!:)

Beautyfix.com: Last Quarter Goodies from 2009

2010-02-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is having a good week so far. I'm a happy camper since LOST is finally premiering tonight. A little sad that it's the last season but thank goodness for DVDs.

Here is a brief look at what came in my Beautyfix.com order for the last quarter of 2009. They have changed things up a bit. Your now able to choose what you would like to receive out of several choices. No doubling up though...I least I wasn't able to see how to do it.

Some of these photos were not rotated and my apologies for that...

IQ Derma Clear Remedy -

I've yet to try but I like the packaging so good start

Red Point small kubuki brush -

Yes I have about 4 in all but I'm a sucker for these.

Coola SPF 30 Face Cream -

I've yet to try. I'm still trying to finish off the Shiseido SPF 55 liquid lotion

Julie Hewett lipstick in Noir Rouge -

This is going to my sister if I can remember to give it to her next time she visits. It's a little orange for my taste

Jonathan IB Revitalizer Overnight Oil Treatment Spray -

I've used this twice so far and no real complaints but I'm not in love with the smell. I'll be using this much more since I recently had my hair highlighted. I went a bit lighter. Who knows I may be a blonde in the next few months:0 Probably not - I'm so low maintenance when it comes to my hair.

Jonathan Create Smooth Antifrizz Voluminizing Serum -

I used it this morning...helped with the frizzies but no real volume. Although I didn't but a lot in my hair so maybe I need to play with it some more.

Jonathan Create Shaping Control Cream -

Yet to use this too...I'm not keen on hair products. Thus, the reason for so many. The 3rd quarter included his hairspray (or maybe the 2nd) and a shine serum which like. I thought these would be worth giving a try to see if I'm missing out. My sister did use it on her last visit and her hair did look great when we went out for dinner.

Jonathan Create Root Volume Brushable Lifting Spray-

Maybe should of used this today...It looked like my hair was plastered to my head by the end of the day.

Due to Inclement Weather...

2010-01-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

I was able to leave work early today! Yea! pour moi!! While I've got a few hours to take advantage of, I'm getting a head start on cleaning for the week; and thought I'd write down a few lines on some beauty products as I do my laundry. :)

My package from Vincent Longo arrived yesterday. It's missing the Cassata pressed powder and hope it will be shipped out soon since they charged my card for all three items. I like the lip and cheek stain in Liquid Kiss. I have the color Baby Boo that is more plum/berry whereas Liquid Kiss is more of a true red. The other item I ordered was a tool called a lamb's wool paddle. Have you heard of these? After looking around the internet, I spotted that Laura Geller's line carries these as well (higher in price vs. VL). I've no idea how to use it but it's the size that is laughable. It's tiny and fits well within the palm of my already small hands. I shall see if this is something where size doesn't matter...

The other day while perusing Walgreen's I saw a several items severely discounted. The original prices ranged from $20+usd. I had spotted these several weeks ago and was interested since one of the lines is Art Deco. I remember one of the youtube gurus always using the Art Deco eyeshadow primer. Unfortunately, the primer wasn't available, just skincare. The new asking price ranges from $6-10usd making this way more reasonable to give a try. I picked up their Liquid Silk Eye Cream. It's nice packaging...cellophane wrapped around the box that opens like a book to reveal a pump bottle that looks like Lisa Koffman's line of skincare. I'm impressed.

The other item I picked up is by la Fleur Organique. It's a Relaxing Massage Oil in Bergamot and Bitter Orange. I like the purple packaging with with the white stylized floral design. The bottle is a pump and made of glass. It smells very nice. I plan to use this in my hand and body creams for an extra oomph. Also, this will work well just as a simple perfume oil.

What else?.....I did pick up on another visit a new polish from Rimmel. It's called Steel Gray, I think...It's not at all a gray but a darker version of OPI's You Don't Know Jacques. I think it's also similar to Metro Chic but since I don't own this it's just presumption on my part. I haven't painted my nails with it yet but plan to do this tomorrow. I love having bad weather as an excuse not to get out but be lazy and putter around the house!

Have a great weekend! Stay safe in your in the line for this weather.

Two Strikes and a Foul

2010-01-24T17:58:00.001-08:00

I'm talking about Chanel. I purchased three products from Chanel last year and only one is good but I wouldn't recommend purchasing it. First was the Jade nail polish (click here for the post) and the second was the Mat Lumiere Foundation (no post yet - it may be brutal). The third purchase was the charm but it's not the 'OMG, best thing ever!' for the price (but it should be or maybe I'm just asking too much...it is just face powder).

It's Chanel's Poudre Universelle Libre.

It's nice enough. I like the packaging. My face feels silky and soft after applying it. It sets my foundation. It's a loose powder. It will last for ages even though it's just one measly ounce. I just can't recommend this because of the price. There has got to be budget-friendly choices in the finely milled, loose powder market.

Granted, you won't get the wonderful branded linking 'C' in white on black but who really cares. Mine never leaves my bathroom. I mean this thing is way to bulky and unwieldy to whip out of your purse to impress those jealous girls if that's your thing. Save your money for the compact or the lipstick or not and learn from my mistake. Be a bit more frugal...just walk away from that Chanel counter. Unless it's perfume, then by all means, spend, spend, spend!!:)

Stila Convertible Colors

2010-01-24T17:49:00.001-08:00

These little compacts are probably the only thing that I really like from Stila. I've amassed a small collection thanks to beautycrunch.com (I purchased from the site) and one swap. Although, I would probably pay full retail if I needed to replace one.

These are by far my favorite type of cream blusher. They stay well on my oily skin never slipping off. As a base, my powder blush stays even longer. These even work well as a lip product. It doesn't dry out your lips but it's not moisturizing either. A little lip balm works well underneath or or over it (creates more a stain this way).

The product is a bit tacky in consistency but once it warms to the skin in blends well enough. A little goes a long way. I dot my finger in the product and dab on each cheek in three areas. Then, I use all my fingertips to stipple and blend. It gives a nice flush of color. It works well under and over foundation if it's liquid. This is a mess to blend over powder.

The swap one...I've had Forget Me Not for a little over a year and it still is fine. No weird smell or breakdown of the pigment. I think this color has been discontinued.

I recommend these to everyone if you haven't tried one yet. I've got my sister hooked on Fuschia. If you'll notice there is a huge gape...I depotted some for her. Check out beautycrunch.com for a deep discount.

Hope you all have a great week!:)

Fuschia

Orchid

Forget Me Not

Lillium

Redeeming Qualities

2010-01-23T05:38:00.000-08:00

I realize it's so close to the end of January but I hope I may redeem myself for some of you are looking for a good deal. Two things so please make sure you read the second item before blazing a trail to the first sale!:)

Update:
After looking at the sites closer. International orders from Vincent Longo are only taken by phone (646) 530.3652. I'm sorry but I don't know what they charge for shipping or if they will honor coupon codes.

Makeup.com does offer international shipping through a third party, ishop. I think this may let you use the promo code as well. If you do try it, please come back and let us know if it works. Thanks!

1) Vincent Longo is having their Friends and Family sale - 30% off everything. Code: vllove

2) Makeup.com is having a 'Boutique' brand sale - 60% off everything under that category - Code: CLEAN60. This includes...wait for it....Vincent Longo and even better BECCA. I know, right????

Now the caveat to the Makeup.com sale is that some items are out of stock and limited. Also, you'll find under Vincent Longo that some of the items you find on his site are not available on Makeup.com (and vice versa) but still a good selection nevertheless. I just dropped my own cash at both so there you go. One word on Makeup.com...this will be my third purchase with the site. I've never had any problems. Shipping is reasonable and quick enough depending where you live in relation to their distribution site...usually about 5-7 business days. My packages have been nicely handled and no missing items. If you do buy from them, I hope you have the same experience. Also, I'm not affliated with either site...I'm throwing my own money at these guys.

Now, I would have put the lovely images that appeared in my e-mail alerting me of the sales and causing me great silliness but I'm now a Mac (I bought myself a iMac over the holidays) and still have no idea to copy/paste images...I can't even figure out how to save camera pictures but I'll figure these things out as I go.

Hope everyone is doing well! Happy weekend!

An Unintentional Hiatus

2009-12-12T11:27:00.001-08:00

I've been gone for a few months now but I'm not leaving just yet. I'll be back with the new year.

I do want to gather up some posts so that I'm prepared for it. I'm archiving pictues, jotting down ideas and paying close attention to products that I use.

There are a few things that I'm loving right now, mostly skin care and body products. My makeup application has been minimal and unexciting. It may be the weather because it's blah and boring in color. Fall has been swept away by the bitter cold winds, knocking down the pretty colored leaves. It's just blah.

I've been counteracting the blahs with warm, comforting scents, a new passion. I picked up the paper back book Perfumes: The A-Z Guide by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez. Once I re-organized my makeup collection (thanks to Staples), I organized my perfume sample collection according to their star system. The one I love the most right now is not even up for review...Comme de Garcons Ouarzazate. Oh well...one sample, Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist is highly rated. I call it my sophisticated playdough scent. It's comforting, earthy and reminds me (and smells on me) of dried playdough. The must-have staple for any grade schooler. It takes me back to sitting at my Grandmother's table and mushing it around creating farm animals or whatever...I always forgot though to seal it in the canister. I regret that now...;)lol...

Anyhoo, I just wanted to write a quick post. I've no idea if anyone ever checks this blog anymore. It would serve me right since I've been very, very MIA.

Until the new year, I hope you and yours have a safe but really great Holiday Season. I leave you a picture of my cat to get you in the spirit! xx

Chanel Jade: The Perfect Dissapointment

2009-09-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm not big on trends but when I saw the mint green nails, I began to salivate. All of a sudden, my tween inside decided to have it. However, the woman inside found out that Chanel was the reason for this gorgeous minty shade since it was spotted in their Fall show. A formulation for the masses was soon to be released. We compromised, the woman in me quietly posted on my calendar the online release date, and created a frankenpolish to quiet the tweenish need...(it didn't turn out quite that well but if you're interested in a apple green almost neon color, let me know).

Finally, it was time to order. I was awake at midnight when my phone chirped at me of the soon to be released vernis. I checked online, no picture. Next morning (last Friday) very early, I checked again, no images but I could order. I ordered it and poof there it was on my doorstep the following Monday afternoon. It was too good to be true. The box was immense for the size of the tiny bottle of boxed polish. However, at the time, all the tissue and cardboard seemed fitting for this delicate shade of Jade.

I immediately grab my camera and start to open the box cursing my short nails for not being useful in taking off the tape. I grabbed my keys, slicing the box open with careful efficiency. Finally open, nestled inside was the perfect disspointment.

From here, I would like you to read the post Melanie Parker did for the blog, Blogdorf Goodman (by the way I'm in no way affiliated with this blog, just a long time fan of it). She sums up the dissapointment quite nicely. The tween inside me is weeping. It's such shame...my pictures are below.

They included a couple of perfume samples and brouchure on a new skincare line that I'll never buy.

This is the best picture to see the microshimmer in the Chanel polish. On the right, of course, is my abominable green...

The evidence of true regret, from left to right: Frankenpolish, Chanel Jade three coats, two coats, one coat.

Apologies for the blurry photo, I tried...from a better photo or in person you would see lots of streaking. Plus, if you've read the blog I mentioned above, she's correct that it really does take four coats to create a uniform colored nail.

Word to the wise (unlike me), skip the Chanel Jade and buy the BarryM dupe. Gail, if you're reading this, expect an email from me asking for a favor;)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Nars Skin Care

2009-08-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

Way back when, I posted about purchasing, on sale, the Nars Skin care kit for combination/oily skin(click here to read the post and see the packaging). Since I picked this up in the winter time, I decided to save it for the Summer and started using it three months ago.

The kit came with three products, the Balancing Toner Lotion, the Balancing Moisture Lotion and the Pure Soap bar. I've only pictured here the toner and the moisturizer because an old bar of soap just doesn't make a pleasant picture.

Left to Right: Balancing Toner Lotion and Balancing Moisture Lotion

Picture of the the pump with cap taken off.

First off, the packaging is very modern and mimimalist, which I like (I feel like I should write, "Great for gift giving!" because it does come nicely packaged in a large box;). Even though it's minimalist, it still has the air of luxury to it - very high-end spa. However, I'm a little confused on the disparity of the bottles. The toner bottle is plastic, while the moisturizer is painted white glass. Both have plastic toppers, which underneath house hefty pump dispensers. I love the weight that the moisturizer has in my hand but the toner feels more department store. Maybe that's why I use the moisturizer more than the toner! Not really...

The bar of soap...well...I'd forgotten that bars of soaps are often looked upon as the harbingers of bacteria (as the Kinerase representative kindly pointed out to me while applying some overpriced cream on my face). Maybe she is right, because even if I'm determined to get through the last bit, I won't be repurchasing another bar of face soap, not even from Nars.

This soap has not broken me out and doesn't overstip my skin (which is oily as mentioned before). Also, it's held up well these last three months. It's starting to melt a little now since I've whittled it down but it's beginning was a big chunk of 6.7 solid ounces. It's a decent soap but it's not Philosophy's Purity Made Simple.

On to the toner...I have some questions to ask the R&D people of Nars as to why they made a toner with so much alcohol? Witch hazel and some antiseptic herb oils, sure, ok, but alcohol, really? I remember reading this in the ingredient list and thinking, "that's not high-end at all". You'd think they would use something a lot less stripping. Even oily skin does not need to be subjected to alcohol. It just "UNbalances" your skin even more, duping the skin in producing more oil. I've used this a few times when I'm sweating 'like whore in church' on a humid day but it's definitely not something I regularly use. Alcohol, really Nars? Really? (for all those SNL fans:)

I've saved the best for last. Here's the coup d'grace when reviewing a product: Would you repurchase this? And in this case, would you repurchase at the original retail price? I say yes, yes I would buy the Nars Skin Balancing Moisture Lotion. You know I already like the bottle. Plus, as much as I have handled the bottle and slung in my box of products, the painted bottle hasn't chipped or flaked remaining vanity worthy.

The moisturizer is light, very serum-like in texture; and what I mean by that is it's watery in texture. A little goes a long way...It's easy to blend and immediately sinks into the skin. When applied, my skin feels smooth and soft but not at all greasy. It smells divine making it a pleasure to use in the morning. Sort of a very, very light green, citrus smell. As I've said before, it's an extremely light moisturizer which is perfect, in my opinion, for Summer days and oily skin. I apply it before my Shiseido spf 55 lotion since areas of my skin are dry and patchy from using Retin-A. It doesn't seem to increase any oil production and hasn't broken me out. Nars R&D got this one right!

I recommend on getting samples if you're lucky to have a counter near by. I would not risk a blind purchase for the Nars Skin line. If I had paid full price ($98usd), I would have been so mad with myself! At least I found one product, out of this kit, that works well for me but everyone has different needs, so get those samples before trying:)

For more information, click here.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Bare Minimum Makeup - Weekend Look

2009-08-26T16:29:00.001-07:00

I forgot to post this...it's about 3 weeks old. Let me know if you'd like any more information about a particular product. It's a very basic look but I did enjoy trying out the MAC MSF and Grand Duo blushes:)

My Saturday makeup, this weekend, was a basic, natural look. I used some new products that were a birthday gift. I'm still on my no buy but I did cheat a little...I picked up the MAC Brave New Bronze lipstick. It couldn't be helped, Gail's (ooglemakeup) influence was too strong for me to resist:P

It's an extemely basic look. I kept my eyes and lips neutral, using color on my cheeks. There is one reqret that I purchased several weeks ago which I'll point out at the end. I'm pleased with most of the other products.

Here are a few pictures of the products:
Face, left to right: Model Co. Face Base Skin Primer, Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation (have no clue of the name), Stila Illuminating Concealer in Medium 05 (fourth swatch), Estee Lauder Ideal Light in Soft Pink 07 (third swatch)

Cheeks, left to Right: MAC Porcelain Pink MSF and MAC Grand Duo Blush, Intenso-bottom half used (last two swatches on the right, l to r)

Eyes, swatches left to Right: MAC Groundwork Paintpot, MAC Brow Set-Mink, Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara - Brown/Black

Lips, Top: Mary Kay Lip Liner-Neutral Middle Left: MAC Dazzleglass-Local Colour Middle Right: MAC Brave New Bronze Lipstick Bottom: All three layered
I used a smidge of Pur-lisse lipbalm to prime my lips. Made for easier application of lip liner.

Setting Powder: MAC MSF Natural-Medium Setting Spray: Model Co., Beauty Airbrush Face Setting spray

Before I close, the one thing that I do not like out of this look is the Model Co. Face Primer. It's a slimy mess that takes forever to set...about a good 5 minutes. This would probably work well for someone with dry skin. It's a silcone base product but more liquid-like in consistency than MAC Matte and Smashbox's Photo Finish. One more thing...I'm not sure if makeup setting sprays really work. Maybe it's the humidity where I live. Has anyone ever tried a product like this?

Two products that stand out to me are the Estee Lauder Illuminator and the MAC 134 brush. These have become everyday staples for me.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Tagged by Lorla!

2009-08-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged twice. Yah! I do love tags. Thank you Lorla! The other one will be coming soon. If you're not familiar with Lorla's blog, please go and check it out here. I enjoy her posts so much.

The tag is to write about six things about yourself and then tag six other bloggers.

Here goes...

1. It wasn't until the age of two when I started growing hair on my head. When it began to grow I was a cotton-top, as we say in the South, or an almost white blond. About the age of five, it became a golden blond. Then, about the time of elementary school I was a mousey brown. Today, it's naturally a very dark brown with plenty of gray, which I dye a medium brown every 4-6 weeks. What a hassle...thanks Mom and Dad!

2. Even though I'm from the South, where we're known for our sweet iced tea (or as I like to call my Grandmother's sugar-water, it's so sweet), I don't drink it. When I do drink iced tea it's unsweetened, no fake-sweetners either. I love coffee and hot tea. Also, I drink a lot of water during the day. During the summer time, I love mixing Pellegrino with a fruit juice.

3. I wish I could travel more...I've been to about five countries other than the US. My last trip that I had scheduled to India fell through. Hopefully, when my friend goes back to visit his family, I can still tag along:)

4. My formal education is based in art. My undergrad was in studio art and I studied art history in grad school. What I do now, has absolutely nothing to do with art. I miss the round table discussions and the creativity of those people:(

4. When I was in highschool and college, my Mom had a boutique where she sold makeup, along with a bit of clothing and jewelry. I disliked wearing makeup back then and it was only for special occasions. My Mom would have loved it back then if I had as much interest in makeup as I do now.

5. This tag is harder than I thought! I find organizing my makeup (or anything else for that matter) a meditative experience. It clears my head.

6. I still try to find the objects/animals in the clouds while on the ground or when flying. It's a great past time, much like people watching:)

I tag everyone who would like to do this tag! Hope your having a great weekend!

The Waiting Game

2009-08-14T20:43:00.001-07:00

When I was a freshman in college, me and some girlfriends of mine camped out for tickets to the U2 Zooropa Tour. We had about a 6 hour wait. We did not waste our time at all since we were able to get 4th row tickets. I was so excited about the concert as it was my first time to see U2 in concert. We had the best time. There is almost nothing better than live music. Plus, since there was a catwalk that came out into the audience, seeing Bono singing up close was almost a religious experience for us. Ohhh...to have been one of those girls he pulled up out of the audience!! Anyways, we got close enough, close enough you could see the bats in his cave:O The god was human afterall:)

Anyways, the waiting game I'm playing now is not near as exciting as above but I think it will be worth the wait.

As you may know, a lot of brick & mortar and online stores, such as Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body and Sephora, heavily discounted their Vincent Longo products back in 2008. I'm a big fan of his cosmetics so when I recently saw a discount makeup e-tailer (beautyticket.com) promoting his products as 'soon to available' I've been waiting. I've been waiting and checking the website at least twice a day. Then, it happened. During my third time to check it today (OCD a bit on this one, I know), there was the name Vincent Longo in the 'Brands' tab. When I excitedly clicked on the tab, I was jilted. The page said 'no matching products were found'. Big sigh...more waiting...I'm not too upset because they did this right before they uploaded their discounted Bliss products. So, now I'm patiently waiting because if they have the lip and cheek stain, you can bet I'll be breaking my no buy!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! More posts to come soon:)

Lumene Time Freeze Instant Cooling Eye Stick

2009-07-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

So, I know that eye creams don't always come through with the promises that are printed on the package. In fact, I often just use the facial moisturizer on my eyes. But, if my eyes are irritated and tired, I want a cream that refreshes and soothes. Sometimes, my facial moisturizer doesn't do the job.

Friday, I came across a review on Lumene's Time Freeze Instant Cooling Eye Stick. The beauty blogger said that it really helped soothe her eyes after her weeping spell. I was hooked and after work went to CVS to pick this up.

She had warned in her post about the price. I paid the sale price of $19.99 for .17 oz of product(regular retail, $21.99). Yep, that's what a few nights of insomnia will do to you - willing to pay almost anything that promises to soothe tired eyes.

I'm happy to say that it does help. It does instantly cool the eyes as well as soothes. It's not a heavy moisturizer. It even says on the box that it lightly moisturizes, and it does, very lightly. The package also claims to help reduce puffiness under the eyes. I don't have baggy under eyes, so I don't know if it helps. I do have dark under eyes and nothing much helps that except a good concealer.

I like this product a little too much. I reach for it often and worry that it will be gone before next weekend. I don't want to need something so expensive and that doesn't last very long. So, I'm on a mission to find something similar before the weekend;) I'll be picking up the recommended Boot's eye gel. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Have a great week!

Hello!

2009-07-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

I've already decided that this weekend will be a the weekend to make up for lack of posting. I have a few in editing, just need to finish these up. I've been on vacation and after returning, was swamped with work. The week went by fast, so I'm not whining too much.

In the meantime, I'll share some images of paintings from one of my favorite artists, John Singer Sargent. He is well-known for his portraits of the well-to-do in polite societies. I've seen many of his works in museums but there are still several I've yet to see with my own eyes. Many years ago, I was able to see one of his alleged student's portraits up close, while visiting an art dealer. The canvas was massive and it was a portrait of a socialite in a blue gown, standing in front of a black grand piano. I've no idea where to find the image, since my mind is at a complete loss on the name of the sitter. Now that I think about it, it may have been the wife of the possible maker of the piano behind her, Steinway.

Anyway, what I love about Sargent's works are the juicy brushstrokes. His work in oil is incomparable in my opinion. The clothing and surroundings of his sitters are handled with loose and lucious brushstrokes that are juxtaposed by his calm restrained handling of the facial features. It makes for the most wonderful contrast. And as one of my art history professor rightly pointed out, the close-ups of the large brushstrokes make for a beautiful abstract.

Here are a few images:
Nonchaloir, 1911

Lady Agnew of Locknaugh, 1893

Fumee d'Ambre Gris, 1880 (probably my favorite just for the way he works out the illusion of white)

Another image that made him quite famous and created a scandal, the infamous Madame X.
Image altered to show the painting before it was changed by artist.

After the change - the strap is now properly on her shoulder. Although, not shown very well in the prior picture, her ears were very bright with red in the original. Some say a mark of salaciousness. Ooh la la!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I should have some more reviews soon by tomorrow night. Please check back.

E.L.F. Studio Flat Top Brush

2009-07-11T06:51:00.001-07:00

For $3usd, this brush is pretty good. It's a flat top, synthetic brush. I find it works the best on tinted moisturizers or a light foundation. However, I find this is the only use for it. It's so dense that using it for powder or blush applies too much product. I did use it with a Revlon's Colorstay Foundation for a while, but I felt the application was a little heavy.

The brush does shed a bit even after several washings. It's frustrating when you have to pick off black hairs from your face when rushing in the morning to get out the door. I think a light hand is needed with this brush...no need to bear down when using it. This may help with the brush shedding less. I suppose a comparison could probably be made to the MAC's 109, since I hear this sheds. However, the shape of the bristles are a different - the MAC is more rounded. I don't own the MAC's 109 so let me know if you have both and your thoughts.

Physicians Formula - Requested Review

2009-07-11T06:42:00.001-07:00

A little late in the posting. I've had some problems with my wireless connection. It seems all is okay for now. On to the post...

The lovely Gail from Ooglemakeup.blogspot.com and Ooglegail on youtube requested a review about the Physician Formula's Powder Palette Multi-Colored Face Powder. These, are by the way, the only two items I've tried from PF.

The first one I picked up was the Translucent(left). Later, I picked up the Beige (right).

Unfortunately, the translucent is too light for my skin. When applied, it's chalky. If it wasn't for the large patch of white powder, I don't think it would be a problem. Also, the grey-ish colored powder contributes to the effect as well. I can't say what I was thinking when I bought it and why I didn't question the color palette of the powder. It's an odd combination, I think, even for the fairest of skin tones. It doesn't work as a translucent powder very well. I would not reccomend it.

The beige is a bit better. There are no unnatural looking patches of color like the grey and only a few bits of the white. The powder is pigmented so a light application is needed. It's best to use a fluffy brush. If you use a dense brush, it's necessary to dust it off before applying to the face. I keep a dense, synthetic ecoTools brush in my makeup bag that stays in my purse. I have to be careful using this with the PF pressed powder. Unlike other translucent powders, like MAC's Minerialized Skinfinish in Medium and theBalm's Sexy Mama, I don't need to be so careful. If you like a powder that has a lot of coverage and color to it, then this is good choice. I prefer a lighter powder to absorb oil so this isn't a product I would repurchase.

Here are some more photos of the powders with the ecoTools brush. What I do like about the product, is that it does have a mirror but it's underneath. A design I don't like very much but it's a mirror, afterall, should you need one. There is also a perforated area to keep a sponge. Also, these don't do well applied wet. The top forms a crust once dried.

Self Tanners & One Bronzer for Sunny Skin

2009-07-10T03:39:00.000-07:00

It's only recently that I'm acknowledging it's summer. Or rather, I'm acknowledging that my body looks like winter and I need to warm up my fish belly white limbs.

So instead of using my old stand by of L'oreal's Sublime self tanner, I've picked up some new items to me. I'm not a big fan of self-tanning. It's a hassle but sometimes it's nice to have a bit of color. Here is my line up for the summer that I've picked up in the last few months.

From Left to Right: Model Co. Airbrush in a Can, Instant Bronzer for Face/Body, Bella Bronze Tan Extender with Self-Tanner, Jergens' Natural Glow Self Tanner Light, Dove Energy Glow Self-Tanner, Nars Liquid Bronzer with Monoi Oil (not a self-tanner).

Nars Body Glow with Monoi Oil

Here is the oil spread evenly out. To the far right is an area of skin with out the product. It's hard to see since this product is not overly pigmented and my skin is about MAC NC 25-30 for reference. It gives a nice sheen with a bit of shimmer to catch the light. But the best part about these body oils is the smell. It's a bit of tropical heaven.

Model Co. Tan Airbrush in a Can, Instant Bronzer and Self-Tanning Spray for Face and Body (with 360 degree nozzle)
I haven't really given this a go but my a friend was a guinea pig for me. She plays tennis a lot and is burdened with the white feet, tanned leg syndrome. So, I polished up her footsies using this. It worked well. Gave her the instant color she needed with a non streaky tan in a few hours.

Again, it's quite hard to distinquish the bronzer but to the left is a a spray of it, with the far right being the area untouched. This photo is only two sprays but this is buildable. Dries quickly, not too smelly. It leaves a lovely golden brown to the skin, no orange here. Very natural looking. I'll be applying this full body soon which will be the real litmus test.

Here it is applied to a white piece of paper for a better idea of the actual color.

The Jergens and Dove don't have the bronzer tint but look like regular lotion with no color. The only difference I've found between both is the initial smell. The Jergen's gives off the conspicious self-tanner smell, while the Dove's fragrance covers it well. The Dove has a light, pleasant smell but once this is on the skin for about 30 minutes to an hour, the chemical reaction takes place. It smells just like the Jergens - like self-tanner. So, pick your poison, now or later. I think these products are best applied before bed time. I forgot about this when I applied the Dove in the morning before going to work. By mid-morning, the self-tanner smell began and it was annoying.

Both apply well, with little to no streaking. Of course, it's always helpful to exfoliate before applying any self-tanner. Also, rub in a thin layer of lotion on areas of skin that creases, like your elbows, ankles and hands. It helps keep the areas from darkening more than other areas, creating an even tan.

It you do tan in the sun (shame on you, by the way), the Bella Bronze lotion (no tint) is marketed as a tan extender with a bit of self-tanner in it. It reeks just like the Jergens. I prefer my poison later...

Hope you had a great weekend! Let me know what self-tanners you enjoy using.

Weekend Nails Courtesy of China Glaze, 'Your Touch'

2009-07-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

I picked up this shade at Sally's Beauty Supply months ago. Last Saturday, I wanted to paint a color, other than baby pink, on my nails. While looking through my shoebox of polish, I came across the unused bottle of 'Your Touch' by China Glaze. I like this color because it's not baby pink (a work week staple for my conservative office), it goes well with my skin tone, and it's not too garish. Plus, I think this is a really nice summer color.

It hasn't lasted a full week, for me, but more like three days. This is typical for my natural nails. It started chipping last night and I helped it out by peeling more of it off. I used OPI Nail Envy as a base and top coat (just started using it - hoping for goods things.

After mulling over on how to describe this color, I still have no idea. I just know I like it.

Please overlook the hastily applied polish. It was cleaned up post picture taking:) Thank goodness for orange sticks!

Something Light: Nars Skin Acacia Bath Gel & Body Lotion

2009-07-08T20:39:00.001-07:00

Summer is in full swing where I live. It has been as hot as Hades (here in the South, we use this as a euphemism for hell), until a few days ago when we received a breezy, but still warm reprieve. Tomorrow, not anymore. Humid and heavy hot air will take us through the rest of the summer months.

When weather is like this, I like to keep my scents to a minimum. I'm happy to report that Nars Skin Acacia in a bath gel and lotion fit well into my light routine. The scent is a soft, pretty floral but still has a bit of presence to last half way through the day with me. The lingering scent sits close to my skin which I prefer. It doesn't scream when hit with warm air.

The bath/shower gel is non-drying and cleanses well with ample suds. The texture of the lotion is light, sinks in immediately without any greasiness. It moisturizes well too. I'm very please I picked these up but more pleased I found these on sale. I may consider purchasing these again for next summer, I've really enjoyed this line from Nars. More to come about their facial products.

Let me know of any inoffensive scents that you like to use just for those hot days.
Have a great rest of the week!

Pre-Makeup Moratorium: MAC Friends & Family Sale

2009-07-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Prior to my makeup moratorium, I ordered some things during the MAC Friends & Family sale. Here are two items from the order:

MAC Odyssey (perm & repromote in A Rose Romance Collection):
I really like the color of this lipstick. It complements my skin tone well and I'll probably reserve this for the upcoming Fall months. The picture shows two swipes. The top is one swipe, while the bottom is full on color.

MAC Sun Rush Lustre Drops (Style Warriors Collection):
I'm giving this a try today. I'll be mixing it in with my tinted moisturizer. I'm thinking of doing another post about my weekend makeup (includes more products picked up during the sale). I'll be posting some initial thoughts this product. See it how it gets on with my greasy skin and all...

Have a great weekend!

John Dillinger: A Family Story for the Archives

2009-07-02T18:36:00.001-07:00

As you may know, there is a new movie called "Public Enemies" about the gangster, John Dillinger.

I was pleasantly surprised to see this trailer a couple of weeks ago. Also, very happy to see the dapper Johnny Depp playing the lead role.

We have a family story about John Dillinger...sort of a case of six degrees of separation. I was reminded of it when the trailers started hitting the tv screen. It's nothing involved but still I giggle when I remember it.

My grandmother met him, John Dillinger...in a way.

During the 1930's, she was a student nurse at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. How was she to know that her shift at the morgue would include a dead but well-known bank robber and a ladies' man?

The funny bit of the story is that she could very well have had one of John Dillinger's fingers if the medical examiner had been serious.

While helping the examiner with Dillinger's body, she noticed that his hands were well manicured. So well manicured, she commented on it. It was then that the examiner offered to hack off one of his fingers for her to keep!

My Grandmother passed a way a few years ago at the good age of 96. While helping my Aunt go through her things, I remember thinking...I wonder if she did take the examiner up on his offer and if we would find a small jar with a well-manicured finger, nestled in her closet. Of course, this never happened. Just a really nice collection of costume jewelry:)

I'll be checking this out in the movie theater. If my Grandmother were still here, I'd take her to it. I know she would have gotten a kick out of it.

Beauty Fix

2009-07-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is a long post, so feel free to skim it to see if you see anything of interest:)

Today, a package of goodies arrived. None of it was makeup. So, I'm glad this doesn't interfere with my makeup moratorium. It was from Beauty Fix (beautyfix.com). If your unfamiliar, it's a quarterly program, where you sign up for an automatic delivery of samples and full sized, mid to high-end products, of relatively new to the market beauty products. The price is fair, in my opinion, at $50usd + 6.95 for shipping. Also, at the initial sign up, you can receive a $25 gift card to use at glow.com when you write your reviews on the beautyfix.com website.

Occasionally, they do include makeup items. Last quarter, there was a shadow from Global Goddess. However, the majority of the shipments are of skin and body products which is fine by me.

You can visit the site to look at what's available for this quarter as well as a full run-down of each the products. I've included some pics of the products in this post as well as some initial reactions.

Here is the box opened. They include a nicely laid out magazine focusing on the products. They highlight value product kits that can be purchased at glow.com too.

Inside the shipping box is a quilted, black fabric bag with the logo. This comes with all of the shipments. It's my third one. Good for travel but I think I may give this one away. Oh...and these wash well in the washing machine & dryer:)

Open sesame...and you see all the goodies.

Me! Bath Spa, Shower Sherbet, exfoliating sugar scrub in Lavender Lullaby.
I'm glad to have this product since I need a sugar scrub and didn't have any. I'm not keen on the scent, which is Lavender, but I'm gonna use it anyway. It's my least favorite herbal smell for some reason. If you like lavender, then you'll enjoy the strong smell this has. Plus, the packaging and color of the product is fun.

Degree Women Sexy Intrigue Body Mist
This is the first time, I think, they have included a drugstore item. Degree has about three matching scents of deodorants and body mists designed by Ann Gottlieb. Gottlieb is well known for developing top selling perfumes. The pitch for the body mist is that it's not a single note, but has top, middle and base notes. After a first try, this does not stay well on my skin. I don't care for the scent either since it's quite sweet smelling. Men will love this though since the vanilla is dominant.

The next few pictures are of the things I haven't tried. I've gotta say, I'm intrigued by all of it.

An eye moisturizer! I've said in earlier posts that I don't use one. Instead, I rely on a facial moisturizers. Well....I sort of got haranged by a Kinerase rep. and giving their Under Eye Rescue a go. It will be good to try the one below once I've completed the tube of Kinerase. Maybe a comparison in a few months is in order.

A few more products...

I love lip balms. Very happy to try this out!

And lastly, a nail polish in the color Airhead.

One that I forgot to shoot is a SpaRitual organic body, hand, foot moisturizer in ginger essential oil fragrance. It's a great clean, ginger smell that is not mucked up by sweetly undertones.

Okay, so that's it. I hope your having a great week!

Floral Nostalgia

2009-06-26T18:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while at a board meeting, a scent of perfume I haven't worn since my early pre-teens hits me. It was strange since I wasn't sitting particularly close to anyone. I leaned in the direction of the women sitting near me but she wasn't the cause of the sudden memory. Anyway, it hits me immediately and I jot down the name of the perfume on my note pad, Laura Ashley.

The ghost smell also reminded me of my childhood friend. If I'm remembering correctly, I believe this was a gift from her.

So, when I returned home from work, I went straight to the internet to find out more...I didn't remember much about the bottle, just the smell. Whenever I think of Laura Ashley, I always think of florals...no wonder, the clear bottle has a pretty floral motif. Once I saw the bottle, it was immediate recognition.

Unfortunately, this bit of nostalgia became bitter sweet. It's discontinued. If I'd like to revisit it, I will have to make due with a small decant from the Perfumed Court since the "rare" scent is now upwards of $200 for a couple of ounces in the original bottle. I can't warrant that much for a scent I haven't smelled in over 20 years. I'll give a small decant a try...if I love it, then maybe I'll start hunting for a more reasonable price. Even though floral motifs are not something my eye is always drawn to, this bottle really is pretty. Also, to be sure, this was probably the first bottle of perfume I owned. Maybe it's in one of those boxes still laying around my parent's house? More likely not....ah well.

Here is a pic of the bottle. Any sentimental scents that bring you a wiff of nostalgia?

My Makeup Moratorium

2009-06-24T17:49:00.000-07:00

Enough is enough (at least for the next few...make that two-three months), I said to myself while opening, not one, but two packages of makeup that arrived at my front door this afternoon. I'm self-imposing a makeup moratorium. Similar to the project 10 pan, but I'm upping the ante to 20 or maybe 30...I know it can be done, so easily could be done and still have left over...

So, in that vein, I will be using only certain products during the work week. A compilation of older, but still good items, in the hopes of knocking out more than a few. This boring sameness is to occur every working day for the next month...okay, two. This won't be such a bad thing for me since I have a high tolerance for neutrals and mindless makeup in the wee hours of the morn. The problem will be not purchasing any makeup for a while.

I will allow myself to use other items in my collection, only on the weekends. This will be my chance to try other products in my stash.

So, here is what I've armed myself with during the moratorium. It covers all the bases. While I probably won't be using it all on my face each working day, I can't deviate from this grouping. I must use only what I pulled from my collection, as seen below. I've included a listing of the products (not in any order to the pic) at the bottom if you're interested. If you'd like a review on something, let me know.

Primer: MAC Matte
Foundation: Revlon Colorstay Active in 03 SandBeige - almost gone!
Primer for Undereye area: Patricia Wexler MMPi 20 Skin regernerating Serum - half gone!
Concealer: Smashbox iPrime in Smashing 2 (discontinued) - lots of product left
Eye Primer: UDPP still in tube & still going strong
Highlighers: Smashbox Soft Light in Lens & Photo Op Eye Brightner
Brows: Smashbox Brow Tech in Brunette
Cream Blush: Aveda's Bronze Patina
Powder Blush: Prescriptives compact with a pink & peach blush (can't read the names the names on this)
Eyeshadow: AromaLeigh loose pigment in Sophie & Global Goddess i-Divine in Batasia
Eyeliner: Smashbox Cream Eye Liner in Runway & Revlon Marbleous Match in Ombre/In the Nude
Mascara: Maybelline's Full & Soft in Very Black
Face Powder: Physician's Formula Multi-Colored Pressed Powder in Translucent & Everyday Minerals in Butter Tan
Lip Balm: C. O. Bigelow's Mentha Lip Shine in Rootbeer

Not Pictured:
Lipstick: L'oreal's Color Juice in Chai Love You - about half gone:)
Lipgloss: Becca Glossy Lip Tint in Daiquiri - half gone:)

Lipstick/Lipgloss: Swatches of Some Favorites

2009-06-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I participated in a MAC tag. I received a comment from llyangel about checking out the lipsticks/lipglosses I mentioned. So, I thought I do some swatches. Unfortunately, my sister, while visiting me last weekend, hijacked my liglass in Soft'nSlow.

Also, I thought I'd include some lipsticks that were sent by Ooglegail in a swap we did a while back. I combine these since the infamous Gosh Darling looks, on my lips, too odd.

Favorite lipsticks from the MAC Tag are Charismatic(Lustre)and Party Line(Creamsheen):

Left: Party Line, Right: Charismatic

Pary Line

Charismatic

Just for the heck of it, Eversun Beauty Powder Blush above Charismatic. I purchased these together during a warm, peachy phase.

3D Lipglass in 3D. I love this pinky lipglass.

The next set of swatches are of two lipsticks I received from Gail a while back. I mix these two together to create a nice nude color for the summer.

Here is Gosh Darling and Guerlain's KissKiss Maxi Shine in Orange Shine:

And...Here is another swatch, Gosh Darling and Mac Party Line.

Okay, that's it of me being swatch happy. Hope you're having a great week!

MAC Tag

2009-06-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

While perusing recent blog posts, I see that a couple of beauty bloggers have been doing a MAC Tag. Since I haven't prepared a blog for a couple of days, I thought I jump on it. These can be a little long but worth a read. I won't be tagging anyone in particular so have at it if you'd like to. Have a great weekend!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN USING MAC?
Not long...about two years.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST MAC PRODUCT?
The 187 skunk brush.

WHAT'S YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE MAC PRODUCT?
I have two. Beauty powder blushes and paint pots.

WHAT'S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE MAC PRODUCT?
Studio Fix Fluid - too much of an orangey undertone for my skin.

DO YOU OWN A PRO CARD?
Nope

YOUR MAC FOUNDATION SHADE?
When I did wear it - NC25 in Studio Fix Fluid

MAC FOUNDATION?
Mineralized Skin Finish in Natural

MAC EYESHADOW?
Not sure yet...although I think Dazzlelight is very pretty:)

MAC LIPSTICK?
Charismatic and Party Line

MAC LIPGLOSS?
In 3D and Soft&Slow

MAC LINER?
Never purchased

MAC BRUSH?
224 blending brush

NAIL LACQUER?\
Never purchased.

PRO PRODUCT?
I have one pro product, Emerald pigment but it's not a favorite.

Comment on the following MAC Products.

PREP&PRIME SKIN: Never purchased

FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION: Never purchased but should look into it.

STUDIO SCULPT FOUNDATION: Not interested in purchasing.

FACE AND BODY FOUNDATION:Never purchased.

MINERALIZE SATIN FINISH:Never tried it.

STUDIO FIX FLUID: Not a fan, too orangey of an undertone for my skin.

HYPER REAL FOUNDATION:Nope

SELECT SPF15 FOUNDATION: Nada

STUDIO TECH FOUNDATION: Never tried

STUDIO FIX POWDER: Never tried

STUDIO STICK: Never tried.

HYPER REAL PRESSED FOUNDATION: Never tried

BEAUTY POWDER: Love the Beauty Powder blushes...

SCULPTING POWDER: Nope

SHAPING POWDER: Never tried

LOOSE BLOT POWDER: Never tried but hear good things...

PRESSED BLOT POWDER: Or maybe this is what I heard about...

MINERALIZE SKINFINISH NATURAL: Love it and have two...never cakey but I don't like that it doesn't have a mirror for touch-ups.

MAC MINERALIZE SKINFINISH: I have two, So Ceylon (love) and Petticoat (don't love much at all - I just like looking at it...one day maybe it'll work for me)

BRONZING POWDER: Nope

POWDER BLUSH: Beauty powder blushes in Eversun and Stark Naked. Great blushes.

BLUSHCREMES: Never tried. My oily skin shudders at their greasy appearance.

MINERALIZE BLUSH: Never tried but hate that I didn't purchase Nuance when I had the chance. I have a couple of Grand Duo blushers on the way.

GEL BLUSH: Purchased, just waiting to give it go.

CREAM COLOR BASE: Giving Pearl a try - we'll see...

STUDIO SCULPT CONCEALER: Never tried.

SELECT COVER UP CONCEALER: Never tried

SELECT MOISTURECOVER CONCEALER: Nope

STUDIO FINISH CONCEALER: One day will give this a try.

STUDIO STICK CONCEALER: Never picked up

LIP ERASE: Not sure I'd ever use it...

TINTED LIP CONDITIONER: I like the one I have in Petting Pink. These smell and taste good.

LIPSTICK: I like the creamsheens and lustres.

LIPGLASS: I like it ok...I appreciate that it's sticky and stays on well but some days I hate it cause it's so sticky and not moisturizing.

SEE THRU LIP COLOR: Picked up Secret Crush but haven't tried it yet.

DAZZLEGLASS: I've never purchased one, but my first online order came with Rags to Riches. When I called to let them know they mixed up the order, they let me keep it for free. The color alone is not for me but okay when over lipstick. Super sparkly goodness but not a must-have for me.

CREMESHEEN GLASS: Never tried

LIP GELEE: Every time I go to the counter, I'm attracted to the color of Moistly but never pick it up cause the name gives me the heebie geebies.

LIP PENCIL: Don't own a one.

SOLAR BITS: No thanks...not intersted.

NAIL LACQUER: Never tried. There are cheaper and better quality polishes with similar colors.

SHADESTICK: No never...one day I'll pick one up at a CCO.

PAINT: No, I haven't moved past my paint pots even those these were released prior

PAINT POTS: Love most but not all. Rubenesque just looks bad on my eye lids...like a fish with some scale disease even with heavy moisturization.

EYESHADOW: Good product but I'm not a Mac collector and think there are just as good eyeshadows in other collections. I will say they do have a great permanent line of color. That's for sure. Also, I don't wear a lot of color outside neutrals, so my opinion doesn't really matter on this one

PIGMENT: Love them, collect the itty bitty samples, don't use them enough. So pretty.

GLITTER: Gotta a small blue sample I'm saving for Halloween this year - I'm thinking Creature of the Blue Lagoon:P

EYE KOHL: Never tried...really would like to try Teddy though

CHROMALINE: This does not ring a bell...

FLUIDLINE: Not tried it

LIQUIDLAST LINER: Part of me is interested since it stays forever on the lid, part me just doesn't want to waste the precious minutes it will take to rub it off at the end of the day.

LUSTRE DROPS: Picked up one...can't remember the name, not the pink, nor the bronze..the peachy one. Haven't tried it yet.

FALSE LASHES: Nope because of one word - Latisse. I need the real thing. I'm too scared of the glue near the eye thing to use falsies.

MASCARA: Never tried but always intriqued by how people either love or hate Plush Lash.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE MAC COLLECTION TO DATE:
Overrich - love the pigment colors (have samples in most)
Electroflash - love the mineralize eye duos (have two)
Sheer Minerals - adore So Ceylon

WHICH MAC COLLECTION, IN YOUR OPINION, DO YOU THINK WAS DISAPPOINTING, IF ANY?
I think Dame Edna and Fafi.

WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU THINK MAC ARE MISSING?
A permanent line of lip & cheek stains, a la Vincent Longo. I love these type of products.

Weekly Circular Deals (& oh yeah, MAC is on SALE!)

2009-06-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hope your having a great week.

If you haven't heard already, then let me tell you that MAC is on sale online. You can save 25% on anything by entering promo code: SAVE25

Let me know if what you get. Me? Yep, I caved. I'll be posting about some things when the package arrives:)

RiteAid:
Maybelline, 40% off full line of cosmetics (with some exclusions)
Nivea, 20% off body and lip care
Bonne Bell, BOGO 50% off
L'oreal, lip and nail, BOGO 50%
Neutrogena, full line 40% off
Yes! to Carrots, 50% off skin and hair care

Walgreens
Maybelline, BOGO free on face or eye cosmetics
L'oreal HIP or Bare Naturale, BOGO free
Garnier Nutriste Skin Care, BOGO 50%
Almay Cosmetics, 40% off

CVS
Designer Fragrances, BOGO 50% off
Maybelline, all BOGO free with card
L'oreal Mascara, BOGO 50% off
Sally Hansen, BOGO 50% off
Milani, all cosmetics BOGO 50% off
L'oreal HIP, BOGO 50% off

Model Co. Eyeshadows

2009-06-12T21:39:00.001-07:00

I love neutral eyeshadows. Browns and bronzes are my lemmings since these colors go well with my grey-blue eyes. Very rarely do I venture far from this color palette. Although, I'm finding purples do well with my eye color too. I'm branching out a bit:)

A little bit of shimmer, or say satin, is okay by me. I especially love a easily blendable matte. Luckily, I took a chance on picking up these Model Co. eyeshadows and I'm not dissapointed. These are smooth, very pigmented and wear well. If you can find these, try these out. I especially like the names of colors. The company has chosen island or beachy destinations such as Santorini, Ibiza, St. Tropez and Capri.

Layers of Comfort

2009-06-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

I feel it's a necessity to have a bath/shower gel and a lotion that comforts you at the end of those stressed days.

Here are two that I'm really enjoying right now:

The first pic is of Bath & Body's Sleep Black Chamomile Body Wash and Lotion. It has a nice warm scent. I'm sure someone has done a much better job of describing this scent because I have no idea how to. The body wash serves double duty as a bubble bath.

The lotion reminds me of Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess. Maybe it's just my nose but I would love to hear from someone else who thinks this too. It doesn't smell, to me, like the body wash but these complement each other well enough. The lotion is a not too thick and easily sinks in to the skin.

The next pic is of Korres Bitter Almond Shower Gel and Body Milk. I love the smell of almonds (love to eat them too). It's a fresh smell but I find it calming anyway. It smells like an almond cookie that doesn't have a lot of sugar in it (for lack of a better description). I'm not a big fan of foodie or sweet scents. Somehow, this works for me and it strikes a nice balance with the sweet, almond and a bitter refreshing part.

Discounted Urban Decay

2009-06-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

In a previous post I mentioned I went shopping and completely broke my rule of no buying makeup. I found some discounted Urban Decay which made me happy:)Of course, I had to pick up a couple (more than a couple, really) at such a good price.

I picked up a eyeshadow, lip and cheek palette. I'm pretty sure that the palette is called Las Chicas. I don't own any of UD's eyeshadows because they are soooo sparkly with lots of glitter. I wanted to know what all the fuss is about. These are fun colors, great names and a little naughty too. The lip glosses are sheer and the blush is great. A pretty peachy color that is very wearable, very little shimmer.

The other items they had available were Sparkler Pens. I picked up Firecracker, a cherry red color(a color I always seem to pick up) with pretty gold glitters. It's sheer as well but buildable. It's a click pen. Unfortunately, it doesn't properly come out of the brush but oozes out of the side but oh well...I didn't pay very much.

Pink Cheeks :P

2009-06-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

I'm drawn to warm colors but I've found in the last several months that a touch of bright pink on my cheeks does wonders for my face. It brightens, makes me look awake, healthy.

Here is a combination I used during the spring months: Stila's Convertible Color in Fuschia and MAC's Stark Naked dusted over it.

Now, the swatches are heavy and just so you know I don't apply these that heavy onto my cheeks. It's just such a lovely pink when these colors are combined. Plus, the layering makes the color last well on my oily skin.

Stila's Convertible Color is on the left side with Stark Naked at the bottom right. The upper right is the combination.

Any favorite combinations that you put together for a signature palette?

Gimmick Alert!!

2009-05-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yah! Now, I can try this gimmick without spending a lot cash. Let me know if you get your hands on this and what you think. Click here to purchase online or you can wait until it hits the drugstore shelves.

See You Later Month of May

2009-05-28T21:53:00.000-07:00

Since writing my last post, hell broke loose about the 2nd week in May. Without going into details, all of my attention has been needed elsewhere. It's been a difficult month. I'll be glad to see it go.

To break away from the serious, I broke the rule and bought some makeup and a cute/sexy pair of heels. Now, if you're familiar with my postings, you know that I shop at TJ Maxx for good deals. I haven't been in quite some time so I stopped by after working late at work.

I found some cute snakeskin open-toed heels ($20usd). Quite comfortable fit while giving these a short test drive around my bedroom. These will be a great alternative to my all my black leather heels.

The rest of my purchases was all makeup. They had just put out some Model Co. and Urban Decay. Very surprised to find Urban Decay but it was bitter sweet because my heart stopped when I saw the purple packaging, hoping it was UDPP. It wasn't but I still find a few items that made the visit/purchase worthwhile. I'll be posting more details later on the makeup stash.

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Victoria Jackson Makeup- Cheap and Lots of It

2009-04-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, my mother went to Sam's Club to stock up on a few things. She was stopped by a young woman selling Victoria Jackson makeup. My mother was kind enough to listen to her sales pitch. While she wasn't personally interested in the makeup, she thought of me. So, now I have a large bag full of this makeup. There are a lot of images. I haven't tried any of this yet but I did some swatches. I'm not liking the lipglosses. The texture is a cheap and gloopy feel. Although the pigmentation is okay, the smell is awful. The eyeshadows have really good pigmentation, as do the blushes. Overall, not bad for the small dollar amount (since this was a random gift, I didn't ask how much she paid for it but she did allude that it was a good buy for the amount of product) .

Here are some images with swatches. Enjoy the makeup porn:)

The makeup comes packaged in a clear vinyl drawstring bag.

Here is an image of it unpacked, still boxed.

Unboxed.

Brush Roll unfolded. The large face brushes are not good. These are scratchy and not very soft. The eyebrushes are okay as well as the retractable lip brush. I do like the roll. It seems well enough made.

This is what they call a bronzer. It's way too much of a metallic shimmer to use on your face, unless that's the look your going for at the moment. It's a glitter bomb and best used lightly on your body and as an eyeshadow.

This is a cream eyeshadow and lipgloss palette. Not a fan but the pigmentation is good. Don't expect the cream eyeshadow to stay put. I was able to try it out and these do crease. I find these similar to Revlon's Illuminance cream eyeshadows (I think that's the name?).

Again, not a fan of these lipgloss pots but I do give points for the cute packaging. Inside the pouch is a small elastized band that holds the cute retractable lipbrush (this in addition to the lipbrush already in the brush roll).

Lip, face and eye palette. The eyeshadows are pigmented and blushes too.

First two rows, from top to bottom, left to right:

I've seen these before and this is what made me realize that Victoria Jackson is using a private label. She should really reconsider her lipglosses. There are much better private label lipglosses out in the market. If your unfamiliar with these gizmos, you take the top part off and the package folds out into two sliding sides. One side is for the face that includes dinky brushes and two blushers. The other side contains liliputian sized lip and eye pencils, as well as a mascara. That same side contains two sliders of eyeshadows.

Okay, that's it. I didn't get around to swatching the last bit. Maybe later.

It's a lot of makeup and not too much overlay which is nice. I may give some the eyeshadows a try next week to see how they wear and let you know.

Comparison Shopping - Shiseido's SPF 55 Cream vs. Walgreen's Sheer SPF 55 lotion.

2009-04-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

On my skin, these look, feel, protect and perform with little to no difference. I paid about $34usd at Sephora for the Shiseido and $5.99usd(sale price - retail is about $8) for the Walgreen's. Shiseido's is 2oz. and Walgreen's is 4oz. I use these as a primer/moisterizer every morning. My less than scientific process was applying the Shiseido one day and the next day, switching to the Walgreen's version(a generic dupe for Neutrogena's sheer touch sunscreen). I did this for a few weeks. Really, I'm excited that I've found a cheaper, more accessible version of the Shiseido.

However, as I've mentioned in past posts, I have oily skin. Very oily skin. I'm glad to say that neither of these exacerbates it. Neither are greasy feeling once applied. I had heard that the Shiseido's spf helps keep oil from breaking through but, for me, this is not the case for the cream version I have. I haven't tried the lotion version so I will be looking into it.

Both protect well and my skin has lightened since using it. Some of the foundation colors I was using over the last year are now a couple of shades too dark. I'm happy that I'm seeing visible results on this end. I'm a bit scared of the sun since my Grandmother had part of the epidermis on her nose removed due to skin cancer. Also, as you know, it's the best protection against premature aging. Hopefully, it'll give me more time to save more money for those botox injections;)

Regarding the high spf on both of these lotions, I can't speak to that. I know that it has been said that anything above a 30 spf isn't all that beneficial. I haven't done the research to find out. Although, a resource to start at would be the blog called Beauty Brains.

Hope this helps those who are looking for a high spf sunscreen. Hope you're having a great weekend!

Urban Decay Friends & Family Event - 30% Off & Vincent Longo's Spring Fling - 25% Off

2009-04-07T16:39:00.001-07:00

Click on image to see code:)

I may get the jumbo UDPP. I'm not sure since shipping is $5.00 unless you spend $50 I think. You do get a sample lipstick if you hit the $30 mark. I'm such a cheapskate these days...Anyway, let me know if you pick something up. I'm not wanting anything else, except maybe their Ozone lip liner. I thought I may pick up a couple of their matte eyeshadows but seriously, after organizing some palettes over the weekend, I'm absolutely fine in the eyeshadow area.

If you missed the Vincent Longo 30% off sale at the beginning of the month, they are having a 25% sale. Gotta love this recession....

Won't click to larger size...promo code is spring25. It ends Thursday, April 12, midnight.

Hope your having a great week!

My Blog Rocks, But Your Blog Rocks Harder Award

2009-04-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

A Big Thank You to Gabriela, Angels with Dirty Faces. She awarded me with the title, My Blog Rocks, But Your Blog Rocks Harder. I really enjoy reading her blog, so I'm very honored to receive a kudo from her! I love the fact that she shares not just makeup but other areas like fashion, jewelry and overall style. I love her aesthetics. But, I must say that I think her blog rocks harder. Thank you Gabriela for sharing your style with us~!

Rules:
1. When you receive this award, show that you're happy to the giver!
2. Nominate at least 5 blogs, that you think rocks!
3. Let them know about award in their post.
4. Now blog like you've never blogged before! =]]

Here are the nominations, per the rules, in no particular order:)

Charlotte at 'Pretty Geeky' - http://lottieb-prettygeeky.blogspot.com

Tamsin at 'Live Your Life as a Fairy Tale' - http://thisismylife-tml.blogspot.com

llyangel - http://llyangel.blogspot.com

Gail at 'Ooglemakeup' - http://ooglemakeup.blogspot.com

Cult Diva at 'Pretty but Shallow' - http://www.prettybutshallow.com/

Now, go check these blogs out! Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Makeup Bag - The G Rated Version

2009-04-03T19:38:00.001-07:00

This is my makeup bag that I throw in my great big black bag for work. The contents are G-rated since I stayed on top of cleaning it out every couple of days last week. Usually, it has more lipsticks/lipglosses and a couple more blushes. The bag is a Le Sport Sac that came with a matching weekender. I really like the design and the fabric is washable. It holds a lot which is great too.

Here it is with the contents dumped out...

See bottom picture, from left to right, top to bottom:

theBalm's Sexy Mama Anti-Shine Translucent Powder (good stuff, never gives off that cakey, powdery look), Ecotools retractable brush (dense and super soft, doesn't shed), C. O. Bigelow Chapped Hands Remedy (smells medicinal but works well), Scope mouthwash (for those close-up encounters), Sephora pop-up brush (for those windy days), Ecotools face brush (needs to be taken out of this bag since it's probably all cootified), Tarte mini Tickled Cheek/Lip Stain (works well on lips and cheeks but tastes really awful), Theme Sarong perfume oil (tropical scent to remind me that summer and the beach time are coming, just be patient), foldable toothbrush (for those really close up encounters - would help if I had some toothpaste in my bag though...), Badger Balms Stress Soother (I should should probably go with a prescription drug but this is cheaper), square compact two-sided mirror (cheap & useful but it's the image of the painting on the top I love, plus when I carry mac compacts, I must carry a mirror too - marketing geniuses...I think not!), Prescriptives compact with a pink/peach blushers (nice blushers for a mid-day pick me up when my morning blush fades).

Have a great weekend!!

Note: I'm not sure why, but I'm not able to click on the pictures to enlarge, except for the top one. Is it me or is this happening to you as well? Would you mind leaving a post to let me know? Thanks!

Vincent Longo Friends & Family Sale - 30% off

2009-03-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

Click on image for details.

I suggest the Lip & Cheek Gel Stains, the Water Canvas Blush, the Baby Balm and Lip Stain Lipsticks. Oh, and his eyeshadows are very nice as well:)

Happy Shopping!!

ArtsyFartsy

2009-03-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

This was my previous username for alot of makeup blogs I would check out. I've since then changed to aestheticcoo. The name came about when joining Specktra. I just wanted something different but still have the same sort of feel...(I know, I know...it's a bit self-indulgent but it's all in good fun). I just love aesthetically pleasing things to the eye and coo over it, whether it be makeup, art, fashion, nature, etc.

So, I thought I'd I tell you about this artist I learned about in grad school, Gerhard Richter. You can check out his paintings on his website here. If you like to collect art books, I suggest Forty Years of Painting and Atlas. I never tire looking at these.

He is one of my favorites among many. He makes the banal, well...not banal.

Hope you're having a great week!

Upcoming Posts

2009-03-28T20:20:00.001-07:00

So, it's been a blogging day for me. I've been making up for lost time since my computer went down. Here are a few upcoming posts that I'm working on...

Makeup Bag - What's in it and why. I may make post of this a couple of times a month as a filler since I'm ever changing what's in it.

Samples - Ramble and recent ones from Neiman Marcus

Becca - Recent purchases from Neiman Marcus clearance sale

Comparison Shopping - Shiseido's SPF 55 crean vs. Walgreen's Sheer SPF 55 lotion.

Working with What I've Got - Ramble on why I need to hit pan before purchasing. It will be an overview of what's in rotation for that week, brief reviews, etc.

Beauty Fix - A quarterly sampling program. I'm totally aware that this negates my previous point but I'll explain further why it's a fun way to try items without spending a lot of money.

Sales - I would like to do this type of post once a week by posting weekly drugstore sales as well as other sales from cosmetic companies and department stores. I'll try but can't promise since priorities can change;)

Request: NYX Lipstick Swatches

2009-03-28T13:05:00.001-07:00

I had a request from Julie to do swatches of Electra, Fire, Eros and Femme. So sorry for the delay Julie.

Outside, taken in the shade:

Outside, taken in sunlight:

Elecktra, Fire and Eros are similar shades. Femme is a bright coral color.

Hope this helps:)

Contest Time Over at The World's Dresser

2009-03-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

I discovered The World's Dresser on youtube (sadly, she no longer posts on youtube and has taken many of these down). I've got to say I've missed her videos, as she was a favorite to watch. This woman is beautiful, funny, witty, smart and to the point about what she likes and doesn't like. Luckily, I get my dose of her thoughts of beauty items through her blog.

Generously, she is doing a contest, so go to her blog right now and let her know a product she should try. She also gives you two other ways of entering the contest. Just make sure to read the guidelines she's set out for it.

Click here to here to visit her site. Good luck!!

Over to the Higher Side

2009-03-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

I love high-end packaging. I've been eyeing the Guerlain Exotique quad for a couple of months and finally picked it up, along with a few items from their Terracotta collection. The Terracotta collection appeals to me since I love neutrals and especially love the faux tortoise shell look of their little pots of lip balm. It's all golden and bronzey....makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside...*sigh* the summer is taking it's time to show up around here.

So, onto the goods...

Guerlain's Ombre Eclat 4 Couleurs in 404 Paradis Exotique

The packaging is nice enough....however, I was expecting the compact to have more weight in my hands. I guess I must equate that with high-end for some reason. The container is plastic (another dissapointment since I wrongly assumed it would be a some sort metal casing). Although, it's very nice plastic that is a reflective silver, with a hint of green. The top of the case has contours on it as well. It's not just flat. On the top is a printed bird of paradise motif. I would expect though that their refillable compacts are more to my liking. This would make since you would be re-using it over and over.

This a very nice quad of colors. Underneath the spray overlay of iridescent green leaf-like motif, you get four shades with two finishes. The highlighter (green shade) and the contour (brown shade) are labeled as iridescent finishes; and what Guerlain calls the "velvet" (orange shade) and the "design" (pink) are a velvety matte finish. I like that they include the brown for us color impaired girls. I felt safer purchasing this palette because of that brown shade. I am looking forward to trying out the brighter colors. These are soft and almost pastel which I think will make these easier to wear. The quad comes with obligatory 2 sponge tip applicators. I was delighted to see that one is tapered to a point, not rounded off like the other. How nice of them;)

Guerlain Terracotta Gloss Cashmere Lip Gloss in Rose Pondichery, 01 (limited edition)

First off, you can't trust the swatches on Sephora. These are so wrong, it's criminal. This gloss is more of a liquid lipstick. It's matte, opaque and feels nice on the lips but not necessarily moisturizing. It has a hint of a powdery texture which goes along with the description. The color I picked is very close to my own lip pigmentation. It's deep, dusty rose.

The packaging is simple with a printed embellishment on the cap, doe foot applicator. I like it overall but it's not without it's flaws. It doesn't stay well when drinking but I still had some of it on my lips after a few sips. I think a thin layer is all you need since it's so pigmented. When I did the drink test, I had applied quite a bit. I thought it may dry down a bit to make it longer lasting but it keeps it creamy formula for awhile, meaning that with drinking and eating, re-application will be a must.

The texture reminds me of cream to powder cheek colors. I think this could be a multi-tasker.

Guerlain Terracotta Baume Au Coeur High-Shine Soothing Lip Balm in Rose Venus, 01 (I think this is limited edition as well)

I really love this balm. The packaging is sweet. The top is like a faux tortoise shell with the monogram G. The bottom is frosted. It's tiny packaging has .17 oz. of product. Once I finish it, I'll be filling it up with other balms just to have the pretty pot in use.

The balm has all the qualities of what I think of lip balm should have. It' s a bit thick, non-sticky with little pigmentation but just a hint of shine, not the "high shine" like the description. Very moisturizing.

Swap Goodies

2009-03-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

The lovely Gail (ooglemakeup.blogspot.com) was kind enough to make a swap with me. As you may have read, the Steam Cream she tried irritated her skin, leaving spots. As you can see from the picture, she even sent me a few Gosh products as extras to try out. Thank you Gail! x.

Steam Cream
While this didn't work for Gail, this has not irritated or caused spots on my skin so far. I've done a good run of it this last week, using it only at night. My skin can be complicated...while it's very oily, it keeps clear very well with cream moisturizers at night. My best guess it that it just helps my skin to be balanced. I've had dry patches, but my skin is still greasy...a phenomenon, which I can't explain; but it occasionally happens when I use products touted for use on "acne-prone" and/or "oily" skin.

My first test for the cream was to apply it near my eyes, which can be sensitive. If the moisturizer irritates my eyes, then I just won't use it. I don't subscribe to the ideology that you need an extra eye cream (and I'm not a disciple of Paula Begoun either, just lazy and prefer multi-tasking moisturizers). I'm glad to say it works just fine in the eye area which surprises me since it has a noticeable fragrance.

The less than glowing comment about this cream is that it's just meh...I find it no different than the other moisturizer that I was using before (a night-time moisturizer by Patricia Wexler). Although, I really do appreciate the fact that it doesn't irritate my eyes and the cute ass tin the cream comes in...I would probably re-purchase but this is difficult for me to acquire. I tried ordering on the UK website (ships internationally) but I couldn't get it to work and customer service never called as promised to take my information over the phone. I do recommend this if you're a collector of thing-a-ma-bobs or how-ya-doos cause the tins are really precious. Plus, it helps if you're in the UK;)

You can visit their website to check it out: http://www.steamcream.co.uk/top.html

Also, check out Gail at OogleMakeup.blogspot.com for a review and Musing of the Muse. Both are a worth the read in making your decision to purchase.

On to the other goodies....

Gosh Extreme Art Eyeliner in #10 - it's a cobalt blue

Haven't worn this yet on my eyes but I think this will work well with a simple neutral eye....it will definitely add that "pop" of color. This stuff is industrial...it stays put and is even a bit hard to remove with oil but it will come off eventually. I think I read a review where it's been compared to MAC's liquid last? I'm looking forward to trying this out during the humid days of summer. Definitely no worries about it melting off.

GOSH StarShine Lipglaze in Disco Star - a shimmery, glittery clear gloss

I really like this gloss. It has very pretty, glittery sparkle and it's not for just the tween-age girls. The best thing about this gloss besides blinding my eyes with prettiness is the texture. IT'S NOT GRITTY!! I am so happy. This will be nice by itself or over a lipstick.

I Want the Whale Compact

2009-03-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Ignore the title. I was trying to think of something catchy but it just boils down to something "I want".

This is what I want because a couple of Christmas(es?) ago, I went to Maui for the New Year (2008). As you may know, humpback whales migrate to the islands for warmer waters. Anyways, I've never been whale watching prior to this trip, so I was eager (about 10 years eager) to see this mammouth creature and be humbled. There are no good words to describe it. I think nature, at least for me, is often what I would think a religious experience would be for some fundamentals here in the Bible Belt. So, to see the largest creature on the earth a few mere feet in front of you breeching...well, it was amazing (a dull word in comparison really but the best I've got right now).

So, when I spotted this tonight while breaking my good streak on not buying makeup, I had a heavy pause. Here was my train of thought...'Should I? No, it's too expensive...but it's so pretty and it reminds me of the whales in Maui. Yea, but these are not humpbacks, these are blue whales. You saw humpbacks in Maui, not blue whales. Yea, but it's so pretty. But, you have pictures of the humpback whales. You'll never use it. I know but it's like art. A luxury item just for me. Maybe...no....think about it and get back to me later....'.

I'm still thinking about it. I'm hoping this post will exorcise my want...at least for now.

Click here to see the beautiful whale compact. And do yourself a favor, get yourself to Maui to see the whales before it's all over:)

Becca Cosmetics On Sale at Neiman Marcus

2009-03-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a deal check out Neiman Marcus online. Becca cosmetics is on their clearance page.

Here is what I ordered (I'll take pictures when package arrives - these are not the correct colors, btw):

Cream Blush in Geranium, $14usd

Lip & Cheek Color in Petal, $14

Glossy Lip Tint in Cherry Bomb, $10usd

Sephora: Purchase History Page Ramble

2009-03-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

I'm still without a computer so I've been borrowing one. I decided to take a moment and just make a quick post...I'm gonna try and do a few tomorrow to post next week.

So, while enjoying making up for all the time of missed internet surfing, I decided to check Sephora to see if anything is new or on sale (nothing really good, except if you want lip balms flavored like soda or Hershey's chocolate). Plus, I wanted to do a cost comparison of MAC's Prep & Prime spf 50 to Shiseido's Cream Spf 55 lotion so I jumped to 'My Account'. I remembered that you can access all your previous purchases at the 'Purchase History' page; which is nicely laid out on the screen for you with even nice little product icons. They even list your samples, which is great. I quickly found out that Shiseido's is cheaper than MAC (Shiseido's is 2oz. for $34, while MAC's is $28 for 1oz.)...so, for now, I'll be sticking with Shiseido.

I really like that Sephora offers this as do most makeup brand sites, like MAC. It's a great way to keep up with purchase likes and dislikes. Even better, it would be great if there was an application these online sites could offer where we could add in-store purchases as well.

Just a thought....

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Computer Issues

2009-03-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

My computer is on the fritz...hopefully, I'll have it back soon.

Hope you had a great weekend! Be back soon with some posts:)

Smashbox GWP

2009-02-21T07:46:00.000-08:00

You can get one of these with any purchase of $50 and if you use the promo code FRFSL. This is offer is valid until March 31, 2009. Plenty of time to mull over which lipstick, palette set or eyeshadow you'll need for Spring.

Me? I would love to get this palette set...

HK OD

2009-02-20T21:56:00.000-08:00

Talk about a walking advertisment for MAC's Hello Kitty....looks like someone has been drinking the kool aid...or...ummm...rather the milk. Source: gofugyourself.celebuzz.com

Tagged by Oogle Gail!!

2009-02-18T17:19:00.000-08:00

I was tagged by the lovely Gail from OogleMakeup. Thank you! x.
Her blog is well written with a great slant on makeup, beauty and fashion. I love reading her posts as I always find these interesting and provocative. She does great tutorials and reviews too on youtube.

Here are a list of things I'm using right now:

Shampoo: tea tree shampoo by giovanni organic hair care and EO Essentials Vanilla & Coconut w/Tangerine

Conditioner: Philosophy's Shear Splendor and Chi Infra Treatment

Styling Products: I don't use a lot of styling products but I do use Frederic Fekkai Smoothing lotion and Glossing Cream, Clairol's Herbal Essence Hairspray

Shower Gel: EO Essentials in Grapefruit & Mint; J&J Moisturizing Body Wash

Body Moisturiser: I have so many I'm trying to use up but one of my favorites at the moment is the Body Shop's Vanilla Spice. I also like the Crabtree & Evelyn In Shower Moisturizers for every day.

Fake Tan: L'oreal's Sublime Glow - best for a natural look on initial application but a pain to use since it takes about a good 10 or so minutes to dry completely (unless it's humid...then, well, make sure the blinds are closed while you wait it out...or not, depending on the relationship you have with your neighbor;)

Cleanser: Philosophy's Purity and an oil for makeup removal

Eye makeup remover: oil or EL's Gentle Makeup Remover

Exfoliator: Alpha Hydroxy 8% by Paula's Choice

Primer: I prime my face with Sheiseido's Spf 55 cream, then use Patricia Wexler's MMPi 20 Skin Regenerating Serum on my eye area (it's a thick silicone based product which works well to set my concealer on top of...much better than Smashbox's Photo Finish in my opinion)

Foundation: Revlon's Color Stay Liquid in Sand Beige and their Active Colorstay (more of a tinted moisturizer) in same color. Powder as foundation: MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Natural Medium

Foundation brush: I'm really liking e.l.f.'s flat top Studio brush. Surprised? I was...it's synthetic and damn soft too!

Concealer: Redpoint NOC concealer trio - I use the salmon color. Then, I add a bit of foundation on top of that using gossmakeupartist's (youtube) technique. However, I'm stuck using my 187SE, not the prescribed 188. It works really well...his technique and the brush.

Powder: MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Natural Medium or Everyday Mineral's Foundation in Buttered Tan for full coverage.

Blusher: I'm in love with Vincent Longo's Cheek & Lip Stain in BabyBoo. I like, not love, mind you, his Water Canvas Blush in Forever Flush. I always top these off with a powder blush...this weeks picks included Everyday Minerals in Apple and MAC's Eversun (MAC beauty powders are by far my favorite blush formulation in pan form)

Bronzer: Sugar's Tropic Tan - Love this! Never tried NARs Laguna...maybe one day but for now, I'm really happy with Sugar.

Highlighter: Hands down, So Ceylon by MAC or sometimes I like to use a light blush that I have in a Smashbox blush trio - just a basic, almost no shimmer, nude pink.

Eyeshadow base: UDPP, MAC's Painterly or Soft Ochre pp...I must use the UDPP under MAC's pp since my eyelids can get oily.

Eyeshadows: a hodgepodge of products including Smashbox, Duwop, NYX, MAC, Stila, Tarte...usually browns, neutrals, nothing too much fun;) I rotate everyday...couldn't give you any specifics if my life depended on it.

Eyeliner: I don't use eyeliner much...if I do it's just the top and I use a an eyeshadow for under the eyd, only going halfway in from the outer corner. Some brands I think are really good and own are UD 27/7, L'oreals Liquid Liner (forget the proper name) and Smashbox's cream/gel eyeliners.

Eyelash curler: I have two...one from the Sephora brand and a Maybelline...the Sephora one is better but most of the time I forget.

Eyelash base: I don't own a base for eyelashes...I must have missed that video/blog posting!

Mascara: Everyday is Maybelline's Full & Soft (a great dupe for Clinique's Long Pretty Lashes) and I also like L'oreal's Voluminous...a richer black than Maybelline

Lipstick: This week I've been wearing a lot of Smashbox in Inviting and my staple color L'oreal's Color Juice Lipstick in Chai I Love You.

Lipgloss: I have about four in my purse right now...MAC's Springbean, a gwp Sephora mini, Lancome's Fever Gloss in French Pink, CO Bigelow's Rose Salve (this is probably heretical but I think it much better than the other beloved rose salve by Smiths)

Nail Colour: Heaven by China Glaze...perfect for the conservative, corporate office; for the weekends, I've been using China Glaze's Avalanche or something dark from the OPI French collection

I'm adding the next one because this must have been an oversight...

Perfume: I'm working through some samples and came across Canali Men. I've only worn it once but it's nice enough. I'm branching out by wearing men's fragrances lately...it's time to stop genderizing everything!

Hope you guys have a lovely weekend! I'll be busy doing some posts and the not so much fun stuff, like the laundry. Take care! And don't forget to check out Gail's blog (ooglemakeup) and youtube videos (ooglegail)!!

Korres

2009-02-08T12:06:00.001-08:00

Run, don't walk, to your local T J Maxx (that is if you have one) so you can stock up on some Korres products. As you can see I paid way below the normal retail of $21+. For all the above excess, I paid around $35 usd. I'm excited because I adore the Quince Body Butter so I stocked up on two of those. Also, I picked up some items I've never tried from the line like the body polish and hand lotion. The expiration date is not until 2011, so these aren't old but probably just overstock.

Korres originated in Athens, Greece. They are an all natural brand, meaning these products are sans parabens, mineral oil, silicones, etc. You can learn more about the brand at http://www.korres.com/. In the US, I've seen Korres in-store/on-line at Sephora and Ulta as well as many other places. It's an easy brand to put in your hands which is great because they make excellent, quality products.

Makeup Removers

2009-02-07T21:07:00.000-08:00

From left to right: Estee Lauder's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, Aromafloria's Stress Less Bath & Body Oil and Aura Cacia Sweet Almond Natural Skin Care Oil

I've tried a lot of cleansing wipes. I don't like them much for makeup removal. Perfect for having on hand for clean-ups at my vanity but other than that, I'm not a fan. The majority of wipes that I've tried leave my eyes irritated with a film of ick allover my face. I prefer to use a oil to break down the makeup and follow with a cleanser.

Here are a few that I'm using right now...

EL's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover:
This was passed along to me by a family member who purchased EL's 2008 Holiday train case set. It's not that she doesn't like it but she just doesn't use a lot of eye makeup. I like this remover. It's not oily at all and very gentle, almost refreshing. Most importantly, it takes all the gunk off with little effort. It reminds me of a better version of Caudalie's Cleansing Water. It doesn't leave a film, unlike Caudalie.

Aromafloria's StressLess Bath & Body Oil:
I picked this up for it's intended purpose but when I was out of a good eye makeup remover, I used this out of necessity. It works very well. It's a thin oil, not as viscous as olive oil or the next oil beside it in the picture. It breaks down the makeup quickly and rinses off with water. Unfortunately, my local CVS no longer carries this, nor does drugstore.com. I'm on the search for a re-purchase for the third time. It's relatively cheap at $13usd for 9 fl. oz. I love that it has a pump too.

Aura Cacia Sweet Almond Natural Skin Care Oil:
I picked this up in my last order at drugstore.com hoping this could be a replacement for Aromafloria's Stress Less Bath & Body Oil. It's not...but still a good basic makeup remover. It's thick, like olive oil, has no scent and doesn't rinse off with water. It's not bad for the winter months, but will need to be replaced with a lighter oil when summer rolls around.

What are your favorite makeup removers?

Sephora Order: The Basics

2009-02-07T07:52:00.001-08:00

I made a Sephora order last weekend to order a couple of things. A fan brush and Shiseido's Cream SPF 55 (a must have - review coming!). I also got the obligatory 3 samples, which is always perfume samples for me. Plus, with my Beauty Insider points I chose the Versace coffret for men. This and a sample of Chanel Allure Homme was given to my step-father since he travels a lot.

Nothing exciting... but I'm hoping that this...

will help with applying these:

I've never had a fan brush in my collection so I'm glad to add it. If I have good results, I'll let you know.

Hope you have a great weekend! We're having wonderful weather....Spring is just around the corner:)

Lancome On the Cheap

2009-02-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago, I needed to blow off some steam after work so I headed to the local T. J. Maxx. Every so often, they get shipments in of Lancome cosmetics and skincare. This trip I was able to pick up these.

From left to right, swatches top to bottom: Magique Blush in Peach Melba ($10), Color Fever Lipstick in New Romantique ($8) and Color Fever Gloss in Intense ($8).

I haven't tried the blush yet but I like the Magique Blush line. I have this in Subtle Fluff that is a beautiful ballet slipper pink color. It's a mousse texture that effortlessly glides on the skin leaving a nice subtle color to the cheeks. The Peach Melba is a warmer, darker color in comparison but equally beautiful. I'm excited to try this out.

The New Romantique lipstick is a gorgeous beige nude that has a fine violet, pink iridescence shot through it. I find it unique and I'm happy to add this to my small collection of nude lippies. The lipstick is smooth and goes on sheer to medium coverage. It's difficult to overdo it which is nice. I don't have to use it sparingly for fear of having concealer lips. It's the nude lipstick for dummies so to speak:)

The last lippie is stunning. In fact, this will have to be my Valentine's Day lip. It's divine. I highly reccommend this line of glosses from Lancome. I also have this in French Rose (a light pink with pink iridescence - I got a back up of this). These glosses are not at all sticky and stay well. I really like the tear drop-shape applicator. It applies well...I think better than a doe-foot.

But back to the Intense...the name is apt because the color is a deep berry red with fine red glitter. I think this will be fabulous with an all over neutral cheek and eye.

Let me know if you have any of these as I would love to hear your thoughts.

Have a great weekend!

Exfoliation: Alpha Hydroxy 8%

2009-02-04T16:56:00.001-08:00

As I've mentioned in the past, I prefer a chemical exfoliant to a manual scrub. I'm just lazy really. I like the idea of applying a gel of Alpha Hydroxy at night and forgetting about it. No need to wash off this one. Although, some do have a neutralizer that you use after a treatment (Patricia Wexler has a two parter system like this).

I learned several years ago about glycolic acid peels from my mother. She told me that she thought I should meet a local plastic surgeon, who also provides topical treatments for the skin. My skin has been less than perfect since high school where I had the lovely pleasure of having cystic acne breakouts on my lower jawline and neck. While aging had helped calm my skin, I still had occasional outbreaks and mild scarring.

If you're unfamiliar to glycolic acid, it is a type of alpha hydroxy acid derived from sugar cane. Also, it's the most widely used type of AHA. These acids provide a light chemical exfoliation to the upper most level of the skin. Essentially, the acid breaks down the top layer of the skin, letting the new layer emerge. This often creates redness, especially if you go to the doctor like I did. He worked up to a higher percentage with each visit. After the chemical was placed on the skin and left for a minute, he would wipe a neutralizer over it and have me rinse my face, stopping the chemical reaction. I would leave his office with a super bright, red face that would return normal about four hours later.

The caveat with this process (besides looking like someone sandpapered your face) is that your skin is extremely sensitive to the sun. SPF is a necessity to create a barrier between the sun and your "new" skin to prevent the obvious sunburn, but also other issues such as age spots, hyper pigmentation, premature wrinkling and melanoma (which can happen even if you don't have this procedure and you don't wear sunscreen).

I was pleased with this procedure as my skin dramatically calmed down and helped take care of light scarring. There are other peels that are done in doctors' offices that are more aggressive in approach to remove deeper scarring. I've never really been interested because the recuperation time is awhile. Some of these even create scabbing (that supposedly later will heal) on the face which scares the bejebus out of me.

Here are some of the things that AHAs can do for your skin and how it helped my skin:

Reduce the appearance of superficial wrinkles (I was in my mid-twenties when I had
this done so I can't speak to this part)

Reduce the appearance of pores
This did decrease the appearance of my pores size for the time. I now use the
Clarisonic, BHA lotion (review to come) and AHA 8% to keep them from being
crater-like.

Even out skin texture and tone.
This really helped even out my skin texture and tone at the time. Again, the
maintenance mentioned before really helps keep this in check as well.

Reduce superficial acne scarring
This help a bit but I still do have acne scarring albeit not so deep that it warrants a more aggressive peel.

Now I use what you see above as maintenance, Paula's Choice Alpha Hydroxy Gel in 8%, which I think is the highest percentage you can get outside of a doctor's office. Glyderm (another good company for AHAs/Glycolic products) may do a 12% that you can pick up online or at a dermatologist. I use this every night but I've worked up to this amount and percentage. I don't recommend starting out with this high of percentage at all if you've never used an Alpha Hydroxy product. Consult your dermatologist or at the very least start with a low percentage and do a patch test before spreading something like this all over face. The next bit will sound like a drug commercial but if you're pregant or thinking of becoming pregnant consult your doctor before using something like this.

Let me know if this is something you use in your skincare routine and your experience.

Have a great rest of the week!

Sea Salt Revelation: DIY for Your Perfume Samples & Cosmetic Brushes

2009-02-02T17:43:00.000-08:00

Just about everyone who watches makeup videos on youtube has seen Enkore's DIY on how to make a Sephora brush holder. About six months ago, I talked my mom in to going to the local craft store with me so that we could do this craft project together. However, we weren't able to locate the plastic bits needed for the container so we settled on glass marbles that have a pearl shimmer. While these worked okay, you had to really push the brush down for them to stand up straight and these are loud (especially if you're not a morning person).

One day while cooking, I pulled out a box of course sea salt. The lightbulb went off. Couldn't this be used in my container to hold my brushes in place. Even better, what about my perfume samples??? A trip to the grocery store and a $1.89 later, I was armed with a 3lb. box of coursely grounded sea salt. It works really well. Plus, here is the best part - it's enviromentally friendly and super cheap!

Here is a pic of my perfume samples using the sea salt. Let me know if try this and would love to see pictures too!

Have a great week!

Sucker Palette - Joey NY Specialty

2009-02-01T00:02:00.000-08:00

This is the box the palette came in and as you can see it has a very long name...SoBe Sun Kissed Bronzing Make Up with Marine Collagen (no less!).

I could care less about the 'Marine Collagen'. I was suckered in by the metal-like (read plastic) turquoise blue casing as well as the colors inside (but really the casing).

The colors are very bronzy and summery. When I saw this, I thought....ooohh, this would be great to take with me to the gulf this summer. Really, this would be all I'd need for color.

The palette comes with a bronzer, a peach/pink blush, two eyeshadows, two highlighters and two lip glosses. The pigmentation all around is quite good for the $6 usd I paid for it.

Note: I must have changed my settings on my camera because I can't get the last pictures to increase size. I'll post new photos if requested. Just let me know. Thanks!

Here is a brief overview, working top to bottom, left to right:
The bronzer is not orange at all and has no shimmer but more of a sheen, same as the blush below it. There is not a dark eyeshadow but a light (top) and midtone. The darker highlighter (top middle row of smaller circles) is matte so I'm not really sure why they are calling this a highlighter. The bottom one is a nice shimmery champagne. Both have dry consistency, not too creamy which is better to standing up to the summer sun. The lip glosses are shimmery, almost metallic. These have good pigmentation as well as a bit tacky and thick. This works for me since they are likely to stay on longer because of this texture.

I'm not familiar with this brand but they do have a website. Just type Joey NY Specialty into any search engine and it will pull up. The prices are comparable to MAC. I'm shocked at how much they have this palette retailed for on the site. I looked to see if I could find it cheaper online, like ebay, but didn't see it. I don't think this is worth the retail price, so go hit up your local TJ Maxx if you'd like to have it in your collection.

NARS & Bliss Skin Care

2009-01-31T18:53:00.001-08:00

I really like my current skin care routine. It works well for me. However, if I have a chance to try a high-end skincare product at drugstore prices, I'm taking that chance!

This afternoon while running errands for my computer (had to replace the plug adaptor), I stopped in the local T. J. Maxx. While rumaging through the beauty product isle, I spotted this big box with the NARS logo. It turns out to be their 3-piece normal/combination skin care set that includes a huge bar of facial soap called the 'purifying soap', a 'balancing toning lotion' and a 'balancing moisture lotion.' This set sales on the NARS website for $98usd. I was able to purchase it for $40usd. Not too shabby in my opinion. Plus, no one had tested it, which is often the case for cosmetics and beauty products at such stores.

Not only did I spot this lovely box of skincare, I also picked up the NARS body lotion in 'acacia'. Luckily, this still had the cellophane wrap attached. It has a lovely scent that is lightly floral and fresh. Perfect for summer as it also has a light texture and absorbs quickly into the skin.

I have a few Bliss Spa products and I do like these but I can't justify paying full retail or even the T. J. Maxx price, unless it's clearance. The clearance bin had the Bliss Sleeping Peel Mask: Microexfoliating Blackhead Fighting Mask (what a mouthful!) for $10usd, when previously the T.J. Maxx "sale" price was $24.99 for an ounce of product. The Bliss retail price is around $52usd (ebay has it for $24usd). Still, even if I had a huge disposable income, never would I spend $50+ on an ounce of skincare....I just don't get it....but $10....absolutely!

I probably won't use the NARS skincare until the summer months when my skin is at its' oiliest. The toning lotion will come in handy for banishing the oilies and the face lotion will be a nice night moisturizer (it has no spf) since it's so lightweight, almost serum-like. I'll file this away and let you guys know how it goes when I begin using it.

In the meantime, I'll be making use of the Bliss Sleeping Peel Mask...I've had a busy week and for a couple of nights cleaned my skin with just a cleansing wipe. That and lack of sleep have created more blackheads and overall congested skin. Hopefully, this will help pull out some of the impurities.

Have a great weekend!

Facial Cleanser

2009-01-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite cleansers that I return to again and again is Philosophy's Purity. I've been using it off and on for 7 years. I thought I'd found a cheaper but comparable cleanser, Johnson & Johnson's Purpose, from the drugstore. However, when I did the math, for a few dollars more, I could order the 34 oz Purity bottle from QVC. So, I finally put in an order last week for this big bottle of cleanser. Luckily, I had a couple of unused empties of the 8oz. bottle version in my painting kit. One bottle is for the shower and one bottle is for the bathroom shelf with some leftover stored away.

I use Purity in morning and at night. In the morning, I use it with my Clarisonic. At night, if I'm in a rush to go to bed and/or I have a light makeup application (usually the weekends), I can use this to take off most of the day. However, I use dry hands to apply it to my face letting the cleanser emulsify the makeup. I'll add a few drops of water to work it around, then I rinse. During the work week, when I use full foundation, etc...I use an oil to take off my makeup; then, cleanse again with the Purity.

Purity doesn't foam up a lot and it has a natural scent to it. I've heard some people say they can't stand it. It's a light enough scent to me that it doesn't make much difference. It does contain parabens, which are the last few ingredients. The majority of the ingredients are oils which include meadowfoam seed, rosewood, geranium, sandalwood, sage, black pepper, cinnamon (the last two I find interesting - I would think that it may cause skin irritation for some people) as well as some other large Latin words I haven't taken the time to look up for you.

This has never irritated my skin or eyes. It's gentle but cleanses my extremely oily skin very well, never leaving it feeling tight or dry.

So I'm quite happy to have this back on my bathroom shelf and in my shower again...I've missed it and while it's not the perfect cleanser being that it's not all natural I still find this to be the best cleanser I've ever tried for the price.

I'll be posting more about the skincare items that have been working for me these last few years. Since I've hit 30, my skincare needs have changed.

Please remember, that this is only my opinion. If you're interested in trying something new, consult a dermatologist and try to get samples first before investing in any skincare. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great week!

Crabtree & Evelyn

2009-01-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I went shopping with my Aunt at new outdoor shopping area. One store we stopped into was Crabtree & Evelyn. I had not visited this store in years and was pleasantly surprised to see some things I like. That day I picked up a home fragrance oil in Hearth. It's a wonderful smell that is reminiscence of a wood fireplace with notes of vanilla and spices. I've really enjoyed using it this winter. Since I no longer have a wood burning fireplace this is a must have...

When I visited the online store, I found their outlet page. They have items 50-75% off. Recently, a few items I was eyeing fell from 50% to 75%. I picked up a few of those items.

I suppose one could describe Crabtree & Evelyn as your mother's Bath & Body Works. However, I think I may prefer Crabtree & Evelyn to Bath & Body Works. Although, I'm not a mom and the packaging is not old but is definitely catered to a mature demographic in my opinion.

I especially like the Naturals line that was on sale. These products are free of parabens, synthetic dyes, sodium laurel sulfate and mineral oil. Plus, the sale price was fabulous.

The In Shower Moisturizers are $4.25 usd for an 8oz. tube. You can't find this good of deal/product in a drugstore. I also picked up a few of their Naturals Body Mist. These are on sale for $3usd for 3.4 oz.

Now, I've tried the In Shower Moisturizer in the Milk, Soy & Sugar. There is hardly any smell to these which is fine by me. In fact, I was worried that the smell would be overtly sweet but it just smells natural and light.

It's a thick cream that is designed to be applied in the shower after you've cleansed. Once applied, you leave it on your skin for a few minutes, then rinse off. Unlike most lotions, this leaves a film of moisture on you. I don't know how to describe it better. I think it's the Beeswax (fourth ingredient). It doesn't feel icky or greasy but it's a bit different than a normal lotion.

I kinda like this because it feels like it's creating a barrier, keeping moisture locked in. I've tried this on my hands without rinsing it off and it works like a thick lotion.

The Body Mists are really nice for those days you don't want a heavy perfume. On me these don't last too long and sit close to my skin. You can easily spray over your entire body and not over do it. I'm really looking forward to using these during the summer. I'll probably stash these in the fridge. Another idea I had is to use these as a hair freshener.

I also picked up some fragrance oil in Nadira (a whopping $1.50usd). I love the packaging and the fragrance is nicely done. It has notes of gardenia, morracan rose, nectarine, spices and sandlewood (favorite of mine). What I really like is that the bottle doesn't have an affixed dripper but instead is completely open. It comes with it's own dropper so you're not waiting and waiting for the oil to be dispensed.

Last but not least, I picked up a room spray in Wakaya ($4.50usd). I had to pick it up because of the description. It's a typical tropical scent with orange blossom, tiare flower, frangipani, coconut, teak and driftwood (??).

Anyway, I like it. It reminds me of my family trip to Maui back in December 2007. Gosh, I wish I was there now:) I now love almost any tropical scent because of this island. lol:)

The spray bottles are pretty and non-descript. These are frosted, fluted glass with a silver topper.

So, if you're new or not to Crabtree & Evelyn, I highly reccommend you check our their site. Especially, their outlet page. It's such a good deal and a great to try out the brand.

Have a great week!!

The Clarisonic

2009-01-18T12:11:00.001-08:00

So, a lot of talk is swirling around on youtube and other beauty blogs regarding the Clarisonic. Basically, the question that is asked... is it worth the money? It was for me when I purchased it two years ago. However, I have skin that is over 30 (mid-30's to be nondescript). If you're younger than thirty I think you can pass on this gem.

However, I'm not saying that this is a necessity if your over thirty, but if you can afford it then I recommend it. It was a great addition to bump up my skincare beyond the basic cleansing routine. I don't mind that I spent almost $200usd on this because, well, it's nicely designed and constructed tool. Plus, my skin is much better looking for it.

Design of the brush:

The first picture shows the brush in it's cradle that plugs into the wall and also is used to charge the brush. The charge, which is quick, will last a week. This means you can take just the brush on vacation, not worrying about packing the charger, or worrying if it will die on you.

Mainly, what I really love about this brush is that it's waterproof and possibly damage proof. I use it every morning in the shower. While the body of the brush is not slippery, but textured so that you can have a nice grip, sometimes I have dropped it. This thing is tough and has never waned on me (unless it needs a charge, which it reminds you of this).

You do have to replace the brush heads every few months. The brush heads are a bit pricey at $25usd but these can last up to 6 months (I think the manufacturer suggests replacing every 3 months, but really, come on...). I keep the brush clean by rinsing it off well after use and will sometimes spray it with a bit of alcohol. I dry it standing up so that water doesn't rest in the bristles.

The workings of the brush consists of a button that you press which begins vibrating the brush. It beeps every few seconds to let you know you should move on to the next area to cleanse. I think you can turn off the beeps but I have no idea how to do that. It really doesn't bother me. Those few seconds are, for me, all I need to get my skin clean in the morning. Since the brush does not revolve, but vibrates (those sought after sonic vibrations no less), I use a circular motion to cleanse.

How I Use the Clarisonic:

I use the brush in the morning. I don't use it to take off my makeup at night. My cleanser is extremely gentle and I only cleanse my face for the duration of the beeps. When I first received it, I only used it about twice a week and built up to every day. It's a trial and error that needs to be determined what works best for the user.

It has eliminated the need of me using a manual scrub once a week as it gently exfoliates (although once in a while I still do a manual scrub....trying to use up some product and all). The brush cleanses well enough to get most blackheads, minimizing the look of pores. Also, the exfoliation from the brush clears up dry patches that allows a

smoother foundation/makeup application.

One of the marketing lines for this brush is that you're face is cleaner allowing for your moisturizers, serums, et. al. to deeply penetrate into the skin allowing for better efficacy of your products. It makes sense and maybe this is one of the reasons why my skin looks better.

Moving on to the topic of people who have acne...I don't believe that this brush should be used on problem skin. I've tried it and it always leads to more irritated skin. Since I only suffer with occasional breakouts, I avoid those areas and only concentrate on the clear areas of my face.

Please let me know if you have any questions at all...I'm sure I haven't covered everything.

I hope this helps any of you who are considering this.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

A New Favorite Lipstick smooch

2009-01-12T18:38:00.000-08:00

Man Ray's Lips (Heure de l'Observatoire)
Wonder what this color was called?

Recently, I purchased some MAC lipsticks. One of my favorites is the color Party Line from the Creamsheen collection. It's a deep red/pink, almost cranberry color that shows up on my lips as a red. MAC describes it as a red-tone plum or in other words, cranberry. Usually, I don't wear deep hued colors but I really like this color. Hopefully, it will be a stepping stone to more bolder reds like what the lips are wearing in Man Ray's landscape:P

Here are the photos:

Any of you own or tried the MAC Creamsheens? Any favorites from the collection?

Good Scrub, Bad Scrub

2009-01-11T12:04:00.001-08:00

The Bad Scrub - Neutrogena's Deep Clean Foaming Scrub

I'll start with the bad since my skin is reminding me, as I write this, why I should never use Neutrogena facial cleansing products.

I found this in my bag when I came back from my parent's house after the Holidays. I must have accidently thrown this in when packing up my own toiletries in their guest bath. Anyways, I decided to use it Thursday morning because every now and then I like to use a manual scrub but mostly I rely on an Alpha Hydroxy gel to exfoliate. My skin was fine throughout most of the day...I did notice that it felt dry, which is unusual for my oily prone skin.

Later that night, I noticed it was red and itchy. I cleansed my face gently (with Purpose this time) and realized I had a nasty reaction to this product. I'm not sure what it is but now that I'm older, I just can't use any Neutrogena facial cleanser without my skin reacting with red blotchy skin that is dry & scaly feeling. It doesn't look all that bad but it feels awful.

My remedy is to gently clean it with an oil base cleanser and then follow up lightly with a gentle gel cleanser like Purpose. Then, I slather on a combination of a thick night time moisturizer and Aquaphor and wait it out. While my face is less red, it's still a little flaky and dry but it's getting better.

Has anyone had this problem with Neutrogena facial cleansers? I swear this stuff could take paint off a car!

The Good Scrub - Philosophy's The Microdelivery Peel

Philosophy's The Microdelivery Peel is my ideal manual scrub. The granules are tiny and a light hand is best when using this. It a two-parter, you apply the scrub onto your skin, work it in and then apply the gel. The gel activates with the scrub and foams it up. The directions say to either continue massaging the scrub in until dissolved or just leave on the face for a couple of minutes before rinsing. I've always had good results with this product. My skin is extremely soft, free of dry patches and overall looks fresh. Plus, absolutely no irritation.

What types of exfoliation work best for your skin, manual scrubs or chemical exfoliants?

Drugstore Loot!

2009-01-03T12:09:00.001-08:00

After reading about Wet 'N Wild's gel eyeliner on a beauty blog, I thought it was time for me to hit a couple of local drugstores to pick up a few items. I usually do this every couple of months when I'm running low of my usual staples or I spy a "need to check out" item everyone is buzzing about...(remember NYC's Chroma Powders?).

So, my first stop was the larger RiteAid across town (this was the infamous place I finally found the NYC Chroma Powders). Some items are not detailed such as the Chi Infra Treatment & Silk Infusion as well as the Clairol Root Touch-Up. I'll post more information once I've tried these.
Here is what I got with intial thoughts.

ecoTools Recycled Retractable Kabuki brush
Extremely soft, dense brush. So far no shedding (unlike the Beauty of Essence retractable brush I picked up months ago, so be warned, it's awful). I really like this brand and have a small travel kit that works well for purse/travel/office.

Chapstick TrueShimmer Botanical Berry

Meh....Very faint shimmer, no pigmentation but it has a nice berry smell. I could've done without it.

L'oreal Lineur Intense in 630 Earthen Rock Brown
Initial swatch is affixed to my hand so it seems the staying power is ideal. It won't budge and hasn't faded yet. I don't use liner much but if I do, it's close to the lash line and only halfway on the bottom. This can be a thick or thin line and I'm sure it will require some practice on part.

My next stop was a Walgreens on my side of town. I picked up a few sale items, which has me worried because a few of the lipsticks I really enjoy may be being discontinued:(

Again, a few items are not detailed (Purpose cleanser, Maybelline eyelash curler, J&J Body Wash). If you'd like a review on these, please don't hesitate to ask.

L'oreal Colour Juice Sticks

Left & Top: 460, Island Punch
Right & Bottom: 828 Chai I Love You
Colour Juice Sticks are a staple for me. I love the texture and the colors. The smell is fruity but I can live with it. These were on sale for about $4.50usd. Island Punch is new for me but the Chai is are- purchase...it's an easy neutral color to wear. I highly reccomend you give these a try, especially since these are on sale:)

Sally Hansen's Lipnotics

Top & Bottom Swatch: Bedazzled; Bottom & Middle Swatch: Bling Bling; Top Swatch: MAC Dazzleglass in Rags to Riches (for comparison)

I waited for these to go on sale and finally was able to pick them up less than half of the original price. These are not as thick,pigmented,nor "dazzling" as the MAC Dazzleglasses but still a nice lip topper for some extra omph.

Revlon Shimmer Sheer in 830, PeachySheen
A pretty shimmery peach. Also on sale. I picked this up because I heard these are similar to the MAC Slimshines. Packaging and texture is comparable but not as many color choices. It's a nice lippie that is smooth with buildable color. Plus, it will be great for Spring.

Sinful Colors Nail Laquer
Left to right: 36, Cabana & 114, Shausha

I discovered this brand a few months ago. You get a lot for just the $1.99 you pay(not sale price, either). This brand stays put on your nails and resists chipping. The color Cabana is the first cream I've tried from this brand and I'm very impressed. The color is pigmented, goes on without streaks and overall a really pretty color (and yes another spring/summer color:). The Shausha is very different...it went on sheer and required several layers to build it up to opaque. I find the color may be a little to young for me but still pretty. It's a violet with a good dose of gold shimmer. I think I may use it as a topper over different colors.

Whew! That was a long post. Good thing I only stop at the drugstore every couple of months. This was quite a large purchase for one day but I really wanted to try a few new things while they were on sale.

Hope you enjoyed and let me know if you have any questions or comments about these products:)

NYX Round Lipsticks:)

2009-01-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by lollipop26's army of MAC lippies. Instead of MAC, I thought I share my NYX Round lipsticks. I purchased these from cherryculture.com several months ago when they were originally a $1usd and 20% off.

The next few pictures are in general color catagories. If you'd like a swatch of a particular color and/or description, please let me know.
You can click on the pictures for a larger size.

I catagorized the first few rows as neutrals, which is very broad and general term. These include browns with pink and red undertones, bronzes as well as flat (meaning matte or little shimmer) shades of browns and beiges.

Overall, some I like, some I don't. Not all are flattering for my skin tone but I like to layer those colors with others to make it work.

Left to right: Apollo, Ulysses, Terracotta, Celebrate

2nd Row of neutrals.

Left to right: Raisin, Brown Sugar, Gaea, Alecto

3rd row of neutrals.

Left to Right: Earth Angel, Chambord, Sierra, Herades

4th row of neutrals.

Left to right: Scylla, Hermes, Honey, Dido

Reds & Corals .

Left to right: Electra, Eros, Fire, Sun Flower, Femme

Pinks.

Clockwise: Doll, Peony, Georgia, Flower, B52

Plums.

Left to right: Topaz, Peach, Violet Ray

Update: I got a question about how long these last. I did a test last night. These last about 2-3 hours. I did drink once with the lipstick on and occasionally rubbed my lips together. So, overall, not bad for a low priced lippie. Also, these go on creamy, almost slippery feeling...almost like silicone. The texture is not my favorite but for $1 usd (I think $2 now on cherry culture) these are a steal.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

Before the New Year, I made a few purchases online. I'm still awaiting to receive these items in the mail but in the meantime, I thought I share this with you....

Take a gander at the two duos...Similar, no?

I first saw this while watching SephoraJunkie's most recent haul on Youtube. She purchased some Nars and while she was reviewing it she points to this duo...I'm thinking, "Oh, she picked up the Nars Laguna and Orgasm Blusher/Bronzer duo."

Nope! What she picked up is from e.l.f. (on the right) and you can pick it up for $3usd!

Surprised? I kinda was...and interested enough to purchase it.

I wish I had the Nars version (on the left) cause I would love to know the differences if any. My educated guess would be that the comparison would be apples and oranges but I'm still curious, nonetheless. I do have a Nars blush and eyeshadow duo so maybe this will help with initial comparisons; or, I'll just have to break down and get the real thing!

So, while checking out this duo online, e.l.f. is having a 75% off sale on some of their cosmetics bags. I picked up several of their small clear/black lace designed bags to house different color families of lipsticks (boredom struck while on vacation and I've decided I need to re-organize my lipsticks). I picked up the duo, the bags and some blotting papers. I'll post my impressions of the duo next week as soon as the package arrives.

Have a great week! Best wishes to a Happy 2009:)

Cheap DIY Relief

2008-12-11T16:37:00.001-08:00

So, what does a tennis ball, Badger Balm's Sore Muscle Rub and Bath and Body's Aromatherapy Sleep line have in common? Put together, these saved my sore, stressed out neck and back.

About a week ago, I woke up with a major crick-in-my-neck. My neck was stiff and wouldn't move well without a dull pain. I lived with it for a few days trying new sleeping positions but I realized I had to work out the muscles. Usually, I would head to my masseuse but since I haven't visited her since gas prices have risen (and fallen in this crap economy) I decided on a DIY home remedy.

Here is an overview of products used to release the tension:
Tennis Ball:
I picked up three at Walmart for about a $1usd.

I found some free wall space and put my back a few inches from it. I dropped the ball near the area that needed to be worked out. Then, I moved my back applying pressure to the ball. I suppose if I were looking at myself it would've been a funny sight. Yea, it hurt...but for me, I knew (and prayed) it would help, not harm.

{If you are suffering from back pain, you should consult your physician. I'm not a physician and I'm only sharing what I did, not reccommending. }

Badger Balm's Sore Muscle Rub, 2oz. tin (avail. in smaller .75oz tins):
I ordered mine from drugstore.com for about $12usd but check the Badger Balm site too. They were having a sale on their sets. I highly reccomend the Sleep and Winter Wonder Balm too. I love their packaging as well. It's comforting and the Badger motifs seem old world in design. They remind me not only of the Celestial Tea designs but also of a childhood book I loved, called Bettina.

I discovered Badger Balms while in grad school. Drugstore.com was my go to place online when ordering toiletries. They offer free shipping over a certain amount, no tax and since I didn't have a car at the time (I lived in a metropolitan area), shipment to your door was convenience I couldn't pass up.

This particular balm has cayenne and ginger to give it heat. Here is the list of ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, castor oil, beeswax, extracts of ginger, rosehip and cayenne, essential oils of rosemary, ginger, thyme, sage, cardamon and lemon grass. All natural and the 2oz. goes a long way. Plus, I've never had one to "turn" on me or go bad. I've kept some around as long as a year and half. They can be a bit greasy feeling and if I use a balm it's right before I go to bed.

Bath & Body's Aromotherapy Sleep line:
Get a coupon because there is never a reason to buy BBW at full price. They constantly have sales and coupons (go online and sign up to receive these).

I picked up the Sleep Dream Bath, the massage oil and lotion in Warm, Milk & Honey with a coupon. These are limited edition for the winter and they are putting some of these items on sale now, so check it out before they run out. The clear glass bottle of the Dream Bath is shaped as an old milk bottle. It's thick and pearly looking and makes great bubbles while scenting your bath with a comforting smell. I always add about a teaspoon of the massage oil to the running water to moisturize since hot baths dry out my skin. The massage oil bottle is a cobalt blue. These are nice enough to leave on your shelves in your bathroom.

Overall, while my back was still sore, I felt a bit more relaxed and followed up with some Tylenol PM to ease the pain. I woke up the next day practically pain free with no stiffness. The DIY home remedy worked for me:)

Any beauty DIYs remedies that you rely on to get you looking and feeling your best?

Photos: I should be able to add photos soon so please check back:) Thanks for stopping by!

Skin - Face First

2008-12-06T07:46:00.001-08:00

Lately, I've been looking for a primer to help control my allover oily skin (even in winter, my face is an oil slick). The search for the end-all-be-all primer is, I've found, not just one holy grail product but a combination. I call it the trifecta and while I could probably do better, it was damn close to helping my skin look less shiny by noon.

Here is the overview of products:

Iman Undercover Agent Oil Control Primer
Retails from $13-15usd depending on store. I got mine at Target.

I picked this up not even 2 weeks after to purchasing Cosmedicine Medi-Matte (sephora.com/$42usd for 1.5 oz - will review). While in Target, I always love looking at the colors of the Iman shadows and blushes. Absolutely gorgeous! While considering a blush, I spied the Undercover Agent and decided immediately to give it a go. It's not a dimethecone based product (which I've tried and don't like...this includes Smashbox, Monistat Chafing Gel, Mac Mattifier). It's more of a gel based product that comes in a cylindrical pump container. The product is a beige color that is transparent when applied onto the skin. It dries to a matte, lightweight finish. I find it has no tangible moisturizing properties...meaning my face doesn't feel like I have a coat of cream on it but it's not dry either...more balanced. So, I skip a moisturizer and lay this down first before appling my foundation. By the way, this has no spf.

Revlon ColorStay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin:
This retails for about $11usd but go when the drugstore has a BOGO sale. This way you can pick up two colors to match your skin tone. Also, the bottles are clear. So the color in the bottle is pretty much the color you get.

The colors I use are the 180 Sand Beige and their Medium Beige. Usually, I just apply this on areas that need covering. I find that using my fingers applies the best (it's easier for those days I'm running a bit late for work;) but I've also used a flat foundation brush or MAC's 187 brush with good results.

These foundation colors by Revlon are, by far, the closest to match my skin tone. I know this because I did swatch test of all my 13 foundations (various low and high end brands) under natural light. I was impressed and so happy to discover that Revlon won out as I'll save some pennies cause it's inexpensive. The result is medium coverage that hides what you want hiding but still looks like your skin (but it's very important that you find a shade true to your skin).

EveryDay Minerals Loose Foundation in Butter Tan, Matte Formula or MAC's Mineralized Skin Finish in Natural ($25usd):
Everyday Minerals offers a free sample kit. You pay $3usd + change in shipping or you can pick up a sample for $2.50usd. Online store is everydayminerals.com. I pick up my MAC products at my local Belk's department store or online at maccosmetics.com

This is the last step at keeping the oilies at bay. Just yesterday I gave EDM Buttered Tan a try and I really like it as a finishing powder. It's tagged as a foundation on the EDM site but to keep my make up on a little longer, I find that using a liquid followed by a mineral foundation works well. Luckily, this did not cake. It set the foundation well and gave me a matte finish that was polished. It didn't feel heavy, nor did I feel like I had that "makeup" look to my skin. I know this may sometimes mean a 'flat' face. So to counteract this, I use MAC's So Ceylon Mineralized Skin Finish to highlight. Also, while my oil is under way more control than usual it still breaks through a little creating a dewy effect, not shiny at all.

While, I find, these three products really help with controlling my oily breakthrough it does not keep all of it away for the entire day. I've come to the conclusion that nothing will probably keep all my oilies away (which is a good thing!...since we oily girls usually have fewer lines and wrinkles). However, I do find I'm blotting my skin less while using these products and the tell-tell sign is when I go to the bathroom...my nose is not shiny! Yea! By the way, save some pennies and use the post-its at your desk for blotting...just make sure no is looking your way;P