the glamourista

too chicken to go green??

2011-05-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

having a baby makes you think about your future. it occured to me that maybe there were some steps i could take to make my life better and longer, and maybe some of that had to do with the products i use!

before you roll your eyes, i'm not a tree hugger. maybe it will make me sound like a jerk, but this wasn't about the environment. it was about me! i already knew that a lot of what i was using had a lot of chemicals in it. i also knew that there is an increasing amount of products out there that were catering to people like me, with a new awareness of what we are smearing on ourselves. many companies are developing cosmetics that are more natural or even organic, in a market where the pickings used to be very slim. the more natural products always had strange textures and smells, and usually cost more.

i was ready to start my new, greener path. still, i already knew that i couldn't switch everything. i wanted to change my beauty regime, but there are some products i'm not ready to give up. my mascara, for instance. for me, nothing will ever top my beloved Diorshow Blackout (unless it's another improved Dior product!)i'm also pretty attached to my hair products. having curly hair, it's difficult to find that perfect combination that gives the results i want. my eyeshadow primer will always be Urban Decay-nothing makes my makeup stay put like their Primer Potion.

so, i made a list of products i'd be willing to switch. on it, i ended up with:

-body lotion
-body wash
-foundation/concealer
-blush
-lip gloss (maybe)
-moisturizer

of course, this isn't every product i use on my face and body. would it even make an impact to switch only some of what i use to more organic products? would the fuzzy feeling of doing something good for myself only be in my head? is a switchover an all or nothing deal??

i discovered quickly that labels are SO deceiving. not everything that advertises itself as healthy and natural for your skin is telling the truth. even products with some natural elements can have a lot of chemicals in them.

the longer i debated, the more hesitant i was. i want to put better things on my skin...but there are so many cosmetics to love. could i really give that up?

i've decided to use up what i have. it just doesn't make sense to go guy all new products when i have money invested in so many items now. when the time comes to replace the items, then i'll check out the options for more organic cosmetics.

maybe i'm just not strong enough to go organic. i see a makeup counter gleaming with vibrant colors and glittery textures, and i can't stop myself. i'm trying to be more aware....but it's hard!!

spring cleaning

2010-04-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

in my determination for a new look, it's time to clean house. or...clean makeup trunk.

i have a decent stash that i'm proud of. combine my evil shopping habit, my lust for cosmetics and the fact that i used to work at sephora, and you can start to understand what sort of monster had been created.

here's the problem-i hoard makeup.

i have makeup that i've picked out and purchased. however, i also have a ton of "free gift with purchase" and "gratis" items. some of it is really good stuff that you might pay a pretty penny for, so it's hard to part with. i talk myself into keeping it.

lots of foundations that are now too dark? oh, i could use those to sculpt cheekbones!

lipstick that's too dark or frosty? i could always mix it with another one to create a new color, or dilute it with a gloss!

to be honest, not everything i've kept suits me. i look best in things with cool undertones, and i've outgrown a lot of my products that have tons of glitter (my nightclub days are behind me).

i know there are websites where people trade makeup....but more than likely i'll just give it to some of my friends who are always complimenting me on mine. it will be good for my karma. maybe someone will give me some new makeup to fill the gaps from what i sorted out!

that doesn't really help me clean out my makeup case, does it?

recreating me

2010-04-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

it's time for a new look....

being a new mom with a new job requires a new look. i swore i'd never let a child dictate my amount of self-maintenance, but it's happened. i already cut four inches off my hair because he likes to pull it and i have no time to fix it.

what kind of look am i looking for? good skin, lashes and lips. that's the minimum. of course i'll still put on the glam for special occasions, but i'm going to create a quick routine that i can do in the wee hours of the morning.

unfortunately, i also have to cut back the cosmetic budget. the sad part is that i'm very particular. it's been a long time since i've purchased drug store makeup, and with some things i fear there can be no substitute. can anything really stretch my lashes like my $28.00 Diorshow mascara? i may have to find out, as much as that pains me.

i also haven't hit the perfume counter in a long time. though i still have tons of bottles on my dresser, i feel that i've outgrown some of it and i'm ready for something new. and on perfume, i refuse to follow a budget. i can smell cheap a mile away.

a new chapter, a new me, and hopefully soon...new makeup!

my eyelashes have left the building

2010-01-09T09:08:00.001-08:00

among the lengthy list of unattractive side effects that pregnancy brings, one that bothers me a lot is what it has done to my eyelashes.

as a side note, the hair on my head in thicker and more brag-worthy than it's ever been. i hear it may go back to it's former state after i deliver. boo.

anyway, my eyelashes are shorter and sparser than they were nine months ago. my deep-set eyes rely on big, fat lashes and some manuevering with an eyeshadow brush to keep them from looking recessed and exhausted. not only am i actually tired all the time...i look it! even a swipe with my regular mascara doesn't hold the same magic that it used to.

i'm too nervous to try Latisse, the prescription medication that is supposed to grow lashes, due to the side effects. i simply won't risk putting brown spots on my blue irises, especially when it's permanent.

then there's L'Oreal's Renewal Lash Serum, which doesn't necessarily spark new eyelash growth as much as help you keep your lashes intact. basically, it stalls the shedding process.

hopefully my eyelash woes mend themselves after the baby arrives....i've had several months to plot and plan a new "hot mama" look, and having decent eyelashes is definitely part of that!

product test drive: airbrush tan

2009-12-21T14:43:00.000-08:00

for my wedding, i had my first spray tan experience.

i had expected what i had seen from my big-city experience: a booth that you go into, raise your arms, and get hosed. what i actually encountered in a much smaller town was very different.

after calling around to the various businesses in the area, i found that there were no spray tanning booths. what i finally found after LOTS of digging was a lady who did a type of airbrush tan, with a gun she sweeps across your body while you stand there wearing...not much.

that was a concern i hadn't counted on, because in a booth nobody gets to see your pale goodies as you get sprayed. you have privacy. however, if you are standing in front of a girl with an airbrush, she is all up in every bit of your untanned junk.

this gal was nice, don't get me wrong. but she took me down into her unfinished basement and had me strip down to my unmentionables, and then gave me the chills while she sprayed and powdered me. it was a little awkward for a pregnant plus-size chica.

the end result was better than i expected, color-wise. i wasn't orange, since i asked her to use her lightest formula on my already-pasty skin. i felt like my chest got a bit tanner than the rest of me, and it didn't cover my swimsuit straps as well as i wanted, but it did help them blend. i felt like i looked pretty natural, and i think my pictures turned out well. the first day i kept smelling the formula, but that wore off.

what i didn't like was how it came off-in chunks! then again, i was on my hawaiian honeymoon, sweating and frolicking in the ocean for a week. but the color would start to pill off of me, like an old sweater, and it would make a big streak when i wiped it. this happened mostly on my legs and chest. it made me feel dirty, and i started to wonder how much people could tell that my tan was fake.

i don't regret having it done, but i probably wouldn't do it again.

just for kyl....my wedding face blog

2009-11-10T21:39:00.001-08:00

okay, in an attempt to wash myself of the guilt and shame of being a horrifically inconsistent blogger these past few months, here goes a shout out to kyl about my wedding makeup....

even i was surprised by what i ended up using. being pregnant has caused my skin to really throw me for a loop, making my normally oily skin into a flaky, dry foreign thing. i fight oil my whole life and buy products to combat it, and on the most important day of my life, i end up having to wear something...moisturizing? i wore Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation, which would have been an absolute no-no if my skin were acting normal. i find it so hydrating that my face would generally turn into an oil slick within minutes, but not so on my wedding day. i topped it with Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil, just to give it a nice finish.

My blush was Cargo blu-ray blush/highlighter in pink.

i had my eyes planned out for months. of course i used Urban Decay Primer Potion to start, because your wedding day is the last event you want your makeup to slide on. i used Cargo's 2008 Holiday Palette, and i wish i could tell you the colors, but the package doesn't state what they are. It was in a retro satin case, and had a palette of silver eyeshadows, a highlighter blush, a silver glitter pen, and a silver eyeliner. i created a muted silver smokey eye from the palette, lining my eye with Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Jet. i lined the inner rims with the silver liner from the holiday palette. i covered my under-eye circles with Benefit Erase Paste.

here was a big disappointment...my mascara. i was all pumped up about using Dior Blackout Waterproof. i'm a HUGE fan of the regular formula, but since i didn't want to cry it off on my big day, i decided to try the waterproof. it didn't pump up my lashes nearly as much as i wanted, and i found that it flaked off fairly easily. i put in on top of Lancome's Cils Booster XL as usual, but i didn't have the glam eyelashes of my dreams. on the upside, it didn't come off when i cried.

i stuck with an old faithful for my lips...my Bourjois Lip Stain (which is getting harder and harder to find....). i topped it with Chanel Glossimer in Constellation (which i don't think they make anymore either). i got so caught up in the day that i forgot to reapply after the initial application and there was quite a bit of kissing, so i can't blame my lip stain for bailing after about three hours. i also think that my husband still looks dashing with a little bit of glitter on his lips from me ;).

i'll post pics of my wedding face soon, and i still need to tell everyone about my spray tan experience.....

spray on that marital glow!

2009-09-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

i'm getting married in 9 days.

i didn't picture it going exactly this way in all my girlhood dreams. i'm definitely not the size i'd like to be as a bride (that's what happens when you get pregnant-no dieting!), and i'm a pale, pale girl.

i had almost come to terms with the paleness, except one day over the summer i got into my mother-in-law's pool and returned with some VERY noticeable stripes from my bathing suit. my dress won't be able to cover these, and i know they'll show up in the pictures.

i'm considering a salon spray tan....maybe. not to look like a malibu bride, but to simply even out. however, i've heard that the tan can look orange if you are pale to begin with. i'm a little nervous, but something has to be done, and i don't trust self-tanner in this situation. or maybe it's me i don't trust.

i also plan on doing it a few days before the wedding so that i can remedy the situation if need be.

my other dilemma: my hawaiian honeymoon and this spray tan. i've heard it doesn't hold up well under salt water. nothing says glowing newlywed like a streaky pregnant lady on the beach!!

my wedding day fragrance: Idole D'Armani

2009-09-15T20:51:00.001-07:00

up until last weekend, i had my mind made up about what fragrance i would wear on my wedding day. Versace by Versace was my special occasion fragrance.

it's a sparkling, laughing floral that makes me envision that spectacular moment when we are announced man and wife and descend back down the aisle. that joyous, feminine smell had the potential to mark a memory. i'm not a floral girl, but this particular scent would go brilliantly with all the glitz of my wedding day, and dry down very nicely as the night wore on.

however.

last weekend, on a whim, i sauntered through the cosmetics department of macy's. i decided to sample the new Armani.

i love the Armani fragrances, because they are so well made. Mania is still one of my all-time faves, and i had a crush on Sensi for a long time. She is an excellent choice too-it reminds me of a friend from long ago.

Idole D'Armani is a grown-up version of Sensi. Sensi was sheerly sweet without being saccharine, with just enough woods to give it depth.

Dillards.com describes it this way: "An ode to the feminine ideal, this spicy floral fragrance captures a woman's grace, beauty and strength. Opening with dazzling clementine orange, juicy pear, ginger and davana, it boldly blends absolute saffron, jasmine and rose loukoum with base notes of patchouli and vetiver for a lingering, sensual luminosity".

if Versace was the walk back down the aisle, Idole D'Armani is a night filled with hugging loved ones and being kissed by the one you love. it's an abundance of sweet warmth, cozy and intimate. it makes you want to lean closer to the person you are talking to.

Versace laughs, while Idole huskily murmurs. it doesn't ooze sexuality with musk and sugar, it's subtley beautiful because it smells like skin in candlelight.

that's my wedding day scent.

product test drive-clarisonic is worth the money!

2009-09-03T06:43:00.001-07:00

i got a clarisonic for my birthday!!

i know it's foolish to say everyone should run out and get one-they are pricey. but everyone should definitely have it on their wishlist!

i had heard such amazing things from people who owned these miracle machines. tales of soft, clear skin that boggled the mind. even people whose skin broke out initially after they used it still weren't sorry. with reviews like that, it's natural to be curious.

first of all, it doesn't operate like i thought. i don't know where i got this idea, but i thought the brush spun around, but it doesn't. it simply vibrates. this vibration (while feeling very soothing on your skin), loosens dead skin and allows your product to penetrate better. it is your arm's job to move the machine in circles.

another cool feature is that it times each area of your face. once you start, it beeps after a certain amount of time to indicate that it's time to go to the next area of your face. no clock-watching!

all in all your daily clarisonic experience lasts about a minute and a half.

my skin does feel renewed after using this. the dull skin vanishes, leaving behind softer, smoother, cleaned skin. i couldn't stop touching it! it doesn't irritate existing blemishes and actually helped mine go away.

clarisonic is available with different cleansers and textures of brushes.

this is worth every penny. and then some.

i'm still here....

2009-07-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

i'm sorry that i haven't blogged since april! it's not that i haven't missed you or found any new products to rave about. i've just been a little....busy.

in a nutshell, i'm pregnant. we moved the wedding up. it's been a whirlwind.

but, this will give me a whole new set of things to blog about, such as wedding beauty (at least until october), and then how to be pregnant and not feel like a homely, haggard beast (which i'm still working on).

don't give up on me yet-there's more to come, i promise!

product toss....zoe flat iron

2009-04-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

in a moment of weakness, i caved and went with a cheaper option. i should have known better with a hair tool-cheaper usually isn't better when it comes to flat irons!

i had a 2 inch ceramic Conair flat iron that i promised to someone when i upgraded to a tourmaline flat iron. tourmaline gets hotter and delivers better results quicker, with less damage to the hair. ceramic was the rage before they discovered tourmaline.

what i ended up with was a 1 inch Zoe flat iron from Ulta. bad choice. i miss my old one, even though it wasn't tourmaline. i may beg for it back.

the Zoe flatiron takes forever to get through my hair (though the downgrade from 2 inches to 1 is probably playing a part in that). it also pulls my hair.

the best flatiron i've ever used was a Sedu. it was quick and left my hair stick-straight and crazy silky. you can read great reviews on tons of hair tools, including Sedu flatirons, at .

i guess my quest for a flat iron that rocks my world continues.....

product crush...broadway nails!

2009-04-07T18:47:00.001-07:00

there is nothing that perks up a girl's spirits like a manicure.

unfortunately, with the economy these days, little splurges like that can creep to the bottom of the priority list.

so you can't afford to hit the nail salon every 2-3 weeks and get a mani or have your nails filled? you may have crossed the idea of doing them yourself off the list.

i feel your pain. i learned my lesson about fake nails many years ago, back in junior high. the nail didn't fit my actual nail bed, they didn't stay on, and it was a train wreck just trying to apply them. they made me look like trailer park barbie!

hear me out-give Broadway Nails a shot. their "real life" nails look as good as any acrylics from the salon (without the tell-tale fill line!), they don't chip, they are easy to apply, and here is the best part-they stay put!! i promise. i'm hard on nails. i tap, i type, i open cans.

though they don't stay on endlessly, they will stay on for almost a week or more. for around $7.00 a pack, you can't beat it!

nobody has to know that you did them yourself.....

as seen on tv beauty

2009-03-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

do you think there is any way this would really work? i'm so curious!!

i also really want one of these!

a cool wedding blog i found....

2009-03-24T15:57:00.000-07:00

here's a really cool wedding blog i found...a vintage wedding blog. it has great DIY ideas on every aspect of a vintage-inspired wedding!

product crush....Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 3% Face Wash!

2009-03-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

i really want to try the Peter Thomas Roth Line. it's prices scare me a little bit, but i'm from the group that will pay extra if it yields the desire results.

all i've been able to try so far is his Glycolic Acid 3% Face Wash. it was a tie between that or Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Face Wash. let's see...fight age or fight blemishes?

luckily, i knew that many of the ways to fight aging are just as effective on blemishes, so i chose to fight age. it's based around cell turnover-the more you exfoliate and stimulate new cells on your face, the less you visibly age and the clearer your skin will be.

i really like this face wash. you've heard my oily skin woes, so you know that not all washes are as hardcore as i'd like. i don't want a gentle face wash. i want to take a power hose to my face and make that oil haul tail! i don't mean to say that PTR's face wash is going to wreak havoc on less-oily skins, but this one does a great job of chasing my excessive oil away. my face feels clean but not tight, and it feels smoother with just a few uses. the purpose of this cleanser is to smooth and clarify, and i'm sold.

it's $32.00 for 8 oz, available at Sephora and Ulta.

there are other products that i can't wait to try, such as Lashes to Die For Night Time Eyelash Conditioning Treatment, Anti Shine Mattifying Gel, Pumpkin Enzyme Peel, and the Sulfur Cooling Mask.

have you tried any of this line?

product test drive.....Johnson's Baby Oil Body Wash

2009-03-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

sorry i've been away, readers. i moved to a totally new state!

but i'm trying to get things back to normal....and part of that includes trying new products!

i've got dozens of shower gels. Victoria's Secret, Philosophy, Bath and Body Works. i should shower three times a day...i have enough to last me for years! still, sometimes i can't resist the urge to buy just one more. the attraction is usually the scent or the other benefits that it can offer. in this case, VERY soft, moisturized skin!

if you didn't have your body rubbed down with Johnson & Johnson products when you were a baby, i'm certain you've at least heard of them. they do a great job of making sure that baby's delicate skin stays soft, and they finally caught on adults want soft skin too.

Johnson's Baby Oil Body Wash is about as pampering as it gets. not only does it smell amazingly soft and clean (not like a nursery), but it leaves your skin silky. it promises that you'll keep the softness for 24 hours. it's tempting to leave my other gels behind, since none of them give me that kind of hydration. i love the way my skin feels and smells when i step out of the shower. it's also great to shave with!

you don't even have to hit the mall to find a great shower gel...just go to your local pharmacy or even Wal-mart and stock up on this stuff!

changing my atmosphere

2009-02-24T17:59:00.000-08:00

moving within the next two weeks seems pretty possible. it's overwhelming!

this is different than changing apartments...this is changing lives. as i pack the boxes, i'm hit with the magnitude of it. this is the last time i'll live by myself. when i move back to illinois, i'll be under grandma's roof again. and soon after, i'll be mrs. prince charming's wife.

my personal space is surely under attack, lol.

the things i cherish about living alone will be long gone. the ability to be a hermit for days.....the daily household chores i leave undone til whenever "later" comes....sitting on the couch watching girly shows for hours while i inhale a burrito....

i want to spend these last nati days calling up all the people i'll miss and spending some time with them, but i have so much to pack.

part of me is worried that some of these people will forget about me, and as the months separate us, they will find it easy to pass up my wedding-an event that i'm hoping brings all those people i miss back to me for a few hours. i know that means that perhaps their season in my life is over, but that's so sad.

i almost feel as though part of me is in mourning. i know in my heart of hearts that i will not see some of these people ever again. these last days are the last moments we will share. as intricately as they are involved in my live now, the busyness of life will slowly put us on different paths.

and yet, i'm excited to start a new chapter of my life. i'm getting married and most mornings i still wake up and can't believe how lucky i am. i'm in love with the people i'm moving toward, but i'm not in love with the place.

i'm getting pretty emotional, and i'm not good at goodbye. i have to say goodbye to almost ten years of nati friends....and to a city that i honestly thought i'd live my life out in.

i'm sad....and happy...and sad....and happy.....

love/hate feelings for smashbox halo

2009-02-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

i kept hearing great things about Smashbox's Halo Hydrating Powder. curiosity got the better of me, and i had to try it for myself.

i was a bit leery because the name, "hydrating", implies that it might not be the best option for the oily-skinned. i was prepared for this to further slickify my face.

i have good news and bad news about this product.

the good news is that this stuff, for the most part, rocks. it makes my skin flawless, and it keeps shine at bay for hours. even without a mattifying primer, my skin never looks oily. it stays put all day, too. i like it better that UD's Surreal Skin and Bare Escentuals.

the containter is fun and portable, which is quite a feat when it comes to loose powder. this is actually just a pressed powder with it's top layer shaved off, thus created a loose powder.

the bad news is that is costs $59. that's a mighty expensive habit. also, it may turn people off who buy things based on how it feels on the skin. while it looks great, it makes my face feel waxy. it didn't cause breakouts, though.

tried this? do you share my mixed emotions?

product lust.....urban decay primer potion sin

2009-01-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

any glamourista worth her salt has tried and loved Urban Decay's Primer Potion. nothing works as well to make your eyeshadow stay exactly where you put it ten hours before.

but now, UDPP has a shimmery little sister called Sin. she does the job that the original does, but she's a pinkish goldish champagne hue that makes any eyeshadow pop, or wears well on it's own.

it reminds me of what Two-Faced tried to do with their eyeshadow base (which was far too greasy for my oily lids). it was meant to illuminate the eye or wear alone.

i haven't seen this in person yet, but i have such a crush on the original that i'm bound to love this one too!!

have you tried this?

relationships are bad for your face!

2009-01-30T12:17:00.000-08:00

though i've griped about my cosmetic laziness before, my progress isn't going as well as i'd like.

my beauty routines are still taking a back seat. i can't really explain why. i used to NEVER go out without makeup on. i would never even think about skipping night cream before bed. normally, i was always preened and pruned and coifed and polished.

since becoming someone's girlfriend, i've really been slacking. i don't slack on my weekend job, of course. people literally buy things off of your face there, so it's unthinkable to not have your face done.

i haven't forgotten how to do it. i just don't do it as much anymore. i'll catch a glimpse of myself throughout the day and think, "oh, i wish i'd put on some concealer" or "i look so tired, i need some blush!"

i need to push myself to look better. i can't let the fact that my boyfriend thinks i look beautiful when i first wake up keep me from looking good in public. if i get lazy, my skin will suffer. i'll look bad in all the pictures i'm in. and i want to be proud of the way i look, like i used to.

call it the glamourista's beauty rut. i gotta grab my sephora #14 smudge brush and dig myself back out!

product lust........victoria's secret shoes

2009-01-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

it's odd for me to write about spring shoes when the ground is currently covered in several inches of snow, but indulge me. you know how the world of fashion always releases everything early. you buy parkas in july, and bikinis in january. or something like that.

these are some fantastic shoes i dug on the victorias secret website. it's the heel that's grabbing my attention...it's just amazing!

look at that heel! i wonder if stuff catches on it...
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these are betsey johnson. love them, but can't see myself dropping over $200 for them. i bet they make tanned legs look awesome!
*******

more cuteness. i mean the shoes, not the model. but she's cute too.

wedding musings....my hairstyle!

2009-01-28T11:06:00.000-08:00

the glamourista is getting married!

and this beauty blog is the perfect place to rack my sequined brain and concoct my perfect look for that special day. don't worry, i'll still be reviewing products and lusting after things that sparkle. i'll just be throwing a lot of wedding items into the mix for the next several months.

so far, i've chosen my bridal party (4 bridesmaids and 1 junior bridesmaid), the ceremony site, the reception site, my colors (mostly white and a little black), bridesmaids dresses (they are actually choosing their own-anything long and black).

when it comes to myself, though, i'm a little overwhelmed. i thought making decisions about my own look would be easy. not so!

today's musings....my hairstyle!

i want a veil on top of my head. some places call it a fountain veil, or a bouffant veil, and even some bubble veils fit my description. i want to add height. i'm leaning towards a half-up/half down hairstyle, but there are a LOT of stunning updo's to choose from too!

half-up/half down works well with my naturally curly hair, but so would a messy updo. i also don't want any hair showing between the tiara/headband/headpiece and the veil, i.e. the veil looks like it comes from underneath a cascade of curls.

here are some pics of things that i like....

product lust....Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain

2009-01-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

you probably already know about my lust for lipstain. this lazy glamourista has a love/hate relationship with lipcolor...it's need to be re-applied is frustrating. lipstain gives me low maintenance color.

my fave lipstain is Bourjois. however, sephora discontinued it and ulta doesn't carry it. i liked it because it went on like a felt tip marker, which gives you much more precision than a sponge would (like Urban Decay) or a roll-on (Lorac) or a brush (Stila). put some shiny gloss on top, and you have a unique lip look. i get more compliments when i do that than any other product i put on my lips.

i am ecstatic that Cover Girl heard my plea and released a lipstain worth my while. It has the same felt tip application, and it comes in ten shades!

like other lipstains, you will need to exfoliate your lips (easily done with a toothbrush) before you apply, otherwise it won't go on evenly.

i cannot wait to try this stuff!

Have you tried it?

head and shoulders for toes and soles?

2009-01-13T20:59:00.000-08:00

we all know there are a zillion web pages out there with home remedies for this or that, based on products you probably already have in your house.

a lady at work told me that head and shoulders (the dandruff shampoo) will give you soft feet. if you use in the shower and scrub your feet with that product and a wash cloth, she swears it makes her biscuit heels super soft after about 2 weeks. another guy i work with swears by it, too. he's brave enough to put in on his feet and sleep with it on. according to him, the skin easily sloughs off in the morning.

those things aren't recommended uses for head and shoulders, and i'm sure the company would never advertise such practices. call me a daredevil...i'm gonna try it!

product test drive....too faced smurfette collection

2009-01-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

leave it to too-faced to come out with a line honoring our favorite little blue cartoons. contrary to what you might think, they are not designed to turn you blue like their heroine, but rather make you "smurfy".

first, we'll start with the windows to the smurfy soul. too-faced has an eyeshadow palette and glitter eyeliners, all designed to make your peepers pop.

the shadows are actually very pretty. the So-Smurfy Eyeshadow Collection is quad of two neutrals, one blue and one pink, all easily worn separately or together. as expected, the colors are glittery. despite the versatility, i think you can pass it up for it's price of $32.50. the smurfy-eyed liner is just like the other available too-faced glitter liner shades, with the smurfy colors being bright blue and opalescent white glitter, and priced the same at $17.50.

the Mood Swing Emotionally Activated Lip Gloss is a take on their already existing Mood Gloss. it will alarm you at first application, since it comes out blue and glittery. however, it quickly changes to a rather boisterous pink. my lips were the brightest i'd ever seen them, but apparently still flattering (i got a few compliments). this is no indication of what it will do to anyone else, since each person's lips product a different shade. it also tastes and smells like blueberry, which is fun!

the So Smurfy Illumination Face Powder is probably the worst part of the collection. it's concept is right-to color correct and highlight. however, on even the palest person, it shows up white. kinda like an alien, or one of those ethereal advertisements where the women look all pale and shiny. to get any use out of it, it would have to be used sparingly. wierdly, it's getting great reviews on sephora.com, but i've seen it in action and it's a little odd.

the verdict? over-priced trendy collection with no must-haves. the only thing i may purchase would be the gloss.

product crush.......Pore Effect

2009-01-04T19:14:00.001-08:00

try as we might, we will never be able to create an absolutely truly smooth face. we have products that work like industrial spackle that only give the illusion of what we really want.

it's those pores that are the problem!! they get gunk in them, they get infected, they stare our from our face sometimes like caverns (ew).

there is no miracle product that will make your pores go away. it doesn't matter what it claims to do, that's just not a realistic expectation. but what can a product do? clear out a pore and make it appear smaller, thus making your skin look smoother. the pores won't be gone, but if you get out all the junk that makes pores more visible, your face will look better.

a product i've recently discovered is Dr. Brandt's Pore Effect, a clarifying cream with salicylic acid that "penetrates follicles to clear acne, tighten pores, normalize oil production, stimulates cellular turnover, and calms redness and irritation". i'm converted!

the Pros: it's as effective as any mattifier that i've ever used in the way that it stalls oil production. also, a little goes a long way. you won't even need a separate moisturizer when you use this because it has enough hydration.

the Cons: it's super thick. because of the tea tree oil, it has a medicinal smell.

just to be safe i sometimes use Smashbox Anti-Shine on top of it, but i really don't need to. putting this product on before my foundation makes my skin shine-free for hours, and i have noticed my skin looking clearer, too!

product lust......Clarisonic

2009-01-01T09:40:00.000-08:00

some of the best ways to find a new product is to let someone else try it out for you, especially if it's pricey!

let's face it...new trendy tools and products come out everyday, all proclaiming to be life-changing. and few of the lot actually are.

when i find out about a product's amazingness on accident, when it's not from a rep from the company or from some advertisement, i find that opinion much more reliable. that's how i found out about Clarisonic.

in short? it's a skin-care brush that spins against your face. in sephora terms, it's this: "From the creators of the Sonicare® toothbrush comes Clarisonic® skin care. Sonic technology first changed the way we clean our teeth, it's now changing how we cleanse our skin. The sonic frequency moves Clarisonic's soft, gentle brush back and forth at more than 300 times per second. The sonic micro-massage clears your pores, loosening dirt, makeup and oil. Clarisonic® is proven to remove more dirt (sebum and makeup) than traditional, superficial cleansing, allowing your serums and moisturizers to absorb better. Skin is left soft and pampered without harsh abrasion or chemicals. Clarisonic reduces dry skin patches, oily areas and blemishes and removes 6X more makeup. Pore size, fine lines, and wrinkles appear smaller".

$195.00 sounds totally steep. for that price, couldn't you just buy a brush and move it in really fast circles all over your face? i'm less appalled by price if the thing actually works. here's why i believe that it does: more than once, while i've been giving a consultation to a client and noticed that they had great skin, they told me they were using Clarisonic. they raved about how it made their skin look and feel and weren't sorry AT ALL for the price they paid (i was crass enough to ask).

i want one of these. it's not just cleansing and makeup removal....it's diminishing fine lines and pores. the price is hard to ignore, but if you read the online reviews, these customers are so satisfied. i want one so that i can be satisfied too!!!

i haven't received confirmation yet, but i hear some Dillard's carry this item. and i have a Dillard's card. hmmm........

makin' me over (and over, and over)

2008-12-31T08:55:00.000-08:00

in rolls the new year. and with it, our resolve to make ourselves over.

we want new, better bodies. we want a fresh hairstyle. we want to reinvent our signature style and develop a wardrobe that makes our physique look like a supermodel and accessories that give the illusion of luxury.

or is that just me?

for the past couple of years, i have become increasingly aware that i need to constantly reinvent my personal style. not becoming an entirely new person, mind you, but making sure that i'm in fashion and age-appropriate while still feeling like "me".

i love glitter and bright colors...but those trends have an expiration date. even on legendary pop stars, they can look ridiculous after a certain point. i don't want to be an old lady donning baby barrettes and defending myself with "you're only as old as you feel". trying to look a lot younger than you are actually ages you, and i don't want to be a "don't". there are lots of classy people of all age groups that prove you don't have to dress frumpy just because you aren't in your twenties.

my goal is to find a style icon. i'm going to pick a celebrity (or two) that has a fashion sense that i admire and i'm going to incorporate it into my closet.

for myself, i think simple is better. i'd rather have a very basic, well-fitting wardrobe and keep in season with trendy accessories. i gravitate towards neutrals (black, gray and tan). you can add almost any accessory to that. the style i would like to develop will be modern and edgy, with a feminine twist. i like a little bit of rock and roll with my minimalism.

i've been trying to make this transition a reality for awhile...what stops me is the work involved. i'd have to trim down my closet (ew!) and purchase some new things (yay!). i'd have to bid a permanent goodbye to some things i've never worn that don't suit me anymore. i guess if they'd have suited me to begin with i would have worn them. being realistically harsh with what to toss and what to keep vexes me, because i tell myself i'll wear it "eventually".

honestly, i probably need to be that harsh in other areas besides my closet. i need to par down LOTS of things.

so my quest is on. i'll let you know as soon as i find a style match. perhaps you are doing some makeovers on your own? let me know!

deck the halls with bottles of perfume

2008-12-15T17:20:00.000-08:00

i've been wondering if i should start purchasing only miniature perfumes from now on. i never go through a whole bottle, and it's a more economical way to build my collection!

in the spirit of tiny, wonderful christmas treasures, here are some miniature perfume sets. great gifts for that well-scented friend, or for yourself!

Escada.....

....Calvin Klein.....

...Victoria's Secret.....

....Kenzo....

....Gaultier......

...Bulgari Omnia....

...Clean.....

....Salvador Ferragamo Incanto....

...Ralph Lauren.....

...Dior....

for a mere $1600, your place in heaven can be assured by purchasing the ultimate Bond 9 gift set!!

product crush....Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask

2008-12-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

i wouldn't have tried this product if i hadn't seen the results on someone else.

honestly? ALL lines from ALL products claim to change your life. i need to be convinced.

i work with a woman in her fifties, and i noticed during one of our conversations that her skin was glowing. she looked well-rested and younger than usual, so i complimented her. that's when she told me she'd been using Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask. ironically, she wouldn't have tried it either, except she had complimented someone else's skin.

the sephora.com site states that this product is "A frothy mask that releases oxygen into the skin, so your complexion is instantly brighter, fresher, and younger-looking". it feels strange....it foams up (without your help!)on wet skin and you leave it for about five minutes.

the result makes your skin brighter. all the holiday and work stress that shows up on your face? no evidence. it's based on Bliss's best selling facial treatment. most of us don't have the time or money to make the trip to have this done by a professional. it's nice to know that your bathroom works just as well.

i don't totally understand the science behind it, but i can tell you that it's a visible difference, and that's enough to sell it to me.

have a glossy christmas

2008-12-11T17:38:00.000-08:00

the holidays are the very best time to stock up. yes, there are sales and limited-edition products. but the very best part (at least to me) are the gift sets!

i love sets for three reasons. one, it gives you a variety of products that you can created several looks from. two, i'm obsessed with tiny products. three, if you are going the economic route, you can bust the set apart and use them as gifts for several people or as stocking stuffers.

i'll try to do a few blogs based on the sets that are calling my name this christmas, but i'll start with a buffet of my favorite type of set-lip gloss!!

Mirror Mirror gloss from Two-Faced. tastes and smells great, not sticky, and super shiny!

Kat Von D's glosses come in great colors, but most appealing is "stormy", which looks black but goes on a dark silver. it would be gorgeous over a plum lipstick!

Lorac's mini Mocktail set is very glittery and smells just like the drinks each gloss is named after. plus, each tiny gloss has a mirror on the side so you can admire your lips!

NARS, gorgeous and pigmented as always.

ten glosses for less than 25.00? sign me up!!

i love smashbox. i especially like their nude neutral glosses!

stila's mini glosses have their trademark brush so you can glaze to your heart's content.

all of these gorgeous, portable gloss sets are available at sephora.com. buy them for yourself or for somebody else who loves a lacquered lip!

product test drive.....L'Oreal Feria Color Moisturizing Treatment

2008-11-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

if you've ever box-colored your hair, you know the best part is the conditioner.

it's the icing on the cake. your hair becomes silky and soft. i always thought, why don't they bottle this and sell it? i had heard that people would contact the hair color manufacturers simply looking for tubes of the conditioner.

guess what? someone does sell it in big bottles!

at Sally Beauty, you can buy a tube of L'Oreal Feria Color Moisturizing Treatment. you can have that silky feeling every single time you condition, and not just after you color! it will make your hair super-touchable even if you don't color your hair...it's just so moisturizing! a co-worker of mine, who recently graduated from a Paul Mitchell Hair Academy, swears by this conditioner (don't tell Paul...he might get mad).

one downfall-it smells average. not unpleasant, but not yummy. still, it's entirely worth it for the after-effects. it feels like you are pampering yourself just by washing your hair, and you'll notice how different your hair feels as soon as you put it on.

as L'Oreal would tell us...you're worth it. and this conditioner is worth it!

product lust......Sephora Scent Samplers

2008-11-14T22:11:00.000-08:00

Sephora's Scent Sampler Trendsetters for Her is a dream gift for me. you get a buffet of fragrances to try, and then you can choose which of those you would like a full bottle of.

the gift includes samples sizes of Burberry Brit Sheer, Dior Addict Shine, Emporio Armani Diamonds Intense, Ferragamo Incanto Heaven, Jean Paul Gaultier Ma Dame, Lolita Lempicka Fleur De Corail, Nina Ricci Nina, Prada Infusion D'Iris, and Pucci Vivara. i like 7 of the 9, and that's not a bad ratio!

they have other sampling gifts as well, like the Best Sellers and the New Classics, all coming with sample vials of fragrances so that you can choose a full bottle with the included certificate. Sephora knows a fragrance is a personal choice, so these gifts are perfect for the finicky glamouristas in your life!

they are $50-$70, and available at Sephora and Sephora.com.

product crush...smashbox high definition healthy fx foundation

2008-11-08T08:36:00.000-08:00

lately, i've strayed a bit from my loose powder foundation.

it's been quite awhile since i've worn a liquid foundation. my skin slicks up pretty quickly, and powder foundation seems to sop up the shine very well. however, with the change of seasons from hot weather to cold, i can veer from my powdery beaten path.

enter Smashbox's High Definition Healthy FX Foundation. when applied with a foundation brush, it provides nice coverage that leaves my skin still looking like skin. nothing cakey, nothing mask-like. it lasts all day and with it's ingredients that promote healthy skin, it's nice to know that i'm actually doing something good for my face.

per the sephora.com website, this foundation "Creates flawless skin from within - now you can have flawless skin from the inside out. Smashbox introduces its revolutionary formula packed with ingredients that work overtime to provide cellular nutrition for the skin. UVA/UVB SPF 15 offers sun protection, vitamin C to fight free radicals, and new cell-energizing Ribose renews the appearance of skin. A unique, patented bio-delivery system gives you time-release moisturization and firming benefits that last all day. Skin is refreshed and revitalized for a flawless future".

even though it's not advertised as an illuminating foundation, i feel like i am lit from within when i where this. i struggle with the $38.00 price tag, but foundation is one of those things that you can justify investing in. what do you think?

mmm the smell of men.......

2008-10-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

my favorite smell in the entire world is the smell of freshly washed guy. i love that wonderful, crisp, soapy smell wrapped in freshly laundered clothes. i love walking into a recently exited bathroom that is still foggy with the remnants of a masculine shower.

still, there are bottled smells that do the trick, too. many men's fragrances are too sweet, too immature, too lacking in character to draw me in. i like my guys to smell like men, and that's a hit-or-miss process. some fragrances try so hard to be masculine that they end up reeking like rarely washed red flannel frolicking in an overgrown shrubbery, enshrouded in unkempt facial hair and deer scent.

for better or worse, i can't get past Cool Water for Men. Yes, it's been worn by nearly every guy on the planet, often in appalling excess. in the right amounts, it pelts me with pleasant memories of high school and breathless kisses and laughter. i know you can buy it in any drugstore. i still love it. the notes are: Lavender, Rosemary, Mint, Coriander, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Geranium, Sandalwood, Moss, Ambergris, and Musk.

Burberry for Men is a classic that i adore. it's probably still my favorite fragrance for men, because it's woody and comfortable and irresistibly masculine. it works in a suit and it works in jeans. it's what a knight in shining armor would wear while he rides up on his white horse.the ntoes are: Lavender, Bergamot, Thyme, Mint, Moss, Cedar, Amber, and Tonka Bean.

can i say that i like the Abercrombie colognes without sounding like a pedophile? i know they are worn by the younger crowd. but i swear, when i walk by that store and i see those huge black and white pictures and i smell that vapor that trickles out of it's doors, my heart skips a beat.

Burberry London for Men begs to be worn on crisp fall days. it's like being at a bonfire...with a mix of crackling wood a sweetness hanging in the air. the notes are: Bergamot, Lavender, Cinnamon Leaves, Black Pepper, Mimosa, Leather, Port Wine, Guaiac Wood, Oakmoss, Tobacco, and Opopanax.

you know that any guy of mine will be well-stocked with fragrance if i have anything to do with it....guess i better give Prince Charming's fragrance wardrobe a little kick start!

the glamourista should be put in time out

2008-10-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

i keep telling myself that it could happen to the best of us. since july, i have been a very, very bad glamourista. i've committed the most heinous of beauty crimes-i've been lazy.

it's not a good excuse, but a new relationship has put my head into the clouds and put a kink in my beauty routine. i lacked the motivation to kick start it again. my grooming rituals have been replaced with talking to and texting him, or catching up on sleep i've missed because i've been talking to or texting him. even worse, i've reverted (on some days) to actually look slovenly, and that's not acceptable at all!!

this isn't how i thought i'd behave when i had finally ensnared a worthy suitor. i thought for sure that it would kick me into overdrive, and i'd be a constantly breathtaking creation that was always in process of impressing her man. i'd promised myself that i'd maintain, or even over-maintain.

i haven't had my hair done since july. my roots creep down my head as a disappointing reminder that i wasn't naturally born with those blonde streaks. my fingers and toes that were once weekly habits now glare at me, chipped and in need of some VERY potent lotion. i can't believe i'm admitting this, but i've been going to bed with my makeup on. and my legs aren't as frequently shaved as they ought to be.

i don't like to see me like this. i don't want HIM to see me like this, either (he's long distance, so i try to fool him when i do see him).

this fresh relationship is great for my heart, but terrible for my outward appearance and my blogging. my interest in beauty products hasn't waned (nor has my nasty habit of collecting them)...it's the investment of time and use that seems to struggle.

i think enough is enough.

i didn't get this way overnight, so i can't fix it overnight. i'm taking baby steps to return to the glamourista you knew and loved three months ago...and i'm starting with box coloring (gasp!!) my hair tonight. i'll let you know how that goes.

product lust......floral fragrances!

2008-10-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

i wish i could explain it, but it's a phenomenon that has taken me by complete surprise. out of all the fragrances that i love, very few are florals. i've never much been a floral girl. i was always a spicy/musky/herby/sweet skin scent and sometimes citrus gal.

imagine my surprise that the fragrances that i've been lusting and crushing after lately are ALL floral. i'm having an out-of-body experience!

loving Stella was a surprise. there's something so unapologetically feminine about it. i wouldn't call it proper, because there's a hidden amber note in there that promises mischief in foggy whispers. Stella is my go-to flirty/clubbing/date scent. it makes me feel girly, yet mysterious. the notes are: rose, peony flower, mandarin, rose absolute, and amber. i love this fragrance so much that i also nabbed some Stella Rose Absolute, which is a more potent rose scent.

Versace is the designer's signature scent, and it's powerful. not because it's strong, but that it's overwhelmingly pleasant. this is how i wish Kenzo Parfum D'Ete smelled on me, but it turns too green on me. What i love about this fragrance on me is that is doesn't seem to change, no matter how long i wear it. i love it when i first put it on, and i'm loving it for the same reasons eight hours later. this fragrance is, literally, happy. wearing it makes me smile. it's hard to pick out a single floral, but they all work together so well. the notes are: Living Dew Drops, Icy Black Currant, Purple Wisteria, White Lilac, Lotus Flower, Living Orchid, Angel White Jasmine, White Lights Azalea, Snowbird Azalea, Musks, Cedar, Cashmirwood, Amberwoods.

then there's Prada Infusion D'Iris. i didn't like the other Prada's. This one is breathtaking in a good way. It's soft and ladylike, and so proper i'd almost feel blasphemous wearing it. it's not stuffy, but it's very composed. This is a fantastic wedding fragrance, or any other occasion where you want to smell universally appropriate. it doesn't make you common. if anything, you'd get applauded for having amazing taste. sephora.com says it contains Iris Padilla and Sicilian Mandarin. even the bottle is elegant!

untanned

2008-10-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

i finally had to break down and do it, people. i didn't want to. i've fought it for a long time, but i guess i have to cave in and do what i know is best.

i'm going to quit going to the tanning bed.

no, i didn't have a cancer scare. i didn't wake up with a sun spot the size of a gnome on my forehead. i didn't even get a really bad burn that made me yelp when i walked.

it's economical, mostly. even though i work in a skincare industry part-time and i see regretful clients who are trying to undo their own skin damage all the time, i wasn't swayed. i like the way i look tanned. my skin behaves better tanned. i feel like i look thinner when i'm tanned. and i despise self tanner.

i've been a tanner since high school. not always faithfully, but it's been a long time since i've actually let myself pale out. already i feel pasty and my skin has staged a revolt against me. i fight off the urge to flop myself on that glass and let the lights work their magic.

i know that i'm taking a big step in the anti-aging process. i know it'll be better for me in the long run. however, i'm gonna be more reluctant to show my legs and arms every summer. i'm going to miss that sun-kissed glow that makes me look healthy and fools everyone into thinking i actually get outdoors sometimes.

yes, tanning bed, you and i are having a messy split. we can't get together for one last hurrah. it's just too difficult. i'm going to have to go cold turkey.

product crush.....Buxom Babes Diamond Lips

2008-10-12T17:39:00.000-07:00

i have the biggest crush on Buxom Lips. They are the perfect gloss for every mood. if i had a boatload of money, i'd have every single one. i'm working on it.

in the meantime, they keep coming out with more to choose from.

Buxom Babes Diamond Lips are versatile and portable, and perfect for the holidays because they are sparkly! like the other Buxoms, they make your lips look full while tasting and smelling good.

they come in four festive colors: April (pink kiss), Starr (raspberry ice), Celeste (soft peach), and Clair (moonlit mauve). these are beautiful alone or over lipstick or stain!

as far as i know, these lil beauties are not available individually or in a larger size, so get 'em while you can!

product lust.....Bare Escentuals Ruby Collection

2008-10-12T17:30:00.000-07:00

i love kits. the ones that really impress me give you a variety of products you'll actually use.

a lot of lines are guilty of having kits that have just a couple of gotta-have-it products, and a few others that i'm not in love with. it's even more vexing when the products come only in the kit and aren't available "a la carte".

Bare Escentuals is notorious for this with both brushes and eyeshadow colors.

However, Bare Escentuals Ruby Collection is at the top of my lust list. i wanted it just by reading about it on sephora.com, but i've also seen it in person. it is gorgeous!!!

the website says, "This Sephora-exclusive collection includes bareMinerals Ruby Radiance All-Over Face Color (pink rose) infused with ruby, bareMinerals Golden Ruby Eye Color (peach gold) infused with ruby, bareMinerals Vintage Ruby Eye Color (rose fawn) infused with ruby, bareMinerals Wild Ruby Liner Shadow (plum chocolate) infused with ruby, Double-Ended Classic Black Mascara & Ruby Beautifully Luminous Lashes, Ruby Buxom Big & Healthy Full Color Lip Polish (jeweled mauve), a Soft Sweep Cheek Brush with custom handle, a Double-Ended Tapered Shadow & Eyeliner Brush with custom handle, and a stylish faux-crocodile Ruby Clutch."

i really do like the shadows in this line. they have great pigmentation, and i love the sparkle. my favorite parts of this kit are the double-ended mascara (particularly the ruby lashes end-it's red glitter for your lashes!!) and the brush, which has tiny bristles that are perfect for precision work. you can't go wrong with Buxom Lips, and the clutch is cute.

for $54.00, this is a gift worth asking santa for!!

product crush...benefit erase paste

2008-10-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

not all of us are blessed to wake up looking well-rested. it takes vitamins and a good concealer!

i didn't seek out Erase Paste because i was unhappy with my other concealer. my old one was doing it's job...basically even out the dark circles. little did i know that there was a concealer out there that would not only conceal, but brighten as well!

i admit, in the tiny jar, it looks scary. it's undeniably pink. furthermore, it's obscenely thick. the upside to that is that you only need a tiny bit at a time, and a jar will last you until you are eighty.

you shouldn't use this on your blemishes, because it brightens. keep your other concealer around for that! you want to conceal your zits so that they are barely noticeable, not put a product on them that makes the light reflect nicely off of them.

erase paste is the ultimate smoke-and-mirrors for your eyes...my face actually looks lifted when my dark circles disappear.

this is definitely a must-have!!

product crush.....the haunted house by philosophy

2008-09-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Philosophy has a set of Shampoo/Shower Gel/Bubble Bath that is sure to put you in the mood for fall!!

The Haunted House contains three fabulous scents-Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Spice Muffin, and Black Licorice. it's a perfect gift for halloween parties or pick-me-up for yourself for the sweet price of $30.00.

Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice Muffin are also available in individual larger sizes for $16.00.

you'll smell good enough to nibble on!

product crush.....ddf wrinkle resist plus pore minimizer

2008-09-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

if you find a product that can out-multitask your current multi-tasker, go with it!

DDF Wrinkle Resist plus Pore Minimizer fights wrinkles, diminishes the look of pores, exfoliates, and moisturizes.

if you read up on skincare at all, you know that the same skin process that fights blemishes is the same process that fights wrinkles. exfoliating the dead skin and promoting cell turnover produces younger, clearer skin. and since every skin type needs to moisturize, this product knocks out a bunch of steps that you'd already want to be doing, so this busy girl is loving it!

it has a nice, silky texture, and it's light. that's important for us oily girls who don't want to oversaturate in moisture. it also has a really pleasant smell.

i've been cleansing/toning, then applying this product and i really like how it performs. it's treatment and moisturizer in one step! it's $85.00 a pop, but think of the price of multiple products you'd normally use. plus, you don't need a lot, and a little goes a long way.

this product definitely gets an A!

product crush......BBW Shea Cashmere

2008-09-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Bath and Body Works has a product line that will make you want to stay indoors.

Shea Cashmere comes in body cream, bubble bath, body lotion, shower cream, foot cream and hand cream. it is sinfully moisturizing (thanks to the African she butter), and the cozy vanilla smell will make you wanna cuddle up by the fire. it smells a bit like buttercream frosting, then deepens to a come-hither skin scent. products range from $15.00 to $18.00.

it's like wrapping yourself in a big cashmere blanket!

am i too old?

2008-09-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

is there an age limit on mary janes?

better let me know, because i am lusting over these....the 4.5 inch heel makes them grown up, right? right????

high maintenance?? me????

2008-09-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

although most people who know me would classify me as a girly-girl, i'm nowhere near the level i would be if time and funds allowed.

i use a LOT of products if i have time in my day to pamper myself. i don't always have time to do every single step, but here is the routine for my face if i'm pulling out all the stops...

A.M.
-wash with Philosophy's On a Clear Day
-exfoliate with Dr. Brandt's Microdermabrasion
-moisturize face with Philosophy's Hope in a Jar
-moisturize eyes with Lancome High Resolution Eye Collaser-5x
-apply Bliss Spiff Upper Lip
-apply blemish spot treatment (like Murad Acne Spot Treatment)
-tweeze brows with LaCross tweezers
-apply Smashbox Anti-shine to t-zone
-apply Urban Decay Primer Potion to eyelids
-apply Cargo One Base concealer under eyes, around nose and corners of the mouth, and on any blemishes
-apply Smashbox Photo-Op Under Eye Brightener
-apply Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Foundation
-apply lightest eyeshadow shade with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Eyeshadow Brush
-apply crease eyeshadow shade with Sephora Smudge Brush #14
-apply any additional colors with Sephora Smudge Brush #14, q-tip, or lip brush
-blend eye look together with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Large Powder Brush
-line eyes with shadow or cream liner using Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Liner Brush, or using a pencil
-apply Lancome Cils Booster XL on lashes
-apply Diorshow Blackout mascara on lashes
-apply bronzer with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Large Powder Brush
-apply blush with Flirt! Everywhere Brush Kit Blush Brush
-apply Bourjois Lip Stain
-apply lip gloss

that's exhausting just to read!! and that's not counting my hair routine, or doing my nails. but, in my defense, i can crank this routine out pretty quickly. i can be out the door in an hour with this face. well....maybe an hour and a half......

product test drive......Ralph Lauren's Notorious

2008-08-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

i contacted a rep at L'Oreal regarding the release of Ralph Lauren's new fragrance, Notorious. though the initial try-out offer was over, she used to be from Cincinnati, and in the spirit of good neighbors, i received a 1.7 bottle in the mail today! i thought i would simply be getting a sample, not an entire bottle, but it made my day.

Notorious is a cuddling sort of smell. it's not overpowering and doesn't flirt with you from across the room...it simply brushes up against you and makes you want to inhale. it's sweet but not sticky, warm but not suffocating. i think it's misnamed, because it's title implies that it has an element of danger. this fragrance isn't dangerous, and i wouldn't even classify it as sultry or seductive. it is sexy in a comfortable way.

the notes swear that there is a chocolate element in it, as so many gourmand-y fragrances profess, but i don't smell it. i like the vagueness of the patchouli because it matures the other sugary notes.

it's breatheable, pleasant, and would be great for a first date or a romantic evening at home. i'll have to try this one out on Prince Charming!

the notes are: chocolate cosmos ("a decadent, chocolate-scented burgundy flower exclusive to Ralph Lauren Fragrances"; black currant, pink peppercorn, bergamot, white frost peonies, carnation, patchouli musk, vanilla and iris.

product crush.....mirror mirror gloss by two faced

2008-08-26T12:41:00.001-07:00

i think a lot of people overlook Two-Faced, and i think it's the marketing. it definitely appeals to a younger crowd, because their packaging is, in a word, juvenile. however, if you can get past it, they really do have some great products.

i'm really excited about their Mirror Mirror Gloss. they have a bunch of fabulous, sheer color options that aren't sticky, and they are also scented with a fun burst of fragrance!

per sephora.com, "The deliciously-flavored colors are scented: Envy Me with currant, I Love Myself with grapefruit, I Know You Want Me with Apple, Damn I'm Hot! with Cherry, I'm Perfect with Banana, and Don't Hate Me with Strawberry".

i've been wearing "I'm Perfect" (sheer beige) over Naked by Urban Decay, and i've also tried "Damn, I'm Hot" (sheer red) and "Envy Me" (sheer currant). they are all long-lasting and very shiny, and the scents are a really nice touch!

i almost prefer "I'm Perfect" to the "Girls on Film" Glamour Gloss, simply for the shine. "Envy Me" helps create a look similar to Smashbox's Wicked/Lovely dark lips when paired with Urban's Rockstar liner (made for eyes, but fun for eggplant lips, too!) and their Apocalypse (blackberry/sheer cream) lipstick. then again, i'm prone to a good cocktail.

try these lipglosses-they'll put a little perk in your pout!

product cocktail.....urban decay liner and two faced gloss!

2008-08-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

i'd much rather do up my eyes than my lips.

ask my favorite stylist friend, Beauty Queen, and she won't miss a beat while telling you that my lip line is not for the faint of heart. it's hard to get right. most days i don't even fight that battle. in addition, my lips don't take color well. nearly everything turns to sheer boring pink on me. it's strange....things that would normally would be very dark on one person just mellow out on me, almost like i just put on a transparent gloss.

it's not very often that i get fanatical about a lip look. lip products, yes. i can talk up gloss, stains and plumpers all day. truth be told, though, i don't have high hopes for a big difference. i've learned to be content with something that looks nice, and to expect a certain result.

yesterday, quite by accident, i combined two products that created a lip look that i could not keep my eyes off of.

Urban Decay's new 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencils are a loooong time coming. their eyeliners are already above the curve in my mind-creamy, highly pigmented, and long-lasting. these lip liners are the same.

i covered my entire lips with Naked, which is a neutral pink. then, i topped it all off with Two-Faced Glamour Gloss in Girls on Film, a pink-nude beige shimmer.

when i stepped back and looked in the mirror, i didn't immediately gasp that my look was all about lips. what i was impressed with was that i had found a lip look that made my face look polished....dare i say it? the perfect nude for me! it's a hard task to find one's perfect naked lip look.

i need to buy these two products in bulk.....i can't see myself living without them!!

hopefully i'll be able to post pics of this new look soon.....

scented for life!!

2008-08-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

my perfume collection is large, but not nearly as vast as some aficionados out there. while you would think their reviews and musings would encourage me that i'm not as obsessed as they are, more often than not it nudges me that i've got a lot of catching up to do.

one of my favorite perfume blogs, nowsmellthis, recently pondered about how long their perfume collection would last. i haven't done the math on mine, but this article sure has me feeling like i'm living in excess (just a bit....).

product lust...LORAC's fall releases!

2008-08-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

one of the best parts of fall is the rich color that all the makeup lines come out with. LORAC has got some great products you might want to check out!

first, look at the Multi-Platinum Palette above. with colors like Rockstar, Serenity, Heavy Metal, Sapphire Storm, Dreamy, and Techno, and blush in Couture, this could be your go-to palette for evening!

my fave color releases this season from LORAC are After Party (dark black violet) Green Room (a deep emerald sheen) and Celebutante (shimmering teal blue).

in addition to making your eyes pop with color and shimmer, LORAC now has a concelear/highlighter duo called Double Feature.

one end holds (you guessed it!) a concealer, while the other end is a highlighting formula, perfect for adding some light around the eye area! the product has a rollerball which they suggest that you use to blend everything. the concealer looks adequate, but i get really excited about the highlighter. the product comes in three shades.

product crush.......Gendarme Sky

2008-08-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

my quest for new and interesting perfume never ends.

i'm finding that having a significant other might tinker with my perfume selection. there are some things that he's not crazy about, though he hasn't nixed anything yet that's broken my heart. then again, i haven't let him smell those, because i'm scared!

i was in Sephora the other day and i smelled something that was very pleasant. it was a clean smell...but not like a laundry or soap smell. i'm so over those! it was soft and fresh, and it was Gendarme Sky. it's advertised online as a feminine fragrance, but it was camping out in the men's fragrance section when i found it. i have no problem wearing a masculine fragrance....i wear Boss Pure and L'eauParKenzo pour Homme at work all the time. i guess i just need to snag myself a sample and see if it's boyfriend approved.

the notes are: sparkling bergamot, sweet lime, green lemon cardamom and cognac; mid-notes of Magnolia flower and Asian pepper oil and a dry down of warm woods and luxurious Spanish moss.

product test drive.....Benefit Posietint

2008-08-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

i made friends with Posietint.

although i'm probably the last gal on the planet to review this stuff, i'll throw my two cents in. my first go-ronund with this stuff didn't go very well. i can't tell you that it's foolproof, either. using it takes a little bit of practice, but it has great results!

Posietint is a lip and cheek stain by Benefit. They already have another great cheek stain out (Benetint, if you aren't familiar). this formula is much pinker and creates a very pretty flush on the cheeks. much like Tarte's stains, you look like you glow from within.

it looks like a big bottle of pink nail polish. the applicator actually looks like a nail polish brush. the trick is to work quickly and blend like mad. if you do it right, it's subtle and it becomes part of your skin. you don't look "made up", you just look healthy, and in my mind, that's the entire purpose of blush!

if you haven't checked it out already, wander over to the Benefit counter or check it out at Sephora!

product lust.....bare escentuals buxom lips full color

2008-08-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

i love when a company has the brains to improve upon something that's already good.

take, for instance, Bare Escentuals. i loved Buxom Lips before, with it's shimmery sheer color and it's minty tingle. i loved to wear it over stains and lip pencils. but now, there is Buxom Lips Full Color. it's fuller color coverage in a formula that you already love....yay!!

it promises "intense sheen and color opacity with no sticky or tacky feeling". i promise that i'll definitely end up buying some.

product test drive at the mall.....Lancome Magnifique and Estee Lauder Sensuous

2008-07-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

i went for a little scented indulgence at my local Dillard's. though my main priority was to pay my bill, i also wanted to smell two new scents that i'd been keeping my eye on: Lancome's Magnifique and Estee Lauder's Sensuous. i predicted that i would like Sensuous the most.

Magnifique was a wonderful surprise to my nose. though i didn't love it immediately, i was pleasantly intrigued. it began to unfold on my skin as this warm, woody rose scent. and i don't attach this word to many fragrances, but i can use it here: it's sophisticated. not sophisticated like the fragrance ages you, but that it's so classy and well done. the longer i wear it, the more impressed i am. this is a perfect special occasion scent, perfect for evening. i am glad that it's missing that aldehyde note that so many fragrances out there have-i feel like it can sometimes cloud the fragrance, but this is not powdery. the notes are: nagarmota essential oil, saffron essence, cumin, Bulgarian rose essence, Mai de Grasse rose absolute, jasmine, Australian sandalwood essence and a vetiver note. this is a little black dress scent, and i can't wait to have it! this is what i wish Chanel 5 smelled like, but the aldehydes always turn me off. if you try it, do yourself a favor and put it on your skin. give it a few minutes to warm up, and you'll be glad you did.

Estee Lauder Sensuous didn't impress me as much. it's notes are: ghost lily accord, magnolia, jasmine petals, molten woods, amber, sandalwood, black pepper, juicy mandarin pulp and honey. though it smells like Bronze Goddess's redneck cousin, though by looking at the notes, they only share magnolia and sandalwood. it's sweet, almost overdone, and i keep waiting for the wood notes to come out, but the magnolia keeps stifling it. it doesn't seamlessly blend for me. it's as though the various notes are fighting each other for stage time.

go give these two newbies a whiff and see if you have found a new fragrance for yourself....

product crush...Bare Escentuals eyeshadows and brushes

2008-07-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

my makeup personality refuses to be placed into any certain stereotype. some days, i'm doing the "sheer, fresh and pretty" thing, some days i'm feeling a little rock 'n roll, some days i'm even a little costumey. i adore dark eyes and a pale mouth, and i'm a sucker for glitter.

i used to think that Bare Escentuals didn't really fit my makeup personality. i thought that they were geared towards a sheer, more natural look.

i've been looking at it recently, and i think we might become friends. i'm not in love with the entire brand, but their eyeshadows and brushes are intriguing.

though they don't have the range of bolder colors that Urban Decay does, they do have more than just neutrals. they have some lovely deep shades and lots of shimmer. plus, all of their shadows are wet/dry. they also have some excellent kits that put shades together for you, and the brushes that come in the kits are amazing.

the individual shadows are $13.00, but it's the eyeshadow kits that are going to be painful ($32.00). tell yourself that the brush is worth it and the colors are fabulous. they often include brushes and eyeshadows in the kits that are not sold individually.

i'm excited about the release of their "rocker eye" kit, which is going to create that shimmery, smokey eye look that i crave!

application with this entire line is pretty messy. after all, it's loose powder. i generally have to do my face before getting dressed if i'm wearing BE.

do you love Bare Escentuals? any faves?

product crush....Cargo One Base

2008-07-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

finding a good concealer can be difficult. mainly, because a lot of concealers are thick and a little dry, and a lot of the things we'd like to conceal are already dry (like blemishes we are trying to clear up!).

the wrong concealer can actually draw attention to what we are trying to hide.

i love Cargo One-Base. it's a liquid that doubles as a foundation or a concealer. since i have a healthy relationship with Urban Decay's Surreal Skin as my foundation, i needed a good concealer, and this one totally makes the grade. however, in a pinch, it can be a foundation, and that's good to know.

it's consistency is thinner than what i'm used to in a concealer, but the coverage is just as good. because it's thinner, it blends very easily into the skin. i can hide blemishes and my under-eye circles with this, and it doesn't look cakey, chalky, or un-skin-like. basically, it disappears, and you can't ask for better than that!

as a sidenote, you can use concealer on more places than just blemishes and under-eye circles. putting a little concealer on each side of your nose and around your mouth will totally brightens your face. these are areas that are most prone to discoloration and darkness, and when you want to canvas out your face (making it all one color and preparing it for your makeup), a lot of people forget these areas. it will really make a difference for a finished look!

hair envy revisited...the Pantene Volume collection commercial

2008-07-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

ah, here we go. i want her hair. i NEED her hair. it's perfection.

product crush.....Too Faced Eyeshadow Duos in Totally Toasted

2008-07-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

marketing goes a long way in cosmetics. brands have an intent to draw a certain crowd, and the marketing makes that happen.

for instance, Too-Faced has a vintage-yet-juvenile feel. it turns some people off, while the brand does have some redeeming products. they have glitter and shimmer, things that plump, and some interesting color choices.

i recently discovered that they have something that every girl ought to have in her arsenal. their Eyeshadow Duo in "Totally Toasted" is a go-to, foolproof neutral that any girl can pull off. it's the perfect eye look for someone who likes a less dramatic look, or if you want to focus on your mouth instead of your eyes. i discovered it on a co-worker who was rocking a red pout, but her eyes were perfect with the look. defined, but not overpowering. it's a combo of a bronze shimmer shadow, and a champagne shimmer (off-white) shadow. that champagne shadow goes with a billion other things that you probably already own.

you've got to get your hands on this stuff!

product test drive.....Benefit B Spot

2008-07-21T20:26:00.001-07:00

if you know me at all, you know that if you cut me, i bleed perfume. the release of a new fragrance is completely enthralling to me.

i had high hopes for Benefit's B Spot. it advertises itself as being seductive...a fragrance to be put on certain spots of the body (b spots).

to my nose, it's not the least bit sexy. it's notes of mango, freesia, peony, sandalwood, and amber don't do a thing for me. usually adding sandalwood and amber to anything make it a little more suggestive, but those notes are barely noticeable in this fragrance. mainly, i smell an overload of freesia.

it's not a scrubber, but it is a disappointment. it's immature and easily overdosed, surrounding you with shrill giggles. i hope i don't run into anyone who actually puts this juice on all those "b-spots". i'll have to politely walk away coughing!

it smells a bit like hair gel to me....not unpleasant, but not something i want my entire body to smell like. i much prefer their first fragrance, Maybe Baby, to this.

product crush....Nanette Lepore fragrances

2008-07-17T19:15:00.000-07:00

for reasons i'll choose not to explain, i was dead set on hating any of Nanette Lepore's fragrances before i ever set eyes on them. and, at first sniff, i didn't love them either.

Her signature scent, simply called "Nanette Lepore", has notes of Moonstone Rose, White Peach, White Cranberry Juices, Magenta Nectar, Black Currant, Orange Jasmine, Persian Lime Juice, Velvet Violet, Amber, and Indian Sandalwood. i swore it would be too "girly" for me, but it's growing on me. it's light and feminine, and although it really has no feisty attitude that i like in a fragrance, it's simple and pretty.

"Shanghai Butterfly" lured me in before NL did. it is so close to Encanto Shine (which i like) that it's unnerving. it has notes of Lemon Slice, Mandarin, Snow Apple, Carnation, Lily of the Valley, Gardenia, Poet's Jasmine, Whisper Rose, Oriental Leaves, Green Cedar, Siberian Musk, Sandalwood. it's a clean, fruity smell that doesn't have the pretty whisper of NL, but more of a fun-loving, almost sporty smell. i don't feel like the name suits the juice, but the juice is good, so we'll leave it alone.

both of these are pretty affordable, with the smallest bottles being just $38.00. they'd make excellent daytime warm-weather scents!

become a saucy Tarte!

2008-07-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

have you tried Tarte?

Tarte is probably best known for their groundbreaking cheekstain. it was on the cheeks of all the A-listers for awhile. and although i was eager to try it, i had been warned that the formula (which looks like an enormous chapstick) would set into larger pores and make an oily-skinned girl look like she had polka dots on her cheeks. i had to try it for myself!

i have tried applying "flush" in several ways. first, you can just make a big circle on each cheek and blend with your fingers, or you can use a large brush (i like to use a foundation brush) to swipe the top of the product and apply to the cheeks. i do have to use this stuff sparingly, because it has a balm consistency and could counteract the shine that i'm always trying to get rid of. i do love the color that looks like you glow from within. and, it didn't make little polka dots all over my cheeks.

Tarte also has some fun new eyeshadow options called "Lock n Roll Crease Eyeshadow Duo". it's a wand with liquid eye-shadow on one end and loose eyeshadow on the other. i tried "gunmetal", a glittery silver shade. the liquid formula goes on decently, but i'm a big fan of the loose shadow on the other side. i actually take the rollerball off and stick a brush into the tube. the loose shadow has a deeper shade and more shimmer.

another product that i really like is their "Double Dose Berry Boost and Gloss". the color and shine are separated in the tube, then magically come together when you squeeze. it's the perfect combo of shine and color, and it doesn't taste horrible. it's a little painful to pay $21.00 for a lipgloss, though (unless it's Chanel Glossimer).

product toss......Cargo Texas Lash

2008-07-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

my current quest is to find a mascara to rave about that my part-time job actually sells. sadly, that doesn't include my favorite, Diorshow Blackout. if i'm telling a customer about what mascara i've used and liked, i need to be able to sell it to them!

Cargo's Texas Lash isn't the first to use the concept of forming tubes around the lashes, thus creating visual volume. Too-Faced Lash Injection does the same thing.

i don't mind the brush-it's fat and has a lot of bristles, much like my favorite. however, the formula gets a little clumpy on my lashes the more you apply (i'm a lash builder...i like to keep recoating!). it also flakes a bit.

the worst part is the getting the stuff OFF your lashes. even if you saturate with waterproof remover and swipe down, you still get little black pieces all over your face. you can actually see portions of the little lash-tubes. my friend Beauty Queen swears that it is also taking real lashes with it, and i don't want to take that risk!

here are a couple of pics of my experience with Texas Lash...

this one isn't a keeper in my book. next!

hair envy....pantene never made me look this good!

2008-07-14T15:33:00.001-07:00

it wouldn't matter if i dumped a gallon of Pantene on my head, it would never look like Maria Menounos' hair. I couldn't find the latest commercial, where her hair is out of control gorgeous, but her hair is pretty impressive in this one, too. i have total hair envy!!!

product lust.........Too Faced Lip Injection (OUCH)

2008-07-12T07:56:00.001-07:00

ready to suffer for beauty? slather your lips with Too Faced Lip Injection!

in case you don't know, what makes most lip plumpers work is that they contain a variety of chemicals that irritate your lips on purpose, thus causing them to become more flushed and a bit swollen. they range from uncomfortable to painful, and this one has been the most painful that i've tried.

..and i still don't hate it. yes, i am insane.

you notice the tingling immediately. from there, it escalates and for the next 5-10 minutes and it's hard to concentrate on anything but your aching lips. end result? a shiny, full pout, if you can handle it that long. the pain does go away, i promise!

it comes in clear and four nice colors that work well alone or compliment stain or lipstick nicely.

i plan on trying Lip Injection Extreme (which is a terrifying step up from plain old Lip Injection!!) very soon. i have to mentally prepare myself for the inevitable anguish..........

product lust.......Urban Decay Loose Pigments

2008-07-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

one of the best things about my part time job is that i get to sample out all kinds of goodies, thus developing all kinds of crushes.

Urban Decay continues to woo me with their colors and glitter.

Urban Decay Loose Pigments are vibrant and sparkly, and i have a HUGE crush on "Rockstar", which is (dark purple in black base w/ silver/purple micro glitter per sephora.com). actually, i want them all except "Shattered"(bright, greenish blue) and "Goddess"(midnight blue w/ electric blue micro glitter).

the container comes with a brush, which i find bulky. i'd be more likely to put a small brush into the bottle or tap some out into a lid or onto a tissue and use an eyeliner brush from there. i am discovering that my eyeliner brush can do a lot more than line eyes, but that's a different blog.

i'm also flirting with their 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rock Star (dark purple). it goes on creamy and stays like a dream.

tried these?

urban decay primer potion rocks my world again!!!

2008-07-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

just when i thought i couldn't heart Urban Decay Primer Potion any more.....i discover that it multitasks.

i wouldn't lie to you.

think about it. on your eyes, it keeps oil at bay and makes your product stick. so, logically, there are other places on your face that could use that kind of staying power.

like your lips! yes, put UDPP as a lip base and your bold/bright lipsticks stay a lot longer. i admit that i got that idea from somebody else, but this next one is all mine. i may be making history right here on this blog, because....

it works as an awesome mattifier! i put a thin layer on my t-zone and i stayed shine free! i purposely didn't use much because it's color is lighter than my skin tone and i didn't want to have a big, bright T in the middle of my face. but it virtually disappeared and did an awesome job of keeping my shine away for hours.

try these tricks and see if they impress you as much as they did me!

product lust....wicked lovely by smashbox

2008-07-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

i'm so excited for all the fall makeup collections...this one caught my eye at Ulta, and i cannot wait to get my hands on it!

smashbox's Wicked Lovely collection combines two of my favorite looks-dark eyes and pale mouth. i like almost every piece...

the first thing that drew me in was the adorable packaging, covered in scrolly black stencil. the lip glosses have a black leather tassle on top. speaking of the lip glosses, i think i have to have it in "Sweet", which is a sheer apricot. i didn't get to see "Sultry" in person, but it's a black cherry.

the eye makeup for this collection is mostly deep and shimmery, which doesn't hurt my feelings much. the cream liner/loose shimmer product has three stripes of liner on one side of the jar and the bottom flips open for some shimmer in a gunmetal gray color. you can create a ton of looks with just this one pot of product! plus, their cream liner is a bit impressive anyway.

the blush is the perfect deep flush. it's a soft warm pink called "Charm". i put some on the back of my hand, and it seemed to be matte.

what do you think of this collection? check the whole collection out at www.smashbox.com

product lust......Sally Girl polishes!

2008-07-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

so many nail polishes, so little time.

when i go to choose a polish, there are certain brands i normally go to (OPI, Essie, etc). and, i usually find more than one that i want. however, it can hurt your wallet pretty quickly dropping 6-8 bucks per bottle just because you want a fun color for the month of july, or because you want to hop on the latest trend wagon.

while browsing at my local Sally Beauty Supply today, i stumbled across a display of tiny bottles by the register. They are called Sally Girl, and they are the perfect way to get your new polish color fix! at just $.99 a pop, you can stock up and try as many as your heart desires. they have 56 fun shades.

it gave me the courage to break out of my mold and try a tangerine metallic called "Hottie"...and i love it! they have a great selection of colors, both classic and trendy, bright, light and dark. there's something for everyone in this collection, and it's totally portable!

check it out!

like Bourjois?

2008-07-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

if you are a Bourjois fan, something is amiss.

i can say for certain that they are pulling out of Sephora at JCPenney. products are now discounted at 30% off. i also noticed that their products are on sale at sephora.com.

their lip stain is worth it. i'm stocking up!!

product test drive....philosophy purity made simple high foaming daily cleanser

2008-07-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

i'm working on switching up my skincare. i may gravitate towards using 2 different cleansers-one for morning, and a different one for night.

i've been using Purity Made Simple High Foaming Daily Cleanser by Philosophy. during this test run, it's been my morning cleanser. i love how light it is, and how my skin feels afterwards-soft and clean, not tight and dry like some cleansers can be. it also smells really nice.

it's efficient, because you cover cleansing and toning in one step. this product has it all covered! i'm used to clinique's 3 step program, but this will save some time. the pump also makes it very convenient to dispense at your bathroom counter or even in the shower. it foams everything up for you-a lazy gal's dream!

so far, no buyer's remorse about this product. i highly recommend it!

sick of being slick....the search is on!!

2008-06-30T20:25:00.001-07:00

as the seasons change, your skin can do some crazy things.

i'm an oily girl. add the summer heat and some humidity, and we have a real issue on our hands. i've tried so many products, just trying to keep the issue under control. i don't necessarily have a breakout problem, but the oil does get bothersome.

i'm in the process of changing my skin care routine (which definitely plays a part in making things less greasy). another key part is to start your daily face with a good mattifying primer.

i used to use a discontinued product by Philosophy called Never Let Them See you Sweat (not to be confused with the recently released Never Let Them See You Shine). i recall that working fairly well, though i wear more makeup now than i did then.

Benefit's Dr. Feelgood works fairly well for me in the cooler months, but i need something a bit more potent right now.

i'm uber picky about mattifiers, but it's because i expect a lot. i want it to last all day, not only be matte but FEEL matte, hold makeup well, and not break me out. those stipulations would intimidate any mattifier.

here are a few i've tried:
-Artistry Matte Finish Gel (no longer made. doesn't last throughout the day anyway)
-Cargo blu-ray High Definition Mattifier (i desperately wanted to love this, but it didn't even last me 8 hours)
-Smashbox Photo Finish Light Foundation Primer (makes my foundation smooth, but didn't really do much mattifying)
-Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Spray (i don't like hosing my face down. it didn't give the texture i wanted, either)

i used Dr. Brandt Pores No More today. i'm going to be test-driving it for the next week.

i'm also going to try Urban Decay's De-Slick, Philosophy's Never Let Them See You Shine, Smashbox AntiShine, and Smashbox Compact AntiShine.

primer potion autopsy

2008-06-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

sometimes you have no idea what you are truly throwing away. the buzz lately is how to crack open Urban Decay's Primer Potion and get out every last drop.

check out this blog and this blog to see how others have fared with their quest.

i thought i would post the pics of my own adventure. sorry they aren't the best quality, but you'll get the idea. i was completely amazed by what i almost threw into the trash-there was so much left!!

i used a steak knife, but i don't recommend it. it could have easily sliced open of my fingers. one blogger used an exacto knife, and that's probably a better idea.

the scene of the crime...this poor defenseless bottle was found sawed in pieces on the kitchen counter of a semi-young ohio woman. she could not be reached for comment.

a picture of the autopsy confirms that this bottle still had so much life to live!

the preserved remains now rest in a sample jar.

the amount that you can't reach with the wand actually might be a crime. i cringe when i think how much i threw away last time. if only i'd hacked it open before!!

personal trends....

2008-06-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

while i keep up and try many of the new industry trends, i find that i go through personal trends too. i'll go through days or weeks of a certain color, look or scent. not because that's what's hot in the fashion world, but just because i really like it at the moment.

lately, i've been rocking a lot of brown/gold/pink eye looks. i didn't always love brown. as a matter of fact, for a long time i thought it was the most boring color on earth. i cringed when it was pointed out that brown made blue eyes look bluer. it was so disappointing!

some brown really is boring. i'm not a neutral girl, and sheer eye makeup doesn't normally thrill my soul. i had to experiment and make friends with brown.

the trick (for me) is have a sparkly, metallic or shimmery brown. Guest List or Impress by Lancome can be worn day or night, and they make my eyes look really bright. pair them up with pink or gold on the browbone, and i'm all set.

i'm finding new value in neutral shimmers (like pinks, peaches or golds) for the brow bone. i may stand alone in this opinion, but i find browbone colors with no shimmer to be useless. that's one of the best places to sparkle! unless it's come as a gift with purchase, i don't own any non-shimmery browbone highlighters.

here are the five i use most:
~Victoria's Secret Douse Me with Diamonds Wet/Dry Eye Shadow in Flirt
~Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow in Honey Drop
~Lancome Color Focus in Suntouched
~Elizabeth Arden Eyeshadow in Sparkle & Aura

if i only had those five to survive on, they would go with every other eyeshadow i own. i use them almost every day.

i've also recently discovered Prestige eyeliners (at CVS), and Charcoal Brown has definitely earned it's keep! Black eyeliner will always have my heart, but brown is a great way to mix it up, and to tone down some dramatic looks for daytime.

do you have any personal trends?

product crush......kenzo vintage

2008-06-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

i haven't been blown away by a fragrance in a while. i have purchased a few this year, and i like them, but i've been wanting to be completely enamoured by a scent.

at last, my love has come along.

Kenzo Vintage is gorgeous. at first, i pegged it for a typical oriental, but i was so wrong. i smelled it on someone else and liked it, smelled it on the card, and then smelled it on me. i can't stop smelling my arm! there is no turning back now, because i absolutely adore it.

contradictory to my usual taste, it's unisex. normally, i'm not drawn to that genre of fragrance, but this one is so different. it's musky and sweet, light and modern. it doesn't scream femininity (as expected with a unisex scent), but it's definitely mysterious and provocative. you don't want to stop smelling it...because you're trying to figure it out and because it's pleasing.

the notes are: mandarin, tonka bean, heliotrope flower, cedar wood, musk, and vanilla.

i cannot wait to own this. it may make a lot of my other perfumes jealous!

early summer product lust....there are so many!!!

2008-06-14T16:30:00.000-07:00

ah, so many products i'd like to test drive this summer, and so little time (and....sadly...fundage). but, here are some things that i'm lusting after at the moment.

for my nails:
~Essie Night Fever (found: the perfect 1950's red with glitter in it-hooray!!)
~Essie Party Girl collection
~Essie Smoothies collection
~Lippman Collection in Sarah Smile (thanks, kyl)

perfume (like i need more, but you and i both know it will happen!):
~Carolina Herrera 212 Sexy. i've had my nose on this for two years. i should just break down and buy it.
~Ferragamo Encanto Shine

cheeks:
~Stila Convertible Color, though i'm undecided on which color.

face:
~Cargo blu-ray High Definition Mattifier
~Too-Faced Pink Leopard Bronzing Powder
~Sephora Make-up Artist Brush Belt Set. well, it's ONLY $275.00!!

eyes:
~Urban Decay Big Fatty Colored Mascara in black cherry and purple haze
~Talika Eyelash Lipocils. i want to know if it really does make your eyelashes grow!

bath and body stuff:
~Carol's Daughter Ecstasy Collection. i actually haven't smelled this, but i totally want to.

have you tried any of these? are you in love? did you waste your money?

my unbelieveable deal!

2008-06-10T18:09:00.001-07:00

some girls have all the luck. saturday, i was a "some girl".

i was shopping at bath and body work's semi-annual sale with a friend, and as i was digging through the 75% off table, i saw it.

i thought it was a mistake, or that someone had left their purchases behind from another store.

sitting on that table was a sealed bottle of Prevage Eye Anti-Aging Moisturizing Treatment and Freeze 24/7 Anti-Aging Eye Serum.

it's okay if you are puzzled. i was too! after all, BBW doesn't carry those items. however, their umbrella stores (like C.O. Bigelow) do!

i took them to the salesgirl in case someone left them behind only to discover that they really were on clearance, because someone had erroneously returned them to that store. since it's not regular stock, they had to take it back but they have to price it to sell it quick.

Prevage is normally $95.00 and Freeze 24/7 is normally $105.00. i walked out of there with 2 expensive eye creams for FIFTY. i felt like i had won the lottery!

both of these eye creams have gotten rave reviews, and i've wanted to try them both. and now i can!

how fabulous is that??

club face!

2008-06-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

the cool thing about getting all made up to go out to a club is that you can be a little more adventurous. your makeup can be bolder, louder, sparklier....whatever you want! it can also be tricky to create a face that lasts all night. i went out with my girlfriends last night, and this was my face of choice.

On my face: Benefit Dr. Feelgood
Almay Pure Blends Mineral Makeup, light to soft medium
Rimmel Natural Bronze in Sundance
Sephora blush me! in rose rebelle n1
Clarins Instant Light Perfecting Touch

On my eyes: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Lancome Color Focus in Suntouched (all over the lid and browbone)
Lancome Color Design in Guest List (in the crease and on the outer edge)
Styli Style Flat Liner 24 in Blackest Black
Lancome Cils Booster XL
Diorshow Blackout

On my lips: Sephora lip pencil #132 (over the entire lip)
Lancome Juicy Tubes in Fifth Avenue Frosting

What i smelled like: Stella

product lust......Diorshow Blackout Waterproof

2008-06-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

someone up there is listening to my prayers.

and, i'm ditching my diorshow waterproof mascara because Diorshow Blackout just graduated to waterproof. if it performs as well as regular Blackout, it will be love at first blink. it's the blackest black and it makes you look like you've been squinting in a mirror all morning putting on false lashes.

it's $24.00 at sephora. mark my words, it will be mine.

VIP found on vacation...MAC Viva Glam V!!

2008-06-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

until last week, i had only admired MAC products from afar. i had heard they might change my life, and i just figured i'd get around to them eventually. what better time than vacation?

i headed to the MAC display at macy's, unsure of what i wanted to make my first purchase. without doubt, they had an amazing color selection. then it occured to me that MAC might be able to one of my most frustrating cosmetic quests-the quest for the perfect nearly-nude lip.

i played it cool, and waited for the salesgirl to approach. when i posed my question, she didn't even miss a beat and pointed out five colors that were their most popular nude lip selections!

the right nude lip has eluded me for a long time. you can end up looking muddy, or corpse-like, or just wierdly....off. i've got a few things that come close, but what i wanted was a colored gloss with a bit of shine. even better if i didn't have to line to lips first.

MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam V skyrocketed onto my VIP list with the first wear.

it's a nude pink with very fine gold shimmer, and it is magnificent. perfect with a smokey eye, perfect with ANY look. it doesn't taste bad and lasts a long time. i have the biggest crush on this stuff! my only two complaints are that it's not available in longwear and that it doesn't come in a bigger tube (my tube may not last me a month, at the rate i'm going!). it comes in a lipstick form as well.

this product single-handedly just made me a MAC devotee.

aw, do i really have to?

2008-06-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

i always forget the guidelines on this, but the beauty bunny outlines it all in a blog about when to throw cosmetics away here. sigh, it makes me sad, i know there's no way to use all of everything i have. and yet, i keep buying more!

stuff to slather, scrub and shimmer...vacation finds, round 2

2008-06-01T11:15:00.001-07:00

i had to put all my vacation finds in separate blogs. had i mushed them all together, it would be one LONG blog. so here's some of my body product haul....

i've had a crush on philosophy's variety of shower gel scents. particularly, senorita margarita, which i happily picked up along the way (the gel, not the scrub. that's still on my to-do list). then, i saw it....pink lemonade! i didn't realize they had that scent, but i was smitten at first sniff. i got the shower gel and body butter, but skipped the lip gloss.

after hearing all the hype about bath and body work's Hello Sugar! line, i had to see if it really was the lemon-meringue-pie-utopia that it claimed to be. they were out of the body wash, but i snagged the Moisturizing Body Meringue (which is like a mousse) and the Lemon Lip Gloss/Sugar Powder. the gloss puts a pretty golden sheen on your lips and has an acceptable taste. when you put the silvery sugar powder on top, it's even more sparkly. it can't hold a candle to Chanel Glossimer, but it's fun.

at BBW, i also picked up the Chocolate Amber body wash. the first time i smelled it, i thought it was wierd, and not in a good way. now, i'm thinking it might really smell good under my new Tom Ford Black Orchid perfume (see the previous blog on that and my other fragrance adventures from vacation).

major juice haul....vacation finds, round 1

2008-06-01T06:09:00.001-07:00

this trip allowed me to rekindle some old loves. mainly, some fragrances that i had all but written off.

i'd written before that i had been pining away for calvin klein truth. it happily reminds me of my junior year of college. it's a perfect blend of sweet greens and clean earth, not too heavy and so wonderfully breathable. it's not easy to find, but i purchased a HUGE bottle.

my cousin had a small bottle of givenchy extravagance d'amarige, just sitting on her counter, ignored. it was released in 1998, and joined the long list of "things i never bought that i wish i would have". i tried it on every time i went to the store. the top notes are green mandarin, rose, and pink peppercorn (or, depending on which site you ask, taget and violet as well). heart notes are jasmine, violet, and orange blossom (or wisteria, depending again on which site). base notes are sandalwood, cedarwood, black iris, and musk (and wild strawberry, depending). to me, it has a wonderful old-school french quality that doesn't have that stale, mature smell that so many of them can. it feels classy and expensive. put a fragrance like that on a younger generation and lately they've been labelling it as "edgy". i convinced my cousin that i would give it a more appropriate home, since she barely gravitates beyond shower gel. i see myself wearing it on breezy, summery days.

tom ford black orchid finally seduced me, and i bought a bottle. it confused me at first sniff, and i alternated between love and indifference. but it stuck in my head and i pondered it for weeks, and realized how much it intrigued me. that moved it WAY up on my list, and now, i have a bottle of my own. i know i have to be careful with this juice-it can be heavy and it's not for every occasion. this is a dressy smell, not made for a light day of shopping or grilling out with friends. this is "going to dinner and a broadway show" or an "important date with an important guy" in restrained amounts.

of course, i picked up some samples along the way, which creates more product lust. i can't wait to see how the new Versace warms up on me. it's note are: Living Dew Drops, Icy Black Currant, Purple Wisteria, White Lilac, Lotus Flower, Living Orchid, Angel White Jasmine, White Lights Azalea, Snowbird Azalea, Musks, Cedar, Cashmirwood, and Amberwoods. what interests me most about this smell is that it reminds me of a past smell that i used to love, and i can't say if it's Kenzo Parfum d'ete (which seems to have changed for me over the years) or Fred Hayman Touch (which they no longer make). it's unmistakably floral and feminine, a definite departure from my collection of woodsy/musky/herby favorites.

surprisingly, prada parfum d'iris has creeped into my soul. i haven't sprayed it on my skin, and i actually don't have a sample to take for a test drive, but on the strip....i keep going back. i cannot be appeased until i have worn it. The top notes are orange blossom and mandarin, and base notes of galbanum, lentisc, benzoin, incense, vetiver and cedarwood. it's not nearly as floral as the name would have you believe, but there is something so..husky about it. it's a throaty, robust flower that cannot be taken lightly. it says, "i'm feminine, but not giggly".

i'll let you know as i try my other samples, too....all these new fragrances are sufficient fuel for awhile.

product crushes from the road!

2008-05-27T06:49:00.000-07:00

you never know what you'll find on a roadtrip.

i'm on vacation, driving down the east coast, and i've run across a couple of items that i couldn't wait to tell you about.

-Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil. i love this stuff, from it's summery smell to it's unbelieveable moisturizing powers. if you are someone who hates greasy/slick creams, you won't like this. i don't mind it, and this one absorbs quickly anyway. it makes tanned legs look just like they are in a photoshoot, and it leaves your skin super soft.

-Styli-Style Flat Liner 24. i've never even heard of this brand. my smashbox jet set creme liner is drying out and i needed a long-lasting replacement, at least for the remainder of this trip. this intrigued me because it promised hours and hours of unbudging color. it delivered. the shape of the pencil is actually wide and flat, helping you get a better line. and, allegedly, it's self-sharpening. so far so good!

i found both of these at cvs.

product crush....kat von d makeup

2008-05-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Kat Von D is so interesting to me. she has a confidence that is beautiful, and i admire that she never strays from her own personal style, which is a seamless blend of rocker and pinup.

and, finally, she has her own makeup line at sephora! see it here.

the line appears to be what you'd expect...mostly smokey neutral eyes and red lips. the prices aren't scary, either! i am anxious to see it in person!

product lust....urban decay de-slick

2008-05-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

urban decay must have some serious problem-solving geniuses on their staff. once again, they are helpin a girl out!

brand new and available at sephora is the urban decay de-slick mattifying powder. i am always on a hunt for a long lasting mattifier that doesn't make my face look chalky. it's lavender-tinted to counteract redness, so that's an added bonus. nobody wants to be red and shiny.

the qualities of my perfect mattifier are one that lasts all day, doesn't infere with my makeup (causing it to slide off or lose pigment), and blends well into my morning makeup routine.

mattifiers are finally making their way into the mass market, and i'm excited to give them a try. i'm a UD addict already, so i can't wait to try this. you can be sure that i'll report my findings.....

back in black....eyeshadow

2008-05-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

you don't have to be a goth girl or a punk rocker to have black eyeshadow in your arsenal. in fact, it can be one of the most versatile shadows you own!!

one of my faves is "the new black" by lancome. it's a black shadow with black glitter in it, and i've been able to use it in a million ways. there is, of course, the obvious way...to have a dramatic, smokey evening eye.

but it's not just for a smokey look, and it's not just for evening. let your black eyeshadow see the light of day!

-it can be used as a liner. with your small, flat-bristled brush, you can make a thick or thin line, and it will smudge very nicely.

-it can be used to tone down a bright color! i have a blue-green eyeshadow that is practically neon. with a light sweeping of black shadow over it, it deepens into a
gorgeous teal. you can also do your whole lid in one shade and use black to contour your eye and create two or even three shades. it can create a marvelous "fading" effect that gets lighter as it approaches your brow bone.

-you get bragging rights by telling people you can successfully wear black eyeshadow to work, and that you DON'T work at hot topic.

blending is key with black eyeshadow. you can make it wearable for any place at any time!

put on a springy face!

2008-05-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

i'm having a good time creating a good spring/summer face. i think this one works pretty well...

FACE: Benefit Dr. Feelgood
Urban Decay Surreal Skin in Illusion

CHEEKS: Sephora Rose Rebelle N1

EYES: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Lancome Color Design in Kitten Heel (on browbone)
Lancome Color Design in Guest List (in the crease and on the outer edge)
Jordana Easyliner in Eggplant (top and bottom lids and inner bottom rim)
Lancome Cils Booster XL
Diorshow Blackout

LIPS: Sephora Lip Pencil #132 (they don't have this on the site-what if it's disc?!)
Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips in Trixie

unrelated to the face, but tonight's look has been lavishly scented with Versace Crystal Noir ;)

pushy product consultants....ugh

2008-05-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

you know what really irritates me? when you are talking to a product consultant about skin care and anti-aging and you ask about the performance of a certain product. to this they reply, "well, i use it, so what do you think?"

it doesn't matter if their skin looks good or bad, you can't tell them if you don't think that product really worked on them. maybe they looked like a 90-year-old woman before and now they look fifty, but....selling a product that was seems a little pushy. i don't like it.

i don't mind hearing someone talk about their experience with a product, but to make me look at their skin as if that's the selling point makes me squirmy. unless i specifically comment on the luminosity of your skin or the fact that your skin radiates wonderfulness, don't put me in that position.

i will not be using that strategy when i'm selling product, for the record.

product confessional.....my lip glosses

2008-05-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

i have my cosmetics divided by type in bags. one day i'm going to buy a massive trunk to house it all, but for now my bathroom counter is littered with a zillion bags.

i have so many lip products that i have one bag for lipsticks, and one bag for glosses. just for fun, i'm letting you invade my lip gloss bag and see what's inside.

disclaimer: i also use my lip gloss bag for my plumpers, stains and chapsticks. ready for the tour?

-<2> C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine
-Benefit Lipscription (Buffing Lip Beads/Silky Lip Balm)
-Caboodles lip gloss in strawberry cream
-Smackers Lip Frosting in strawberry
-Sephora lip gloss in rosy glow
-Maybelline Shinylicious in sugarplum
-Maybelline Shinylicious in raiz'n razzle
-Squeezy Lip Smacker in Strawberry Limeade
-Victoria's Secret Sweet Talk in sensual strawberry (disc)
-Cinnabon Lip Balm
-Smackers Lip Frosting in buttercream
-Lancome Juicy Tubes Cherie Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss in Coral Rush
-Temptations Cooling Lip Gloss in Tropical Colada
-Temptations Cooling Lip Gloss in Frozen Daquiri
-Lancome Juicy Tubes in tickled pink
-Cargo Lip Gloss Duo in chattanooga
-Dior GlossShow in 715
-Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips in trixie
-DuWop Lip Venom lip plumper
-Patricia Wexler No-Injection Lip Plumper
-Urban Decay Big Fatty Lip Plumper
-Bubble Yum Lip Balm in cotton candy
-American Girl Conditioning Lip Shine in sheer strawberry (lol it was a gift)
-<2> Bourjois Lip Stain Pen in framboise bonheur
-Chanel Glossimer in constellation
-Victoria's Secret Sweet Talk in very cherry vanilla (disc)

whew! not enough days in the year to wear them all, but i try. and there are so many mroe that i want. what's in your arsenal?

product crush........Sterilite storage containers!!

2008-05-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

sadly, not all gorgeous shoes come in boxes.

if you frequently buy at places like t.j. maxx, or you delight in discovering vintage shoes in antique stores and garage sales, there's a good chance they didn't come with a box.

i have a TON of shoes without boxes, and they sit in various piles at the bottom of my closet. it looked like a trainwreck, but i didn't really see the need to find containers for them.

...until yesterday. i bought 3 Sterilite 6-quart boxes at the grocery store, because they were only $2.99. i assumed that if i didn't end up using them for shoes i could surely use them for something (i like storage boxes). up til now, the biggest solution i had come up with was to pile the loose shoes in a box all together, but this is a much better way. this glamourista likes variety, but she doesn't have all the time in the world to hunt down a specific pair of shoes hiding in the recesses of her closet.

i may have created an obsession, because i plan on buying these now for all of my boxless shoes (i may have to buy in shifts, since i have so many pairs). not only are the shoes easier to store, but it protects them. these boxes fit even the bulkier and higher-heeled shoes. just by purchasing these boxes, i made my shoes more accessible and freed up my closet floor. probably for more shoes, but i don't mind ;).

(Sterilite boxes are available everywhere in every single size you can think of).

product lust.....victoria's secret shoes!!!

2008-05-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

i heart these shoes!!!! i can't afford them right this minute, so i'll just lust. i hate to lust alone, so do some lusting of your own by checkin them out at here.

product test drive....Cargo Eye Shimmer Collection

2008-05-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

i have a weakness for tiny bottles and sparkly eyeshadow. this was a no-brainer, because it's both.

Cargo's Eye Shimmer Collection is six pretty shades (sparkling white, champagne rose, vibrant tangerine, shimmering lilac, aquamarine blue, and coppered green )that are versatile and portable. i purchased the set for "coppered green", which is a fabulous iridescent shade that makes me look like a modern day mermaid.

they are sheer, but they are very pretty worn alone. because i like to cocktail my products, they also wear really well on top of other shadows. they also make excellent browbone highlighters.

the tiny bottles have a sponge applicator wand inside.

like other sparkly shadows, you will get fallout (when the shadow/glitter gets under your eyes and on your cheeks). however, the shimmer is so fine that it's pretty enough to leave. it adds to the glow. the way this is packaged, i usually end up with the shimmer on my eyes and cheeks and fingers (just from taking the wand out of the bottle).

there is also a liquid shadow set available with 6 shades. the applicator and bottles are the same. i just preferred the colors and shimmer in this set.

the set is $25 at sephora...highly recommended for a shimmery new spring look or to vamp up some of your older shadows!

the glamourista's guide to theclosestshaveever

2008-05-09T03:10:00.000-07:00

this isn't a time-saver. however, you will be astonished at how close a shave you can actually get when you use the right tools.

you will need:
*a gritty, grainy exfoliator
*a new razor
*gillette fusion hydroglide shave gel
*a thick, good smellin' lotion

first, exfoliate. this is actually the most important step. i used to think that it was best to exfoliate afterward, but exfoliation removes dead skin cells. so, logically, it would also expose even more of a hair's length, would it not? this way, when you shave afterwards, you are shaving right down to the newly exposed layer of skin. exfoliating after you shave could cause some teeny hairs that were hiding to crop up right away. scrub your legs down!!

second, use your new razor and the shave gel. yes, it is a man's shave gel. it's completely unfair that men's shave products work better, but if you can lick 'em, join 'em. these products for men not only give a closer shave with less nicks, but also are better at preventing ingrowns and razor bumps. i rather enjoy their scent myself. the gillette products just impress me every time i use them.

third (and after drying off!), saturate your bald gams with some lotion to make them touchably soft. even you probably won't be able to stop touching your own legs, it will be that great of a shave.

this process works on any part of your body you want a better shave, not just the legs. here's to a stubble-free summer....

beauty survey...you've been tagged!

2008-05-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

i have a survey addiction. i get most of my relief on myspace, much to the angst of the people on my friends list. but i found this one and it's all about beauty products, so it's perfect for this blog! feel free to use it for yourself...consider yourself tagged!

My Foundation: Urban Decay Surreal Skin on top of Smashbox Primer Light or Benefit Dr. Feelgood

My Mascara: Diorshow Blackout and Clinique High Impact on top of Lancome Cils Booster

My Blush: i only actually own 2 blushes (though i use other things for blush that aren't classified as blush)...1 Sephora brand and 1 Lancome

My Eye Shadow: i own a LOT of eyeshadow, probably mostly from Lancome and Elizabeth Arden. i have a few from Victoria's Secret, Clinique, Smashbox, and Estee Lauder. i love NARS, Urbay Decay, and Two Faced, but i don't own any of them.

My Day Cream: Lancome High Resolution

My Lipstick: i wear much more gloss than lipstick, but Lancome Taffy is a fave

My Beauty Product Brand: sooo hard to choose. Lancome and Urban Decay, most recently. but that's subject to change!

My Essential Beauty Product: mascara...i look like a corpse without it

My Favorite Makeup Product: i feel most "done" when i have lipgloss on. lately i've been slicking Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips on top of everything.

My Perfume: impossible to pick a fave. i have over 30 at this point.

My Nails: OPI! currently i have WnW Denim Chrome on my toes and my fingers are naked, but that's rare.

My Feet: BBW Heel of Approval and the Kiss foot file

My Hands: Curel

Three Products to bring on a deserted island:
1) Lancome skin care, so i don't look like a leathery beast after leaving the island

2) Matrix Curl Life Spray Gel

3) a REALLY big bottle of perfume

Woman I Admire for their Beauty: Angelina Jolie, Leighton Meester, Drew Barrymore, Rachel Brice, Isla Fischer and Halle Berry have exceptional faces

Woman with the Best Sense of Style: Angelina never looks like a bum, and she's usually wearing something black, so i relate to that. She's not overdone, but she's done.

My Ultimate Dream: to be the nose for a perfume house.

How Do I Define Womanhood: being confident and content makes you beautiful. being a person you can be proud of. dressing for yourself first, wearing what you love.

My Favorite Fashion Publication: in style, glamour, allure, and cosmo

product test drive...mall run!!

2008-05-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

i was in a department store looking for a mother's day gift. what kind of glamourista would i be if i didn't stop by the fragrance counter and sniff a few things??

first, Lacoste Dream of Pink. the notes are: ice tea, red berries, lotus, rose, sandalwood and musk. it's definitely related to Touch of Pink, and although i have to give props for the ice tea note, it's not enough to make this fragrance memorable. it lacks depth, and to me, that makes a fragrance smell "thin". it sits on your skin pleasantly enough, but washing your hands with a nice soap will do the same thing. it's not a bad smell, it's just typical.

then, Sean John Unforgivable Woman Black. i don't make a secret of my loathing for celebrity fragrances. they are usually so predictable and on the neck of every teenage girl...blech. the notes of this fragrance are: piña colada, sheer jasmine, ylang ylang, bergamot, fresh apple skin, dewy white cyclamen petals, cassis, pomarose, iris, coconut milk and Seychelles coco de mer. i'm just glad it doesn't reek of overly ripe fruit. actually, i don't hate this one, and i think it settles into the skin nicely. i don't see it as a dressy fragrance, but would probably suit for a lazy evening indoors. it's warm and breatheable, pleasantly sweet and light but has good staying power. however, if i ever buy this, i don't think i'd admit it.

Bath and Body Works now has a way to roll your stress away-Instant Aromatherapy Stress Relief. as you might expect, it's heavy on the eucalyptus, but when it dries, it's a crisp, clean smell that i really liked. i can't say that my stress lessened, but i did smell good all through my chemistry test.

double duty beauty when you're broke

2008-05-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

i'm trying out lighter, sheerer looks for summer. this pic is really only noteworthy because the color on my lips (clinique long last soft shine lipstick in watermelon) is a color i'd never, ever choose. but i think i like it! anyway, back to the post at hand.....

there's nothing like new makeup and a new look to lift a girl's spirits.

but what if you don't have the funds?

look for new ways to use what you already have! it will be like you have a whole new cosmetic wardrobe!! for instance:

*your bronzer or blush can double as eyeshadow. this is especially pretty when it has shimmer in it. it makes a great browbone highlighter!

*your lipstick makes a good blush....but go sparingly with your reds. start minimally, and build. flushed cheeks are so pretty in warm weather!

*your eyeshadow can be eyeliner-just use a short-bristled angled brush. that's also a great way to introduce the trendy brights (and blues!) into your eye makeup. try it as a liner if you aren't ready to commit to your lid.

*lipstick can be gloss, if you put it over vaseline or a slick existing clear gloss. it makes it sheer, which can tone down a neon red, orange or pink lipstick and make it more wearable.

*brown eyeshadows and eyeliners can fill in your eyebrows.

*shimmery neutral eyeshadows can give your lipstick added shimmer, and it can also tone down a loud color. just make sure you apply it with something other than your eyeshadow applicator (like your finger!), because the next time you use that applicator, it might be kinda sticky. plus, you could end up with loud lipstick on your eyelid, and that's no good.

do you have any double duty tricks?

product crush.....burberry brit red

2008-05-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

lately i've been exploring older scents, because none of the new releases have blown me away.

i have a respect for scents that intrigue me. i like a fragrance that makes a statement, but i also like when they aren't straightforward with their intent. i have this issue with tom ford's black orchid, but i also have this puzzlement with burberry brit red. it's a floral, but it's not. it's a gourmand, but it's not. it's a...flourmand? so many things about the notes of this fragrance surprise me. you never know what to expect when you smell it.

Top Notes:
Fresh jasmine (i whole-heartedly admit i don't care for jasmine AT ALL), Mandarin orange, Rhubarb (uh...what??)
Middle Notes:
Intense red rose (there's your floral), Gingerbread (who knew you could mix gingerbread with roses?!), Patchouli (i like a well done patchouli, it dirties things up and keeps them from being sickly sweet)
Base Notes:
Benzoin, Sandalwood (i'm a fan of the woodsy fragrances anyway), Vanilla bean

what ends up happening (on me, at least) is that is wears all day long and it's a spicy, sweet smell. and it changes on me throughout the day, so i'll smell something and think, "somebody or something smells good!" and realize that it's me.

to my knowledge, there isn't anything else out there that smells remotely like this, which totally feeds my desire not to smell like anybody else.

product copycat.....wet 'n wild denim chrome

2008-05-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

it's not secret that blue is the "it" nail color this season. however, before you go and drop $25.00 on dior, stop by your neighborhood drug store and get yourself some Wet 'N Wild Denim Chrome. You can buy yourself a burrito with the extra money you save!

product test drive.....dr. feelgood

2008-05-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

when i heard that this was a balm for your face, i almost steered clear. to me, the word "balm" implies greasy or waxy, neither of which an oily-skinned girl wants on her face.

Benefit's Dr. Feelgood has a reputation for disguising shine, so i had to give it a go.

i've owned this for awhile, and at first i used it alone. it has the strange feel of a chapstick when you put it on, and it's transparent on your skin. it minimized pores and served as an excellent mattifier. i did find that it works best when you have exfoliated, though, because flakey patches seemed more evident with this on (at least around the nose).

under makeup, it smooths the skin and makes a good, long-lasting base. it contains vitamins to nourish your skin, too. it doesn't feel greasy, so skin looks and feels soft.

it's totally portable in it's adorable little tin, so you can touch-up your t-zone through the day, if you like.

i give it an A! this is one doctor you'll like to see!