What's not to love about anything that can be used on the go, especially if it's going to freshen the skin up? August here in LA has been pretty hot and sticky so these MAKE-UP DESIGNORY (MUD)'s Makeup Remover Wipes ($18/40 wipes @ mudshop.com) have been a staple in my oversized purse all month. Each moist towelette not only contains cleansing ingredients but olive oil and vitamin E. And who better to test them out to the max then their New York and Los Angeles based makeup schools? They just gotta work well at removing makeup and dirt, right?

So many face and makeup primers to talk about these days! The lines are adding them as a staples at what seems like lightening speeds so here are some that do their thing beautifully.

From L to R:

MAKE UP FOR EVER UV Prime SPF 50/PA+++ ($30 @ sephora.com) – SPF in makeup primer is unheard of until now. Think of this as the Prius of primers – part sunscreen, part primer.

PIXI BEAUTY Eye Bright Primer ($18 @ dermstore.com) – nude in color and recommended if you tend to have oily lids.

URBAN DECAY Complexion Primer Potion – Pore Perfecting ($30 @ sephora.com) – matte formula that uses silicone to fill in lines and pores. Like their cult favorite Eye Shadow Primer Potion? Give this a try.

I’ve tried out a couple of these Clinical Strength protection deodorants since they started coming out and this DEGREE Clinical Protection for Women ($7.99/1.7oz @ amazon.com) one is probably the best one I’ve tried. Know that the ones that say “Clinical” on them are not like your regular deodorants that you apply after the shower or in the morning. This one goes on before you go to bed at night. That way the formula has a chance to work and work, it does - No wetness or odor. All Degree deodorants are the ones that are made with TRIsolid body response technology so as your degree goes up, so does the protection. I might have remembered that last part straight from the commercial ingrained in my brain. Good campaign.

Anyways, choose from three scents – Shower Clean, Sheer Powder or Classic Romance.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU and me … HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU and me … HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LIPPMANN COLLECTION and meeee, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU and me! Celebrate - 10th Anniversary Collection Set ($35 @ sephora.com) are three shades in a bangin’ cute box. While I am a few years older than this, we are both celebrating today, August 22nd.
And what’s cool about each shade is that they contain not just regular glitter in each color but pretty big pieces so it gives nails a nice texture.

Superstar – bronze/copper glitter in brown

Funky Chunky – sequined sheer black

Ruby Red Slippers – red glitter floating in black liquid

The more hand creams I try the closer to the most perfect one I come! And what constitutes a perfect one? Non-greasy, moisturizing and non-greasy like this one from SABON called Organic Hand Cream ($18/2.11oz @ sabonnyc.com). It’s soooo non-greasy that it’s almost not a hand cream at all but it is and it contains a lot of the same ingredients as most others like Shea Butter, nourishing oils like Macadamia and jojoba and aloe vera. As I type, my fingers are not sliding all over the keys so to remind myself that I do indeed have hand cream on, I just run my fingertips over the backs of my hands. Wow, feeling is believing.

A few things to know about this line. This is Sabon NYC’s first organic collection (released June 23, 2009) and it’s ECOCERT certified (To be certified, the products must have 10 percent minimum approved organic ingredients, and at least 95% of ingredients must be from natural plant sources, to name a few). The line contains other products like an Organic Foot Cream, Organic Body Butter and even and Organic Olive Oil Soap.

This is slightly embarrassing to admit, but one trait that is so important to me when it comes to any product for the body is that is has to smell good. I know, kinda shallow but it just makes using it more fun. So how does this Hand Cream smell? Let’s put it this way, I’ll take its performance over the scent.

This one might just make the Hall of Fame. We'll keep you posted!

I’m really into eyeliners these days and I just read somewhere that they are going to be big for fall so time to stock up on some new ones. MALLY BEAUTY just came out with Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Eyeliner Trio contain everything if you need to update your basics – rich smooth color, good pigment and in this case (yes!) waterproof.

>  Midnight – rich black
>  Lucky Penny – bronze
>  Caribbean Sea – teal blue

A few tips from Mally herself – Pair Midnight on top of Lucky Penny on the bottom lash line; Use Caribbean Sea to accent the inner corners of the eye or layer it on top of Midnight on the top lid.

And they are only available @ ulta.com and are on special right now for  $22.84 – that’s $7.61 each! Now how's that for budget-friendly?

I’ve become quite used to the fact that when I wear an SPF over a 15 SPF that is Zinc-Oxide based, I’m going to have to chill for at least 10 minutes afterward, while I wait for the white cream to sinks into my skin. No a huge deal but an inconvenience none-the-less. But not anymore! Yippee! A breakthrough! DR. DENESE SPF 30 Defense Day Cream ($34/1.5oz @ qvc.com) is your broad spectrum UVA/UVB (a good one has both) protection and self-adjusting tinted moisturize. Yes, the cream comes out looking a medium beige-y color but rub it on, it will look like yours! Again, it’s self-adjusting so no guessing in the store or online at which one will probably work. Just think … No chalky white mess! I’m am over the top excited about this one and the matte finish makes this one a GREAT makeup primer. Big recommendation!

Let’s take a quick look at two just out MAC collections -

Baby Bloom

What it’s about (in a nutshell) – “Five neutral skin-tone shades, all SPF 15, to drench skin in healing emollients, give it glow, rescue it from future damage. And five fresh new lip blams ...”
Our take - tints, tints and more tints! And ok collection for a hold over. It’s good that they put out new color collections just about monthly, so we’ll forgive.
Picks - Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15, Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm in Full of Grace, a soft sheer rose.

Love That Look

What it’s about (in a nutshell) – “An intensified take on everything incredible about MAC Starflash Eye Shadow, with a formula so astro-silky, creamy, cushion-like, and pearl-finished, in a fantasia of 12 fabulous frosted shade …”
Our take – we're a fan of products that focus on the eyes. This collection has some good staple colors.
Picks - Eye Shadow in Strike A Pose (dirty/deep blue green), Style Snob (dirty pink/brown w/gold pearl), and Unbasic White (bright off white – great basic!!), Pearlglide Eyeliner in Rave (deep purple w/purple glitter),and the Eye Shader makeup brush.

LISE WATIER’s new Portfolio ($29 @ lisewatier.com) palette arrived just in time. I ran out of my zit cover so I gave this one a shot and while I was at it, tried some of the others on my other features. Let’s see, we got green to neutralize the redness of a blemish, lilac for dullness around the eyes, ivory for under-eye circles, brown to sculpt, and a yellow/beige to hide blue veins. You can really find something in this wheel to fix whatever is bugging on your face! And each cream contains chamomile (to calm) and vitamins C and E. This is a makeup bag staple.

I’m kinda sad that we’re wrapping up our Best of Summer feature, but we have some great fall products to talk about so look for features on those shortly. Here are some that are keeping my summer never ending! From L to R clockwise:

 

CARESS Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Beauty Bar, Burnt Brown Sugar & Karite Butter ($7.99/6-pack @ walgreens.com).

BATH & BODY WORKS Fragrant Waters Roll-On in Sweet Pea ($7.50/8.5ml @ bathandbodyworks.com).

DEVOTED CREATIONS 'Haute Couture' Tanning Lotion ($39.95/12.25oz @ tan2day.com).

C.O. BIGELOW Lemon Eau de Parfum ($34.50/3.4oz @ bigelowchemists.com).

HAMPTON SUN Privet Bloom Body Lotion ($35/6.6oz @ hamptonsuncare.com).

TILLIA BEAUTY Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub ($16/10oz @ tilliabeauty.com).

KIEHL’S Superbly Restorative Argan Body Cleansing Oil ($27.50/8oz @ saks.com).