Browsing Posts from May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Swatch Heaven with Make Up For Ever

Make-Up-For-Ever-Aqua-Liner-in-green Lotta buzz around MAKE UP FOR EVER’s new Aqua Liner ($23 only @ sephora.com) and I can see why. They work!! Not only is the formula really good and lasts but the triangle tip is on the small size so it makes the wand easy to wield in that tough area. So apply it and then watch it … not move! So how does it do on oily lids? That remains to be told since my lids are pretty normal, sorry! But if you know, please share in the comments!

Make-Up-For-Ever-Aqua-Liners-swatches
Shown here: #4 Diamond Lagoon Green and #13 Mat Black.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Qtica Keeps Nails in Tip Top Shape

Qtica-Solid-Gold-Cuticle-Oil-Gel Since I've been actively trying to get my right thumb nail to fix itself (I have a split in the middle that won't heal and has been like this for the past 3+ years. I’m guessing it’s from acrylic nails), I finally went to see a dermatologist to see what the dilly. He said it’s called nail dystrophy and is caused by trauma to the cuticle. Ok, but how is it fixed? I did some research online and ew, not a pretty sight to google “split nail causes,” or “nail trauma,” as you can guess. Some causes of nail problems are nail fungus, which is pretty common, even in the fingernails.

After my derm assured me that my thumb did not have a fungus and this was not the cause and that yes, it probably was caused by acrylics, I felt the need to find something to apply to my other nails, just to be sure. Again, eww. From our friends at QTICA is their Solid Gold Anti Bacterial Oil Gel and this one is a combo anti-bacteria formula and cuticle oil in a sanitary clear tube. Rice bran, almond and jojoba oils as well as tangerine, peppermint and tea tree. Just be careful you don’t rub your eyes after applying this on your cuticles as the peppermint doesn’t feel good in the eyes! $11/.5oz, $19.99/1.7oz @ qtica.com.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

New Sunblocks from Neutrogena

Neutrogena-Wet-Skin-Sunblock My 2 year-old niece, Collette, is really into swimming these days and I’m always concerned about the sun when she’s in the pool with her delicate baby skin. Of course this being Memorial Day Weekend, everyone is at the beach or the pool, including us. NEUTROGENA just put out a few new sunblocks for the season and one is made just for kids. Wet Skin Kids Sunblock Spray SPF 70+ ($11.99/6oz @ walgreens.com) and one for us adults, Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 30 ($9.99/6oz @ walgreens.com) and same with SPF 50. New technology allows it to adhere well to skin that’s wet from swimming or sweating and it has their own Helioplex broad spectrum against UVA and UVB rays. As you can imagine, I was all over spraying these on us all!

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

 

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Caboodles Is a Whole New Ball Game

Wow a lot has changed with the CABOODLES since I last saw them many moons ago back in the 80’s. They used to be janky and junky from what I remember but they are quite serious now and you should give them a second look. And they have a lot to look at, over 100 different styles of cases! Solid stuff for a good price.

Planning a road trip? The Envy IT Bag  ($19.99) – it measures 12” L x 7.5” W x 6.75” H – this bag has has nothing to do with a computer and everything to do with keeping all your beauty in check. The sides perk up and out so you can see the insides and the inner pockets and elastic band storage. I would recommend this one for your styling iron and hair products.

Caboodles-IT-Envy-Bag Want to see the Ultimate Organizer? Click below!

Click here to read more

Friday, May 27, 2011

Swatch Heaven - Bare Escentuals and Shiseido

Bare-Escentuals-Pretty-Amazing-Lip-Color-and-Shiseido-Shimmering-Rouge Here are some new lippies I’m loving these for totally different reasons.

SHISEIDO Shimmering Rouge Lip Color ($25 @ macys.com) – Sometimes lipstick bothers my lips in that it feels sufficating. I know I have mentioned this before on the site but I feel the need to mention that this one does not make my lips feel anything but stifled! It contains a Super Bio-Yeast Extract that helps produce collagen and also hyaluronic acid. But regarding the feel and look, the colors seem to be between a sheer and full feel almost like I wearing nothing, which I love! Color picks (shown here): RD 406 (Desire) and RD 709 (Lounge). I call the RD 709 on MLBB! I really wanted to pick RS308 because it’s called Iron Maiden “Up the Irons!!” but I haven’t tried it just yet!

BARE ESCENTUAL bareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor ($16 @ bareescentuals.com) – combines the coverage of a lipstick with the high shine effects of a gloss and these are really pigmented so go easy on the application or you might want to consider using a lip brush the first few times to get used to it. Have not seen a lippie this pigmented like this in a long time.
And it’s about time a company really put some thought into a lip gloss application wand. I mean, I’ve come across just a handful but this one is really tops and really hugs the lip when applying. Color picks (shown here): Fuchsia and Pink Nude.

Click below to see the swatches!

Click here to read more

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Bath & Body Works Gets Small

Bath-&-Bodyworks-Stackers-in-White-Citrus You’ve got to admit, bureau space or bathroom sink space is very precious and you really have think out what products you are going to display on it. BATH & BODY WORKS feels your pain so they came out with these Scent Stackers. These are 3oz versions of their lotions, shower gel and fragrance mists that stack on top of one another.

There are only a few scents available right now – Country Chic, Moonlight Path, Sweet Pea, Japanese Cherry, Twilight Woods and my favorite White Citrus. $5 each @ bathandbodyworks.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Ouidad Makes One Just For Hair Colorers

Ouidad-Water-Works-Shampoo This next one is something I was looking for for quite some time – a clarifying shampoo made especially color-treated hair. And I finally found it! OUIDAD Water Works Clarifying Shampoo uses a combination of fruit acids like grapefruit, orange flower extracts and botanicals to rid hair of water residue, chlorine and minerals yet gentle enough to be used on my lovely colored strands.

And they claim this one can actually help enhance hair color!

$15/8.5oz @ ulta.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

 

Monday, May 23, 2011

How Are YOUR Makeup Brushes Doing?

Real-Techniques-makeup-brushes Ok, we’re at that point in the year again – new season means time to take stock of your makeup and beauty tools and see what you have, need to get rid of or need to replace. You’ve probably read a few times that a good set of brushes goes a long way in getting the most out of your makeup products. Here are two sets I’m recommending to get yourself up to speed.

There’s a new line amongst us called REAL TECHNIQUES. It was founded by vlogger/blogger/makeup artist Samantha Chapman after seeing a void in the area of makeup brushes. She wanted to create a line of brushes that were high-tech, high quality and $-friendly and at the same time easy and straight forward to use. The aluminum handles are color coated for easy identifying on the makeup table and the bristles are made of taklon so they are cruelty-free.

Click here to read more

Saturday, May 21, 2011

MAC Fashionflower Collection

What It Is: A stylish fusion of the floral and the fashionable in a summer colour collection that evokes the cool side of the hottest season. Join these rare blossoms and succumb horticulturally to a bouquet that's equal parts fleur and couture!

Wanna see the picks? Click below!

MAC-Fashionflower-logo

Click here to read more

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Does Nexxus ProMend Kit Really Work?

Kristin-Merkling I sometimes don’t feel quite qualified to speak about a product and this is the case with this next one from NEXXUS. It’s their ProMend Kit that is supposed to actually repair split ends. Impossible, I thought so I decided to bring the products to my trusty hair and makeup artist extraordinaire Kristin Merkling (HairbyKristin.com). She’s seen it all and could really give these a good run.

Click the below link to check out my Q&A with Kristin!

Click here to read more

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