MUFE Mist and Fix

Make Up Forever Mist and Fix

S27.00

This kinds of goes back to my previous entry aboout needing primers. I'm on this long kick in search of the ideal face primer.

Well....maybethat perfect primer comes in a mist? We'll see.

What MUFE says:

"What it is:A light and comfortable spray that sets all types of makeup and prolongs hold, even under extreme conditions. What it is formulated to do:With the alcohol-free formula, makeup is protected by a light, invisible film that feels comfortable on the skin. Enriched with chitosan, a marine algae extract, this makeup fixer spray protects skin against external damage caused by temperature changes, pollution, and other possible irritants.Dany Sanz Tip:For busy women who want to go from work to an evening dinner out and don't have time to go home for touch ups, spray mist and fix on a thick tissue and pat gently on the face to refresh your makeup. Then apply a veil of compact powder to give your complexion a velvety texture for the evening. "

We shall see, I guess. I have some here and am starting a week long test run with it tomorrow. I'm going to refrain from testing this at the same time I'm testing Laura Geller's Spackle, though. I'll be switching up products every day to get a fair reading.

Also, I've been toying with Sephora's Lip Last

Sephora brand Lip Last $14.00

"What it is:A clear liquid that prolongs lip color.What it does:Sephora Brand Lip Last makes your lip color stay put extra long, if not all day. Just dip the brush applicator into the clear liquid and paint on. The clear fixative does the rest. "

I've only used it twice. I'm not a fan just yet. I am

willing to give it another week, try it with some

various colors and textures from different lines. But,

I am not pleased as yet. I find it feels sticky tacky on

my lips at first and wears off dry- not matte- dry.

I can't give a verdict on this product without more research. I think 2 weeks is warranted here before I condemn this stuff. I am so happy with Sephora brand Lip Peel that I want to give Lip Last a chance to win me over.

Stay tuned for an upcoming verdict...

TestTube: you will thank me for this, I promise

You might not read New Beauty. You might not even know what it is. When it comes to women's magazine's, it's not a household name. New Beauty is clearly in a class of its own. Focusing on aging, high end products and costly treatments and the newest in plastic surgery, it's geared to a slightly older, more financially sound women. Even if you're not jet setting (I'm not!!) or visiting your surgeon's office for injections of this or that (I plead the fifth!) it's a wealth of info. I especially recommend it for you over 35 ladies.

The one thing New Beauty offers that every woman needs to know about is the TestTube.

http://testtube.newbeauty.com/About.aspx

Just click the link and get out your American Express. Trust me on this. I swear you'll not find a better way to spend $10.00 a month. That's all it comes out to in the end. I dare you to find a better sample deal than this anywhere. I'm a make up and beauty product junkie of the highest order and I still get giddy over the TestTube.

It really, truly lives up to its promises and it's one hundred times better then you ever expect it to be.

You'll get samples, and sometimes full sized samples from companies like:

Estee Lauder

Dr. Brandt

Bioelements

SkinMedica

Jane Iredale

Supersmile/Go Smile

Obagi

N.V. Perricone

Viktor and Rolf

Kinerase

Cosmedine

Peter Thomas Roth

DDF

Pytomer

Ahava

Babor....

And more, these are just the products I can recall from memory.

Just head my advice. Enroll online. Like yesterday. And then, next time you're at the bookstore, pick up a New Beauty and browse it. It might be for you, it might not. But the Beauty Test Tube really will make you happy.

Once more for good measure, click it and just sign up!!

http://testtube.newbeauty.com/Default.aspx

You're welcome. =) You *will* thank me.

Praise DiorShow....and Let's talk primers, please

This post is dedicated to Crystal, who says I've been slacking. She's right. So, here we go.

First, a review of a few new products I've gotten and tried over the past month or so.

First one up at bat is Benefit's Erase Paste $26
What it promises: "....instantly brightens and camouflages all in one....makes sure signs of stress and fatigue are a thing of the past....."


Ok, so, well. Yes, it does deliver on that promise. It's definately
creamy. It's very thick, hence the paste part of the name. It covers and conceals everything and anything. However, I find it
to be too heavy. It does blend well but there is no getting around the sheer weight of this concealer. It feels goopy and mask-like when on the skin. And though it does work, it doesn't wear well.

I tried this concealer under my eyes since God knows I've been massively sleep deprived over these past two weeks. I've had bags under my eyes big enough to use as weekend luggage. It's not pretty. I used it alone, on bare skin. Immediate results and almost immediate fading and falling into fine creases. Not good. So, then I used it with Smashbox's Photo Finish primer. Better results, lasted a few hours. Still felt 'thick'. Lastly, I tried it over a smear of Laura Geller's Spackle over which I dusted Make Up Forever's HD Microfinish Powder. This was (oddly) the best result. Despite the Spackle and MUFE Powder underneath, it didn't feel too heavy or built up. The Erase Paste blended well, covered well, felt a little lighter and lasted many hours even in the humidity. This was a winning combo.

I don't know that I'd buy Erase Paste again. I guess I'll have to see how it holds up long term and how it performs in other ways. There are a hundred ways to use a concealer so I'll be fussing with it for a while. One thing to mention is that a little goes a really, really long way! This one tiny .15oz pot looks like it will last me the better part of a year.


Something else I've finally broken down and tried is Too Faced Wrinkle Injection. Now, let me start by admitting I have very few, if any fine lines around my eyes. I don't have much in the way of crow's feet. So, my results with this MIRACLE PRODUCT are based on just that- I have very small, very few and very, very fine lines around the eyes. That said, I could kick myself for looking at Wrinkle Injection all the time and never deciding to give it a whirl.


It started with a smear on the back of my hand, just for kicks. Instantly, the tiny lines on my hand seemed to plump up. They almost disappeared. I did a double take and looked more closely. The spot I rubbed the gel on was almost line-free. I had to buy it!

When I got home I put it on my unwilling husband. He's never thrilled to be my product test dummy but he takes one for the team now and then. I think he knows it'll keep me happy and therefore I *MAY* spend less on cosmetics.. lol Poor guy. Anyway, my point is that he does indeed have crow's feet and some moderate lines under and around the eye. (He's an over 40 distinguished gentleman so the lines are a sign of wisdom, honey!) so this was a good way for me to test Wrinkle Injection's true ability. His lines instantly were reduced by more than 50%. I'd venture to say 70% improvement. Total success. Which he promtply washed off...but I digress..

So, I've not really used Wrinkle Injection all that much on myself. Truth is I've been slacking in the eye makeup area because almost all my time is being spent outdoors and I'm covered in big Jackie-O sized sunglasses. I've been sticking to mascara and that's about it. But, I do plan on utilizing Wrinkle Injection after what I've seen of it.

Bottom line: It works.

$26.50 at Sephora. My only argument is this: $26 a month adds up to over $300 per year, IF you don't use more than one tube per month. Botox delivers superior results and costs about the same. If you're one of those ladies who is considering Botox, I'd have to chime in here and say that it's a better option. If you're against Botox, which many are, then I say Wrinkle Injection is something to try out. I give it two thumbs up.


Another item I started using (again) DiorShow Blackout. ::::::Cue singing Seraphim:::: DiorShow....ahhhhhh... The best and blackest mascara out there. I can't get away from DiorShow. So, while I was at my local Dior counter I chatted a bit with the sales lady. She gave me a great tip to pass on to my friends. Try this combo for the most incredible lashes:

thin coats of Diorshow Iconic to lengthen and thicken the lashes
top with one coat Diorshow Blackout

She wiped off all her makeup on one eye and showed me. She, like a certain lady who reads this blog, has rather short, sparse lashes. She used the Iconic to add length. She topped with Blackout to add drama and depth. It looked like she put on the world's best falsies. The woman transformed her eye and made it look 10x bigger than it is. I admit, it had never occurred to me to blend various mascaras before. Blending lip colors? Yeah! Layering eye colors? Of course! But mascara? Brilliant. I myself won't be doing this as I have lashes that pretty much reach my eyebrow already (albeit blonde lashes). I definately think it's an idea to pass on though. If you girls try it, let me know how it works for you.


Let's talk about primers for a bit. Face primers, not eye. I have already said time and time again that Urban Decay's Primer Potion and Too Faced Shadow Insurance are the best eye primers I have found with UD taking a slight lead in the race. But let's get a discussion going about facial primers. I'm getting a little frazzled trying everything and anything in search of the ideal product.





I've tried most of the Smashbox primers, such as the ones shown above, and quite honestly, I don't see why they're $30someodd dollars. Yes, they definately make my makeup go on smoother and the Photo Finish Light product seems to mattify my skin for hours. I like that. I don't like it for nearly forty bucks. The Green one, called Color Adjust, promises to reduce redness. I find it doesn't really deliver. The Peach Color Blend option is supposed to help conceal and even out skin. It doesn't hold up, though. I've tried all of these products and it's always the same, I adore how it smooths out my skin and makes my makeup look flawless. Then 2 hours later I'm wondering where it all went.

So, I've moved away from Smashbox and gotten a few samples of some other primers.

I'm currently testing out Laura Gellar's Spackle. I have no verdict yet as I have only used it under my eyes and I've only had it a couple of days. I'll report back later after a week of use with my two cents.

Monistat Chaffing Gel is still raved about all over the internet. I have begun seeing negative reports from people claiming prolonged use has wreaked havoc on their skin. I'm still unsure about it. I can't get past the idea of putting chaffing gel (!?!) on my face.

I'm also giving Sephora's Smoothing Primer a go. At under $20.00 for a full size bottle it's the cheapest of all the face primers so I am kind of hoping this one will be a winner. I have a list of other primers I want to try out. I am going to give Bare Minerals a chance as well as Laura Mercier. I really don't have any idea what the end results will be but I'm willing to test run them all through the summer's hot and humid months to see who holds up and who flops.

Speaking of flopping.... Fekkai, Fekkai. Oh, Why?

Fekkai Glossing Sheer Shine Mist $22.50: BOMBED! Big Sexy Hair makes a way better glossing mist for $5, available at any drug store.

Fekkai Value Set for Color treated hair: $46.00: Don't bother! The shampoo, conditioner, glossing glaze and hair mask are all TINY, not even one week's worth of product. And quite frankly, I've had better products from my local WalGreen's.

Overall, I'm just going to come out and say that I would not bother spending another cent on anything Fekkai. I'm not impressed at all.


And now, before I run and get to Father's Day festivities, I have to put out a cry for help. My hair is looking lackluster. The cut is in between grown out and freshly chopped, I can't hold a style, I haven't colored or highlighted in a while so my gift from Mother Nature of dull, dirty blonde hair is just that- DULL! I'm in desperate need of a new stylist. So if you know of anyone fantastic- at any price- in the Williamsburg area, Richmond area or even as far as Norfolk, please do let me know. I need hair help!

New products and the advive of a hot octogenarian

My apologies to Crystal and Lady S for 'never' updating my blog. I know I'm a slacker! But I have good intentions and always mean to get to it...I just have 1,000 other things going on.

Be warend, there will be no rhyme or reason to this particular entry. I've got a lot to cover and can't even figure out where to start.

First we'll go with some new (or new to me) product reviews.

Make Up For Ever

Professional Line

High Definition Powder

$30

A microfine white mineral silica powder, it promises to slightly mattify while evening out skin tone and reducing the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. It's a one-color suits all product and it's supposed to provide visible results without being visible. My verdict? It works. It's a bit gritty to the touch, despite beign microfine. However, I tested it out just now on bare skin and also over some concealer. I used a Bare Esecntuals kabuki brush for application since I didn't buy the MUFE kabuki. I can't say that the MUFE kabuki would be any better or worse but my results with the BE brush are definately good. I think I will incorporate this product into my routine for a week and see what I think of it long term. So far, so good.

Next up, and a bit overdue. Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel

$21 at Sephora

My friend Crystal urged me to try it. All I'll say on it is YES. It's fabulous. I love it and I don't ever want to run out. This brow gel and weekly waxing are all i need for perfectly groome brows.

.....And this is turning out to be a semi-entry. I'll have to finish the rest later. My poor little Jack is sick and it's time to haul him off to the doctor. =(

I won't forget the octogenarians's advice, though! More to come....

5 recent beauty tips that are worth passing on

1- Light and glossy lips look younger. Dark, matte lip colors age your face. Don't believe it? Try it out. It's true. You'll see.

2- Monistat Chaffing Gel is the best make up primer on Earth. Google it. I also thought it was pure insanity.

3- Exfoliating your face 2-3x per week will vastly improve your appearance. Vastly.

4- Brown eyeliner and brown shadow is done. It looks washed out on most women. It looks...blah. A little eye color brightens the face. Try a little pale pink or a touch of navy blue liner. Experiment with lilac or green. Just try it. It's amazing how much more youthful and awake you look when you wash away all that brown. Nuetral doesn't have to mean brown!

5- Hair conditioner is an excellent substitute for shaving cream.

New things...finally some time!

This is the first time I've sat down for more than 10 minutes in two weeks. This afternoon might be the only shot I get at relaxing and taking it relatively easy. I finally get to babble away my reviews. wooohoo! It's kind of a sad state of affairs when I consider a spare hour at a desk 'free time' but it is... so here goes, the newest products I've tested recently and following that, the top 5 tips I have learned in recent weeks.






New products (to me):




Benefit Powderflage $28


It promises 'light diffusing powder concealer for under eyes and face...that camouflages fine lines, dark circles, or spots." What it does- not too much of anything. Now, don't get me wrong, it is a feather-light formula, as promised. It does seem to reduce the visibility of very fine lines. Just a bit. But, I do have some complaints. For one thing, it's super duper tiny. For nearly $30, I expect a bigger portion than that tiny golf ball half filled with product. I don't feel you get enough for your dollar. Secondly, the 'specially designed fan brush' is disappointing. The bristles are rather coarse, not something I enjoyed sweeping under my eye. They also don't pick up or evenly distribute the product well. I substituted some concealer and foundation brushes and while they felt better, they just weren't riight- too heavy on product placement.




I did dab a little of the Powderflage on a few blemishes and I wasn't impressed. It looked chalky, no matter how little I tried to use.

Overall, I don't hate it. I thinkk it might work for some, especially women with defined crows feet and/or dark circles under their eyes. But I can list at least 5 or 6 products off the top of my head that can do that even better and at a much lower price point.


I won't buy this product again and wouldn't really recommend it as a must try. Sorry, benefit!



Now, on the other end of the spectrum is something I am totally in love with:

DiorSkin Nude Fresh Glow liquid foundation.

It does has a hefty price tag at $45, but sometimes you simply get what you pay for. I love this formula. For my money, it doesn't get any better than this. It's silky smooth, blends very easily, feels as light as air, covers well (medium+ coverage), lasts a long time, matches my pasty skin perfectly. After 2 weeks of use, I have suffered no breakouts or clogged pores, no ill effects. Plus, SPF 10. Always a good thing.

This product promises to go on smooth, feel light as air and provide the illusion of flawless skin. It does just that. It's like invisible airbrushing. I love it. I will definately buy it again someday.

Keeping with Dior....my new must-have nail color is Dior Nude Chic ($20.00) Flattering neutral for any skin tone. Pricey, though. If I could find an identical color in China Glaze or Essie, I'd buy it. If someone knows of a sister color, let me know! I love this color and can see using it up over and over.

Still sticking with the same brand, I will take a moment to plug Addict glosses yet again. As I've said before, they're second only to Chanel's Glossimers and Aqualumiere glosses. I picked up Dior's new Addict Ultra Reflective in #517. It's a super pale pink with just a slight, almost not there golden shimmer. This color won't work on darker skin, olive skin or tanned skin. But if you're as pale and cool toned as me, it looks amazing. Can't go wrong. Excellent buy and yes, something I'd shell out cash for a second time.

Speaking of lipgloss, I found a new favorite top coat. I have never been one to try the ID Bare Escentuals color products. I used to use Bare Minerals foundations and I still stand by it as a great line. I still recommend women give it a try. It's just not for me- too messy, too time consuming and much too difficult to take on-the-go. I prefer something quicker, simpler and portable. I guess because I am not a regular user of Bare Minerals, I usually skip over the whole section. Maybe that's been a mistake. Odd, too, because the adorably sexy pin-up cartoon ads for each color is something I would usually notice. Well, my loss up until now.

The Buxom Lips gloss collection caught my eye during my last outing to the mothership we call Sephora. I don't know why I hadn't given them all a good once over before. The color selection is pretty impressive, as is the size of the product. At $18.00, you do get a lot for your money. More importantly, it works.

Buxom Lips promises a slight plumping effect without the stinging. It delivers. My lips looked....well, just better. Not swollen, not injeted, just...better. Fuller, smoother. Healthier. I'm 100% impressed by Buxom Lips. It's not heavy, it lasts a good while, it blends. The one and only thing I am not wild about is the scent. A tad strong for me. But it does fade after a minute.

I started with Dominique, a clear coat with a glittery, silvery finish. It doesn't look metallic at all, just super shiny. Worn alone, it's cute. Worn over lipstick or liner, it's super cute. It's a great topcoat for anyone addicted to lips that look like they've been making out with EVOO.

I've added April to my Buxom Lips color collection since and I'm actually hoping tonight to get a chance to try on a few more, something darker for 'occasion' wear.


Love them....love, love, love them!

Coastal Scents...my new discovery!!

I lurk and (rarely) post on a few beauty forums. On more than one site, I've seen rave reviews for products by a company call Coastal Scents.


First of all, the name threw me off. I ignorantly assumed right away that it was some teenie-bopperish berry scented, glittery crapola. Then the price threw me off. Yes, this is where I totally admit that I am a huge snob and usually assume high quality must mean high price. Logically, I know this is not true as there are amazing beauty products available at any drug store for pennies. Lastly, the website for this company had a logo that just looked unprofessional to me. I'm picky, picky,picky...



However, for months I have been reading posts like, "My Coastal Scents stuff came and it's so amazing!" and "As an on-set make up artist, I really recommend this company to everyone." When I finally saw skeptics admitting they became true converts, I decided maybe it was worth a try. After all, almost every review I could find was positive. If everyone else is in love with this stuff, maybe I should give it a whirl.



So, I took the plunge and ordered an eye palette, a blush palette and 2 gel liner pots. It only took two days for this stuff to get to me and it arrived in perfect condition. (I was afraid a big sheet of pressed eye shadows would be cracked and chipped but no, they were all intact.)



Here's my review in one word. Wow.





The 88 Ultra Shimmer Palette $24.95












The colors all go on as smooth as silk. They are very easily blendable. The assortment of colors is truly exceptional, ranging from pearly white to smooth ink black with everything in between (even neon yellow). The shimmer is perfect on every color- no big Urban Decay style only-18-yr-olds-get-pull-this off glitter, just sheen. They are all highly pigmented, too, a quality I find lacking in most products. The color you see on the palette is exactly what's going on your eye. The shadow colors lasted all day and into the evening for me but as usual, I use UD Primer Potion under all eye colors so I have to credit that product with the shelf-life of my shadows.








The Cheek Palette $16.95





The cheek palette is equally amazing. Like the eye colors, the blushes are silky smooth, go on very well and are highly pigmented so just a little bit goes a very long way. I am impressed, thoroughly.




The gel liner pots ($6.95 each) are a new thing for me. The gel is rather thin and glides on very, very quickly. It is not a consistency I am used to and I'm going to need some extra practice with using a gel liner. The end result as far as how it dries and the color staying power was all very good. I just couldn't quite get the line I wanted. I used several angled liner brushes (Smashbox, MAC, Ulta Prof and Sephora) and none of them were quite thin enough. It might just be me and my application, in fact it probably is...like I said, I need to work with these gels.






Check out the site. They offer a lot of items for professional make up artists and much of it is way too intircate for me. I wouldn't know the first thing about pressing my own colors or mixing this and that and creating custum shades. I do know that I feel like I got way, way, way more than my money's worth, though. That $25 eye shadow kit is the ONLY shadow kit anyone would need for years.



I give all the things I got from Coastal Scents two thumbs up twice over!



http://www.coastalscents.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm



I plan to try some of the mineral products and definately some of their brushes.



Yay for Coastal Scents!

So much for the Chanel mania..

My head is throbbing. I'm uber-bloated to the point that I can't get comfortable even in yoga pants. The make up sitting in shiny boxes waiting to be played with is just going to have to do what everything in my house is doing today, collecting dust. I managed to shower and get clean. That's enough for me today.

This wicked headache and blue-whale like swelling had to occur on the day I solemnly promised myself I'd start spinning and weight training again at the gym. I was totally sincere, too. It's hard to lie to yourself, really. I meant to go. I had every intention of sitting through 40 minutes of an annoying faux redhead in a headset yelling, "Come on, guys! Do it for the bikinis!" (easily said when you're a childless 19 yr old co-ed with B-cup boobs that still point north)

Lipgloss just isn't going to cut it today. I'm too cranky and tired to care.

I do feel very accomplished about the business sites, business blog and other such jewelry things. If only I could put half the effort into myself today that I put into it last night....


My kingdom for a massage...including the Chanel lot.

Now THAT is bad...

Chanel MANIA!

So, what does one do on a blustery, freezing wet day? I'll tell you what. She treks through the snow and make her way to the Nordstroms' cosmetics department, that's what.

Here's my loot:

Chanel Irreelle Duo- shadow duo in #73, River Light. I thik they are a bit greener than they show in pics. Love it. Love the colors, they come off semi-sheer and light. I haven't tried them wet but I still suspect a light wash of color. I am really looking forward to experimenting with these colors. Tomorrow sounds soon enough! As always, Chanel delivers with premium pacakaging and a soft, siky blendabilty that just reminds me of why I pay what I pay at the Chanel counter.

Next up, Collection Essentielle in Lumiere Tendress.

This palette is so soft, so shimmery and so right ....for me! The eye color quads are so very natural and complimentary. The cheeck color is ideal- I want a full size pot now. I love, love the glosses. The whiter gloss is a fabulous pout highlighter. This palette is already a go-to favorite of mine right off the bat.

Chanel Le Vernis #18 Vamp. Does this even need any explanation? I didn't think so.

Aqualumiere Gloss in #67 Diamond Rose. LOVE IT! It's not as pink as it sounds, it's more a nuetral gloss with some sheen to it. It looks great on my white lips. Excellent color, I am glad I found it.

Next up= Glossimer in #96 Iris. Classic Chanel Glossimer forumla, wears all day, never goopy. Ideal gloss! Iris is a gorgeous pinky-peach but be warned- it's highly shimmery. It packs a lot of 'sparkle' and some women just prefer a more matte look. I think this color compliments any look in which lips take a back role (think dramatic eyes, smokey lids, intense cheeks...or plain nude all-over face). It's perfect in that it's almost not there....until the light catches your lip and you see sparkling undertones. Personally, I love it. LOVE IT.

No pics yet, though. I figured modeled on lips is best.

I am a big fan Chanel's Fluid Iiridescent liquid shadows. Tonight I picked up #20, Fountain. This is a deeper, brighter pink than I amused to but it look really good alone so I can't wait to see how it blends with some colors. They blend well, dry well to a shimmery finish. They blend well under darker colors, too, and act like an ideal base color. I'm really into this product!

Tomorrow...I promised myself that 1 hour at the range and 1 hour at the gym and I will reward myself with 1 hour at Laura Mercier.

Until tomorrow....ladies!

Links, favorites and random thoughts

It's 2:10am and I am nowhere near sleep. Again. Naturally, the best thing to do is babble endlessly.

I just saw a commercial for Jumbo Krispies. These are Rice Krispies on steriods, apparently. I don't get it. The key word is supposed to be RICE, right? It's a rice based cereal, no? Well, rice is small. A grain of rice is just a few milimeters in length. Nature doesn't make giant rice for a reason. Jumbo Krispies? Chernobyl Krispies...sometimes the classics are really the only way to go.

Anyway, I said earlier that I would share some of my favorite beauty sites and forums and so I shall. First up, a nod to my e-home and favorite place to lurk: http://forum.purseblog.com/ While I love the jewelry boards (for obvious reasons) and I read half a dozen other forums there, my favorite by far is The Beauty Bar, found here: http://forum.purseblog.com/the-beauty-bar/

The topics vary and the ladies and rare gents that contribute really know thier stuff. The collective knowledge is more than impressive. It's definately worth checking out if you're into the frilly and glossy. Sure, some things won't appeal to you, not everything does. But most will. Or should!

Next up is www.bylaurenluke.com and http://www.youtube.com/user/panacea81 Both links will take you to the world of England's favorite "unofficial" and self-proclaimed not-artist. Her tutorials are like having private lessons in your own home, free of charge and dumbed down enough for us that aren't pros. I love her, I really do. I would never copy a lot of her looks because they are over the top, good for clubbing and not so good for middle aged mothers in questionable career fields, like me. But the techniques, ideas, short cuts and tips Lauren passes on make her my favorite online make up source (non sales, of course). Besides all that, I am just amazed at her talent. I could never do what she does. Check her out and thank me later.


http://www.makeupgeek.com/ I pop into this site once in a while. I should watch her youtube tutorial more often. I love that she uses high end products, low end products, even off-the-wall items not even intended to be used cosmetically. She's very impressive. I like her end results a lot and often try to imitate her look. Thumbs up, surely.

A great source for reviews: http://www.makeupalley.com/



I suppose I should haul my butt to bed. It's nearly 3am and my kids will have me up in no time, especially the little one. He's terribly excited about snow and even though all we have on the ground right now is solid ice, it's looking like he will wake up to some powder. I hope, so. I'd love to watch all of them playing in the snow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

A quick post

I have literally had no time to sit down for more than 20 minutes all week. When I did have time, I had more pressing things to get done. But I do have products that I've tried and will review (like the lip peel Crystal was interested in) and new stuff I'm testing out this week. I also Have links I want to share with any of us products whores. Tutoritals, discussion forums and so on. Some amazing things to watch. I've learned a lot from a few really talented people....but I'll share that when I can dig up the links and post a bit more about it.

Quickly, before I once again run out the door....

The Sephora Lip Peel is not a disappointment. It's relatively cheap, at $12, easy to use and I do see results. It dries on in about 2-3 minutes and it does peel off, like it says, but you still have to wipe small remnants off. It did remove dead skin, as promised. It didn't burn or tingle, it didn't have any ill effects. In fact, it felt like a plain clear gloss until it dried and became sticky. My lips did look and feel better right after use. I would use and buy this product again.

Stick around, there's much more to come.

=D

Please keep my bother-in-law in mind tonight. An ambulance ride to the trauma center. Possible stroke. 39 years old.

Pray if you do.

Random musings of an accused diva

First let me say that I actually consider it a joke when my husband calls me a diva. I am far from a diva. I'm just "girly", in the traditional sense. And I do mean traditional sense because believe me, I don't honestly believe that make up or nail polish or frilly dresses has anything to do with true feminity. That comes from within and cannot be seen. It has nothing to do with 'pretty' at all.


But I digress...


Some reviews on the products I bought yesterday.


The Urban Decay Lip Envy in Envious. I put this on at about 9am. It's 4:25 and it's still there though faint. Not bad. The color is pretty rich. One coat was dark enough, two coats would probably be too much. I applied clear Fusion gloss over this a couple of times througout the day and it still held up. I would buy this again.



I tried the Liquif-Eye product. Love the actual product, don't love the brush. It's very small and harshly angled. It's pretty stiff, too. The line you get is very thin. Some people like that. I guess it's better to have too thin a line than too thick as you can always adjust and add more. It does dry very quickly. Work fast with this product! Also, as with just about any powder shadow, it will appear 1-2 shades darker when applied wet. So, keep that in mind when selecting a shadow to use as a wet liner. But the good news is the color still remains over 7 hours later. (though i do credit that mostly to the Urban Decay shadow potion)



I'm loving the NYX baby pink shimmer powder. I think it is now my favorite base lid color as it works under browns, purples, grays, taupes. I wouldn't do it with any blues, though. It's very pastel. Mixing that baby pink with any visible blue would be a color clash like a tacky baby shower. I'll pass on that.... But I will be buying more NYX products. The price cannot be beat.



Today's loot (yes, another loot) comes fresh out of Sephora.



Remember I said I was a sucker for packaging? I wasn't joking at all. I bought Too Faced's Mood Swing lip gloss, The Smurfette edition. I've used the TF Mood Swing gloss before so I know I like it. I just couldn't resist the Fa-la-la-la-la-laaaa in my head. Really, I'd buy Fraggle Rock gloss if they sold it. Idea! Voltron Shadow Palettes! ha!



Behold: a product marketed to suckers like me:


You know you think it's cute...





I got a hell of a deal on a Smashbox gift set. Separately, the colors
and brushes in this set would retail for about $230 or so. The 'special' price was $60. A Christmas leftover, it was clearance priced. 8 duo shadow pots and brush #15 and brush #32. I am ridiculously excited over it. I need more hobbies because this shouldn't be what makes my day.

I think the colors may vary...


I also picked up Sephora brand Lip Last (a sealing top coat for lipstick/lip color) and Sephora brand Lip Peel. My dry lips could stand it. We'll see how they perform.


Also on the sale table was a Sephora brand lip palette. 6 shimmery colors ranging from white (top coat) to deep red. Three of the colors look really pretty and the testure is light and feathery, not heavy at all. I like that in lip gloss. For under $10, there is no going wrong here.



As I checked out, the sales associate talked up La Vanilla's Vanilla Coconut scent. It sounds appealing enough but 20 minutes after getting a free sample vial (she was pretty freaking adamant that I take it!) I hate it. I want to shower right now and get it the hell off me. I smell like a sugar cookie that was baked in a tanning salon - no pun intended. That might sound okay but just trust me, there is nothing great about reeking like your grandma's week old macaroon. You know, the ones you eat because there are starving children in China who would appreciate the stale cookie. (they wouldn't!)

Today's loot....experiments in Too Faced

Today I made my bi-weekly trip to Ulta. I always intend to pick up one or two items. I always buy 20.

Today's loot includes:

Too Faced's Tricks of The Trade kit

This kit offers a 5ml Lash Injection Mascara. I've used this product before with no complaints, we'll see how I feel about it this time. It has a lot to live up to as so few mascaras can compare to DiorShow.

Also included are a full sized Lip of Luxury Lipstick in Totally Nude. It's a pale mauvey-nude color. I don't know what I'll think of it. Looks like it might work as a great base under gloss, we'll see. My jury is still out on Too Faced lipsticks as I've had plenty of positive experiences with thier glosses and Lip Injection colors. (all worth checking out).

Included is .35g Shadow Insurance. Now, I am a die-hard Urban Decay Primer Potion user. I am, however, willing to try the Too Faced eye primer. I'm game for it. I will use it tomorrow and do a full eyejob and see what happens. It has a true cult following so we'll see if it's all hype! Something tells me this is a seriously quality product and I'm pretty excited about checking it out.

Included was a full sized Too Faced Absolutely Invisible pressed powder. I'm not much of a compact user but I'll give this a week to impress me with it's mattefying abilities. It looks so darn cute what with the little diva singing on the cover. I fall in love with these things on sight. I am SUCH the consumer. You can totally sell me on packaging. I mean, I almost fell for the Smurfette stuff...that says it all.

Next up in the kit is Too Faced Eye Shadow Duo in Totally Toasted (see image). Two semi-shimmery pink based brown nuetrals that look, at first glace, to be usable for everyday makeup. I am liking the every so slightly glittery finish of the darker of the two. I can see these colors will have many uses for me.



Not too shabby for a small kit....all that ran me less than $40.00 I've never really been disappointed with Too Faced before so I'm sure my money has once again been well spent.



Next up, ahhhhhhhhhhh a confession. Please don't laugh.Really. Don't. I bought HaraJuku Girls' Baby.







Now, I am not going to lie. It's meant for teens or at least those young enough to 'live on campus' and party all night. I know.





But it harkens back to the dark and mysterious (lol) 1980s when we all wore Love Baby'Soft. Harajuku Baby does in fact remind me of 8th grade, smelling like alcohol and fake baby powder. Something was enchanting about it then. And it's enchanting now, even if for no other reason than nostalgia. Thankfully, they's made a better formula, a slightly more sophisicated version of the '80s drugstore throwback that is probably best forgotten. But I freely confess to liking the scent, juveunile in nature or not. One needs not exude pure metropolitan sophistication at all times. That's not what scent is about. Sometimes, it's about spraying your wrist and taking a whiff and thinking, "wow...remember back in '85..."





So, sue me. I like Harajuku Baby and I check off the "35-40" demographics boxes. That's right. I'm owning it!!
...



Also pick up today-

Urban Decay Afterglow blush in Exhale....the name promises to make you look flushed and dewey and just right-out-the-sack rosey.

Well, we shall see about that! The color looks a bit drab here but it represents well in person.

Another Urban Decay score: Lip Envy in Envious. I do love a good lip stain. I really like a color I can swipe on and forget about. I am not such a fan of matte finishes for myself (love the look in general) so this will almost definately be worn under gloss. The color is hot, though. Just red enough to be seen and not so red it's obvious.

And now we're back to Too Faced. I got the cutest little eye color set...with a twist. Liquif-Eye.

The idea here is not new. I've used powder-to-liner products before. Last time I bought a product specifically for this I am 99% sure it was by Smashbox. It didn't include an applicator brush. I like that this one does. I think I will like that.

The colors in the palette can surely be worn as regular powder pigments/shadows. There is a good variety going on in here. Mattes and shimmers, brights and nuetrals, they do give plenty of color options for the price.

I restocked two of my go-to brushes, as well. Smashbox #20 and #15. I swear, with the right base (like Urban Decay Shadow Potion) and the right tools (like these brushes) eye color application gets 100x easier. It's sometimes the prep and the tools and not the color, you know what I mean? With a good primer and some quality brushes, I can do a bang up job with anything, from Cover Girl shadows to Chanel eye quads.

Speaking of shadow, I picked up NYX shimmer baby pink. Since I have heard great things about NYX and I often use a pearly baby pink as an all over base lid color, I'm going to try it. It's hard to find the right combination of pigment and shimmer. Too light looks white, too dark and it looks like I've been crying. Too matte and it looks unnatural. Too glittery and it looks like it belongs on my 17 yr old stepdaughter or a drag queen becuase let's face it, teenagers and queens are the only ones going to make glitter 'cute'.

So that was basically it, save for standard everyday needs like new Tweezers (Tweezerman only!) and other little things. I'm prepping for a black tie event tomorrow night so at some point today I need to drop into my usual haunt for a mani/pedi. That brings me to polish colors and that's a whole other entry.