Influenster Holiday Vox Box

I was chosen to receive a Influenster Holiday Vox Box.  Influenster is like a Birchbox, but it's free.  It is a website community and the more influence or reach you have, the more likely you are to receive the boxes. The idea is to use the products and then review the products via a blog, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, or word of mouth. You can sign up to receive their boxes on their website and the more "badges" you earn, the more likely you are to receive the boxes.  I have no idea why I was chosen to receive the Holiday Vox Box....I don't have a broad reach or much influence :).  Nonetheless, I was excited to receive the box. 

The contents of my box included:
* Larabar in Chocolate Chip Brownie (not pictured)
* Montagne Jennesse Mud Pac Mask (anti stress)
* Softsoap Coconut Scrub bar soap
* ImPress Press On Manicure in WinkWink
* New York Color (NYC) Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City
* Mentos Chewing Gum

Larabar
I tried the Larabar as soon as I opened the box.  I hate to say, I took one bite and spit it out.  I've had other Larabar products and liked them, but I didn't care for this one.

Softsoap Coconut Scrub Bar
This soap has a subtle, sweet smell.  It has crushed coconut extract that is infused into the soap.  It produces a good amount of suds and left my skin feeling soft and smooth.  The scent did not last on my skin, which I like.  I don't like my bath soaps to mix with my perfume.  I liked this soap, but I don't really care for bar soaps.  I prefer body wash in a bottle. 

ImPress Press On Manicure in WinkWink
I can't review this product because I didn't use it.  I have naturally long nails so I had no need to use the press on nails.  I gave the nails to my 16 year old niece who was thrilled to have them.  (Below is a picture from their website)

New York Color (NYC) Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City
This is my first NYC Liquid Lipshine product and I really like it.  The color is a sheer peachy nude with a hint of shimmer.  The only small negative is that it got a little sticky on my lips after awhile.  But, I will most likely buy more in other shades.

Montagne Jennesse Mud Pac Mask
I haven't tried this yet, but I am looking forward to trying it.  I have used other Montagne Jennesse masks and they are easy to find (drugstore) and very affordable.

Mentos Chewing Gum (Pure Fresh)
This gum is awesome....if you like strong flavored gum, which I do.  This would be perfect if you're on a dinner date and had spicy food, or a lot of garlic.

Sorry this post is so long, but I hope you enjoyed all the reviews.  I was really happy to receive the Influenster box and hope to receive more in the future.

Happy New Year to you all!  I wish you a 2012 full of joy, peace, health and happiness.

Kat

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment Review & Rave!

I was a bit hesitant to jump on the hair oil bandwagon because my hair tends to be on the oilier side, but since it is winter where I live, and my hair is much less oily during the winter time, I thought this would be the perfect time to try one.  My main reason for wanting to try a hair oil is because it reduces the drying time.  I have shoulder length, curly hair, which is chemically relaxed, and very thick.  It's been almost a year since I had the relaxer treatment, so most of it has been cut off and the new growth is curly.   It takes a long time to blow dry my hair, pulling and tugging as I dry to get it smooth from the roots to the ends. By the time I'm finished, the ends of my hair are frizzy.

There are a lot of hair oil treatments to choose from and after watching a lot of YouTube videos on several brands, I decided I would try the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment.

Macadamia Heating Oil Treatment

 I washed my hair and left it wrapped in a towel until it was damp.   I put about a nickel size of the product in the palm of my hand, rubbed my hands together and distributed the oil throughout my hair, working from the ends up.  It doesn't need to be applied to the roots. Remember, I have really thick hair, so adjust the amount you use accordingly.

This Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment is AMAZING!!  I dried my hair as usual and it actually did take less time to dry.   It made my hair feel super light, silky, soft and smooth.  It didn't weigh my hair down or leave a greasy feel.  I couldn't stop running my fingers through my hair after it was dry.  I am so impressed with this product.  

I purchased the Macadamia Heating Oil Treatment at www.Ulta.com. Not knowing if I'd like the product, I bought the small 1.0 ounce size bottle for  $13.00.  Yes, it's a bit expensive but totally worth it and I will definitely repurchase this once this bottle is used up.

If you want to learn more about different hair oils, I highly recommend you visit Tammy - uppiesbeads50 channel on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/uppiesbeads59). She did several videos comparing many different hair oil products. Her videos are great, and very informative!  I recommend watching all her videos!

Let me know if any of you jump on the bandwagon and try a hair oil product!  I'd love to hear your comments on it.

Talk to you all soon,
Kat

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam Review

Happy Monday!  I hope you all are having a good start to your week.

"Ahhhhh"! Can you hear that? That is the sound the skin on my face makes after I cleanse it with the Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam. This is my new favorite cleanser and I absolutely love it!!

This cleanser is very mild, but removes my makeup completely, including my eye makeup. Normally, a creamy cleanser tends to be too creamy and doesn't give me a clean feeling but this cleanser becomes a foam once you apply it to your face. It has small, orange exfoliating beads that melt into the foam as you lather. After using it, my skin feels clean and quite soft without any hint of dryness. The smell is very pleasant as well.

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam

It's a little more expensive, but a little goes a long way. I use about a dime size each time, so I imagine this tube will last me quite a while. I also only use it in the evenings to remove my makeup and daily grime. I use the Philosophy Purity Cleanser to cleanse my skin first thing in the morning.

I will definitely purchase the Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam again.  You can find it at any good department store, I purchased mine at  http://www.macys.com/ or you can purchase it from http://www.sephora.com/.  The cost is $35.00.

What's your favorite cleanser?  Am I the only one to use two different cleansers?  I'd love to hear what you use. 

Take care and have a good week!

Sephora by OPI A Little Bit Dangerous

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're all having a great day.  It's a beautiful Fall day in the Ohio area.  

This polish is from my Sephora Friends & Family haul. It's the Sephora by OPI A Little Bit Dangerous. The polish is a gorgeous, dark purple color.  Initially, I thought it was too dark, but once you get it in the light, it looks amazing!  It goes on smoothly and has a beautiful, even surface. My colleague, who is a 51 year old male, even commented on how nice my nails looked.

I'm posting this six days after I painted my nails with A Little Bit Dangerous, and it's just now starting to chip. I applied two coats of polish and one coat of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat

Sephora by OPI A Little Bit Dangerous

Take care and I'll talk to you soon.....

Coupon Codes and Free Gifts with Purchase

OK, here is my first coupon code post. I might have to take advantage of the Estee Lauder gift with purchase. The free gift would make a nice Christmas gift for someone and I love their Double Wear Stay-In-Place Eye Pencils. They are the longest lasting eye pencil I own. Love them!!

Coupon Codes

Clarisonic
Save up to $55 when you mix-and-match two sonic skin care systems.  Free gift with purchase, free shipping, and free engraving.
www.clarisonic.com

Eyes, Lips, Face
40% OFF HOLIDAY GIFT FAVORITES! Limited Edition.
With any $25 order when you use code GIFTFAVES by 11/7/11.

40% OFF BRUSHES..Rush To Brush!
With any $15 order when you use code BRUSH40 by 11/9/11.
Shop Now at: http://www.eyeslipsface.com

ULTA
Free shipping on all orders over $25.00.  Use online code HOLIDAYSHP25. 
www.ulta.com

Nordstrom
Get an exclusive Tracy Reese for Clinique cosmetics-bag duo filled with beauty greats with your $25 Clinique purchase—a $75 value. Online and in store. One per person, while supply lasts. Gift will be added automatically in Checkout and can only be shipped to the same destination as your order. This item cannot be shipped to international addresses. 
www.nordstrom.com

Estee Lauder
Free gift with any $42.00 purchase.  Two gifts to choose from: Warm & Sunny, or Cool & Fresh.  Gift includes a deluxe eye palette, coordinating lipstick and mascara.  You also get your choice of 3 deluxe skincare products and a beautiful purple cosmetic bag.
www.esteelauder.com

Elizabeth Arden
Free shipping on all makeup.  Use online code MAKEUP4
www.elizabetharden.com

Vera Bradley
20% off everything in the Sale section. No coupon code needed. Sale is good through Sunday, November 6th.
www.verabradley.com

Please let me know if you want me to continue to make these posts. Hopefully they can save you a little bit of money.

Sephora Friends & Family Haul

I love a good sale - especially on cosmetics.  Sephora had a Friends & Family Sale that I had to take full advantage of.  I spent hours on their internet site looking at a lot of different products and reading reviews. When I decided on everything I wanted to purchase and actually looked at what all was in my shopping cart, I about choked at the dollar amount.  So, I spent hours narrowing down my items. Here is what I settled on:

Top: Urban Decay Lush Lash System

Left to right: Sephora for OPI Just a Little Dangerous Nail Colour, Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation Primer,

Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen

As you know from my previous post, I use LiLash Eyelash Stimulator. I like it, it does make my lashes longer, but it makes my eyes so bloodshot that it just isn't attractive. So I'm really excited to try the Urban Decay Lush Lash System. I've read some good reviews on it. I'll post the results after two weeks of using the product.

I also use the Chanel Stylo Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen and love it, but ran out of it. Sephora doesn't sell Chanel, so I thought I'd try a different brand since I would be able to get a 20% discount on it. I chose the Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen. I've only used it once but my initial thought is that I liked the consistency of the Chanel product better than the Dior. I need to keep using it though before I make a final decision.

I'm almost out of my Smashbox Light face primer, so I purchased the Givenchy Mister Mat Mattifying Foundation Primer. The main reason I decided on this product was because it's a mattifying primer. My skin gets oily and shinny in the afternoon, so we'll see how this one works. This product had a lot of good reviews, especially from older women in the 50-54 age group. Unfortunately, I'm 11 months from being in that age group. :(

Lastely, I've been searching for a beautiful purple nail polish and bought the Sephora for OPI July a Little Dangerous Nail Colour. The color is lovely and I can't wait to use it. I'll post a picture when I do.

If any of you have used these products, please leave a comment and let me know how you liked or disliked the products!!

You can purchase all of these products at www.sephora.com

Hope you all are doing well and are having a wonderful day!

Zoya Nail Lacquer in DEA

Happy Halloween!

I used the Zoya Nail Lacquer in the color DEA this weekend. It is a warm, milky, light brown color with an orange overtone. I applied Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat for a glossy finish.





Results = BEAUTIFUL!!!

I wish you all a great day!

Zoya Nail Lacquer and Posting Coupon Codes

Zoya.com was having a buy one get one free offer a couple of weeks ago.  Since I love Zoya Nail Lacquer, I had to take advantage of the offer.

The four colors I purchased were:  DEA, Anja, Ruby and Petra.

Left to right:  Ruby, Petra, Anja, Dea

I haven’t had a chance to try all of them yet, but I have tried the Petra.  Petra is a beautiful smoky, dusty grey color.   The first coat was slightly difficult to apply.  It went on thin in some areas and thick in others making it difficult to get an even coat before it started to dry.  However, the second coat went on beautifully and I think my nails look really nice. I did apply Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat which gives a really shinny finish.

The polish did begin to chip after a few days but I type all day long and cook and clean, so they take quite a beating.  I typically get five days out of my manicure with just a small touch up on the tips.

Stay tuned for the rest of the colors.

Coupon / Promotion Codes – I receive a lot of emails providing online coupon codes for everything from clothing, to makeup, to skin care, to sporting equipment and even tools from the hardware store.  So, I’ve decided to start having weekly posts of all the coupon codes that I receive.  It will be one post per week but I will update that same post throughout the week if I receive more codes.   I will focus mainly on the clothing / makeup / skin care coupon codes but if any of you are looking for a coupon code for something else, just let me know!!  Hopefully I can save you all a little bit of money -  which is a good thing in today’s economy.

Let me know what you think about the coupon code posts and if you think it would be useful to you.

Hope you’re all having a great day!!

Essie "Carry On" Nail Lacquer

Happy Fall to all of you!  I can't believe October is here already!!

I wanted some new fall nail colors, so while I was at the drugstore, I picked up this Essie nail lacquer in the color Carry On.  It is from the 2011 Fall Collection. 

In the bottle the color looks like a dark plum color, which is what I wanted.  After applying it to my nails though, it’s a very dark brown, chocolate color.  It’s a pretty color, very pigmented and goes on nicely.  I put on two coats.  I’m not sure it’s a good color for my skin tone.  What do you think?

I picked this up at CVS pharmacy for $8.00.  I checked www.essie.com and it is not available for purchase on their website.

Tarte neutralEYES Eye Shadow Palette Volume II - Review

I love Tarte Cosmetics. I've tried their eye shadow, eye primer, cream stick blush, mascara (Lights, Camera, Action is my all time favorite mascara) and their emphasEYES aqua gel liner.

I was in Sephora a month or so ago, and I purchased the Tarte neutralEYES Eye Shadow Palette Volume II. It included a full size emphasEYES aqua-gel eyeliner in brown, a double-ended eye shadow brush and a free sample of lifted natural eye primer with Firmitol.

My first thoughts about this palette was how beautiful the packaging was. The color on the outside is a beautiful rich purple with a leather like feel. There is a place on the inside to hold the brush and eyeliner. It's so easy to pop in a suit case or in a cosmetic bag. Very travel friendly.

　

The eye shadow colors in this palette are gorgeous. They are blendable and soft, highly pigmented and last all day. A little goes a long way. The colors would look nice on any skin tone and I think they are all wearable. Some palettes come with colors I'd never use, but I've used every color in this palette. There are five matte colors and five shimmering colors. Since I'm middle aged, I don't wear shimmer eye shadows very often, but these have just the right amount of shimmer, perfect for any age!

top row (L-R): matte soft beige, matte pink cashmere, matte buttercream, matte pebble, matte espresso

bottom row (L-R): shimmering whisper pink, shimmering golden peach, shimmering hazel, shimmering plum

smoke, shimmering cinnamon (my camera didn't do the best job of showing the true colors...trust me, they are gorgeous.)

The double-ended brush is very nice. I use the rounded end of the brush to apply my base coat of shadow, then use the blunt end to tap on the color into my crease. I find that's the best way to apply this eye shadow, with a tapping motion. Then the rounded end of the brush nicely blends everything. Another reason this palette is travel friendly...you only need to take one eye shadow brush and it stores in the case.

　

The emphasesEyes aqua gel liner is a very unique formula. It takes a lot of practice to use them. The tip will break off easily, so you need to be very light-handed when applying. The lighter the pressure, the better. It goes on very wet so you can blend it out if you want. I had a very difficult time using it under my bottom eyelashes. It kept clumping in my lower eyelashes and I just couldn't get it to look nice. I do not recommend the emphasesEyes aqua gel liner.

However, the Tarte eye shadows have a huge payoff, and I highly recommend them. I also like the fact that they are formulated without mineral oil, parabens, phthalates and sodium lauryl sulfate. I loved this palette so much I bought one for my sister for her birthday. She loves it!

The palette comes with a chart showing each eye shadow color and inside are two different instructions pamphlets, one for a day look and one for a night look,

You can purchase this palette at www.sephora.com or at www.tartecosmetics.com.  The cost is $44.00 and if you consider the amount of products you are getting, it's a great value!

Take care...

Number 4 Hair Care Products and Befine Exfoliating Cleanser

My husband had to work late last night, so I decided I would spend the evening pampering myself. I had several sample products from my past Birchbox shipments that I wanted to try, so it was the perfect night to do so.

First up...

Number 4 Fleurs de Temps Voluminizing Shampoo by Number 4 Hair Care

This shampoo is designed to (per its website) "turn fine, meek strands into big, bodacious hair. You’re on your way to full, voluptuous strands." They website says it is designed to detangle and cleanse hair without weighing it down. It uses natural lemongrass, golden seal, and gooseberry, plus the brand’s four signature Liquid Complexes™. Each complex is a different blend of natural ingredients designed to help protect, purify, strengthen, and revitalize hair.

I just had a very small sample packet of this shampoo but it did lather really well...and I have  very thick hair. So, a small amount worked perfectly. The smell of the shampoo was wonderful. I couldn't pick out any recognizable scents, but it did smell really good. As far as voluminizing my hair...I can't really say because I already have a lot of hair and it is thick, not flat at all. But, my hair did feel very clean and smelled great. I'm curious as to how a shampoo can turn meek strands into bodacious hair. Not sure I buy into that!! 

 Number 4 Fleurs de Temps Voluminizing Shampoo costs $34.00 for 8.5 ounces.

 Next up...

Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Reconstructing Masque by Number 4 Hair Care

This Masque infuses moisture and protein (the two things that hair needs most!) into strands of the hair. It has natural ingredients such as soy protein (works to reconstruct and strengthen hair) and shea butter, jojoba seed oil, and sunflower oil to nourish and moisturize the hair. It also has silicone polymer, which "smooths and detangles." You need to leave this product in your hair from 2 to 5 minutes before rinsing.

This mask was very thick which made it easy to apply. I put probably a heaping teaspoon full into my hands, rubbed them together, then worked it into my hair. Since it was so thick, I felt I really had some control over where I was putting in on my hair. I concentrated a lot on my ends. It rinsed out easily and my hair smelled great.

Since my hair is so thick, I wrap it in a towel for 5 to 7 minutes to soak up some of the water before blow drying it. I removed the towel and used a wide tooth comb to start coming it out. I was disappointed in the amount of tangles that my hair had. The bottle says it "smooths and detangles" but the detangle part didn't work so well for me. I had a hard time getting the comb through my hair. However, after I dried my hair it felt very soft , smooth and a little shinny. I don't know if it left my hair in better condition because the conditioner I use now, (Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition) has my hair in really good condition. 

Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Reconstructing Masque costs $58.00 for 5.1 ounces.

Personally, I doubt I would purchase either of these hair care products as the cost of pretty high for me.

And lastly....

Befine Exfoliating Cleanser with Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond & Oats

This two-in-one product has gentle beads that removes dead skin cells and then melts into a creamy cleanser. I love that because I know when I exfoliate using my usual product, I overdo it. So the fact that the beads melted into a creamy cleanser is a good thing for me. The first thing that hit me when I applied the product to my face was how horrible the scent was. The ingredients include brown sugar, sweet almond, oats and ginger root. For me, it was not a pleasant scent at all. However, after I rinsed the product off, I loved how my skin felt. My face was clean, hydrated, soft and I thought my skin looked healthier. If I could get past the scent, I would probably purchase this product. The jury is still out on that!! 

Befine Exfoliating Cleaner with Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond & Oats cost $25.00 for 4 ounces.

You can purchase all of these products at http://www.birchbox.com/.

Take care....

Zoya Professional Nail Lacquer

I received my first Zoya Professional Nail Lacquer in my July Birchbox. I have long, natural nails (although they are a little short now due to some landscaping work) and I love painting them. I've purchased my fair share of nail polishes and my usual brand of nail polish is Avon Nail Wear Pro, which I really like. However, my new favorite nail polish is.....ZOYA !!!

This nail polish is wonderful! It goes on smoothly and dries surprisingly fast, which I love. It is very long wearing and chip-resistant. I've painted my nails with it several time and I've gone at least two weeks on one painting without having to do any touch up. I type on a computer all day long, so for my nail polish to last for two weeks is just amazing. Zoya is formaldehyde free and does not contain doetoluene or dibutyl phthalate.

The color I received is Pandora. While I love the polish, I didn't care for the color Pandora. It's so much like the color of my skin tone that my nails don't stand out at all. If I'm going to take time to paint my nails, I want them to stand out, not blend in with my fingers.

ZOYA - Pandora

Zoya has their new Fall 2001 color collection available on their website and the colors look beautiful. I might have to purchase all of them!!

2011 New Smoke & Mirrors Fall Colors (6 cream and 6 metalic)

Zoya is available in some nail salons and can be purchased for $8.00 on their website at http://www.zoya.com/. It's really the best nail polish I've ever used!!!

Josie Maran GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara

I used some of my points at Sephora to get a Josie Maran product sample kit. I have never used any of her products, so I was looking forward to trying some of her products. Included in the kit was a sample of the Josie Maran GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara in Pitch Black. I was excited to try the mascara - I think I'm a mascara junkie, always trying to find the perfect mascara. After using this mascara for a couple days, I have to say this mascara is not the perfect mascara.

The first thing I didn't care for was the brush. It's very large and has a lot of bristles that are bunched together.

The picture doesn't really show how large the brush is. It was very difficult to use on the lower lashes and in the inner corner of the upper lashes. I also didn't care for the formula. It went on very dry and really didn't do much for my lashes at all in terms of thickening and lengthening. I had to apply a lot of coats of the mascara just to get the look that I get with two coats of my regular mascara.

The website describes the mascara as "...the rich, hydrating formula evenly builds thickness and smoothness, delivering a full fringe of blacker-than-black lashes with dewy shine." The color was very, very black, but I didn't get the thickness or a dewy shine. It could be that I just got a bad or old sample with my kit. If that is the case, the company should do a better job with their quality control on their sample products, since a lot of people base their buying decision on whether they liked the sample or not. My sample went in the trash.

A full size GOGO Instant Natural Volume Argan Mascara costs $22 at www.sephora.com

July Birchbox

Birchbox is a monthly membership that you subscribe to, and for $10.00 a month (that includes shipping) you receive four to five deluxe samples of name brand products to try.  If you like any of the products, you can purchase them through Birchbox at a discounted price.

Birchbox enlisted designer, Cynthia Rowley, to guest curate this month's box.  I have to admit, I had to google her to find out who she is.  According to her website, she is a “fashion and style authority with a namesake collection that includes women’s wear, beachwear and wetsuits, men’s wear, eyewear, handbags, shoes, baby, home sewing products, tools, legwear, shapewear, and ‘dress-up’ band-aids”.

OK.... on to my Birchbox.  This is what the box looked like when I opened the shipping box.

 This is the pretty cover that was on the box

The card introducing Cynthia and product listing on the back

 After removing the paper

The products

Products in the box were:

- Philosophy Purity Made Simple – one-step facial cleanser - A pH-balanced cleanser that gently clears away dirt, oil and makeup without drying out skin. 
- Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-usage Dry Oil – A multi use oil that gives face and body a pretty glow (minus any slickness) and it works to smooth flyaways, too.
- Redken Shine Flash – Weightless spray gives hair a brilliant finish.
- Zoya Touch Collection Nail Polish in Pandora color – Creamy, slightly metallic nude.
- Kind Almond & Apricot Fruit & Nut Bar – No preservatives or hard-to-pronounce ingredients.

I am really looking forward to trying these products and will let you know what my opinion is after I’ve used each product for awhile.  I already use the Philosophy Purity facial cleanser and I really like it.  It removes my makeup and eye makeup quite well and does not dry out my skin!!  (I gave my sample to my sister to try).

To sign up for Birthbox, go to www.birchbox.com.  Birchbox does not ship internationally, but there are similar programs in the UK from www.glossybox.co.uk and http://signup.boudoirprive.co.uk/. 

Take care!!

Great Hair Care Products at a Great Price

When I was a young girl, the kids at school would call me "frizzhead". Guess I don't need to tell you what my hair looked like when I was young!!! :) My hair was blonde, really curly and frizzy. My mom always had it cut short, in a "pixie" cut. Of course, I always wanted long, straight, smooth hair. You always want what you don't have, right??

Fast forward 30 years, and I now have straight hair thanks to professional relaxers. For the last 10 years, I've been getting a relaxer treatment put on my hair and I absolutely love it. I get a relaxer because it still leaves some body to my hair whereas a straightener is completely straight. My hair designer uses a Paul Mitchell relaxer and it cost around $100 A straightener would cost around $300.

Like all chemical products used on hair, the relaxer really dries out my hair, especially on the ends where I have a lot of breakage.  To help with that I've always purchased Nexxus products or Kenneth products (my salon brand) for hair conditioners. Both of those brands costing more money then I want to spend for hair conditioner.

I had the relaxer put on my hair in June and instead of leaving the salon with a expensive conditioner, I decided to research drugstore brands to see if I could find a good one that worked as well as a high end conditioner. The first drugstore brand I choose was Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition for dry/damaged hair. I purchased the Triple Nutrition Extra Nourishing Cream Shampoo. the Triple Nutrition Conditioner and the Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment.

I've been using the products for a little over a month now, and what a difference they made in my hair. My hair is thick, feels very soft, silky and really healthy. I absolutely love it. The product says it will make your hair 3X stronger and I really believe it does. I don't have near the breakage at the ends that I used to have. I use the shampoo and conditioner every day, and the Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment every two days.

Last week I went to my hair salon to have my hair cut and when my hair stylist was running her fingers through my hair she said, "I don't know what you're using on your hair but it feels fantastic and is in great condition". Well, that pretty much says it all!!!

I purchased my Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition products at my local Walgreens store and the cost was three products for $9.99. What a bargain for soft, silky, healthy hair!! I will be using these products for a very long time!!

Laura Geller Weekend Foundation

I wanted to find a foundation to use on the weekends that was lightweight, but had enough coverage to hide some age spots that I have on my face.  Unfortunately, due to way too many years of tanning, I have age spots on my cheeks.  I don’t like going anywhere without some type of foundation on my face to cover the spots.  As you know from my last foundation post I love the Chanel foundation, but since it’s so expensive I don’t want to use it on the weekends when I am just doing errands or sitting outside on the patio.

This search didn’t take as long as my previous foundation search.  What did I find, you ask?  Laura Geller’s Balance and Brighten foundation with SPF 15. 

It’s a color correcting foundation that starts out as a liquid and is baked until it becomes a powder.  It is mineral oil and paraben free and has the age-fighting, anti-oxidant protection of Centella Asiatica and White Tea.   I purchased the Laura Geller Lightness of Beauty 6-piece Color Collection from QVC (Item #A215552).   You can buy just the foundation for $35.00 (www.laurageller.com), or buy this collection from www.qvc.com for $59.76 and get the foundation, a whipped blush, eyeshadow & highlighter quad, eyeliner and a retractable baked powder brush

I’ve never used a powder foundation before so I was a bit hesitant to order it, but I have to say it is a really nice foundation.  It is weightless, buildable and leaves my skin feeling fresh and smooth.  It’s so weightless that it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing any foundation at all!  It doesn’t settle in my pores,  it covers my age spots beautifully and really evens out my skin tone.  It has just the slightest bit of shimmer which I really like.  I have to say though, that it doesn’t last all day.  I can see my t-zone start to shine after about four hours or so.  I didn’t use a primer, so that might help.  I just applied it after I used my moisturizer.  I also didn’t care for the retractable baked powder brush. It seems like the bristles are too long and doesn’t pick up enough product.  I use an Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush.  I like it much better.

 All in all, I would highly recommend this foundation if you’re looking for something light to wear during the summer.

Just a few comments about the rest of the products in the kit.  The eyeshadow and highlighter colors are beautiful and apply nicely.  The eyeliner is waterproof and is a charcoal gray color.  The blush is a whipped blush, which I don’t care for.  I have a hard time applying it and getting it blended before it dries.  I doubt I’ll use it much.  The lip gloss is a beautiful shimmery coral color and I absolutely love it.  I apply it lightly over a neutral colored lip liner. 

If you’ve never tried Laura Geller before, this is a great starting kit.  You get a lot of products for the price.

In Search of the Perfect Foundation

The past few months I've been on a foundation search.  A foundation for mature skin that wasn't heavy, had medium coverage, that would help fine lines and wrinkles, and wouldn't slide off my face in the afternoon. That's not a lot to ask for, right???  I tried a lot of samples and narrowed my choice down to three:  Estee Lauder Futurist Age-Resisting Foundation, Lancome Teint Rénergie Lift R.A.R.E.™, and Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup.

I purchased the Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup and tried it for a week. If you haven't heard of the Hourglass brand, it is a fairly new, high end cosmetic brand.  Hourglass products are developed without the use of parabens, overpowering fragrances or animal-testing.  The Hourglass Fluid Makeup was a beautiful foundation with great coverage, but I just didn't like the way it looked on my skin, so I returned it.  

My second choice was the Lancome Teint Rénergie Lift R.A.R.E.™.  I got a sample of it and used it for about a week.  I really wanted to like this foundation because I read so many good things about it, but it didn't work out for me.  It seemed a bit drying and made my skin look cakey.  

My third choice was the Estee Lauder Futurist Age-Resisting Foundation and I used it for four weeks.  I loved the consistency of this foundation and the coverage was perfect, a light to medium coverage.  My makeup routine is to cleanse, tone, moisturize, wait five minutes for the moisturizer to absorb into my skin, then apply my foundation.  

The problem I had with this foundation was that I couldn't get it blended into the skin.  I used one pump of the foundation and applied it using several different methods, a flat foundation brush, a round foundation brush, my fingers, and a damp beauty blender.  When I applied powder to try to set the foundation, it stuck to the foundation in globs.  I couldn't apply the powder smoothly because the foundation was "wet" on my skin.  I applied the powder with either the powder brush or the powder puff, using a light rolling motion across the face. Nothing worked.  The powder ended up looking cakey and sat in the lines under my eyes, in the corners of my nose and in my laugh lines.  I even tried several different powders, the Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Skin Smoothing Loose Powder and the Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder.  I used the foundation with and without a primer (Smasbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light) and it made no difference  After four weeks, I gave up.

So, the search was on....again!  I went to Sephora and Ulta and couldn't find anything I wanted to try.  I walked by the Saks Fifth Avenue store and saw their Chanel makeup section through the window.  I had never shopped at Saks before - there is never anything in there I can afford!  But, I figured why not, I'll check out the Chanel makeup.  I explained to the Chanel makeup artist what I was looking for and she recommended the Chanel Lift Lumiere Firming and Smoothing Fluid Makeup ($65).  She did a color match and I made the purchase.  I also purchased the Poudre Universelle Compact Natural Finish Pressed Powder ($45) and the Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen ($40).  

The next morning I did my usual makeup routine and used the Chanel Makeup.  OMGosh!!!!  This foundation is amazing!!!  It is weightless medium to full coverage, has a natural luminous finish and it goes on beautifully. The description of the foundation on the Chanel website is:   "A SOFT CRYSTAL LUMIÈRE™ complex visibly diminishes the look of wrinkles and fine lines, setting makeup imperceptibly and controlling shine without a hint of chalkiness. Emollients deliver essential hydration, and firming polymers provide skin with an impeccably smooth surface and the look and feel of an immediate 'lift'."  Let me just say, that is the truth!!!  My skin looks amazing and my fine lines and wrinkles are less noticeable!  Yahoo!  The Poudre Universelle Compact Natural Finish Pressed Powder is translucent with a natural matte finish and has a wonderfully soft feel.  It makes my skin look soft and smooth.  I use the Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Face Pen on my dark circles, my laugh lines and the corners of my nose.  It also reduces the appearance of fine lines and covers my dark circles beautifully.  It gives my eyes a nice brightening lift.

I'm happy to announce that my search for the perfect foundation is over.  The Chanel Lift Lumiere Firming and Smoothing Fluid Makeup will be my go to foundation for a long time.  It is a bit expensive but it is worth every penny.  If you can only afford to purchase one high end makeup item, save your money and buy this foundation. It is the perfect foundation for mature skin!! 

Take good care of yourself.....

LiLash Review

Menopause has wide-ranging effects on a woman's body. With the attendant decrease and fluctuations in female hormones, some amount of hair loss is common and can affect hair not only on the head, but hair all over the body. Fluctuations in hormone levels can also cause an unwanted increase in facial hair. It may affect eyelashes and eyebrows as well as hair on the scalp. Oh joy, another fun fact about menopause!

In the past year or so, I have noticed I have thinning eyelashes and eyebrows. My eyebrows are about half the width they used to be but I can fix that with an eyebrow pencil. The eyelashes are a bit more difficult to correct.

So, I started doing some research on eyelash enhancers. I began reading about Latisse but decided I didn't want to go to the trouble and expense of finding a Dermatologist to prescribe the prescription. I searched on-line for over the counter eyelash enhancers and found LiLash eyelash serum.

LiLash claims that it is "the world's most popular purified eyelash serum, giving you the sexy lashes you have always dreamed of." Wow, was I ever excited about that! No doctor appointment, no prescription, AND the sexy lashes I have always dreamed of. I did some research on LiLash, reading a lot of reviews, watching a lot of YouTube reviews and I didn't see many negative comments or reviews on it. So, I decided to give it a try. LiLash can only be purchased on-line from http://www.lilash.com/ and has a 90 day money back guarantee. It's rather expensive, at $139.97 a tube.

 

It comes in an eyeliner type bottle and the instructions for use are:

1.Apply once a day, morning or evening, to clean dry skin. Allow LiLash to dry for 2 to 3 minutes before applying other cosmetics.

2.Remove the applicator from the tube and carefully wipe off any excess product on the inside of the tube.

3.Apply the applicator to the skin of the upper eyelid along the lash line from inner to outer corner of the eye.

A single application stroke is all that is required. LiLash is highly concentrated so little is needed for your best lashes.

Some of the side effects include and are not limited to: irritated, itchy or red eyes, and a slight darkening of the skin on the eyelid where the product has been applied. My side effects have been blood shot eyes the following day and my eyelids have darkened a bit in small patches. Looks like my eyelid has freckles. LiLash claims these dark spots will naturally fade with discontinued use of the product. The directions say you'll start seeing results after using the product for 30 days. When you stop using the product, your lashes will fall out as they normally do, and will grow back to the original length they were before using the product.

I have been using LiLash nightly since April 1st, and I have to say my eyelashes are a little longer and fuller, but they are NOT the "sexy lashes I have always dreamed of". Is LiLash worth the time and money? I don't know, I guess the jury is still out on that. It does bother me that my eyes are so blood shot. Blood shot eyes are not attractive no matter how long your eyelashes are. If you have really short and thin eyelashes, it might be worth trying. For me personally, I doubt I'll purchase it again. I've started researching the Tarte Cosmetics multiplEYE natural lash enhancer. Their website says, "Achieve a 152% increase in the appearance of lash length with multiplEYE, a natural lash enhancer." I like the idea of a "natural" lash enhancer. No nasty chemicals and it's a lot less expensive at $65.00. The product has good reviews on it's website from people who have used it. See it here:  http://www.tartecosmetics.com/

Oh, if you don't want to fill in your eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil, the makers of LiLash also make LiBrow specifically for eyebrows.

Take good care of yourself.....

Clarisonic Mia Review

Clarisonic Mia Review

Pores, pores and more pores.  As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed the pores on my face have gotten much larger.  My skin looks dull, I have oily spots, dry patches, and lines.  My skin just looked old and tired!  So I got online and started doing some research for products to help with these skin issues.  What did I find?  A Clarisonic Mia!

My Mia did not come with the blue brush head, I purchased it later.

I read about what the Clarisonic could do for the skin and I read a lot of reviews and tutorials.  Not many people had negative things to say about it.  So, I went to www.clarisonic.com and purchased the Clarisonic Mia.  I’m a very skeptical person but there was a 100% money back guarantee, so I figured I didn’t have much to lose.  It was $149.00 and it came with the charger, a trial size of the Gentle Hydro Cleanser and one “sensitive” brush head.  The Mia comes in 10 different colors, I got white.  It holds a charge for at least a week, longer if you only use it once a day, as I do.  Great for travel!!
 
I started using the Clarisonic and I have to say, within a few days there was a noticeable change to my skin.  My skin feels firmer, the lines aren’t as pronounced, it has reduced the appearance of my pore size, and my skin just looks and feels better, even a little younger.  Yahoo!

The directions say that it can be used twice a day but I only use it in the evenings.  I remove all my makeup first, then I use the Clarisonic.  I rub it all over my face with light pressure.  It will stay on for 60 seconds then will shut off.  The inner circle brushes of the brush head rotate while the outer, taller brushes don’t move at all.  They are to keep the cleanser from splashing in your eyes.  I haven’t tried the Gentle Hydro Cleanser  yet, I use the Estee Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser.  I cleanse my skin with the EL Soft Clean Cleanser and make sure all my makeup is off. I wet my skin again, put a little more cleanser on my hands and apply to my face.  Then I use the Clarisonic all over my face.  The directions say to put the cleanser directly on the brush head, but I find that it uses a lot more product then if you put the product directly on the face.  I go through 1 ½ or two cycles, splash my face with water and pat with a dry towel.  That’s it!  My skin looks and feels soft, clean, and wonderful (as wonderful as can be at this age, anyway).  I’ve noticed my skin care creams seem to work a lot better, too. 

Clarisonic says to purchase a new brush head every 3 - 4 months.  I’ve had mine for four months and I can just now see the bristles getting a bit out of shape.  Sort of like a toothbrush that’s been used for awhile.  I purchased a new “Deep Pore Cleansing” brush head for my Clarisonic at www.skinmedix.com and got it for $18.00 plus free shipping (It’s the blue brush head in the picture above).  Clarisonic sells it for $25.00 or you can buy two for $40.00. 

Since I don’t use the Clarisonic in the morning, I use the Purity cleanser by Philosophy on my face in the morning when I’m in the shower.  It is a nice cleanser and is very gentle for the skin.  I just think the Estee Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser is a more robust cleanser for removing all the makeup before using the Clarisonic.

Purity in the morning, Estee Lauder in the evening.

So, if any of you out there want a change in the appearance of your skin, I highly recommend the Clarisonic.  Check out their website to learn more about it.  Search for YouTube videos on the Clarisonic, there are a lot of reviews there.  You can also Google “Clarisonic Mia” and might be able to purchase it at a different store using an online coupon code.  I think Ulta and Sephora sell it as well.

Take good care of yourself….