This lipstick did not boost my mood. Sadface x3.

Super *NEW* (like so new it's not even listed on the company's website yet) Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Lipstick Shade I <3 Rose

I do NOT "<3" this Lipstick.  At all.

And I'm really super disappointed about that.

BECAUSE I actually loved the Happy Booster line, I use the pressed powder and bronzer as part of my daily makeup routine.  And frankly, this lippy is just as freaking cute as the rest of the line...  like, I almost squealed with joy at it's absolute... cute-ousity.  It just doesn't look (or feel!) *cute* at all on your lips.

Here's the claim:
Look happy!
Rich color glides on with lumious shine and all-day comfort for a happy glow
Lip boosting formula with collagen boosting peptides smoothes lips so they look plump, healthy and luscious.
Three complimentary shades blend together for a kiss of glowing color to boost your mood.
Feel happy!
Infused with our Happy Boost Blend, featuring Happy Skin* and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping to protect skin from environmental stress.
The sweet scent & flavor of violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply.

Here's the deal: 
The Good:
The tube is adorable: fuscha pink with a silver heart.  It has a clear top so you can see the charming design of the lipstick, which is a little pink heart surround by two rings of different pinks.  Thats pretty much where "The Good" ends...

The Ugly:
The formula is chalky and gritty... it didn't "glide" on at all.  The complimentary shades that are supposed to blend, don't blend well at all and the resulting color is totally flat and kind of bogus, lacking any of the promised "luminous shine."  This lipstick looked awful and felt worse!  It felt gross and heavy on my lips, and the uneven coloration wouldn't be flattering on anyone.  As for the "sweet scent" and "violet flavor"?  Only if you take a whiff directly from the tube is it noticeable.

Overall: I would absolutely not be willing to put it on again, and frankly I couldn't even be bothered to take a snapshot of it on.  What's more, is it's almost 10 bucks a tube... kind of high for a sub-par lippy.  It's really unfortunate; I was absolutely prepared to love it. </3

Stainiac for sure.

I'm absolutely crazy for a product I just picked up the other day called Stainiac by theBalm in shade Beauty Queen!

This cheek and lip tint adds the perfect pop of color for a flushed, flirty appeal. Use a little for a sheer wash of color or layer it on for a healthy hue. It also gives you plenty of time before it sets, making it one smart, streak-free stain

 

Directions: Apply to cheeks for a hint of tint... Layer it on to pop the color. (For lips too.)

This tint has a soft strawberry color that's very easy to blend and gives you a uber natural glow that lasts all day.  Because it doubles as a lip tint, it's an awesome little time-saver on days when you're short on time.  Just apply it to your lips, let it set for a few minutes and top it with a gloss if you'd like.  It has a soft tint, but the color is totally buildable if you're looking for a little more "oomph!"

I'm partial to topping the tint with theBalm's Plump Your Pucker Gloss – Ruby My Grapefruit.  Don't be fooled by the sparkles!  This gloss provides a nice shimmer without making you look like your mouth got in a fight with a craft project, a touch of sheer color, and smells great (a light citrus).

Formulated with a special combination of folic acid, menthol and vitamin C, these sexy glosses increase blood flow to the lips and reduce the look of fine lines. But the lip building benefits have only just begun. An additional ingredient, Maxi-lip, works cumulatively to create lasting fullness. Be prepared for a poutier pucker after 30 days!

 

This Superstay has no staying power in my collection :(

I am entirely un-satisfied with the *NEW* Maybelline 14 Hour Lipstick.  I happened upon an entirely un-touched, brandy new display that literally had just been put out on the shelf.  I was impressed with the array of fashion forward, bold shades and found that my powers of self-control was powerless against the shade "Eternal Rose", a bold pink that just screamed ERICA.

The colors really are fab

Unfortunately, despite delivering great color payoff, I'm really not wild about the formula; it's fairly waxy and heavy and I found it to be extra sticky.  (An unfortunate side effect of *most* "superstays")  I also found that I got this crazy sort of, blatant receding lip color line, where after just a bit of wear it all begin to wear off and end up all over my teeth.  After about an hour of wear I drank a coffee and it transferred a pink sticky mess all over the plastic top.  I reapplied after the coffee, and by the end of the 2nd hour it had begun to pill like an old sweater.  At this point, I'd had enough and decided to take it off and got some on my hand.  I had pink fingers for most of the day.

Overall, despite some adorable colors and a totally chic tube, This 14 Hour Superstay was an unsuccessful lipstick endeavor and frankly for something boasting a 14 hour wear, way more trouble than its worth (def NOT worth the $9, that's for sure).

Oh, Kate Moss.

In celebration of the ten years that Rimmel has worked with the iconic Kate Moss, Rimmel launched a new line of lippies called "The Kate Collection."  Debuting in England, on the eve of London's fashion week, this collection has finally made its way over the pond and into local drugstores for a hella good price of about 5 bucks a tube.

Kate is wearing her "signature" shade 01

 The collection has limited colors, and the assortments vary by location... I think my local CVS only got *MAYBE* 5 shades, but they range from edgy purple to a truely chic nude to a classic hollywood red... an assortment befitting of a London "it" girl.
Each color is incredibly pigmented, has a truely soft feel on the lips, and has pretty decent staying power. HOWEVER, (especially if your prone to a seasonal dryness on the lip-area!) I would absolutely suggest that you swipe on a little clear balm or a moisturizing primer pre-application as this formula leaves nothing to the imagination.  (Accentuating the flakes... entirely UN-sexy!)

Even the package is ultra-chic...

a lovely black matte tube with Kate's signature embossed on the side.

One this that I really didn't care for about this collection is the smell, which doesn't really seem to bother other people as much as it does me.  It has this funny, artificial vanilla (?) smell that reminds me of some tubes of 101 Dalmation chapstick I got when I was a little kid.

This line is truely a treat for the cosmetic/fashion obsessed.



Go nude!

I've been pretty obsessed with Covergirl Lip Perfection Shade 200 Sultry.  Okay...okay... So I gave this lippy a pretty poor review when it first came out, but I've found after trying and trying again that the color makes all the difference, even with texture.  Weird, huh?

So anyways, "Sultry" is a pretty solid lipstick.  It's a nice warm nude, with a semi-matte finish that lasts.  I normally find that "neutral" shades, regardless of the brand, tend to wear off pretty easily, but not this one.  The formula for this color is creamy, smooth, and quite moisturizing and after a few hours of wear, the formula stays pretty comfortable, even after numerous re-applications.  This color is very sleek... gives the appearance of au-naturale while still being totally pulled together.

I'm still not wild about the purple "bullet" tube.  (It's not as chic in person.)  Meh, you take the good with the bad. ;)

'Tis the season

Wanna be all festive without all the typical red and green?  Grab a bottle of "School of Hard Rocks" from Essies 2011 "cocktail" winter collection.

It's no secret.  I just really love Essie.  They have a million shades and yet they manage to create amazing colors unlike anything I've ever seen before.  This gorgeous shade is no exception: Super creamy color that glides on smooth and opaque in two coats and is a beautiful mixture of slate blue, dusty green, and gray.  It does tend to lean more on the "green side".  The gray-tone really makes it more subtle than less loud than a lot of other green shades.  Dries very smooth and shiny.

It does tend to shade-shift depending on lighting, but it is just gorgeous, wintery and festive without being at all gaudy.

Tres chic. <3

Runway Ready

Nothing draws me in like a shiny new display of cosmetics... and L'Oreal's Project Runway inspired The Colors Take Flight stopped me dead in my tracks.  These plummage-inspired palettes are the brainchild of makeup artist Collier Strong and are gorgeous enough to chase away any cold-weather blues.

This Limited Edition 20-piece release is split into four sub-collections that includes an eyeshadow quad ($9 each), a lipstick ($7 each), a blush ($10 each) and two nail polishes ($5 each).  L'Oreal supplies little tear-away guides to take the guesswork out of the shadow quad.

Audacious Amazon (bright eye, fusha lip)

Charming Cockatoo (pink/blue eye, burgundy lip)

Watchful Owl (metallic eye, red lip)

Sultry Raven (smokey eye, nude lip).

Stores only got a very limited amount and this collection flew (hah! bird reference) off shelves FAST. I visited a total of 6 drugstores to amass my collection, which consists of the four lipsticks, all the shadows but Audacious Amazon, and 2 of the blushes "watchful owl" and "charming cockatoo".  Pictures really do these shades no justice.  These collections are super wearable and blend fabulously.  The lippys are super creamy and pigmented... I'm a huge fan of Audacious Amazon's gorgeous fusha.  The blushes blend nicely and the beautiful shades are totally buildable.  The packaging itself looks so chic and the blush compacts are super brush friendly.

My love affair with L'oreal never ceases.

Absolutely Lady Like

Normally, I steer clear of the grey/beige/nude shades of polish, but I have to say I am totally digging "Lady like" from Essie's Fall 2011 limited edition "Brand New Bag" line.  This creamy mauve polish is unlike anything I've really seen... a perfectly pretty mixture of dusty pink, taupe, and lilac that's absolutely chic and feminine but not too girly.

2 coats of this Essie polish and you're good to go... and unlike some milkier colors there is no dragging and no streaking.

...and really, the picture doesn't even do it justice.  Go!  Now! Pick up a bottle of this amazing polish before it's too late!

A dewey natural look that's just too perfect not to try yourself

I love, love, loved Olivia Wilde's look in October's Allure.

Super clean, very natural.  There is something so fresh and different about this look even though we've seen it a million times.

To create this soft look, makeup artist Makky P. pressed a shimmery, petal pink shodow on her lids just above the crease.  He then used a peachy bronze highligher down the bridge of her nose and along her chin, (supposedly Revlon's Age Defying Spa Illuminator "bare light") and added a matte pink blush to her cheeks.  To keep the look natural, he used a sheer pink lipstick with a light layer of clear lip balm on top.

I wanted to try my hand at this look, and it certainly seemed easy enough.  Here's my take:

I approached my makeup the same way, but recreated it using makeup I already had rather than run out and purchase the Revlon products that had supposedly been used:
To start: Covergirl's Natureluxe Foundation (light and sheer, totally breathable with a fresh cucumber scent)
On the nose and jawline: Revlon's Age Defying Spa Illuminator "bare light" (light scent and delivers a dewey glow without being greasy)
Blush: L'Oreal's Super Blendable Blush Shade 425 "Charming Cockatoo's Blush (the lightest pink, but totally buildable color)
Shadow: Pixi Fairy Light Solo in Champagne Glow (brightens up your eyes with the swipe of a brush)
Lips: L'Oreal's "Sultry Ravens Pout" Lipstick, (a light nude, with just a touch of pink) topped with chapstick (I used bert's bees mango <3 but anything clear will do)

To brighten the eyes a tad I lined the inner rims of my eyes with a light pink liner

Back in the saddle again!

So after a several month long hiatus, I'm back!  I'm a little bit older, a little bit wiser, and I'm hoping to expand the interests of this site to fashion and trends in addition to make up and beauty.

HOWEVER... for today's purposes, I am sticking to make up because its for a great cause!  And who doesn't love looking good while supporting something amazing?

L'Oreal Color of Hope Collection
FACT: Each year 22,000 women are diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.

Forgive the photo quality, it was taken with my phone

"Since 1997 L'Oreal has been committed to the fight against Ovarian Cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among American women.  To date, L'Oreal Paris has helped to raise more than $19 million to promote awareness and advance research to eradicate this disease."

Every September, to raise awareness for this cause L'Oreal releases a new Color of Hope collection - usually including eyeshadow quads, lipsticks, lip glosses, and nail polishes.  $1.00 from the sale of each item goes directly to Ovarian Cancer research.  This limited edition collection is a collection of "deep smokey hues and soft modern accents" and is "inspired by the romanticism of the 1920's".

I picked up: Color Riche Nurturing and Protective Lipcolor in Color of Hope Shade #531
LOVE <3 this lipstick!  Infused with Omega 3, Vitamin E, and Argon Oil.  Just a flash of mauvy-rose, natural-looking, long lasting color.  It's perfectly wearable for any occasion, which I do.

Infallible Never Fail Lipgloss in Hopeful Shade #799
Very subtle, shimmery color.  Lovely.  It lasts forever, and doesn't get sticky and globby like some long-wear.

and
Wear Infinite Eye Shadow Quad in Sentimental Splendor
Perfectly fall, makes me wanna put on a sweater and my fringey Minnetonka boots!  The color is subtle, (it doesn't have that "Spackle-like look", which is a good thing!  Think Mimi from the Drew Carey Show, not a good look for anyone!) but the plum looks just lovely with brown eyes.
If you wanna amp up the look, apply with a damp (NOT WET) eyeshadow brush.  I use the whole quad... the darker pink for a base, the plum for the crease and outside corners, the lightest beige for the highlight, and then using a damp liner brush I run the green around my lash lines.  It fades a bit after all day wear, but what powder shadow doesn't?  That's where your primer comes in.  ;)*

*I have read some reviews that said that this shadow was not pigmented enough, but it wasn't enough to sway me from this purchase... the colors were just to die for.  Needless to say, I'm glad I didn't listen to them!  I love a more subtle, natural look... I have been able to create this and a smokey evening look with this pallet.  You just need to play to find the application that works for you!

So anyways, L'Oreal Color of Hope Collection F.T.W.!  I love this collection, perfect for fall and absolutely wearable.  L'Oreal typically doesn't disappointment.  I plan on using this look this Saturday for a night out for my birthday... photos to come.

oh-so-fresh-and-clean

If you follow my blog at all, you know I have a slight love-affair with Lumene.  For those of you who are unaware of the wonders of Lumene, let me enlighten you:

Lumene is a Finnish brand that sells its products exclusively at department stores in Scandinavia, but in the states you can pick it up at CVS and most recently, Target.  Their products are comprised of natural Arctic ingredients like cloudberry, lingonberry and blueberry, harvested only once a year by hand.  To boot, their products are free of fragrance, alcohol, colorants, parabens, silicones, and paraffin oil.

Lumene Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes With soothing arctic Linen Seed.  Maybe you've just spent the day at the beach, maybe you're just looking to refresh your skin... whatever the case this travel sized package of cleansing wipes will leaving you feeling oh-so-fresh-and-clean.

I mentioned this product in a previous post, where I listed it as a must-have this Spring/Summer.  However, I love this product so much, I decided it merited its own.

In a nutshell, these cleansing cloths are awesome.  I discovered this little gem purely by accident; I was in serious need of a cleansing cloth (the wrong foundation was wreaking havoc on my sensitive skin) and I picked it up because it was purse-size and the price point was right at $2.99.  The cloths are just the right size and are very soft, yet durable.  The light, fresh scent is unobtrusive.  With little effort they effectively remove a days worth of crud without stripping my skin of its moisture or leaving me feeling itchy.  My skin feels soft, clean, and hydrated - perfectly comfortable.  Such a perfect product to throw in your purse or gym bag for a quick, on the go, cleansing.

When good brows go bad...

I have one completely dysfunctional eyebrow.  My left eyebrow is beautiful... full, a good shape without much effort.  The right, on the other hand, drives me bananas.  It starts all right and then tapers off into a peculiar little forest of sparse hairs that is nearly impossible to "clean up" without stripping my brow almost bare to a pin-thin arch.  It really is obnoxious.

That's where Revlon Brow Fantasy Combo comes in.

This dark blonde pencil is the perfect shade for light brows, not too light and not too dark.  It blends almost seamlessly with my natural brow to give me the illusion of full, neat brows...I fill in the crappy brow's negative area with short strokes in the direction of the brow and it actually does a pretty phenomenal job of convincing the world I have a pretty nice set of brows.  This nifty tool is double-sided, equipped with not just a pencil, but color-coordinated gel-wax that you apply via a mascara type wand.  It sets your brows right into place and helps to hide imperfections.



Okay... maybe a bit much, but you get the point



I've been reading that some people think that the pencil is soft and wears down too quickly, but I really haven't had a problem with that.  I find that eyebrow pencils are kind of soft as it is, that's just the way of things... they aren't eyeliners, after all.  Don't go crazy with the pencil and you should be fine.*

She is NOT impressed!

*It's easy to over do it with the brow pencil! Dark, obviously drawn on eyebrows make you look mean and angry.  Stop yourself from committing this beauty faux-pas by filling in your brows with a color that’s one shade lighter than your natural eyebrow hair and use light, quick strokes in the direction of your hair growth.



Audrey Hepburn was known for her
gorgeous full brows!

 Since I've been using this product, I've been getting so many compliments on my brows.  I've tried so many products, pencils, powders and gels, but this one is probably my favorite and SUPER affordable (6-8 bucks, usually).Beautiful brows really pulls together a look and make you look totally polished. 

I will continue to buy this again and again! Love <3

Petra Strand, color me impressed.

After seeing a magazine ad featuring a particularly radiant natural-looking beauty sporting Pixi cosmetics, I made a trip over to Target hoping to pick up the featured eyeshadow: Pixi Fairy Light Solo in Champagne Glow.  I left with the Pixi Essentials Makeup Kit that came with an adorable little gold bag... along with a full size Champagne Glow eyeshadow, it contained trial sizes of the Pixi Flawless and Poreless Primer, Pixi Eyebright Primer, and Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen. At 27 bucks it seemed like a great way to get a taste of the Pixi line, without breaking the bank.  (Cuz holy smokes was I surprised by the price points!)

Pixi Flawless and Poreless Primer
A mattifying primer for smoothing out fine lines and large pores while creating a matte finish and keeping your foundation long lasting.
Initially I was in love with this primer.  It's fairly transparant with just the hint of flesh tone.  It goes on like a dream, blends nicely and doesn't feel uncomfortable on your skin - it just absorbs right in.  It brightens your complexion instantly and makes dullness seem to disappear.  Sadly, overtime this made my face look kind of greasy...particularly around my nose and forehead.  With that being said, I don't think this primer did a very good job of locking my make up into place.  A full size bottle of this retails at a whopping 28 bucks, save your money ladies.


Pixi Eye Bright Primer

Here's said products in action.  I completed the
the look with Clinique's Chubby Stick in
Woppin' Watermelon

Long-lasting, line filling eye primer base; primer is designed to work like a magnet and hold eye shadow on all day; Neutralizes oily lids

As much as I was disappointed by the primer breakdown, the eye bright primer was a total a win.  This "nude" primer is fragrance free, paraben free and contains no talc or wax.  I was kind of surprised by the powder-y-ness of the formula, but it blended like a dream and really evened out and brightened the area around my eyes.  It made a nice base for my eye make up and didn't crease or wear down; it held my shadow in place all day.  Finding a eye primer this good can be a bit trying - so I plan on biting the $18 bullet and picking up a full size of it.  Absolutely worth the investment.

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen
First thing's first: it's a pencil, not a pen.  With that being said, what a totally killer product.  It's so refreshing to find a high quality liner like this.  The application was so smooth and easy... dare I say, silky?  To boot, it lasted all day, no smudging, no smearing.  It's super-duper water proof too (I'd suggest a good remover).  It didn't even budge the slightest with watery, allergy eyes.  The only downside I would see would be that since it is a softer liner, the point does tend to dull quickly, sooooo you may run through it a little faster.  It comes in 6 different colors, all retailing at 14 bucks.  Thumbs up, Pixi.

Pixi Fairy Light Solo in Champagne Glow

This shadow gives just a hint of natural color to the lid that I'm really am wild about it.  It goes on super silky and just instantly brightens your eyes.  It kind of adds a little bit of effortless beauty to your routine.  I'm not wild about the fact that it is $14, although you do get a decent amount of shadow in the pan so I bet it will last forever.  Worth picking up if you're looking for a natural-looking shadow with just a hint of sheen.  Pricing aside, it really does look pretty on.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with Pixi.  If you're not too sure about what you want to try, I'd suggest you do what I did and try out a "kit".  Target offers a few different variations, and you can also pick up the same kit I did with a different shade of eyeshadow if "champagne glow" doesn't do it for you.

Here comes the sun...

The temperature finally hit a the upper 50's today and I couldn't help but feel a bit of Spring fever!  That being said, here's a few gems that I love and will totally be in my adorable Roxy bag this Spring/early summer.



John Frieda Luxurious Volume Anytime Volume Refresher That cute summer fedora got your hair down? Give your locks new life with this killer dry shampoo!  Absorbs oils for a fresh look.

Burt's Bees Aloe & Linden Flower After Sun Soother After a long day in the sun, your skin needs some extra lovin'.  Give it the attention it needs with this fast absorbing, crazily hydrating face and body lotion.  Loaded with aloe vera and linden extract, it soothes and revives your skin, when the inevitable "too-much-sun" happens.

CoverGirl Natureluxe Gloss Balm Sheer color with a hint of shine, perfect for those "low maintenance" days!

SunBum SPF30+ Banana Lip Balm I am b-a-n-a-n-a-s about this lip balm! Tasty chapstick with SPF 30, aloe and vitamins A, C, and E.  Protects your kisser all day! http://www.trustthebum.com/

Coach Poppy Perfume Purse Spray Perfect mix of floral and fruity. <3

Clinique Chubby Stick Woppin' Watermelon A twist up glossy lip crayon packed with mango and shea butter with just a hint of color.

John Frieda Full Repair Touch up Flyaway Tamer Nifty mascara-type wand puts pesky flyaways in there place, perfect for on the go touch ups!

Cristophe Professional Travel Size Shaping Spray Humidity's a bitch.  Flexible hold for all hair types with UV protectors to protect hair against sun damage and color fade!

Dove Go fresh Energizing Citrus Gotta be fresh!  This smells nice and summery.

Lumene Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes With soothing arctic Linen Seed.  Maybe you've just spent the day at the beach, maybe you're just looking to refresh your skin... whatever the case this travel sized package of cleansing wipes will leaving you feeling oh-so-fresh-and-clean.

And just for good measure, I'm tossing in my Sun Bum Lucky Bum Keychain...rub his belly for good sun and surf.

Now get out there and catch some rays!  ...even if it's not exactly beach weather yet.  ;) 

A bottom lash mascara? What will they think of next.

What a stupidly pointless product... but I totally love it.

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara
A mascara with a brush specifically designed for coating the bottom lashes.

As a lash

enthusiast, I was all over this product.  This micro-mini brush boasts being one of the smallest on the market, meant to capture all those little puny lashes on the bottom lash line and adding length and volume.  Clinique claims that this little mascara has some sort of "thermal active" formula, allowing for 24 hour wear without smudging, smearing or flaking.  I can't personally attest to the 24 hour claim, but I will certainly say that it lasts through my long work days a 3 hour trip to the gym!  It's a cinch to remove, simply splash with warm water and gently wipe it off.  Bonus: The small size makes it super easy to go for those pesky inner and outter lashes as well.

Trust your intuition? Mine is to put this product in the trash.

No no no and no again.
This is a truely horrible razor.

Schick Intuition: lathers, shaves, and moisturizes in one easy step so there is no need for shave gel, soap or body wash.  Now with 4 blades, it will leave your skin noticeable softer.  It is simple to use so Trust your Intuition and try it!

I know you have all seen those commercials where the women all struggle hopelessly to shave their legs, dropping soap, falling over, and just generally not able to multi-task.  Well... honestly I've never had so much difficulty shaving my legs, so this product never really appealed to me.  This isn't exactly a new product, but I got a coupon for a free one so I figured I've give it a gander, who can say no to free?

This is a truly horrible razor.  There are many things wrong with it that I really couldn't stand using it.  (I used it for a week straight to give it a fair evaluation.)

First of all: It's just an awkward item, very bulky, it's just so weird to use.  The head doesn't move at all, which makes it difficult to get into creases or tackle knee stubble.  I gave myself one hell of a cut on my ankle bone trying to be thorough.

Secondly:  It did an AWFUL job giving me the close shave I've come to expect from my Gillette Venus.  I felt like it took me twice as long to shave my legs because I kept trying to go over them to make them smooth.  Even though the stubble wasn't too visible, I was NOT touchably smooth.   

Lastly:  The shave bars are theoretically a good idea, but in practice fell painfully short.  The bar was so slimey and gross after use and it was a pain in the ass to get the stubble off the bar.  After only 3 uses, it melted mostly into nothingness and what was left dried out and cracked.  This was no good for someone like me who shaves every day.

Overall, I was super disappointed by this product.  It was a great idea to simplify shaving, but the execution fell short.  I will not re-purchase this product, and frankly I probably won't even use the replacement head that came in the package.  Totally do not recommend.  Thumbs down. :(

simple, natural and refreshing...gotta love Burt's Bees!

Over the years, I have tried A LOT of facial cleansers, but I always go back to this one: Burts Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream.  Nothing seems to hold a candle to this killer cleanser!

This is natural, rich cream cleanser. Natural Soap Bark deeply penetrates and cleanses, removing dirt, makeup, and excess oil for clean healthy skin. Chamomile and Aloe gently soothe and soften skin. Rosemary and Echinacea extracts reduce inflammation, tighten pores, and increase cell renewal. You'll get a deep clean for naturally soft, fresh, healthy skin.

 97% natural, paraben free, SLS free and not tested on animals... Recycled Container

Honestly, I was in love with this cleanser since I first put it on my face.  It's probably one of my fav Burt's Bees products, which is saying a lot because there's SO many good Burt's products out there.  This cream cleanser is simple, natural and refreshing; totally free of all junk chemicals.  My skin can be a bit tempermental, but it has never irritated my skin.  It has a really great, clean smell and the slight tingle really makes you feel like you are getting a deep clean.  When you wash it off, your skin is super refreshed, moisturized and glowing.  It does wonders getting rid of blackheads, clearing blemishes, and calming redness.  Gentle AND effective, you can't go wrong.

Just f.y.i though... don't get it in your eyes!  That same ingredient creating that awesome tingle is super unpleasant in your eyes. 

Another plus is that it's a great value.  A bottle retails for around 7 bucks and lasts forever; a little bit of this cleanser goes a long way.

TIP: For an extra deep clean put it on your face and let it soak in for a bit.  The steam from the shower will open up your pores and you'll get a great deep clean.  Plus, the smell and tingling is super relaxing, you'll really feel like your pampering yourself.  Your skin will be gorgeous and glowing when you get out!  Nothing makes for a better base for your make up than a clean face!

I seriously love this product.

Summer must-have!

I just couldn't resist the oh-so-adorable Chubby Stick Lip Color Balm that Clinique put out for Spring.  Packed with jojoba seed oil, mango and shea butter, Clinique promised them to be ultra hydrating with just the sheerest hint of color for a natural looking, irresitibly soft set of lips.

The good: First things first, I really like these. There is something a little nostalgic about the crayon-like shape of this little lip color...brings me back to kindergarten, lol.  It's just about as easy as it gets; just un-cap and apply... it glides on effortlessly.  When the color gets low, just twist the bottom and the stick advances up, and no need to sharpen!  They really do moisturize well without being sticky or gross and the color stays vibrant.  Since I've bought mine (I picked up Whopping Watermelon... it's kind of a mellowy pink.  They were alllll out of chunky cherry.  Sadface.) its been my go-to lip product.

The bad: The price point (yikes!15 dolla' ladies) kinda sucks, but to be honest... I'm probably going to go out and pick up the chunky cherry when it comes in.  Also, despite it's great pocket-size, I would avoid putting it in your pocket... I did and I guess the twisty base got just slightly twisted and advanced before its time.  Not too bad though. :)

Salon results at home? yeah. we've heard THAT before.

So... unless you've been hiding out under a rock for the past couple of months you are probably aware of the new trend in hair color: FOAM.  It seems as though everyone has hopped on the foam hair color wagon, from Nice and Easy to L'Oreal's Sublime Mousse.  I was a little skeptical of the quality of the results, reading pretty spotty reviews online about both.  Then...John Frieda's Precision Foam Color moved its way into my CVS.  Apparantly, this color was the first of its kind, but it was released in the UK first and it took a little bit of time to make its way over here.  After reading some great reviews about this product, I had to give it a shot and picked up a box of Sheer Blonde 8G Medium Golden Blonde.* 

*If you go on the John Frieda website, there is a nifty little application on there to pick your perfect shade.

"The John Frieda® haircare professionals announce another haircare first; John Frieda® Precision Foam Colour, a new permanent foam hair colour designed to deliver salon-precise results at home.

This revolutionary non-drip foam spreads easily into roots and hard to reach places, and gives 100% grey coverage, leaving you with nothing but shiny, natural-looking results. With 20 gorgeous shades to choose from, achieving a fabulous salon-quality result at home has never been easier."

After using it, I am totally excited about this hair color.  Totally Fuss free application with beautiful results.  After you lightly shake it back and fourth on its side to mix the dye, you just give the bottle a squeeze and out comes a really rich foam.  You get oodles of the dye, it took no time at all to apply and I only used the tiniest portion of the bottle to cover my newly chopped off locks.  You just slap it on and massage it in.  It isn't messy at all - no drips all over the bathroom, no staining on skin.  What's more, there is only the faintest of smell; no burning your nose hairs with this formula.  After it develops, it's a breeze to rinse out.  The whole process probably took about 45 minutes, tops.

2 weeks later, my haircolor still looks super natural, nice and glossy.  What's more, my coloring is so even and perfect, it really does look like salon color.  It didn't leave my hair feeling dried out at all like with some other dyes.  I've been using Nexxus Dualiste Shampoo and Conditioner (moisture and color lock) in conjunction with the dye included in the box, which I think is really contributing to making my color look fresh.

On top of the quality of the color, I'm really impressed with the size of the conditioner (plus it's fabulous)  included in the box, as well as the quality of the gloves supplied.  It's touches like this that really win me over and make me want to repurchase a product. 

Overall, John Frieda's Precision Foam gets two thumbs up from me.  It's a little bit more money than the average drugstore box (about 13 bucks depending on where you pick it up) but it's absolutely worth it.

It really does Superstay.

Maybelline New York Superstay 24 Lipcolor Shade 20 Continuous Coral!

This lip color is double-sided with a color on one side and a moisturizing balm on the other.  Once on your kisser, wait about 2 minutes and then apply the balm.  I try to keep a tight smile while the color sets to keep it from settling into the lines on my lips.  Throughout the day you can use any lip balm to remoisturize and the color soes not disolve, I'm a sucker for my original peppermint Bert's Bees. 

This highly pigmented longwear lip color has some serious staying power!  Lasts FOR-EVER, no flaking, no fading.  In fact, it is so good at staying put, it can be a royal pain in the a-s-s to fix if you screw up your application... so my advise  is to be careful! (The applicator isn't exactly precise)  As for the 24 hour claim... I haven't really pulled an all-nighter since college, but I did fall asleep with it on after a night of having drinks and playing pool and woke up with a perfect pucker.  =)

Shining example: I kissed my awesome poochie Pede square on the top of his off-white head...not even the tiniest transfer.<3

The only downside is that the color comes out a tad different than anticipated.  "Continuous Coral" came out a bit pinker than a coral really should, but it was still a killer shade none-the-less.

So drink all the coffee you want ladies, these colors don't budge.