Beauty.com

Save $10 on $25 purchase and get free shipping! Make sure you click on the link in the left sidebar to get the discount. You can also choose 3 free samples. Love samples! And with purchase you earn drugstore.com dollars towards another purchase. So $10 off products you normally use, free shipping, 3 free samples, and 5% cashback in Drustore.com Reward dollars. Can't beat it!

Beauty.com has Urban Decay, Bare Minerals, Crabtree & Evelyn, Korres, Burberry, DuWop, Elizabeth Arden, Lancome, etc... There is always a sale, free gift with purchase, free shipping. Tons of ways to save!

Victoria Secret Beauty Rush Soothing Lip Balm

This stuff is amazing!  It pumps up my lips as well which is an added bonus. There is a slight hint of peppermint and coconut oil.  It also has Aloe  Barbadensis Leaf extract for more moisturizing.   My lips feel amazing when I reach for this balm.

It comes in 4 shades, pink sugar, soft pink, clear and nude.  I have the soft pink.  For $7 you get a ton of product in a 18.5 g tin.

Right now they are 2 for $12 or 5 for $20.

http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Satellite?ProductID=1265246264415&c=Page&cid=1265248198033&collAssetType=LBIProductSet&pagename=vsdWrapper

NYX

I've been reaching for these two staples all week!  NYX Lip Smacking Fun Colors in Tea Rose and NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Perfect. 

Tea Rose is a perfect neutral.  It doesn't look as dark on the lips.  I have a few NYX lipsticks in my collection. 

What I love about NYX lipsticks is that:

1.  They are affordable

2.  They are offer great pigmentation. 

3.  They don't have any weird smells or tastes.

4.  They are sheer yet buildable so you have the choice to load it on or not.

The lipgloss in perfect truly is a lovely shade.  I really bleached it out in the picture but it is a soft, shimmery pink, not a frost.  It gives some nice shine and subtle color. 

I've worn both alone or with the gloss over Tea Rose and they are a great combination.

This week's empties!

Rolling right along...

34.  Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo
35.  Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Conditioner
36.  In Bloom Reese Witherspoon Shower Gel
37.  In Bloom Reese Witherspoon Body Lotion
38.  Hair One Hair Cleanser and Conditioner
39.  Beyond Zone Last Call Natural Balance Leave-In Conditioner
40.  Neutrogena Cleansing Face Bar
41.  Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Face
42.  Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye
43.  Murad Eye Lift Illuminator

Project Runway!

The new season of Project Runway on Lifetime starts tonight at 9 pm EST!!!  Don't forget!

Insanity!

So hopefully you all are aware of my desperate attempt to finish up an insane amount of product accumulation that is weighing me down, literally... Now that I am half way through the challenge, I feel like I haven't even made a dent in my stockpile!  I've been tempted, but I've resisted new purchases (I did cave and by some boots!) but if I don't get rid of more things, the accumulation will continue. 

I realize now, well I did before, I had a lot of samples hanging around.  I've used up most of them through this challenge.  But now when I look through my drawers I still have 5 cleansers some used, some not, tons of face lotions, etc...  You saw the pictures!  Now I am using one at a time instead of switching off.  But sometimes switching off is best for my skin.  It tends to get "used" to products or the product begins to build up, that is when I make the switch. 

So alas, without further adieu, I have decided, with much resistance to up ante.   The challenge will now be 100 used products!  GASP!  It is sickening, really, I already know...

So here's a challenge to my readers, how many products to you have in your drawers? 

Burberry Beauty

Have you checked out Burberry's new line yet?  It looks amazing.  Sometimes less is more in terms of color.  I am loving this collection, by photo of course.  To be honest, I have never been successful at wearing neutral/browns.  I reach for cool colors, mauves, pinks, always a black liner, never brown.  But in the past few years, black has been too heavy, no matter how slight of hand I apply it.  It seems to do nothing for my face. Could it be just boredom of the same ole colors I keep choosing or age? 

This is a collection I would love to try out.  I love the neutral lip but it has subtle color, not totally blonding out the lip which make me look too sickly to pull off.  But they do offer a brighter lip choice as well.  The packaging looks amazing too.  Something you wouldn't dare hide in a drawer.  I don't have a Nordstrom's around where I live so it will be a while before I can try these out!

  http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/6029093/0~2376780~6009391~6029091~6029093?origin=leftnav

New Teeth Whitening System

I've been hanging on to these for a couple of months.  Surprise, surprise!  But I needed to finish my Rembrandt first.  I didn't think Rembrandt was working, until I realized I just wasn't using it consistantly.  I would use it every other day, then forget and use it once a week, or two days in a row.  Until recently I decided to brush my teeth with my regular toothpaste, followed by Rembrandt. 

Used alone, I didn't get the fresh and clean whole mouth feeling with Rembrandt.  However, using it after my regular toothpaste, I saw results in two days.  Seems like a lot of brushing huh?  Well I have an electric toothbrush, which I think is set on a two minute timer.  So I just brush my teeth for a minute with my regular toothpaste and then a minute with Rebrandt. 

My teeth are not super white, I drink tea and decaf coffee pretty regularly, hence some staining.  I'm not looking for gleaming bright white teeth, but I definitely want some results.  So I'll use it up and see what happens!

L'OREAL go 360 Clean Deep Cream Cleanser

 I love this cream cleanser.  It is amazing!  You get that tingly, "I'm really getting a good cleanse" feeling but not the "Ouch, I'm burning" over do it feeling.  I love the scrub brush that comes with it as well.  I mostly use a good 'ole fashioned face cloth to gently scrub my face but this scrubber seems to do the job more effectively and gently.  The formula is not over-drying which I do find with the "deep cleansing" variety.  Overall, this stuff is fantastic.  It's only drawback is the salicylic acid for me because I am pregnant and I need to watch my exposure to it.  I'm glad I read through the ingredient list.  Strangely, I tend to focus on all the good things that organic products contain and really read through the ingredient list.  Other products, I assume they contain "bad" materials, most I cannot pronouce, so I skip over them.  And most products have the same ingredients.  Compare a $5 cleanser to a $30 cleanser, you'll see similar ingredients, the $30 might have some "special" extracts.   I digress yet again...

So you can pick up this product at any of your favorite drug stores for about $5.  Don't forget a coupon!

Incredible!

Not quite the formulation of Revlon Double Twist of it's delivery system, but the fact that I have had this in package, in the bottom of my bathroom armoire undetected, probably for a couple of months, is incredible.  I have no recollection of purchasing this mascara so it has remained hidden for a long time.  I probably tucked it away so I would finish up my other mascaras.  But an exciting discovery nonetheless!  I'm going to look through some other drawers...

All-in-all, it makes the lashes pretty long and thick with just one coat, but at an expense...  It's a bit clumpy.  It maybe due to the double twisting of the wand.  Good idea, but too much color ends up on the wand.  I unfortunately am in need of a lash separator so this could potentially be an easy fix.  But alas, I wouldn't know because I am lacking such an essential tool! 

I still love the Covergirl Lashblast.

Dollhouse Alley BootieDollhouse- DSW

So loving these boots. 

Dollhouse Alley BootieDollhouse- DSW

$49.95 at DSW... 
Free shipping SHIPR...
$10 off TOPTIER...
$39.95 total...  It's not make-up!

eos Pomegranate Raspberry Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream

This stuff is clutch. Did I just write that? I usually always get razor burn, doesn’t matter what season, in the summer when I take colder shower because it’s too dang hot to take a hot shower. I get razor burn in the fall, winter, spring when it’s cold and I get goose bumps in the shower. My perfect temperature is high 70’s if you couldn’t tell. Anywho… I cannot use soap on my legs for shaving, in fact shaving cream really gives me the best shave. It’s thick so it stays on leaving a protective barrier and it is super cheap, like a $1 really. I still however occasionally will get razor burn despite my best efforts and the smell kind of gets to me a little bit. Hello, I’m a girl, I don’t want to smell like my dad!

My favorite shaving cream/gel was Mary Kay’s Shave Cream/ Gel for women which was discontinued. Currently, they have a shave gel slash wash now which honestly I haven’t tried but just assume it cannot be the same. However, I sent away for a free sample of EOS Evolution of Smooth Shave Cream and I am hooked. I thought it was an expensive product, one that would be untouchable for my budget. However it’s a drug store item! Yay! Right now 2 for $7 at Walgreens. So worth it! They also have an on-line store of course. Their products are sort of limited, lip balm, shave cream, and hand and body lotion. But when a company has limited products, they spend all their time and energy on perfecting those core products and they can really get it right without over-extending themselves. Sounds good, right? In this case, it seems to be true anyway!

Here’s some product deets from the website:

• So moisturizing, you can shave wet or dry, leaving skin soft and smooth.

• Non-foaming cream enriched with natural aloe, oat, and shea butter soothes while boosting skin's moisture level.

• Antioxidant vitamins E & C help skin look radiantly healthy.

• Comes in a soft-touch recyclable bottle that won't leave a rust ring in your tub.

• Paraben-free.

• Phthalate-free.

So moisturizing you can shave your legs dry?! I couldn’t imagine performing such a feat, the risk is way too high for me. I’ll just take their word for it!

I’ll be purchasing the lavender shave cream next. I love the scent of lavender. They have Cucumber Melon, Vanilla Bliss, Island Blue and Sensitive-Fragrance free.
http://evolutionofsmooth.com/index.html

L’Oreal Magic Perfecting Base

What a like about this product is that you can buy it at your convenience in a drug store or whilst grocery shopping, you don’t have to wait for it to arrive, nor pay shipping. Instant gratification! Plus what’s great about a drug store purchase is that there is always a sale, always a coupon and of course rewards cards or reward dollars. So at a retail price of $12 you can probably score it for $7 or $8.

It has a thicker consistency, so to me it’s a heavy duty base. I thought by trying this in 90 degree heat, it was going to melt, but it held up quite nicely. I liked the opaque color as well. I feel like I can get away with just moisturizer and L’Oreal Magic Perfecting Base on a Saturday or Sunday morning when I don’t feel like taking the time to do up my face. A little elf golden bronzer on my cheeks and I’m good to go. 

You definitely need this in your makeup kit!

Don't forget about tomorrow night!

Tomorrow night, July 22, 2010, go to your nearest Estee Lauder counter between 5pm and 9pm for a free 10-day supply of the Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex
or the Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex.  No purchase is necessary!

Click here for more details:  http://www.esteelauder.com/anr/#/science/0/

"The one revolutionary formula millions of women can't live without.

Inspired by 25 years of groundbreaking DNA research, Estée Lauder scientists bring you this high-performance serum to help continuously repair the appearance of past damage. With the age-defying power of our exclusive Chronolux™ Technology, you'll see a dramatic reduction in the visible signs of aging.

The results get even better—and better."

Sounds pretty exciting!

This is very tempting...

Rock & Republic is having a 50% off sale on cosmetics.  ROCKCOSMETICS at checkout.  I've been good.  I'm half-way through my challenge.  I think I deserve a little gift.  A little incentive to keep going.  99 cent shipping too...

I have my eyes on the primer and tinted illuminizer set.

What is a girl to do when faced with such decisions???

http://www.rockandrepublic.com/#/cosmetics/

Derma Pro

http://dermapro.com/index.htm

Last week I tried a couple products from Derma Pro.  Samples of course...  I am a sample queen people!  If I can get it for cheap or free, I'm all about it.  Until I find those staple products that I cannot live without, then I shell out top dollar if it's worth it!  Derma Pro Skin Care is a bit pricey, but they seem to be quality products.  Quickly glancing over their site, I would love to try the Pineapple Scrub and the Raspberry tonor.


So I tried the Green Clay Mask, Gentle Cleanser and Gel Tox:

Derma Pro Skincare Ion Mask Detoxifying, Healing Natural Green Clay

Safe for all skin types. The ingredients include sea mud, seaweed extract, Vitamin E, rosemary, sage, grape seed, green tea, ginger and bamboo extract. It says to follow up with the Raspberry tonor which I don’t have and wish I did! It sounds refreshing. The mask had fine exfoliating granules in it. Which I like. I like to gently exfoliate before hand to make sure the clay is doing its job; soaking up the oil and dirt in my pores! You could see this mask working. It had no harsh chemical or perfume smell, which was nice as well. My face felt soft and smooth after rinsing the product off and I had no irritation or redness at all. Great product.

Derma Pro Skincare Ultimate Cleanser Soothing Creamy Gel Cleanser

This is a nice wash. The package says it is safe for all skin types. Plus it’s sulfate free! You get a nice lather and it feels great scrubbing it in. I had no redness after washing with this product. However, it wasn’t very effective at removing eye makeup. I use an eye makeup remover anyway but it didn’t remove the residual makeup that remained. However, this wasn’t really bothersome to me. After washing I usually take a moistened q-tip and wipe under my eyes with most facial cleansers anyway. I would rather the cleanser be gentle. This cleanser has sage, chamomile, rosemary and birch leaves extract. Sounds so natural! Derma Pro is an Earth Friendly and Cruelty Free Company so I would expect nothing less.

I’m currently trying the Gel Tox. Which is a “wrinkle relaxer.” It says I should see results in 2-3 weeks. I’ve been applying to the fine lines around my eyes and a few fine lines on my forehead. So I will keep you updated!

I think I found my new look!

I have no idea where I got this picture from!  AHHH!!!  If anyone can help let me know!  This is the cut, style and color I want.  So excited!  I will sit on it until my school break in August.  My hair will be longer by then as well.  Well a quarter of an inch or so in a month.

UPDATE:  Went to the the salon this morning!  Well my hair didn't come out quite as nice.  I'm going to cut my own bangs again so they are a little more thicker like this look.  My hair is a little past my shoulders right now.  But as it grows out, it has potential!

Last week's used products...

I'm still plugging along at my Project 75 Pan challenge!  Here's my empties for this week!

18.  Derma Pro Skincare Ion Mask Detoxifying, Healing Natural Green Clay- sample
19.  Derma Pro Skincare Ultimate Cleanser Soothing Creamy Gel Cleanser- 2 samples
20.  AVON moisture effective hydra efficace eye makeup remover
21.  L'OREAL Studio Secret's Magic Perfecting Base
22.  eos Pomegranate Raspberry Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream- sample
23.  Neutrogena Rain bath
24.  Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo
25.  Smashbox DNA mascara: It’s all clumped up and it’s just a mess on my lashes. Time to let it go.
26.  Smashbox photo op undereye brightener
27.  John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo and Conditioner- sample
28.  TIGI Wonderful Tonight- sample
29.  dermacologica skin smoothing cream
30.  dermacologica multivitamin power firm
31.  Remberandt  Premium Whitening Flouride Toothpaste with Peroxide (this counts!  whitening your       
       teeth is for beauty reasons, no?
32.  Weleda Sage Deodorant
33.  Skin So Soft Satin Glow Firming Body Moisturizer For Fair Skin Tones

TIGI Wonderful Tonight Overnight Treatment

I thought that my hair was pretty well hydrated. I am do for a major overhaul.  We're talking color and cut, but I’m maintaining for the time being. Some days I want to go blonde, others red, others dark. Until I decide, I’m not going to sit in the hairdresser’s chair setting myself up for disappointment or regret. I always want a huge change every few months but I just don’t have the time to commit. I need my hair long right now so I can wash, twist up in a clip and go. I would love a cute short cut but it’s too hot to blowdry and time is a major issue right now!


So back to Wonderful tonight. I sent away for a few sample a couple of months ago and it has been sitting in the shower waiting for me. I was waiting to use it to repair some coloring damage. Last weekend I decided to give it a go when I realized my ends were getting a little crunchy from the sun and pool.

So you apply the stuff to dry hair. I started off with just my ends but decided to go ahead and do the rest. Then I left it in all night. A shower cap or the wrap of a towel is definitely recommended. It has a very strong scent. And of course it was vanilla like. Or maybe just a strong shea butter but all my senses picked up was vanilla which is not my favorite.

Well in the morning after washing and conditioning, my hair truly did feel wonderful. I’m sure you can’t use it every night, but once a week would be perfect to keep your hair wonderfully soft and smooth. It’s definitely a year long product. Damage from dry air in the winter, damage from chlorine and sun in the summer. Here’s the description from the website:

http://www.tigihaircare.com/consumer/en-US/sfactor/sfactor-products.asp?product=WonderfulTonight&categoryID=17

It’s a bit pricey at $50 however, if you are just using a little bit on the ends once a week, this bottle cold last forever. Maybe after a highlight or coloring use it on the full head every 6-8 weeks. It’s worth it.

It's been an e.l.f. kind of week...

I consistently used all of these elf products this week…

elf Studio Primer:  Love, love, love in this humidity.

elf Tinted Moisturizer in Apricot:  My perfect shade provided that I use sparingly.

elf All Over Cover Stick:  Great for under the eyes and covering up broken capillaries around the nose.

elf Golden Bronzer:  This is a great bronzer for us cool shaded girls. Definitely a must for the lighter skin tones in the summer. I did all the damage I wanted to do to my skin by laying out and trying to tan. Now I can achieve it sensibly with products. This bronzer is not the obnoxious, “I just put a streak of bronzer on to darken up my cheekbones to fake a tan or give me color.” It’s a subtle kiss of the sun look, which of course I could never achieve naturally, I just turn various shades of red upon exposure to the sun. Pink for 10 minutes, red for 20 minutes, scarlet for 30 minutes.

elf High Definition Powder:  This stuff is solid. Well it's a powder really but works solidly.  lol  Lines are virtually eliminated. I don’t have deep set lines but I’m sure it would work very effectively at softening them. My fine lines virtually disappear. It was such a shock. I figured at best it would be another great oil absorber. Another A+++ product from elf! It comes in a tub with a screw top. You have to be very careful not to shake. There is a puff inside the tub which is great from holding in the product. Without the puff, the powder would be everywhere. I would not recommend the puff for applying. I brush is a definite must here.

For eyes I used either an AVON palette or NYX Carribean palette. I used the darker shadows as liners. For lashes, Covergirl Lash Blast which I have been so loving lately!!!  I do have the elf Mineral Mascara which is a great mascara as well.  But the orange tube must have grabbed my attention and I reached for it first!

pure DKNY

So I took a moment, 10 minutes to be exact, to read through the most recent issue of Real Simple.  I came across an ad for pure Pure DKNY by Donna Karan for Women perfume.  It is divine!  It says that there is a hint of vanilla in it which I usually cannot stand but I can't smell vanilla at all.  If it's a background scent, I'm all for it.  As a main scent, forget it! 

Too bad I'm on the no spending challenge.  UGH!  $70 on Amazon.  I'll put it on my list!

7/10/2010 EOTD

So I've been trying to take FOTD pictures for a while now but I always look a bit strange.  I need to figure out how to take a picture of myself!  I really like my eye makeup today so I decided to just go ahead and just crop out my eye. 

I was so excited to take the picture that I forgot mascara!

The flash washed out the colors a bit.  I'll work on that. 

The products I used for this look were the following:

NYX Eyeshadow Base in Pearl

Orglamix Pure Mineral Eye in Green Tea on the lid

Orglamix Pure Mineral Eye in Moonstone on the brow and inside eye lid

Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Chains for the outside corner, crease and upper and lower lid liner

If this was a night time look I would have went a little more dramatic with a black liner. 

Try Neutrogena Clinical for FREE!

So Neutrogena has a great deal going on starting tomorrow July 11th.  They are offering a rebate up to $40.00 of your purchase price of Neutrogena Clincal Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment, the Eye Lifting Contouring Treatment or Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment Night.  It does exclude the starter kit, they want you to go ahead and purchase the full-size items.  But hey, it's free.  You have nothing to lose.  You need to purchase Neutrogena Clinical from July 11th to July 18th.

The details are as follows:

*Offer valid on purchases made from 7/11/2010-7/18/2010 up to a $40.00. Offer excludes Neutrogena Clinical™ Starter System. Must be postmarked by 7/31/2010. Offer limited to US residents only. Offer not valid where prohibited by law. Limit one rebate per name, address, or envelope. Allow 6–8 weeks for delivery. No P.O. boxes, only street or rural addresses are acceptable. Fraudulent submissions could result in federal prosecution under the U.S. Mail Fraud Statutes (18 U.S. Code Section 1341 and 1342). Not responsible for lost, late or undelivered responses. Mail-in Certificate not payable at the retail store. Please print clearly or complete the form by typing directly into the fields below – proper delivery depends on a complete and correct mailing address.

To receive your Neutrogena Clinical™ rebate: Buy: Neutrogena Clinical™ SPF 30, Night or Eye from 7/11/2010 to 7/18/2010. Mail: • This completed rebate form by 7/31/2010. • Your original dated sales receipt with item and purchase price circled. • Your original proof of purchase (mail in UPC codes from outer packaging). Send the above in a stamped envelope to: 2010 Neutrogena Clinical July Rebate PO Box 439, Telford, PA 18969-0439 (Must must be postmarked by July 31, 2010*) Keep a copy: Keep a copy of your receipt, proof of purchase, and this rebate form for your records. Please allow 6-8 weeks for rebate to arrive.

Here's the form:
http://www.neutrogenaclinical.com/sites/default/files/NeutrogenaClinical_TryItFree_Rebate.pdf

If you register on https://www.neutrogenaclinical.com/register  you can print out a $5 coupon to save on out of pocket expenses since you will have to 6-8 weeks for your purchase price rebate check in the mail.

The rebate will cover one.  It looks like the products cost about $35-$40 a piece depending on where yu want to shop.  So you can get the Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment, the Eye Lifting Contouring Treatment or Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment Night.  Decisions, decisions...

Here's some more details about the three clinical products:

Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment


Start the day with our Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment, containing a silky SPF 30 moisturizer and ion2complex™ serum that, when combined, activate to improve the look of wrinkles, skin firmness, and elasticity—lending to greater skin resilience and a more youthful appearance. Plus, this formula helps to protect against skin-aging UVA rays with Helioplex® technology.
•ion2complex™ serum
•SPF 30 activating moisturizer
•protects from skin-aging UVA rays with Helioplex® technology
•smoothes and softens after a single use
•firms and redefines for a youthful look
•gentle enough for daily use

Eye Lift Contouring Treatment


Go beyond lines and wrinkles to visibly lift, firm, and define the entire eye area with Eye Lift Contouring Treatment, featuring a nourishing moisturizer that activates with our patented ion2complex™ serum. This rich, gentle eye cream smoothes collagen depleted skin and contours the entire eye area for younger-looking eyes.
•ion2complex™ serum
•eye activating moisturizer
•instantly brightens and smoothes lines and wrinkles
•lifts and contours the eye area
•gentle enough for daily use
•use alone or under makeup

Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment Night


Transform skin at night for a firmer, more youthful look with our Facial Lifting Wrinkle Treatment Night, containing a deeply moisturizing night cream that activates the silky ion2complex™ serum. After activating, this patented formula creates a positive ion flow to improve firmness, resilience, and definition while you sleep—letting you take the next step in reversing the tell-tale signs of aging.
•ion2complex™ serum
•night activating moisturizer
•smoothes and softens after single use
•lifts and redefines for a youthful look
•recommended for nightly use

IS Clinical Eye Youth Complex

Let me start off by saying, this stuff is the bomb! I sent away for a sample and this stuff has last more than a week so far. You only need a “pea” size amount. It does all it says it advertised as saying. I don’t have crazy bags under my eyes and wrinkles so I haven’t seen dramatic results but in terms of taking care of morning puffiness and hydration it gets an A+ in my gradebook.

Oh and circles. I tend to get some light purple smudges from late night nursing school study sessions and they are gone. I’m not sure if I have been getting any extra sleep lately so I’m pretty sure it’s the eye youth complex doing its thing. Also it readily absorbs and dries fast so you can immediately put on make-up. That’s a plus for me because I am super busy and do not have time to wait for an eye cream to dry so I can apply make-up. Check out the website for more information.


http://www.isclinical.com/youth_eye_complex

You cannot order from the website but through authorized dealer websites. So I will definitely be checking into ordering as soon as my Challenge is over. I have a few more products to go. But it looks like the sample should last another week.   You can order it from Essential Day Spa on-line or if you have one near by you could drop in to see if they are having a sale or a promotion.  http://www.essentialdayspa.com/is-clinical-youth-complex-p_9534.htm 

$56 for 10mL but if the sample size last 2 weeks, this full size probably lasts a year.  No joke.  You don't need to lather up on creams and lotions unless you are super dry.  Even then a gentle, and especially around the eyes, a super gentle swipe of a facecloth to exfoliate the dry skin is your first step.  Then applying the eye cream gently to the eye area is your next step.  You need to remove the dead, flakey skin first so your moisturizer will be more effective.  You don't exfoliate around your eyes everyday, it is just too sensitive of an area.  Only on a need basis, maybe once a week.  So after reading the description, the IS Clinical Eye Youth Complex takes care of the exfoliation for you.

Here's the description from the Essential Day Spa Website:
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/is-clinical-youth-complex-p_9534.htm

Description


YOUTH COMPLEX by iS CLINICAL is the first cosmeceutical anti-wrinkle formulation to offer immediate, intermediate and long-term improvements in aging skin. This breakthrough anti-wrinkle formula is a unique blend of potent antioxidants, innovative natural hydrators and our exclusive . Scientifically created by the leading pharmacologists, physicians and experts at INNOVATIVE SKINCARE, the new biotechnology addresses targeted aging phenomena with clinical precision.

YOUTH COMPLEX is designed to provide rapid initial hydration for plumping fine lines and wrinkles, promote controlled exfoliation and stimulate the production of key support structures such as collagen and elastin.

IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS: 97% of those tested noticed a SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT in their overall skin (wrinkle reduction, texture, and hydration level) in ONE HOUR*.

INTERMEDIATE IMPROVEMENTS (within 5 days): Mild exfoliation without peeling leaves surface smooth and hydrated. Further wrinkle reduction noted. Superior antioxidant protection protects against extrinsic and intrinsic free radical damage.

LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS: Rebuilding of skin's support structures such as collagen and elastin, improved cellular metabolism and DNA repair facilitate younger looking, healthier skin.

Urban Decay lingerie & galoshes for lashes

I’m not sure why I thought this product was a good thing to spend money on. I purchased it through a Haute Look sale and this product did not work for me at all. The concept at the time of purchase seemed perfect. I have a bunch of mascaras that are not waterproof. My lashes are long and when I blink after applying mascara and throughout the day, I tend to get grey/black residue under my bottom lid. I need to get a waterproof formula. So I grabbed this. One side is a primer. It is typical white stuff with some fibers in it to make your lashes extra long. Then there is the waterproof side, an opaque gel-like consistency. Again, good concept, bad execution. All primers have annoyed me. I seem to never be able to cover the white stuff fully with mascara. Then the waterproof gel is goopy and leaves clumps on the lashes. No big deal, I can take off the excess with a q-tip. Well the stuff just weighs down my lashes. It does waterproof however. I did not see any grey shadows under my bottom lid but since my lashes are super straight, I don’t like a heavy product to weigh them down. 

Good thing I didn't pay full price!  Well I probably wouldn't have.  That's the problem with me and sales! 

Pantene Color Preserve Volume Pro-Couleur Shampoo and Conditioner

One thing about Pantene, it is consistent. If you are in the shampoo aisle, wanting to try something new but don’t want to waste money on something crappy, reach for Pantene. You can’t go wrong. It has that iconic smell. In fact when I tried this formula I immediately started daydreaming about Ireland. Then I realized that 8 or so years ago, all I ever used was Pantene and the power of scent and memory came into play while I was scrubbing up.

One thing I do not like about Pantene is that it does leave a build-up on your hair. It can weigh down the hair considerably if you have fine hair.  If you don’t believe me, next time you get out of the shower, take a sharp pair of scissors and drag them across a few strands of hair. Not to cut through them but to scrape the follicles. You will find a waxy substance on the scissors. No joke. Sure this “protective coating” is good for UV rays, heats, product stress, but it certainly can weigh down the hair.

So with Pantene and many other shampoos, I’m sure this is not unique to just Pantene, it’s good to use an anti-residue shampoo to get rid of the build-up. Neutrogena has a great one that I use maybe for a couple of days every few weeks when I think of it just to remove any product and/or shampoo build up. Your hair will thank you for it.

So back to the Color Preserve formula. Great smell, great lather. I let my hair air-dry and it was smooth. Usually I have to curl the ends under. But that is what is great about Pantene. After not using for a while, when you start back up again, your hair looks amazing. It’s the build-up that causes it to fail down the road. But that is easily remedied with an anti-residue shampoo. I have noticed that the sun and pool has caused my hair to turn a bit brassy so I was hoping the color preserve could reverse that a little but I believe it best used to maintain color.

If you ever want to try a sample of Pantene go here:  https://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/pantene-brandsampler.jsp

Beyond The Zone Pro Formula Rock On Dry Shampoo

I take back what I said about this dry shampoo not working in the recent past. I didn't review it but I think I may have metioned it in another post. Well I decided to try it again and read the directions first. It says to shake well before you. Duh! So I shook the thing and sure enough, I got a spray of white powder that sopped up my greasy morning hair that I didn’t feel like I had the time to wash. Sure you have to work it in and brush the powder out like any other dry shampoo. If you have a dry shampoo that is not white and powdery and works, by all means let me know!!! Sure enough after working in the product, it took care of my “dirty” hair. It gave me some nice volume too. I picked it up on my last Sally Beauty Haul for $6.99, well maybe $6.50 since I have a Sally Beauty card.

Burt’s Bees After Sun Soother

This product has been a lifesaver this week. My poor little girl has been burnt to a crisp and this lotion has taken the sting and pain out of the sunburn. It is made with Aloe and Linden Flower. It takes a little work to rub it in, especially if you are rubbing it in gently to a 5 year old's burned arms but it does absorb and leaves the skin a lot cooler. Aloe is the number one agent to reach for when dealing with burns and the Linden extract is a natural antioxidant. When the skin is burned, it is damaged and free radicals are destroying the integrity of the skin. Antioxidants combat the free radicals, hopefully eliminating further damage. The lotion also contains Coconut oil to further moisturize the skin. So all good stuff to heal burned skin. Burt’s Bees is just a wonderful company. Paraban and Phthalate free, 99.5% natural, you can’t go wrong with this stuff. Great to have in the beach bag on vacation.

Here's the website for the ingredient list:  http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/outdoor-sun-care/aloe-linden-flower-after-sun-soother.html

Boots No. 7 Intelligent Balance Mousse Foundation

This foundation comes in a swanky but inconvenient heavy glass jar and a useless plastic scoop. However, the formulation is wonderful. I have never tried a Mousse Foundation before. If you have been following my blog, you know that I have combination/oily skin if I use the wrong products. With right products, the oil can be controlled. This foundation is great for oily/combination skin. It leaves the skin perfectly smooth and matte.

It was also the first time I used a brush to apply a foundation other than a mineral foundation.  Which I highly recommend but I'm sure you other guru beauty bloggers are already using foundation brushes!!!  The brush worked beautifully. The jar seems to be designed for the comsumer to dip a foundation brush into it.  I will never use my fingers or a sponge again, unless necessary of course. The only problem I had was that the shade is a bit off. I ordered Blonde.  I have fair skin with pink undertones, my neck is sheer white and then my chest is a little flushed as well.  So I don't want to go super pale to match my neck and if I did that my chest would look super red.  I can't blend make-up on my neck for it is super sensitive and will break out immediately.  Literally.  Even if I spray a mist of perfume and walk through it, if one little perfume molecule lands anywhere on my neck instant rash/breakout.   So anywho...  it's difficult for me to get a true foundation color match.  Anyone else have this problem?

I think I will need to order or exchange the Blonde for New Ivory. The Blonde is slightly too dark and yellow for me. It is the summer though. I was thinking I would have to mix the Blonde and New Ivory to get the perfect shade. Which is a little bothersome, but if the formulation is spot-on it’s worth the extra step. I wore it for 2 days this week in blazing 100 degree heat plus crazy humidity and I didn’t shine at all. Granted I wasn’t exercising and sweating up a storm, just walking to and fro the car and class and picking up the kiddies at the sitter but it kept me grease free which is a definite plus.

John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioner

I cannot wait for the Project 75 Pan Challenge to be over because these are the first products I am purchasing! I loved, loved, loved the scent or the Eucalyptus and peppermint oils. What a great stimulant to the senses on those groggy mornings. My hair looked, smelled and felt amazing after blow drying. No flyways! Passed my test! The set also comes with a smoothing lotion and gel which I will be picking up as well.

I didn’t have enough for 7 days but it is advertised that you will have stronger and more manageable hair in 7 days guaranteed. I saw the results after one use and will be happy to purchase after my challenge.

Beyond Zone Last Call Natural Balance Leave in Conditioner

Sorry about this tiny picture.  My camera has been taking crappy pictures lately so I just grabbed this one off of google images.  I'll try to take a picture of mine and post it later. 

So I bought the leave in conditioner from Sally Beauty months ago during the winter when I was dealing with static.  It did work through in the winter, nothing seems to tame my static hair. Recently, I have been using it as a detangler after swimming in the pool for both me and my daughter. It works better as a detangler than a conditioner. Well I guess conditioning agents are in detanglers so it’s both!


It has a putrid smell however. At first it smells nasty and then it reminds you of bubble gum. If it smelled a little better, I might consider re-purchasing, but at this point, I’m just trying to get through the bottle. I believe I purchased it on-sale for $3 or $4 so it has been a great deal in terms of price. My daughter is always asking for the “bubble gum spray” so maybe they should market it to children as a detangler. I also use it on those rats nest mornings when you are desperately trying to run a brush through your child’s hair without causing a lot of distress. So I guess it has been quite useful! Detanglers are useful to have around the house.  Good to have one on hand.

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing System for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin

I tried out a sample set of the Skin Balancing System for a couple days this week.  I had ordered it from http://www.paulaschoice.com/product/skin-balancing-system/skin-balancing-system  It was $5 and it included a $5 giftcard towards my next purchase (so free!) and 3 samples of the Best Face Forward Foundation.  Which I love by the way.  Perfect color match. 

Here's some deets from the website before I get on with my review:
Comprehensive daily routine to equalize and improve normal to oily/combination skin

• State-of-the-art formulas provide a wide complement of ingredients skin needs to function optimally

• Ongoing use will promote smooth, balanced skin that resists excess oiliness and breakouts

• Fragrance-free because it's what's best for skin

• This set includes: Skin Balancing Cleanser, Skin Balancing Toner, 1% BHA Gel, Skin Balancing Mattifying Antioxidant, Skin Balancing Daily Mattifying Lotion SPF15, Skin Balancing Moisture Gel, Skin Balancing Carbon Mask

I really liked this set. I happen to be very serious about skin care. I don’t like to skimp. I want my face to look great for years to come. I work at keeping my skin protected from the sun, well cleansed and moisturized. And it shows. I’m 33 and I have a few fine lines around my eyes which I moisturize every morning and night. I remove my make-up every night before using a cleanser for the rest of my face. I think this routine is very important for keeping healthy and glowing skin. If I happen to be lazy one night, it definitely shows the next morning.  Oh and solid healthy diet packed with fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water helps as well. So even though this set contains 7 items, it does not deter me. Now on to the review!

This past week it reached the triple digits in an area that barely sees temperatures go above 85 even on the hottest days of the summer. So this set really was put to the challenge of keeping my skin oil free. The cleanser was wonderfully gentle. Though I have oily skin, I don’t like to strip it of all it’s natural oils. Squeaky clean is not good for the oil impaired! The toner was light as well. No harsh tingly feeling which I used to like because I felt that my face was getting super clean. It was quite gentle as well. Toner is a wonderful product to tighten up the pores after cleansing and to remove residual cleanser. It is an essential step and many disregard its importance in a basic skin care routine.  I know I used to!

Skin Balancing Super Antioxidant Mattifying Concentrate Serum w/ Retinol: I really liked this product. It was super silky and left the skin soft and silky and dewy. I followed up with the Skin Balancing Daily Mattifying Lotion with SPF 15 because I was going out for the day. At night I used the Skin Balancing Moisture Gel. It was very light and moisturizing. If you are happy with all your other skin care products and didn’t want a full set, this would be the one to get. Oh and the toner and Mattifying Concentrate Serum.

The Skin Balancing Carbon Mask scared me at first because I could feel it "working." It started off tingly with a slight cooling sensation and then just when I thought I should wash it off, the sensation was over. It was my first time using it. I would probably only use this once a week. I would like a full-size to help with blackheads which I occasionally find. I have larger pores so with combination/oily skin and larger pores, you need to work harder at cleansing especially if you are obsessed with products and make-up like myself.

So will I be purchasing? Yes. As soon as I finish up all my other cleansers! You can always try the complete sample set for $5 and then get a $5 gift card towards you next Paula’s Choice purchase, or the purchase of the set. So basically you try the sample set for free. So at roughly $15 and change for each of the 7 items, it’s a reasonable price. And if it works for you as it did for me, that’s priceless folks!

Upcoming Blog Posts

I love lists. It always feels great to check things off of them. It makes you feel like you’ve accomplished so much! So here’s another list.

1. In Bloom, Reece Witherspoon perfume, lotion and shower gel set

2. Pantene Color Preserve Shampoo and Conditioner

3. John Freida Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioner

4. So Clinical Eye Youth Complex

5. Beyond Zone Last Call Natural Balance Leave in Conditioner

6. Origins Modern Friction Gentle Dermabrasion

7. Origins A Perfect World White Tea Antioxidant Cleanser

8. Boots No. 7 Intelligent Balance Mousse Foundation

9. Burt’s Bees After Sun Soother with Aloe & Linden Flower

10. Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Sample Set for Normal to Oily Combination Skin

Project 75 Pan Challenge Update

Things are speeding and heating up! Literally. It’s been in the triple digits all week. Yuck. I can do low 80’s, high 70’s are my perfect temperature. But 100’s in the North without central air?  It would be 96 outside and 87 inside at 8:00pm.  Miserable sleeping weather!  We actually had a small a/c window unit in the attic that the previous owners had left. I assumed it didn’t work. Hubby brought it down and fired it up. Works like a dream! We never had to use it last summer. Usually in the Northeast you have about 1 or at the most 2 really uncomfortable weeks in August. Well it’s the beginning of July and it has been awful! The weather is supposed to break this evening thankfully.

So back to the challenge. Here is a list of the items that I finished since the beginning of the challenge. 2 weeks ago right? I can’t keep track!

1. Bare Minerals Mineral Veil

2. Origins Perfect Wear White Tea Skin Guardian

3. Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant (this one might be a stretch but with 75, I’m going with it!)

4. Eb5 facial cream

5. Eb5 eye cream

6. Aveeno Nourish + Revitalize shampoo and conditioner -sample

7. Nivea Happy Sensation sample (loved, loved, loved the smell!)-sample

8. Avon SUPERshock mascara in black

9. Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Sample Set for Normal to Oily Combination skin- sample

    Included the following:

skin balancing cleanser, skin balancing toner, 1% beta hydoxy acid gel, skin balancing moisture gel,skin balancing super antioxidant mattifying concentrate serum, skin balancing daily mattifying lotion with SPF 15 and antioxidants, skin balancing carbon mask

10. Paula’s Choice Best Face Forward Foundation with SPF 15- 3 samples

11. Arbonne Intelligence Not So Basic Skin Care- sample

Included the following:

Arbonne Intelligence™ Daily Cleanser, Exfoliating Masque with Thermal Fusion, Daily Balancer, Daily Eye Cream, Daily Moisturizing Cream, Day & Night plus a Skin Conditioning Oil

12. Lola by Marc Jacobs shower gel

13. Lola by Marc Jacobs lotion

14. Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo

15. John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo and Conditioner- sample

16. So Clinical Eye Youth Complex- sample

17. Pantene Color Preserve Shampoo and Conditioner- sample


So not a bad start. 17 down, 58 more to go! AHH!!!

In Bloom Reece Witherspoon

My scent of choice this past month has been In Bloom by Reece Witherspoon.  I bought a shower gel, lotion and perfume set from AVON a while back and of course I forgot I had it.  Sometimes I like to save lotions and shower gels for special occasions.  Well there hasn't been any special occasions for a while now so I decided it was time to break this set out.  Love it!  Loved the perfume over the winter.  I mostly like the lighter scents of body sprays in the summer.  Sometimes it's too hot to wear perfume!    It's a very pretty and sophisticated scent.  I can never tell what perfume smells like but here's the description:

"Sensual and elegant, it entices the senses with gardenia blossoms and lush florals, enveloped in amber wood and peach tea leaves. 1.7 fl. oz."  I see that it runs about $34 for just the perfume right now but I'm sure AVON will have a sale!

It's my perfect scent.  Not too much amber, not too fruity, not too flowerly.  (Is that a word?)  So instead of dousing myself in perfume, I use the gel and lotion.  The lotion absorbs quickly which is a plus in this crazy humidity!

Why the need for Project 75 Pan Challenge

So I will admit, it's going slow, too slow for that matter.  Yesterday afternoon, I spent a couple of hours organizing, consolidating and sorting through things.  I certainly don't have a huge makeup collection by most bloggers' standards I'm sure, but in terms of skincare, it's a little obnoxious.  I took pictures, so you be the judge!  But I'm happy that everything is in one place and I only took up one shelf and one drawer in the bathroom armoire.  You see I do have 2 kids, a husband and a baby on the way.  It's not all about me!  I swear!

Eyeliners:  What is silly about all the eyeliners, is that I just don't use them.  I prefer to use a swipe of a wet eyeshadow.  I do like the Christian Siriano Kohl liners for my waterline.  I picked up a couple from a Victoria Secret sale.  I do like the AVON big pencils as eyeshadows.  They have aa nice creamy consistancy.  Definitely need to be used with primer.  The Urban Decay pencils were picked up during a Haute Look sale and they came super dry and brittle.  They may end up in the garbage unfortunately.  Very disappointing.

Loose eyeshadows:  Mostly Orglamix.  Love the line.  Very shimmery, beautiful eyeshadows.  Not too obnoxious but someday I would love to have a collection of MAC all neatly placed in pans in palletes according to color.  Someday I will learn to put my eyeshadows in pans.  Loose eyeshadows are very dangerous for me.  I spill, drop, the kids get into them.  It's usually a huge mess!  If you have any tips, do share!

Blushers:  I use them all, depending on the time of day, look etc. of course.  Sometimes I want shimmer, sometimes not depending on my mood!

Pallettes:  I never use the glitter NYX pallettes, not sure why I bought them!  The glitter pieces are huge, not at all flattering.  I use the mark palette, top left almost everyday.  Mostly because it has been in my make-up case but now that I have everything organized in drawers, I should be able to utilize more of my collection. I've swatched out the NYX for blue eyes, kind of middle right, but I don't prefer to use dark browns or blues at all on my blue eyes.  I love the look of browns on models with blue eyes but when I attempt the look at home, forget it!  Cool colors seem to work a lot better with my skin tone.

Foundation:  So you can see some Bare Minerals which have worked for about 6 years but now I am bored with.  I'm still receiving shipments every 6 months which I need to stop because I have plenty!  I've also dabbled in some Mary Kay Cream to Powder foundation in Ivory 2, Revlon Colorstay in Buff, L'Oreal True Match in C3 (too dark), elf all over cover stick in Apricot Beige and elf tinted moisturizer in Apricot Beige which looks dark but dries lighter.  So I definitely want to put a dent in this because I have my eyes on Estee Lauder Double Wear light.

Lippies:  I don't have a huge collection of lippies.  I prefer lip gloss.  I only wear lipstick for major outings like date night, yes that's major for me or a Marine Corps Ball.  The Victoria Secret lipglosses are way too sticky for me.  I picked up them up during a semi-annual sale of course!

Mascara:  Mascara is something I use daily so these do go pretty quick.  As soon as they start to dry and clump, that's it, they are gone!  I have yet to try the elf.  The AVON extend and lengths are almost out.  So I'm not doing too bad.  However, I really like the Covergirl lash blast and will probably use that until it's gone before I move on to the others.  I just finished my other AVON superSHOCK.

The Tools:  This is nothing!  I know.  I really want a Sigma collection or if I hit the lottery, MAC brushes.  I just see how wonderful the results are with those brands!  But the brushes I have do the trick.  I've had the Bare Essential brushes for 6 years now.  I wash them weekly with the Bare Essentials brush cleanser.  They've held up amazingly well over the years.  I just recently picked up the elf brushes.  They do the trick as well.  No shedding, holding up quite nicely as well and at a $1 a piece I might add.  I was going to try the elf Studio line but since I want higher end, I'll put the $3 per brush savings towards Sigma or MAC.

Face Lotions:  Now on to skincare.  Way too much!  Only the Dermalogica is almost empty.  I just got the Sejaa which I love about a month ago, Botanic Spa just came in a couple of weeks ago.  I've been working on the AVON Reversalist for the past few months.  They all work great, and I love the results.  Just during the pregnancy I want to limit the chemicals as much as possible so I've been trying out the organic lines.

Eye Creams:  Way too many of course!  But I will do what it takes to keep those fine lines from forming.  And it is working!  But there are so many more products I want to try.  I will always go with the Lumene freeze stick.  It works instantly on puffy eyes.

Face Masks/Muds:  Not too bad.  I use masks 2-3 times a week when I remember.  I certainly do not need two different mud masks but I wanted to compare a $3 brand to a $60 one!

Face Wash:  This is a little crazy.  3 are exfoliants, Origins, St. Ives Green Tea, Dermalogica.  The Olay and L'Oreal, though I love them both, contain salicylic acid which is a no-no during pregnancy.  In small amounts, it should be harmless by why take the chance right?  Hence the reasoning behind the Origins cleansing oil which works exceedingly well.  The cold cream is used for the removal of my eye makeup.  Which I still need to try out!  Not pictured is the Neutrogena face bar which I used in the shower.

Nail Polish:  Ahh, nail polish.  Honestly, I do not like color on my nails.  Neutral or pale shades or clear works best for me.  Unless I get a manicure.  Colors are best left to the professionals than my unsteady left  hand!  I do like dark and vibrant colors on my toes.  This collection is in need of a major overhaul.  I had to shake most of them as they are separating.  Some are a few years old.  The NYX are probably the most recent, a few months old.

Hair Products:  I barely use the mark mega volume stuff.  It goes on too heavy and dampens the hair too much.  I prefer the light spray of the Pantene.  The Beyond Zone dry shampoo sucks.  I've had much better results with Batiste dry shampoo.  But with Batiste's formula, I am left with a powdery mess and the smell is choking if used in a small confined space, like the bathroom!  But after brushing for a little while the powdery mess dissipates and the oil is gone!  I've only used the Beyond Zone two times.  Maybe I didn't use enough.  I haven't used the Aveda Smoothing Serum since I started using Hair One.  I just don't need it.  Hair One

conditions perfectly with no flyaways!

 

Lotions:  I've had the Lubriderm since the winter. I used it on my arms and chest everyday because it has the SPF in it.  For extended time in the sun, I definitely reach for sunblock.  The Skin So Soft fusions is a very thick lotion, best used for winter.  I do put it on my legs after shaving.  I've noticed that it rubs off after drying.  Kind of annoying.  I might just save this for the winter.  The Skin So Soft self tanner works great.  I haven't used it this summer because of the pregnancy.  It's a left over from last summer.  I love Mary Kay Satin hand collection!  I use this once a month or so when my hands are particularly dry or after gardening.  I could use it more often, but I just never think of it.  I use it more frequently in the winter.  It lasts and lasts.  This is my second set in the past 3 years.

Le Collection:  So there it is, the entire collection all organized and consolidated.  I do have everything else in a drawer underneath.  Now that everything is centrally located, it will be easier to get through this challenge, I hope!  Still no pruchases.  I am very proud of myself despite all the sales that are taunting me in my inbox! 

Dog Shampoo

This isn't human beauty related but I thought I would add this for your furry friend.  Dirty and Hairy natural pet shampoo green tea and lime with citronella is the best dog shampoo I have ever used.  It is very gentle, like baby shampoo but the citronella not only leaves a fresh and clean scent, it also repels bugs and fleas. 

We have never had a problem with ticks and/or fleas with Nika before.  I've been using this shampoo for about three years now.  It also comes with a spray to freshen your pooch in between washings.  The ingedient list is super simple, coconut shampoo base, fragrance and citronella oil for the shampoo and the spray contains a vegetable derived conditioning agent, aloe vera, lanolin and citronella oil.  Great stuff!