FREE Fat Hair product of your choice

I don't see where/if it says what size product they are giving away. It might only be a sample, but hey, it's free! And you get to try something new :)

Just go to this site http://www.fat-hair.com/fh-survey2.php choose between

• Thickening Shampoo
• Thickening Conditioner
• Amplifying Hair Spray
• Amplifying Hair Mousse
• Thickening Spray
• Thickening Creme
• Root Lifter Spray
• Thickening Pomade

Fill in the form and you're done! In 6-8 weeks you should have your sample. I chose Thickening Creme and of course, I'll be reviewing it :)

Coastal Scents Hot Pot Review and Swatches

Coastal Scents has a ton of shadows that can be purchased individually, for $1.95 each. They come in all shades and finishes. In my opinion their Hot Pots tend to be of a higher quality than the shadows included in the palettes. Hot Pots tend to have a smoother formula and are less likely to crease, from my experience.
I'll be reviewing and swatching a lot of these shadows in batches as I try them.

Today's review includes Ice Ballet, Bombay, Peachy Keen and Raisin Berry.

Ice Ballet -  A beautiful shade of frosty violet. It can go on sheer, leaving a satin finish, if applied with a light touch. Or you can build it up to a semi-opaque, shimmer finish. I lovely feminine shade for any skin tone, this shade brings Winter to mind and will be the perfect touch of color for those frosty days. Violets are also a beautiful shade for any bride!

Bombay - A total dud for me. This is a light, dusky grey, with a matte finish. Zombies come to mind with this shade, and it's hard for me to think of any good use for it or anything skin tone that this would compliment. I suppose it could be used when creating multi-depth smokey eye, but there are plenty of other, more versatile shades for that. The pot that I got looks nothing like the one shown on the CS website.

Raisin Berry - I LOVE this shadow! A wonderfully deep berry shade with warm undertones and a shimmer finish. This shadow is richly pigmented and goes on opaque even without a primer! Once applied, it takes on more of a brown tone than it appears in the pot (not quite as cranberry as I had expected.  It's almost identical to MAC's "Sweet Chestnut."
This shade is perfect for the Fall and Winter seasons.

Peachy Keen - A sweet peachy-pink shade with a flattering, satin finish.  Depending on the light, it can appear quite pink or peachy. Application is only  a little heavier than sheer, but it can be built up to semi-opaque.



(L to R) Rainsin Berry, Bombay, Ice Ballet, Peachy Keen

FREE Sample of Lifeline Skin Care Recovery Night Moisture Serum

Just fill out the form. http://www.lifelineskincare.com/free-sample-no-snh

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm Review

I'm a sucker for new lip balms. It doesn't matter how many I have, if I see one that looks good or different I'll grab it! And so I have found myself in the possession of an EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm.

Mine is in Pomegranet Raspberry, one of the limited edition holiday offerings.

The packaging is the most noticable thing about this product. It's obviously nothing like your run-ofthe-mill lip balm twist up tube. The sphere is about the size of a golf ball, which doesn't make it convenient to carry around in a little purse, but it IS easy to find in a big one! The top half twists off to reveal a dome of product. Pretty cute, huh?

 

This EOS Balm is 100% natural and the formula is nice and rich without being too heavy or thick on the lips. It contains shea butter, vitaimin E and has NO parabens or patrolatum. I'm trying to stay away from products containing patroleum, but it's difficult since they seem to be in everything! The scent is subtle and fruity and it has a slightly sweet flavor. I seem to have a difficult time finding natural lip balms that really do the job. They tend to be thin and slippery, but this balm instantly soothed my chapped lips and kept them protected for hours.
 This might end up being my go-to this Winter.

You can get it for about $3.20 for 0.25 oz at CVS or your local grocery.

Bzz Agent Review - Curel Intensive Healing Cream

As a BzzAgent I received this product free of charge for review



Cold, dry weather is setting in and that means it's time to pull out the heavy duty creams to help combat or maybe even prevent! the dry, itchy, irritated winter skin. That's Curel's cue!


This stuff means business,  I can tell you. The formula is thick and creamy, it absorbs into the skin quickly and doesn't feel greasy. And there is no fragrance! Thank goodness! I noticed an immediate improvement in the look and feel of my skin. It takes the itchiness out right away. Winter itch drives me crazy and I definitely think if I use this consistently I'll be able to prevent it all together.

Here are the ingredients:
Water, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Microcrystalline Wax, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Paraffin, Dimethicone, Cetyl PG Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Magnesium Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Magnesium Sulfate, Glyceryl Oleate, Ethoxydiglycol, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylparaben, Butylene Glycol, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Propylparaben

Nothing too scary, nothing mind blowing. If you don't like using petroleum products (quite frankly I'm not a huge fan but I sometimes use them anyway) then you won't be wanting to buy this cream.

Overall I'm pleased with this product. I recommend it to anyone who wants to heal or just avoid super dry skin this Winter. I've been using this for a weeks and it has helped to keep my skin looking and feeling moisturized and well taken care of. At one point my hands were looking pretty ragged after some last minute gardening and DIY home projects and I was really glad to have this around. It's done a great job at moisturizing my dry and cracked cuticles as well. 

Revlon Lacquer and Matte Balms Review

Revlon recently added Colorburst Lacquers and Balms to their chubby lip pencil offerings. They look almost identical to the Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stains, but their performance is definitely different.

First, I should say that I could not find these anywhere! I paid a friend to mail me some. Yeah. That's how curious I was. I was really pleased with the Kissable Lip Stain formulas and excited that I might find a super shiny version in the Lacquers. I'm not really into matte lip colors, but I got one of those too for the sake of comparison.

They both smell identical to the Kissable Stains. Minty, with a hint of plastic. Pleasant enough. Both the Lacquer and the Matte feel smooth on the lip as they are applied but the pigmentation of the Matte, shade Mischievous, was uneven and patchy. I used my finger to smooth it out and that took some effort. Even then, it majorly accentuated the slightly dry patches I currently have. It's a lovely light peachy shade, so I hate that I don't think I will be able to wear it. It doesn't feel dry on the lips but unfortunately it make my lips look pretty bad.

I had better luck with the Lacquer Balm, but it's still not a home run for me. With a name like Lacquer I was hoping for and expecting something with high shine. This has a nice sheen, but nothing spectacular. The finish isn't much different from the Kissable Lip Stain. It glides on the lips, and feels a bit more silky than the Matte and it doesn't catch on any dryness.

Wear time on these is about 3 hours, if you don't eat anything.  Oh, and though the packaging is virtually identical, these are NOT stains.

Overall, I'm indifferent to these balms. There's hardly enough of a difference in these, from the Kissable Stains, to warrant a new launch. Those who prefer a matte lip will probably be really pleased with the addition. I wasn't impressed enough with them to rush out and purchase any more. Although, from what I'm seeing online, there are a few more lacquer shades that look fairly nice, so I might be eating my word in a few weeks.

.... If they ever show up here, that is.

I need the JuveRest Pillow!

Okay, so once I got passed the fact that it looks like some sort of New Age torture device, I have decided that I need this pillow.

I've known for a while that at least some of my fine lines are caused from shoving my face into my pillow. That's my favorite position, what can I say? I've tried adjusting my sleeping position and it just doesn't work.  So, I can only assume that these lines will keep getting deeper, until they become full on wrinkles!

This pillow looks like serious business though. Like it won't take "no" for an answer. Like it will FORCE you to sleep in the perfect Sleeping Beauty Pose.
It also looks like you might wake up with a huge crick in the neck! But, hey. I'd try it.

...probably not for $180 though.

**This has been a totally random rambling session**

Jane Iredale Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream

BB Creams have got to be the most over-hyped beauty products of this decade. Honestly, I'm sick of hearing about them.

....But I'm going to review one anyway :)

I picked up a sample of Jane Iredale's Glow Time Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream at a spa recently. I didn't want to like it.

While this isn't quite full coverage, it does give a solid medium coverage. Considering most BB Creams on the American market are watered down tinted moisturizers that's saying something! You could probably build it to full coverage but I wouldn't recommend it, since it would likely leave your skin feeling quite heavy.

The formula is thick with an almost gel-like consistency and has a light, sweet, fresh scent. Like orange jello. Yum! It's dense and very pigmented so a little bit goes a long way. Apply it sparingly to begin with to avoid a cakey look. You can easily sheer it out some by mixing it with a moisturizer.

This BB Cream dries to a satin finish which only improves throughout the day. Seriously. Every time I looked in the mirror my skin looked better. I didn't want to wash this stuff off! It does a decent job of blurring my pores. It doesn't make them disappear or anything but it definitely makes them less noticeable. My skin looked healthier and I suppose a little glowy. (there is no shimmer)  I think this will be best for me in the summer, when my skin isn't screaming out for hydration! Glow Time isn't drying, but I don't think it's going to be moisturizing enough for me in the dead of Winter. We'll see.

I got shade BB3, which is the second lightest shade (They only have odd numbers)

Shade BB 3

BB3 was a little too light for my skin tone, which suprises me because I'm pretty light.

Other notable facts: It's got water resistant spf 25 AND it's vegan/cruelty free! That alone makes me a fan.

*Sigh* I really like this BB Cream. But at $48 I'm going to have to wait a while if I'm going to purchase it. Maybe I'll pay for it with my Christmas bonus. lol Christmas bonus! FAT CHANCE of getting one!

Glam Natural Cream Blush Review and Swatch

It's hard for me to get excited about blush. Really hard. So, I'm honestly not sure why I was interested in Glam Natural's Cream Blush, but I was and now .... well, I'm kind of excited. Kind of.

Let's start with the formula. It's called a cream but if I had to pick a word to describe this blush it would be gel. This is fantastically emollient, making it easy as pie to blend out and it gives those cheeks a fresh dewy finish. If you've got dull dry skin, this will do wonders for you! However if your skin is oily, this might turn into a big mess. It felt a big heavy on my skin at first, but after giving it time to soak in a bit that heaviness went away.

Shade Ashley, Ashley

I got this in the shade Ashley, Ashley and when I first swatched it on my hand I had a moment of "Oh, no! This is not going to be pretty" It looked way too Bleach Blonde Barbie for my taste. Luckily though, there was nothing artificial about my finished look. This cream/gel/whatever gave my cheeks a lovely, naturally youthful glow, with no shimmers! Yay!

I highly recommend this blush for anyone looking for a natural, dewy finish, especially those with dry skin.

NP Set Concealer Review and Swatches

This liquid concealer looks like a Sharpie marker from the outside a bit cheap looking for a $22 dollar product, if you ask me. Inside, the product is revealed in little dots on a fuzzy applicator by twisting the bottom. The formula is thin and smells like paint, but the scent goes away after application. It felt creamier than I expected from a liquid concealer and is easy to blend out.

(L to R) Look 1, 2 and 3

There are only three shades to choose from, but those with light to medium skin tones should be able to find a good match. Darker skin tones are out of luck.

These are light coverage concealers and unfortunately I need more coverage to conceal my dark circles. It also began to crease within 30 minutes of wear time. For these reasons I can't recommend this to anyone needing real coverage under their eyes or for anyone with any fine lines whatsoever. If you only have slight discoloration that needs concealing and if you're quite young (no fine lines!) then this might work well for you.

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Paul Mitchell's Extra Body Daily Boost Review

My hair tends to be a bit limp, especially up at the roots, so I'm always willing to try anything that will help give me some lift and volume. Paul Mitchell's Extra Body Daily Boost does just that.

This is a light weight root spray that also provides some protection again damage caused by heat styling - Which is a good thing, because to get the best results, you'll need to use a blow drier.

What I love about this product is that it gives a natural looking boost to the roots. You won't look like you just stepped out of an 80's rock music video, with super high and crunchy hair! The effect is a soft lift and it makes your hair smell great! And the best part about it is, it's not sticky or stiff.  I don't feel it in my hair at all.

For the best results, I towel try my hair, then spray 3-5 pumps into my roots (the sprayer on the bottle makes it really easy to access the roots) then I lightly massage it around my roots to help spread it out, flip my head over and blow dry. Be carefull not to apply too much or you will definitely be able to feel the product in your hair. If you have thinner hair you will probably only need 2-3 pumps.

I recommend this to anyone who has limp, lifeless hair and wants an easy fix.

Garnier Fructis Surf Hair Texture Paste Review

I'm always looking for easy ways to style my hair. Something you can just put in your hair and go, for those hectic days when you just don't have the time. I love that easy, textured, beachy look that doesn't seem to be going out of style any time soon, so on a whim I picked up a tub of Garnier Fructis' Surf Hair Texture Paste. It was less than 5 bucks for a decent amount of product at Walmart, so I figured I had little to lose.

Turns out I did lose that $5, as this was  big dud for me.
This Texture Paste is thick and creamy, but it's also really sticky. My hair was all but glued to my palms as I applied it, making it difficult to style. It did add texture to my hair, but it also really weighed it down after about 15 minutes. It looked great at first - even more volumious than I expected and I was willing to forgive the sticky formula, but then everything went flat. It also made my hair feel a bit crunchy which is something I really try to avoid.

It has that familiar Garnier frangrance, but it seemed much stronger than most of their products. My fiance even noticed it and said it smell strongly of chemicals. Ouch!

Those with short hair might have better luck with this product, if the smell and stickiness doesn't bother you,  but I can't recommend it to anyone with medium to long hair. It will leave your hair looking dull, flat and unmanagable.

Giovanni Shine of the Times Finishing Hair Mist

I'm a natural medium -blonde,  and while I love my hair, it lacks that shine and luster that darker hair colors achieve. So I picked up some of Giovanni's Shine of the Times Finishing Hair Mist to see if I could get that glossy look that I secretly envy.

Shine of the Times is a silicone misting spray, several certified organic ingredients including rosemary leaf extract, soyben protein, wild beramot extract, poppy and rose hip extract. This product claims to give hair a smooth and shiny finish. The directions say to apply it to your hair, by walking underneath a veil of mist, after you have finished styling. I like that you can apply it as sort of an afterthought, when you're just about ready to walk out the door. There's not much skill involved here.

My hair was instantly shiny after application. It wasn't just-stepped-off-the-pages-of-a-magazine-shiny, but I definitely noticed a difference. It also brought out the golden tones in my hair which was an awesome and unexpected bonus! The shine factor did wear off after a few hours, but you can reapply as needed, although the bottle isn't exactly convenient to throw in your purse.

There is a very strong fragrance when I first apply this, which I could personally do without, but it begins to dissipate fairly quickly, so it doesn't put me off the product.

Overall I like this product. I picked mine up for about $8 and you get a full 4 fl oz, which should last quite a while.

Simply Vera Vera Wang Naturally Radiant Hydrating Makeup Review and Swatches

We all know Vera Wang for her beautiful wedding dresses, but it turns out her makeup line at Kohl's is pretty fab too! So, now we can grab some designer makeup when we hit up one of the never-ending Kohl's super sales.  I recently picked up a couple tubes of the Naturally Radiant Hydrating Makeup and I'm really excited by the results. Is it for you? Read on :)

Let's get right to it.
This is a liquid foundation, with a thick, yet luxurious and velvety consistency and  it blends out beautifully to a light-medium coverage. The formula is emollient which makes is perfect for drier skin and the finish is natural, fresh and really gives the skin a radiant glow.  There is some shimmer hidden within this foundation. I say "hidden" because the shimmer is super fine and I didn't even notice it until about halfway through the day when I was examining the foundation's performance in a different light. I'm usually hesitant to wear shimmery foundation but Vera has managed to incorporate it perfectly into this formula.  The wear time is 8 hours +.
I haven't noticed any weird fading.

This foundation is available in 10 shades. The first three, 101, 102 and 103 are very similar. This is awesome for those with lighter skin tones beacause it means you're pretty much guaranteed to find a perfect match. To test things out I wore 101 on one side of my face and 103 (I skipped shade 102) and I loved the way both looked! I'm thinking I'll either wear 101 in Winter and 103 in Summer. Or I'll just go get 102 and wear it all year.  Once you get into the darker shades, there are some gaps but nothing outrageous. I think most people will be able to find a shade that works for them.

(L to R) 101, 103, 105, 107

This is a great product for those dull-skin days, when you really need a boost of radiance. You'll love this if you want a moisturizing foundation with a natural finish. If you're totally against shimmer or you need a full coverage foundation this might not be for you.

It retails for $39.50 for a 1 oz tube of product. So, while I'll probably never have my very own Vera Wang wedding dress, I can indulge in some designer foundation every day :)

DIY Sugar and Honey Face and Body Scrub

I love using scrubs. They come is such great scents and I always feel a little pampered when I'm done. But you don't have to buy a fancy scrub to get that freshly exfoliated, smooth skin. You can make it at home with ingredients you probably have sitting in your kitchen right now!

The most basic recipe only has two ingredients. Honey and Sugar. Yep that's it! Both of these
ingredients are found in beauty products already - Sugar for it's ability to exfoliate and Honey for it's naturally moisturizing and antimicrobial properties - But why waste the money when you can make your own?  You don't even have to measure things out. Just combine them until you get a consistency that you like. I usually add a little more honey than sugar. You don't want the scrub to be runny but you don't want it to be one big ball of sugar either. Just add and mix until you get something you like. If you're only using
it on your face you will only need about 1/4 cup of total scrub. If you're using it all over your body you should make 1/2-1 cup.

Wet your body in the shower, turn off the water, and rub that scrub all over using light pressure in circular motions. Rinse it all off and you'll find you have super smooth skin, ready for self-tanner, wax (wait a little while before waxing to avoid irritation) or to just show off to the world!

I use this on my body, face and even on my lips! Be sure, especially when you scrubbing your face, that you use a light touch. Sugar can be abrasive if you rub too hard.

If you want to get fancy you can add a little bit of your favorite oil too. I recommend virgin coconut oil, almond oil or extra virgin olive oil. Again, add as much or as little as you want. I recommend a teaspoon per cup of scrub. Oils will boost the moisturising factor and, depending on which oil you choose, may leave behind a nice natural scent when you're done.

You can also try using brown sugar for an especially fragrant sweet treat!

FREE Sample of Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum

This offer has come and gone before and I didn't get in in time but today I did!!!! So, I thought I'd give a heads up to those who want to try today.

Copy and paste this into your browser -  Murad.com/marieclaire8 - to get this offer.

Cover Girl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation

Cover Girl Natureluxe, a.k.a. my Holy Grail of drugstore foundations. Seriously, I have nothing but good things to say about this foundation. I reach for it when I need an inexpesive sure thing.

Let's start with the boring stuff - the packaging. It's perfect, as far as I'm concerned. It's a thin, lightweight, plastic tube housing 1 fl liquid oz. It's super squeezable which means you can easily control how much product you squirt out. And when you get down to those final drops, you can just snip off the top with some scissors and dip your finger in there so you don't waste any product. It's also great for traveling, since it's not clunky. 

Now the formula? It's a dream. This is a thin, silky liquid.  It's lightweight (I can't even feel it on my face) and it makes my skin feel super smooth to the touch. It looks good pretty much all day - It's a light coverage to begin with so if does fade you hardly notice. I've tried applying it with brushes and sponges but honestly I get the best results just using my fingers, which I love because it makes things that much easier.

L to R - Alabaster 305 and Flax 310

This is definitely a light coverage foundation. So, if you need or want a heavier coverage, just look elsewhere. This product is for those who want a naturally flawless look. It doesn't cover moles, freckles or any of that. It does a beautiful job of evening skin tone and giving you an overall smooth, healthy look. This looks like skin, not foundation.

When this foundation first came about a couple years ago it had SPF 10, but it seems that CoverGirl has taken that out. I liked the little bit of SPF. I'll take protection from the sun wherever I can get it, so I'm a bit disappointed about that.

It does contain fragrance, which in general I'm not a fan of, but this happens to be a relatively nice fragrance, so I don't let it get in the way of my love for the product. The formula contains cucumber water and jojoba extract and they definitely play up the former. The cucumber scent is kind of strong, but it's a fresh one and not perfumey in any way.

This retails for $11-$12 depending on where you live. Not bad for such a nice foundation!

FREE Sample - Origins

Just thought I'd pass this offer along. Origins is giving away free samples of their Plantscriptions Youth Renewing Night Cream and Face Oil.

Offer Expires Oct 31 2013
Available in stores (Macy's, Dillards, BonTon and Belk. NOT available at Sephora)

No purchase necessary.
You can also get a mini facial for free, but you can turn that down and still get the sample.

Cover Girl's Invisible Concealer

Straight to the point.

I've got dark circles under my eyes. Bad ones. So I'm always on a quest for the perfect concealer. This quest has lead me to purchase more concealer than any one woman could use in a lifetime, in the hopes that I will one day find THE ONE. And so a few weeks ago, while perusing the make up aisle at target, I decided on a whim to pick up Cover Girls's Invisible Concealer.

... and yet again I was disappointed.

When I first dotted the concealer on, I felt upbeat. The light beige tone is perfect for those days when you want minimal and natural looking makeup without that "tah dah!" look that many brightening concealers give. (I love brightening concealers but sometime they're just too much) Then I started blending those dots out and in doing so ended my upbeat mood.

Fair - 115

When applying concealer I like to dab my finger back and forth around my under eye area. Sweeping or rubbing it in usually just pushes the product around. But as I dabbed, it started looking really cakey, and it kept getting worse! So I had to start sweeping. This definitely helped eliminate the cakey look or the finish, but it totally sheered the concealer out to a light, at best, coverage, and light coverage just won't cut if for my dark circles. Also, the thick formula really tugged at that delicate under eye skin. Cover Girl says that this is a light cream formula, but it was a little to too thick for my liking, especially for under the eye.


So, I tried it on a red spot left over from a nasty pimple a couple weeks ago and got similar results. It was quite cakey at first and was difficult to blend out to a seamless look without completely sheering it out and if it's sheer, it's not concealing.

I tend to really like liquid and cream concealers so I had high hopes for this one. The packaging looks nice, the doe foot applicator is ideal and the price is right. Unfortunately the formula just doesn't work for me. I won't be throwing it out or anything. It's usable, if I work with it (and I'm planing on wearing my glasses for the day) but it's certainly not the end all be all of concealers I'm looking for.

For now I'm still liking ELF's concealer end of the Studio conceaing and highlighter duo.  So, I'll be sticking with it while I continue my quest.


More concealer reviews
Elf's Professional Studio Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter
Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer


 

Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Serum Review

I had been in the market for something with retinol in it for a while. It's an ingredient that's hyped heavily, but it's actually got some science behind it. Anyway, I decided on Neutrogena's Ageless Intensives Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Serum (Whew! what a name!) While I don't have any deep wrinkles I do have fine lines and this product claims to "reduced appearance of wrinkles such as crows feet, under eye and laugh lines." Did it deliver? Read on :)


This product comes in a sturdy container with a pump (that actually works), contains 1 fl oz and retails for about $19. The directions say to apply one drop, once a day,  onto finger tips and massage it into the skin. I use more than that though, to thoroughly cover my entire face. I usually use a full pump. This thick yellow serum has a slippery consistency and takes a while to absorb so I only use it before bed. It has an odd smell too. I can't quite describe it. It's not horrible, but a bit medicinal.

I didn't keep track of exactly how long I had been using it before I saw results, but I did and still do see results. My skin looks more even, bright and just overall healthier. The fine crows feet I had just begun to notice seem to have disappeared as well, which seems way too good to be true even though I'm seeing it with my own eyes. I don't apply it under my eyes, since that area is so delicate, but I do put some on the sides of my eyes, where those crows feet appear.

If you have really sensitive skin it suggests (as all retinol products do) that you only use it once every other day for a week or two to build up your skins tolerance level to it, then start using it daily. I felt some tingly stuff going on the first few times I used it, but never had any redness or irritation from it.

I've been really impressed with the results from this product. So many anti-aging products don't even come close to living up to their claims, but this one really delivers.

I recommend this product to just about anyone, because who doesn't want better looking skin?

The gradient lip. Yea or Nay?

The gradient lip is another beauty trend from Korea that will likely (according to some) be catching on in the western world soon enough. Or maybe it's already hit your town. I haven't actually seen it worn by anyone in the real world. I have read plenty of hype about it online though.

You can achieve the look in a few different ways. You can apply any shade of lip color that's darker than your natural shade to the innermost area of your lips and lightly blend out. You can use two different shades of lip product, with the lighter shade on the outside blending into the darker near the opening of the mouth. You can even go for a more extreme effect and use concealer around the borders of the lips and apply a cherry-esque shade in the inner middle. And you aren't limited to the type of lip product either. Lipsticks, tinted balms, glosses, stains ... anything that provides color will work.

The result is that of a mouth that's just sucked on a red lollipop. It also gives a fairly youthful, almost childlike appearance. That second part is why I'm not quite sold on this "trend."  Certain applications can provide a nice natural look but many examples I'm seeing online skew a little too close to "child seductress" for my liking. 

Please follow and leave a comment with your thoughts :)

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Maybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation Stick Review and Swatches

I usually don't go for stick foundations. The whole stick factor makes it hard for me to believe that they will be even the slightest bit blendable. But there's something about Maybelline's Fit Me line that keeps pulling me in, so when they came out with the Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation Stick I had to check it out.


L to R - 120 Porcelain, 220 Natural Beige, 355 Coconut



There are 12 shades in this line and they come is chubby twisty tubes with 0.32 oz of product.  The "powder core" is supposed to eliminate shine and is surrounded by a gel foundation. This makes for fairly unique results.
Now when I hear something is meant to eliminate shine I immediately worry that it will be really drying and accentuate any flakiness, so I was pleasantly surprised at how creamy and blendable the foundation is. Having said that, right after application it looks more like a powder. So it basically provides the best of both worlds.

This is a sheer coverage foundation that is somewhat buildable up to light-meduim, but I try to avoid building foundation, as it usually results in a more cakey look. So if you've got scars, pimples and whatnots that you want to hide you will need to use a concealer. It does even out skin quite nicely and covered the slight redness on and around my nose.

This goes on soft and matte and it blurred some fine lines on my forehead and a few pores as well! That's a huge plus in any foundation. My face just looked .... perfected.  This formula is creamy enough to not catch on patches of dry skin, but powdery enough to keep things from slipping off. If you've got really oily skin you will probably need to finish off with a setting powder though.

Wear time for me, without any additional products to set it,  was about 5 hours. At that point it had begun to fade a bit and slip. The simple packaging makes it eady to throw into your purse and the super blendability makes it super easy to touch-up throughout the day.

I remcommend this to anyone who loves a light-medium foundation that provides a naturally perfect skin look.

Burt's Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream

Like everyone I know I love Burt's Bees lip balms. I always have one within reach. I've even turned
my boyfriend on to the original, minty one! But Burt's got a lot of other great products as well and this is one of them.

The Sensitive Daily Moisturising Cream is a lightweight, thin moisturiser that hydrates the skin like crazy, without greasiness! The first time I used it, I thought it felt like I was just rubbing water into my skin, but after a few seconds of lightly massaging it in, it suddenly absorbed and my skin felt firm with moisture. I know that sounds weird but it's the only way I can think of to describe it at the moment. It was like my skin just sucked it all up and felt really happy about it! The texture of my skin felt smoother as well.

My favorite thing about it is that it is really lightweight but still does its job, which makes it perfect for Summer. I have a really hard time finding the right moisturizer for the humid Summers here, since some days are so hot and humid that the thought of slathering anything on my face just seems icky. But we all know that we must moisturize! and now I can without worrying about how my makeup will apply on top of it.

It apparently contains cotton extract. Is cotton good for your skin? Burt says it is. All I know is that the products in this line have a distinctly cottonesque scent. It doesn't last after application though.
Also, it should be noted, considering the name of the product, I have experience no irritation, redness or breakouts while using this product. Oh, and it comes with a pump that is really easy to control, which is great.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a hydrating yet lightweight moisturizer.

There's a whole line of Sensitive products including this Daily Moisturizing Cream, Facial Cleanser, Eye Cream, Night Cream and Cleansing Towelettes.

Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub

I got the Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub for Christmas last year and promtly fell in love.
It comes in a pretty good sized (9oz) frosted plastic tub.

It smells like real, rich hot chocolate and it actually warms up your skin on contact! Perfect for those cold winter days.
The sugar isn't ground so finely that it dissolves before you are able to exfoliate anything, but the granules are smooth enough that it's not too rough on the skin. It buffs and smooths the skin without irritating it and it leaves your skin with a hint of that chocolatey scent :)
The formula has stayed thick and sugary every since I opened it. A lot of scrubs I've tried end up getting watery and before I know it all the sugar granules are gone! But not this one.

Overall I absolutely LOVE this. I have no complaints at all and it's a great gift!


I think I'll be trying their Cool Mint Lemonade Salt Scrub once Summer roles around again.

Votre Vu Duette Luxe Lip Balm and Hand Creme

So, I love me some sweet smelling hand/body creme and I can never get enough lip products so I am  convinced that the Votre Vu Duette Luxe Lip Balm and Hand Creme was sent straight from heaven just for me. As you probably figured out from the name you get a hand creme and a lip balm in one package. The creme is in a tube with an extra compartment attached to the cap which holds the lip balm and a small mirror. It's small enough to throw into your purse which makes it super convenient all around. This tube has taken a real beating traveling in my purse and suitcases and it still looks and performs as good as new.

The "almond pie" hand creme has an incredibly soft and sweet scent that lasts for quite a while after application. It doesn't smell sickeningly sweet or fake at all and the formula is thick, rich and really moisturizes.  It's not greasy and absorbs pretty quickly into the skin. Bottom line, it ticks every box.

The lip balm is slightly less impressive. It goes on totally sheer and gives the lips a subtle satin finish with a super silky feel, but it's not as nourishing as I like my balms to be. It does the trick though and it's got a pleasant enough fruity scent.

This is my first Vorte Vu purchase and I loved it so much I've been scouring their site and building quite the wish list for myself! Their Love Me Deux looks especially good along with the Nouveau Glow Bilberry Bergamont Peel and .... oh who am I kidding I want it all!!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Review and Swatches

Crush and Honey

I stopped trying love lip stains a long time ago. I don't like having to apply balm every 15 minutes throughout the day and even when I do they always dry out my lips and accentuate any chappiness. But when Revlon came out with a "Balm Stain" my interest was definitely piqued. I've just repurchased two of them so it's time for a review!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain comes in crayon form in a plastic twistable tube. The product twists up and down with no problems.
It's got a minty scent that's fairly plasticy and fake to me, but it only lasts about a minute. It glides on really smooth and glossy and they actually moisturize the lips! Yep, I  said it.  A moisturizing stain! I no longer have to try to love lip stains. Revolon has me hooked with these.


Okay, so like I said, when you first apply them they look and feel super creamy, without feeling heavy.  Then over time as the color (which, by the way, is super pigmented) fades you are left with a really nice stained lip. They aren't sticky at all and because they are so creamy, if you want to start off which just a hint of color you can just dot a bit on your lips and blend it out. I usually do this with the shade "crush" since it's pretty dark if applied with a heavy hand.



Crush and Honey

The staying power varies by shade, with the more vibrant colors lasting much longer, but I've always gotten at least 4 hours of good wear out of them. Crush gives me a solid 8-10.



Farm House Fresh Splendid Dirt Face Mask

I picked up a pot of this a couple of months ago and  now that that Fall season, and all its pumpkin  flavored/scented goodness! is upon us I figured I should finally write a review for it.

Splendid Dirt  is an interesting product for sure. For about $20 you get 3.25 oz in a glass jar, which according to the website should last for 14-18 applications. It's paraben and sulfate free and 99.6% natural. My favorite thing about this mask is the scent. It seriously smells like pumpkin pie pudding. Not like a bath/body product infused with some fake pumpkin stuff, but real, sweet, yummy pumpkin pie!

They claim that this mask is for "Red, sensitive, blotchy, even oily, skin" I can't recommend this for sensitive skin, for reasons explained below.

The product is very smooth and feels luxurious to the touch. The directions say to apply and let it dry on the skin before washing it off with cool water. (I'll get to that cool water part) To be honest, I've never been able to leave it on long enough for it to dry. Why, you ask? Because it gets really warm, no, HOT on my face. It says "You'll feel Splendid Dirt working- a mild tingling sensation begins as oxygenation and circulation increases" In reality it actually numbs parts of my face! (namely the skin on my upper lip area)

It also claims " The feeling is temporary, and as the mask dries, skin is actually left calmed and soothed, decreasing everyday blotchiness and flushing, especially for sensitive, fragile and dehydrated skin types." I've never experienced this calmed and soothed feeling, since I have to wash this stuff off after about a minute. Here's where the cool water part comes into play. Using even luke warm water on my face after having this mask on burns! The mask makes my skin SO sensitive that the cool water is a major relief! My face is ridiculously red for a good 10-20  minutes afterward too. Doesn't seem too sensitive skin friendly to me.  However I have not noticed any long-term irritation or damage to my skin.

I won't repurchase this because I haven't seen the reduction in the appearance of pores, blotchiness and flushing or any boost in the radiance of my skin, as the company claims you will. But I won't be throwing this away. I like using a mask once a week and I do really love the pumpkin smell of this.

Smashbox Holiday Launch - WONDERVISION

Smashbox has launched its 2013 WONDERVISION 2013 Holiday products! Including an eye set, brush set and lip gloss set. These lip glosses look really pretty and very wearable. I might have to treat myself to an early Christmas!