End of year clearance

Merry Christmas a few days late and Happy New Year a few days early!

Just a quick post...Sephora has a lot of value items for the "Good Buy 2009" They have under $10 (best deal is the Stila Good to Glow BY FAR...I have the lighter color and it's really nice), under $25, and $25-50. Click HERE to access the page.

Hope you all are having beautiful holidays. I got quite a few Sephora/makeup items for Christmas...do people know me or what?

Davines MOMO giveaway

Beauty Blogging Junkie is having a giveaway of MOMO shampoo and conditioner! I have tried the relaxing serum from the same company, and it was GREAT. I haven't been able to find it again!!

Here's the link with instructions: Beauty Blogging Junkie giveaway

Stila sales

Stila is having a big sale starting today. Their eye shadow duos have been marked down to $10 from $20--can't beat that!

Also, free shipping with no minimum purchase til Wed. Use the code STILAELF.

Happy shopping...

Frederic Fekkai

Frederic Fekkai, I may be giving you another chance. After that disastrous sample of Technician Shampoo (hello slimy hair)...I gave a sample of your Glossing Shampoo a try this morning...and I think I like it. My hair feels very soft and dried quickly without a lot of frizz and/or effort with the dryer. It's disgusting weather today, so I can't determine the "glossy" aspect at the moment...but so far I'm happy.

Will post more on this later, gals. A question for you though--what is your fav shampoo? I'm moving back to Baton Rouge swamp water this weekend, so I will have to throw out ALL my shampoo, body wash, and some face products due to the water change. I'm not kidding. It's straight swamp-stuff-never-rinses-out water down there...so any suggestions or favorites to share?

Holiday Gift Ideas

Most of the time, the tons of emails from stores that hit my email inbox are annoying. But a few, I always check: Sephora, Banana Republic, and LOFT. The one from Sephora today had an excellent suggestion for the holidays. Mix and Match!

During the holidays there are many parties, teacher gifts, friends, aunts, cousins, sisters (I go overboard with my sister...the only thing that keeps me in check is that the other family members will feel bad), etc etc. So what to do and how to not spend a fortune? Buy gift sets and split them up. Each year I like to attach a little "stocking stuffer" to my closest girlfriend's gift--a lipgloss, an ornament, a funny magnet, and so forth.

So here are three examples from the email that I happen to really like base-case (all can be purchased at Sephora). Philosophy has the best body wash smells EVA, the Sephora lip glosses are super fun, and you KNOW I had to throw some OPI off in there. Combining one of each would be a gift that is WAY awesome for only $14.33! Not too bad at all! Or you give the whole set as a gift--all are less than $35.

Happy Holiday shopping, and be pretty gals this season. :)

Quote

Ha! So I've been meaning to post this for a couple weeks but kept forgetting. And I had a free minute during my lunchbreak, so I wanted to share what the Sephora saleswoman told my friend S. (and she subsequently shared on Facebook):

"People may try and steal your glamour this week, but you just pull out your lipgloss and put it on; this will let them know that you aren't having any of this!"

Love it!

Burt's Bees Blemish Stick

So my friend LG forwarded me a post about some Burt's Bee's products the other day (from a blog she reads that I can't remember, so I can't give the proper credit...anywho). SO the girl in the other blog said that she found the Burt's Bee's Blemish Stick...and that it worked well. So I decided to check it out.

Ok, so I'm going to try and not get all excited cause I haven't had a maja-oh-my-god-am-I-frickin-16 face freak-out lately. I have, however, had a couple of minor spots...and stupidly fell asleep with makeup on the other night which could have been disasterous...and I used this stuff. Again, I don't want to get overly excited but I'm pretty sure this stuff is the real deal.

The real test will be next time I go all Rudolph, which happens occasionally. But cautious optimism abounds people!!!

Update 12/13/09: It works. I'm serious. Best stuff eva!

Review: Stila stuff

So a little bit ago I posted about the Stila Appreciation Set. Well, I broke down and ordered it. Ok, so first of all it REALLY was a good deal (HELLOOOO? $38 for like $150 of stuff? I couldn't resist that folks, you know that...my inner product junkie couldn't take it). To my surprise, all were full size, not samples like you would get with a bonus. So here's what came with it, and my review in no particular order:

Baked Eye Shadow Trio - Gold Glow: I'm digging it. It may be a little summery, but I can definitely use it. I especially like the darkest color in the trio, which is this cool brown/bronze.

Kajal Eye Liner - Topaz: Ok, so this is a bit of a strange color for eyeliner in my opinion. I'm also super pale, so it may not show up...but I could use it as a creme eye color...these Kajal eyeliners are VERY smudgy. Good in some ways, but a bit difficult to get a precise line. So if you're a precise-line kinda gal, I would go with another liner altogether. I have this liner in charcoal and purple...so I know.

Illuminating Finishing Powder - Rose Gold: This one is fun. It gives my skin a glow. Like the eyeshadow, it may be a bit more summer, but still good stuff!

Lash Visor - Brown: Haven't tried this yet, but looks like pretty standard mascara to me.

Plumping Lip Glaze - Minty Mint: Hm, ok so I'm a little indifferent on this one. Applying is a little messy...and wear is a little messy. It does that whole burn-your-lips-plumping thing like it's supposed to, but I don't think I'll purchase again.

Long Wear Lip - Flushed: I like the lipstick and the way it feels, but not a huge fan of the really light pink...but I wasn't given the option on the color, so oh well. I plan to mix with a darker color, and it should be fine. Feels nice though, almost like SoftLips chapstick.

Pressed Powder - Medium: Cute compact. Plain powder, nothing really special.

Lip Rouge - Pucker: Ummmm....yeah. Not a fan. This I will probably just throw out. It's like a marker, seriously. And the color is this whacked-out fuschia, which just doesn't work for me. And they don't say it but it STAINS your lips...and I mean use make-up remover to get it really off.

Eye Pencil Sharpener: Standard. My old one got lost though, so hey. Not a bad throw-in to the mix!

So. Winner? The powders and eye shadows. Losers? The lipsticks, especially that strange stain.


Disclosure: I bought this myself from Sephora. Pics from www.stilacosmetics.com

Shamelessly stealing...

Ok, so I had to share/steal Amber from Beauty Blogging Junkie's recent post, Advice I'd give to my high school self. Hilarious. She's 29, so she graduated in 1998. Graduating in 1999, I'm right there with her. #1 especially...I was so TRAGIC in high school with my skater-punk-Gwen-Stefani wanna be attempts at clothing, makeup, and hair. In fact, it took me all the way through college to get an ounce of decent beauty and clothing sense. I would post a pic but a) I don't have any electronic at the moment and b) I'm not going to demean myself like that.

Advice to my high school self?
1. Do not cut your hair above your chin. Twice. Trust me.
2. Your jeans do not need to cover your shoes.
3. Don't get your hair cut in M'ville (see #1). And haircuts cost a lot to be good, so pony up the cash.
4. Invest in a cleansing routine BEFORE college and stick with it. And I'm not talking Clean and Clear, hon, I'm talking Clinique. Yes it's expensive...there's a reason.
5. CK One is not the only perfume on the planet. And stop buying your boyfriend Drakkar Noir.
6. You're going to marry the boyfriend at the end of high school, and you know it. So be sweet to him.
7. Buying numerous pairs of Doc Martens will not make you cool like the kids in London. No matter what you think.
8. You can lay out til you can't lay out anymore. You will not be tan...it's your fate. Now get that SPF 30 out.
9. Wet Seal is really not the best store in the mall. Neither is Hot Topic.
10. You wear a size small. Not a large (or worse, XL). This is along the same lines as #2...it's amazing what clothes that fit can actually do for you.

Advice for your high school self? And thanks to Amber for the great idea, I can't take credit. She really has an awesome blog...so check her out!

The many uses of aspirin

So. We know that small doses of aspirin can help those with heart problems. And it also helps those aches, pains, and had-a-little-too-much-wine situations. But, I saw on the Today show this week that it can also be used on zits! Here's what you do.
1. Take the aspirin and grid it up (or I guess you could get Goody's that's already powder).
2. Mix it into a paste.
3. Apply a small amount of the paste directly onto the blemish.
4. Leave for a few minutes, then gently rinse off.

Could work. Aspirin is anti-inflammatory, so it would reduce any swelling. I don't think it's meant to clear the bacteria and grime that CAUSE blemishes (you need salicylic acid for that), but could reduce the appearance when you need it. I may try it out!

Sephora Friends and Family

Sephora is having their friends and family sale from Oct 19-Nov 2. Use code "FF2009" to save 20% on your total purchase. This is good timing...I need some new eyeliner (Stila is my fav brand currently, if you are curious!)
Happy shopping!

Stila Gift Set...AWESOME VALUE

So this came in my email this morning...and I gotta say this is a great deal. I'm thinking about purchasing. I like Stila and use their eyeshadows. ONE eyeshadow trio is $28 just for comparison on this deal. I tell ya, sometimes those annoying product emails really do highlight a great deal. Free shipping this weekend as well.

Uh oh...NARS Holiday

This could be dangerous for me. Rather than repeat, I'll link you to Beauty Blogging Junkie. Those soft touch pencils and eyeshadows are callin my NAME people. Oh NARS why must you do this to me??

Dandelions and Under My Trench Coat

First, try ever so hard not to be uber-jel of my no makeup-wearin, pageboy hat hair, just got home from a road trip, bad laptop camera look. K? Thx...just pay attention to the products..

So some sweet friends got me Sephora gift cards for my bday in August and I FINALLY spent them last weekend. I got Under my Trench coat...which may be my fave fall nail polish of all time. Seriously. It's kind of gray, kind of khaki and goes with every outfit I wore last week. Every one. I have it on my nails in the pic, hopefully you can see the color...if not I previouslt discussed it here. There's a better pic on the Stephanie's Closet blog. It was $9 at Sephora.

Second, I bought this blush called Dandelion from Benefit. It's actually more of a brightener than a blush. It's very light pink. I had it a year or so ago in a little sample kit from Benefit and have been meaning to replenish it ever since I ran out. So I did! It's nice in the fall because it brightens up skin when things get kind of dull and such out. In the summer it just adds to the normal glow. It's $28 at Sephora, which may seem pricey for blush. But the box actually lasts a long time (my sample size, which was 1/4 the size of this one lasted almost a year!) and it comes with a brush.

I also finally got a small travel size of Living Proof for curly hair to test out. So far the verdict is good. I wore it all week, and my hair stayed pretty wavy and looked decent with little curling iron effort in the morning (I only had to touch up the ends before leaving the house). I don't have a pic at the moment. I recommend buying the travel size if you really want to try this brand (they have straightening stuff too) because it is a little expensive...$14 for the travel size alone. But so far, I'm impressed.

Sephora Sampler kits on Sale

Sephora has some sampler kits on sale right now. There may be a product you've been wanting to try, but didn't want to buy a full sized one. Well, now is a good time to try it. Sample kits are around $40 but have a lot of samples in each. I'm thinking about trying the mascara one. Think about it--you're supposed to throw out mascara every three months anyway. This allows you to try 11 different ones...that would last me forever if I like them all! (I never make it through a whole tube in 3 months) They are available online for beauty insiders (if you have one of the Sephora point cards, then you are good to go!)
Check it out HERE.

Ooo! Pretty hair at Carolina Herrera's spring show!

I like this look! It's kinda cool to have those beads mixed in with a simple bun (which I have been wearing my hair in alot lately cause I'm super lazy). I'll have to keep a lookout for these in stores (Caroline Herrera made these for her show).

You can get the slideshow HERE, in addition to some other show pics. I like her makeup look in this show too. Very neutral and calm.

and while we're on nails

Here's a blog from The Fairest with a Q&A from celebrity manicurist. Tips for picking the correct nail color, application, etc...all HERE.

OPI fall stuff

Ok. So I'm so stupidly obsessed with OPI's fall line. Grey's, khaki's, purples, greens, so fun! Sephora's website is having problems so I can't find any good pics at the moment (two words: Film Noir. It's their fall line. It's FAB). But I found this color--Under my Trench Coat--on another blogger's site: Stephanie's Closet. I think I will shell out my $9 for this. Pricy? Yes. Worth it? YES. And the way I see it--they don't go bad. I do recommend going into your polish bags and shaking all of them every once in awhile. They do tend to separate. And with a pedi costing at least $25, $9 for MANY pedicures and manicures is a good thing!

As for the regular OPI, their Spain and France collections are so great. SO GREAT. Some of my favs from the France selection are above (pic from OPI site).

Also, you can buy OPI at Amazon.com. Strange, but they do have quite the selection. They have some retired colors as well. Prices seem to be the same as Sephora and OPI online, but at any rate...lots to choose from!

So treat yourself to a mani/pedi at home. Happy fall pampering, gals!

Speaking of sales

So I also am a clothes addict. I have been doing pretty good at keeping myself in check since returning to grad school, but I still love to shop...so I have gotten very good at scouring for sales. The majority of my closet comes from Ann Taylor LOFT and Banana Republic, to be honest. Lately both have been having some good sales...I got a long black cardigan from BR online for $10.91. That's right. $10. It was originally $60, but after the store sale, online shipping coupon, AND some rewards cards I got it down to $10. Here's the secret with BR online...you can use all your reward cards at once...they won't let you do this in store. So if you see something in the store that you love but would like even more savings get it online.

As for Ann Taylor LOFT they are practically GIVING away clothes. Don't buy stuff there unless it's on sale (or if you MUST MUST have it and are scared they won't have your size) because likely it will be on sale very shortly after you purchase. My friend and I got sweaters there for $15 (originally $39.50) and I got two long sleeve shirts for $15 each. They rotate their sales fairly quickly, but you can always check online or call the store before going to see what is going on that week.

And the fall colors? SO UP MY ALLEY. Rosy pinks, purples, jade green, greys, nudes...If I had the cash I would probably buy everything in BR and LOFT right now. But alas, I have to hold off on most (like we all do!)...but check for sales for sure, there are plenty out there while the recession is still on.

The Fairest

So my friend LG (check her awesome blog HERE if you don't already...and with my small following you probably do...but I digress!) sent me this link to a site called The Fairest. It has sales on a couple of different brands--some of my favs are Korres, Tarte, and Stila. They also give you the time on when the sale is ending, which is useful if you are trying to decide if now is the time to buy or not! It's free to sign up. They'll send you email updates. They also have a good beauty blog on the site "Who's the Fairest?" with various contributors.

Anyway I LOVE me a sale (especially on makeup!) So check it out!

Good free stuff right now!

Just a quick post to report some good free stuff at Sephora right now and some samples are deluxe size (doesn't happen often). So if you need something, make sure you check out what is available for free HERE.

I've been a slacker

Sorry folks. I've been out of pocket lately. I got my new Allure though and I'm SICK in love with these new fall nail polish colors and makeup colors...more to come on that later.

In other news...So big news on the shampoo front...I have bought the same brand twice in a row. Now, for some of you this is no big thing. But for me this is HUGE. I switch shampoos all.the.time. (Remember?) Loreal EverPure. Love it. LOVE it. Makes my hair so nice and smooth without being flat and greasy. AND it's sulfate free/vegan/etc so it's much better for my hair (sulfates dry hair out and fade hair color...and this girl needs to save some $$ and not color as often!). Now, I don't know if everyone has hair like me (wavy, kinky, untamed) but if you do I recommend this brand!

Another brand I'm enjoying these days: Neutrogena Triple Moisture. I have their Pure Strength conditioning treatment and the Silk Touch leave in cream. The conditioner I use about once a week, and it really helps my hair with the constant drying, flat ironing, etc that I do. Smells great too! The smoothing cream both my sister and I have tried, with good results. You put a small amount on dry hair to help tame flyaways. It has UV protection as well, and works well on the ends too that get the worst of the abuse. The best part is the price! Only $6.99 for the conditioner and $6.99 for the cream at Walgreens. A great buy in my opinion!

I heart my hairdresser

I just have to give a shout out to hairdressers out there. I had mine done today, and as usual he made me look fab. So to all the good hairdressers out there and the girls that are wholly devoted fans (like me)...thanks! It's the one thing I haven't been able to bear cutting from my budget. I just gotta pay for the good hair. I tried to just let my hair alone and (gasp) dye it myself like I did back in college when I first started grad school. Annnnnd I felt like crap and self esteem went crashing down--so regular for real hair care was re-instated. Call me shallow, but that's just how it is!!

Speaking of, I've been seeing this Moroccan Oil in every and I mean EVERY mag and website these days. Thinking about buying some here soon--maybe September (I've spent my August beauty and clothing budget already with high school reunion coming up). Anyone tried it? I've tried it in the salon but never for an extended period of time. It's supposed to make hair really silky and shiny. It smells really nice too!

OPI--forest green?

This was in Allure mag, on Allure and Lucky online pages, and now in my Sephora email. I'm not sure what I think about it. I LURVE OPI for sure...but forest green and dark greens are their new thing for fall. What do you think? Too dark? Too much? I'd love to hear thoughts!

p.s. My friend LG and I were discussing how really the cost makes the difference with OPI. It's expensive, but it REALLY is good nail polish. Now that they are issuing fall colors, check out the local beauty supply places in the malls for sales on summer and spring colors. They may even have sets on sale soon. I'll post if I find any good ones!

Girl crush and other misc

So I have a confession. I have a serious girl crush on Reese Witherspoon. The August issue of Allure has a one page "fashion stakeout" of her, and she's fab. I pretty much want her hair (in fact, I'm taking her photo in to my hairdresser next week and saying "This this the goal") And I love her style...very simple but so stylish. Now you know about my girl crush. :)
(photo from justjared.buzznet.com...not trying to steal!)

And speaking of Allure...they are having a giveaway item every weekday in August starting Aug 3! There is some awesome stuff on the list...see here. Shoes, makeup, hair stuff, clothes, bags...you name it! I'll definitely be entering some. This economy combined with my grad school non-existent budget--I'll take all the free stuff I can go for!

Enjoy!

Who needs Allure? You have me.

Did I not post about this weeks ago?? I could totally work for Allure.
http://www.allure.com/beauty/edsfaves/edsfaves_20090720?selectedDate=20090721

On another, funny note--Apparently I have spent so much at Sephora over the past couple years that I'm now a V.I.B. (Important Beauty Insider). Kinda sad, but I'll take the 10% off (need some Clinique here soon anyway!) Just wanted to let y'all know that I randomly DO provide useful info now and then! :)

How to fight the airplane funk and survive 8 hour flights

So I recently returned from a 10 day class/conference in the U.K. Tried some new things on the plane to attempt to not feel and look like a trainwreck upon de-planing. Here are some things that helped!

Well, I have to first issue the disclaimer that on the way over I had the WHOLE ROW to myself. Being able to stretch out and actually lie down does wonders for dealing with this kind of flight. But I also took some tips from different flights/blogs/beauty articles.
1. Back off on the make up to start I didn't wear a lot to begin with. Just some tinted moisturizer, a little bit of light eyeliner and shadow, waterproof mascara, and chapstick. Didn't want to have a major breakout.
2. Eye drops. Tons of eye drops every time I even thought my eyes might feel dry. Pick whatever brand you prefer. I like Refresh (in the green bottle)
3. Chapstick. Ok, this is obvious. There may not be a better beauty product on the planet over chapstick, but that's a whole other story.I have a chapstick addiction to begin with, but I made sure I had a tube in my purse AND carry-on. Just in case.
4. Clinique All About Eyes I dabbed this under my eyes pretty frequently. It's light, so you can dab i on over makeup. It definitely combated the puffiness and dark circles.

5. Dry shampoo. See previous post on this wonderful stuff. Degreased my bangs in one shot.
6. "Getting ready for bed" As soon as I was done with dinner and ready to try and sleep for a good bit, I went to the restroom and "washed" my face with a Dove cleansing cloth. I also brushed my teeth. Then I dabbed on moisturizer, chapstick, and All About Eyes and crashed out.
7. Reapply About an hour before landing, I put tinted moisturizer and mascara back on. Used some tinted lip balm and was ready to go.

Now, I won't say I looked fabulous. But I didn't look like I had been run over. I tested this whole thing on the return trip. I was being lazy, and didn't fool with all of my little tips. And I looked a HOT MESS when I got to Philly. :) So. If you are traveling a long way some of these small tips may help you out some!

Post your tricks of the trade in the comments section! I'm sure I don't know all the cool things that can be done and would love to hear new ideas.

Hug your scientist friend. He or She can make you pretty!

My friend Naz told me about this. It's new at Sephora, and I plan to try it out. It's called Living Proof. It's for fighting dreaded frizz! And for anyone in the humid, humid South...well you know all about this never ending battle.

Now here's the cool part. It was developed by a team led by Dr. Bob Langer at MIT. Now, I am not in tissue engineering, but I have friends at Vanderbilt who are. And he is apparently a super big shot in this area (among others). They are using new molecules to help fight frizz over the old standard silicone, which just weighs your hair down and eventually makes it limp and/or greasy. Sounds like a interesting idea to me!

I think Sephora may be doing some specials or sending out samples right now if you'd like to try it. I will probably try this in the near future, so if I do, I will post results. (Naz's hair looked really good, so at first glance it seems to work!)

So as I said--love your scientist friends and be glad we are so very nerdy. Saving lives and making hair pretty. Gotta love it!!

Lucky Breaks!

Lucky has some good ones this month! A Three Dots shopping spree for $1000 (very comfy knits and jersey stuff. I had a Three Dot shirt and lost it and was SO SAD)...Splendid shopping sprees for $500 (never heard of them but the clothing looks SUPER cute and comfortable!!) There are a couple of other fun ones as well!

http://www.luckymag.com/breaks

BlisterBlock

So I realized this weekend at a wedding that I hadn't mentioned this neato little product. It's from Band-Aid, and it's called Blister Block. It's this little stick that you rub on your feet before putting on shoes, and it's supposed to help prevent blisters. It actually works VERY well. Now, if the shoes are too small, or REALLY uncomfortable, then you may still get a blister. But I use it ALL the time...and I realized I hadn't mentioned it cause my friend said "How do I not know about this?!" and then all the bridesmaids proceeded to use it. Good stuff. In the first aid/bandaid aisle.

Stila...

Just as a side note from my earlier post about Stila...their customer service is excellent and very friendly. There was an issue with my billing address, and they corrected it quickly and didn't give me any crap about it. Also promised to ship immediately due to the less than one day delay with the billing address thing...nice! Just thought I'd mention since nice people on the other end of a customer service line tend to be very rare these days.
:)

Oh. And my new Lucky mag is in, so I'll scan through and post anything that may be fun!

UPDATE: I emailed the no-name customer service back to say thanks for the prompt attention, and that I would post about this in my little blog. They replied that it made their day. Do something nice for others, peeps. It's a good thing. :)

I LOVE Stila. LOVE discounted Stila even more!

Thanks to my friend A!!!!

Stila Cosmetics (http://www.stilacosmetics.com) has a 40% off coupon code STILAPRO available with free shipping on all items and coupon code APPRECIATE for a free 24kt Luxe Lip Gloss with purchase of $25 or more.

I so needed this! Gotta get makeup for a friend's wedding and this is PERFECT.

Lucky Mag free stuff

Lucky Mag giveaways are out for June! They have a couple of cosmetic items (including a Benefit giveway, which I LOVE). A cute clothing line, Ella Moss, and a JCPenney giveaway! I need a new desk, and the one I want is from JCPenney so here's hoping!!!
http://www.luckymag.com/breaks

The Cosmetic Market

My friend LG sent me the link to this store in Nashville! It's called the Cosmetic Market. It's similar to a Sephora, but it has some products (like Frederic Fekkai hair color) that Sephora doesn't carry. They also have food and some cool gifts like candles and such.

So if you're in the Nashville area, check them out in the Cool Springs Galleria area or off Hillsboro Pike! I think I might have to go check them out when I get a chance. Change it up from Sephora (I know, shocking!!)

Here's the link
www.thecosmeticmarket.com

Grapes on your face

So my fab little sis told me about this one. She read it in Cosmo. Apparently, you can take green grapes, cut them in half, and rub them on your face. Supposedly has lots of antioxidants, etc. Not really sure if it would be sticky though? Or if you're supposed to leave it on there and then wash it off....anyway I don't have any green grapes, but maybe it works! Kinda like the old wives tale about beer and eggs being good for your hair (both true. I tested the beer one 4 years in a row at BSC boy's bid day...it's true.)

Oh well if you try the grapes and it doesn't work at least you can eat them!! :)

Two major fails. With capital F.

Ugh. Two disappointments...big time.

So I thought I would save some money on my makeup remover/foaming Clinique face wash. I only use it at night, so I figured I could find a good substitute at the drug store. WRONG. Well, wrong on my first choice. I tried St. Ives Makeup Remover and Facial Cleanser, because I've been happy with plenty of their other products (apricot scrub, lotions, etc). Yeah, first night I used it I followed with my normal Clinique astringent and there was makeup ALL OVER the cotton ball. Tonight I tried it once more in the shower, and had to follow up wash with regular clinique soap and Biore scrub just to get it all off. This will have to go to the garbage.

Second epic fail? Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner. I think I mentioned this in a previous blog. Can't remember. Anywho I won't get all into it. It just doesn't work. It's slimy. It doesn't "tone" at all.

Moral of the story? Stick with what works when it comes to the cleansing routine I think.

Allure and Dior

Beauty tips video from Allure and Dior/Nordstrom. Fun to watch!
http://allureaccess.com/dior/

How to save on...

If any of you are as broke as me (and well, the whole economy is crap so I KNOW you are)...then these little tips are pretty useful. I'm shamelessly taking from Allure's June issue. I'm leaving out alot so check out the June issue if you want more!

How to save on haircuts:
1. Trim your own bangs (scary, I know. But I learned how to do mine enough to make it just a little bit longer. My hairdresser calls me a "Bang Surgeon" :) Anyway, the key is that you must (I mean MUST) buy actual hair shears. If this is just too much for you...most hair dressers will give you a little trim for free in between appointments. Just ask!
2. Learn new techniques and buy the real stuff...i.e. get your hairdresser to show you how to do stuff. I watch mine like a hawk. Also, spend a little money and buy the equipment they use...they are better in some cases (hello? CHI straightener vs. Conair? No contest).

How to save on color:
1. Try a glaze. I've used John Frieda before from Walgreens both the blond and the clear, and it helps make my color shiny again. Adds a little time in between appointments.
2. Try a toner or leave a little more of your real color. Both are quicker than all over color and/or highlights. Needs to be done in a salon typically though.
3. Actually use shampoo and conditioner for colored hair. I'm guilty of not doing this enough. Since I've started L'Oreal though (mentioned previously) I gotta say that my color is looking better longer. So I'm going to stick with it.

Again the June issue has even more on nails, skin, and waxing...I don't spend much in that area, so I can't comment much!

Happy Savings!

E.L.F.

I just got my new Allure and Lucky Mags, so I may have a few posts based on the articles...

First, there is this line of products I've never heard of called E.L.F. (eyes lips face). It's sold at BigLots, Target, and K-Mart apparently. Anywho, EVERYTHING is under $3! EVERYTHING!! Crazy, huh? Allure asked this make-up artist to rank his favs. The Under-eye concealer and highlighter he compared to YSL, which is pretty swank. He also liked some of the eyeliners and eyebrow shapers. Think I may have to try this stuff out! And hey, everything is about $1, so really what is there to lose? The website also has a link for beauty tips which is fun.

Here's the link to the site: www.eyeslipsface.com

Sephora Body Butter

So my sunscreen trail kit came in yesterday (I will post on how they work out...I have about 15 samples to try!), and I also got a sample of Sephora brand body butter in Guava Passion with some of my beauty points (one of those little cards most stores have where you get points as you spend...I digress...)Anyway, I'm pretty happy with this sample choice! It smells nice but not too heavy...I can't stand overly perfumed lotion. Which is probably why I don't use lotion enough. Lives up to it's name too...this stuff is THICK. Which is good, because it will last me quite awhile I think. They are $16 for a full size. I may try out another kind if this one ever runs out (seems unlikely). :)

Have a great weekend!

Etsy shops--and local at that!

So, recently I've really been paying attention to Etsy. My cousin sells her art there (Visit! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5030349)

Anyway, ran across these super, super adorable ink print tees by MaryInk. And not too bad of a price either! Made here in Nashville as well. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=55338

Enjoy! CBT

Lucky Mag New Breaks are Out!

The new month of Lucky breaks are now available! A trip to Aruba, $5000 at Pottery Barn, and some Redken hair supplies some of the stuff up for grabs!
http://www.luckymag.com/breaks

Registration is free.

Great deal!

I was going to do a post about sunscreen, and then got this in my email this morning. Already placed my order!

Here's a good way to sample some different types of sunscreen...for cheap!
Sunscreen is important!!! So check it out. If you don't want a bunch of samples, I'd recommend Coppertone Sport Spray for the body and Neutrogena Faces with Helioplex for the face! Both can be found pretty much at any store. Happy summer!

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P234000&om_mmc=ret-n1-20090509sunsafe--bi-xcb-h3c1b---om-us-sunsftykit-he-h-&dcid=384604:15162807934:10419798

Who needs 3 types of shampoo? Me.

I should be studying, but I'm going to blog.

I can't BELIEVE I haven't talked about hair products other than dry shampoo yet. I have probably bought every shampoo/conditioner on the planet. I have 3 types of shampoo and two conditioners (with another two under the sink) in my shower right now. Currently, I'm using John Frieda Root Awakening and L'Oreal EverPure. Both are pretty decent. The EverPure doesn't contain harsh chemicals so it's supposed to keep color bright (and for the girl who has dyed her hair since 10th grade, this is a good thing). I haven't decided if I love it, but it smells GREAT (rosemary and mint), so I'll keep it for awhile. I also always keep Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo on hand at all times. Use it about once every week or two weeks to get rid of styling product goo. That's the subject of a whole other post...Anyway, conditioners of the same brand. I also have Neutrogena Triple Renewal Conditioner and Aveda Blue Malva (a blond tone corrector) under the sink for occasional use. Blue Malva works well to kinda brighten blond tones and get rid of any brassiness. John Frieda has recently come out with a cheaper version that I plan to try once I run out of Aveda.

Overall brands I have tried and liked:
1. Paul Mitchell Shampoo One and The Detangler
2. Bumble and Bumble (on the somewhat pricer side, but good)
3. John Frieda
4. Currently, L'Oreal EverPure. We'll see if it sticks

Brands that I have not liked:
1. Garnier Fructis (kinda made my hair slimy)
2. Dove (weighed my hair down, but may be good for folks with really dry hair)
3. Herbal Essences (just not that great)
4. Fredrick Fekkai (tried a sample from Sephora. WAY heavy on the grease factor, especially in BR with it's soft water).

Happy shopping/shampooing! If any of you have fav brands, comment so others can see!

p.s. I should note on the dry shampoo...this stuff is for touch-ups. If you try to rock it out when you are getting super sweaty and/or wet...you will have the equivalent of wet baby powder in your hair. Keep that in mind.

Ew!

So I was watching the Today show, and learned something about beauty product shelf life. I always knew about changing out mascara every couple of months, but the same is true for lipstick! The reporter said that you should throw out lipstick after about a year...uh, yeah I've got lipstick that I've had for over 4 years. Now, I don't burn through lipstick, so I'm not just going to dump my lipstick drawer. The way you can tell if it really is bad is to smell it. If it smells "rancid" (and I quote..ew) then toss it. I'm about to go sniff some lipsticks. :)

Dave Matthews Band

So. This is not about beauty products. Went to see Jason Mraz and Dave Matthews Band last night. As usual, it was phenomenal. Mraz played Beautiful Mess, and I almost cried. Dave opened with Bartender, played tons of old stuff, covered Burning Down the House by Talking Heads (amazing), and closed with Watchtower. Tim Reynolds was there. 'Nuff said. MJ and I took Mal. It was her first Dave show. MJ and I went to our first Dave show 10 years ago. Mal bought the fire dancer shirt that we bought 10 years ago. We're doing it again when we're 38. :) Anyway. Just had to blog about it because it was SO AWESOME.

Oh, and the poster? It's going to be the starting point for my new office in BR. I've been waiting for something to inspire me, and this is it.

Favorites

These three items are some of my current/longstanding favorite things:
Chocolate Lip Scrub by Sara Happ: My sister-in-law gave me this a couple birthday's or Christmases ago, and I still haven't run out! It exfoliates your lips with this chocolate sugar mix. You just put a little on, scrub, and wipe clean (it is edible, but I usually just remove it because there is some wax in it). I usually follow up with chapstick. I've seen it at smaller boutique's and spas. Point is, if you see it, snatch it up.
Benefit Erase Paste: This stuff is all that and a bag of skittles. I'm serious, you have a blemish? This stuff will cover it and keep it covered for HOURS. It's the only concealer I use. Ever.
Philosophy Hope in a Jar: Great light moisturizer with lactic acid and antioxidants. I've noticed my skin tone has been more even since I started using it. I only use it at night, but that's all you really need I think. I buy the travel size at Sephora, and it really lasts quite awhile! I can't use heavy moisturizers, so this is perfect!

So, that's the scoop for now! If you have a favorite product you think people should know about, let me know and I'll blog about it!

(as a side note, I'm up blogging at midnight about beauty products because I started a take home final at 8:30 pm and now can't turn my brain off...knew that was going to be a bad move! Oh well, got some new blogs up at least!)

A little fashion...

If you haven't gone to Target lately, GO. I went today, and had to leave to avoid spending too much! The bathing suits are adorable--I'm going back once I get my paycheck. I'm also addicted to maxi dresses, and had to walk away from that situation they had so many cute ones. So go go go!!

Now I think I'm going to get on my soapbox. This is directed to all those super young and fabulous college girls I see running around Vandy every day. I doubt they read my blog, but here goes.
Ladies. You are all skinny and fabulous and beautiful. However, you should know that leggings are not pants. You cannot wear leggings with a short t-shirt. If the top doesn't come close to covering your rear, it's not long enough. Wearing heels does not dress this outfit up either, so don't try that move. I don't care if such and such celebrity or model did it. YOU are not a celebrity or model. And guess what? They look silly too. Whew. So that's my rant for the day.

Boring but important...

Toothpaste. Yes, it's very boring. But I was thinking tonight about how much I like my particular brand...Arm and Hammer Advanced White. I know. I lead such a thrilling life. But really...you have to admit that someone can look great and then smile and their teeth don't look nice and the look is ruined.
So, my recommendation? Arm and Hammer. It REALLY leaves your breath fresh and does whiten your teeth well. A nice perk is that it's cheaper than Crest and Colgate as well.
I've got some more ideas for posts. Will get to those soon!

Nashville sighting...

Just saw Carrie Underwood at Rumba in Nashville. She's totally just as pretty (or prettier) in person as she is on TV. Fun!

OPI

One more for tonight.

While ordering pre-mentioned face scrub, I found the new OPI collection. I'm getting Mermaid-to-order. Think it's totally going to be cute on my toes!
http://www.sephora.com/browse/section.jhtml?categoryId=C20642

Same product...winners and losers

Ok. So twice I have bought nearly the same brand, but one was good one was a toss.

NEUTROGENA HEALTHY VOLUME MASCARA:
The regular kind? Great. It's made with olive oil. Made my lashes all long and fat and pretty. The waterproof? Total waste. After the first use, it was clumpy (I'm assuming this "waterproof" and "olive oil" mixture just isn't working out). So, back to the regular. And by the way...you're supposed to replace mascara every 3 months.

DRY SHAMPOO:
Ok, so have bangs, so dry shampoo is my best friend. But there is a difference. Ojon is not great (Rach, I agree...made my hair all stiff). Oscar Blandi however, is nice. Gets rid of the oils and has a nice lemon scent (and comes in travel size!). I would recommend the powder and NOT the spray though. The little nozzle gets clogged almost immediately. And after spending like $10 for a few ounces, you want to be able to use the whole product. A cheap version that works pretty well, but only has spray version, is Psssst! You can get it at Walgreens (typically the top or bottom shelf. Random fact I know but I have looked for that can EVERYWHERE before realizing it was up high).

That's the tips for the day folks!

Damn you Laura Mercier!

I would fall in love with one of the more expensive brands. Dang you Laura Mercier! (And dang you to one of my best friends for introducing me to this)

Ok, so I already use the oil free foundation and/or tinted oil free moisturizer (depending on the coverage I need for a particular day). So I got a free sample from Sephora (where else) the other day...the face polish. This stuff is FAB. I'm talkin magic exfoliator here, ladies. I shall be ordering soon.

Anyway, I'll let you know how it works over time.

So. I'm going to try the blog thing out for a little while. I love reading everyone else's blogs. My roomie just started her blog, so I thought I might have a little fun and copy her. I also obsessively love and purchase beauty products. Is it frivolous? Probably! We all have our vices. :) Sadly, I end up not liking some and discarding...so maybe I can help some of my friends NOT spend money on products that aren't that great!!

It's also highly likely that I will mention recipes, traveling, exercise, decorating my new home, organizing, life as a grad student, shopping (like regular shopping), life with my gaming/musician/engineering/water ski bum husband, my dog child, and my mean kitty. And science. Because I may love beauty products, but I'm a big huge nerd as you all know.

If you have some product that you love, let me know. I'll post about it!

Anyway, enjoy. And if I don't post much....well I apologize!