Review: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid

I have a new favorite face sunscreen! I got this in my Allure summer beauty bag that I bought a few months ago. I just now got around to trying this out (here near the end of summer, but it stays hot for months down here...so I can still use it). I present to you:

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid in SPF 70

I was already a fan of Neutrogena, using their regular face sunscreen all the time. However, this newer liquid has some definite benefits over the sunscreen. 
1. It's sheer, just as advertised. I didn't try to wear it under makeup, but I can totally see this being a viable option. It's like a serum. It comes out white, but once you rub it in it's clear. 
2. It soaks more into the skin, so I got improved, longer lasting coverage.
3. Comes in a nice, small package that easily fits in a small cosmetics bag or purse. A little goes a loooong way too. 
4. THIS IS THE KICKER. No burning once I started to sweat. NONE. I don't know about all of you, but even if it says "PABA free" it still burns a little bit right at the beginning of wearing it, especially around the eyes. Not this stuff. Based on that ALONE I have switched to this product as my primary face sunscreen.


Price is $12, but it's on sale at neutrogena.com for $9.99, so it may be on sale in drugstores as well. 

Photo courtesy of www.neutrogena.com

Smartphone App for Allure Giveaways!

During the month of August, Allure is giving away free stuff every week day. There are MANY awesome items, but registering each day online is kinda a pain, no?

Well. Allure is now utilizing the Microsoft Tab app for smartphones. It's simple to use. You download the app (works on any smartphone...I have a Droid), and then once you register once with your info you can register for all remaining giveaways simply by scanning the tag with your phone. The instructions for use are HERE at Allure's website.

The catch is you need to keep your August edition of Allure for the whole month. Allure will send you a text reminder if you'd like so you will remember to scan that day. You can go through the mag and scan the tags on each page of items you're interested in, and then they will remind you when it's the day for that item! If you don't want a reminder, just hold on to the magazine and scan the tag on the calendar in the back of the mag on the appropriate day. It's MUCH simpler than going online every day!

Good luck! And if you think this stuff never works...well, my friend LG's sister wins stuff ALL.THE.TIME. So try it out!!

Hop up out the bag, turn my swag on...took a look in the mirror said "What's up what's up?"

If you have any shopping to do at Sephora, hold off til Aug 6-8, and then use this coupon code: VIBLOVE

You will get a "Swag bag" (hence the post title) with seven 100 beauty point samples (i.e., bigger and better) including items from Clarins, Laura Mercier, Smashbox, Urban Decay, and Sephora. It's a good deal. Supplies will likely be limited, so order earlier than later.

Enjoy!

Review: Suave Cocoa Butter with Shea

I recently ran out of my standard St. Ives Mineral Therapy lotion, and decided to try a new and less expensive brand, Suave.

It's consistency is a little thinner than I normally like, but it goes on smoothly and doesn't get greasy or sticky throughout the day. It doesn't smell like much (a slight hint of cocoa, but not overpowering), but I like neutral lotion so it doesn't compete with my perfume. It stays on throughout the day, and my skin doesn't feel dry.

For $4.99 at Walgreens (purchased myself), I'd totally buy again. It can also be found at any other drugstore or grocery store.


Photo courtesy of www.suave.com

Lemming alert...Essie Turks and Caicos

Sometimes, I am a beauty product lemming. If I read or hear enough about one thing, even if I know it is probably just a fad, I have to seek it out. This is one of those products. You may have seen this in Allure, or online on different blogs as I have been for a few months now.... It's in the new spring 2010 collection from Essie and is called Turks and Caicos. Yes, it's mid-July I'm late joining the party. Truth be told, I wasn't sure where to buy Essie. Found out I can get it at Trade Secret, Paris Parker Aveda, ULTA (sometimes), and essie.com. It's $8 a bottle, so same price range as OPI.

Anyway, I'm glad I was a lemming, cause I really love this color on my toes for summer. I'm going to the beach this weekend (HOORAY), so I needed something bright. It reminds me of Tiffany blue.

As far as application goes, I think I like OPI or Sally Hansen a little better, but this is still a good product. I definitely needed a base coat, two coats of color, and a top coat though. I probably could have even done with THREE coats of color, but oh well. Overall, I'm pleased with this purchase.

Excuse the lovely foot shot...I really wasn't sure how to take a decent pic but show off the color. Hope it's ok!

Review: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner

I got a full size bottle of John Frieda Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Repairing shampoo and conditioner in my Allure beauty bag (paid for myself). I am now starting to see it and the hydrating version in the drugstores, so I thought I would review it for you.

Overall, I liked this shampoo and conditioner. I've been using it during my weeks in Nashville, because the water up there is a bit harder than the uber-soft swamp water in Baton Rouge. It made my hair very soft and easy to blow dry. I didn't try to style it super straight or super curly. I don't think the style would hold well due to my hair being so soft, so I just let it be semi-straight/semi-wavy. I haven't tried it when it was raining, but I have when it's HOT (900 degrees HOT) outside AND I walked to work. My hair was still in good shape by work and remained so throughout the day. I put the conditioner mostly on the ends and avoided my scalp, and it made the ends feel very smooth. The one thing I noticed the first day was that the shampoo made my bangs difficult to style and VERY flat. I had to texturize them a bit with dry shampoo to keep them from matting to my forehead. Day two I tried to keep it out of my bangs, but this is difficult since most of the time my bangs are the ONLY part of my hair that get greasy and thus need washing. Alternative would be to use a small amt of different shampoo on bangs, but that's kinda a pain. The best part of this shampoo came the next day. When I woke up to go to the gym, it was STILL smooth and fairly decent looking. This is so not the norm for me...usually when I wake up my hair is all over the place. I don't know if I could have made it the whole day without washing it, but I definitely could have made it at least half the day. If my hair was super long I bet I could have gone all day without washing.

I would recommend this product if you have slightly longer hair that is medium to thick. I think it would just cause fine, short hair to flatten into nothing (like it did with my bangs). Overall, it does what it claims: Keeps hair smooth, blocks frizz, and helps repair split ends. If you are going to try some major style following use be warned that it may not hold. If you are just wearing it down, straight, etc though you should be fine. In Baton Rouge (soft water) I am very careful to keep it out of my bangs and avoid conditioner on the roots.

It ranges in price from $5-$7 at drugstores.


Photo taken from John Frieda website, www.JohnFrieda.com

Link: How to find flattering sunglasses

I found this good slideshow on InStyle.com about how to find flattering sunglasses for your face. Pretty useful, just wanted to share the link!
How to find flattering sunglasses from InStyle

p.s. the rest of their Summer Accessories 2010 is pretty good too!