Exciting - Beautylish Best Blog list

Hi all,


I was listed yesterday on beautylish's best blog list.  Exciting for a new blogger like me!  You can see the link here Best Beauty Blogs.  I am slowly going thru the list myself and have already found some great blogs to follow. To all those who are came here thru beautylish, welcome to my blog and thanks for following.  

Photo from Twitter profile @beautylish

Check out the entire site here, Beautylish.  "Beautylish is the spot to discover, talk, and learn about makeup and beauty products!"  

It's so great to have a supportive place where beauty vloggers/bloggers can share their ideas.  Thanks Beautylish, great job ladies.  

Your hair is so shiny - Tresemme Shine Spray

The other day someone commented how shiny my hair was.  And by someone I may or may not mean 'the boy', who is possibly a bit biased.  But either way, SOMEONE said it.  

Do you ever have a product that you discover and are somewhat reluctant to share?  This is one of them.  Like somehow I'm just a wizard at getting shiny hair and it has nothing to do with any product...or if I tell you than we'll all have shiny hair and I won't feel so special.  

I have decided to share this secret gem, because isn't that the whole point of me doing this blog?  And it's likely the grown up thing to do.

Tresemme Smooth No Frizz Shine Spray. 

This great little spray works wonders at giving your hair that tv commercial 'look how great my hair looks' shine. I spray it on to my hair when it's damp, just before blow drying.   You can see the shine immediately!  I have highlights in my hair and I feel like it really brings out their color.  It's also intended to reduce frizziness and smooth your hair.

I think you could over do it and perhaps your hair would become oily not shiny, so go easy.  I use about 4-5 pumps and then comb it through my hair with a wide toothed comb.  You really will see a difference, your hair will have an amazing sheen to it.  I just can't imagine that you won't love it. 

This product is available at drugstores or most places where Tresemme is sold and is less than $10.  A small price to pay to give it a try.  Let me know if you get any comments on your shiny hair...and if you tell anyone your secret. 

Update - Clinique’s free gift with purchase

Just wanted to give you an update on my post about the free gifts with purchase that were included in the last Clinique promotion, see my full initial post here Clinique's free gift with purchase

Item: All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage

Original thoughts: This is supposed to instantly refresh & reduce puffy eyes on contact.  There are a lot of positive reviews about this product.  People report that it’s very soothing and they can instantly see less puffiness and under eye swelling.

Update: I love putting this on in the morning, the coolness of the roller ball against

my skin feels refreshing if nothing else.  I feel like it does help reduce puffiness under my eyes but as this isn’t one of my issues, I don’t know how effective it would be on others who have more under eye swelling. 

Will I purchase: Most likely, I’m started to become addicted to the soothing feel of the roller ball, it’s a great way to wake-up.  Oil free, non-irritating, ophthalmologist tested. $25.50 for 0.5oz on Clinique.ca 

Item: High Impact Mascara

Original thoughts: I’ve tried the Clinique Lash Doubling mascara before and I really like it.  I find it doesn’t clump, really defines my lashes and is easy to apply.  It also doesn’t flake or transfer to my skin.

Update: I much prefer the Lash Doubling mascara over the High Impact.  I had some issues with the product clumping & flaking and it didn’t really make my lashes look that great, working thru the effort to apply it wasn’t worth it. 

Will I purchase: No, but I would buy Clinique’s Lash Doubling mascara. Ophthalmologist tested. $18 on Clinique.ca

Item: Color Surge Eye shadow quad

  Stone Violet Sunburst duo, Darker shade from beach plum duo 

Frosted blossom soft shimmer, Night plum stay matte

Swatched in order listed above

Original thoughts: The eye shadows are a beautiful combination of violet colors, both matte and shimmer.  The shimmer is very subtle and I think they will be beautiful very wearable colors. 

Update:  I am not wowed by these eye shadows.  None of them are particularly unique colors that you couldn’t get at the drugstore.  The two darker shades are the most matte shades but I found them difficult to apply and the color payoff wasn’t great.  The frosted blossom and the ‘darker shade from the beach plum duo’ have more shimmer.  They are both easier to apply and have good color payoff, but these are fairly shimmery.  They are all generally long lasting shadows, especially with a primer. 

Will I purchase: No (Item is not for individual sale-no pricing available)

Item: High Impact SPF 15 lipstick in 19 Extreme Pink

 Extreme Pink

Slightly sheered out
 

Original thoughts: The lip color is a very bright deep pink, which really lets everyone know you’re wearing lipstick.  It’s a flattering color, but I’ll have to be in a brave lipstick mood to wear it, as I tend towards more muted colors.

Update:  Yup, it’s bright alright.  I am just not someone who can pull this color off.  I do like the color thou and have found a way to wear it.  I apply it to the centre of my lips and then sheer it out with some Vaseline – pretty!  I do like the formulation of this lipstick, it’s quite moisturizing and has good staying power. 

Will I purchase: Undecided.  Given the way I apply it, this one will last me forever.  Good thing it doesn’t expire until 2013!  Allergy tested, fragrance free. $18 on Clinique.ca

Item: 7 day scrub cream

 Original thoughts: The jury is still out for me on the 7 Day Scrub Cream.  This is meant as a gentle exfoliating scrub and has very fine, non-gritty particles in it.  I think it’s more of a blend of a scrub and facial cleanser rather than just a scrub, which is a good thing.  I just don’t know if my skin is too sensitive for it or not as it did seem to cause more redness to my skin, but I’ll give it another try. 

Update: I like it.  I apply it over clean damp skin.  I use the softest facecloth I own to take this off and I am loving how this makes my skin feel.  I don’t find it is causing any redness and I haven’t seen any adverse reactions from using it.  I only use it about once a week, even thou they claim it’s gentle enough for everyday use.

Will I purchase: Yes, I think this makes my skin look brighter. Fragrance free and allergy tested. Priced at $22 for 100ml on Clinique.ca

Item:  Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Rock Violet (purchased)

With primer                    Without primer

Original thoughts: I had read positive reviews that this shadow was a pretty silver lilac color and that it could be worn on it’s own or as a base for other shadows.  I am always a little worried about creasing with any cream shadow, but people report that his doesn’t do that & stays put all day.  I also think it will go well with the lilac shadows that came with my free gift.

Update: This is a silver lilac but it is also a VERY frosty looking shadow, and I don’t do frost.  The good news is that it doesn’t seem to crease but I could only wear it under a powder shadow, in order to tone down the color.   If you apply it with a primer, the frost seems to be toned down a bit but not enough for me. 

Will I re-purchase: No but I did like the idea of these shadows and will be checking out their other colors to see if I can find one that might work.  Ophthalmologist tested. $19.50 on Clinique.ca

Beauty tip & a wishlist item - Lorac Perfectly Lit

Best beauty tip of the week

Wash your face after you wash your hair.

Think about it, we wouldn’t wash our face with shampoo or conditioner yet we don’t wash these off of our face after we wash our hair.  Shampoo & conditioners can contain harsher soaps that we wouldn’t dream of using on our faces. It’s best to wash your face after you shower, in order to make sure you rinse away any soap residue on your skin. 

Happy cleansing.

On a separate note I thought I’d add a ‘wish list’ item.

I have read a number of great reviews about the following product & I’ve decided that I just have to have it.  Not only is it the favorite of a number of youtube beauty gurus, it was also recently listed as one of Allure magazine’s best beauty buys of 2010. Allure Best of Beauty awards 2010

LORAC PERFECTLY LIT OIL FREE LUMINIZING POWDER - SPOTLIGHT

-   used as a finishing powder over your foundation, evens out your skin tone

-   helping it appear naturally radiant

-    reported to be just enough highlight to give you a glowing complexion without appearing shimmery

-   can be used all over face or just on places you wish to highlight

Allure writes: “On the cheekbones, Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizing Powder gives a pretty, sparkle-free sheen that makes skin look almost like it did when you were 18.”

Well that did it.  I have a Sephora gift card burning a hole in my pocket and I’m not afraid to use it.  I’ll keep you posted.

The Winners of Good Housekeeping's First Annual Anti-Aging Awards

My step-mom Teresa recently told me that Good HouseKeeping had conducted a comprehensive test of a number of anti-aging products, to find the best of the best.  Want to see the results?     


The Winners of Good Housekeeping's First Annual Anti-Aging Awards
In our 2010 Anti-Aging Awards — a new annual feature — the Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested 90 products on 820 volunteers, conducted more than 3,000 lab tests, and tallied 1,800+ questionnaires to find the 26 best anti-aging beauty products. Find out how we tested anti-aging skin products during 18 months of research and see how the testing equipment works. Also, meet the anti-aging experts behind this massive undertaking. 



Click on the link below to read the full list of products from Good Housekeeping's October issue.
The winners of <i>Good Housekeeping</i>'s First Annual Anti-Aging Awards

I will definitely be trying some of the winners.  If any of you have tried these, with or without success, I'd be curious to hear. 

Beauty is vanity

This post is going to be slightly different than most you will see on this site.  I have started to slowly make people aware that I’ve created this blog.  The reactions from friends and family, as to the topic of my blog, have been mixed.  There are some who are excited and encouraging and others…well, not as much.  I have a few things to say that likely aren’t necessary, but I just had to speak my mind.  

Just because I love beauty products doesn’t automatically mean I’m vain or frivolous or that I presume that I somehow look better, have better skin, better hair, etc. than anyone else.  I know I don’t.  Just as someone in fashion isn’t always the best dressed or an interior designer doesn’t have the most beautiful home.  Nor do I believe that you HAVE to wear make-up or own a bathroom full of beauty products to be beautiful.  I am a true believer that beauty comes from within and I get that these things aren’t necessary to have a happy & fulfilling life.

Yes beauty can be frivolous & self indulgent, as can a lot of people’s interests & passions.  I love beautiful things just as someone may love art, interior design, jewelry or fashion.   If you think about it, most hobbies and interests are inherently self-indulgent.  We pursue these things because they are interesting to us and make us happy.  If there are gains for other people than that is a bonus but often not the reason we do it.  To judge someone for how they spend their free time is just that...judgmental, but typically hypocritical. 

Often hobbies & interests cost money, and spending money to pursue these interests doesn’t make someone irresponsible. Beauty doesn’t define me; it is only one component of who I am.  I am caring & generous to the people in my life, and also continually strive to find ways to give back to my community and the world in general. I am not even sure why I felt the need to justify this but there it is.

I feel better now, thanks for listening. 

A few of the best drugstore beauty products that won't break the bank

Have a look at this video from Wallet Pop for some quick recommendations that won't break the bank.  Also see my review on one of the products mentioned here! A quest for the best mascara

Make-up from the drugstore sure does save you a bundle -- but are the products any good? I got the inside scoop from professional makeup artists Anthea King, Courtney Hart, and Lauren DiLauro on what drugstore make-up and beauty products they swear by and use on famous clients, from Mary Louise Parker to Kate Gosselin.

My best beauty buys – Wet n’ Wild eyeshadow

I read some great reviews of Wet n Wild eyeshadows, both the singles & the palettes. I recently found the single eyeshadows at a local Wal-Mart for under $3…less than I spend for my weekend coffee treat, so how could I resist. 

I bought two of the single color icon shadows, in the colors Nutty & Brulee. 

Nutty                                 Brulee

Brulee is a creamy vanilla color that is perfect as an all over base or even on it’s own.  It’s essentially a matte shadow, not at all chalky and applies easily.  It could also be used as a highlight color. 

Nutty is a brownish gold color that is a great neutral and looks beautiful alone all over the lid, or as a contour color.  Nutty has a golden sheen to it but this can easily be toned down if you choose.  I tried a bit of Brulee over top of Nutty and it looked beautiful.

Both of these have great pigmentation.  Nutty has almost a creamy texture to it and is easy to blend.  I have used them both with an eyeshadow primer, and without.  I felt that they lasted longer with the primer, but even without they had great staying power.

       Brulee-Nutty with primer     Brulee-Nutty without primer

       Brulee         Nutty

      with primer

Turns out it's hard to take a decent picture of a swatch of a cream coloured shadow, hope you get the idea.

According to their website (www.wnwbeauty.com), there are 7 colors available in the single shadows, although my Wal-Mart didn’t seem to have the entire selection.  I think I may have to get some of their palettes and the single color Envy next, which is a beautiful deep green color and would be perfect for fall.   Go check them out, these are a great inexpensive drugstore eyeshadows!

Dollar Store Anti-Aging Secrets

I love a beauty bargain.  

Inexpensive and effective. Dr. Oz and an expert dermatologist give you the scoop on the dollar store secrets that will leave you looking like a million bucks.

Fresh skin & lasting make-up - review of MAC Fix+ Spray

I’m going to say something shocking & perhaps slightly controversial.  Ready?  Brace yourself.  I don’t really get all the hype behind MAC products. 

I think I’ve always been a bit intimidated by the MAC counter, staffed with the uber friendly, heavily made up, cool kids.  I have to say, I now think I may have been missing out.  After researching their products & deciding that maybe I DO want to be a MAC girl, I ventured into one of their stores recently.  I walked out with a few new products, some great samples, and a new appreciation for their line. 

One of things I bought, at the recommendation of the salesperson, was Fix+ Spray. 

The product description from their website is as follows:

An aqua-spritz of vitamin and minerals, infused with a calm-the-skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber, topped off with the fresh, natural, energizing scent of Sugi. Adds radiance, finishes makeup. Spray it on. Skin drinks it up!

Sounds great doesn’t it?  Well let me tell you, it is. 

I love this spray & have to restrain myself from using it too much – if there is such a thing.  I use this mainly as a setting spray, lightly spraying it on my face after I’m done my make-up.  I don’t know if it’s all in my head or not but I believe it truly improves the look of my skin and helps my make-up last longer.  It is also meant to absorb any excess powders on your face and give you that dewy look, and I believe it does!  The scent is lovely, light, and slightly floral with a hint of rose.  Since I’ve bought this spray I have discovered that people suggest other ways to use it, as a;

 - refreshing spray, after cleaning your skin or throughout the day

 - moisturizing toner, on clean skin in place of a toner

 - after shaving to calm & soothe the skin

 - mixing medium, spray on make up brushes to apply powder shadows

 - hair & scalp refresher

MAC Fix+ is available at any MAC counter or store and online at maccosmetics.com, retailing for approximately $22. 

Don’t let the price scare you off because a bottle will last you a long time.  Go to a MAC counter, give yourself a spray & try it.