Beauty Confessions: Dirty Girl!

Last week, I confessed to you that I commit a beauty sin: I wash my hair each and every day.

Well, now I need to make another confession: Even though I know better, I don't always wash my face before going to bed at night. Yes, I admit it. Sometimes I fall asleep with my makeup on. I hang my head in shame.

According to professionals, not washing your face leaves makeup and other environmental gunk that you pick up during the day clinging to your skin. All this yucky stuff can lead to clogged pores which means that zits and blackheads could erupt all over your face just because you're too tired to wash your face.

Even though I sometimes skip the all important step of washing my face with warm water and a gentle cleanser, I almost always try to use a facial wipe, like Boot's No. 7 Quick Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes to get my makeup off.

How about you? Do you wash your face every night, or do you fall asleep with the morning's mascara caked in your lashes? Let me know....leave a comment!

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations Phairhead! You are my LUSH giveaway winner. Thanks to all of you who shared your thoughts on the importance of the environment in making cosmetic purchasing decisions. I'll be talking more about this soon.

Product Preview: Nexxus Nourishing Botanicals

I've been focusing a lot on eco-friendly beauty products this week, and in keeping with this theme, I bring you a preview of Nexxus Salon Hair Care's Nourishing Botanicals line.

The products in this line contain natural ingredients that promise to keep your hair looking beautiful while being kind to the earth. Nexxus Nourishing Botanicals Shampoo, Conditioner, and Leave-in Conditioner are formulated without parabens and dyes while containing a blend of pure, natural botanical oils, emollients, and plant proteins. The Nourishing Botanicas line utilizes a fruit micro-sphere technology that will leave hair healthy, soft, and shiny.

But Nexxus doesn't stop considering the earth at their forumlas. They consider their packaging, too. The entire Nourishing Botanicals line comes in recycled packaging and...like all Nexxus products...is not tested on animals (yay!).

I'm sharing the Nourishing Botanicals line with my testers (my mom and sister), so I'll let you know their thoughts soon. I know my mother is hooked on the leave-in conditioner. Here are all the details on the entire line:

• Nexxus Botanoil Nourishing Botanical Shampoo: A cleansing shampoo that weightlessly nourishes and hydrates to leave hair looking and feeling luxuriously soft and healthy. ($9.27 for 13.5 fl. oz bottle)
• Nexxus Botanphuse Nourishing Botanicals Conditioner: A conditioner that nourishes and pampers hair without weighing it down for luxuriously soft, healthy-looking hair. ($14.99 for 13.5 fl. oz bottle)
• Nexxus Botanluxe Nourishing Botanical Leave-in Conditioner: This leave-in conditioning spray employs natural ingredients to provide the ultimate in hydration for all hair types. ($11.99 for 8.5 fl. oz bottle)

Give Good Face the Eco-Chic Way

Yesterday I gave you hints on how to get a beautiful eco-chic face in only a few easy steps. But what's the foundation for a perfect look? Flawless, radiant skin, of course!

Head on over to Sephora and check out these natural products that will result in good face:

Boscia Oil-Free Hydration SPF 15: this is the perfect way to start your natural routine. This daily hydrator combats excess oil, refines pores, and defends skin against damage caused by UV rays and everyday stresses. The moisturizer is balanced so that it effectively banishes shiny T-zone areas, making it the ideal base for makeup.

Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Eye Cream: Designed for use both morning and night, this eye cream reinvigorates tired-looking eyes. The expert formula brightens and smooths the contour of the eye, reducing dark circles, puffiness, and lines for a more refreshed look.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: This highly concentrated oil-free serum is designed to improve the appearance of dark spots, giving you even-toned, radiant skin.

REN Glycilactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask: This product is like having a dermatologist's treatment right in your own home. The resurfacing mask is formulated to gently and effectively rejuvenate skin by using fruit acids and papain. Use the peel once a week, especially if you have acne-prone skin.

Nude Miracle Mask: This mask firms and smooths in minutes. The efficacious formula speeds up circulation and cellular turnover, instantly smoothing and brightening the complexion.

Be a Natural Beauty at Sephora!

First off, thanks so much to all of you who have left comments about the how much we are eco-conscious when making our cosmetics purchases. Sounds like you all are a lot like me. You know you should care more than you actually do. It's hard to make the switch to more natural products, but it's getting easier all the time...especially if you're willing to pay a little more for your products.

The good folks over at Sephora are, of course, helping make us all more naturally beautiful by offering up numerous "eco-chic" products. Here are some to check out:

GET AN EASY ECO-CHIC LOOK
Let's go back to basics. When we think about natural beauty, we think of perfectly clear skin. But you can also punch up the color and embrace the classically natural.

1. Prep your skin with a face primer like Korres Silicone Free Face Primer ($28). It is an innovative formula of soothing natural botanical ingredients that refine the skin texture by reducing redness and uneven or dull skin tones. The primer creates a non-oily silky film that acts as a barrier between the skin and makeup to reveal flawless, long-lasting skin.
2. Follow up with Tarte ReCreate Foundation ($37). An anti-aging foundation with Wrinkle Rewind technology and SPF 15 that protects from UVA/UVB rays, this foundation provides medium to full coverage while hydrating and brightening.
3. To finish in a flash, swipe on Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! ($18). Referred to as a push-up bra for lashes, this four-in-one (lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning) dermatologists and clinically tested mascara presents a sexy fringe to compliment your dewy complexion. Now you have an effortlessly eco-chic look.
   
4. If you're craving more color on your face, take your eco-chic look one step further and try out some of the bright colors in Sephora's Pure Natural 7-Color Palette ($36). This is a multipurpose palette that comes with three trendy shadow colors, three basic brown shadow colors, and a blush that will have you creating vibrant looks from day to night.

I'll be back tomorrow with more eco-chic products that will make your skin look even more flawless and radiant! In the meantime, I'll be trying out many of the products listed here and will be sure to report back soon!

Reminder: Lush Giveaway

Happy Weekend!

Don't forget to enter my Earth Day LUSH giveaway! Click here for all the deets.

Beauty Product of the Week: Exact Eyelights

What is it? Cover Girl's Exact Eyelights mascara uses "(a) unique eye brightening formula combined with the patented No Clump brush technology (to) bring out the color of your eyes and give you gorgeous clump-free lashes!" Available in several different colors depending on the color of your eye (I tried out Black Sapphire) at drugstores for about $7.50.

What did you think? It's well documented that I am a mascara fan. I love trying out new formulas, but I must admit I was a little cautious with this one. Why? Because I have a weird anti-Cover Girl mindset. I don't like that Cover Girl continues to test on animals, and I'm not wild about their sponsorship of America's Next Top Model (because I don't like a lot of product placement in my trash TV, mind you!). However, I set my personal prejudices aside and still test out CG products from time to time...plus I think CG's pressed powder is unbeatable--but that's another post for another time.

Anyway, CG's Exact Eyelights are supposed to pop the color of your eyes. I applied a coat to around my baby blues and...? Nothing. My lashes didn't clump, so that's the good news. The bad news? My lashes didn't look thicker or longer. And my eyes didn't look anymore blue than normal. Ok...so I tried another coat and still? Nothing. I missed the definition that my blackest black mascara gives to my eyes.

The final verdict? Skip it. Seriously, there are so many better mascaras on the market that don't cost a ton of money. Sadly, this one does not deserve further consideration. My bias against Cover Girl products (other than their pressed powder) remains. Sorry.

Happy Earth Day Plus LUSH Giveaway

Today is Earth Day and I've been trying to figure out how I want to mark the day here on Kiss and Makeup.

I could tell you about all the eco-friendly makeup products and accessories on the market today, but I'd surely forget to mention half of them. I could give you tips on how to be a more green consumer, but I think we all know about reducing, recycling, and reusing. I could be cheeky and talk about all the cool green (as in green colored) products you could pick from, but St. Patty's Day just came and went.

I want to talk about something fresh, something new. But I am having a tough time trying to figure out what that would be.

This is going to sound terribly jaded or out-of-touch, but I don't always consider the environmental impact of my beauty purchases as much as I probably should. Since I'm a makeup blogger, I feel that I need to try all kinds of different products, so I know I am consuming more makeup than the average girl. And yes, I know that it is wasteful and unnecessary. But then makeup, by its very nature, is somewhat wasteful and unnecessary.

The big issue for me is animal testing. I prefer to buy products that are not tested on animals whenever possible. I see no reason why animals should suffer for me to look good. That said, I know that some of the brands I buy are on PETA's naughty list.

I don't know....it seems tough to always shop your conscious...as terrible as that sounds (and I know it sounds awful).

Instead of prolonging this post's agony, I'm going to turn it over to you. I ask you the following:

• How much do you consider the environmental impact of your beauty purchase when you're shopping?
  
• Do you try to buy products that don't have excess packaging?
• Do you try to buy products that are not tested on animals?
• Do you try to buy products that do not contain harsh chemicals?
• How much does any of it matter to you?

Leave me a comment and help me out here. I'll pick a random answer and will give that person a Good Karma kit from Lush. (Sorry: this one's open to US residents only, though if you're not in the US, I'd still love to hear your thoughts.) You have til next Tuesday to give me your input.

Beauty Confessions: Lather Junkie

Let's be honest...we all have bad beauty habits that are almost impossible to break. Since we're not perfect people, and because I think it's interesting to discuss flaws rather than perfection, I'm going to discuss some of the more common beauty bad habits over the next few weeks.

This week, it's all about the hair.

I've fessed up to it before, and I'm not afraid to say it again: I wash my hair every single day. I know I'm not supposed to...I hear that it's supposedly washes away all the good oils, fades out my dye job, blah, blah, blah. But you know what? I could care less! When I don't wash my hair, it seems oily and gross on day two.

I tend to wince when a hairdresser asks me how often I shampoo. I know the right answer is "oh, just every other day," but I cannot lie. "I wash every day," I say with a slight nervous inflection in my voice. I don't know what I'm fearing. It's not like my stylist is going to beat me with a flat iron because I'm a lather-junkie. Thankfully, the past two stylists I've seen understand my addiction, because they both told me that they shampoo daily as well. Ah, sweet vindication!

In my humble opinion, if your hair needs to be washed daily, then go ahead and wash it. Why should you feel and look like a complete grease-ball just because "they" say you should only shampoo a few times a week? Daily shampoo rebels unite!

It seems to me that people with fine hair need to shampoo more regularly. Otherwise it just looks stringy and heavy...not good. But those with thicker, curlier hair may benefit from less frequent washing.

Now, if you're trying to reform your bad girl ways, here's my advice: try not washing your hair on a day when you don't have anyone to impress. But I do have a question to all you good girls out there: on days when you don't wash your hair, do you get it wet? Or do you use a shower cap? I never know what the right answer is and would love to hear from the rest of you on this.

Also, if you have any bad beauty habits, tell me about them! It's nice to know that there are other people breaking the rules out there!

Bustin' Out!

I was flipping through the May issue of Allure and came across one of their little snippets of information about something near and dear to our hearts: cleavage.

According to Allure, a study was done by a university in Wisconsin to see, as their study was titled, "Does Cleavage Work at Work?". And their answer to this question: "essentially--but not entirely--no."

In the study, men and women viewed four videos of a saleswoman pitching a phony allergy medication. The spokeswomen was either showing off cleavage or completely buttoned up, and she was hyping a product that was either "clearly effective or decidedly weak."

According to the findings in the study, showing off cleavage had no effect on her pitch of the product. Men in the study found that "using cleavage is effective when selling a weak product but counterproductive when selling a strong product."

Hmmm....very interesting!

Whether or not showing cleavage gives us more or less credibility, I'm sure we all show off our girls from time to time. And, if you're like most of us, the skin around your cleavage and neckline might need a little help to look it's best.

Because the skin on our decolletage is thin--much like the skin on the backs of our hands--it is more prone to showing the signs of aging and sun damage. So what can you do to keep your cleavage looking great?

• Avoid the sun! If you go out during the day and have any amount of skin showing, be sure to wear a strong sunblock, one that contains antioxidants to get the most out of your protection. Be sure to reapply your sunblock regularly--the longer you're out under the sun, the greater the risk of damage.
• Don't go to a tanning booth. Ever. I know many people who go, thinking they're getting their much needed Vitamin D. And in getting their "healthy" dose of D, they're also destroying their skin. Why pay to age yourself? The best bet is to stay away.
• Try a microdermabrasion. This will remove all the nasty dead skin cells that dull your skin. Do an at-home microderm treatment regularly (a few times a week) to get your decolletage glowing.
• Seek professional help. A dermatologist can analyze how much sun damage has been done to your skin, and may be able to prescribe Retin-A...a strong, proven anti-ager. They may also recommend a treatment like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to remove brown spots, or fix blotchy skin.

Now, strap on your favorite push-up and show the world what you've got!

Beauty Product of the Week: Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner

What is it? Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner is "guaranteed to make you gorgeous as they line, shade, and contour your eyes. Blendable, beautiful - this do-it-all shadow lines, shades, and contours your eyes with a lovely crease-proof, smudge-proof formula. Mix and match, or go as sheer or as dramatic as you like with layerable, buildable color. You'll love the glass jar - just remember to close it tight to keep your cream shadow creamy and dreamy!" Available at Sephora for less than $20 a jar.

What did you think? I picked up Benefit's Girls Night In kit which included two shadow/liners (in Birthday Suit and Skinny Jeans) and a decent brush for applying the stuff (it also included a lipstick--it was a pretty awesome kit and I recommend it!). At first glance, the colors looked too dark and too shimmery, but once I applied them, the colors looks great...they're not too much like I had thought.

I like these for eyeshadow more than a liner. I guess I like my liner to be a tiny bit darker than what Skinny Jeans could give me. That said, I really like the way my eyes look when I wear the Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liners. Plus there are several different, universally flattering shades of this product to try, which is nice.

Final verdict? I don't usually pay a lot of money for eyeshadow. And I'm not entirely sure why, but that's just the way it is. For me, just under $20 per color seems pricey. That said, if you are able to pick up this product in a kit (like I did), go for it. The colors are surprisingly subtle and they're not too shimmery. They look good, last all day, and don't feel heavy after hours of wear (and they really don't crease...nice!). If you're willing to invest the money, you'll like this product. If not, hey--that's ok...there are plenty of decent budget priced shadows on the market!

Lash Out at Sephora

In my humble opinion, mascara is one of the most important beauty products I use. I've tried almost every mascara imaginable, from every price point. I'll be doing a mascara giveaway very soon...as promised...but until then, check out these higher end beauties from everyone's favorite beauty palace, Sephora.

Making an eye-opening statement just got a whole lot easier thanks to Sephora. From lash conditioners, multi-purpose mascaras to primers and enhancers, the possibilities in delivering dramatic lashes are endless. Whether you are looking to stain, stimulate or brush your fringe fabulous, Sephora has just what you need to prep your peepers perfect.

Blink, wink and flutter with these eye-mazing essentials:

Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara ($22) – Formulated with hard waxes and synthetic polymers, this volume mascara will thicken and curl lashes with one stroke. I've been trying this baby out over the past few days, and so far, so good!

Hourglass Superficial Lash ($26) – Create a wow-worthy and wide-eyed look with this hydrating, color-rich formula that highlights the depth and intensity of the eyes. This mascara doesn't contain synthetic dyes or fragrances, so it gets Sephora's new "Naturally Sephora" seal.

Cargo LashActivator™ ($35) – A unique primer and/or mascara proven to boost the appearance of lash length and fullness in just 30 days! Cargo is the high-tech, innovative beauty company, so they always have products that are supposed to amazing things. For $35, this primer/mascara better rock.

Sephora Atomic Volume Mascara in Ultra Black ($16) – Get extreme volume with this dramatically dark formula that conditions lashes, keeping them healthy and pretty. If you have to pick a mascara color, always go for black. It's flattering for everyone.

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes To Die For Night Time Eyelash Conditioning Treatment ($125) – A revolutionary nighttime eyelash conditioning treatment that nourishes and strengthens lashes while enhancing the appearance of natural length, thickness, and fullness. I mentioned this product before and I still think it's way too expensive. Maybe that's just the recessionista in me.

Lorac Special Effects Mascara ($22) – For a dual dose of lash beauty, try this double-ended wand that features a conditioning primer and a defining and lengthening mascara. Lorac's Lotsa Lash is one of my faves, so I'll have to give this a try!

Lancôme CILS BOOSTER XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base ($21.50) – You’ll be batting beauty-full with this super-enhancing, micro-fiber lash base that maximizes the result of any mascara. Lancome is like a high-end Maybelline...they have so many mascaras that are worth checking out.

Get luscious lashes with these pretty peeper must-haves – available at all Sephora stores, by calling 1-877-Sephora or by going online.

Ask Lydia: Upper Lip Waxing

Hi Lydia,

I have a question about lipwaxing. Am a lipwax virgin. Afraid to try for fear the hair will grow back thicker, true? Is bleaching an option? Or is there a cream ointment I could use that will kill the hair follicles? Funny how the older you get you start losing the hair you want (like the hair on your head) and start growing it in unwanted places, like around the mouth!

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi and thanks for your question.

It sucks being a mammal. We have hair all over the place, and it can show itself in some truly horrifying places.

When it comes to facial hair removal, we do have options: tweezing, cream hair removers, waxing, or more permanent hair removal techniques. And all options have pros and cons. Now, fair warning: I am not an expert...so if anyone has anything they want to add, be sure to leave a comment.

TWEEZING
Pros: it's easy, it's almost free (you just have to pay for the tweezers), it requires very little skill, it is a precision job, and it's best for small areas of hair (upper lip, eyebrows, etc.)
Cons: you need really good lighting, it can be painful (have you ever pulled a root out? Ouch! Plus it can bleed--yuck!), it's easy to miss hairs, ingrown hairs can happen if you over-tweeze or incorrectly tweeze, and it seems like tweezing is a never-end job
Do it right: if you want to tweeze, invest in a decent pair of slant-ended tweezers (check out Tweezerman's selection at Sephora--they're worth the money), a decent mirror, and a good light. Click here for pointers on how to tweeze properly.

CREAM FACIAL HAIR REMOVERS
Pros: potentially not as painful as other hair removal techniques, relatively easy to use, readily available
Cons: creams can be irritating to skin, can smell nasty, and can be messy. You may need to get a prescription if you use products like Vaniqua.
Other thoughts: I have never bleached or used a cream facial hair remover, but I have tried products like Nair on my legs in the past. I found the product to be harsh-smelling and it didn't do as good of a job at removing my leg hair as my trusty razor. Since the blade has no place near your face, I'd personally recommend tweezing or waxing over cream removers.

WAXING Pros: excellent results, someone else does it for you, hair takes longer to grow back
Cons: somewhat painful, can be irritating to your skin, requires regular upkeep which means regular visits to your salon/spa for a wax
Other thoughts: This is my preferred facial hair removal method. I personally like the way a waxing feels...it's somewhat painful but also a bit cathartic. You will need to let the hair grow in a bit before going in for a wax. You may also want to exfoliate the area somewhat regularly before your waxing appointment to deter ingrown hairs. You might experience some redness, swelling, or tenderness immediately after a waxing. (If you're in the Seattle/Everett, WA area, the Mill Creek InSpa does excellent waxing and I've rarely had to deal with post-waxing redness after an appointment!)

PERMANENT MEASURES
There are more permanent options for getting rid of unwanted hair. If you're interested in laser hair removal or electrolysis, I would strongly recommend that you talk to a professional. They should be honest about what you can expect, how much pain and money will be involved, and how many sessions you'll need to undergo.

For facial hair, I prefer waxing and tweezing. They seem to be the most easy and cost-effective. If anyone has any thoughts on this, go ahead and leave a comment!

Get Ready for Summer With NARS!

Now that Easter is behind us, it's just about time to start thinking about summer. I, for one, am looking forward to sunshine and warmer weather. Plus the prospect of color seems liberating!

NARS is ready to get us geared up for summer with their new collection. As NARS turns fifteen this year, the brand’s commitment to creating products that defy convention remains unwavering. The NARS woman has never been content to fade into the background, and this summer is no exception.

“The look for the Summer 2009 collection is sophisticated, but colorful,” says François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics.

Whether your vision of perfect summer conjures up images of Morocco’s kaleidoscopic bazaars, the pristine Art Deco structures of Ocean Drive or the endless white sand beaches and cerulean waters of a Caribbean island, this season’s vivid yet versatile color palette is the perfect complement. Below are the highlights:

NARS Tropic Single Eyeshadow- $22 For the latest eye shadow, there was only one blue François Nars had in mind. “The tropics are always inspiring for me,” says Nars. This lush, silver-flecked teal is a precise image of the ocean’s reflective, rolling waves.

NARS Scorching Sun Duo Eyeshadow- $32 The glazed apricot and radiant orange duo, is designed “to imitate the effect of the burning sun,” according to Nars. The sun-drenched colors allow for surprising wearability. The pair can be blended together to form a rich, burnt orange, or worn in tandem.

NARS Irresistiblement Bronzing Powder- $30 Nothing evokes the feeling of summertime quite like bronzed skin. The newest shade, a rich golden terracotta, offers a flattering faux glow when dusted across the areas of the face where the actual sun would hit.

NARS Falbala Lipstick- $24 On the lips, this high-shine bronzy rose lipstick has a sweet, insouciant quality about it.

NARS Outsider Lipstick- $24 This is definitely not your grandmother’s coral. This deeper, glistening variety is a modern take on a time-honored classic.

NARS Belize Lip Gloss- $24 The pale pink mauve sprinkled with specks of gold simulates the color of a Central American sunset and gives nude lips a sultry boost.

NARS Tonga Lipliner Pencil- $20 A creamy, long-wearing lip pencil in a shade of pink amber plays dual roles. Use it traditionally, to outline lips and prevent lipstick from feathering; or color the entire lip with the moisture-rich pencil.

NARS Adelita Nail Polish- $16 This shimmering pearlescent shade of pink, is simultaneously sweet and saucy, the ideal embodiment of feminine strength.

The Summer 2009 collection is currently available at http://www.narscosmetics.com/collection_home.aspx

Stila FAIL?

WTF is going on? I'm hearing via Twitter that Stila has been shut down. Could it be true? Their website says they're undergoing "Routine Maintenance." How sad. It's probably a sign of the times, but still...it sorta sucks.

Anastasia Winners!

Congrats to Baby Gurlie and Quite Contrary 1977!

You have both won the new Anastasia Brow Definer. Be on the look out for an email from me soon.

And for the rest of you: fear not...I have a mascara giveaway planned for the not too distant future.

OMFG

My husband and I were chilling the other night, watching the classiest of the classy tv shows...Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels...and we saw the funniest commercial. If you haven't seen the ad for the Schick Quattro TrimStyle for Women, check it out below.

Watch the bushes and enjoy the subtly of this ad.

I've read that people find it to be offensive. I think it's kinda funny. What say you?

Shopping Tips You Can Use

Since I'm on Spring Break, I've been working on some spring cleaning in my kitchen. But I also took a break from pots and pans and headed to the mall to get some new things for my spring wardrobe. As I was heading over to the mall to hit up Macy's one day sale, I realized there are a lot of things I do to prepare for a day of shopping.

Here are some of my hints to make trips to the mall more successful:

1. Take stock before leaving. If you're going to update your wardrobe, look through your closet to see what you already have, what you can work with, and what needs to be replaced. If you're shopping for makeup, take some time to clean out your makeup case to see what's missing and what needs to be thrown out.
2. Make a list and a budget. I am a huge fan of lists and almost always have a mental list at very least. Take some time to write down specific items you're looking for. Since money is tight these days, you should also consider how much you're willing to spend for each particular item/product.
3. Consider where you want to go. Before you even leave your house, visit store websites and search for coupons and special deals so you can stretch your money even further. Gather up all coupons, gift cards, etc. and put them in your wallet.
4. Dress the part. If you're shopping for new clothes, you should dress comfortably. Wear clothes you can slip on and off easily...you don't want to be fooling around with complicated buttons or difficult clothing. Also wear comfortable, slip-off shoes.
5. Consider your undergarments. I always try to wear a nude bra and undies when shopping. That way I won't be distracted by a dark bra showing through a light colored shirt when trying things on.
6. Don't overdo your jewelry. When shopping, I wear my wedding ring and nothing else. When you're trying on a lot of different things, earrings have a tendency to fall out, and bracelets and necklaces can get in the way.
   
7. Lay off the lipstick. How many times have you tried on a shirt only to find lipstick or foundation smudges on it? So annoying. Don't contribute to this problem! Makeup should be minimal to avoid the inevitable rub off. If you must wear something on your lips, go for a colorless lip balm.
8. Keep your hands free. I love purses as much as the rest of you, but when I am doing serious clothes shopping, I don't want to have to lug around my heavy bag. Instead, I put my license, credit cards, cash, and coupons in a small wallet and stash it in my pocket. I also put all my receipts in my little wallet and then put my purchases in my trunk so I am not dragging around heavy bags from store to store.
9. Shop alone. This approach works best for me. I can go at my own pace and not worry about someone else's shopping needs. That said, I know many of you like to shop with a friend. If you take a friend shopping and she's there only for advice and help, be nice and treat her to lunch for her time. Do you know how boring it is to watch people try on clothes? Ugh.
10. Take care of your goods. When you get home, hang up your new stuff right away. Also check everything over once more to make sure nothing is damaged. If there are any problems, take your stuff back as soon as possible.

There you have it...my tips for making shopping trips more successful. If you have anything you want to share, go ahead and leave a comment!

Last Chance to Enter

Don't forget to enter my latest Anastasia giveaway! Click here and be sure to leave a comment by the end of the day tomorrow (Wednesday).

Good luck!

Spring Deals from Vincent Longo

Hi All! I'm taking a quick break from my Spring Break to let you know about a great deal from Vincent Longo. Head to their website, pop in the promo code below, and viola! 25% off your order. Nice!!

Spring Break!

Woo-hoo!!!

I am officially on Spring Break. That's right! This week I am--thankfully--free from work. And I have only one plan: to get my kitchen organized. Yeah...do I know how to live or what?

Beauty posts may be sporadic this week, but I have lots planned for you all in coming updates. So--stay with me and watch this space! I'll be updating when I'm feeling inspired.

Until then, be sure to enter my Anastasia giveaway. If you have any beauty questions or if you have a product recommendation, feel free to email me at asklydia@hotmail.com.

Have a great week!

Hairy Situation

Men and women have one thing in common when it comes to the world beauty: we all need to shave various parts of our body.

According to a recent survey conducted by King of Shaves…

• 70% of men shave before a date; 10% of men will only shave if it is a first date.
  
• 47% of men would like their girlfriends to shave her legs everyday.
  
• 64% of women shave their legs before a date.
• 71% of women prefer men to be clean shaven; only 7% of women admitted to preferring facial hair on men.
  
• 70% of women complained that men’s (husband/boyfriend) facial hair has irritated their face at one point.
  
• 64% of women have used men’s shaving products; 64% of women did not like men’s shaving products and prefer using shaving products for women.

Here are my thoughts:

• I prefer my man to be clean shaven. And he usually is. However, this year, my husband's been growing out his facial hair, which is tough for him. He's not a hairy guy, but he wants to see if he can get the Lemmy look. Here's Lemmy (from Motorhead) and his fabulous facial hair--and below Lemmy is super hottie Peter Steele sporting his own unique facial hair--also an inspiration for my husband's 2009 look. The facial hair grow out has been fun, and I'm all for a little experimentation! It's going to be weird once he shaves it off.
• When it comes to shaving my legs, I am terrible! In the summer I'm much more diligent, but during colder months? Forget it...I can't be bothered. Thankfully, I'm a married lady and my husband doesn't mind.

What are your thoughts on shaving?

Not Beauty Related, But Important

Hi All!

As you know, I blog from the beautiful Pacific Northwest--just outside of Seattle.

My dad is a principal at a junior high school out here, and one of his teachers--Connie Koch-- has gone missing. It's a very sad story and I know my dad is concerned for Connie and her family.

If you're in the US (especially WA state or the surrounding area), please go to this site for more information. My thoughts go out to the family and I hope they find a positive resolution soon.

Anastasia Brow Definer Giveaway!

Yesterday I featured Anastasia's Brow Definer as my Beauty Product of the Week. As I mention, this product is not set to hit the market until May. But you can try it now! I am giving away two Brow Definers to two lucky winners. To enter, just leave me a comment on this post (be sure to include contact information!) by Wednesday, April 8th. Winners will be notified and announced on Thursday, April 9th. Good luck!

Beauty Product of the Week: Brow Definer

What is it? Anastasia's new Brow Definer is a "double ended Brow Pencil with Clear Brow Gel that work together to create perfectly shaped brows. Brow Definer is the most versatile brow shaping tool out there! Use the velvety pencil to precisely fill and define. Use the brow gel to keep unruly brows in place all day without flaking." Available at Sephora in May for $22.00.

What did you think? I once read that having perfectly done brows gives your entire face a refreshed look. As I read it, having great brows was like the way you look after a night of great sex. You have a certain glow, a certain something about you that makes others say "Damn you look good today...did you do something different?" In other words, perfecting the shape of your brows will give your normal look a subtle but important lift.

I've tried all sorts of Anastasia products, and every time they bring out something new, I always wonder how they're going to top themselves. This product is now different. On one end is an excellent brow pencil that is universally flattering. It fills in brows without looking obvious. Then on the other end, there's Anastasia's super-amazing-ultra-fabulous brow gel. This stuff keeps crazy stray brows in place without feeling heavy or flaking off the way clear mascara can. Seriously...what more could you want from Anastasia?

The final verdict? I love it! This is a great multi-tasking product that you rely on. I honestly have no complaints about this product. If you're looking to try out the Anastasia brand, pick up this Brow Definer to get the best bang for your buck. (Remember: it's not available until May!).

Product Update: Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal

I mentioned a while back that I was testing out the new Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal kit. I've since finished my treatments and here are my thoughts:
EASY TO USE
The new Advanced Seal strips are thicker than strips we've used in the past. And because they're more substantive, they're a little easier to apply. And once they're on, they feel secure. In the past, I've had strips slip off mid-treatment. Not cool. These strips stay put, just like they say they will. And you really can drink water and talk normally while wearing them.

FUN TO PEEL OFF
Because the Advanced Seal strips cling better to the teeth, they're kind of fun to peel off. I know that sounds weird, but it's true. They peel off with a bit of effort, and it reminds me of using a peel-off mask for my teeth. Good times!
EFFECTIVE AND FAST
After just three days, my teeth were noticeably whiter. I hadn't whitened my teeth in quite some time, so my pearly whites were in need of a good brightening. Now, my teeth look lovely and white, just the way they should be.
CAUTION! INCREASED SENSITIVITY
I almost always notice that my teeth become sensitive during the whitening process. I don't have sensitive teeth at any other time, but whenever I whiten, my teeth ache a bit. This is just a temporary problem, though, and a day or two after ending the whitening treatment, the sensitivity went away. I guess I have to suffer for my white teeth!

All in all, these were effective and easy to us. I loved that they really didn't slip off, because in the past, that was really frustrating. If you try these out, let me know your thoughts!