Fall Nails

For the past few years now, super dark nails have been all the rage in the fall/winter.  I don't think deep purples, blues, and blacks are going anywhere any time soon.  HOWEVER, if you want to try something new, why not consider tones like gray, beige, or taupe?

Here are five great shades to consider:

 Essie Nail Polish in Mink Muffs

OPI Nail Lacquer in You Don't Know Jacques

Butter London in Tramp Stamp

Deborah Lippman Nail Lacquer in Waking Up in Vegas

Chanel Particuliere

What do you think? Will you try "greige" nails?  I love 'em!

Get Shopping!

It's back to school time, so that means you've probably been spending money on supplies, clothes, and books.  I think it's a fun time of the year, even though I don't have kids and am not in school.  The beginning of the school year is a chance to start over again...fresh...in the middle of the year.

While you're gearing up for a new school year, it's a good time to re-stock your makeup and skin care collection.  You should replace old lipsticks, toss out old mascaras, and re-evaluate your look and skin care needs on a regular basis.  Lucky for all of us that CVS is having an awesome sale, just in time for a mid-year reset.  Check out the deets.

The highly anticipated CVS/pharmacy Semi-Annual Beauty Sale is happening right now at your local store! The start of the fall season usually means updating wardrobes, but it’s also the perfect time to refresh your beauty regimen with great deals on the season’s newest products. CVS/pharmacy is offering big savings—with a charming twist—to kick off the fall event:

In-store Beauty Sales:
ExtraCare cardholders will receive money back when they spend a certain amount on select beauty products from popular national brands like Maybelline, Nivea, Dove and Acne Free. They’ll also have access to excellent BOGO savings. In-store product offers include:

Month of September

* Maybelline Lip and Eye – Spend $10 Get $3 Extra Care Bucks
* Nivea and Eucerin – Spend $15 Get $5 Extra Care Bucks
* Acne Free and Wrinkle Free – Spend $20 Get $10 Extra Care Bucks

Week of September 5th

* Maybelline New York Full Makeup Line—Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off
* Dove Bodywash, Skincare products, Haircare products and Deoderants—Spend $15, Get $5 ExtraBucks
* CVS/pharmacy Face Care products—Buy 1, Get 1 50% off (excludes Acne products)

Week of September 12th

* Revlon Full line of Products—Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off
* Nivea Men’s Bodywash—Free after using ExtraBucks
* L’Oreal Paris Skincare Products—Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off

In addition to great savings, shoppers who make a beauty purchase of $15 or more will receive a coupon for one of four chic charms (one per week). The fashionable charms are the perfect way to add a little sparkle to your style – see below:

Online Beauty Sales:
CVS/pharmacy will be extending the beauty deals online with exclusive discounts just for Web purchases. Shoppers will receive:

* 25% off all beauty August 30th – September 5th
* 20% off all beauty September 6th – September 26th

Every Day Beauty Guarantee:
Most importantly, your readers can shop the beauty aisles risk-free with CVS/pharmacy’s 100% money back Beauty Guarantee! If your readers don’t love what they bought, whatever the reason, they can bring it back (opened or unopened) along with a receipt for a full refund.

Quote of the Week!

Wow--this week has gotten away from me somehow.  I have a huge list of topics to blog about, but no time to sit down and write.

So...because I'm pressed for time, I leave you this week with a quick but fun beauty quote (and some eye candy, above!).

"The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural."

-Calvin Klein

Have a great weekend! Stop by next week for more beauty news and product reviews!

Do or Don't: Blonde Streaks

Black hair or blonde hair?  You don't have to decide!  (Or do you?)

I'm a natural blonde but I do enhance my color.  Being a platinum blonde (at the moment) I am no stranger to the bleach and tone.  I am also no stranger to non-natural hair colors.  In the course of my life, I've had hair in many shades, including blue, purple, pink, and green.  I'm all for self-expression and shaking up the status quo.

One look I don't quite understand is when girls have dark brown or black hair on the bottom with chunky platinum streaks on top.  (NOTE: I'm not trashing the emo girls here.  I'm thinking more of the mall-girls with their crazy, fried hair, low-rise jeans, over done makeup, and orange tans). To me, the black on the bottom, ultra-blonde on top look is reminiscent of one thing:

But what do I know?  Do you think black hair with blonde streaks is a do or a don't?  Leave a comment!

ReFreshing New Pedicure

This post is especially important for all my Washington state and California readers since it's about a fabulous new pedicure service from the always phenomenal InSpa.

We all have our favorite spas or places to get our nails done.  For me, I only get my pedicures from InSpa here in Washington state.  With locations in both WA and CA, InSpa is a no tipping full service spa.  They do waxing, facials, massages, and manis/pedis.  Sure I may pay a little more for a pedi than I would at the nail salon around the corner from my house, but at InSpa, I feel confident that I am going to have a safe and sanitary procedure...that all the nail technicians are licensed, that the place is clean, and that I'll get killer customer service and a decent pedi.  I also love that I don't have to worry about how much to tip--that always confuses me.

When I normally go to InSpa, I get a classic pedicure.  It includes a warm, softening soak in the whirlpool basin followed by intense callous work, nail trimming, and painting.  Sometimes I'll splurge and go for the signature pedi which includes a leg/foot massage, a moisturizing mask, and these amazing heated booties that provide instant relaxation!

Now, though, InSpa is offering a ReFresh pedicure.  Instead of soaking in the whirlpool or using any water at all, the nail technician uses hot towels.  The ReFresh pedicure is about 10% less (20% less if you're an InSpa Member) than a normal classic or signature pedi.  The ReFresh pedicure uses less water, so it's a bit more environmentally friendly.  Also, I think this may be a tad more sanitary than using the whirlpool.  I have never been worried about health issues at InSpa, but every now and then you hear stories about women who get skin infections from using the whirlpools at less reputable establishments.  If you're not using a whirlpool, you're not as likely to be exposed to any scary skin funk.

I was invited down to the Southcenter InSpa over the weekend to experience the ReFresh pedi first hand (or foot!).  I must say: I did not miss the water!  Instead of sitting in bubbling water, I had my feet up, wrapped in perfectly warm towels.  Unlike a normal pedi, I got a very relaxing hand massage, and I felt like my nail tech took a little longer with the foot/leg massage (and that's a good thing!).

After my ReFresh pedi experience, I think I'm hooked.  My legs (and arms!) felt super smooth and moisturized, my feet feel much better thanks to the fact that the nail tech used more lotion on my callouses than normal, and my nails looked perfect.  I can't believe InSpa is charging LESS for this service!  I loved it and will certainly be getting it again.

Way to go, my most awesome of all spas!  Keep up the good work!  I love that they're considering the environment, the economy, and customer experience by providing this new service!

Perricone Winner!

Congratulations to LACY!  She is the winner of my latest giveaway and will receive a full size of Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment.  Lacy: I'll email you ASAP.

For the rest of you: Hang tight.  You never know when I'll have another giveaway!

Product Preview: Vitamin C+ Pure Radiance Line

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you may have noticed that I am a big fan of Lumene products.  If you haven't tried anything from Lumene, you should consider trying them out.  They're from Finland and use a lot of natural ingredients like cloudberries and blueberries in the skin care and cosmetics products.

Lumene has a new dynamic duo designed to help brighten skin and fight the signs of aging.  You could use these two products seperately, but together, they go the extra distance to improve the look of your skin.  According to Lumene's research, 89% of users agreed that their skin was instantly brightened and more radiant when these two products were used together.  Further, 74% noticed instant pore minimizing when this one-two punch was delivered to the skin.

Let's meet each product, shall we?

Lumene Vitamin C+ Bright Skin Radiance Nectar, $21.99
Containing cloudberry nectar, this bright orange serum helps strengthen the fluid and micro circulation of the skin, resulting in minimized pores and a more smooth surface. Apply this to clean skin morning and night before moving on to the next product, below.

Lumene Pure Radiance 24h Lotion, $19.99
Containing mega-doses of Vitamin C and cloudberry nectar, this product uses plant sterols to improve the skin's moisture balance.  Antioxidants work to protect the skin against the signs of aging.  Used with the Radiance Nectar, this should make the skin look and feel more invigorated and balanced.

Initial Impressions:
I tried both of these products last night before bed, and my skin felt moisturized and protected without feeling greasy.  I did notice that my face looked a little less dull after applying both products, but that could have been from exfoliating before using these Lumene goodies---we'll see!  I do like the way both of these products feel and smell--they have a slightly citrus-y scent and feel very light going on.  It seems that a little goes a long way with both products--just a tiny amount provided a great deal of coverage.

So....we'll see how it goes.  I love Lumene products and I sure could use products that brighten up my skin.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Final Reminder!

Happy weekend!  Summer is slipping away--not cool!

Time is running out for you to enter my current giveaway!  I'm giving away a full-sized jar of Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment, a $100 value.  It takes just a second to enter.  Click here for the details and enter today.

Now...get out there and enjoy what's left of summer.

Beauty Product of the Week: Glycolic Peel Kit

What is it?  Skin Effects by Dr. Jeffery Dover's Glycolic Peel Kit, "Instantly reveals younger looking skin with each use; stimulates long-term skin renewal.  Your skin will immediately feel smoother and have a healthy glow. Over time, you will see fine lines, wrinkles and pores diminish. The first step stimulates exfoliation and renewal of your skin. The Glycolic Pads are ideally complemented by the Soothing Pads used in the second step of this regimen. I believe in creating skin care products that deliver the results you want - healthy, younger-looking, more beautiful skin. This product delivers both instant and long-term results. Immediately, skin appears more radiant and feels smoother. Over time, the exfoliation action will diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while making pores less apparent. Improves overall texture of skin; skin will feel softer and smoother; decreases appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; visibly diminishes pores. Skin effects does not test on animals."  Available at CVS for $24.99.


What did you think?  The Glycolic Peel Kit contains 30 glycolic pads and 30 soothing pads.  These pads look a lot like Oxy pad and are a piece of cake to apply.  I like that you just wipe them over your skin, rather than having to layer on a mask or slather on some sort of goopy cream.  This kit is efficient and easy when it comes to application. 

Here are the good points:

• The product is a snap to use
• It has a pleasant scent
• It leaves skin feeling more even
• It left me with a natural glow

Now here are my concerns:

• Like other glycolic peels, you have to be careful with sun exposure when using this product.  I use a moisturizer and foundation with SPF and I'm rarely out in the sun, but this could be a problem for some people.
• I worry about how people with sensitive skin would do with this product.  I felt my skin tighten up and sting a bit when I used the wipes--I think that others might end up with some redness and discomfort, but this is only my opinion.
• The containers for the glycolic pads and the soothing pads are basically identical.  To avoid any mis-application, I think they should redesign the containers and make them different colors so no one gets confused.

The final verdict? This product made my skin glow underneath my foundation.  It also felt smoother--more even.  I haven't used it long enough to get the long-term effects promised (diminished lines/wrinkles, smaller pores).  I say: for the ease of use and results, give it a try.  However, if you have sensitive skin or are out in the sun a lot, proceed with caution!

Do or Don't: Matchy-Matchy

Megan Fox: Pink dress with red lips.  Should she have reconsidered this look?

I read the following in the August issue of InStyle (I think it was August!  It was the one with Courtney Cox on the cover):

MATCH YOUR LIPS TO YOUR DRESS

...being too coordinated with your clothes and makeup can smack of a faux-pas, but there's an easy side step: zero in on your pout and paint it a shade taken from your outfit.  Best to stick with timeless reds or rich, deep tones; steer clear of bubblegum pinks and frosty hues, which could push the look into costume territory.

I tend to agree with the advice InStyle is doling out here.  This is also one reason why I wear a lot of black: you don't need to worry about your lips clashing with your dress if it's black.  Now, throw on a pink or red dress and then you need to consider these things.  It might not look right if you wear a bright pink lipstick with a deep red dress.  These things really should be complimentary, if not matchy.

But how far does the matchy-matchy have to go?  I personally don't think fingernails need to be painted the same color as toenails.  I don't think that lipcolor has to match nail color, but I still give worry that my nails completely and totally clash with my lips. 

I guess the bottom line is this: You want to create a cohesive look.  You want to look like you made some effort while still appearing effortless.  Does that make sense?  Let me know...and let me know what you think about matching your makeup to your outfit!

You Can't Keep Your Paws Off This!

There are certain beauty companies that I adore.  These select few companies seem to consistently put out quality products at a reasonable price.  For me, one of these top beauty companies is Tweezerman.  I love, love, love their tweezers--they're my absolutely favorite on the market.

Right now, Tweezerman has teamed up with one of my favorite charitable organizations, the Humane Society of the United States. Tweezerman has introduced two new products: Paw Print Mini Slant Tweezer ($15) and Matchbox Itty Bitty Paw Print Files ($4). Featuring adorable black paw prints on a white background, these mini miracle workers are sure to and stand out in your favorite cosmetics case or purse and remind you of your favorite furry friend…especially while traveling. For me, these are purse essentials!

Here's the best part: Tweezerman is donating $1.00 from the purchase of each Paw Print Mini Slant Tweezer and $0.50 from the purchase of each Matchbox Itty Bitty Paw Print Files to the Humane Society of the United States in an effort to assist with their mission to “create a humane and sustainable world for all animals – a world that will also benefit people.”

Be on the lookout for these cute Tweezerman products!

Glamour on the Go....at Sephora!

There are a few more weeks left of the summer of 2010, so why not take a quick, last minute trip some place fabulous?  If you do, be sure to head over to Sephora. Whether you are a jet-setter or always on the move, Sephora offers a variety of beauty minis perfect for purses, pockets, and carry-ons that won’t have you second-guessing your beauty routine. Now you can board beautifully by air, land or sea with these glamorous on-the-go favorites.

Sephora Collection Summer Goddess Palette, ($36) – Achieve the ultimate summer look with a radiant bronzer and bright “summer eyes” eyeshadow shades. This all-in-one palette contains everything you need to capture summer’s hottest look


Sephora Collection Colorful Artist Lipstick Palette, ($36) – Take your pick of creamy, beautiful lip colors with this slim palette complete with 15 stunning hues, ranging from natural to bold and everything in between. It is the perfect palette for every look and occasion.


Sephora by OPI Havana Nights Mini Collection, ($18) – This mini-set is complete with four of summer’s hottest nail shades: Teal We Meet Again, Read My Palm, Rumba Romance, and Caliente Coral to make maintaining your manicure and pedicure effortless.

Sephora Collection Pop-Up Travel Brush, ($8) – The perfect travel companion, the Pop-Up Travel Brush simply flips open to reveal the mirror and brush bristles so that you can have luscious locks all the time.

Kat Von D Eau de Parfum Roller Ball in Adora (NEW), Sinner or Saint ($16 each) – Kat Von D’s signature scents are easy to tote around so whether you choose Sinner, Saint or Adora, Kat’s latest addition, this handy rollerball will keep you smelling heavenly, wherever you go.

Get packing! And stay beautiful!

Don't Forget to Enter!

Happy Friday!  I'm looking forward to a few days off...away from the work world.

Don't forget to enter my current giveaway!  I'm giving away a full-sized jar of Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment, a $100 value.  It takes just a second to enter.  Click here for the details and enter today!

Hope you have a great weekend.

Beauty Product of the Week: Color Sensational Lipstick

What is it? Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick promises to let you "fall in love with color, all over again with crisper color from pure pigments, creamier feel from nourishing honey nectar, lipcolor so rich, so stunning… it’s sensational." Available in 48 shades at drug stores and big box stores for about $5.50.


What did you think? I haven't worn an actual lipstick in ages.  I've been wearing lipgloss almost exclusively all year long, specifically Clinique's Black Honey Almost Lipgloss.  I seem to prefer a lightweight, slicker feel on my lips.  However, I wanted to try out something heavier recently and picked up a tube of Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Cinnamon Stick.

I love the color I get from this product.  It's rich and deep and darn near perfect.  The lipstick itself seems a bit heavier and dryer than other lipsticks I've worn in the past.  I think my favorite drugstore lipstick is from Revlon, but it's been years since I actually picked up a tube.


Here's what I like about the Maybelline Color Sensational line:

• There are tons of colors to pick from
• It's not a long wearing lipstick (I hate lip products designed to be worn all day--they get really dry and icky!)
• It doesn't have a distracting taste/scent
• It seems to last a good long time

Now here's what I'm not crazy about:

• It seems a bit dull (as in lacking in shine), but I suspect I feel this way because I am used to gloss.  A quick coat of clear gloss could fix this.
• It feels heavy and seems to settle into the lines of my lips more than I'd like.

The final verdict? Overall, I think the good outweighs the bad.  For the price, you can't beat it.  I say give it a try if you're in the market for a real lipstick.

Do or Don't: French Manis/Pedis

I go to a lovely spa to get my pedis done.  They offer great services and their nail techs are very detail oriented.  I've never had a bad pedi in all the years I've been going there.

Whenever I schedule an appointment, I am always asked if I want to have a French pedi.  I always decline.  In case you don't know, a French mani/pedi is when the base of the nail is painted pink and the tip of the nail is painted white.  See below for examples.

Here's my question for the week: are French manis/pedis hot or just a hot mess?  Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Now, since this is my blog, here's my opinion: Yuck.  I don't understand the appeal of a French mani and the whole idea of a French pedi just creeps me out.  It looks gross to me.  French manis remind me of Miss Lee Press-on Nails, and that's not a good association.  French pedis?  Blech.  Why would you want to make your toe nails appear longer? 

I always steer clear of the French mani/pedi.  But I'm just one person!  What do you think of them?

Give Away! Perricone Concentrated Restorative Treatment

I'm very excited about today's post!  The folks over at Perricone are sponsoring an awesome giveaway to Kiss & Makeup readers, so please keep reading for all the important details.

There are a ton of anti-aging products on the market, but I've been seeing a lot of great press about  Perricone products.  I've heard that Dr. Perricone No Foundation Foundation provides killer results in the form of dewy, flawless skin without layers of makeup.  Celebs swear by this stuff!  Similarly, Dr. Perricone Deep Wrinkle Serum can reduce deep lines and renew elasticity.  It seems like no matter what Perricone product you try, you're going to get amazing results. 

Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment contains mega-doses of Vitamin C Ester, which restores the skin's texture and helps improve tone.  I'm (only) in my mid-30s, but I need to start stepping it up with my anti-aging regime.  Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment seems like a powerful tool in the battle against wrinkles, discoloration, and saggy skin.

If YOU want to try Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment for yourself, you're in luck!  Perricone is offering one reader a full-sized jar of this customer favorite.  If you want to win (and trust me, you do!), just leave a comment and tell me WHY you want (or need!) to try this product.  Please be sure to leave your comment by noon PST on Monday, August 2rd.  Sorry!  This contest is open to readers in the U.S. and Canada only.

Thanks and good luck!

More Goodies from Free Beauty Events!

Last month, I told you all about a fun new site called Free Beauty Events. The site offers info on free makeovers, free samples and a chance to win beauty products in their monthly contest.

This month, they're giving away the chance to win RoC Brilliance Eye Beautifier – a $45 Value! The Contest runs from 8/1/2010 to 8/31/2010, winners will be chosen on 9/5/2010 and notified by 9/15/2010.  Head over to the Free Beauty Events Contest page for all the details and to enter.

Best of luck!

Special Deal for Kiss & Makeup Readers!

Here's a cool deal for you, my beloved Kiss & Makeup readers!

After 3 months devoted to the sun- the heat, humidity and rays have paid its toll on our skin – it’s time to revamp our skincare regimen with some much needed T.L.C. (though I hope you've been sun safe and have been slathering on the SPF!!).

For the month of August, Kiss & Makeup readers are eligible for a pre-fall special from the Scientific skincare line! Purchase a summer skin repair kit (2 options available) from the Scientific skincare line, and receive a free Lifting Serum. The kits, designed by world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Beer, will eliminate summer damage just in time for the new season!

Head over to www.ScientificSkin.com to check out the kits and receive your free lifting serum with purchase (use code ANTIAGE10).

Happy shopping!

Cute Stuff Alert!

Since the end of summer is almost here, I've been reading more fashion/beauty magazines than normal.  In all my recent reading, I've stumbled across three cute products that are either out now or are coming out soon.  Check out these cuties...they're lust-worthy!

Kooba for Laura Mercier Wallet, $85.  Preorder by September 1st from www.nordstrom.com. Here's what Nordstrom has to say about this baby:

Kooba, known for their attention to detail, original styles and distinctive textures, joins Laura Mercier, the founder of the 'flawless face,' in a brilliant partnership to create a limited-edition color palette wallet.

Carry your makeup in style. This trendy textured Kooba clutch holds your wallet essentials, plus a limited-edition Laura Mercier palette of hand-selected shades. Also included is a double-ended professional brush and mini mascara. Many different makeup looks can be created with this versatile color mix for eyes, cheeks and lips. A 'Look Card' with a few of Laura's secret tips and techniques is included. You'll love the portability of this take-along clutch—it's absolutely perfect for touchups on the go!

Guerlain Ecrin 6 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette (in Champs-Elysees--above), $84 from Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman.  According to Allure, "lift the filligreed silver lid and you'll find a mirrored door that reveals six coordinated shadows and a double ended goat-hair brush."  So pretty for so many reasons!

The Gossip Girl Collection from Nicole by OPI.  I've never been a fan of Gossip Girl (I've never watched a single episode!), but the nail colors in this collection are a lot of fun.  Available at Target soon, you'll be able to pick from Scandal, Secrets & Sparkle (a sparkly silver shade), Too Rich for You (a lovely blue), and Nicole...Spotted (a glittery, lighter blue).  I love blue nails in the fall/winter, so Too Rich For You looks irresistibly yummy to me!

Beauty Product of the Week: The Falsies

What is it? Maybelline's Volum'Express The Falsies mascara provides, "false lash glam in a tube, instantly! The Falsies Mascara delivers a false lash look, giving you a full set of voluminous, bold, fanned-out lashes and the appearance of no gaps from any angle. The Pro-Keratin Fiber enriched formula is designed to deliver immediate results, distributing volume and visible intensity to your lashes. The spoon-shaped brush helps fan lashes out. The Falsies Mascara is designed to give the appearance of no gaps and spaces. In a wink, lashes you didn’t even know you had look visibly thickened!"  Available at drug stores and big box stores for about $7.50 or less.

What did you think? I don't know about you, but I find mascara ads to be very, very misleading.  They show women with layers and layers of false lashes and claim that their mascara will provide similar results.  We all know it's a pack of lies, but we all fall for it.

Maybelline's The Falsies mascara promises to give you fake lash results without the need for you know, fake lashes.  The applicator is very flexible and is easy to use. You can work the mascara into the inner and outer most lashes without too much effort.

With The Falsies, my lashes looked more defined than normal...and very dark, thanks to the fact that I bought Blackest Black (that sounds like a Danzig song, but whatever!).  I did not have any trouble with clumping (a huge plus!) and I found that The Falsies added length while thickening my lashes. One minor annoyance: this mascara seems to go on thick and wet.  It seemed to take a few seconds to dry, but I've never had it smudge while I was waiting for it to set.

I don't think I got "fake lash" results, but I did like the overall look of my lashes with The Falsies.

The final verdict?  The price is right and the mascara does a decent job at lengthening and thickening lashes.  It's not the best mascara I've ever tried, but it sure is far from the worst.  Not quite a ringing endorsement, but still--it's a perfectly adequate product and I'd consider purchasing this again.

Do or Don't: Frosted Lips

Note: Every Wednesday this month, I am featuring a do/don't entry.  I want YOUR opinion on makeup trends.  There's no right or wrong answer, but I bet you have an opinion on some of these topics.  If you all like this, I'll try to make it a regular thing. 

Do or Don't: Pearly lips as seen in an ad from Maybelline.

I was flipping through one of the many fashion mags out there, and came across an ad for a new line of lipstick from Maybelline--their Colorsensational Pearls collection.  The ad stopped me mid-flip and resulted in a groan.  Pearly lips.  Really?  Now, to be fair, Maybelline says their Pearl line is "always flattering, never frosty," but to my eye, that lip color is looking decidedly frosty.

I'm in my mid-30s and remember with a degree of horror and embarrassment how popular frosty makeup was when I was a kid.  I had a 5th grade math teacher (who I hated!) who wore frosted lipstick, covered her eyelids with frosted shadow, and had frosted hair.  It was a hot shimmery mess.  And whenever I think about the frosted makeup, my 5th grade math teacher comes flying into my mind.  Not good.

I know, I know...everything old is new again.  For some reason, 80s inspired looks are everywhere lately.  For me personally, frosted lips are not just a NO, they're a HELL NO.  I am a firm believer that if you lived through the trend the first time around, you're probably too old to jump on the bandwagon the second time around.

But that's just me.


So I ask you: What do you think of frosty lipstick like that seen in Maybelline's ad?  Is it hot or not?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Spray On!

I have a love/hate relationship with dry shampoo.  I LOVE the idea of it.  I'm one of those really bad girls who washes her hair every single day.  I know I shouldn't be doing this, but it's hard for me to stop.  I always think and hope that a dry shampoo will be the answer.  But (now for the HATE part of my dry shampoo relationship) I have never been able to make dry shampoo work for me.  I feel like I'm either applying too much product or not enough, and no matter what I do, my roots feel greasy and I feel like I would be better off just washing my hair like normal.

I recently received some samples from Batiste of their new dry shampoo.  At first, I was apprehensive.  But then I actually TRIED the stuff and, surprisingly, it wasn't that bad!  It sure is a hell of a lot better than Jonathan's dry shampoo.


Here's a little bit about Batiste Dry Shampoo:

• Batiste is ideal for creating the body and volume while ditching the oil, dirt, and grease that can wreak havoc on hair in the summer. 
• Batiste works by penetrating the hair shaft to absorb the unwanted oil, dirt and grease while giving your hair a fresh clean scent.
• Batiste comes in two great scents- Original and Blush. The travel size is perfect for a beach bag or night time clutch. Full size (150ml) retails for $7.99 while the “on the go” size (50 ml) retails for $3.99 at www.BatisteDryShampoo.com

 Here are my two cents:

• Unlike other dry shampoos I've used, this one sprays into the hair.  I like this feature!  It means that I can hit my roots quickly and efficiently without getting too much powder in one spot.
• The scent is nice.  At first I was worried it was too strong, but it seems to dissipate quickly so it doesn't interfere with my perfume!
• It makes my hair feel (and smell fresher) and it does seem a little less oily than normal.
• The price beats the pants off of other, more expensive options.

FINALLY!  I've found a dry shampoo that I can use and recommend.  NICE!

Getting Health, Update...

I mentioned last month that I'm on something of a health kick lately.  I don't really like to talk about personal stuff like this online, but lately, my new healthier habits are in the forefront of almost every aspect of my life.  Since good health is the biggest building block for looking good--and since, as I said, my new habits are a major event in my life at the moment--I thought I'd do a once-a-month health kick update.  This will help keep me honest, and if you're going through any of the same things I am, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So..getting healthy for me means losing weight, eating better, and exercising more.  I officially started this journey back in May, and so far I have committed to:

• Joining Weight Watchers and following their plan faithfully
• Exercising 5+ times a week 
• Making weekly goals for myself
• Logging all my food and exercise and journaling any significant thoughts along the way

Since May, I have:

• Lost over 20 pounds (!)
• Discovered that I actually LIKE exercise

I haven't yet joined a gym (and I am trying to avoid doing so!)--instead I've been using exercise DVDs to get my fitness in.  I've tried a ton of different videos (thanks to Comcast's In Demand Exercise TV), and so far my favorites are:

Jillian's scary, tough, and slightly insane...but I love her workouts!

No More Trouble Zones--Jillian Michaels (55 minutes of circuit training with hand weights)

Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism--Jillian Michaels (55 killer minutes of circuit training with nothing but cardio--so bad, but so good)

A variety of walk at home (power walk) DVDs from Leslie Sansone (she's totally annoying, but you get a good sweat.  My favorite is a 5 mile walk using power bands)

Beginner Yoga--Yoga Works (good explanations; relaxing but good)

I also made a big financial investment over the weekend and bought myself an awesome and cute bike.  It's called a Townie 21d from Electra Bikes.  It's such a fun bike to ride.  I've tentatively named my bike Trixie, because all good sidekicks need a name.

 I've had fun moving my body and, even though it can be hard at times, making the commitment to lose weight has sooooooo many rewards.  I'll probably do another update in early Sept.   In the meantime, if you're trying to lose weight/get more active, let me know what's working for you!