Beauty Product of the Week: Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Products

What is it? John Frieda's new Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Shampoo and Conditioner are "gentle formulas with citrus and chamomile visibly lightens for a shimmery, sunlit blonde. Renews hair healthy look and feel."  According to their TV commercial, they noticeably lighten up blonde hair after 10 continuous uses.  They're available at drugstores and big box stores for less than $7.00 a tube.


What did you think? Sometimes when I try out new products, I wonder "is it working?"  After a month of using the Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo and Conditioner, I can't honestly say that I can see that much of a difference with the color of my hair.  That said, these products didn't do anything to harm my hair.  They smelled good, the shampoo lathered nicely, and my hair looked shiny and healthy.  Blonder?  Hmm...I don't know. 

I don't like the the products come in tubes rather than bottles.  The way they're stored in my shower, a lot of water collects in the cap area and I tend to knock these over while showering.  I feel like I'm paying more than is necessary for not a great deal of product.  That's more a marketing complaint than anything else.


The final verdict? I'm not convinced this product did anything to lighten my hair.  I'll finish up both tubes, but I won't be rushing to by this duo again.  Yet another product that gets a "meh" from me!

Must Read for All You Beauty Girls!

I was wandering around Barnes and Noble recently (something I often do since my husband and I tend to be bookish) and found a must-read magazine for all you beauty lovers: the July 2011 issue of ConsumerReports ShopSmart magazine.  This issue features the best beauty deals out there (hint: they found an online site that beats even Wal-Mart on price!), tips for being a better shopper, and other consumer info for the beauty fan.

Pick up this magazine and throw it in your beach bag--it's chock full of great tips that will keep you looking beautiful while keeping your hard earned cash in your pocket.

Lustful Looking...

I'm smack in the middle of an expensive summer. Among other things, I'm having a boat-load of dental work done right now...and dental work is spendy.  Add to that the fact that my computer crapped out and needed to be replaced yesterday.  Thanks to all of this, my beauty budget has been slashed.  That doesn't mean I can't window (or web!) shop.

Here are three items that I've been lusting after lately:

Tokyomilk Cosmetic Bags, $14 each.  These aren't ultra expensive, but I love the way they look!  My fave is the sea-inspired Oceanic Dream bag.  They're so cute and the little butterfly detail rocks.

Balsamo Italian Argan Oil Balm, $13.50.  Again, not an ultra-expensive item.  This is one I really want to try.  I love taking boring, every day products and pumping up the volume a bit.  That's just what these artisan-made balms do...and they come in unique and tempting scents like black currant, honeysuckle, and rose hip.  Plus they look cute.  Love it!

Tarte for True Blood Limited Edition Palettes, $52.  True Blood is one of my summer guilty pleasures.  It's a campy, over-the-top show and it's so addictive.  This palette is inspired by the show and includes 17 eye shadows, an eyeliner (I adore Tarte's eyeliners!), mascara, and an eye primer. Perfect for your inner vamp!

Uh-oh! I seem to be having technical difficulties. My computer crapped out & my blog hotmail account was hacked. Grrr. Hoping to be up & running by Tues...

Beauty Product of the Week: Aqua-Gel Eyeliner

What is it? Tarte's EmphasEYES™ Aqua-Gel Eyeliner is "a revolutionary long-wearing eye liner that contains intensely rich mineral pigments in a 50% water concentration. This revolutionary EmphasEYES™ Aqua-Gel Eyeliner captures the high-pigment concentration and staying power of a gel pot in an effortless pencil, no brush required! Even more unique is the proprietary formula which suspends rich mineral pigments in a 50% water concentration. By a process of hydrous pigmentation, cooling and refreshing pure water absorbs into the skin to hydrate and replenish the delicate eye area, leaving behind an intense, long-wearing, and pigment-rich color. Fortified with vitamin E, cucumber, and aloe this soothing Aqua-Gel Eyeliner maintains moisture balance in the skin while treating with healing free-radical fighters." Available in 8 shades at Sephora and Ulta for $18.00.

What did you think?  I've been using Urban Decay's eyeliner for months now. I think Urban Decay's liners kick ass, except for the fact that every stinking liner they (other than black) is sparkly.  Too sparkly.  I don't like I lot of glitter on my face--it's just not my thing.  The other day I was looking for an equally good, glitterless liner, and was told by a salesgirl to check out Tarte.  I'm glad I listened!

The liner goes on easily.  It feels a little cold and wet, and you can smudge it before it dries.  Once it does dry, it's set in place.  This liner does not budge!  It does take a few tries to perfect the amount of liner.  A light hand is all that's needed.  It feels smooth going on and it lasts a really, really long time.  There's also a ton of pigmentation in the liner, so you can get a bold look quickly.

The only downside is that the tip can easily break off if you have too much out for application.  Keep it low, and it should be fine.

The final verdict?  I love this liner!  They need more shades (and I'd love for it to be a few bucks cheaper), but the fact that it feels good, lasts forever and is easy to apply make it worth the price.  If you're into liners, check this one out!

Raspberries Aren't Just for Eating

Summer means long sunny days, hanging out on a warm, sandy beach, and eating bowls of ripe, sweet berries. Is there anything more yummy than diving into a bowl of cool, juicy red raspberries?  They're the best!  But berries aren't just for eating.  Raspberries inspire all sorts of beauty products...here are a few to try.

FOR THE LIPS
Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Lipgloss, $22.  This cooling, water-based formula contains the natural raspberry and pomegranate extracts to protect against free-radical damage and smooth lip lines for softer, more youthful-looking lips. It glides on with the creamy texture of a lip gloss and has the long-lasting, vibrant finish of a lipstick.

FOR THE SHOWER
Philosophy Raspberry Sorbet, $16. Are there any scents of bath/shower gel that Philosophy doesn't have?  Some of their offerings are great...others miss the boat.  I really like this one, their Raspberry Sorbet.  This lusciously-scented shampoo, bath, and shower gel is packed with moisturizing agents that smooth and condition the skin and hair, while gentle cleansing agents eliminate excess oils and impurities.

FOR YOUR SKIN
Arcona Basic Five Travel Kit for Problem Skin, $87.  Raspberries taste good and are good for you. The products in the Basic Five work synergistically and are scientifically designed to fulfill a distinct transformational function. Using the Basic Five as part of an advanced daily promises even fresher, more glowing skin and a more contoured, youthful appearance.

Two Picks for the Summer

In the summer, my beauty routine lightens up and becomes a bit more simple.  For me, summer means staying cool and keeping things fun and easy.  It's time for more color, less product, and tricks for looking great despite the heat and the harsh glare of the sun.

Here are a couple new products I found to keep things cool...

FOR YOUR FEET
Summer is the time to bust out flipflops, sandals, and cute strappy heels.  It means ditching socks and stockings, but it also means sweaty, possibly stinky shoes.  That's why Silver Linings are so awesome.  They're super thin liners featuring silver technology that helps to eliminate bacterial odor in shoes worn without socks.  They're great for flats without socks!  You can get Silver Linings for $15.99 for a set of three from Amazon.com or silverliningsnewyork.com; each pair lasts up to a month.

FOR YOUR LIPS
While you should wear a lip balm with SPF when you're out in the sun (no matter what time of the year it is!), it's also fun to have lip balms in fruity flavors to mix things up during the summer.  I really like eos lip balms. (Their mint flavored balms are super refreshing!)  They come in cute egg-shaped packaging, slide on easily, and keep my lips feeling moisturized but not coated in a heavy, sticky mess.  Check out their summer offerings in passion fruit or strawberry sorbet.  They're yummy and feel great and they're certified organic and 100% natural to boot.  eos 2011 Lip Balm Smooth Sphere Summer Pack retails for $5.99 at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target.com and EvolutionofSmooth.com.  Perfect for summer!

Beauty Product of the Week: Smoky Shadow Blast

What is it? Cover Girl Smoky Shadow Blast Shadow Stick "is a smoky eye tool and makeup artist all in one brilliant shadow stick. Create a colorful smoky eye in just 2 easy steps! Available in 6 expertly coordinated duos with specially shaped ends. It's like having a makeup artist at your fingertips."  Available at drugstores and big box stores for less than $8.00.

What did you think? This product is very easy to use.  You just slide on the colors from either end of the tube and viola!  You have a somewhat smoky eye.  I didn't get very dramatic results from this, but my eyes looked decent enough.   The shadow is lightweight, which is nice.  I did notice that there was a little bit of creasing which I didn't like.  Oh well.

I do like the fact that everything you need to create an acceptable eye look is in one tube.  It makes this a very decent beauty product for traveling.  Overall, I liked the results I got, but for some reason, I don't find myself gravitating to this product on a daily basis.  I have it, it's in my bag, I use it if I remember, and I'm typically satisfied with the results.  It's not a memorable or exciting product, but it does a decent job.


The final verdict? There's nothing wrong with this product, but I don't love it.  I give it a solid "meh." 

Summer Trends: Coral

Summer is supposedly just around the corner.  Here in Seattle, it seems like warm weather is NEVER going to get here, but I know that soon enough it will heat up to the point where I can bust out the short sleeves!  Summer's the time to lighten up when it comes to makeup, but it's also a time to embrace fun, lively colors.

This year, one big color trend is coral.  Coral's great because it gives a pop of color and looks great on almost everyone.  If you want to incorporate coral into your summer makeup bag, here are a few awesome options:

For your cheeks: Cargo BeachBlush in Coral Beach.  This product is great because it combines blush with bronzer.  It will give your face a soft, radiant glow and a nice depth of color.  It's a nice option for faking your tan and having some color on your cheeks.  Available at Ulta for $28.

For your lips: fresh Sugar Lip Gloss in Sugar Glory.  fresh lip gloss is light and lovely.  This shimmery coral feels natural, not sticky.  The color is subtle but flattering--perfect for your daytime look. Plus it contains SPF 15.  Available at Sephora for $18.

For your nails: Sephora by OPI in Let's Do Lunch.  This nail color is warm and wearable.  It's not the most exciting color in the world, but it's great for everyday.  It's especially lovely on darker skin tones and is worth checking out.  If you're looking for a more pink-hued coral, check Sephora by OPI in How Cute is That?  The name says it all!  Both are available at Sephora for $9.50.

Hot or Not: Python Pedicure

I was flipping through the latest issue of Vogue, and they highlighted a new "trend": a python pedicure.  (Head over to the Vogue website to read the article for yourself.)  The insanely expensive pedi (it's $300!) involves using real snakeskin applied directly to the nails.  The result: serpentine-patterned nails that don't come from a decal.

According to the article, the nail artist uses the skin that is naturally shed from a python.  This has me feeling very relieved.  The thought of having to slaughter a poor snake so some wealthy trendjumper can have fancy nails bothered me.  But since the skin is shed naturally, the python is more like a renewable beauty resource.

So, as for the actual look: python printed nail...do you love it or loathe it?  At first I wasn't impressed, but the more I look at it, the more the python pedi is growing on me.  I don't think I'd do it (I have plenty of other things to spend $300 on!), but it's kind of interesting.  I like animal prints in general, so this is a natural extension.

Since no snakes are hurt in the creation of this, I give the python pedicure a nod of approval.  If you've got money to burn, go for it!  What do you think?

Uh-oh!

I spent some time on Sunday cleaning out some boxes in my bedroom.  From those boxes, I found zillions of beauty products.  I threw all the nail polishes I came across into a basket.  Sadly, this isn't my entire stash. I have two problems: 1) I have too much junk.  2) I'm not as organized as I should be.

Sigh.

Oh, and this a version of this blog entry might post twice because Blogger's mobile blogging is acting strange.  Damn technology.

I just set myself up so I can do mobile blogging with my iPhone. This is a test. I hope it works!

Beauty Product of the Week: Spin Pin

What is it? Goody's Spin Pin allows you to get "3 easy styles. Spin your style! Style guide inside features 3 spin pin styles. To use:
1. Gather your hair at the nape of your neck (no ponytail holder needed).
2. Twist your hair into a tight bun and tuck in the ends.
3. Spin one pin in from the top and the other up from the base, taking care not to interlock pins."
Available at drugstores and big box stores in either blonde or brunette for less than $7.00.


What do you think? Good Housekeeping gave this product a VIP (Very Innovative Product) Award and for good reason: it's easy to use and it works. 

I suck at styling my hair.  My hair styling skills are limited to a simple ponytail and, when I'm feeling plucky, flat ironing.  I've been growing my hair out--it's now just at my shoulders--and being able to pull it back and up into a quick easy bun is a great option, especially now that it's getting warmer.

The Spin Pin makes pulling my hair away from my face and up off my neck a breeze.  The instructions are easy to follow, and once you get the hang of it, putting your hair up into an easy bun takes a matter of seconds.  The Spin Pins keep hair in place without being overly restrictive.  They don't pull or snag, and they twist right out.  I can't stress how easy these pins are to use!

Lots of us have used pencils or chopsticks in the past to get our hair up into an easy bun.  With these pins, you can leave pencils for writing and chopsticks for sushi.



Final verdict? I like this tool so much that I bought an extra to keep in my purse. It's easy to use, easy to remove, and I love it!  Give it a try if you're a hair klutz like me!

Product Preview: Regenerist Night Elixir

Now that I'm trying to get back on the beauty blogging bandwagon, I'm starting to give more consideration about my beauty products and skin care routine.  While I was off of the blogging habit, I just used the same old products without much thought. Now that I'm back to blogging, I'm trying new things.  Yay, me!

I'm in my mid-30s, and I'm finding that I'm in a weird position: I want products that will help me fight the aging battle, but I also need to consider annoying things like breakouts.  There are plenty of products on the market that do both, but lately I'm finding that I need to focus most on the anti-aging products.

I've seen plenty of ads for Olay's new Night Resurfacing Serum and I was intrigued; so intrigued that I picked it up at Costco on a recent outing (bonus: I had a coupon so I saved a good deal of cash!).

Olay promises that this product will, "Resurface skin while you sleep for tighter, smoother skin when you wake. Professional medium or deep chemical peels work quickly to resurface skin, but these fast-acting treatments can be harsh, causing severe flaking or prolonged redness. While not the same results, Olay Regenerist Night Resurfacing Elixir works each night to help gently resurface skin while you sleep for tighter, smoother skin when you wake without the risk of harsh side effects associated with a professional chemical peel. When applied each night, the non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula with glycolic acid works over a normal sleep cycle to give you uninterrupted exfoliation while antioxidants and moisturizers continuously provide soothing hydration to tighten skin's surface. Light glycolic peel resurfaces skin nightly for tighter, smoother skin."

Sounds good to me!  User reviews of this product are overwhelmingly positive, and Olay usually has decent skin care products.

I've been using the elixir for about a week now.  After a few more weeks, I'll report back with my thoughts. 

Have you tried this product yet?  What do you think?

Hot or Not: Shattered/Crackled Nails

There's a nail trend that I've been seeing for months: the shattered look.  When I was flipping through the latest batch of beauty mags, there they were, right in my face and completely unavoidable: shattered nails in the current OPI Pirates of the Caribbean line. 

Let's take a look at the line.  It features six new shades inspired by this summer's version of the Pirates franchise: Skull & Glossbones, Steady as She Rose, Sparrow Me the Drama, Planks a Lot, Stranger Tides, and Mermaid's Tears (see below; the color on the left end is the Silver Shatter...keep reading!).

You can wear the lacquers alone, or you can do what OPI suggests and go one step further: break out a bottle of OPI's Silver Shatter and apply one coat of it over your dry, freshly painted nails. The results?  Multi-dimensional nails; cracks of color that show underneath a shattered silver layer.

Like I said, this trend has been picking up steam over the months. Different salons and nail companies offer various techniques and products to get this look, but you get the idea from OPI's latest offerings.

Here's my question for you: what's your take on the crackled look?  Is it a hit or a miss?

Here are my two cents on the matter:

• For me, I personally don't like this look.  I prefer a neater, more polished look.  It's interesting, yes, but nothing I'd want to wear.
• This nail technique reminds me so much of faux finishes used on furniture in old home improvement/decorating TV shows from the 90s.  Somewhere Christopher Lowell is loving this nail trend.  (Don't know who I'm talking about?  Click here!)
• I am not loving the new Pirates of the Caribbean nail line from OPI.  There wasn't a single color I was excited about, but maybe I'm just jaded.  I'm not a huge Pirates fan (I find the movies stupid and--worse--boring!), so a beauty tie-in doesn't ring my chimes.

Would you wear crackled/shattered nails?  Leave me a comment!

Beauty Product of the Week: Diamond Strength

What is it? Sally Hansen's Diamond Strength Nail Hardener "Virtually ends splitting, cracking and peeling. Noticeably harder, stronger nails instantly. Grow healthy-looking nails in 5-7 days. Titanium and Micro-Diamond formula instantly bonds to strengthen and seal fragile nail layers with a virtually shatterproof, protective shield. Locks in moisture to nourish and help stop breaking so nails can grow."  Available at drugstores and big box stores for less than $7.00.


What did you think? I live in the Seattle area, a place not known for sun and warmth.  Even with Seattle's reputation for rain and gray days, this year has been especially cool and awful.  We haven't had a long stretch of warm-ish days since 2010, and because of this, the heat has been on in my house all year.  Forced, artificially warm air tends to be drying, and for some reason, my nails have taken the brunt of the dry air damage.  Since the winter, my nails have been peeling and fragile, despite the fact that I take my calcium daily like a good little girl.

One particularly bad nail day, I rushed over to my local Rite Aid to pick up a bottle of GNC's Nail, Hair and Skin, and decided to check out the nail product aisle.  Everything was on sale (nice!), and I grabbed a bottle of Diamond Strength to give even more aid to my terrible nails.

The clear polish goes on super easily.  It's not too thick, not too runny.  And it dries very fast (perfect if you're like me and don't have all day to let your nails dry).  My nails improved quickly--in a few days, I noticed less splitting.  In a week, there was more growth.  After 10 days, my nails look long, strong, and a million times better than they did when I bought the bottle.

The only negatives are: 1) a slightly strong, off-putting smell (but that's nail polish for you!) and 2) some bubbling when I used a nail polish over this.  Not sure if I did something wrong (which is probably the case), but the bubbles were annoying.

Final verdict? Nice product, well worth the price.  My nails were a disaster, and after a week of using this, they looked so much better. Sally Hansen's nail products are affordable, easy to located, and actually do what they say they will.  What more could you want?

June Giveaways at Free Beauty Events

If you like beauty products, beauty tips, and freebies, then head over to www.freebeautyevents.com! I've mentioned this site in the past and for good reason: they list all kinds of beauty events and host some pretty great giveaways. 

This month, for example, CVS is hosting a P&G event during the month of June. Makeup artists will be giving free CoverGirl makeovers and demonstrating Olay and Pantene products. They will also be giving away Pantene 2-in-1 samples and CoverGirl NatureLuxe coupons and samples. In addition, there will be a beauty basket raffle during this event! This information is available for free on the freebeautyevents.com website. Enter your zip code to find out what makeover, gift with purchase, spa open houses and sampling events are happening near your home.

For the month of June 2011, freebeautyevents.com will be giving away 10 prizes. Each prize will consist of L’Oreal Paris Magic Smooth Souffle Makeup, Lumene Vitamin C+ Pure Radiance Day Cream SPF 15, and Lumene Excellent Future Deep Repairing Serum. The Contest runs from 6/1/2011 to 6/30/2011, winners will be chosen on 7/5/2011 and notified by 7/15/2011.

Happy Birthday, Marilyn

On this day, 85 years ago, a little girl named Norma Jeane Mortenson was born.  Norma Jeane grew into Marilyn Monroe, arguably one of the most famous, iconic women in the world.

Marilyn was a lot of things: beautiful, sexy, funny, sad...but she was also pretty darn smart.  In honor of what would have been her 85 birthday, here are a couple of quotes from Ms. Monroe:

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring."

"If you're gonna be two-faced at least make one of them pretty."

"All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't."

"Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition."

"I don't mind being burdened with being glamorous and sexual. Beauty and femininity are ageless and can't be contrived, and glamour, although the manufacturers won't like this, cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour; it's based on femininity."