Friday, July 30, 2010

Blown Away!

Another beauty related review...sorry if it seems like that's all I talk about lately, but I have to share my thoughts on this amazing "tool" I recently purchased.  To be honest, I've only been using it since Tuesday, only four days thus far, but I don't see how my thoughts on this will change so I figured what the heck - you're getting the review now!

The product: the beautyblender*cue the parting clouds and singing angels* 


I've always used sponges to apply my foundation and concealer.  It's what I started out using when I first discovered makeup and over time what I was  most comfortable with.  Every once in a while I'd try to use my fingers but I could never get it to blend nicely and look the way I wanted it to.  I even tried a few foundation brushes and again, I wasn't happy with the finish.  I always resorted back to sponges...old habits die hard.  I used to be able to pick up any old brand of sponges at the drugstore and be completely happy, but lately, no matter which brand I bought, they just felt off.  Too plastic-y.  I don't even want to tell you how many packs of sponges I've purchased.  It's embarrassing :(  But I was nearing the end of my stash of "good" sponges so I was desperate to find something, anything, that would apply my foundation as good as or better than I was used too. 

I've seen the beautyblender on Sephora's website for a while now, but I just could never commit to spending that much on a sponge.  I mean really, $20 for a sponge alone is a little ridiculous.  But again, I was desperate I tell you!  I read the reviews on sephora.com and makeupalley.com and most were pretty positive.  Worst case scenario, I return it and get my money back.  So I caved, added it to my shopping basket (amongst a few other things, of course!), checked out and then waited for my package to arrive. 

First off, it's adorable.  I dare you to not smile at it's hot pink, egg-shaped cuteness.  Second, it's super soft and squishy.  Third, it doesn't smell all gross like other sponges tend to smell.  So far, so good. 

I purchased the set that comes with one beautyblender and a bottle of cleanser, so the first thing I did was wash the sponge.  I was amazed at how much the sponge expanded when wet!  The directions say to always dampen the sponge before using it to apply your makeup...intriguing!  I squeezed out any excess water, then squeezed it again with a towel in my hand - worked great.  It still felt damp, but not damp enough to transfer any water to my hands if that makes sense.  They also say to dip the sponge in the makeup then apply, but I like to use my fingers to dot the foundation on my face, then blend with the sponge - either way will work.  All you do is bounce the sponge across your face, that's it.  No tugging, no pulling, just bouncing.  The shape of the sponge is what creates that airbrush effect.  Since it's rounded it's impossible to get any lines or streaks.  And the process goes so quickly since the sponge can cover a larger surface area with each bounce.  I would typically squeeze out a thin strip of foundation on the tip of my index finger and repeat that three times, using one strip for each "section" of my face.  One for my nose and cheeks, one for my eyelids and forehead, and then one more for my chin, jaw line and neck line.  I was able to cut the amount of foundation I use in HALF by using this sponge.  It makes me super happy to think of all the money I'll be saving on foundation, not to mention the minutes I'll be saving each morning, too! 

The first time I used it I was blown away. I just kept saying "wow"...hours later I was still saying "wow".  It's got the "wow" factor for sure!  The way it blends makeup is just amazing.  I've never been able to achieve that sheer, glow-y look before...ever.  This just makes my skin look like MY skin, only better.  I've noticed the staying power is better too, and my makeup doesn't settle into my lines as much anymore.  Less truly is more, such an interesting concept!

The cleanser is great too, but from the reviews I've read, not entirely necessary (some use baby shampoo)...I personally love the cleanser and think it does a fabulous job at getting all the makeup off the sponge (you can dilute it a bit and use it to clean your brushes too).  You're supposed to clean it between each use to keep it looking nice and germ free.  I've read of some people using it a few times between washes, so I guess it's just personal preference and how much of a germaphobe you are ;)  One reviewer said that while she cleans her beautyblender daily, she waits until right before she uses it...since you have to wet the sponge before applying makeup anyway, you're kind of killing two birds with one stone and saving time.  Whichever method or system you choose is up to you.  With proper care the sponge will last at least 3 months, but many are using it 6 months to a full year - talk about getting your money's worth!  The company will even recycle the sponge if you send it back to them so it's environmentally friendly to boot.

If you use liquid foundation, you MUST get this.  (It does work with powders too, including blush, bronzers and eye shadows, but I can't comment on that yet since I've only used it to apply my foundation and concealer thus far)  Even if you use your fingers or a brush to apply your liquid foundation and are happy, I still think you'd be amazed by this.  I'm really not sure how you'd ever go back to your old method once you get your hands on this sponge.  It's that amazing, I promise you!

2 Month Follow-up to "Putting it out there..."

Let me just say that I think I timed my "weigh-ins" during the wrong time of the month, if you know what I mean.  Not the best for my morale.  Same as last month, I'm a few days late with my update, but I did weigh myself on the correct day (the 27th) to again be sure I was getting an accurate reading.  I'm only down another 2 pounds, 4 pounds total since I started this whole "eat better, lose weight" plan.  I weighed myself a few times throughout this past month and there were definitely days where I was lower than the number I ended up at on the official weigh-in day.  But this past week I've been feeling super bloated and just overall uncomfortable.  Not sure if it has to do with the extreme heat (hello, high 90's!) or all the fruit I've been eating (hello, lots o' fiber!).  At any rate, only 2 pounds.  Blah.  I will say though that I've been fitting into clothes a bit better lately...a few pairs of shorts that I haven't worn since buying them two Summers ago fit nicely now.  So in that respect I am seeing results.  I just wish I'd see it a bit more on the scale!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Disappointment has a name...

It's heartbreak...or it was heartbreaking.  I was all set to come back and post an awesome review of the John Mayer concert, but sadly it never happened.  There was some major, unrepairable equipment damage due to some crazy, heavy storms that passed through our area Sunday afternoon and there was no choice but to postpone.  We found out the sad news about 15 minutes or so after arriving in Hershey, just as the rain was coming to an end and the sun was starting to shine.  It was tough news to take, especially since we had been waiting 3+ months for this concert to take place.  Thankfully, it was rescheduled for August 5th and while it sucks to have to wait, again, I'm confident it will be a show to remember.  John will make it up to us, I'm sure of it. 

Here's a little peek of just how bad the storm was (warning: some "adult" language can be heard)...



Amazingly enough, once the storm passed it turned out to be one of the most beautiful Summer days we've had in a while.  It was warm, but not too warm, not much humidity (if any), a slight breeze, and gorgeous blue skies.  It would have been the perfect evening for an outdoor concert!  We tried to make the best of it by doing a little shopping at the outlets then ending the night with dinner on the river.  While it certainly wasn't the night we had planned and prepared for, it was nice to spend the time with friends and I realized on the drive home that we'd get to do it all over again in a few short days.  That put a smile on my face :)

Looking forward to August 5th!!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Guess who I get to see tomorrow...








Can. not. wait.  I'll be sitting 7th row center and praying I don't pass out, #1 from the heat (90 degrees, ouch!) and #2 from the hottness in front of me ;)  Fingers crossed the rain stays away and that he delivers the best set of the tour so far.  Have a fabulous Sunday...I know I will!!!




Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Beauty and Skin-care Raves, pt. 2

As promised in a post I did back in April, I want to share some products I've been loving during the past three months (April-June, yes I know I'm a little late!).  But before I get to the new products, I want to revisit the items I raved about in part 1 and let you know how I'm feeling about them now (please visit my old post for links directing you to more info. on each product)...

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine: still love it, but haven't been reaching for it as much as I was.  With it being late Spring/early Summer I've been using lip products containing an SPF - hello, Softlips vanilla!  Occasionally I'll layer some of the Korres over my Softlips, but not often.  I think I'll be addicted to this again come Fall and Winter though!

Stila Illuminating Finishing Powder: again, not reaching for this as much...maybe a few times a week vs. every day as I was in my last review.  I think because I naturally have a bit more color to my face due to the sun, I'm not wanting to use any bronzer.  But I have been adding some of the illuminator to the tops of cheeks every so often, layered over my new favorite blush that I'll talk about a bit later.  I'll probably start reaching for this more once the weather starts changing and the color is zapped from my skin.

Clinique Even Better Makeup:  still using this, but not every day.  I've been going back and forth between this formula and Clinique Superfit, which is a better color match for me during the Summer.  Still love the finish and coverage!

Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara:  LOVE this mascara!  After the horror that is CoverGirl LashBlast (see here), I really appreciate this a lot more.  Still making my way through some "sample"/trial-sized tubes, but will definitely be buying a full-sized once those are done.  And I'm surprised I'm enjoying a non-waterproof formula as much as I have, even in the warmer weather.  It doesn't sweat off and give me raccoon eyes.

Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel: still using it, still loving it!  Just bought my second bottle/tube.

Clinique Moisture Surge:  haven't had the need for this as much since my skin hasn't experienced any dry patches lately, but I'm still reaching for it on occasion.  I know it will be on heavy rotation once the weather changes though.

Lacura Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream: I've been alternating this with another wrinkle cream that I'll talk about below.  I haven't even gotten half-way through the jar even after all this time, but I think once it's done I won't be repurchasing it for a few reasons, mainly being that I can't find it anymore.  A little sad about it since it was such a great value, but I'm keeping my eyes opened, maybe I'll stumble upon a jar when I'm least expecting it.

Now on to the NEW products...my April-June favorites!

Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal Facial Clay Masque:  I found this in the back of my bathroom closet while I was searching for my stash of gradual tanners...it's amazing the stuff I find in my bathroom sometimes.  I've never been too fond of masques since they seemed to always make my skin worse, not better...obviously I know now that it was just the masque working and pulling out the impurities, but at the time I guess I just didn't feel it was worth it to look like even more of a pizza face.  Now that my skin is in relatively "good" shape (*knock on wood*), I was hoping it wouldn't wreak havoc and it didn't - yay!  My routine is this: I gently wash my face to remove any oils or dirt, pat dry, slather on the masque, cruise the 'net for 15-20 mins., then jump in the shower and wait until the end to rinse it off.  I feel like it tightens my skin and gives me a nice glow.  I also think it helps keep oiliness at bay.  My makeup usually looks pretty awesome for the next few days after I do the masque.  For now I'm only doing it once a week (usually on the weekend since I have more time) but I think I may amp it up to twice a week and see how it goes...hopefully it's not too much for my skin.  It's cheap too!  $4-$5 at Walmart :)


Clinique Youth Surge SPF 15 Age Decelerating Moisturizer: I received a small jar of this during a Clinique promotion and at first I thought it would just get tossed aside and never touched since I didn't need a new moisturizer.  So it sat there for a few weeks until I got an email from Clinique touting it's wrinkle fighting abilities.  I was intrigued!  Up until then I was happily using my Lacura and loving it, but that night I tried the Youth Surge for the first time and I was sold!  Now, I realize the formula I have is meant to be used during the day, but honestly, with my oily skin it would be way too heavy to use under makeup.  In fact, I have a hard time imagining it used all over my face.  I only use it in my problem areas: around my eyes and between my brows, that's it.  Once I'm through with the sample jar I'll probably purchase the "night" version of this...but I think it will be a while until that happens since I've barely made a dent after using it for a few months...really, a little goes a long way.  It melts into my skin and almost immediately I can see it diminishing my lines.  I really can't say enough great things about it, but I do wish it were cheaper :(  $48.50 is a tough pill for me to swallow, but like I said, a little goes a long a way and if it works, it's definitely worth it!


ELF Natural Radiance Blusher: I ordered a few things from ELF over the Winter when they were offering free shipping on a relatively small order...usually, their shipping is outrageous, and even if they do offer a free shipping promotion you need to spend $20 on products, annoying.  Some people are lucky enough to have an ELF display in their local Target.  The closest Targets to me are a least a 40 min. drive, no lie, and none (so far) carry the product line.  Anyway, I had always heard mixed reviews on ELF but wanted to decide for myself.  The blush colors I ordered were Coy (a muted brownish-mauve) and Innocence ( a baby doll pink).  Warning: the pans are small!  They actually look more along the size of an eyeshadow, but for $1, not too bad I guess.  Coy is a nice color for my skin tone and a little goes a long way with this, I barely have to touch my brush to the product to get a nice sweep of color.  Bad news:  it crumbles like crazy.  I've resorted to dumping the excess blush into a different small container so I don't waste it.  A pain in the butt, yes, but again, it's $1!  Innocence is such a pretty color in the pan, however, I really have to layer it on to see the color on my cheeks.  But it's worth it because the color is beautiful.  It gives me that "blush from within" look that I've never been able to achieve with other blushes.  This color doesn't crumble nearly as much as Coy does, so I find it easier to use...obviously consistency isn't ELF's strong suit.  So while my review mentions a lot of faults, I'm willing to look past them for the color alone and how well they look on my cheeks.  Now if only I could find the ELF products in an actual brick and mortar store I'd be a really happy girl!


Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray: I learned about this makeup setting spray in a YouTube video, but I can't for the life of me remember who it was or find the video so I can link it for you, bummer.  I was hesitant to order it (from Sephora, my happy place) because of the price, but after I got it home and tested it out, it's worth it's weight in gold I tell you!  A must have for the Summer months for sure, when the heat and humidity cause your makeup to melt and virtually disappear in a matter of hours some days.  All you do is apply your makeup as you normally would and then once you're done you mist about 2-4 pumps over your face, that's it.  It sounds bizarre, I know, but it works.  The mist is so fine that it dries in seconds and it doesn't smell odd or feel strange at all, in fact I think it feels kind of nice :)  They claim your makeup won't budge for 16 hours, which I guess it's quite possible depending on your skin type, but for my oily skin I'd say it gives me about 5 hours before I see some shine, and by some, I mean pretty minimal...of course, totally dependent on what I'm doing.  But overall, I'm very, very rarely touching up my makeup anymore, only occasionally blotting, and I'd say that's pretty awesome for this oily-skinned girl!



And that's a wrap!  Hopefully I've introduced you to some new things and peaked your interest a little bit.  Let me know if you use any of the mentioned products (and if you love them/hate them), or if you plan to try them out.  See you back here in a few months for part 3, my July-September favorites!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Regretful Product Purchases

I miss blogging...sorry for the absence :(  However, it's Summer, and even though we really haven't been doing a ton of "fun" things, we have been enjoying being outside and relaxing together.  I think we've been out in the yard more this Summer than we have in any of the previous eight that we've lived here.  Nothing better than dining al fresco and enjoying an adult beverage in the warm evening air.  But onward to the point of my post... 

While cleaning and organizing my bathroom last week I came upon a few things that I've been using recently that I'm not really loving, but using anyway as to not be wasteful...things I will not repurchase once the bottle/tube/what-have-you is empty.  All of these are drugstore products, nothing that would break the bank, but it's still annoying to spend money on something and not be satisfied regardless of how much or how little it cost.  These are just my opinions, of course, so sorry if you use any of these and love them!

#1 L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin  I normally use the Clinique 3-Step system when I wash my face at night before bed, but I like to keep something cheaper in the shower that the hubster and I can both use (he uses whatever I put in the shower, he's not picky).  I was initially intrigued by the little scrublet that comes w/ each bottle (which, btw, only I used...we didn't share, lol) and chose the sensitive skin version because I figured it would lesson the chance of it breaking me out.  It's a creamy cleanser and lathered extremely well, but it really dried me out!  I'm pretty oily, so usually a product that is a bit drying still works ok with my skin, but this was just too intense for me.  It made my face feel tight.  No good.  I did however LOVE the scrublet!  In fact, I kept it even after I tossed the empty bottle.  I think I paid $5 w/ a coupon.


#2 John Frieda Root Awakening Nourishing Moisture Shampoo  I have a lot of hair, but it's super fine which makes it pretty limp most times.  I normally reach for a volumizing shampoo, but those types of shampoos generally dry out your hair and blow out the follicle which in turns makes your hair appear fuller and more volumized.  Over time the volumizing shampoos started drying out my hair and my scalp especially, so I switched to a more moisturizing shampoo which I've found doesn't weigh down my hair like I assumed it would.  I saw this shampoo at Target and thought that maybe since it was geared towards healthy roots and contained eucalyptus it would help my scalp while adding more moisture into my hair.  Wrong!  While I love the smell, it really does nothing for me.  In fact, on days when I use this (I like to switch between shampoos and usually have two in my shower at all times) my ends appear so dried out like I'm in dire need of a trim or something.  And as far as it nourishing my scalp, I think it makes it feel tighter.  I'm still slowly making my way through the tube which seems to be taking forever!  The hubster doesn't even like it.  It's quite a shame since I've normally heard good things about John Frieda products...maybe I'll try something else of his down the line.  I think I paid about $7.


#3 Aussie Cleanse & Mend Shampoo  I picked this up at Walmart after I started using the John Frieda and I wanted something that would help my ends not look so dry.  This shampoo is supposed to gently, yet effectively cleanse your hair while softening and smoothing your ends.  Wrong again!  This seemed to dry my scalp out even more and really didn't do much for my ends at all.  Plus, I think it made my hair feel greasy at the roots as the day went on.  Overall, not good.  I was so glad to see this bottle get finished!  It was around $5...I guess you get what you pay for.


#4 Garnier Fructis Style Full Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray  Ugh, the humidity!  My hair turns to a gross, lifeless, sometimes frizzy, sometimes greasy, overall disgusting mess when it's humid.  On those days I have to go light on the hairspray otherwise it just adds to the cotton candy effect.  I saw this Garnier hairspray mentioned in a magazine ad and the "anti-humidity" sucked me in...it's supposed to provide hold even in 90% humidity.  Nope, not even close.  First of all, I went for the strongest hold I could find in this line and it provides no hold at all, even if it's not humid in the slightest.  It's been delegated to what I call "ponytail hairspray" meaning the spray I use to hold down fly-aways when I toss my hair up to do stuff around the house.  I think I paid $4 w/ a coupon at Walmart.  Save your money and don't bother.  It smells nice though.


#5 CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Waterproof Mascara  It pains me to not like this mascara since everyone raves about it!  I bought it in the black/brown shade and I think it's a great shade for my eye color and complexion, but the formula and brush are not my favorite combo.  The the little rubber bristles are supposed to coat every lash but I think they're way too short and stubby to properly do this.  And the mascara just clumps on to the brush.  When I pull it out of the tube, you can't even tell there are bristles, that's how much product is on the darn brush.  It takes me 5 minutes of wiping the brush along the edge of the tube to get enough product off so it doesn't clump up on my lashes.  The formula is also too wet...it may remedy itself as it gets a bit older and naturally dries out from air exposure, but until that happens, I'm struggling.  I've also had problems with it flaking as the day goes on and it is a PAIN to remove at night.  Even after eye makeup remover AND Pond's cold cream it's still hanging on.  I personally like waterproof mascaras for their staying power, but this is just ridiculous.  Overall, just too much work.  I bought this at CVS during a CG buy 1 get 1 half off sale...normally it's about $8 a tube, I think?


That's about it for the time being.  $30 worth of products I dislike :(  I'm sure there will more in the future... the hunt for the "best" products never ends!  Even when I find something I love I'm still on a quest for something better, does anyone else do that?  Why can't I just be satisfied once I find something that works and does what I want it to do?  One thing's for sure, it would be easier on my wallet!  Anything you've recently purchased that you wanted to love but didn't?  Let me know!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The Land of the Free, The Home of the Brave...



...and there's no place like home.

Happy Independence Day, everyone!