Rainy Day Warpaint

Well the cold has finally kicked in!

This morning on the patio I could see my breath and it hasn't stopped drizzling since 7pm last night,
which is just fine with me because I love this sort of weather.

It makes me want to go to the bookstore and sip coffees all day, and stirs up that annual longing for a fireplace.

Now that the chill is really in the air, my skin needs some serious moisture (oh Utah, you and your damn dry air).  So I'm using creams on my face, as well as regular thin lotions, and a BB cream instead of concealer and powder,
and sticking to only cheek tints--see ya next spring, powder blush!
I'm also doing more moisturizing glosses and tinted balms instead of lip sticks or lip stains.
Let the winter transition begin...

Products used:

L'Oreal Magic Lumi on undereyes

Garnier BB cream all over face

Sonia Kashuk Cheek Tint in Poppy

Hard Candy Lash Ink*

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in Black (the kind that comes in the little black pot)

L'Oreal Le Gloss in Watermelon Crush

* This Hard Candy Mascara is supposed to be a "4 day lash tint" but it doesn't work that way for me really.  It isn't particularly waterproof and washes off with the rest of the warpaint at the end of the day, just leaving a hint of darkness on my lashes.

So I don't use it for a tint, like "oh, I'm going camping for the weekend, I'd better use this so I don't have to worry about mascara" but I do enjoy it as a special mascara on a daily basis because it has a unique texture, wand, and is very VERY dark (these photos don't do it justice).  It just makes my eyes pop more than regular mascara because it is truly like an ink.

Preppy Princess

What does a princess smell like?

According to Vera Wang, apples, flowers, and vanilla.

I wore the scent "Princess" all through college and adored it.

It comes in a cute glass heart with a removable crown ring on top (which is totally impractical to wear, but fun notion). It is sweet and fresh and light and long-lasting.  

I haven't worn it for the last year,

I've been wearing Acqua di Gia and loving it's fresh, almost rainy smell.

But the new versions of Princess caught my eye the other day, so I gave them a whiff.

I realize they aren't that new, they came out about 2 years ago, but considering I just wore Princess and never experienced the other versions, they're new to me!

I did not enjoy Rock Princess.

I didn't fancy the smell or the packaging.

But Preppy Princess,

which is a bit more woodsy and refined, I loved.

The packaging was a bit...much.

But whatever.  I can deal.

The fragrance has tangerine, red apple and berries, honeysuckle and jasmine, woods, and coconut water.
It is very nice and quite unique.  And, surprisingly, I found myself loving my sample of it even more than my beloved Princess.

Preppy Princess is relaxing, inoffensive, sophisticated, yet playful.

I just wish the bottle didn't look like a child's jumper.

It really is a 10. Really !

I'm always on the prowl for effective hair care products.
When you're a bottle blonde with thick, tangly, damaged locks, you need good hair care.
I rotate between drugstore and Sephora stuff for my hair, and recently I've used Carol's Daughter and Bumble & Bumble, and though my hair has been nice and all, it has still been resistant to styling and not what I would expect from the price tags and promises attached to those products.


I was at Nordstrom Rack the other day and saw that they are now carrying the "It's a 10!" products, including the leave-in sprays and masks.
I've used the regular leave-in spray, and the mask, a few years ago and was happy with them, but never thought about re-purchasing.  They just didn't blow me out of the water.

But I noticed a new product in their lineup--the Miracle Leave-In with keratin.
That made me look twice.
So I whipped out my phone and Googled reviews of the stuff and no one had anything bad to say about it.  It was rave reviews all the way down, so I gave it a whirl.
And now I am writing my own rave review!

I've had bad experiences with protein/keratin treatments in the past, and I'm not sure how this stuff works, but it is simply incredible.  After one use my hair was detangled, soft, healthy, and somehow, more ideal. My hair was cooperative and volumized without being flyaway, and shiny without looking oily. And it is super easy to use--I do about 8 spritzes through my towel-dried hair, brush it through, and let it air dry (or blow dry) and voila.  Ready to go as is, or ready to be heat styled.

You don't need very much of it, and it is difficult to over-use this stuff.

I am very impressed and will definitely be buying this stuff again.
I think I have found my Holy Grail hair treatment!

I'm not sure about the availability of this stuff--they'll have it at certain stores (try Ulta and Target) and I've seen them at Trade Secret Salons in the Salt Lake Valley.
Try Nordstrom Rack first -- it is cheaper there for sure.

Something Oft Blogged About

Yes, Kiehl's Lip Balm #1.

It is written about so often and so extensively that I need not go into "ode to lippy" mode like so many bloggers tend to do..and I may have been guilty of myself in the past.

All I need say is, it is some badass stuff.

I have it in Mango, Mint, and Cranberry, and tend to use them varyingly based on my mood.

At this point the Cranberry is my favorite scent, Mint my least favorite (though the tingle is nice).

It tastes yummy, has a pretty yet natural gleam to it, and lasts a decent amount of times.

It is moisturizing, easy to apply, and I love that it is colorless (it comes out of the tube a bit yellow).
The best feature of this stuff is that it is nowhere near sticky! 

At this point I wear the Vera Wang Soothing Balm at night and around the house,

and wear some color (like a lip butter or tint) with one of these balms over it for shine when I'm going out.  I know these balms are going to just live in my pockets and purses this winter!

Barbie-Meets-King-Midas Nails

Coral is obviously a fun color, and so very "in" right now, but I'm a bit tired of bright colors by themselves.
I wanted to spice things up a bit and put some shimmer in there without overwhelming the coral, so I conducted an experiment.

It was successful.
I like to call it Autumn Explosion.

Base coral color:
Revlon Top Speed in "Infamous"

Top shimmery stuff:
From the #2 step "Satellite" of Revlon Moon Candy duo stick.

Top coat: Seche Vite

Easy Hot Pink Digits

Picked up this baby at Walgreens the other day...

It is Milani High Speed Fast Dry in "Hot Pink Frenzy."

Hot pink is right!

With this stuff on my nails, every time my hands flash before my eyes I go "WOAH!"

It's a funky fresh color, perfect for...well any season, really.

I never was one for adapting my nail colors based on the weather.

It does dry decently fast--much faster than any of the other "quick" ones I've tried (Revlon, Sally Hansen, Rimmel), and the color is so intense I only needed one coat.

It dried solid, to the point I would feel comfortable doing the dishes, in about 2 minutes, even without a topcoat.

Good stuff.
Wear is decent--it stays shiny and strong, just watch for chipping at your nail tips.

This baby will run you a fiver.

I like it because it isn't fussy the way Essie or O.P.I can be---if you don't paint those brands on precisely, the texture goes horribly wrong and my nails get swampy! I'm satisfied, and definitely want to check out some more of their colors now.

The only caveat: use thin coats, both for the polish itself and the topcoat.

Vera Wang Soothing Balm Review

I never expected cosmetics from Vera Wang.
I was happy with her classic yet unique clothing designs, her simple and ready-to-wear panache, and even her jewelry line in muted steels and Victorian twists.
And even happier that I could afford these things at my local Kohl's.

So imagine my surprise when I stopped by Kohl's to snag some winter socks and check out their sweaters for fall when I peeped into the cosmetic section, just to see what was going on, since I noticed it had been recently rearranged, and BOOM. Right in front of me, "Simply Vera" cosmetics.

It is exactly what you would expect from Vera---a basic line without frills or unnecessary froof; necessary and practical makeup tones to go with any girl's skin, and a few essentials to keep that skin looking as healthy as possible, all packaged in straightforward yet chic cases.

She's got tinted moisturizer, powder, concealer, lipstick, lipgloss, lipliner, mascara, eyeliner--the basics.
And some INCREDIBLY scented spa products, including an Argan Oil and Fig Body Mist I am absolutely pining for!

But what really caught my eye was the Soothing Balm.
Both because I have too many of the other bits and baubles (the lip gloss, eyeliner, etc.), and I need a new balm.  Mostly because I am obsessed with balms and always on the lookout for the "ultimate" one (yes, I love Rosebud Salve, but just feel crazy putting it on my dry eyelids in the autumn, and Josie Maran's Argan Balm just fell flat, and so on and so forth).
I had a Kohl's coupon (which are quite easy to snag online, and if you sign up they'll e-mail you some pretty decent discounts) to justify the $18.50 price tag.
And it is a good-sized little pot too, holding nearly half an ounce.

I had to circle the swatch with my eyeliner stick here so you can see it--
this stuff is so non-greasy it hardly shows up!

And I'm already addicted.
I smeared some on my lips last night before going to bed and literally went "WOOOOAH!" and then insisted on putting some on my husband.  He didn't like having balm smothered across his face as he tried to escape, but he did admit that the texture is marvelous.
I don't know if this is from the hibiscus extract in it, but it is just so luxurious and velvety.
Very different from any of the other salves and balms I've had in the past, I don't quite know how to describe it.

I can say it will last an awfully long time, considering the small pinch you need to cover lots of area.  I must have coated my lips 3 times in a 15 minute period, just because it felt so good and literally blew my mind with the silky texture, and did my cuticles as well, and entrusted my sensitive, dry eye skin to this stuff.
And I woke up to smooth eyes, moisturized cuticles (which in itself is a miracle for me), and plump lips that weren't crying out for more moisture.  I am beyond satisfied, and the results certainly explain the price----this stuff knocks the La Mer The Balm right out of the running and blows the other competition out of the water.  I can honestly say I won't need another balm ever again: I have found my Holy Grail.
If I had to describe it in one word: PLUSH.

CONS:
-Price
-Not widely available (I've only heard you can find it at Kohl's, and online)


PROS:
-Wonderful texture makes it easy to spread
-Only need a small amount
-It lasts!
-Not greasy/shiny, so you can use it for its soothing benefits during the day on your face/hands/wherever without worrying it will turn you into a slimeball
-Smells heavenly, tastes good too!
-Durable pot container (I've already dropped mine twice), easy to tote around
-Safe to use ANYWHERE (including eyes)
-Works wonders. And quickly (I'm talking overnight results here)

Just some Wednesday night polish freehand!

Base color: Essie bikini so teeny
Silver glitter accents: nails inc. special effects in malda vale
Red accents: The Balm in Hot Ticket
Top coat: Seche Vite

Just messing around with these colors, wanted to incorporate red for the Ute game tomorrow and this is what happened! All freehand, no tools--not even toothpicks!

ALL NATURAL: Minty Clear Skin

Peppermint tea is delicious.
There's no arguing that point.
And it is good for you, from the inside and the outside!

This stuff is brilliant.  Peppermint gives me such a glow!
I have my own peppermint plant in a big blue pot on the patio and I pick those leaves for all kinds of beauty concoctions.  Peppermint is full of Vitamins A and C, omegas, and nutrients including potassium, iron, and calcium...to name a few! It helps with digestion, stress and headaches and...you guessed it...SKIN!

People have been topically applying peppermint (particularly in the oil form) to skin outbreaks for centuries, and drinking peppermint as a tea is similarly beneficial (zapping things internally is always preferable, or at least a good complement to applying treatments externally). You've probably seen plenty of expensive mint skincare products on the market (especially toners....so just make your own!).

In other words, drink up that peppermint tea, and make it into a topical treatment while you're at it!
You can get a box of decent peppermint tea at the market for just a couple of bucks.
If you have your own plant, like me, that is even better! Use a pestle and mortar to grind up those leaves with boiling water poured over them.

Brew up a big pot of it, and drink as many cups as you would like, then use the rest as a skin toner!
Pour the excess tea (cooled of course, and not with any additives like milk or sugar) into a safe contained (BPA free), and pour it onto cotton balls and use it as you would any regular toner.
Sometimes I steep it with fresh rosemary or rose petals for added benefits, and the heavenly scent.
If you're worried about treating acne, add a little apple cider vinegar to your toner. Not too much, or even the fresh peppermint scent won't be able to overpower the nastiness of vinegar.  Stinky, but effective.
This can even be added to your bath water!
Refrigerated, your peppermint tea toner will last 3-4 days.



I hope you enjoy the minty fresh tingling on your skin as much as I do!
{Remember: COOLED tea only for your face...otherwise that glowing result you get will be from 2nd degree burns and not healthy skincare}

Damn the nail cracks, full speed ahead!

My nails are crap.
I think my multiple health problems are a big factor in this, but that doesn't make me feel any better, or make them grow any faster.
I've taken my vitamins like a good girl. I've even taken extra vitamin A & D, zinc and horsetail supplement, and silica, and Phyto's pricey hair, skin, and nails supplement.
I've used Solar Oil and that Sally Hansen Vitamin E stuff, and all sorts of other potions.

And yet, I still have these flimsy nails that bend back and forth like a see-saw and get awful splits at the tips, even when wearing nail polish and top coat! One section of my nail just peels away, abandons ship, and I have to file the whole thing down.

It is definitely a First World Problem, but come on, I'm writing about beauty products here, not cancer prevention or victims of genocide.
I have other venues for writing about the serious stuff.

This is frustrating! Especially for someone that loves to wear nail color, instead of protective things that give me nails a strange beige matte tint that makes me look like a chronic smoker.
I've tried too many of these protective coats to list, trust me.

I just want to talk about one I've found that seems to be working (I will post later results as I see fit!):
Nail Envy by O.P.I.

I saw this listed as a "Must Have Product" on several U.K. beauty blogs I follow, and thought "hmm, this must be some incredible stuff!" but worried I wouldn't be able to find it here in Utah.
I was surprised to realize it was an entire line, and I debated between the "Soft and Thin" or "Sensitive and Peeling" versions, and decided on the former because it had better reviews online.
But I snatched it up at Ulta! And it was the last one!
I'm one of those people that thinks if a product is nearly vanished off the shelves, it is that popular for a reason.  So I took this to be a good omen, and in my 11 days of using this product, I'm happy with it!

My nails are starting to grow--some faster than others--but more importantly, they're not snapping off!


THE PROS:
-Fast drying
-Nice big bottle!
-Lasts (don't need to put it on every day)
-Look flattering on bare nails; just a clear shine
-You can use it UNDER nail polish to give your digits extra support whilst still enjoying some color, AND it can be used as a TOP coat as well
-Hard as steel nails

THE CONS:
-If you don't paint on an even coat, it's not gonna work too well. But that can be expected.
Mostly this stuff is badass and I couldn't think of anything negative about it, so I had to come up with that.
-The price


So, if like me, you've exhausted your other possibilities, or just are able to shell out the considerable money for this (It was like $17 at Ulta, you can get it elsewhere and online cheaper), check this baby out! I'm impressed.

Mourning Sephora Be You Lip Balm

Where has this stuff gone??!
I picked up a tube about 5 months ago on a whim, because I liked the color and smell and it was cheap (less than $10) and now they're not carrying it!
It looks like they've replaced it with Color Reveal..?

But this stuff was awesome!
The color is coral twist and when I went crazy for a weekend in Vegas, this baby was my sidekick the whole time. Even in my drunken pictures, I look cute. And I think it's down to this stuff.

Apologies for the crappy iPhone pictures..

Bring it baaaaack Sephora!!!
This is one of the few color-changing lip balms that works immediately--you don't have to wait 8 minutes to know what the shade will end up like.