Drugstore Goodies and Current Faves!

The past few weeks have been very busy...I'm still not sure what happened to the month of February!  I wanted to take a few minutes to show some items I picked up from Sally's and CVS lately.  I also want to share my latest makeup favorites that I've enjoyed over the past few weeks!

Original Tangle Teezer and Miracle 7 Leave-In Mist

After watching a few youtube videos about the Tangle Teezer, I decided to head over to Sally's Beauty Supply & pick one up.  The Tangle Teezer is a bean shaped brush with small plastic bristles.  It's designed to glide through hair and minimize damage that is usually caused by brushing.  Using a hair brush on wet hair is a big no-no since hair is the weakest when wet.  I'm VERY guilty of doing this since I have too many knots in my hair after shampooing. 

The Tangle Teezer is designed to be used in the shower or after.  After shampooing, you massage in your conditioner, use the Tangle Teezer to distribute it throughout then rinse.  So far I've enjoyed it and even my son has decided to "steal" it since he says he likes the way it feels on his hair.  If you have knotty, unruly hair or you want a safer way to brush, pick one up.  They are $9.99 at Sally's.

Close-up of the Tangle Teezer's bristles.

Aside from the Tangle Teezer, I picked up another bottle of Miracle 7 Leave-In Mist.  I haven't purchased a bottle in many months since I've been trying other products but I really enjoyed this leave-in conditioner in the past.  Warm weather is around the corner and I found this conditioner to be just right without weighing down my hair.  You can pick up a bottle at Sally's for $12.99.

While at Sally's I also picked up two hair treatment samples.  I love my Macadamia Natural Oil masque but at only $.99 each, I couldn't resist Proclaim's Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque and Silk Elements Megasilk Moisturizing Treatment.  I haven't used them yet but I'm excited to try them out.  My hair is very long and very thirsty hence I love using masque's and conditioning treatments.  I find that I have less breakage and better volume when my hair is hydrated.  You can pick up both sample packs at Sally's for $.99/ea.

Proclaim's Argan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque & Silk Elements Megasilk Treatment

CVS cotton ovals and salon rounds

I just love CVS.  I have one within 2 minutes of my house and I'm probably in there at least twice a week.  I enjoy their beauty club and every purchase I make goes towards cash rewards and coupons.  Today I picked up a few items and saved $10 with coupons! 

Today I picked up their premium cotton ovals which I love to use to take eye makeup off with.  I also picked up a bag of their salon rounds which have a neat tab that protects your manicure when using them with polish remover.  I love these rounds when giving myself a pedicure and I don't want to damage the nail color on my fingernails.  The salon rounds also have a rough texture which speeds up removing nail polish from your nails.

Close-up of the tab on the salon rounds.

Close-up showing the texture on the pad.

While at CVS I also picked up a tub of Sebamed Moisturizing Face Cream.  I've heard good things about Sebamed but I've never tried any of their products.  I found this face cream (for sensitive skin) and I decided to give it a try.  I haven't used it yet but I will begin this evening and keep everyone updated on the results.  Sebamed Moisturizing Cream contains no parabens, has a ph of 5.5,  contains vitamin E and is hypoallergenic.  I hope that this moisturizer is the one I've been searching for!  I picked up my jar today for $12.99 and earned $2 in cash rewards!

Sebamed Moisturizing Face Cream for Sensitive Skin

Close-up of the cream.  The jar contains 2.6 oz.

~~~~~~~CURRENT FAVES~~~~~~~

The past few weeks have flown by but the makeup below has not let me down yet!  I've received compliments on my purple nail polish choice this past week which was OPI's Purple with a Purpose.  It's a great purple shade that looks outstanding on anyone.  I've also been loving Revlon's Lip Butters.  I know these are VERY popular but they really are a great product despite the hype.  They are moisturizing and have good color intensity.  I've been loving Sugar Plum, Red Velvet & Lollipop. 

I've also enjoyed my MAC blush in Margin.  It's a fabulous shade that never disappoints me.  It has a gorgeous sheen that flatters my skin tone very well.  I've also been reaching for MAC's Woodwinked eyeshadow.  It goes on smoothly and gives a nice brown shade with a golden sheen. 

I've been also using Wet n Wild's gel liner in #886 (black), Wet n Wild's Perfect Pair lip wand in #122A (deep mauve color) and NYX Jumbo eye pencil in Pure Gold.  Wet n Wild's gel liner is one of the best on the market!  I've tried so many liners but this one lasts and lasts all day.  I've also enjoyed the lip wand (one side is a lip liner, the other is a lip crayon) to line my lips and the NYX pencil to line my water line. 

You can find OPI nail polish at Ulta for $8.50/ea.  You can find MAC blush for $20/ea and MAC eyeshadow for $15/ea at www.maccosmetics.com

Revlon's lip butters are available at your local drugstore for around $7.50/ea.  Wet n Wild's gel liner and lip wand is available at drugstores for around $3.99 each.  NYX Jumbo eye pencils come in many shades and are available at Ulta for $4.49/ea.

BACK (L-R)- OPI's Purple with a Purpose, lip butter's in Sugar Plum, Red Velvet & Lollipop.  MAC blush in Margin and MAC eyeshadow in Woodwinked.

FRONT (L-R)- Wet n Wild's gel liner in #886, Wet n Wild's lip wand in # 122A and NYX jumbo eye pencil in Pure Gold.

Swatches (top-bottom)- Woodwinked, Margin, Pure Gold & #122A lip liner

Revlon Lip Butter swatches (top-bottom)- Lollipop, Red Velvet & Sugar Plum

One last fave...Bath & Body Works candles!  I wait until they are 2 for $20 (they are usually $19.50/ea).  I recently picked up Tiki Beach and Tropical Spice.  These are hands down the best candles out there!  They burn evenly and give off a great scent!

Favorite Winter Polish Picks PLUS Essie's New Luxeffects Topcoats

If there is one thing I do differently in the winter versus the summer, its that I wear darker nail polish.  In the spring and summer I usually stick with bright colors like hot pink, pastels and corals.  In the winter I tend to gravitate towards metallic polish, berry colors and deep shades. 

Last summer I blogged about my favorite summer nail polish colors with an entry you can read here.  I thought it would be appropriate to mention my favorite winter polish shades since we are right in the middle of cold weather.  So without further ado, here are my favorite nail polish picks for the winter months.  If the polish I chose was from a special collection and/or is not available, I've listed that below.  Most of the polishes are still available online and/or in stores.

~~~~~Red~~~~~

Sultry, sexy and just a tad sinful.  Red polish is a great choice for a girls night out or even the office.  Make a statement with a classy, creme shade or steal some looks with red glitter that is perfect for next Christmas!

L-R- Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Lava Red, Milani Nail Lacquer in Hot Flash, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Stiletto Red, Essie in Size Matters, OPI in Color So Hot It Berns, Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Burgundy Frost and Milani One Coat Glitter in Red Sparkle.

 

• Lava Red is a deep, almost black shade with slight red shimmer throughout.
• Hot Flash is a shimmery orange/red shade that can even appear gold in some light.  Hot Flash seems to be discontinued but is still available at different retailers online.
• Stiletto Red and Color So Hot It Berns are creamy, classic red shades with blue undertones.  Color So Hot It Berns was part of OPI's Swiss collection but is still available online.
• Size Matters is a deep, purple red with a creamy finish.
• Burgundy Frost is a shimmery cherry shade and Red Sparkle is a fine, red glitter polish.

 

~~~~~Pink~~~~~

Girly, fun and playful, you can't go wrong with pink nail polish.  Here are a few choices that cover the many different shades of pink that are frosty enough for cooler weather.  I've even thrown in a pearly white shade that would look great paired with pink polish!

L-R-OPI in A Rose at Dawn, Broke by Noon, Revlon Scented Polish in Coconut Crush, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Hot Cocoa, Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Pop the Cork, OPI in The One the Got Away and Loreal polish in Whimsical.

 

• A Rose at Dawn, Broke by Noon is a frosty pink that is definitely in the mauve family.  It was part of the OPI Las Vegas collection but can be found on Amazon still.
• Coconut Crush is a pearly white and Hot Cocoa is a brown-based pink that appears mauve too.
• Pop the Cork is a super-glittery polish which incorporates silver and pink glitter.  It was part of the Holiday 2011 collection but is still available.
• The One that Got Away is a deep berry shade that has gold and berry shimmer throughout.  It was part of the Katy Perry collection but it's still available online.
• Lastly, Whimsical is a super-shimmery shell pink that also has subtle silver shimmer.

 

~~~~~Purple~~~~~

From the deepest shade to a cheerful purple, winter doesn't have to be boring at all!  If you love purple like I do, then these may be for you too!

L-R-OPI in Lincoln Park after Dark, OPI in Purple with a Purpose and Milani Nail Lacquer in Black Cherry.

 

• Lincoln Park after Dark is a very deep purple that almost appears black.  It's similar to eggplant but darker.
• Purple with a Purpose is a shimmery purple that has blue undertones.
• Black Cherry lives up to its name.  It is a shade lighter than Lincoln Park after Dark and has more brown undertones as well.

~~~~~Metallics~~~~~

I love metallic polish year-round.  Silver and gold are perfect for the holidays and New Years Eve.  Gunmetal stands out and is edgy enough to make a statement no matter what time of the year!

L-R-Loreal polish in Valiant, Orly polish in Shine, OPI in Glitzerland and OPI in Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous.

 

• Valiant is a gunmetal shimmer with silver flecks. 
• Shine has super-fine shimmer and appears to look similar to tin foil in the bottle.  Shine was part of Orly's Foil FX collection and can still be found online.
• Glitzerland is a gorgeous gold that has fine glitter like Shine.  Both appear to be similar in texture, the only difference being the color.  Glitzerland was part of OPI's Swiss collection and can be found easily online.
• Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous is a deep gunmetal with shimmer.  Its more black than Valiant (which appears more brown).  It was part of OPI's Swiss collection and can be found on Amazon.

 

~~~~~Wild Card Colors~~~~~

Rusty orange, pale neutrals, deep browns and multi-colored shades define the different choices and creativity you can express.

L-R-Wet n Wild nail color in Rustic, Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in Gold Silk, Milani Nail Lacquer in Ms Milani, Essie in Mink Muffs and Hard Candy nail color in Beetle.

 

• Rustic is a glittery orange/brown shade which reminds me of fall leaves :)  It does appear to be discontinued and you might can find it on ebay.
• Gold Silk is similar to rose gold but is lighter and more neutral.
• Ms. Milani is a pewter, champagne color.  I can't find it on their website but I still see it in stores.
• Mink Muffs is a creamy, purple-brown that has cool undertones.
• Beetle is a multi-dimensional shade that changes colors depending on how the light hits it.  Sometimes Beetle appears purple, green, pink, blue, yellow or orange.  It's really a fun color to wear.

 

~~~~~New Essie Luxeffects Topcoats~~~~~

I adore Essie nail polish.  Almost every color is smooth, doesn't bubble and dries to a creamy finish.  At $8 a bottle, it's still .50 cheaper than OPI and I personally think Essie's brush works better for me.  Essie may not have the color range that OPI has but when it comes to creaminess, brush size and pastel shades, Essie has OPI beat hands down.

Recently Essie came out with five different glitter top coats.  Usually Essie shies away from glitter polish but the brand is now branching out to help Essie lovers get that glitter effect whenever they want.  I personally like glitter nails but there is a HUGE difference between obnoxious glitter and tasteful glitter.  Essie hit the mark with their topcoats because each one has just the right amount of sparkle without looking like you experimented with the your moms nail polish at 10 years old.  Below you will see two of the five that are part of the new Luxeffects collection.

Pictured here is Essie's topcoat in Shine of the Times.  It is one of five new glitter topcoats that Essie has recently released.  It is full of glitter flakes that reflect light and appear red, orange, pink and even blue.  Shine of the Times is applied in this picture on top of a pink polish called Viva Pink by Avon.  Unfortunately the camera does not do the look justice.

Pictured above is Avon Nailwear Pro in Viva Pink and Essie's Shine of the Times

The second member of the Luxeffects topcoat line is Pure Pearlfection which is pictured above.  Just a touch of this great topcoat over almost any polish looks amazing.  It gives a pearly glow to pastels and an edgy sparkle to jewel tones.  I really liked trying this color over purple and periwinkle blue.  This topcoat would also look amazing over white nail polish similar to Coconut Crush by Revlon mentioned earlier in this post.

Both topcoats can be found at your local drugstore or Ulta for $8.00/bottle.

Favorites of 2011!

Favorites of 2011!

Here is a quick listing of my favorite accessories, shoes, makeup, skin care, nail polish and hair care products that I purchased in 2011.  I've tried to pick items that I've used consistently throughout 2011 and that I thought...

1. Did what they were designed to do

2. Was worth the money I spent

3. Made me happy :)

ACCESSORIES

Nothing completes an outfit quite like a good pair of shoes, handbag or jewelry.  Here are a few of my favorites from 2011.

It was hard for me to narrow down to one favorite handbag so I chose two! 

L-R- Urban Expressions tote (I don't know the style however I picked up mine at a boutique called Persona for $80) and Michael Kors Leopard tote.  Both are eye catching and roomy enough for all the junk I carry around each day!

These boots have been fabulous all year!  They are the Alfani "Bernie" boot.  I picked them up at Macy's but this style now appears to be discontinued.  I really could recommend any black, heeled boot though.  You can dress them up or down.  Alfani makes great boots and I can walk in these all day without my feet hurting.  They look great over a pair of skinny jeans or dressed up with tights and a dress.  Macy's always has great shoe sales and now is the time to buy winter boots!

I LOVE jewelry and scarves but these three items were worn practically every week in 2011 at least once.  I'm still in love with my Swatch watch (FULL-BLOODED - SVCK4032G) which is available for $160.00 at www.store.swatch.com  It's a great oversized watch that I get compliments on each time I wear it.  It's less expensive and less common than Michael Kors watches which makes me love it even more.  My bracelet is the silver bead bracelet by Tiffany & Co.  A lot of people don't realize that Tiffany's sterling silver collections are affordable.  This bracelet can be purchased at www.tiffany.com for $200.  I wear this bracelet almost everyday and it has held up nicely.  My last accessory I couldn't stop wearing in 2011 was my gray scarf.  It's super soft and long which is a rare thing since I hate short scarves!  I picked it up for $9 at World Market.

Makeup

I found some great products this year.  Some I blogged about and others were discovered recently. 

Pictured above are all my favorite beauty products from 2011!

A good face needs color and what better way to get it than bronzer, blush and eyeshadow?  My favorite bronzer is still Laura Geller's Bronze n Brighten.  It goes on smoothly and gives a natural glow.  Bronze n Brighten can be picked up at Ulta for $31. If you want to see a swatch, click here.  My favorite eyeshadow was a tie between Wet n Wild's Dancing in the Clouds palette and Urban Decay's Naked palette.  Both offered unique shades.  I love Dancing in the Clouds because its affordable (costs only $2.99) and provides a unique mix of color.  You can see a swatch and a review I did of this palette and other Wet n Wild palettes here.   I love the Naked palette because of its versatility and quality.  You can find the Naked palette at Ulta for $48 and you can read my review here.  My favorite blush is Lovejoy by NARS.  It has been my go-to color that accents my cheekbones without being too "over the top".  It looks great when applied and is a really nice contour color too.  You can find NARS blushes ($27) and other NARS products at www.sephora.com

Pictured above is my top choices for lipstick, concealer, makeup brush, foundation, nail polish and perfume.  I couldn't choose one lipstick shade so I want to share them both.  I loved MAC's High Tea lipstick and L'oreals Fairest Nude.  Both offered great coverage and a natural finish.  If you want the perfect "my lips but better" look, then these lipsticks are for you!  You can find MAC lipsticks at your local MAC counter for $14.50 each.  L'oreals Fairest Nude is usually priced around $5.99 at your local drugstore, Walmart or Target.

My favorite concealer was one I "rediscovered" this year.  I've enjoyed Maybelline's Super Stay concealer almost everyday.  It works hard and does a good job brightening my undereye area without caking.  You can find Super Stay concealer at your local drugstore for around $7.  My favorite makeup brush this year would no doubt be my Ecotools Bamboo bronzer brush.  It's amazing at applying foundation quickly and evenly.  Just buff into your skin and you are set!  It's soft and doesn't shed.  You can find it at Ulta for $12.59.  My favorite foundation is another drugstore find.  I have gone through many tubes of Rimmel's Lasting Finish 25 hour foundation but I never posted a review about it.  It goes on smoothly, provides full coverage, costs under $8 and stays on ALL DAY LONG.  If you love Estee' Lauder's Double Wear, then you must try this!  You can find this foundation at any drugstore, Walmart, Target or Ulta.

My favorite nail polish this year wasn't very bright or fancy.  I loved OPI's Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous and wore it many times in 2011.  It's a charcoal grey with silver shimmer.  It's perfect to wear when going out or even to work.  I found my bottle at Ulta for $8 and you can see my original thoughts and swatches here.

My favorite perfume was discovered late in the year but I've enjoyed it since the day I bought it.  I discovered it during one of my Ulta "spray and sniff" outings.  I love going there and trying out new scents.  When I tried Oh Lola! by Marc Jacobs I thought it was perfect.  I picked up my bottle for $48. 

Top-bottom- My favorite pencil eyeliner is Urban Decay's 24/7 liner in Baked.  My favorite liquid liner is Jordana's Fabuliner in Black (can be purchased at Walgreens for $1.99).  My favorite mascara is Lorac's Multiplex 3D-it really lengthens and separates my lashes.  You can get a tube at Ulta for $22.  My favorite lip gloss is Beige by NYX.  This shade looks great over so many lipstick colors and on any skin tone.  NYX lip gloss costs around $6.  Last but not least is my favorite brow product.  Milani's Easybrow in Natural Taupe is a great buy.  On one end is a great eye pencil that is retractable.  The other end has a "spoolie" brush which is perfect for brushing unruly eyebrows!  It works great!  I picked up my Easybrow at CVS for around $5.

Skincare

The older I get (I turned 30 this year!) the more interested I become in skincare products.  I try each night to adhere to my skincare routine and I always try to go to bed with clean skin.  I've tried some great products in 2011 but I am still searching for a great moisturizer. 

L-R- Ahava's Body Sorbet Caress in Mandarin Cedarwood, Boscia's Enlivening Amino Eye Treatment, Clinique's All About Eyes Serum, Elemis' Soothing Apricot Toner, Sun Labs Self Tanning Lotion and the Clarisonic Mia 2.

If you want a body lotion that absorbs quickly, is not greasy and has a great smell, then check out Ahava's Body Sorbet.  It's a great lotion and is worth every penny.  You can find it on www.amazon.com for $34 for 12.3oz.  Boscia's eye treatment has been a recent find but I am loving how it moisturizes my eye area without irritation.  It goes on smooth and is not greasy like some eye creams.  I picked up my bottle at Ulta for $38.  I couldn't leave out Clinique's All About Eyes serum.  I apply this each morning to help reduce puffiness.  It applies with a rollerball applicator and it works!  You can find it at your local Clinique counter for $26.  Elemis' Apricot toner has been a great way to soothe my skin after cleansing.  It is not irritating nor does it use alcohol like most toners which can be drying.  It smells lovely and is extremely gentle.  I recommend Elemis products because of their quality.  You can find the Soothing Apricot toner at www.timetospa.com for $33.  You can also read my thoughts on Elemis skincare here. 

Lastly I've enjoyed my self tanner and Clarisonic.  Sun Labs self tanning lotion is a great product!  It doesn't smell like all self tanners I've tried.  The product itself is the color of chocolate which helps you see where the product is going when you apply it.  It absorbs quickly and in no time your "tan" appears.  I find that my tan lasts 3-4 days and doesn't become spotty like some self tanners will.  You can find it at Ulta for $36.50 but I found my bottle at TJ Maxx for $16.99.  I also want to mention my Clarisonic.  It really has helped my skin become clearer, cleaner and brighter.  I use it every night with my favorite cleanser for 1 minute and my skin hasn't looked better.  It was definately an item I thought long and hard about before I purchased but I'm glad I did.  You can purchase the Clarisonic Mia 2 at www.clarisonic.com for $149.00.

Wild Card Item of 2011

There's always that one thing you bought that you thought you would probably use but you didn't realize how much you liked it (or needed it) until after you started to use it.

I didn't realize how much my luggage was in bad shape until this set arrived.  My old set had been with me during many travels and had lasted me all through college and the first 8 years of marriage.  When I saw this set on QVC, I thought I would pick it up.  It wasn't until the luggage arrived that I realized how cool it really was (and how useful).  My old set did not have spinner wheels, hard sides or handles that worked properly.  It was a boring black set that was heavy and REALLY dirty!  I have enjoyed this set and I recommend it to anyone looking for a super cute way to travel in style.  I promise you won't miss this luggage in baggage claim (that is of course if the airline doesn't lose your bags first, lol)!  I found my set at www.qvc.com  It is the Heys 3 piece Hardside Spinner Luggage set (F09494).  It sells for $186.90.

Favorite Summer Nail Polishes

If I had a dollar for each time I bought a bottle of nail polish, I would be a rich girl with a lot of nail polish.  Every time I go shopping it seems like I am picking up a new bottle.  In the winter I buy metallics, deep purples, coppers and reds.  In the summer I am more adventurous...I love pinks, corals, blues, greens and even neon shades.

Below are pictures of my favorite summertime polishes.  Most can still be found at your local Ulta or Walmart.

REDS & CORALS

L-R- OPI's My Chihuahua Bites, Ulta's Eye Popping Poppy, OPI's Monsooner or Later, MAC's Malibu Peach (limited edition-part of the 2010 Spring Color Forecast collection) and OPI's Melon of Troy.

All OPI polishes can be found for $8.50 at Ulta or Target.  Ulta polish is available at Ulta stores for $5.00 and MAC polish can be found at your local counter or http://www.maccosmetics.com/ for $14.00.

My Chihuahua Bites is a more blue-based pink versus Monsooner or Later which is a deep, pinkish red.  Eye Popping Poppy is a gorgeous cross between the two colors mentioned above.  Malibu Peach is a orange-based coral that goes on satin with no shimmer/glitter.  Melon of Troy is a buildable coral with a slight shimmer tint.

PINKS

L-R- Essie's Fruit Sangria, China Glaze's Pink Voltage, Avon's Viva Pink, Essie's Van D'Go and Wet n Wild's Waves of Enchantment (limited edition-part of the Summer 2011 Mermaid Coves Collection).

All Essie polish can be found for $8.00 at Ulta, Walmart and some CVS stores.  China Glaze can be found at Walmart, Ulta and Target for $5.50.  Avon polish is available at http://www.avon.com/ for $5.00.  Wet n Wild polish can be found at any drugstore for $1.99.

Essie's Fruit Sangria is a gorgeous, deep hued berry shade that wears well on all skin tones.  Pink Voltage is a super-bright neon pink that looks amazing on toes (especially with tan toes)!  Avon's Viva Pink is a creamy, purple/pink that wears well and is office friendly.  Van D'Go is a chameleon.  It appears light pink in the bottle but once on the nails it turns into a creamy, peachy-pink.  It looks amazing for the summer.  Waves of Enchantment is a shimmery, pinky coral color with small gold glitter mixed in.  In the photo above it looks orange but it really is a lovely shade that is pink. 

WILD CARD COLORS

L-R- Sally Hansen's Pacific Blue, OPI's Glitzerland (limited edition-part of the 2010 Swiss collection but still available) and Essie's Turquoise and Caicos (limited edition-part of the 2010 Resort Collection but still available).

Sally Hansen can be found at your local drugstore for around $3.00.

Sally Hansen's Pacific Blue is such a fun color.  It's a lovely periwinkle blue that is unique and bold enough for hot summer days.  Glitzerland is a bold, glittery gold shade that is amazing on both the toes and fingers.  Lastly, Turquoise and Caicos is a true mint green shade that's not too bright but dark enough to look good against a summer tan.

Do you have a favorite summer shade?  If so, leave me a comment and tell me all about it. 



Weekend Haul

Like most folks, I work for the weekend!  I spent the day with my sister and a friend shopping at some of our favorite stores.  Of course we could not miss Ulta or Bath and Body Works...what girl can't?  I picked up a few items I wanted to share that I will hopefully give reviews on once I get a chance to use them for a few weeks.  The products that I am already familiar with will be given reviews below.

L-R- Bath & Body Works "Hawaii Coconut" shower gel, OPI's "Purple with a Purpose" polish, Focus 21 Seaplasma moisturizer and Nexxus' Humectress Luxe Leave-In moisturizing spray.

B&BW "Hawaii Coconut"-I love coconut and Bath & Body Works' "Hawaii Coconut" is the answer to my need for a new shower gel.  I want to think about the summer and warmer weather so what better way to do that than to smell like a tropical island?  You can find this shower gel at your local B&BW store for $10.50.

OPI-I wanted a bright color for my toes since sandal season is upon us.  I have SOOO many pinks, corals and reds that I decided to go with this gorgeous purple.  You can find OPI's "Purple with a Purpose" at your local Ulta store for $8.50.

Seaplasma Spray-I recently watched a Youtube video where Focus 21's Seaplasma moisturizing spray was featured.  After shampooing and towel drying your hair, you spray this generously to help control frizz, provide moisture and remove tangles.  Focus 21 states on the bottle that you can use this spray on both your hair and skin.  This spray can also be used as a fixing spray on the face over make-up.  Women with straight, curly and ethnic hair can use this spray.  You can find Seaplasma spray at Ulta for only $5.99. 

Nexxus Humectress Luxe- I have used this product in the past with success.  This extremely light yet nourishing spray is wonderful for dry, tangled hair.  After showering and towel drying my hair, I spray this directly onto my hair.  My hair is extremely coarse, wavy and dry so tangles are a constant struggle.  This spray not only helps with the tangles but it does moisturize my hair and smells nice too!  The spray is a fine mist and is meant to be left in and not washed out.  My hair is always much softer after I use this product.  You can find Humectress Luxe leave-in spray at your local drugstore for $10.49.

Top row- Laura Geller's "Bronze-n-Brighten" in Medium and NYX Blush in "Peach"

Bottom row- EOS hand lotion in "Cucumber".

Bronze-n-Brighten- I have owned this product for almost 5 years and I am just now buying a replacement!!!!  This is the absolute best bronzer that I have ever tried.  I love bronzer.  Bronzer gives skin a glow and definition.  I use bronzer on my cheekbones and all over-even for the décolletage area.  I feel super pale without it!  Bronze-n-Brighten is simple to use, just swirl your kabuki brush in the product and apply.  It doesn't take much to go a long way and that is why my first compact lasted so long.  Yes it costs $31.00, but it is worth it.  Laura Geller bakes her blushes, bronzers and face powders which create gorgeous swirls of product in the pan.  You can even see the clay pan they are baked in (if you ever make it to the bottom of one, lol!)

Top row- Swatch of Bronze-n-Brighten in "Medium" and a new compact of Bronze-n-Brighten

Bottom row- 5 year old compact (clay pan visible) with small amount of product still there!!

NYX Blush- I have heard a lot about this little blush on the web.  I really enjoy NYX products.  Locally I find NYX at my Ulta store.  They are (in my opinion) a step above most drugstore brands of makeup.  They make great things like the famous Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in "Milk" and their single eye shadows which rival MAC.  NYX also has lovely lip gloss and lipsticks.  I had never tried a blush by NYX, however I heard that the color "Peach" was great blush.  Recently my Ulta remodeled the NYX section and expanded by carrying more products, like blush.  I picked up "Peach" today and I think the quality and color is nice.  NYX blush can be picked up at Ulta or at http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/ for $6.00. 

L-R- Swatch of "Peach" and a closeup of the blush.

EOS lotion- You may have seen some EOS products lately.  You can usually find them in your local drugstore and they are easy to spot because the packaging is very unique.  EOS is known for their super-cute, egg-shaped lip balm.  Lately EOS introduced their palm-sized hand lotion and its been a big hit.  I have been able to find it at Walgreens and Rite-Aid for $3.99.  First the packaging is small and easy to fit in a purse or pocket.  It also doesn't hurt that the lotion works wonderfully-its not greasy and it absorbs quickly.  The scent I chose, Cucumber, is light and appealing.  I love the fact that the lotion fits well into my makeup bag and that it is easy to carry to work or on road trips.  My hands are always dry and I've enjoyed this lotion-that's why I needed another one!

Polish Haul!

I don't know what is wrong with me lately.  I have been loving nail polish during the past few weeks like never before.  It doesn't matter the color-I just want it!  I went to Ulta last week because I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my wallet.  I went there for the Shu Uemura eyelash curler but left with 5 new bottles of polish!  I love OPI but lately I have been using my Essie polishes more, so I had to pick up another Essie as well.

I heard a lot of hype about the new Katy Perry collection for OPI.  Based on reviews I read, I really wanted "Teenage Dream" and a blue glitter polish called "Last Friday Night".  When I saw the swatches at Ulta, I was disappointed with "Last Friday Night" since it appeared too sheer.  I went with a gorgeous, shimmery berry-red color called "The One That Got Away".  My Ulta was out of "Black Shatter" and the other shade in the collection was too close to another polish I already had.

Aside from the 2 bottles I picked up from the Katy Perry collection, I also picked up 2 more OPI colors that I had been on my shopping list for almost a year.  "Lincoln Park After Dark" has always called my name and I wanted to get it before the weather turned warmer.  I have also wanted "Princesses Rule" since it looks so lovely in the bottle.

L-R- OPI's "Teenage Dream", "Lincoln Park After Dark", "The One That Got Away" and "Princesses Rule"

Essie's "Mink Muffs"

Essie polish always goes on smoothly and lasts forever without chipping.  "Mink Muffs" has been talked about all over the web so I had to get this color or I knew I would regret it.  The color is not limited edition however my Ulta always seems to be sold out.  This color is a great neutral that is lovely in colder weather.  It is described as a smokey taupe.  In the picture above it is appearing more brown than it actually is. 

"Teenage Dream"

A gorgeous glitter polish with flecks of pink, blue and green.  It looks great on its own or over another polish.

"Princesses Rule"

I have not tried this one yet however it appears to be a shimmery (not glittery) light pink polish.  The color is not as intense as others and it may need additional coats for more opaque coverage.  I think that this color will make a great "paint & go" shade since mistakes wont be as visible.

"Lincoln Park After Dark"

I have heard about this color for a while.  I always thought dark polish would not suit me but a good friend of mine was out to lunch with me one day and I saw her nails painted in a deep, plum hue.  When I asked what color she had on she told me this shade.  I knew then that if her nails looked that great and everyone thinks it's such a great color, I had to get it.  Currently this shade is on my toes and it looks edgy but cute. 

"The One That Got Away"

This color was a last minute purchase.  I wanted another bottle of polish but I couldn't decide on one so I went with this shade from the Katy Perry collection.  It is a deep, shimmery berry-red shade.  It's not as popular as the other colors in the collection however I think it's the best one.  It's a great look for this time of year and so many skin tones would look beautiful with this color.

Here is a quick look (pardon the messy application) I did with OPI's "Teenage Dream" over "The One That Got Away".

OPI costs $8.50 and Essie costs $8.00.  You can find OPI and Essie at Ulta.  Essie is now carried at some Walmart stores as well.

Recent Nail Polish Purchases

I used to be one of those girls who would go every week and get a pedi and mani.  Eventually I got bored with my local nail salon's color choices and decided I could do the job myself.  Once I began to practice I noticed I really liked trying out new polish.  I am not a professional by any stretch of one's imagination however I love to change my polish color every few days which means I buy 1-2 bottles of nail polish every week or so. 

My most recent nail polish purchases are simple, great for cool weather and are still "work appropriate" since they don't scream "look at me"!

Wet n Wild's "Gray's Anatomy"

This polish is okay.  I really like the uniqueness of the color-a shiny purple/blue duochrome however the application was a little messy and the color streaks a bit.  The brush was bent and the bristles were damaged from what I can tell, so maybe I got a bad bottle.  I really do like the final color payoff but I don't think 4 coats is worth it!!

*Four coats later and it still appeared streaky.

OPI's "Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous"

OPI's "Lucerne-Tainly Look Marvelous" is just that...MARVELOUS!  It's a great shimmery gunmetal color that is perfect for the fall and winter.  It goes on smooth yet has tiny glitter flecks throughout which give this color depth and shine.  This color looks fantastic on fingers and is super shiny without being obnoxious.  The application was easy and it took only two coats to get complete coverage. 

Both colors are unique, work-friendly and offer a lot of shine.  OPI does come out on top however for ease of application and color consistency.