Beauty Product Reviews

The Shower From Hell

2006-08-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

I admit it; I actually used to like Jessica Simpson. I avidly watched Newlyweds, and thought she was quite a laugh. Wow. What was I thinking? I just don't have any respect for the woman. I mean, did you read the Rolling Stone article? Nick is a broken man because Jessica decided that she just wanted to party and sleep with Johnny Knoxville, or Adam Levine, or whoever it happened to be. She treated Nick terribly anyway so he is better off without her.

Any shred of pity I had for the woman (thesuperficial.com is really very mean to her) was gone today during my shower. I purchased Desert Beauty "Deliciously Kissable Sugar Scrub" in "Dreamy" (chocolate coconut scent). Sorry Jessica, my experience with your scrub wasn't dreamy, it was a nightmare. I wouldn't use this product again if someone paid me. The smell is tolerable at best; it just smells like cheap, cloying chocolate. Smoothing it on, I didn't have too much of a problem, it just felt like a basic sugar scrub. Then I had to wash it off, a feat not easily accomplished. Thank god I used it before my shower gel, because my arms and legs were coated with water-resistant, petroleum like substance with sugary chunks that wouldn't come off for the life of me. I used half a bottle of my Fruits and Passion Mango Cherry shower gel to no avail, and had to follow up with Pre de Provence Sage exfoliating soap (I love this product name dropping) to feel even close to clean. My shower poof was destroyed; basically it became coated with the petroleum like substance that destroyed its ability to lather with my shower gel. This product might be an environmental hazard, in fact. Think what it would do to the poor marine life if it got into an open body of water!

My hard work resulted in limbs that still felt sticky, two products I had to throw away (my poof and the vile body scrub) and a tub covered with nasty, sticky brown stuff. I would give this product a 0.0. The grading system doesn't go any lower. The only advice I can offer on this product is "just say no".

mmmm.... Japanese Cherry Blossom

2006-03-29T21:54:00.000-08:00

Japanese Cherry Blossom by Bath and Bodyworks is my current scent obsession. I mean it is wonderful. I've probably gone through a good 4 oz of my 8 oz bottle of lotion in a few weeks, impressive for me considering I usually use a different lotion every day. I would describe the smell was amber, a touch of cherry, sandalwood, and a soapy smell. The notes according to teh company are "Japanese Cherry blossom, vanilla rice, oriental woods, and delicate mimosa blossoms". Bottom line: gorgeous and sophisticated! Plus this line has beautiful, sleek packaging. My favorite products out of the whole line are the lotion and the EDT, although I have not tried the bubble bath. I found the shower gel not as pleasant smelling as the lotion and EDT. The EDT is only 20 dollars for a 1.7 oz, really reasonable considering the complexity of the scent. This is definately one to check out! I would rate it a 3.8 out of 4.0, honestly this is currently my scent obsession, I have not been into a single scent this much in a very long time!

An Epiphany!

2006-03-15T22:27:00.000-08:00

So I had an epiphany today....
I got a Suds and Light order, my first etail order EVER earlier this week. I was very happy with the quality of the products overall.
What I ordered:
Item Name: 7 DAYS OF THE WEEK FEATHERLITE
Item Options: Scent Choice: afternoon delight, cake batter, cheesecake pie crust, fresh brewed ice tea, green apple, red currant, sweet and sassy, all are 4 oz.

Item Name: 7 Days of the Week Perfume
Item Options: Scent Choice: birthday cake, caramel apple, cupcake, dreamsicle, peach buttercream, pink shimmer, sugar cookie, these are all 5 ml and sprays, which I really like, I don't really like the roll on applicators for perfume oil.

As you can see I got some very "foody" scents, and I realized that although I love foody scents, they are better, for me at least, in a wash, like a bath and shower gel or a shampoo/conditioner, than in a perfume, although I still enjoy them a lot in the featherlites (which is a light body cream- wonderful consistency).

In the perfume sprays for example, which I am so impressed with as far as potency, the "cupcake" scent is just too much for me personally. I love it, I really do, but as my friend Ashley would say, "I dont know if I would want to smell like it". Just because after a while it gets weird to me. As a wash, however, you get that burst of goodness and then it goes away. The featherlight (body cream) also fades in it's scent after a while. The perfume, however, is super strong- which is awesome because it makes it a better value, you really don't need much for it to go a long way. The cupcake was a very beautiful scent, so much better than the mass produced ones, like the Jessica Simpson line (which I have not been at all impressed with). I put it on in the morning, one spray on my wrist, and one on my neck, came to work and as soon as I walked in the door I was greeted with, "What is that? Is that coconut?" and this is coming from a man, who as you know have a hard time ID'ing smells and tend to have weaker sniffers than females. I told him it was cupcake. Then after I sat at my desk in the office I had three other coworkers comment that they could smell me in the hall, and they thought it smelled very good, almost like coconut or something they couldn't really identify. I clued them in and was embarrassed because I felt like I should have just used one spray! I want people to smell me but only if they are close. So I learned my lesson there. Tonight I went overboard and put on my cheesecake pie crust featherlite cream, and also tried on my birthday cake and sugar cookie perfume. I smell awesome, but it's starting to make me feel rather hungry, not so good at 10:30 at night. I have come to the conclusion that I do like foody scents but in a perfume base they have to be mixed with a fruit and not just straight desert- for example my peach buttercream is WONDERFUL and not overly foody, as well as the dreamsicle (orange cream scent). Overall though, I am really impressed with the quality of these products, and would definately recommend them.

My favorite scents in the perfumes:
Dreamsicle, Peach Buttercream, Cupcake

The only one I am not too fond of is the caramel apple, there is something a little "off" about it, but that being said with custom blended scents there is always going to be variations in batch, and the scent may need to settle a bit.

As far as the featherlite creams, I have only tried the green apple and the cheesecake pie crush so far, I enjoyed both but the green apple was amazing! Perfection: tart, crunch, granny smith scent. I love the consistency of the featherlites as well, they make me very silky and absorb quickly.

All and all, my first etail order experience was a lot of fun! I would definately recommend Suds and Light products (http://www.sudsandlight.com). I placed my order February 25th and recieved it March 13th, so it was a little hard to wait but expected as the products are fresh and made up per order. An added bonus is also that the thrill of the purchase is stretched out. If I go to Bath and Bodyworks I pick out and purchase the products and get them home in about an hour... this process took weeks, so during that time I didn't purchase any other Suds and Light product. In this way ship times work in the bath and body addicts advantage! Overall, I would give my experience with Suds a 3.5 out of 4.0, the only reason I wouldn't do a full 4.0 is that there are a few scents that I would not reorder, due to there being a slightly "off" smell about them. However, I want to be fair, as scent is a very personal preference, homemade products I am sure vary by batch, and there were some scents in the bunch that far exceeded their competitors in the mass market (cupcake and dreamsicle both have simliar fragrances in the Desert/Jessica Simpson line, but the scents through Suds and Light are 100%'s better in my opinion, as is the value of the product).

Fragrance Finds

2006-02-25T20:10:00.000-08:00

I have made some very exciting discoveries at my local TJ Maxx and Marshalls in the way of great prices on perfume.
I purchased:
Curve Waves by Liz Claiborne for $24 at TJ's
Reaction by Kenneth Cole for $20 at TJ's
Liz by Liz Claiborne giftset with lotion and perfume for $22
Promesse by Cacharel for $20 at Marshalls
Escada Rockin Rio for $20

I was really shocked at what new perfumes they had their for around 20 dollar for a 3.4 oz.... Curious, Spark Seduction (this one was only 13!), Maimi Glow. I was very surprised to see Promesse as it is fairly new and by Cacharel.... Just thought I would share this info, it pays to shop around!

L'oreal Infallible Makeup

2005-09-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

I bought this at Walgreens as an alternative to my usual TrueBlend foundation by L'oreal. I definately like the packaging on this one better, it's a pump dispenser that isn't messy and doesn't get all over (TrueBlend is a disaster in this respect). The consistency is thicker than TrueBlend as well. Infallible provides good coverage without being too heavy, and blends easily. The main claim of this product is it's lasting power, it is supposed to last 16 hours. I have yet to come across a long lasting makeup that lives up to its claim about being long lasting but still blends easily and looks natural. I don't feel like Infallible last 16 hrs, but does last slightly longer than some of the foundations I have used... however, I still have to touch it up at night if I am going out. Also, I feel like I am more shiny than usual at the end of the day with this makeup, as it does feel a little more moisturizing than TrueBlend.... With all the complaints I have had in this entry though, I have to admit that I come back to this foundation a lot, I use it almost every day right now. I am going to give it a 3.3 out of 4.0. It's not to die for but it's a good solid foundation.

Curling Mascaras

2005-08-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have come to realize over the years that my helplessly stick straight eyelashes cannot by curled by any mascara. The latest test was with Avon's new Daring Curves mascara, which is definitely a good mascara, don't get me wrong, but doesn't do much to curl my lashes at all. The best thing about this mascara is that it doesn't leave your lashes super hard and to the touch and looks fairly natural while still defining. However, I would have to give it a 3.0 out of 4.0 because the major claim is that it dramatically curls lashes. I have tried other curling mascaras, for example Sky High Curves from Maybelliene, Panoramic Curl by L’Oreal, all with similar results.
From my experience curled lashes can only be achieved using a good eyelash curler, the most effective being a metal one. The Shu Uemura Eye Lash curler has been the best I have tried ($18 at Sephora). However, I have an unusual problem. If I use an eyelash curler for a few days in a row I get irritation around my eyes in the place that the eyelash curler has touched. The only explanation I have come up with is that since I am allergic to many metals, and the eye area is so delicate, I have a reaction even after very limited contact with metal. My solution at this point is to live with my straight eyelashes.
I tried to problem solve this by using plastic lash curlers, I have tried a couple from the drugstore and the Sephora brand, and don't notice much of a difference. I found it rather humorous that I went to Sephora, and asked them what they recommended in the way of eyelash curlers, and they said the Shu Uemura one (I have also read Kevyn Aucoin is very good although have not personally tried it). I asked about plastic curlers and the sales associate told me that plastic curlers really weren't effective. When I explained my circumstance to the sales associate they tried to convince me that actually the plastic Sephora eye lash curler (much cheaper) was one to try after all... interesting. Anyway I got suckered in and figured it was worth a try. Now I don't bother to use it as it makes a minimal difference.
The bottom line here is that from my experience, if you are looking to get nice curly lashes and are not naturally blessed with them, invest in a good eyelash curler (unless you are allergic to metal)... and don't waste your money on curling mascaras unless you like a particular one for other reasons- lengthening or thickening for example.

Avon Skin So Soft Hand Cream

2005-08-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

I have this handcream in two formulations, the Replenishing Hand Cream and the Age-Defying Hand Cream (never to early to start on that)... I have to say they are actually very different. The Replenishing Hand Cream uses Avon's Patented Delivery System whereas the Age-Defying does not. I notice that the Age-Defying has a different absorbency because of this. It's a little more of a greasy, traditional handcream, with a light, indistinct scent. It works well but doesn't blow me away. I'd give it a 3.3 out of 4.0. The Replenishing Hand Cream, on the other hand, is brilliant. It is hard to describe how it sinks in- basically your skin feels very smooth and silky but not greasy or moist as some creams leave you. I feel the distinction here is that if handcream doesn't make you greasy it makes you have that moist/puffed up with water feeling. This is somewhere in between. Your skin in very silky but the coating on your hands is whisper light. You have to try it to see for yourself. I would recommend this one, it comes in three different scents, the original Skin So Soft, kind of an herbal smell (been told it's a natural bug repellent), light and lush which is rather citrisy, and soft and sensual which is more of a floral I suppose. I don't currently own any soft and sensual products so I can't give a dead on description of it right now. The original scent I have heard mixed reviews on. My dad hated it, claiming it smelled "awful". Sometimes I like it, sometimes I feel it does smell a little bug sprayish, but in a good way if that makes any sense. So I guess that means I always like it. Anyway these are ones to check out, 3.8 out of 4.0 only due to not completely loving any of the three scents although I do like them.

Best Website!

2005-08-15T00:17:00.000-07:00

I have added another website to my links on the side column, I discovered it a couple of weeks ago, and it is great! It's called makeup alley, http://makeupalley.com, it is for us die hards, has a lot of good reviews on products, you can swap products (I don't know if I would trust that part? I have never done it), message boards, and see what others are purchasing. I think the reviews are invaluable, and they have the cutest little abbreviations in them like DH which is dear husband apparently, and HG of products which means holy grail. Loving it...! It's nice because it has a diversity of opinions on it. Good stuff. Check it out.

Avon Naturals Haircare

2005-06-30T01:05:00.000-07:00

I can only speak on the formulation I tried, but I must say I am very impressed with Avon's revamping of Naturals products. The packaging on the body products has been totally redone, and I think the fomulas have been too, plus there are some new products and scents added to boot. The haircare line is really inexpensive, especially right now since it is new, shampoos and conditioners are only $1.99 each. I have the Jasmine and Lemongrass Shampoo and conditioner... since I got it I have not really rotated and used any other shampoos (which I commonly do)- just stuck to this one since my hair is overdue to get highlighted, which makes it flatter since it's not damaged at all. This shampoo is really good for that because it gets it clean and does not weigh it down at all. The scent is very fresh and pleasant.. mmmm... They did a really good job on this one, for the price you just can't beat it- 4.0 out of 4.0.

Avon Shampoos

It's been too long!

2005-06-30T00:59:00.000-07:00

I have not written in so long, I am sorry about that, its been hectic, and I regret that I have not been keeping up here. Ok I have tried a new facial scrub, Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Scrub by Johnson and Johnson.... it was featured in this year's best of beauty issue of InStyle, so I decided to try it. I am going to have to agree with InStyle on this one, this is good stuff. It's got salicylic acid for the active ingredient (2%) and a really nice creamy texture. It doesn't foam at all, but has little blue microbeads in it that exfoliate the skin manually. Honestly I don't know if it's made my blackheads better at all, but it does feel really nice, and makes my skin soft and smooth afterwards. I would give it a 3.6 out of 4.0-- because I can't give it a 4.0 since my blackheads have not dissapeared, however it is a very good scrub that leaves skin smooth and despite the fact it has salicylic acid, it doesn't irritate my skin at all! Or dry it out, even if I use it once every day.

Mark Lip Gloss

2005-05-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

I just got this new Mark lipgloss, Mark "Instant Vacation" and I looove the color! The color I got is "Surf" and I am going to get some more of the other colors next time I order Avon. The only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't really have a taste or scent. Some people might like that though, if you are not into scented products. The texture is wonderful, light and not sticky at all, the color is soo pretty. It's like a coppery shimmer that would probably look good on just about anyone, and it comes in this cute little seashell case. I would definately give this a really high rating, probably a 3.7 out of 4.0 (the only reason I didn't give it a 4.0 is that I like scented/flavored lip stuff best).

Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment

2005-05-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

Ok this stuff is good.... I don't usually use over the counter acne stuff, but I was breakin' out on my forehead and decided I needed to take some action. The first time I used it I didn't read the directions and just rubbed all around on my forehead. Hmm... that wasn't good, my skin was all red and dry/rashy looking. So then I got smart and read the directions and realized that you are supposed to apply it directly to the zits you have (hence the name "on-the-spot"). I did this and found it worked quite well, it really dries those suckers out and doesn't irritate, a little dryness but not too bad, it doesn't sting or anything like some products. It works the best when a zit is first forming, it helps it not develop. I really like the stuff, I am using it twice a day whenever I get a zit and right now I have to say the face is very clear. It has a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide for the active ingredient, similiar to the proactive products but you put it right on the zit not all over, so there is less irritation. Two thumbs up to this product, I give it a 3.9 out of 4.0.

Added to Bust Links Page

2005-05-09T00:03:00.000-07:00

I got myself onto the links on the Bust Magazine website, not a huge accomplishment like they were browsing the web and stumbled upon my site and had to put in on theirs to inform women of the world. I submitted it. But they approved it and put it on their list with the rest of the people that submitted their blogs. Now I am intimidated because looking at other people blog's, mine is not very savvy, I am not selling any products, and I am no good at web design. I am just learning. I wanted to put the "Bust" button on my page to show I am a member of the webring or whatever it is called and I couldn't even figure out how to do that. Well.... anyway, here are some exciting things I have seen to look out for come summer!!!!
Bath and Bodyworks is going to have some new scents:
Frozen Daiquiri
Tropical Colada
Apple Martini

I can only speculate on what these will be like, and believe me, my little mind has been speculating away. I mean frozen daiquiri... this intriuges me, the only daiquiri scent I can think of is the smell of that sorbet they have at Baskin Robbins, I can only dream of what that would be like in a lotion. The curiousity is killing me! Tropical Colada is not as exciting, I mean it's probably a pina colada scent, which has been done oh so many times before, with some other things like papaya and mango thrown in the mix. Apple Martini is interesting to me... I mean will it smell like alcohol? Anyway I am shaking in my boots to find out what these are like. Yes, I am serious. I am quite excited, also in the Tutti Dolce collection they will add three new fragrances:

Raspberry Granita
Mango Sorbetto
Pineapple Chiffon

It is amazing the kind of marketing companies can do around deserts. Like if they were coming out with Raspberry Lotion I wouldn't be excited..... or curious at all. But granita... what does a granita smell like? I thought granita was just ice? But I am not all that sophisticated on the subject of foreign deserts. Philosophy has made quite a fuss with deserts lately, coming out with all their new scents ending in ice cream- strawberry ice cream, chocolate ice cream, etc... as I said before if it was only strawberry I wouldn't get excited but when you add ice cream there becomes an air of mystery there... what does strawberry ice cream smell like, exactly? The same thing can be done by adding the word pie, they have done this with coconut cream pie, key lime pie and berry pie for example (I own all of them, see-- the strategy works).

My wishlist.........

2005-04-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

Here are the perfumes I am really wanting right now:

1. Escada Rockin' Rio Perfume
2. Escada Island Kiss perfume (this one is from last year, but I never had a chance to get it and I love this collection)
3. Liz By Liz Claiborne Perfume (a new floral I really like)
4. Echo for women By Davidoff (this is a fruity floral I really like, it's been about since a little before xmas I think)
5. Paris Hilton's Perfume (I don't like the girl, but I like the perfume.... and the bottle is kinda cool)
6. Dior Pure Poison (White flower/Amber/Musk... has a hot name)
7. Miami Glow by J.Lo (very summery and tropical fruity)
8. MaxMarra (I smelled this one in a mag and it was sooo good, but it's really expensive, as it dior)

CO Bigelow Lemon Body Lotion

2005-04-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

CO Bigelow is sold at Bath and Bodyworks now, it seems to have products similiar to Keihl's. Their products are expensive, this lemon lotion was $24 for a 8 oz. bottle, but man it is the best! I love love love the smell, the texture, not too thick or thin, smells really lemony but like a real lemon not like lemon cleaner or something. Yum. The bottle it comes in is really nice, squeezy, looks like a bottle that they have paint in at art stores. This is great stuff, if you don't mind the price. I give it a 3.8 out of 4.0, because although it's wonderful, it's expensive.

The Online Beauty World

2005-04-26T00:56:00.000-07:00

This year I have gotten more into shopping for beauty products online. When I say "shopping" this often refers to filling up my shopping cart until I get to the free shipping level of all the things I want and then proceeding to checking... when I get there, I see the total is usually well beyond the point at which I can get free shipping, and then I decide I don't need the stuff and really shouldn't buy it even though I really want it, and force myself to close the internet. This happens several times. Today an exciting thing happened. I actually went through my order because I have been thinking about how I want the Always perfume by Avon that has been in all of the magazines lately. It's been described as having notes of "dewy yellow tulip, kiwi and starfruit" which sounds very exciting, plus when you buy it online now you get small bottles of the other fragrances in the collection, "tomorrow" and "today"........... So I am quite excited for that order to arrive and I will let you know how it is. Oh my gosh though I am having the biggest pet peeve. It's a repeat of something I have talked about before but it's when magazines talk about products and you can't find them in the store or anywhere. Like the newest issue of allure talks about this fragrance by Mark called Instant Vacation that intruiges me, but I don't believe it's even out yet. So irritating. I know this has happened with something else lately. Whatever. Another site I just discovered was yvesrocherusa.com. I have ordered from there once. I was satisfied with a lot of the products, a couple weren't too good though, the honeysuckle shower gel smelled like garden weeds (I would just saw weeds but I don't want people to think I am talking about marijuana although that would be weed not weeds in the plural.) But I got the best perfume from there, on sale for only 4.95, it's Yves Rocher eau de toilette in in Pur Desir De Lilas (that's lilac for all those that don't speak french). It's some good stuff, great price. Usually it's still pretty cheap- 17.50-- and wow it smells good! It's very much a lilac smell.... just like the flowers my parents have in their yard. Brings back memories man. My boyfriend's favorite smell is lilac so I bought it for him but I discovered I like it very much myself. I would give it a 3.8 out of 4.0. GREAT PRICE, nice scent.

VitaGloss by Bonne Bell

2005-04-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

VitaGloss by Bonne Bell is some good stuff as far as shine and texture. It's not sticky or tacky, it's smooth and has a sheer tint of color. However, the unfortunate thing is the color that I have I don't like too much cause it's red, and I think red looks kind of weird on me. I still use it though I just use a tiny bit because it does have a rather intense hue for a lipgloss. I have Sheer Strawberry and it smells really nice as well. I want to try the other colors, the problem I have is that they all seem a bit too bold, but I think they have a clear so I would like to check this one out. If you like a noticeable tint to your lips with a smooth glossy texture, this product is for you. I give it a 3.5 out of 4.0.

I was taken!

2005-04-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

As you know I hate high pressure sales. However, I am not immune to them. Walking through the mall I passed a stand for beauty product, not intending to stop. Then some woman with an accent said, "Can I ask you a question?" I was like yah... thinking she wanted to know the time or something. I was wrong. "Do you have natural nails? She asked. As a matter of fact I do. She proceeded to them show me their nail buffer and demonstrated it on me. I was expecting to walk away unharmed, but she pulled me in. My nail became sooo shiny and smooth, I had never seen them like that. The buffer was being sold in a kit by the brand Obey Your Body along with Dead Sea Mineral Hand and Body Lotion and a nail file. She said it usually costs over 30 dollars but she would give it to me for 23......... And let me tell you I wanted it, I had never seen my nails look so good. Then she proceeded to try to suck over 50 dollars more out of me, but I resisted. She wanted me to buy body butter that was over 25 dollars (this was the special price she was going to give me, usually it was 40 *supposedly*), body buffer for 20 dollars (usually 30 something) and a hand and foot scrub for 20 dollars (usually 40). I walked away with just the nail kit, which I felt pretty good about. But still, it was a bit upsetting because I wouldn't have bought it if she hadn't aggressively sold it to me. However, I am happy with the product. Basically the buffer has three sides that you use, one side is the roughest and it gets rid of ridges, the next side smooths it out some more, and the last side is the selling point. It makes your nails soft and silky, and looking like you have clear polish on them. I only used it yesterday and my nails are still shiny. Supposedly the effect is supposed to last weeks but we will see, I will update you. Anyway I will give the buffer itself 3.0 out of 4.0, I love the results but I have a feeling I could have found something that did the same thing for cheaper.

Ok it is now a week or so later and I need to update this post because the nail buffer I feel has thinned my nails out, I only used it once as recommended but my nails feel wimpier and more papery, which isn't worth the shine.... I am going to downgrade this product to a 2.0 out of 4.0. Only use it if you want really short shiny nails. Also the Obey Your Body Lotion that is made with dead sea minerals stinks after you put it on, I think owing to the fact that dead sea minerals probably stink. ew. I have the kiwi one and it smells good in the package but after you apply it yuck. I give it a .4 out of 4.0. Don't reccomend it.

Neutrogena Healthy Blends Blush

2005-04-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

Neutrogena Healthy Blends Highlighting Blush has been my blush of choice since I bought it, it has a sheer, natural look to it and a fine, silky texture. There is a slight bit of shimmer in it, but the shimmer particles are very fine and not overwhelming. You don't even notice them unless you are looking for shimmer. It looks really cool too, the palette has a bunch of different colored squares that you mix together as you drag the brush across them, and it mixed to form a natural, healthy color. The shade I have is Fresh (20), which I would recomend for people with cool undertones that have fair skin. It is good if you like a bright but light pinky color. I would give this product a 3.7 out of 4.0.

Maybelline Shiny-licious Lipgloss

2005-04-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted for a while guys... hope you haven't missed me too much, ahahaha. Anyway Maybelline's Shiny-licioius lip gloss is pretty new, I only have two out of the nine colors so I can only speak on those, but I would give them a 3.0 out of 4.0 (a B basically)... the colors I have are lolly-pink (light, translucent pink) and berry-bella (a more intense but still sheer berry color), and I use the lolly-pink one a lot because I love love love the look of it and the color... but it does seem to have something in it that slightly makes my lips burn. I'm not really loving that.... this is what drops the grade down. Plus the berry-bella color is a little too highly pigmented for me, it definately has a color to it and gives you a more "done" look. Some people enjoy their lips burning from a product (all those that like Burt's Bees) so if you see that as a plus you will probably love this product. It also has a sweet, sugary smell and taste (yum).

Ashley, Favorite Products, Guest Profile

2005-03-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

Lolita Lempicka perfume is my favorite- I absolutely love the scent, and the name is appealing as well. I don't know how to describe the scent, it's just increadible. It has been my signiture fragrance since the fall of 2003.

For my lips I love Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 because it's not sticky, and it's shiny but still a chapstick. I like the non-tinted best, but it is available in tints which is nice for special occassions.For nightime purposes I use Blistex Medicated Balm, it's a classic.

For my eyes I love Extra Super Lash mascara by Rimmel in black black. Hands down, it's the best mascara I have ever found and it's cheap. For eyeliner I use a shadow with a brush, not a pencil. The best shadow to use is Paula's Select. My favorite shades are eggplant, charcoal brown, and graphite. I apply them with an urban decay line brush. I don't use these as eyeshadow, just as liner. I very rarely wear eye shadow because my favorite colors were discontinued by Garden Botanika. To hold the liner I use Revlon ColorStay Concealer in Sand Beige/Beige Sable. I apply it to my lids and under my eyes to keep the eyeliner from smudging.

On my bod my favorite product is MOR Pomegranate Body Butter. Smells like heaven. My other favorite scent of MOR is Marshmellow. For cheap stuff that's unscented I use Suave Natural Oatmeal lotion.

For my hair I like the Texture line of Shampoo and Conditioner in Volumizing. As far as styling I use Fructis Mousse and blowdry. The hairspray I like the most is Dove Flexible hold because I like the smell, I like that it's aerosol, and I like the way it works.

I like Dove Nutrients Nightcream for lotion on my face, I use it in the morning, not at night. For deoderant I like Degree Shower Clean because it works, I like the scent, it's very clean and not too overpowering.

Some of my favorite products of the past that I now find sick (I think I OD'ed) are the Healing Garden Jasmine Therapy Body Spray, I wore it as perfume. I had it with me at all times, I went through three bottles and had minis in my purse and backpack. Now the scent is sickening to me... but Karen still likes it. Another was ArcTec Kiwi shampoo, it's the same people that make the Texture line. I just needed to move on from that one. I was also really into Fructis but now I'm not cause I dont think it works as well as other brands. In Jr. High and High school I was really into Vital Nutrients apparently, I don't remember it but Karen swears I used it... and raved about it back in the day. She knows my products better than me! It's by Murad but it's discontinued now.

I really like the candle scent by Pacifica called Mexican Cocoa. I have three of them in my room and they are BOMB. Whenever I light them my roomies are like, "Oh you have the candles, BOMB!"

OHHHH I can't skip this: my fave hand cream, it's Pre De Provence Shea Butter Handcream, I must say it's a little expensive but it's worth it. I just got a new bar soap I am using on my hands that I am enjoying, it's by Lush it's Honey scented. It's really smooth and silky, with a nice scent that is not too strong (I hate strong scents).

Guest Profile, Krystle

2005-03-21T21:17:00.000-08:00

My absolute favorite product is Bonne Bell Glimmer Bronze in Golden Glitz. I have tried many other bronzers and nothing can compare to the color and coverage. The other products I like to use on my face are Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation, it's good for dry skin cause it's creamy, and Cover Girl Invisible Concealor.

Eyes: I like Prestige eyeshadow: Stormy (two different silvers) and Rosin (Golden Brown/Copper). I also like L'oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow in Platinum. I really like shiny eye shadows that make your eyes pop. I use an illuminator on my browbone or the inner corners of my eyes, I like Wanderful Wand by Physicians Formula. I'm diggin' NYC eyeliner. It's really cheap, and better than Wet n' Wild which really crumbles when you sharpen it. But when you do get Wet n' Wild sharpened it's good cause it goes on smooth (for how cheap it is). My fave mascara is Maybelline Illegal Lengths- it doesn't clump.

For my lips I like Bonne Bell products the best, it has nice shine.

For haircare, I am using Radiant Red by John Frieda shampoo and conditioner for darker shades of red. It smells good and it helps maintain my color so it doesn't fade. I like Citre Shine serum after I blowdry my hair... I don't really put anything else in my hair.

I like Oil of Olay body wash the best for cleansing. The best body lotion is 24 hour moisture by Johnson and Johnson. My fave perfume is Sensi by Giorgio Armani, 8 by Abercrombie and Fitch and Herve Leger by Herve Leger.

I love love love the Slant tweezers by Tweezerman, they are the best ones ever. Some staples as far as hair styling are a hairdryer and a flat iron.

Guest Profile, Amanda

2005-03-21T21:01:00.000-08:00

For my lips I like Clinique Superbalm Tinted Lip Treatment in Grapetint because it's shiny and not sticky. I also like Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds Liquid lipcolor in Rhinestone pink because it's sparkly.

On my eyes Maybelline Expert Eyes eyeshadow is my favorite, I don't really have a specific color that I use. For mascara I like Maybelline Illegal Lengths, because it makes my lashes long and flirty.

For foundation I like L'oreal True Match because it blends well and isn't too heavy. For powder, I like Super Powder Double Face Powder by Clinique. I use bronzer too, I like Bonne Bell Glimmer Bronze in Golden Glitz.

The perfumes I really like are all the Clinique Happy ones: Clinique Happy Heart, Clinique Happy, and Clinique Happy to Be.

My favorite body lotion is Hempz, Cetaphil Cream, and DKNY Be Delicious. Body wash, I like Dove. Shampoo and Conditioner, right now I'm using Dove Foaming Conditioner and Tresemme Shampoo.

I really like Tweezerman Tweezers because they grab the hairs easily, it works really good.

When I style my hair I use John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Satin Shine Finishing Creme because it gets rid of the frizzies and makes me hair nice and smooth!

Noevir's 99 Line

2005-03-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

I recieved Noevir's 99 Line through Shana very promptly, with detailed instructions about how to use the products... if you want to order any of these products I would recommend you go through her because she is very knowledgable about the products and great at getting stuff out to you promptly. Her email is shanasnoevir@gmail.com.

First off let me say that as a whole this regimine made me feel really pampered and relaxed. The products are very luxurious and spa-like.

Step one is the Deep Cleansing Massage Gel. You use a small amount of this only at night to get off your makeup and then rinse off with warm water. I have to say that this is my least favorite step. I felt like the Gentle Foaming Cleanser cleaned well enough and I would prefer to just use an eye makeup remover and go on to the Gentle Foaming Cleanser.... It's not that I didn't think this step way any good it just seemed unneccesary. I have to only give it a 3.0 out of 4.0 for this reason.

Step two is the Gentle Foaming Cleanser. Shana told me this is her favorite and I can see why. I absolutely loved it. WOW! It felt so soft and silky, it didn't "bubble" but had more of a shaving cream texture, so light and creamy. It had a light scent as all the products do but it still seemed very gentle. After I used it my skin felt really smooth, I had no tightness or dryness, my skin just seemed to GLOW. I would give it a 4.0 out of 4.0. LOVE IT!

Step three is a Refreshing Balancing Toner/Lotion. This was really nice. I just splashed some on my face and it looked refreshed and dewy. It didn't sting at all which is what I look for in a toner. I was very impressed. I would give this a 4.0 out of 4.0.

Step four was the Replenishing Moisturizer. It was a really light moisturizer that I used all over. It absorbed quickly. Seemed like a fairly standard moisturizer but I noticed that throughout the day my skin didn't get shiny or oily, which was really unusual. I would give this a 3.8 out of 4.0.

Step five was the Protecting Skin Cream, a thicker lotion that was also non-greasy. It was a tream to use around my eyes. This one gets a 3.8 out of 4.0 as well.

Overall I would give this line a 3.8 out of 4.0. I really really loved the Foaming Cleanser, it's one of the best I have ever used. So luxurious. The only thing I don't like about this line is that it is expensive... for the 99 Line it's $196.00. That being said these are spa quality products, so if you want to invest in your skincare routine, I would say this is one to check out. One thing I like is that there are trial kits you can get for $3-$6, so you can try them out before you make a big investment. Thank you Shana for letting me try these wonderful products! I really enjoyed them.

Garden Botanika Heart Body Lotion

2005-03-17T13:44:00.000-08:00

As I have said it earlier posts, I hate when you can only get products online or via catalogues. Garden Botanika is one such line, it used to be in the mall but all of the stores shut down and they are now only available through mail. This is something I already see as counting against all the Botanika products, as you can't smell things through a catalog or computer, although the catalogue does come with a sample this is only one of the many scents in the catalog that you can smell, so you have to rely on descriptions.
The "Heart" scent is Garden Botanika's number 1 seller, according to the company. It's very difficult for me to place, it just reminds me of my early experiences shopping there. It is fairly light but does have a cologny-perfumy like smell. I would say that I find it smells very good actually, but has that synthetic smell to it that gives me a slight headache. The body lotion is light textured, non-greasy and easily absorbed... the scent does lighten up rather quickly. I would give this product a 2.0 out of 4.0 simply because the scent does give me a bit of a headache, although I think it smells good.

Dealing with Blackheads

2005-03-15T14:41:00.000-08:00

I recieved an email today and I would like to answer it on my website as I feel like it's a really good question... one I have struggled with myself!

Hello, I like your beauty site and I was wondering how do you get rid of blackheads at home without having a professional facial done? Thanks for your time in advance!

Regards, Julie

First off let me say thank you for your compliment on my blog, I have had a lot of positive feedback and I really appreciate it.... as far as getting rid of blackheads I have to say I have not been altogether successful, but I have developed a routine that I feel helps. In one of my earlier posts I talked about how I like to squeeze out my own and other people's blackheads... This really isn't recommended by dermatologists or any skincare specialists, especially if you are not trained. If you indulge in doing this, which I admit I do, make sure NOT to use nails- you will make the situation so much worse with red gouges. When I squeeze my skin I do it right after it's washed and pat try, and the skin is warm and the oil somewhat softened. Then I use my index fingers and apply pressure. Sometimes this is effective, other times not. The most important thing is that you are not too rough.

My skincare regimen has been doing a good job at keeping my skin clear for the most part. Blackheads, as you probably know, aren't dirt, they are oil and dead skin in the pore that is exposed to oxygen and turns a dark color. So the best way I have found to limit the number of blackheads I get is to exfoliate the skin, which helps break down some of that oil in the pore and also get rid of the dead skin and oil that is going sit in the pore in the first place. You can use a mechanical scrub but I prefer using creams and gels that have salicyclic or other acids in them. I use Azelex Cream by Allergan, which is a prescription I got from my dermatologist. It is a 20% azelaic acid cream that I use morning and night on my forehead, nose and chin. What I really like about this is that it's effective with any kind of acne (blackheads or whiteheads) without drying my skin which is very sensitive. I also like Paula's Choice 1% Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel (which is Salicylic Acid), which I use at night. It has green tea in it as an anti-irritant which I like. Another one I use is Proactiv Repairing Lotion which is a 2.5% level of Benzoyl Peroxide, which i like because although it does cause some dryness, next to the proactiv "knockoffs" I have tried (Klear Action was one) it is much less irritating while still being effective.

Recently I have also been using the Clarisonic, which is a electronic brush that uses some of the same technology as the Sonicare toothbrush in cleaning the skin. I use this every morning and night, and I feel like it does a really good job at exfoliating and deep cleaning. My skin is very sensitive and the brush comes with two different heads, one for sensitive and one for normal skin, so I use the sensitive brush head. It comes with a daily cleanser that is used with the brush, it is a non-foaming cleaner, and it is scented lightly with a cucumber/aloe type scent, but I really like this cleanser. I usually find scented cleansers to be irritating but I haven't found that to be true in this case. I love the Clarisonic because when I use it my skin feels very tingly and afterwards very clean, refreshed, and smooth. I feel like it is doing a good job in limiting my blackheads, although it hasn't gotten rid of them, nothing I tried has (and mine are not even very bad). So I would recommend this product, it's available through the Clarisonic website, http://www.clarisonic.com.

Lastly, I try to limit the amount of moisturizer I put on my skin. I only use it when my skin is feeling dry because I feel like slathering it on before checking in to see if your skin really needs it just adds unneeded oil.

I really feel like a dermatologist can be your best friend when you are dealing with acne and blackheads, but you have to find the right doctor, I have had dermatologists that were wonderful and responsive and then others that didn't really do a whole lot for me. So I would say that if you have any acne problems that bother you and you have not been able to treat them over the counter, try a dermatologist and remember that some are better than others, so you might have to spend some time finding one that is right for you.

-Karen

I would love to answer anyone's beauty questions, if you have them send them to mybeautyproducts@gmail.com and I will respond to them on my site.

Fun Activity

2005-03-13T21:04:00.000-08:00

Wow I just found a fun activity....... want to recommend it to you all, don't know if you will find it as enjoyable as I have but in the spirit of my fragrance poll I want to clue you guys in. I seached in yahoo for how to spell Antilope, my mom's favorite perfume, cause I had never heard of it, and Perfume Emporium was a website it came up on. I poked around on there trying to see if their perfume was any cheaper than anywhere else and then I discovered they have customers rate the perfume and leave comments about it, and they have a ton of perfumes and colognes, so I started looking up the ones I like, etc. and reading the comments, it was really funny to hear some of the bad comments about the perfumes, well at least I got a kick out of it. Apparently one of my faves smells like toilet bowl cleaner- who knew? Anyway here's the site if you feel like wasting some time.....
http://www.perfumeemporium.com/
Oh and it's also nice cause it's really easy to leave comments, you don't have to "register" or all that annoying stuff of filling out your info to leave a comment. The only downside is that they don't post it until after they review it, for 48 hours sometimes. But don't worry, they do post negative reviews, I don't think they are doing a lot of censorship.

Here's one of my fave comments I found on the site by "Denise" about Lady Stetson (not one of the ones I wear but I was curious to see what it would say):
"This is another example of a dime-store delight. This stuff is nasty! (I picture this on an) old lady who chain smokes unfiltered cigarettes and drinks bourbon wearing her old knit slacks, dirty, stinky old keds and her coke bottle glasses and then douses herself in this crud."

Here's one I liked about Coty Vanilla Fields (The subject was Niller is a Killer, and the author is Glenda from Glouster Ohio):
"This stuff is just flat out GROSS! Don't give it as a gift unless you hate the person. If I recieved this crap as a gift I would take it as an insult. I really think it's a cruel joke that this stuff was created. Its just to disgusting."

ahahahahahah

Fragrance Poll!

2005-03-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

First let me say that if I didn't send any of you an email to participate, I would love anyone to participate and you can email me at mybeautyproducts@gmail.com and I will post your favorite perfume/cologne and why.... So far I have a few responses but as they trickle in I will keep adding.

I'm not going to tally the votes up here cause the only two that have more than one vote- they are Clinique Happy (two votes) and Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue (three votes). There's been some real raves over Dolce and Gabbana so I am going to have to check that one out.

Right now my personal favorite perfumes are DKNY Be Delicious, Clinique Simply, and the Spark Seduction by Liz Claiborne... although I also like Amor Amor by Cacheral, Basic Instinct by Victoria Secret, Body by Victoria Secret, Still by Jennifer Lopez, Gap Dream, Nature by BCBG girls, T Girl by Tommy Hilfiger, Curve Crush by Liz Claiborne, Escada Sentiment, Escada Ibizu Hippie, White Musk Too by the Body Shop, Curious by Britney Spears... ok I am going to stop cause that's enough for now.

Here are the responses I have gotten thus far:

"Lolita Lempicka of course!"
-Ashley

"I would say now it is Angel. I change from time to time. It is soft and smells like Chocolate, Vanilla etc. " -Mary Kay

"Trish McEvoy Blackberry & Vanilla Musk!" -Drew

I love the clean and feminine scent of Very Irresistible by Givenchy. Usually I don't smell those perfume pull-outs in magazines because I'm allergic to strong perfume. (I discovered this fact after smelling hyper-hyper Clinique Happy...) But when I saw Liv Tyler on the Givenchy ad in Seventeen, I decided to give it a sniff. And I was so impressed by how elegant and calm it smelled! Next time I'm down at the Bon-Macy, I'm going to buy myself of bottle. -Sarah

"I have a couple.... I usually wear scents that are more citrisy and spicy. I really like Perri Ellis by Perri Ellis, but it's really hard to find. You basically can't find it anymore. I also like Yohji Yamamoto by Yohji Yamamoto cause it's Japanese and it's crazy. I had it and it got stolen. So now I am wearing Givency Pi, my friend told me it was the hot shit, so I decided to try it. It's a little different than what I usually wear, but I like it." -Jason

"I love BCBG girls Metro. There is just something completely different about it, it is soft but sooo sexy!" -Shana

"The one i have right now is kenneth cole black. i like it because it is not too overpowering or harsh. it's a bit more "in the background". and my sister and the possibly gay man at the perfume store liked it, too, so that was good enough for me. " -Josh

"My favorite perfume is Cool Water by Davidoff. It's an oldy but a goody! I love it,and it's not expensive, which I love almost as much as the scent. I even got my roomates hooked on it. For guy's cologne, I love Acqua Di Gio. My boyfriend wears it and it smells so yummy. When I was studying in London, he would send mepillowcases that he had spritzed his cologne on. I love it!" -Abby

"It was Antilope by Weil... but I haven't been able to get that in the US for a long time, I got it in France, you used to be able to get it in the US though. And I also like Shalimar by Guerlain which smells pretty similiar". -Sharon

"My perfume of choice has been Eau de Dolce Vita by Christian Dior since I was a freshman in high school. I discovered it on a trip to France, and I've only been able to find it there since then. It's a hard scent to describe, but it's definetly not a floral or fruity smell. Another perfume that I recently discovered that I think I might switch over to now is Dolce and Gabbana--Light Blue. I tried the sample the other day and everytime I would catch a whiff of it I would just feel incredibly happy. Lacoste Pink is another excellent scent--really fresh with a slight undertone of orange. Really girly and fun smelling. Check them all out!"
-Marya

"Dolce and Gabbana LIGHT BLUE..OMG OMG THIS STUFF IS THE BEST SMEELLLING STUFFF EVER EVER EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
-Aishak

"my favorite perfume is philosophy's falling in love. it smells really sweet and yummy and has a bit of a blackberry smell. it makes me happy" -Charlotte

"My favorite perfume is Clinique Happy and Happy Heart. They are light, not too strong. They both have a nice floral smell. "
-Amanda

"I like Clinique Happy. I know it's a little old school but I like it's fun citrus scent. And to be honest..... I do feel a little bit happier when I wear it."
-Gina

Max is very reluctant to participate in any of my surveys...
Me: "What is your favorite cologne?"
Max: "I will tell you if you promise not to buy it for me cause I am not really into cologne, I would never wear it."
Me: "Umm.... ok I promise"
Max: "Gucci Envy"
Me: "Why do you like that one the best?"
Max: "I don't know"

"My favorite perfume is Sensi By Giorgio Armani and Cologne is Aqua diGio by Giorgio Armani."
-Krystle

"My favorites are Jessica McClintock by Jessica McClintock, Sakura by Terra Nova, and Eternity by Calvin Klein. They are all flowery and light and when I wear them people always compliment me." -Margaret

"My favorit perfume is Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue. I have received a lot of compliments, from men and women while wearing this scent. Every morning when I wake up and I have to decide which perfume to put on I always know that my heart says Light Blue but the part of me that wants to not be in a rut will force me to put on other things. it is very sexy yet office appropriate. "
-Katie (aka Ralph Ziggler)

"Yah, uh I use Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani for men. Anyhow, I was in the market for a new cologne and the lady at the booth was like this is the hottest fragrance out there voted best 5 out of the last 6 years, so I tried it. I then proceeded to spray some on my neck and smear it in,well the lady at the booth hollered at me and said "dont crush the scent, let it blend", well I about shit my pants out of fear. Anyway the females like it so I guess its a winner in my book."
-Dray

Body Shop B-Day

2005-03-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

As many of you know today is my bday... I have one of those Body Shop "Love Your Body" cards so I got to go in and get a free ten dollar product, I chose to get the Grapeseed body wash. I am excited to try it out and I will let you know how it is when I have used it a few times.

Right now I will review what I used this morning... Sephora Triple Layer Hair and Body Wash. Do you see the theme here? I though it would just be so appropriate because of the date. Anyway, I loove love the smell of this product! Smells just like cake batter. But here is the problem... it has a very weak lather. I put it in my lather poof which I can usually get to crank out a lot of bubbles, but with this stuff there really isn't much, even when I use a lot of it. As a shampoo, I mean it's decent but I am more into the smell. Just for the lack of lather, which is part of the fun of body wash, i can only give it a 2.5 out of 4.0, sorry Sephora. This one had so much potential. Tear.

Product Shopping Pet Peeves and Joys

2005-03-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

Although I find joy in my products I have a beef about a couple things that need to be improved in the beauty industry.....

1. I hate when they advertise a product before it comes out, and you see it in a magazine and want it.... and can't find it anywhere. Maybe this is the idea, it helps generate desire but I find it frusterating.

2. I hate when there are inconsistencies between stores, like the Walgreens in the U. District has a certain product but the Walgreens at Northgate does not. This always puts me in a foul mood. I don't want to go to the same store twice to get one product!

3. I hate when there are mail-in rebates at the store (drugstores mostly) on new products instead of in-store coupons. Annoying.

4. I hate paying for shipping when I buy products online.

5. I hate that you can't smell things over the internet and you have to go off of scent descriptions. I would like to invent a device that allows you to smell fragrances through the computer.

6. I hate when you want to get the free gift at the cosmetics counter and the minimum order to get it is 19.98 and the product you bought comes to 20.46 dollars but that is with tax, so if you want to get the gift you have to buy something else, and none of the products are under ten dollars, so you have to spend over 30 dollars just to get the free gifts.

7. I hate when sales people (with bad makeup on) hassle you when you are just browsing or try to recommend alternatives to the products you have picked out because another product is "more fun" (or any number of dumb reasons). You picked out the product because that is the color you want for every day and you don't care if it's "fun".

8. I hate sales pitches in general when I am trying to shop in peace.... or when I already know more than the salesperson does and I can see through their product myths/lies.

9. I hate when beauty products are really overpriced and you really want them but there is no way you can rationally justify spending the money.

10. I hate when people are product snobs and don't realize that when it comes to products expensive does not equal great.

Ok there was the bad first... here is the good.

1. I love smelling perfumes and body washes and shampoos. Just going along and smelling- it's so FUN!

2. I love when you see new products in the store and they are the perfect shade for you!

3. I love it when you get free gifts and don't have to spend any extra money.

4. I love when others share the passion of beauty products with me.

5. I love going through other people's makeup bags.

6. I love when people ask me for advice about a beauty problem.... I feel so flattered.

7. I love it when friends are going through their products and getting rid of them and they give them to you for free! Or getting beauty products, like perfume, as presents!

8. I love the sense of accomplishment of finishing off a bottle of shampoo or lotion.

9. I love when you see the silver pan at the bottom of people's eye shadow and you know they have used that color a lot.

10. I love popping zits and squeezing out blackheads on myself and others (I know it's gross but you love it too)

Top Ten Beauty BUMMERS

2005-03-01T23:56:00.000-08:00

I am going to do a poll about this one.... I have stressed on this page all the fun about beauty products, but what about the ugly side? Here are what I think the top ten beauty bummers of all time are (I am going to have a poll about this)....

warning: Just because I put something on the list does not mean I have personally experienced it.... although I probably have

10. eye goop (especially happens with black liquid liner)
9. shaving rash/ingrown hairs
8. undereye circles/puffy eyes
7. too much makeup
6. dandruff
5. b.o./products that reek
4. red eyes
3. rashes
2. flaky/dry skin

and the most horrible, unsightly beauty bummer is:

1. This one is a tie between weight gain and acne!!!

There you have it, these are just my opinions of course and I could think of a much longer list of beauty disasters that plague the population, but I want to be concise. I would love to hear comments from you about what you think the worst beauty problems are, so please leave comments if you have opinions.

Body Shop Body Scrub

2005-02-27T16:16:00.000-08:00

The body scrubs I have used seem to be of two types: lightly foaming and cleansing, or with an oil base that leaves your skin moisturized. The Body Shop's Nut Body Scrub is the latter. The scrub uses sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, brazil nut oil, and soybean oil to create a base and salt as scrubbing particles. It has a nutty, brown sugar scent that is very sweet. Using it, your skin feels very soft and there is a layer of oil on your skin, even after you get out of the shower and towel off, so I found I didn't need lotion afterwards. I would say that if you like oily scrubs, you would find this one to be fairly good, although my favorite oily scrub is Midani Erbe...... but the Body Shop's scrubs are ones to try. I would give the Nut formula a 3.0 out of 4.0. I thought the smell was a little too sweet and cloying, and one patch of my skin got a little red and irritated when I used it, although this faded after a couple of minutes.

Got2B

2005-02-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

I was very intruiged when I saw Got2B Sexy Voluptuous Volume Areo Shampoo (what a mouthful) at my neighborhood Walgreens. It's a foam shampoo (I have never seen this before), with a consistency somewhere between a hair mousse and a shaving cream. I think the idea behind it is that because it's more "airy" it doesn't weigh down your hair like some shampoos. I usually use a volumizing formula for shampoo however, and I didn't really feel like this product was any more volumizing than liquid volumizing shampoo. Also, it's hard to know how much to use, and it doesn't really bubble up like liquid shampoo does. After using it my hair was clean and about the same as when I use any other volume shampoo, so I see this product as more of a gimmick. I would give it a 2.8 out of 4.0.

Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Lotion

2005-02-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

I got Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Cool and Fresh lotion this summer and it's really great as a light moisturizer. It has a nice, cucumbery aloe scent and feels really cool on your skin (hence the name). Although it's not the best for winter, it's perfect in the summer and spring, but I also use it during the winter when I just feel like my skin needs some cooling/soothing action. It's perfect for that. I would give Aloe Cool and Fresh by Vaseline a 3.7 out of 4.0. It's definately one to check out.

Neutrogena Lip Nutrition

2005-02-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

Neutrogena Lip Nutrition originally came out with three different scents in their lip nutrition lip balms. They are berry smooth, mango moisture, and soothing mint balm. I find all of these to be pretty standard "balms", they don't have much sheen or color and are fairly waxy feeling. The berry has these small little dots in it, which almost look like the "moisture beads" in some shower gels (soft soap has a lot of shower gels with moisture beads in it)... but they don't really seem to do anything special in the balm. If you push them into your lips they do disintigrate (maybe adding extra oil), but I don't understand why they are on the berry balm and not the other two. There is also a vanilla lip balm, but I haven't tried it so I won't comment on it other to say that it seems about the same as the other two from the looks of it. For all three of these balms I would give a 2.5 out of 4.0, because they are waxy and not inexpensive for lip balm at the drugstore, but they do make my lips soft, so they serve some sort of purpose.

There are two new balms that have a totally different formulation, launched in February. The one I have is honey rescue balm (the other one is red, I can't remember the flavor/scent), and I looove it. It's so different from the other three that came out over a year ago, first because it has a totally different feel. It's smooth, silky, and shiny, not waxy at all. It's more of a trasparent glossy balm than a waxy balm like the others. I love the smell and taste (sweet like honey), and it gives lips great shine, without changing the color of my lips (it's basically the color of honey). I would give it a 3.6 out of 4.0, because as I said before it isn't that cheap for the drugstore and also it seems like more of a lip gloss than any kind of lip treatment, but I really like it's look and flavor. It's a vast improvement over the other balms.

Dove Hairspray

2005-02-22T23:45:00.000-08:00

I got a new hairspray the other day (on sale!), it's Dove Flexible Hold Hairspray and I love it. The thing I love most about it is the smell. It's not really a describable smell, I can only tell you that I think it smells great. I want to say "clean and flowery" but that's not really it, it's more distinct than that. Well anyway it's not one of those hairsprays that just smells like hairspray... which is a plus. It's just intoxicating. Ok now it sounds like I have been huffing it. But seriously. The formula I have is the flexible hold, and it really is a very light hold, which is nice because my hair is pretty fine and I only use hairspray when I put my hair back to tame the stray hairs, especially the flyaways. So this works great for that. Also I like that you can spray it in your hair and then brush your hair or change the style and you don't get those gross flakes that some hairspray gives you, and the brush doesn't have to rip through hairs like they are cemented together. You can easily change your style around. So it's a really workable hairspray. It wouldn't be good, however, if you wanted a lot of control (but then you wouldn't get the flexible hold you would get the maximum hold, wouldn't you?). I would give it a 4.0 out of 4.0, it smells wonderful and it's nice, light and workable, just as flexible hairspray should be.

Burt's Bees

2005-02-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

Burt's Bees big thing is that they are all, or almost all, natural, which is an exception in the beauty world. I would say that the reason it is an exception, however, is that it doesn't really matter is beauty products are natural or not, and the best beauty products, in my experience, are not all natural. I mean, the chemicals in lipstick don't hurt you, so I think the "all natural"/organic beauty product movement is a little odd... I mean- take organic shampoo (sold at places like Whole Foods). There's no reason that what you put on your hair needs to be natural. You're not ingesting it, your hair is dead! Mostly I think it's interesting because a lot of natural things are very irritating- take eucalyptus or witch hazel. You often find these in natural beauty products but they can actually be quite irritating. So now that you know my stance.... let's get on with the reviews.....

My favorite Burt's Bees Product is the Lemon Cuticle Butter. It's a combination of sweet almond oil, beeswax, lemon oil, vitamin E and some other extracts. I tote it around in my purse and apply it throughout the day because I often get hangnails and I feel like this product really works to get rid of them. However, application is kind of a pain, you have to run this cuticle butter (it's like a salve) onto your nails and cuticles one by one. The more you rub it in the better..... I would recommend doing it at least twice a day if your cuticles are trashed. So that's a bit of a hassle.... but on the upside it smells really nice (lemony fresh) and you can turn it into a soothing little beauty treatment if you want. It also really helps to get rid of those hangnails and prevent them. It comes in a travel sized tin but you don't need very much, a tin lasts a long time. I would give this product a 3.7 out of 4.0.

Another product I have is the Burt's Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion... I feel like there is nothing really special about this lotion. The smell isn't too appealing, it's a little baby powdery and kind of blah. The texture is slightly greasy and a little waxy. It's moderately effective... but as I said I don't really feel like there is anything special about it. It doesn't absorb all the way and leaves a slight waxy coating on the body and hands. I would give it a 2.5 out of 4.0

However, this is better than the grade I would give Burt's Bees Carrot Nutritive Body Lotion. This stuff stinks! At first I thought it smelled slightly good.... and then I realised I must have been having sensory hallucinations, because it just reeks. Secondly it is this orangish color and if you put too much on there is a slight deposit of this orange color on your skin. Aside from all this I don't find it to be anything other than a standard lotion at best. I would give this a .5 out of 4.0. I actually gave it away, and I never like to give products away, especially if I haven't had them for a long time.

Another product I have is Burt's Coconut Foot Cream. This product has it's plusses and minuses. It is effective, but this is mostly due I think to the high oil content. The first couple ingredients are vegetable glycerin, olive oil, and oat protein, and it is definately very very oily. I would recommend only using it at night and putting socks over it and then washing your feet in the morning, because if you don't they are still pretty oily and make your socks feel kind of damp and gross. The good part about this is that it's really effective, it makes rough feet feel very soft and smooth. It also has a nice fragrance, kind of a coconut and peppermint, and the peppermint oil in the cream gives a slight cooling effect on your feet. Peppermint is also said to be good for increasing circulation (but who knows if this is true, and do I need to increase circulation in my feet? Probably not). Also, don't think this product has the texture of a cream as the name implies. It's really more of a thick, oily salve, kind of like a thicker vaseline. Anyway I would give this product a 3.0 out of 4.0, because it's effective but a little messy and bothersome.

The most famous product Burt has is his Beeswax Lip Balm. This is the stuff that started it all. The formulations are different in the tin and in the tube, I used the one in the tube, and I found it to be a good lip balm but not something I would necessarily write home about. However, I have to add here that I worked at The Soap Box where we carried this product and people were OBSESSED with it. It had like a cult following. We ran out of it for a month or so and that really didn't go over well. Basically, I feel like it's a pretty standard lipbalm that gives your lips and cooling sensation when you put it on. My theory is that a lot of people really like this because they think it means it's "working". Don't get me wrong I like the stuff but it's not one of my essentials. I give is a 3.0 out of 4.0.

Lastly, I will review Burt's Beeswax and Banana Handcream. This product is very interesting. It has a really strong banana smell, kind of like banana Laffy Taffy, and, like a lot of Burt's products, it's really really oily. You only need a small amount of this stuff. I would say that the smell is kind of fun and unique but overwhelming. The feel of the cream is really oily and slightly waxy, I would only use it before bed. However, when I do this I wake up with really soft hands. So I will give this handcream a 2.8 out of 4.0.

Altering My "Grading" System

2005-02-18T19:10:00.000-08:00

At this point I have been using a 5 point system for rating products, and after careful consideration and reading on my blog that I give many products a 4 I have decided to change my rating system to essentially a grading system.... all the products will be rated on a four point scale much like a grade point average, since I am a student this is much easier for me to conceptualize. So a really good product, one getting an A grade would recieve between a 3.5-4.0, a B product, one that I would use but isn't that much of a hit would right around the 3.0 range.... you get the picture. A horrible product of course is going to get somewhere from a 0-1 grade. So hopefully this rating change will not throw you all off too much, just think about it as if I am a professor of makeup and cosmetics companies are trying to pass my class with their products. Some will have a chance to go onto grad school, and some will get put on academic probation.

A fun shadow

2005-02-18T18:54:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy Revlon's Illuminance Cream Shadow, because with the creams you can build an intensity I feel it is hard to get from powder shadows, as well as a different, more lush look for your eyelids. The only problem with these cream shadows is that by the end of the day they have almost faded away and they crease, so that you get them settling into the lines of your eyelid.

I have tried to counteract creasing by placing in a powder shadow over them to set them, but this doesn't work well for two reasons: first, if you really love the color of the cream shadow it's going to be altered, and it's really hard to find a matching color.... second, I have found that my eyelids take on this weird crepey texture when I put a powdered shadow over the creme shadow, it's very hard to describe but it's not a smooth, even finish. I don't love cream shadow that much becuase of these reasons, but I have found Revlon's to be the best and I think it's really fun to play with, because they have so many great colors.

The illuminance cream shadows come in a black case with either four or ten shadows in each palette. The ten shadow packs are usually "limited edition" palettes, but the colors are borrowed from the four palette shadows. The palettes are really affordable. For the four shadow palette the price is about six dollars, and for the ten shadow palette around ten dollars.... so you can get lots of colors to experiment with (and most of the colors are really nice) for a small budget.

Although this product looks the best within the first few hours you apply it, I would give it a 3.7 out of 5 stars because it's really one of my favorite eye shadow collections, just because it's so affordable and has so many great colors.

Neosporin Lip Treatment

2005-02-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

Let me say first that I am very impressed with the new Neosporin Lip Treatment, it has a nice light shine but most of all it heals chapped lips better than anything! If you have had seriously cracked lips you know they are a bit painful. This was my story, I had a crack in my lip for about two weeks that was pretty deep and would not go away no matter what I tried. I constantly have lip gloss on or some kind of lip balm, so I thought it would just go away, but it didn't. So I decided to take drastic action and check out this product. Wow, I was really impressed. I put this on two nights in a row and my problem crack in my lip, that wouldn't go away for weeks, is gone, and has stayed away, even though I only use the product about once a week. As far as taste and texture, it has kind of a medicinal orange scent and taste. It's really smooth textured and gives you a nice, very light sheen to your lips. I don't love the taste and scent but it's ok and this product performs like a dream, so I would give it 5 out of 5 stars!

Favorite Products, guest profile

2005-02-17T21:47:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my friend Gina's favorite products.....

"(My favorite products are) Neutrogena Acne Free Wash which I have 100% confidence in. Also chapstick, not the fragranced stuff, but the hardcore original chapstick, I NEVER part with it. It's always in my pocket. I'll even put it in the pocket of the pants I am wearing the next day when I go to bed. Also I never really dabbled in the Clinique products after about 9th grade, but when I went to Colorado for 3 weeks the altitude and dryness KILLED my skin. It was so dry and disgusting. So I tried the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and it fixed the beauty crisis pronto. I mean like overnight. It was incredible."

My side comment:

I myself enjoy chapstick, but I am more partial to the Flava-Craze Chap Sticks, they come in a three pack and include Fruit Craze which has a sweet and slightly sour strawberry and cherry flavor and scent (yum), Grape Craze, and Blue Crazeberry", which is kind of a blue raspberry smell, simliar to those blue bubble pop suckers... my least favorite one is the blue crazeberry but it's decent and I love the other too. I like the formulation because it seems to be quite effective and is nice and light, not too greasy. It doesn't really show on your lips too much, although the blue and purple (grape) do give a tiny bit of a tint, but not enough that you look odd because you have blue lips. I would give these a 4 out of 5 cause they are effective and more fun, I think, than original chapstick.

The Body Shop Coconut Dry Oil Mist

2005-02-13T22:14:00.000-08:00

I love the scents of coconut and was excited to see The Body Shop had Dry Oil Mist in this scent... however after using the product a few times, I am rather dissapointed. The body oil mist is basically supposed to be a nice light moisturizer that you can easily apply by spraying on and rubbing in, without leaving a greasy, oily feel (hence the term "dry oil mist".... it's kind of an oxymoron)..... I feel like this product does accomplish that goal but the smell is not at all pleasant. It doesn't have a very strong coconut smell but definately has an "oil" smell, almost like cooking oil, so when I wear it my skin feels soft but I smell like I have rubbed myself down with Crisco- not appealing! Another thing I dont like about it is that although it's nice to be able to just spray it on, when you spray it on your legs it goes all over the floor and makes the floor all greasy. eww. I am going to have to give this product a 2 out of 5 stars, mostly due to the unpleasant smell although I am not very impressed with it otherwise. If you want something with a nice coconutty smell from this company, try their Body Butter (you can find it on http://www.thebodyshop.com), which is a lot nicer as far as smell and ease/neatness of application.

Taking a break from Weber

2005-02-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful surprise this morning when my dear mother called me up and said that she was going to go to the clinique counter and was wondering if there was anying I wanted because she had to spend a certain amount to get the free gift, she's already gotten one free gift but she is going back for a few more products.... so she wanted to get me a free gift and some makeup if I needed it. What a wonderful surprise! And yes I do need some new concealer and powder....

which brings me to my review of Clinique Air Brush Concealer because it is my absolute favorite concealer in the whold world.... first of all let me say I will give it 5 out of 5 stars.... it's not too heavy and the way it dispenses makes the amount you get easy to regular, you just click it out and it dispenses into this brush. I really love it cause it's easy to blend and not really heavy and it never gets all cakey or looks unnatural. The only bad thing is that it's like 20 bucks and I go through it like water. But I can't give it up! So check it out....

clinique also makes one of my favorite powders, Clarifying Powder Makeup. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. What I like so much about this one is that it's a nice color and consistency, I use the very fair color (01) and it's a really natural skin color, not like some of those that have that orangish color. Also it's really good for oily skin. I would say it has a middle range of coverage. It's really fine textured to and goes on really smooth.

The only thing I use on my face (by this I don't mean eyes or lips) that isn't clinique is my foundation, L'oreal True Match Super-Blend Makeup. I would rate this as 4.7 out of 5 stars. I tried this right when it came out and have been using it ever since. It has a great texture, it blends soooo easily and there are so many shades that its easy to find one to match your skintone. The shades come in many colors and are subdivided across the spectrum according to your undertones. So there are very fair through darker shades that are also divided into warm, cool, and neutral shades. I think of myself as a cool but I felt like the cool shades were too pinky for me, so I use neutral (n2 classic ivory). The only downside to this foundation is that it does bring out all of your dry skin, so if you have little dry skin flakes, like in the winter, these are going to show. But it's great for people with oily skin. I think it's great cause it's reasonably priced, about nine bucks I think, and it's easy to get it to look natural, which can be a problem when you get foundation at the drugstore and not the counter. But usually there are displays with testers for this stuff so you can see which ones you match too.

The line has just come out with powder and concealor but I haven't tried it yet, who knows, maybe when I do I will be converted from clinique?! Although that is doubtful cause I have been using clinique powder and concealer since I first started wearing makeup in 7th grade.

Valentine's day Perfumes

2005-02-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

I am sure you are pondering what fragrance to wear for Valentine's Day, or to get your sweetie, so I will help you out (by the way this isn't a hint of what I want for Valentine's Day cause I have all of these)--

Jennifer Lopez has just released Miami Glow, which I think smells nice (it's pretty tropical), but her best perfume is definately Still. According to Sephora this perfume is a blend of,
"Sake Notes, White Pepper, Mandarin, Earl Grey, Pink Freesia, Honeysuckle, Orange Flower, Rose, Wild Jasmine, Sandalwood, Musks, Ambers, Orris."
First of all I think it's cool cause you can smell the Earl Grey tea in it, and how many fragrances have that note in it? It's not a typical floral scent, it's more subtle. There are some perfumes that if I smell them a lot they start smelling gross, but I feel like this is one of the few perfumes that doesn't do that. OH and when I say perfume I am obviously refering to eau de perfume becuase concentrated perfume oil would be like hundreds of dollars for a small amount. But I think this is definately one to check out and see if you like it, because it's unique and not overwhelming. Also it's not so sweet like many of the perfumes you find on the market which is nice. I would picture this on a woman who is very clean and sweet looking, someone that doesn't really wear makeup and has that dewy, just ran in the rain look.

Next we have "Amor Amor" by Cacharel. This is a mix of Mandarin, Black Currant, Melati Blossom, Lily Of The Valley, White Musk, Grey Amber. It's a little more heady of a scent than Still, not quite as light. However, it's really damn hot. When I smell it on my arm I want to grab myself.... I can totally smell the black currant and partially the mandarin and then some sort of a floral that I can't place. It's a little more "sensual" than Still. I would picture it on someone that had a really together look, whose clothes were mostly from Anthropologie if you know what i mean. If that intruiges you check it out.

Next we have Basic Instinct from Victoria Secret. According to the company it is "a daring floral blend of Port Plum Wine, Apricot, Turkish Rose, Gardenia, Wild Tuberose, Patchouli, and Vanilla Orchid." Ok the first time I smelled this I was like I dont like it, it smells like an old lady.... but then the more I smelled it the more I liked it.... and I had to smell more. It's offbeat because it has the Patchouli in it which I usually hate, but blended with other scents it produces a deep kind of musky scent. I picture this on a French woman who wears a lot of black turtleneck sweaters and nice linguire (well it is from Victoria Secret). According to the website it is, "For the woman who always acts on impulse".... which reminds me of the kind of person that drives me crazy.... but it's really a nice fragrance when you are in the right frame of mind.

Shampoo Survey

2005-02-07T20:31:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all those of you that have been participating in my survey, I really appreciate it! Here are the results:

They were hard to tabulate because of language, for example your mom is obsessed with a certain shampoo. I didn't know if I should count this but then I decided I would. Also if you dont have a favorite but then mention one that you like something about it is obviously your favorite because you have it on your mind.... so I went ahead and counted that.

Leading the pack we have Keratese with 4 votes
Garnier Fructise is close in the lead with 3 votes
Aveda two votes
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette two votes
Suave two votes
all of the following got one vote:
Dove
Bain de Terre
Aussie
Pantene Pro-V
Herbal Essence
Pert Plus
Botanical Nutrients Wheat Bran Patchouli

If you haven't voted yet please do because obviously the sample size here isn't large enough to be generalizable to the population, even the population of college students. I dont even actually know enough people that would make it generalizable but still.... lets try to get closer.

Also someone was sweet enough to ask me what my favorite was.... I thought that was really nice. Anyway I said well right now I am using Treseme and I like it a lot, but I cant say its really my favorite because that would be like picking a favorite child and that's just not right.

Here are more specific results:

I would have to say it's a toss up between Garnier Fructis and John Frieda Brilliant Brunette. Fructis- I like what it does to my hair, but Brilliant Brunette- I love the smell"
-Ashley

ahhh ok I harrassed some people on IM and I got some more answers:

"well, I like expensive shampoo like aveda because it makes my hair feel the best, but I usually buy herbal essence because it's cheap and smells good"
-Camille

"Aveda Madder Root: its the color of pomegranate juice, it naturally enhances my red hair"
-Nell

"Pantene Pro-V because they test extensively on animals"
-Max (I dont think he's taking this seriously)

"Aussie! My hair is kept very short due to the military, So right now anything works. If my hair was long I wouldn't want it to smell like lilacs you know...just good."
-Derek

"My favorite shampoo is Garnier Fructis, cause it smells really good and it does wonders for making your hair feel shiny and soft and healthy. I can tell you what my mom is obsessed with Kerastase (I think it's a division of L'Oreal)-she's psycho about it, made my dad buy her three bottles in France the other week because it's about 10 dollars cheaper here."
-Marya

"Kerastase! I love it b/c it makes my hair soft, stay straight, and shiny. It is way too expensive though."
-Breanna

"My favorite shampoo is Dove. It makes your hair really soft and it smells good."
-Amanda

"I don't have a favorite shampoo. I do like the smell of Fructis brand shampoo. Maybe I'll get that when my current bottle of Dove runs out. I have short hair so it really doesn't matter what I use, I can't tell a difference."
-Josh

"I would have to say Kerastase. I'm sorry I don't know what the actual shampoo name is, just the brand, but it's Kerastase because it leaves your hair shiny and it feels incredible to the touch. I feel good touching my own hair. Ridiculous. "
-Ralph Ziggler

"The shampoo that I currently use is the lowest of low brands: Suave. Okay so it's a cheap brand I know but I am a busy woman......they smell good and are ultra cheap. I like strawberry, blueberry, or coconut. Conditioner comes in matching fragrances of course."
-Gina

"I guess it is PERT (plus), because they sell it at Costco and the conditioner is already in it."
-Mark (my dad)

"Bain de Terre because I got it where I get my hair cut and the haircutter said it was good and I can buy it with my punchcard from Trade Secret"
-Sharon (my mom)

"I found this great shampoo at bath and bodyworks by Botanical Nutrients called "Wheat Bran Patchouli." I really like it,it's for dry hair, and now that I live in spokane I need it because my hairgets so staticky."
-Meredith

"I don't have a favorite shampoo.... I use kirkland from Costco.... I can tell you my favorite soap- it's Irish Spring, with aloe"
-John

"I use Suave for men... the 2 in 1 kind, I think. I like it cuz it's hella cheap, which if you're someone like me, who has hardly any hair, makes it the best shampoo in the world!"
-Jason

"One of my personal favorites is John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette. I find that after the first use my hair is very shiny, soft, and managable. My hair is usually thin and frizzy but the formula for normal hair takes care of both problems."
-Erin

MOR body butter

2005-02-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Right now I should be studying for my social stratification midterm tomorrow, but I really dont want to. I think I have senioritis. Badly. I have never liked really disliked school and felt like it was wasting my time but now that I am at the end, I feel that way....... I go three paper assignments today so that was really depressing. so lets talk about happier things, like MOR body butter:
The ones I have are the Dolce body butters, I got them in a gift pack from Ashley, who got them at a boutique in California for me. Lovely present. Anyway the scents are Sorbet, Marshmellow, Gelato and Nougut. They are all lovely smelling. The very interesting thing about MOR body butter, besides it's scents, is it's consistency. It is very think and very "dry" feeling when you put it on.... hard to describe. It's very much a cream rather than a lotion but not really whipped, more just very dense. you know when you put on cream or lotion and you have that wet feel and then it absorbs? Yah, its not like that. And its not oily. According to Ashley Mayfield, "I like that it's thick and not too oily, I like that it absorbs but moisturizes. The scent is nice but isn't too strong. I like that they have unusual scents like not ones that... you know...." I think she means that you see every day.
Ashley's favorite scent is pomegranate, which I feel smells very much like gummy bears. The second runner up for her is marshmellow.
A problem with MOR products are that they are not carried in many places. You have to order them online often which means you cant smell it. I have seen them at little boutiques and sephora is starting to catch on. I have also seen them at nordstroms but a very limited selection.
One places you can get them online and check out the products is: http://www.morcosmetics.com/
Anyway I would give MOR body butter 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's really an excellent product, however it loses a half a point for being damn expensive and hard to get your mitts on.

and another thing

2005-02-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

If you critique my writing on that last entry you are the spawn of satan. Thanks.

IMPORTANT: I am not shallow just cause i like beauty products

2005-02-06T15:35:00.000-08:00

Ok so my obsession with beauty products started at a young age. When i was 8 I wanted all the Lipsmackers from Bonne Bell and tried to collect them. My favorite was Dr. Pepper. At 12 I loved to go to Longs Drugs and smell all the shampoos. I would sit in the bathtub and read the labels on products over and over again. However, this obsession is not, as some people have hypothesized, due to low self esteem. I think I look fine without makeup, usually that is, and I dont have a problem with girls not wearing makeup- but its just not my style. Beauty products are just fun! Looking at them, buying them, smelling them, using them.......... its all so wonderful. However, I am NOT into plastic surgery, I dont have low self esteem, and i am not using beauty products to feel better about myself. Although it is nice to be able to cover your zits before you face the world. Also being fair of skin and hair I have very light eyelashes (not blonde but kinda brownish) and i feel like my eyes dissapear and blend into my face without makeup. ok anyway lets get back to the point! I am not shallow just because I like beauty products. I know there are many more important things in the world such as the fact that people are starving and homeless and diseased. However, I think beauty products are just as a ligitimate interest as sports are and just because beauty is a female centered it gets less respect and i am sick of that. So please do not judge me. Realize that if men wore makeup and perfume there would be college courses on it at prestigious universities and people who were talented at makeup application would be paid millions of dollars. There would be a beauty section in the newspaper rather than a sports section. and on and on. I have been fighting the blonde hair blue eyed stereotype my whole life and it doesnt make it easy to have a love of beauty products combined with this- but i am going to embrace who i am damnit and share it with the world. alrighty then.

Rimmel Mascara

2005-02-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

Rimmel used to be carried exclusively by walmart in the US. It's a British brand and quite reasonably priced. Anyway it is not carried at Walgreens thank god and I have gotten rave reviews from my friends about it. The one I bought was the Extra Super Lash, its was quite inexpensive, if i remember correctly under three dollar. anyway i wasn't super into it, cause i felt it was not dramatic enough, kind of au naturelle in a way. but then my roommate borrowed it and raved about it so i gave it a second look. the pluses of it are that it really doesnt flake, and it leaves your lashes feeling soft not crispy like a lot of mascaras. it really is best for a very natural look. another friend of mine tried it and said that she wore it for a continuous 36 hours and it didnt flake a bit. which i dont recommend cause you should wash your face before bed!!!!!!!!!! ok well anyway i will cut to the chase so to summerize this mascara is good for a natural look and feel, it has developed a cult following in my household and i would give Rimmel Extra Super Vlash Mascara 4 out of 5 stars.

Hello!

2005-02-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

ok today i am studying for my SOC stratification class and doing other homework, tonight is desperate housewives and then i am going to go to Greenlake Grill for their happy hour with max. its a really good deal, you can get good stuff like nachos or a burger or something for 2.95. Hella cheap! This weekend I went shopping with Kristina at Alderwood mall man that place is huge. The only thing I bought was passion fruit body butter. i would have to give it a pretty good rating. i would say 3.5 out of five stars. The smell is very pleasant but after I put it on the smell seemed to change a bit and smell a little weird. also, as it is with all the body shop body butters it never absorbs completely. Which sometimes i dont like. its not greasy per say more leaves you with this very moist feeling, which is sometimes a bit odd.

first day

2005-01-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

Wow this is so weird I dont even know what to do, I have never made a website........ I just wanted to sign marya's guestbook, and it made me create on of these