Fresh is as Fresh Does

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Yes, I've been bad about writing. I think I need to only do at least one post a week, especially since no one's actually reading this! However, believe me, I could write a lot more about this subject!

Kieran, my beauty-product enabler, and I went to bluemercury in Westfield last Thursday to walk the glossy floors and bask in the lowlighted, but not dark, ambience in this wonderful place for high-end products. 

We walked all the way around the store to make sure we took in everything before possibly deciding on a product to buy. The first product line was Bliss. They always havefun  product names to help make it easier to purchase their products. One of the first products was a "bust enhancer" cream. Give me a break. Even I'm not that taken, but I did have to look at it! 

The back of the store in a small shelf were some men's products and the Mustela baby products line. Gee, why bother. Walking around the store some more we hit the hair products that include Frederic Fekkai, Bumble & Bumble, and other boutique brands. Nothing stirred me here. Now that I have short hair, I don't have to do as much with it to tame the mass.

Finally, I decided on a product by Fresh. I had thought about the Black Tea Age-Defying Cream. It smelled awful, and cost $125 and that's just way too much unless I know for a fact that it's going to work. So, I decided on the Cucumber cleanser for $48. Yes, it's a bit of money, but not $125!! (I'm having problems with images so I'm not going to post it.)

I tried it that night and I love that it foams. It's so much easier to work with than a bar of soap or juggling a liquid in my hand and try to get it to my face before it spills. It doesn't smell great, but hey as long as it works, I can live with it. The first few days, my face felt kind of bumpy but no actual breakouts. One thing I have noticed is that my face doesn't feel puffy in the morning like it previously has and the lines around my eyes calm down pretty quickly (which is a wonderful thing!!). Even this morning when I had a line emergency, they went down pretty quickly even though I didn't wash my face right away.

Now my face feels very smooth and feel like pretty young! A good buy! Sometimes it is worth the extra $ if you feel like you're getting something from it and it's doing what it should. I'm glad I spent less on the scrub because that's something that can be replicated.

An A+++!

They also have a spa and I'll definitely want to use one or two of their services and they're pretty reasonable. (Oh, and a few samples including Perricone, M.D.!)

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On another note, I hear through the grapevine that CVS is opening a chain of high-end cosmetics stores, expanding its role in the beauty/health market. I think it's a brilliant idea (quoting Blair from The Facts of Life TV show from the 80's). Who doesn't love CVS? Who doesn't love high-end cosmetics and beauty aids? Moi? absolutement!!

Can't wait to visit the new "Beauty 360" stores. Hopefully, they're more like bluemercury than Sephora! 

Making Up is Hard to Do!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Yes, I've been a bad blogger and haven't written in a while. Please forgive me!

Nothing too new in the makeup world here at least. I've worn the Exceptionnel mascara a couple of times and I really like it. Last week I put it on even when my eyes were feeling a little itchy from allergies and they felt OK, which is more than I can say for the Mary Kay mascara that I recently threw away since it was pretty old.

Ever since I had the Lasik surgery/implanted contact lense, my eyes have become more sensitive to allergens and irritants so the fact that this mascara wasn't too harsh is a plus.

Haven't had a lot of occasions to wear mascara, although I like to wear it when I'm not wearing a ton of makeup since my natural eyelashes aren't very long. Thick, but not long like my friend Dawn's. Last year she got contact for the first time and then had a makeover by a very good Mary Kay representative and Dawn's eyes were amazingly huge. Sigh.

The Chanel mascara also didn't make my lashes feel too stiff like a lot do. So overall, I'd give the Exceptionnel high marks except for being a little pricey. Although, if it came in the trial size for a reduced price, I might give it a thought.

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Went to the beach again this past Sunday. It was a gorgeous day and I was much more aware about putting on sunscreen. My husband was there so he helped put is on where I couldn't. The mark from my previous burn is still there and will be for a while, but I make extra sure to cover up that area very well and reapplied sunscreen after coming out of the water.

I had used my normal daytime moisturizer Garnier Nutitioniste Skin Renew Anti-Sun Damage SPF 28, and that seemed to work well as a sunscreen. On my body, I used CVS brand SPF 30 spray on in addition to a lotion just to make sure I was covered.

Not sure if I'm totally happy with the Garnier overall, though. It's a little thick to put on in the morning and my face looks a little greasy afterward. The other cream I have from them has stung my face a little at times so I'm conflicted about continuing to use it, but can't seem to bring myself to throw it away and get something else. Hmmm. Maybe once I get my first paycheck at the end of the month (wink, wink)!

Makeupista!

Exceptionnel de Chanel: A Taste of Luxe

Thursday, August 14, 2008

I've subscribed to Allure magazine for a long time (since it's initial issue through my mother-in-law) and about a year ago they finally started this Allure Beauty Experts group that I immediately signed up for. So far, I've reviewed a few different products such as Kinerase products (nice, but too expensive) and today I received a sample of Chanel's new mascara: Exceptionnel.

It's main feature is the 3 brush sides that "create intense lash volume" that "comb, separate, and curl lashes." So I'll try it for a week and then Allure will send me an email asking for my opinion.

The color they sent is Smoky Black, which hopefully isn't too dark. I normally use black/brown since black is very start against my fair skin. Looking forward to trying it out.

A long time ago, I purchased several Chanel products and still use them: eyeliners in green, brown, blue & black. Green and brown came together and blue and black came together each with a mini brush. They're very nice.

I also received the latest Allure issue that has Carrie Underwood on the cover. The usual articles on Younger, Smoother Skin; Fall Fashion Checklist; Love This Makeup; Perfect Hair, and Eat What You Crave (and still lose weight).

I'll let you know what I think about the mascara.

Makeupista!

bluemercury, a better Sephora?

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

One store that I forget about, but is really great is bluemercury. I've visited this store in a couple of places (Bridgewater Commons and at the Tropicana in Atlantic City) and have always longed to purchase beauty products from there.

Last Fall we were at the Trop in AC, NJ for our friend Donna's 40th birthday and got her a gift certificate from there. I said to Sean, "I would love to buy my products from here." He said OK, but I've always been a little concerned about price...and selection. What I mean by that is there are just so many products to choose from how can one decide?

The store is impeccably laid out: glossy wood floors, nicely arranged shelves and tables by brands. Kind of like the Bath & Body Works that I mentioned earlier, but sleeker. It's a lot friendlier, though, than Sephora and the lighting isn't as scary!!

They also provide spa services like manicures, pedicures, facials, and such at selected stores as well as events with high-end cosmetics such as NARS, Trish McEvoy, Laura Mercier, etc. I'll have to pay more attention next year!

I need to visit the store in Westfield, NJ, where there's also an independent Kiehl's store. Although Westfield's close, it isn't someplace that I normally go to shop, which is too bad because it's a great town with a lot of activity going on in it.

Like I said, the only problem is deciding what to get since there is sooo much to choose from.

As you know, I normally purchase lower-end products, but sometimes you just have to splurge!!

Makeupista

Is ULTA the Ulitmate?

Monday, August 11, 2008

Last Tuesday I had to leave the house to let the cleaners come and do their thing, which is fine so I headed to the Watchung Square Mall about 8 miles away. They have an ULTA store there and that was my first stop.

Ulta has a wide range of products, from CoverGirl, Maybelline, Physician's Formula, to Too Faced and other high-end brands. They also have their own line, which I haven't tried.

The store itself isn't bad, but can seem a little down at its heels in areas such as the back clearance area. They also provide full salon services, but I've never seen anyone there although I don't go there a lot.

I made quick work of the store starting in the makeup section and decided that I didn't really need anything so I bypassed there and moved onto the brushes and hair care products. My stylist who cut my hair short suggested a large, round brush to use when I blow out my hair, but ultimately couldn't decide on one. Checked out the upscale hair products, but don't need any at the moment. I just purchased some Vive products for color and smoothness.

In the end, I decided on a container of Method hand soap in Sea Minerals, which is very nice and smooth and its scent isn't overwhelming and three samples from the Be Fine face products line: the Daily Moisturizer that feels really fresh and different from anything else I've worn; Night Cream, which I've used and is nice; and the Warming Clay Mask. The clay mask is really good. I'm not much of a clay mask user since I tried one before and it was too harsh on my skin. My skin feels incredibly smooth and silky after using it.

When compared to Sephora and Bath & Body Works, Ulta seems nice, but a little frayed at the edges like it doesn't quite know what to do with itself. Does it want to be upscale like Sephora or not. It tends to get leftovers and items that companies may not make any longer so that might give it that discount feel even though they're trying to make it a bit more upscale. The salon also doesn't help.

It's a good place to go when you want to try something different, but don't want to spend a lot of money.

Have fun shopping!

Makeupista!

Sephora vs. Bath & Body Works

Monday, August 4, 2008

Last week I went to both Sephora and Bath & Body Works, both are places I love to visit!

Sephora:
I went to Sephora at "The Mall at Short Hills," which is unusually snooty so it's hardly fair to compare this store with Bath & Body Works, but it's still fun to browse there.

The first item to note is that the store is practically bursting at the seams with products and promotions and the interior of the store is pushed to its limit. It's very confusing and overwhelming. Upon arrival, I was "greeted" by a floor person and seemingly reluctantly asked if they could help.

I wandered the store a bit trying on this and washing it off with semi-conveniently placed tissues and such. Passed to the back where the hair and skin products are located and tried on a Fresh soy facial cleanser. Nice, but still too expensive... a nicer salewoman asked if I was a member of their "rewards" program. I thought I was but I don't buy enough stuff to make it worth my while and extra emails that clog my various email "inboxes."

The lighting is quite bright unforgiving. I guess to give you a better of the product, however sometimes lower light is better. I like that in the checkout line there are a lot fun samples. They're from top brands, too, not just Sephora's own brands, so they're still pretty expensive.

I left without buying anything and there was nothing that I absolutely had to have...for now.

Bath & Body Works:
After an interview with a recruiter, I went to Woodbridge Mall for a stroll. At the mall, they have an expanded Bath & Body Works that not only stocks its own brand, but others as well, such as Patricia Wexler, Frederic Fekkai, C.O. Bigelow, Mustela, Phyto, Caudalie, and many more. This has been something B & BW has done for a relatively short time and not all of their stores have all of these brands, but they can be purchased through their web site. Most of their stores have been redecorated to be less cute and many have cleaner lines and product displays.

The atmosphere was much different: the lights weren't as bright, there was actually places to walk around the shelves and there was a working sink available if you had too much product on and needed to wash it off. Immediately, I headed over to the trial size racks and searched for good stuff.

In previous posts, I've noted that many of B&BW's private label products are overly scented and make me sneeze. I stay away from their signature products and scents and steer toward the more natural scents featured in their Aromatherapy line.

Products were arranged by brand if it was a nonB&BW brand. There were two makeup sets available to try on but no salepeople were really around to help and no one really greeted me even though I was nearly the only person in the store.

I ended up purchasing one bottle of the Aromatherapy liquid hand soaps for our basement bathroom. It was only $6 for 12 ozs. A nice price. There's a promotion going on where you can get 3 products from this line for $15 or 7 products for $20. Makes me hope they're not discontinuing this line. It seems to good to be true, but I only purchased one in Tranquil Mint/Stress Reliever. A very nice scent.

I did a little more browsing and ended up with a small container of hand sanitizer also for the bathroom for $1.50. The person who checked me out made sure to ask if I was sure I didn't need more; I was sure.

Overall a much nicer experience.

Conclusion:
I like these stores for different reasons, but I'm more likely to make more regular purchases at B&BW, especially of their non-private label signature line products. I also like the C.O. Bigelow products and Patricia Wexler lines.

None of the sales people were overly friendly. So I told the Sephora woman that I was just looking, but even so there were a lot of people just hanging around doing seemingly nothing.

I love makeovers and would have liked to have been approached for one especially since they weren't too busy. I wanted to ask someone at Sephora for a sample of the Fresh facial cleanser, but felt shy.

Overall, I'd give the award to B&BW for their friendlier atmosphere, not as cluttered look, and more items that I would actually buy regularly. If only there was one with all of the brands closer to me I'd love it.

Update: Some of the aromatherapy scents make me sneeze!! :(

Short Hair = Styling Freedom & Hair for a Child's Wig

Saturday, August 2, 2008

I have a bunch info to post (trips to both Bath & Body Works deluxe and Sephora), but for now I wanted to let you know that I finally cut my hair for Locks of Love.

My hair's been growing since January 2007 and it's taken a lot of patience to grow it out so long but today was finally the day to cut it nearly all off! The impetus was an interview on Monday at KPMG, a very conservative company. However, it's versatile enough to change into a more modern style as well.

Here's a picture of the ponytail that was cut off. Believe me when I say it wasn't painful at all to cut off. It was getting way too long and wasn't in great condition. Plus, it would be better to have shorter hair for the rest of the summer.

This is after the cut. I aplogize for the tiny picture here but it was taken with the camera on my phone. You can see how short it is already.

Below are a couple of pictures of how the new haircut looks from a side view and without glam sunglasses:

Definitely different from what I had!! It's a little short, but it'll be nice to have a shorter "get ready" time. Sean asked me if I now have "5-Year Plan-Hair?" 

Back to normal posting soon. My job search is picking up so be patient...if anyone is reading this!!!

And no, I don't have any makeup on. This is my naturally glowing skin!

And I'm pretty much burn-free at this point. Just an unnatural glow where my bathing suit ended at the top of my right thigh.

Makeupista