Allure to You

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Every time I think about discontinuing my subscription to Allure (and it's time to renew now), it brings something new to the beauty world, and not just new products.

Also, in the mail, I received some product samples of Rembrandt tooth whitening paste, Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser, and a tiny, tiny deordorant. I love the Biore cleanser. It's cool and feels good afterward. I don't really get any blemishes since I'm 40, but we'll see. However, I do get pretty oily on my forehead and nose - the dreaded T-Zone.

The latest Allure issue is their "Best of Beauty" issue where they test thousands of products: makeup, facial, hair, scent, nails, and more. That would be a great job! They say that the editors were testing two different products at a time on different body parts.

Biore also has a new product for eyes. It's the Biore Eliven Cooling Eye Gel. I can't wait to try this since my favorite St. Ive's Cooling Eye Gel was discontinued (grrr!).  This gel contains golden root (not golden rod), yeast and sugar beets. Wait a minute...YEAST? Doesn't that make bread rise? Anyway, it's worth a try and it's only $9.99. 

St. Ives has a new exfoliating scrub that looks interesting that contains oatmeal and shea butter. It says the scrub isn't oily. The H2O one I have is good, but does leave my skin very greasy - or soft depending on what you think! For $6.99 also not a bad way to try something.

I love finding out about fun and intersting makeup and product lines. Soap & Glory looks interesting, but their site isn't up and running yet. This is the type of lines that CVS' new Beauty 360 stores stock, not just the usual ones that you see at Sephora. Otherwise, what's their hook? Bath & Body Works carries the C.O. Bigelow products and I like that. (One of these days, I'm going to try this...)

Anyway, it's time for me to get my beauty sleep so I can be fresh for tomorrow.

Hasta! 

Makeupista!

Facial Dreams

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

So this week has seen some of the warmest, nastiest weather we've had this summer, yet tonight is in the 60's and maybe the 50's overnight. Fall is on its way.

On one of the hottest days, Sunday, I was shopping at Kohl's department store and really took a look at their skincare lines.

They have three main lines: a "prescription" line, good skin; a natural line, grassroots; and a neutral line, American Beauty. The woman in charge of the area recommended either the American Beauty or grassroots lines. I definitely considered getting the pomegranate cream (not listed on the site), but couldn't really decide after all that.

So, I ended up getting these EarthTherapeutics Hydrogel Under Eye Patch. I've been wearing them the past few nights and feel that they've made a slight difference in some of the fine lines around my eyes. They're a little big and extend up past the eyebrow so I actually cut that part and put a section on the frown line between my eyes. It seems to soften that as well.

For some reason, though I couldn't wear them last night since they irritated the skin under my right eye. However, I blame my Garnier Nutrisse lotion since it hasn't felt right on my skin in a while. I finally threw out the other GN product, but not the facial cleansing clothes.

What I find odd is that there were 5 pairs for $8 at Kohl's. However, they sell for $8.99 at Harmon Cosmetics. What's that? Harmon's is supposed to be "discount."

Today we got a little windfall from the State of New jersey so I decided to splurge just a little and buy some face stuff. As I've mentioned, I don't usually buy product "lines," but tonight I purchased some products from the Be Fine line.

• Eye Brightening Cream with Avocado Oil
• Night Cream with Millet, Cocoa, and Rice Bran
• Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, Rosemary, Pomegranate, and Rice

I have to say that the price for these products rival those at Kohl's, even though I got them at CVS. They weren't inexpensive and the Eye Brightening Cream rivals Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado for the same .5 oz. Actually, Kiehl's was less expensive by $.50.

Other products I'd like to get: are the neck cream and serum.

Trying another natural mask tonight. This one with strawberries so my face looks like I'm in some type of horror movie!!

-Makeupista

Au Naturel

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Last night I made one of the best facial masks ever! 

What did use? All measurement are approximate since I didn't really measure:

• about 20 blueberries
• one tablespoon of honey
• about one teaspoon of white sugar
• about one tablespoon of oatmeal 

I mashed the blueberries, added the honey and sugar and mashed it together. The oatmeal didn't get into the mask until after I put it on face. You always need something to make the liquid ingredients dry. I suppose in time it would have dried, but it was late and needed to get it done pretty quickly. It would look better if the oatmeal was mashed with the blueberry mixture. As it, I looked like I had some sort of skin condition.

Plus, oatmeal is good for your face. It is good to "smooth and comfort  itchy, scratchy, and dry skin," which is why it's used in baths as an anti-itch product for eczema, poison ivy and other skin conditions. The alpha hydroxy acids in the blueberries is good to remove dead skin cells. Sugar acts as an skin exfoliant, and honey is said to have healing properties for skin. 

I've made other masks, but I think this one was my best. If you know a little bit about the properties of various foods, and do some research on the web, you, too can make your own beauty products.

As I said in my initial post, though. it's best to only make a little bit because they don't last.

Makeupista!!