Archives for March 2012

The Doctor Is in…the Drugstore: Physicians Formula Spring 2012

March 30th, 2012 by Karen 37 Comments

Physicians Formula spring 2012

I can appreciate a haughty high-end beauty product if it knocks it out of the park, but my heart belongs to drugstores.

When you can get two bags of groceries (complete with Cheddar Bunnies and Mango Bars) to go with a budget-friendly blush, powder, lipgloss, concealer and a trio of tinted eyeliners, and still spend less than a $108 blush, the drugstore beauty products deserve some extra wiggle room when it comes to packaging and quality. Pretty good starts to look pretty great when you only cost $12.95, like the new Physicians Formula pH Matchmaker Powdered Blush (I love that dotted border inside the pan!).

Here’s a quick look at it and the rest of the doctor’s collection of beauty bits for spring 2012…

Youthful Wear Cosmeceutical Youth-Boosting Powder

physicians formula cosmeceutical youth boosting powder 1
Youthful Wear Cosmeceutical Youth-Boosting Powder in Illuminating Translucent, $13.95; also available in a shade called Mattify Translucent

A youthful youth-boosting powder? Um, marketing much? LOL!

physicians formula cosmeceutical youth boosting powder 2
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Sisley L’Orchidee Highlighter Blush: This Beautiful Blush Costs More Than a Benjamin!

March 30th, 2012 by Karen 31 Comments

Now that’s a lot of tacos. Sisley Cosmetics, a brand I don’t know a lot about, hopes to answer the question, “What does $108 look like?” Their new Lorchidee Highlighter Blush breaks the $100 barrier, but here’s the thing: I think it’s actually really, really good.

$108 is unbelievable for a blush, but for all that coin you do get a natural look that lasts all day and a glow like you just won the Mega Millions jackpot.

Luxurious from front to back — from the silver chariot/pan it rides in, to the powders so finely milled that the grains are almost microscopic — Lorchidee is a sight to behold. The coral, pink, brown and golden colors blend together seamlessly to give cheeks a softly radiant glow of golden peachy pink.

But even though I feel almost regal wearing this blush, I can’t see it working its way into my everyday makeup bag. It’s just too pricey for something like that.

Now, my special occasion makeup bag? Yeah, maybe there. 🙂

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I Wore This to Dinner Last Night

March 30th, 2012 by Karen 2 Comments

Becca Mineral Blush in Bolero ($32), a demi-matte bronze shade from the Balearic Love collection.

Intensity

March 29th, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

Just look at those eyes… This whole “guarding the front yard” thing is really hard work.

Who Else Is Ready for the New Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Eyeshadow Duos and Quads?

March 29th, 2012 by Karen 29 Comments

bareminerals ready eyeshadow alter ego
Wearing Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 in Alter Ego

I was having one of those “Oh, no, you did not just put me on hold again, Tabs!?” afternoons today. You know, the kind where your cat employer calls you at the office and then puts you on hold, and you repeat to yourself, “Breath in, breath out. Breathe in, breathe out,” and your shoulders are so tense and flexed that they practically touch your ears?

But after a few minutes with the new Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 duos and 4.0 quads, I started to feel a whole lot better. Calm and centered; cool and collected.

It’s true what they say. Luscious colors and soft textures really do soothe the savage beast. 🙂

This May, seven new Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 duos ($20 each) and two Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 quads ($30 each) join the bareMinerals clan, touching down on Bare Escentuals counters, boutiques and at Sephora stores.

Here are pics of five of the duos and one of the quads. If you take a look, I’d be curious to hear what you think.

For the record, I noticed a wee bit of fallout when I tried on The Alter Ego duo, but it wasn’t much. Just a few crumbs. And with as pigmented as the colors are, I can live with it.

bareminerals the phenomenon
Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 in The Phenomenon: Azure Iris (left) and Golden Iris (right)

bareminerals the last call
The Last Call: On the Rocks and Shaken Not Stirred

bareminerals the hidden agenda
The Hidden Agenda: Stealth and Undercover
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Rouge Bunny Rouge Blush Wand in Manet Hops Right Off My Cheeks

March 29th, 2012 by Karen 10 Comments

rouge bunny rouge manet

It’s not like this Bunny doesn’t have game. It totally does. I love how natural Rouge Bunny Rouge Blush Wand in Manet ($45) looks on both my bare skin and atop foundation. The lightest swipe from this creamy, rosy coral stick blush creates a sweet, innocent flush that, quite frankly, kinda rocks.

rouge bunny rouge manet
Blush Wand in Manet; one of two shades, $44 each

rouge bunny rouge manet

rouge bunny rouge manet
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What Skin Care Products Have You Been Loving Lately?

March 29th, 2012 by Karen 69 Comments

Your favorite skin care products?

I keep meaning to ask if you’ve found any good skin care products lately! We talk so much about makeup that I forget sometimes about skin care, even though I use it even more than I wear makeup.

Here are some of the things I’ve been using and lovely lately…

Clarins HydraQuench Rich Cream ($50)

I’ve been a huge fan of the Clarins HydraQuench line for years, but I only recently decided to give their $50 HydraQuench Rich Cream a try.

It’s a thick, rich balm designed for extremely dry skin and/or cold climates, and I wish I’d tried it sooner, because despite the crazy price, I think it’s great.

Mostly, I’ve been using it on the tight, dry skin around my nose and mouth, which are both pretty sensitive areas for me, but this stuff never gives me breakouts.

If I listen closely when I rub it in…I can actually hear my dry patches sigh in relief, haha!

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($50)

Dermalogica’s $50 Daily Microfoliant is another product getting a lot of play in my bathroom. A rice-based powder exfoliant designed for all skin types, I just put a small amount in the palm of a hand, and add water to activate the exfoliating agents, which include rice enzymes, salicylic acid and papain (an enzyme found in papaya). Working in the water turns the product into a gently exfoliating paste.

I use it a couple times a week to help slough away any flakes on my face, and I’m really happy with the results. I think my skin glows brighter and definitely feels smoother after each use.
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