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Drugstore Beauty Finds

Magic Mascara Wands and Brushes

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It’s official: folks are gettin’ CRAZY with mascara brushes! Some of the biggest names in the biz, like Lancome, Cover Girl and MAC, are coming out with unusual mascara brushes, some that vibrate, and others shaped like miniature plastic combs or corkscrews.

Don’t throw out your old fashioned mascara brushes just yet, but you may want to give one of the newer breed of brushes a try.

Cover Girl’s Lash Blast and Lancome’s High Definicil mascaras sport short, stubby plastic bristles that look futuristic and efficient, while MAC Plushlash and Dior DiorShow supersize things with extra large brush heads and super long bristles.

Bristles in Motion

Beyond simple changes to brush size and bristle shape, some companies are coming out with battery-powered wands with vibrating brush heads. Look out, Harry Potter!

A few months ago, Spinlash ($15) released a powered wand with a spinning brush head (see it in action on Bellasugar’s blog), and since then several other lines have followed suit.

Estee Lauder’s vibrating Turbo Lash ($30) launched two weeks ago (currently sold out online), and Lancome’s much-hyped Oscillation Mascara ($34) arrives this November (but goes on early sale tomorrow for one day only).

An Irrational Fear

I’m careful about the products I’ll use around my eyes. If it emits heat, vibrates or drips (wax — so scary!), I keep it far, far away from my peepers. I can’t lie; I’m afraid I’ll poke an eye out. Maybe someday I’ll get over my clumsiness, but until then I’d rather avoid the inevitable 911 phone call (“Hello? I just poked my eye out with my vibrating mascara wand!”).

Despite my lack of coordination, Lancome’s Oscillation has already garnered rave reviews. The big beauty guns at Allure had very good things to say about it.

I haven’t gotten up the courage to wield it yet, but it is a highly anticipated product. Once you’ve used it, please let me know what you think. Just be careful you don’t poke your eye out.

Although its official launch isn’t until November, Lancome’s Oscillation Mascara will be available for purchase, one day only, on July 31. Find it online and at select Lancome counters nationwide.

Online

California

  • Brea: The Lancome Boutique at the Brea Mall
  • Costa Mesa: Nordstrom at South Coast Plaza
  • San Francisco: Macy’s Union Square
  • Santa Clara: The Lancome Boutique at the Valley Fair Mall

Florida

  • Miami: Macy’s at the Dadeland Mall

Georgia

  • Atlanta: Macy’s at the Lenox Square Mall

Illinois

  • Chicago: Macy’s on State Street and Bon-Ton at the Yorktown Mall

New Jersey

  • Short Hills: The Lancome Boutique at the Short Hills Mall

New York

  • New York City: Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s Herald Square and the Lancome boutique on Columbus Avenue

Texas

  • Dallas: Dillard’s and the Lancome Boutique at NorthPark Center
  • Houston: Neiman Marcus at the Galleria

Crazy Brush Heads

I haven’t gotten on board the vibrating brush head train yet, but I am totally down for mascara brushes with unusually shaped heads.
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Splurge or Steal: Moisturize in a Flash with ModelCo Skin Drink Airbrush Moisturizer or CVS Soft Skin Spray

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Are you always pressed for time? Do you squeeze in quickie gym workouts on your lunch hour? If you’re one of those gals who could use a few extra minutes in your day, then *toot* *toot*, climb aboard the spray moisturizer train. Much quicker to apply and faster absorbing than traditional body lotions and creams, spray aerosol or pump moisturizers definitely save time.

They shave minutes off my morning routine, freeing up time for important things like feeding the neighbor’s tabby cat (he’s such a user!) or having a second cup of java.

Here are two spray-on moisturizers I like. The first will set you back a pretty penny; the second will save you a few bucks.

Splurge: ModelCo’s Skin Drink Airbrush Moisturizer

At $30, ModelCo’s Skin Drink Airbrush Moisturizer costs an arm and a leg, but this green tea-scented aerosol works like a dream. It requires virtually no effort to moisturize your entire body with this bad boy (lazy people, raise ya’ hands up!). You don’t even have to massage it in. I like to wait about 30 seconds after spraying it on to let it dry before putting on clothes. This is the fastest moisturizer I’ve ever used, hands down, and gives me more time to pursue my various attempts at world domination.

The 230-ml can is about the same size as a large can of hairspray, but it still fits comfortably in one hand. The nozzle creates a large radius of mist, which covers lots of skin surface area, and the spray even works when you hold the can upside down (to get hard-to-reach places like your back, thighs and bum… that might be TMI).

When I first used it I was tempted to over-spray because it’s just so fun and easy to do, but a little spray goes a long way.

Vitamins and natural extracts like ginkgo, papaya, green tea and bamboo make ModelCo Skin Drink Airbrush very skin friendly. As a moisturizer, I found it about as effective as Lubriderm Sensitive Skin Lotion, but not quite as moisturizing as Aveeno. Its biggest drawback is price. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Steal: CVS Soft Skin Spray

Not one to be outdone, CVS carries a great spray-on moisturizer of their own. Soft Skin Spray is a drugstore option patterned after Avon’s Skin So Soft, a famous liquid moisturizer spray (which, incidentally, works well as a bug repellent, even though it wasn’t intended to).

Unlike ModelCo’s Skin Drink, CVS Soft Skin Spray is a liquid spray, not an aerosol. CVS carries a small 2-oz travel bottle for $3. That’s a pretty good deal, perfect for a gym bag or shower caddy.

Because of its liquid spray pump, expect to spend a little bit more time and effort using Soft Skin Spray than you would with Skin Drink. I also have to physically rub the product into my skin for it to absorb, and that takes a minute or two.
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The $29 Drugstore Beauty Roundup

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I love drugstores, and not just for the ice cream. Entering Walgreens is like entering another realm. I love everything about drugstores — the soothing soma-esque music, how they lock up the perfume in glass cases, the weird seasonal lawn gnomes, the Christmas ornaments, the kiddie pools — I love it all.

And weird people always hang out at drugstores in the middle of the night. I know this because I am one of them, and I’m never the only person there. 🙂

No self-respecting drugstore is complete without a beauty section, and here are some of my favorite drugstore beauty finds, all together costing a whopping $29.

  • Bag Balm is Udderly Fantastic, $6
    “[From the label]… thoroughly wash treated teats and udder with separate towels before each milking. To avoid contamination after each milking, bath the udder with plenty of hot water, strip milk out and dry skin. Apply BAG BALM freely and massage gently with this proven ointment twice daily. This product contains no alcohol.”

  • Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother SPF 20 Lipgloss, $6
    “At $14 bucks a pop, I’m not about to risk losing Glosswear, so on beach trips I’m bringing along my tube of Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother SPF 20 in Sheen ($6). This lil’ tube of gloss works like a charm, costs half as much as Glosswear does and still provides great SPF protection.”

  • Rimmel London Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Jungle Green, $3
    “This beautiful emerald eyeliner is soft, glides easily, has all-day lasting power and gives a shimmery pop of color. And it’s only $2.99 at Walgreens, hello! If you’re feelin’ the itch to try a jewel-toned green liner, this is the perfect way to test the waters without having to spend a lot of money.”

  • Freeman Papaya and Lime Overboard Shine Conditioner, $4
    “I got softer hair this week for $3.99. I think that’s quite an accomplishment. I’ve been conditioner washing with Freeman Papaya and Lime Overboard Shine Conditioner, and now my hair is so smooth and bouncy-looking that I feel like I belong in a hair commercial, running like a fool with my arms up through a field of flowers while dappled sunlight caresses my new $3.99 hair. Fo’ reals.”

  • Maybelline Pure Makeup Foundation, $6
    “I lurves my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, but truth be told my cheap ass hates having to pay $42.00 for it. There’s got to be a decent drugstore foundation out there that doesn’t cause break-outs. Could the answer be Maybelline’s Pure Makeup foundation?”

  • Crest Vivid White Toothpaste, $4
    “Just when I thought that I met the coolest dentist ever, she frightened the bejeebus out of me by giving me a totally scary lecture on the importance of gum health. There were many, many, many frightening pictures of gingivitis and swollen gums. It ain’t pretty, folks. I’ve been touting the virtues of mint floss ever since.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Suave Daily Exfoliating Body Wash: Clean More, Spend Less

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At $3, Suave Daily Exfoliating Body Wash is cheap, but it’s not cheap in a polyester pants kinda way. It’s the other kind of cheap, the good cheap. You get three products rolled into one gigantic 12-ounce bottle — an exfoliating, cleansing, moisturizing beast!

I like gentle exfoliating products, not products that feel like sand paper against my skin, and Daily Exfoliating Body Wash’s teeny bits of crushed apricot seed buff away dirt and excess skin without being abrasive. Matter of fact, it’s so non-abrasive that I can use it on delicate body parts like the pits and the girls.

It lathers into a soft, cushy foam that smells like a coconut and pineapple pina colada. Not only do I think it smells great, but it cleans like the dickens, removing every ounce of dirt, sweat and crusty sunblock.

After rinsing, my skin feels soft and clean but not quite as soft as it feels after using MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. Not a problem considering the cost differential between the two products. On an ounce-per-ounce basis, MAC’s exfoliator costs almost 20 times as much, WOWZA!

I may never fully rid myself of these impure thoughts about C. Bale, but at least I can get my dirty birdy bod clean for three bucks.

I almost want to get filthy just so I can wash with this and think about all the money I’m saving by using it.

Almost.
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Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment: Declare Your Independence from Acne

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Clean & Clear makes a pretty bold statement on each and every $7 tube of Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment…

“100% of people showed clearer skin in just one day.”

Even though I have to disagree with them, because for me it took a little longer than one day to see results, I gotta give credit where it’s due. Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment works, and it works without benzoyl peroxide. This stuff’s got some serious anti-acne game.

The active ingredient is salicylic acid, 2%. The instructions suggest applying the milky, non-stick formula up to three times per day. Because it dries quickly and completely vanishes once massaged into the skin, it can be used as an on-the-go spot treatment when time’s of the essence.

I’ve been using it for about a month now, once in the morning before applying sunscreen, and then once again at night before moisturizing. An amount the size of a pea covers all of my acne hot zones — forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. With daily use, a single tube should last between one and two months.

Pimples just hate this stuff. Usually, right after (*ahem*) “Aunt Flo” pays a visit, tiny pimples erupt on my forehead and remain there for about two weeks. This time around, my forehead still broke out, but it was much clearer within four days of using the spot treatment; by the end of a week, my forehead was smooth and zit-free.

My face is an equal opportunity pimple factory and has been since my late teens… Whenever I’m feeling stressed out or don’t get enough sleep I get painful red pimples, especially around my nose. Most of the time, they’ll take at least a week to go away, but Clean & Clear has cut that down to three days. I just hope it continues to work as well as it has.

Other Anti-acne Stars

Ironically, I’ve gotten mixed results from products containing salicylic acid. That’s why I was so surprised by this one. Up until I hit my 30s, I was strictly a benzoyl peroxide user.

Patience
If Acne Spot Treatment doesn’t work for you, don’t get discouraged. Every acne sufferer I’ve ever known has had to try a BIG number of different products to find ones that work for them. Acne can feel like a weight on your shoulders (I know from experience), but if you feel you’re looking for answers (also try acne.org) yet haven’t made much progress on your own, consult a dermatologist if you can. They may be able to offer suggestions you haven’t considered before.
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Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother SPF 20 Lipgloss: A Budget Forget-Me-Not

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When I hit the beach I make it a rule to leave the expensive stuff at home because stuff has a tendency to disappear near large bodies of water — fancy sunglasses get forgotten on restroom counters, keys fall out of pockets in the surf and cars get broken into. I just bring the bare essentials of inexpensive beauty beach survival along with me and leave my beach bag in the car or on shore. That way, if (when) something does disappear, it’s not hard to replace.

If I were a rich heiress, I’d have an endless supply of Clinique’s Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 lipgloss and would absentmindedly forget tubes of it everywhere, but I’m not a rich heiress. At $14 bucks a pop, I’m not about to risk losing Glosswear, so on beach trips I’m bringing along my tube of Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother SPF 20 in Sheen ($6). This lil’ tube of gloss works like a charm, costs half as much as Glosswear does and still provides great SPF protection.

Sheen looks bright red in the tube but applies sheer pink. It has a light, slick feel on my lips, a subtle taste (which I don’t mind… It actually tastes really good, like watermelon Jolly Ranchers!) and subtle cooling effect. Great stuff, but it does have one unfortunate drawback: it doesn’t last (gives up after about two hours).
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Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock: Crazy Cool

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Aloha nui loa, girls! 🙂 Greetings from the island of Oahu. The day is young, but, as I’m sure you know, it’s never too early to think about sunscreen. On the agenda for this morning: a trip to downtown Honolulu (the biggest city on the island), to watch the 92nd annual Kamehameha Day Floral Parade. My camera is locked and loaded!

Even though it’s early in the morning here, I’m glad I brought along my can of Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Mist Sunblock SPF 30 ($9). The sun here feels stronger than it feels back in San Francisco. Even through partly cloudy skies it can cause bad sunburns, even on someone with brown skin. An aerosol, spray-on sunblock, Fresh Cooling Mist Sunblock SPF 30 is one of my favorite sunblocks. It’s lightweight and portable, waterproof and non-comedogenic.

Stepping off the plane yesterday was like stepping into a steam room. It was 88 degrees and humid outside, and today should be about the same. Knowing what to expect upon touchdown, I ducked into the bathroom on the plane shortly before landing to spray Fresh Cooling Mist Sunblock onto my arms and legs. The formula leaves a cooling sensation on my skin, which also helps to wake me up after a flight through different time zones.

While I often bring this sunblock with me on sightseeing trips, I won’t rely on it if I’ll be spending an entire day at the beach. I use it to supplement lotion sunblocks. If I were going to be out in the sun and water all day long I would go through a can of Fresh Cooling Mist in no time. It may be waterproof, but it doesn’t have the staying power that most lotion SPFs have. But when you’re stepping outside the door and want quick sun protection on your exposed parts in 10 seconds or less, you can’t go wrong with a small bottle of Fresh Cooling Mist.

Snag Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Sunblock SPF 30 at your favorite drugstore or find it online.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 30

Price: $9
Use: For quick sun protection in a cooling spray
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

From the airport yesterday I ended up at the legendary Duke’s restaurant in Waikiki, named after a giant of the surfing world, for a quick drink on the beach. Like everything in the Waikiki neighborhood of downtown Honolulu, Dukes caters to tourists. Be that as it may, they’ve got one hell of a view.

Some highlights of Duke Kahanamoku’s remarkable life 1890-1968

1890 Born in Honolulu on August 24 to Duke and Julia, full-blooded Hawaiians and descendants of royalty.

1912 Won 2 Olympic Medals in Stockholm — a Gold while setting the world record for the 100 meter freestyle and a Silver with the U.S. freestyle relay team.

1920 Won 2 more Gold Medals for Swimming in the Antwerp Olympics for the 100 meter freestyle and on the U.S. freestyle relay team. Recommended surfing as an Olympic event.

1922-30 Lived in Los Angeles and played parts in 28 Hollywood movies.

1925 Heroic board rescue of eight drowning men at Newport Beach, CA.

1929 Rode a monster wave for more than a mile at Waikiki beach (likely the longest ride in modern times).

1966 Inducted in the Surfing Hall of Fame, becoming the first person to be inducted into both the Swimming and Surfing Halls of Fame.

1968 Died in Honolulu on January 22, followed by a Waikiki Beachboy funeral.


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Clean and Clear Advantage Invisible Acne Patch

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When work deadlines and sleep loss collide, like they did for me last week, I expect to get a few zits on my face (sigh). My latest little sebaceous gift included a painful pimple right beside my left nostril. Like most women, I usually dread pimples, but this zit (I named her Eva) gave me the perfect excuse to try out Clean and Clear’s Invisible Acne Patch.

The product contains salicylic acid (2%) and creates a defensive barrier for pimples (like a transparent Band-Aid). It’s also makeup friendly, designed to be able to apply concealer and foundation on top of it.

Check out the handy-dandy, travel-friendly applicator pen, which I found fun to use. Twisting the bottom (it makes clicking sounds) deploys the product. It oozes out of the applicator tip.

Application is a cinch … like painting pimples. I coated Eva with a thin layer of clear goo which took about two minutes to dry. As it dried, I could could feel the skin around the area tightening somewhat. Once dry, the surface has an almost invisible, smooth, rubbery texture.

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The product contains a smoothing ingredient Clean and Clear calls Chitosan PCA, a film-forming polymer that pulls up low points and pushes down high points on the skin.

I had a lot of fun testing this product. Over the weekend I tried it out with a few different concealers and found that MAC Select Moisturecover (a liquid, not a cream concealer) looked more natural and smooth on top of the Invisible Patch than other concealers did.

It took a bit of trial and error with Clean and Clear’s Invisible Acne Patch to determine the ideal quantity to use. It was easy to over-apply, which left me with thick, flaky, visible layers that peeled right off (eww!).

(Sidenote: At one point in my testing, I was two seconds away from taking a close-up photo of Eva in all of her Invisible Acne Patch glory when I realized that ya’ll don’t need to see my zits.)

This stuff works well for an over-the-counter acne treatment. I started using it on Friday, and by Sunday Eva looked smaller, wasn’t as red, nor was she as painful to the touch. She should be gone by the end of the week, hooray!
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