Drugstore Beauty Finds

Product Review – Rimmel Light Beam After Dark Lip Gloss

August 3rd, 2007 by Karen 3 Comments

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I don’t know if I’m just easily amused, but the light in the cap of Rimmel’s Light Beam After Dark Lip Gloss is the shizz! Got a dark, enclosed, space where you need to look cute (if perchance, you’re stuck in an elevator with Christian Bale, hello)? Light Beam to the rescue. Stuck on the dance floor with a gross guy with too much gel in his hair? Signal SOS (three short bursts, three long, three short) to your girls across the dance floor to rescue your ass, and Light Beam saves the day yet AGAIN. The possibilities are truly endless, ya’ll.
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Lightbeam is designed to be used by lip gloss loving club ladies who don’t want to bother heading to the loo to put on some gloss. I don’t know about you but I am never without a tube of lip gloss while I’m on the dance floor. In addition to the light in the cap there’s even a handy mirror on the side of the gloss to help you beautify yourself with accuracy. And hey, that mirror might even come in handy when you’re sick of being stuck on that desert island paradise with Christian Bale and need to signal planes for help because you miss surfing the Internets. You never know.
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What I liked about it
The color, Spotlight, looks a little scary in the tube because it’s hot pink and very, very sparkly. However, I was pleasantly surprised once I got it on my lips because the color looked natural and pretty. The consistency of the gloss is thin and lightweight, which I liked.

What I didn’t like about it
This product is designed to be taken out to the club, but the square packaging is entirely too bulky. I don’t like to dance with a purse and thus usually stick my lipgloss in the pocket of my jeans. I wish it was round, so it didn’t look as obvious. Staying power was average, but that’s expected for a lighter and thinner gloss. There’s also a weird smell and taste that’s mysteriously fruity. I’m not crazy about it, but it goes away after a while.

The final word
If you’re strictly a MAC Lipglass kinda girl you might not like the texture of this product. It’s not heavy or sticky, but that’s a big plus in my book. This is built more for club girls who carry purses because of the bulky square packaging, but on the plus side, at least you get a lot of product. Overall, a Makeup and Beauty Blog winner.

Yesterday I went to Spinning class at the gym for the first time in months. Sweet jeabus, I am way out of cardio shape. I barely made it through the first half of the class! To top it all off the cardio room is surrounded by mirrors from all angles, so if you so desire, you can watch yourself jiggle, huff and puff from all angles. Oh joy. I am now embarking on a 30 day mission to get back in cardio shape, and I need an end goal to work toward. I’m thinking about this super cute Lauren Merkin bag as motivation:

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What do you think?

Anyway, I hope that your Friday is going great and that you have a fabulous weekend!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I just found out that my friend Naaman just asked his girl to marry him. WOO HOO! Congrats Naaman and FINALLY!
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Product Review – Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure Detoxifying Wet Cleansing Towelettes

August 1st, 2007 by Karen 6 Comments

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When I went to England a few years ago I was really surprised to find that Garnier made skin products for both the face and body. I bought a bottle of Garnier lotion and it was seriously the closest I’ve ever come to reaching body lotion nirvana[Continue reading…]

Fabulous post-vacation skin and hair products to the rescue!

July 16th, 2007 by Karen Leave a Comment

I got back from my fun-in-the-sun Hawaii vacation and found that frolicking in the saltwater, sand and sun did a number on my skin and hair. So last week I was all about skin and hair repair! I found these lovely products helped to get my post-vacation self scrubbed, moisturized and glowy.
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Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub & Exfoliating gloves from Parissa
Here’s your math for the day: Incredible Spreadable Scrub plus exfoliating gloves from Parissa equals skin smoother than a baby’s butt. Seriously. Incredible Spreadable Scrub is a salt and olive oil based exfoliator, so if you have open cuts or just got waxed don’t use it cause it will hurt like a mofo. But if your post-vacay skin is need of some serious scrubbing then this gets the job done.

The one thing that I’ve found that takes this scrub from good to great are the white exfoliating gloves which come “free” in Parissa’s waxing kits. I wax at home, so I accumulate quite a few of these gloves. And even though I’ve used other brands of exfoliating gloves in the past, for some reason the ones from the Parissa kits get the job done really well.

Don’t be surprised if you end up leaving a ring around the tub. I’m serious ladies and gents … it works.

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Ocean Potion Aloe Gel
This is the best aloe gel I’ve ever used. It’s light, absorbs easily, doesn’t feel sticky and is super hydrating. I hardly ever peel but when I get the sense that my skin has had too much fun-in-the-sun I slap a layer of this on at night on my arms, shoulders, or wherever it feels dry and tight and my skin is as good as new the next morning. You don’t need to use a lot and at seven bucks a bottle it’s quite a steal.

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Bumble & Bumble Super Rich Conditioner
The price tag is steep on this conditioner but it is well worth the price if you’ve got hair that’s dried out from saltwater, chlorine and sun exposure. The texture is thick but not goopy, and it sinks right in. I use a small dollop and concentrate on the ends and voila — soft and shiny hair! And did I mention the smell is divine? It’s light and floral, like honeysuckle.

I’ve got a bad case of post-vacation blues. I think I miss being in the water more than anything else. If you live somehwere where the ocean temperature is 70 degrees take a dip or go surfing for me today so I can live vicariously through you!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Great Products for Your Next Summer Vacation

July 11th, 2007 by Karen 4 Comments

I’m back from vacation! I’m still jet lagged and exhausted but I’m glad to be home in one piece. The hubby and I did a ton of fun stuff during our visit to Hawaii. This visit was all about outdoor fun in the sun. We snorkeled at Shark’s Cove, took surf lessons and swam with dolphins. We were pretty busy every day of the week, so even though I brought my usual travel makeup I only had time (and energy) to put on a few essentials. Here are the products I used that stood up to the heat and humidity and didn’t require lot of effort:
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Biotherm Forget It Concealer
Being relaxed and tan on vacation is the ultimate under eye dark circle remover, but sometimes a girl needs a little help. I love this stuff because I don’t have to use a lot of it (just the tiniest drop) yet it covers thoroughly and is easy to apply with or without a brush. It doesn’t feel heavy or cakey and once I put it on it barely budges. I have this in the color “30.” The only drawback is the color selection — there are only three shades to choose from. $14.00 for a tube. [Continue reading…]

Drugstore Product Review – Olay Age Defying Daily Renewal Cream Beta Hydroxy Complex

May 30th, 2007 by Karen 4 Comments

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Product: Olay Age Defying Daily Renewal Cream Beta Hydroxy Complex
Use: As an anti-aging facial moisturizer
Price: $9.49 for a 2.0 oz jar
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C

Why I bought it
My birthday is right around the corner and all I have to say is 25 was a looooooong time ago, ya’ll. I don’t know if the upcoming birthday is the catalyst for all of these anti-aging products that I’ve been using as of late, but hey, it never hurts to get a head start, right?

I’ve been using different AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) products, and although I’ve been mostly happy with the results, I thought I’d try something new with BHA (beta hydroxy acid) product, which is why I picked up this jar of Olay Age Defying Daily Renewal Cream Beta Hydroxy face moisturizer.

What it’s supposed to do
Olay Age Defying Daily Renewal Cream is for normal, dry, oily or combination skin. This oil-free face and neck cream is supposed to significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and lift away dull, dry skin. The beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, is the fourth ingredient listed. [Continue reading…]

Drugstore Product Review – Vaseline Intensive Care Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion

May 29th, 2007 by Karen 2 Comments

Product: Vaseline Intensive Care Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion
Use: As a body moisturizer
Price: $5.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

Why I bought it
I haven’t used Vaseline lotion since I was a teenager, when there was a seemingly neverending supply of super-sized yellow bottles of Intensive Care Lotion in the bathroom. I used it back then â€˜cause there was no other lotion option, and I never liked it. It had a weird plastic smell and was never moisturizing enough for my dry legs.

I surprised myself when I bought this purple bottle of Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion on a whim while at Target a month ago. It contains alpha hydroxy acids and I’m on an AHA kick, so when I found this lotion on sale (my favorite excuse) I couldn’t pass it up.

What it’s supposed to do
Vaseline Renewal Age Redefining Body Lotion bottle says that the formula’s AHA’s accelerate the skin’s ability to renew itself. The product claims to immediately replenish lost moisture and combat dullness. It also claims to even skin tone and make skin more resilient in four weeks. The only active ingredient listed is octinoxate (1.25%), a sunscreen that blocks UVB rays.[Continue reading…]

Drugstore Product Review – Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser

May 22nd, 2007 by Karen Leave a Comment

Product: Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser
Use: As a face cleanser and makeup remover
Price: $ 7.00 for a 5.1 fl oz tube
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+

Why I bought it
I used to be a drugstore skin product snob, but within the past year I’ve re-discovered Neutrogena products. Their skin care line is affordable and almost everything I’ve tried from their various product lines work for me. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin that is beginning to show the first signs of aging. So I made a trip to Target and bought a couple products to target (ha ha ha) the recent changes in my skin.

One thing I’ve noticed is now I have freckles (hyperpigmentation) and my skin is not as glowy, which is why I picked up this tube of Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser.

What it’s supposed to do
Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser is an exfoliating cleanser that contains “Essential Soy” (which the company says in a natural skin brightener), gentle exfoliators and Vitamin C. This combination is supposed to removes dead skin cells, dirt, and oil; evens out skin tone; and helps improve radiance.

What I liked
One of the best features of this cleanser is the texture. A dime sized amount builds into a very dense and cushiony foam that feels good on your skin. Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser has a light sprinkle of exfoliating beads, which I suppose is just enough for every day gentle exfoliating. Other exfoliating cleansers I’ve tried – like ProActiv’s Cleanser and Beyond Belief’s ABH Pore Refining Exfoliating Scrub — have more exfoliating beads than Visibly Even, so if you’re looking for an intense exfoliator then this product might not be for you.

What I like most about Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser is that it doesn’t dry out my skin after I use it. Some cleansers, like Clean & Clear Sensitive Skin, leave my face feeling tight, but Visibly Even leaves it feeling comfortable yet still clean. The smell is the second thing I love about this product. Smell is a big thing for me, and this smells light and refreshing and I love using it on my face first thing in the morning because the smell instantly wakes me up. When I use it at night I’ve found that although this cleanser also takes off most of my makeup I still have to use a separate eye makeup remover.

What I didn’t like
Despite all of these plusses, I can’t give this product an A because I don’t know if my skin is significantly more “visibly even.” I suppose I could’ve been more scientific about it and taken comparison pictures over the period of 30 days … but damn, I barely have time to smudge my eyeliner, let alone turn this into a science experiment! I’ve noticed that my skin is a little glowier, but that could be because I’ve been using this cleanser in conjunction with a few other new products.

The final word
I think my expectations also may have been unrealistically high in terms of how my skin would change. However, this is a great cleanser for the price and a solid performer. I’d highly recommend this to anyone on a skincare budget who wants light exfoliation as well as a thorough gentle cleansing.

My new favorite thing to do lately is watch music videos on youtube, especially ones from Janet Jackson which I haven’t seen in years. In my youth I watched countless Janet Jackson vids, which I’d play over and over to learn the choreography. So it was kind of a coincidence that during last night’s hip hop class we actually did the butterfly, lololololozzzz, which I haven’t done that since 1994! I learned the butterfly from my fab friend Jen, and from watching the end of Janet Jackson’s “You Want This.” Enjoy this trip down memory lane, and just for fun, sneak in some butterflyin’ today!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Hair Tip for Dry Hair — Skip the Shampoo and Wash With Conditioner Instead

April 28th, 2007 by Karen 20 Comments

Alberto VO5 Tea Therapy Clarifying Conditioner in Vanilla Mint Tea

It’s usually standard operating procedure to wash your hair with shampoo every day. While this may work for many women, it doesn’t work for me because my hair is thick, wavy and dry. No, I don’t walk around with a stinky head of hair a la Pig Pen. I “shampoo” using a cheap drugstore conditioner!

Why Skip Shampoo?
I started skipping shampoo when my hairstylist noticed my hair looked and felt overly dry. She asked what my routine was, and I told her I was coloring my hair, and then on top of that washing and blow drying it straight every day. She suggested skipping a day (even skipping two or three days if I could handle it) between washing and blow drying. That way, my blow out would last longer and I wouldn’t have to subject my hair to the daily abuses of heat styling. Another alternative she mentioned was to skip shampoo entirely a few times a week. She suggested using water to rinse my scalp and hair and then following up with a conditioner.

I did this for a few years until I realized that I hated spending so much time with my hair dryer. If you have thick, long, curly hair and wear it straight, you know it can take from 45-60 minutes to blow it out. If you’re blowing it out at least four times a week that’s four hours spent with your blow dryer! When I had this epiphany I realized, holy crap, all that time I spent fighting to get my hair straight I could’ve been doing other things like learning French or building a better mouse trap.

So about a year ago, I decided to stop fighting nature and embrace my wavy hair. That’s when I learned about the world of conditioner washing.[Continue reading…]