MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer

MAC Select Moisturecover came to me as a happy accident. I went in to exchange a stick concealer I had purchased and asked for the creamier concealer, thinking I was going to get the Select Cover Up in the tube. I just said I want the creamier, more moisturizing one and when I got home I had this one. So, I thought why not give it a try? What a great concealer!



If you are like me and tend to use facial cleansers that may work great on your face, but dry out your eye area because you use them to take your eye makeup off (when you know you're not supposed to!- I know I know, I do it), then this concealer will work wonders on under eyes that need the moisture without creating an oil slick!

This lightweight, glide on formula instantly disappears into your skin and gives you great coverage with just the right amount of hydration! It can be layered for extra coverage and can even soften the appearance of fine lines.

So next time you are near a MAC counter checking out all of their other wonderful products, give Select Moisturecover a try!

My Two Favorite Lush Products Right Now!

My first Lush Cosmetics experience was quite a special one. I was in Dublin, Ireland in 2003. Walking around in downtown Dublin, my girlfriend and I stumbled upon this wonderful, fiercely natural beauty goody shop! Have you ever seen face masks so fresh that they are kept on an ice bar in the store? Now that's what I call FRESH. Not to mention, I beleive all of their products that do come in a container (they are very strict about packaging and deeply care about the environment) have a sticker with a picture of THE ACTUAL PERSON WHO MADE IT as well as the date! Maybe Budweiser took their freshness label idea from Lush??

They are rather exclusive, only being found in larger cities (my homestate of NC just got one in Raleigh finally), but they do have a great online store and a newspaper, fittingly called The Lush Times, that displays all of their products that they send out to those on their mailing list. You can sign up for it on their Web site or in one of their stores.



I'm not sure that I would actually make it to work without The Comforter Bubble Bar. At $8.75 for 7 ounces, it's not Mr. Bubble, but you only need a pinch of of it to create a mountain of bubbles! Not your usual liquid, this bar is simply broken off into tiny bits and crumbled under your running bath water. This berries and cream bar with cypress and bergamot oils will send you into a bubbly bliss and get you ready for that work day or even soothe you after that workout you pushed yourself through! Go ahead! You deserve it!

Just a side note, as I said before, Lush is a very eco-friendly company so you will be probably be bringing it home in a paper bag, which does not do well when wet hands repeatedly reach into to to grab a pinch. So, I store mine (3 at a time) in a plastic reusable (still eco-friendly) Gladware container.



Now for The Sultana of Soap!!! This soap is so yummy that I have been praying for it to be made into a perfume! It lingers on your skin after your bath. You may find yourself smelling your arms later (and recieving funny looks, but you won't care, I know I don't)

This handmade blackberry scented soap ($5.40 for 3.5 ounces) has a creamy texture which is topped off with REAL apricots, cranberries and currants! While I like that, it is a little messy in the tub, so I chop them off. Leave them on though, if you want to exfoliate! I actually keep a knife in my bathroom designated for slicing my Lush soaps.

FYI- When you purchase a Lush soap, it will be sliced to your specified size from a large slab and then wrapped in the cutest grocery store style wrap and sealed with a deli label (it's sold by weight, too) to boot! Great packaging! Really. Great for gift giving!

Another FYI- Lush's creamier handmade soaps do tend to disolve rather fast, but ahhh such is the price you pay (literally) for wonderful, fresh, handmade goodness.

Try these if you find yourself near a Lush store, or if you are feeling a yearning to do some online treat-yourself-to-bathtime shwag shoping! -and we ALL deserve that!

Hollywood Institution for Target Belt Bag

I have to say thanks for a great blog by Nitro:licious for alerting me of the new Hollywood Institution for Target collection! This great-priced ($19), ultra-soft black leather mini-purse can be worn as a belt purse (this ain't yo mama's fanny pack), a shoulder bag, or a carried as a clutch (which I plan to do). How versatile!! Love it! 

Just when I was already sold on this bag, I opened it up to find a nice surprise- a colorful print with various fashion items like sunglasses and bracelets as well as the Hollywood Institution logo! The two zippers on the outside open up to pockets large enough to to hold an iPhone, mints, lipstick, a compact, or whatever else you can't live without on a night out with your friends!

DwellStudio for Target Modern Oven Mitts

On my Target run this evening I scored a couple of cute things I'd like to show you! First, these retro kitsch oven mitts by DwellStudio for Target. The thing I like about them, aside from their $4.99 a piece price tag, is that they remind me of the pricier ones I salivate over at Anthropologie! 

I had been searching for a design I liked and was waiting to find ones that I dug enough to pay the $12 a piece price tag (which I know isn't THAT much, but it's the principle of it and hey aren't we pinching pennies these days?) at Anthroplogie,when I happened upon these beauties. I don't know how many oven mitts you go through, but I have seen my fair share and it will be much easier to part with these when they have reached their limits due to the great price!

Oh! and I bailed on the idea of a "matching" set because there was only one of one of the styles and then I said to myself.... How much "cooler" would it be if I got two different ones and voila! Instant style for my kitchen! Lord knows I need something to brighten up the drab backsplash over my oven! Here's to chic cooking a la Target! Bon Appetit!

Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition Nail Color

I cannot tell you how in love I am with these colors! They are highly pigmented and shiny to the max! My favorite is number 02: blu (second from the left). Make a statement with one or a couple of these rainbow-worthy shades! I see a french manicure of blue and purple in my near future! The thing I love about nail polish- it's not permanent and can be quickly changed as with any mood!

I picked mine up at Rite Aid for $6.49. They had a a buy one get one 1/2 off deal going, so be sure to check your local drug stores (and Sunday newspaper flyers) for deals. 

Sally Hansen says:

• The Color: Pure, vivid pigments with multi-dimensional color & vibrance.
  
• The Technology: Patented formula with Real Liquid Crystals for multi-dimensional color and iridescent shine!
  
• The Result: Dazzling, Lustrous High-Definition Color.

Polka Dot Bobby Pin Set by Jane Tran

If you are currently recovering from a "bad bangs" decision like me or just like to sport chic hair accessories, try these retro glam bobby pins from Jane Tran Los Angeles. I actually scored mine for a reasonable $10 on a recent visit to Anthropologie. Be sure to check out Tran's Web site for more Gossip Girl worthy adornments at affordable prices. 

Wear them alone, side by side, or on opposite sides of your "do". These cute little pins are just right for any occasion and make it easy to add a pop of color to your wardrobe.

Forever 21, Chanel inspired bow earrings with pearls

For $3.99 are you kidding??? Chanel lives on in these cute bow earrings with perfect pearls in the middle from Forever 21. Don't let the young exterior of this retail chain fool you, there are many accessories for all ages to be found at highly affordable rates! 

Not only that, but I think these pair rather nicely with the H&M charm bracelt from my previous post!

Bon Chance! 

H&M, Seven strand bronze, silver, and gold charm bracelet

What a find from H&M! This charm bracelet has bronze bows, rose colored pearls, and assorted rhinestones along with varying sizes and types of chains. As a long-time "only silver" girl, this was one of the first pieces that helped me ease into bringing some warm tones back to my accessory wardrobe. I believe this was only $12.99! What a deal!

H&M will always be a cheap and chic place to find great accessories on a budget!

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Six Hour Never Fail Lipgloss

We have all seen the lipstick and lib gloss ads recently that proclaim to stay on all day. I am not one to believe this phenomenon since I have worked in various makeup environments and never seen this holy grail of events happen. So, I decided to test L'Oreal's Infallible Never Fail Lipgloss. I chose color 315, Rebel Red. 

The claim is that this gloss requires no touch ups, does not feather, does not fade, and stays true to color. Also, that it keeps lips soft, smooth, even, and flawless for 6 hours. 

This may all be true, as long as you don't eat. It easily comes off if blotted.

There is a special applicator called the Petit Coeur (see above pic) that is supposed to perfectly curve to your lip shape allowing a precise, even, smooth, and flawless finish every time. I guess the hole in the center is supposed to keep the gloss from "gooping" up on your lips. It felt a little weird to me. The applicator is flexible, which I felt made it a little harder to be precise. 

Overall, I loved this shade of red. I like the creamy texture of the gloss. It was saturated enough to wear it alone. There is no need for liner or lipstick, so that's a plus. There are 16 other colors to chose from. The average retail price is $9.99.

GI Joe Movie Review

OK, so I wanted to see this movie since it was an action movie based on a cartoon and I go for that sort of thing. Of course, my husband wanted to see it, too. So, off we went. 

I like special effects (see the first Transformers movie), but GI Joe was a little over the top. The special effects were highly saturated and pretty fake looking at times (the underwater scenes and The Baroness being whisked up into her plane). I guess I don't do well with the "futuristic", but still current themes. For me it has to be either all out future or current times. 

The story line was all over the place and the flashbacks, while informative, were a little excessive. I guess they had to do it since there were so many characters with history and they'd probably have to make a whole prequel movie to contain it all at length. Which they might do since the actors have signed on for a 3 picture deal. 

Some of the casting annoyed me. Especially, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, of Third Rock from the Sun fame, as "The Doctor"/Rex. I don't buy him as a bad guy. Marlon Wayans was a good side kick to Channing Tatum, who does nothing for me in the hotness dept. for some reason, but their attempts at jokes left me dry and it's pretty easy to make me laugh. Then, there's Victoria's Secret model, Karolina Kurkova, as one of the GI Joes. I guess her "code name" is Cover Girl, so it makes sense, but come on... 

However, I was so happy to see Sienna Miller make her big movie breakthrough as The Baroness and Rachel Nichols, of P2, did a great job as Scarlett. My husband enjoyed them both immensely. I am all for girl power in the movies! As you will see in my forthcoming movie blogs. 

So all in all, I'd say it wasn't boring, but it didn't knock my socks off. My husband would agree, it was a nice way to revisit a childhood favorite and bring to life with human characters, but that's about it. It's definitely pales in comparison to such great comics-brought-to-life movies like The X-Men series!

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara

For my first beauty review, I thought I'd check out this whole vibrating mascara trend. To my surprise, I think there is some merit to it. So, I tried Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara in number 840 Blackest Black, which it turns out, is more like a shimmery dark grey, but still nice. 

Here are my lashes before....

The instructions are quite easy. There is a little button to push on the wand. To my amazement, when I pushed it, the mascara did not go flying off of the wand like I though it would. 

I thought the outcome was a success. My lashes were definitely longer and I do believe the vibrations helped to separate my lashes that like to stick together. 

So, all in all, I give this mascara the go ahead. Go ahead and buzzzzzzz away. Just be sparing with the coats because you can over do it. Less is more with this product! Go slow and angle the brush the way you want your lashes to go. I did see a slight curve added to my lashes so the claim that it curls is true.

It claims to do 7 things at once:

1. Luscious thickness- it didn't really make them thicker

2. Luxurious length- it did lengthen them

3. Smooth separation- it did separate them nicely

4. Intense color- Not too intense

5. Shapely curve- it did add a nice curve

6. Healthy luster- yes to the luster, with the shimmer

7. Zero clumps- it will clump if you over do it

Yellow Gazanias are my new favorite Flower!

Just bought this flower at Target to add some color to the patio and wow! They close up at night and then open up in the sun! Beautiful!

And so it begins

This is a work in progress. I have been dreaming of a blog where I can share my thoughts on my favorite beauty products and jewelry, write movie reviews, and recall my travels and experiences with food through writing and photography. Little by little, I hope to bring all of these to fruition. Join me on this new journey and I promise it will be fun and informative.