Friday, November 26, 2010

Holiday Beauty (and Fashion) Deals

As I mentioned, I try not to venture out to the stores on Black Friday. I've been there and done that. I've waited in lines, I've politely excused myself each time I bumped into a fellow deal-seeker (it gets tiring fast), I've weeded through overturned and unfolded sweaters all in search of a good deal. Some of which were not really deals. So this year, I'll be happily taking advantage of the many online deals. Currently, I'm seated on the comfy couch in front of a roaring fire. Much more pleasant than racing other shoppers for the last cashmere sweater on the shelf.

A few of my favorite blogs have compiled lists of the current and upcoming deals. Check them out! I will be clicking away this weekend and trying to get my massive shopping list under control. Happy deal hunting!


I will definitely add more deals as I come across them. And feel to leave any I've left off in the comments.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

And good luck to all of you lovelies braving the Black Friday crowds. I've been busy compiling my list of Cyber Monday deals- lots of beauty companies will be participating and ordering from the comfort of home or the office is much more my style.

Have a beautiful holiday weekend.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Keratin Spray to the Rescue

Even though the warmer temperatures have made their exit, frizz is still a major concern of mine. Not to mention that with the dropping digits comes the dreaded static. Both can turn a good hair day into a hair catastrophe.

I am always on the hunt for a frizz-tamer that won't weigh my hair down, can subdue flyaways and protect my tresses from the heat torture I subject them to. If any of these apply to you, Sally Hershberger's Hyper Hydration Super Keratin Spray should be on your shopping list.

You can spritz on either damp or dry hair. I use it right out of the shower. It's a fantastic detangler. The keratin and silk extract help seal split ends (temporarily of course- only trims can fix split ends), and protect hair during heat styling. While I noticed a drastic reduction in frizz and flyaways, it doesn't eliminate them completely. I do really like that it's not heavy at all, even when applied generously.

The warm scent is tad heavy to begin with but fades as hair dries and leaves a nice fragrance lingering throughout the day. The Super Keratin Spray has helped decrease styling time when I decide to blow-dry and helps extend the life of a blowout (who doesn't love that?). For the days when I'm feeling pressed for time and let my hair air-dry, it drastically reduces frizz and helps my natural curls/wave take shape.

For $12 this is a super buy, and I'll definitely be keeping this in my regular rotation. As you can see, I've used a good amount already.

Monday, November 15, 2010

My First Peel: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Over the years there have only been a few products and treatments that I've steered clear of. I mean, come on, who doesn't love a free product or a nice treatment? But there were some things I could not bring myself to try.

A makeup artist I worked with had just returned from Japan and brought me back a heated eyelash curler. Sounds cool, right? Wrong. To me it was terrifying. I was and still am deathly afraid I would burn off all my eyelashes. So that lovely gift still sits in its original, Japanese instruction-laden packaging.

Another item on my I-don't-think-it's-a-good-idea list was any at-home peel. And honestly, I was going to pay a hefty sum at the derm's office to get a professional one. But lately these little babies have been talked about all over the place. My skin has been finicky and I want to use something that would help really get to the base of the issue. Enter Olay's Regenerist Microdermabrasion and Peel System.

My mom was in town and on a night off from doing touristy things, I asked if she wanted to do the peel with me. Truthfully, I was a bit nervous to try it. I had never used anything like this. Was it going to burn? Would it be irritating? Would it go horribly awry and I'd look like a swamp monster for days? I can happily report that no, none of those things would happen.

Olay's Regenerist peel boasts the following results: gently resurfaces skin's texture, activates surface cell renewal, conditions skin to leave it feeling soft and smooth, visibly improves skin tone, and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This two-step system is easy and effective. Step one is applying the derma-crystals to a clean, dry face and massaging them in for about a minute, then step two is applying the activator serum on top in a thick layer. Again you massage for about a minute and during this time the product foams and creates a pleasant warming sensation. It also smells good enough to eat, which my mom noted as well. You can add more serum to increase the foaming action if you'd like. Otherwise, rinse off the mixture with a warm washcloth. The end result was fabulously smooth (baby's bottom smooth) skin and a significant increase in brightness. It packs a serious punch, but this powerhouse product is gentle enough to use twice a week.

I've only had a chance to use it once so far, but I'll be keeping up with this and will report back on my results. PS- I picked mine up at the local Target but you can also get the kit at any drugstore.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Emerald City: Dolce and Gabbana Emerald Eyeliner

Eyeliner is one of the quickest and easiest ways to amp up your regular beauty routine. A simple swipe of black liner makes any look instantly more glamorous, and some white or nude liner makes tired eyes look more awake.

I am an equal opportunity lover of liner. I love them all. And I adore colored eyeliner. I swooned over navy when it was all the rage. I've tried just about every color under the sun: purple, teal, electric blue, and even yellow (which makes a [fake] tan look amazing). And while I do love all colored liners, I have always had a soft spot for greens. Dolce and Gabbana's Emerald Crayon Intense Eyeliner has easily become one of my favorites.

It's an intensely-bright green (despite it looking a bit bluish in the pictures, I assure you it's just my horrible bathroom lighting) speckled with small gold flecks. I was afraid the glitter would look a bit juvenile. I love me some sparkle but on your face it can take a turn for the worse, especially if you're not a teenager. This product has just the right amount of age-appropriate sparkle and catches the light just right. This will definitely be making an appearance in some of my holiday looks this season.

My one complaint is that the gold flecks remained on my face the following day. It still gets an "A" in my book.