fortyflirtyfabulous

Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up and Highlighting Pen

So being of a uh, certain age, I’m starting to go gray…shhhh…don’t tell anyone. Actually I have been coloring my hair for a few years now. First just for fun, but now if I don’t do my roots in a while — the wiry, witchy grays come a callin’. When I heard about Oscar Blandi’s Pronto Colore Root Touch-Up & Highlighting Pen ($23.00 USD), I was really excited to try it. This is a very portable little pen, about the size of a tube of mascara, that is easy as to use as it is to carry. You twist the pen until the color saturates the brush, then brush it on the roots or squeeze some onto your hand and dab it on your hair. I like to brush it on then blend it with my fingers.

The pen comes in the following shades: -Beige Blonde: for pale to light blonde hair that’s natural, single-processed, and/or highlighted
-Light Golden Blond: for medium blonde hair with natural or highlighted gold or caramel tones
-Neutral Brown: for medium brown hair with natural or highlighted neutral tones
-Warm Reddish Brown: for medium brown hair with red tones, brown hair with red or auburn highlights, or red hair with natural or highlighted brown tones
-Dark Brown/Black: for dark brown and rich black hair that’s natural or single-processed

I own this in two different shades; Dark Brown to match my hair and Warm Reddish Brown to add fun highlights. To do this, I separate a strand of hair and “paint” it with the brush. It is fun to do and looks great on. This is fun for a night out or just to mix up your look.

I like that this is a safe product, even pregnant women can use it. The formula is also free of ammonia and peroxide. For convenience sake, it is fast drying and washes right out.

You can purchase these fab pens at www.oscarblandi.com or at your local Sephora. Enjoy!

Strange Invisible Perfumes

“From the barge a strange invisible perfume hits the sense of the adjacent wharfs” — Antony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.

In 2000, botanical perfumer Alexandra Balahoutis founded Strange Invisible Perfumes in her native California. She creates luxury botanical perfumes. She states that, “Our perfumes are melded in the fires of three essential components: pure aromatic plants, reverent distillation, and evocative compositions.”

The website further explains: “A Strange Invisible Perfume is a soulful, dynamic, living creation that fuses with each wearer’s particular body chemistry to create a unique aromatic expression. Immediately after application to the main pulse points—the insides of the wrists and arms, the nape of the neck, and the shoulders—a subtle evolution begins. Within the first three to five minutes, the perfume uncoils, whispering allusions of how it will eventually inhabit the skin. After ten to fifteen minutes, the dry down process, wherein the alcohol vanishes from the surface of the skin and the top notes begin the quiet, is complete and the true nature of the fragrance is revealed. These botanical perfumes are crafted without the aid of synthetic fixatives, therefore the longevity of an application will vary depending on the wearer’s chemistry and environmental influences.”

The following two perfumes are the ones I find most interesting from this line; Aquarian Roses and Fire and Cream.

Aquarian Roses ($175.00 USD 50 ML) “Crisp, aquatic notes of wild roses brighten a warm sea of marjoram and sandalwood. A floral perfume for both sexes, this Aquarian elixir boasts the relevance of rose in contemporary perfumery and on the skin of men.”

Most rose perfume are too floral and almost too grandma-like for me. But I really like Aquarian Roses. Its a sexy rose perfume, that holds all of the romantic essence of the flower without seeming too old fashioned. I don’t know about the uni-sex value of it, though. I still think it’s pretty feminine.

Fire and Cream ($145.00 USD 50 ML) — “A path begins in a warm, earthly setting of vetiver, sandalwood, and patchouli. Rising through the delicate light of white lavender and tuberose, this composition quickens toward a blazing glow of top notes. Upon its finish, the perfume’s every nuance smolders in a fiery sky of hydro-distilled oranges and their blossoms.”

This scent is very smoky and earthy. You can really smell the sandalwood and patchouli. After the dry down, you can kind of smell the orange scent, but it is still pretty heavy. This would be good for winter or evening wear. It’s definitely not an office scent!

Visit www.siperfumes.com to learn more and to purchase these luxurious scents. Enjoy!

Kiss My Face Sheer Organic Lip Shimmers and Shines

Kiss My Face is an organic beauty company that believes that nature creates the best ingredients and that its their job to combine these natural and organic ingredients into fabulous body care.

On of their newer products are the Sheer Organic Shimmers ($4.95 USD) & Shines ($6.95 USD). These good-for-you lip colors contain natural mineral color, vitamins A&E to repair and protect lips and have a minty organic flavor. They also contain organic shea butter for protection and shine, organic cocoa butter to soothe and jojoba oil to moisturize. All are earth friendly products containing no parabens, SLS, phthalates, synthetic colors or flavors, and use of animal ingredients or testing.

My favorite of the two is the lip shimmer. This is a very sheer lip balm that has a hint of color and leaves a really pretty shimmer to the lips. It is very moisturizing and stays on my lips for a long time. The flavor is subtle, too. The lip shine is nice as well, and is not a sticky gloss which is very good. It is for when you want a lot of shine, but its minty taste is almost overwhelming.

I recommend these affordable and fun lip colors! Both products come in 6 jewel-toned shades: Opal, Pearl, Garnet, Amethyst, Topaz and Ruby. Visit www.kissmyface.com to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

Try Something New with Vis-à-Vis Cosmetics

Vis-à-Vis Cosmetics was created by Theresa Rivera and Karen Kretschmann to address the needs of today’s modern woman. They have a range of product that include face powder, blush, lip products and combination choose-your-0wn-shade sets.

I tried two Vis-à-Vis blushes, my favorite being the Smooth Wear Blush ($16.00 USD on sale for $5.00). This is a glowy, but not a shimmery blush and is appropriate for day or evening. It goes on smooth and even, but being well pigmented, you only need a little for a beautiful glow. This is available in 5 shades: Ginger Spice, Mirabelle (a deep plum), Naked Truth, Peach Passion and Rose Rapture.

Luminous Blush ($16.00 USD on sale for $5.00) is also a pretty blush, but has a lot of shimmer. This can be used as a blush, but also as an illuminator for eyes, cheeks, shoulders and décolletage. The unique formulation contains micro pearls and it blends evenly. I tried Diva Dust, which is a light golden bronze. It is also available in Golden Dust and Star Dust.

The non-sticky Lip Glaze ($18.00 USD on sale for $5.00) is so pretty! It’s available in 10 shades. I have been using Innocence, a sandy-nude color. It is soft and pretty alone — or use it for a bit of drama over matte lipsticks. This gloss is shimmery and has lots of shine. It doesn’t have a taste (which is fine by me), but smells like yummy vanilla.

Get a flawless finish with the Face Powder ($13.00 USD on sale for $5.00). This claims to provide flawless coverage and even out skin tone with a radiant finish. It contains sunflower seed oil, oat kernel extract, vitamins A&E and chamomile to help soothe and protect skin. I find that this is smooth and silky, and doesn’t cake in my lines and pores. Available in three shades: Light Balance, Medium Balance and Dark Balance. I used the Light Balance, which looks very light in the compact, but is almost translucent on.

You might have noticed that all of these products are on sale for $5.00 each! Very affordable and a good chance to try something new. I am impressed with every thing I tried, so I don’t think you can go wrong with the price. I don’t know how long the sale will last. Visit www.visaviscosmetics.com to purchase these fab products!

New Launches from Neil George Hair Care

The Neil George salon in Beverly Hills was founded in April 2005 by hairstylists Amanda George and Neil Weisberg. Their line of hair care products were created to keep hair healthy and shiny, by using natural ingredients. I recently tried a couple of their new products:

Refresh Dry Shampoo ($21.00 3.2 oz) – Have you tried a dry shampoo yet? They are great if you are unable to wash your hair or if you love your style (or blow-out today) and do want to wash it away. Refresh Dry Shampoo has a unique blend of plants and fruits to absorb oil and sebum from the scalp, restoring health and refreshing hair without having to wash it. The website states, “A powerful complex of Jaborandi, Cherimoya and Gotu Kola combine to stimulate circulation, optimize hair health and provide a dose of niacin and thiamin, improving the strength of the hair root itself. Paraben Free.”

I spray this at the roots of my hair and wait 30 seconds, then rub it in. It has a nice fresh smell and doesn’t leave my hair stiff or dry. My hair remains soft and manageable with this spray and is noticabley less oily at the roots. This is a good product to have around for bad hair days!

Perfect Hold Hairspray ($22.00 8.5 oz) – This flexible hold hairspray includes complex blend of exclusive oils such as Shikekai oil, Eclipta Oil and Indian Gooseberry Oil that claims to create an enriching base while Panthenol and UV protectors fortify and strengthen the hair. Both the scalp and hair are conditioned without buildup and protected from over styling through the spray’s long-lasting moisturization.

I don’t usually use hairspray on my long, blunt cut hair. I do use it if I straighten or curl my hair. But I have been using this ever day, and I really like that it smooths my hair and doesn’t leave it stiff or sticky. The style lasts all day, too! I think this will be great for the Spring and Summer when I am outside more often because of the UV protectors and that the oils will help protect from the frizzies.

Clinique Moisturizers — Even Better and Comfort on Call

When I use Clinique’s fabulous skincare — allergy-tested and 100% fragrance free — I always feel like I am doing something good for my skin. I know that not only will it look better, but it will feel better, too!

I’ve tried a couple new moisturizers from Clinique this past month. One — the Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer — is new, and the other — Comfort on Call Allergy Tested Relief Cream — is perfect for dry, chapped winter skin.

Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 ($42.50 USD) – This is an intriguing product. It claims to erase past skin damage to create a more even skin tone, while providing high-level UVA/UVB defense with an SPF 20 to help prevent future discoloration. At first I thought this only meant fading of darker skin patches and spots (like the sun spots I have on my hands). But, in my research into this product, I have found that many women claim that it helps fade acne scars.

While using this product, I have noticed that my dark spots on my hands are fading, which is fantastic! I don’t have many, but they do bother me. My face looks clearer and has a pretty glow to it. I enjoy that the cream is light and non-greasy. It soaks right into my skin, allowing me to almost immediately apply makeup after application. It does smell like sunscreen, but that doesn’t bother me. I highly recommend this cream.

Is your skin dry, red and flaky? Comfort on Call Allergy Tested Relief Cream ($39.50 USD) might be the cream for you. This was tested by a leading dermatologist who specializes in skin allergies on dry, sensitive and reactive skins. It is great for people sensitive skin and even people with eczema (like my teenage daughter) because it protects the skin without irritating it. It can be greasy, since it is so thick. I can’t use it on my face, but I have on the back of my hands and they feel very smooth afterwards.

Visit www.clinique.com to learn more about these moisturizers and other that might be perfect for you!

Stir Up Your Look In 2010 With Rimmel London

Rimmel London is always releasing fun, new products that are extremely affordable. I have recently tried a couple that I really liked and think will make a great addition to my 2010 makeup wardrobe.

Stir It Up Cream Eyeshadow ($3.69) –This glam eye shadow features three shades of shimmering cream shadow that blend together to create a multi-dimensional look. The color I have is No Way, which is Black, Silver and white. When I blend it together, I get a sparkly gray. Fund for evening looks. This is also available in browns, reds, and blues. So fun!

60 Seconds Nail Polish ($3.39) — This polish delivers full color, 1 stroke coverage that dries in just 60 seconds! I LOVE the color Deliciously Dark, which is a very dark purpley-red. It’s so pretty and not only does it dry fast, it lasts for a few days before chipping, which is all I ask for in my nail polish. I cook, wash dishes and of course, work on he computer everyday so I am very hard on my nails! I am excited to try other colors in this polish, I think it’s great!

Check out www.rimmellondon.com/us or visit a drugstore near you to find these cool products!

White Sands ER Fusion

White Sands, a professional hair care manufacturer infusing cutting edge science with natural botanicals, has created a hair reconstructive treatment called ER Fusion ($26.00 USD). This product’s goal is to revitalize lifeless, dull hair restoring it back to a youthful appearance.

The claim for this is:

ER Fusion is the perfect complement to your favorite shampoo. Effortlessly repair hair from roots to ends by applying the product through wet locks. The crème’s unique ingredients create a clear micro-shield to seal in hair color and enhance each strand’s integrity. Utilizing a skin care delivery system, this shield serves as a second breathable skin for hair, delivering moisture from the inside out to eliminate frizz. As nature’s most sophisticated moisturizers, ER Fusion’s weightless quaternaries balance and adjust color. A complex set of amino cystines, the smallest proteins available with strengthening properties, repair damage by absorbing directly into the inside of each strand, while lemon grass further enhances color with a high gloss.

The ideal use of this product is to apply to clean, wet hair and leave on under heat for 20 minutes. Instead I kept it in my hair for 20 minutes (without the heat). I then applied my normal styling products and blew my hair dry. I don’t think it sealed my hair cuticle, but I do like how soft and manageable my hair is after use. Also, my hair color does seem brighter and my hair is fairly shiny. For me this is a great treatment for dry, winter hair. I think if I did have a hair dryer that I could stick my head under, it would have worked even better.

To purchase this product, visit www.whitesandproducts.com. Enjoy!

Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller and DNA Superstructure UV Cream SPF 25

Olay has changed so much since my mother began using it years ago. I believe her Oil of Olay first came in a jar and had a very distinct scent to it. She, and many other women swore by it (my mom still looks super young and still uses it). At the time, it was one of the only accessible drugstore brands of anti-aging skincare.

Now there are so many brands of skincare, and Olay has kept right up with them. One of their popular lines is the Regenerist line. This collection claims to regenerate the skin’s appearance once cell at a time.

I tried the following new Regenerist products:

Regenerist DNA Superstructure UV Cream SPF 25 ($24.99 USD) This new anti-aging moisturizer is touted to help rebuild cellular surface structure and restore firmness, regenerating a more youthful appearance. It contains SPF 25 and anti-oxidants to protect the skin.

This moisturizer is a perfect light day cream, and the SPF is so important. I don’t know if it is rebuilding my cellular structure, but my skin looks very smooth since I began using it. It also has a nice, light floral scent that is not overpowering.

The Regenerist Anti-Aging Eye Roller ($22.99 USD) “features precision micro-rollers that gently massage in a concentrated, hydrating anti-aging treatment to not only help reduce eye puffiness, but also regenerate skin’s appearance to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.” This formula is Dermatologically Tested and Non-Comedogenic (Won’t Clog Pores).

This is a fun product to use. You click the button on the bottom to release the serum, and then massage it under (and all around) the eye. It feels cooling on and seems to decrease puffiness. I don’t have many eye wrinkles, but the skin under my eye seems smoother.

I plan on trying more Regenerist products in the future. Learn more at www.olay.com.

Try Organix for Organic Hair Care at an Affordable Price

Organix uses natural and organic ingredients and creates fabulous, good for you hair products at an affordable price! The products are also sulfate and paraben free and are safe for all hair types. The bottles are also eco-friendly, manufactured from materials containing recycled post-consumer resin. All labels are printed with environmental inks and compostable label film made from annually renewable resource corn.

I tested the following products for a few weeks:

Fortifying Lavender Soymilk Shampoo & Conditioner($6.99 USD each) — This collection combines lavender with whipped soymilk proteins to nourish, fortify, heal and condition the hair. It is safe for color-treated hair — which is great for my hair. I love this shampoo and conditioner because it is so creamy and moisturizing. It really helps my dry, frizzy hair. If I don’t have a thick conditioner, my wavy hair frizzes up, even in the cold winter air (you can imagine what the humid Kansas City summers do to it.) The scent of these products is a soft lavender and it is very soothing.

Nourishing Coconut Milk Styling Mousse ($6.99 USD) — I love hair mousse. It’s so fluffy and fun and it seems to be making a comeback. This great product contains coconut oil for moisture and strength and ultra whipped egg white proteins give hydration and balance. When I use this on clean, damp hair, it makes my hair very soft and manageable. It smells amazing, too!

Visit www.organixhair.com to learn more and you can purchase the products at mass retailers including Target, Walmart, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens.