Beauty – Page 184 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

My Christmas Wish List Part 2 — Cosmetic Kits

For my second beauty wish, I would love a make-up kit. ANY make-up kit. I love the variety that a case with many colors and products bring. And of course, I love trying new things (hence this blog).

Sephora and Ulta top my list for great places to find fun holiday kits. Companies such as Too Faced, Smashbox, Nars, Urban Decay plus the Ulta and Sephora brands all have kits-a-plenty. Another great place is Target, which now has the Pixi, JK Jemma Kidd and NP Set lines as well as Sonia Kashuk and Boots No. 7.

The fabulous Too Faced World Domination All Access Backstage Beauty Collection’s price has just dropped from $42.00 to 34.00. This is a cute jewelery box that plays The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy while a very stylish little doll twirls around. It contains eight eye shadows, Duo Bronzer, Face Illuminator, six lip glosses, brow powder, eyeliner cake, and blush.

For lovely lips, Stila’s Shine On Gift of Glaze includes six glosses. The colors are; Vanilla (pearly nude), Brown Sugar (shimmering golden nude), Raisin (shimmering golden plum), Grapefruit (frosted pink), Apricot (melon nectarine), and Gumdrop (vibrant pink). These glosses are very conditioning and not too sticky, which is very nice!

Finally, as I really love Petra Strand’s Pixi line, I love the Pixi Must Have Kit. This comes in a deluxe wallet and carries a compact of 2 lustrous eye shadows, 2 creamy lip colors, a brightening blush and 4 mini brushes. The colors I saw were cool pinks.

So keep your eyes peeled at the stores you like to shop for cosmetics; I’m sure you will find a fun kit that you would love to give and receive!

Pixi Revisited

I was walking through the cosmetics aisle at Target yesterday, and I glanced at myself in a mirror. I realized that I had forgotten make-up; I was completely bare-faced. I. forgot. makeup. Oh my.

So I quickly ran to the Pixi display because they have full testers out. I am naturally drawn to Pixi because of the colors and the packaging. It is very pretty.

I first dipped my fingers in the Flawless Vitamin Veil in Fair. It is a creamy foundation that contains Vitamin E. I used it as both concealer and foundation. This foundation feels a bit greasy, so I would not recommend this to ladies with oily skin. It covers very well, though. It even camouflaged my dark under eye circles.

I then applied the Energy Blush in Golden Energy. This little kit contains a highlighter and blush and comes in four color combinations; Golden Energy, Pretty Petal, Pick-Me-Up Pink and Naturally Sunny. I blended the colors together with the included brush and blended it on my cheekbones and forehead. This gave me a subtle glow.

For a dramatic twist, I also tried Pixi’s Lid & Line in Smoky Olive. This cool little tube holds an inky powder with a sponge applicator in one end and a creamy liner in the other. This made a nice smoky eye and in the olive color it worked for daytime. The other colors are; Smoky Black, Smoky Blue, Smoky Mink, Smoky Bronze and Smoky Plum.

Almost everything I’ve tried from Petra Strand’s Pixi Line has worked for me. I would highly recommend that you try it out. And, I walked out of Target looking better than I did when I walked in, so that’s a pretty good endorsement!

Get in the Spirit with Bath and Body Works Holiday Collection

I love how seasonal sets can really get you in the mood for whatever time of year it is. I like wearing bright florals in the spring, beachy scents and anything with lime in the summer, spicier scents in the fall and holiday scents in the winter.

Bath and Body works always has a nice holiday bath collection this time of year. The three frangrances they are featuring are Twisted Peppermint, Vanilla Bean Noel and Winter Candy Apple. The notes are:

Twisted Peppermint: Top Note: Sweet Peppermint, Mid Notes: Mint, White Sugar; Base Notes: Vanilla, Musk, and Balsam

Vanilla Bean Noel: Top Notes: Caramel, Burnt Sugar; Mid Note: Vanilla; Base Notes: Tonka Bean and Musk

Winter Candy Apple: Top Notes: Candy Apple, Orange Zest; Mid Notes: Maple, Cinnamon, Neroli, Rose; Base Notes: Bamboo, Sandalwood, Fresh Musk, Oak Moss and Patchouli

The fragrances come in a great range of products including body scrub, a shimmer scent roll-on, hand soap, room spray, a candle and lotions. Using one scent such as the Winter Candy Apple in room spray, candles and hand wash can make your house smell very festive.

I recommend checking out these products as gifts for friends and family or as a treat for yourself!

My Christmas List Part 1 — Fragrance

: Sephora Scent Sampler Best Sellers

Hi all! I’ve decided to make each Monday in December leading up until Christmas my Wish List Blog. I’m going to review products I am intrigued by and really want to own!

I think fragrance is a natural Christmas gift because it isn’t an item a woman buys every day. It’s more of a treat, and because of this, it makes a great gift. But unless you know the exact scent someone wants, it can be a tricky gift to give.

That’s why I think that the Sephora Brand Scent Sampler Bestsellers For Her ($50.00 USD) is the perfect gift when you’re not sure which fragrance a woman would like. This set includes ten samples of fragrances to try. Once she’s chosen the scent she likes most, she can use the enclosed gift voucher that can be redeemed at any Sephora store for a full-size bottle of any one of the samples included.

The scents in this collection include:

– Aquolina Pink Sugar
– Bulgari Omnia Crystalline
– Calvin Klein Euphoria
– Givenchy Very Irresistible Givenchy Sensual
– Gwen Stefani L.A.M.B.
– Lavanila Vanilla Grapefruit
– Marc Jacobs Daisy
– Philosophy Amazing Grace
– Stella McCartney Stella
– Vera Wang Princess

This is the perfect fantasy gift for me. I love the thought of trying out ten scents, then choosing a full-sized bottle of one. I already own Amazing Grace (and am almost out of it), so I know I could always get another bottle of that if I don’t like any of the other scents. The best way to choose is to wear it for a couple of days. It is also good to wear a fragrance to bed, and if it doesn’t bother you, it is a good choice.

A fragrance I have received samples of and worn in all situations (including to bed) is Fresh Sake ($75.00 USD). I love this velvety, musky fragrance. It is soft enough to use every day, but special enough to use for an evening out.

The notes include Langsat Fruit, Grapefruit, Ginger, White Peach Absolute, Lotus Flower, Lily of the Valley, Osmanthus, Vanilla, and Musk.

The thing I really like about fragrance is how it completes your look as you get ready for the day. I spritz my scent on last, then I know I am ready to go! New scents are a special way to change up how you feel.

Happy shopping!

on10 – Fab-Flavored Lip Balms and Lotions

On my latest visit to Sephora I discovered on10, a company that creates lip balms, body butter, lotions and candles using natural and organic ingredients. The flavors and fragrances of on10 are inspired by beverages and candies. It’s a really yummy way to moisturize! The packaging consists of retro-inspired tins and jars, which are very appealing.

My favorite product so far is the Hershey’s Sweet Chocolate Body Butter ($10.00 USD). This product is made with coconut oil and is very thick and creamy. The fragrance is wonderful. It is a subtle chocolaty scent that is not too sweet or cloying.

If you’re looking for a lotion with a more refreshing scent, I recommend the Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Body Lotion ($10.00 USD). This product also contains coconut oil as well as aloe. This is very nice for moisturizing after the shower, or to use as a hand lotion at work.

The Dr. Pepper Original Lip Balm SPF 15 ($9.00) is also really nice, but is a little bit sweeter. The creamy formula protects with SPF 15 and contains a coconut oil, beeswax, olive oil, and cocoa butter.

I recommend checking these out the next time you are in Sephora. The prices are reasonable and they have a large selection, especially in the lip balms. Fun!

Want a Fun New Look? Try Purple Mascara!

This summer I tried purple mascara for the first time. I had a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for Almay Cosmetics at Walgreens. I decided to try some new eye products, so I chose a new mascara and eye palette. I have brown eyes, and Almay’s Intense Eye Color line claimed that purples are the color for me.

The mascara I tried is called Almay Intense I-Color Play Up Thickening Mascara in Purple Amethyst ($7.49 USD). The brush has hard plastic bristles that separate and the formula is very thickening. The color is hard to discern on my black lashes, and the effect it gives is a soft black color. I really like this mascara, but it is more of a day look than an evening look. The best feature? It does not smudge at all!

This weekend I decided to see if Sephora and Ulta had any other purple mascaras that were a little more noticeable for going out. The first one I tried was Urban Decay’s Big Fatty Colored Mascara in Purple Haze ($17.00 USD). This is a brighter purple than the Almay shade. This was more noticeable on my lashes, but my lashes themselves did not appear much thicker or longer. I would not buy this mascara.

The second new mascara I tried was Benefit’s BADgal Plum ($19.00 USD). The color on this is a lot different than the other two, since it is a true plum and not a purple. I really like the formula. It made my lashes look huge. The color is fun, too, but it might be better on someone with fairer lashes.

I LOVE mascara, so it is always fun to try new colors and formulations. Go out and test drive some new lashes today!

Sleepless Nights? Benefit’s Concealers Help the Next Morning

It’s a fact: I do not get a lot of sleep. I am forty, have 3 daughters, work full time and have a husband who also works full time and is in nursing school. No. sleep. at. all.

But I still like to look good. And so I am drawn to all new concealers that promise I will look like I have had a great night’s sleep and if it makes me look younger, yes!

Benefit always seems to have a new trick up it’s sleeve. Their newest concealer is called Powderflage ($28.00 USD). It is a pink-tinted powder that comes with a mini fantail brush for application.

This product claims to camouflage fine lines, dark circles and spots. I found on it’s own, it didn’t cover my deep, dark circles, but over another concealer it brightened the under eye area and made my skin look smoother.

The brush is cute, but it is very small and a bit hard to handle. I would recommend using an eyeshadow brush, or your finger, for blending.

My favorite Benefit concealer is one that came out a few months ago, Erase Paste ($26.00 USD).

Erase Paste is a cream concealer that comes in a little jar and has a plastic wand applicator. This can be used for blemishes and dark under eye circles, and comes in Fair, Medium and Deep shades.

The reason I love this product is that it instantly erases my dark circles and leaves a nice highlighted glow under my eyes. It also works well as a shadow base. Erase Paste is also very creamy and blends nicely.

For a polished look, you can use Erase Paste under your eyes and sweep Powderflage over it. This would be nice for an evening out.

Oh Happy Stress Relief — Bath and Body Works Aromotherapy Line Can Help

… and happy sleep plus energy when you need it! I really enjoy the Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy line because the fragrances are soothing and complex at the same time.

My favorite so far is the Lavender Chamomile scent, especially the pillow mist ($10.00 US). I spray this on my pillow every night and let it dry. Then when it’s time to go to sleep, the soft fragrance helps so much. And since it’s had some time to dry, it is not overpowering.

I also like the new Warm Milk & Honey scent. This fragrance includes notes of cinnamon and cloves, and is very comforting. Pour the Luxe Bath ($16.50 US) in your bath water and breathe it in. This will surely relax you!

I have also been using the Mandarin Lime Energy hand wash ($6.00 US). It is quite an invigorating scent. The new Orange Ginger is also fun, and has a kick to it from the ginger. It would be nice to use the lotion and shower gel right before a night out.

Another thing I like about these products is the packaging. The bottles have an old-time apothecary feel to them. The pillow mist actually comes in a blue glass bottle, which gives it a substantial feel.

I highly recommend these products because of the wonderful scents and the benefits they bring to your mood. As a busy mom, I need lots of help!

L’Oreal Visible Lift

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Happy November all! Here in Missouri, it doesn’t quite feel like fall yet (today was in the 70’s), but I can tell it is. How? My skin is already getting dry and dull. So I have begun preparing for flaky skin. I have purchased some apricot scrub, thicker moisturizer and I am looking for some nice smoothing face cosmetics to help me look hydrated and maybe even a little younger!

I have recently tried the L’Oreal Visible Lift foundation and concealer. The foundation now comes in a normal to oily formula as well as their normal to dry formula. This product contains Pro Retinol-A to reduce look of fine lines and wrinkles and hydrate skin. I have not noticed wrinkles reducing, but my skin is hydrated, even with the normal to oily foundation and it gives me a nice glow.

The concealer is touted to reduce under eye puffiness and promote skin radiance. I have noticed that my under eye circles are a bit diminished and my skin does glow.

The foundation is priced at around $15.49 US and the concealer is priced at $11.95 US. I recommend these products for the glowing effect they produce.

Lipstick Love for Fall

Glamorous. That’s how I feel when I wear a noticeable color of lipstick. Lip gloss can be natural and often sexy, but not glamorous like lipstick.

To me, fall is a naturally glamorous time. It is cooler, causing us to wear more clothes. I trade in my flip flops for boots and shoes with heels. And I wear more makeup.

I have been wearing lip gloss all summer long, and now I want a new lipstick to complete my fall looks. But which one? A nice drugstore brand like Revlon, A creamy MAC, or splurge on a Nars or Urban Decay? What do you think?

I mean really, what do you think? Below is a poll on your favorite brand of lipstick. If you don’t like any of the choices feel free to write one in and you can champion your favorite brand or shade in the comments section of this blog. I might just try your favorite!