Health – Page 5 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

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!

Pure Beauty? Pur Minerals Now at Ulta

Intrigued by my foray into mineral makeup (bareMinerals) a couple of weeks ago, I decided to explore the Pur Minerals brand that is now being sold at Ulta.

The first item I tried was the 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup SPF 15 ($24.50 US). This is a very nice product. It is a pressed powder that glides on smoothly. It is made of, “pure mineral pigment ground to the smoothest texture and bound with soothing Shea Butter and Vitamin E”. This formula is good for my combination skin. It doesn’t cause breakouts or leave dry patches.

I also really liked the Mineral Eye Defining Pencil with Smudger ($16.50 US). I tried the Smoky Graphite pencil, a nice dark gray. This is a “state of the art, waterproof, smudge resistant eye color. Glides on easily and resists bleeding even when wet.” And it did stay on all day.

The third item I’m reviewing is the Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 ($16.50 US) in Sandy Quartz, a pinky-peach color. The color is natural and pretty, but the feel of the product was a little dry. Some of the ingredients are Olive Oil, Mango Seed Extract, and Cocoa Seed Butter, so it should be a little more hydrating.

Another thing I really enjoy about mineral makeup is that after wearing for a while, my skin seems to improve. It becomes clearer and glows, even when I’m not wearing it.

I think the next time I try a mineral makeup it will be a drugstore brand. It would be nice to find a product that has the same benefits, at a more affordable price.

Fun Fragrances From Gwen Stefani — Harajuku Lovers

In the 90’s, I was a huge fan of No Doubt, mostly because of the irrepressible Gwen Stefani. She was tough and cool — a completely strong, sexy woman.

She still is. Her music is pop now, not the cool alternative songs she used to sing, and so not much to my taste. But her style is original. And so are her fragrances.

I think her first fragrance L.A.M.B. is nice, but a bit understated for Gwen. her new fragrance line, Harajuku lovers, is inspired by the trendy Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo. The perfume decanters are in the shape of cute dolls and are named G, Love, Lil’, Angel, Music and Baby.

I have tried them all, except for Lil’ Angel, which wasn’t at the Ulta I visited. I really liked G, which is floral and fruity and Baby which is soft and musky. Love is very floral and Music is sweet. They are all really distinctive, and I would recommend trying them out– maybe there’s a Harajuku Lover for you!

Here’s a short description of each:

G — Notes: Mandarin, Coconut, Apple Skin, Jasmine Sambac, Freesia, Magnolia, Coconut Cream, White Sandalwood, and Cottonwoods

Love — Notes: Bergamot, Pink Pomelo, Peach, Bamboo Leaf, Watery Peony, Living Hydroponic Lace Rose, Jasmine Sambac, Nectarine Blossom, Creamy Paperwhites, Egyptian Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Vanilla, Musk, and Blond Wood.

Lil’ Angel — Notes: Raspberry, Cranberry, Blackberry, Pineapple, Pear Blossom, Violet, Rose, Lollipop Accord, Hinoki Wood, and Crystal Amber.

Music — Notes: Clementine, Pear, Jasmine Sambac, Sweet Pea, Honeysuckle, Vanilla, Skin Musk, and Sleek Woods.

Baby — Notes: Freesia, Bergamot, White Rose, Orange Flower, Tiare, Jasmine, White Musk, Soft Woods, Heliotrope, Vanilla, and Violet.

L’Oreal Bare Naturale Mascara — Natural Ingredients, Wow Lashes

Mmmm mascara. I do love it. Especially when it makes my lashes longer and fuller and doesn’t smudge. L’Oreal’s new Bare Naturale Mascara ($9.99 US at Walgreens) does this, with the added benefits of natural ingredients.

Actually, I was quite surprised with this product. With a name that has the word “Naturale” in it, I automatically think that my lashes will appear bare. So I chose the darkest color, Blackest Black, for a better chance at the dramatic look I like. When I sweep it on, my lashes instantly appear longer and thicker. This mascara is a good day look, but not too natural. There is a bit of drama there!

The formula for the Bare Naturale mascara includes jojoba oil, vitamin E and aloe to condition lashes. L’Oreal claims that, “the innovative formula contains 86% natural-origin ingredients, shine-enhancing minerals and is both parabin- and fiber-free.” The brush is made with natural bristles that are not supposed to tug on lashes.

I like that the cosmetics companies are leaning towards natural ingredients. It makes me feel a little better about covering my face in lotions and powders, and especially mascara. Mascara defines the eye and gives a glamorous look. And now it is good for you too! Yay!

Well Hello, Bright Eyes…Almay’s New Line

: Almay Bright Eyes Liner/Highlighter Duo

With my kids and husband back in school, I am getting less sleep doing more work. So my eyes are looking kind of tired. At forty, I do not want to look tired. That’s why I was drawn to Almay’s new Bright Eyes line.

The claim for this line is that it, “instantly refreshes and enhances your eyes. Now, you can always have the natural radiance that comes with a great night’s sleep.” The main brightening ingredients in the line are white tea and marine extract, whatever that is.
There are three products in the line, the Liner/Highlighter Duo, the Eye Base + Concealer and the Eye Shadow. I purchased the Liner/Highlighter Duo in Dark Chocolate/Shell and the Eye Base + Concealer in Light.

I usually wear black, purple or navy eyeliner and I usually wear eye shadow as liner. I haven’t purchased a dark brown eyeliner in years. It’s nice, though. The eye liner is a little hard and tugs at my eye lids a bit, but I like the color, it’s a rich dark brown.

The highlighter on the other end is very soft. On my first use, I didn’t see any color when I used it. Then I looked at myself in natural light and noticed a soft, light pink shimmer. Very nice. I use the highlighter below my browbones, in the inner corners of my eyes and on my cheekbones. Can we say youthful glow?!

The concealer is wonderful. You sqeeze the tube and the product comes out through the brush on top. I dab it on then rub it in gently with my finger. It instantly brightens up my eyes. I also use it as an eye shadow base and I have to say, my shadow seems to stay on longer.

If you are looking for a youthful eye look at a reasonable price (both were $8.99 at Walgreens), check this line out.

Hey All! Enter my 100th Blog Post Giveaways! I will be giving away products from It Cosmetics, Yes to Carrots and EcoTools! To enter, just leave a comment on ANY of my posts between 4/26 – 5/2. I will draw 3 names on Sunday 5/3/09 and notify the winners! To see exactly what I am giving away, check out my post http://tinyurl.com/dgnxda. Good Luck!