Tag: cosmetics

Try A Luxe New Ellis Faas Concealer

Ellis Faas Concealers

Looking for a new concealer and would like to splurge on quality? Ellis Faas Concealer ($40.00 USD) has eight colors to choose from to ensure a match and it is full coverage and very creamy. Here is the details:

 The secret to seamless concealer coverage lies in its relation to the foundation colour: Darker skin demands more contrast between concealer and foundation, while lighter skin requires foundation and concealer that are more similar in colour. The Ellis Faas concealer accommodates these dramatic differences in the requirements of different skin tones. This concealer has a polished finish, with a formulation that offers high coverage to reduce the appearance of blemishes, pigmentation spots and dark circles. With a unique blend of ingredients such as Karité oil and rice wax, Ellis Faas concealer immediately blends into the skin for a flawless finish. Vitamins E and C in the formula hydrate and have anti-aging and regenerating properties. Ellis Faas concealer is recommended for all skin types.

What I think:  I like the texture and coverage of this concealer. I tried s202, which is a bit dark and warm for my skin tone, which is light. As I do more sunless tanning this summer, it will probably blend in better.  I would suggest that you go lighter than you think if you have light to medium skin since you need a contrast. Darker skin tones can benefit from a closer shade.   

Visit www.ellisfaas.com to purchase and to learn more. Enjoy!

Mascara I Love: Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

I LOVE trying different mascaras as you may well know. For me, this is one of the products that I don’t go without when I leave the house.  My lashes are short, straight and sparse so I need a mascara that lengthens, thickens and curls — very had to find!

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash ($22.00 USD) claims to give lashes curl, volume, length, and intense pigment. This ultra-pigmented mascara was specially designed to give the lashes an exceptional volume-enhancing effect with infinite lengthening and immediate curling. Plus, the tough, dense brush of this Sephora-exclusive mascara penetrates into the roots of the lash to ensure that lash is completely coated with mascara.

What I think:  Smokey Lash is almost perfect for me. It curls my lashes (no curler required!), separates and thickens like crazy! It is also very black. My lashes are black, but this mascara makes them appear even darker. My lashes look insane with this mascara! Very dramatic. The only thing is that it does not lengthen as well as I would like. But, this can be fixed with a primer or layered with a lengthening mascara. If you do not have particularly short lashes, this mascara would be perfect for you! One or two coats are perfect for daytime and more coats bump up the glamour.

Visit www.sephora.com to purchase or visit Sephora stores. Enjoy!

Mother’s Day Makeup Gift Ideas

Mother’s Day will be here soon — do you have a pretty present for Mom yet? If not, consider one of these cosmetic ideas below. I give my mom beauty products each year and she loves it! Mom probably won’t buy herself a cool kit or pretty highlighter — so treat her to something new!

LORAC Hot Off The Red Carpet Collection ($36.00 — $105 Value) — This set features two exclusive color-coordinated, mineral-infused, shimmering baked eye shadow duos, an exclusive TANtalizer Baked Bronzer, a full-size Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in 3D (rose bronze glitter), and a gold bag that can double as a blingy evening clutch. It is formulated without parabens and petrochemicals.

This set contains:

– 2 x 0.12 oz Baked Eye Shadow Duo in Tease Me (bronze shimmer/ teal with gold sheen) and Tempt Me (champagne shimmer/ chocolate brown shimmer)

– 0.35 oz TANtalize Me Baked Bronzer (swirled tan, gold and bronze)

– 0.17 oz Multiplex 3D Lip Gloss in 3D (rose bronze with 3D glitter)

– Gold Zip Bag

This is a beautiful kit — my favorite items are the eye shadows. They are gorgeous — really shimmery and fresh — great for now and throughout the summer. The bronzer is also pretty, but the lip gloss is extremely sparkly, so I use it only for night-time. The bag is really fun!  Visit www.loraccosmetics.com to purchase.

Make Up For Ever Uplight Face Luminizer Gel ($29.00 USD) — Enriched with precious pearls that catch and reflect light, Uplight creates a radiant complexion. It contains more than 70% water for a fresh, lightweight texture as well as mango butter that creates a moisturizing effect. Formulated for the face and body, this product adds a healthy glow to your skin that will last all day.

This is available in a variety of unique finishes: Dewy, Pearly, and Sparkling. I tried #31 — a sparkling blue pink. Very moisturizing and so pretty — but very sparkly! Your mom may like one of the Dewy or Pearly finishes.  If she likes pink, there is #11 Dewy Pink Beige and #22 Pearly Pink Flesh. There are also white and flesh tones.  Available at www.sephora.com, MAKE UP FOR EVER Boutique & Studios at Sephora. 

Laura Geller Bring on the Bronze ($55.00 USD) — This kit is all you need to help you look sunny and rested, with that just-back-from-vacation glow. It is packaged in an adorable bronze clutch, with orange lining, to hold all your bronzing essentials:

– Spackle® Tinted Under Make-up Primer in Bronze

– Split Baked Body Frosting in Sugar Glow and Honey Glow

– Baked Eyeshadow Duo in Candied Bronze

– I-Care Eyeliner in Brown

– Lipshine SPF 15 in Sundrenched

This is a gorgeous kit for days where you want to look natural and not cake on a lot of foundation. Just apply the bronzer on your face and the body frosting can either highlight or bronze you all over. The eyeshadow and eyeliner make a great bronzed eye (just add the mascara of your choice). And the lip color is almost like a sunny balm! 

Shop to Erase MS! For the month of May only, 20% of proceeds from this special kit benefit the Nancy Davis Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis. Visit www.laurageller.com to purchase.

Mother’s Day Skin Care Gift Ideas

Moms need to take care of their skin, but sometimes they are too busy to shop for themselves or they are unsure of what to purchase.  Skin care is a fantastic gift for Mother’s Day — treat her to fab skin with one of these ideas:

pūr~lisse ageless & beautiful jet set starter kit ($58.00 USD) — On-the-go essentials for taking Chinese beauty rituals with you. Everything you need for youthful, radiant skin in petite packaging, perfect for first-time users and jetsetters. 14 days of TLC helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines, even for sensitive skin. It’s pure genius.

kit includes:

  • pūr~delicate gentle soy milk cleanser 1.7oz/50mL
  • pūr~youth preserve age~delay skin serum 0.35oz/10mL
  • pūr~moist hydra balance moisturizer 0.5oz/15mL
  • pūr~protect essential daily moisturizer 0.5oz/15mL
  • pūr~eye adore quadra benefit eye serum 0.1oz/3mL

Visit www.purlisse.com to learn more and purchase. This is a great way to try this line!

Mama Mio Neck and Jawline Concentrate ($45.00 USD): Keep the dreaded jiggly jowls and wobbly wattle at bay with Nexercise, a tightening, firming essential for softening jaw lines and recapturing strong, firm, taut, toned, fit skin. Specifically designed for the neck area; lightweight but hyper-moisturising, packed with collagen boosting, amino acids, firming proteins, vitamins and antioxidants AND peptide technology to smooth out crepe, plump up, mega-hydrate and strengthen giving you a firm neck and jawline.  Also included is a pamphlet with neck exercises.  Visit www.mamamio.com/us to learn more and purchase.

BORBA Age Defying Starter Kit ($25.99 USD) — Enjoy beautiful results when you use this simply effective, step-by-step starter kit from BORBA. Each scientifically developed formula is powered by BORBA’s own exclusive acai berry antioxidant blend. Skin is literally retexturized, nourished, protected and rehydrated at the cellular level. So with every use, you can cleanse, treat and hydrate your way to younger looking skin. 

This 5 piece kit has everything you need to start your BORBA regimen. The kit includes :

  • 4-in-1 Cleansing Treatment (1 fl. oz.)
  • Daily Hydrator SPF 30+ (0.5 fl. oz.)
  • Deep Repair Night Crème (0.5 fl. oz.)
  • Wrinkle Smoothing Serum (0.25 fl. oz.)
  • Eye Crème Concentrate (0.17 fl. oz.)

www.borba.com has more info and you can purchase. Enjoy!

Mineralogie — Achieve A Flawless Finish With Makeup That’s Good For Your Skin

Tired of using the same old mineral makeup. Try Mineralogie, which is made with the best pharmaceutical grade minerals available. Nourishment of the skin, sheer to complete coverage and, most important, total protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays is the philosophy of the brand.

For a flawless and non drying look, the Mineralogie 4 Piece Starter Kit — Choose the foundation shade that is right for you from one of Mineralogie’s seven most popular colors for your personal introduction to 100% mineral makeup. Each Starter Kit includes 3-grams of Mineralogie’s SPF 26 Loose Mineral Foundation (to match your complexion!), 1-gram of coordinating Loose Mineral Bronzer, 6-ml of our new Natural Cream Concealer, a personal size Makeup Brush plus, a Mineral Application Card! A $90.00 retail value for only $35.00. That’s over 60-days of makeup!! The perfect way to begin experiencing the flawless beauty of minerals. Available in 7 shades.

I like all of the products in this kit. The foundation is very pretty and doesn’t cake in pores. The color blends well with my skin color. I do think it is a bit too glowy for me and I need to dust a bit of matte translucent powder on top to tone down the shine. The concealer is very matte and works well.  Plus the bronzer is beautiful and not too shiny. For the price, this is a great deal!

From light to luscious our new Spring Quad Pressed Eye Shadow Compact ($38.00 USD) includes the must have colors for the season. Accentuate your spring wardrobe with Champagne, Mulberry, Fusion and Mango. The perfect springtime combination for a fresh, natural and irresistible look. 

These shades are very soft in the compact, but pack a lot of color and shimmer (which I love).  I am not a fan of glitter, but I think shimmery shadow is youthful in neutral shades like these. Perfect for spring!

Visit www.mineralogie.biz to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

Becca Cosmetics Can Give You The Perfect Look For Spring and Summer

We have had a few hot days in Kansas City, which has made me long for the summer and tan skin and easy makeup. So I used an at home spray tanning system (will review soon) and broke out the bronzer and shimmery makeup! Oh, I love the fun easy look of summer makeup!

BECCA Cosmetics’ philosophy is about creating a natural, flawless look starting with amazing skin. This is the perfect philosophy when it comes to spring and summer makeup. The following products will provide an easy and pretty face.

Resurfacing Primer Line & Pore Minimizing Formula ($40.00 USD) — Prepare and seal your skin with this invisible Resurfacing Primer which instantly reduces the appearance of dilated pores and smoothes fine lines for a flawless finish. Applied on its own or under foundation, the velvety matte formulation helps to control unwanted shine with its special oil absorbing polymers which act as ‘fillers’ to create a refined base for makeup that will last all day.

What I think: mattifying primer is perfect for hot and oily skin. It also keeps your makeup from melting off of your face.  This primer gives skin a velvety finish and helps makeup stay on all day.

Pressed Shimmer Powder ($38.00 USD) — A delicately fine shimmer powder that lights up the complexion, illuminating darkened areas and lackluster skin and creating a magical glow that seems to emanate from within. Contains ultrafine particles of shimmer (mica) to deflect light and illuminate the skin, creating a natural, radiant look. Does not have a glittery finish and thus can be worn day or night.

What I think: Pretty shimmer, and not too young for women who are a bit more mature and not looking for a glittery face.  Available in 8 shades from a beigey-peach to a rose-pink, which is the most I’ve seen in an illuminating powder. The deeper shades make a really pretty blush. Brush it over bronzer for a lovely summer look.

Jewel Dust ($24.00 USD) — These exquisitely embellished powders add playful colour to the eyes when worn alone, and create rich, exotic tones when layered over neutral eye shadows. Available in a range of enchanting colours from ethereal pastels to dazzling metallics. Created from pure pigments which provide the highest luster and intensity.  Unlike other shimmer powders, this exclusive formulation does not contain talc, fillers, or inferior silver pearl pigments. Can be worn alone or layered over creme and powder eye colour to create unique tones and range of effects. Micro fine shimmer pigments adds illuminating colour to the eyes. Available in 16 shimmery shades.

What I think: This is super pretty for summer. The lighter shades are gorgeous brushed all over the eye and the deeper and brighter shades can be used for an accent or a smoky eye.

Professional Brush Soap ($15.00 USD) — Designed with your prized makeup brushes in mind, this unique Professional Brush Soap is formulated to clean, condition and sanitize, lengthening the lifespan of your brushes and making them work better for you. In a unique vintage-style shaving tin, this soap is designed for all brush shapes and sizes and works on both natural and synthetic fibers.

Unlike shampoo, which is designed for human hair types and can leave brushes limp or brittle, this special soap is universal in its cleansing properties. Its solid formula is made from nourishing plant oils ensuring that it is gentle on brush fibers while tough on product build-up.  Unwashed, brushes can be a common breeding ground for bacteria, which can in turn cause skin irritation and blemishes, along with reduced application performance. Dip the brush in lukewarm water, then with a stroking action, move across the soap until it produces a white lather, working well into the bristles. Rinse under the tap until the water runs clear, squeeze out excess water, reshape, then leave to dry on a clean towel.

What I think: This is a fabulous and affordable cleanser for your brushes. It is so important to keep makeup brushes clean and this is easy and quick. Love it!

Visit www.beccacosmetics.com to learn more and to purchase. Enjoy!

Great New Ideas In Beauty Tools and Containers

Finding the right beauty tools and organizers are so important for perfecting your beauty routine. The following are some brand new (or new to me) products I have tried and have helped me simplify my beauty regimen.

From the new Sally Hansen Beauty Tools line, I love the Perfect the Arch Dual Slant Point Tip Tweezer ($14.49 USD) — This multi-tasking wonder does it all. Use the slanted edge against the skin for larger areas and the pointed end for detail work along the brow line. Theis is easy to use, and a sharp tweezer makes shaping brows quick and a lot less painful than a dull pair that barely grabs the hairs. Visit www.sallyhansen.com for more info and you can purchase these at drugstores and mass market retailers in the United States.

Cosmetic coordination. This Lori Greiner set of two quilted makeup cases is ideal for both home organization and travel. The large case is designed with 13 sections to organize all your shadows, blushes, lipsticks, and more–plus, elastic holders in the back section for brushes and mascara, and even a removable organizer page. The smaller organizer case fits easily into your purse so you can tote all your daily essentials. This is great for traveling or just for every day use.

Includes large cosmetic bag and small cosmetic bag and the approximate measurements are: Large bag 10″L x 8″W x 4″H; Small bag 7″L x 4″W x 3″H. They wipe clean with a damp cloth.

You can purchase this at www.qvc.com. The regular price is $29.50 and is on special at $26.80. 

Tweezerman broke new ground on the beauty tool front by introducing the Zip File ($5.00 USD), a practical, retractable and ultra-portable – yet super-stylish and playful nail file for hassle-free usability.  Now, Tweezerman is proudly bringing you three new fun, flirty patterns to suit all personalities.  These colorful, fun, convenient file & case combos have a zippy slide-click mechanism that, with just a push of your thumb, easily extends and locks the file securely in place at the exact length you want. The all-in-one design works so that the case also acts as a handle when the file is extended. The file can then be effortlessly retracted to stay clean and protected, stored neatly in the compact handle/case. The dual sides (medium and coarse grit) allow you to shape and then seal nail edges with just one easy-to-use tool. 

www.tweezerman.com is the place to find these as well as at www.sephora.com

Powerful Anti-Aging Benefits With Affordable Boots No7

Boots is one of the United Kingdoms top cosmetic and skin care companies. I have recently tried their No7 line which is a range of hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested products using trusted ingredients. Women in the UK have been using Boots No7 for over 75 years, so they must know something, right? I LOVE the following products because they all address aging problems and have the ingredients to fight them! 

Radiance Revealed Exfoliator ($9.99 USD) —  This light and gentle facial exfoliator deeply cleanses, removes dead skin cells and refines pores, leaving skin soft, smooth and glowing with health. With grapefruit and watercress to help purify, plus pro-vitamin B5 to hydrate the skin.

I love how this scrub leaves skin soft and very smooth. It should be used once or twice a week. Gently massage a small amount onto cleansed, damp skin. Wash away thoroughly with warm water.

Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum ($19.99 USD) — Reveal younger looking, beautifully refined skin with this powerful blend of caring and skin restoring ingredients. Light and non-greasy, it glides on instantly softening and smoothing your skin. Then, with regular use, it works to renew your complexion, restoring radiance and helping to reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles in just 4 weeks. With concentrated levels of unique antioxidant complex and skin-firming pro-retinol complex to boost and maintain skin’s elasticity.

This is a very popular anti-aging serum in the UK so I was very excited to use it — and it did not disappoint. It is so light and is absorbs quickly, then makes the skin so soft and silky. Use day and night to supplement a moisturizing regime. Apply a small amount of serum to the palms of the hands and smooth over the face, avoiding the eye area. Finish with moisturizer.

Intensive Line Filler ($17.99 USD) — This is a clever quick-fix that leaves skin looking softer, smoother and more youthful looking. With light-diffusing particles to blur away the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s been created to improve the appearance of deeper wrinkles too, with skin looking plumper and less lined in just 2 weeks. It’s all down to an exciting new development: hyaluronic acid spheres. They absorb water in the upper layers of the skin and inflate to many times their original size, appearing to push wrinkles up and away from within.

I love the instant lift to my skin’s texture that this gives. Plus, it gave my whole face a youthful plumping after just a few weeks uses. Smooth onto the places most vulnerable to expression lines: around your mouth and eyes, between your brows and across your forehead. Follow with No7 Time Resisting or Lifting and Firming moisturizers.

Visit www.us.boots.com or www.target.com to purchase. Enjoy!

Spring Eye Shadow Choices From Boots No7, Napoleon Perdis and Josie Maran

I don’t think you need to buy all new makeup each season, but it is fun to pop in a few new products, like a bright or shimmery eye shadow for spring, to update your look. Here are some of my favorites that I have recently tried.

Boots No7 Stay Perfect Eye Mousse ($7.99 USD) —  These small tubes of light-as-air color combine a wonderful whipped texture with a flattering iridescent finish. The unique formulation means the color lasts on and on and it’s just so easy to apply, use your finger to dot and blend to your heart’s content. The eye color is waterproof so great for sports enthusiasts.

Apply using fingertips and blend to create the desired effect. A brush can be used for more precise definition. The Vanilla shade can be used as a highlighter. It is also available in Fudge, Khaki and Lilac.

Visit www.target.com or www.us.boots.com to learn more and purchase.

Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dusts ($25.00 USD) — A highly pigmented loose powder in a canister that dispenses just the right amount of product each time. Start in the closed position, shake lightly and open to release. The sifter mechanism measures out enough shadow for one application. Dust or pat onto the eyes, cheeks or even body for brilliant shimmering highlights. The vivid results last from dust till dawn.  Available in 20 shimmering shades.

Visit http://www.napoleonperdis.com/US/ to learn more and purchase.

Josie Maran Argan Eye Love You Too Palette ($42.00 USD) — A limited-edition palette that contains eight Argan-infused eyeshadows for endless eye looks.Enriched with pure Argan Oil, these soft, velvety shadows blend effortlessly and stay put for intense, saturated, all-day color. The perfectly portable palette comes with an easy-to-follow, how-to card from Josie herself, featuring step-by-step instructions on how to create the ideal day and night looks. Campfire is a matte chestnut brown. Rejuvenate is a golden mossy green. Dragonfly is a color shifting, brownish-teal. Chirp is a maple brownish-gold. Bunny is a buttery white. Cinnamon is a fleshy pink. Meadow is a subtle lemon-lime green. Branch is a dark brown with gold flecks.

You can purchase at www.josiemarancosmetics.com or www.sephora.com.

Enjoy!

Glam Up With Jemma Kidd Makeup School

Jemma Kidd is a makeup artist who has founded a makeup academy and lines of makeup including Jemma Kidd Makeup School, Jemma Kidd Pro and JK Jemma Kidd (you can find this line at Target). I have recently tried some products from hr lines. Here are a couple that i really like:
 
Jemma Kidd Makeup School Lash Xtension Volume Mascara — Carbon super-black mascara with Bio-boost complex to help enhance lash-growth and next generation ‘V’ groove brush for creating maximum volume.

Give lashes extreme volume and length with Jemma Kidd’s Lash Xtension Volume Mascara. The unique formula enriched with Bio-boost complex helps to encourage natural lash growth while Silk Proteins and Vitamins A and E condition and strengthen.The carbon formula leaves lashes looking blacker than black and the reflective pigments create a subtle gloss finish for added drama. The innovative design of the double ‘V’ groove brush encourages maximum mascara application, resulting in thicker, longer looking lashes.

  • Bio-boost complex helps stimulate natural lash growth.
  • Carbon black shade for blacker than black lashes.
  • Added Silk Proteins and Vitamins A and E condition and strengthen.
  • Next generation double ‘V’ groove brush provides instant volume, length and depth

What I think: I love the super black tint of this mascara and that fact that it lengthens and thickens my lashes. The thick brush is really easy to apply and it stays on all day without smudging! I have only been using this for a couple of weeks, so I haven’t noticed lash growth, but I will let you all know if I do!

Jemma Kidd Pro Skin Perfection Kit — A revolutionary, professional standard skin perfecting palette with four shades to help conceal, enhance, sculpt and shade your way to a flawless base.

  • Citrus Colour Corrector
    Unique citrus shade with green undertone. Yellow corrects blue & purple undertones around the eye area while green will neutralise any unwanted red tones in the complexion. This revolutionary citrus shade is the perfect combination of both ‘essential’ colour correctors in one
  • Apricot Colour Corrector
    Brightening apricot shade to neutralise & even skin tone around the eye area with added collagen for firming effect
  • All Over Radiance Crème
    Mini version of the award winning JKMS Dewy Glow Radiance Crème – (Iced Gold)
  • Lip & Cheek Flush
    Berry blush concentrate to create subtle definition & a healthy flush; added antioxidants vitamins A & E

What I think: This is a great little do-it-all compact that is perfect to use at home or put in your purse for quick touch-up! I use the Citrus and Apricot correctors under my eyes. I put the citrus first and the apricot over. It lessens my dark circles and brightens, too. The radiance cream is gorgeous as a highlighter and the flush is a pretty lip and cheek color!

You can learn more about these products and more at  www.jemmakidd.com.