cosmetics – Page 23 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Eye Stand Out on New Years Eve! — Flashy Eye Looks to Try

New Year’s Eve is a great time to try out a sparkly look that we wouldn’t wear everyday. As a 40 year old (yes, I own it) I usually don’t wear glitter, I leave that to my 13 year old daughter. But I am drawn to the sparkly around party time!

There are a lot of fun products to try at stores like Sephora and Ulta. The Sephora brand itself has a lot of party options that are fairly affordable. I really like the sparkly Sephora Glitter Eyeliner ($12.00 USD). The eyeliner is just the right amount of glam. Applied to the upper lid over a neutral shadow, you can get away with almost any of the seven shades if comes in; Gold, Silver, Opal, Black, Teal, Purple and Blue.

Make Up For ever is another fun brand found at Sephora. Their false eyelashes ($14.00 USD) come in many varieties. From different textures and colors to the one above with glitter at the base, you can find the look you want to achieve. Talk about instant glamour!

Another bold choice is Max Factor’s Vivid Impact Highlighting Mascara ($9.99 USD). This is a dual color mascara that combines a traditional solid color base coat with an iridescent highlighting top coat to add a hint of color to lashes.

Remember if you do decide to go glitzy on the eyes, keep the rest of your look neutral. Maybe a nice nude or pink plumping lip gloss? Have fun!

Ready For Your New Year’s Kiss? — Try a New Red Lipstick

The perfect red lipstick is extremely difficult to find. The reason being is there are so many shades of the color. Warm reds, cherry reds, blue reds, fire engine reds. The mind boggles.

I’ve decided to begin my search for the perfect red lipstick, which is a wonderful item to have for a New Year Eve Party. I started my search at Sephora and have found a few good ones. Brands like Urban Decay, Stila, Dior, Nars, and Cargo all have various shades of red to choose from.

Surprisingly to me, the one that looked the best was by Urban Decay ($22.00 USD). The shade is Revolution, a warm classic red. My coloring is light olive skin with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. I alway thought that cooler colors looked better on me ( I like purples and maroon’s), but Revolution looked very pretty on.

PlantLove Botanical Lipstick - Cherry Bliss - The shade in the center

I also realized what doesn’t look nice on me. That is a cherry red. I tried on Cargo’s PlantLove Botanical Lipstick ($20.00) in Cherry Bliss. This is a very pretty color, but is too bright for my face. I also tried on other cherry and blue red’s but they made me look like a little girl trying on my mother’s lipstick!

I recommend both Urban Decay and Cargo’s lipsticks if you are looking for quality. They both feel great and are good for you. The Urban Decay Lipstick has vitamins A, C, and E and is infused with a crème-caramel scent and flavor. Hyaluronic spheres (found naturally in the body) are added to stimulate cellular function, prevent dehydration, and fill in lines and wrinkles.
PlantLoves’s packaging is biodegradable and the lipstick is Paraben and Sulfate free. What’s even better is that CARGO is donating two dollars from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

If you are looking for a red lipstick you are a bold lady! I recommend that you take your time and search for the perfect shade for you. I am not done looking yet. Maybe I will continue my search around Valentine’s Day…

L’Oreal Double Extend Lash Extention Mascara — Longer Lashes, Little Price

L'Oreak Double Extend Lash Estension Effect Mascare — L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascara

I hope every one is enjoying a fabulous holiday season. I know I am. And I know the parties aren’t over yet…New Year’s Eve is just around the corner.

Are you looking for lush lashes but are all tapped out? A good choice is L’Oreal’s Double Extend Lash Extension Effect Mascara ($9.49 US).

This intriguing little product is a two step process. First you apply the white primer that conditions your lashes. Next, apply the mascara which forms tubes around your lashes, making them much longer.

This is definitely a lengthening mascara; it does not thicken much. The cool thing about it is the tubes are very easy to remove. Splash lots of water on your lashes then gently pull the tubes off. If you are too rough, your lashes will come out, too. Be careful!

I think this mascara is fascinating and fun to use. Try it for your New Year’s Eve soiree!

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!

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.

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!