Rewarding My Bad Behavior

Well, I was a bad girl tonight. Not only have I been procrastinating on my school work, but I also decided to do some online beauty shopping! I didn't do too much damage since I had a $25 Sephora store credit from a previous return, but I don't really have an extra $27 to be spending on beauty products, either. But...nothing feels better than getting that little yellow slip in my mailbox letting me know my package has arrived!

- My shopping list -


Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer in Porcelain 2 - I have finally broken myself of wearing foundation every single day. For a very long time, I viewed face makeup (like foundation, powder, and concealer) as my "security blanket" from the public due to the skin troubles of my adolescence. Now I realize I don't need to cover my entire face, so I've paired it down to just using concealer under my eyes, around my nose and mouth, and on a few little discolored patches left over from some old breakouts. I needed a good concealer that stayed put all day, so this seemed like a good option. I really, really, really hope the color work, too.

TheBalm's Plump Your Pucker Plumping Lip Gloss in Strawberry My Shortcake - I've been lusting after this one for a long time. I looooove a slighty shimmery, baby pink lip, and this one fits the description w/out looking too 1980's.


One of the biggest perks of shopping at the Sephora website is the selection of free samples. My picks:

LOLA Refine Shine Anti-Shine Gel - I always like to try mattifiers whenever they're offered in sample sizes because I have yet to find one that truly lasts through the day. I'm interested to see how well this product performs.

Tarte Sunburst Beaded Bronzing Lotion - I don't tan. Not because I don't want to (though I know I shouldn't), but because my skin absolutely does.not.tan. Seriously, it takes me a full week of being out in the sun from the time I get up in the morning until the sun finally sets in order for me to have what most people consider a "base tan." Hopefully this tinted moisturizer will give me a nice, sunkissed glow without being streaky or Lindsay Lohan orange. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.


Escada Sunset Heat for Her - Ok...unlike many of my fellow beauty bloggers, I am not a fragrance connoisseur. I rarely wear fragrances, but if I do, it's just a simple perfume oil or a lightly scented body lotion. Lots of women complain that the Escada perfumes all smell the same - typical "tweeny" fruity florals that lack sophistication. I can't say I disagree, but there weren't any other samples that interested me, and I can always donate it to my younger sister.

Lorac Mocktail Lipgloss in Lava Flow - I scored a deluxe sample of this gloss via the latest Sephora catalog promotion code (FUTURE1 for all you shoppers!) The shade looks like a pretty, sheer, vibrant berry red. It's supposed to taste good, too. Sounds sweet to me!

I'll be back with reviews as soon as I receive my goodies! Readers, have you tried any of these products? If so, what did you think?

Something To Hide...

I think I’ve been searching for my Holy Grail concealer since the age of twelve. I’ve tried one after the other, and I shudder to think how much money I’ve spent on my quest for the ultimate cover-up. I want a perfect color match, excellent staying power and coverage, and no creasing. Is that too much to ask? Nope…I didn’t think so either, because judging from the message boards at Makeup Alley; I’m not alone in this quest. So, I figured I would tell you all about my journey thus far –

While working at the Cosmetics Company Store a couple years ago, I discovered Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Concealer. It has the most impressive staying power out of any concealer I’ve ever tried, and that’s a great feat because since I have oily skin, most makeup has a tendency to “disappear” on me by mid-day. Sadly, there are (or were) only four color choices, none of which were a great match for me. I’ve heard that EL has reformulated the product and broadened the color selection, but I have yet to try it. Readers – what are your thoughts? Have you tried the new version of the Double Wear concealer?

Revlon’s ColorStay concealer ran a close second in staying power, but again, the color wasn’t the greatest fit though it was a little better than the EL Double Wear. I re-purchased the ColorStay on a whim about a month ago but found that Revlon has also reformulated their product; however, the changes made have caused the product to loose some of its staying power and coverage. Ugh!

I’ve also tried Amazing Concealer, and I have never been more disappointed by such a widely loved cosmetic product. Both the color-selection and coverage were mediocre at best, and the texture seemed greasy to me. I had the same problems with Allison Rafaelle’s True Concealer, but I can’t say I’m too surprised because both concealers include mineral oil in their list of ingredients. Not the greatest choice for girls with already oily skin.

Laura Mecier’s Secret Camouflage is decent, and I still use it from time to time. I like that you can blend the two different shades to make a “custom color” that can change with the season or even the different areas of the face. The color match is good but not perfect, and I was surprised by the staying power, and I like that the texture is drier than most other concealers. But I DO NOT like Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer – much too soft and goopy and orange for me.

Since I can’t even walk into a drug store without purchasing some little inexpensive beauty product, I grabbed a small tube of L’Oreal True Match concealer about a year ago in Cool 0-1. THE COLOR IS PERFECT. It really is a true match. Sadly, the texture is too thin and the coverage is too sheer. This is so depressing and frustrating!

Despite all these trials and travails, I have found a temporary solution. The concealer by Delux Beauty is very good, as it provides substantial coverage, decent staying power, and a surprisingly good color match. I use the lightest shade called “Snowy,” and initially I thought it would be too light/too yellow based, but it blends nicely into the skin, especially under the eyes. It’s strange because I don’t even have many “problem areas” that need to be concealed, but concealer is almost like a “security blanket” for me. I think it’s a mental scar left over from when I used to be teased about having blemished skin at an early age. But – I will continue my quest for the concealer to end all concealers! What are some of the brands that have worked (or not worked) for you? Leave your comments!


(Author Edit: So - I wrote this post during some free time back in January, but I just hadn't had time to find the links, pics, etc. in order to make it a successful post. While trying to find links for the Delux Beauty and Allison Raffaelle concealers, I discovered that both of the cosmetic lines are on major liquidation sale on Sephora.com! Are these companies going out of business? Being discontinued? Hmmm...this is strange to me, especially since each of the companies claimed to have a long list of celebrity clientel!)

Ughhhhhh! Sorry!

Hi Everyone (if I have any readers left) -
I cannot believe it has been a MONTH since I've last posted. Shame on me! Unfortunately, sometimes the responsibilities of life get in the way of the fun and creative stuff. I've been swamped with school work (why am I an English major again?), I just started substitute teaching last week, and my "free" days have been consumed with observing high school composition and literature classes as research for my education course. Ah! However, I promise to do at least TWO posts this week - one on concealers and another on drugstore beauty (as I mentioned in my last post). If you're checking back, please stay tuned! I have lots of beauty to discuss!

I'm Baaaaaaaack

Hello out there to those of you who have been visiting my little blog!

I'm sorry I haven't updated for what seems like ages. I promise I'm not neglecting you! I have been swamped with school work, a little bit of relationship turbulance, and a nasty cold! Ahh! Hopefully I'll be back to normal towards the end of this week when I'll be off to sunny Florida for four brief but glorious days (a big change from the bitterly cold and drab state of West Viriginia)!

Soon I hope to do a post on "drugstore beauty." Though I love, love, love almost all of the higher-end brands, I also enjoy discovering fantasticly cheap and effective drugstore products that make a big impact on beauty! A few of the products I will be discussing are: Listerine Pre-Brush Whitening Rinse, N.Y.C. Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil, and Jane Shimmering Bronzer.

That being said, do you have a favorite drugstore product that stands up to even your most prized Sephora (or department store) possession? Leave your comments and please
stay tuned! : )

LUSH to Love

So - I don't know if I have very many readers at this very early stage of this little blog's history...but for the readers that I do have, the following post was written by my friend, Geoff. Geoff and I attended middle school/high school together and though we weren't very close back then, we have recently re-discovered one another due to our mutual love of literature, celebrity gossip, and beauty products! He will be contributing to this blog from time to time or whenever the mood strikes him. He really seems to know his stuff (he is an NYU grad afterall...), so please welcome him with open arms! : )
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The idea of organic cosmetics has become appealing in recent years much in the same way that organic food has. But as a fallen vegetarian (who grudgingly scorned tofu for a whole three months and stuck mostly to candy), let me suggest that an organic beauty regimine is much easier to follow than an organic diet.

One of the foremost purveyors of handmade, natural cosmetics is the LUSH brand. Even though its stores are not as ubiquitous as say, Sephora, all LUSH products can be ordered online at www.lush.com — and if you’re willing to make the trek, there is usually at least one LUSH store in every major city.

Walking into a LUSH store, one is overwhelmed by sights and scents. Product names and ingredient lists are scrawled onto chalkboards. Hunks of soap, large and craggy as rocks, reside on countertops. Perishable facemasks are stored in a miniature fridge. It’s like stepping into a mad scientist’s lab, or Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

I was introduced to LUSH about five years ago, and have used their products regularly ever since. And although LUSH makes hundreds of products for every conceivable beauty need, here are a few favorites:

Fresh Farmacy Cleansing Bar — Calms oily, acne-prone, or irritated skin with calamine. Solid pink cleansing bar topped with Marigold flower shavings. Gets rid of redness quicker than anything I’ve ever tried, and face feels tightly clean after washing.

Dream Time Temple Balm — Massage this stuff into your temples before bedtime, and you’ll wake up the next morning with a lavender-scented pillow. I’ve heard people swear by this balm with more allegiance than sleeping pills.

Black Tooth Gel — Deliciously flavored tooth gel, made with citrus and Indian sandalwood. It’s black because charcoal, not fluoride, is the active cleaning agent. Teeth are literally “squeaky” after brushing, and much whiter.

Aromaco Deodorant Bar — Citrus and patchouli-scented antiperspirant bar that has a very natural, hippie-ish smell. Cools underarms, and the scent stays with you all day, which is a good thing. You’ll never go back to regular deodorant again.

Cynthia Sylvia Stout Shampoo— - Perfect for dry or thick hair, or for anyone who likes that slept-in, slightly oily look. Contains actual Irish Stout and cognac oil— but you won’t smell like an alchie— plus fresh lemon juice for shine.

- Geoff
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Though I've never tried any of the products Geoff has raved about, I have been in a few LUSH stores, and they are, as Geoff has described, lots of fun. The staff is very helpful (at least at the store in Covent Garden, London) and they have tons of testers so you can always try before you buy. Some of my picks from LUSH include the Bath Bombs (especially the Butterball), Bath Melts, and the Ocean Salt facial scrub. If you order from the LUSH website, pay special attention to their shipping policies. Because many of their products are made with natural ingredients, they may melt, harden, discolor, etc. - but the wesbite will inform you of their shipping suggestions for their various products.

Also, LUSH puts out a ridiculously fun and interesting "newsletter"/catalogue chock full of product descriptions, customer raves, usage suggestions, and cute illustrations.

If you can get to a store, do it! If not, check out the website!

(Again, thanks so much to Geoff for this review!)

Pleasingly Plump

I admit it. I’m a huge sucker for lip plumpers (pun intended!) Though I have yet to find one that truly gives me that Angelina pout, I’m always anxious to try the newest plumper on the market. Some of my absolute favorites come from TheBalm’s Plump Your Pucker line. With a wide range of shades and flavors, TheBalm plumping glosses offer more fun than function. The site claims that the glosses contain the mysterious “Maxi Lip” ingredient, which is supposed to promote plumping action over a series of thirty days. Hmmm. That’s just too long a wait for me, and I don’t think I’ve ever used the same lip gloss religiously for an entire month - not even glosses that I consider to be my favorites!

However, the glosses have many redeeming qualities, such as cute names and yummy tastes/fragrances. The name of each gloss coincides with its shade and flavor. My three favorites are Cocoa My Coconut (a sheer pinky nude that smells and tastes like chocolate coconut), Water My Melon (a clear watermelon pink with a hint of shimmer), and Spike My Punch (a clear cherry red stain). I was at Sephora a few weeks ago, and I tested Strawberry My Shortcake, and I loved it. It’s a pretty baby pink color with a healthy dose of shimmer – along the lines of Stila’s It Gloss. They neither sting/burn (like DuWop's Lip Venom, Too Faced Lip Injection, and Urban Decay's Big Fatty) nor numb the lips (like LipFusion and Urban Decay’s Blow Lip Plumper). I’m not sure how I would describe the sensation, but it’s more of a tingly, cooling, minty sort of feel. Normally I like the stuff that stings (that’s how you know it’s working!) but I hate the clown-mouth look that those types of plumpers give after the gloss has worn off (with the exception of Lip Venom, the true original, and in my opinion, the best clear plumper!) These glosses are both affordable and immensely enjoyable – and as most of us know, boyfriends and husbands always love glosses that taste sweet! (And for anyone who reads The Beauty Addict, these glosses aren’t nearly as tacky as the adjective-happy Dessert Beauty glosses, so you won’t feel embarrassed to pull them outta your makeup bag for a mid-day touch up!). $14 @ Sephora.com

Oh, and if you look under “Airplane Approved Beauty” at the Sephora website, I believe TheBalm also has miniature Plump Your Pucker lip gloss trios. Each set contains three similar shades, such as “nudes” and “reds.” $21.

Best Face Forward

Since I was what they call an "early bloomer," I had the misfortune of dealing w/ "problem skin" from a very young age. I was constantly teased about my breakouts, as the rest of my eleven and twelve year-old counterparts had smooth, clear, flawless faces. My mother told me to ignore them, and that by the time I was 16, I would outgrow my bad skin while everyone else would just be beginning their bad skin years.

She was wrong.

Though my breakouts subsided a bit in my mid-teen years, I have struggled with not-so-great skin for almost half of my life, and being only 22, that's a looooong time.

I remember looking at all of the beautiful models in teen magazines praying for skin like theirs. I tried everything. In my younger years, it was Clearasil, Noxzema, Clean and Clear, Seabreeze, etc. No luck...ever. In fact, these products only made my skin worse. Granted, I never had the really bad red, angry, cystic acne - but my breakouts were enough to bother me...a lot.

I submitted to the Pro-Activ infomercials, and at first it worked for me, but then my skin seemed to plateau. When I left home for college, the newfound stress coupled with late nights, homesickness, the dreaded dining hall food, too many mixed drinks, and the worst roomate/living situation know to man, my skin went absolutely haywire. I ordered over $200 worth of Sonya Dakar products, including the infamous "Drying Potion," a supposed "beauty secret" of many celebs. I was sure that these products had to work, especially considering the cost.

So, I waited. And waited. And waited. And...my skin got even worse! I was devastated. So, I switched to the Murad system. Like the Pro-Activ, the Murad system worked up to a point, then my skin just plateaued again. It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible.

Finally, for my nineteenth birthday, I received Paula Begoun's book, Don't Go To the Cosmetics Counter Without Me - a dictionary thick book filled with reviews on every single makeup and skincare product known to man, from Wet and Wild to La Mer. Thinking that Paula must know her stuff, I decided to purchase some of her skincare products, and my life has never been the same.

Since using Paula's products for oily/blemish prone skin, my face has never been so clear. Her products have been an absolute a life-saver and confidence builder. The key to her products are gentle yet effective cleansers and chemical (not abrasive) exfoliators like alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

I use Paula's Skin Balancing Cleanser, Skin Balancing Toner, and the Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution as part of my daily regimen. I also use the 2% BHA Lotion and Liquid and occasionally, I'll use the Oil Absorbing Carbon Mask when I have a bad case of shiny face!

They work beautifully, and I haven't had any big "underground" PMS type of breakouts for about three years now. Of course, I'll get the occasional pimple here and there, but Paula has worked miracles for me, and her products are fairly inexpensive compared to the higher-end skincare lines. PLUS - Paula's website has sample sizes of almost all of her products, including her eyeshadows, lipsticks, and blushes.

Visit her site at www.paulaschoice.com