I'm a member of a panel, in which they send me information regarding new products and I generally take surveys about them for feedback.
Well, I just took a very exciting survey regarding a possible upcoming new line at CVS by the very famous actress Salma Hayek! The lines encompassed hair, skincare and cosmetics. I wish I had written everything down when I was taking it, but I'll see what I can do by memory (there were probably 30 items total in the survey so the line is quite large - this was only a handful of things I could remember) . I already gave them the suggestion that the prices were ridiculous and they should either lower them or make samples available!
Eye Cream with licorice extract .7oz $19
Cleansers specifically formulated for sensitive skin 5oz $9
Foundation specifically for sensitive skin $20
Makeup kit with everything needed for the face $49 (this was truly ridiculous for the drugstore!)
Hair shampoo with cayenne pepper for thinning $24 (?)
What do you guys think? Worthy of picking up? We'll see what the prices are like. Hopefully they'll take my advice on lowering them.
I just want to make a note that I did some research on the web and so far there's been speculation about a line but no one seemed to know where it was launching though several sites mentioned that it was due to arrive at some sort of drugstore. I'm not positive that the line will be at CVS and I have received no official word from any company about any of this. Sorry this post appeared and dissapeared quickly yesterday. I wanted to review my panel information to make sure there wasn't anything saying I couldn't post this and I was so excited about it!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Foundation Trick That Shouldn't Work... But Does
I don't claim that this weird thing I discovered will work for you, in fact, I was super surprised that it wasn't a complete disaster on my skin. Either way, here's what happened:
I was applying foundation in the morning as I generally do and decided that I would use a wet/dry formula dry (this is shocking news to all of you I know). Well, after I applied this foundation, I really liked the coverage on most areas but there were a few spots that I needed more coverage, so I then took my liquid fondation and stippled it on over top. I reapplied a light dusting of the powder foundation and then gave myself a generous spritz of Avene mist.
I don't know how this worked, as my skin is very dry right now and the powder foundation should excentuate that. However, the powder minimizes my pores much better than the liquid but the liquid provides more coverage on my red areas so they worked hand-in-hand. The combination of the two also somehow cut down on the cakiness I sometimes get if I apply too much liquid.
I imagine this is a similar result as some people get with primer; something I rarely use since it often aggravates my skin. Generally speaking, it's not often suggested to 'mix' powder and liquid products although that winds up being the case with cream blush and/or highlighters. But I found this worked well for me.
I'm quite pleased with myself for discovering this especially at 6am - of course knowing me this is some technique everyone uses and I'm the last one to discover.
I was applying foundation in the morning as I generally do and decided that I would use a wet/dry formula dry (this is shocking news to all of you I know). Well, after I applied this foundation, I really liked the coverage on most areas but there were a few spots that I needed more coverage, so I then took my liquid fondation and stippled it on over top. I reapplied a light dusting of the powder foundation and then gave myself a generous spritz of Avene mist.
I don't know how this worked, as my skin is very dry right now and the powder foundation should excentuate that. However, the powder minimizes my pores much better than the liquid but the liquid provides more coverage on my red areas so they worked hand-in-hand. The combination of the two also somehow cut down on the cakiness I sometimes get if I apply too much liquid.
I imagine this is a similar result as some people get with primer; something I rarely use since it often aggravates my skin. Generally speaking, it's not often suggested to 'mix' powder and liquid products although that winds up being the case with cream blush and/or highlighters. But I found this worked well for me.
I'm quite pleased with myself for discovering this especially at 6am - of course knowing me this is some technique everyone uses and I'm the last one to discover.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Today's Shopping Expedition
Today's plan was to go to the mall - the luxe one that's about 15 miles away (not the slightly run-down one that's about 5 miles away) and stop into Sephora to check out Cargo. Cargo is 50% off at Sephora and online (though they are practically sold out of everything online at this point). Looks like they are getting rid of the line. Well of course, my Sephora never carried Cargo in the first place which I found out after scanning every single row - hopefully the sales associates didn't think I was planning on stealing anything. I probably looked a bit dodgy.
Anyway, because the Cargo haul never happened, I stopped in quite a few stores and the only store I actually got anything from was L'Occitane. They are having their semi-annual sale right now and I've been eying the Cherry Eau de Toilette for quite some time. I adore the Cherry Blossom scent but it's lasting power isn't nearly as good as the Cherry and for 50% off? Yes, please!
The Cherry EDT is Limited Edition... here's how L'Occitane describes it:
"A deliciously summery Eau de Toilette that reinterprets the freshness of our Cherry Blossom perfume, enveloping the skin with fruity, sparkling, and tangy essences. A perfume that recalls carefree summer afternoons spent in the orchard, and the memory of an armful of sun-drenched petals infused with the sweet flavor of juicy, colorful fruit."
Yum! This was $23 regularly $46. The sale associate was super nice and threw in quite a few samples. I spritzed my wrists generously with this while I was at the store and DH hasn't said anything about me stinking so I think I did good (he is super picky about the scents I wear and prefers me to smell "like myself" - so no comment is a good one).
For comparison sake, this reminds me of the discontinued Fresh's Memoirs of a Geisha which I also love and is a slightly "older" sophisticated Bath & Body Works Cherry Blossom.
Anyway, because the Cargo haul never happened, I stopped in quite a few stores and the only store I actually got anything from was L'Occitane. They are having their semi-annual sale right now and I've been eying the Cherry Eau de Toilette for quite some time. I adore the Cherry Blossom scent but it's lasting power isn't nearly as good as the Cherry and for 50% off? Yes, please!
The Cherry EDT is Limited Edition... here's how L'Occitane describes it:
Yum! This was $23 regularly $46. The sale associate was super nice and threw in quite a few samples. I spritzed my wrists generously with this while I was at the store and DH hasn't said anything about me stinking so I think I did good (he is super picky about the scents I wear and prefers me to smell "like myself" - so no comment is a good one).
For comparison sake, this reminds me of the discontinued Fresh's Memoirs of a Geisha which I also love and is a slightly "older" sophisticated Bath & Body Works Cherry Blossom.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
CCO Haul
I'd been meaning to go to my local CCO - aka Cosmetic Company Outlet for awhile. I heard reports that Prescriptives was further marked down and I wanted to stock up on the old size of MAC pigments. Of course said CCO is 50 miles away and in an outdoor outlet mall. So the thought of walking around in the recent snow episodes was not something I wanted to experience. Today was a blustery 20 degrees (and that was the high), but even with the temperature, I braved the winds and walked away with some goodies.
I picked up 4 MAC pigments. These are some colors I don't already have in my stash. We have... Vintage Gold (LE Overrich August 2008), Gilded Green (LE Colorforms July 2008), Tea Time (LE Colorforms July 2008) & Cocomotion (LE Rushmetal July 2007) . They had a few other colors but I restrained myself (though I'm planning another trip next week after their next shipment).
Set includes:
-Full-size Sunsheen Bronzing Trio in Medium (0.35 oz.)
-Full-size Tint Balm in Caramel (0.5 oz.)
-Full-size Colorscope Creamy Eye Color in Rose Dust (0.25 oz.)
-Travel-size Powder Brush.
I picked up 4 MAC pigments. These are some colors I don't already have in my stash. We have... Vintage Gold (LE Overrich August 2008), Gilded Green (LE Colorforms July 2008), Tea Time (LE Colorforms July 2008) & Cocomotion (LE Rushmetal July 2007) . They had a few other colors but I restrained myself (though I'm planning another trip next week after their next shipment).
I also picked up a Prescriptives set. This set was from Holiday 2008 and called All Year Bronze. All the Prescriptives items that they had in stock were an additional 20% off (this is on top of the 30% discount at the CCO). This was only $22.40 after discount which is a great deal since it's mostly full sized items.
-Full-size Sunsheen Bronzing Trio in Medium (0.35 oz.)
-Full-size Tint Balm in Caramel (0.5 oz.)
-Full-size Colorscope Creamy Eye Color in Rose Dust (0.25 oz.)
-Travel-size Powder Brush.
NOTD: OPI Shim-Merry Chic
After Lipglossiping did a mani with this, I knew I chose well when I picked this up at ULTA on clearance ($3.99!). I've been wanting to do a manicure with this for a few days now but my nails and cuticles have been in a horrible state (they still are but I'm impatient). These pictures were taken pre-clean up so they aren't pretty - quite frankly I'm surprised I'm posting them!
Base and topcoat are both YSL La Laque 3-1.
Base and topcoat are both YSL La Laque 3-1.
natural light
artificial light
I am horrible at taking pictures of my nails - hopefully I'll get better with time!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Review: Kuan Yuan Lian Beadlike Grain Powder (180 g)
The very last item from my Sasa haul! I was actually scared to try this after someone mentioned it smells like Chinese food! I mean, that's nice except I didn't really want to wash my face in something that smelled quite so strong. I am super sensitive to smells and the thought of getting nauseated in the morning from washing my face did not get me excited to try this stuff.
First of all, what does this smell like? To me it smells like green beans! It's a quite fresh "green" smell and pleasant.
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with this stuff. I mean, I was scared. The label is in another language. It could have smelled like Chinese food? What did I get myself into?
Well, the texture dry feels like flour. It is super finely milled and very soft to the touch. It even resembles flour in the jar.
First of all, what does this smell like? To me it smells like green beans! It's a quite fresh "green" smell and pleasant.
=
?
This enormous jar only cost me $3.20 USD which is a pretty amazing price given the size. It's filled to the brim with an off-white powder.I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with this stuff. I mean, I was scared. The label is in another language. It could have smelled like Chinese food? What did I get myself into?
Well, the texture dry feels like flour. It is super finely milled and very soft to the touch. It even resembles flour in the jar.
Once you add water, it turns into a creamy cleanser. At this point you start to feel slightly larger pieces in it that are awesome for a gentle exfoliation. Most of the "flour" dissolves in the water. Since this is something you mix yourself, you can alter the water/powder ratio till it suits you. I actually think I'll add a little less water next time!
this picture was super hard to take!
While this wasn't the easiest cleanser to use (you have to mix it yourself, if you add too much water it's super runny and hard to apply), the results are really nice. My face feels smooth. It didn't burn or irritate my skin and it removed the makeup that I had on my face (I would not recommend this for eyes because of the grains in it that don't fully dissolve).
All in all, I shouldn't have been scared. This jar should last me a good long while, but if I ever run out, I may just repurchase!
Bloggy News
A few things:
- As I'm sure you guys can see (News above), I am planning another giveaway when/if I reach 50 followers. I'm super excited and really appreciate everyone of you that read this blog. I mean, I was super thrilled when I reached 10 followers; now that I'm at 37 I'm actually a bit shocked.
- In the same area, I have attempted to find and follow all of you guys that have beauty blogs. If I'm missed following-back anyone, please let me know (a link in the comments works). I always look for more blogs to read!
- A company approached me about putting an affiliate link on my site. I agreed. This is the 2nd company that has approached me. The first one I declined as it was basically a pay per post and I didn't see how the material would actually be useful for you. This new one basically asked if I would put a banner on my site (it's on the right and tiny). I think the deal is if you click through the banner and buy something, I get a small percentage of your purchase. I don't expect anyone to go ahead and do this, I just wanted to disclose.
That's all for now.
♥ jeweledthumb
- As I'm sure you guys can see (News above), I am planning another giveaway when/if I reach 50 followers. I'm super excited and really appreciate everyone of you that read this blog. I mean, I was super thrilled when I reached 10 followers; now that I'm at 37 I'm actually a bit shocked.
- In the same area, I have attempted to find and follow all of you guys that have beauty blogs. If I'm missed following-back anyone, please let me know (a link in the comments works). I always look for more blogs to read!
- A company approached me about putting an affiliate link on my site. I agreed. This is the 2nd company that has approached me. The first one I declined as it was basically a pay per post and I didn't see how the material would actually be useful for you. This new one basically asked if I would put a banner on my site (it's on the right and tiny). I think the deal is if you click through the banner and buy something, I get a small percentage of your purchase. I don't expect anyone to go ahead and do this, I just wanted to disclose.
That's all for now.
♥ jeweledthumb
Beauty Blog Link Love - 1/9/10 - #1
Priminition, an expose on primers - over at Jeweled Thumb
A go-to neutral purple-beige look from Maggie at The Polka-Dotted Apple!
Krasey Beauty warms it up for winter with a golden makeup look using Chanel's Spring 2010 collection
This week at I Heart Cosmetics Sarah has been loving Mac's warm and cozy collection
Vex in the City explains why Dr Hauschka Rose Day Cream is all she needs to beat her winter blues
Amy over at Yoetke Beauty Blog is taking L'Oreal's 4-Week Lashboost Challenge!
Arianne can't stop raving about her holy grail foundation (OMG!) on Glitter Geek.
Lisa Kate has some Sparkle Approved Mineral Makeup Companies to share with you!
LiAnn asks what beauty products you tried that made you say "meh"
Retrodiva wants to know what your signature fragrance is!
Jellyminx Thinks swatches Sleek Eyeshadow palettes
Hot Beauty Health share some sexy haircolor ideas to start the new year off fresh!
Over at Lipglossiping this week, Charlotte contemplates life with triangle hair.
This week at Get Lippie, Louise tries out a Scarlet Johanssen-style makeover
I've Been Tagged
I get to tell you 7 random things about me and then I tag 7 people to do the same.
1. I broke my middle finger playing football in middle school (I actually caught the ball thankyouverymuch) and I found great joy in showing everyone I could my broken finger for about a month.
2. I have perfect pitch (this is not always so fun) and I've been trained in primarily Italian Arias. I'm a (1st) soprano.
3. For a few years, I had my heart set on going to Cantorial School to get my Master's in Music.
4. I am a self taught artist (makeup and otherwise) but I did get my Bachelor's degree in Art.
5. I almost always wear my hair up because I shed. My husband teases me that I'm like a cat. Seriously, if I wear my hair down, hair everywhere. It's also super thick.
6. I have a bad habit of telling everyone how much my clothes cost (since I get everything on sale and I'm proud of my frugal skills). Like today for instance: black sweater ($5 on clearance at Kohls), black tunic ($5 on clearance at Target), black t-shirt under tunic ($4 clearance at Kohls), Max Studio faux suede pants ($10 at TjMaxx), boots (hand me down from Mom) = $24
7. My favorite color is purple; 2nd place is deep red
Ok... I tag:
1. Nouveau Cheap
2. Pink Sith
3. LipGlossiping
4. Jelly Minx Thinks
5. Sparkle Is My Crack!
6. Gloss Menagerie
7. The Makeup Snob (who just redesigned her blog! It looks awesome)
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