May's Hits and Misses

HIT!

MAC Mineralized blush in Dainty-Last month I went into the MAC store on Newbury St. in Boston, MA. I explained to the associate that I already owned two MAC blushes; Dollymix (a pure candy pink sheertone shimmer) and Peachykeen (very baby peach sheertone shimmer) and I wanted a blush that was a shade in between these two. The SA recommended a mineral blush –Dainty. Although I loved the color I was obsessed with filling my palette and not taking up any more room with products so I passed on it then. That was until I found it at a CCO (cosmetic company outlet) and then I had to have it. Dainty is described as a light yellow pink with gold pearl. It really is the perfect color for summer, the mineralized blushes seem to be less pigmented than the regular blushes but still pretty and wearable. I love this corally-pink shade for summer!!

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Light Flush- This is the first Mineral Skin Finish that I have purchased and used and now I know why everyone loves them! The first day I wore this on my cheek bones as a highlighter I received compliments: “You looks so fresh and pretty today, you are glowing” Whoo hoo! Since the only thing I really did different was the highlighter, I am giving it all the credit for my fresh glow! I really don’t know how I lived with out one of these MSF’s before and I can't wait to add more to my collection- I have my eye on Petticoat and By Candlelight which
are going to be repromotes in the new IN THE GROOVE collection coming out July 8th!!!

MAC Melon Pigment- Pigments are a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. These can create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting. Melon is my very first pigment and I am in love! This is such a pretty color for summer. It looks great on the eyes and as a highlighter. It is described a soft bright golden peach. Now I know why everyone makes such a fuss over the pigments, they truly are original colors and great products.

Moroccan Oil- Once again I have read numerous reviews and articles about the benefits of Moroccan oil. After my friend let me borrow her to test drive it I decided to purchase my own. I only use a dime size amount on my towel-dried hair and I gotta say, my hair has never felt smoother and softer or looked healthier. I will be using this forever! New HG beauty product!!

China Glaze-For Audrey-Being obsessed with anything relatable to Audrey Hepburn this was no brainer for me. I had read some reviews on temptalia.com about this nailpolish and after seeing this wonderful color on my friend Jen, I had to have it. It really is a unique color and reminds me of Tiffany’s!! I have already received lots of compliments on it and I will be wearing it on my toes ALL summer long!!

MAC Hello Kitty tinted lip conditioner in Popster- This is a from the limited edition Hello Kitty Collection. Luckily my CCO had some and I grabbed it up quick. I gotta say- I bought it mostly because of the packaging and the cult like status it has but I really love it!! The color is perfect for me even though most people prefer Pink Fish-this is moisturizing, smells great and looks wonderful!!

Miss!

Cerave Moisturizing Lotion- I purchased this because of the RAVE reviews on Makeuppalley.com and Totalbeauty.com. My skin had become unusually dry because of the products I have been using in the Philosophy On Clear Day Kit-I had previously used Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Lotion and although it didn’t make me breakout it felt greasy on my face and left a white-ish film so I was looking for my holy grain moisturizer. Although I initially loved this product it went on like a dream, absorbed into my skin and my skin had never felt smoother. Unfortunately, after a week a got cyst like acne on my chin and everyday a new pimple came up. I have just stopped using this on my face and will try to use it on my body and see how it works.

Clarasonic Mia- Again, I purchased this because of the RAVE reviews on the previous websites mentioned and on youtube, almost all my favorite bloggers own and love this. Although this was on my April Favorites list I decided to return it to Sephora. Although I loved how clean my face felt and I loved using a brush to get my makeup off; I didn’t really see any results in my skin. So for $150 I decided I would return this and try it’s dupe the I-Skin Pore Perfecting System for $30. I am still undecided on how I feel about this item but so far it is a great inexpensive alternative to the Clarasonic.

Sex and the City 2- Words can not describe my love for this series, the first movie or my anticipation for the second movie. However, words can not describe my disappointment while watching this move. Cheesy one-liners, forced dialogue, sitcom like plot all awful. Nothing and I mean Nothing happens in this move, no story line, no plot, Nothing!! I wish they would have just ended it with the first movie instead of making me think of my beloved SATC girls in a different way.

Still Unsure About -will review soon

I-Skin

Purpose Cleanser

Philosophy On a Clear Day kit

Mark Powder Buff Natural Foundation

Tarte Matte Waterproof Bronzer

MAC Marine Life Highlighter

May Dupes

Your favorite designer products and cult classics duped-same quality half the price!!

MAC Crème d ‘Nude $14
Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M•A•C famous. Pale muted peach beige (Cremesheen)

Dupe

Revlon Color Burst Lipstick in Soft Nude $8.99 (purchased at buy one get one 1/2 off)
Luxurious, rich color that feels virtually weightless.
Instant burst of rich, true color with a featherlight feel. Elasticolor™ technology provides immediate color release and hugs lips with a burst of weightless color that feels like a second skin.
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Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer 1.5oz $44
A color-tinted moisturizer with protective sunscreen. This is a sheer, lightweight formula with a hint of color you can use in place of foundation for a natural finish and a healthy glowing complexion. It contains a SPF 20 for the ultimate in anti-aging prevention.

Dupe

Boots No. 7 Soft and Sheer Tinted Moisturizer 1.69oz $11.99 Enhance your natural beauty with this translucent color in Sheer wash of barely-there color will give you a radiant natural glow and even out your skin tone. Contains SPF15 to help protect skin from the aging effects of the sun and moisturizes up to 12 hrs. Sheer coverage; suitable for all skin types; hypoallergenic.

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Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat 0.1oz $40
A luminizing pen that brings light and radiance to the skin, immediately erases any signs of fatigue, and brightens the complexion. Loved by models, makeup artists, celebrities, and women everywhere, the award-winning Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT Radiant Touch is like eight hours of sleep and an instant pick-me-up in a magic wand. With a few strategically placed strokes of TOUCHE ÉCLAT, the complexion immediately looks rested, rejuvenated, and radiant. Banishes shadows and tired-looking eyes by adding light and creating an instant lift to the eye area. TOUCHE ÉCLAT widens eyes when used between the eyebrows and along the sides of the nose, and creates fuller looking lips when used in the hollow of the chin and around the contour of the lips. It's formulated for all skin types and for anyone who wants instant radiance, luminosity, and lift.

Dupe

Boots No. 7 Radiant Glow Concealer .08 $12.99
Reduce the appearance of dark circles and under-eye puffiness for a smooth, flawless look, Look radiant all day long with your ideal shade; Contains moisturizing emollients and powders that capture and reflect light to brighten your complexion. Blends easily and applies directly where needed with easy-application brush.

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Benefit High Beam .45oz $24
An ethereal pink liquid highlighter that creates a radiantly dewy complexion. For an angelic sheen, this pink shimmering lotion adds a soft, natural afterglow. It's a "supermodel in a bottle…" and perfectly alluring on all skin tones.

Dupe

Boots No. 7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion 1oz $12.99
Used For: Normal Skin, Illuminating For Use On: Face Health Facts: Hypoallergenic, Non-Comedogenic

April Favorites

Lush’s Honey I Washed the Kids

This is Lush’s best selling soap and now I know why, it is soft, sweet, and leaves me feeling smooth. Description from the website:
Once you've unwrapped this mouth-watering toffee scented soap, you'll immediately want to wash yourself all over with it - and then wash your honey, and then the kids and maybe even gran if she's lucky. With masses of honey and aloe, this delectable bar is perfect for washing the whole family, even those with sensitive skin. Topped with a slice of beeswax and infused with bergamot and sweet orange to lift spirits right up into honey-heaven. I have tried a number of Lush soaps including I Should Coco, Figs and Leaves, Chox Away, Bohemian, and Sexy Peel and this is by far my favorite and one I will continue to repurchase. The bar itself is soft and luxurious feeling and it is does have some lather to it, it leaves skin feeling soft and smelling great!


Korrs Lip Butter

After hearing so much about this lip butter on youtube.com I had to give it a try. I chose the color/scent in Jasmine a sheer neutral/pink color and I gotta say, I love it. Here is the description from Sephora: Lip Butter
What it is:
A buttery balm that melts onto the lips and cheeks for a pretty touch of color.
What it is formulated to do:
Korres Lip Butter gives lips a lovely, shiny finish and offers a natural flush when applied to the apples of the cheeks. Its shea-butter infusion conditions and heals lips and provides a softening touch to the skin.
This lip butter is soft, not sticky, smells great, is a great color and has pretty good staying power- you also get a lot of product for just $10.


Lush’s Honey Trap

When my lips need moisturizing, but I don’t want any color I use Honey Trap- I love using this when I am just hanging around or before I go to bed- my lips actually feel softer after I use this. This smells amazing, just like lush’s massage bar Mange Too. Here is the description from the website: Chock full of ingredients to make your lips kissably soft and seductively sweet, Honey Trap moisturizes with Shea butter and olive oil, holds in moisture with honey and beeswax and tastes sweet like white chocolate and vanilla (because that's what's in it!). Smooth on some of this heavenly sweet mixture and you'll bare a remarkable resemblance to a temptress used as bait in a trap (think James Bond); this balm will attract lots of honeys to you for kissing. This is $6.95 for a small tin, but it should last a good amount of time, this too has good staying power-I have tried millions of lip balms/conditioners and this is my favorite colorless one.

Lush’s Squeaky Clean solid shampoo

I received this solid shampoo par in a miniature size to try with Naked pack two weeks ago, I never would have purchased this on my own. I have tried a Burt’s Bees version of a shampoo bar and didn’t like it much. However, this is great- one of the full size bars will last 60-80 shampoos and my hair has never looked or felt better. Lush’s description: One little green bar lasts between 60 – 80 washes, contains no preservatives or packaging and is full of fantastic essential oils for the hair and scalp. Rosemary, nettle and peppermint go to work revitalizing and stimulating the scalp, while rose and vanilla balance out the fragrance. Using just one of these fresh green bars will last long enough to save the environment from producing, shipping and recycling three plastic bottles of liquid shampoo. It leaves your hair and the environment squeaky clean. This is worth a try if you are looking for something that is good for the environment, your hair, and your wallet.


Lush’s Mange Too Massage Bar

Looking for an alternative to your daily body lotion? Try one of Lush’s massage bars, my favorite is Mange Too. Description: Mouth-watering white chocolate, honey and peppermint seduce you with their crafty ways, making this bar simply irresistible (we just want to let you know what you'll be getting yourself into). It will leave your skin soft, smooth and smelling delicious, which could lead to some steamy situations. You may be tempted to take a bite out of the unsuspecting victim you've rubbed it onto or the bar itself (which we've done too and it really doesn't taste too badly) but it's for massage, so start there. For $9.95 you get your most bang for your buck for 3.5oz and it is the most amazing smelling massage bar there is.

MARCH FAVORITES

Pink iPod Nano- 5th generation 8GB

So, I got this iPod (my first, I know I’m about 10 years late on the iPod train) with the help of my husband a couple of weeks ago and I gotta say I LOVE it!! I never felt as though I really needed an iPod before for the simple reason I would rather read than listen to music. However, this iPod doesn’t just play music. It also takes picture, video, and has a pedometer. So far I have used all of these features and they are all great! This iPod has an internal flash memory which stores up to 2,000 songs, up to 8 hours of video or up to 7,000 digital photos, because of this I felt there was no need to get the 16GB model. This new model also has a new FM radio tuner and a built-in mic which lets you capture a thought, a reminder, a class lecture, or any audio recording you want with Voice Memos. All in all this is a great little gadget, I bought mine at Best Buy for $133.99.

Clarisonic Mia-Skin Cleansing System-Pink

Due to all of the wonderful reviews I decided to give this a try this. To be honest I would pay anything for clearer, healthier skin. Here is the blurb from Sephora about what it claims to do.

Here are some of the benefits this revolutionary skincare tool delivers:
- Removes makeup six times better than traditional methods.
- Clears pores and reduces the appearance of pore size.
- Cleanses so thoroughly that skincare products absorb better.
- Creates noticeably healthier looking skin.

When I purchased this at Sephora the associate there told me to give it at least three weeks for my face to “purge” all the impurities it’s been storing away. My face doesn’t have too many break outs regularly, my skin just always appears congested. After just 10 days I notice a difference in my skin. I wouldn’t say it is a huge difference, but my skin is smoother and my pores do seem smaller and the amount of blackheads and white heads seem to be less and less every time I look in the mirror. At $150 I am not sure it is worth the investment yet. I am going to give it another week to see if my face continues to purge and become clearer.

24

Okay, I have loved Keifer Sutherland since The Lost Boys, but his very popular show 24 just never appealed to me, until now! We can now stream the first 7 seasons through Netflix (another love of mine) it so is much easier to watch shows like this. Well my husband and I gave it a try and we LOVE it- we have watched the first season in one week- if you haven’t watched it you need to give it a try!!

Seche Vite

Another product I decided to give a try based on all the great reviews I read about. I bought mine at Target for $9.95, kinda pricey for a top coat but I figured I would give it a try. This is truly one of the best top coats I have ever used, better than any Sally Hansen or OPI product I have used before. Within just 2 minutes my nails are bone dry, I can do anything without worrying about my wrecking my nails. On top of being quick dry this top coat also protects my nail polish from chipping for about a week.


My Wish List

Coach -Zebra Staw Charm Tote

$358

You're a Teacher!!??!!

Scene: The Vintage Barn on a Friday afternoon buying a 6-pack of 100 calorie lime beer before I head to my friends house for some relaxation after a long week. This scene is the conversation that occurred between me and the cashier.


Cashier: Do you have ID?



Me: Sure (insert sad face- come on I am going to be 29yrs old!!)



Cashier: I love your hair!



Me: Thanks!



Cashier: Are you a hairdresser?



Me: No, I am a teacher



Cashier: A TEACHER??!!



Me: Umm, yeah (confused my surprised expression on cashier's face) 8th grade, I love it! (mostly)



Cashier: Oh well, we are having wine tasting here on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd



Me: Okay, thanks (obviously all teachers are heavy drinkers)



Why is it that still in 2010 people envision teachers as old women wearing buns and cardigans?

Okay, I know I am 28 years-old and dress trendy/professional, but why can I not have a degree and be a teacher? I think I am a much better role model for most of my students than say Miley Cyrus or Lindsey Lohan- come on people get a grip!! I have been teaching for four years and still get a surprised reactions from people when I tell them I am a teacher. Why are we still stereotyping? Okay, I know I look young and dress young and have 5 tattoos but they are always (mostly) concealed and appropriate (no naked ladies or inappropriate sayings on my body). Can a person not be an adequate teacher because they wear knee high boots and have a love for MAC makeup- I think not! I have a love for literature and children and the way I style my hair or apply eyeshadow does not change that or negate it.

Hi, my name is Amy and I’m a LUSH addict….

Okay, Okay- I have to admit I only just heard of Lush products about three months ago and even then it was by accident. While youtubing my favorite makeup gurus on youtube I often came across posts titled “Mac and Lush Haul” so I would watch the vlog- to see the MAC products and then keep watching about Lush. At first I didn’t get it, $9.99 for a bar of soap? $25 for lotion? What is the draw? Then time and time again I saw youtube vlogger after youtube vlogger talking about storing their Lush products, buying seasonal Lush products, cutting up their Lush products, reviewing their Lush products and I became curiouser and curiouser (thank you Johnny Depp for making my favorite quotes relevant).

The first time I went into a store I was OVERWHELMED!! Walked in, looked around at all the pretty colored soaps stacked up, saw some girl dissolving a sparkly ball in a bowl of water, sneezed, and walked out. OOKKAAYY… that was weird! Trying to forget about it I was again faced (time and time again) with many of my favorite makeup gurus raving about these products. So I decided to do some investigating online and navigated through thousands of reviews (totalbeauty.com) raving about everything from their bath bombs to lip scrubs.

Okay, so chalking up the first uncomfortable experience to chance, a few weeks later I venture in again with my friend from work (a partner in crime always makes uncomfortable situations easier). After about an hour in the store (and about 1300 demonstrations later) we walk out with a face mask (Cupcake fresh face mask) and some salt scrub (Ocean Salt). The downsides to the products and the store as I see it are the expense and the overwhelming scent in the store. For a 4.2 oz tub of scrub be prepared to shell out $18.55 or $32.95 for the 8.8 oz-pretty pricey but it seems that the small tub will last about three months if used 3x a week. Being impressed with my face scrub (and my friend loved her mask!) I decide to try a few more products!

During my second trip to Lush I decide to get the Tree Tea Water Toner ($17.45 for 8.4oz-still a little pricey but not insane) but there were out (sigh) okay so I opt for Dream Cream moisturizer ($ 22.55 for 8.4oz) since one of my favorite makeup guru’s raved about how it transformed her skin. I also purchase a small block of Figs and Leaves soap ($7.60 for 3.5oz) and the Love Lettuce fresh face mask ($5.95 for 2.65oz).

After about two days of using my soap and lotion I broke out in a red itchy rash all over my chest, on the third day it is all over my body. I take the day out of work, call my doctor and make an appointment bringing in my lotion and soap. The culprit? The $25 lotion I just bought contains Benzoin which I am HIGHLY allergic too. Never have I found this in any beauty/cosmetic product before. So after eight (agonizing) days on Prednisone I head back to LUSH to return the lotion and get the Tree Tea Water Toner (hallelujah it is there!), Enchanted Eye Cream ($22.35 for 1.5oz) , I Should CoCo bar soap ($7.95 for 3.5oz), Bohemian bar soap ($7.50 for 3.5oz) and a sample of Vanilla Dlite body lotion .

Loving the eye cream and soap I return once again with my friend Nicky. After hearing me rave about many of the products she is now curiouser and curiouser. Let me just say going into Lush on a weekday and a weekend are two totally different experience, try to go on the weekday it is so much easier to speak to someone there and look at all the different products at your leisure. After yet another hour (and 1400 different demonstrations) later I leave with two massage bars , the Wiccy Magic Muscles Bar ($8.75) and the Mange Too massage bar ($9.75) if you buy two massage bars you get the massage bar tin for free (a $2.95 value). The Wiccy bar is great for tired, sore muscles but I gotta say I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Mange Too bar even more it smells sooo good that I find myself applying it three times a day (I am going to have the softest skin ever)!! I also purchased Grease Lightening ($9.95) an acne spot cleanser which I also love- it does not burn or feel tight on skin and seems to really make a big difference overnight. I wanted to buy the Baby Face cleanser ($9.45 for 1.2 oz) but once again they were out of that product (strike 2 Lush).

The girl at Lush was also really generous with samples (I also see a difference in this when going on the weekday vs. the weekend too) I received a few samples including BIG shampoo, Angels on Bare Skin cleanser, and Charity Pot moisturizer. I must say even though we are on strike two I am in love with Lush (actually strike three if you count the rash)- I love the natural unique products and the variety of scents.

Slim over Style

Recently I have been doing the unthinkable. I have been foregoing fashion for the sake of staying thin (and getting thinner). That's right, instead of wearing my favorite boots, heels, or flats I have been wearing my Reebok Easy Tone Sneakers EVERYWHERE!!

Today I even wore them to work with a pair of black and gray pinstriped pants. As I see it, I do a lot of walking in a day and if I can use my hamstrings 11% more, my calves 11% more and my butt muscles 28% more ,then I am all for it!! This means from 7:00 A.M- 5:00 P.M I am working my muscles and my feeling comfortable while still remaining to look professional(ly).

However, I have been known to break certain fashion rules on my journey to thinness, for example I have taken off boots and worn them with my dress and leggings-not so cute. However, I was going to run errands and felt even looking like a crazy sneaker lady there had to be somebody with a 10 foot radius that looked crazier. Thankfully there were plenty of women wearing leggings as pants and flip flops in February to make me feel comfortable with my decision.

P.S. Dear Reebok,

There seems to be a little too much butt cleavage in your ad, it makes me uncomfortable. Also, have you considered EasyTones for men? My husband could certainly afford to use is butt muscles more.

http://http//www.reebok.com/US/womens/easytone