We have a local Ben Franklin store in our small town that’s a treasure trove of random finds and knick knacks. I love to wander the beauty section and see what sort of obscure things they’ve managed to dig up recently. I was checking out an end cap when I stumbled across these sets of 5 shadows from LA Colors. The setup and color selections were reminiscent of this set that Jami (Bionic Beauty) found at Hot Topic a while back, and she seemed relatively pleased with them so I decided to pick up one or two and give them a shot.  Given that LA Colors is a manufacturer and wholesaler, the odds are probably pretty good that this product and the Hot Topic version are the same thing with different lids on the cases.

I was pretty shocked when I opened this at home and swatched it with my fingertips. The formula is surprisingly smooth and velvety, and the pigment is fairly dense, so you get a nice bit of color with every swipe.  Lighter colors seem to be a bit chalky, especially apparent when first applied with a brush, but once they warmed to my skin and settled a bit the metallic finish really shined through. The darkest color in the Wildflower palette, a sort of berry/wine color, was heavily pigmented, and I learned the hard way that just a dab will do ya. I used these shadows over my favorite primer, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, and I just don’t think they’d stay as well without it, since the swatches on my arm rubbed off easily. In the end they actually stayed rather well, with a noticeable wash of color after 17 hours of wear, including a nap. These aren’t going to be your colors for a special event or your big close up, but they’re a fun way to add some variety to your color collection. Oh, and did I forget to mention the very best thing? These puppies only set me back…*drumroll*…$1.59 plus tax. Yes, for about 2 dollars I got 5  decent eye shadows. I’m going to call that a MAJOR score.

If you’re not lucky enough to find LA Colors at your local five and dime, you can pick them up for just a bit more online at Cherry Culture, where they’re currently marked at $3. What a fun and frugal way to try out some great colors to welcome spring!

Do you ever have those moments when you just have to go buy something new? I have those moments every now and then, especially when it comes to my cosmetics collection. However, I’m also fairly frugal, so I generally try to fill this craving by hitting up my local Walgreens or Target rather than heading to someplace more expensive. This has a few benefits in addition to the reduced stress on my pocketbook. For one you aren’t getting pressure from a commissioned salesperson and, second, you can often find products that are similar to what you’d find at the bigger cosmetics counters. Plus, if you buy something and hate it, you haven’t spend and arm and a leg on it just to toss it in your drawer.

My latest beauty department foray had me searching for a new lip color, something to pep up the dreary rainy days we’ve been having around here lately. In recent months I’ve been  collecting pink/peachy colors, so I was in the mood for something with a little more depth. I found almost exactly what I was looking for on an endcap with the word “NEW” splashed all over it. (more…)

So last week I mentioned that L’Oreal  has tried the custom mix glosses and that the results  were less than spectacular for me. Today I’d like to share a little more about that product and my feelings on it.
L’Oreal Color Presso lip gloss is two tubes of gloss in one container. You squeeze each tube until you get exactly what you want at the tip and then apply. It sounds easy but it doesn’t work quite as well. First things first, I love the glosses. The colors are nice and the few I’ve tried have all been very flattering. They last well and give a nice even color. (more…)

Meli recently asked a question at the Bare Escentuals VS. Drug Store brand Mineral Makeup post:

I would be happy to get your thoughts on Bare’s Get Started kit. Quality vs price? Which one of the following would the best pick?  Bare, Maybelline or Everyday Minerals? What about L’Oreal?

Sincerely, thank you for your precious answers,  Meli

Hi Meli, so great to hear from you!  There are so many mineral makeup lines and so many factors to take into consideration.  Hope this information will help you make an informed decision!

Here are a few things to consider in choosing the best mineral foundation for you:

• Skin type.  Finding the right match of formula for your skin type, oily, dry, combination…
• Skin color. Is your skin tone difficult to match, or do you tend to find a compatible shade easily?  Some complain that certain mineral makeups can look ashy or orange on their skin.
• Convenience. Do you prefer to purchase this at your local drug store or do you mind ordering on-line, or going to a department store counter?
• Price. A large range of prices when it comes to mineral makeup.

Here are my feelings on the specific mineral makeup brands you listed:

1.  L’Oreal’s mineral makeup is formulated with talc, so if you have sensitive or breakout prone skin, watch out!  Not recommended.
2.  Maybelline’s mineral makeup is best for those with normal or dry skin.  This is based upon many comments from a review at the Makeup Moxie website.  Another comment was that while they love this mineral foundation, but do not like the brush that is included.  I would suggest purchasing your own kabuki brush for optimum application.  If you have oily skin it will not work well for you, but it is a great value and you can purchase it at your local drug store.
3.  Bare Minerals is the most popular of all the mineral makeup lines, and many people love it.  I think it is best suited for those with oily skin.  For individuals with drier skin, it can accentuate fine lines and look flaky.  This line is more expensive, but their starter kits offer a better value ($30), and can be purchased online, department stores, and at Target.
4.  Everyday Minerals is a wonderful line and offers different formulas for different skin types (Original Glo, Semi-Matte, Matte, and Intensive) and at very reasonable price ($12 for a large container).  Their samples are generous and allow deciding which formulas are best for your skin.  Highly recommended for both quality and value.

My personal experience with mineral makeup is mixed.  My best results have been with the Everyday Mineral line, and that could be due to my specific skin type (combination skin and sensitive to breakouts) and I have liked their Original Glo and Semi-Matte formulas.  Ideally, I still prefer a liquid foundation or a tinted moisturizer. 

My biggest complaints with SOME mineral makeup foundations are:

• The “itch” factor, my skin feels coated and slightly irritated by the mineral makeup
• Some mineral powders can accentuate fine lines on my skin, and deposit in my laugh lines
• My skin ends up looking too matte and chalky
• The powder can emphasize flaking and dry patches on my face

But I realize that with the right formula and the right skin type, your skin can look amazing while using a mineral makeup foundation.  Here are some other MBB posts on the subject of mineral makeup:

• Mineral Makeup + Prime Time = LOVE
• Drug Store Mineral Makeup: Maybe Not So Good
• Attack of the Orange Foundation
• Follow Up: Mineral Makeup Mania

Best wishes Meli, and hope to hear what you end up using and how you feel about it.  JEN

I have been eager to try some of the new NP Set Cosmetics line that was recently launched at Target Stores.  I was particularly eager because of my positive experiences while recently reviewing some of Napoleon Perdis’ cosmetics (Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer and Long Black Mascara). 

I sampled NP Set’s Pre-Foundation Primer at the counter which was slightly pink in comparison with the Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer and I found it light, absorbed quickly into my skin, and seemed to have some light diffusing qualities.   I took my time sampling their eye shadows, and browsed through NP Set’s Show Loose Dust Duos.  I was instantly drawn to their Russia Silver and Gray duo, and ended up buying it.   

When at home, I found that the wand applicators were difficult to control with an optimum amount of product and placement; a cosmetic eye brush would have worked much better.  As a word of warning, be careful how you open the container or you might spill a large amount of your powder.   I found that this loose eye shadow lighter shade powder goes on in a true silver sparkle, and I love the darker purplish-deeper gray shade.  I found myself a bit disappointed by this eye shadow’s staying power and weird applicator method, and the price ($26) seemed too steep.

All in all, I found the NP Set cosmetic line to be compelling, but I might be more willing to experiment with the NP Set line if they were more reasonably priced.  Most products cost over $15, including the lip glosses.  The samples available allow some experimentation, but it is always hard to determine how much you like a product until to take it home and wear it.  I would love to hear if any of you have sampled some of the NP Set Line and how you feel about it. 

Be sure to read Bionic Beauty’s fabulous post (with pictures) featuring the three new cosmetic lines being offered at Target stores:  Jemma Kidd (JK), Pixi, and NP Set.

Just so you know, my favorite beauty forum is Megsmakeup.com. Meg is looking for a new addition to her reviewing team for the weekly Thursday post, “Drugstore Deals Thursday.”

If you have reviewing experience, a burning desire to share your drugstore cosmetic obsession, and gift for writing, just GO FOR IT! This is a wonderful opportunity to expand your horizons and receive some amazing free makeup. The deadline is tomorrow, so there is no time to waste! Here is Meg’s invitation:

WE NEED A NEW TESTER & CREST WHITE TEETH STRIPS! DRUGSTORE DEAL THURSDAYS!

We’re looking for a new Drugstore Deal writer. What we need.. Do you laugh in uncomfortable situations? Have you ever stalked a man? Sometimes do you wake up in a cold sweat over an inappropriate text message you’d sent the night before after too many cocktails? Do you like dogs? Do people say to you “OMG I can’t believe you just said that?” Then start to giggle in agreement? Are you cool? Are you unable to leave a Walgreens/CVS/Duane Reade without a beauty item? Can you write descriptive/funny/tear-jerking posts? DO YOU LOVE MEGSMAKEUP? Can I rely on you to send me a review due once a week by Wednesday night 8pm? Hmmm.. Can I?

What’s in it for you? Not only love, appreciation and my soul BUT FREE HIGH END BEAUTY PRODUCTS DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILBOX Just because you write the DD doesn’t mean that you are not sent the pricey items. I just need to know you’re committed to leaving a thorough, honest comment on what you’ve been sent. This gig gives you thousands of dollars of the most elusive and upscale items out there. Plus, I throw in a DD item for your own post that goes up every Thursday.

Who gets the gig? We believe in democracy at Megsmakeup.com so here’s the deal. My teeth are looking stank. They look old and coffee, red wine and cigged out. I just bought for the first time, some Crest Tooth Whitening Strips, the 7 day to whiter teeth version. Does this work? Have you tried it? What have you gotten from the local drugstore chain that really works if these don’t. What led you to buy a tooth whitener? Talk to us! Oh yeah, you start Sunday. That’s when we decide!

Who will be the next Drugstore Deal Thursday Diva?!  This is very exciting and cannot wait to find out who gets picked.

Spring colors that are light on your face AND easy on your pocketbook.

Since you already spent most of your cosmetics budget on some Naughty Nauticals or a way to be safe in the sun, it’s about time I step up with some great summer products that are easy to find and easy to afford.  Mass market products are plentiful, and with rows and rows of colors and formulas spread out before you, it can be hard to know where to start, not to mention exhausting trying a ton of things that don’t work just to get to the one that does.  If only there was somewhere you could go to find out about products like:

 

Almay Smart Shade foundation. My  husband saw a commercial for this and told me I had to try it. Who am I to argue with such a smart man? Smart Shade works by, aw heck, I don’t know how it works. But somehow this lightweight foundation turns from white to a perfect tint of color while you smooth it on with your fingertips. Slightly heavier than my favorite MAC tinted moisturizer, it offers a nice natural coverage that evens skin tone and feels great.  Let me just say, 3 different people with 3 different skin tones, yet we all used the Light and we all got a great match? I’m sold.

For a portable eye shadow in fun spring colors, try:

 

Max Factor’s Vivid Impact eye shadow duo. This loose eye shadow has a sponge applicator attached to the base for each of the two colors. This makes it easy to apply either color on the fly, though you’ll need to tap off excess before attempting to blend.  I’ve only tried one combination, but they seem to be fairly matte, with a hint of sparkle throughout. Not quite as smooth as the loose pigments I’m used to, but the color is very true and stays well when used with a base. Several color combinations to choose from let you be mild or wild.

Found, the perfect red lipstick!!

 

I have invested so much time, effort, and money into finding the perfect red lipstick. Without fail, $20 tubes of red lipstick become $20 tubes of berry lipstick when applied to my pucker. I had given up until a friend gave me her most recent find. L’Oreal Colour Riche lipstick in Target Red. A true red lipstick that is worth every little penny you’ll spend on it! Light and shiny, it garnered compliments from 3 separate people during one shopping trip alone. This is it people, with a quick trip to Target your search can come to an end. Remember to pair it with a lip liner for perfectly placed, lasting color. This is a must have!

What cosmetics regimen would be complete without a good makeup remover for the end of the day? If you love Lancome’s Bi-Facil (as you should, it’s great) but can’t afford to replenish regularly, how about:

 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. Word on the street is that this is just as effective and gentle, for a fraction of the price.  Also helpful in removing every last bit of those long last lipcolors you can never get to come off.

 I guess sometimes you really can have your makeup and remove it too!

Here is a recent curly hair distress call from my dear blogging friend Tracy: 

“Hey Jen, I know you have curly hair too, and I know you’ve talked about it before- can you point me in the right direction for curly hair products and tips?”

I decided to delve a little deeper: 

“For people with curly hair, the http://www.naturallycurly.com website is a great resource. They suggest several drug store and salon brand products and the hair forum is incredible.

Tell me more about your hair and what are your specific issues?”

Tracy’s response:

“Oh, and fuzzy. And ugly. Can you help with Ugly?”

Tracy, Tracy, Tracy!  My favorite Dandelion Mama believes her hair is ugly.  Ugly?!  She went to the naturally curly website and determined her hair type, she is a very smart woman. 

“I’m a 3A on that curly site. I need some suggestions for drugstore brands, as I’m a little light on the cash right now. I didn’t see that there- it was all specialty products.

I have a hate-love-hate-hate cycle with my hair. I always feel messy and unkempt and it’s not uniformly curly. It’s really curly around the underside and my face, but looser at the crown. I hate it. Help me.”

Wow!  That is quite a statement, and can I also say, you are not alone Tracy!  Curly hair is a very misunderstood and undervalued attribute.  As God is my witness, Tracy you will learn to love, love, love your curly hair!  By using the curly girl method, some better products, a good curly cut, and time and practice, you will love your hair I promise.

• First, run down to the library and check out Lorraine Massey’s “Curly Girl” book (a very quick and easy read), and I would also suggest watching the demonstration videos at the Jessicurl web site.  Copy the Curly Girl Commandments and post them next to your bathroom mirror.
• Second, hide your hair dryer and brush.  Forget about them.  You don’t need them any longer!
• Do not get your hair cut until you can find a stylist that has some curly hair sense.  If your stylist attempts to use a razor or thinning shears on your hair, RUN AWAY!  Ask them to give you a dry cut.  The Naturally Curly website does list people in your area with curly hair expertise.   If you do not have someone in your area, give a trusted stylist specific instructions about what you want, and ask if they would consider learning a bit more about the curly girl method. 
• Understand the nature of your curly hair.  Our hair shaft is significantly different than our straight haired friends.  Curly hair is very porous and not only take in things rapidly, it looses moisture rapidly.  Without enough moisture sealed in your hair shaft, your hair will fuzz, frizz, and even be less curly.  Finding the right products takes patience.  It might take a while to find the right combination of moisture and hold so that you can achieve your optimum curl.   Some conditioners may be too heavy for your hair, others might not be conditioning enough.  Gels should help add definition, hold and shine, but you don’t want your curls to feel too crunchy or stiff when they dry.  The ideal look for me is soft, controlled definition with very little frizz.  However, a bit of frizz can be sexy!
• Only use hairstyling products that use water soluble silicones.  Because curly hair is porous, build up is a big issue and that will weigh down your curl and make it appear dull.  There are several good inexpensive options at your drug store, and here are a few suggestions:

Conditioners for Washing or Co-Washing:

• Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner
• VO5 Vanilla Mint Tea Conditioner
• VO5 Moisture Milks Passion Fruit Smoothie
• L’Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner
• Garnier Fructis Curl and Shine Line

Styling Products:

• Aussie Awesome Volume Gel
• Herbal Essences Body Envy Gel
• Herbal Essences Totally Twisted
• L’Oreal Out of Bed Weightless Texturizer
• L’Oreal Studio Line Fx Out of Bed Hair Putty
• TIGI Curls Rock Amplifier
• Generic Value Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam

I used my Suave Natural Conditioner this morning to co-wash my hair and finished with a cold water rinse.   I styled using only my fingers and used a quarter-size portion of Jessicurl’s Rockin’ Ringlets  and Confident Coils Styling Potion.  I used a microfiber towel to softly scrunch my hair, twisting a few small portions of hair around my crown, and placed hair clips close to the scalp around the crown to create volume and lift.  Once my hair is positioned the way I want it, I did not touch my hair until it is completely dry.  When my hair is completely dry, I used my fingers to loosely tousle my hair from underneath.

The Suave Natural Conditioner smelled great, but I felt like it wasn’t as moisturizing and didn’t penetrate my hair like my favorite DevaCurl One Conditioner.  If I could recommend one hair product to spend money on, it would be a high quality conditioner.   My current favorite conditioners are Jessicurl’s Too Shea and DevaCurl’s One Conditioner, and they could be used as both your everyday conditioner and your deep conditioning treatment. 

I predict that with a good cut, products, and styling techniques, in about 3 weeks, you should start noticing more curl, a lot less fuzz, and improved shine and softness of your hair.   And then, I want pictures Tracy, before and after 3 weeks!

What is it about red lipstick? I mean, it’s like womankind as a whole has a love/hate relationship with the stuff. We’d love to wear it, but we hate trying to find the perfect shade.

Through the ages women have used color to accentuate their lips.  From crushed jewels and beetles to wetted jelly beans (really!), we’ve looked for the perfect color to show strength and fertility. Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor just wouldn’t be themselves without a perfectly drawn red lip. Thousands of goodbye messages couldn’t be dramatically scrawled across mirrors without a tube of the bright stuff.  Boardrooms and brothels alike would cry aloud in despair if it were suddenly wiped from the face of the earth.

But where to begin?! A quick glance at and cosmetics counter shows you the depth of red choices out there. I myself have personally tried at least half of them. Some quick rules of thumb: Almost everyone can pull off a true red, so it’s really your safest bet. Think Red crayon or London phone booth.  Yellow undertones should stick with warm reds.  For example, Tomato, Tawny, Brown Golden, or Orangey reds.  Pink undertones look for the cool reds with bases like Pink, Berry, Brick, Blue and Plum tones.  Blue tones have the added incentive of brightening the appearance of teeth.  Not sure which skin tone you have? A quick trick is to check the color of your nail beds for either a pink or yellow hue. Or you can just head to your favorite cosmetics counter and ask someone in the know.

One of the drawbacks to that brilliant ruby red is that it has a tendency to creep. Even the youngest and most supple lip can experience bleeding of color into fine lines around the mouth. There are a few quick steps to avoid this. First, a light layer of foundation, concealer, or powder over your lips as a base before you apply your lipstick can really help everything stay put. Second, find a good lip liner. If you’re not so keen on colored liner than find a nude liner that matches your natural lip color or buy an invisible liner. They are out there, from inexpensive brands like Sally Hansen to slightly more expensive brands like Bourjois. If you’re not big on lip liner the invisible liners are your best bet since they can be used with any color you have. If you use a liner to match your lip color than apply it all over as your base. This will help your color stay and it won’t leave a line of color if your lipstick starts to wear off. Be sure to keep lips hydrated and smooth to pull red off perfectly. A quick swipe of sugar or sea salt across your lips exfoliates beautifully.

Even with these tips you might find that discovering your perfect red can be a challenge. Something about my skin finds the slightest hint of pink or orange and brings it raging to the forefront. I have been searching for years. If I hadn’t had a friend with me to witness my last red lipstick attempt, I might start to think it was all in my head. We hit up every counter, from MAC to Chanel, only to find that the most gorgeous reds turned to hideous versions of themselves once applied to my waiting lips. And still the perfect shade of bluish red continues to elude me.

Red needn’t be saved just for a night out or a special occasion.  It can be worn as an everyday color.  The rule of thumb is to simply tone down everything else.  Red already says “Hey, look at me!”, you don’t want the rest of your face screaming for attention as well. A light cheek, some eye liner and a swipe of mascara will do just fine. You’re still you, only more so! And don’t be afraid to glam it up at night for a little extra Oomph! After all, Oomph is my motto honey!

Here is a wonderful skincare question from my blogging friend Tracy or “Dandelion Mama.”  She is experiencing some fun changes that many of us encounter after the magical age of 35, aka “the dark side of 30.”  I have some suggestions, but would appreciate any other advice from the Council of Jedi-Master skincare experts out there.

“Ok, I have a question. I’m heading towards the dark side of my thirties, and I’m noticing my pores on my cheeks and nose much more than I used to… help. Is the sugar rub above a good solution? Is there anything I can do about it getting worse?”

First and foremost, I am right there with you.  Those 30’s ticked by WAY too quickly.  From what I have read, there is no known way to shrink your pore size.  In writing this, I am reminded of  the wish cast by the good Fairy Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty, “I cannot take back that wicked spell, but perhaps I can soften it.”

By keeping your pores clean, by either a scrub, exfoliation, or a deep professional cleaning, you can make your pores appear smaller.   Once a week try a homemade facial using yogurt, ground almonds or flaxseed, or using the fruit enzymes found in papaya, lemons, or pineapple.  Not only are these products organic and affordable, I think we just created a recipe for a wonderful fruit salad!

I have been testing another very nice product from Renee Rouleau called, “Matte Moisture“ which is good for the appearance of pores and provides an oil-free moisture that combats shine.  This product uses Sodium Hyaluronate which is known for its ability to retain moisture.  This lotion is very soothing and contains cucumber and mallow extract.  They add dimethicone to smooth the skin’s appearance and make your skin feel soooo lovely.  It retails for $33.50 for 2 ounces.  

The treatment product that I swear by is Perricone’s Ceramic Skin Smoother.  After using this, I noticed that the large pores on my nose appeared significantly smaller.   I am searching for its equivalent because this product costs a small fortune ($75).  Mo’s review of Dr. Brandt’s ”Pores No More”  ($45) was good for her pores and made her skin feel like velvet, but she had some reservations on its color.   Two Drug Store brands I would recommend are Olay’s Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum ($20 for 1.7 ounce), and Boots No7 Restore & Renew Beauty Serum (1 ounce for $21.99 at Target).

Tomorrow, I will revisit the Dark Side and discuss another of  Tracy’s skincare dilemnas, the cursed beauty mark! 

BTW:  Check out Dandelion Mama’s brilliant, original artwork at her ETSY boutique shop!   Tracy, you rock!