My New Clutch

Would you believe that someone who has over 100 purses found herself in a lurch this past holiday party season when she couldn't find her little black clutch? Yes, that someone would be me. Now, many would say that I have too many purses and that is why I couldn't find my clutch. I say that the problem is that I only had 1 clutch and thus it was trying to find a needle in a haystack.

When I realized that I couldn't locate my clutch (of course it was about 2 hours before my boyfriend's company's Christmas party), I told my boyfriend that we're going to have to stop at Kohl's on the way to the party. Imagine my suprise when I couldn't find a single party purse at Kohl's. The only other option was to run over to Target. I was forced to tote around this black vinyl monstrousity, that had a cuff bracelet that attached the purse to your wrist. It looked like something you would take to an S&M party. I ripped off the bracelet and tried to make it look decent, but at the same time I vowed to pick up another clutch as soon as I saw one that I loved so as not to be in the same predicament again. I found my new clutch today.

With wind chills in Chicago in the single digits, I was lured into the Old Navy on State Street to kill time while waiting for the bus. Not really looking for anything in particular, I leisurely strolled through the store. I was almost about to leave when my eyes fell upon ribbons. I personally think that ribbons have a very girly appeal to them, but you have to be careful when wearing them. Think classy, not gaudy. I love high heels that have simple bows on them. The latest rage in headbands features small, flat bows. I love it all. So when I saw this Old Navy Women's Faux-Croc Wristlet Clutches I immediately fell in love. The faux-croc material of the actual clutch is offset by the girly black grosgrain bow. This is the first time I saw the two materials combined. The clutch also comes in red faux-croc with a black bow. I'm thinking I may have to stop at Old Navy again tomorrow and pick up the red one too!

Freebie From Sephora

So I've already told you that Sephora is opening at Orland Mall on February 2nd. For those of you who are going to be able to head on over there this weekend for the grand opening festivities, check out this coupon. Print it out and bring it to Sephora at Orland on February 2nd or 3rd and get a cute Sephora make-up bag absolutely FREE. You don't even have to purchase anything. I have snagged free cosmetic bags from Sephora grand openings before and have to say they are so great. Not big enough to hold every piece of make-up you have, but a great size to hold your products for an over-night getaway. I am one of those people who carries a humongoid purse, so I use mine to keep my make-up in my purse organized.

Free Sample Of Dove Pro-Age

Dove is giving away free samples from their latest product line, Pro-Age. "Dove created new pro·age products that reflect the unique needs of women in their later years. Formulated to nourish and condition, pro·age helps revive and renew skin and hair. Because Dove knows there's a lot to be said for looking great, but looking your age." Select your choice of night cream, deoderant, or hand & body lotion and body wash.

Review: NARS Deep Throat Blush & Striptease Lip Gloss Set

After much anticipation, I finally received my order of the new Nars Deep Throat Blush & Striptease Lip Gloss Set Deep Throat Blush & Striptease Lip Gloss. Having already used the Deep Throat Blush, I was really looking forward to the new NARS Striptease Lip Gloss; a shade that is currently only available in this set. It is described as "the quintessential nude lip gloss that imparts a universally flattering, candlelight-nude luster to lips. Striptease exudes sophisticated glamour and polish when worn alone, and its softly glowing color brilliantly complements other lip colors when layered together." Okay, let me just say that none of this rings true, in my opinion. Based on the review, and the small color swatch on Sephora.com, I was expecting a gorgeous nude shade that would offer some shine and would be sheen and sheer.

As I stated in a previous post, I thought this was going to be a shade that would be similar to J.Lo's infamous shiney nude lips. Imagine my shock when I ran to the bathroom to apply Striptease only to find that it was a time warp back to the 1980s. The best way to describe this shade...FROSTED LIPS! It was hideous. Not only did it make my lips look horrible, but the shade also washed out the rest of my face. I cannot believe that they call this shade nude. More so, I can't believe they recommend layering this shade over lipsticks and other lip color. It is not a true nude that could be used for such purposes. Applying this shade over other lip color would just give your lips a frosted look with a hint of color.

Needless to say, I was highly disappointed with the new Striptease shade. I am highly suprised since I am usually a big fan of all NARS lip glosses. Oh, one other thing. I had my sister as well as 2 friends try out Striptease as well. We all have different skin tones and it flattered NO ONE! NARS should change the description of this one to "universally un-flattering."

Tons Of Sephora News

I'm having a pretty crappy day, so I was really excited to see a new email from Sephora loaded with tons of goodies! First off, Benefit's Hopelessly Devoted To Pink is now available! Need I even say limited edition!!! Girls, do not miss out on this one. I already have mine and have to say that this is their best palette since "Curve Hugger." All of the pink hues put me in the mood for Valentine's Day. And I loooooooove the heart mirror. I'm going to give these as Valentine's Day gifts to my single girlfriends (that is if they can wait that long and don't end up running out and picking this up for themselves).

Next, ***SEPHORA COUPON / PROMO CODE ALERT*** It's been awhile since they've released a new code, so I knew one had to be coming out soon enough. Enter ADDICTED to get a free deluxe sample of LORAC's new Mocktini Lipgloss. These are the very same LORAC Mocktini glosses that I just recently posted about. It doesn't say what shade you get, but I'm thinking you probably get what is posted in the picture. There is no minimum purchase required, but you can't use the code if you're only buying gift cards. Not that any of you are going to have that problem anyways since I'm sure that most will want to pick up Benefit's Hopelessly Devoted To Pink!

Are you lucky enough to be a Beauty Insider??? (If not, click the link to join!) I am!!! Okay, to my fellow insiders, here is an unbelievable perk. While supplies last, you can score a Stila Lip Glaze in the very rare shade of raisin. What makes this shade so rare? It is usually only available in Japan. I was lucky enough to have a friend that was in Japan not too long ago who purchased this oh so gorgeous shade for me. Girls, trust me, this is a must have shade. This is a universally flattering berry shade, packed with shimmer, that has a raisin scent. I have been on a berry shade kick lately and have to say that this is one of my favorites. Insider perks tend to sell out quickly, so I wouldn't wait too long if you want to get one of these. Don't forget, Beauty Insiders also get deluxe samples with every $100 they spend (it's cumulative so you don't have to spend the $100 all at once).

One other little side note...as many of you know, I'm unlucky enough to be back in school. I am still getting into the swing of things this new semester, and as such my posts have not been as frequent as they should be. Rest assured, soon I will be back into the swing of things (or at the point where I just don't care if all of my reading is done) and will be posting more frequently again. Happy shopping!

Sephora Opening At Orland Mall

For all of you who have been awaiting the opening of the new Sephora store in Orland Mall, your wait is almost over. I've just heard that the grand opening will be on February 2. Finally, girls in the south suburbs of Chicago will have a Sephora store to call their own. No word yet on what they are going to be doing for the grand opening. I know that when the Sephora stores in downtown Chicago opened they handed out free samples and had special consulations and a bunch of things like that. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

Smashbox Cosmetics Beauty Blowout Sale

Smashbox.com is having a Beauty Blowout Sale on their "Curtain Call" items. Save 25% - 50% on select products plus get FREE SHIPPING and FREE SAMPLE on every order! That's right...no minimum purchase required.

Laura Geller Lip Shiners

So recently I was introduced to the world of Laura Geller cosmetics. After falling in love with the initial products I tried, I've been testing out more and more of her products. Since I loved the Laura Geller Lip Stays, I decided to give the Laura Geller Lip Shiners a try. I selected the Nude shade, described as a "better than bare shimmer." Now, being as the product is called LIP SHINERS, I was expecting to be blown away with a glossy shine. Unfortunately, that did not happen. There was a very subtle shine, but I would definately equate this product with a lipstick. That being said, I was blown away by how moisturizing this gloss was. As I was applying it to my lips, I was greeted with a creamy sensation. Since this was in gloss form, it was more moisturizing and luxurious than a tube of lipstick. This product also had staying power. The color lasted on my lips for a few hours. I should make one more comment about the shine factor. It is possible that for some reason, the Nude shade is just not as shiney as the other available shades. Looking at the color swatches, it looks like the other colors have more shimmer in them. I will definately be trying other shades. Even if they lack in the shine factor, they are supreme in the mositurizing department. Now that it's getting colder in Chicago, I'm definately going to need all the help I can get to stop my lips from getting chapped.

New LORAC Products

It looks like Beauty.com is tired of being in Sephora.com's shadow. While browsing around on Beauty.com I was very suprised to find a bunch of brand spankin' new items by LORAC available only here. They will eventually be available where ever Lorac products are sold, but for now, the only place to get them is at Beauty.com. I think this is a great marketing deal. Beauty.com is definately, in my opinion, overlooked by many cosmetics consumers, even though they offer so many great gift with purchase opportunities, and even a percentage back program. But enough of my rambling...let's get onto the new products from LORAC.

LORAC Mocktail Flavored Lip Gloss - I think this is the one I'm most excited about. I am a huge fan of LORAC Lip Polish High Shine Glosses and can't imagine why I would not like this one too. The line features flavors of exotic drinks like Sex on the Beach, Mai Tai, and Tequila Sunrise (hence the name "mocktail"). The spectrum of shades is higly diverse. From nudes to pinks to peaches to plums to bronze, you are sure to find a shade that will flatter your skintone. I am curious as to what type of applicator this lip gloss has; whether it is a sponge tip or a brush. Either way, I'm sure I will love this lip gloss. LORAC has never let me down before. If anyone has tried these yet, please comment and let us all know what your experience was.

LORAC Cheek Stamp Satiny Powder Blush - This one also looks promising. As I look at this product, I can't believe that no one else has come out with this before (at least to my knowledge). A soft sponge applicator gently "stamps" powder blush onto your cheeks. Now, since I have yet to test these products out as of yet, I can only comment based on information provided and pictures shown. Looking at this picture, it appears that this product is going to allow the perfect amount of powder blush to be distributed. As someone who has dealt with loose powder blushes that tend to get all over the place, this is a welcomed relief. No longer are gel and cream blush sticks the only convenient "on-the-go" blushes available. Finally, the girls who love powder will be able to have convenience too. Available in 5 shades.

LORAC protecTINT Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, Beach Bronze - Tinted moisturizers are quickly becoming all the rage. Many people are throwing out their old foundations and replacing them with these. Tinted moisturizers help to even skin tones, tend to last longer than foundation, and are easily applied. The downside is that some do not conceal well. Let me tell you, I live in tinted moisturizers in the winter. Even if it is a no make-up day, I usually will at least have tinted moisturizer on. It fights the cold winter days by keeping my face moisturized. It also covers my drab "I haven't seen the sun since July" pastey look that tends to take over my face duing the winter. This latest version by LORAC seems to be another "not new" product to flood the cosmetics market. I will probably wait until this product is available to test in person at Sephora. If I am for some reason extremely impressed then I might pick it up. For now, I'm content with the tinted moisturizers I already use. Available in 5 shades.

LORAC Publicity Stunt Lashes - I am never one to overlook new mascaras. I will try every one available. There is nothing better than long, lush lashes. Reading the description available on this product, I don't know what to say. "To achieve the lengthening a plant cellulose is combined with volcanic ash from an island chain in the South Pacific. The pulverized ash mixed with the cellulose and other ingredients produces a water impervious substance that bonds to hair, elongating the lash and increasing the wear due to its water repelling qualities...your lashes will look clean and pristine for days!" Okay...special ash from the South Pacific? Like I said, I'm always willing to try new mascaras, but when I read such out there descriptions I tend to wonder whether the products are decent or just a bunch of hype. This will be another product that I will wait to test out before purchasing. They seem to be focusing on the fact that the opposite end of the tube contains a brush for separating your lashes. To me, that means that the mascara is most likely going to make your lashes clump. Why else would you need a comb? I am more interested in the shape of the actual mascara brush. It looks like it is pinched in the middle. I've never seen a brush like that, so I have no idea what it will do. The description focuses too much on the South Pacific and fails to mention why the brush has this unique feature and just what it will do.

L'Oreal HiP (High Intensity Pigments)

For a few months now I have noticed the vibrant ads for L'Oreal's new HiP line on the pages and back covers of all of the fashion and beauty magazines. I definately have a bias against "drugstore cosmetics" being as for the most part they don't last as long as higher brands, nor are all of them made with as high quality ingredients. Don't get me wrong, there are definately a few drugstore winners, but usually they are few and far between. Nonetheless, I have been intrigued by the HiP line, mostly due to the fact that the shades are extremely bold and shocking. This week, when I ran to Ulta, I saw that they were on sale for half off. I took this as an opportunity to test them out and see just how much high pigment are in these babies.

I'll start with the Pure Pigment Shadow Stick because that is the one I ended up liking more. I chose the striking silver shade Dazzling 928. Since I've been on a metallics kick since my encounter with the Chanel Lumiere D'Artifices, I thought this might be just what I needed. My first complaint about this product is the shape of the stick. It is like trying to take a piece of chalk and using it to cover your eyelids. Trying to get it into the corners of my eyes without getting onto parts of my skin that were to remain eyeshadow free was quite a tast. The L'Oreal HiP website recommends that you use a sharpener to shade the pigment stick before you use it. Does anyone else think that this is an absurd waste of product? Much of the pigment will be wasted as shredding in order to shape the stick. Genius idea on L'Oreal's part in ensuring that consumers will go through the product quickly thus requiring them to purchase more. Anyways, as I applied the pigment to my eye (yes, eye...I decided to use the pigment stick on one eye and the loose pigment on the other to see which one had more staying power) I was very happy with what I saw. The color was extremely bold and vibrant. I applied this dry, yet it still had a very sheen metallic look to it. The color also made my blue eyes pop. Downside? It only lasted about 2 hours. And this was 2 hours of lounging around my apartment watching television and surfing the web. This was not 2 hours of running around, working up a sweat, rubbing my eyes, etc. After 2 hours it looked like I had simply rimmed my eye as opposed to covering the entire lid. Now, I am not the kind of girl who likes to touch up her make-up. I want to put it on in the morning and know that I won't have to look in the mirror for the next 10-12 hours. While I did like the look and feel of the Pure Pigment Stick immediately after I put it on, I cannot say that I will be using this product regularly in the future.

Next up, the Shocking Shadow Pigment. There weren't a lot of shades to choose from as most were sold out. I chose the Intrepid 914 shade. The shade is hard to describe. Looking at the swatches available online, it appears to be a reddish-pink shade. In person, it appears more reddish-brown. It was a nice looking shade, but since it was darker, it did not make my blue eyes pop the same way the silver shade did. It is clear that L'Oreal is trying to recreate the MAC Pigments in a drugstore cosmetic product. The name "pigments" as well as the container 100% resemble the MAC brand. Unfortunately, the staying power and the coverage do not match. L'Oreal is not even close to being comparable with MAC pigments. Not that I was expecting that. As I applied the shadow, I was suprised by how thin it was. The coverage was almost non-existant. After 5 coats (yes, FIVE), I was able to see enough of the product and left it at that. It did not come close to the coverage afforded by the Pure Pigment Stick. Even worse, this shadow only lasted for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The shadow was completely gone after that time. It didn't even look like I had rimmed my eye with the product like the pigment stick did. The only good thing I can say about this product was the "professional brush" that came with the product. Now, this was no way a "professional brush" in comparison with those from MAC, NARS, Bare Escentuals, Sephora, etc. However, as far as drugstore cosmetics go, this one is one of the best brushes I have ever seen. The brush hairs were extremely soft and did not fall off the handle. While I will not be using the shadow again (it's already been tossed), I will keep the brush on hand. It is about 3 or 4 inches long making it the perfect size to throw in my to-go cosmetic bag.

Anyone else have any opinions? Feel free to comment and let us all know. But as for me, I'll be sticking with MAC's pigment line from now on.

Chanel Lumiere D'Artifices

Ahhhh...Chanel. As soon as you hear that word you immediately think of high end, luxury items. Whether it's handbags, fragrances, shoes, or cosmetics, Chanel is definately tres chic. Of course, with luxury comes high prices. This is why I do not own many Chanel brand products. Knowing that I cannot afford such things, I try to stay as far away from the Chanel counters as possible. This is no easy task. Many a days as I'm standing on Washington and State, waiting for the CTA bus #60, I'm tempted and teased as the Chanel counter in Macy's tries to lure me in. As I watch all of the happy people playing with Chanel cosmetics and perfumes through the window on Washington, I can't help but want to run in and play too. Usually, I have enough will power to walk away. Today was not one of those days.

Today I went into Macy's and checked out the new Spring 2007 line from Chanel. Why, oh why did I do that!?!? I am now totally smitten with their new Lumiere D'Artifices. I mean, I had been seeing things about it online for about a month now, but had yet to see it in person. It contains three rows of metallic colors - cool silver, deep anthracite and warm bronze. Each can be worn alone, all together, as highlighters, as liners, you get the point. The pattern on the palette was created to resemble sequins on a Chanel dress. I am a huge lover of metallic looking shadows. They are so versatile and can be worn for day or night. When I put this on at the counter, I was amazed. Since it is Chanel, it was no suprise that the shadows just glided onto my eye lids. I was able to create the greatest "smokey eyes" look. So, did I pick this one up? NO! At $75, even I thought this was a bit pricey. I told the girl at the counter that I'll just have to come in every day and do my make-up at the counter! I know that this is a Chanel product and whatever, but $75??? The palette was not even that big. On top of it, I feel that the colors can be found in other collections at a fraction of the price.

Smashbox Tokidoki Lip Gloss

When I saw the new Tokidoki Collection from Smashbox I was immediately excited by the eyeshadow quads, but I wasn't too impressed with the lip glosses. They just looked like another pink and peach gloss. Nothing to get too excited over. Okay, I'll admit it, I was wrong. At the Smashbox counter today I got a hands on look at the new shades and was highly impressed. I purchased Dolcissima, the peachy shade. It is absolutely gorgeous. I have never seen a shade like this before. Generally, when I see peach shades of lip gloss they tend to be way too light and hardly noticable. If I'm going to pay for a lip gloss, then I definately want to make sure that it will be noticed. This is not a problem with Dolcissima. It has such a nice shine, but not overly shiney. The best way I can describe it is that it is very natural looking. It will have people saying, "you look good" as opposed to "you're make-up looks good," you know what I mean? Thank God I looked at the glosses in person instead of merely turning my nose up on them. I did like the pink shade,Drammatica, too, but it is a little brighter than I was looking for. Also, the artwork on the tubes is absolutely adorable. I know you're not supposed to judge stuff based on the packaging, but the little angel like characters are just too cute.

Hard Candy At Ulta

Just wanted to let everyone know that if you're a Hard Candy fan, Ulta stores have the line on clearance. I'm guessing they've decided not to carry the brand anymore. I was killing time this afternoon at my local Ulta and found out that their annual clearance sale is going on. I did pick up some Paul Mitchell products at a steal.

Pink Eyes

Pink eye shadow is taking over the cosmetic world by storm. One of my friends was particularly taken with this look. She ran out and bought some new pink shadow to wear for a night out on the town. The results were not pretty. Instead of creating a soft and pure look, my friend created an Academy Award worthy looking eye disease. The pink shadow made her eyes look puffy and sickly. So, the question is, how do you pull off pink eye shadow without looking like your two steps away from death?

The problem that my friend had was that she used only one shade of shadow. By using only one color, she was unable to blend and create contours. Using multiple shades of pink is good, using pink with other colors is even better. The first time I was introduced to pink shadow was about three years ago when I tried Clinique's Strawberry Fudge. The duo included a shade of pink and a shade of brown. Now, I must admit, when the Clinique girl suggested the duo I thought she was nuts, but I quickly fell in love with the look. I used the pink shade to color my entire eyelid up to just above the crease. I never wear pink all the way up to the brow. If you are one of those girls who likes to wear shadow up to the brow at all times to highlight the area, for this look I suggest Bare Escentuals Nude Beach. It offers a neutral looking color with just the right amount of shimmer to catch and reflect the light. I then took the brown shade and used it almost as a liner, creating a thick line about my lashes that I then blended into the rest of my eye. The good thing is that many cosmetic companies realize the fantasticness of this pink and brown duo and have created palettes pairing the two together. And let's face it, it's so much easier to simply buy a palette that is made up of compatible colors.

My other suggestion with pink shadows is to not, I repeat NOT, use it under your eye. I know there are a lot of people out there who don't like using shadow under eyes to begin with, however, I believe that there are certain shades (silvers and whites) that really make your eyes pop when you do. Pink is not one of those shades. The reason being that by spreading the pink shadow out, both up to your brow and below your eye, you are creating the sickly look!

Oh, and another thing, when wearing pink eye shadow, particularly when you are using only various shades of pink, be aware of the shade of blush you are wearing. You do not want your shadow and your blush to be the same color because then your look will just blend right into each other, thus risking the sickly look again. My suggestion is to go with either a darker shade of pink, a shade of plum or a shade of peach on your cheeks. I recommend Benefit Georgia or Tarte Cheek Stain Blushing Bride.

Best Drugstore Finds

It's no secret that I am a Sephora addict and definately favor higher end cosmetics, clothing, shoes, etc. But let's be realistic; I have champagne taste on a beer budget. While I'm more than willing to splurge on certain things because of their high quality and staying power, there are many bargain basement products that I equally cannot live without. Today I've decided to highlight some of the drugstore finds that I love.

Blistex Lip Medex, Lip Moisturizer - No matter where you are in my apartment, odds are that one of these little blue tubes is no further than 10 feet away. This product is my go to lip balm. It is soooooo moisturizing and always cures chapped lips. As soon as you put this on your lips you feel a cooling sensation take over. For those of you who have tried lip plumpers and enjoy the feeling of the cinnamon spice tingling over your lips, you will love the similar sensation with this product only its a cool tingling. Unlike some other lip balms, this one is very creamy feeling and not at all waxy.

Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System - I may only be 26 (which I guess isn't that young anymore), but I am already taking action against wrinkles, fine lines, and the signs of aging. My mom has instilled in me since an early age the need to take care of my skin. I love doing a microderabrasion and peel treatment every week or two. I've tried many different brands and have found this one by Olay to be the most effective as well as the most cost efficient. While I only use this once every week or two, it is gentle enough to use twice a week. Simply massage the derma-crystals into your skin for 1 minute and then massage the activator system in on top of that for another minute. You'll feel a nice warming sensation as the two ingredients join together to revitalize your skin. I also use this on my hands. Many people forget to take care of their hands which also age. ***TIP*** For the best results, use a washcloth to wipe off the treatment. The washcloth acts as an addition exfoliator and will leave your skin cleaner than if you simply rinsed with water.

Infusium 23 Leave-In Treatment - While I have yet to find the product that gives me a fantastic hair day everyday, this one comes pretty close. My Mom, a licensed hairdresser who gave up working in a shop to raise me and my sister but who was always available to do all of my friends' hair for every dance, has been using Infusium products for as long as I can remember. I only really gained an appreciation for it about 2 years ago. When I used this product many years ago I only sprayed a light layer all over my hair. It did nothing for my curls or frizz. Then, 2 years ago it finally dawned on me to use more product (I'd say roughly a 1/4 of a cup). As I massaged it into my hair working it from root to tip I thought, "Oh my God! What am I doing? I put too much of this in and now I'm going to have to take another shower to clean it out." It was a good thing I didn't jump into the shower because as I looked at my hair about an hour later when it had dried I could not believe my eyes. There was virtually no frizz and my curls were so soft. When I want to straighten my hair I don't use as much of this product, but I still use it. It really does condition my hair and makes it feel so soft.

Dove Energy Glow Daily Moisturizer - There is nothing better than a healthy looking tan. It makes your skin look better, it makes you feel better, and I even think it makes your look thinner, especially in your legs. I grew up with a pool, so every summer was spent outside in the pool resulting in very tan bodies. Now that I'm older and wiser (add your laughs here) I realize that tanning in the sun is a no-no. Thank God for this product from Dove. I talked about this product is one of my very first posts. I love it. Simply apply this moisturizing lotion once a day and your skin gradually develops a nice, golden sheen. I prefer this product to every other one out there because, to me, it is the least smelly. Unlike straight out self tanners, this product does not leave your skin streaky or orange looking. Really, I'm still shocked at how natural this product makes my skin look. I am constantly getting compliments on my "tan" with people asking where I had gone on vacation.

Noxzema Triple Clean Pads - Everyone has had those nights where they come home and the last thing they want to do is go through the regimen of washing their face. I've been guilty of this many a time. This product has been my God send on those types of nights. While the directions on the product say that you are supposed to use this after you have washed your face, I simply use them as a sort of make-up remover on my lazy nights. Even though I may not have washed my face properly, at least I have taken off my make-up and wiped off any dirts and oils that may have accumulated throughout the day. My skin feels pretty clean and I love the fact that I won't wake up with runny and smudgey make-up all over my face as the result of not washing it off due to laziness the night before. This is a product that my boyfriend uses religiously. ***Side Story*** When we first started dating he had horrible acne. When he told me he was using regular old soap to wash his face I almost had a heart attack. While he refused to use any of my "girlie" facial cleansers (Philosophy and Clinique), he said okay to using Noxzema. After only a week of using original Noxzema cleansing cream and the pads his skin cleared up immediately. 6 and 1/2 years later he still uses both products everyday.

Neutrogena Moisture MoistureShine Tinted Lip Balm - This is the drugstore version of Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheers. While I don't think it has the staying power of Tarte, the Neutrogena balms are great for those who do not want to shell out $14 for a tinted lip balm. It gives your lips just a hint of color. This is an essential product when you want to do the "no make-up" look. And, since it is a balm, it is highly moisturizing. There are a handful of shades that range from nudes to dark pinks. I usually use this as my "keep in the car" lip color for warmer months. At such an affordable price, I'm not really too worried if the blam melts.

Freeman Bare Foot Creamy Pumice Foot Scrub - If there is one thing that really bothers me, it is people who wear sandles and flip-flops without properly caring for their feet. I can't stand to have to look at someone's super dry and scalely feet. All I can think about when I see that is doesn't the dryness bother those people??? I know that when I have dry feet I usually slather then up with lotion and put on some nice heavy socks so that my feet will soak up the lotion. Freeman's Bare Foot Scrub is a must have to prevent and tend to dry, cracked feet. Just rub in some of the cooling scrub into damp feet, massage, and rinse off. It revitalizes tired feet. My sister is a waitress and uses this at the end of every day. I use this at least once a week during the winter and probably about twice a week during the summer. My feet have never looked or felt so good.

New Products From Benefit

Benefit seems to be coming out with a lot of new products lately. I came across two of them at the Benefit counter at Macy's in Orland Square Mall this weekend. Yes, I made it out to the suburbs this weekend. I was in search of a new couch, which I did find, at Darvin Furniture. Anyways, back to the original idea of this post. I knew that Benefit had released 10, so I made my way over to the counter to try it out. Benefit 10 is "A duo of delectable pink and bronze powders;" basically a highlighter and bronzer in one compact. While this is a new product to Benefit, this is not a new product to the cosmetic world. I can name at least 20 other brands that offer a similar product. That being said, 10 is not a blow my mind type of product either. It does exactly what it claims...it highlights and bronzes. I am a fan of Benefit, and this product is just as good as anything else that they offer, but it is definately not a must have product. If you already have a favorite highlighter and bronzer, there is no reason to run out and get this product. If you don't and you love Benefit products, this is a good product. For me, it's not good enough to pull me away from my latest love, Laura Geller's Balance - N - Bronze.

10 is not the only new product from Benefit. They have also introduced Rush Hour, another new to Benefit but not to the cosmetic world product. Rush Hour is a "10 second fresh and lively touch-up for lips and cheeks." This is a 2-in-1 product for the cheeks and the lips. I was a little surprised that Benefit would try to introduct a product like this when the same concept is already present in their Benetint Pocketpal. However, unlike Benetint, which is a liquid stain, Rush Hour is a cream colored stick. I know some people complain that they have a problem evenly distributing Benetint before it drys, Rush Hour is perfect for them. The soft plum rose shade (the only shade this product is available in) is also an extremely universal shade. It looks great on any skintone. But again, it's not like there aren't a million of this type of product available. Women 70 years ago were using lipstick as "rouge" even before these multi-tasking products were around.

Overall, I liked both 10 and Rush Hour, but for me they are just not must haves. If I was to receive these as gifts, I would keep and use them, but I would most likely not go out and purchase these for myself. I wish Benefit would have introduced a new shade of blush or something like that as opposed to just littering the cosmetic world with products that just aren't necessary.

Tarte And Borba Inside Out Lip Gloss

I heard about this a few months ago, but am just now finding out more information. The people at Tarte Cosmetics did a little research and found out that the average woman eats 2 to 4 pounds of lip gloss in her lifetime. That is the equivalent to 708 tubes of lip gloss! How crazy is that??? So Tarte teamed up with Borba and developed Inside Out Vitamin Lip Gloss, a lip gloss that supposedly will help clarify your skin.

From Sephora - "The ultimate in double-duty beauty, Tarte's long-lasting, moisturizing lip gloss works to soothe and hydrate lips, while BORBA's nutraceutical blend delivers powerful skin protecting ingredients. The pomegranate-scented lip gloss is mouth-wateringly gorgeous with its hint of sexy sheen, but it's the vitamin cocktail that will keep you coming back for more. The first lip gloss that's actually good for you! While Tarte's shimmery gloss beautifies you on the outside, BORBA's nutraceutical blend beautifies you on the inside. Inside Out includes natural ingredients from BORBA's Age Defying, Replenishing, and Clarifying lines."

I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. I'm assuming that they want you to eat the lip gloss so that you can have the "vitamin cocktail." It doesn't say that the vitamins some how seep through your lips, and since this product came about after the discovery that women eat so much lip gloss it's the only logical thing I can come up with. But here's my question...why would they encourage you to eat the gloss? Perhaps it's to make you go through the tube faster and thus have to shell out more money to pick up another one. I don't know about you, but when I put gloss on, I am cautious about not biting on my lips and what not in order to protect the shine and color from coming off. Especially when I am using a pricier gloss and at $21 a tube this would fall under that category. Either way, I'm sure I will probably still end up trying this product out since I am such a Tarte fan.

Dior Exhibit At The Chicago History Museum

Not only am I a make-up and fashion geek, but I am also a history geek. I was so excited to finally get to see the Dior Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum this past week. The exhibit on the legendary Parisian designer Christian Dior highlights his influential 1947 New Look collection. This collection featured clothing with narrow shoulders, nipped waist and emphasised bust. The CHM houses one of the largest costume and textile collections in existence. Since their new renovations (and name change; they used to be the Chicago Historical Society) more of these costumes have been able to be displayed. You may ask what the connection with Dior and Chicago is. All of the dresses on display were owned by Chicago socialites. It also focuses on Dior's relationship with Chicago department stores, namely Marshall Field's. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this exhibit. The dresses were absolutely breathtaking. The Dior exhibit runs through May 27, 2007. Click Here for more information. I'm looking forward to what other fashion exhibits will be displayed in the future. The new renovations have included a massive 1300 square foot gallery exclusively for costume and textile exhibits.

Free Sample of Olay Definity

Lately I have been hearing more and more great things about Olay. There was even a news segment on a few weeks ago that talked about a study that found that Olay was better at fighting wrinkles and the signs of aging than the much more expensive brands of moisturizers. Their latest product is called Olay Definity. I've been wanting to try this and was going to pick it up at Target today but they were sold out. Good thing I found this FREE SAMPLE. I am most interested in the Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer. This is the first moisturizer that I have ever seen in foam form. I'm sure this is going to be a hot sample so it may not last too long.

Huge Fragrance / Perfume Sale

Amazon is having an unbelievable sale on fragrances for men and women. Some fragrances are 75% off! And we're not talking Jean Nate or Loves perfumes (remember those from the 1980s?!?!); fragrances such as Burberry Brit By Burberry, Lovely By Sara Jessica Parker, and Pink Sugar By Aquolina are included! And if the savings of up to 75% are not enough, most of these items ship free with the the super saver shipping on orders of $25 or more. Gift sets are also included in this sale. If the fragrance you're looking at is out of stock, check back later on because Amazon frequently restocks its inventory.

Carson's On State Street

If you're lucky enough to live in the great city of Chicago then you have to get down to the Carson Pirie Scott on State Street. As most of you probably already know, Carson's on State is closing. They've already begun to slash prices. Most things are marked 25% - 50% off. Things like cosmetics of course are not included. It's kind of sad that Carson's is closing. I'm still trying to get over the loss of Marshall Field's and now Carson's is leaving too...What the hell is going on?

Infiniti by Conair Hair Designer Professional Tourmaline Ionic Styler

Okay, so this is the post that many of you have been waiting for. I have finally used my Infiniti by Conair Hair Designer Professional Tourmaline Ionic Styler enough that I feel I can give a fair review. Three words: I LOVE IT!!! Honest to God, I have not blow dried my hair in over 2 years. Since I have naturally curly hair, I use a flat iron or a big barreled curling iron to straighten it. I don't want any extra damage to my hair so I wash it at night and let it dry over night and then straighten it in the morning. No matter how much I tried to do a blow out with a blowdryer and a round brush it never worked! Thus I thought my days of blow drying at home were over forever. The Infiniti by Conair has proved me wrong.

I used it the first time the day after Christmas. I washed my hair and then let it air dry until it was about 50% dry as recommended by the directions (the directions did say that you can use the dryer without the comb attachment to do the initial dry, but like I said before, the least damage I can do to my hair the better). I then clipped up most of my hair, again as the directions recommended, as began to dry the bottom layer of my hair with the comb attachment. I ran the dryer through each section of hair about 2 or 3 times and just stared into the mirror in utter amazement. My hair was so flat and without frizz that I could not believe that a blow dryer had done this. The best thing is that it only took about 15-20 minutes to completely dry my hair.

During that week I took the dryer over to my parents' house. My Mom and Sister were just as anxious to see the Infiniti in action (and more importantly the results) as I was. Their mouths were wide open as they watched. My Mom was most blown away with how good the back of my hair looked. As most of you probably have encountered at some point in your lives, doing the back section of your hair is not always the simplest thing because you obviously can't see it as you do it. My hair felt so silky. I could not believe that the hair I was feeling was the same curly, thick, prone to frizz hair that was atop my head just 20 minutes prior.

So as you can see, I love my new Infiniti by Conair Hair Designer Professional Tourmaline Ionic Styler. To quote my Mom, "Conair is going to make a lot of money on this product." And really, it's money well deserved. Girls, the hype about this dryer in every fashion and beauty magazine holds true. If you've been contemplating getting this, get up and get it! You will not be sorry.

Cameron Diaz's Wardrobe In The Holiday

It's funny...The night I posted about "winter whites," the love of my life took me to see The Holiday starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet. Lo and behold, most of Cameron's wardrobe in the movie consisted of gorgeous sweaters, coats and dresses in various shades of white and ivory. Now, I'm not a big fan of Cameron Diaz, but let me just say that she was gorgeous. Throughout the movie I could not keep my eyes off of her exquisite wardrobe or her make-up (if anyone knows what type of make-up Cameron wore in this film, please, please, PLEASE, let me know!!!). Let me also say that I really enjoyed the movie, it did get a little drawn out in the middle but picked up again towards the end. It is a great girlfriend movie, although my boyfriend enjoyed it as well. I think this will be one that I pick up on DVD.