Clean & Clear's Take on the In-Home Spa

Hey guys!

That last post was kind of ominous as it could have served as an RIP to our blog. And I don't like that. It's time to start fresh. Just like using an invigorating face wash in the morning. On that topic, one face wash that I've really enjoyed as of late is the steam mask in-shower facial from Clean and Clear's new "Soft" line. (I will warn you that the website is irritating. Don't link to it at work unless your volume is off - because otherwise you and your coworkers will have to hear what the teenagers in the intro have to say about it).

The clean look of the bottle was what initially attracted me to the product on the shelf, and its unique steam facial for your shower at home was a novel idea so I thought - why not! I use it maybe 3 times a week in the shower. The jury is out if it really improves my skin, but it is really fun to use. After the cream is applied, it creates a warming sensation so you at least believe it must be working. Then you scrub to remove it while simultaneously exfoliating your skin. The smell is what you would expect from a Clean&Clear/Neutrogena/Olay type product. A little hint of baby powder, slightly medicinal, yet still clean. So I say it's worth trying if for no other reason that it's really fun to use!

RIP to Some of Our Faves

So if you could have any product return from the dead... or discontinued, what would it be? Over the years there are quite a few products that I have grown attached to, and then when I ran out I realized they were gone forever. I will list my top three disappointments in the product world.

1. Bath & Body Works - May Bouquet Line - ahhh the smell of 8th grade. Possibly one of the

best scents I've experienced in my whole life. May Bouquet was one of those featured "seasonal" scents in the 1997-1998 era that I just couldn't get enough of. In fact I stocked up so I would have a supply each subsequent spring (pretty much until college). They sold it for a couple years and then of course, discontinued it even though it was one of the most magical floral scents ever created. Just a soft, sweet scent reminiscent of a flower shop; it left such a freshness on the skin. I have to admit I still have a bottle of the lotion (seen here) but I'm not so sure it's still good since it was likely produced 12 years ago. But it's so near and dear to my heart that I just have to keep a bottle around, if for nothing else, to remember those carefree spring days at Cloverleaf Jr. High School.

2. John Frieda - Beach Blonde Kelp Help Conditioning Masque - The scent of this stuff was

unbelievable. They captured the EXACT scent of the beach in a bottle. Salty, a little suncreeny and the fresh smell of surf - it covered it all. And it made your hair extra smooth and silky after use. When I decided to go back to my roots, literally, and went back to brunette (from the highlighted days of my youth), I was wondering if I could still use Beach Blonde. I ultimately determined it was worth the risk. So sad it's not available anymore.

3. Peter Thomas Roth - Botanical Buffing Beads Body Wash - Well guys, it has been confirmed. It's selling out at Sephora's everywhere and they're not replacing them on the shelves. Store associates have also relayed the sad news that this product is being discontinued. As Susan noted, it's funny that the bottle still says "New!" So snag it up while you can, before this product, too, will rest in peace.

Keys to My Karma

Fall colors are everywhere. Check out OPI's new fall colors in their France collection. I like it. Very fallish. I went to get a pedicure last week and chose the OPI Keys to My Karma color which I learned is part of their India collection. Whenever I choose the color I always have doubts because usually I go in with an idea of what I want and then I can't find it. I took it as a good sign that half the color was gone because it was popular. I don't know what the lady did, but she had to add something to the polish to - I guess? - make it last longer? I wasn't quite sure. End result - I love the color and can't stop looking at my feet. I want to invest in the color for home use. It's just a really great red. Not too pink or blue. I also just like the OPI brand because I like the bottles and the cap.

Problem Really Salved?

Call me a skeptic, but this product seems completely unbelievable to me. Can it really be used to treat 21 different ailments? And treat them effectively? If it comes from a stick like this, it seems to me like it would be waxy (almost like a lip balm). And if I was somehow sunburned, mosquito bitten or blistered, the last thing I would want to do is cover myself in wax. What do you guys think, would you consider purchasing something that makes more promises than Obama and McCain combined?

John Frieda Weather really Works

About a month ago, I was strolling around the Target beauty product aisles with the intention of purchasing shampoo & conditioner because I was really bored with my old ones. So I scanned the mass groupings of Herbal Essences and Suave and Dove for something new & exciting. It was tough to find due to it's shape and lack-of-color, but I finally came across John Frieda's Weather Works shampoo & conditioner. Now I've never really had a major issue with frizziness since my hair is so straight, but I thought, why shouldn't I go for a shampoo that promises smoothness in any weather condition? You really can't do any harm. I mean, the worst that could happen is that it could make my hair flat, but I have no volume anyway, so it doesn't really make a difference. I made sure I liked the scent (I did!) and then I had my mom smell it for a second opinion and then I dropped the shampoo on my foot. I was wearing sandals. It really hurt. But accident aside, I was pleased with my find.

Upon first use I noticed it gave me the softness/smoothness I get from Matrix Smooth & Sleek and the scent I like from Dove. It combined two of my favorite shampoos! Awesome! I continued to use it for a week or two and I just found it to be delightful. I wasn't sure if that was because I recently had my hair cut and dyed, but nonetheless, it was pleasant. I totally recommend this stuff, especially going into the rainy and cold months.

Body Shop Suggestions

If you could get anything from The Body Shop what would you choose? Here's the thing - a friend of mine works there and has access to their products so for a few bucks she can get us products if we give her a list. The Body Shop does have a certain 1990's aura for me, but I feel like they at least seem less outdated than Bath and Body Works. And I think their products have more attractive packaging. You could have a whole bathroom of Body Shop products and not be embarrassed.

My friend kept going on and on about the make-up there, but I'm not familiar with the quality of it. I've always loved the smell and texture of the Passion Fruit Cleansing Gel. However, it was my understanding that they discontinued it in the US and while traveling in London I was able to find it there and brought back 3 bottles. I'm hoping she can unearth some more. Other then that I'm at a loss. I'm eyeing the Satsuma Body Polish on the website. Satsuma and the Body Shop are forever intertwined in my mind. I like their body butters, but I still have a Mango one from 2 years ago. I can't go through them very fast. I'm drawing a blank on what products to put on my list...what else is good?

Fall Foundation

So, I'm on the lookout for a good foundation for fall. Any ideas? I've been using Benefit's Some Kind-a Gorgeous for over a year now and I think it's time to try something new.

Magic Soaps

I'm a big fan of the Whole Foods Whole Body section. I get sucked in to their eco-friendly packaging and all natural-ness. But sometimes the products suck. This is not one of those times. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps were discovered when I was petsitting a few years ago. The woman's house was really cool in that single woman with 2 dogs kind of way. I actually did love the house, but what I really liked were her products. She used Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap in all her bathrooms. I was taken in by the packaging at first because it's very like "save the earth save ourselves" kind of thing. Which can be off putting to some. That's "Dr. B" in the corner btw. But if you once you get past the label and this creepy pic, the smell is great. She had the Lavender scent the time I was there, and that is what I consider to be my default scent. The soaps are concentrated - I know one of my friends makes it last longer by adding water. I have yet to try this because I like it as is, but I guess if you're trying to save money these are good for that too. A month ago I bought the Rose flavor. And I'm totally in love! I think Rose is risky because it can smell artificial and gross most of the time. Not this soap. It's the real thing. I had plans to use the soap as hand soap, but I ran out of body wash and have been using the Rose as body wash for the last few weeks. For some this soap may be a little drying, but I like it as a break from all of the overly hydrating body washes that leave me feeling kind of gross during the summer.

Fresh SuperNOva Mascara

Alright, let's spice things up a little. Most of the posts on this blog have been product accolades, inquiries, and/or exciting discoveries from the drug store aisles. Which is fantastic, but I think it's also important to warn our fellow product devotees (ok, Lindsey and Susan) about products that should be AVOIDED (all CAPS, I really mean it) at all cost. Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to warn you about Fresh Supernova Mascara.

Now, I know you're probably thinking that Fresh puts out some great products, and why should this be any different?Well. It is. It's horrible. I bought this last holiday season because it caught my eye on a Christmas display at Sephora. My initial thoughts were that it had pretty packaging and it seemed very seasonal so it must be good. Although I usually stick with Diorshow mascara, I figured, let's try something new. 'Tis the season.

After first use, it was almost impossible to apply. The mascara gets all thick in that brush to the point where it doesn't even have a recognizable shape anymore. Then, it delivers way too much product with just one swipe. I read an article once about Julia Roberts using a safety pin to separate her lashes and I thought that was really dumb/dangerous, but I found myself actually trying it! Ultimately I decided that a lash brush was safer, so I used that for the next 3 weeks until I couldn't take it anymore. I tossed it and went back to my Diorshow mascara. All in all, Fresh has many great things to offer. This one just doesn't quite make the cut.

Aquacurrent - Do you, or would you buy it?

Today I saw something very unsettling. It was a TV commercial for Pantene Beautiful Lengths hair products that promises to make your hair longer and stronger by using Aquacurrent technology. So I think to myself...where have I seen this Aquacurrent language before? And then it hit me like a wall. My antiperspirant.

After losing (and then eventually rediscovering) my old antiperspirant in the apt. move, I purchased this new Secret with Aquacurrent technology. I wasn't that blown away by this scientific jargon because I don't ever feel like it's anything life-changing. I always go on scent, and sometimes by brand loyalty. That day I was going with both. Secret has been there for me in the past and I applauded its effort at creating a new line of scents. So back to Aquacurrent. "Makes your hair longer...and stronger." I do not want this for my armpit. That was probably TMI, but I think you can understand my concern. So after some research on the P&G website, I realized that AC was developed around the idea of aquaporins, which was a Nobel-prize winning discovery of protein-based "micro-channels" that move moisture around the surface of your skin to balance the moisture levels.

It may be science, but I'm still not sure I buy it when it comes to beauty products. Just seems a little far-fetched. But thankfully now, I'm convinced that the AC in my antiperspirant is nothing but a mere moisturizer-enhancer. Phew.

Recent Visit to Duane Reade

So tonight I was just kind of sitting in my apartment watching some TV. The sky was overcast and I created a nice little mood with the lighting, but after a while I jumped up and felt the need to just buy something. Ideally when I'm in this mood, I have a Target available and a pal to share in this type of adventure, but tonight I just sort of had to make do with the situation at hand and I ambled down the street to my nearest Duane Reade. The CVS on Lex is probably a little bigger/nicer but I just wasn't going to walk up the hill to get there. So this is what I purchased:

Caress Tahitian Renewal body wash. After giving up on my search for PTR botanical buffing beads body wash, I decided there just has to be another summer shower gel out there that I could actually get my hands on. Now, I've purchased this body wash as a travel size for when I went on vacation somewhere in the south, and I originally thought I wasn't going to go bigger than that, but I went ahead and decided to make the commitment to the whole 12 fl. ounces anyway. The thing is, I'm using a coral-colored poof right now, and I just have this thing that the shower gel has to mesh with the poof color. I mean, I just couldn't use Dove's Cucumber & Green Tea with a purple poof, for example. Also, after doing a little research, I found out this shower gel was given out on the Tyra Banks Show! Wow! Since Tyra and I are in agreement on most things in life, how could I go wrong here? All in all, I'm happy with this purchase but it wasn't anything new and exciting.

So ironically, for my new and exciting purchase, I went for Johnson's Vanilla Oatmeal body lotion. Two scents that couldn't be further from the idea of excitement. BUT, it was New! and it stood out from the rest of the baby lotions with its more natural tones. I just thought it might be a nice light scent for after the shower that wouldn't compete with my perfumes. But looking back on this purchase, I'm feeling a little bit of buyer's remorse, only because this seems like such a fall/winter scent. Maybe I'll save it, we'll see. One thing I would like to add here, it's really annoying how you can't smell any of the baby products in the store since they always have that safety seal. So if you want to purchase anything baby-related, you have to just take a leap of faith. I've always wondered why it was OK for adult bath products to go unsealed while baby products are blocked from the world until after purchase. I suppose some things will never change, even if it is a mild source of frustration.

Strawberry-frosted Pop Tarts. I like cherry-frosted better. But I always pick cherry over strawberry for everything anyway so no surprise there. DR just didn't have them, so I went with these. This will be an exciting new addition to my breakfast routine this week, so I'm looking forward to it. I don't think there's much else I need to say. We've all had them, and I'm pretty sure we all like them.

Dial Daily Care Antibacterial Hand Soap with Aloe. So it's my turn to get the soap for our community bathroom, well, sort of. The weird thing is, everyone in my apartment has purchased their own hand soap. So we have 3 at our sink right now. I mean, I guess it's nice to have the backup option, but it's also just kinda funny/ridiculous. So for my personal contribution I went for the Aloe version. I bought the Melon-scented last time because I thought I remembered liking it at one point, but I was wrong. It wasn't great. So since I've been washing my hands a lot more often as of late (due to the humidity and the stickiness of the city in the summer), I had to go with something soothing/moisturizing. The scent is very boring, like a hand soap you would find in your aunt's powder room, but it will get the job done. In a soft and soothing way.

And lastly, I purchased Betty Crocker Warm Delights Fudgy Chocolate Chip Cookie because I wanted a snack for HGTV's Design Star finale. I haven't even watched any of the shows this season, but I figured I would watch the finale and then catch a marathon of the rest of the season sometime this week. But anyways, I introduced these to Susan last year and it was a big hit! It's basically like having a serving size of fresh warm cake. In NY, it seems that they only sell limited kinds, so I can't get my absolute favorite - Cinnamon Swirl Cake. But since I was feeling burned out on ice cream, I think this will be a nice change of pace for an evening snack.

Skin Firming

I really love Bliss products. The last time I was at their spa they gave me a sample of FatGirlSleep. I had seen their fatgirl product before but had never tried a cellulite buster. But I got into a bind with a cancelled flight and was out of body lotion. Luckily in the move I had saved this sample. I tried it and loved it. It's really heavy on the lavender scent - for the "sleep" part, but I love lavender products. It was really thick, but I even felt like it tightened my skin the moment I put it on. Maybe that was my imagination from exhaustion but seriously it was that good! I put it all over, so I don't know if I was just supposed to target my legs or what. I would consider buying a full size of this lotion. That was my first experience with skin firming lotions but since it was so great I bought a Jergens Skin Firming Lotion the other day. It was cheaper and has a nice clean scent. It will work as an everyday lotion, but I don't feel like it's doing quite the same job as fatgirlsleep.

Drugstore Shampoos

I feel as though we've been talking a lot about shampoo lately, and I would just like to thrown in an additional comment.
I'm kind of a shampoo snob, i.e. my favorites are Aquage, Sudzz FX, Matrix, Halo, etc, which, unfortunately, are all expensive. So to offset the expense, I like to have a nice drugstore shampoo in my shower at all times. Sunsilk Hydra TLC is my favorite. It makes my hair so soft! And I really can't resist the scent. I love it. So if you're in the market for a cheap but effective shampoo, give this a try! What is everyone else's favorite drugstore shamp?

Target Run

Last Thursday I made a Target run before going to the beach. The results are below.




Neutrogena can be a brand people really love. Also a brand moms really love. I've never really loved their face stuff, but I do love their hand creams and sunscreen. I feel like they really do the job. Dermatologist recommended, Norewegian formula = really tough. I've always loved the regular Hand Cream because it's really thick and in the winter, it really heals dry skin. The problem is it can feel heavy on first application even though it stays on after subsequent washings. I love it, so you can imagine my delight when I discovered this new Fast Absorbing Hand Cream. I don't know how "new" it is, but this is the first time I've seen it. Anyways, it's great! Really light, and on a purely visual level - I love the lighter blue color on the bottle. The smell was the final win over for me. I really liked it, and it feels really summery to me. It's a great addition to my nightstand.






Continuing on my Neutrogena trend, I needed some sunblock for this weekend. I went for Neutrogena's Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock. I'm really pale so I seriously considered the SPF 85. But I toned it down a bit and played it safe with the 55. The first day with it was fine, but I did get a little red the second day. Which - I think was my fault because I was swimming a lot and didn't reapply as much as I should have. I like the feel of this because it doesn't go on as greasy as most sunscreens - I'm thinking this is the "dry-touch". Also, this has helioplex. I don't know what that means, but it's fun to say.








I needed some new shampoo because I'm running low on the L'Oreal pink Nutri Shine I have. Lindsey, I know you aren't as big of a fan, but I really like it because it makes my hair feel really soft. Then I ran into the new Dove shampoo lines. I'm not familiar with the Go Fresh line because I just like the original or the exfoliating soap lines. I decided to go for the Dove Shine Therapy shampoo because I was in the market for a new Shine shampoo, and they were practically out of this line. That's gotta mean it's popular right?? The only thing that put me off was the brown bottle - it doesn't scream "shine" to me. But they didn't even have the conditioner so I don't even know what I'm missing out on. I really do love the shampoo and the smell. So far it works great. I can't wait to get the conditioner to see the total results.


To end my trip I went with a Burt's Bees Lotion. I needed one, but also I had just been to a friends house, and her house is loaded with Burt's Bees products because her boyfriend used to work for them. Maybe I just wanted in on the Burt's Bees action? I was really just swayed by the new organic part of Target that I'd never seen before. I really love Dr. Bronner's Soaps - the lavender one was on sale in travel-size! But I have a lot of that stuff so I decided to get a full-size Burt's Bees. I went with the Soothingly Sensitive Aloe & Buttermilk Lotion because it smelled good, and I thought it'd be good for the beach. It's a little bit thin as far as I'm concerned - I like lotions that go on a bit more thick, I feel like it's really working if it's more thick. But after using it for a few nights, it's growing on me. The smell is good for bed, and I'm getting used to the consistency.







Something that caught my attention as I was leaving: Softlips. I used to love this stuff in middle school. They were really thin! They smelled good! Hard to resist in 7th grade. I got a dual pack - 1 tube of vanilla, 1 tube of their new rose tint balm. There is a bronze tint as well. I'm usually not a vanilla fan, but it takes me back to middle school when Vanilla Bean was the scent everyone used. It's kind of bland, but nice. I enjoy the rose tint as a summer edition to my lip balms.

Here's the thing I like about Vavoom! (referenced in my previous post below) - it's totally old school, like really 80's, but in a good nostalgic way (which is rare for things from the 80's). It reminds me of those old advertisements that would be posted in a salon with a lot of pink marble. Naturally, it brings mouse or hairspray to top-of-mind, but I must say, the product line really evolved in the late 90's and they put together this really great little styling shampoo and conditioner. I mean, the lady at this salon in Seville, Ohio - Reflections, I believe? ( A lot of baskets and fake ivy is what I remember) - had me at first wash with this terrific shampoo. Now, I wasn't a very demanding 14 yr old, I HAD TO HAVE this shampoo/conditioner set upon my departure from the salon that day. It smelled like fresh melon and summer and not-so-coincidentally like the Peter Thomas Roth shower gel. I thought it was discontinued, but luckily I ran into it again about 3 years ago. This was the last time I saw it in the store, and I still had some of the conditioner from that purchase in my bathroom closet at home but I had to throw it away cause I think it fermented. So if you see this anywhere, let me know!

Summer Buffin'...Had Me A Blast

While we're talking Peter Thomas Roth here, I wanted to express how much I enjoy the Botanical Buffing Beads body wash (the blue one). This is the perfect summer shower gel, because it just has a nice light scent that leaves you feeling clean and refreshed. Perfect after a day in the gravel pits or the streets of NY. The scent is kind of like an old Vavoom! shampoo I used to use that was discontinued, so it fills that void nicely. Scent-wise, I think it has the same general effect as if you use a Lever 2000 or an Irish spring bar, but it's little less masculine. And, it has little buffing beads! Fun!

I went to two Sephora's in the past week and could not find this kind outside of the mini PTR tester-kit. I asked an incompetent employee if they had it and she pointed me to the actual scrub. After I explained to her that this wasn't it, she guessed that it was discontinued. I don't think so, it's still on their website. I will have to do a little more detective work here. But to sum it all up, this is a great summer s-gel. I guarantee it will make your shower experience very refreshing!

Sunscreen - What's Your Fave?

Now that summer is in full blast, I think it is safe to assume that we have all been spending some time in the sun. Which makes me wonder, what is everyone's sunblock of choice? A few weeks ago, as I was preparing to go to Telluride for their annual Bluegrass concert I found myself at Sephora looking for a snobby sunscreen. I figured the more money I spent, the better the quality. I'm not sure why that was my logic, but just go with it. Anyway, I ended up purchasing Peter Thomas Roth Continuous Sunscreen Mist SPF 30 ... I figured the mist would be perfect for a music festival full of hippies. Well I think it was a good idea in theory, but I had some uneven sprays. One night when I got home, I found some weird burns. Sephora says: "The lightweight formula has a fresh scent and absorbs quickly with no need for rubbing" -- this I am going to have to disagree with. There is a need for rubbing, unless you want weird uneven burns. However, the scent is fresh. I gave it another chance the other day at my company's golf outing. Now that I was experienced with the mist, I knew to rub it in a little. And guess what....no burns! This time it worked! So if you want a snobby mist sunscreen, I would say that this is a good one. Just remember to rub in a little to even it out!

Turn The Beat Around

Excellent question. I think there is a big difference between summer day perfumes and summer night perfumes. And even beginning-of-summer perfumes and end-of-summer back-to-school perfumes. But sticking to the topic of the poll, I would say that my summer night perfume is now Burberry's The Beat. Lindsey got it for me for my birthday, and I was very pleased with it. It's a nice solid scent that tends to have some tropical-smelling undertones which keeps it summery. But not like a straight-up coconut, there's a big difference. Just potent tropical flowers/light suncreen. The Burberry website says woody and floral. I think all perfumes are some ratio of floral/woody so that wasn't totally helpful. Sephora.com says bluebells in a dense forest - I like that! But take a sniff for yourself. I think it's great!

Wednesday POLL

It's almost the end of the week (I can dream!), and I'm in a real bind. I'm looking for a new summer scent - for crazy summer nights!

I really love Dior's J'adore and Versace Bright Crystal. They just go well with the season and I usually can't get enough of them. But this year I want to switch it up. Suggestions welcome!!

Clinique Quickliner for Eyes

So I'm on a little bit of an eyeliner kick since my purchase of Mr. Frosty last week and since I've recently run out of, in my opinion, the best eyeliner ever invented. Once I have an extra hour to spare, I really need to load up on cotton balls, Matrix Smooth & Sleek, and Clinique Quickliner for Eyes. I'll admit that in years past, a perfect application with a straight-up pencil or liquid liner has always been a real challenge for me - probably because my hand is a little shaky when I first wake up. But this stuff has the perfect balance between the two since it's a creamy mix of liquid and pencil. You really can't mess it up, but if somehow you think you did, it's easily blended by this sponge-like tip on the opposite side. I always buy the Roasted Coffee since I tend to go with browns/golds as a blue-eyed person, but after looking at the site I'm tempted try Smoky Brown or Shy Brown, or hell, even Grape! So try it! It's in the Allure Hall of Fame, would they lie to you? No. Would they cancel your yearly subscription after 3 mos. for no apparent reason? Yes.

Summer Mocktails

I was looking for a gift a few weeks ago and came across this set of Korres Summer Cocktail Shower Gels. The set includes Ginger Cosmopolitan, Melon Mojito, and Vanilla Daiquiri. I enjoy the Korres line, but I have to say the only one that smelled great was the Melon Mojito. Granted I didn't buy it and haven't used it, but I will say that the overall idea appealed to me for new summer gels.

Wildly Cherry

I just got back from an afternoon run to Duane Reade. These were my purchases: tape and Wildly Cherry M & M's. I went down there looking for the Mint Crisp Indiana Jones M & M's, but apparently they are sold out. I settled for the Wildly Cherry as they are limited edition too.

On the website it said these were a February introduction. Apparently I've been blind up until today. I don't think I've been missing much though. At first taste they kind of taste more cherry mediciney then cherry candy flavoring. Maybe I'll get used to them? They are kind of growing on me.

Mr. Frosty the Snowpencil

So this weekend, I made a little trip to Sephora and picked up Benefit's white eyeliner, Mr. Frosty. I've been eyeing (no pun intended) this particular product for a good few months now and on this shopping trip I figured, hey, why not? I am partial to Benefit, and the name is cute and whimsical - couldn't pass it up this time. So I put this particular eyeliner only on the inner corners of my eye to give it a little emphasis, and also because I'm trying to channel Carmindy (I know, Lindsey already name-dropped our favorite TLC makeup artist, but as much as it pains me to say it, she really knows her stuff and will probably get mentioned a few more times in this blog). Anyways, I think it's really nice for the summer when you have a little bit of color - it provides a great highlight on tan skin. It also really punches up those summer eyeshadows. So give it a whirl! Tell me what you think!

Stila Summer Eye Shadow Palette

I saw this Stila Summer Eye Shadow Palette on one of my recent visits to Sephora and I knew immediately that I would be purchasing it. There was no assessment period. I just saw it and knew. I really love the colors, especially for summer. "Mystic" & "Kitten" are my two favorites -- the 2nd and 3rd ones in from the right (I hate the name "Kitten" but i really like the color). It's a great deal because each shadow individually is like $18, and in this palette you get 6 colors for $40. I like the consistency of the shadow...it's really light and it goes on smoothly. The gold color, "Prize," is great for brightening up the eye. I like to put it right under the brow bone (who am I, Carmindy?). Paired with a nice bronzer, these shadows make for a fresh summer face (yes, I am)!

My Lightstyle

I came home one night last month to the scent of one of my favorite candles. But I hadn't burned it in a week because it was almost finished and I wanted to enjoy it. It turns out that one of my roommates, Cara, had taken the liberty of burning my candle just because it was out. Here's the thing about candles - as long as you bring some to the table, then consider mine to be yours. What if that candle had been a gift from someone special??






The candle in question was a Capri Blue Volcano. Great scent. Really pleasant. The reason I had moved it out into the main room was because the scent can be overwhelming for a small space aka my 2 x 2 room. In a larger space the scent can really spread out and lasts for hours. This candle reminds me of an outdoor summer dinner party with lights in ivy. When I was looking for a pic, I read that Capri Blue candles apparently have the most fragrance oil on the market. Makes sense. Also I love the way they are packaged at Anthropologie. I smelled one recently in the Capri Blue set that I would like to try out Black Currant and Cassis. It was a really warm scent.










My preferred candle brand has been Root Candles since college. Lindsey took me to the factory in Medina, Ohio and I have been in love ever since. I really love these candles because the scent is lighter then the Capri Blue line meaning they can just be great accents to a room. The scent is there but not in an overly showy way. I really love their Patchouli scent. It's not like incense patchouli, but is really pleasant and just a great candle throughout the year. For spring right now I'm digging the Pink Kale and Parsley scent. So light! So fresh! I wish I had a great kitchen or herb garden for this candle! The Queen Bee tumblers and Metrolights are my preferred collections - usually. Lately I'm more drawn to the Veriglass collection. I liked the brushed glass and they seem to last longer. In college during the springtime we burned a lot of the Bamboo scent. It always takes me back.






I always come back to Root because they are the Best Candle in America. However, at work I was gifted with an Avora candle in Fresh Fig. Usually I'm not one for Fig scents, but this is not your typical Fig. It's really light and homey. I love these candles - I also have the Wind & Sea which is really beachy. I love the large pillars because they seem to last forever and it really dresses up my desk.

My Nightly Skin Care Regimen

So one very cold Saturday last winter, I was feeling pretty lethargic. After I mustered up the strength to get out of my apartment and grabbed some lunch at about 5pm, my roommate Susan and I decided it might be a nice time to wander over to Henri Bendel's on 5th Ave. Knowing that 23423809 employees approach you and ask to do your makeup, I decided that I was not going to apply any before I ventured out. Not even moisturizer. Looking back on it, it was a pretty bold decision.

So after getting whipped by 10 degree winds and climbing over the 5th Avenue Saturday crowd, we finally roll into H.B.'s and I walk over to my comfort zone at the Benefit counter. That was when I got poached by a Tarte woman. She lured Susan and me over by pointing out "how cool" her "famous couples" lip glosses were. So of course we're suckers and we fall for the featured items but she was also a very rude pushy lady so we had no choice. So I'm up first! I get on the stool and she has this horrified look on her face and she's like "Oh! Your skin is sooo dry!" and then she puts some makeup on and her scared look turns to pity when she goes "uuhH! Poor baby...so dry!" I'm like yeah alright, I GET IT. So after feeling really bad about my skin tone/moisture levels, I left the store with nothing but some Tarte liquid eye shadow and some hurt feelings.

But the point is, it was at this time when I finally decided to change my nightly skin care regimen for my face. And I'll be honest, I haven't suffered this extreme dryness since! Tarte Woman actually did me a favor! So let me tell you what I use:

Unlike Lindsey, I haven't found that one special face wash, so I switch it up. Currently, I'm using Benefit You Clean Up Nice! It's ultra concentrated, so it has lasted forever! Which is nice. It's light and fresh and I've genuinely enjoyed my time with it. Then I follow up with my favorite phase of the nightly regimen, applying Bliss Daily Detoxifying Toner. I've always been skeptical of toner, but this seems to really moisturize and prep my skin for the lotion. And it has one of the freshest scents around! It's so pleasant! The final step is the moisturizer. I like Shiseido Night Moisture Recharge Light.

In conclusion, although I felt really defeated walking out of Henri Bendel's that fateful winter evening, it ended up creating a new era of healthier skin care for me. So, thanks?

Korres Products

Ok, so this is a really big post for me. I thought maybe I should wait to do it, but what's the point in putting it off? I think everyone should know about Korres products. And the sooner the better. I learned about Korres a couple of years ago in 2006 when I was in Greece for the summer. A couple of the older, cooler girls that I worked with at the museum (they were actually grad students at the time, so they were also smarter) kept talking about this "Korres face wash." The pharmacies in Greece have really weird, obscure hours, so we would go on farmakio hunts to find the Korres. When we were lucky enough to find an open store, we would go crazy. There weren't as many products then as there are now, but there were still enough to make our day.

My first Korres experience was with the White Tea Facial Fluid Gel Cleanser. It took me a while to figure out how to create the perfect foam, so at first I thought I hated it. I thought it smelled great, but I just couldn't get the foam right. Well, after about a week I was a pro. Since it's all natural, it doesn't foam like mad like other face soaps. Just be patient. It's super refreshing and also gentle on your face. I use it daily.

After falling in love with the face cleanser, my next love was the body milk, in particular, the Mint Tea scent. This is my favorite scented lotion ever. First of all, the consistency is awesome. It's super light, so it doesn't make you feel gross. Secondly, the scent can't be beat in my book. It's described on sephora.com as "bubbles with sparkling freshness," how can you beat that? It's not too sweet and girly, but nor is it mannish. The perfect balance! There's also a shower gel. Well, before going back to the States, I loaded up on my Korres products thinking I wouldn't be able to find them at home. After arriving in NYC at Lauren and Susan's, Lauren and I decided to take a little trip down to DC. There, at a Sephora in Georgetown, I was blown away: a whole Korres section! I went nuts. I asked one of the employees when they started carrying Korres, and she said only about a month ago (circa November 2006). Wow! And now you can find it at any Sephora near you. I must warn you though, the Mint Tea scent is increasingly difficult to find. However, I found a website that carries it (phew!). Here's the link:

http://www.skinstore.com/store/product.asp?catID=5511&prodID=5590&link=Korres&affiliatecode=Froogle&CAWELAID=147279210

There are other great scents, too. I like the Quince Body Butter. Also, I highly recommend the Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizer SPF 6 ( http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P61805&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=5715 ). So give it a whirl! Let me know what you think!

Sore Throat

I had a bad cold and was really dying last week. Normally I avoid cough drops because I haven't found one I like. But browsing Duane Reade I picked up the Ricola Cherry Honey throat drops. I didn't realize until I was looking for a pic that they were throat drops instead of cough drops. I don't know how to classify the difference - but these taste great and my throat did feel better after having one. I always feel like Halls and Vicks tablets taste too chemical but I'd buy these again.

Spring Hand Soap

I wash my hands a lot during the day - 3 times just today from the subway commute! Usually I stick with Dial, but I couldn't find the White tea & Pearl kind I wanted for the spring. So I picked up this Burt's Bees Green Tea & Lemongrass soap for the smell and because I like the Burt's Bees products. It reminds me of this old face wash I used to have, so I really love it. The scent stays with me long after I wash with it, and I really like it for this time of year. It makes me feel like I have a backyard even if all I have is an infested raccoon lot next door.

2-in-One of the Best Toothpastes Ever

You know, I've always been a Crest kid so it almost pains me to write this recommendation, but I think I've honestly found toothpaste nirvana. I mean, talk about a fresh burst of minty fireworks, Colgate 2-in-1 Icy Blast has really mastered this pyrotechnic sensation. It's a combo of t-paste and mouthwash (but you can always double up on the mouth wash) thus it's way more intense than any other similar product out there. I've tried a lot of toothpastes in my day and I've never been totally loyal to any of them, but I must say, I will probably purchase this stuff at least 8 times in a row. Which is making a statement. And that statement is, this toothpaste is unmatched.

BareMinerals Jade?

So I recently was browsing the Sephora website and stumbled upon this rare gem (ha ha, get it?). It is described as follows:

This decadent shimmer powder, formulated with real jade particles and 100% pure bareMinerals, dresses up your every curve with mystical allure. The power of jade, believed to bring balance, tranquility, and luck to those who wear it, makes this set even more of a gem.

I've never seen it in the store though! I'm wondering if I should purchase. I love all of the other bareMinerals products, but I can't tell if this is just going to add extra sparkle, which is something I don't really want. But it looks so pretty! The brush alone is pretty enough to attract me. I'm thinking about just taking the plunge...it is limited edition, you know.