The Daily Beauty Break

Frickin’ FINALLY!! I have been looking for Loreal’s NEW Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara ($<10) for going on weeks now….and lo and behold!, I got the SECOND to last tube yesterday at Target (almost bought the Elnet too…wants vs needs my dears….it’s a tough call in my beauty obsessed head).

So if you haven’t heard already Loreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes is a dual-process mascara….the white primer side goes on first  to coat and create “tubes” around your lashes….and then the real magic occurs when you coat it with the black mascara…….resulting in (what Loreal claims) 80% longer, lusher lashes!

So did it deliver? TOTALLY…..I had a party last night so it was perfect timing to take this new mascara for a test run….my lashes got incredibly long and thick with minimal (if any) clumping at all! I was pretty impressed I must say……I really wanted to take a picture for you beauties but my (new) camera is on the fritz….I loved the Beauty Tubes because it easily filled in the broken spots in my lash line (what’s up with that?) and gave me that “perfect” almost-falsie look.  BTW….This mascara is an IDEAL way to take it up a notch in your makeup routine for Holidays…esp for gals that are hesitant to go whole-hog and wear falsies (more to come on that later…)!

The wash-off was definitely interesting but super easy ( looks like spider legs in your sink)…I’ve used other tube mascaras in the past and you had to kind of pinch your lashes to release the tubes (kind of scary until you get used to it) but the Beauty Tubes released without any pressure at all……..VERY NICE.

So YES, Beth ( fellow Austin-based addict) you were RIGHT! Loreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara rocks…I would highly recommend this one to everyone (if you can find it……)

Be Beautiful Ya’ll!

Hello there beautiful people. So I went from blond to brown again this week…..sad, but necessary…just can’t afford the 7 week touch ups being blond requires…bittersweet because for moi brown really does flatter my skin tone better and requires way less makeup. But I digress….that must be why I am all about the hair lately…

Anyhoo- been meaning to tell you about my love for Matrix Sleek Look Shampoo & Conditioner (both <$15) for months now…I love,love this stuff…..it really tames my course mane and gives great shine…..it’s super thick and literally can clog the shower drain if you don’t watch it….Just what my fried-n-died do needs! When I have the dough that’s where my money goes!!!

BUT (nothing new) I am so broke…..and after seeing my girl Lianne’s video and post about her Suave experience over at TheMakeupGirl…..”silky,silky now” (btw she’s giving away a YEARS worth of Suave so go check it out!!!) I decided to “get real” and bought the way cheaper Suave Professional Sleek Shampoo and Conditioner (both under $3 bucks..). at Walmart the next day.

THE VERDICT: While the Suave didn’t feel anywhere near as luxurious, thick and creamy (okay that sounds REALLY gross…get your head out of the gutter J) I was pleasantly suprised at the final results…the Sauve conditioner is especially thinner but it washed out extremely slow leaving my hair coated and soft. My blowout afterwards was just as shiny, just as soft…Not bad for $6 bucks VS $26!!! So funny because when I told my hairdresser she was like, “GIRL, just call me and I will TAKE you to the supply house so you don’t have to use that crap”. But really, Suave did a great job……..

So until that Xmas bonus comes in I’m a Suave girl……….

Be Beautiful Ya’ll!! (and if you have any Hi/Lo Beauty Booty coups you better dish…)

So money’s tight my dears!!! (but there’s no reason our faces have to reflect it) SO, I really want to share with you (from the vast knowledge of all beauty booty in my big ‘ol beauty obsessed head) ways you can scrimp and save. Lucky for us, drugstore cosmetics companies are finally getting hip to the innovative products that were once fodder for prestige cosmetic companies “secret weapons”…..and coming up with their own (and just as great) versions!!!

So I’d thought I would start with a comparison of tinted moisturizers. I was delighted to find out that Covergirl got smart and finally came up with CG Smoothers SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer ($6.99)….So I thought I would test it against an old favorite LORAC ProtecTINT SPF 30 Tinted Moisturizer ($30).

I found the CG Smoothers Tinted Moisturizer to be just as moisturizing as LORAC’s. The coverage was about the same too….I found them both to have the same amount of pigment and thought the CG Smoothers actually blended into my skin a little bit easier…… I think they both did a great job giving my skin the moisture it needed while calming any redness and evening out my tone (definitely only on a good skin day for moi…can anyone say zits from hell?).

Bottom line: The only bummer about the Cover Girl product was that I wish it had as much sunscreen protection as the LORAC tinted moisturizer….but heck, since the Cover Girl is less than half the price of LORAC, I’d would say it’s worth buying and adding your own sunscreen underneath!!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll!!

Hello my pretties…So have you seen Eva on the cover of Allure for November? It’s good to see her back to her former glory and I LOVE the look her makeup artist Stephane Marias gave her….He struck a great balance between strong eye makeup and a more nude face.  Eva’s darling freckles are there for all to see……I think there is nothing sexier than letting a “little skin” show through….

SO, my pearl from this month’s issue? Finally, the coveted and best kept secret of celebrity hairdressers world-wide will making it’s debut next month in the US at Target…..Loreal’s Elnett Hairspray($13.99) has long been smuggled in suitcases of the celebrity hair dressers from overseas…but no more!!! (well, maybe….)

Elnett has long been a celebrity hairdresser must-have because it supposedly is one of the only hairsprays that you CAN’T go overboard with…Supposedly it adds body and texture to the hair without weighing it down or resulting in helmet head…..But it also looks like (due to different EPA standards) the US version of Elnett will be TAD bit different…(different restrictions of propellants here vs. Europe)….BUT not enough of a difference for moi! I’ll definitely be looking for it my next trip to the “Big T”!

Be Beautiful…..

Hello beautiful people! Well, as some of you already know I was super thrilled and honored a few weeks ago to meet one of my makeup idols….CARMINDY, the master behind the make-up on TLC’s What Not To Wear.  Carmindy was able to  fulfill a dream I think most professional makeup artists possess…..she was asked by Sally Hansen to help them create a one-of-kind makeup line called Sally Hansen Natural Beauty….Inspired by CARMINDY……I was even more thrilled to learn that Carmindy honestly ONLY USES SALLY HANSEN NATURAL BEAUTY make-up on the show!!! Since they shoot What Not To Wear in HD, what you see is what you get (and made me even more positive that I MUST try out these amazing products)!!!

And wouldn’t you know it….last week I received my own box of “love” from Carmindy….and just have to share with you the standout products from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty…inspired by CARMINDY line!

1. Luminizing Face Primer ($9.99). Well, you all know how I feel about primer….if you are going to take the time to put on foundation, put on primer first!! This shimmery, gel-based primer felt like silk going on….It made my foundation adhere seamlessly and then stay all day! I am super excited because I have yet to find a drugstore primer that I can recommend to my clients…Well, here it is Ya’ll!

2. Your Skin Makeup ($12.99) This foundation did a great job of giving  me the  medium to full coverage I need; I found this yellow-based (thank GOD) liquid to be super easy to work with and the results looked super natural…I recommend this foundation for experienced makeup girls or you  newbies to the cosmetic scene!

3.Fast Fix Concealer ($8.99) Thick enough to cover the nastiest of blemishes but creamy enough to use under your eyes….that is no easy feat from any product ( GO drugstore beauty…)!

4. Instant Definition Eye Shadow Pallete ($7.99) Consisting of a highlighter, mid-tone and contouring shadow, there is no end to the different looks you can get from this one pallete (they come in 8 color combos)….Use the highlighter for day and pump it up with the countor shadow for evening….These silky shadows have enough pigment to satisfy a makeup artist while managing to stay VERY user-friendly..(I’ll be using these puppies at my next wedding for sure…).

5. Natural Beauty Powder Blush ($10.99) Same as the shadows…enough pigment for moi, but not too much for makeup newbies….the shade I tested “Etheral” was super-light with just enough shimmer to give you a super-natural glow!

And last (but not least), I have to tell you about the lip gloss….

5. Natural Shine Lipgloss ($7.99) This yummy-tasting gloss is the perfect mix of balm and gloss….thick enough to stay awhile, but not a “hair magnet” like some others can be, I thought it had the perfect amount of color….it looks beautiful on it’s own or works great layered over lipstick for that extra “oouummph”!

The best part? Since Carmindy “shared the love” with moi…I am going to pay it forward and share it with you readers….I’ll be giving away my own “box of love” of Sally Hansen Natural Beauty…inspired by CARMINDY cosmetics…Stay tuned for my next post Ya’ll!!

Be Beautiful….

Hello beautiful people! Well, it was a busy weekend…between doing makeup for a wedding and going the Texas State Fair it was a banner weekend of beauty for moi! Little did I know that my family fair experience would include tailored beauty and hair advice from the team at Loreal! As soon as I saw The Color Space tent I made a direct beeline for it….and was greeted by this doll who gave me a FREE Loreal Voluminous Mascara ($<7) just for entering! I’d been dying to try this mascara forever as I have SEVERAL makeup artist pals who swear by it…..

Once inside the tent, guests had a plethora of beauty options…..from tailored one-on-one skincare advice from Loreal’s trained estheticians to full makeup makeovers from their artists AND tailored haircare and color advice, every woman could leave the tent just a little bit more beautiful….They also featured the Truelight Pod, a little room you could go in to see just exactly how your makeup would hold up in different situations and the Video Beauty Confessional, a little video booth where you could record and share your most coveted beauty lessons….I did it and received a FREE Loreal Revitalift Complete Day Lotion ($<17.00)!

But the piece De resistance of Loreal’s Color Space at the Texas State Fair?….Had to be their Skincare Diagnostic Blue/Black light machine featuring GLOW technology…this bad-boy took a picture of your skin and showed you EXACTLY the damage all those carefree years sans sunscreen and tanning bed worship had and would continue to reap on your poor face….I wimped out as you had to remove your makeup to get a accurate picture of the damage… (my kids were practically pulling my arms off to get to the rides….) Although, afterward a member of the Loreal team would happily put your makeup back on for you!!!

But of course the BEST part of Loreal’s Color Space for moi? Every makeup and skincare item Loreal carries was beautifully displayed and easily accessible….makeup and skincare items were super easy to get your little hands on and mirrors were everywhere so you could test it all to your little hearts content….My  new favorites? From their HIP line (I’ve always loved this line…it’s totally the poor girl’s MAC)  the new Jelly Balms (<$9) rocked my world….just the right amount of sheer pigment, these yummy-tasting balms are perfect for the girl-on-the-go OR can be played up over lip liner….And I loved the new Bare Naturale Lip Conditioners ($<9). Both of these guys made welcome additions to my makeup bag….

So all in all, next time YOUR state fair comes around be sure to find out if Loreal’s Color Space will be in your town…..as I was leaving the tent the Loreal crew made to sure to fill my already over-flowing arms with loads of $2 Dollar-Off coupons redeemable anywhere Loreal is sold…..Perfect after all the money we burned on the rides!!!!

Be Beautiful Y’all!!!!

Hello my beauties…..Been thinking hard on this topic and just had to share with you my  5 Top Tips on “How NOT to look OLD”. There are so many out there but these 5 really “float my boat”…

1. Use foundation primer. The 2 seconds you spend applying this magical product before your foundation or concealer is HANDS-DOWN the best thing you can do for your skin. Primer fills in hills and valleys and helps to lessen the elevation of bumps and lumps……PLUS you will be amazed at how much better your foundation covers! My current fav? Napoleon Perdis Auto-Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer ($39)…..I found it to be least slimy and “oily” feeling of all….

2. Say goodbye to dark, matte lipstick. Need I say more? Now be careful on the gloss…you want more of a SHEEN vs getting all “Porn-Star Paris Hilton-ish”…..( photo courtesy of TotalBeauty…check out the amazing photos from their story “Erase 10 years”…the pictures are phenom!!!)

3. Use a  Gradual Self-Tanning “Lotion”. (Instead of plain old Self-Tanner which can be tricky and has the potential to streak). These gradual Self-Tanners are SO easy to use and hide a multitude of past skin “sins”…Brownspots anyone?  It’s amazing how the neck and backs of hands can age you….I use Olay’s Touch of Sun Overnight (<$9). I’ve found it to be the least offensive scent-wise and who doesn’t need a little extra moisturization before bedtime?

4. Use a moisturizer with SPF EVERYDAY.…after you apply it to your face take it one step further and coat your neck, chest and the backs of your hands.….I’ve told you before, but my fav is Neutrogena’s Healthy Defense SPF 45 Daily Moisturizer (<$13). I was just telling someone the other day that this awesome product helps keep my brownspots at bay WAY better than some others I’ve tried that are $100 bucks or more!!!!

( Is Helen Mirren NOT amazing? Talk about aging gracefully.….)

5. Accept your AGE. Sorry to get all deep on you ladies but I gotta say this one probably takes the cake. After all my years in the biz, I’ve seen some scary stuff…..you know, lots of women that look GREAT far away and then you get up close and are like, SCARY? I think nothing ages a woman more than when she tries to look YOUNGER than her AGE…I mean, don’t get me wrong…I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to preserve what your maker gave you..But tread LIGHTLY when it comes to the knife and needle...At some point we just have to accept that aging happens…So I say look the best you can FOR YOUR AGE!!! (Okay, I’m off my soapbox now….)!

If you have any tips or tricks that you rely on to look the best for YOUR age do tell!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll….

Hello my beauties!!! Had MAJOR technical difficulties (they are redo-ing all the dsl on our street) so it’s good to be back. Had a few days to think up some post ideas and between grocery and drugstore runs this week, thought I would list my top 5 drugstore beauty finds!!!!

1. Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment (<$10). Well, it didn’t get top pick from Allure editors for no reason..this is the first 2% salicylic acne treatment that didn’t A. Burn like dickens and B. Create more redness and more flaking….love,love!

2.  Loreal Skin Genesis Pore Minimizing Face Cleanser (<$8). The fragrance in this stuff has a kick!!! I seem to taste it every time I wash my face so it’s a no,no for you sensitive girls….BUT it takes off makeup lickety-split...especially eye makeup, so it’s a no-brainer for moi….

3. Covergirl Line Exact Liquid Eyeliner ($7). My hero, makeup artist Pat McGrath came up with this little lovely and I finally picked one up. GREAT for newbies to liquid eyeliner because of it’s tiny size; it really helps to keep your hand steady (and the felt tip is easier than a brush). Loved the formula (lasted a long time)…just wish they would come out with more colors…..

4. Borghese Nail Laquer (<$9). This latest department store import kept the department store quality but changed the prices….it’s got a great brush and went on super smooth and remained chip-free my required week (plus it has no nasty ingredients!)….

5. St. Ives Swiss Minerals Body Lotion (<$5). I don’t why but the minerals in this stuff really appealed to me….and I’m glad I bought it because it is super moisturizing without being greasy and feels pretty luxurious for a pretty cheap price!!! ( I probably go through a gallon of body lotion a week…NOT my most favorite beauty ritual but necessary...)

So there you have it. My grocery store and drugstore beauty conquests this week….if you are in need try them out next trip out (and be sure to leave a comment and tell ME if you find something that makes your step a little bit prettier….)!

TGIF and Be Beautiful Ya’ll……….

Hello beautiful people! So this is the time of year when I try to pretend like it’s not still 90 degrees here in Texas and do whatever I can do transition my summer wardrobe to a more “fall-ish” look…so I switch from Havaina’s to flats (BIG whoop)!

Well I got the cutest pair recently… but for some reason the Peds that I usually wear with them catch on the heel and end up in a ball inside the shoe…ANNOYING.  I just HATE the stinky, sweaty feet you get going bare…but only Dorothy can get away with socks with her flats…lol!

Problem solved though. I found this…. Certain Dri FEET Microsponge Powder ($<8).  I sprinkle a tad bit in my shoes before I take off for the day and don’t miss my Peds for a minute! My feet stay super dry without getting a nasty film and I don’t clear the room when I take my shoes off at the end of the day……

So pick some up at your nearest everything store and try it out next time you decide to go out sans socks……. your roommate/boyfriend/girlfriend/etc will thank you!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll………..

So as some of you know I just have been in kind of a creative funk the past few weeks……what to write, what to write. My 12 step program tells me when I get that way to write a gratitude list…so here it is.  Five products that make my life just a little bit easier…….

1. Marini Lash by Jan Marini Eyelash Conditioner ($160)…. This stuff is like Rogaine for the lashes… every time I put my mascara on it astounds me that I NOW have the kind of lashes that some “pretty girls” are lucky enough to be born with…Turns out now you can buy those lashes, in a tube! Yeah-Yah!…

2. Cargo TexasLash Mascara ($20) Do I really need to say more?

3. Nailtiques Nail Protein Formula 1 ($17.50) This is my topcoat, my basecoat AND strengthener. My manicure lasts a week and my nails are no longer peeling anymore (a small miracle in my book)!

4. Tria At Home Laser Hair Removal Device ($995) Still giving myself treatments at home in front of TIVO (nice) but already I only have to shave about every FOUR days…down from at LEAST every other day….

5. And finally last but not least, Maybelline Shadow Stylist in Elegant Pearl ($6) Just a touch of this beautiful powder to the lid and inner corner chases darkness away…..

So I’ve told you mine,  now tell me YOURS!!!

Be Beautiful Ya’ll and Thank You for reading…..