I'm a Buxom Babe

I've mentioned before that I love Buxom Lips by Bare Escentuals. It's a lip gloss/lip plumper.

But in the winter, I need something more substantial on my lips. I'm a chapstick whore as it is.
So enter the new Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Stick ($18 at Sephora):
It's slim so it acts as a liner too.

I tend to gravitate towards pinky chocolate shades:
So the Brooklyn shade (above) was perfect for me.

Now, I use the Brooklyn Lip Stick and then the Brooklyn Lip Gloss on top!

Plus, I love all the names they use for the different Buxom shades: There's Lacey and Betty and Ginger and Celeste. Looking for a good protagonist name? Go there :D

You know who else has great names? Pottery Barn, for their furniture sets.

Do You Detect a Carmel Apple Theme?

What can I say? It reminds me of fall.

I am a HUGE fan of Philosophy's 3 in 1 bath products. I am NEVER without them.

My newest one? Carmel Apple of course. It smells DIVINE.

Plus, it has the easiest carmel apple recipe on the front label. All you need is: apples, popsicle sticks, caramel candies and milk.

Unwrap the carmels in a 14 oz. bag. Melt the carmels with 2 tbsp. of milk in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stick popsicle sticks in six apples. Dip the apples in the caramel and let them cool on wax paper (sprayed with non-stick cooking spray). Voila!

Dip in chopped pecans--if you dare! :)

Bare Escentuals Perfume Diaries

I am definitely a Bare Minerals girl. I've been using the foundation for eons.



So I love the idea of CEO Leslie Blodgett coming out with a line of fragrances for Sephora, called Perfume Diaries.



The first one is called Bare Skin and I can't wait to smell it. It supposed to be a mix of musk, vanilla, orchid and sandalwood.

I've also begun wearing Philosophy's Amazing Grace, because everytime I'm with my friend Amy, she's wearing it and smells so good. It's a subtle clean/feminine smell.

What about you?

Plum Lips for Fall

Striking, indeed.

But, I think most of us could only pull this look off if it was sheer or a lighter hue (more like mauve)--like the Mac versions, below:

Eye Liner: Everyday or Special Occasion?

Readers, I'm curious, do you wear eye-liner every single day?



I do not.



It would only impress the four walls of my home office or a handful of kindergartners.



I save it for weekends or nights out.



I use Sue Devitt eye intensifier in Tanzania (it's a bronzy color)--it makes my green/hazel eyes POP! And it stays put.

How about YOU?

Rosy Cheeks

Now that the season has changed over to fall,

you are supposed to put away your BRONZERS, that gave your cheeks the sun-kissed look,

and use your BLUSHES that give your cheeks the wind-kissed look:

I use Laura Geller's Baked Blush-n-Brighten:
It comes in berry and apricot (as you can tell, it's baked with some gold and bronzes too). It's about $28 from Sephora, and has lasted me over a year now!

p.s. I am going to be cleaning up my right sidebar (it's been a while)--eventually I am just going to have the followers tool up and only a couple of links. So if you haven't already, can you become a follower (and I'll do the same)? THANKS!

"Glamour"ous Body?

When I first saw this photo of Lizzie Miller in my September Glamour magazine, I quietly cheered.


I cheered for the attention it was drawing to a normal women's body and I cheered for Lizzie to have such confidence to do it. My hand went to my own stomach, wondering how close to the truth this would look for me too.


I have seen this photo discussed on other blogs this past week and one comment I read made me stop and think.


The commenter was angry that they used such a gorgeous women in such an unflattering photo and wondered why they didn't show her in glamorous fashion photos instead.


Hmmm..... interesting take and I'm still thinking about it.

Why don't magazines take stylish photos of all kinds of sizes and inter-mix them so we can all relate no matter what size we are?

I'm not stupid- I'm sure the answer has to do with business and with what the reading audience "wants"-or do they?

Maybe the readers are just conditioned to seeing all the youth and thin-ness offered up to them in thousands of images a day.

Food for thought....

The industry has definitely made improvements. When I was a stylist for shoots ten years ago I couldn't fit my big toe in those sample sizes. That hasn't changed.

But some magazines (Glamour included) have run ads and spreads using more average-sized women. But it's few and far between.

My final words on this 9-11 post, 8 years later? Let's Roll!

Things That Change As We Age

So, I'm not exactly sure when it began happening- either after age 35, or maybe after pregnancy- but my body started changing.

Suddenly:

I was holding on to my weight and couldn't just starve myself for a week to lose five pounds.

I began having break-outs ( I was lucky enough not to have teen zits- so this was new for me).

I had to get re-fitted for a bra.

And- this was a biggie for me- my deodorant no longer worked! Suddenly there were huge sweat stains under my arms everyday and I began staying away from dark colored material, which screamed- Hello! I'm sweating!

So, I've had to change my exercise (yeah right, who am I kidding) and beauty routines.

And I found my knight in shining armor, below:



Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant. I cannot go a day without it!

Anyone else experience these kinds of changes?

Beauty: Skin Brighteners

I know a past post sung the praises of the skin brightener Touche Eclat.





I used it daily, religiously, to lighten up my under eye shadows.

So imagine my HORROR when I ran out one day without realizing it. I quickly ran out to Sephora to get a new one (or three, so I'd never run out again)and they didn't have them in stock!



I stood there in shock, tears practically flowing from my eyes, when one of the sales associates asked if I'd ever tried Skin Flash by Dior. She led me to it, reluctantly, and out of desperation I bought it.

It's a whopping $36 bucks (six bucks cheaper than Touche Eclat)-but for me this kind of product is one I cannot live without!

And guess what? I think I like it BETTER than Touche Eclat! Shocker, I know!

What is your "can't live without" beauty product?

Beauty: What is the best foundation for oily skin?

Ask Christina:
This question comes from A Duck in her Pond: What is the best foundation for my oily skin?

Answer: Well I am sure all my readers and bloggy friends can also help out with this question. Especially those with this kind of skin who haved tried it all!

I have read that, if you have an oily complexion, you should choose a powder type foundation (pressed or loose, like the mineral kind) or a liquid foundation that's water based (not oil based like others).

Here's some other advice I came across: When shopping for oily skin foundations, choose one that is one shade lighter than your natural shade. That way, if the oils in your skin darken the foundation, it won't be a problem.

SO, here are some of my ideas (there are alot of products on the market for oily skin):

Clinique’s Stay-True Makeup Oil-Free Formula:

Almay’s Clear Complexion Liquid Makeup :

MAC Studio Fix :
Bobbi Brown's Oil-free Even Finish Foundation:

Bare Minerals (or Sheer Cover, which is another mineral make-up):

Maybelline pure makeup foundation which is 50% water based:


Readers, do you want to weigh in?

Beauty: Waterproof Makeup

I definitely wear waterproof mascara all year long but in the summer it's especially important so that I don't get raccoon eyes. Right now I am testing out different kinds (based on my lovely readers suggestions a couple of months ago).



Here is my brand new favorite waterproof mascara: DiorShow Black Out Waterproof Mascara



Here are some other waterproof tested products, according to Glamour Magazine:

Covergirl Outlast Lipstain:

L'O'real Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner:
The Body Shop Bright Lips and Cheek Stain:
Estee Lauder Double Wear Shadow Creme:
Hourglass Supernatural Waterproof Bronzer:
Readers, do you wear anything waterproof in the hottest months?

Beauty Review:Self-Tanner

I use Jergens Natural Glow Healthy Complexion daily moisturizer!

It is a very subtle tanner (I mostly put it on my legs) and it does double duty for me because its a moisturizer too!

LOVE IT!

It comes in a foam or lotion (in a firming lotion too), and for the face it has an SPF of 20.

It comes in three different shades. I use the lightest one and it does the job.

Readers: Do you use a self-tanner? If so, What kind?

Streeeeetching Out Your Hair Coloring

Alternate Title: Save Time and Money

I try to stretch the time between hair colors for as long as I can.

My hair is naturally chocolate brown but as I age, the greys continue to come and show up rather easily on my dark hair.

Which leads me to wonder if eventually I will lighten up my color, so my greys won't be so evident.

My older sister has blond highlights and although she "claims" to not have any grey yet (bee-otch!) I wonder if she wouldn't be able to tell as easily anyway because of her hair color.

Anyway, for now, I will try to do what I can to help my hairline (my part is where I can see the color fading and the greys) appear to retain it's color.

Here are some ideas:

Johm Frieda's Luminous Color Glaze (comes in red and blond too). It's a gel creme that you shampoo into your hair. It gives you a hint of color to help your color hold.

I have used this as well as another brand called Artec (sold at salons). Both work the same but the John Frieda is cheaper, a little over $8.

I like it BUT, it's so messy in the shower. It stains the sides of the shower and your hands. You just have to make sure to wash your hands right away after rinsing your hair.

Joan River's Great Hair Day Fill-In Powder in six different shades. I saw her presentation of this on QVC. It is for thinnning hair and for grey coverage in-between appointments. You would use it on your scalp line, much like you would use an eyebrow powder.

Looks interesting, and I might give it a try. It's $26.67 and it probaby would last a long time.

Clairol's Nice 'n Easy Root Touch Up is supposed to be a ten minute job. You style your hair the way you normally wear it and then apply the brush applicator to your part and temples, or wherever you need it. They offer several different shades and it costs around $7. Another one on my list to try. It is probably less messy than the shampoo.

Readers, what do you do between appointments?

Matte Lips: Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

I used to wear matte lipstick all through the nineties.

My lips retained the color well for some reason.

BUT, my lips were always extremely dry. And they appeared to look cracked and discolored after a couple of hours.

So when I finally changed to semi-matte and then tinted lip gloss my lips were in heaven.

So I am not sure I can EVER go back.

I understand the look for effect, but not for everyday wear, and certainly not RED, at least not on me. A softer browny pink works well for my coloring.

What about you?

(photo credit: Heidi Klum- teamsugar.com; Kirsten Dunst Mui Mui ad from smarter.com)

Beauty Giveaway: Advanced Face Firming Activator

Have you heard of or seen Dr. Nicholas Perricone on Oprah?


If you have, then you know he's a dermatologist, who's written several books on weight loos and aging, and has become famous for his skin care products!


Have I've got a great giveaway for you!!!



One lucky reader will win one bottle of his Advanced Face Firming Activator, retail value $120!



According to their site: Advanced Face Firming Activator, transforms skin to appear firm, toned and absolutely glowing, while preventing further damage. Formulated with Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE that work synergistically to visibly resurface skin's texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and reveal a radiant and healthy complexion. Paraben-free.




If you'd like to be entered to win it, just email me at christinalee@ameritech.net with the word PERRICONE in the subject line!

Last day to enter the CONTEST: Friday May 29th! I will pick a winner Saturday!

All that I ask in return, is for you to tell me how you like it- I'm DYING to know!

Beauty: Cosmetic Treatments or Procedures

I won't lie, I've thought about plastic surgery and whether, if I had the money, I would ever be able to go through with one kind or another- I think most women have.


The more you age the more the face you see in the in the mirror doesn't seem to be your own anymore. You begin noticing more fine lines, sun spots, maybe even little hairs that were never there before -and you wonder- should I change products, or try something new?


Would I ever try laser treatments, or facial re-surfacing, a chemical peel, botox, or (gasp)a mini facelift?- or some other such script that may go on in your head.


I haven't had success with any magic creams yet- except for ones that supply hydration and sun protection, which is very important.


And I don't know if I'd be brave enough to have any procedures done in the future. And parts of me feel angry for even considering the thought of it-what about loving your whole self and aging gracefully?


Well- a few months ago I bought Philosophy's Micro-Delivery Peel at Sephora and have been using it once a month. It cost $65, should last me most of the year and was cheaper than the dermatologist. Plus I had heard good things about it!

I have to tell you, I love it!

You begin with the grainy scrub which is really just very intense and coarse exfoliation. While that's on your face, you add the vitamin c infused serum on top of it. Your skin will suddenly feel warm and tingly all over-you keep it on for as long as you can stand it-and rinse it off with a warm wash cloth.

Every single time my skin feels brand new- like it's been re-surfaced!

Works for me! I highly recommend it!

What about you, readers? What would YOU try or not try?

What Beauty and Non-Beauty Essentials Do You Keep in Your Desk?

If you don't have a desk, per se, what do you keep very close by at all times, say, in the bag you carry?


Now, my wallet and keys are a given, that I need to keep close by-but I don't keep them in my desk-just in my bag ............



For me, number one would be some type of chapstick or tinted lip balm. If my lips feel dry, I CANNOT GO ON! ;)



Which leads me to some type of hand lotion. I wash my hands SO MUCH throughout the day that my hands get dry!

Then pressed powder to dab my nose and Touche Eclat for under my eyes.


Next, my cell phone has to always be in reach (which can be seen as good and bad).

Followed by notepad and paper to write down any myriad of things: jewelry orders from Paypal, post ideas, grocery list, etc.

My digital camera is next in line! In case I need to take pictures of jewlery or stories for the newspaper I write for!

And even though it's not in my desk, it certainly is on it- a steaming cup of coffee or water !



........which leads to having a bathroom nearby at all times ;)

What about you, readers?

Do you wash your hair daily?

I saw a recent survey in a magazine that said most people DO NOT wash their hair daily, for various reasons. The reasons included time constraints, hair texture, and laziness.


I probably don't wash everyday for all of the reasons mentioned.


I have very fine hair, but there's alot of it. Somehow my hair just looks better the second day. There's product in it, it's not too "soft" and flimsy, and in fact my colorist prefers I don't wash my hair before an appointment, because she says my scalp will retain the color better unwashed.


Plus, time constraints and laziness come into play. It's time consuming washing, blow drying and styling your hair everyday. So every other day I skip two steps and go right to styling.



Jonathan has a hair product called DIRT to mimic this effect for people who want that second day unwashed feel to their hair. So there's got to be some rhyme or reason to it, right?

As Imogen pointed out from Inside Out Style, there's also all different kinds of DRY SHAMPOO that absorbs oils on the hair and scalp and allows you to clean your hair without using water.

(photo credit: Sephora)

SO, let me hear from you, readers: do you wash your hair EVERY SINGLE DAY?

Daily Beauty Routine

My beauty routine hasn't varied very much over the last few years.

I have always used Oil of Olay gentle foaming cleanser because I can put it on my eyes and remove my mascara along with the rest of my make-up (because I'm lazy and don't want to use a separate eye make-up remover).

I follow with Oil of Olay toner ( a toner for dry skin, an astringent for oily skin is supposed to be the rule of thumb).

Next I use some type of night-time moisturizer/wrinkle fighting cream. I've switched around and tried several throughout the years, but have never found anything that knocked my socks off.


I also have tried to use different eye creams over the years but then decided it was just "stuff" added to my routine and a waste of my time!

For day-time, I use Aveeno moisturizer with an SPF.


I will preface what I say next by telling you I have dry skin and it has gotten worse over the years. I can slather lots of moisturizer on it and it will soak right in!


So, just recently I have tried two new products that I am so excited about!


One is this Roc Wrinkle Serum that actually tingles on my face and feels likes it's tightening it. I use it before the moisturizing. It's about $20 for a small 1 oz. bottle and I have yet to see how long it will last me. I mean, it's nothing completely earth shattering, but I feel like my skin looks and feels better- maybe it's just getting enough hydration now.

And the second thing that I've tried is Purity Made Simple cleanser. I AM IN LOVE WITH IT! It is by Philosophy and I got it as a sample with my 3 in 1 bath products.

You can use it on your whole face, including your eyes and mascara. It literally MELTS the make-up away, there's no other way to decribe it. It dissolved my mascara and I do not have to keep applying it to get left over clumps off! Plus it's very mild to my sensitive skin!

It is supposed to be all natural and is available at Sephora. The 3 oz. size is $10, and goes up from there. Not totally budget friendly but right now, worth it for me.




So, it got me thinking: Has anyone else had the same success with these two products?


What's your beauty routine, readers?

***Addendum: Question from Kirsten at Barking Dog Shoes: I have a permanent shine to my nose and would LOVE to know what you or other readers might recommend to combat that (other than the Clean and Clear blue blotters).*** Readers, I am going to defer to you right now......

Beauty Review: Mascara

I have a love/hate relationship with mascara. I've been in a life-long pursuit for the perfect mascara for me. I want length and volume-is that too much for a girl to ask?


And don't get me started on all the "fake" mascara ads and commercials- I am no longer nieve enough to get sucked into them. There is no way that celebrity or model is not getting help with false eyelashes.


Anyhoo, I feel like I tested them all (but I know I really haven't). I have tried lots of drugstore brands, as well as Clinique, Definicils by Lancome (curious about Fatale though), False Eyelashes by Prescriptives, and so on.



So, right now I am using Loreal Voluminous black waterproof mascara. And I keep going back to it, because it works the best for me but I don't love love it (I love it, but I'm not in love with it). ;)


The problem I have is that if I don't use the waterproof kind, black flakes begin collecting under my eyes by the end of the day. And let's face it- I already have enough of a problem with under eye darkness- I don't need more.


The Budget Babe recently said she swears by Maybelline Define-A-Lash so I am going to try that one next.


So, my lovely readers, PLEASE share with me what mascara you swear by that doesn't flake or clump ( at least very much), and gives you some length and volume.