Taking it Back to the Old School

Sometimes it’s fun to visit your roots. I’m feeling nostalgic today, so here’s a compilation of a few classic Makeup and Beauty Blog posts.

Work those high heels at the club with these Tips for Making High Heels Comfortable.

Got lash envy? Here are a few MAC tips and tricks for perfect lashes.

A little self-promotion never hurts.

It’s time to start Christmas shopping. Pick up a few gifts for your family, then pick up a few MAC Favorites from Allure Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards for your bad self.

Remember MAC Sheer Mystery Powder?

Ha! I actually brought a tube of Rimmel After Dark Lipglass to the club last night.

The Beauty Blog Network Hotties are in the House

But wait! There’s more beauty to be had with the best o’ the week from The Beauty Blog Network!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic – Christine Tries out Sara Happ’s Lip Scrub
A Touch of Blusher – Foundation Face-Off: Chanel & SUQQU
All Lacquered Up – Check out Essie’s Winter Collection Before It Hits Stores
Beauty and Fashion Tech – Beauty and Fashion Tech Looks at the New MAC Holiday Collection and Provides Swatches
Beauty and Personality Grooming – Facial scrubs for dry skin
Elke Von Freudenberg – Elke finally (gulp) loves pink lipstick
Etailers Mall, The Blog – Sarah features the Deadly Kiss Choker from After Dark Jewelry.
Makeup Moxie – Customized Clinique Happy Photo Bottles
Musings of a Muse – MAC Formal Black 2006 vs MAC Antiquitease 2007 with Photos and Comparisons
Mystical Beauty’s Musings – The Body Perfumery Gloss Me! Hair Serum Review
Savvy Skin – Laser Hair Removal – Worth Another Chance?
Temptalia - Antiquitease: Royal Assets & Heirlooms Review & Swatches
The Life of A Ladybug - Toya’s ode to Kevyn Aucoin
Makeup Loves Me – Lancome’s Color Fever Gloss in Volcanic Pink
And just in case you missed it (oh no you didn’t) my post from earlier in the week covering Makeup Trends from LA Fashion Week and Tips from Smashbox Makeup Artist Lori Taylor.

Booty Short Stress

I report with a touch of sadness that last night’s pole dance class did not happen. Our instructor never showed up (BOO) so all of my booty short stress was all for naught. We ended up going to get suishi and then to a club called Suede. For the record, it’s hard to dance with cat ears on.

Club cuties

How was your Saturday night? Did you go to any pre-Halloween parties? ‘Twas a fun night but now I’m exhasuted. I think I’m gonna chill out for the rest of the day.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Nora Ephron really hit it on the head when she titled her book, “I Feel Bad About My Neck.”

I don’t have many regrets in life. However, one huge regret that’s been bugging me lately is that I wish I would’ve taken better care of the skin around my neck.

It feels like one morning I woke up, took a look in the mirror and BAM! Neck lines! Rough skin! Wrinkles!

I’m a big fan of wearing sunscreen as an anti-aging treatment and have been slathering it on my face since I was a teenager. I don’t like the feeling of having a sticky neck, so I’d always skip out on slathering it all over my neck. I really regret that now.

In the effort to make up for lost time, I’ve been trying to take better care of my neck, and one thing that I’ve been doing lately is washing it with a Micellar water cleanser.

Several French skincare lines make Micellar water cleansers, which are liquid cleansers that you use without water. They usually come in a bottle in liquid form. You apply a lil’ bit on a cotton pad, wipe your skin down with the moistened pad, and then voila! Your dirty birdy self is clean because there’s no need to rinse off with water. Micellar water cleansers are usually geared towards sensitive skin and sometimes the formulas also combine the cleanser with toner or moisturizer.

The weather is getting cooler round my ‘hood which means that in the morning, my bathroom turns into a freezer. It gets so cold that I can’t bear to wash my neck because that means I have to take off whatever sweatshirt/long sleeve shirt I’m wearing. And if I leave on whatever shirt I’m wearing I get water and soap down my shirt. It’s not a pleasant way to start the day.

So lately I’ve been using Darphin’s Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water Cleanser to wash my neck. A few weeks ago I did a review on it, and back then I felt just so-so about it as a makeup remover, but now love it as a waterless cleanser for my neck. I put a few drops on a cotton pad, wipe the front, back and décolleté area and voila! A clean neck without any fuss or muss. (And, I get to stay warm!)

At $50 per bottle, Darphin is definitely on the higher-end of Micellar Cleansers. If you want to try a Micellar cleansers but are on a budget here are a few lower-priced options:

Nuxe Eau Demaquillant
$22.00 for 8.4 fl oz bottle

- antioxidant-rich
- removes all makeup, including water-resistant from face, eyes and lips
- alcohol- and fragrance-free
- moisturizes and tones the ksin
- natural extracts and green tea

Nuxe is a French company that uses plants and essential oils in their products. Their producuts also contain no animal substances, mineral oils or artificial colors. I’ve used a few products in the past and remember really liking the line. I think when I run out of Darphin this is the next brand I will try.

Caudalie Paris Cleansing Water
$22.00 for a 6.7 oz bottle

- Soap-free
- Three-in-one cleanser, makeup remover and toner
- Good for sensitive skin

Caudalie’s line is based on polyphenols found in grape seeds.

In the past I’ve used both Energizing Cream, an anti-aging moisturizer, and Gentle Cleanser, a cleanser containing free radicals. I liked the products because the didn’t irritate my skin are were very gentle.

In addition to a full skin care line they have several “Vinotherapie Spas” with grapevine-derived anti-aging treatments. One is located a stone’s throw away from me in Sonoma. Girl’s spa day, anyone?

Eau Thermale Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up remover
$15.00 for a 6.7 fl oz bottle

- contains “active” ingredients which are naturally encapsulated within the lotion and released upon contact with the skin
- deep cleansing without irritation
- hypo-allergenic and fragrance-free

Avene skin care products are geared towards those with sensitive skin and healing skin conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. The key ingredient in their products is the therma spring water that flows from France’s Cevennes Mountains.

I’ve got a soft spot for both French skin care (my last name is French, haaaaaaay!) and Japanese skin care. I don’t know if it’s clever marketing, but these brands do seem to have products that appeal to my sensibilities. Do you have any favorite foreign skin care lines?

Besides mangling the French language, when I went to Paris a few years ago one of my favorite things to do was to go into stores and pharmacies to look at all the weird and unusual lines they offered. Paris is one of my favorite cities in terms of style, culture and carbs — OH! THE BREAD! I can’t wait to go back.

Anyway, I hope your Monday is off to a good start, and I raise my cup o’ coffee to you. Keep fighting the powers that be!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Makeup Reviews – Part Uno of MAC Pro Store Haul

MAC Loose Beauty Powder in Natural Flare
Price: $21.00 for a 0.28 jar
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Oh. My. Gawd. Becky.

The Loose Beauty Powders are frickin’ amazing.

MAC Loose Beauty Powders are sheer, jet-milled powders used to bring shimmer to eyes, cheeks and skin.

There are eight colors, and I think I want them all!

- MAC Paperwhite: Soft white with pearl reflects
- MAC Micro Pink: Pale pink with red reflects
- MAC Lightly Lilac: Soft lavender with violet reflects
- MAC Daisy Dust: Pale banana with gold reflects
- MAC Natural Flare: Peachy champagne with white and gold reflects
- MAC Peach Haze: Soft coral with gold and bronze reflects
- MAC Dancing Light: Creamy gold with white gold reflects
- MAC Drizzlegold: Flechy beige with copper and gold reflects

I have MAC Natural Flare, a peachy champagne with white and gold reflects. Not only is the color beautiful, it’s incredibly versatile.

In the past two weeks I’ve used it in several different ways, including:

- on top of matte blushes to give them dimension
- as a highlighter on the nose, chin and upper cheekbones
- with lotion and applied to legs and arms
- mixed with sunscreen on days I’m too lazy to wear foundation but still want a little glow.

What I liked about MAC Loose Beauty Powder

- gorgeous, refined glitter that isn’t too in your face
- perfect, natural looking sparkle
- very sheer, yet buildable coverage. Even when I’ve accidentally overloaded my brush and the results still look great
- great for a luminous J.Lo skin look

What I didn’t like about MAC Loose Beauty Powder

- nada! I just wish I picked up a few more colors!

The final word
Words can’t even begin to capture how much I love this product. Ladies, get your hands on this asap. Tis the shizz.

… Loose beauty?

REVIEW: MAC Paintpots in Indianwood and Groundwork
Price: $16.50 for a 0.17 oz jar
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C+/B-

I’m a big fan of MAC Paints as eyeshadow bases. Barely a day goes by when I don’t reach for my beloved Bare Canvas.

I’ve been a little hesitant to get on the Paint Pot train because the last thing I need is another MAC obsession to fuel. However, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. And if it’s for the sake of beauty blogging, then I’m down to make the ultimate sacrifice of possible product obsession.

I had great expectations for the MAC Paint Pots and was entirely hoping they’d rock me, Amadeus.

Although I liked the colors, I was disappointed with the texture and performance of MAC’s Paint Pots. My wallet will be happy to know that I will not be shelling out le dough to get all of the colors into my makeup stash.

What I liked about MAC Paint Pots

- great packaging
- natural and pretty colors
- long wearing
- doesn’t crease

What I didn’t like about MAC Paint Pots

- drier formulation

If you’ve used the previous MAC Paints in a tube, you know that one of the big issues is that the product is hard to control. It tends to shoot out of the tube, a lot ends up going to waste and the metallic packaging just sucks!

The MAC Paint Pot packaging is a vast improvement. And the stuff stays on forever and doesn’t crease, which is great. I often use Indianwood just as a wash of color all over the lid on days when I’m too lazy to do a full eye.

However, I just feel so-so about the paint pots as a shadow base. Maybe I’m nuts (hey, it’s entirely possible) but the drier texture of the new formulation doesn’t grab or blend shadows as well as the OG MAC paints.

The final word on MAC Paint Pots

I’ll probably buy Bare Study just to see how it compares to Bare Canvas, but then I’ll stop there. I don’t lust after these enough to collect them all.

REVIEW: MAC Invisible Set Powder
Price: $24.00 for a 1.1 oz jar
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

By far for the past few months Laura Mercier Translucent Loose setting powder has been my favorite thing to top off every range of foundation – tinted moisturizer, liquid foundation, etc.

Yet old beauty habits die hard, so I’m always on the hunt for new makeup.

I’ve been wanting to try MAC Pro’s Invisible Set for a while, so during my last trip to the MAC Pro store the first thing on my list was this product. The Set powders are loose powders designed to stabilize and fix makeup, and you can only purchase them at Mac Pro stores. By the way – you don’t have to have a card to shop at the MAC Pro Store! All you need is your credit card and a massive amount of self restraint.

The skinny on MAC Invisible Set Powder…

- jet-milled
- contain micronized pigments and talc for pure colors and soft application
- sheer-light coverage
- matte finish

There are seven shades, including:

- MAC Lilac: Whisper soft lavender
- MAC Peach: Light-medium beige peach
- MAC Deep Peach: Medium-deep beige with neutral peach undertones
- MAC Soft Yellow: Creamy soft yellow
- MAC Dusty Rose: Very soft pink
- MAC Porcelain: Soft white
- MAC Invisible: Transparent ivory

One of my issues with Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose setting powder is that it doesn’t have enough lasting shine control. I’ve read that Invisible Set is a great for ladies with oilier skin, so I was very excited to see how it performed in comparison.

I’ve been alternating MAC Invisible Set makeup with Laura Mercier Translucent over the last two weeks. I wish I could scream from the rooftops that MAC Invisible Set is my new favorite powder but I just feel so-so about it.

What I liked about MAC Invisible Set Powder…

- matte finish that absorbs oil for long periods of time (although this seems to be dependant on the base that I use)
- only have to use very little to get good coverage
- no weird grey cast
- huge makeup jar!

What I didn’t like about MAC Invisible Set Powder…

- has a more stark finish and not as “soft-focus” as Laura Mercier Translucent Loose
- requires more thoughtfulness during application. I can’t just slap this on and go. I really have to be careful not to overload my brush and have to dilute, dilute, dilute; otherwise my makeup looks too Memoirs of Geisha

Invisible Set makeup definitely keeps me less oily throughout the day, but on my skin it really depends on what type of base it adheres. I’ve tried it with various types of coverage, from light tinted moisturizers to medium coverage liquid foundations. By far the best results were from the heavier coverage products. When I wear Laura Mercier Oil-Free foundation, Invisible Set makeup really grabs onto the color and won’t let go. But when I use Laura Mericer Tinted Moisturizer, Invisible Set seems to get oilier much more quickly.

On me, Invisible Set gives a more theatrical, dramatic finish than Laura Mercier Translucent. Laura Mercier’s Translucent is like “I’m running barefoot through a field of sun flowers in afternoon light in sun-dappled Tuscany” while Invisible Set is like “I’m wearing Dubonnet red lips, a black Armani suit and four-inch Manolos and you better move out my way when I’m strutting down Market Street.” Get the picture?

You might like MAC Invisible Set Powder if…

- you like to have a range of powder finish options
- wear heavier foundation
- have really oily skin

The final word on MAC Invisible Set Powder…

I probably won’t buy it again simply because of the fact that this particular jar is going to last me into the next lifetime. It’s huge! And I barely need to use any of it to get great coverage.

Also, I also like to have different powder options on hand, and will use this on days when I want a more dramatic look to my skin. It’s a fun option to have in your makeup arsenal, but if you’ve got a limited budget then it’s not a must-have. However, if you’re skin is super oily and you wear heavier products, this could be a godsend.

I think in the future I’ll actually mix MAC Invisible Set Powder with Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder. I’ll keep ya’ll posted on the results of this Franken-powder experiment.

REVIEW: MAC Plushlash in Plushblack
Price: $11.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+ and a big fat HELL TO THE YAH!

MAC Plushlash will kick your Plushass!

I’m usually a big fan of drugstore (aka cheap!) mascaras and makeup, but MAC Plushlash is actually worth spending your hard earned cash on. And, baby, I know you work hard for that money.

Plushlash awesomeness begins with the huge brush. It’s all puppies and rainbows from that point on, ladies:

- excellent curl hold
- great lengthening and thickening
- deep, dark black color
- doesn’t smudge

Just for fun the other day I applied four layers of MAC Plushlash in Plushblack, and I actually went out in public without feeling like a total freak…





After three years of heavy weight domination, MAC Plushlash now knocks out DiorShow as my new fave higher end mascara. LOVE IT!

How’s your Saturday been? I’ve been slightly out o’ commission because earlier today I was listening to “Get Low” by Flo-Rida (She hit the floor, next thing ya know she got low, low, low, low…). I started dancing around the house, which is standard operating procedure ’round here, and then proceeded to pull a muscle when I got low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low. Yes, this is what happens when you’re 32 and you don’t warm up! So I’ve been wobbling around all day like a pirate with a wooden leg. Not cute!

Anyway I hope whatever you are doing is fun and that you are enjoying your day!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

If you enjoyed this post, check out MAC Makeup Reviews – MAC Royal Assets Tan Lips Palette and MAC Makeup Tips: MAC Does Makeup for Music, Too.

Makeup and Beauty Tips for Breast Cancer Patients: Staying Beautiful Inside and Out!

This is a picture of my friend, Mary Anne. She’s a breast cancer survivor and the coolest dentist I know.

We met a few years ago at UC Davis (GO AGS), where she had the annoying habit of getting good grades in organic chemistry!

It seemed like our lives were destined to follow a certain track: finish school, get great job, find kick-ass boy, etc.; so when she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year it was really shocking. It felt like it was only yesterday when we were at her house at 2:00 in the morning “studying,” aka pigging out and watching Jerry Springer.

Next thing I know we’re kickin’ it at the chemotherapy ward and making jokes about the IV she’s toting around.

Yet despite this difficult and emotional year, I’ve watched my friend handle this challenge with grace and positivity.

One of the many challenges for Mary Anne was navigating the world of makeup and beauty as a cancer patient. How do you deal with losing your eyebrows? What do you when you feel a hot flash coming on? These are just a few makeup/beauty issues that she had to deal with.

So without further ado, here are a few great tips that she’s learned this past year on how to stay beautiful both inside and out.

And if you have a friend or a relative who has breast cancer or was recently diagnosed please forward this post to her. Let’s make someone feel hopeful today!

Makeup and Beauty Tips for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors from the Lovely Mary Anne

Name
Mary Anne

Age and occupation
31 years old (My 31st birthday was very special, it happened to be my last day of radiation!)
Dentist

When were you diagnosed? How did you find out?

During a routine physical exam in October 2006, my primary care physician found a lump on my left breast. Prior to that, I had no idea it existed and never had any symptoms. Nine days later, the pathology report was in. I was in total disbelief when the doctor said “malignant invasive ductal carcinoma.” All I could do was cry.

After feeling the lump for the first time, I thought to myself…”It’s so obvious; I should’ve found it earlier!” I did not do monthly breast exams and thought I was immune to cancer because I was young, strong, and heading to the top of my career. Cancer was NOT on my agenda. Little did I know, it was going to be my only agenda item for this year.

Self-breast exams are recommended every month after our menses. Palpating your breasts in the shower with soap is the perfect time to get to know your breasts. Be sure to lift your arm and check the underarm areas as well.

What are makeup/beauty tips that you’d give to a woman who has breast cancer to stay beautiful on the outside?

Here they are in order of importance! I had to figure most of this stuff on my own, so I thought I should share them all.

- Hydrate daily. Drink plenty of water and moisturize your body including your lips. I like Cetaphil and Eucerin products.

Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, about $11 for 16 oz bottle, at your favorite drugstore

- When you feel tired, your body is telling you something…it’s saying “REST, I’m tired!”

- With clearance from your doctor, EXERCISE! If you are taking steroids to counter the side effects of chemo drugs, don’t be surprised if you find yourself a little plumper.

- Eat healthy but don’t deprive yourself of an occasional treat. Ask your doctor to speak to a nutritionist. Some hospitals offer complimentary consults. If needed, you may also want to consider speaking with a cancer psychologist as well as a social worker to assist with financial aid and participation in cancer programs.

- FLOSS! See your dentist for regular dental care. Post chemo and radiation, I now have xerostomia (dry mouth) and gum recession. Some cancer patients also experience cold/canker sores. I recommend topical fluoride treatments (like Omnii Pharmaceutical’s varnish) and regular cleanings with clearance from your medical physician. Saliva acts as a buffer against the acidic environment that causes tooth decay; so lack of saliva (dry mouth) may result in increased cavities. Speak to your dentist about Biotene (for xerostomia), Periomed (which contains stannous fluoride), Prevention Oncology Rinses (found it in Walgreens, soothing to the tissues), and Colgate’s Orabase (it contains cyanoacrylate, the same stuff in crazy glue, it’s palliative for cold sores). Chew sugar free gum with xylitol. Brush twice a day.

- Before your hair falls out, try a funky, new, bold short haircut to minimize messy floors and clogged drains. It was only two weeks into chemo that my hair started falling out in clumps. A very sweet hairdresser, Jessica, at Thirteen Salon in Walnut Creek, CA shaved my head. It was one of the most liberating things I have ever done.

Halle Berry with a short style

Alyssa Milano with cute, short hair

- Anastasia’s Eyebrow Kit. I was never one to draw in eyebrows. The kit has everything for a beginner…stencils, mascara, the perfect eyebrow brush and colors.

Anastasia Five Piece Brow Kit, $65.00, anastasia.net or Sephora

- Find pretty nail polish. Chemo drugs such as Adriamycin and Cytoxin will turn your nails black. I prefer darker colors like OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark and Mrs. O’Leary’s BBQ.

OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark, $7.50 at Amazon.com

- Treat yourself to a nice scarf. I found a classy large scarf at H&M for $8!

- Try NARS bronzer and blush. Apply a little bit to give yourself a healthy glow. It works!

Nars Orgasm Blush and Laguna Bronzer duo, $36 at Sephora

- Attend “Look Good, Feel Better,” a seminar held by the American Cancer Society free of charge for cancer patients. They give $200-$400 worth of brand name cosmetics to each attendee. They also give free wig and make-up tips. Call your local society for more information.

- Carry hand sanitizer wherever you go.

- When a hotflash comes on, just imagine that you’re in a sauna and think peaceful thoughts. Get a meditation CD.

What beauty tips would you give to a woman who has breast cancer to stay beautiful and positive emotionally?

- Pray. Meditate. Yoga. Walk.

- This really helps…Whenever I was feeling down, I started to count my blessings. I thought of all the things I am thankful for i.e. mom, dad, sisters, brothers, nephew, relatives, friends, advances in health care, food on the table, plumbing, clean water, chocolate.

- Remember, life is worth every minute. You can choose your thoughts. Keep a positive attitude and if there is any time to erase negativity in your life, it’s NOW. Choose to LOVE LIFE and never lose HOPE. Plus, when your kids see you love life and do good for others, they will be happier and will contribute more to this beautiful world in their lifetimes. As you go through this challenge, you will be amazed by your strength, courage, and stamina. You will also be amazed by the resilience of your body.

- Growing up, I have always believed that there are virtues that no one can ever take away from me like integrity…same goes for your HOPE, FAITH, and your ability to LOVE.

- Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Truly Forgive.

- SMILE, it doesn’t cost you anything.

- Dance, it doesn’t cost you anything.

- It’s okay to cry. It can be very cleansing. Lean on your family and friends for support.

- Take a picture of your baldness. I wish I did.

- Do something good for yourself everyday.

- Meet other cancer patients and survivors. Make friends at the infusion center. Might as well make your 3-5 hour infusions pleasant.

Welcome to the sisterhood, sista! When you are done, you will come out with GRACE, SERENITY, and POWER! This is where true beauty is found…in your heart and soul. There are people who are fighting for you and who want you to win this battle!

What are you looking forward to most in the next year?

I’m looking forward to enjoying family, friendships, life, more rigorous workouts, learning how to cook gourmet meals, travel, and mission trips. I’m looking forward to practicing dentistry again. I love my patients. Oh and, taking a picture with the kitty on this website.

More Fab Breast Cancer Awareness Products

It’s not too early to start thinking about stocking stuffers for Christmas! One gift I plan on getting all the women in my life is In Touch Breast Self-Exam Glove, which you can purchase at Bath & Body Works for $9.00.

This reusable glove reduces friction by 50% and increases sensitivity, so your fingers can glide smoothy across the breast during your monthly breast self-exam. This kit also includes complete exam intsructions, a monthly reminder calendar, and a pretty travel satchel for your glove.

I just tried this glove during my last breast self-exam and it really does make it easier. I now keep the kit in my bathroom and just check off date on the calendar so I can keep track of my exam dates. Every woman on my Christmas list is getting one of these!

Another great stocking stuffer is tarte’s inside out lipstick in the shade Sweet Dreams, which I reviewed a few weeks ago.

October is a great month to pick up this pretty dusty-pink rose lippie, because 20% of the retail sales will go to Young Survival Coalition, youngsurvival.org. You can purchase Sweet Dreams inside-out lipstick at Sephora stores nationwide.

Ladies, please do a monthly breast self exam and encourage the women in your life to do the same!

Hugs to you and to all the breast cancer survivors fighting to stay healthy.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Drugstore Beauty Grab Bag

If you spent a little too much at the MAC counter this weekend, you know I feel your pain. What’s a girl to do when she’s got limited dollars in her beauty budget? One of the ways I like to balance the costs of my beauty dollars is to mix department store and drugstore products. I don’t think cost is necessarily an indicator of a product’s effectiveness – it could be all just part of the marketing scheme, for all I know.

I like to prowl Rite Aid and Long’s for skin care and body care products, especially. Here are a few that currently are in heavy rotation!

Product: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
Use: As an anti-aging cream that smoothes skin, lifts sagging eras and restores elasticity
Price: $24.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

What I liked about it:
- Great light, fruity scent
- Non-sticky product texture that’s thick but doesn’t leave a sticky film on my face and neck
- Very moisturizing
- A little goes a long way, and you don’t need to use a lot of it.

What I didn’t like about it:
- Can’t positively say if it actually helped to lift or restore elasticity
- Jar packaging isn’t convenient, I wish it came in travel-friendly pump form.

Somebody once asked me what my anti-aging secret was, and I told them that it was a combination of immaturity and sunscreen. My sunscreen choice since I was a teenager has been Olay Complete. I’ve always had good luck with Olay products and love trying anything that they come out with because I’ve been a long-term user of the brand, so I got the chance to try Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream I was stoked. Get me on that Olay train!

I have to say the biggest thing about this cream is that it smells and feels great. The scent is light but not overwhelming or chemical. It’s light and fruity and a pleasure to put on at night. The texture of the product once applied to my skin is also great. I don’t like the sticky feeling some lotions have – I especially can’t stand having a sticky neck, yuck! But this cream leaves my skin feeling dry and moisturized.

The active ingredients are an amino-peptide complex and an intracellular fortifier made up of hyaluronic acid. Like with other anti-aging products that I’ve tested, I can’t really say if Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream actually lifted sagging areas and restored elasticity. It’s really hard to quantify, especially if you don’t have lots of areas sagging areas to start with (gimme a few years though, ha!)

The biggest points with this cream are that I like the texture, scent and the fact that it does provide excellent moisturization.

You might like it if:
- You are a fan of the Olay brand
- You like your moisturizers to feel dry and not sticky after application
- You need a heavier moisturizer on your face and neck.

Product: Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Use: As combination foaming cleanser and makeup remover
Price: $7.00 for a 6.7 fl oz pump bottle
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

What I liked about it:
- Removes all types of makeup quickly and thoroughly
- Great price
- Handy pump-top packaging

What I didn’t like about it:
- Weird plastic-y smell
- Too drying for me, left my skin feeling tight

Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser is the Casanova of all quick-acting makeup removers. It takes it off. It takes it all off. And it does it faster than you can say “get naked Christian Bale!”

Ya’ll know that I’m often in a hurry, so I have a weak spot for products that work quickly. Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser is a combination makeup remover and cleanser, and the best part about it is that it removes foundation, powder and most eye makeup (you’ll need something to supplement if you use Liquidlast or Fluidline) lightening fast. It doesn’t hurt my eyes and rinses away without leaving a film on my skin. And it didn’t break me out, yay!

However I find that it’s just way too drying for my face, and after I rinse off within a few minutes my skin feels tight. Also, when I first started using it I noticed the cleanser had a strong plastic-smelling scent. It did fade away after a few uses, though.

You might like this if:
- You are a teenager or in your 20s and have oily skin that can tolerate stronger cleansers and doesn’t dry out easily
- You live in a humid climate
- You are lazy like me!

Product: Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads
Use: To remove waterproof eye makeup and longwearing lip color
Price: $6.00 for 80 pads
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

What I liked about it:
- Didn’t break me out
- Cheap, and you get a lot (80 pads) for your money
- Removes everything (Liquidlast did take a little work, though)
- Pads are soft and non-irritating
- Pads are thoroughly soaked with product

What I didn’t like about it:
- Need to rinse off with water
- Makes my eyes a little blurry (!) temporarily

So cheap. So effective. So lovin’ this!

I’ve been using Neutrogena Ultra-Soft Eye Makeup Remover Pads and Almay’s pads blow those pads right out of the water. Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads are softer, contain more eye-making removing product and work faster. I use fewer swipes to get remove long-wearing products like MAC Mattene Lipstick and MAC Liquidlast Liner. You also get so much more for your money. I can easily stretch this jar out by cutting the pads in half.

Sometimes I get the occasional small pimple in the browbone area because I tweeze so I was nervous about how oily this product is. So far it hasn’t broken me out, knock on wood.

The only downside so far is that I can’t just use these pads and go. I have to do a final rinse off to remove the oil, the makeup, everything. Plus, my eyes get a little temporary blurriness, but that seems to always happen to me when I use oil-based cleansers.

Oh, and FYI, the main ingredient in this is mineral oil, so if you are sensitive Almay Moisturizing Eye Makeup Remover Pads might not work for you.

Despite the negatives I would definitely purchase this again. A Makeup and Beauty Blog Winner!

You might like this if:
- You wear long-wearing cosmetics
- You like oil-based removers

Product: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash
Use: To clear body pimples
Price: about $7.00
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A++++

What I liked about it:
- Nice, light smell
- Dried up existing body pimples, yet didn’t dry out my skin
- Helped prevent additional pimples
- Thick formula that builds to cushiony foam

What I didn’t like about it:
- Not much, however I wish it was cheaper

Sweet jeebus this stuff saved my ass, literally. Notice how this bottle is almost halfway empty? That’s because I used it for a month to cure the acne that developed on my shoulders, back and bum (BOO!) after road testing Curls Milkshake. (And I have to say one more time – it could’ve also been the new medication I was taking, I can’t say for sure if it was that hair product.)

The active ingredient in Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash is salicylic acid, which normally doesn’t do much in terms of pimple treatment/prevention on my face. It was a frickin’ miracle on my body though, and cleared up the handful of existing pimples quickly while preventing new ones from forming.

I was worried about the formula being too drying on the rest of my skin but that wasn’t the case at all. I just applied it onto my hands and washed without a bath puff or exfoliating gloves because I didn’t want to irritate my skin. The scent is light, and the formula builds up foam nicely. Love. This. Stuff.

You might like it if:
- You play a lot of sports and have to deal with body acne
- You are pregnant and your hormones are going nuts and you’re experiencing body acne
- You are a beauty blogger with sensitive skin who insists on testing mystery products

Drugstore Beauty Product True Confessions!

You might be wondering why you’re staring at this mangled tube of Neutrogena Visibly Even Foaming Cleanser. Well, I finished this bottle last week and could no longer squeeze any more product out of it. Instead of throwing it out I used some scissors to cut the top off. It was like Christmas, ya’ll! Inside was at least three more days worth of cleanser. I dug my little fingers in and just replaced the top back on the tube. You know I like to get my money’s worth!

Now don’t you feel smart?

Today is another gorgeous day in Northern California! I can’t wait to go out and go running today. The fall days here in Nor Cal are beautiful. The weather is warm with a slight crisp in the air, and the leaves are starting to change colors. If you ever travel to San Francisco late September/early October is probably the *best* time to visit.

How are you doing this Tuesday? I hope that wherever you are that you’re feeling good and lookin’ HOT!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen