Archive for the 'Drugstore Beauty Finds' Category

When work deadlines and sleep loss collide, like they did for me last week, I expect to get a few zits on my face (sigh). My latest little sebaceous gift included a painful pimple right beside my left nostril. Like most women, I usually dread pimples, but this zit (I named her Eva) gave me the perfect excuse to try out Clean and Clear’s Invisible Acne Patch.

The product contains salicylic acid (2%) and creates a defensive barrier for pimples (like a transparent Band-Aid). It’s also makeup friendly, designed to be able to apply concealer and foundation on top of it.

Check out the handy-dandy, travel-friendly applicator pen, which I found fun to use. Twisting the bottom (it makes clicking sounds) deploys the product. It oozes out of the applicator tip.

Application is a cinch … like painting pimples. I coated Eva with a thin layer of clear goo which took about two minutes to dry. As it dried, I could could feel the skin around the area tightening somewhat. Once dry, the surface has an almost invisible, smooth, rubbery texture.

The product contains a smoothing ingredient Clean and Clear calls Chitosan PCA, a film-forming polymer that pulls up low points and pushes down high points on the skin.

I had a lot of fun testing this product. Over the weekend I tried it out with a few different concealers and found that MAC Select Moisturecover (a liquid, not a cream concealer) looked more natural and smooth on top of the Invisible Patch than other concealers did.

It took a bit of trial and error with Clean and Clear’s Invisible Acne Patch to determine the ideal quantity to use. It was easy to over-apply, which left me with thick, flaky, visible layers that peeled right off (eww!).

(Sidenote: At one point in my testing, I was two seconds away from taking a close-up photo of Eva in all of her Invisible Acne Patch glory when I realized that ya’ll don’t need to see my zits.)

This stuff works well for an over-the-counter acne treatment. I started using it on Friday, and by Sunday Eva looked smaller, wasn’t as red, nor was she as painful to the touch. She should be gone by the end of the week, hooray!
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Bargain brush goddess Sonia Kashuk’s gone and done it again. Her Synthetic Flat Top Blusher Brush won me over a few weeks ago, and now I can’t live without several of the brushes from her Kashuk Tools line. I’ve been reaching for the Powder Brush ($19.99), Large Eye Shadow Brush ($12.99) and Angeled Eye Shadow Brush ($9.99) so often that I might as well have all three surgically attached to my hand.

Here’s why I love ‘em, and why you might, too.

Kashuk Tools Powder Brush

Use: To apply loose or pressed powder to the entire face
Price: $19.99
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A

Confession time! I keep this brush on my work desk and periodically rub it all over my face for no reason other than to feel its softness against my skin. It sends me into a state of minor ecstasy. I’ll make ooh, ahh sounds, like when I’m eating dulce de leche ice cream. In general, I try to do this when nobody’s looking, but the other day El Hub caught me and said the act looked “kinda pervy.”

But Sonia’s powder brush has even more going for it than its amazing softness. It applies powder evenly on my skin, powder that doesn’t look caked-on, and leaves a lovely, natural finish I just adore.

If you’re tempted to save a few dollars by purchasing the $11.99 white-handled Powder Brush 01 from Sonia’s other Brush Collection line, resist the urge. I’ve used the white-handled brush, too, and it’s not nearly as soft.

Large Eye Shadow Brush

Use: To apply eyeshadow to the entire eyelid area
Price: $12.99
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Sonia’s Large Eye Shadow Brush multi-tasks like a mo-fo. The Kashuk brush brigade designed the thick, soft brush (with a slightly rounded edge) to apply eyeshadow over the entire lid — much like the MAC 252 Large Eye Shader Brush ($29). While I absolutely love the MAC 252 for fast, single washes of color over the entire eye, it doesn’t multi-task quite like Sonia’s Large Eye Shadow Brush does.

Not only do I use Sonia’s Large Eye Shadow Brush for color washes but also to apply color to specific parts of the eye, which I can’t really do with the 252. The rounded shape of Sonia’s brush fits nicely into nooks and crannies — ideal for the crease, under the brow bone or in the outer V.

In a pinch, it even works as a blending brush, too.
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I got softer hair this week for $3.99. I think that’s quite an accomplishment. I’ve been conditioner washing with Freeman Papaya and Lime Overboard Shine Conditioner, and now my hair is so smooth and bouncy-looking that I feel like I belong in a hair commercial, running like a fool with my arms up through a field of flowers while dappled sunlight caresses my new $3.99 hair. Fo’ reals.

Conditioner washing involves showering with a conditioner in place of shampoo. In a nutshell, I skip the shampoo (en lieu of conditioner) a few days a week to extend the life of my hair color and to prevent my wavy hair from drying out. It’s one of my favorite hair beauty tips. I’ve conditioner washed with a number of drugstore conditioners before, but Overboard Shine outshines them all.

I find that I have to use a palm-full of Overboard Shine to clean my shoulder length hair, but in this case I don’t mind having to use a lot of product because it’s so darn cheap. After washing and thoroughly rinsing with Overboard Shine, my hair and scalp feel refreshed and clean without feeling stripped.
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BOW DOWN before the mighty Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Blusher Brush. Marvel at its multi-tasking prowess and how it applies blushes and foundations with ease. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself trembling — with glee! — at the cash register. Not only is this brush amazing, but it’s also cheap — $14.99. Holla!

Billed as a cream blush brush, its synthetic fiber head feels like velvet against my skin. Earlier this week when I used it with Sonia’s Creme Blush, it left just the right amount of color on my cheeks without any streaking. Blending with it was also a snap. It removed harsh lines with ease.

The brush is flat on the top of the head, which is not a totally revolutionary design, but it is one I’d never used before.

I couldn’t help but wonder what else I could use this brush with, so I experimented with it this afternoon. I think it also works great with…
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Sonia Kashuk’s new Creme Blushes are like buttah, baby. These highly pigmented blushes ($8.99 each — hello, bargain!) feel so soft and creamy to the touch that I’m tempted to grab a knife and spread ‘em on toast. I think all three shades are truly bee-yoo-tiful. They pack plenty o’ color for my cheeks and produce a fabulous dewy finish.

Sold exclusively at the House of Tar-ghay (aka Target), these shimmer-free blushes are surprisingly wearable considering how highly pigmented they are. I used a single layer to give my cheeks a natural flush and two layers to creates a bolder pop of color.

I wore two layers of Rosey for my look today.

The three shades, from left to right:

• Rosey: pink-coral
• Petal: cool rose-pink
• Ginger: warm orange-brown

I’ve been wearing these blushes separately for the past few days. To apply them I’ve used Sonia’s Flat Top Blusher Brush ($14.99). The synthetic fiber brush head grabs just enough color and fits nicely onto the apples of my cheeks.

First, I applied foundation followed by a layer of Creme Blush and a dusting of loose powder. I followed it up with a second layer of Creme Blush atop the loose powder.

A layer of powder blush will set Creme Blush, giving it a bit more staying power. On my combo oily/dry skin, Creme Blush by itself lasts about four hours, comparable to how long other cream blushes that I’ve tried have lasted.

To push Creme Blush beyond its limits, I’ll reapply around halfway through the day, swiping a finger across the pan and dabbing and blending a little more product onto my cheeks. The compact comes with a small sponge brush, which certainly works in a pinch, but I ended up throwing mine out because it seemed to cause some streaking.

If I’d tried to use Sonia’s Creme Blushes a few years ago when my skin was oilier than it is now, I doubt I would have liked them as much as I do. They’re emollient-rich, and I have a feeling they would have slid right off my uber-oily skin.

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For me, spring heralds the arrival of allergy season and periodic bouts of hives along with random patches of itchy skin. Yea, spring!

When my allergies are acting up, I try to avoid scented body products because they will often make the situation worse. Thank goodness for Aveeno Active Naturals Eczema Care Body Wash ($9.99 ) and Moisturizing Cream ($9.99), a superstar unscented combo able to clean and moisturize without irritating or drying out my allergy-prone skin.

Aveeno Active Naturals Eczema Care Body Wash and Moisturizing Cream

Use: To cleanse and moisturize the itchy, extra-dry skin associated with eczema
Price: $9.99 apiece
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+

Both Eczema Care Body Wash and Moisturizing Cream are fragrance- and steroid-free, making them ideal for people with sensitive skin. Created by dermatologists to provide itch relief to eczema sufferers (you don’t have to suffer from eczema to use it, though), each contains oat essence and ceramides, compounds with soothing properties. These products are so gentle that they’re approved for use on baby skin (but, as with any product, read your labels and consult a physician if in doubt). Read the rest of this entry »

Ahhh, the last day of 2007. I always get a little sad when I know something is coming to an end; I guess it’s the thought of a part of my life ending and knowing I’ll never be able to go back (unless I drop $10 million for those time travel plans on eBay).

When I started this blog, I never imagined how much fun it would be. This year has been, to quote my eighth grade East Bay self circa 1989, “hella cool.”

Dita Von Teese - Interviewing MAC Viva Glam spokesperson Dita Von Teese at the Macy’s Passport fashion show was a trip. She was so stunningly beautiful and I was so nervous. The other day, I listened to the audio recording of the interview and laughed because I even SOUNDED sweaty.

Paris Hilton - The Dita experience really helped, though, when the time came to interview Paris Hilton for the release of Can Can, her new perfume. It was a level of celebrity that I’d never experienced before — body guards, press folks, rabid fans foaming at the mouth. It was the first time I’d interviewed a really high profile celebrity AND the first time I had to do it in a room filled with people watching me. What a learning experience.

SF Fashion Week - But my favorite event of the year was hanging out with MAC backstage at SF Fashion Week. I fell in love with a few products, learned a lot and met other beauty bloggers, like Erika and Christine.

Laura Mercier - There was plenty of Laura Mercier love last spring.

Tokidoki bag - The Tokidoki bag fit all my stuff AND rocked my world.

Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash - Unfortunately, I experienced getting pimples on my butt for the first time. Fortunately, Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash saved my ass (pardon the pun).

43 makeup things - Thanksgiving was an excuse to eat turkey, wear stretchy pants and think about the 43 makeup things I’m thankful for.

43 non-makeup things - Thanksgiving also provided an opportunity to give thanks for everything else.

Chanel Glossimers - I became a fiend for Chanel Glossimers.

Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple - And Purity Made Simple simply rocked my world.

Chanel Garden Party Quad - Chanel’s National Artist John Fussell helped me fall in love with the Chanel Garden Party Quad, and now there’s no turning back!

Smashbox’s Lori Taylor - Smashbox’s Lori Taylor gave some backstage tips from L.A. Fashion Week.

Billy B. - I met and interviewed one of the nicest guys in the beauty biz.

MAC’s awesome Louise Zizzo - Louise Zizzo saved me from myself when the MAC Mattene collection came out.

Celebrity makeup artist Bruce Grayson - Bruce Grayson’s makeup tips from the Emmy’s red carpet.

Dear Makeup and Beauty Blog - I heard from Shy in Chi-town.

Guide to Smart Clubbing - You asked for tough love, and in the Guide to Smart Clubbing I gave it to ya (hey, I’ve had a lot of practice).

Curiositease - And my number one makeup love, MAC, didn’t let me down.

Pigments and Glitters - Remember when I was grouchy about Pigments and Glitters?

MAC Loose Beauty Powder - I fell in love.

Smoke Signals - It rocked my world.

MAC Mad Libs - We had a lil’ fun together.

MAC Mattene lipsticks - Where’s my plaid shirt and my Pearl Jam CD? MAC Mattene lipsticks took me back to the 90s.

A quick smokey eye with MAC shadow - Oh, this is old school.

But the best thing that happened to me this year was meeting all of you. It’s been fun getting to know you and learning about your lives. You’d think that it would be hard to make a connection behind a computer screen, but sometimes I feel like we’re all just having a cup of coffee together and gabbing about makeup.

I hope you make the most of this fantastic last day of the year!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen