Let's Share (giveaway!)

Hi Lovelies!!

You know what I hate? I hate when I have something coherent and eloquent to say and then I totally forget what I was going to say. When I finally get around to writing or saying what I wanted to say, nothing valuable come out and then I sound like a fool. And this is what happened just now. I had a fun intro to this entry in my head, and now I am drawing a blank. However, I want to get this show on the road so you are reading this mumbo jumbo instead.

Soo, here we go. Remember not long ago when I reviewed the new ecoTools by Alicia Silverstone cosmetic bags? Remember how I raved about the Overnight bag? Well, guess what!

I have been given the opportunity to give away three (3) Overnight bags, which means that we will have three (3) winners!

I am super excited about this opportunity to share the coolness and convenience of this new ecoTools product.


It is simple to enter this giveaway.
Here are the details:

When: The chance to enter this giveaway will end on December 30, 2009 at 11:00 pm eastern time.

Who: I am opening up the giveaway to all, US and international (if an international reader wins, just bear with me in the mailing process. I can't remember the last time I mailed internationally.).

How: In order to enter, you must (1) follow this blog (check the side bar to join/follow), (2) post a comment with your first name, email address (or you can email me your email address if you want to maintain privacy, my email is in the sidebar. Just be sure that you identify yourself in the email so I can connect the email to the comment.) under this post before the deadline mentioned above.

This is all you have to do, and you can only enter once.

Also, if you have a facebook account, be sure to become a fan of ecotools.
In addition, share the love about ecotools on twitter.

Yay for giveaways, and Yay for traveling is style!

Jet-setting, but take away the jet and add a teething baby

Warning: long review, lots of pictures

Monday I was ready to conquer the world with Mr. Cheeks McGee, but Cheeks had another idea. You see, I had a long list of things to do, and I was actually very excited to get out of the house despite the cold and remaining slush. Unfortunately, Cheeks woke up ready to fight the day. He was angry, constantly crying, and repeatedly doing the "milk" sign. It was already nine in the morning, and he had had three tantrums. I couldn't even go to the bathroom in peace. The problem is that Cheeks is angry at the stubborn enamel beast that insists on making its presence known in his mouth. He is not at the age where he recognizes the importance of teeth; therefore, he wants to rebel against nature. To compound the situation, the Scholar was going to be out on business, which meant I would be left alone to wrangle this frustrated child alone (My, how I admire single mother. I will always tip my hat to you ladies. Always.).

So I did what any mature adult would do: I called Queen Fierce and told her that Cheeks and I were going to stay at her house for the evening. After talking to her, I quickly began packing the suitcase, which leads me to the following review.

Several weeks ago I received the earth-friendly ecoTools Cosmetic Bags designed by Alicia Silverstone, to try out and review. I was excited about the opportunity to review these bags because 1) I like Alicia Silverstone, 2) I have heard excellent things about ecoTools, 3) I have a thing for bags, and 4) I don’t have a satisfying cosmetic bag and this was an excellent opportunity to try something that could work.

You see, before encountering these makeup bags, I would have to strategically pack my toiletries in several different bags as if I was assembling a puzzle, and it was always a hassle. Plus, if I removed one piece from the puzzle the organization of the bag would collapse. I would try different bags, but they either couldn’t comfortable fit everything I carted, or they were too bulky and cumbersome. I refrained from buying replacements for what I had because I really didn’t know what I wanted nor what I needed. And yes, I even scaled back and minimized the size of products I would take to places.

So, when I received the ecoTools cosmetic bags in varying sizes, I was super excited to try them out.

Here is a list of what I received:
The Cosmetic Bag, which fits in a purse ($8.99)
The Train Case ($14.99)
The Overnight Bag ($19.99)
The 5 Piece Brush Set and Bag ($15.99)




First impression was that the bags were beautiful. They are made with hemp material and have a lovely and vibrant floral design on them made with non-toxic ink. Although they are cloth, they are very sturdy, and are a natural tan/beige color, which assists in hiding any possible dirt.

I quickly filled the bags up to see how much they could hold, and they did not disappoint. The overnight held everything I take on a trip (as far as face, hair, and body), and I still had room to spare. The Train Case was the same situation, but instead of just describing it, let me show you.

Here is the Overnight Bag

As you can see in the group picture, this is a sizable bag. However, I was not sure it would be able to fit everything I carry along. I thought for certain I would have to force the bag shut. One side of the bag has a fixed pocket where you can put shampoo, face wash, perfume, whatever you want, really. Then the other side has two removable clear (recycled PET) zip-up pouches. You can remove if you need more space or you could detach and throw the pouch into a bag for a quick switch-up. Also, the bag has a double zipper, so it opens all the way up for easy accessibility.
Here it is filled with everything I take.

If you click on the picture, it will take you to the flickr photostream and you can see the list of contents.

Seriously, I love this bag. This is what I used when I was packing for my impromptu sleepover at Queen Fierce's. I just put everything in there, it was easy to organize, I didn't have to fight to close the bag, and it fit comfortable in the suitcase among the teethers, the toy truck, and toy bongos.


The Train Case

I have some train cases that are on a smaller scale. However, I always underestimate the space I need when I buy train cases, and I always overestimate the amount of makeup I am going to wear. However, I don't like to scale back on the makeup because my mood inspires the makeup. Plus, I never know when I will need to do some extra concealing or need more drama.

Again, very deceiving look to this train case. I wasn't sure I would be able to fit my brush case plus the bajillion palettes I always pack. However, everything fit, and I had a ton of room to spare. What I really love about this train case is that there is a slim see-through plastic pouch velcroed to the lid. I used it for my brushes, but you can fit many things in it.
Here is everything I packed in the train case.

If you click on the picture, it will take you to the flickr photostream and you can see the list of contents.

See the cool pouch filled with brushes? Those are all of the brushes I would typically take on a trip, but Alicia and ecoTools has simplified that (more about that in a minute). Here it is all inside the train case.


Do you see how the sides are slack? That is because I have a lot of room to spare. Again, this fit very comfortably among the toys and clothes in the suitcase. I loved how I just did not have to worry about strategically assembling the palettes to make everything fit well. And since I was in a hurry, I didn't have to decide what stayed and what went. I just dumped and dumped.

Cosmetic Bag
This bag, seen in the group picture, is in my purse. I could not dedicate an individual picture to it because Cheeks was attempting to eat paper and I had to tend to him, so I forgot to take the pictures. However, it is a nice, roomy, little bag. It has a wide bottom, which allows for more space and easier visibility. I have a small bottle of hand sanitizer, a 3 oz bottle of lotion, several glosses, two lipsticks, one mark. compact, and a mini powder brush in the bag.

Now, the piece I love the most from the collection (other than the overnight bag): The 5 piece Brush Set and Bag. Oh la la, I love this set. The set includes a "Finishing Brush," which is a skunk brush, a Blush brush, an angled eyeshadow brush, and a lash/brow groomer. Overall the brushes are soft and dense. They feel sturdy, they wash well, and only the skunk brush shed two hairs. I have been using only these brushes (with exception to the brow groomer, that has been neglected) since I received the products, and I am surprised at how much I love them. The angled eyeshadow brush is very versatile. I have been able to use it to cover the entire lid, do crease work, outer "v," blend eyeliner, highlight, and blend shadows. I just clean the brush in between each process. The blush brush works really well. I have pretty much exclusively used it for blush. Since it is very soft, so it does take several applications to make the blush visible.

My favorite brush is the "Finishing Brush," or the skunk brush. Holy High Heaven! This brush is very soft, dense without being too sturdy, and very effective at applying foundation. As all of you know, I like to wear medium to fuller coverage foundation, and my favorite foundation is Revlon Colorstay, which can look cakey depending on application. Well, when I first used this brush I was friggin' amazed at how it applied the foundation. The brush left this sheer feeling, but definitely high-medium coverage on my face. My face didn't feel like it had much foundation on it at all. It was easy to stipple the foundation on and the buffing took little effort and not much time. I used the skunk brush with liquid, cream, and powder foundation. And the brush delivered every time (the lightest coverage was the powder foundation, of course. When used with powder, this brush leaves a very light finish). Also, I used a lot less foundation when I used this brush. I was so intrigued by the results that I compared this skunk brush to the other skunks I have, including the 187. It seems that the ecoTools skunk brush has less white fibers than the other skunk brushes have. Therefore, it deposits less foundation; however, the shorter hairs are softer and quite dense which makes the blending and buffing more effective. I am not a brush expert, but this is my reasoning. Either way, definitely worth trying out. I will say that the skunk brush does take a long time to dry after washing, about one full night and well into the morning (it was still a little damp in the morning), and when the skunk brush dries it smells a little like semi-dehydrated breath. Odd description, but that is what it reminds me of. The smell does dissipate; so you won't smell like breath all day. These four tools close very nicely in their own little pouch. Actually, I will probably only take these brushes, and maybe two more eyeshadow brushes just in case, when I go on travel. This set has proven that this is all I need, really.

Here are some pictures of the skunk brush (I focused on this brush because we are always looking for 187 dupes.)




MAC 187 on left (when facing monitor) and ecoTool By Alicia Silverstone on right.

Go to my flickr photostream (link in side bar) to see more pictures of the ecoTool skunk brush in comparison to the Studio Tool (Target) skunk, the Sigma skunk, the Sonia Kashuk, and other 187 pictures.

All in all, would I buy these cosmetic bags? Yes. Yes, I would. I wouldn't buy all of them at once, but I would definitely purchase the 5 piece brush set and the overnight bag. I think the prices are reasonable, especially considering that these products are environmentally friendly, and they are very pretty and stylish. You won't confuse these bags with your friend's black or clear cosmetic bags. These bags traveled really well, they feel sturdy, and I don't have to search any longer. I am super satisfied.

Oh, and as far as Cheeks and his teeth, well, he is still fighting for that top tooth to break through. Poor baby.

If you see anything that you would like me to review in the pictures, just holla!

Note on review: I did receive these product to review. However, I was not paid for writing a review, and I always vow to be honest. The gratis products did not sway my opinion one way or another.

You left me thirsty

I remember experimenting with mousse when I was a young teenager. It was so much fun to squeeze the button, and see the fluffy foam grow in the palm of my hand. Then, I would smoosh my hands together and gingerly place the mousse on my hair. The mousse would quickly dissolve and make a subtle crinkle sound as I scrunched my curls for good measure. Then, I would brave the merciless humidity of Puerto Rico, the mousse would immediate cave, and my hair would rapidly shrink several inches. All of that product, for what? Nothing.

After experiencing these disappointing effects with mousse, I swore it off for more than 10 years. Then, several months ago, I was intrigued with Herbal Essences’ Totally Twisted mousse. To add fuel to the fire, I found a coupon in the Sunday paper, and I saved it for my next visit to Target. After purchasing it, I immediately tried it on, and it was love at first try. After washing my hair, I would separate my hair into four sections. Then I would rake the mousse through my hair and scrunch section by section. This way, I was sure that the majority of the curls were coated with the product. (Note that I say "would" because I don't use the product anymore because I cut my hair super, super short and wear it straight. However, I just want to write the review because my experience was definitely notable.) After applying the mousse all over my hair, I would not touch the curls at all until my hair was dry, then I would fluff and fluff until the curls were a little less defined without being frizzy. Before fluffing the curls, the mouse would leave my hair a little crunchy and stiff, but with light scrunch that sensation would go away, and there was no flaking.

Well, after using this mousse for several weeks, and loving how defined and shapely my curls looked, I noticed that my hair was beginning to feel dry and stringy. It was still pretty, but just felt a little damaged. So, I would shampoo more regularly (I have dry hair, so it is not good to do frequently), and I would also slather on more conditioner, which would just create more buildup. During this whole "What is going on with my hair? OMG I love my mousse!" phase, I was trying to figure out exactly what was going on. Then, one day it dawned on me: maybe I should shelve the mousse for a minute and see what happens. After several weeks, my hair went back to normal. The curls were still pretty, but not as pretty as with the mousse; however, it felt soo much better.

Once, this realization came, I frowned. I so wanted to love this beautifully fruity-smelling mousse. I so wanted to forget about how inept mousse was in my teenage years. I just wanted to enjoy this mousse and embrace its abilities to control and define my curls. Alas, it was not meant to be. The product buildup was just too much for my hair.

I finally resolved (before I decided to cut my hair, which was not related to this product) to not use it every other day, and instead use it sporadically. I think my error was that I was using too much product, too often. But here is the thing, I have used and abused my hair for years. I have layered on product, after product, after product, and I have never experienced what I did with the mousse. And this was just one product. So, I will definitely take blame for my error of usage, but I also think this product played a role in drying out my hair. It seems that this mousse acts like a hybrid between a gel and hairspray. It has the staying power of a hairspray (it worked excellently in humidity), and the defining power of a gel. Therefore, along with providing the awesome staying power of a hairspray, it also has the awesome drying power that comes along.

Of course, this was my experience, and I am sure others will have different experiences, but I was just so amazed at the effects after using it for several weeks. Maybe using less is the ticket, but my hair requires a good amount of product to tame it. My hair is like a wild horse that fights to be broken. Either way, I have resigned myself to passing the mousse section in the hair aisle. Will I stop and smell the fragrance that comes out of the can? Yes, this mousse smells divine. If I let my hair grow out again, will I use what I have left? Yes, but maybe once every not so often. I would just want to slowly use it up because it hurts to throw away unused products. Would I buy this mousse again? No. Would I recommend this mousse to a friend? I might, say “hey, if you want to scrunch your hair and make it look beachy every once in a while, this product might work, but Oh wow, look there are five million other products that might be better.” So, in other words, I would not confidently recommend this product to a friend who has wavy hair, and I would definitely not recommend this product to someone who has similar hair to mine.

You know, now that I think about it, I have never had a fulfilling experience with Herbal Essences. The smell is always awesome, but the products always fall short with my hair.
Rating:1.5 out of 5 (Kudos for definition and stay power. It does do what it is supposed to do, but big “boos” for the dryness and the rapid buildup factor. It should come with warning.)

$3 to $5 at drugstores, Walmart, Target

I have finally met La Femme

How many colors are there really? Recently, I have been so very intrigued by the power of colors. I have been reading up on complimentary colors, neutralizing colors, and the creations of other colors. I don't know why I am so into learning about the dynamic world of color because, as mentioned before, I am pretty much only wearing neutrals. Even though, I know that I will always gravitate towards my tans, browns, and bronze palette, I still have this idea that I will sport the rainbow on a regular day. Therefore, I buy (or at least was buying, not anymore) pink, purple, green, and yellow eyeshadows. Here's the curious thing, I have different tones of the colors in my collection, and shamefully, not many of them get much attention.

Well, the last shopping fit I had focused around La Femme's eyeshadows and blushes in the colors mentioned above. I had heard great things about this brand, however, it is very difficult to find here in the US. Therefore the brand was a mystery to me for quite sometime, until one crazy night when I was up late/early (depending on how you see it) feeding Cheeks and surfing the net, I came across the MakeupMania website that sells La Femme products along with other professional makeup lines.

After several days of considering whether to finally try the line, I broke down and made an order. On MakeupMania, you can order a palette of 12 eyeshadows or blushes for $35, which is fantabulous. The website has a "palette lab" that gives you the ability to customize your palette. I will admit that although the "palette lab" is a great idea, the execution is a touch cumbersome because you click and drag the shades you want into the virtual palette. Unfortunately, the shades aren't named until you put the virtual pan in the virtual palette, and the swatches are not very good. So, picking the shades can be a gamble because you aren't really sure what the shade really looks like. Also, it is difficult to distinguish between the blushes and the eyeshadows. For instance, I thought I had ordered more eyeshadows than blushes, but as it turns out some colors were categorized as blushes instead of eyeshadows. It doesn't really matter because I feel like the consistency is the same and the shades are versatile; so I just shrugged off this discovery.

Now, I will give MakeupMania mad props on customer service. I got emails notifying me on the progress of my order (customized palettes take more time because they assemble and label the palettes). Also when one of the shades I ordered was on backorder, they went ahead and sent the palette with a similar color and assured me that once the backordered shade came in they would send it out. Months passed and I had totally forgotten about the backordered shade until one day an envelope was in my mailbox with the missing eyeshadow. I was incredibly surprised to have received it after several months.

Okay, so as far as the palettes, I like them, for the most part. The pans are about the size of a silver dollar. They are snugly fit inside the palette, and the cardboard palette seems to be quite sturdy. The shadows/blushes has a faint powdery smell, and many of them are soft to the touch (some are a little harder and require a little more pressure to pick up the shade). The pigmentation of the product is good, especially with the brighter colors. For instance, as far as the blushes I ordered a little goes a very, very long way. The shadows' shades pick up nicely, with the exception of "Lemon." Many of the shades I bought are matte, and the "iridescent" and "very frosted" shades are very low on shimmer. So if you are going for something that will catch the light, the shades I have chosen won't do it. Actually, I was a little disappointed with the shimmer level. It seems that there is very little difference between the matte and the shimmery shades.

The shadows/blushes do spread well and they last long with a base (Just a reminder: I always use a base because I have oily lids, and it usually is UDPP.). After I got my first palette, I used it nonstop for two months. I didn't even make a dent in the pans. Then I ordered my second palette, which was more colorful, and I played around with it, but I haven't used it as much as I thought. This is to no fault of the palette, just my mood. However, now after playing around with the palettes again for the review, I will put these back in rotation. I really do like the shades and, overall, I like the quality. I remember thinking that I would love to buy more palettes when I am in the shopping mood again, and I will definitely order them from MakeupMania again. So this is a good sign for the product.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 happy wallets (I love the price. I like the flexibility of customizing. It satisfies my matte hankering, and I have brighter blushes. Plus, I like the versatility of the colors. One thing, not much shimmer even in the colors that are supposed to be shimmery. Also, Makeupmania assembles and prints the names of the shades for you.)

Price: $35 at makeupmania.com for a palette of 12 pans. Sold separately, the pan are $2.50 and the palette is $14

And now, the pictures (no based was used for the swatches):
Palette 1
"Cheeks and Lids" (you can name your palette)

This was the first palette I bought. If you click on the picture you can read the names. Blushes are in the top row, shadows bottom. Also, note the printed names I taped to the inside.


Swatches of the top row of the above palette.


Swatches of the bottom row of the above palette. "Lemon" is a "lightly frosted" shade, and "Frostee Beige" is a "very frosted" shade. See, not much shimmer. "Frostee Beige" is basically matte. Oh, and "khaki" is "very frosted."

Palette 2
"Sun, Leaves, and Grapes"

Click on the picture to read the names.


Top row of the second palette. "Gold Leaf" and "Yellow" are the only designated mattes.


Second row of second palette.

Let me know if you have any questions concerning this product or anything else.
Much love

Happy Friday and got a buffer?

So, Cheeks is getting a full night's rest, but for some reason I am up at 4 in the morning. Oh well, I might as well be productive. I just took pictures of swatches for the La Femme eyeshadows and blushes. I hope to get this review out before Thanksgiving since we are going to be busy.

Onto beauty!

So, I have to be better about checking the Happyface account because there are some gems to be found in the inbox. For instance a while ago, I received a nice email about the multitasking ability of Ms. Manicure products, and there were two that made me say "ohh, cool," out loud. I would like to pass this along.

First off, I have several Ms. Manicure products that I found at Target a while back, and I really do enjoy them. I have a specific nail clipper for my fingernails from Ms. Manicure, and I panic every time I can't find them (I hide them very well so that the Scholar doesn't use them for his man-toes.). I like the nail clippers because they have a cover around the bottom part of the clippers that makes them more stable when I am holding them, and the size of the clippers work really well for the size of my nails. Plus, I have had them for more than two years, and they have not gone dull, nor rusty, and they haven't lost their spring. In fact, come to think of it, I haven't bought another set of clippers since those. I also have a nail file that I really like for both my fingers and toes. The file is firm for better grip and control, and the grit is perfect for both types of nails. It files without tearing apart my nails.

Also, if you like cute packaging, this is a great inexpensive brand to satisfy that fetish. I, typically, don't get swayed by packaging, but I have to admit that Ms. Manicure's packaging makes me smile. It is very girly, cute, and fun. Several Christmases ago, I bought a cool kit as a stocking stuffer for The Grrl, and I received some matchbook nail files from my MIL. So, really these could make great stocking stuffers for the gift-giving season.

Okay, secondly, and this didn't even occur to me, but I learned that some of these products can be used for things other than nails.

For instance, their "Rock 'n Sole" pumice stone can not only be used to remove calluses, but it can also be used to remove pills from sweaters. You just put the sweater on a flat surface, and gingerly rub the dry stone over the trouble spots on the sweater. Now, remember that the stone is really used to remove calluses, so be gentle. I have yet to try this technique, but I do look forward to testing it because I do have some favorite sweaters that I can't bear to get rid of yet. Really, all they need is a nice refresher. I have bought two sweater shaves before, but they stopped working after several uses, and I am out 14 bucks, whereas, the pumice stone is about 2 bucks.



The other tip that I really intrigued me concerned refreshing suede. So, I went through a phase where I collected nail buffers (weird, I know) and I just used them for my nails. However, buffers can be used to spruce up your suede.
Here is the tip, "Spill something on your new suede boots? You might not have to head for the shoe store for another pair just yet. Grab an emery board, like Ms. Manicure ‘s Call Your Buff ($2.99), and lightly rub the stain. Use the soft, buffer side of this four-sided board to ensure that your boots don’t get damaged in the process. Then, hold the shoe over steam from a boiling pot (or teakettle) on the stove to completely remove it. This works for suede clothing as well! "
Who knew? I used to use my hair brush to buff out any water marks, but the suede would always get rattled.


Just to be clear, I have not yet tried these tips nor these products for the alternative uses. I just thought the tips were curious and helpful. I have, however, tried several Ms. Manicure products, and do not hesitate to purchase more of the products available. I think they are most excellent for the price, plus they are super cute. You can find the Ms. Manicure and Ms. Pedicure at many stores (e.g. Target, K-mart, Ulta, Wal-mart, and so forth).

Much love.

So...what's your sign?

Well, this is just awkward. Here I am vowing to myself and you that I am here to write, write, write, and another week passes. As I sat down to log in and post a new entry, I felt clumsy and shy. It was like I was a goofy kid trying to pursue the most beautiful person who is wayyy out of my league. How the hell do I approach such a radiant person? I will soo be rejected. What's the use? Blah, blah, blah.

In other words, I really didn't know how to go about writing an entry again. I have lost momentum and the inertia has set in. Lame, lame, lame. So as I was driving to my friend's house, I thought about what I could do to get this blog going again after being away so long. I thought about the awkwardness I felt just thinking about how long I had been away, and then I thought about what I have been up to. After all of this contemplation, I decided to just open my mind and stretch my fingers and let both do the work. Instead of plotting a specific review with pictures and stories, I just need to sit down and let out.

So here I am: I am sitting down and letting it out.
OUT, WORDS, OUT!
...uh...hmm...

Oh yeah, so I have been really slowing down on cosmetics buying. Right before my computer gave out, I had hit a saturation point. It reminds me of the time I ate way too many Oreos, the next time I saw them I wanted to throw up. Or another time I only drank cider every time I went to the bar, and then one night I got sick from drinking too much, the next day I would gag just hearing the word "cider." My aversion to Oreos still persists, and I have finally come around to drinking cider again, but it took some retraining. Anyway, my lust for makeup has been temporarily exhausted. I have an urge to use up some of the stuff I have, and that is what I am in the process of doing. I think I have enough colors in my stash to create whatever "perfect" color of the moment, and I am pretty sure I have enough skincare to fill a drugstore. Now, I did make an exception for combating the acne solution, but other than that, I just breeze through the skincare and cosmetics sections at stores unless I really need something.

I must say, it feels really good to look at the new makeup coming out and just shrug. Meh, there is nothing new under the sun. I guess I may be jaded, but I do believe it is only temporary. I won't be unimpressed with the newcomers for the rest of my life. Now, I have realized that I don't need all of the colored eyeshadows under the sun. I am really happy with neutral, right now.

To be clear, however, just because I am not shopping like I used to doesn't mean I don't have reviews coming. Also, just because I hit a temporary saturation point doesn't mean I don't have anything to write about. Don't fret. My shelves and drawers are full of goodies to review, and I still am interested in painting my face.

In fact, as I write this entry, I already feel the warm feelings coming back. I already feel the motivation, the urge, the fire, the...the...the desire to write about my personal thoughts on products.

So on this note, let me share what I have been in love with and what I have not been in love with.

Love:
1) Well, my face has been breaking out, and thank you, lovely ladies, for all of the wonderful recommendations. I got some Neutrogena spot treatment, and I started up the Clean and Clear blackhead remover routine again. So far, I have been having luck. Once I am finished with the spot treatment I am going get the Acne-stress 3-in-1 (it wasn't in store when I went, boo hiss). With this being said, I am really in love with the Clean and Clear blackhead remover. Remember I previously reviewed it? Well, I am loyal to it. I can really tell the difference between using it and not using it. My face looks and feels so much better when I use it. Definitely repurchase.

2) I am also all about mark.'s "For Goodness Face" moisturizer. It doesn't cause breakouts, I have repurchased several times, has SPF 30, doesn't feel sticky, doesn't smell, and just feels great. It is awesome!

3) I have rediscovered L'oreal's Voluminous mascara (waterproof). Oh my goodness! I tried it a long time ago and really hated it. However, this time around I decided to buy it because it was on sale for $4. Well, I love how it separates, lengthens, and voluminizes my lashes. Goodness, it looks like I am wearing natural-looking fake lashes. Now, this mascara is hit or miss on people, and fortunately, it is now a hit for me. Definite repurchase.

4) Palladio Herbal waterproof eyeliner in black brown is excellent. It reminds me of a milder version of Revlon Colorstay at a lower price (about $4.50 at Sally's). By milder I mean it feels a littler softer and is more smudgeable and blendable. I am really liking this eyeliner for my "softer, neutral, come-hither" days. Plus, it doesn't last a good amount of time. I would say definitely more than 5 hours.

5) Since I have been encountering a little bit of acne, I have had to whip out my standby Revlon Colorstay foundation and the Revlon Colorstay blemish concealer in medium/deep. This concealer is nicely pigmented, blends well, doesn't smear, and matches my skin really well. I love it! A little goes a long way too.

6) Cheeks has been giving me a little of a hard time at night so my dark circles are a little more prominent. Therefore, I went to Wal-mart and got NYC's cover stick in yellow to counteract the blue in my dark circles. This coverstick works like a charm. It is easy to blend, doesn't crease, and neutralizes really well. So, I swipe this one first, blend, and then top it off with my Maybelline Mineral Power concealer. Plus, the stick is going to last forever because a little goes a long way.

Meh:
1) After many months of trying out Sally Hansen Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy foundation in Sandy Beige, I feel kind of meh about it. The foundation feels great going on, and it does offer medium coverage, but for some reason, I am just not feeling the foundation. I love the pump, and the shades does a pretty good job of matching my skintone, but it lacks to longevity that Revlon Colorstay offers. It does an okay job holding up to my oily skin; I still get breakthrough, and I feel apprehensive about touching my face after several hours. This isn't a bad foundation, and I would recommend it to someone with normal skin, but I wouldn't necessarily rave about it after much time to consider if I like it or not. Now, I did rave about it when I first started using it (rave to myself, really), but I grew disenchanted with it. I think I just am supremely satisfied with Revlon Colorstay, and so I am just meh about this foundation. I will continue to use this foundation when I rotate my foundations just for kicks, but I won't repurchase it. In a market of so many foundations, this doesn't really stand out; I guess this is the best way to describe the foundation.

2) Clean and Clear advantage mark treatment is meh. The smell is annoying and somewhat overwhelming, the gel doesn't fully dry so it goops up when I put on moisturizer, and it really hasn't vanished my marks. Soo, next time I will definitely try the Neutrogena 3-in-1.

Alright, I plan on finishing the brush review, and touching on the ION demi hair dye. For now, I shall get some rest.

I hope all of you are having a splendid week, and thank you so much for your support and encouragement. Much love!

Whew! I am back.

I am so glad I married a man who has a computer savvy brother. As a matter of fact, both my brother-in-laws are computer experts. Anyway, good ol' Stel is back with me (the comp). I aim to blog this weekend. I have missed being a part of the community, and I look forward to getting back into the swing of things.

I have chilled out with my purchases, but that doesn't mean I have a lot to write about.

By the way, does anyone have an recs for a good drugstore skincare regimen for acne-prone skin? My face is revolting, and I am always up for trying some new things.

Let's get this party started!