Not so AMAZING

The Wetslicks AmazeMint lipgloss is the latest creation from Covergirl. This lipgloss promises not only to keep your lips shining but also to keep you breath smelling minty fresh. CG collaborated with Crest, yes the toothpaste company, to infuse peppermint ingredients into the lipgloss. I seriously wondered how a litgloss could keep your breath fresh. Upon testing this little product I quickly realized that when I spoke the air passing between my lips would push that minty scent forward. If you have eaten something that does not carry a strong scent then you may be fine but if you are eating garlic or onions this gloss is not powerful enough to combat the scent.

The color is unwined-looks dark in the tube but looks like this on my mouth...gagging as I type. On a brighter note my lips are shiny and it remains that way for a good long while, not a bad product at all I am just in search of a different color. Also your lips will tingle when you apply this gloss.

This cost $6.99 I think, sorry I lost the receipt.

Don't be jealous

(click to enlarge this picture)Recently a mountain surfaced on the left side of my face and just to avoid any feelings of jealousy my body allowed a twin mountain to appear on my right cheek. So here I am with matching blemishes just hanging around to torment me. Like any good product junkie I used this as an opportunity to test out a new product. I purchased Origins Get Down Deep Pore Clay Cleanser which can be used as a cleanser or a mask and I decided I was going to wear it overnight as a spot treatment. I opened my pores first by placing a warm towel over my face and then I applied the mask. The next day there was a visible difference in the size of the blemish. I did not expect the entire blemish to be gone, I had to be realistic because the blemishes practically had their own zip code. I continued to apply this mask until each blemish was sucked into submission. I like this product especially since it can be used in a variety of ways. This white China clay includes ylang ylang, sage, and lecithin.
Any Origins products I'm missing out on?
I will be away for a good portion of the day so everyone whose blog I normally read I will check you all out tonight…have a great day!!!

Lost and Found

I was digging through one of my beauty drawers looking for something when my hand hit something that had been unintentionally pushed to the back. When I pulled the object forward it was an unopened box of Savannah Bee Royal Jelly. I didn't purchase it this year which gives you a little insight on how long it must have been in that drawer waiting to be opened. I also believe that this jelly is no longer sold at The Bath and Body Works store but you can still get it online at the Savannah Bee website . Every product from the Savannah Bee company includes honey from their special bees.

This body butter is filled with vitamins, shea butter, pecan oil, beeswax and blueberry extracts. It is a thick body butter that smells like honey and something else but I am not quite sure what that something else is (not at all a bad smell though). It cost $25 a jar but it is smooth and moisturizing, I count it as money well spent. There is no way that I can try every unique body lotion in the world so if you know of a special lotion please share it here. Have you tried this lotion? If so, what is your opinion?

Nuevo and COLOSSAL

It seems like last week every product junkie known to man was at CVS checking out the New Colossal Maybelline mascara that had just hit the shelves so you may have seen a review of this product already, but here is my take.
I was walking through the store and just as I was about to exit the aisle my eye happened to notice this bright bold almost neon green tube with the hint of purple, so I backed up to take a better look. Next I saw the following NUEVO, colossal, 9x volume and clump free, so I just had to pick it up. I was so excited to purchase this new product that I never looked at the color that I purchased until I got home, thankfully it was black.
Whoa does this little baby work, priced at $6.99 this can be a great addition to any makeup bag. My lashes were indeed clump free and LONG. This happens to be one of those mascaras with the large wands but that has not been a problem for me so I don't mind the size. Unfortunately, this is not a waterproof mascara because a few drops of water on my lashes (for testing purposes only) and it began to run but hey who puts drops of water on their lashes anyway?
Check out B's review with video!!
Which drugstore brand mascara do you love?
**Update** I forgot to mention that while this product is not waterproof it is smudgeproof to some degree. I was rubbing my eye and then I remembered that I had on the mascara so I grabbed my mirror and to my surprise everything was perfect. Secondly, I forgot to mention that this mascara has collagen, possibly to plump up those lashes.

First Impressions

When I first saw the Tendertones collection from MAC I just knew there was nothing that I would want from the collection because none of the colors appealed to me at all. Eventually, I went back to the MAC website and learned that all of the Tendertones lip balms with SPF 12 smell like strawberry-kiwi and I was sold. I purchased two online and then two more in person from a MAC counter. The application of the Tendertones lip balms is great because it is so smooth and they smell great. Those who are looking at the pretty colors of the lip balms don't make a purchase based on the colors because they don't really show up well. I also purchased some lipglasses, but before my order arrived I was regretful that I ordered that green Spring Bean lipglass but it's actually pretty cute.
Here is an arm shot that you can enlarge. The lipglasses are to the left in this order - Russian Red, Ornamental, Tranceplant, Spring Bean, Love Nectar, Quite Natural (paint pot), here are the tendertones lip balms Deep Sigh, Hush Hush, Honey Bare and Sweet & Nice.
This is my first paint pot- thank you Nywele and everyone else who encouraged me to purchase a paint pot. It is really creamy and it would be perfect for that smokey eye look. It blends in really well with my skin once I rub it in a bit.
Did you order anything from the Tendertones collection? What is on your MAC wish list?

Are you ready to face the world?

A few weeks ago after a meeting at my job two women broke out in conversation about the need to have fresh breath especially after eating lunch. They both talked about carrying around toothbrushes or keeping them in their desk drawers.. While that is a good idea for some, I prefer to travel with a lighter load, I use a product that can refresh my mouth instantly without having to carry around a toothbrush and toothpaste. That conversation made me think about the need to be ready to speak to anyone at any time without feeling hesistant because of bad breath.
I am the proud carrier of Dentaburst, a compact product that will enable anyone to freshen up anywhere. You simply stick your finger into the sleeve of the dentaburst product and use the bumpy surface to rub over your teeth and tongue to reveal fresh clean breath. This is not a product that will replace brushing and flossing your teeth daily but it will help you to remain confident in speaking with people throughout your day even after you have eaten those garlic knots…lol
I first used a similar product when I went camping some years ago but I am so pleased to have tried dentabust because it has a longer lasting minty taste and it is more durable than the cheaper line of this product produced by other companies.
Special treat from Dentaburst
This company is so dedicated to freshening your breath and making sure we are all ready to face the world with confidence that they created “ a weekly giveaway promo on their online community, The Be Ready Lounge. Participating and posting in the lounge makes you eligible to win. Prizes include $50 Target gift cards, summer fashion clutches, year supplies of DentaBurst, celebrity compacts and VIP gift bags from the Access Hollywood "Stuff You Must" celeb gift lounge”.
You can purchase a pack of 12 Dentabursts from stores like CVS, target and other locations.
How do you freshen your breath while on the go?

I'm not the Joker

I received my MAC package yesterday. I will give you the complete review next week, I had a few shockers in the haul so stay tuned. I just had to pull out one product from my order because I was so surprised with my transformation after putting it on. I purchased Russian Red because I want to get away from always buying browns or nudes. I thought this red would be a good starting point because it is a lipglass and I expected really sheer coverage. I took one swipe of the Russian Red and I looked like I was going to reprise the Batman character -the Joker. I felt like I was lost in a sea of red lips. I will couple this color with a deep brown and hopefully walk away with something I can wear outside of the house.

Which colors do you shy away from?

PJD's Pre Poo Process

Here is a little video documenting my pre poo (pre shampoo) process. The oils that I use in the video can be replaced with the oils of your choice. I switch up my oils from time to time.


What do you do in your pre poo process? How long do you pre poo, overnight, 30 minutes etc. ?

Color Stay Away

I'm strolling along in CVS when I catch a glimpse of the stunning Halle Berry wearing a new mineral lip product by Revlon. I decided not to buy the Color Stay Mineral Lipglaze but I found myself always returning to that aisle. After reading that this lipglaze should last for 8 hours, I was intrigued.

Firstly I must say that this lip product has an unpleasant ordor that I have not put my finger on but I don't like this scent on my lips. (think Elmers glue)- STRIKE 1

I also made a decision to step outside of my normal box by selecting a color other than brown, so I chose Overtime Wine #555 (shown above).

Secondly, you need to have a heavy hand to really see the vibrant color.-STRIKE2

<----- 1 swipe of this product
heavy hand swipe---->

I think you know where I am going for the third strike, 8 hours was a joke more like 1 hour and I am being generous. An hour later it looked like this!!!! I will say that I did drink juice and I ate something but is that not allowed for the 8 hour time span???lol
My lips were still sticky but the color was basically gone.
This glue will cost you $8.99 but you can just "SKIP IT"

`Before it's too late-again

I wanted to blog about this line weeks ago but I used it all up before I could even take a picture. Since I purchased more yesterday I decided I should do this post now because there is no telling how quickly I will use this product. The Body Shop, not to be confused with Bath and Body Works, has a line of deliciously scented body washes, body polishes and moisturizers. My favorite thus far is the strawberry line as shown above. The moisturizer is very soft and it includes, rosemary oil (you can't smell it though), shea butter and strawberry oil which is supposedly used to moisturize the skin. Unfortunately, parabens have also made the ingredients list, so I probably wont get the moisturizer again but the foaming body polish is paraben free. The polish (shown on the left) is actually my favorite item from the line because of those tiny exfoliating seeds which fail to really exfoliate, but they are cute and the overall scent is lovely. The ingredients listed for the polish include honey, kiwi and strawberry juice.
shower gel -$13.00
body butter $10-$20 depending on the size you select
body polish -$20.00
Any scents you can't live without?

MAC wants to be your friend

Just a reminder that the 15% off and free shipping deal continues with MAC until June 17th. The offer code is MACFF8. By popular demand they extended this friends and family sale, so feel free to shop online or in the store.
Enjoy (you know I already placed my order)
For everyone who already ordered, what did you get?

Can You Find The Cheapie Brand?

When I first received my ELF products I was excited (I will finish the ELF haul soon..promise), but I was probably most excited about the nail polish with the $1 price tag.
Now I want to see if you can pick out the cheap $1 ELF nail polish. I have on three different brands, one is definitely ELF and the other two are popular brands. I actually like the formaldehyde free ELF polish. It is supposed to be a quick dry polish and it does ok in that area, I didn't notice anything super fast but it was decent. The color is nice, maybe a little lighter on your nails with just one coating but add more and you should get your desired shade.
I only applied one coat of each brand just to be fair. Click the pic for a closer look.

<---hand1 hand 3 ---->


hand 2



Now on to the quiz.....

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Here's a look at the other two brands that I used:

Ready for the answer........

• Hand #1 Sally Hansen No Chip 10 Day Nail Color in Tenacious Ruby
• Hand #2 $1.00 ELF polish in Medium Red
• Hand #3 OPI in I'm Not really A Waitress
  The ELF polish consistency is a little thinner than the other two brands but not so thin that you feel like you are applying water to your nails. Regarding the chip factor, I would say this product chips around the same time as most brands, no sooner and no later. (Except for OPI which I have found to be a really long lasting polish along with Essie).
• Notice the cute little decorative drop of nail polish hanging from the ELF bottle. I have purchased $1.00 polish in the past and this is by far the best one. I would buy an ELF polish again.

Starting from Scratch

While I am a self proclaimed product junkie other bloggers describe themselves as ingredient junkies. I feel that it is my duty to explore all product related junkiesm, whether it is an actual product or starting from scratch with pure ingredients. I felt compelled to pick up 4 ounces of Nettle for $7.00, 3 oz of Rosemary $4.00 and 2 ounces of Roses $1.85. I have no idea what I am going to make but I will check out Anita Grant.com for inspiration (scroll down to see the recipe). Do you have any special recipes that you would like to share here? If so, please don’t forget to tell us what your concoction is supposed to do.

Here is a closer look:

Nettle

Rosemary

Roses

Thanks and have a great weekend.

The Promise of SUPER Shiny Hair

(click to enlarge the photo)

Paraben- a chemical compound used as a preservative in many cosmetics and hair products. It has been linked to cancer through several studies. In one study 18 out of 20 tumors contained parabens. Researchers dug further to discover that the parabens “originated from something applied to the skin”.

I have made a conscience decision to stay away from parabens as much as possible. Although I still have some products with parabens, if the paraben is way down on the ingredients list I feel a little better. Parabens can also be found in loads of cosmetics, I am sure I am consuming parabens in one form or another just because of the high frequency of paraben usage by companies, so I am trying to do as much as possible to protect myself.
You may have noticed that companies like Burts Bees and Carols Daughter often publicize that their products are paraben free, because as people become informed they are moving away from this preservative. Although alternative preservatives exist parabens seem to be preferred for some reason. I once read (sorry I don’t have the source) that parabens are cheap and that is why they are used so often.
While on my no paraben kick I decided to try the Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet shampoo and conditioner for $7.99 each. The shampoo alone contains coconut, grapefruit and sugar beet extract, soy protein, honey, lemons, oranges and limes. I felt like I was walking down the aisle of a health food store after reading those lovely ingredients. I must admit I had images of shiny locks flowing through my head so I couldn’t wait to test out this inexpensive and sulfate free solution. I slathered on the shampoo and the product itself was glistening as I rubbed it through my hair, each strand seemed to be covered with this beautiful shiny coat.

After I washed it out and my hair dried, I wondered if my hair could have looked any more dull and dusty. It seemed to have sucked the life right out of each strand leaving my hair begging for moisture. Even though this product is 98.80% natural my hair felt like hay, looked like hay and if a horse had been in the vicinity I am sure he would have validated my claims by going in for a nibble. It actually did the complete opposite of what it promised.

This product is so very deserving of being thrown into the deep dark abyss of the “Skip IT” files.
Did you ever experience great results after using the Burt's Bees Hair line? Have you encountered any natural products that just don't work for you?

Drugstore item

I really like this new Coconut Scrub Moisturizing Body Wash by Softsoap. This product mixes jojoba and coconut oils, but I must say those ingredients come way at the bottom of the ingredients list. However this wash smells like coconuts and it has these tiny exfoliating beads. The exfoliating beads are pretty light weight, so do not get this product if you are expecting superior scrubbing action. You will feel the beads but they won’t do too much exfoliating. Your skin will feel soft after you are done but the tropical scent does not last. I would get this again if only for the coconut scent and smooth skin.
For 18oz I paid $1.99 (on sale) it will gernally cost $3.99 for this size.
I remember a time when everyone had bar soaps but things have changed. Do you use liquid or bar soap?

Super Size Me

When I find a product that I like, I try to get the largest size possible. I was able to get the largest bottles available for the Aveda Damage Remedy line.

• Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo 33.8 oz- $67.00


• Damage Remedy Restructuring Conditioner 33.8- $84.00


• Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment 16 oz- $68.00

Here is a comparison shot, the smaller bottle is priced at $24.00. I think this is a great buy.

Which products do you want to super size?

CORRECTION

When I blogged about the Aveda Hand Relief lotion I listed the price at $7.50 when in reality the 4.2 oz tube is $18.00.

Quick story when I picked up my super sized Aveda products this week everything was already packed for me when I arrived at the store. After leaving the store I told myself to double check the bag, and when I did I noticed my 4.2 oz tube and I knew I asked for the largest bottle, the one priced at $18.00.When I called the store I learned that the 4.2 tube is indeed the large while the smaller version priced at $7.50 is a little over 1 ounce and it looks more like a sample. I purchased the small version of the foot relief cream and I really thought it was a free sample in my bag. I didn't test that out yet, the review is coming soon, I just know it better be good.

F.Y.I

The Free ElF nail polish that I blogged about yesterday only applies to one bottle. However, you will still pay shipping which may not make sense in the long run.

Kazam -A Company After My Own Heart

When I opened my Peach Mango hand and body lotion by Kazam this past weekend, I was immediately taken captive by the delightfully intoxicating scent. All together now KAZAM ( just love that company name). Kazam, the masters of all things natural and organic, produced a line of natural products not to be rivaled by other companies. This Peach Mango smells so authentic, I feel delicious just wearing this all natural lotion. Someone gave me a hug on Sunday and said "I love your perfume, it smells great", to which I replied I'm not wearing perfume you are smelling my Kazam peach mango lotion. Although this company may not be as widely know as vaseline or other brands, it should be especially because of the care that they take in selecting the best ingredients possible for their products.
When is the last time you looked at the ingredients list on your lotion and knew each item listed? Shea nut butter, jojoba, aloe leaf juice, and lemons just to name a few of the easily recognizable ingredients used to form this peach mango masterpiece.
I am always blogging about what I don't like to see on a list of ingredients and Kazam must agree with my line of thinking because their ingredients have been plucked from nature. Their products which range from body lotions to natural hair products will never contain "harsh chemicals, parabens, artificial preservatives, petroleum, aluminum and artificial fragrances". My skin feels silky, it is a long lasting product and again the scent will drive you mad. Leave the alcohol based perfume at home, Kazam has you covered.
Ready for the clincher? The owner of this company, Ms, Marjorie Moutari, is a woman who has taught African women how to make their own natural products, empowering them to start their own companies.
Priced at $15.00 for 8 ounces your skin with thank you for this purchase.
http://www.kazambodycare.com/

Free Nail Polish

"FREE NAIL POLISH! Offer expires July 1, 2008. Add Nail Polish color of choice to cart and apply code to get it free! Use coupon code EGFLIPCG Shop Nail Polish at" www.eyeslipsface.com/products.asp?dept_id=1154 I tried putting nail polish in my cart and I received an error message. Maybe you want to give this a try later. I did not do my post on this yet because I am a little behind but the ELF nail polish is just fine, it is comparable to the polish produced by many other companies (not my OPI), but for $1.00 it works just fine. I don't know if this code is for one polish or multiple bottles but once the error is corrected I guess we will find out.
ENJOY

My Nails

The Frugalista was interested in the nail polish that I had on during the "eyelash curler video" yesterday, so this one is for you Frugalista.
I was wearing Essie in the shade "material girl", it is like a deep wine. I applied two coats of the polish and I didn't apply a top coat and it was still shining. Of course a portion of the blinding shine that you see is from the light but it was still shiny enough to make people think I was wearing a top coat. Click on the picture for a closer look and please ignore all nail polish on my skin..lol
Happy Painting.

****UPDATE****

You read my review of the ELF eyelash curler yesterday, but I have an update for you. I gave the curler to my mother and she believes that it works! She feels that her lashes were separated and curled. So for one buck give it a try and see what you think.

ELF review continued

You bat them, attempt to extend them, and curl them. Some women even apply various oils to make them grown. What is it? Your eyelashes of course. I purchased an ELF eyelash curler to see if my eyelashes would look curlier. Let me say I have never purchased one of those before. Ok I know some of you are gasping right now..lol Anyway I decided to purchase this one since it was only 1 dollar.
I did extensive testing and here are my findings.
In your experience can a good mascara wand eliminate the need for one of these tools?

My skin- A series by Vaseline

I just came across this series presented by Vaseline for their cocoa butter line. I blogged about this line months ago, check it out here.

Aveda- the hand edition

Aveda is not just about great hair products hair apparently they know how to make an awesome lotion as well. I am thoroughly impressed with the Aveda hand relief lotion for stressed skin shown in the picture above. It contains soybean oil, aloe leaf juice along with a variety of other oils. Surprisingly you don’t walk away with oily hands, just soft well moisturized hands. I will continue to purchase this $18.00 lotion because it really is an outstanding product. My hands are literally moisturized hours later. I always thought my hands were soft but after using this product I am certain I have realized a whole new level of softness.
Which lotion keeps you well moisturized?

The Coil Review

The dreary NYC weather could not keep guests away from The Home, a night club that served as the venue for the EPIC launch of The Coil Review. The Coil Review is a site devoted to natural hair care. The talented master mind behind this unique site is Yardley Messeroux, Founder and Chief Editor. She has taken her time and energy to develop an all inclusive resource for those who rock their natural coils. This site will keep you up to date with the latest events, findings, styles, products and much more. Stay tuned as Yardley and her stellar team, interview experts and keeps you on the pulse of the natural hair care community. The Coil Review is unlike any hair site you have seen, it is a place where one can embrace the beauty of our natural textures along with the culture and lifestyle to which it is tied.
Don’t fret relaxed heads, because many of the remedies, products and tips on the site can be equally beneficial to the health of relaxed hair. Check out a few pictures from the official launch of The Coil Review and see which blogger came out to celebrate the launch.


If your hair is relaxed, have you ever considered going natural? If so, what's stopping you? For those with unrelaxed hair what is the best part of being natural? What if anything is lacking in the natural hair care world?

When you have had enough

When you express the love that you feel in every way imaginable and your efforts are neither appreciated nor acknowledged, you feel hurt. But the more it happens you may start to feel angry, and this anger may motivate you to stand up and say, I will not take this treatment anymore. That is the day when you shout, I care for you, I go out of my way to get you the best that money can buy and this is how you treat me? I just want to be there for you and all you want to do is SPLIT.

I told you some time ago that if I wanted to find a split end on my hair I just had to look at my bang and there it would be staring back at me. Yes, using Wen on my hair was great but eventually I ran out and in between orders I had to find a solution, that is when I found two split end remedies, the first of which I will present to you today.Redken does it again this time with a product from his Extreme line called Anti Snap, a no nonsense light weight leave-in product that almost dares your hair to break. It is a protein packed solution specifically designed for distressed hair.
I thought it would make my hair dry, or crunchy but when it dries it feels ever so soft. Although it is supposed to be used on wet hair, I use it on my dry hair and my split ends are off to terrorize someone else.
The ingredients list made me cringe because it is a haven for parabens, alcohol and all things deadly- but it works so I am a bit torn.
Anti Snap is priced at $14.99.
This light weight product just slides down my hand.

Do you read the list of ingredients when purchasing hair products? Do you even care if harmful ingredients are included if a product actually works?

Summer Nails

I stumbled upon an OPI sale, buy one get the other for half price, so I picked up some colors that I liked.

From left to right "Mauving to Manitoba", Moon Over Mumbai" from the Indian collection),, "Curry Up Don't Be Late" (shown on my nails and also from the Indian collection) and finally "I'm Not Really A Waitress".

You can click on the pictures to enlarge them and if you want to see any colors on my nails just let me know.

Which colors will you sport this summer?

The MAC Craze

Another MAC product that I now love is the tinted lip conditioner with SPF 15. I love how they had them placed right by the cash register on display, it's like you just had to buy one. I purchased my color in soothing beige, and I love the scent of this product, it smells like candy. When I put it on my lips you hardly see anything, the tint is very light but it can be worn underneath your lipstick as a base. This product is really smooth, it does not get sticky and it is long lasting on the lips. It contains almond oil, avocado extract, wheat germ, do I really need to go on? I really enjoy this product and I plan on purchasing more.

Priced at $14.50 you can get your pot-o-gloss.
Here are some pictures for you. You will also see the product on my lips, you will need to apply much more if you really want to see more color, the tint is light but I don’t mind wearing it just like this.

Do you use lip conditioners? Is there anything important that I am missing from MAC? WHat is your must have MAC product?

HURRY

Ladies have you ever wanted to try ELF without spending your own dime? If you are one of the first 100 people to post a comment on their message board on the Yum Yum products you will get a $5.00 reward to use toward elf products. Remember ELF sells most of their products for $1.00 so give it a try. Here is the link http://link.ixs1.net/s/lt?id=l328007&si=3198352337&pc=j2004&ei=i211273
HURRY.
My usual post is below.

Aveda Damage Remedy Review

I washed my hair on Friday with the complete Aveda Damage Remedy line, shampoo, treatment and then the conditioner. The shampoo actually felt good on my hair, it felt like it was cleaning it but not so harsh that my hair felt squeaky as if it had been stripped clean. The treatment felt like butter on my normally dry, course hair. The treatment is supposed to remain on your hair for roughly 5 minutes. I did not use a timer but I had on the radio and I kept the treatment on for the entire Aaron Hall song "I miss you" and about 1 additional minute. I estimate that it was on for about 6-7 minutes. I suspect the treatment is really the secret weapon behind this line, it felt like it was moisturizing my hair. The conditioner felt great also, then I rinsed everything out and hoped for the best. I was able to get through my hair easily as I prepared to roll it. I did not put anything on my hair, not coconut oil, no leave-in products- NOTHING, because I wanted to see how well this product would work on my hair. I plan on using this system for a while just to see if I feel like my hair benefits long term from this product.
Remember I air dry so no heat for me, I should also mention that I am 7 weeks post relaxer. The products certainly tamed my new growth, my hair was very soft and easy to comb through.
So what was my hair like the next day? Watch the video below to find out!
Please let me know if you have any trouble watching this video, I am trying to decide between uploading to blogger or using Youtube.