Eyebrows

As I am home for the holidays and am short on time, today I am reposting an oldie but a goodie. This entry was originally posted 6/7/06. Over six months later, I am still using both products and loving them every bit as much.

I've been battling my eyebrows for years. I began plucking at 18. My brows had always been... big. However, strange as it may be although they covered a large amount of space, there was actually little hair doing so. This has made shaping a buit tricky, and has made it necessary to use brow pencils or powder of some kind. I've been using a Revlon eyebrow powder kit for longer than I care to confess (it's only been recently that I started paying attention to those so-called make-up expiration dates), but have been wanting to find something new.

I recently got a gift card to Sephora and as I was browsing around in the store yesterday one of the lovely ladies who works there pointed me towards Stila's Brow Set. She recommended it highly, and helped me pick out the best color for me. I also picked up a Sephora Eyebrow Brush to go along with it.

I used my new brow powder and brush this morning for the first time, and immediately fell in love. It went on nicer and smoother and looked more natural than my old powder ever had! I don't know if it was the powder, the brush, a combination of both, or simply using something that was nice and new and fresh, but I'm loving it. I'm not in the habit of splurging on make-up like this (the brow powder was $16 and the brush was $9) but the brush will last me for quite some time and the powder for a good 2 years or so, so I'm satisfied. I have to say, the appeal of knowledgeable staff to help you out and being able to test the products before buying are starting to convert me to slightly pricier products over the drug store brands. Plus (such a frivolous thing) the packaging tends to be so much cuter.... =P

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

As someone who has suffered from dry, cracked hands every winter for the past, oh, as many years as I can remember, it seems I'm always on the look-out for great hand lotions. My most recent find is a good old-fashioned inexpensive drugstore find-- Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula Hand Cream! ($4.39 at drugstore.com)You only need a dab, and it immediately makes my hands feel soft and uber-moisturized (without feeling too greasy). And it's inexpensive enough that you can buy several tubes and keep them stocked anywhere you might need them. I unfortunately left mine in California, and I've been dying without it. I will definitely be hitting Target up tomorrow and grabbing some of this stuff.


There's also a new fast absorbing formula out, if the regular cream feels too greasy to you (it doesn't at all to me).

Apologies

Hello dear readers, sorry for my lack of posting this week. I've been driving with my sister from California to Texas to spend the holidays with my family. I meant let y'all know ahead of time but forgot to post anything before leaving sunday morning. I've published a new post below, and will have some more coming next week.

Happy Holidays!

While You Were Sleeping...

I'm always on the look-out for goo travel-size beauty products, as it seems I travel a lot. Knowing that I would be spending the holidays in Texas again this year, I was delighted when I saw Kohls selling 2-week sample supplies of Grassroots night and day face creams for $5.

I immediately fell in love with their night cream, While You Were Sleeping Overnight Moisture Cream($17). Though I think it's the scent that did it more than anything. Infused with Madagascan vanilla, I just love slathering this stuff on after washing my face at night! It has also left my face feeling soft and well-moisturized, without feeling oily in the morning. The cream version is for normal-to-dry skin, there is also a lotion formula available for normal-to-oily skin. Each of these, along with all other Grassroots products, are available at Kohl's stores and www.Kohls.com.

Perfume Sets at Target!

Target has got some GREAT deals on perfume gift sets right now! For example, you can get a fabulojs deal on a Live by Jennifer Lopez 3-piece gift set that's much less than the price of the perfume bottle alone at Sephora. You can read more in my post at Target Culture.

American Beauty Super Plush 10-Hour Lipcolor

On a trip to Kohl's recently, I got seduced by American Beauty's Super Plus 10-Hour Lipcolor ($16.50, now on sale for $14.85) in Blushing Rose (a deep-yet-bright rosy pink color that I've somehow come to associate with the holidays). I've been weary of long-wear products in the past as I've had bad experiences of them sucking my lips totaly dry, but lately I've been feeling annoyed by how quickly my normal lipstick or gloss rubs off (especially when I'm blowing my nose with any sort of frequency).

So I tried it. The verdict? Quite good, actually. I applied the color and as it dried 9the instructions say to give it 1 full minute) my lips started feeling a bit dry, but once I put the gloss on top they felt instantly better. The gloss is ok... not great, but not bad either. It actually lasted for several hours, which was impressive. But you can just as easily keep your favorite gloss or balm handy for re-moisturization rather than havw to carry the big lipstick-and-gloss combo here.

The color stayed true for a good 12 hours, with very limited flaking or looking wierd in any other way. By the end of the day I had to use eye makeup remover to get the color off, but it came off faily easily that way (which is nice-- I want something that sticks when I want it to, but comes off easily when I want it to).

So, yeah, I'm happy enough with this that I may go back and buy another color or 2. It's the long-lasting lipstick I've liked the most of the few that I've tried.

Lip Scrubs

I've been hearing a lot lately about "lip scrubs" and "lip exfoliators" lately. I've used the bristles of my toothbrush in the past to help get rid of flaky dry skin on my lips, but that can be awkward and rough so I was actually considering buying one of these new lip products.

Then I was lying in bed this morning and thought "Wait a minute... can't I just make one myself?!?" Now, I'm not normally your DIY beauty product person. I'm not sure why, but I just don't get around to making my own concoctions of stuff. But this one seemed like it could be so easy. So I tried it out. Here's my "recipe":

1. Squeeze some of your favorite thick lip balm onto your finger (I used my Philosophy Kiss Me lip balm).
2. Sprinkle some sugar on top of your glob of lip balm.
3. Gently scrub your lips with the mixture.

It's that easy. Since you're using sugar, it even tastes nice if you get some into your mouth. Then, simply rinse off and- TaDa!!- you'll have gorgeous, soft, plump-looking lips.

Dear Katie Holmes/Kate Cruise/Whatever your name is these days,

Katie, Katie, Katie... what's happened? You're young. You're adorable. Yes, you just had a baby, but you look FABULOUS for it.

So why do you insist on wearing clothing that makes you look like you're 80 years old?

You used to dress all sorts of cute, not that long ago. What's happened since then?

Both the outfits in the pictures here are from wedding-related events. The gold outfit on the right (I know you cant't see it all, but it's seriously something I'd expect my grandma to wear) was from the Rehearsal Dinner. The frumpy black top with polka-dot skirt on the left are from a recent post-wedding party back here in the States. Now, most brides would take care to look their best for their wedding, and the events surrounding it. You have all the time, money and resources in the world and THIS is what you come up with?

I can only assume one thing. This must be a Crazy Tom influence.

It makes me sad. It's a shame to have such a beautiful young woman go around looking this bad. Please, Katie. Wake up. Leave this insane Scientology wierdo. Come back to the real world.

Sincerely,
Everyone

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Reverse Fit Jeans-- "High-quality denim. Sits just above the waist, full through the hip and thigh, tapered leg opening."
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Dear Lord, WHY????

Good Skin Megabalm Ultra Soothing Lip Treatment

I LOVE this stuff. Good Skin's Megabalm Ultra Soothing Lip Treatment$9.50) is the BEST. It's so thick that it actually has staying power, and is so amazingly glossy so can be worn during the day as a gloss on its own. I usually slather some on each night, and it's definitely helped stave off dry-lips syndrome. All last week I was fighting a cold that rendered my nose useless as a breathing device. Normally the breathing through my mouth would leave me with dry, cracked, bleeding lips. But thanks to my awesome Megabalm, all I got was a bit of dryness.

Yes, it's a bit pricey for the small tube, but I swear it's worth it!

Set your TiVo's, ladies!

I got this email today:

"Victoria’s Secret PINK makes its runway debut on CBS, December 5th at 10/9C. PINK models, including Jessica Stam, strut their stuff on the catwalk to the tunes of Justin Timberlake who delivers a breakthrough must-see performance. Sleeping bag shrugs, fitted varsity jackets and sexy boy-shorts rule the first-ever PINK section of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show*. This year’s show is being touted as Victoria’s Secret’s best to date, so PINK Girls – be sure to set your TIVOs for this can’t-miss event."

Several weeks ago when a friend of me dragged me into a Juicy store (WAY out of my price range) I finally realized that the VS Pink! collection is totally emulating Juicy Coutour. Well, it's cute, and much more affordable, so more power to them! ; ) I'm actually becoming quite a fan of the VS Pink! line. I really like my yellow sweat pants, and their thongs are the only kind I wear now.

PS- While you're at it, check out Victoria's Secret's Top 10 Beauty Gifts, all of which are on a special 25% off sale right now.