Review: Bare Escentual's Buxom Lashliner

I recently purchased Bare Escentual's Buxom Lashliner. It claims to be a lash liner with conditioning elements helping the lashes grow in length and thickness while also volumizing the appearance of lashes with one simple stroke. It is made from natural ingredients including vitamins A, C, and E; Honeysuckle; Jojoba Oil; Soy Protein; Tourmaline; and Biotin (vitamin B). I have been using this product for the past two months and although I haven't seen a significant growth in my lashes, I do however like the slick application it offers and the "Blue Velvet" color. It has some sparkles, but they aren't overbearing. I am not a sparkle/glitter make-up gal, but I think it definitely adds a nice touch and brightens and enhances the eyes. I did find that it smudges a bit but after a few initial smudges, it pretty much stays on throughout the day without requiring reapplication. I give this product a B+ because it doesn't fully deliver on its promises, but I like it enough to wear it everyday! Enjoy!

Perfect Skincare Duo

I recently purchased  DDF's 5% Glycolic Exfoliating Face Wash and now I can't stop raving about this product. Not only does it clean deeply into pores, but it also makes my skin glow. I don't recommend using this product everyday because I feel that it definitely has a drying effect on the skin. I think 3 times a week should suffice for users with normal to partly oil skin or maybe even 1 or 2 times a week for those with very dry skin. I feel that it tightens my skin and minimizes my pores. I also recommend using Ole Henriksen's Truth Serum after face wash. It also tightens, reduces fine lines, and definitely brightens skin, further enhancing the glow effect. I recommend using this once nightly to prevent clogging pores. These products are miracle workers!!

Top 2010 Skin Care Trends

Oak Extract

Oak extract has traditionally been used as an anti-inflammatory agent. It is said to contain powerful antioxidants that improve skin cell functioning and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in dramatically smooth and more refined skin. Oak extract can be obtained in a liquid, supplement form or in products like KORRES Oak Primer.

Glycolic and Salicylic Acids

Glycolic and Salicylic Acids are potent alpha hydroxy acids that significantly reduce breakouts and blackheads. They gently exfoliate, unclog pores, promote skin clarity, and reduce wrinkles and acne scars. Blackheads respond best to serums containing glycolic and salicylic acids as opposed to abrasive scrubs that just push bacteria around. Try products containing AHA’s from brands like Neutrogena and Murad.

Argan Oil

Argan oil is produced from kernels of the argan tree and endemic to Morocco. Due to its small and specific growing area, it is rare and valued for its nutritive and cosmetic properties. Rich with vitamin e and essential fatty acids, it’s becoming quite popular due to its healing power over skin conditions like acne and psoriasis and also, wrinkle prevention. Purchase it raw from sites like amazon.com or find it in products from brands like Josie Maran.

Green Tea

Green Tea contains powerful antioxidants that reduce signs of aging whether you choose to drink it or apply the extract topically. It is a popular ingredient in eye creams because it contains caffeine, which actively reduces puffiness. Its use in facial moisturizers helps balance skin’s natural protective barrier and increases skin brightness.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) boosts collagen and fights free radicals to hydrate, brighten, and fortify skin against future damage. Serums are common skin care products that contain vitamin c and are best applied prior to your facial moisturizer. Popular brands with lots of vitamin c are Jason, MD Skincare, and Murad.

Super Fruits

Antioxidant rich berries like acai, goji, and pomegranate have been all the rage for a quite awhile now and have surpassed the point of being just “trendy”. These super fruits are known for nutrients and vitamins that deliver refining, anti aging, and skin restorative benefits. Shop for supplements at GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe or use products from brands like Tarte and Fresh.

Grapevine Resveratrol

Like argan oil, grapevine resveratrol is one of the newest trends in skin care and has been shown to prolong cellular life by 160% and restart collagen production. Resveratrol is recognized as the best anti aging molecule by Harvard’s Department of Medicine. Brands like Caudalie are just putting topical resveratrol products on the market. Resveratrol is also said to be heart healthy, just like a glass of wine, so vitamin supplements are also selling like crazy.

Paraben-Free ProductsTerms like Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and Butylparaben, can be found on the labels of most beauty products. Parabens are a group of chemicals used to preserve and prolong shelf life in lotions, conditioners, shampoos, and deodorants. There is much debate concerning the harmful effect of parabens. Evidence shows that they may cause cancer and disrupt estrogen activity by acting like estrogen and accumulating in the body. This argument has many companies putting paraben-free products on the market.

Michelle Phan Clubbing Make-up Tutorial

La Laque Fever

Lancome offers a hybrid lip product called La Laque Fever. It is a mix between lipstick and lip gloss offering "vibrant concentrated lip color and unprecedented shine." As advertised on the Lancome website, "Densely pixilated pearls combined with unique polymers give multi-dimensional shine that truly holds to your lips: no touch ups for 8 hours." Lancome has provided a tutorial on how to achieve sexy lips. Alex Sanchez, a leading Lancome make-up artist featured in this video offers a simple yet highly effective way to achieve a sexy pout.

http://www.lancome-usa.com/beautyschool/videos/sexy-lips.aspx

ROUGE VOLUPTÉ

Get ready to walk on the wild side. Bold colored lips are in! Yves Saint Laurent has an ultra smooth and creamy highly pigmented lipstick called ROUGE VOLUPTÉ which is enriched with vitamin E and just perfect for that edgy look. Try Exquisite Plum. Its bold but tasteful and is the perfect color for a night out on the town. Oh and another plus? It's sealed in a shiny gold container fit for a princess.

 

 

Dior's Sérum De Rouge Luminous Color Lip Treatment

As someone with frequently dried out lips, I have been searching for a lasting moisturizing lip product which offers intense visual color. I have recently ventured onto a new product which claims to offer bold color with hydrating benefits. The product is Dior's Sérum De Rouge Luminous Color Lip Treatment. As quoted on the Sephora website, "With 10 times more active skincare ingredients than other lipsticks, Sérum de Rouge features an ultra-creamy texture to smooth and pamper your lips day after day. Enriched with mango butter and other natural emollients, this nourishing treatment actually boosts microcirculation and collagen levels, and protects with SPF20—so lips are as healthy as they are beautiful. Each shade provides a kiss of luminous color that never fades or bleeds." Sephora claims that after 1 month usage, lips become 40% more moisturized and 25% smoother. Now these are definitely bold claims. I have never come across a product which has offered and successfully provided me with those benefits. I will be visiting the nearest Sephora store very soon to test out this product. Will keep you posted on the product results!

Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion

Although I've always preferred lip gloss over lipstick, I have been craving for a change. I have always envied women who can pull off a perfect shade of lipstick effortlessly. A friend of mine always looks great in lipstick. Her lips are naturally full and pouty. She is very skillful in how she applies her make up and does it in minimal time. Whenever I apply lipstick, I notice it has the tendency to bleed and feather around my lips. My mother even makes comments to me stating that she believes I do it on purpose to make my lips look fuller. Haha! If only that were the case! I just heard about Urban Decays Lip Primer Potion Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion. I am a big fan of their eyeshadow primer which I wear religiously to keep my eye shadow lasting all day. Although I have yet to try this product, I have read that it is used as a primer for lipsticks. It prevents feathering and even contains SPF15 as well as vitamins A, C, and D. I have read many reviews for this product and most were very positive. Users swear by it's ability to provide slick lipstick application even when the lips are dry! It also slightly dulls the natural color of the lips to allow truer bolder color of the lipstick. I will definitely be trying this product soon. How about you?

The Big Three

For those of you who are not make-up professionals, I have provided a brief summary of 3 different and popular lip products on the market today: lip gloss, lipstick and lip stain.

Lip gloss is a lip product which adds shine to lips. This product offers a more subtle color than lipsticks and comes in a thick liquid-like form which is dispersed effortlessly over the lips. It is generally sticky but the level of stickiness varies depending on the product type. There are many different types of lip gloss products which offer different levels of shine, color, texture, and other added features like lip plumper and glitter. Lip gloss generally needs to be reapplied throughout the day to keep up application. Women who wear this product value the “wet look” lip gloss offers them.

Lipsticks come in solid form. It offers a more bold solid color and requires precise application unlike lip gloss and lip stains. Lipsticks generally last longer than other lip products. The main benefit of this product is its color. Although lipsticks can come in more subtle sheer colors, women who use it value its color appeal. There are many variants of lipstick offering different benefits/features. Women who generally use lipstick feel that it offers a more mature look than lip gloss which is often portrayed as flirty and youthful.

Lip Stain is a water or gel based lip product, most lip stains contain a bit of alcohol to offer lasting but subtle color. The purpose of lip stains are to provide a more natural look sans the heavy color and application like rival lip products, lip gloss and lipstick. This product goes on very lightly and immediately absorbs into the skin of your lips. Although there are various types of lip stains, they generally stay on your lips for hours without reapplication. Lip stains are offered in various colors. Females who generally use this product prefer a more natural make-up look.

A Deep Shade of Red

With Valentines Day just passed, I began thinking about the color red and just how sexy it is. I find something extremely beautiful about a woman wearing a deep shade of red lipstick. To the right is a picture of Marilyn Monroe wearing red lipstick. Her classic beauty is an inspiration to many women. Some women resist wearing the color because they are afraid of looking overly made-up and possibly even cheap. Red lipstick can look great on any woman. Below is a link to a YouTube tutorial on how to wear red lipstick.

The Perfect Pout

I would like to begin my blog by asking, what do you think makes the appeal of a woman's lips desirable? What is causing this modern craze for pouty lips? Do you find glossy lips attractive? Or maybe a bold color makes some lips irresistible? In my personal opinion, I find both can be very enticing! Lip glosses and lipsticks can do wonders for a girl. My blogging site will explore the world of make-up lip products and how they can be used to enhance a woman's look.