Monday, March 31, 2008

Shiseido--The Skincare

Shiseido
The Skin Care
IRinse-Off Cleansing Gel
Night Moisture Recharge
Eye Moisture Recharge
moved to About Face!

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow

Urban Decay
Matte Eyeshadow
Secret Service

Once again Urban Decay has sold me on their product. This pigment rich eye shadow is great. It comes in a neat little subway token compact with a snap shut lid. The Secret Service color is a nice dark brown shade. I have actually used it as an eye shadow and eye liner, but I have not tried it wet. This little product has made its way into my every day routine. I can't wait to go out and buy a few more colors.

Catherine's Review:
I'm also a UD convert. I tried the Matte Shadow in Chronic - a fresh, light green color. Beautiful on my brown eyes as a shadow, want to try as a liner. A great shade for Spring (and those, like me, with Spring Fever!). Easily adjustable from sheer to full coverage.

IsaDora Gleaming Eye Shadow

Isa Dora
Gleaming Eye Shadow (Wet & Dry)
88-Metallic Rose & 82-Frosty Seashell

Let me start out by saying that I have been using this product every day since I have tested it. I LOVE the Frosty Seashell color. It is a light neutral highlighting shade that works great with my coloring. It actually goes well with the Mary Kay Highlighting Pencil that I have (to be reviewed at a later date). These colors come in a single, round case with a crazy curved applicator. At first, using the applicator was a little awkward. However, I soon realized that it is curved perfectly to apply under your eyebrows. I only wish that it could be curved at one end and straight at the other, because holding it can be a little challenging at times. I actually tried the Metallic Rose wet and dry. Wet, you are going to get a richer more flat color. Dry appears more "gleaming" and obviously not as intense. Both of these are easily everyday wearable colors.

Urban Decay Loose Pigments


Urban Decay
Loose Pigments Eyeshadow
Baked, Smog, and Yeyo

Nicole:
Baked, Smog, and Yeyo are the 3 colors of Loose Pigment that I was able to try. Baked is a shimmery "solid gold" color, Smog is a deep shiny brown, and Yeyo is light shimmery white. The spill proof tube definitely prevents cracking and spilling if you drop it. (Don't you hate when that happens? I do!) The only thing is that I am not sure about the brush attached to the tube. I felt like I got it all over the first time I used it. There was glitter everywhere. The best way to approach it is to either use the brush to get it on your eyelid and then spread with another brush, or try to remove as much as you can from the brush and apply lightly and evenly to your eyelid. As far as the colors go, they are great. Baked is more of a night time "going out" color, Smog can be used as an every day color, and the Yeyo is a nice highlighting color. Overall, once you get the hang of application, these are great little compact colors that can be taken anywhere.

From Eleasha:
the colors are nice and I like the quality of the shadow, but I hate the brush. It is too hard and it makes the application of the shadow very difficult and messy, especially since it is loose eye shadow. There needs to be a spongier type brush, not something with bristles.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Candles: StellaMare--Cranberry Tangerine

Candles
StellaMare
Cranberry Tangerine
So, I'm standing in a store, on my lunch hour, smelling candles. There were a LOT of candles that smelled like feet and patchouli (or worse).
Then I opened the (very well designed, visually) package for the Cranberry Tangerine Candle. Yummy, but not overly foody. Not real sweet, just right.
Smells even better when lit!
It's also a really pretty deep red, in a nice glass cup, so it looks good on my kitchen counter.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Combs: My search

I have hair that breaks things.
Hair bands, brushes, and, especially COMBS.
[There is a LOT of hair on my head. Each strand is about the same thickness as sewing thread. And there are tons of that. I donated hair last year, the woman had to package it in 3 bundles.]
I comb my hair after washing. It doesn't matter how much conditioner I use, it's a tough job. I've come to terms with that.
What I can't stand is when combs snap in my hair!
I've tried the cheap, bendy-plastic drugstore combs (imagine hair laughing), and the fancy salon combs (took a year, but my hair won).
The only comb I have yet to break is this immense, thick-toothed, white plastic handled comb. It came free in a Clinique bonus.
I am down to the Clinique comb for wet hair & a Phillips Light Touch brush for dry hair. The brush does not consistently reach my scalp through my hair. I could press harder, but I don't want to break the brush & have to go buy another. The Phillips brush works to smooth the mess.
I would like to think that there are others in the same boat. Any recommendations???

Friday, March 21, 2008

Laura Geller Brow Marker and SmashBox Brow Tech

Let me start by saying that my brows are 1-2 shades darker than my hair color (and yes, this is a naturally occurring phenom, which I sometimes address by coloring my hair to make them match my brows). Being very dark brown, my brows are a prominent feature. They require daily maintenance (plucking the ones that are too many or shouldn't be, and trimming the ones that have gotten unruly and too long). As we all know, maintenance can be tricky, as evidenced by a little bare spot in my left brow, and if I get too cut trim-happy, I end up exposing it. Which is what happened this morning.
I thought I'd give Laura the chance to help me out. I'm happy to report that Brow Marker goes on easily, doesn't have the tell-tale look that pencil gives, and has wonderful staying power. I tried it in brown (it comes in either Taupe or Brown). If only it were dark enough to match my real brow hairs, I would have declared a blessing from Aphrodite.
But, since it didn't quite match up, I turned to my reliable old friend, SmashBox Brow Tech in Brunette. If you use a light hand, Brow Tech is wonderful (get carried away, and you look like either Frankenstein or his lovely Bride). It comes with wax which (depending on the coarseness and determination of your brow hairs) does a fairly good job of reigning them in. Again, restraint is the word, or you'll look like you have greasy brows - what an image! Brunette is the perfect color for dark brown/almost black brows! It also comes in Auburn, Blonde, Grey, Taupe, and Soft Brown (available on QVC with a free full-size Smashbox Soft Lights Quad in Allure).
In summary: Brow Marker is great, just be sure the color is right for your brows; and Brow Tech is great if you have a little self-control, and has colors to suite everyone.
Laura Geller Brow Marker does not appear on her website, and is not avaiable online at Sephora. To buy, visit QVC or BellaSugar. Brow Tech is available at Sephora, QVC and Smashbox.
Happy Brow-sing!

Candles: Pure & Natural

Candles
Pure & Natural

Cardamom & Clove
Oddly enough, I have always spelled it Cardamum...
The candle is a bit heady in the package, but once it is lit, mmmmm.
A nice, light, spring-time scent.
Almost floral, a little exotic.
Spicy, of course, but in a breezy sort of way.
Note: After blowing out, the smell lacks the headiness of the virgin candle.

Passion Fruit & Papya
Unlit: Total fruit-smoothie smell.
Lit: Lightly fruity. Like tasty lip balm.
I can smell the papaya!

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Urban Decay-- 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Urban Decay
24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil
Yeyo
Let me start out by saying I am not an eye liner fan. It's the poking yourself in the eye with a pencil, then dragging it... I know that people say to warm in up in your hand (nothing) or to soften it with a lighter/match (molten eye liner is NO fun).
This Urban Decay pencil is different. It is soft. It goes on easily. They are not kidding about the Glide-On!!!
I managed a smooth, even line on both upper lids, right up into the lash line.
This magic pencil also has staying power, which is super good, as if I decide that the occasion is fancy enough to warrant eye liner, it best be on for the whole night;)
24/7 is actually easy enough to use that I'd consider wearing eye liner on a semi-regular basis!
The Yeyo shade is a shimmery white. It kind of freaked me out, then I put it on--Hello Brown Eyes! My eyes stood out (in a good way), I looked awake... For me, it's more of a night look, but I am sold!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

SexySmile

Tried the dual "Plumper Lip Gloss/Tooth Whitener"; here's what I thought (despite thinking that it's an odd combo??):
Plumper Lip Gloss: I liked it as a lip gloss, actually had somewhat of a strawberry scent, lasts pretty long. As for the "plumper" part, not sure I noticed a difference!
Tooth Whitener: Not sure it does anything; will try it for a few days to see if that makes a difference. Seems like too much work, but could be my laziness!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Shiseido-- The Makeup Automatic Lip Crayon

Shiseido
The Makeup
Automatic Lip Crayon
LC3

Smooth & even going on, the lip crayon is fun to use! It's like an automatic pencil, but fat for your lips!
Good staying power.
No nasty taste or smell.
The shade was not so great on me-- looked hot pink, like I was trying to be a teenager. Tested it on a pigment-rich (lucky) girl, and it looked awesome.
I think I will try the same thing, but in LC5...

Sunday, March 16, 2008

IsaDora Protecting Waterproof Mascara

IsaDora
Protecting Waterproof Mascara
Dark Brown

Ok, maybe I shouldn't have tried the dark brown. I usually wear black, but I have used brown mascara before. The brush on this mascara is clump-free and big enough, but I didn't feel as if I had put enough on. I couldn't really see that I had any color on at all. Very thin. The positive is that it is definitely waterproof, but not impossible to get off with makeup remover. I didn't have smudges and smears all over, but it didn't really thicken as I had hoped. Like I said before, maybe I should have held out for black.

Shiseido Shimmering Lipstick

Shiseido
Shimmering Lipstick
SL12

Kate was kind enough to let me help her test. My first test was the Shimmering Lipstick by Shiseido. The color is called SL12. It is a soft pink color. The tube of lipstick itself is very chic, as all Shiseido products are. The color glides on as smooth as lip gloss. It applies almost as if it were liquid. None of that normal dry cracked feeling. The color is not overwhelmingly pink, almost a nude pink, but with a little sparkle. The other great thing is that there isn't that awful lipstick taste floating around. The only downer is that it isn't long-lasting and it will get left behind on your coffee mug. I think I would try a darker color on myself next time, but the soft pink is a great summer look.

Friday, March 14, 2008

No! No! : The Chronicles of Hair Removal, Part 1

no!no!
Hair Removal System

Okay, I admit being a hairy beast. Add that to being a little (chalky white) pale with dark hair, you can see the hair under the skin when I shave. Just try to imagine how much I love that. I have tried waxing (painful, doesn't always work, messy), those hair removal creams (smelly, messy, & ineffectual)... I've even plucked (time-consuming and unpleasant): Therefore, I keep returning to the razor. Sometimes it works well, most times I have a nick or two, and, on occasion, my bathtub looks like someone should call a CSI Unit. When I heard about this No!No! system, I was, understandably, excited. I will continue to update this blog thread : The Chronicles of Hair Removal.

1st try: Arrives with booklet & DVD/CD-Rom. Hindsight being 20/20, I see where just reading the booklet is not enough. The little machine (think 2 razers closed & stuck back-to-back) works by burning & shaving, but in a very fancy way.

TIP # 1: When using, set it down on skin VERY lightly. If you just plunk the thing down, it burns. The blade burns (small) do clear up quickly, but burning yourself is not fun.

There is definitely a singed-hair smell, but it is fleeting. Except for the initial placement injuries (see Tip # 1), the no!no! is easy to use-- the indicator light tells you if you are doing it wrong. Not at all uncomfortable. 2 days later, there is a little growth, but it is not as pokey-hard as shaving stubble. I want to try the long hair blade & using on underarms, but that seems a little too advanced for me. Until next time!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Candles: Tocca-- Yma

Candles
Tocca
Yma
Fresh & bright.
Citrus & sweet, but in a very light way.
Smells like an ideal summer.
Sprightly, almost.
A tropic island, a Jimmy Buffet song, Bali Hai.

Going Co-ed!

Brainy Beautys is proud to announce its Brother Blog:
Gifted Guys Groom!!!
http://giftedguysgroom.blogspot.com/
Because boys are people, too.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Lancome-- Color Design Lipstick

Lancome
Color Design Lipstick
Fashion Icon
I like color on my lips. I'm not much for nude lipstick, except during the summer (about 2 months in Michigan)-- I need the color to keep from looking like vanilla pudding. This is deeply saturated COLOR, with sparkle. Not for the faint-of-heart! I love it. I have gotten several compliments. Sometimes I wish that it was a little less glittery, or that the glitter flecks were a bit more towards microscopic. But it feels nice on, and it looks good:)

Cosmedicine--MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum

Cosmedicine
MegaDose Skin Fortifying Serum
Bit of a sticky wicket here, as I can't really say whether or not this product works. I did NOT try it on a long-term basis. I don't think I had it on for more than a minute. I opened the package (brand new), put some of the gel-goop on my finger, spread on my nose (my first lotion area) & almost retched. Have you ever had to plunge a backed-up sink? Pretty much same smell. I don't know if the stuff somehow went bad or what, but it was seriously foul. It took 2 face washings & some toner before I could get rid of the stench.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Candles: Tocca-- Florence

Candles
Tocca
Florence
Musky, intoxicating.
Forest in the middle of a city.
Floral undertones, but not girly.