SPF Lotion: Peter Thomas Roth

Peter Thomas Roth
Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion - SPF 30
Nice.
Doesn't give me zits or mask-like feel.
No kabuki face.*
Goes on lightly, absorbs quickly. I like that it has SPF 30 w/ Parsol 1789 & is UVA & UVB blocking. Why bother if it's not full-spectrum?


*Kabuki Face--when your sunscreen gives your face a ghastly pallor. You look like you are wearing white kabuki pancake make-up.

Sun Block: Shiseido--Ultimate Sun Protection Cream for Face

Shiseido
Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 55 PA+++
Thick, smells fresh, no kabuki-face*!
I'm sold:)
It's not the Best Of Sephora for no reason.
A minimal amount needed for good spread coverage.

*Kabuki Face--when your sunscreen gives your face a ghastly pallor. You look like you are wearing white kabuki pancake make-up.

Redken Body Full Carbo-Bodifier

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Love love love this product! It actually looks like I have hair after I use this fun foam. After towel drying, I pump twice and apply. After blow drying and curling, my 2 strands look like 6 or 8 strands. It also seems to give my hair some memory to hold the curls. I like it so much that I ration it. I only use it on the weekends or for special occasions. Ha.

LORAC - protecTINT

LORAC
protecTINT oil free tinted moisturizer
SPF 30
Tawny Temptress

My friend, Julie first introduced me to tinted face moisturizers about 4 years ago. I have since tried several different ones. This little sample from LORAC was perfect for a facial trial. The lotion was a little more creamy than the ones I have tried, but that may be because it was in a sample pouch and not a bottle/tube. It felt somewhat greasy, but did not make my face look greasy at all. The color was great. Not too much tint, but just enough to make my skin appear almost sun-kissed. You have to remember 2 things: 1) Make sure you distribute evenly over face and neck. 2) Wash your hands IMMEDIATELY after applying. It can make your hands look orange. The great thing about this is, if you have clear skin, you can use this instead of a foundation!

md skincare - Daily Face Peel

MD Skincare - Dr. Dennis Gross
Alpha Beta
Daily Face Peel
Two Step System

This is the first time I have tried a two-step daily face peel. When I opened the first pouch, I was a little worried due to the strong alcohol smell. I followed the directions and swiped Step 1 over my face from my forehead down to neck in semi-circular strokes. My face felt like it was burning a little, but was definitely tolerable. After waiting 2 minutes, I applied Step 2. The second pad was not as strong smelling, and did not burn as much. After it dried, my skin felt amazing. It was soft and smooth, clean and shiny. To my amazement, it wasn't as dry as I had anticipated. I did use moisturizer, but my face did not break out at all after using this product. I have since looked on the MD Skincare website (www.mdskincare.com/index.cfm) and could not find this product. I may have to write to Dr. Dennis Gross and ask him if it is still available. Oh, by the way, Dr. Dennis Gross is a dermatologist/dermatological surgeon in Manhattan. He developed his products as an alternative to surgery. I am all for avoiding a knife to my face, so keep the products coming!

Alterna Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

Alterna
Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

Can you believe this shampoo and conditioner is made of caviar extracts and seasilk? Crazy, huh? It has a lovely scent and is thick and creamy. I am not sure what happens to hair when it ages (besides turning gray), but this stuff does wonders. Every time I used the conditioner, someone told me that my hair looked really good. My hair felt smooth, looked über shiny, and was very manageable. Caviar or not, I am all about the Alterna haircare.

emmet cooper HAIRCARE

emmett cooper HAIRCARE
volume wash - shampoo


Smells like delicious green apples right out of the bottle. Thick and rich. My hair feels clean and revitalized. Great for limp and thin hair. It can be used every day, but I prefer to keep it for the weekends! I give it 5 stars.

Redken Workforce 09 Flexible Voluminizing Spray

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According to the Redken website, this is used at Fashion Week and is a best seller. Sorry, I wasn't sold. The smell is very metallic/grandma-very hard to look past. It's a bit sticky and didn't give me the hold that I wanted after I curled my hair. I tried it several times hoping that I would change my mind but I didn't.

Laura Geller balance n brighten powder

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Laura Geller balance n brighten powder

I'm not the biggest fan of face powders considering I have mad dry skin and go to great lengths to have that oh so dewy look. Yet, it is summer so I tried this. It is definitely similar to most powders I've used in the past. It takes off the shine and absorbs excess oily spots. It's long wearing and the shade matched well with my skin tone. Overall, good for a powder.

Kalo Post Epilating Lotion and Spray

Kalo Post Epilating Lotion and Spray

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I was interested in using these products because I absolutely HATE shaving. 40'' legs take no less than about 25 minutes to become smoove. That said, I used both the lotion and the spray for a few weeks. The claim is such that you will see a significant slow in regrowth, about 10%. Big sigh. I saw no slow in regrowth at all. I've tried other products like these and saw no results. Maybe it's just me but for the price tags of $39 and $57, I was thoroughly disappointed.

Korres Wild Rose 24-hour moisturizing and brightening cream

I love this moisturizer. I heart it. My skin is mad dry and hours later it is still hydrated. This is HUGE coming from me. I have been known to put moisturizer on my skin 2-3 times a day. It's smooth and just thick enough. It has the faintest scent of rose. Not old lady rose-pretty pleasant rose.

It's chock-full of good stuff-see below.

Wild Rose oil is a natural source of vitamin C, which demonstrates significant repairing activity to fine lines and skin colour disorders. The extract of the desert plant Imperata cylindrica ensures 24-hour moisturising by continually regulating the cellular water equilibrium. Thanks to its anti-oxidant capacity, the combination of Grape seed and phytic acid helps maintain youthful skin.

Lipbalm!

Jess' Bee Natural
All Natural Lip Balm
Peppermint

Holy frijoles! This makes my lips so happy!
It's smooth & lovely & pepperminty, but not too minty.
Oh, all natural & cruelty free too.
Jess, you are a genius!

Mascara: Besame Gingerbread 1930's

Besame
1930s Mascara
Black
Waterproof & smells like gingerbread!
Seriously smells like gingerbread.
Apart from making me want to eat massive amounts of gingerbread when I apply, this mascara works very well.
Darkens, thickens, lengthens, &, most importantly for me, does not flake off & leave mascara goo all over my face!
The case is gold & etched with a beautiful geometric-floral pattern, so it even looks classy in my bag.
I'd let you try mine, but I don't believe in sharing mascara. Or drinks. Or lip-stuff. Or underwear. Go ahead & borrow some shoes, though;)

Lipstick: Besame Cosmetics

Besame Cosmetics
Enchanting Lipstick Sets
Red Collection
First, how freaking cute are these?!?
Each lipstick is about the size of an applicator-less o.b. tampon.
The little box & all the cases are lovely. Very glam.
There are 5 little lipsticks included in the set, all are creamy, have a definite lipstick smell, but not in a bad way:

• Besame Red--Red. Post WWII France.
• Red Hot Red--BRIGHT red, almost coral-esque. Said to be Marylin's favorite.
• Red Velvet--Red, but not stopping traffic.
• Cherry Red--Lovely deep red.
• Noir Red--very dark & goth full strength, great if that's what you're going for; for me, I just blotted, used as stain. Very nice.

Cosmedicine: SPF Lotion

Cosmedicine

Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20

Maybe it's just me, & I have the worst luck w/Cosmedicine products. Do I get faulty samples, or just happen to test the products that suck?
I was excited to try this, as it promises to stop me from being a greasy mess & stop the sun from making me a wrinkly leather glove.
Squirted some of this into my hand & flashed back to elementary school, when we'd put the Elmer's glue on our palms & let it dry then peel it off. If only this lotion were that satisfying.
Yes, it feels thick & viscous like glue. Your face will know how paper feels, getting paste spread all over. After the initial gluey-face repulsion, I let the lotion sink in for a bit. Had to wash my hands, scrubbing with bar soap. Not a good sign. I then touched my face-rubber! So creepy.
After a few hours, I was still rubbery, but also slightly oily. I felt gross the whole rest of the day, which made me all moody & pissy. So, if you want to be shunned by friends, family, & co-workers & feel like the bottom if a shoe, go for this.

Cars: Honda Fit

I (we) have a 2007 Honda Fit. It is the first production year of the model, and it is a manual (stick) sport model. I love, love, love it.
It is small, but has more interior room than seems possible. Stadium seating, no kidding! Great gas mileage (I/we average 34 mpg highway) & really nice pick-up. There's a fair bit of zooming to be had there. You can check out the web page for all the technical specs, but I'm gonna tell you--this car kicks butt. It is comfortable for driver & passengers, all the features are easy to use...
I can only think of 2 things I don't like: 1) The dash is lit, I sometimes see this & figure that the headlights are on. They aren't, unless the little green symbol is lit up. Yes, I am easily confused. & 2)there is no mirror on the passenger-seat visor. There is, somewhat oddly, one on the driver's side. I'm not sure why this is.
The stereo is great, there is even an auxiliary jack where I can plug in my not-pod. The CD player plays mp3s, so you can put a gazillion songs on a CD & go to town--I suggest Toronto or Chicago.
Buy a FIT! Join the club (it's not an official club, but we Fit owners do tend to wave at one another, content in the fact that we have spent under $50 to fill up).
P.S.: Honda, if you are listening, the Fit has the desirable windshield placement. The Civic does NOT, the windshield in the Civic always seems ready to smack you in the face. Why the redesign? The generation of Civics before this one had great lines!