A Concealer, a Highlighter, a Blender...Oh My! :)

Lorac Double Feature
Retail Price: $24.00
Where to Find: Sephora, Sephora.com

Not all makeup products are going to be perfect to a tee, but for a concealer/highlighter/blender all-in-one, this comes pretty close!  The concealer is a fairly thick, but hydrating, stick, which is great for under the eyes.  Too much of it, though, it will be cakey.  The nice thing about this product is that it comes with a hygienic blender roller ball that helps even out the concealer.  This enables you to apply a little bit of concealer, then spread it out with the ball; and if you need to apply more, then repeat!  This prevents you from "over-concealing" and the concealer becoming too cakey on your face.

Now, the highlighter is the extra treat.  I don't always use it, but when I do it does add a little shimmer right where it would meet your blush.  I suggest applying three 3-5 tiny dabs along the outside of the eye, forming a "C" around the eye (I sometimes put a dab just right underneath the arch of my eyebrow).  Then, use the blender roller ball to blend it.  The motion should be like connecting the dots!

This product comes in five shades.

Tips:
-Apply a little bit of concealer, then use the rollerball to even it out; if you need more, then repeat this step.
-Just use 3-5 "light" dabs of the highlighter, then blend with the roller ball
-If a shade does not complete/y match your tone, have a foundation powder handy to apply on top.  Actually it's always good to have a foundation powder for touching up in general :)





Photo credit:
Sephora Lorac Double Feature http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P217806&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=4144#BVRRWidgetID

Support Breast Cancer Awareness

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if you're in need for some new makeup products, why not support breast cancer awareness and research too :).  Remember to do your monthly self-examination, and for more information, the Susan G. Komen website is a great resource.

Here are some products that are supporting National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

SEPHORA COLLECTION Perfect Ten Brush Set $60.  $1 will be donated to the The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Estee Lauder Lip Design Collection 2 dual glosses (4 colors) $25.

Shiseido Luminizing Lip Gloss in Pop Life $22.  For every purchase of this product, Shiseido will donate $5 to Cosmetic Executive Women's Cancer and Careers, an organization dedicated to supporting women in the workforce who are battling cancer.

Sephora Collection BCA Pop Up Brush $8.  A Donation of $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Shimmer Brick $38.  Free shipping is applied to any order with this product.



Credits:
Sephora http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P202938&categoryId=B70Estee Lauder http://www.esteelauder.com/product/653/9724/Product-Catalog/Makeup/Tools-More/Sets-Gifts/Evelyn-Lauder-Lip-Design-Collection/index.tmpl
Shiseido http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P274300&categoryId=B70
Sephora http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P273006&categoryId=B70

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Face Wash

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Face Wash

Retail Price: $29.00

Where To Find: The Body Shop retail stores or www.thebodyshop-usa.com

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner
Retail Price $11.00
Where To Find: The Body Shop retail stores or www.thebodyshop-usa.com

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion

Retail Price: 18.00

Where To Find: The Body Shop retail stores or www.thebodyshop-usa.com

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion (Day)

Retail Price: 13.00

Where To Find: The Body Shop retail stores or www.thebodyshop-usa.com

My skin doesn't react well with anything too acidic.  My skin ends up soo dry, yet I would be so convinced that because of the tingling sensation of some of these products after washing and cleansing that it must be working.  So lately, I've been using more pH-balanced products.  I use SebaMed, which is this Euro-based brand that makes their products pH-balanced.  I really like them for that fact and that it's affordable.  Only thing is that you have to buy online (they are trying to sell in US retail stores).  The formula is very light and works well; however, because I have more of a combination-oily skin, especially in the summer, I need something just a tad bit stronger for the summer/fall months.

This is when I came across The Body Shop skin care line.  The staff was so nice and helpful.  Because I was hesitant on buying an entirely new line of products, the staff offered me samples to test out for a couple days. 

Results:  It works!  I've been using these products for a month now, and it significantly reduced the breakouts and excess oils.  Like I said, I break out in the summer, but I also break out during that time of the month and when I work out and don't thoroughly clean my face before or afterward.  The tea tree oil, combined with the lemon tea tree and tamanu oils, has a distinct smell.  It's definitely not fruity or floral.  But it's not bad either.  It took a couple days to get used to it; now it's quite refreshing!  The exfoliator pads are great when you're in a hurry!

There's a sale going on today online www.thebodyshop-usa.com!  Buy 2 products, get 1 for 76 cents!  And Free shipping (over $35).

p.s. I'm going to have to start taking before and after pictures, lol.  But for now, if you have skin like mine, try it out!  If you can go to a store, ask for samples! :)

Photo credits:


The Body Shop http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/face-wash/prod170248

Alex Water Bottle

Ok, I know it's been awhile since I've posted.  I've been busy trying to figure out my life and next moves, lol.  It's tough being a 20-something (but fun too)!  But don't worry, I have several posts that I've been working on the last week or two.  So you might be seeing a surge of posts this week, lol.

This post isn't necessarily a beauty-related product, but I find this really neat (hence, new tag/label, "Neat Stuff").  It's called the Alex Water Bottle.  I saw it in on of my Daily Candy e-mails, and I thought that this is an innovative water bottle .  It's practical for those of us who carry big bags or bags with too much stuff inside (I'm a victim of both!).  I already have a nalgene bottle that I carry with me almost all the time.  But it's huge and bulky, and when it comes time to clean, it is rather difficult especially the mouthpiece.  And overtime, there is an odor that develops.  The odor can be removed with some water bottle tablets though :).  The Alex Bottle, it looks like it's easy to clean, but my favorite feature is the "com-Pack-able" feature. 

Anyway, I thought this was neat item.  Everyone could drink more water and save the environment, why not with this water bottle.  Christmas is around the corner, and it would be a nice present or stocking stuffer ;)

 Read all about here!