LIQWD

LIQWD The Perfect Wave

I saw this on the Zoe Report this week… Has anyone tried it?  I’m thinking I might give it a shot.  One thing is certain, Rachel has mastered the art of touchable, frizz-free, beachy waves – I’m wondering if I tried this product if I could master that art too.  We’ll see…

It would definitely be nice to stray from my super high maintenance and time consuming pin straight style.  What do you think??  Here’s a link to the product on LIQWD’S website:

http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.993332/it.A/id.377/.f?sc=16&category=-116

Jane Iredale Mineral Pressed Powder and Hydrating Mist

Jane Iredale Mineral Powder & Pommisst Hydration (setting or finishing) Spray

After talking with my aestitician yesterday during a brow wax, I decided to go the mineral makeup route again (though in the past I wasn’t really sold on it).  I’ve not been that happy with my skin lately and I know a lot of it has to do with the grueling heat we have right now in Nashville.  My face after my lunch break errands is shiny, sweaty and my pores look hyper huge – even though I’ve applied moisturizer, primer & makeup just a few hours earlier.  Despite being oily I am still plagued with flakes and rough dry patches in certain areas so, this puts me in a tough spot.  It’s frustrating to spend tons of money on “lotions & potions” as my husband calls them & still not be happy or even somewhat happy with your skin.  Plus, my face has barely even seen the sun this Summer – it’s always protected!!  I’m so oily lately that my aestitician thought for the remaining Summer months and heat wave I should switch to a powder foundation.  We settled on Jane Iredale because her shade selection was so vast that they had a perfect match for me & being mineral the makeup actually heals and helps skin as it provides coverage.  I’ve used this powder before but it was in the dead of winter and I found it to be a little drying and the look to be too heavy.  Dependant upon the season and climate I do think this powder has star potential.  It is long lasting, pore & line minimizing, and light diffusing.  It contains no talc, no oil, and no parabens.  It kind of reminds me of the Chanel Double Perfection powder I’ve loved for so long, just mineral!!

I also bought a hydrating/finishing spray that my aestitician has used on me before – it smells delicious and gives skin that glowing, plump, dewy finish that I thought was impossible for someone with my skin type to achieve.  The mist makes the powder finish less powdery and more natural.  It’s also super refreshing and feels nice and cooling especially in this 100+ degree heat!!!!!!  Finally, because this line is ALL mineral it’s all good for you!!  Expensive but I’m hoping I’ll find it to be worth it.  I’ll follow up in a couple weeks.  The shades I’ve used are “warm sienna” and “golden glow” – they both counteract redness beautifully.

Actually, for the first time in awhile when my I checked myself in my car mirror this morning on the way to work I thought my skin looked pretty smooth, fresh and evenly covered.  Matte but not heavy.

Check out the products on Iredale's website (links below) -- the testimonials/results are pretty amazing.

http://janeiredale.com/bases_pp.html

http://janeiredale.com/touch_p.html

Chanel Nail Polish for Fall

My nail polish picks for Fall/Winter

My Fall nail polish is without a doubt going to be Chanel’s Graphite and/or Black Satin.  Buy it now – they’re predicting an early sell-out.  These might just be the best thing since Chanel introduced Vamp. 

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prodChanel.jhtml?productID=MANPR010&itemId=cat11510731&parentId=cat000294&masterId=cat4830738&cmCat=&icid=[*icid]&ecid=

P.S.

I've actually been using the La Mer for 2 + months... definitely long enough, one would think, to see some significant improvement... or maybe a hint of the so called "miracles" others claim to see while singing La Mer's praises.


Am I right???

Decisions... Decisions...

Ok,  so I’m being honest… after 1 month + of dedicated La Mer use (I still stand by my initial review that it is lovely – I was just hoping for better results after paying the $135+ price tag) I’m not sure that I’m going to buy it again… So, while I try to make my decision on which moisturizer I’m buying next -- I thought I’d do a post on some of my recent (last couple years) favorites and not so favorites in the facial moisturizer category.

As always, I’m loyal to Trish… giving her Beauty Booster Anti-fatigue Cream with built in primer and SPF the top spot.

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod102350186&parentId=cat000332&masterId=cat000326&index=10&cmCat=cat000000cat000285cat4830738cat000294cat000326cat000332

This formula lifts and tightens while leaving skin smooth, plump and refreshed plus it anchors your foundation providing for a long lasting very wearable finish. Plus, it has SPF.  This stuff is great and I’m left wondering why I ever stopped using it… $85 for a nice size tube.

Chanel’s Hydramax Active Moisture Gel Cream is perfect if you’re in a hot and humid climate and are, as the label says, active.  I’m active and in a horribly hot and humid climate (+ I’m oily) so for me, in peak Summer months, this is perfect!  This refreshing gel provides adequate hydration and the formula absorbs quickly leaving a nice matte canvas for your foundation.  I will say this is definitely a light moisturizer and not good for those who are super dry.  Weighing in at $72… not bad at all…

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prodChanel.jhtml?productID=SKPRE5BP&itemId=cat11510731&parentId=cat000294&masterId=cat4830738&cmCat=&icid=[*icid]&ecid=

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture Not a fan.  I actually didn’t even finish the jar… maybe I’ll use the leftovers as a night foot cream??  In any event, this supposed “pore minimizing” formula did nothing for me.  It did not give me anywhere near the moisture I needed and definitely didn’t minimize the appearance of my pores.  I do not recommend this one.  Sorry, SkinCeuticals… I’m usually such an advocate.  This formula is said to contain sea minerals and algae (similar to that of La Mer) but it is nowhere near the caliber of La Mer.  At $59 – the most affordable but still not worth the price tag.

http://www.skinceuticals.com/_us/_en/catalog/moisturize/Daily-Moisture.htm

I’m providing links to all three so you can read more about each product if you like!!

Rosebud Salve

Smith’s Rosebud Salve

I’ve had a little pot of this sitting on my nightstand for as long as I can remember.  I put it on every single morning and several times at night before bed.  It’s so soft and soothing and the “minted rose” adds a hint of refreshing tingle.  I cannot live without this stuff.  I have used it as an eye balm, on dry cuticles, and countless other patches of skin.  It is cheap and it is fabulous.  I wished for years they’d manufacture it in a tube and they finally did but, don’t buy the tube – oddly it’s just not the same and I’ve confirmed this with other people.  The pot is the only way to go plus it’s adorable and looks cute setting anywhere. It feels delightful and adds the most perfect hint of soft pink to your pout.  It’s not the least bit sticky and the pot will last you forever.  I buy mine at the Cosmetic Market but you can find it online all over – here’s a link to it on Amazon:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Smith%27s+rosebud+salve&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=np&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=18155517928782399243&sa=X&ei=8YgtTpa5K4iCtgeLp6zXAg&ved=0CE8Q8wIwAg

I recommend the original rose or minted rose if you want a little kick!

Shu Uemura Deep Conditioner

Shu Uemura Silk Bloom Restorative Treatment

One of my very gracious BFFs gave me a couple scoops of this product so that I could test it out before springing and buying one with a $65.00+ price tag.  I’m both happy (because it was incredible) and sad (because I’m immediately going to have to spend $65 and buy my own).  Shu Uemura’s hair products are AMAZING as are their eyelash curlers. :) (In case you’re like the one person on the planet that didn’t know that fact about the eyelash curler.)

This product, in particular, made my just highlighted – full of frizz – (due to the disgusting humid 100+ degree heat in Nashville) hair very manageable, soft, and easier to style and blow dry.  Teamed with my Shu Uemura Essence Absolue elixir my enormous head of hair is looking about as close to a salon quality blowout as I’m going to get doing it myself at home.  It smells fabulous… I only left it in for about 2 or 3 minutes so I can only imagine what kind of results I’d get had I left it in for 10-20.  As the label reads:  This is an intense restorative treatment for damaged hair.  It contains arga oil & vitamin E and works to repair the structure of your hair fibers all the way down to the cuticle.  The result = strong, silky hair that’s full of body.  In two words – Good Stuff.

Here’s a link to the product at Amazon where I just ordered mine:

http://www.amazon.com/Shu-Uemura-Bloom-Restorative-Treatment/dp/B0036Z3EWM/ref=sr_1_8?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1311348807&sr=1-8

Happy Friday!!

Kiehl's Eye Cream(s)

Kiehl’s Line Reducing Eye Brightening Concentrate

I admit it, I do not use eye cream all the time.  It’s bad, I know & I’ve vowed to start religiously using one now that I’m over 30.  I decided to try a Kiehl’s product because during the times in my life that I’ve decided to use an eye cream – it’s been by Kiehl’s.  Kiehl’s is great because the products are top notch but the entire line is very affordable.  I’ve been using this product for about a week, so not really enough time to see a significant effect but, I am definitely liking how it feels and how bright and less puffy my eyes look in the morning -- (even this morning when I got up at 6 a.m. to workout with my trainer).  This product has a ton of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which is known for supreme anti-aging abilities.  It also contains Haloxyl which diminishes dark circles and brightens the delicate skin surrounding the eye.  The formula is very soft and creamy and it goes on nicely without feeling too goopy or greasy.  Here is a link to the product on the Kiehl's website:

http://www.kiehls.com/Line-Reducing-Eye-Brightening-Concentrate/692,default,pd.html?start=5&cgid=face-eye

In the past I have used the Imperiale balm and Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and I liked those very much as well.