Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat

In a Sephora purchase about 3 weeks ago, I purchased YSL Touche Eclat, one of the highest rated concealers on Sephora.com. I planned to use it under my eyes to brighten and to cover any look of sleepiness. It works really well, it is absolutely a go-to product and something I’m really happy I have in my makeup drawer. But for the price, $40 for the tube, I expect rainbows and butterflies to fly out of the end of the tube every time I use it.

For my skin, I chose Luminous Vanilla, a bright, light color with beige and peach undertones. It’s the perfect color of concealer and highlighter for under eyes, around nose or anywhere you’d like to brighten and remove any signs of fatigue. It absolutely works, as an undereye concealer, it stays put all day, does not crease or smudge and doesn’t make my mascara bleed or smudge by adding too much moisture to that area.

As you can see, it is lighter and brighter than my skintone and looks great under the eyes.

YSL

Overall, if you want a luxe concealer that works, you will  not be disappointed, but as far as going “above and beyond”, which is what I expect for $40, it comes a little short.

Men and Beauty Routines

Teeth brushed. Check! The end. For about 90% of the guys I know, that is the beginning, middle and end of their nightly beauty routine. And don’t you feel so sorry for men? If they have a blemish, they can’t use concealer. If they have dark circles, they rarely turn to under eye cream. If they are feeling pale or needing a tan, bronzer isn’t for them. Poor men!

So yes, they don’t have near the upkeep that we women do, but they’re missing out on so many amazing products for men along the way. It’s high time we touted some men’s products, so here are my top beauty products for the guys. Ladies, click the link and upgrade your man’s routine with any of these products.

1. Sunscreen for men. Men have no time for daintily pouring out liquid-y lotions. Plus, the thought of rubbing in sunscreen on one of their bros probably makes them squirm. Philosophy Here Comes the Sun spray has built-in age defense so he is getting a double-whammy of protection.

If the frou-frou sayings on the Philosophy bottles are too much, Hampton Sun makes mists in SPF 35, 55 and 70 plus a spray aloe for after sun. What’s easier than that?

2. Shaving products. No company does shaving better for the refined man than The Art of Shaving. Come on guys, you’re a grown up. No more Neutrogena and Gillette. Plus, you get what you pay for. My husband switched to the full line of The Art of Shaving about a year and a half ago and will never go back. Mostly because guys don’t like to try new products, but also because it works.

Unscented shave cream, which also comes in Lavender, Sandalwood and Lemon, $25.

The full kit, with travel sizes of all products so he can use them for business trips or just test the brand to see if it’s his new perfect shave:

3. A quick zit fighter for men. Too often, men just pile on the Clean and Clear products to fight a zit, ending up drying it out and making it worse by irritating the skin. They also can be guilty (no offense guys) of leaving it be. This zit fighter can be dotted on the spot and will kill the bacteria without irritating the skin. Plus, since it’s clear, it doesn’t need any concealer over it. Kate Somerville, EradiKate acne treatment.

Wonderful summer perfumes

It finally feels like spring here in Denver! The air is warm but still crisp, we are getting rainy afternoons instead of snowy days and my flowers are blooming on our patio. And with the warmer weather, I always like to change it up a bit. I put away many of my more “formal”, structured and wintery perfumes in favor of lighter, sweeter and more floral scents.

When it comes to summer perfumes at an affordable price, no company does it better than Pacifica. I’ve used Pacifica perfumes for years now and because of the great price point (a nice-sized bottle is only $22 with little solid perfumes or roller balls being even less) I can swap them out or try a new one whenever the mood strikes. Plus, they carry them in most Whole Foods stores, so it’s easy to get your hands on a few.

 

The perfumes and colored lip balms (which I have yet to try) are 100% vegan and if you click the banner above, get free shipping on $50 orders from Pacificaperfumes.com.

But which one (or two!) of their wonderful scents should you try?!

A few of my favorites include…

Tahitian Gardenia has always been one of my favorites. It’s fresh but sexy and not too floral or sweet. This is one of Pacifica’s all-time most popular scents.

If you love ultra-floral scents that do not smell like an old lady, French Lilac is for you. It smells like a fresh cut bouquet of flowers. I absolutely love it on warm spring days. Toss the $12 roll on in your purse for a touch up of flowers throughout the day.

Waikiki Pikake literally smells like you are on vacation. Seriously. Maybe a beach vacation in Hawaii with the smell of tropical flowers, fruits and fresh air. It’s wonderful. A perfect summer perfume on the hottest days of the year. The smelling notes from Pacifica call out jasmine and a touch of sandalwood.

There are many others, including Spanish Amber and Orange Blossom that would carry you easily into fall and cooler weather, but the three above won’t steer you wrong as the weather warms. Which one is your favorite? Do you have a go-to summer fragrance? I’d love to know! Leave it on the comments.

Best products to not feel pasty

Is “pasty” officially a word? I think so. We women use it all the time to describe how we look when it is getting close to the season of summer sunshine but we have yet to really get a tan. I’ve heard this word (used interchangeably with “pale” or “ghostly”) at least a dozen times in the past few weeks so I know we’re all on the same schedule when it comes to getting rid of our winter white.

You’ve seen a few of my past posts on tanning products and spray tans, but it was high time a full post was dedicated to getting a little bit of a glow, including on your face. I’m going to the Denver Derby this weekend, a huge downtown Denver Kentucky Derby party, and I’m wearing a white dress. I don’t want my dress to look darker than my skin so I needed to get a little glow before Saturday!

Best face products for a glow:

Hands down, Dior Healthy Glow Sunlight is my favorite face bronzer. It never gives that orange-cheek or over-bronzed look and can be layered on for a darker look or just brushed on your cheeks, nose, forehead and chin for a quick addition of color. Sunset was too dark for me personally, but if you have naturally dark or ethnic skin, it would be a good option. Sunlight is perfect for anyone fair-medium.

If you like shimmer with your bronze or want a bronzer that also acts as a highlighter, look no farther than Bobbi Brown’s bronze shimmer brick. With a fantastic and not-too-crazy sheen and a gradient compact (so you can grab colors from the light end in winter, dark end in summer) it’s one of my top picks.

The Dior Healthy Glow is $55 and the Bobbi Brown is $42, so a nice price difference as well.

Best one-day-only tanning lotions:

My two favorites are Tantalizer Bronzer and St Tropez One Night Only lotion but they are still very different.

Tantalizer: More golden, more shimmer, easily washes off in one shower

St Tropez: More coffee/chocolate, easier to blend, lasts a little longer

Here they are side-by-side. Tantalizer is on the left, St Tropez is on the right. I did a blob and a quick streak test.

tanner 1

tanner 2

 

Best gradual glow:
This category has options in two price points.

SelfTANtalizer is the gradual bronzing option from Lorac. Find it here at the Beauty Bar for $32.

Jergen’s Natural Glow Graduall tanner for $7 is a classic. It’s been around for ages and is the best drugstore option for an easy, gradual tan. They have options for light/medium and medium/tan skin.

Massages with Arnica Gel

Last night, after a very stressful day at work, I treated myself to a massage at Elixir Massage in Denver. This was my third trip to Elixir and my first massage ever with Arnica Gel, a cooling and less medicinal-smelling version of Icy Hot that is spread over an area right after it is massaged. It was amazing! The massage itself was fantastic and the additional of the cooling, tingling gel was a huge plus. I could feel the circulation increasing as it cooled and refreshed my computer-worn muscles.

 

 

I’ve always loved going to Elixir massage in Denver because they really have it figured out. All they do is massage. No facials, nails, haircuts or laser hair. It is 100% massage. They know what they are doing and their therapists are some of the best around. For only another 3 days they are celebrating Spa Week and you can get some of the featured 60 minute services for a bargain price of $50. Amazing!

If you want to give arnica gel a try at home, click the photo above for a great price on a concentrated version. However, the drugstore versions do have some of the “icy hot” smell to them. While it isn’t strong it’s certainly there. Other brands I found that make similar products but with a more refined smell and other added benefits are these:

L’Occitane Revitalizing Leg Cream with cyprus and arnica for $25

 

Elemis Muscle Reviving Gel with camphor, arnica, cyprus and menthol. Spa-grade product available for $55

 

 

And a cellulite vanisher from the Neiman Marcus beauty counters!  Omorovicza gel includes caffeine, arnica and other potent ingredients to really boost circulation and moisturize to completely get rid of “dimples”. $85 for 5 ounces.

 

My favorite softer-smoother hair mask

Sad day. Sniffle sniffle. I just ran out of the very last drop of my all-time favorite hair mask, Redken Nature’s Rescue Cooling conditioner. I bought it on a whim over a year ago and it has lasted all that time using it about once every two weeks. It’s fantastic.

It’s more affordable then other deep conditioners (this link will take you to buy it only for $22. And remember, it lasts about a year), it has a wonderful cooling sensation, it deep conditions, I think it speeds up blow drying time and it makes your hair smell amazing all day. The smell is really unique, it’s this fresh, clean and warm smell. Kind of like puppies. I’m not kidding. (Redken would probably not love that I said that, but who doesn’t love puppies?)

After washing your hair, spread a quarter-sized amount from root to tip, massage in with your finger tips and let absorb for 1-2 minutes while you wash your face or do other shower routine things. Rinse and go! Your hair will be noticeably smoother and softer all day.

I will definitely be replacing this container as part of my beauty routine.

Bobbi Brown Friends and Family Event- ENDS TODAY

Have you been waiting for the right  moment to try Bobbi Brown products? That moment is here! 20% off ends today!


The three Bobbi Brown products I’m currently using are the Skin Foundation in Warm Beige, the Shimmer Brick blush and the high shine gloss in Pink Sequin. Honestly, they are all amazing. I am becoming a huge fan of Bobbi Brown and a convert from Dior with every BB product I try.

But here are some things I’m lusting after on their website:

The Lilac Rose Eye Palette, amazing! Click here to get it 20% off today.

Brow kit with perfect brow brush. It comes in light and dark shades. Find it here.

Pore Clearing Mask from Origins

Last night I cozed up with my lavender neck wrap and my charcoal facial to watch TV with my husband on a chilly Sunday night. This was the second time I had tested the Origins Active Charcoal Pore Clearing Mask.

Said to to be good for all skin types, active charcoal, “acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. White China clay absorbs environmental toxins, and lecithin dissolves impurities.”

I really like it. It is a fabulous, detoxifying boost that seems to balance and soften your face without overdrying. It also doesn’t seem to bring impurities to the surface, which is one of my biggest concerns with masks like this. I put on a fairly thick but even layer after washing my face and using a light mist of Sanitas face mist. Your face will get so bizarrely tight as the mask dries that you will barely be able to talk! Super strange. After about 10 minutes, the mask is completely dry and you can rinse it off easily with warm water. I applied a quick coat of my night cream and that was it!

I love that Sephora currently has a special on a package of products, including the mask, in a smaller size. For $47, you get to try the Charcoal Mask, the frothy face wash, the mimosa and algae face moisturizer and the anti-aging serum. Click here to buy it from Sephora.com and if you have one other thing in your shopping cart, such as a refill of your favorite makeup sponges, you’ll get free shipping.

VIB Sephora Sale Purchase

With the 15% off VIB sale in progress, I had to take advantage and try a few new things. And then, once I started looking at the samples I could cash in some points to try, I ended up with a whole online shopping basket full of samples, minis and new products for less than $60.

Here’s what I think about that:

Score

And here’s a shot of my shopping cart:

Shopping basket 2

Here are the products and links to give them a try with me!

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, one of the highest rated concealers on Sephora.com.

Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Gloss in Pink Sequin, which is advertised as a rose pink with gold pearl.

Sample size of Bobbi Brown Everything mascara, here’s a link to it from the Nordstrom beauty department, with free shipping and free returns, you could give the mascara a try without paying shipping.

Sample of Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Restoring Cream, I love Shiseido products and love their Bio-contour eye cream. I’m interested to try this. It says, “Excellent for all skin types, it features a patent-pending Bio-Restoring Complex to reduce furrows and unevenness, and promote elasticity and moisture retention.”

Sample of LaVanila Pure Vanilla. What’s not to like?

St. Tropez Tanning Essentials One Night Only body lotion. You know that for a quick glow, I love Tantilizer. Here’s a post on that.

That’s it! Get excited for some reviews of these products coming in the next few weeks!

Back to Basics: Cleaning your tools

It’s Spring! And that means time for some Spring Cleaning. Your beauty drawer is no exception and while we always hear how important it is to clean your makeup brushes, there are a few tools that are easily overlooked and desperately need a good cleaning. When was the last time you cleaned your blow dryer? You will be amazed how much dust, hair and just grime builds up on your blow dryer. And if you were thinking about replacing it, clean it first! You can get so much more power out of a clean dryer. Here is a step-by-step guide to making it nearly-new again.

1. Dry your hair one morning and then start the cleaning process. It’s important to let everything thoroughly dry so give it a few hours before using it again.

2. Start by wiping down the handle and outside of the dryer with Clorox or other disinfectant cleaning clothes. All of the times you put the product in your hair and then grabbed your dryer with product-y hands will be easily wiped off! For any tough spots or tough build up in the handle, makeup remover on a cotton ball will do the trick.

3. Each dryer is different, but most have the screen on the back. This can be either popped off or twisted off. My Hot Tools dryer needs about a 1/4 inch turn.

blowdryer 1

 

4. Take the little mesh screen out and set it aside. The back of your dryer will be exposed. Do not turn it on!

blowdryer 2

 

5. Wash the back guard and screen (the black net on the right) with mild soap and water and set on a towel to dry. Make 100% sure it’s dry before assembling the dryer. Rinse out the guard as well and let dry.

browdryer 3

 

6. Take tweezers and remove all the hair and dust from each little groove in the back of your dryer. If you are like me the first time I did this, you’ll be amazed! Once you’ve removed all visible buildup, take a damp wash cloth and wipe out any excess.

blowdryer 4

 

Once everything is dry, reassemble and get ready to be wowed with a more powerful and efficient dryer!

Next up on your cleaning spree, your eyelash curler. When was the last time you cleaned that sucker?! Luckily, it will take less than three minutes and you’ll have a sparkling new curler.

1. Check out how dirty it is! Yuck. Even when curling bare lashes some leftover mascara and eye makeup always ends up on the pads of the curler.
eyelash curlereyelash curler2

 

2. Take a cotton ball with eye makeup remove and swipe all sides of the pad and the top and bottom pieces of the curler.

3. Once all buildup is removed, take a disinfectant wipe and wipe the whole thing down. Rise with water and let dry!

What beauty tools do you have to keep clean? Is there anything you’d like to know how to clean? Leave it in the comments and I’ll give it a try! :-)

 

 

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