Feb 6, 2013

The secret beauty treatment we don’t like to talk about

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Hair removal. We all have to do it but we sure don’t like to talk about it. Who wants to be hairy? Our boyfriends and husbands are hairy but we aren’t. We shave discretely in the shower and come out of the bathroom hairless and moisturized. Now I’ll be the first to admit I got laser hair removal last year on my bikini line. Best. Decision. Ever. But now…my upper lip? I have just a tiny bit of hair on my upper lip that I can’t wait to zap off. Since I’m a blonde, it’s even really light hair but nothing says “not womanly” like a ‘stash on a woman.

So while I’ve tried using hair removal creams I decided it’s time for a permanent solution. My first appointment is today and after a few sessions, no more upper lip hair. Hallelujah!

Filed Under: Emily's Thoughts ·
Jan 30, 2013

Dior Addict Lipsticks

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I recently asked my absolutely beautiful friend Brittany who has the most fabulous taste in makeup what lipstick she was wearing in a picture. It was such a gorgeous color and I wanted to give it a try! Brit told me it was one of the Dior Addict lipstick so I went in search…and naturally bought two.

In my last online shopping trip I purchased the lip glow, which you can see on the left below. But on a quick run to the store last week to return the Billionaire Boyfriend roll-on for the .5 oz spray bottle, I bought it in Silhouette, the color Brittany had been wearing. Silhouette is a beautiful rosy pink with some peach undertones.

You all know me, I’ve always loved Dior products and their Lip Addict collection is no different so far. Both go on smoothly, evenly and provide fantastic (but VERY different) color.

The Lip Glow is designed to bring out your natural lip color. It goes on clear, then after about 15-20 seconds, your lips look pinker and very slightly shimmery. Only downside is it doesn’t last very long. It seems to stay on for between 1-2 hours and then has completely worn away.

Silhouette is a great rosy peach color without too much pink or too much orange. It’s a beautiful natural lipstick to wear during the day or with evening makeup when you don’t want a dramatic lip color. It’s moisturizing and lasts hours.

I would highly recommend either Lip Addict lipstick and also love the lipstick in the colors Avenue (darker, more pink) and for the holidays, Sunset Boulevard, which is a rich plum red.

Filed Under: Everyday Product · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Jan 29, 2013

Update to Emily’s Everyday Beauty!

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Hello Ladies!
Click over to Emily’s Everyday Beauty for an update to my makeup drawer photo as well as a few key changes. I’ve updated my daily eye shadow from Yves Saint Laurent No 5 to the Dior Nude Palette and changed my foundation to Bobbi Brown. I’ve also updated my Everyday Lipstick from NARS to Dior Glow!

Below you can see the Dior palette, Bobbi Brown shimmer brick, Bobbi Brown foundation and the LaVanila lip protector.

Makeup drawer 1-29

Filed Under: Everyday Product · Tagged: , , , , , ,
Jan 27, 2013

Boyfriend and Billionaire Boyfriend Perfumes

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In my recent Sephora purchase, I tested a new roll-on perfume. I’d had some curiosities about Billionaire ever since getting a sample of Kate Walsh’s original scent, Boyfriend.

I almost feel as though this is not an authentic test because it’s a roll-on and not a bottle. Has anyone else had experiences where they think the roll-on is an ever-so-slightly different scent than the bottle?

Not that I’m complaining because I really like it, can’t quite say “love it”, but I really like it. It’s not as perfume-meets-cologne as Boyfriend. When I first tested Boyfriend and asked my husband what he thought, he replied “That smells great! Kind of like something I would war.” So there you have it. Billionaire has (to me) a more complex scent that changes the longer you wear it. It’s floral but not sweet. But it just doesn’t seem to be very strong as a roll on. However, interestingly enough, the other reviews of Billionaire on Sephora said it was too strong and the scent was too intense for many users. So maybe the roll on is a good thing!

So if you liked Boyfriend but want something that smells more feminine and a little more luxe, Billionaire is for you.
Click here for the roll on of Billionaire Boyfriend for $22.

Click here for the .5 oz bottle of Billionaire boyfriend for $35 (which is probably what I’m going to return the roll on to try) or the 1.7 oz bottle can be found here for $65.

OR, and you know I love this idea, Billionaire was just added to Sephora’s 5 fragrance sampler. You can try large testers of 5 great scents for only $18.

Filed Under: Review · Tagged: , , , , ,
Jan 21, 2013

HealthyLip LaVanila is the Lip Screen you need to have

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Creamy, smooth, fresh and slightly minty. That’s how I would describe the LaVanila Lip Screen from my recent purchase at Sephora. It packs more sunscreen than any other lip protection I’ve seen (at least any lip protection that doesn’t look/taste/smell like chalk) and it is free of parabens and synthetic dyes.

But here’s my favorite part. You know how many times you’ve tried to get into a pot of something – whether it’s a lip butter, solid perfume or some other potted makeup – and either given up because you’d just put lotion on and your hands were slippery or you’ve tried to pry it open only to make the lid tighter. Say goodbye to that! The Lip Screen has a twist cap with just a little half-turn to get it off. No more metal pots of lip butter that will never see the light of day! It works perfectly!

This is going to be a staple for all beach and ski trips for me from now on. And it will seemingly last forever so for $16, it’s worth the price. Click here to buy it from Sephora and benefit this blog! Or if you want to test another LaVanila product, their Lip Shine glosses, here’s a great deal on a Limited Edition 5-pack from Beauty.com.

Filed Under: Obsession, Review · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Jan 16, 2013

Latest Sephora Purchase: Get Excited!

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I was due for a fun-filled online Sephora shopping experience. I was really only looking for two things: a moisturizing face mist to take on an upcoming trip and a refill of my face cream. Both of these goals were accomplished…along with a few other purchases.

Here’s my shopping cart:

Sephora What I Bought Today

And here’s the rundown, click any of the links below to find the product and support this blog and the beauty reviews! Love you ladies! All links take you to Sephora where I purchased the product.

REN Vita-Mineral Day Cream is my daily moisturizer. It’s great in the Winter and is a nice balance of moisture without overdoing it. This will be my third bottle.

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist is a new product I’m excited to try. I have a trip to the mountains coming up followed by a trip to the beach. Both environments are so hard on your skin and I think a pre-moisturizer spritzer and also using it as a daily “touch up” to my day cream is a good idea. Review definitely coming on this guy!

Billionaire Boyfriend is a test for me, hence the purchase of the roll on and not the whole bottle! I have a sample of Kate Walsh’s Boyfriend perfume and really really like it. It’s such a mix of cologne and perfume and smells great for a night out. Plus, it’s very strong so just a dab will do. I’m interested to see how Billionaire compares to the original!

The Dior Addict Lip Glow and LaVanila are two purchases in my search for a nice lip sunscreen. Of course, I’ll never get rid of my Jack Black balm, but I like that Dior adds some color. It could be a nice addition to my vacation makeup bag. We’ll see! Comparison of these two to come!

Filed Under: What I bought today · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,
Jan 9, 2013

Between the eyes: Comparison of two eye creams

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I’ve long been on the search for a really really great eye cream. I don’t want saggy lids when I’m in my 40s and 50s so I’ve always thought of it as an investment. Eye creams really are an investment too, because they are pricey. I’ve rarely seen anything worth buying (ie- that will have any chance of working) for less than $30.

After testing many samples (including Boscia Amino eye treatment for $38, Fresh Black Tea Eye Cream for $68 and a few others) it came down to two: REN Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel and Shiseido Bio-Performance Eye Contour Cream. Shiseido actually makes a few eye products, including options for dark circles and wrinkle-resist. I was specifically looking for something that would be moisturizing and tightening for that area so I went with Bio-Performance.

As you can see from the image below, they are REN and Shiseido are completely different styles of eye creams. REN (on the left) is really a tightening gel and Shiseido (on the right) is a lifting and moisturizing cream.

eye creams

Fact of the matter is I really like them both. But here are some nitty gritty details:

1. REN, because it’s a tightening gel, can feel uncomfortable if you wear it during the day. Almost as if your eyes are dry and slightly irritated

2. Both have excellent dispensers that with one pump dispense exactly the right amount. I’ve heard so many people review and complain about eye creams on Sephora.com because the dispenser dispenses too much at a time. These two brands have it figured out.

3. REN is less expensive by about $20.

4. But here’s the real kicker: I could tell visible results with Shiseido. The skin around my eyes was brighter, softer and felt very moisturized. I have been using it twice per day for nearly 6 weeks and could see some results at around 4 weeks.

So the winner is…

Click here to buy the Shiseido eye contour cream and this blog will earn 2% to use toward future review purchases!

Filed Under: Everyday Product, Product vs. Product · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,
Jan 3, 2013

Coolest makeup packaging EVER

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On a recent trip to Sephora, I thought I’d give a test to something I’d been eyeing for a long time…the Dior eye palettes. The Dior has a 5-color eye palette and a 3-color smokey eye palette. After carefully evaluating the color options (I was looking for something fairly neutral for daily wear) I settled on the 3-color smokey eye palette in Couture Nude.

But here’s what’s so cool about the packaging. When you push back the top of the case, the mirror slowly pops up to reveal the shadows. Plus, the two small brushes fit inside to make it one cute little compact.

Dior eye 2 Dior eye shadow

In addition, I just really like the sheer shimmer of the colors in the nude palette. You can layer them on for a darker look or just swipe and go for quick color.

Overall, it’s a great product!

Click here to buy it online!

Filed Under: Everyday Product, Review · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
Dec 18, 2012

Holiday Party Lips

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‘Tis the Season to break out the red lipstick, lip glosses and lip stains. On my most recent trip to my local Sephora, one of the makeup specialists was wearing the most gorgeous lip color. I asked her what it was and she directed me to Givenchy Gloss D’Interdit in Tempting Rouge. It’s beautiful! It looks fire engine red in the bottle below but is instead the most flattering, shiny, shimmery shade of red.

The brush is so thin, it’s like a liner. With some careful strokes you get perfect application and the gloss doesn’t run or smear, it stays right on your lips. It’s also hydrating. According to Givency’s description, “Dehydrated hyaluronic microspheres slip into the lips’ fine lines and hold the water naturally present within the skin’s surface. Like small sponges, they soak in the water and increase their volume by up to 50 times for an immediately smoother and plumper effect.” I can’t tell you if there are tiny sponges in the lip gloss, but it does not dry out your lips!

Click here to find it from Sephora for $27.50!

Downside: It’s definitely a gloss and is not long-lasting.

Upside: The color and shine are to die for.

Filed Under: Special Occasions · Tagged: , , , , , ,
Dec 7, 2012

Dior Extase Mascara vs Buxom Amplified Lash Mascara

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I have long been a fan of the classic Dior mascara, Dior Show. It’s just a perfect daily, easy to apply, not too much but definitely not too little mascara. But once I tried Dior Extase, I was sold. It’s a little more lengthening than Dior Show but has all the other great qualities. For a long time, it has been my everyday product.

Recently, when I purchased some Christmas gifts from Sephora online, I received their “secret gift”. I was a good mix of travel and trial size products to test. I plan to review a few more in the coming weeks, including the Origins charcoal mask, which was a pleasant surprise!

I decided to compare one of the mascaras, Buxom Amplified Lash in the “secret gift” kit with my daily Dior. And it’s a tough call!

One of the biggest differences you’ll notice right off the bat are the brushes. The Dior brush is more classic (on the right), while the Buxom brush is a newer invention that is typically used for length and separation.

ExtaseBuxom

Application details: They both apply evenly, smoothly and without clumping. I’ve always thought because they are thicker, the Dior mascaras take a few applications to “prime” the brush. Or in other words, it takes a week or so to apply quickly and have enough in the grooves of the brush to dip, swipe and go. Because Buxom is a thinner formula (in a good way) it applies quickly and easily the first time.

Length vs. Volume: This is where the real difference comes in. Hands down, Buxom lengthens and separates giving beautiful, catlike lashes and Dior is there to thicken and volumize. Does either mascara let you down in the other category? Nope, they just have their little advantages here and there.

Cost: Dior is more expensive than Buxom. At $28.50 a tube, it’s an expensive mascara. Buxom comes in at $22.

Overall: This is a toss-up! I’m going to keep Buxom in my drawer because I think it could be great for holiday parties!! Dior, for now, will stay as my everyday product.

Click the links below to buy either mascara from Sephora. While this post is not sponsored, your purchase will earn 2% for Everyday Lipstick, allowing me to keep testing products and bringing you the best in beauty!  xo

Buxom Aplified Lash

Dior Extase

Filed Under: Everyday Product, Review · Tagged: , , , , , , ,
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