Body Wraps to Lose Inches???

This week I was invited to a fun girls night party that featured "It Works!" body wraps and Beauticontrol makeup. Of course, I'm always interested in makeup stuff, but the body wraps definitely caught my attention! I had heard about them before, and I really wanted to see for myself if this stuff really works!

First of all, it was interesting that you can basically "wrap" any part of your body. The sales lady joked that she really didn't like to do butts, but she would do it if we wanted her too! Okay, no thank you! They claim you'll see results in 45 minutes, you'll keep losing inches for 4 days as your body is being "detoxed", and you will keep the results for 2-6 months.

I decided to get my stomach wrapped, so the lady measured my stomach in 3 different areas and marked where she measured with a marker. Then she put on the wrap, which was a very thin paper covered in a special herbal type mixture that the lady claimed was "like liquid gold." Then, to finish it off, she wrapped over the area with cellophane.

It caused a very warm tingling/burning sensation, and 45 minutes later it's time to measure your inches lost! I "lost" 2 & 3/4 inches. However, that number is skewed somewhat, as it is the sum of the 3 areas she measured. So, at the most in one area I lost 1 & 3/4 inches.

She told us we could sleep in our wraps, so I did, and the husband definitely got a good laugh when I came home wrapped in Saran wrap! One thing they warned about, though, was the possibility of getting something hilariously referred to as "toxic bloat" and to make sure to drink plenty of water to "flush the toxins out."

I can't really determine if it really worked yet, since it's only the 2nd day. I also wished that I had measured myself before going to make sure she didn't inflate my initial measurements.

I will plan to write an update on my results after Day 4.





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Addicted: Review of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose

As you can see from the beat-up box in the picture, I've been trying out this product for the last month or so. This was recommended to me by one of my favorite pharmacists, Jacquelynn :o), so I have to give her credit!

This stuff is amazing! I am totally addicted. My lips tend to get really dry when it gets cooler outside and this does the trick to keep them moisturized. So here is my review:

Pro's:
-Feels great- non-sticky
-Lemon-sugar type smell (I can't describe it exactly but it smells yummy!)
-No taste
-Hint of rose color keeps my lips from looking bare
-Goes great under lipstick/gloss
-SPF 15
-Comes in clear, rosé (this review), or plum

Con's:
-As with any balm/gloss, it doesn't last all day. I have to reapply every few hours
-Cost: $22.50

Grade: A+


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Creative Idea for Makeup Brush Case!

This post is to preface my upcoming post on using paintbrushes as makeup brushes. I will get to working on that post very soon!

After acquiring several paintbrushes and actual makeup brushes from several different brands, (including Loew Cornell {paintbrushes}, Coastal Scents, Sonia Kashuk, Ecotools, and Daily Mirra) I needed something to hold them in, like a brush roll or case. The problem was that the brushes are all different sizes. Some have long paintbrush handles, some are normal size makeup brushes, and some are travel size. Well, I found a solution!



Creative Couture makes a "padded case needle holder" that works perfectly to fit all my different sized brushes, not to mention that it is very cute as well! I got this at Michael's with my 50% off coupon for $7.50!! I think it's a great deal. It has 12 slots on the bottom with different size slots for big or small brush handles AND at the top, I could fit in all my travel size brushes! Score! Just what I was looking for!



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Review of Daily Mirra Makeup Brushes

If you know me well, you know I sometimes get on a "kick" for a little while, then I move on to something else.  Earlier in the year, I was on a self-tanner "kick".  I found one that I am happy with, so I moved on with challenging myself to keep potted plants alive.  They are now flourishing and blooming away.  Currently, I have been looking for makeup brushes.  I am determined not to spend the money on MAC brushes, unless I get them as a gift or something :o) So, I have been reading reviews and trying out supposedly comparable, cheaper makeup brushes.  I read on makeup websites that sometimes you can find surprisingly good brushes at random grocery stores or drugstores.  One store that was mentioned was Kroger, so I headed down to my local store to see what they had.

I found out that Kroger actually has their own line of beauty products.  The brand name is Daily Mirra.  I could not find many reviews on these brushes, so I decided to try them out and give them my own review.

The first set that I got was the 4-Piece Face Essentials Mini Brushes.  My first observation was that the brushes are very soft.  You should always wash your makeup brushes before using them the first time, so I washed them with MAC Brush Cleaner . During the first washing, the powder and blush brushes shed like crazy and continued to shed during use until I washed them a second time.  I was about to give up on them, but after that second washing, they really do not shed at all.  I am no makeup brush expert and cannot compare them to high end brands, but for $7, they seem pretty good to me!

Powder Brush

Blush Brush

Eyeshadow Brush

Eyebrow Brush

Overall, I use the powder, blush, and eyeshadow brush a lot.  I have tried the Sonia Kashuk white-handled brushes from Target before, and I feel like these brushes are softer and perform better than those. (I actually threw my Sonia Kashuk blush brush in the trash after getting these).

I got another set as well called the 4-Piece Eye Duo Mini Travel Brush Kit.  I am not a big fan of the fact that these are duo brushes.  I would much rather they be 8 single brushes, but I guess it is convenient for travel.  I have not found these brushes to shed at all.  I will do an individual review of each brush under its corresponding picture below.

Crease Brush- Labeled "Eyeshadow" on left and "Smokey" on right

This is the brush that I use most often out of this kit.  It is very soft, and I find the left side of the brush labeled "Eyeshadow" is perfect for putting shadow in the crease. The right side labeled "Smokey" is great for putting darker colors in the "outer V" of the eye and blending.

Brush labeled "Concealer" on left and "Touch-up" on right

I don't usually use a brush to put on under-eye concealer, so this brush has been used for other things.  I've used the "concealer" side for precise placement of eyeshadow and the "touch-up" side on the right for highlighting the brow bone or packing eyeshadow on the lid.

Brush labeled "Smudge" on left and "Brow" on right

I really like the rubber-tipped "smudge" brush for smudging eyeliner.  I haven't used the "brow" brush for brows but it works for lining eyes with eyeshadow.

Eyeliner Brushes

These brushes bristles are very stiff and work well for eyeliner placement.

So for my final thoughts:

• My favorite brushes out of these kits are the powder, blush, and eyeshadow brushes that came with the face kit AND the duo "Eyeshadow"/"Smokey" brush that came with the eyes kit.  
• Both kits were around $7 each, so both were worth giving a try.
• Overall grade: B : I know there are better quality brushes out there and the initial shedding was annoying, but these brushes do the job well and are extremely cheap!

Look forward to another makeup brush post about using paintbrushes as makeup brushes! (Sounds crazy, but apparently a lot of people do it!)

Pumpkin Spice and Mango Lip Balm!

If you know me even a little bit, then you know that I LOVE Starbucks frappuccinos.  I frequently make trips with my special "gold card" to pick up one.

For those of you wondering, a "gold card" is a rewards program that Starbucks offers.  All you have to do is register any gift card, make so many purchases, then voila! - they will send you a personalized gold card of your own, which is nothing more than a fancy-looking giftcard that gives you special perks!

All of this to say, PUMPKIN SPICE frappuccinos are back for fall! Yum!!  There's something about them that reminds me of the fair, crispy leaves, the haunted corn maze, cool breezes, and all the wonderful things associated with fall! So get yourself to Starbucks and try out one- I recommend the Pumpkin Spice frappuccino with soy :o)

So, yesterday I had to stop by Walgreens to get some cash back on my debit card for a special baby shower with friends at Old Venice.  I was looking for something cheap to grab that I needed, and I came upon the Burt's Bees section.  I was planning on grabbing my usual "Replenishing Balm with Pomegranate Oil" when I saw the new "Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter".

Ever since eating Jamaican mangoes in Negril, I have been a huge fan of anything mango.  I have to say that I love the smell of the lip balm, and I've never been disappointed in a Burt's Bees product so far.  So, if you're in need of some lip balm and you love-you-some-mango, I'd say give it a try!

Tried and True Beauty Products

It's true that I like to try new things, but there are some beauty products that I will never stray from.  I have been using all of these products for years.  So here is a quick review of my favorite beauty product staples.

• Maybelline's Waterproof Ultra Liner in Dark Brown
• Because of the way my eyes are shaped, I can't wear pencil eye liner on the upper lids of my eyes.  I get raccoon circles around my eyes if I do.  So, I have to wear something that will not rub off.  The solution is this waterproof eye liner.  It is a liquid liner, so it does require some practice and skill to apply.  The results are worth it, though.  This liner is indeed waterproof and has all-day lasting power.  I had some problems with it at first because it would flake off in the middle of the day if I rubbed my eyes.  However, if you use a primer before putting on your eye makeup, it solves the problem.
• You can find this at Target, Wal-mart, or any drugstore.
• Sebastian Shaper Plus Hairspray
• This is something that I have carried down from my mom.  She always uses the Sebastian Shaper hairspray, and I used to go to her bathroom and steal hers to use it.  I have tried many hairsprays, and this one just seems to have the best hold without making your hair crunchy.  It does have an "awful smell" when you spray it (according to my husband), and it will cause breakouts on your face if you accidentally spray your face, but the pros outweigh the cons for me on this one.
• You can find this at many salons and sometimes in drugstores.  I get mine from BeautyMax in G'town.
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Bronzer in Sunkissed
• This is hands-down the best bronzer out there in my opinion!  Most bronzers have shimmer in them, but I don't want my face to look like a glittery mess!  I am one of those people that uses bronzer on my whole face, and I want the "sunkissed" look to be natural.  I can't say for sure how long I have been using this product, but I know it's been at least over 5 years and probably longer.  It has never caused me to break out, and I have VERY sensitive skin. 
• You can find this at Target, Wal-mart, or any drugstore.

Sugar Scrub with a Twist!

So yesterday before I was getting dissed at Sephora (click here for diss) I was looking for an exfoliating sugar scrub.  All of the scrubs were expensive, so I thought I would try my luck at Bath and Body Works.  As I was entering the store, I happened to eavesdrop on a lady asking a saleswoman where a good sugar scrub was!  I watched out of the corner of my eye and saw the saleswoman pick up the Aromatherapy Stress Relief Sudsing Scrub.  I didn't pay much attention to the front of the bottle except to notice it was a sugar scrub and it was supposed to HELP STRESS!  Hello- it was basically calling my name! Plus I was with my wonderful husband at the time, and I didn't want to bore him to tears by looking through every sugar scrub in the store (which I would have probably done if I had been alone).

Needless to say, I really like this scrub! I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I always feel the need to wash with body wash on top of using an exfoliating scrub because I don't feel like I would get clean enough just scrubbing.  Well, this product is amazing in that it does both!  I was initially very surprised when the sugar granules started melting away and turning into soapy suds!  Hence, the SUDSING scrub, which I clearly did not pay attention to when I bought it.  Pretty cool.  I really like the fresh smell of it also. It definitely is a very calming smell.

In other news, my day at the hospital made me feel like doing this:

 Fortunately, the month is almost over.

Self Tanner Reviews: Part 3

This is my final review of self-tanners for now.  First, I will be reviewing Fusion Beauty's GlowFusion Micro-Nutrient Face and Body Natural Protein Tan in Medium:

Glow Fusion is a spray self-tanner that has a cult following. I read many reviews before asking my husband to get it for me last Christmas.  I was so excited to begin using it, but unfortunately was once again let down.  I had read that one way to use the spray is to mix 4 pumps spray to 2 pumps Lubriderm lotion and apply with gloves.  That did not give me enough color.  I eventually went up to 6 pumps spray to 1 pump Lubriderm lotion.  Still not enough color!  So then I skipped mixing it with lotion and sprayed it directly on my skin.  Big mistake - streaks, streaks, streaks!

If someone knows what I am doing wrong, please let me know.  It's hard to believe so many people love this spray for nothing.  So here we go on my thoughts:

Pros:

• Little to no smell

Cons:

• Cost - $58/bottle
• How do you effectively apply this??? I still don't know
• Not enough color and streaks!

 Finally . . . for my FAVORITE self-tanner of all the ones I have tried . . .

Bare Escentuals Faux Tan!

Thanks to one of my classmates, I found out about Faux Tan recently.  I noticed her natural looking tan, and asked what she had been doing.  She told me about using Faux Tan.  At that point, I was so burned out on trying so many self-tanners,  I told myself that I shouldn't buy it right away.  I could only hold off for a week, though, and found myself running to the Bare Escentuals counter in the mall for a bottle.

I absolutely LOVE this tanner!  It is the most natural color that I have gotten from a fake tan!  It runs at $22/ 4.5 oz bottle, and you can find it at Bare Escentuals stores or Bare Escentuals counters in department stores. My thoughts:

Pros:

• Gorgeous, natural-looking color
• Fading color guide 
• The color guide is a dark muddy brownish-green.  It is very scary initially because it is so dark.  However, when you start working it into your skin, the color guide shows you where the lotion is going and then fades away, resulting in no streaks!
• Almond-cherry smell
• This lotion definitely smells like almonds in the bottle, and I pick up on a hint of cherry-like smell as well.  After putting it on, the smell fades away.  I actually like the smell of this self-tanner!
• Long-lasting
• I apply this self-tanner every 3 days to keep the tan up, but even stretching it out farther- I still have some color.
• No transfer onto clothes/sheets
• I apply this lotion before bed after showering and exfoliating.  It is very quick to dry, and I have not noticed any transfer onto any of my clothes or sheets.
• Basically, everything I was looking for!

Cons:

• More expensive than drugstore brands: $22/bottle
• Requires a careful application
• After showering and exfoliating, I apply a moisturizer to my kneecaps, elbows, ankles & dry areas of feet and allow the moisturizer to dry. Then, I do a full-body application in small sections, washing my hands VERY THOROUGHLY after each section. Then, after I am done, I wash my hands again with soap and then with whitening toothpaste (a tip I picked up from a review that I read).  The color guide is so dark that it can really stain your hands if you don't wash, wash, wash!  I don't like using gloves, but that would be another option to avoid this.

So there you have it!  Faux Tan is the self-tanner I plan on sticking with!  It really is a great all-around fake tanner!

So why do I use self-tanner?

I thought it would be good to share why I no longer go to the tanning bed.

• I am in pharmacy school, and I have learned a lot about different disorders and disease states. Learning more about skin cancer scared me a lot, and made me realize that laying in a tanning bed is a lot like smoking cigarettes.  Both are known to cause cancer- fatal cancer - so why do it? There are safe alternatives to looking tan, so I say use them!
• I have super fair skin- enough said!

Happy fake tanning!

Favorite Product Right Now!

Urban Decay Naked Palette

If you haven't tried Urban Decay eyeshadows, you should!  They are very long lasting and pigmented.  I love neutral colors, so when I saw this, I was ecstatic!  You can find this at Sephora or Ulta stores.

Self Tanner Reviews: Part 2 Post #2 & #3

As promised, here are the 2 remaining reviews:

Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer in Medium/Tan is a gradual self-tanner. It also runs for around $9/bottle.

Pros:

• Pleasant Smell
• Jergens has really improved the smell of this lotion since the original lotion came out several years ago.  My husband even told me that I "smelled good" after I put it on, which is unheard of!
• No Streaking
• Although there is no color guide, since this is such a gradual self-tanner, you really don't have to worry about streaking.
• Affordable

Cons:

• The color did not gradually build on me
• Maybe my skin is unique, but I get no building of color.  I have friends who have used this lotion and love it, but somehow it does not work for me.
• Everyday applications do not appeal to me

Unfortunately, although I know this is a popular favorite, it was not what I am looking for.

 There is nothing good that I can say about L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer Self-Tanning Lotion, so I will cut to the chase. I only applied it once and knew it was NOT for me.  Even with a meticulous application, ensuring that no part of me would streak - the inevitable happened and I had streaks all over.  I realized that it was mainly in areas where my skin folded (the backs of my legs and inside the bend of my arms).  I had read reviews before buying it that this very issue had happened to others, but I thought maybe they were new to applying self-tanner and didn't wait for it to dry, etc. Obviously, that was not the case and this is a real problem with this tanner. Also, the smell was the worst of any self-tanner that I have tried recently.  The color it gave was very orangey. And on top of all this, it was super glittery.  I felt like a disco ball!  Not a good look. 

I have 2 more self-tanners to review, with one of them being my favorite of all, and the one I plan on sticking with. Check back tomorrow for Part 3 of my self-tanner reviews!

 

Self Tanner Reviews: Part 2 Post #1

Today I will be reviewing three self-tanners in three separate posts:

1. Jergen's Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer in Medium/Tan
2. Jergen's Natural Glow Firming Moisturizer in Medium/Tan
3. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Luminous Bronzer

I have heard great things about all three of these self-tanners, and in my search to find one that was right for me, I bought and tried all three!

Firstly, Jergen's Natural Glow Express Body Moisturizer can be found at any major drugstore.  It runs around $9/bottle for 4 oz. Some of my thoughts on this self-tanner:

Pros:

• It is one of the longest lasting self-tanners that I have tried
• It lasted for a good 4-5 days before needing to reapply.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, the Origins and Sevin Nyne lasted a max of 2 days.
• The color is believable, but there still is little of the dreaded "orange tint" 
• The color develops in several hours and, in my opinion, was tan enough for me.  I had mentioned previously that other self-tanners I tried did not give me enough color.  This was not so for this tanner. I was pleased with the amount of color that I got.  However, I did not try to build color daily with this tanner because I was afraid that I would be too orange with back to back applications.
• Cost
• Very affordable!

Cons:

• One of the more difficult to apply
• There is no color guide in this self-tanner, so you cannot see where it's going.  You have to be very thorough in covering everything evenly.  Also, it will result in orange kneecaps, ankles, elbows, etc. if you do not moisturize before.  The first time I applied it, I did not moisturize, and I learned my lesson.  I use Philosophy's Amazing Grace Firming Body Emulsion on my kneecaps, ankles, and elbows first and allow it to dry before applying my self-tanner.
• Time consuming
• This goes with the bullet point of more difficult to apply.  I found this self-tanner to be one of the most time consuming because you cannot see where it's going.
• Small bottle
• If you did full-body applications of this several times a week, you would run out quickly.
• Smell
• When you initially put on this lotion there is not a self-tanning smell associated with it.  However, after a few hours you will definitely smell a light self-tanning smell.  I found that the smell did not completely disappear even after showers.  This was disappointing, and prompted me to look for another self-tanner.

I was not satisfied with this self-tanner.  If I HAD to pick a drugstore self-tanner, this would probably be the one I would go to, albeit grudgingly.  

Self Tanner Reviews: Part 1

I have tried so many self-tanners in the past few months, definitely leaving a small dent in my wallet!  I wanted to share my thoughts on the products that I have tried so far.

The first product I want to review is Origins The Great Pretender.  It is pretty affordable at $18.50.  I really wanted this to be my go-to self-tanner, but unfortunately, it did not work wonderfully for me.

Pros:

• Very pepperminty smell - I just love the smell of this lotion going on!
• Affordable
• Easy to apply - I never streaked with this tanner.  It works into your skin well with a shimmery color guide

Cons:

• Did not last long - I could see color the first day I put it on and the day after, but it was gone after that!
• Did not build in color - I applied this lotion EVERYDAY while in Orlando on vacation. I never saw an increase in color with daily use.  

For reference: this is me in all my fair skin glory on the left, then me while using Origins The Great Pretender on the right (I also had a little switch in hair color):

Not a noticeable difference, right?  I was a little disappointed! If you are looking for a VERY subtle glow and are willing to pay $18.50 a bottle, then I say go for it.  However, it did not give me the color I was looking for!

Next up is Sevin Nyne lotion.  I'm sure you've heard of it as Lindsay Lohan's self tanner.  It comes in a spray version also, but since I know I would make a horrible mess with it, I tend to shy away from spray self-tanners.  There are many things that I like about this self-tanner, but there is one huge dislike that I will get to in my cons section.

Pros:

• The smell is bearable - you will have a "smell" with this lotion, but it isn't the horrendous self-tanner smell that I've come across in the past.  I'm very particular about smells, and this smell did not bother me.
• It has a very dark color guide - you pretty much have a "glow" immediately after putting it on, but this leads to my major con (see below)
• Moderately easy to apply - it is a very thick lotion, so I advise rubbing your hands together to thin it out before applying to your skin and then working into your skin with a circular motion

Cons:

• The initial "glow/color guide" washes off with water!!!  BEWARE self-tanning with this lotion the morning of a rainy day because you will come home with white dots all over your arms and legs. VERY embarrassing! However, one way to solve this is to apply at night and take a shower in the morning to wash off the color guide.  Unfortunately, the darkest you will be on this lotion is the first day you apply it because of the color guide, so if you wash it off, you will not be as tan.
• No building of color with daily use - I'm starting to think there is something wrong with my skin holding on to the color because I have no luck so far on self-tanners building with repeated use.
• Pricey! - $35/bottle

For reference, again "white" me on the left and the day after application with Sevin Nyne on the right:

Again, there's not a huge difference in my skin color, although I feel like I got more color from Sevin Nyne than Origins.

I have many other self-tanners to review, so look for my future posts!  I think I have finally found my go-to self-tanner, but I will have to wait and reveal which one it is in my last self-tanner review post.  Oh the suspense!