Posted by Lisa | August 5, 2012 2:00 pm | 1 Comment
Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel Review!
I have another Bloom Ambassador box review for you today! This one I was very hesitant to use, because it is a Face Peel, and I think we have all heard or seen bad things as a result to facial peels. I didn’t want to head into work looking like my skin was peeling off my skull. Luckily Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel was nothing like that! This peel provides higher concentrations of Alpha Beta® Acids, plus new anti-aging boosters, including mandelic acid and willow bark extract without added irritation or recovery time.
I was given a 5 day supply to test out. I took a picture on Day 1 right before I applied my first application. Each application has a 2 step application process. Each are in convenient wipe form! After a nightly cleanse, dry your face and take out the Step 1 cloth and in a circular motion, wipe the cloth all around your face until the cloth becomes fairly dry. Toss the cloth and wait 2 minutes. My first application for the Step 1 cloth made my face sting just a little. It was mild, but noticeable.
Once Step 1 was completed and the 2 minutes were up, I applied Step 2! Step 2 was applied in the same fashion, in a circular motion all around my face and neck area until the cloth started to feel dried out. Step 2 didn’t sting at all, instead it felt like a million tiny bubbles bursting all over my face. It actually made me feel really clean!
On Day 5, I snapped a photo as well for the Before/After effect. Visually, I don’t see a huge difference. I did notice my pores were a little smaller, but the biggest difference was in the feel of my skin. It was so incredibly smooth and my normally dry skin wasn’t an issue. No itching or flakies at all (thank goodness!) and I didn’t experience any bad effects from the Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel! No peeling, no redness and no breakouts. Breakouts are NOT uncommon though! Sometimes the use of a new product can cause your face to “Purge” and bring any impurities to the surface. If that happens, just continue use for a bit longer and it should clear up. If it doesn’t – the product just may not be for you.
Ready for some Before/After shots? Be nice! No makeup on in these (except I did apply mascara… I do have some issues with makeupless photos lol)
Before:
After:
Difference isn’t huge, but like I said, the feel was so worth it! My skin hasn’t felt this good in awhile! Glad I decided to give this a shot, even though I was scared at first!
Just for fun, this pic was taken after Day 5 as well. This is me and my son yesterday… I actually went out all day with only a little face powder on and some mascara. Didn’t need concealer or my face primer and I was ok with it!
Price for Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel: $85.00 for 30 applications
Would I repurchase?: Sadly, I will probably pass. Pricewise, it is out of my range. If the price was lower, I would.
***The Product in this post was provided for review in my July/August Bloom Ambassador Box. All opinions are my own***
Posted by Lisa | July 6, 2012 11:13 am | 0 Comments
Mally Beauty Cosmetics Evercolor Poreless Face Defender and Volumizing Mascara Review
I’m not only a nail polish junkie, but a cosmetic junkie too. My “cosmetic area” is stocked full of various products, from drugstore finds to high end items. All of which I love dearly.
A brand new to me has provided a couple of items for review and I cannot wait to show them off to you!
First up is Mally’s Evercolor Poreless Face Defender!
Mally’s Evercolor Poreless Face Defender is the perfect finishing touch for your makeup. This remarkable technology yields an utterly sheer, featherweight product that diffuses the look of pores, minimizes fine lines, and helps protect your makeup so it lasts from morning to night. Face Defender gives you that flawless matte finish without the dry, ashy look of powder. The result is silky smooth skin and longer-lasting makeup. It comes with a unique buffed-edge Japanese sponge
(sorry I forgot to take a photo before using the Poreless Face Defender!)
I was very excited about using this product! I’m all for any product that makes the pores on my face look better. My biggest skin issue is that I have large pores. This did the trick! Ever see those powder finishing powders? Yeah me too. And I’ve dropped a bit of money on them with iffy results. Mally’s Evercolor Poreless Face Defender worked so much better! I used the triangle shaped chunky sponge that was provided with the product and dabbed it into the Poreless Face Defender to get it onto the sponge. Then I dabbed it onto my skin (over my powder). Do NOT wipe it on as it will cause your foundation/powder to streak and will not give good results! Once on, your skin still feels light and powdery but smoother and silkier. I kept touching my face even though I shouldn’t have.
My biggest issue with this product? As you can see in the photo the product started to “break” apart. It’s still usable, but it was odd to see it crack and separate a bit. Not a deal breaker by any means.
My makeup after applying Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender:
I’m happy with the results!
Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender is colorless, comes in a cute pink compact that is square shaped. The triangle sponge that comes with it does not fit in the compact.
Retail Price: $40.00 (and well worth every penny!)
Now we will move onto the Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara! Mascara’s are my “beauty drug” of choice. If I had to, I would toss out all my makeup but not the mascara!
This Volumizing Mascara has a unique formula that helps create the look of gorgeous, full, luxurious lashes. The combination of natural waxes and carefully chosen powders gives lashes an instant boost. The plush brush works with the powders in the formula to help thicken lashes without clumping, giving you gorgeous volume that lasts and lasts.
This has become my Holy Grail Mascara. I have been using it non stop for a month! I already have decent lashes. Kind of long, a little thick but they have no oomph. I don’t experience any extreme clumping, feathering, or flaking with Mally’s Volumizing Mascara. I apply by starting at the base of my lashes, then pull the brush upwards while wiggling the wand a bit to get the product in my lashes. I generally use 2 coats for a night out, 1 coat if I’m just going to work. This mascara is only available in black. I’m good with that, I only really like black mascara, but if you prefer brown or another color, you’re out of luck on this one!
Ready to see the results?
This is with 2 coats. I didn’t apply any to the bottom lashes (I never do). Not bad huh?
Retail Price: $20.00
This is my first experience with Mally Beauty and so far so good! They have a large variety of products on their website and I’ve seen nothing but great reviews on their items. I’m extremely pleased with the 2 items I received and I plan on replacing both items when I run out (they really are that good!)
You can find both the Mally Beauty Evercolor Poreless Face Defender as well as Volumizing Mascara at the Mally Beauty Website
Make sure you also check them out on Facebook!
***Products in this post were provided for review. All opinions are my own***
Posted by Lisa | July 6, 2012 10:57 am | 2 Comments
Milani Limited Edition Color Play Felt-Tip Pens Launch!
I am very excited to announce the launch of Milani’s newest limited edition collection: Color Play Felt-Tip Pens! They are available in 6 shades. Each shade can be used to expertly line eyes or create works of art on the body or face! The fine felt-tip point allows for easy application. It is also water-resistant & long-lasting.
I absolutely LOVE felt tip eyeliners over all others, so I will be hunting these shades down!
Ok I NEED the Black, Blue and Green one!!
Milani Limited Edition Color Play Felt-Tip Pens retail for $6.99
These will be available this month at select Walgreens and Fred Meyer stores. They are also available now at www.milanicosmetics.com.
Do you plan on checking them out?
Posted by Lisa | June 30, 2012 8:47 pm | 12 Comments
Premier Dead Sea Review
This is a review that is a long time in the making. I have been testing 3 Premier Dead Sea products for the last couple of months. First I tested them separately for a few weeks at a time, and then I tested 2 of them in conjunction with each other.
Premier’s philosophy is to bring together in harmony and synergy nature’s own wisdom coupled with cutting-edge scientific discovery to create effective, luxury skincare products. Our Premier products are so effective, they deliver what they promise and typically more than you ever imagined. Premier is dedicated to excellence, integrity, vitality and global responsibility.
The first product I’m sharing with you was my favorite of the 3! Para-Pharmaceutical (Elite) Cleansing Facial Gel!
The Para-Pharmaceutical Cleansing Facial Gel is a cleanser and exfoliator all in one. It contains micro-plant seeds with aromatic oils (which to me smelled AMAZING) to clean and exfoliate the face skin and balance your skin. I saw good results using this product within a couple days. I continued to use it for a few weeks and had no new breakouts, patchy dry spots or skin irritation while using it. The price is a little high for my tastes, BUT a little goes a long way and 2 months later (I used this 3 times a week), I still have quite a bit left in the tube and probably have at least another 2 months left. I would consider repurchasing this product because it did work well for me as both an exfoliator and as a cleanser.
Para-Pharmaceutical (Elite) Cleansing Facial Gel retails for $49.99
The second product I tested out is BIOX Intensive Anti-Age Serum!
I didn’t have any issues with the BIOX Intensive Anti-Age Serum, but I also didn’t really notice any difference in my skin. I’m 30 years old, and don’t have a whole lot of wrinkles or anything (yet), so I’m not sure if that’s part of why. On the bright side though, I also didn’t see my skin go downhill while using this product. It didn’t cause any breakouts or dryness. I used this every morning and every night before bed for 3 weeks to test it. Later on in the testing phase I used the Para-Pharmaceutical Cleansing Facial Gel in conjunction with BIOX Serum, and together they worked well. But again, I didn’t see any noticeable different with this particular product. The price is definitely out of my range though, so even if it worked wonders for my skin, unfortunately I would not be capable of repurchasing.
BIOX Intensive Anti-Age Serum retails for $499.99
The third and final product is BIOX Intensive Age Defying Cream!
Unfortunately, Premier Dead Sea BIOX Intensive Age Defying Cream did not work for my skin type. I got a mild break out along my jaw and in my T-zone while using this particular product. This is part of why I test each item separately, so I can narrow down and determine what causes a possible breakout or skin irritation. Even after I noticed a breakout I continued to use the product for a couple of weeks (I used it every morning after my shower) just to make sure my skin wasn’t going through a purging period (this can happen and not all breakouts mean the product doesn’t work for you). BIOX cream did seem to sink into my skin rapidly and didn’t leave behind a greasy feel. Sadly though, it just wasn’t right for my skin. Because of this, I would not repurchase this product.
BIOX Intensive Age Defying Cream retails for $449.00
One thing I want to remind people when reading skin care or hair care reviews is that everyone IS different when it comes to these kinds of products. What works for my skin type may not work for the next, and vice versa. For reference with this review, I have sensitive skin with an oily T-zone and dry patches along my jaw, cheeks and forehead. I am prone to small break outs but generally nothing that requires heavy concealer or foundation to cover up.
As I said above, I would consider repurchasing the Para-Pharmaceutical Cleansing Facial Gel because it worked very well and has replaced my usual cleanser. My skin did not go through a purging phase in using this and my skin has been doing well with it (even during ‘that’ time when my skin usually goes nuts)
Check out Premier Dead Sea online HERE they carry an extensive range of skin care products as well as some nail care items as well.
Premier Dead Sea is also on Facebook, so take a look there as well! If you head over to the “Welcome” Tab you will receive a coupon for 25% off!
***The Products in this post were provided for review. I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own***
Posted by Lisa | June 24, 2012 3:55 pm | 6 Comments
June Bloom Ambassador Box Review
I know most of my posts are based on nail polish, but the original intent for this blog was for cosmetics, skin care, hair care, etc review. A little bit of everything! But I will admit, after working all day – coming home and doing makeup looks to photograph just isn’t in the cards! I became a Bloom Ambassador last month and not only was the box I received wonderful but it also allows me time to review a group of products for skin, cosmetics, fragrance, etc in one shot!
I have a few products to review for this so I’m going to get this started!
The first set of goodies I received was for Pacifica. I got 6 Pacifica products and holy cow were these amazing! Just opening the cute golden box they were nestled in was like heaven, the scent greeted me and lingered around without being nauseating.
Lets take a closer look at the 6 products:
Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-On:
Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll On is described as being inspired by the unique magic of Tahitian vanilla, this sensual blend sets sweet and sultry vanilla absolute, with honey-jasmine notes and a touch of fruitiness, against a deep and beautiful base of tea. Wow, this is a lovely vanilla scent without being overpowering, too sweet or fake smelling. I do love vanilla, but I am so sick of the fake vanilla scent. I plan on purchasing the larger spray version of Pacifica Island Vanilla. The roll-on is perfect to carry around in my purse (which I’ve been doing all week and was complimented on it multiple times!). Each Roll-on retails for $12.00
Pacifica Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint:
I received 2 different Color Quenches this month. One in Blood Orange and one in Coconut Nectar. Pacifica Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tints are all natural, 100% Vegan and leave a sheer hint of color. Essential fatty acids from rich and amazing avocado and coconut oils leave lips luscious and healthy. Blood Orange colors your lips a sheer coral with a pop of pink while Coconut Nectar is a shimmery golden raisin color. Out of the two, Blood Orange is my favorite, but Coconut Nectar is perfect for those “no makeup, makeup looks”. Each color Quench retails for $9.00.
Pacifica Body Butter:
Did I say this box for June was amazing? I’m sitting here with all these aromas from the Pacifica box and I’m still thrilled! Ok I also got 2 Pacifica Body Butters to review, one in Tuscan Blood Orange and one in Indian Coconut Nectar. Smell incredible with nourishing and anti-oxidant rich ingredients. Pacifica body butter helps fight signs of aging while adding deep moisture and protection.
- Tuscan Blood Orange is described as a delectable blend, juicy and spicy Blood Orange is offset with subtle Strawberry and Raspberry notes and grounded in fleshy Mandarin and Italian Sweet Orange. An orange connoisseur’s dream.
- Pacifica’s Indian Coconut Nectar is a sensuous and delicious blend inspired by travels to faraway destinations. This warm, sultry blend of coconut and delicate creamy vanilla is pure ambrosia.
So hard to choose a favorite in these 2! What I really love about Pacifica Body Butter is that I applied these after my shower and the scent wasn’t overpowering AT ALL. The scent lingered around but was delicate. If you aren’t one for perfumes much, this is perfect to apply and go. The scent was longer lasting than most I have used and doubled as fragrance for the day as well. Each 2.5 fl oz tube of Pacifica Body Butter retails for $7.00
Pacifica Bronzing Body Butter:
Ok so this was my only “meh” product from the Pacifica box. Not because the product is bad, it just isn’t something I use. I’m not one for bronzing products at all. BUT if you are looking for a body butter and bronzer with a light scent, this product is for you. The bronzing body butter I received was in Coconut Crushed Pearl and when I put it on, my boyfriend said “What smells like cotton candy?” and he was right. While I didn’t hate the scent, I don’t think it’s made for me. Maybe I’m an “old” 30 year old, but I am not one for the “which carnival scent am I wearing today?” type. Each 8oz tube of Pacifica Bronzing Body Butter retails for $24.00
That will conclude the Pacifica Reviews! Now moving onto the next item!
Booty Parlor Flirty Little Secret Firming Bronzer:
Ok again, not a bronzer person. Although this one wasn’t too bad and was easy to blend in, I don’t have a lot of use for it. It also left a faint shimmer that makes you almost glow in the sun. Create glow-getter curve appeal with this lightly shimmering, jasmine tea scented firming body bronzer that’s infused with a sexy secret weapon: a powerful pheromone designed to make you irresistible! The scent is dead on too – just like jasmine tea. I did use this a few times to fulfill my duty, but sadly, I don’t think I will wear it much more. Again, not a bad product, just not a bronzing person.
Almost done! I promise!
Stila In the Moment Eye Shadow Palette:
This palette includes:
Instinct – light baby pink with pink & white shimmer
Desire – soft, creamy mid-tone pink
Impulse – pale lavender with lavender shimmer
Wonder – mid-tone flesh pink with shimmer
Glance – intense violet with shimmer
Spontaneous – soft beige-gold with shimmer
Improvise – deep plum with pink sparkle
Whim – soft warm reddish-brown with shimmer
Catalyst – black with pink sparkle
Captivate – mid-tone purple-brown with golden pearl
Stila is a brand I love and trust beauty wise. Their eyeshadows are long lasting, well pigmented and easy to blend. Stila In the Moment Eye Shadow Palette is amazing! Within one palette you can create sexy, sultry or even neutral eye looks. I’m also a sucker for purples, so of course I love this one. The palette comes with 10 colors and endless possibilities.
For my look pictured I used: Instinct all over the lid up to the brow bone, Impulse in the inner crease, Glance in the outter crease and Catalyst wet as eyeliner!
Stila In the Moment Eye Shadow Palette retails for $39.00
Stila In the Garden Eye Shadow Palette:
This Palette Includes:
Chinois – matte creamy white
Breeze – shimmery beige
Bark – shimmery taupe
Freesia – shimmery violet blu
eRosette – metallic pink violet
Nectar – matte creamy beige
Honey – metallic bronze gold
Sage – shimmery translucent green
Moss – dark olive green with shimmer
Juniper – deep shimmery forest green
Stila In The Garden Eye Shadow Palette is another amazing 10 color shadow palette but it comes with more neutral colors than anything. I do love it, but I think the In The Moment Palette was more for me! I do love the color Sage within the palette though, gorgeous shimmery sage green.
Stila In the Garden Eye Shadow Palette retails for $39.00
Last one! Thank you for hanging in there, I know this is long!
Juicy Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths:
Juicy Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths have a lot of positive attributes:
100% biodegradable
Paraben Free
Sulfate Free
Alcohol Free
Synthetic Fragrance Free
Tree Free Cloths
As much as I love makeup, I also love good makeup removers. The problem is, with skin as finicky as mine, it is sometimes hard to find removers I like. Juicy Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths removed my makeup easily and flawlessly, including my mascara (the mascara is the real test and it took it off easily!). BUT I had a couple small breakout after using them, which made me very self conscious about doing the Stila reviews using looks… which is why there is JUST an eye pic and not a full face picture. After the first sign of break out, I used the rest of the cloths just to see if my skin was purging and would stop, but it didn’t. I have heard rave things about these cloths, but really – they didn’t work with my skin.
Alright, that concludes my June Bloom Ambassador box! Lots of exciting things right? Of everything, the Pacifica goodies blew me away! A lot of the products were amazing, and some just didn’t work for me (which happens!)
You really should check out Bloom.com for some amazing beauty finds and REAL reviews!
Have a wonderful weekend!
***The products in this post were provided by Bloom.com for honest reviews.***
Posted by Lisa | February 28, 2012 7:22 pm | 0 Comments
This Season unleash your natural beauty with LORAC’S universally flattering collection for eyes, cheeks, and lips. Get UNZIPPED with nude, head-turning looks, hookup with LIPS WITH BENEFITS and TANtalize with a DEEP better-than-natural tan.
LORAC: UNZIPPED, UNCENSORED and UNBELIEVABLE!
Lips with Benefits!
Create a stir wtih LORAC’s Lips With Benefits Gloss! This unique, hydrating formula is Paraben-Free and infused with antioxidants of Acai Berry, Pomegranate Extract and Vitamins C & E to help nourish and protect your kissable pout. These luscious glosses feature a menage-a-trois of swirling striped hues for a one-of-a-kind, high-shine finish with flirty, sexy color and a sweet Creme Brulee fragrance that will have you wanting more. No strings attached, no sticky entanglements, just a satisfying, silky-smooth application every time. Don’t be bashful, Lips With Benefits comes in many complementing shades to please you so you won’t have to feel guilty about choosing more than one color to love!
Lips with Benefits comes in the following shades:
Mark – Neutral Peach
Nick - Light Pink Shimmer
Chuck – Nude
Ben - Light Peach Shimmer
Josh - Fresh Pink
Alex - Berry
Chris - Fuscia Shimmer
Lips With Benefits retails for $18.00 and contains .19 Fl Oz per tube
Create 4 head-turning looks with 4 ultra-rich shimmering and matte Eyeshadows with this exclusive palette!
TANtalizer Highlighter and Matte Bronzer Duo
TANtalize and mesmerize with LORAC’S Highlighter and Matte Bronzer Duo. Highlight, Color and Contour with this versatile, easy to use, dynamic duo that that contains a velvety-smooth luminizing powder for pro-highlighting and a matte bronzing powder for perfectly-contoured, bronze cheeks. This unique formula is oil, fragrance, paraben and talc free and great for all skin types. Complete with a super-size mirror, this compact is perfect for an on-the-go Red Carpet Glow.
TANtalizer Highlighter and Matte Bronzer Duo retails for $32.00 and contains .4 Oz of product
You can find TANtalizer and Lips With Benefits at www.LoracCosmetics.com
The gorgeous eye shadow palette is an Ulta exlusive and can be found at www.Ulta.com
