beauty 101 - growing out bangs

Bangs are definitely hot this season. If you don't have them now, chances are you considered getting them at some point. Especially after seeing a celebrity (such as Katie Holmes) looking so fantastic with them.

I have to confess. I took the plunge and got the bangs.

I loved them...for about a month.

And now?

I'm growing them out.

Those of you that have done this before, can understand what I am going through right now...they are a royal pain in the you-know-what to grow out.


Fortunately, I have learned two tricks that make the process a little easier to bear.


1. Sweep Your Bangs to the Side: This might sound like a no-brainer, but it changes the look of your bangs and gets them out of your eyes. Especially when they are at that crazy stage where they aren't long enough to tuck behind your ears. You can really do this with almost any length bang...just choose a side to sweep them to. If your bangs are too heavy and blunt, ask your stylist if they could thin them out or texturize them...mine does this and it makes a huge difference. Also, once your bangs are long enough, you can ask your stylist to angle them ever so slightly...that aids in the sweeping and takes away the bulkiness as well.

2. Add Hair Accessories: There are several different types of hair accessories to choose from...and many that won't leave you looking like a pre-schooler. My two favorites are a wide headband (one in a tortoise color and one solid black-Goody makes great cheap ones) and barrettes that are similar in shade to my hair color. But, you could find other styles that suit your taste. I did a quick search and came up with a couple more...they are on the pricey side...but, you could use them for inspiration:

This headband is by Eugenia Kim. It's her multi-strap headband in silver. It's pricey ($85), but really cute. It features an elastic underneath, for keeping it snug on your head.

These are by L. Erickson ($45), they are elastic loop headband scarves. I love the pucci-esque patterns and colors. These would give a great shot of color to a neutral outfit.

Finally, these are by France Luxe ($10). I love the colors and shape. They look feminine, without looking childish. These are great for sweeping your bangs to one side and keeping them there.

Well...there you go. I hope I've been some help. Feel free to leave a comment telling us what you do to grow out your bangs...we'd love to hear it.

Jennifer

photo of katie holmes courtesy of instyle.com

eugenia kim headband can be purchased at www.shopbop.com

both the l. erickson headscarf and the france luxe barrettes can be found at www.amazon.com

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beauty buys under $10 - covergirl cheekers blush

To me...this is a product that should go into the Beauty Hall of Fame..it's that good.

Not only is it insanely inexpensive...hello, it's $3.99! It also comes in eighteen different shades that are suitable for a wide range of skin tones.

I picked up my Cheekers Blush at my local Ulta. I chose the Pretty Peach color, because Lord knows I have more than enough pinks and nudes.

When I got home, I immediately threw away the brush that came in the package. Why? Because it's cheaply made and doesn't allow you to apply it as well as a separate makeup brush. I used my Bobbi Brown Blush Brush ($45) to apply the color to the apples of my cheeks and liked what I saw.

The color was actually really flattering on me. I have fair to medium skin with a yellow undertone...and this was a good color choice. It gave a nice subtle flush to my cheeks. Perfect.

The color was also buildable, with a pretty sheen. I love how it was luminous and not frosty - if you have ever used drugstore blushes in the past, you know what I mean.

Now...will I give up my other blushes and use the Cheekers only? Honestly....no. I could never give up my other colors and brands, or the thrill of hitting Nordstom during a beauty event.

But, you can't deny the bargain that is Cover Girl. They put out a quality product, that more than delivers. The best part is, you can get four different blushes for the cost of one department store brand.

The bottom line is this...if you have a favorite department store blush...use it. If you're thinking about trying a more inexpensive blush, or want to try out a new color without breaking the bank...Cheekers is the way to go.

Jennifer

photo courtesy of covergirl.com

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swirl, tap, buff your way to bare escentuals

My parents came out for a visit this past week and my mom mentioned that she wanted to try out Bare Escentuals and asked if we could stop by an Ulta or Sephora so she could check it out in person.


Now, I have to admit that I have been dying to try this stuff out and see if it is worth all the hype....it claims to be the #1 selling makeup. So, I jumped at the chance to "tag along" with my mom. But I did one better by actually taking her to a Bare Escentuals store in one of our malls. So we set off for our day of girl time.


But as we got closer to the store we both got really nervous. And thoughts of "what if they put on too much, what if it looks horrible, what if it melts our face off" started running through our heads. But we were brave and asked them to show us the basic foundation starter kit.


So, here's the scoop....I strongly recommend going somewhere where there is an expert to help you for 2 reasons. The first being, they can match your color and can even go so far as mixing 2 shades together and even rematching as you get tanner in the summer or paler in the winter. The second reason being, since there is a special technique to applying all this stuff, they only put the makeup on half of your face and make you do the other side so you can learn how to apply it yourself.


I have read a couple reviews that mentioned how this makeup didn't work for them since they had drier skin and I spent some time thinking about that. I could understand that being an issue if they don't use moisturizer or if they don't apply the makeup properly. From what the girl at the store kept telling me, the reason you have to "buff" the makeup on, is so that the minerals have time to react to the temperature of your skin and actually become a cream. So, as long as your skin is a warm temperature it shouldn't have a problem blending it in to your skin. And apparently several million women are using this stuff and there are bound to be a couple bad reviews.


Anywho...back to the girls day...after she was done going through each layer of the starter kit and having me freak out each time she handed the brush over to me. She asked if I wanted my eyes done, or blush or lips done as well. I tried the blush since the last time I wore blush was at my wedding, umm.....six years ago, I thought I give it another whirl. I also tried some lip gloss because I will ALWAYS try lip gloss. The final result - I was pleasantly surprised. I looked very pulled together and "healthy". My face felt very soft and light, like I had very little if any makeup on at all.


For the rest of the day my mom and I kept looking at each other in different types of lighting and asking, "how does it look...ok, how about now?"


Now, my biggest problem with makeup is that I have an oily t-zone that tends to be an issue in the afternoons. The mineral veil in the starter kit is the finishing layer that sets everything and is the only one of the mineral products that isn't all minerals, it also has cornstarch in it to absorb oil and shrink pores. Umm, I would like to buy that stuff by the case. I didn't feel any oil on my face until late into the evening.

So, the starter kit in the store and online is $75 and includes everything that you need (2 bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation medium size jars, Mineral Veil finishing powder, Warmth All-Over Face Color - which is a bronzer, Clear Radiance All-Over Face Color - which is a highlighter), plus the brushes (3 brushes - the foundation brush, concealer brush and a brush for the other 3 layers) and a compact you fill with some of the mineral veil to keep in your purse for touch-ups. What I really appreciated is that they weren't trying to sell me anything and they were very quick to tell me that I can use any of my other makeup with theirs. You love your concealer, you don't need to use theirs.

You can buy Bare Escentuals just about anywhere - I even found it on Amazon and I think we have all found ourselves watching the commercial at some point. I found the starter kits for less than $75 but they don't include as much as the one directly from www.bareescentuals.com or their store. There is even a membership club you can join, where the starter kit is discounted and then they send you new foundation every so many months. I just bought new foundation less than a month ago, but I am strongly considering making this my next one. I don't think I will join the club. I like to change and try new makeup too much to commit to one long-term. My mom liked it enough to give it a whirl as well. We also talked about how everyone from Neutrogena to Laura Mercier have come out with their own versions of this type of makeup. If nothing else, you should at least let them help you find your color and show you how to apply it and then buy it from which ever company you want to try.


Christine
photo courtesy of bareescentuals.com

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nars the multiple in orgasm

I love Nars cosmetics.

I especially love his Laguna Bronzer and Orgasm blush, in the summer months (check out my earlier post on these).

While doing some "blog research" (that's shopping) this past weekend, I came across his Multiple in Orgasm ($37) at my local Sephora and decided to give it a whirl.

First off, I should add, is that I love the handiness of his Multiple Sticks. They are ridiculously easy to apply...so much so that I rarely need a mirror...and they fit in your makeup bag for easy touch-ups.

Because Sephora was jam packed, I quickly applied the color to my cheeks and checked out my reflection in the mirror..narrowly avoiding an elbow to the eye. I noticed right away, that the stick form of his famous blush is much sheerer than it's powder form. The stick gave a nice hint of color to my cheeks though, after a couple of applications. (It should be noted that I have fair to medium skin, with a yellow undertone...someone with darker skin might use this as more of a highlighter.)

Like it's powder counterpart, it does contain tiny glimmer flecks. Whether or not you like this is up to you...I really didn't mind it because (to me) it didn't seem "in-your-face" glittery. Because you can apply the Multiple to other areas of your face, I applied it to my eyes and lips. Meh. It looked okay...not enough to make me want to buy it.

I would have to say that, if you already have his blush in Orgasm, skip the Multiple. If you don't have the Orgasm blush and were thinking about buying it, Sephora sells a combination set of his Laguna Bronzer and Orgasm Blush (seen below) for $36, which is a great price.

Either way...you really don't have to take my word for it. Head on over to sephora.com or your local Sephora, to try this and other Nars cosmetics.

Jennifer

photos courtesy of sephora.com

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oscar beauty - jennifer garner

I don't think that I am alone in saying that Jennifer Garner looked beautiful last night.

Everything from her dress to her accessories was tastefully done and gorgeous. Just the way it should be.

I especially loved her loose updo and her makeup.

With all of the great beauty bloggers out there, I knew I could count on a couple to deliver the news on her makeup and hair.

I always give credit where credit is due...so...

...head on over to talkingmakeup.com to get the scoop on Jennifer's hair from the man who did it...and head on over to beautyaddict.blogspot.com to get the 411 on her makeup. Both blogs do an excellent job of telling you how to recreate her look and what products were actually used!

Jennifer
photo courtesy of instyle.com

P.S. Don't forget to vote in the makeup poll to the right!

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beauty buys under $10 - neutrogena healthy volume mascara

Those of you that are familiar with this blog, know of my slight aversion to mascara.

I am getting better though.

In addition to the Bobbi Brown mascara I purchased a couple of weeks ago, I just added this to my makeup bag.

I had originally seen the ad for this in a magazine, and figured that I would give it a try.

The advertisement says that it "builds the lashes from the inside out" and "protects the lashes with sweet almond oil". I did notice that there is a mention of sweet almond oil and an olive oil as well, but it's aways down the list. They also claim that your lashes will be "400% fuller".

While at the store, I accidentally grabbed the black/brown instead of black, because I was in a rush to leave (two year old meltdowns are not fun). Not in any mood to return to the store, I figured that I would give it a try anyway. I think that the overall results would still be the same, but with the black, I would get a lot more definition. Judge for yourself...the photo on the left is my eye without mascara and on the right is my eye with mascara...

It's pretty obvious right off the bat why I don't generally wear mascara. When I do wear it, it's to give my lashes a little more definition and little va-va-voom! It also provides a finish to my eyes if I am wearing eyeshadow.

I can say that the Neutrogena mascara did stay on well and came off easy with eye makeup remover at the end of the day. It felt comfortable on and didn't really smudge at all, even though it's not waterproof. I also liked that it went on easy, had minimal clumping, and didn't flake.

While it didn't make my lashes look 400% bigger, it definitely made them appear a little longer and more defined. I also think (as stated before) that if I had used black, it would have made a difference.

I would recommend this mascara, I think that the price is good ($7.99) and it gave me a better result than a more expensive mascara that I recently tested (more on that one at a later date).

If you keep your eye out (ha-ha), Neutrogena cosmetics go on sale a lot...so you might be able to pick this up for even less.

Jennifer

photo of mascara courtesy of drugstore.com

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maybelline dream mousse blush

On a mission to try and make frugal purchases, I picked this up at my local Ulta. They even included a coupon, so instead of $7...I got mine for $6.

Yippee...right?

Wrong...I should have kept the $6.

Let's start with the positives...

The packaging of the product is good...it's compact and easy to manipulate...and the mousse delivers on it's light and airy promise.

That's pretty much it.

While the product is light, and does feel soft on the skin...I felt that the resulting color wasn't natural looking...and it had a powdery consistency that wasn't flattering. It's described, as a product that gives the skin a "natural and radiant finish"... and I would say that I did not get that result at all.

Basically, if you're on the market for a new and inexpensive blush, save your money and try a powder blush instead. There are a lot of great brands out there that will give you better results, many for less than $20 (MAC and Clinique come to mind, as does that Avon blush from an earlier post). If you want to go really inexpensive...I would try Cover Girl, it's cheap and there are a variety of colors that you can choose from.

In fact...we're going to be doing a review of Cover Girl's Cheekers Blush next week...so stay tuned!

Jennifer

photo courtesy of maybelline.com

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mousse lee by cibu

When I style my hair at home, the only styling product I use is a blow drying cream/spray that helps to protect my hair. It gives me the look I love without using a lot of gunk. And I like it that way.

Flash back to yesterday. After my usual excellent haircut and color, my stylist decided to try something new and added this mousse to my hair before blow drying. It's by Cibu and it's their Mousse Lee Foaming Volumizer ($14 for 8.45 oz).

At first, I let out a silent groan.

You see...I have an aversion to mousse and volumizing products in general. I prefer a sleek look, to one of pouffiness...which is the result I have always gotten from past mousse applications.

After she applied the mousse and blew it dry, though, I couldn't believe it.

The result? Unbelievable volume, with softness and shine that lasted all day and into the night. And without the pouffiness!

Now, while I wouldn't use this everyday...I could see myself using this when I want to have volume with major staying power. Especially for an evening out or for a dressy event that required me to be out for hours.

The smell of their products is intoxicating...a unisex scent that smells great on a man or woman. When the shampoo assistant was washing my hair with the Cibu shampoo and conditioner, I almost fell asleep. They also use a lot of flower extracts and conditioning oils in their products as well. And you have to love a company who uses offbeat names like Mousse Lee and Miso Knotty (a leave in detangler) for their products.

Jennifer

photo courtesy of cibuinternational.com

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tarte natural beauty cheek stain

The following is an excerpt from a conversation between myself and Christine last week...

ME: Hey Christine...I was wondering if you could do me a favor?

HER: Sure...what's up?

ME: I know you and your mom (who's in town this week) are going to the mall to do some shopping...I was wondering if you wouldn't mind checking out some products for "research".

HER: What were you thinking about?

ME: Well, I was thinking maybe you could try a couple of new mascaras and then report on them. Just have your mom take your picture before you put...

HER: (Interrupting) What? You want me to go into the mall without mascara on?

ME: Ummm...yeah.

HER: Are you serious?

ME: Ummmm...yeah...why? What's wrong?

HER: Uh...I never leave the house without mascara on.

ME: Never? Not even..

HER: Not even once...wouldn't do it...nope...

The rest of the conversation basically involved me trying to convince her to "take one for the blog" and go out sans mascara. Which, it should be noted, she eventually decided to do and will be reporting on one of them next week.

------------------------------------------------------

Our conversation got me thinking...if I had to go out of the house and could only choose one makeup item to put on....what would I choose?

I really couldn't seem to settle on one specific product.

But then, after hitting up my local Sephora while doing some research the other day, I found it...Tarte's Natural Beauty Cheek Stain ($28).

It happened accidentally. I had initially gone there to check out another item that happened to be out of stock. I just happened to stumble upon the cheek stain, on my way out the door. Because I was with Big L and Little L (and they both have ZERO patience for my beauty research) I quickly swiped the color on my cheeks and ran out the door.

I caught a glance of myself in a mirror, and was stunned at how great the color was. Just gorgeous. It gave my cheeks just enough color to brighten up my whole face...and all I had on (before I applied the stain) was concealer. Did I mention how long it lasts? It was still going strong THREE hours later, without any reapplication.

Needless to say, once we got home, I made a beeline for the computer and headed on over to www.sephora.com.

While there, I was able to read a little about the stain and I found out that this color is an all-natural version of their cheek stain. On Sephora's website, it says that the color is "derived from fruit and pure minerals". It's also fragrance free and alcohol free, so that it goes on easy and keeps your skin feeling hydrated.

All the more reason to make this my new favorite item.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of sephora.com

P.S. Don't forget to take the new poll we added! Let us know the one beauty product you can't do without!

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avon horizon blush

I know you're thinking right now....Avon? Isn't that a little...um....grandma?

Well...no...not really.

About twenty years ago...when I was in my teens...wait a minute did I just say 20 YEARS AGO?! Wow...I feel really old right now...I think I need a moment here.....

...okay...I'm back...now where was I?

Oh yeah...I was saying that...back then...when I was a teen...I remember having a friend, whose mother sold Avon. Her house was crammed full of the stuff.

My friend's mom would try and push Avon on to anybody who walked in the door. She was also such a believer in her products that she (of course) used them on herself...and did she ever.

Now...no disrespect to my friend's mom...but she plastered herself with the makeup. So much so that it looked caked on. She sold her wares to other women in the neighborhood, mainly women in their 40's and 50's, as well. Many of whom, trust me on this, plastered it on a much as her.

The reason why I'm telling you this, is because that was my first time I had ever experienced Avon. So for that reason, it was ingrained in my mind that Avon = horrible middle aged makeup.

Well that feeling is definitely about to change.

Enter Jillian Dempsey...wife to McDreamy himself...who is working on revamping the image of the brand. It should be noted that Jillian is famous in her own right, she is a makeup artist who has worked her magic on many a celebrity face.

One of her offerings for Spring 2008, is the blush you see above. It's called Horizon Blush. It's called this because it...well...resembles a horizon...but with blush. It starts out darker at one end of the compact and gradually transitions to a sheer version of the same color. It's genius because it gives you the ability to choose how you want to wear your color that day...sheer and subtle, or bright and bold.

The best part is...it's only $7.99.

Unfortunately, you can't purchase the blush yet...but it will be available soon. You also don't need to have an Avon representative...they have a website that allows you to buy their products and have them mailed to you.

If you do decide to use a rep, they give you the ability to find one in your area. It wouldn't hurt to use one either, they can help you out with colors and give out samples of products that you might want to try. Plus, they can give you inside information about the brand that you otherwise might not be aware of.

Besides...I'm sure they've come a looonnnngggg way since my friend's mom.

Whatever you decide to do...head on over to www.avon.com to check out this and many other offerings (I hear they have an eye creme that's fantastic!)

Jennifer
photo courtesy of avon.com

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reviewing the classics - o.p.i.'s lincoln park after dark

I love to have my nails painted and color doesn't scare me. I also love to get manis and pedis, but there isn't always the budget or the time to get them as often as I would like.



As a result, I have become fairly good at doing them myself, and I have accumulated a pretty diverse collection of colors over the years. My latest purchase was O.P.I.'s Lincoln Park After Dark.


Let me just get this out of the way and say that I have a really fair complexion, so I can pull off most colors, but the more extreme usually end up as a "good toe color".



Anywho...back to Lincoln Park After Dark...


I ended up with a couple of hours to myself last Sunday and I thought I'd give this color a whirl. I had seen it before and wanted to try one of O.P.I.'s more classic dark colors. I did not use a base coat, just two coats of the polish with a top coat of Essie's 3-Way Glaze (excellent stuff by the way).



When I was done, it ended up a deep, deep burgandy color, that I would not recommend on long nails (might be a little too much-I had trimmed mine down to just past my fingertips before I started). I have used dark colors before, but this was by far the darkest color I have ever had on.



Anyone who uses color on their nails, knows that around day three or day four, you'll need to remove your polish and start over. Normal day-to-day activities are generally murder on a manicure. This wasn't the case for this polish. By day four, it was still going strong with only the tiniest chip on one nail. Keep in mind that I have a two year old...so this is four days of car seats, strollers, playing, dishes, cleaning, cooking, etc...all of those fun activities a stay-at-home-mom confronts on a daily basis. Let's just say that it was still going strong after one week...that's a record in my book.



If you have a little free time, head on over to www.opi.com. I went on to see what they said about this color and I actuallly ended up spending a good 10-15 minutes on there. They have a fun section called Try It On Salon where you pick out your skin color, so you can see what each color would look like on you. I don't know how much longer I can keep pulling off the dark color, since they are saying light pastel colors are in for Spring...but I would definitely recommend this color.


Christine
photo courtesy of amazon.com

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proactive deep cleansing wash

It's no surprise to anyone who reads this blog, that I'm in my thirties.

What might be a surprise is that I still get pimples.

Now...normally...I have combination skin. That means that...for me...in the Fall and Winter months, I'll have some oiliness and occasional breakouts.

But, once the warmer weather hits, the oiliness kicks it up a notch and it's...hellooooo pimples!

In the past, I would just deal with it. I would grit my teeth, and sink my money into department store cleansers that never worked. Really frustrating.

That's how it always was....until I found this.

This is Proactive Solution, Deep Cleansing Wash. It's not part of the Proactiv Solution System, so you won't find it on their website (believe me...I tried). You actually have to go to one of their mall kiosks, to purchase this. I think that the price varies every so often...so it would be safe to say that you can get this for under $30. It may seem a little steep...but it works. Trust me.

The beauty is that this cleanser has the double whammy of salicylic acid and exfoliating beads. These help to clear your skin gently. It's also great as a scrub for when your skin is a little dull. (I'll do this in the Winter and Fall, when I don't have as much of an oil problem. I'll use Dove for Sensitive Skin daily, and this cleanser once a week or so. In the warmer months, I'll switch between the Dove and the cleanser more often, depending on how oily I am.)

You don't need a lot either...about the equivalent of a 1/4 teaspoon is all I use. If I'm still feeling a little oily, I'll follow it up with their Oil Free Moisture with SPF 15, another great product that you can buy seperately as well.

Head on over to www.proactiv.com to find a kiosk location near you.

Jennifer

photo courtesy of amazon.com

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beauty buys under $10 - victoria's secret lipgloss

I love a great lip gloss. Really...it's my go to choice when I want to add a little ooomph to my lips and I don't want to go for a full on lipstick application. What could be easier than untwisting the end and applying the product sans mirror? It's a no brainer.

My favorite type of gloss is one that has barely any color to it. Why? Because it doesn't try to compete with your lip color, it just enhances it. The best gloss will contain a hint of color and give a great shine to your lips.

When it can do that for under $10...it's a find.

Beauty Rush in Candy Baby, by Victoria's Secret Beauty, is a real gem. First of all, the price...it's $7. If you buy three, you'll pay only $15. Many glosses don't even start at that price. Juicy Tubes by Lancome come close at $18, but that's just for one!

What's great about this gloss, is the fact that it gives a shine to your lips without looking gloppy. It smells great, and tastes even better...although I am not recommending eating it.

Head on over to your nearest Victoria's Secret, to try out the other amazing colors... they have thirty to choose from!

Jennifer

photo courtesy of victoriassecret.com

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lancome primordiale eye skin recharge

If you ever want to have a good laugh...head on over to your favorite department store website and check out their eye creme descriptions. Seriously.

They go on and on about how this creme will revive your tired eyes, how that one will reduce dark circles and puffiness, how this one will eliminate wrinkles, and how that one will turn you into a supermodel with one application.

Well...that last one I made up...but, really...come on...do they really expect us to believe this hype?

I recently ran out of my favorite Estee Lauder eye creme and, since I made a promise to Big L that I wouldn't spend over $50 this time, I went on a quest for the Fountain of Youth in a jar.

My first destination on the quest, took me to my local Target. While I was picking up some necessities for the house, I passed by the skincare aisle. Thinking that I would impress my husband with my frugality, I decided to try one of the L'oreal eye cremes. It set me back about $15 and I marched happily out of the Target with my new bounty.

That night, I washed my face as usual and applied my moisturizer and new eye creme. I should mention that the jar promised me (almost) instant results...what I got was...meh.

It was okay. I shouldn't have expected much because the creme didn't feel as thick as my beloved Estee eye creme. It actually felt very thin, almost watery. I didn't feel that the skin underneath my eyes felt hydrated enough either. It also promised to make the skin appear luminous, yeah right. To me, it seemed to pronounce my dark circles and lines.

The next day, when I applied it again (to give it a second chance), it seemed to sink in so quickly that it didn't provide enough slip for my concealor. A big uh-uh in my book. To me, an eye creme should hydrate without being greasy, and provide enough of a "slip", so that your concealor goes on smoothly.

Needless to say...I was not satisfied.

I decided to continue on my quest and take a trip to the nearest Nordstrom.

After looking around the cosmetics department for a while, I headed over to the Lancome counter. I had tried Lancome in the past...but switched to Estee for reasons that escape me now. Anyway, there at the counter, I explained what I was looking for...a creme that helped with undereye circles, provided hydration, and helped with the fine lines I was starting to see. And, it had to be under $50.

She handed me the jar of eye creme that you see above.

It's called Primordiale Eye Skin Recharge, Visibly Smooth Renewing Treatment. It retails for $48, but boy does it deliver. When I first put it on, I noticed how it hydrated the skin under my eyes. The hydration continues throughout the day, believe it or not. While it didn't wipe out the darkness under the eyes, it definitely made them appear lighter (due to the tiny little light deflectors in the creme). I was able to apply my concealor without tugging at my skin as well!

Now...I know that this eye creme really isn't the fountain of youth. And you really can't expect miraculous results from just a $50 eye creme...that would take thousands of dollars and a trip to a plastic surgeon.

But...for me...it does just fine.

Jennifer

photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

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happy valentine's day!

Whoops! We almost forgot to wish all of our readers a Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's to hoping you get lots of chocolate and flowers...oh....and those cute little stuffed bears that say "I wuv you" or something like that!

Then again...that stuff is a little cliche...so...here's hoping you get perfume, jewlery, some designer clothes, and a new handbag! Cheers!

If you're single...go out and buy something for yourself...you deserve it!

With Love (Always),
Jennifer and Christine

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nail envy

My nails tend to be on the short side.

Believe me...it's not from lack of trying. I try to grow them longer...I really do. The problem is, once they start to get longer, they tend to peel and break.

It's not like I want my nails to grow to epic proportions either. Just long enough so that they all look more uniform and can be filed to that cute rounded, square-ish shape.

I think that I have finally found my savior...O.P.I's Original Nail Envy.

I applied this magic potion to my nails last week, after cleaning out my closet and realizing that I bought it...but never tried it. I filed my nails as best I could, trying to get something that resembled a shape, and applied two coats to each nail. Over the course of the next week...I applied another two coats.

After a week....all I have to say is....WOW!

I cannot believe how much my nails have grown. They feel stronger too. They have reached a point, dear reader, where I will have to go to a manicurist this weekend to have her file them down a little and give them that cute, rounded, square-ish shape. Really.

Jennifer

photo courtesy of opi.com

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kerastase masquintense

All right, I guess it's time I put something up here so here goes...

My name is Christine and just like my friend Jennifer, I am a stay-at-home mom, in my thirties, who enjoys shopping way more than I should... especially for beauty products.

And since my husband would like us to be able to retire someday and actually have money in the bank, I can't always get the top-of-the-line product on the market. That's generally not a problem for me, because (I have come to find out) these top dollar items aren't always the best.

That's usually the case...

But today is not one of those days...enter Kerastase Masquintense for Fine Hair. It claims to "restore vitality, shine, and lightness to fine hair that is also very dry and sensitized".

Let me just start of by saying that I have naturally blonde, fine hair, with some highlights. And the very idea of putting anything more than a drop of conditioner on my hair makes me cringe, knowing it is going to result in a horrendous hair day.

So, when a friend suggested I try her Masquintense, I said sure - I'll try just about any beauty product at least once - but I tried it on a Sunday, knowing I wasn't leaving the house in case the horrendous happened.

In the shower, it felt like I had dumped a whole bottle of conditioner on my hair. So, once I was out of the shower and ready to reach for the hair dryer, I skipped my normal drop of biosilk and continued to blow-dry as usual. When I was done, I couldn't believe the result. My hair was soft (but not the gross over-conditioned kind of soft) and still had plenty of volume that lasted all day.

I am very impressed with this little product, although I don't think I would use it everyday - maybe a couple of times a week, but definitely once a week. I have used it a couple of times now - once with a Keratase shampoo and once with my regular shampoo (Matrix Amplify). And it seems to work equally well with either shampoo.

The only downfall...this wonderful little gem is $53. But, for how little you would use, I could see it lasting a long, long time.

You can purchase this at www.kerastase.com and receive two free samples with any order...and who doesn't love free samples? I'm using a couple now, but more on that later...

Christine

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bobbi brown mascara

I have to admit. I was a mascara virgin.

Even as a beauty junkie...I did not own one mascara. It seems as though I had gone for years, without the one essential many women could not go without.

I guess it's in the genes. I was lucky to be born with long lashes. So, because of this, I never really considered wearing mascara unless I was getting dressed up for an event.

Because I have made a New Years resolution to try new things, I walked up to my favorite Bobbi Brown counter and asked them to hook me up.

After explaining how I was a mascara virgin, she eased me into it with the mascara you see here. It's her Everything Mascara ($22). It's not waterproof, but it's guarenteed to not smudge.

I thought that it would feel heavy, or go on clumpy. But it doesn't. I only needed one coat, just enough to make me look polished. Gorgeous. Defined lashes without the Tammy Faye Baker (may she rest in peace) look.

It should be noted that it didn't smudge during the day, but I did notice some faded black under my lower lashes at night (even though I did not put mascara there). The mascara also came off easily with her eye makeup remover.

If you're interested in checking out this mascara, try Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, or Bloomingdales. Or try www.neimanmarcus.com or www.bobbibrown.com to purchase.

Jennifer
photo courtesy of neimanmarcus.com

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beauty buys under $10 - spornette brushes

You are looking at one of my favorite beauty buys, for under $10.

These are by Spornette and they are from their Porcupine Collection.

I have had the awesome little gem on the right, for...oh....roughly eight years. Seriously. Eight years!!

It is the brush that I cannot live without.

The great part about it is the fact that it grabs the hair, without yanking it. It helps me get my fine, thick hair, perfectly straight.

It's two inches in diameter, and that's the perfect size for my chin length hair. If your hair is on the longer side, you might want to go for the G-36 XL. That's three inches in diameter.

Both are excellent, and both are under $10. The G-36 (my choice) is $5.95 and the G-36XL is $7.50. Try my favorite site, www.folica.com, to purchase.

Jennifer

photo courtesy of folica.com

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welcome

Welcome to the new (and improved) blog...Beauty in Real Life.

If you have frequented this blog before...you might know it by its former name, The Daily Adventures of Mommy J.

Not only has there been a name change here...we are also adding a lot of new things.

First off...I would like to introduce a new member to the Beauty in Real Life team. Her name is Christine, and she is joining the blog as a co-writer. She is a good friend who, like me, is a mom in her thirties (actually...she just turned 30). She also has a love for makeup (like me as well) and all things beauty related. You will love hearing her insights on makeup and beauty brands in her postings. Trust me...you'll love her like I do!

Second...this blog is still going to be about beauty products and our obsession with them, but we are also going to try and give a broader range of products. We aren't just going to showcase the luxury brands, we will try and give you products from the lower end of the scale as well. Remember, low price doesn't always mean low quality.

Third...we will be adding some other new things to our blog as well. I don't want to spoil the surprise now. You'll have to keep tuning in to see what they are...

Fourth...as I said last week...the real Mommy J will be revealed. Well, here is the reveal you've been looking for. Hold on to your keyboards...the big reveal is.....you can now call me Jennifer. That's my real name. No more Mommy J. That's it. That's the big reveal. You can now sleep better tonight.

Oh well...that's about it. I hope you come back tomorrow for Christine's first posting on Beauty in Real Life. Also, if you like what you see...please drop us a comment and spread the word!

Jennifer

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busy, busy, busy

Exciting things are happening here at (the former) Daily Adventures of.....

First off...new blog title.

Second...new concepts and postings.

Third...I will be introducing a new addition to the Mommy J team.

Fourth...the real Mommy J will finally be revealed.

Tune in Monday for all of the juicy details!

Mommy J

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