Tag: Beauty

6 #beauty sites to follow

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Which beauty sites do you follow on a regular basis?   Here are 6 of mine:

1. Sparkled Beauty, http://sparkledbeauty.blogspot.com/

Sparkled Beauty, thumbnail generated 2013-05-23
Sparkled Beauty, thumbnail generated 2013-05-23

“Halifax” is a beauty blogger based in Canada – Nova Scotia, of course!   Highlights of her blog include NOTD, weekly flyer deals, and her effort to create a comprehensive list of Canadian beauty brands (I volunteered a few names).  She adds a light-hearted personal touch with news about Halifax city and her 10-year-old daughter “Squirt.”

2. British Beauty Blogger, http://www.britishbeautyblogger.com/

British Beauty Blogger, thumbnail generated 2013-05-23
British Beauty Blogger, thumbnail generated 2013-05-23

British Beauty Blogger posts several times a day; I subscribe to the daily digest.  She presents sneak peeks of the latest launches.  I follow her for updates on UK beauty brands, including Seventeen, or 17, from Boots and B. from Superdrug.

3. We ♥ Sundays from the Urban Retreat Boutique, http://www.urbanretreat.co.uk/beautique/learn/We_Love_Sundays.aspx

The Urban Retreat Beautique is a UK-based online beauty retailer that specializes in luxury beauty brands. Every Sunday, I look forward to its We ♥ Sundays feature that presents interviews with movers and shakers in the beauty industry.  Fun questions that  We ♥ Sundays asks include:

  • Favorite brunch spot
  • Favorite day of week
  • Most recent purchases on bankcard
  • Favorite Tipple (drink)
  • Saturday Night – Dancing till dawn or takeaway and a movie? and of course,
  • Favorite products from The Urban Retreat Beautique

I enjoy reading the responses, which provide insight about the interviewee.

What are the 3 other beauty sites that I follow on a regular basis? Go past the jump to find out:

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Inside my UPPTÄCKA toiletries bag from IKEA

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I bought cosmetics bags as impulse purchases.   They’re in the closet, in one of those hanging purse organizers.  I don’t use them.   Some people say that cosmetics bags can double as evening bags, but none of mine qualify for evening wear.  When I travel, I just toss my cosmetics into a Lug train case with clear windows and smoosh it into my suitcase.

I found this UPPTÄCKA Toiletries bag at IKEA:

UPPTÄCKA toiletries bag from IKEA
UPPTÄCKA toiletries bag from IKEA

I’m actually using it.  I use the UPPTÄCKA Toiletries bag to hold everyday essentials.   No more searching around for things when I’m rushing to get out the door in the morning!

Inside my IKEA UPPTÄCKA toiletries bag
Inside my IKEA UPPTÄCKA toiletries bag – what do you find inside?

Specs (more info than you’ll find on the IKEA web site):

  • Metal frame keeps bag open.
  • Roomy 9″ long x 6″ wide x 7″ deep.
  • Exterior pocket with a Velcro fastener
  • Interior zipper pocket
  • Interior pocket with a Velcro fastener.
  • 100% nylon exterior
  • 100% polyester lining
  • 5 available colors:  pink (shown), dark blue, dark grey, off-white, yellow-orange
  • Price: $6.50 ($5 for IKEA FAMILY members)
  • The bag is one of the items in the UPPTÄCKA travel collection

The UPPTÄCKA Toiletries bag is not for sale on the IKEA web site, check to see if it is available in your local store.

Spa Sonic® Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher Deluxe Kit

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The Clarisonic is a covetable item, but many might balk at the price (over $100).  Other companies have jumped in to fill the void for less expensive products.

Spa Sonic® Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher Deluxe Kit
Spa Sonic® Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher Deluxe Kit

One of the these companies is EpiCare Ltd.   Its Spa Sonic® Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher Deluxe Kit consists of a unit and 5 heads.  The rundown:

  • 2 face brushes (approximately 1-1/2″ diameter)
  • 1 sponge head (approximately 1-1/2″ diameter)
  • 1 pumice stone head (approximately 1-1/2″ diameter)
  • 1 body brush (approximately 3″ diameter)

I have not tried the sponge head.  The face brush and the body brush have soft bristles and do a fine job of mechanical exfoliation.  I use the body brush on my upper arms, chest, and upper back, but it would also be great with a moisturizing wash to exfoliate the legs before shaving.  The pumice stone is rough: I prefer Microplane or the Revlon® Pedi-EXPERT™ Pedicure Kit, which is among my favorite hand, foot and nail products.  I follow up on the pumice stone with a finishing file and Amlactin lotion on my heels.

While the Clarisonic is rechargeable, the Spa Sonic® uses 4 AA batteries (which come with the kit).  This might be a drawback for those who don’t want battery waste.

The Spa Sonic® Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher Deluxe Kit costs $70 on the Spa Sonic® web site; however I found it through (someday we’ll find it) the Costco Connection magazine for $40 (shop costco.com for the Spa Sonic® Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher Deluxe Kit – good through May 31 or while supplies last).

Disclosure: The Spa Sonic® Skin Care System Face and Body Polisher Deluxe Kit was provided to me as a PR sample.  Opinions are my own.

Christopher Drummond Beauty Nature’s Pink SS13 LE collection

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Here’s a pretty in pink yet subtle SS13 LE collection from Christopher Drummond Beauty:

Christopher Drummond Beauty SS13 LE Nature's Pink collection
Christopher Drummond Beauty SS13 LE Nature’s Pink collection

The rundown:

  • Matte Summer Titanium Oxide-free Blush: peachy tan with a hint of pink
  • Charisma Lipgloss – milky, opaque nude pink
  • Nature’s Pink Eyeshadow Trio – Pink Beige Matte, Pink Champagne Shimmer, and Plum Brown Matte

I corresponded with Christopher when his only products were his Veludo loose powder foundation and Saúde Pele Radiance Booster, a pale yellow-gold loose shimmer powder.  Today, as you can see, he has a complete line of cosmetics.  He also appears on ShopNBC.  Congratulations, Christoper, on your success!

HIPPxRGB | Nude nail color system | RGB Cosmetics

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Last year, I chose a bright shade (REVLON Colorstay Nail Enamel in Marmalade) for my pedicure; this year, I want to go with a neutral shade.

HIPPxRGB
HIPPxRGB

I’m enticed by the HIPPxRGB Nude nail color system from RGB Cosmetics.  Nail Stylist Jenna Hipp and RGB Cosmetics Founder Gina Carney created a system of nudes for different complexions.  There are three sets of four polishes:

  • Nail sheers: pinks
  • Nail foundation: opaque nudes
  • Nail tint: sheer nudes

Each nail polish costs $16.00 and may be purchased through the RGB web site.

Powerpuff Girl-inspired eye makeup by MUA Dayane Zanni

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I was a fan of the Powerpuff Girls when it aired on Comedy Central in the 1990s.  I especially enjoyed talking about the TV episodes with my nephew in India:

Q. How did the Powerpuff Girls defeat the Rowdyruff Boys?

A. They kissed them.

Then, Neil reviewed the episode scene by scene.

My husband was amazed that Neil and I had the same cultural references, even though Neil was in India and I was in the U.S.

The Powerpuff Girls must have been a global phenomenon.  Brazilian makeup artist Dayane Zanni created these eye makeup looks inspired by Lindinha, Docinho and Florzinha. otherwise known as Bubbles, Buttercup, and Blossom.

Bubbles-inspired eye makeup
Bubbles-inspired eye makeup

Bubbles is the sweet, girlish Powerpuff Girl.  Here Dayane uses a blue and yellow eye makeup design inspired by Bubbles.

Buttercup-inspired eye makeup
Buttercup-inspired eye makeup

Buttercup is the most temperamental and “kick ass” of the three.  Here Dayane uses a green, black, and white eye design inspired by Buttercup.

Blossom-inspired eye makeup
Blossom-inspired eye makeup

Blossom balances out Bubbles and Buttercup.  Here Dayane uses an orange and red eye design inspired by Blossom.

Images are reproduced with the permission of Dayane Zanni.  When I asked her if I could do a blog post on her Powerpuff Girl-inspired eye makeup looks, she wrote Olá! Claro que pode Querida, fique a vontade! Beijão, that is, Hello! Of course you can Honey, you’re welcome! Beijão (meaning XO). Thank goodness for Google Translate!

Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm

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Leave it to the master marketers at P&G to take a pink lotion (the original Oil of Olay) and build an brand with several skin care lines around the Olay name.  Then there’s the cross-branding: Cover Girl & Olay and the Gillette Venus & Olay razor.  Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm is a recent addition to the Cover Girl & Olay line promoted by Ellen DeGeneres.

Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm
Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm

I have a confession to make: I have never mastered concealer under the eyes.  Many MUAs think that concealer is a basic and essential part of makeup.  However, when I apply concealer, what looks good at one angle doesn’t look good at another angle.  Then there’s the problem of blending.

So how do I use Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm?  To cover red spots on my face.  After my husband made remarks about my makeup looking like a mask, I went for a nautral look.  First, I used Mally’s Skin Perfecting Tinted Liquid Face Defender to even out my skin tone.  I then applied Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm over the red spots and blended it with the end of a moistened Beautyblender.  Presto!  Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm melds with the skin.

Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm comes in 6 shades:

  • Fair
  • Fair/Light
  • Light
  • Light/Medium
  • Medium
  • Medium/Deep

Cover Girl & Olay Concealer Balm is widely available at supermarkets, drugstores, and big box stores.  Watch out for coupons and in-store sales for discounts.