Gnarly Head - a MUST have

I had to do it guys and gals.... I just absolutely had to write about a wine that has pretty much taken over my wine collection entirely.  I literally crave this wine - the bold flavor, the amazing color and above all ... the catchy name!  You heard it - Gnarly Head, Old Vine Zinfandel!  Want to know the real kicker to this sweet nectar of life?  It's got a 14.5% alcohol content AND its from the great state of CALIFORNIA!!!  That's right people - California makes damn fine wine and this one is proof of that. 

Gnarly Head - Old Vine Zin

My future plans definitely include a trip to the Gnarly Head winery - I plan on trying to get my hands on each and every wine this company makes.  So far I've only had the pleasure of trying the Zinfandel and believe me it's addicting.  The flavor is strong and smooth and hits your palate with a burst of individuality that each amazing grape put into making this sublime vino. 

What is the Shay secret to really getting the most out of this wine you ask?  Well here it is.... It is best paired with a bag of pistachios, a good game of rummy and excellent company.  You really can't go wrong if you follow those few simple recommendations.

Enjoy!

More fabulous finds

I've been neglecting my little blog for about three weeks or so... I feel horrible, but there is a good reason behind my disappearing act.  I went through a recent order spree of all kinds of fabulous goodies and I wanted to give them a good try before I wrote about them.  There are very few products out there than can either be raved about or slammed into the bin on the very first try.  So today I'm going to talk to you about a few products that I have tried and from this day forward will never run out of because they are amazing.  So let me get started...

I'm not a big "buy and try" girl when it comes to skin care.  I have my staples and they work for me.  The second I change, I have problems... With that being said I can't avoid aging and my skin was telling me it was time for something new.  I wasn't having break-outs or redness but rather a "dullness" (is that even a word?).  I just looked tired and well - old!  I was watching some tutorials by the wonderful Pixiwoo sisters and noticed that they kept mentioning EmbryoLisse moisturizer.  They raved about it actually.  Now those ladies have dry skin and I absolutely do not so I wondered if this company made something for oily skin and in fact they do - and it IS amazing. 

EmbryoLisse Emulsion Hydra-Mat for oily skin

Emulsion Hydra-Mat.  They describe this creme as moisturizing with a long lasting matte effect along with the ability to absorb excessive sebum and reduce shininess.  I'm here to say that it does work.  I have an oily T-zone and this creme has made improvements to my skin - I love it.  I highly recommend it - in fact based on my use and the words of the Pixiwoo sisters, I think that you should have a look around the site and find a creme that is geared to your particular skin type and give it a go.  This company truly produces great products. 

MAC Face and Body Foundation

Another great foundation find is MAC Face and Body Foundation.  If you are looking for a foundation that can offer you a full range of coverage - this is for you.  It has the consistency of water so give it a good shake and then apply - start by massaging it in lightly with your fingers and then blend with a sponge, or my current favorite, a beauty blender.  You can build this foundation to a full coverage if you want or just one layer for a light coverage.  Key word to this foundation is "body".  Yes ladies, take it right the way down your neck.  Please, please, please don't ever stop your foundation at your jaw line.  Tip of the day - match your foundation to your upper chest - that is the color you should use. 

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation

Now this one is probably not for you ladies with dry skin, however for those with oily skin this is great!  Apply a light dusting of MAC Studio Fix Foundation for a light coverage or again build for a heavier matte finish.  I love, love, love this foundation.  It's also a great one to use if you are going to be headed out after a long day of work and you don't have time to go home and re-apply your makeup - this baby is great for touch up work.  I do not use the applicator that comes with it - I prefer applying this with a buffing brush and really work it into my skin.  If I want to shimmer up a bit, I apply an illuminator to my upper cheek bones and voila!  Perfection.

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer

Concealers can be tricky.... If you don't need them - please don't use them!  We get pulled into products by marketing and feel like we must have them if we want to be beautiful.  Concealers are for just that - concealing.  If you don't have areas that need to be concealed (acne - hyper-pigmentation, dark circles) pass this product up.  However, if you need a little extra help I highly recommend this one.  I have found that almost every concealer settles right into those fine lines around my eyes (which is where I need to conceal) and really extenuates them.  This is an extremely rich product that gives a matte finish.  I only use it if I need it ladies - if I'm a little dark under the eyes or have a blemish - otherwise no go on the concealer.  I'm pretty sure my jar of MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer is going to last me a lifetime.

OK, enough for today.  Here's a taste of what's coming up.... I received my Nars Illuminator in Orgasm yesterday along with a Makeup Forever waterproof creme eyeshadow and a Laura Mercier Tinted Oil Free Moisturizer- Oh how sweet it is... Can't wait to give these a go and tell you all about them.

Have a great day and stay beautiful ladies!

Eyebrow answer!!!!

If any of you ladies out there are like me you will have to deal with over-plucked brows for the rest of your life.  For some reason in our younger years, we thought that plucking was the answer to the never ending quest for beauty.  What were we thinking?!? I get so jealous when I'm going through my Vogue magazine and see all those gorgeous models with full luscious brows.  They really make or break most eye makeup looks and can change the shape of your entire face.  I've tried everything from powders to pencils to brow mascara - and even thought there are some awesome products out there in the aforementioned, I stumbled upon something amazing the other day that I just had to share with you straight away. 

I was spending a raining Sunday morning going through QVC - there are some really great finds there - try it if you haven't already.... anyhow my eye caught the Make-Up Forever Waterproof Eyebrow Gel.  I've never used a gel on my brows before so being that it was Make-Up Forever and it was waterproof I figured why not!  And bonus - it comes with it's own brush!  So exciting!

Make-Up Forever Waterproof Eyebrow Gel in Med Warm Brown

I love love love trying new products for the first time.  I woke up this morning in a good mood right from the start because I knew I'd get to give this a go.  The way to use this is to pop a small amount of the back of your hand, dip the brush (which is awesome by the way) into the product and apply.  I went in small wispy motions just because I was afraid that drawing it on would look... well... drawn on!  It went on like a dream!  I'm a red head and this color was perfect for me.  It's a warm brown so it matches perfectly.  I've used red colors before and my brows look ridiculous - completely fake.  This on the other hand is unbelievably natural looking.  You can go from natural to dramatic because it is amazingly pigmented and build-able. 

I'm starting my holy grail list of products and this one is definitely going on the top.  You won't be sorry!  Another bonus - it's only $29.00!!!!!  Great price for a Make-Up Forever right! 

Enjoy beautiful!

Tom Ford

Make no mistake about it.... Tom Ford is a God.  Not only does he understand how to make a woman look her most feminine with his impeccable clothing line, but he also has used his talent in creating beauty products that are hands down nothing less than amazing.  Oh and bonus - he himself is one beautiful man!  Now, his products are to say the least really really expensive so my collection is small, but I splurge as often as possible and hope to one day have a wide selection of my very own.  As for now, I own three products - 2 lipsticks and one creme eye shadow - but those products are absolutely enough to merit their very own blog post - they are THAT good.

Let's start with his lipstick.  I was given my very first Tom Ford lipstick as a gift - the shade was Black Orchid.  A deep eggplant color that looks like it would be the wrong color on most everyone. But this little treasure is perfect for all the right reasons.  First of which is pigmentation.  At $48.00 each, you would want this product to last for a very long time and being that one swipe across your lips is more than enough, rest assured it is going to last you.  Texture - like butter, literally.  So creamy smooth you will wonder if this is really a cosmetic product and not some doctor prescribed lip balm!  I'm serious!  Now, back to color... the name itself pretty much sums it up - it is almost black.  But here is a trick that I learned from makeup artist Lisa Eldrige... apply about a nickle size amount of the product on the back of your hand.  Then using your finger, pick up a bit of the color and push it into your lips for an amazing stain lip effect.  This color is gorgeous when worn in this manner - then if you want to step it up a bit at night, just apply straight from the tube - but start light and layer until you reach your desired look.  So so so pretty.

Black Orchid

As I am a redhead, it's pretty hard to find a red that looks right on my lips.  I've never let my hair color stop me from wearing any color I want, but let's be honest here..... you have to be careful with red lips - they are such a statement and you really can't afford to have much room for error.  So after many trials, I have found like orange reds work best for me.  Scarlet Rouge is the perfect red in my opinion.  Again, layer this color for your desired look and rest assured you will have the perfect red lip.  As for fading?  Not gonna happen with this lipstick so don't you worry.  I tend to touch up my lips no matter what, it's a habit.  But with Tom Ford there really is no need... it's just amazing.

Scarlet Rouge

Now for the cream eye shadow.  My grandmother used to make a whipped cream coffee frosting.  I can remember sitting at her house watching her make this recipe and just waiting for her to frost the spice cake so that I could lick the bowl.  The frosting was so smooth and airy... It glided onto the cake and looked so rich and inviting.  Well ladies, that is exactly how this product looks and feels.  It is hands down the best cream eye shadow on the market in my opinion.

Tom Ford Cream Color for eyes.... heaven.  I purchased this little number in Spice - a rich bronze gold color with a strong brown undertone.  Today I'm wearing it on the outer corner of my eye over my Mac paint pot in painterly.  To add just a bit more warmth I softly ran a little bit of Mac Texture in my socket line and a faint swipe of Cranberry underneath my eye.  The cream shadow just added the perfect amount of depth to the light warm colors and blended like a dream.  Again, the best thing about this is it's ability to build on it's color.  For the day, just a small amount is all that I needed, however it can be worn very intensely for a night on the town.

Cream Color for Eyes, Spice

We all need to spoil ourselves on occasion... so I recommend you try one of Tom Fords products next time you decide to treat yourself.  You will NOT be sorry.  Go on beautiful - you deserve it!

Lovely things

For those of you out there that are like me you will understand what I mean when I say that a girl can never have enough makeup.  I mean to the average person one taupe eye shadow is the same as the next but to us makeup obsessed women, it is absolutely a completely different color and to that end, we should probably have it in our personal collection.  My makeup addiction has been around for as long as I can remember and that is a fair amount of years... however I didn't always have the means to indulge in expensive trips to the beauty counter until a short time ago.  The other day I was trying to organize my lipsticks and realized that the drawer I was keeping my makeup in was just too small and it was time to breakdown and organize. 

Now here is the deal - makeup enhances our beauty but the makeup itself is just as beautiful.  Companies spend a fortune on packaging and more often than not, the package is just as gorgeous as the product on the inside.  So I decided I would not only organize my collection, I would display it.  I didn't want to hide it in drawers or train cases - I wanted to show it off.  Now granted, it may seem like a small collection right now, but trust me it's growing daily. 

Full Display Case

My photography leavse a lot to be desired, but hey, you get the idea right?  This is a shot of the front of the case.  It has five glass shelves that are behind a glass door.  I use the bottom shelf for odds and ends of my hair products and facial cleanser stash - I always have about two or three back ups just in case. 

Two top shelves

The top shelf houses my skin care products which range from under eye creams, morning moisturizers, night moisturizers and primers. This is one important shelf.  It's the beginning and ending of each day so it absolutely deserves top shelf honors. 

Shelf two holds my foundations, concealers, powders, blushers, bronzers and gel eyeliners.  Why the eyeliners?  Simple - I have several creme shadows that are packaged just like the liners - I'm a little particular about how things are arranged - mainly for ease of access.  So I separated the two completely - just works for me.  Love this shelf - it's what makes up the canvas for all of the rest....



Bottom two shelves

 Shelf three - the most expensive shelf... All of my eye shadows, mascaras, and liners.  Here is where the look of my face steps into color and definition.  I'm pretty happy with my eyes - guess you could say I got lucky.  They are a real strong green and are round shaped.  Which means I can do a lot with them.  So I go heavy on shadow, mascara and liner purchasing.  I always go back to neutral tones, but I'm branching out into color as well.  My green eyes go best with purples and greens so I have a few in there somewhere.  I wanted to display my mascaras one by one, but I found that every time I grabbed one that was in the back, they all fell down - drove me nuts so I found these little glasses in my kitchen and put them in there - still pretty cute.  Did the same for my pencil liners as well.

Shelf four - the shelf that adds color to my bathroom.  The lip stick shelf.  You can see the color range I like to stay in - warm peaches, pinks and nudes.  I have some great reds in there too - a couple from Tom Ford and one from MAC.  But I'm mainly a gloss girl so that is what my collection pretty much consists of - again, branching out in this department as well. 

So there it is - my display case for all of my makeup.  I got something big so that I could add to it - a girls gotta plan for the future right?  I hope this gives you an idea for a different way of organizing your makeup drawer and using those great little treasures to not only enhance your beauty but to add to beautify your home decor.

Have a great day beautiful!

Sleek Palettes

Sleek Eye Shadow Palette

I finally got my Sleek Eye Shadow palettes in the mail and yup, you guessed it... I'm one happy girl.  First let me just start off with the packaging.  These little wonders come in the sleekest (hence the name I suppose), sexy packaging I've ever seen.  Black and thin as an iPhone, and with a nice big mirror on the inside.  Just absolutely impressive - look for yourself!  Bare with me now beauties... I'm just breaking into the picture part of blogging - for now photos with my trusty iPhone will have to do until I break down and purchase a video camera so I can start with some tutorials... but even still, you can see how great the packaging is.


So... let's just dive right in.  I'll begin with the Primer Palette 600.  I am a faithful primer girl and I am loving the selection of colors in this palette.  Just look at those swatches!  Heaven!  So rich and creamy with a great pigment that allows you to use them under shadows or all by themselves.  Today, I wore the copper bronze color (bottom row, third from the right) all over my lid and then added a dark copper brown cream shadow (by the God himself, Mr. Tom Ford - but that is an entirely separate blog, of course).  My shadow has not creased or faded at all.  This primer palette is simply a miracle.  

Primer Palette 600 by Sleek Makeup

Ok, moving on... Because I had heard really good things about this brand from the fabulous Pixiwoo sisters, my first order consisted of the primer palette and two more shadow palettes - I guess I just knew I was going to be satisfied so why order small.  Now I wish I had gone ahead and ordered the other 4 or 5 palettes that were available!  Ugh!  In any case... let's get back on track.  The Original Palette 594 is an awesome sight - the top row contains 6 cool smokey dark colors in and the bottom contains 6 warm cozy colors.  I loved this palette from the start because of the versatility of it.  Perfect to take on vacations because you're not limited to one look because of space limitations - these colors are perfect - from soft and natural to ramped up a bit for a night on the town.  Love it!

The Original Palette 594 by Sleek Makeup

Now for the last palette of my little Sleek collection... The Bad Girl 596 Palette.  Just look at those colors!  I could create never ending smokey eyes with those as well as simple out on the town or professional looks!  I'm a green eyed girl and those wine/plum colors on the end are screaming my name!  So gorgeous!  

The Bad Girl 596 Palette by Sleek Makeup

There they are ladies... unbelievable, fantastic and fabulous.  So let me wrap this up with the two most important facts about these shadows.  


Pigmentation - hands down - AMAZING!  The color payoff is super fabulous.  Each swatch you see above was made with only ONE swipe across the shadow - one swipe!  You just can't understand how truly amazing these shadows are until you try them for yourself.  Which leads me to fact number two...


Value - These palettes (drum roll please) are only $10.00 each.  $10.00!!!!  For the color payoff and the selection of colors you would be insane not to buy at least one palette right?!?  Just simply fabulous.


So, have a look at www.sleekmakeup.com and roam around the site.  They kept their site simple and easy without a lot of fluff like most places tend to do - but they really don't need to catch your attention with flashing lights or music - the products speak for themselves.  


Enjoy your day or night beautiful!

Avon - the good and the BAD

I was hoping I would never have to do a post like this... but I would be crazy to think that every product I try is truly amazing.  I guess that is the price I have to pay for loving makeup - if everything was great - I wouldn't have room in my powder room or money in my bank account right? 

Yesterday I received my recent order from Avon.  I have a thing with Avon.... I can remember my mother having this lady at our house one evening with her pink suitcase and bad polyester suit.  My mother brought out a TV tray and this woman proceeded to layout everything that was in her bag on the tray and then asked my mom for a little bowl of water.  There were about 10 little round pink compacts with various colors of cream products in them... green for red, yellow for pink, etc.  My mom sat beside the tray and this woman applied the products with a little pink spatula - but everything had to be mixed with water otherwise it wouldn't even spread onto her skin.  So that is my memory of Avon along with add slogan, "Avon calling" - you can imagine why I've stayed away all these years.

I am a dedicated follower of the fabulous Pixiwoo sisters and they use lots of Avon products in their Tutorials so it seemed that it was time for me to set aside my outdated image of the company and give it another go.  Out of the three products I ordered, there were two hits and one HUGE miss.  I've always said if you're going to give both negative and positive feedback - end with the positive - so I'll start with the big miss....

Ideal Flawless Invisible Coverage Liquid Foundation

The Ideal Flawless Invisible Coverage Liquid Foundation did not work for me - AT ALL.  Now, I have normal to oily skin, classic T-zone, so I gravitate toward foundations for all skin types, but oil-free.  This one claimed to be just that.  Application was easy and nice and actually felt lightweight in the beginning.  About two hours later that all changed.  It is now sitting on the surface of my skin and is sliding off of my T-Zone.  Horrible.  It is cakey around my nose and rough on my cheeks.  Completely unsatisfied.  I can't see that this product would work for any skin type at all!  It is definitely wrong for oily because my T-Zone is screaming for help right about now.  Needless to say, I'm staying far away from Avon foundations - it is that bad.

Now... for the MagiX Face Perfector SPF 20.  I'm liking this product so far.  Very important for you beautiful ladies out there to use SPF on your faces.... make sure it's in at least one of your face products.  Hint:  If you use and SPF 20 moisturizer and an SPF 15 foundation you are not going to get a total of SPF 35 - the higher SPF is the coverage you are going to get - not a combination of the two...OK, so this claims to be a gel to powder product and it is.  Love the way it feels and spreads and I felt like I was getting a nice base for my foundation.  Being that I'm wearing it under that horrible foundation, I'm on the fence as to whether or not it is adding to the foundation disaster - but I'm pretty sure it's not.  Stay tuned because I'll try it under a "good" foundation tomorrow and let you know...

MagiX Face Perfector SPF 20

Mascara..... SuperSHOCK Mascara is a definite hit.  I love the brush on this product - big and fat! That is exactly how my lashes were after applying it as well - BIG AND FAT!  Nice!  I'm a lash girl as I've mentioned before so this product is going into my amazing mascara file and staying there.  It definitely compares to the Armani Eyes To Kill, but still is one step away from achieving equal status because it doesn't dry nearly as quickly.  However there is one thing this has that Eyes To Kill will never have and that is affordability!  This little wonder was only $4.99!!!!! Now that is the sale price but regularly it is still only $9.00 - NOT BAD AT ALL!  Do yourself a favor and get your hands on this - it really is a great product at a great price.

SuperSHOCK Mascara

OK, so there it is ... my review of a few Avon products.  I would imagine that just because I had a bad experience with the foundation doesn't necessarily mean you will too, but I put it out there just for information purposes.  Again two out of three is a good average so as a whole, I think Avon is on the right track.  They also sent me a free lip gloss that I wanted to use this morning, but forgot!  I'll try it out later and tell you what I think. 

Enjoy your makeup beautiful!  C'est la vie!!!!

Hidden eyeshadow treasure....

Who would have thought.... I mean, I've seen several blogger's talk about it.. rave about it actually... I have to admit I was skeptical but at the same time a bit curious so what better way to find out the truth then to try it yourself.  Turns out, the product falls nothing short of amazing and it's cheap - I mean really cheap!

Wet 'n' Wild.... Now for those of you that are my age (that would be you 40+ gals) I'm sure you can probably remember the big Wet 'n' Wild stands that were all over the drugstore when you were about 16 years old.  Yes, you younger beauties - the brand IS that old.  It was all the rage way back when and the company must be doing something right because it's still going strong.  Now, I'm not going to go out and buy tons and tons of it.... I mean, from what I remember their lipsticks and mascaras were pretty awful - but their eye shadows were pretty damn good.  I recently watched a tutorial where the main product was a pallet of Wet n Wild shadows - neutral colors, right up my alley.  So, after a bit of searching, I finally located it on Amazon and placed my order.  I think it was like $4.99 for a six color palette!

Wet 'n' Wild ColorIcon Shadow Palette in Vanity 249

Just look at those colors!  So rich and creamy - they truly are!  I could barely wait to tear open the package and swatch them - I was in love right from the start.  These eye shadows are extremely pigmented and feel like creamy butter when you apply them.  They blend so beautifully, creating a seamless, gradual color scheme across the eye.  Another great thing about this palette is the option for similar colors in either matte or shimmer.  Genius!  I mean, I love me some shimmer, but let's face it - it's not always perfect for every look.  Today I'm wearing all three matte colors - the lightest color across the entire lid - the medium color in my socket area and the darkest color on just the outer corner.  I also took the light color and dabbed a bit on the inside corner of my eye and yes.... it "popped".  I am going to go ahead and order myself a couple more of these palettes (yes, in this color) because I am in love with it that much.  It would be just my luck to have this palette be discontinued which would absolutely devastate me!

OK, so it's true - not all great makeup comes with a hefty price tag.  Just try it for yourself and see. 

Have a great day beautiful!

Eyes Too Kill Mascara - Armani

Well I did say in one of my last blogs that I was anticipating the arrival of my Eyes To Kill Mascara by Armani and that when I received it I would offer my opinion after trying it out.  I got it in the mail yesterday and used it for the first time this morning and I have one word for this mascara.... LOVE. 

First off, the packaging.  The tube itself is chic and sexy and just makes you feel like it's going to give you that Megan Fox sex appeal - after all she is the face of Armani Cosmetics.  One thing that really set the packaging apart from all the rest is that it is unusually heavy - it feels like it is made out of steel and is protecting the precious product on the inside.  Not some flimsy plastic pink and green tube.... no, not this.  This is professional through and through. 

Now for the results.  With just one coat my lashes were thickened and lengthened beyond my highest expectations.  I normally have to put at least three coats on to get the results that I got with only one from this mascara.  Now, I love lashes - I mean I really love lashes so I added another coat for good measure - and good measure indeed!  Here is one thing that stood out above the amazing blackness of the product and the volume and lengthening effects... it dries INSTANTLY.  If you are a mascara coater as I like to call it - you will understand how awesome it is to have a mascara dry quickly!  If you adorn two or more coats of mascara, you have to make sure (at least I find that I do) that your mascara is not "wet" or "tacky" between coats which can result in unsightly clumping.  With this product - worry no more.  Apply to one eye - move to the other and then go back to your first eye and apply your second coat - no need to waste precious time for drying because it's already dry!  Oh the little pleasures in life!

So I have found a new love in mascara - who would doubt the great name of Giorgio Armani anyway right?  The only draw back is the price - it comes with a hefty price tag of $30.00 - but in this case you really do get what you pay for - it's worth every penny and skipping a meal or two as well just to afford it!  HAHAHA! 

Try it out and let me know what you think about it OK?  C'est la vie beautiful!

Mascara

Hello beautiful!

I guess that saying I have found a product that I love and that I'll never change is a pretty ridiculous thing to say.  I mean with all of the products out there and the never ending battle for greatness between cosmetics companies.... who am I kidding when I say that I have found the end all be all product.  Which just made me think of something... going off track a second here but I think I need to start a review on shadow primers - Urban Decay Primer Potion has the market in the palm of their hand on this one.  Now its an awesome product, but I bet there is one better out there somewhere ... going to have to get on that soon.... ok, back to the business at hand....

Now, with that being said, I am going to talk to you today about mascara.  I have seen so many YouTube videos of makeup artists that seem to use a different mascara for each video.  The real deal is that an everyday woman who has to buy her own products doesn't normally have 50 different mascaras in her makeup drawer.  We don't have kits - most of us just have a drawer or two.  So, today I'm going to talk about one mascara in particular that I am in love with and bonus! its a Drugstore product so the cost is minimal and I've put it up against some of the big guys and it has come out on top each time.  I'll tell you my findings of the mascaras I have tried just so you can decide for yourself and then either spend the money or save some money... all up to you... so - my holy grail mascara "right now" is L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black.

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

This mascara adds length and volume that is clearly visable after only one application.  I have eyelashes that are long but very straight so I use an eyelash curler and my curl lasts all day.  Now again, most of the videos I've seen show these beautiful girls with mile long, lush curly eyelashes that are pretty much perfect on their own.  I am not in the same boat with these lucky gals.  I have ok lashes, but they need all the help they can get and this mascara has served me well time and time again.  I should also add that I have very sensitive eyes.  They are light green and I've heard that light eyes tend to be more sensitive and this is true in my case.  Another bonus to this product - it doesn't irritate my eyes at all.  I find that it doesn't smudge and lasts all day.  Now it's not waterproof so if you are going to be tearing up - I don't recommend this for you.  But it does come in waterproof formula if you need it. 

Ok, so the mascaras I have tried and a little something about each one:

Eyeko Curvy Brush Mascara - $18.00 from eyeko.com

I heard about this via the Zoe Report.  They raved about it so I thought I'd give it a try.  Ok - love love love the packaging.  I mean to have a mascara that comes in a squeezable tube is pretty cool.  Waste not want not right?  Also, the brush does lend in getting a hold of each lash and the product lengthenes pretty well - but it gets a zero in the adding volume category.  I need both out of a mascara and this one just falls short in volume.  So, I do use it when I am wearing false eyelashes to seal my real lashes to the fake ones.  Other than that the product just sits in my drawer. 

MAC Opulash Optimum Black - $15.00 from MACcosmetics.com

Best thing about this product?  The price - especially because MAC isn't cheap - but this mascara is.  But honestly, that's the only good thing I can say about it.  It didn't do anything that it claimed to do - no volume and no length.  Oh wait, the black color was great - but that is just not enough for this girl.  Now, I love MAC - I really do and I'm slowly building up my product list from them, but they tend to fall short in the mascara department.  I've tried other mascaras from them (most were sample stuff that I got) and none of them were ever any good.  I just won't recommend their mascaras - but everything else is pretty damn good. Sorry MAC - I do LOVE everything else though!

Diorshow - Black Out - $25.00 from Nordstroms.com

Great volume!!!!  Superb volume!!!!  ZERO LENGTH!  Ugh.... I had high high hopes for this mascara and because it was Dior and I spent a small fortune on it I tried over and over again to make it work!  I just didn't want to throw it away - after all let's admit it - it is Dior and Dior deserves respect.  But for me - it just didn't work.  I think I still have the tube somewhere actually... couldn't throw it away. 

Ok, so there are just a few that I have tried.  I recently heard about the Eyes Too Kill Mascara by Giorgio Armani - all really good reviews so I ordered it.  $40.00!!!!  It better be good right!?!  I should have it any day now so I'll give it my standard two week trial and then get back to you with what I find out.  I've also heard really good things about Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara.  Now, I'm on the fence about buying a completely different product for my bottom lashes, but I'm starting to see the sense behind it.  I'm not a big fan of putting mascara on my bottom lashes - ever, but sometimes depending on your look you really need it.  So, I'll probably give that a whirl as well. 

Ok, all for now.  Stay beautiful - beautiful!

Primers

A very dear friend of mine, Ms. Gigi asked me to blog about primers.  I am an avid primer user - I guess that is because I do believe they aid in smoothing out my skin and hiding those lines that I can no longer act like I don't have.  Do I really see a difference?  Yes, yes, and yes.  What primer does for me is exactly what it claims to do - it gives me a very smooth surface which aids in foundation application AND it makes my makeup last longer hence fewer touchups throughout the day.  So my recommendation is yes, definitely use a primer even if you aren't battling against fine lines and wrinkles.  I know that for some of you, using yet another product may seem painstaking, but it takes all of about two seconds to apply and a little really does go a very long way so the cost of another product is pretty minimal when weighed against the benefits... with that being said, I am a makeup obsessed woman so I generally never take cost into consideration.  I figure beauty is priceless, right?  Hahahaha!  


I have three primers in my makeup collection.  After having tried hundreds, these three for me stand above the rest.  I change them based on two different reasons..... Weather and the finish I want from my foundation.  So, lets begin...


When I am looking for a flawless, matte finish I reach for my L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base.  This product has the texture of whipped butter and the  feel of it when you put it on is like.... well, liquid porcelain.  It's amazing really.  I use it under my BB Cream during the winter months when I tend to be less oily.  Because it lays down such a thick barrier, I won't use this in the summer.  I tend to get pretty oily and I'm afraid it would just not work as well with oily skin.  But in the winter it's magical.  

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic Perfecting Base

Now, the downside is that for a Drugstore product, its relatively expensive for the amount of product in the jar.  But, it takes VERY LITTLE for one application - so for me, it lasts through the winter with no problem.

My next go to primer is MAC Prep & Prime Skin Base Visage.  This product is great for the warmer months - but not those really hot, humid days.. pretty much Spring and Fall.  It's a cream that is the middle of the road between thick and thin.  I use two pumps - one on each cheek and that is enough product to spread over my entire face.  I use a small foundation brush when applying this product because I find that it works it into my skin much better which with this particular primer is key.  Unlike the one above, it's main function in my opinion is to make your foundation adhere better.  It also helps hide some of the fine lines - but no where near as good as the L'Oreal Base.  But again, my skin isn't as dry in the Spring and Fall so my lines aren't as visible as they are in the winter.  

MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage

I really can't find a negative to give you with this product.  In fact if you were looking to buy just one primer, I would say it would have to be this one.  I really think it could work all year round.  

My last recommendation is the primer I use in the summer time.  I get oily and I like to feel like my skin can breathe so I use Auto Pilot Pre-foundation Primer by Napoleon Perdis.  This product is a very thin, water like cream that flows over the skin like satin.  It primes the skin just enough to make your foundation glide over it as if it were gliding on ice.  But it also allows your skin to breathe and to be fresh and simple in the summer months.  Now, I live in Northern Italy where it gets really hot and humid in the summer so I have tested this product out and it has past with flying colors.  So if you live in the same type of climate, feel secure that this primer will do the trick.

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-foundation Primer

This stuff is great ladies.  If you want to test the waters when it comes to primers, start with this one.  It's reasonably priced so it's a good starter primer.  The only draw back to this one is that it really does nothing for my fine lines, but I don't worry about those in the hot and humid months anyhow.

So, there you have it.... my top three recommendations for primers.  For me, primers are a necessity and I never leave home without them.  

Enjoy beautiful!!

Must have brush set

So I have watched millions of tuturiol videos, researched hundreds of websites and spent lots of money on various make-up brushes that I was told "I just had to have". Turns out, I could have bought those pair of Brian Atwood shoes that I've been eyeing with all of the money I threw away on all of those worthless brushes.  Now, don't get me wrong - brushes are a necessity for any girl that is serious about makeup, but the misconception is that you need to have about 100 of these little buggers in your collection in order to work magic with all of the makeup you own.  Here's the deal ladies - one good set, with a little variety will work.  So STOP buying onesies and twosies... and do yourself a favor, buy this little number:

Sigma Beauty Essential Kit
Amazon.com - $89.00

The Sigma Beauty Essential Kit has everything you need and probably a few that you don't!  But for $89.00 it's a deal!  These brushes are well made, durable, the absolute perfect size and will have you looking camera ready everytime you use them.  Instead of talking about each one, I'll just tell you that when you get your brushes, Sigma has done you a favor by enclosing a little cheat sheet that explains the recommended use for each different brush.  But just use that as a guideline ladies.... For instance, currently I am not using a concealer because my skin is in great shape and I really have nothing to conceal that my BB Cream isn't already concealing! So I use the concealer brush to apply my contour color in the crease of my eye and VOILA!  It works wonders!  Each brush picks up the amount of product that you tell it to - remember, you are in control here.

Yesterday I pulled out all of my brushes and got rid of every single one except for the small travel MAC brush set that I own.  Those brushes are great - but really, if I could afford one of each of the brushes MAC makes, I probably would not have time to write this blog as I would be lounging on a tropical island or shopping in France... just saying.

So, if you're going to do yourself a favor, buy these. They are worth every penny - in fact they are probably worth even more!  Enjoy!!!

A Good Wine

So the title of my blog is C'est la vie right?  That translates to "such is life" which sums up how I feel about most things.  I have been a true fan of the saying for as long as I can remember... I love it so much that it's tattooed on the back of my neck!  Out of the 4 tattoos I currently have, that is my favorite.  Tattoos... yea, that is another blog at a later time for sure...

I have been living in Italy for going on 16 years now.  If you have ever been to this country, you would understand why Italian food is some of the best on the planet... but I'm not going to talk to you about food - instead I am going to talk to you about what accompanies the food... Yup, you guessed it... Wine.  Not all wines of course, but one in particular.  I have many favorites, but last night I opened one of my "go-to" wines and as I was sipping the "sweet nectar of life" as I like to call it, I thought I should share it with you. 

I live in the Veneto Region of Italy.  This region is famous for one of the best wines on the market - Amarone.  If you haven't tried it - you should and I mean now.  It is amazing.  It's a red, strong, dry wine that packs a punch in the alcohol percentage - normally at 14.5% or so.  Now don't get me wrong... I'm not one of those snooty wine connoisseurs... I like what I like and that's about as far as my wine tasting abilities go.  I tend to only drink red wine and I am NOT a fan of sweet wines at all.  I'm going to attempt to get out of the box and try more whites this year...  I've been a staunch red wine drinker for all my wine drinking life, but I think I've been cheating myself out of some great finds in the white wine world... so we shall see.  Anyhow, back to why I'm writing this blog.... my wine of choice from last night...Maculan Palazotto Cabernet Sauvignon from Breganze, Veneto Italy.  One word... Fabulous!  It has a deep red color, pleasing to the eye; it's fragrance explodes into spicy, rich, woody scents and it's taste hits your palate like a slow running waterfall. 



Maculan Palazotto Carbernet Sauvignon
Breganze, Veneto Region, Italy

 All I can say about this is it is yummy.  I don't know what you "should" eat with it or how to better explain the flavors - I'm just giving it to you how I see it - a real everyday person point of view.  It's good - and if you can find it wherever you are, I recommend it highly.  Don't wait for some special occasion to open it - everyday is already an occasion to open a good bottle of wine!  Celebrate life over this wine and toast to being alive.  That is as good a reason as any right! 

C'est la vie!!!!! 

First Choice Foundation - BB Cream

One of the most fashionable women I have ever met, my dear friend Eunice, turned me on to the best foundation I know of and have now become addicted too.  The infamous BB Cream.  I pride myself on being "on top" of the latest trends in makeup, but somehow this one just sort of passed me by.  But being the super friend that Eunice is, she told me about it and I thank her every time I use my beloved BB Cream!

What I can gather from my cheesy internet research is that BB Creams were created in Germany to be used on patients that had undergone facial treatments such as laser surgery in an effort to protect, soothe and regenerate their sensitive skin and at the same time provide good coverage for scars and redness.  Basically it does all of the following:

a.  Covers like a foundation and concealer
b.  Most have a sunblock built in
c.  Acts as a moisturizer as well

All of these benefits wrapped up in one little bottle of perfection. 

Now, the Korean market was the first to pick up on this little miracle... they figured that if it worked so well on post laser patients it was surely going to be amazing on the everyday women too!  They were oh so right and I am oh so thankful to them!!!

I went to my computer and started looking - there are soooooo many different brands to choose from, but from what I am told, it's best to stick with those that are made in Korea.  Evidently those formulated in the good ole USofA are pretty much just tinted moisturizers and don't even come close to the Korean brands.  I ordered 3 different brands right out of the gate - I had read all of the reviews and just couldn't decide between the top three so I thought what the hell - jump in with both feet. 

The first of the three arrived a little over a week ago and my makeup world has been turned upside and I am jumping for joy!!!!  I am going to talk to you about my Missha BB Cream, #23, Natural Beige. 

Missha BB Cream #23, Natural Beige

I got this delivered to me while I was at work and I was so excited!  I opened up the package and pumped a tiny bit onto the back of my hand.  I knew to expect the color to be a bit on the grey side because that is what all the reviews told me - and sure enough the reviews were right.  But the cream melted into my skin like butter and I immediately saw a difference - the tiny little freckles on the back of my hand were gone and there was a noticeable difference in texture - smooth and dare I say... my fine wrinkles seemed to melt away!  Within 15 minutes the color of the product oxidized and my skin looked radiant.  This was all just from a small amount on the back of my hand!  Needless to say, I couldn't wait to use it the next morning.

You are supposed to be able to wash your face and apply only this - they say there is no need for a moisturizer or primer.  However, if you read my blog about about my morning ritual, you know that I'm a creature of habit.  My moisturizer is a staple that I just can't give up.  So, I used my moisturizer but not my primer.  The product went on with ease - just one pump is all that I needed.  But here is another bonus... if you feel you need more coverage, just layer this cream on again.  The trick is to layer with BB cream and the bonus is that it never never never feels like you have just slapped a pancake on your face.  It's a natural coverage and it is amazing.  Now, I found that with my age, came more wrinkles than I'm willing to admit... so the next day, I tried my primer and for me I found the perfect recipe.  I use L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base.  It is like whipped cream for your face - such a nice base... 

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

It's a little on the pricy side compared to the size of the jar, but it's worth every penny - no need to go overboard with the amount you use, a little really does go a long way.  And that is true for both of these products.  Use less than you are used to and build if you need to. 

So, in closing... give this BB Cream a try and if you love it as much as I do, you will be able to quit searching for the perfect foundation that is the perfect color for your skin - which they NEVER are.  Remember to "press" the product into your skin during application. 

I did tell you in the beginning that I ordered three different brands and while writing this blog the second one came in the mail. I did the back of the hand test and so far SO GOOD!  This one may even be better than Missha!!  Stay tuned - and remember.. C'est la vie!!!!!

Morning Ritual

There is nothing like getting yourself off on the right foot in the morning.  Personally, I am a morning person... I like the solitude of the morning.  So it is important to me to get started with a good feeling and I achieve that by following my morning ritual.  For those of you that have read my blog titled "My Miracle Product",  you already know that I have a night time skin care regimen that puts me ahead of the game  by the time I wake up.  Thank goodness for my Maracuja Oil because I wake up feeling soft and supple.  But, just as it is extremely important to take your makeup off at night - it is equally important to wash and prep your skin in the morning.  The canvas needs to be clean and prepared for what you are about to paint on it.  If you don't wear makeup it's still important to give your skin a bath and prep it to battle against anything that may just be floating around the air. Wash at night and wash in the morning... trust me, you'll be glad you did...

So, my first recommendation is of course a cleanser... afterall this is your first step in the morning.  Here is the deal.... I know that a lot of you out there are probably sticklers on picking a cleanser based on the type of skin you have; dry or oily.  I used to be all over oily so I picked those products that swore to rid me of this pesty condition.  What happened?  Well they sucked all of the oil out of my face and put my oil glands into overdrive!  Think about it - we all know that dry skin shows wrinkles more than oily skin.  But sucking the life out of your skin is only going to give you yet another problem to take care of.  Now, some of you out there may really need help with over oily or over dry skin - but I'm willing to bet that you have been brainwashed into thinking that if you show a little shine you have oily skin or if you feel a little tight, you have dry skin - just so you will buy products to cure these problems.  Do yourself a favor and try using products for normal or combination skin - they are just more gentle on your face.  Another important factor to remember is that great skin starts on the inside.  DRINK WATER - it is the best medicine for your skin.

Clarins Gentle Cleansing Foam with Cottonseed.  It is the god of skin cleansers.  At night it removes all of my makeup to include my eye makeup and in the morning it gently cleanses my face to give me a fresh start.

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed

Use only about the size of your thumbnail and massage gently on your skin (don't forget your neck!) and rinse.  It leaves no oily residue nor is it drying - it's just right!  Now, remember, don't rub your face with a towel to dry it - pat - GENTLY.  Time for your moisturizer.  

Clinique Moisture Surge

I know some of you may feel like using different brands for your skin regimen is equivelnt to cheating on your husband but really ladies... it's not a crime.  I've tried the Clarins moisturizers and all of them were just to heavy for me.  I'm sure they moisturized my skin, but I don't like the feeling of putting a cream on my face at all.  Maybe it's all in my head, but I just think that a cream is too heavy to be absorbed - hence it does nothing more than clog my pores.  Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief gel-creme is just what the doctor ordered.  it's so light and feels like a medicated water is being applied without the medicine smell.  It's so soothing and cooling and it puts just the right amount of moisture on my face.  Within seconds it's absorbed and my face is ready to move on with the rest of my ritual.... the makeup - but that is another 5 blogs or so!  A couple of recommendations when using this product:

1.  Don't use your fingers to grab the product from the container. Instead use a q-tip.  I just do what I can to avoid contaminating it.  I use a dollop for each cheek and one for my neck about the size of my ring finger nail bed .  Spread it gently around your entire face.

2.  Swipe it just enough to spread all over and then before it dries, and then start pressing it into your face.  I've been doing this application method for about 6 months now and it has made a big difference.

So, good luck and happy morning ritual to you all!  Enjoy!

Keeping the Red ... RED!

Ok, so today I thought I would write about my red hair.  Seems that no matter where I go, I stand out in a crowd - not because I'm anything special or popular... but just because I have flaming red hair.  Yes, I said flaming.  Am I a natural red head?  No - I pay for for it and because I pay a pretty penny to be this color, I want it to look good between trips to my wonderful Italian hairdresser.  Out of all the colors I could have picked from, I had to pick the one that is the most difficult to maintain.  Reds are famous for fading quickly.  I have tried lots of color shampoos and conditioners - all claiming to keep color locked in and fresh, but unfortunately they all failed me - even the ones that I bought from my hairdresser.  Then I ran across an ad in my Vogue magazine for Aveda shampoo and conditioner, but the ad featured a dark haired model - you know that beautiful rich chocolate brown color... so pretty.  Anyhow I got on line and started my search and found that they made a shampoo and conditioner for us red heads as well.  Madder root - my staple product for red hair..

Aveda Madder Root Shampoo

This shampoo is the absolute holy grail for red heads.  The shampoo itself is a firery red/orange color and smells heavnly.  It doesn't change the color of your red - just revives it.  I've tried other products that claim to keep red hair red, but for some reason all of those products were pink, even fushia in color and guess what??  My hair always looked pink after washing it!  I'm a red head - not a pink head!  The other benefit to this shampoo is that my hair has never built a "resistence" to it.  You know what I mean by this?  Like after a while of using the same product your hair becomes limp and dull.  Well, not with Madder Root - it's that good.

Of course, what is a shampoo without a conditioner.  The Madder Root conditioner packs a powerful punch and is the perfect companion to it's shampoo partner.

Aveda Madder Root Conditioner

However I will caution you on this product.  The color of this differs from the shampoo - it has no orange undertone - instead it is a deep ruby red and I have found that using it alone does play games with your color.  So to fix this, I go 50/50 with another favorite conditioner of mine... Silk by Liqwid. 

Liqwid Silk Conditioner

This little treasure has transformed my hair.... literally.  It is just awesome.  My hair is smooth, soft and healthy.  It does nothing for the color - but it really has made a difference to the all around health of my hair.  I have thin, dry hair - about shoulder length.  It's always been "ok" because I spend time on it - but this product is a miracle and my shower is never without it!


So the Silk and the Madder Root conditioner - 50/50.... mixed together and applied after shampoo.  I let it sit for about 5 minutes or so... rinse and voila!  Perfection for your locks.  


Here's to being a red head and maintaining that fabulous color!