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!