Iman Cream to Powder Foundation
April 12th, 2010
It is often hard to find full coverage foundation or powder in darker shades. But the Iman Cosmetics Cream to Powder Foundation and Second to None Semi-Loose Powder are high in quality AND colors to choose from. The Cream to Powder Foundation gives you full coverage, and is excellent for hiding dark spots. The Powder is both mineral and blended with corn silk and silk powder to combat oil. We loved that at the end of the day our oily T-Zone was still kept in check. However, we were most impressed with how the powder is dispensed. With a twist, you get a fresh amount of powder. And this way it’s easier to control how much you load on your brush. Both of these products can be used alone, but if you want a very ‘made-up’ look, we suggest using the foundation and then doing a light dusting of the Powder.
Tip: If you have very oily skin, look for Kaolin when shopping for face masks. Kaolin is a natural clay from Mount Kaolin in China that has been used for many years to draw out impurities and oil from the skin.
Tags: african-american, cream to powder foundation, Foundation, full coverage, Iman, iman cosmetics, product review
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Yves Rocher Metalglow Cream Eyeshadow
April 7th, 2010
When searching for an eyeshadow that would go perfectly with bronzer, we came across Yves Rocher’s Metalglow Cream Eyeshadow. Unlike most cream shadows, it doesn’t crease or fade. Even better – it blended well with our other eyeshadow. This product also promises to last for 8 hours, and contains skin soothing Soya Bean extract. However, girls with super sensitive skin beware, you might feel a little sting when applying Metalglow Cream Eyeshadow to your eyelids. You can get Yves Rocher’s products at Sears. Or if you don’t feel like the trip to the mall, you can purchase the products directly at http://www.yvesrocherusa.com.
Tags: Cream Eyeshadow, Metalglow, product review, Yves Rocher
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What is your favorite beauty tip to share?
April 6th, 2010
We all have a favorite beauty tip … maybe it is something passed on from your mom or your best friend. Or, maybe you are a professional makeup artist. Please share your BEST beauty tip with all us beauty-addicts.
Here is our favorite tip this week:
So we all know that we’re supposed to get a fresh mascara every 3 months…but for those of us who stubbornly hold on to old tubes we have the secret to making it last. When it starts getting all clumpy and thick, try placing the tube in some warm water to get the product liquefied again. Our favorite mascara of the moment is Maybelline’s Lash Stilleto. You get beautiful results, but it also conditions lashes so they just get better with time!
Tags: beauty tip, Lash Stilleto, Mascara, Maybelline
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Clearasil Ultra Pimple Blocker Pen
April 5th, 2010
Acne occurs when the sebaceous glands in the skin produce too much sebum, blocking the pores and causing infection. You can prevent acne by avoiding sugar and saturated fats, and by washing your makeup brushes with each use. However, pimples can appear despite your best efforts. For blemishes threatening to appear, we liked Clearasil’s Ultra Pimple Blocker Pen. It’s a 2% salicylic acid acne medication that is quickly absorbed in the skin. Since it’s clear, you don’t have to worry about interfering with your makeup. We found that the Pen shortens the battle with acne down to three days.
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L’Oreal Go 360 Clean
April 1st, 2010
Sometimes you just buy something because it looks neat. We admit that’s what we did with the L’Oreal Go 360 Clean face wash. We were enticed by the small ‘scrublet’ that fits ingeniously on the side of the bottle and all of the television and print advertising. We suspected it was fluff that the scrublet would work any better than a washcloth, but the L’Oreal’s lofty claims are actually true! We found that using the L’Oreal Go 360 Clean removed every trace of makeup, and made our pores noticeably smaller. The scrublet is surprisingly soft and it’s gentle enough for everyday use. We tried the Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin, but it is also available in regular Deep Facial Cleanser, Deep Exfoliating Scrub, and Deep Cream Cleanser. We’ve found that we don’t need to use a separate exfoliant when using this product on a regular basis. If you’d like to give it a try, make sure you go to www.lorealparisusa.com and get their $1 coupon for Go 360 Clean face wash.
Tags: face wash, Go 360 Clean, L'Oreal, pores, product review, Scrublet, sensitive skin
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Estee Lauder
March 30th, 2010
Beauty pioneer Estee Lauder was born Josephine Esther Mentzer in New York in 1908, and was the youngest child of Hungarian immigrants. Her father ran a hardware store that gave Estee her first experience as a saleswoman, arranging merchandise and window displays. Her uncle, John Schotz, was a chemist who experimented with skin care treatments and was Lauder’s source of inspiration. She helped him sell his homemade products that he created in a laboratory behind the house. Lauder started out at the beauty counter for a salon, and then began her own operations that became successful through her practice of giving out extras with each purchase. She learned this marketing tactic from her father, who gave wrapped hammers and nails for customers each Christmas.
In 1930 Lauder married Joseph Lauder, and the couple went into business together. After incorporating her company in 1946, Lauder ventured into department stores. Her first accomplishment was getting into Saks Fifth Avenue, and the products eventually became a staple at department stores. Lauder opened the counter at each store herself and trained the saleswomen to be professional and stylish.
In 1953, Estee Lauder introduced her first fragrance, Youth Dew, which was a scented bath oil used in bath water instead of the traditional French fashion (behind the ear). This grew Estee Lauder sales volume from $400/week to $5,000/week in 1955. In 1960, Estee Lauder became international, starting with Harrods in London. Lauder kept the secrets of her ingredients within the family. In the factories, a final and secret ingredient was always added to the products by a Lauder.
Lauder had creative marketing tactics, such as slogans for her products i.e. “Start the New Year with a new face.” She also created the gift with purchase. In 1962, the Estee Lauder woman debuted. The same model was used in every advertisement – Karen Graham, Elizabeth Hurley, and Gwyneth Paltrow have all been Estee Lauder women. Products were packaged in a distinctive color she called ‘Lauder blue’. New brands were started being added to Estee Lauder in 1964: Aramis (1964), Clinique (1968), Prescriptives (1979), and Origins (1990). In the 1990’s, the companies M.A.C., Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Jo Malone, Bumble and Bumble, and Tommy Hilfiger and Donna Karan fragrances were acquired.
In 2004, Estee Lauder passed away at 97 years of age, and was later posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
“Not by dreaming or hoping for it, but by working for it.” – Estee Lauder
Tags: beauty pioneer, biography, cosmetics, Estee Lauder
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Yves Rocher Plumping Sheer Gloss
March 22nd, 2010
If you can’t handle the irritants that are in a lot of plumping lip glosses, Yves Rocher’s Plumping Sheer Gloss is a great alternative. It won’t sting your lips, and has a great texture that doesn’t feel greasy or sticky. Our favorite part was the applicator. Instead of the standard sponge, this product has a lip brush so it’s easier to achieve the perfect pout. Want more fullness? Try putting on a lipstick, then a dab of gloss in the center of the lips for more dimension.
Tags: plumping, product review, sheer gloss, Yves Rocher
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