October Beauty Empties

October #Beauty Empties

Ever since I posted this article about how I rarely I actually empty beauty products, I’ve started paying closer attention to those cosmetics I deem worthy of finishing. One thing I’ve noticed during my observations is I tend to consistently use (and use up) skin and hair care products; whereas I rarely empty makeup products. I’m more likely to toss those for lack of use or expiration than “hitting pan” as it were. This month is no exception. Here are my product empties and brief reviews for October (2016)…

Neutrogena® Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

1. Neutrogena® Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover:

Claims – Neutrogena states this product has an “ultra-gentle dual phase formula (that) activates when shaken to remove all eye makeup — even waterproof mascara — without any greasy residue.” The company also promises “it is ophthalmologist tested, safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers and oil free.”

My Results – I use this first, before dual-cleansing. I shake it well (it basically doesn’t work if you don’t) then apply it onto 2 cotton pads which I then apply to my eyes. I allow the saturated pads to sit on my eyes for about a minute to start to break down the makeup. Then I lightly rub the pads around my eyes to remove additional traces of makeup. Then I followup with a makeup removing oil cleanser to my whole face and a cream cleanser (usually CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser). One of the best things about this product is that it never causes burning or stinging to the eyes. Neutrogena also delivers on their promise that this product leaves no oily or greasy residue behind. Then again I follow it with double cleansing so any residue gets pretty well taken care of in that process.

Price – $5.99 – $7.99 (per Neutrogena’s website). This one is available almost everywhere. From Walmart and other major discount stores to national drugstore chains (Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, etc.) and even many grocery stores. ULTA sells 2 sizes (3.8 oz. and 5.5 oz.) priced at $5.99 and $7.99, respectively along with a Buy One / Get One 40% deal (at time of this writing).

One note about finding this product in stores – almost every retailer stocks this product along side Neutrogena’s makeup products, not with their skincare products. So if you’re having trouble locating it, check the makeup area.

Draw-backs – The primary complaint I have with this product is the same one I have with every other eye makeup remover I’ve tried – that is, it doesn’t immediately remove all eye makeup without rubbing and tugging. I rarely wear waterproof mascara but do you use waterproof liner on a regular. Though I don’t consider my eyes very sensitive, I notice some redness and swelling the next day if I don’t get all my eye makeup removed at night.

Ingredients – Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Dipropylene Glycol, Poloxamer 182, Allantoin, Tripotassium EDTA, Benzalkonium Chloride Solution, Glycerin, Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Extract (Cucumis Sativus), Potassium Phosphate, Dipotassium Phosphate

L’ORÉAL Paris™ EverPure Blonde Brass Banisher System™

2. L’ORÉAL Paris EverPure Blonde Brass Banisher Shampoo & Conditioner:

Claims – L’ORÉAL promises this shampoo and conditioner will “boost your blond for fresh pure lustrous color,” and claims using both products together will “neutralize brassiness in just 1 use while deeply nourishing hair to restore hydration…and (help) you keep the color you love for up to 32 washes.”

My Results – Since going blond, I’ve tried SO many lavender, purple anti-brass toning shampoos and conditioners, and I really like these. First of all, the shampoo is sulfate-free so it doesn’t strip out my color which is important because getting my hair professionally foiled is NOT cheap! So obviously, I want to do everything I can to preserve it. There are other stronger purple toning shampoos on the market, Clairol Shimmer Lights comes to mind (works great but turns my hair into perfectly-toned brass-free straw). This one is gentle enough to avoid that overly dried out crispy result but it’s effective enough keep that dreaded yellow-orange tinge out of my hair.

Price – Price varies by vender. $5.97 each from Walmart. ULTA sells the shampoo and conditioner for $6.99 each and currently (at time of this writing) offers a Buy Two, Get One Free offer. Amazon sells the shampoo from $5.97 each. The conditioner is also available for various prices.

Draw-backs – My one complaint with the otherwise excellent pair of lavender toners is the difficulty I have getting the lids closed. For some reason, it’s nearly impossible for me to get the lids fully closed especially when the tubes are wet, I’m wet and my hands are covered in suds. So what ends up happening is that lavender-colored shampoo and conditioner leaks out onto my shower shelf, creating a mess and wasting product. While this is not an expensive product (especially when compared to salon brands) it’s still frustrating to waste product and it’s really annoying to discover a trail of purple soap dripping down the wall of my shower.

Ingredients (shampoo) – Water, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, cocamidopropyl betaine, glycol distearate, glycereth-26, decyl glucoside, fragrance, hydrogenated coconut acid, ppg-5-ceteth-20, dimethicone copolymer, polyquaternium-7, amodimethicone, polyquaternium-10, sodium isethionate, propylene glycol, peg- 55 propylene glycol oleate, carbomer, c11-15 pareth-7, benzoic acid, benzophenone-4, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, benzyl salicylate, laureth-9, glycerin, hexyl cinnamal, benzyl alcohol, linalool, trideceth-12, limonene, sodium benzoate, c12-13 pareth-23, c12-13 pareth-3, iris florentina root extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, ext. violet 2, red 33, sodium hydroxide.

Ingredients (conditioner) – Water, cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride, isopropyl myristate, cetyl esters, fragrance, isopropyl alcohol, hicone, polyquaternium-37, mineral oil, sodium benzoate, amodimethicone, tocopherol, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, peppermint leaf extract, chlorhexidine dihydrochloride, citric acid, limonene, ppg-1 trideceth-6, linalool, butylphenyl methylpropional, rosemary leaf oil, citronellol, benzophenone-4, iris florentina root extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, ci 60730 / ext. violet 2, ci 17200 / red 33. f.i.l. # d168573/1.

Nature’s Bounty® OPTIMAL SOLUTIONS® Hair, Skin, & Nails Gummies with Biotin

3. Nature’s Bounty® OPTIMAL SOLUTIONS® Hair, Skin, & Nails Gummies with Biotin:

Claims – Nature’s Bounty® states these sugar+corn syrup-based gummies “provide you with the vital nutrients your body needs to support your natural beauty from within. Vitamin E and Vitamin C are antioxidants. Vitamin E contributes to skin health, and Vitamin C is involved in collagen production and formation, which forms the basis for vibrant skin.” 2 Gummies provide 15 mg. Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid); 15 IU Vitamin E (as dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate); 2,500 mcg. Biotin (as d-Biotin); along with 15 calories, 4 grams carbohydrate and 2 grams of sugar.

My Results – Like most women, I noticed increased lost of hair starting about 3 months postpartum. Sadly, I never experienced the increased thickness and luster I started taking this supplement in May as a replacement for my previous Biotin supplement. I wanted something that provided both Vitamin C and Biotin to complement my existing Collagen drink regimen (read more about the anti-aging power of collagen here) and these dummies seemed like a tasty option to try. Because I was pretty panicked about the amount of hair loss I was experiencing, I started taking these (2 dummies) twice per day. After about 2 months (roughly 3 jars of dummies) I started to notice a significant improvement in the thickness and condition of my hair. Now, during that same time I continued taking 1-2 collagen drinks each day so I’m certain the results were attributable to the combination of all the supplements more than any one on its own. But I definitely think these dummies have an impact so I continue taking them.

Price – These supplements are widely available sold everywhere from grocery stores to major discount retailers (Walmart, Target, etc.) to drugstore chains and online retailers. Price varies by vender. Vitacost offers the lowest online price (as of this writing) at $7.19 / 80 Gummie jar. CVS and Walgreens vary from around $8-$8.50 for the same sized jar with local stores often offering in-store coupons and discounts. You can usually find Nature’s Bounty® coupons in your local Sunday paper or coupon mailer.

Draw-backs – As I noted above, these gummies are designed to mimic gummy candies so the good-for-you vitamins and nutrients are contained in a sugar and corn syrup base. If that’s a problem for you – i.e. if you’re sensitive to sugar; if you need to avoid all sugar for health reasons or you’re actively doing the #Whole30 or similar sugar-free diet – then these supplements won’t work for you. I had to switch back to Vitamin C and Biotin tabs during our recent #SeptemberWhole30 but eagerly switched back to these on October 1st. They taste good and make taking vitamins a lot more enjoyable!

Ingredients (according to Nature’s Bounty website): Corn Syrup, Sugar, Dicalcium Phosphate, Grape Juice Color Concentrate, Gelatin, Modified Food Starch, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Natural Strawberry Flavor, Black Carrot Juice Color Concentrate, Maltodextrin, Fractionated Coconut Oil (Contains one or more of the following: Carnauba Wax, Beeswax), Silica.

Wisdom for the Day:
“In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity.” ~Richard Baxter
Read more about the importance of unity here.

Super Cheap+Super Easy DIY Makeup Brush+Sponge Cleaning Spray

Take Care of Your Brushes and They’ll Last a Long Time!

As I’ve written previously, I believe good quality makeup brushes are a wise beauty investment. And like any investment, you need to protect your investments by caring for your brushes and cleaning them regularly.

Clean Brushes All in a Row and Ready to Be Hung up to Dry

I have found that Sephora’s Solid Clean: Solid Brush Cleaner ($14 for 1 oz.) is excellent for deep cleaning brushes and ULTA’s Makeup Brush and Sponge Cleaner (spray; $10 for 5.1 fluid oz.) is less expensive; works well for quick cleanups; but doesn’t provide the same thorough results and has an odd smell to me.

So I set out to create a simple, inexpensive brush cleaner recipe. This recipe works very well, effectively removing the most tenacious waterproof gels and stains. I store this in a small (6oz. size) spray bottle. Then I make a second batch using slightly less water (described below) to keep in a non-spray bottle to clean my sponges.

Brushes in Need of Cleaning

Clean Brushes in a Jiffy!

I love using Kenra Professional Clarifying Shampoo to clean my makeup brushes! I find that it’s the best thing for remover tough, waterproof gels and creams. The best place to purchase Kenra products is probably ULTA because ULTA always almost offers $3.50 off $10 coupon is available electronically or in their catalogs. (Click here to sign up to automatically receive ULTA emails or here to enroll in ULTA’s text alert program). ULTA also periodically offers 20% off coupons and other deals for Platinum ULTA Members and ULTAMATE Rewards Credit Card holders. Learn more at ULTA.com or the ULTA store nearest you.

If you already have a clarifying shampoo that you love or just want/need an even cheaper option, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo may be substituted for the Kenra Shampoo and works (almost) as well. And you can save some more money by signing up here to receive Johnson and Johnson brand coupons.

Ingredients:
• 2 Tbsp. Dawn Original or 1 Tbsp. Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid
• 2 Tbsp. Kenra Professional Clarifying Shampoo or Johnson’s® Original Baby Shampoo
• 5 oz. (10 Tbsp.) filtered or distilled water

Hardware:
• Measuring spoons
• Small spray bottle (6-8 oz. size)
• Small funnel

Instructions:
1. Carefully pour all 3 ingredients into a small spray bottle.
2. Tightly place lid on bottle and shake well to thoroughly combine ingredients.
3. Shake well before each use.
Makes about 5 oz. of cleanser.

NOTE: If you need a liquid brush and sponge cleaner or just don’t want to use a spray, you can easily adjust this recipe as follows – decrease the amount of water from 5oz. to 4oz. (8 Tbsp.) and keep all other measurements the same. Then, pour mixture into desired storage bottle.
Cleanser recipe can also be doubled to product 8-10oz. Use twice the above amounts of shampoo+dish liquid (to 4 Tbsp. of each) and double water to 10oz. (20 Tbsp.) for spray bottle or 8oz. (16 Tbsp.) for non-spray bottle.

Check this related post – $1 Makeup Brush Cleaning Tool – if you want to learn more about this genius and inexpensive little silicone cleaning tool you can pick up for just over $1 at your local Wal-Mart.

Wisdom for the Day:
“That is what some of you used to be! But you were washed clean, you were made holy to God, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” ~I Corinthians 6:11 (Common English Bible)
Read more here.

$1 Makeup Brush Cleaning Tool – Available at Walmart

Can a $1.25 Tool Clean My Messy Makeup Brushes? Yes!!!

I’ve tried to be honest about the fact that I’m not a makeup artist/expert. I’m a makeup fan/lover (there’s a big difference). My skill level may best be described as amateur, but I’m getting better, primarily because I’ve gradually acquired some nice makeup brushes. Quality makeup brushes are an investment. You really only need 5-10 high quality makeup brushes to take your makeup application technique to the next level.

Of course, you’ll need to properly care for those brushes in order to ensure they last a long time and give you the most bang for your beauty buck. And that means regularly cleaning them. That’s the step that tends to trip up busy moms (like me). We all know cleaning our brushes is important. Dirty brushes = patchy uneven colors; poor distribution of creams and liquids; breeding grounds for acne-causing bacteria; etc.

In recent years, an entire industry has grown around makeup brushes and cleaning led by innovators like the Chapman Sisters of Real Techniques fame along with Rea Ann Silva and the others at beautyblender®. So many companies today now offer cleaning supplies including brush cleaning solutions, wipes, mitts and even electronic brush cleaners like these (for a whopping $120+)!

Don’t worry. You don’t have to spend that much to quickly and effectively clean your brushes. One of my favorite YouTube Beauty vloggers – Emily Noel – raved about these silicone brush-cleaning eggs mitts she discovered at an “everything for $1” subscription shopping website in this video:

Emily is so adorable and enthusiastic. She almost always convinces me, but I’m trying to avoid signing up with any additional shopping sites. Too tempting. Still, those brush cleaners intrigued me, especially at just $1 + $3.95 shipping (roughly $3/each). So when I spotted these Lil’ Scrubbies facial brushes at Wal-Mart priced at just $2.43 (plus tax) for two, I grabbed them immediately hoping they’d work as well as Emily’s egg mitts. I tested my Scrubbies-as-makeup-brush-cleaners theory, and they worked great!

To be clear, the Lil’ Scrubbies are designed to be used as facial exfoliators. But (as I’ve written before) I don’t need that because I’m really satisfied with my Foreo LUNA sonic cleanser. Both my Foreo LUNA and the Lil’ Scrubbies are made of quality silicone and have very similar scrubbing surfaces. So if you don’t currently have a daily facial cleansing tool you love, these little guys can meet that need as well (although Lil’ Scrubbies obviously will not provide the oscillating sonic technology of the Foreo LUNA).

Left: Foreo LUNA (Sensitive/Normal Skins)
Right: Lil Scrubbies Silicone Facial Scrub Brush

Lil’ Scrubbies’ have 2 different surface textures – tiny bristles and little round nubs which allow you to quickly clean different-sized and shaped brushes. The small nobs are especially effective at cleaning the sides of tapered brushes. The Scrubbies are made of a single piece of silicone with a suction cup feature built into the back. This suction cup piece makes it easier to securely hold the wet soapy Scrubbie securely between two fingers of your non-dominant hand while you scrub the brush with your dominant hand.

You’re also able to keep the Scrubbie and the brush secure while cleaning and also have your thumb free in case you need to apply more pressure to spread out the tip of the brush to get it thoroughly clean (as Emily describes around 6:00 in the video).

I found them exceptionally easy to use and effective in cleaning all types of brushes – from large fluffy powder brushes to flat-topped kabuki brushes to tapered shadow brushes and lash combs. Lil’ Scrubbies cleaned my brushes gently without ripping out the bristles or breaking the hairs. All this for a price of $1.215 each!

Lil’ Scrubbies themselves are easy to clean with warm water and (if necessary a gentle soap). Then simply store on your mirror using the suction cup feature until ready for next use.

Clean Brushes All in a Row and Ready to Be Hung up to Dry

One last thing, toward the end of the video Emily talks about the brush drying “Sunflower tree” she uses for drying her brushes. Those trees retail for around $40 plus tax and shipping. Learn more here. But I use this recipe book rack I had sitting around (unused and in the way) in our kitchen. It works perfectly to hold for most (not all) of my brushes as they dry. It keeps them off the bathroom counter and holds them at a slightly downward angle, preventing water from collecting in the metal barrel of the brushes (which can damage the brushes and shorten their lifespans).

Multi-Tasking – A Repurposed Recipe Rack Holds Clean Makeup Brushes

Wisdom for the Day:
Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ~Psalm 51:7 (God’s Word Translation)
Read more here.

#TBT Fragrance Edition – Amarige de Givenchy

Givenchy Amarige EDT and EDP

Aaahhh-marige! My precious! Full disclosure before beginning this “review” of Givenchy’s Amarige – I cannot and nor will I even pretend to be a neutral observer when it comes to this now classic opulent white floral powerhouse. Amarige is the first grown-up French perfume I’ve ever really “worn.” There’s a difference between a tween applying (usually over-applying) a nice perfume and the moment you become mature and confident in yourself enough to truly inhabit a grown-up woman’s perfume. I discovered this somewhere around age 19, around that age of maturity. It became my first signature fragrance and remains the only perfume I’ve ever truly loved. So it will be difficult for me to keep this write-up brief. To that end I’ll rely on reviews from other sites and will try (my best) to distill the key points.

Givenchy Amarige Eau de Toilette

First, understand Amarige is one of those fragrances that tends to illicit strong opinions even among perfume aficionados. Remember that scene in Pretty Woman where Richard Gere’s character is explaining to Julia Roberts’ character the strong reactions people have when they first experience the opera? He says, “People’s reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic; they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don’t, they may learn to appreciate it, but it will never become part of their soul.” Amarige is like that. I loved it immediately. Some people will hate it at first whiff. Most perfume lovers who don’t love Amarige can appreciate its craftsmanship, the expert blending and nuanced layering of so many notes even if they could never wear it. I understand that because that’s exactly how I feel about Opium and Shalimar.

Next point – Like all perfumes, Amarige will not smell the same on everyone. It will react uniquely with each person’s unique chemistry and may smell differently on the same person at different times of the year or during various hormonal shifts. This reaction is especially common with super powerful floral notes like tuberose and gardenia as well warm, heady dry-down notes like musk, amber and sandalwood.

Amarige is an anagram of the French word for marriage (mariage), and it’s meant to capture the moment of pure blissful emotion of love at first sight. Created by master French perfumer, Dominique Ropion, this now classic opulent white floral was first released a quarter century ago, in 1991. Givenchy called its newly launched fragrance “Feminine. Ethereal. Beautiful.” Today, Amarige is described by some as “the heart of femininity with soft, sweet notes that are truly radiant” and by others as “a strong white floral-oriental fragrance that is sensual, youthful and timeless.” Amarige combines mimosa with citrus fruits, soft florals, precious woods and vanilla.

Category: Classic French / Floral-Oriental

Notes: The top notes are composed of fresh fruit including peaches, plums, oranges, and mandarin. The floral heart, very intense and luscious, is created of mimosa, orange flowers, tuberose, gardenia and violet along with a hint of black currant. The warm woody base is composed of musk, sandalwood, vanilla, amber, Tonka bean, rose and acacia woods and cedar.

Layers of Fruits, Florals, Greens and Woody Notes Combine to Create Amarige

Sillage: Amarige may accurately be described as both extremely feminine and extremely powerful. It can be overpowering, especially if you tend to be heavy-handed with the atomizer. Well crafted perfumes tend to unfold throughout the day, the middle and heart notes effusing gracefully as your body temperature increases. For some, the release of those middle notes can be intoxicating. Despite my devotion to Amarige, I’m careful to avoid it during hot or humid days. Several years ago, Givenchy released Amarige Ice (no longer available), which was essentially a lighter version meant for folks who find it difficult to wear this during warm weather. I find it easier to just save this sillage monster until temperatures dip below 75˚ Fahrenheit.

Longevity: Reading the list of notes in this fragrance you may expect relatively short lifespan on this one, especially since Givenchy almost exclusively sells only EDT version of Amarige. Don’t let the plethora of fruit notes fool you. Amarige has excellent longevity, particularly when sprayed on or near clothing or other fabrics. This is tenacious stuff, with a longevity befitting a high-end, high quality fragrance. The lingering scent is particularly lovely on fabric and clothing.

My Impression and Experience: On first spray I get a hit of juicy peach and some orange that quickly transitions into orange blossoms mixed with gardenia and tuberose. I get hints of plum but not much because the fruits disperse so quickly that it’s tough for me to differentiate peach from plum. Some sites also state Amarige’s top notes include hints of melon. I’d like to state for the record that I cannot find melon anywhere in this one. The floral notes continue to dominate for several hours but I never find the tuberose overpowering or overwhelming. On me, the mimosa in Amarige never takes a turn toward that unwashed (dirty) note that can become unpleasant. The scent remains warm and enveloping; sensual but not dirty. The scent is always available and never evaporates which is gratifying, particularly in this generation of short-lived citrus vanillas. It’s strong without suffocating despite its largely floral heart. It is always charming; always pretty and eternally feminine.

Bottle: The Amarige bottle was designed by Pierre Dinand, taking as its inspiration the ruffled sleeves of the “Bettina blouse” Hubert de Givenchy created for another muse, model Bettina Graziella.

Beauty in Simplicity – The Amarige Bottle Designed by Pierre Dinand

Price and Where to Buy:
Amarige is available at most major department stores in the USA (Belk, Dillards, Macy’s Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom’s etc.). ULTA and Sephora stores also carry most Givenchy fragrances. Interestingly, Sephora and Givenchy beauty (including Givenchy’s Fragrance House) are owned by the same parent conglomerate, LVMH. In recent years, Amarige has become available at lower price points from discount chains (Walmart etc.) and drugstores. Unfortunately, the quality of the EDTs sold at these stores is not the same as the bottles sold at department stores and cosmetics retailers. I recommend saving your money and purchasing a more expensive bottle for best quality and most reliable perfume experience.

Brand History: Hubert de Givenchy grew to prominence as an haute couture fashion designer in the 1950s and 1960, making a name for himself primarily as the signature designer for his muse Audrey Hepburn. His work was prominently displayed throughout each one of Ms. Hepburn’s movies. One need only watch such glamorous films as Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Charade to see the extraordinary results of this collaboration. In 1957, Givenchy created L’Interdit EDT as a tribute to Audrey. The same year the fashion house released Le De Givenchy and other successful fragrances followed. Givenchy Beauty is owned by luxury conglomerate LVMH. Read more about LVMH beauty and fashion houses here.

Read more about Amarige and Givenchy Beauty here.

Read the full Fragrantica Summary and Reviews here.

Wisdom for the Day:
The Lord spoke to Moses: “Take for yourself the finest spices: 12½ pounds of liquid myrrh, 6¼ pounds of fragrant cinnamon, 6¼ pounds of fragrant cane, 12½ pounds of cassia, and one gallon of olive oil. Prepare from these a holy anointing oil, a scented blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be holy anointing oil…“Tell the People: This will be My holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It must not be used for ordinary anointing on a person’s body, and you must not make anything like it using its formula. It is holy, and it must be holy to you.” ~Exodus 30:22-25, 31-32 (NIV)
Read more here.

NYX Cosmetics Pump It Up Lip Plumper – Product Review

Several years ago I experimented with lip fillers. Listen I’ve been through some painful procedures in my lifetime. I’ve had a lot of dental work done (which is not fun, BTW). I went through 20+ hours of labor, an emergency C-Section. I feel like I tolerate pain fairly well. But I cannot recall ever, at any point in my life, experiencing pain that compares to those lip injections. Oh my gosh does it hurt! My lips looked great, but I cannot face that pain again.

So I’m always on the lookout for makeup products promising to plump my lips without injections. I’ve tried a few I liked over the years. One that works but is over my current budget is this one from Fusion Beauty. I’ve been determined to find a drugstore alternative. So when I recently spotted Pump It Up Lip Plumper from NYX Cosmetics, I decided to give it a whirl. I have and really enjoy several Butter Glosses from NYX and had high hopes for this one. Here’s the low-down on Pump It Up.

Pump It Up Lip Plumper from NYX Cosmetics. Shade Lindsay.

Price: $5.49 / 0.28 oz. tube

Color Range: NYX offers 9 shades are available, each have women’s names like Pamela (a pale baby pink without sparkle); Liv (a clear gloss); and Angelina (a brown nude with gold sparkle). I purchased the shade, “Lindsay,” which NYX calls a “baby pink,” but on my bare lips looks like 1980’s frost.

Pump It Up Lip Plumper Shades. Photo from NYX Cosmetics.com

Application: This applies with the now standard doe-foot wand applicator. Because I’ve discussed my feelings about the applicators previously, I won’t repeat myself here.

Coverage: 8 of the 9 shades NYX created are very sheer. The shade “Liv” is completely clear. The shade “Pamela” is described as an “ultra sheer baby pink.” I’d say it’s close to clear with only the slightest hint of a pink tint. “Scarlett” is described as an “ultra sheer red” providing a wash of sheer raspberry color. “Elizabeth” is billed as a “soft mauve pink,” and it is the lone color offering slight opacity. But you’ll still see you’re own natural lip color (or the color of whatever lip product you apply underneath) peaking through.

Texture + Finish: These glosses go on with minimal stickiness and frankly without a ton of shine. This is not the big, bold glassy shine you’d get from other products out of this cosmetics mega-company such as Maybelline’s LipStudio Shine Shot Lip Topcoat or Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes Lip Glosses (Both Maybelline and Lancôme are owned by NYX’s parent company, L’Oreal). The shine and moisture level are not quite on par with NYX’s own outstanding Butter Glosses and Mega Shine Lip Glosses, both of which offer far wider color ranges and lower price points as well.

Top: Swatch of Pump It Up Lip Plumper (Shade – Lindsay)
Bottom: Swatch of Butter Gloss (Shade – Strawberry Parfait)

Wear: You will notice an immediate tingling sensation upon application of this gloss. I’d dispute Beautypedia’s claim that this is “the most painful lip plumping lip gloss ever.” (Read the full Paula’s Choice / Beautypedia review and commentary on this ingredient’s potential impact here). I’ve certainly tried glosses that cause more burning or stinging sensations than this one, and I’ve definitely found other glosses to be more effective in terms of plumping my lips! The ingredient responsible for the slighting tingle, Vanillyl Butyl Ether (in bold in the full ingredient list below), is actually the 2nd to last ingredient on this product ingredient list (meaning it’s among the lowest in terms of concentration) which likely explains the plumping effect is comparatively small.

Skin Beneficial Ingredients: NYX makes a big deal out the peptides. However, the actual peptide-containing ingredients are fairly minimal. NYX did include some Vitamin E, BHA and Aloe Leaf Extract (italicized in the ingredient list below) offering some antioxidant benefits. However, those antioxidants won’t remain stable or effective for long when exposed to air repeatedly with use and due to the clear tube packaging. The rest of this product’s ingredients are pretty standard for a lip gloss.

Full Ingredient List: Mineral Oil, Polybutene, PentaerythritylTetraisostearate, C18-38 Alkyl Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, HydrogenatedPolydecene, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, DiisostearylMalate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate,Tocopheryl acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, BHA, Vanillyl ButylEther, Polyethylene Terephthalate. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide C.I.77891, Iron Oxide Red C.I.77491, Iron Oxide Yellow C.I.77492, D&C Red No.6 C.I.15850, D&C Red No.7 Ca Lake C.I.15850.

Read Good Guide’s Safety Rating of This Product’s Ingredients

Summary and Daily Beauty Wisdom Rating: Pass by Pump It Up and pick up one of NYX’s better lip gloss options.

NYC Cosmetics’ Pump It Up Lip Plumper (On Top) along with a Trio of Superior NYX Butter Gloss

Additional Reviews and Ratings:
Makeup Alley Reviews (3.1 / 5 lipsticks)
Beautypedia Reviews (Expert rating = 1 / 5 stars; Community rating = 5 / 5 stars)
Influenster Reviews (Rating as of this writing = 4.2 / 5 stars)
Reviews from Amazon.com Customers (3.6 / 5 stars rating; NOTE this is a vendor website)

Check out NYX’s full product summary and info sheet here.

Wisdom for the Day:
“He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, ‘This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven.’
Then I heard the Lord say, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’
I answered, ‘I will go! Send me!” ~Isaiah 6:7-8 (Good News Translation)
Read more here.

Milani’s Conceal+Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation+Concealer – Product Review

Milani Conceal+Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer

When YouTube Beauty experts began touting a new drugstore foundation that provided water-resistant full coverage for less than $10, I was super excited. I went to multiple drug stores across our area. I ultimately located a single bottle in a CVS store over an hour from our home (thank you online product locator!). I waited to try the product until I found another bottle in a second shade. Another family member heard about my searching and found a couple of stray bottles in her town so I ended up with 3 bottles of this tough-to-come-by product. But alas, after all that effort and all the hype, I was pretty disappointed because it just didn’t look very good on me. The coverage was there but it seemed to emphasize every tiny bit of texture on my face. Worst of all, it settled in the crows feet around my eyes. That’s an unpardonable foundation sin in my eyes (no pun intended). So I set all 3 bottles aside, writing the whole experience off as yet another makeup disappointment in along the way in the endless search for my holy grail foundation.

A few days later I noticed those bottles and got to thinking about all the effort that went into obtaining them so I decided to play with it a little to see if I could make it work for me. I really wanted to like it because inexpensive foundations with this level of coverage do not come along every day. When I was younger, not that much younger, but before I got married and before I had our daughter playing with makeup was fun. Now it’s more of a chore because I don’t have a lot of time to do it, but I happened to have a few minutes on this day to play. So I took my time and prepped my skin with a good moisturizer and sunscreen. I allowed it sink in and then blotted my face before applying a primer which I allowed to set for a god 5 minutes. Then I used a damped beauty blender® and applied 2 pumps of this foundation along with another couple of products (explained in a separate post) and set it with a powder. You know what? It’s a really beautiful foundation! I discovered that even those of us with dry or mature skin can wear this foundation and have a lovely result. I have come to the conclusion that most people can’t just slap this foundation on and expect it to be pretty. It’s tricky for both dry and oily skins alike. But with proper prep it’s lovely; has a beautiful full-coverage finish and long wear-time. It may not be realistic for you to go through the prep to wear this everyday. But at this price point, Milani’s Conceal+Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation+Concealer deserves strong consideration for a spot in your beauty top drawer lineup.

MILANI Conceal+Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation+Concealer. Photo from Milani.com

Price: $9.99 for a 1 oz. pump

Color Range: Milani created 14 shades this foundation in 14 shades most of which are neutral, with varying levels of yellow or red undertones. It’s worth noting that several reviewers have complained that the lightest shade, 01 (Creamy Vanilla), is too dark and/or too yellow for very pale complexions. I can successfully wear shade 03 (Light Beige) or 04 (Medium Beige) and noticed that several of the shades are workable for light-medium skin tones. I’ve also noticed that most drugstores only carry a few shades; that none of the Walmarts in our area carried this foundation; and that none of the stores carried any of the darker shades which was really disappointing.

This product has a lot in common with Urban Decay’s recently launched “All Nighter” Foundation (similar texture, coverage and longevity promises). But while Milani offers fewer shade options, those shades don’t tend to darken, change colors on the dry-down or noticeably oxidize which are common complaints among reviewers at Makeup Alley of All Nighter.

Coverage: This is FULL coverage friends! Full. Coverage. Lots of foundations promise full coverage, but this one delivers. 2 Pumps was fully sufficient to cover my whole face with a damp sponge. I had enough left over to cover some sun spots on my chest and touch up some red areas around my nose that always need extra coverage.

Re Milani’s claim that this doubles as a concealer – yes and no. As I mentioned above, additional layers or spot application quickly and easily covered and sun spots or minor discoloration but it is not sufficient to cover the puffiness and dark circles under my eyes. For that, I need to mix the foundation with high-powered concealer.

Texture + Finish: The texture of this one could be described as a liquid/cream hybrid. The finish is more satin than matte with a hint of luminosity that is flattering at first, especially on dryer skin. However, it can emphasize any uneven texture or flaws on the skin and may not flatter oilier skin types.

Wear: Milani claims this foundation is waterproof and wears all day, and “works around the clock to keep skin looking naturally perfect.” This will wear at least 6 hours with a silicone-based primer. And because the finish is more satin than matte, I’d recommend setting it with powder, even for drier skins and especially for those with combo to oily skins. Oily skins will get the longest wear by using a mattifying primer underneath. Dry skins should be careful not to use an oil-based moisturizer or sunscreen product before applying this foundation. Because this is an oil-free foundation it won’t react well to oil-based products and that oil will in fact cause the foundation to break apart, shortening the its longevity.

Application: Milani recommends the following application, “Apply a dime-sized amount of product with fingertips or a brush beginning at the center of the face, blending outward.” I prefer applying this with a damp beautyblender® type sponge. I had some success using my finger as well, but I just really dislike apply foundation with fingers. For some reason I dislike the feeling of it on my fingers and hands. Has nothing to do with the texture of this particular product. Actually, if you enjoy using your fingers to apply foundation, this may be a good match for you because the warm of your fingers may help you spread this around. Because it’s thicker than your typical liquid foundation (MUF’s Ultra HD Foundation for example), I found that applying it with a brush left streaks and just wasn’t very pretty. I wouldn’t try it unless you’re lucky enough to own an Artis (oval 7) foundation brush. To avoid creasing, I’d recommend setting this with powder, even for drier skins but especially for those with combo to oily skins.

Skin Beneficial Ingredients: This foundation is composed primarily of water and a mix of multiple silicones (all the silicones highlighted below) as well as various oil-free emollients including glycerins and wax. This also contains a very small amount of a fruit-based (in this case plum) extract – Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract – shown to provide some antioxidant properties. But it’s way down the ingredient list and not a powerful or well-researched antioxidant so I would count on it to do very much for your skin.

Full Ingredient List: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate (oil-free emollient), Cetyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Mica (shine), Glycerin (oil-free emollient), BIS-PEG/PPG Dimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Bis-Vinyl Dimethicone, Ozokerite (wax), Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Beeswax (wax), Glycereth-18 Ethylhexanoate (oil-free emollient), Potassium Sorbate, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Isododecane, Propylene Carbonate, Prunus Domestica Fruit Extract, Glycereth-18, Aluminum Dimyristate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Allantoin, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyisobutene, C18-21 Alkane. +/- May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

Summary and Daily Beauty Wisdom Rating: There’s much to love about this product. But if you read the reviews, you’ll notice lots of people have trouble with it too. It’s definitely tricky. Oily skinned gals find it breaks up and gets shiny; while those with drier skin find it emphasizes rough patches and fine lines. When I first tried this foundation, I was really disappointed and was convinced it just didn’t work for me. It takes a couple of tries and sufficient prep to get it to work for you. If you have the time and patience, it can be a beautiful, cost-efficient foundation for days when you want to “go all out.” I’m loving this one now. After some trial and error, this has become my current fav. It’s even replaced Revlon’s ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup as my go-to foundation for a flawless, full coverage look. Be on the look-out for a follow-up post sharing the tricks I discovered to make this work for me!

Additional Reviews:
Influenster Reviews (4.2 / 5 star rating)
Makeup Alley Reviews (3.2 / 5 lipsticks rating)
Allure Magazine Reviews (ranked as Allure Best of Beauty for 2016 and Allure Best Beauty Steals for 2016)

Find full product detail and info at Milani’s product page here.

Wisdom for the Day:
“If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like.” ~James 1:23-24 (God’s Word Translation)
Read more here.

Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray (Strong) – Product Review

I’ve written previously about having fine hair. I’ve struggled with it my whole life. That’s a slight exaggeration. I’ve probably battled my hair since puberty, which is when I really started to care about making it looking a certain way. And I wanted it to look thicker, shinier and to stay in place once I fixed it. I think I’ve tried virtually every product I could afford (and some I couldn’t) if that product promised fuller, thicker,and/or shinier hair. So when one product comes along promising all of the above, I’m intrigued. The product in question – Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray. The hairspray comes in 2 options – medium and strong hold. I’ll be reviewing the “Strong Hold” version.

What You’re Promised: Moroccanoil® states this product is ideal for all hair types and says it’s “a flexible hairspray for building long-lasting styles with movable yet strong hold.” The company also describes this spray as “lightweight and workable,” stating that it “brushes out easily and leaves no flakey or sticky residue.” Sounds great so far. But the line that really hooked me was Moroccanoil’s promise that this “firm-hold finishing” spray, “blankets hair in a reflective shield of shine that fights fizz and humidity,” and is “infused with a combination of advanced ingredients, including antioxidant-rich argan oil.” So you’re telling me, this hairspray provides strong hold; builds texture; fights frizz while providing shine and antioxidant ingredients – and all without leaving any sticky residue or flaking behind; AND infusing my hair with that glorious Moroccanoil® fragrance? Wow! That sounds the like the only product I’ll ever need. Ever! Sign me up!

Price: $10 for 2.5 oz. or $24 for 10 oz. (per Moroccanoil® website). Certified stylists may purchase for lower prices at stylists-only beauty supply stores.

Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray Strong Hold. Photo from Moroccanoil® website.

Where to Buy: Moroccanoil® recommends the purchase of their products from professional salons. Find a Moroccanoil® salon near year through this link. You can also purchase Moroccanoil® products online from their site store. Non-affiliated online mega-stores such as Amazon.com and eBay also sell this product for similar prices. However, Moroccanoil® strongly opposes sales of its products outside of professional salons. Read more about the company’s stance here.

Expect this hairspray to become part of your hair styling arsenal, not to replace all your current favorite styling products!

Expect This Hairspray to Become One of Your Styling Favorites. It Cannot Replace All Your Favorite Styling Products!

What You Get: A medium to fairly strong hold hairspray that helps build texture for styling and thickness and works as a finisher to hold styles in place, providing a small amount of luminosity without obvious shimmer and zero stickiness. This is not a stand-alone styling product so don’t toss all your other styling products. This product can replace that so-so hairspray and/or texturizing spray you’re not sold on. And it makes your hair smell terrific!

Scent: This hairspray has the same deliciously ethereal signature Moroccanoil® scent that is instantly recognizable but strangely indescribable. In fact, most review sites include comments calling the brand’s signature scent “pretty but hard to describe.” If I were to forced to describe it, I’d say it’s a unique clean floral with slight hints of musk and perhaps some vanilla. I find the scent more potent and longer-lasting in the aerosol products (i.e. hairspray) than in their original oil or cream-based treatments.

Hair-Beneficial Ingredients: Argan oil is present in this hairspray, but it’s 8th (2nd to last) on the ingredient list. The 1st ingredient is alcohol, and the 2nd is hydrofluorocarbon. Otherwise, the ingredients here are pretty standard for aerosol hairsprays. Be careful not to use this stuff near an open flame or near babies (moms of young children, i.e. me). Truth is, hairspray ingredients are almost all the same, especial among aerosols. Here’s the full ingredient list:

Texture + Finish: As promised, this product is not sticky, and does not leave your hair with any tell-tale “you just lacquered your hair down with hairspray” white flakiness, even if you brush through it. It add some texture and thickness with successive applications.

What I Like/Love: I love the signature Moroccanoil® scent. It’s really beautiful and is the only thing I’ve found that rivals the Oribe scent. This product had good hold especially in comparison to previous Moroccanoil® hairspray I’d tried. I was especially impressed with the “memory” of this product in that my hair continued to return to the original style after several brush-throughs. It played nicely with styling products from several other brands and layered well, especially when compared to another product with similar promises from Sexy Hair (their Big Sexy Hair Get Layered).

What I Don’t Love: I was a little disappointed by the promised luminosity. It didn’t provide the type or level of shine and texturizing as I get from say, Oribe’s Aprés Beach Wave and Shine Spray (yes, I am totally obsessed with that product). This hairspray also doesn’t have the kind – wow shine of say, Nick Chavez Starlet Shine Spray. On the other hand, neither of those offers the memory and hold of the Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray. Also, the amount of good-for-you ingredients is slightly overstated. Most of the ingredients are standard for most hairsprays. The Argan oil is present, but it’s the 2nd to last ingredient on the list, so keep that in mind and keep your expectations in check.

This Hairspray May Help You Consolidate Styling Products!

Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairspray May Help You Consolidate Styling Products!

DBW Rating and Summary: If you’re looking for a multi-tasking product that offers hold, some thickness without stickiness or flaking, along with a little shine and that great Moroccanoil® scent, then this may be a wise purchase for you, especially if you don’t tend to overuse hairsprays. If you’re looking for a straightforward hairspray product to hold your style in place – and you’re less concerned about scent, buildable texture, thickness or shine, then you’ll likely find this product too expensive. Something like Sebastian Shaper Plus or the excellent generic equivalents would be your best bet.

So while this hairspray won’t be replacing all my styling products, it has replaced the Big Sexy Hair Get Layered (which I’ve given away) and I’ve almost completed retired Starlet Shine Spray (still in a drawer somewhere but likely to be given away soon).

Additional Product Review Sites:
1. Total Beauty Reviews (10 / 10 highest rating)
2. Makeup Alley Reviews (3.7 / 5 lipsticks; NOTE – Composite score includes reviews for both Medium and Strong holds Moroccanoil® Luminous Hairsprays. Individual reviews for strong hold formula appear to be higher than medium hold version.)
3. Influenster Reviews (4.6 / 5 stars)

Full product info available at the Moroccanoil® product page located here.

Wisdom for the Day:
“I want women to show their beauty by dressing in appropriate clothes that are modest and respectable. Their beauty will be shown by what they do,[a] not by their hair styles or the gold jewelry, pearls, or expensive clothes they wear.” ~I Timothy 2:9 (God’s Word Translation)
Read more here.

Giorgio Blue by Giorgio Beverly Hills – Fragrance Review

The Lovely Aquatic Giorgio Blue

There’s an unspoken belief, particularly among perfume aficionados (like myself), that a perfume must be expensive in order to be good. I, for one, have always gone by the rule that you get what you pay for. There’s plenty of inexpensive (even cheap) perfumes that start out lovely but soon either disappear completely or dissolve into something so disastrous you can’t wait to take a shower.

Giorgio Blue by Giorgio Beverly Hills is one of those rare jewels that, despite being quite reasonably priced, is well-balanced, pretty, and somehow manages to last all day without overwhelming its wearer or offending those in the vicinity. For this reason, it’s a true beauty bargain. But Blue has other impressive qualities.

Giorgio Blue manages to pull off a feat few perfumes at any price point accomplish these days – it’s not particularly derivative or reminiscent of anything else on the market. It’s an aquatic white floral but doesn’t contain the most commonly used aquatic notes (think watery notes, watermelon, cucumber, etc.). Here the water essences are evoked by means of water hyacinth, juicy guava, musky essence and driftwood.

I’ve seen it compared to Aqua di Gio, but the latter is a very complex almost fussy perfume with a cacophony of notes mixed together (full review here). At such a low price, if you’re a fan of Aqua di Gio or aquatic florals, you may want to try this one for yourself.

Price and Where to Buy: Online is your best bet for purchasing Giorgio Blue. Some retailers like Kohls, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx carry it in stores but selection can be hit or miss, so I recommend the following online options:
Amazon.com – 3 oz. from $22.48
Fragrancenet.com – Usually a very reliable vendor but sold out at time of this writing.
FragranceX.com – 3 oz. from $16.82 plus shipping
Jet.com – $27.96 with free shipping
Walmart.com (sold through an affiliate vendor) – $27.98 for 3 oz. with free shipping

Notes: When first sprayed, you get hit with juicy orange and guava. But those quickly fade (as citruses so often do) and you’re notice something watery grounded by earthy moss and a very pronounced musk. As the fruits continue to dissipate, the white florals – jasmine, water lily, hyacinth and a fairly benign (to my nose at least) tuberose (which can if not tempered can ruthlessly overtake a fragrance); base notes are vanilla, musk, oak moss and driftwood. See below for additional detail on my own experience on the unfolding of the notes over wear-time.

Sillage: Moderate. 2 Sprays will get you a fragrance trajectory of around 2-4 feet depending on your body’s own chemistry, the weather, air pressure and environment, other scented lotions or products you apply, etc.

Longevity and Experience: This wears at least 6-8 hours (at least on my skin which eats fruity florals by breakfast). You’ll catch whiff’s of this all day, especially during moments of increased body heat (i.e. when your coworker does something that causes your temperature to raise). As it dries down, the musk and driftwood notes become more prominent. But you’ll still get occasional wafts of guava blended expertly with enough water lily, jasmine, and tuberose to feel bright and feminine but there also enough musk mixed in to warm things up and make the whole mélange feel a bit sexier, warmer and more summery somehow. It’s not a beachy fragrance per se, more like a romantic walk evening stroll by the lake.

The Bottle: The bottle is shaded blue cut glass with gold cap. The bottle will may not rival Viktor and Rolf’s BonBon but (IMO) it’s as pretty as any those crazy-expensive Bond No. 9 New York bottles!

More Info:
Giorgio Beverly Hills burst onto the scene in the late 80s and faded almost as quickly. The company had all but disappeared from perfume lexicon as the early 2000s. That obscurity is a good thing for anyone preferring a unique personal fragrance instead of smelling exactly every other woman. Most recently the company was bought by Elizabeth Arden and Giorgio Blue was released in 2016, mercifully without any reformulation of changes to this magnificent and wonderfully hidden gem of fragrance.

Fragrantica’s Reviews of the original 2009 Giorgio Blue EDT and the 2016 release (not reformulated) following Elizabeth Arden’s purchase of the Giorgio Beverly Hills brand.
Makeup Alley’s Review may seen here.
FragranceX Review (NOTE this is a vendor site) may be seen here.
com Reviews (NOTE – this is a vendor site. Reviewers are Amazon purchasers) may be read here.

Wisdom for the Day:
“Oil and incense make the heart glad, and the sweetness of friends comes from their advice.” ~Proverbs 27:9 (Common English Bible)
Read more here.

Revlon Colorstay Whipped™ Crème Makeup – Product Review

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème™ Makeup – Could This Be Your HG Foundation?

Revlon Colorstay Whipped™ Crème Makeup is one of the line’s mainstays and one of Revlon’s few foundations not reformulated in recent years. That’s a good thing because this a great medium-full coverage cream foundation without sunscreen for those with normal, combination, slightly dry to slightly oily skin.

Price: Varies by store. Walmart offers most colors for around $11 for an 0.8 fluid oz. jar. Some shades cost a little more and are only sold only with shipping fees upwards of $5. ULTA and many drugstores (CVS, Walgreens etc.) sell this foundation for $15, but these vendors frequently offer Buy One, Get One 50% Off deals on Revlon products (which translates to 25% off or $11.25 each when you purchase two or more).

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Makeup Photo from Revlon.com

Color Range: Revlon markets 12 shades from the very light “Ivory” which has a neutral yellow undertone to deepish “Caramel” which has a more warm reddish undertones. However, most major retailers – ULTA, CVS, Walmart to name a few – carry only 8 of the 12 shades in stores. And different retailers tend to stock different colors. That’s either good news or a giant hassle based on your color needs and shade availability in your area. The good news is that drugstores and large discount retailers like Walmart have return policies almost as lenient as Sephora’s (generally allowing you to return opened/used products within 90 days of purchase with a valid receipt), so you can usually exchange it, provided you can find a suitable color match. The color range is mostly neutral. The deeper colors are not all that dark, or at least they don’t appear to be online. Unfortunately, most retailer don’t carry the darkest shades in store which is disappointing because shipping can be expensive due to the heavy glass jar packaging (more on that below). I’ve actually purchased 4 different shades and find my skin varies from 200 to 250 depending on the season, and shade 150 works very well as cream highlight.

The thick and creamy texture of Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Makeup (Shade 150)

Application: This foundation is (as you might expect) thick and creamy. Revlon describes this as a “bouncy, whipped” formula with a “mousse-like texture that feels like silk on your skin.” I wouldn’t expect an airy whipped cream texture because it’s definitely thicker than that. And it’s heavier and creamier than the mousse that you use in your hair. But it does feel silky, with enough “play time” to allow you to blend it in without steaks.

Because this foundation is packaged in a jar, you’ll need to use clean hands every time you apply this foundation and/or be sure to use a clean brush or sponge each time you dip into the jar. Otherwise you risk contaminating the product and creating a breeding ground for bacteria or other contaminants that could ruin the foundation (or worse) cause acne, breakouts or other skin reactions. So, be careful.

Coverage: A thin layer, applied with your finger or a damp BeautyBlender-type sponge yields moderate coverage with an attractive (though slight) luminescence and skin-like finish. Two layers will get you fuller (not quite “full”) coverage and a finish similar to the Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation or Tarte’s Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation.

Left-Right Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation (Medium 54); Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Foundation (Light-Medium Sand); Milani Conceal+Perfect (03); Becca Ultimate Coverage (Noisette); Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Makeup (250)

Texture + Finish: Revlon claims this foundation has a “mousse-like texture feels like silk,” on your skin and the time release formula balances skin for a flawless look. Revlon also promises that their Colorstay Whipped™ Crème is capable of self-adjusting to your skin’s needs, magically balancing out any dry or oily patches for a perfectly flawless look. Yeah, no foundation is capable of doing that. This one looks good on your skin as long as you’ve taken the time to prep your skin first. Despite Revlon claims Whipped™ Crème “never looks cakey,” if you pile on too many layers, it can look slightly cakey. Even then it can be sheered out with a damp sponge and a spritz of moisturizing setting spray.

Wear: Continuing with Revlon’s amazing claims for this product, they promise an astonishing 24-hour wear-time for this foundation. First of all, barring some major disaster or unforeseen event, nobody should be wearing their makeup for 24-hours straight. That said, this stuff will not last for 24 hours anyway. It breaks on me (at least) after about 10 hours, even with a great primer and periodic touch-ups. But that isn’t a deal-breaker. The best makeups require touch-ups because the skin on our faces is always producing oil; shedding skin cells. We sweat; talk on the phone and smudge makeup off. Whatever. Life happens. With realistic expectations, this foundation wears as long as some of the most expensive products with similar formulations. All matte, liquid foundations (e.g. Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet SPF 15) will always last the longest and perform the best in high humidity, but those foundations also have the greatest likelihood of emphasizing wrinkles, fine lines, etc.

Skin Beneficial Ingredients: This product does contain several emollient and skin-beneficial ingredients. Among them – Glycerin (skin replinisher), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Hyaluronic Acid (emollient), Silk protein (may have antioxidant properties). The Vitamin E and Silk protein’s antioxidant properties will lose efficacy after a few weeks of regular usage due to product’s packaging. The sodium hyaluronate may eventually lose efficacy as well. The emollients will not be affected unless the product becomes contaminated as described above.

Revlon chose to house this foundation in a (very) heavy glass jar. Jar packaging is not my favorite due to sanitary concerns and because jar packaging means repeatedly exposing product ingredients to air, thereby decreasing effectiveness of fragile ingredients like antioxidants, etc. But I don’t usually rely on foundation for antioxidant or skin treating ingredients. Typically I applies those things as part of of my skin care regimen prior to applying my makeup. The heavy glass jar means you won’t want to carry this in your purse. So using it for touch-ups is out. And the absence of sunscreen means you’ll want to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen (preferably one that includes some antioxidants and skin-identical ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, etc.) of at least SPF30 before applying this foundation.

Find the full list of ingredients here. To read more about the problems caused by jar packaging, see note below excerpted from this review at Beautypedia.com.

Summary: This is a great bargain for your beauty dollars and all-around wise purchase if you have normal, combo, or slightly dry to slightly oily skin and you’re looking for a medium to almost full coverage foundation with an attractive skin-like finish. This one comes in a wide array (for drugstore foundations) of neutral shades, but most retailers do not carry the full range of color option. The absence of sunscreen means this foundation won’t interfere with any selfies or photography you may encounter, but it means you’ll need to pair this with a broad spectrum SPF of at least 30 if you plan on using this as your everyday foundation.

Wisdom for the Day:
“Who is wise? And who knows the meaning of anything? A person’s wisdom brightens the expression; it changes the hardness of someone’s face.” ~Ecclesiastes 8:1 (Common English Bible)
Read more here.

+++More Info on Jar Packaging: The fact that it’s packaged in a jar means the beneficial ingredients won’t remain stable once it is opened. All plant extracts, vitamins, antioxidants, and other state-of-the-art ingredients break down in the presence of air, so once a jar is opened and lets the air in, these important ingredients begin to deteriorate. Jars also are unsanitary because you’re dipping your fingers into them with each use, adding bacteria, which further deteriorate the beneficial ingredients (Sources: Free Radical Biology and Medicine, September 2007, pages 818–829; Ageing Research Reviews, December 2007, pages 271–288; Dermatologic Therapy, September-October 2007, pages 314–321; International Journal of Pharmaceutics, June 12, 2005, pages 197–203; Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, January 2002, pages 1–32; International Society for Horticultural Science, www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=778_5; and Beautypackaging.com, and www.beautypackaging.com/articles/2007/03/airless-packaging.php).

The Amazing Anti-Aging Power of Collagen Part 2 – Beautifying Beverage Recipes

I recently posted a lengthy article on the evidence supporting supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen + hyaluronic acid (HA) + Vitamin C – a combo of supplements that when taken together have been proven to reduce skin wrinkling, improve skin elasticity and increase skin’s overall hydration (think plumping) levels. You can check out that post here. The basic idea is that several studies have proven that consumption of a hydrolyzed collagen powder in conjunction with daily hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C supplementation can significantly increase your skin’s hydration levels, improve its elasticity and decrease wrinkles. Pretty exciting stuff! Check that post for full research detail and product recommendations.

A Bevy of Beautifying Collagens + Great Lakes Pure Unflavored Gelatin

There are a number of quality hydrolyzed collagen products available nowadays. The 3 I like best are California Gold Nutrition CollagenUp; NeoCell’s Super Collagen; and Great Lakes Gelatin brand Collagen Hydrolysate Kosher Unflavored Beef powder. Great Lakes Gelatin brand also produces 2 other collagen supplement options – these awesome Collagen Hydrolysate Convenience Packs and these nifty little Collagen Endurance Plus packets. The latter product includes 100% of RDA for all B Vitamins as well as 100mg. of Vitamin C per serving (packet). However, the Collagen Endurance Plus products do have some added sucrose, so this option would not be appropriate for folks actively doing #WHOLE30.

The following recipes combine hydrolyzed collagen and other superfood ingredients into enjoyable, yummy-tasting beverages. I try to drink 2-3 collagen beverages per day. Experiment with these recipes and let me know (in the comments) if you have other collagen recipes you love!

1. Get Glowing Green Tea
I’ve written previously about green tea and the evidence supporting its status as a superfood. I was recently alerted to this fantastic, and quite compelling article detailing the 15 health benefits of green tea and the science behind them. So if you (like me) enjoy geeking out on the science of nutraceuticals and health foods, be sure to check it out!

This recipe is really tasty and helps ensure I meet my daily green tea quota. The secret is the cranberry juice and added super fruit powder (in this case Navitas Naturals Organic Pomegranate Powder) which provide both a sweet-tart flavor and added Vitamin C which, along with supplemental hyaluronic acid, are key to helping your body assimilate the collagen. Think of them as a power booster for the collagen protein, and they happen to taste great.

Ingredients:
• 1 sachet plain or fruit-flavored green tea + 8oz. pure filtered or distilled water
• 1 scoop (about 1 Tbsp.) hydrolyzed collagen supplement (see this list for recommended hydrolyzed collagen options)*
• 1-3 tsp. powdered super fruit Vitamin C supplement (I used about 2 tsp. Navitas Naturals Organic Pomegranate Powder) or preferred capsule Vitamin C. (I like Pure Radiance C Veggie Caps .)
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

Hardware:
• Microwave or tea pot
• Measuring cups + spoons
• Mug

Makes 1 yummy serving.

Process:
1. Brew tea using 6 oz. filtered or distilled water per sachet. Allow tea to steep at least 5 minutes before removing sachet.
2. At this point, I like to reheat the tea for a few seconds on HIGH in my microwave because I dislike lukewarm tea, but that’s totally optional. Remove and discard green tea sachet.
3. Stir 1 scoop (Tbsp.) hydrolyzed collagen into hot tea. Continue stirring gently until collagen is completely dissolved.
4. Add desired amount (I recommend 1/2 cup) of pure unsweetened cranberry juice, powdered fruit supplement and garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired. You can add sweetener to this tea, but I find it doesn’t need it with the fruit juice and pomegranate powder. You could add a pinch of stevia if you want it a bit sweeter. But stevia is not permitted during #whole30.*** (See comment below.)

***Stevia and all other natural or artificial sweeteners (with the exception of pure, no-sugar-added juice) are not permitted during #WHOLE30. For a complete list of #WHOLE30 program do’s and don’ts as well as answers to just about any and all #WHOLE30 questions you may have, I highly recommend you check out the program rules here and other resources available at WHOLE30’s website to educate yourself prior to beginning your own WHOLE30 journey or anytime you have questions or need some support (the Facebook and Twitter feeds are tremendous sources of encouragement and support).

2. Prettier Me Mocha

This recipe is essentially my #WHOLE30 Bullet-Proof Coffee with collagen. It’s also very similar to the original recipe from The Coconut Mama, located here. But lately, I’ve been really enjoying the deliciously creamy and #WHOLE30 approved Nut Pods Original Unsweetened Coffee Creamer. BTW, I’ve also tried their Unsweetened French Vanilla-flavored Coffee Creamer and love it too! Nut Pods are great for those times when I need some coffee but don’t wanna risk waking the baby by running the Nutribullet. I highly recommend Nut Pods!

Ingredients:
• 8 oz. freshly brewed black coffee, preferably organic
• 1-2 scoops (1-2 Tbsp.) powdered hydrolyzed collagen + Hyaluronic acid + Vitamin C (e.g. California Gold Nutrition CollagenUp)
• 1-2 Tbsp. pure (unsweetened) cocoa/cacao powder (I like this one from Nativas Naturals)
• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin coconut oil or 2 Tbsp. Nut Pods Original Unsweetened Dairy-free Coffee Creamer
• dash cinnamon or nutmeg (if desired)
• pinch pure Stevia (optional, don’t use if doing #WHOLE30, see comment above)***

Hardware:
• Blender
• Mug
• Measuring spoons

Process:
1. Brew coffee using 6-8 oz. filtered or distilled water.
2. While coffee is still very hot, carefully pour into blender canister along with all other ingredients and stir briefly until collagen is dissolved. Place canister on blender base and cover with lid.
3. Blend mixture for a few seconds on HIGH until frothy.
4. Pour into a large mug. Adjust seasoning/sweeteners to taste if desired. But remember, sweeteners of all kinds (including naturally-derived ones like Stevia, maple syrup and honey) are not permitted during #WHOLE30. For a complete list of #WHOLE30 program rules, check out the program rules here and resource links listed in comment above.***
N.B. This recipe can be made without use of blender if using Nut Pods Creamer instead of coconut oil. But even when using Nut Pods creamer, I still like to give my collagen coffee beverages a quick whir in the blender to ensure everything is well-combined and frothy.
Makes 1 Serving.

3. Skin-Loving Bone Broth Beverage

This warm, savory drink is incredibly soothing and satisfying. It’s a terrific afternoon pick-me-up for tired mommies (like me)! The protein helps tide me over until dinner and the vegetable juice provides some extra Vitamin C + Potassium. You could use store-bought broth, provided it doesn’t contain any sulfites, MSG or other nasty additives. If you’re new to making bone broth, you can read up on the process and find some easy+delicious recipes from Paleo Leap here and The Wellness Mama here.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup homemade bone broth
• 2 scoops (about 2 Tbsp.) hydrolyzed collagen + Hyaluronic acid + Vitamin C (e.g. (e.g. California Gold Nutrition CollagenUp or your preferred hydrolyzed collagen powder + Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid supplements) or 2 scoops (2 Tbsp.) of Great Lakes Gelatin brand Collagen Hydrolysate (be sure to take your daily hyaluronic acid supplement and at least 100mg. Vitamin C along with this broth)
• ½ cup unsweetened, low sodium tomato juice cocktail (e.g. V8 Original Low Sodium Vegetable Juice)
• 1 Tbsp. freshly-squeezed lemon juice (optional)
• 1 tsp. hydrolyzed gelatin (optional)
• Salt & pepper to taste

Hardware:
• Microwave
• Measuring cups
• Large Mug

Process:
1. Gently heat bone broth in microwave or on stovetop until a little hotter than desired temperature.
2. Remove from heat, and gently stir in 1 scoop hydrolyzed collagen and 1 tsp. gelatin (if using), continuing to stir until collagen + gelatin are completely dissolved.
3. Next carefully pour broth mixture into large mug. Then add the vegetable juice and (if desired) lemon juice.
4. Taste for seasonings, adjusting as needed.
Makes 1 Serving.

4. Make Me Younger Choco-Almond Smoothie

Thick, creamy and full of chocolatey, nutty deliciousness - this shake is my favorite way to enjoy collagen and satisfy my sweet tooth (teeth)

Thick, creamy and full of chocolatey, nutty deliciousness – this smoothie is my favorite way to enjoy collagen and satisfy my sweet tooth (ok my sweet teeth)

This is my current favorite lunch. I can make it quickly and drink it while chasing after my 9-month old daughter who is now constantly in motion. Containing several super star foods from the HealthGrove list of top 30 foods for beautiful skin and hair, this shake is thick, creamy and delicious! The spinach provides a hefty dose of nutrition including Folate, Magnesium, Potassium and Vitamins A, C, E, B2 & K. Read more about spinach here. The almond butter imparts a yummy nutty flavor that goes so well with the cocoa. Almonds also provide more Vitamin E antioxidants, some extra protein and healthy fat (thereby boosting the satiety factor of this shake). Read more about almonds’ nutrient values here.

Ingredients:
• 3 soaked dates (Soak in filtered water about 1 hour. Be sure the dates you use are free of sulfites if doing #WHOLE30)
• 8 oz. homemade almond or coconut milk
• 2 scoops (about 2 Tbsp.) powdered hydrolyzed collagen + Hyaluronic acid + Vitamin C (e.g. California Gold Nutrition CollagenUp ) or preferred hydrolyzed collagen powder + hyaluronic acid supplements + Vitamin C
• 2 cups loosely packed fresh baby spinach leaves
• 2 Tbsp. pure (unsweetened) cocoa/cacao powder (I like this one from Nativas Naturals )
• pinch salt
• 2 Tbsp. #whole30-compliant or paleo-correct almond butter (i.e. without any added sugars or sweeteners)
• 1 tsp. hydrolyzed gelatin, e.g. Great Lakes Gelatin Unflavored dissolved in 2 Tbsp. warm filtered water (optional but helps make shake thicker and more creamy)
• 1 cup ice cubes (optional, I add ice to thicken the shake and make it more like ice cream)
• pinch pure Stevia extract (optional and can be substituted for soaked dates if you’re watching your carbs but, do not use if actively doing #WHOLE30, see comment above)***

Hardware:
• Blender (I used this NutriBullet Pro 900 model, but a Vitamix or similar strong blender will work well too)
• 2 Freezer-safe mugs or jars with lid
• Measuring cups + spoons

Process:
1. If using gelatin, stir into 2 Tbsp. filtered water and allow to sit for a few (3-4) minutes. Combine milk and collagen in blender canister and whisk briefly with a fork until collagen mostly dissolves (there will still be a few collagen “lumps” but that’s okay).

Spinach is a superfood too, providing Magnesium, Potassium, Folate & Vitamins A, C, E & K

2. Put spinach into blender canister then pour in milk+collagen mixture into blender along with all other ingredients.
3. Place canister on blender base. Cover with lid and blend mixture for a few seconds on HIGH until frothy.
4. Pour into 2 freezer-safe mug or jars with lid. Freeze for about 1 hour or enjoy immediately.
Makes 2 Servings or 1 Large Meal-sized Shake
Remember, sweeteners of all kinds (including natural ones like Stevia) are not permitted during #WHOLE30. For a complete list of #WHOLE30 program rules, check out the program rules here and resource links listed in comment above.***
N.B. If you don’t have access to homemade nut milk, you can substitute ½ cup Nut Pods Original (or flavored) Unsweetened Coffee Creamer + ½ cup filtered water. Stir briefly to combine creamer and water. Then add collagen and proceed as above.
Makes 1-2 servings.
BTW: Don’t be dissuaded by the slightly greenish color of this shakes. It’s delicious and Hubs swears “it’s as good any ice cream!” I like to save half this recipe and keep in the freezer until after dinner. It’s the perfect dessert.

Beauty Resource of the Day:
This video from Emily Noel of Beauty Broadcast is fantastic in content and simplicity.
I LOVE tip #3! It’s one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” kind of tips. I’m hoping this tip “changes my makeup world” too! Thanks as always Emily 🙂

Wisdom for the Day:
Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. ~Proverbs 19:22 (NLT)
Read more here.

If you’re interested in checking out the scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of hydrolyzed collagen ingestion for wrinkle reduction and increased skin hydration, check out this DBW post detailing research & evidence supporting Hydrolyzed Collagen Combo Supplements for Younger-Looking Skin. And if you wanna delve deeper into the research, check out these scientific articles and helpful collagen info sites:
1. Borumand & Sibilla S. Effects of a nutritional supplement containing collagen peptides on skin elasticity, hydration and wrinkles, 2015. Journal of Medical Nutrition and Nutraceuticals; 4(1), 47-53. Online full text article link.
2. Ohara H, Ito K, Iida H, Matsumoto H. Improvement in the moisture content of the stratum corneum following 4 weeks of collagen hydrolysate ingestion. Nippon Shokuhin Kogaku Kaishi 2009; 56: 137-45. Online link to abstract here.
3. Matsumoto H, Ohara H, Ito K, Nakamura Y, Takahashi S. Clinical effect of fish type I collagen hydrolysate on
skin properties. ITE Lett Batteries New Technol Med 2006; 7:386-390. Full text unavailable. See other cited article links (above and below) for summary of this study.
4. Sibilla S, Godfrey M, Brewer S, Budh-Raja A, Genovese L. An Overview of the Beneficial Effects of Hydrolysed Collagen as a Nutraceutical on Skin Properties: Scientific Background and Clinical Studies. The Open Nutraceuticals Journal 2015; 8: 29-42. Online full text article available here.
5. Dr. Tim O’Shea of The Doctor Within on Hydrolyzed Collagen Supplementation. Link here.
6. All About Gelatin & Collagen from Paleo Leap.
7. And you’ll want to check out this list of Studies on Collagen Supplementation from Collagen Complete.

Daily Beauty Wisdom

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