In Search of More Pink.

So my daughter, Doodles, & I (and hubby too) were at the Mall Saturday night on a mission. First plan of attack was to use her expiring 20% off coupon at Limited Too (she is 11!) and secondly, I wanted to find a few more great "Pink Products" - meaning more beauty products that were in support of BCA.

On our way to the bigger and better Sephora store (they just relocated in the Mall) as we surpassed L'Occiitane, Doodles stopped dead in her tracks and asked if I knew about this one yet. I had not seen L'Occitane's BCA entry, so we entered the store. I was so excited to see that it was a limited edition Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream in which 15% of the purchase price of $36 was to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. I made the purchase - yippe - it smells divine! So far, I have only tested it out on my hands, but I will be sure to post a full review soon.

Our next stop was definitely Sephora. As we entered, Doodles thought that the entire Piink collection from Sephora was for BCA, but as I quickly explained how that was just their little collection of Piink, she didn't quite care. "It is Pink, Mom", she was squealing, and went on how she needed something from here - so I let hubby stay by her so she could touch and try everything out, as this gave me a chance to roam around to find more of what I was really looking for.

Of course, I grabbed Philosophy's Shower for the Cure ($20) as soon as I saw it. I love their 3-in-1 shampoo, bath, body washes, but I don't splurge on them that often. Well, this was the perfect chance. I love the fresh, clean scent. I stopped by the end cap of Bare Escentuals and gave their Pink Passion ($48) set a good look-over, but having not been the biggest fan of their glosses, I decided to look around a bit more to see what else I may purchase instead. That is when I made my way to the Stila section to look for their BCA It Gloss Trio, but I soon found that they were sold out already. (Mental note to myself, order one tonight - they are still there on the website!) Across from Stila, was a huge collection of makeup brushes. That is where I found Sephora's BCA Mini Kabuki Brush ($10) - which I could always use! It is so perfectly hot pink - and a great size, so that was quickly added to my basket. Almost immediately as I turned around, a few lovely ladies were holding LORAC's Perfectly Pink Blush ($25). Seeing as that was on my list to look over, I asked where they found it, and I headed on over to grab one up. The blush is just too pink for me, but not for my extremely fair sister who looks awesome in a really pink blush. It will be one of her stocking stuffers (from her baby daughter). And that got me thinking back to BE's Pink Passion set, and how my Mom might really enjoy that. So I ran back and grabbed it for her. Ooh, another present down, and Christmas shopping was not even a thought when I got to the mall. That got me thinking - I always spend about $20 on a little trinket for each of my kids teachers - and what a better way than to grab something now that will benefit BCA too. I ran over to hubby with the idea, where he asked how much I was planning on spending tonight - geez, the nerve of him, and ultimately agreeed that it was a nice idea. So I grabbed 4 more Shower for the Cures'.

So I was done - or so I thought. Right next to the register they had tubes of a pink GoSmile Morning Rush Toothpaste ($5) that I just needed to add to my order. How sweet - I hope!

Done? My poor daughter. I guess that hubby had already explained that we were on our mission to get more pink beauty items and not what "Doodles wants, Doodles gets, totally unnecessary for an 11 year old items". So, yes, we were done! To the tune of $188 - not bad.

After the $36 at L'Occitane and this, I dared not ask hubby to step into Nordie's so I could take a look see at their counters. I also knew I'd be back during the week with no one in tow. ;)

Summer's Best!

Lest we not forget that it is still Summer. With all of the info I have been reading about what is hot for the Fall, I remind myself - it's August and it's 90 something degrees. And I am tan (mostly from my love of self-tanning) and want to stay that way!

So, here are my favorite products I have been using this Summer.
 
To keep my face feeling moisturized and looking tan while at the pool or beach, I have been using XEN-TAN Face ($22). It is a facial self-tanner with a daily dose of treatment. The Face lotion contains Vitamin E for awesome antioxidant benefits while the blend of gentle fruit acids smooth my delicate facial skin. And the instant olive based color looks perfect when applied - and it helps make sure that I didn't miss any spots as well.

To keep my Summer body smooth and moisturized, I recently discovered Cake Beauty's Desserted Island Creamy Body Buffer ($24). This wonderful smelling (like vanilla frosting with a hint of coconut cream - yum!) cream is mixed with some of the world's finest ingredients: Apricot Seeds, Jojoba Beads, and Shea Butter. The Apricot Beads are finely ground and are used an a natural exfoliant, while the pink Jojoba Infused Beads use Jojoba Oil to gently moisturize and exfoliate, and the rich Shea Butter is added for it's regenerative emollient and protectant properties. While the directions say to use it 2 - 3 times a week, I am addicted, and use it in my shower daily.

While on the subject of my body, I hate to admit it, but I do miss a spot in my self-tanning ritual now and then. To remedy this, I turn to Benefit's Jiffy Tan ($24). Jiffy Tan is NOT a self-tanner, it is a tinted body lotion - think of it as a body bronzer, that instantly evens out self-tanning mishaps, or leaves pale white skin tan in  - you guessed it - a jiffy! I use this on my legs daily. It evens everything out and give them the darker color I crave. And it lasts, only coming off with a few minutes of scrubbing gently with soap (for this I suggest their Wonder Mitt). And be sure to wash you hands well after using too.

As far as makeup goes, I use different products for day and evening. 

During the day, I keep a minimalist approach in the high heat. Tarte's Rock Royalty Palette  ($30) does my entire face. The palette includes a mineral powder bronzer, which I apply first, over my forehead, chin, cheeks and nose, then a bit swept across my eyelids. Then I apply the powder blush on the apples of my cheeks and blend over my eyelids too. Then I take the gold high lighter and apply that on my brow bone. Whoola! Now a quick lip is easy with Benefit's Color Plump ($20) in Yoo Hoo, a perfect natural honey color. And the extra little plumping you get from this pencil (yes, plump from a pencil) is a great bonus - it makes my lips look a bit fuller and healthy! And eyes are simply complete with a quick mascara application. I am really liking Bobbi Brown's No Smudge Mascara ($20) in black for a natural look - with the benefit of it not running or smearing from the heat and humidity.

In the evening, when I am apt to wear more makeup, I have been using a few products faithfully, while mixing in color now and then. As I use no foundation in the Summer, I start out using XEN-TAN's Perfect Bronze  ($28) powder bronzer to enhance my natural (self) tan. It is silky smooth (never cakey or dry looking) and is best applied naturally where the sun would tan you more: swept over the forehead, then down over the nose and chin, then swept from side to side over the very tops or the cheeks and across the nose again.  I simply top this off with a light dusting of MAC's Studio Fix ($24) in NC40, my perfect Summer tan shade, to set it while it helps even things out just a bit more. On my eyes I vary the colors by outfit or event, and I have been using a lot of Bourjois, especially their new Intensely Luminous Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow ($13.50). They have long wearability, and the light reflecting pigments really catch the light at night. Parme Electro, a beautiful violet and Rose Disjoncte, a real pure pink are my favorites. Eyeliner is a must for me at night, and I have been picking shades from my Smashbox Cream Eyeliner Palette ($32). They are full of pigment, and the cream formula makes application a cinch and they last all through the night.  To top off my eye look, I am loving DuWop's Lash Lacquer ($18) in Carbon Black. It is a two step product, making it easy to first add long and thick lashes before using the second coat to top the lashes with an orange oil that adds gloss and makes the lashes waterproof. For the lips, I am a gloss queen in the summer. Lipstick need not apply!!! My favorites are MAC's Tinted Lipglass and Ligelee ($14) in various shades, Estee Lauder's High Gloss ($16) in Honey, Flamingo, and Bronze, and my newest favorite YSL's Golden Gloss ($25.50) in Simply Gold and Golden Pink. YSL is a bit expensive for a gloss, but these glosses actually contain real 24K gold in them - and they are about the most beautiful glosses with any hint of gold I have ever used.

Please do not forget that Summer is still here, and keep using your Summer's Best!

The Power of One Woman: Oprah.

Power. Success. Oprah.

They are pretty much one in the same when it comes to endorsements.

According to Christina Carlino, Philosophy brand creator, Oprah put Philosophy on the map. By selecting Hope in a Jar as one of her favorites for her "Favorite Things' shows in 1999, the brand, founded in 1996, has become a household name. Oprah subsequently has put Hope in a Jar on her list again in 2005, and included these other philosophy products as well: The Gingerbread Man Salt Scrub (in 2004) and an Amazing Grace Basket (in 2005) filled with all of the Amazing Grace products.

With no advertising whatsoever, some of Philosophy's products are number one sellers at Sephora, Nordstrom, and QVC. 

The power of Oprah, ladies - the power of Oprah!