Two recent tries:

- Butter London nail polish. This is a newish company with little manicure boutiques in a handful of places - mostly airports, clever clever. They're done up like old-school Victoria's Secret boutiques made over by her hipster cousin. Love the colors, love the names, love the concept.... wish the darn stuff wouldn't chip within a day. And that's with a basecoat and topcoat. Argh.

http://www.butterlondon.com

- Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare. If you've ordered from Boden before, you may have received an email offering to enter a drawing for a giveaway. I'm a sucker for marketing like this, and I love the fact they make it seem like you're one of the very few winners when in all likelihood they've mailed the goodies out to every address they got. They sent out a creme cleanser with a muslin washcloth and gosh darn, the stuff is nice! I'm going to try the face line, and they have some nice looking scented bath oils and body products, too.

http://www.lizearle.com (assumes you're in the UK; you can change it to other countries in the upper right corner)

Guerlain's new mascara. It's very long, gold, and can hang around your neck. (Why I don't know?) Has two wands. One at one end is very short and I guess for defining. The other is longer with a different kind of brush and is for more mascara. VERY COOL.

I'm desperately wanting to buy the Shiseido Automatic Lip Crayon. It's ludicrously priced, $23, but I got a sample and oh my...glides on like silk, moisturizes lightly, amazing color payoff. I will post a picture tomorrow of me wearing shade L3, it's LOUD, but oh so gorgeous.

Also, I've rediscovered HIP cream shadow paints. I tried on one shade, Secretive, awhile ago and hated it because it was too shimmery and chalky. I bought another shade, lofty, at the same time but never used it. I finally cracked it open the other day and LOVED Lofty.

http://www.lorealparisusa.com/_us/_en/defa...tid+Cos18p_2//}

It's a warm pink color with a bit of gold, perfect for an everyday neutral eye. I find myself wearing it almost every day now, and am wanting to acquire the rest of the colors from the line.

Reiha, how do you apply the shadow paint? Do you squirt the shadow onto a plate or something and then dip a brush into it? I'm looking for a better eye shadow (less chalky) than the Revlon that I'm currently using, but I love how long it lasts and never creases. However, I don't want something that's at all difficult to apply.

Also, do the Lip Crayons have sunblock?

I like the cream shaow paints, too, but don't like how bulky they are and the mess involved. I didn't give mine away but I hardly use them for that reason.

Twitch - yeah, the box they come in has a little area where you can squeeze some out and brush it on. I find that messy so tend to squeeze some on my finger and brush them on from there.

2nd what JenT has said, I don't use it though, because I always squeeze out way too much. With this stuff, a little goes a long way, so I just squeeze out a tiny bit from the top of the tube and dip my brush directly into it. Unhygienic, I know, but it works.

And no SPF in the lip crayons, alas. I always apply my Shiseido SPF 55 on my lips as well, though, so it's not a big problem for me that it lacks SPF.

Reiha, I got a ludicrously priced lipstick too! Nars Leila (a raisin colour), semi-matte with a little 'shimmer.' At the present time Nars is the only brand I can wear. (Hope they don't change the formula.) This colour is a few shades darker than what I usually wear but being on the sheer side (though not gooey or too shiny), it keeps a soft look.

That is a gorgeous color. I'm lemming Nars lipstick, too, but I just can't justify spending over $20 on a color cosmetics product. Foundation is the only thing for which I will pay upwards of 50. Everything else, I try not to spend over $20/item.

Here's the promised lipliner pic. I swear it looks better irl.

This is so pretty! I'm going to look out for it, yes, it is not cheap, but if it is a product that you really love and you are going to use it, not just put in the drawer- its absolutely worth it , you'll get a lot of wear for $20.

Liz Earle is an excellent range, if you order direct from them you always get a freebie good size one too.
Cleanse and Polish is a cult product here in the UK and always wins awards.

Sisley foundation for me. Amazing stuff, goings and stays on but looks so natural. Never goes shiney or cakey. Trouble is costs £49 here!!! For quite a while I kept going to the Sisley counter for samples LOL. But then managed to find some on ebay full size brand new bottle half the store price.

Argan Oil, my face loves it. I read it was brilliant for sensitve roseaca skin and it is. Has a slightly strange smell, not nasty but natural but soon get used to it. You can use it on face, hair and body, anti aging firming soothing etc.

Reiha, you're a great lip model! You picked a winner!

I don't mind paying the cost of Nars because if I don't, I would have to start experimenting with all the brands out there to see if there is any other one I can wear. It's even worse in Canada--$30! plus 11.5% tax! Ugh! But I wear it all the time and it is great. Besides, I only have three lipsticks now, which is more than I need. I can get by with two, a lighter and a darker.

Donna, where do you get your argan oil? What brand? Sounds like maybe it would work for me.

FiveOaks, love that lippie color! (I do NOT need another lipstick, I do NOT need another lipstick ...)

I'm of the opinion that if you find a lipstick you love, it's worth any price. That's how I rationalize my Glossimer purchases.

On the budget side, I usually stick to drugstore mascaras since I'm such a stickler for replacing them so often. Sad to report that Cover Girl Lash Blast was a bust. As was Revlon's new Beyond Natural Defining Mascara.

I didn't like the Lash Blast either. I have yet to find anything better than Maybelline's Full n Soft. Although, I have been supplementing it with their Lash Discovery. I use it over the Full n Soft and i makes everything last longer.

What I'm loving now is my new blow dryer:

Blow Dryer

I agree on the Full n Soft. Although I've found there's a world of difference between the waterproof and regular versions. The regular version clumps on me and gets smeary. The waterproof is perfect.

Fiveoaks, that is a fantastic color! Must remember to try that one out next time I'm near a Nars counter, as that is one of my favorite colors.

My latest find is plain old jojoba oil. I decided I wanted to start putting less chemicals all over my body what with all the parabens etc. in lotions, and have started moisturizing with exclusively plain jojoba oil. It is working very well, and even helps my perfumes last longer since the oil provides a good anchor. I'm very pleased. I also found a great natural shower gel that is made from olive oil and glycerin and smells good too (can't recall the brand name but it comes from San Francisco). Oh, and the jojoba oil comes from a company that is located only 15 miles from my house - I like supporting local businesses too.

Rimmel Glameyes mascara in Extreme Black. New holy grail territory for me.

I bought mine on ebay organic do a search for Valle Rico Beauty, she sells rosehip oil etc too.

I didn't like Lash Blast either - I guess I'll look for the Rimmel next time I'm at the drugstore.

Jen I love that blow dryer. I'm in the market for a new one and I'm eyeing the high-end ones.

My latest beauty product find?

Does my gastric bypass count? ( lol!! ) Seriously, it's done wonders for my skin (probably because I have to drink lots of water now, and no more junk food... )

I know it's in bad taste to brag, but (for anyone out there who is thinking of having this surgery,)I just have to say that I'm so GLAD I did it! This Monday, it will be three months post-op for me - I'm down 60 pounds, feel BETTER, look a bit younger, and have SO much more energy!! My blood pressure is back to where it should be, and I'm sleeping better at night.

Come to think of it, sleep is a great beauty product, if you can get enough of it...

That's wonderful! I'm very happy for you!

I am using Lash Blast and I like it.I read on MUA that the water proof formula sucked so I got the regular one. Nice and no clumping!

Cover FX Skin Tint. (for the face)


Love, love. love this stuff!


http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2935919?cm_cat...m_ven=yahoo_ssp

Congratulations, nubka. I am glad you are doing well. I have been wondering how you were doing after your surgery and how you were doing with the weight loss. I should have pmed you.

Congratulations! I'm so happy it worked out so well for you.



I'm loving this right now too!

-Noelle

Bravo Nubs ! Not a easy decision to take as its is major surgery . So happy to hear its going well and you are so pleased!

Nubka, so glad the surgery brought about the results you wanted, and that you're feeling good! Congrats on the new you!

Thanks to Sharil's recommendation, http://perfumeoflife.com/index.php?showtop...mp;hl=lip+stain

I am now the proud owner of one of these,
http://www.morphocosmetics.com/shop/index.php?cPath=2
and am loving it. I have since discovered another lip stain (by Revlon), Just Bitten in 'Berry Juice' also.

What i do is apply the Morpho in 'Zinnia', dab to tone it down a bit, and then apply the Just Bitten. The color is just right...natural looking but with a little touch of pinkish-red. And it lasts at least 'til lunchtime, so it's nice not to have to worry about reapplying lipstick (like I used to do) throughout the morning.

I wonder if Nars Leila is discontinued. I looked for it online and couldn't locate it. It looks very pretty, though..

Let's see:

NARS Schiap, a heartstopping fuschia matte--love bold lips
NARS Underworld, two elegant, subdued shimmers with lavender tones, in silver and petrol blue, they complement Schiap well
DHC Q10 Cream, buttery rich and my skin drinks it up
Cover Girl Invisible Concealer, very good for something so cheap!
Avalon Organics shampoos--no parabens or sulfates
Aquaphor, as lip balm, cuticle cream, and even eye cream (but the latter only at night, it's protective but doesn't absorb well)

The Invisible Concealer really is invisible.

I've given up Aquaphor, believe it or not, after about 5 years of absolute devotion. One day it just struck me that it's just petroleum jelly with more ingredients than it needs to have. I've since used petroleum instead and and can't see a difference

Sharil, I got it at Saks. They don't show it on their website but you could always call a store.

I just switched to jojoba butter for my dry cracked heels, it's working well.

To me, Aquaphor is thicker than Vaseline and stays on my eyelids longer. The Vaseline just quickly melts away...

I highly recommend Dove Cream Oil Intensive Body Lotion. It's cheap but super-effective in making super-dry skin soft and silky smooth. It does have a slight fragrance but it dissipates.

Ditto!

-Noelle

I have this in the purple color and it clogs horribly, so much so that I'm hoping to give it back. Complete waste of money.
MB

Urban Decay eye primer potion. An amazing eye shadow base. NO CREASING, NO GREASY EYELIDS! A complete miracle product. I use it daily now, under Bobbi Brown BONE eyeshadow, to 'lift' my eyes.
There are so few wonder products around, but this is definitely one of them I'm always amazed to find very few people have heard of it!
MB

I've really been enjoying the Pacifica Body Butters. I've only used a few so far but the consistency is great - like a rich cream, but not too thick. I use them while I'm still damp out of the bath and they leave my skin feeling supple and like silk. The scent throw is amazing -- as good, if not better than my perfume creams that cost upwards to $100 a jar. I like all the scnets, but my current summer favorites are Lemon Blossom, Blood Orange, Nerola Orange Blossom, and Gardenia. I think I'll like the Lemongrass, Sandalwood, Amber and Mountain Temple as the weather gets cooler.

I was using a Revlon eye shadow in a neutral brown shade for years. It wore like iron and never creased. But it had a slight chalkiness to it.

This past weekend, I broke down and bought a NARS eyeshadow in pretty much the same color. No more chalkiness, and it wears like iron, too. (The shade is called "Blondie" for some reason.) So for about ten times the price, I can actually have it all. Hmmm.

I want to try the new Givenchy Phemonen'Eyes Mascara with the spherical application tip:
http://blogdorfgoodman.blogspot.com/2008/0...-review-by.html

I honestly am a terrible bore with make up and most beauty products , but at the moment am re discovering my love of the Spectro Jel/Derm facial cleanser range and Aveeno .... I have major skin issues and am betwixt and between treating oiliness or allergies , often both at the same time.

Still lovin' the Jane Iredale Magic Mitt.

G.D. ~ Please tell.....what is Jane Iredale's Magic Mitt and do I need one?!!

Hi Rosebud!

The Magic Mitt is a microfiber washcloth mitt that exfoliates the skin very gently while it cleanses. It claims to remove most makeup without any cleanser, just water alone. I usually don't wear heavy makeup, but I can attest that it does remove my mineral powder makeup, eyeliner and mascara very well. It does exfoliate very gently, I've been using it with no irritation. It's under $20, I found mine at my derm's office.

For this dude here, I'm really enjoying the Clinique for Men skincare products I just started using. My skin feels so good after using it and I have this outer glow that shine from within too! LOL!!! Okay, that's saying too much, I'm just kidding. But my skin does look good after using the products. I'm a happy guy here.

Right now I'm loving Revlon's Color-Stay Mineral Lipglaze. It's the first lipgloss I've ever had that actually lasts. I put on a light lipstick application in the morning and then the Lipglaze on top and by lunchtime I still have color. Sometimes all I do is add a little more lipglaze and it gets me through the whole day. I went crazy and got it in Rose, Red, Raisin and Plum. There are many other shades too if you don't want as much color.

Aromaleigh's Glissade MMU.
It's the ONLY MMU I can use on my rosacea ravaged face. Actually, it's the ONLY MMU I've been able to wear without looking like an add for big pores and dry skin, accentuated in neon brightness.
Plus, there are so many colors to choose from and mix and match with...anyone should be able to achieve a perfect skin match. And the samples are cheap and last a long time.
I also think Aromaleigh carries some of the best brushes I've ever come across. No smell, soft as baby's hair, and they don't tear at my ultra-sensitive skin.