I'm going to turn into Imelda Marcos....

WOW! The new shoes at ShopBop are making me have convulsions..........

And Currently at Billion Dollar Babes.....

Billion Dollar Babes is another high end flash sale store that focuses on designer label fashions at freaky huge discounts.

Currently at Rue La La

Rue La La is a plush discount website that's been featured in InStyle magazine, The Today Show and more. They have flash sales on plush designer goods and services that are changed out weekly. They carry everything from clothing, housewares, to spa trips! Check 'em out and see what kind of deals you can score!

I was featured on the All Natural Beauty Mall! (And get a discount on their current sampler!)

WHEEEEEE! How cool! I'm so honored!

Here's the article:

See a Review of the Summer Sizzler Sampler from the Beauty Pirate!

News

Even though Summer 2010 has long past, we just became aware of an outstanding review video that was made about the products in the Summer Sizzler Sampler. Enjoy this video while you get to know about some of the products offered in that bag and their manufacturers. This is a good sampling of what our Samplers are like. You'll see why we love offering them and why they are so popular with our shoppers! Thanks, Beauty Pirate, for your WONDERFUL video! Save %25 on our latest Sampler - The Holiday Preview Sampler 2010 - by using code ME right now. Only 6 left so don't delay!  WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/v/Y-kkm6pIFpU?fs=1&amp%3Bhl=en_US "All Natural Beauty Mall is a blessing and one stop shopping for safe, effective and natural health and beauty products. I was so excited to get my Summer Sizzler Sampler, because they only do these every so often and their samplers have introduced me to companies that I am now a lifelong customer of! You get tons of full sized products for a fraction of their normal cost."  from the Beauty Pirate Visit the Beauty Pirate's Blog at: http://beautypirate.blogspot.com/

And today we have......

First thing I did was use my Ulta Skin Clearing Tool. It's stainless steel, and what you do is first steam your pores. Then you use the tool to slide over blackheads or whiteheads (I've only used it on blackheads) to remove them painlessly from the skin. There's a slight pinch, but it's a smooth swipe and doesn't hurt. Your skin in the area will be red for a few minutes, but then it calms down quite quickly. If you're in a hurry, I recommend putting an ice cube on the cleaned pore to close the it up tightly. This gadget is only eight bucks and is extremely well made, better than bigger name brands like Tweezerman, in my opinion. What cracked me up though was a review I read on this tool on another page where they complained about being instructed to clean their face afterward with alcohol. It says on the package "Clean with cotton & alcohol after using." THEY MEAN THE TOOL, YOU TOOL! NOT your face, the TOOL. Oy vey. 

Starting my clean face, I had Smashbox Photo Finish Targeted Pore & Line Primer. This primer is specifically for enlarged pores and, well, lines. Works like a charm, this one does. I'm pretty startled by what a significant difference this makes. Smashbox products tend to be fairly reliable, and this one is no exception. They're good enough for Tyra, they're good enough for me! Where you really see the difference is after putting on foundation. As I've gotten older, my pores have been more pronounced, but with this they're tiny and tight. BRAVA! Also available at 
Ulta

Once again I've been having a heated debate with winter frizz, and this time I used Oscar Blandi Olio de Jasmine Hair Serum as my counterpoint. This stuff has been all the rage lately, and I see why. The smell is light and feminine without taking over. All you need is a tiny droplet, so it's cost effective. It does not give a greasy, weighed down look I've had samples of this sent to me recently by Sephora, New Beauty, Birchbox, and Beauty.com- everyone is all over it. It makes your hair feel like silk and gives a gorgeous shine. It's also a great product to protect your hair from heat tools like dryers or curling irons. And it's pretty cheap, too! A small bottle will only run you about sixteen bucks, and again, a teeny bit goes a long way.
Also available at Ulta.

I've been a bit disaapointed with Bath & Body Works lately. I got the set (soap, lotion, body spray) of one of their newer scents- Forever Sunshine.

It's so cloying that I find it almost nauseating. Oddly, it smells wonderful after a few hours if you layer the scent, I just wish I could go from 60 to zero in an instant with it instead of having to open the bathroom door and the shower curtain when I use the soap so I don't barf. Seriously, it smells fabu after it's soaked in but it's not gonna win you any fans the first hour or so.

SO I started carrying around in my purse Thymes Kimono Rose lotion to replace my normal B&BW hand lotion, and this stuff is what they wish they could be. Sophisticated, elegant. It's so rich and moisturizing that your skin feels like velvet, yet it absorbs almost immediately and isn't the slightest bit greasy. SUPER SUPER SUPER! I've previously had a love affair with other Thymes products (their lavender hand soap is my go-to kitchen soap) and once agani they do not disappoint. I love you, Thymes!

Another fab Birchbox item from recently is Cargo's bronzer in medium. This is a neutral color that seems like it should work with all skin tones. It's sheer, so it only adds tint; you don't have to worry about your skin merely looking dirty like some bronzers do. It adds an effervescent glow that even on my pale skin simply imparts a jewel like shimmer instead of dark smudges of color. i take a tapped off brush of it and sweep it on the outer edges of my face to add an eye catching highlight then use it on the apples of my cheeks with a slightly heavier application as a blush. It's so smooth and effortless! Truly a silky smooth powder that leaves no streaks or overloaded spots. And apparently almost everything I'm using today is available at Ulta.

normally I'm a hearty supporter of Stila shadow, but I'm disappointed in the Mineral Matte shadow in Kalahoo.  It's a lovely rich minky color, but for some reason this particular one has tremendous fallout. Seems like I got more on my cheeks than my lids. Phhhhhbbbbbbttttttt. boo. It doesn't blend well and smells kinda weird. Supposedly it also only has a shelf life of 6 months. SIX MONTHS? I'd have to wear it every day! Don't waste your hard earned money.

A much better mineral shadow is Purus Cosmetics Shaliner, which I've reviewed previously
HERE.

The Face Of Today

Hello! I did NOT fall down a hole, contrary to popular belief! I know what you're waiting for, right? Another installment of what I slapped on my mug today!

Last night I washed my hair before going to bed, so when I woke up it was a bit frazzled. What tamed my nutjob flyaways and put my hair back in shape? Juicy Couture So Gleamy Hair Shine mist.

With these type of mists, you do need to be careful with how you use it. You want only the tiniest spray or it will weigh your hair down and make it look greasy. If my hair is dry, I like to spray it onto my hands and run them through my hair to make sure it's evenly distributed. It can be used on wet hair in lieu of a conditioner- particularly good on the ends to smooth split ends. It smells just like what you'd expect- Juicy Couture perfume. It's a light scent that fades pretty quickly, but it leaves a subtle hint of scent in your hair itself- just don't expect it to take the place of a perfume. If you're not a fan of Juicy Couture I would recommend checking out Cherry City's line of similar spray in product, available in something like 500 scents.....
The Juicy Couture stuff will run you about $20 and is available at Ulta. $20.00 may seem exorbitant, but a little goes a long way and this will last you forever. 3 FREE Samples with EVERY Order

I am totally bonkers about anything by Arcona. They have yet to disappoint me in any way and the Peptide Hydrating Complex is no exception.

My skin is trying to adjust to the sudden artificial heat sources of winter and this under my moisturizer was like a huge gulp of water for my skin. It makes the skin really smooth as well as 'lifted' a bit. No harsh chemicals or preservatives so you don't have to worry about a bad reaction. I am a big fan in particular of their bottle's delivery method, it's a pressure pump so it doesn't get exposed to air or the bacteria on your filthy hands :-) You only need a teeny tiny bit so it'll last forever. Unlike most serums, this one comes out looking creamy, but once you put it on and let it absorb a minute into your skin, you'd never know that it's there (well except for the benefits, of course!) Available at


Dr Sebagh Creme Vital face cream is touted by none other than Cindy Crawford, but this luxe French brand can be difficult to locate.

Why? Because a jar of it will run you over $250.00!!!!! There is no way on God's Green Earth I could afford this, but I got some for free and I must admit, it's pretty nifty! If I had Cindy's money, I'd probably buy it too. It's extremely lightweight and my skin looks so refreshed and awake. This combined with the Arcona Peptide serum and I went the first half of the day with no foundation on because my skin didn't really even need it. If you've got the cash, give it a shot or do some searching online to find someone selling sample sizes or testers. You can find some truly amazing beauty deals that way.

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Liners: Rockstar, 1999, Ransom, Lust

Easily one of my favorite lines for eyeliners! These go on sooooooo smooth and creamy, but unlike Elizabeth Arden liners (my nemesis!) they don't smear all over your face or give you raccoon eyes. The colors are vibrant and true and I love the sparklies! 1999 is one of my favorites, with an awesome metallic sheen. A dazzling line of product. 

Also available at Ulta.

The Too Faced Magic Wand foundation  in London Fair is my new fave foundation. It goes on sheer and even and lasts all day. This isn't for if you need heavy coverage, it's a whisper light formula that evens out your skin tone for a fresh, natural look. What makes it so particulularly groovy is the delivery method. It has a built in foundation brush at the tip! You click a button on the bottom of the tube to release a few drops at a time so you don't waste any, and goes right into the brush. LOVE! Absolutely ingenious.













Mark Rebel Rose Pallette with Rebel , Saucy, Corset, and Luvstruck is a bit of a mixed bag. The colors are gorge, but you HAVE to use a shadow primer if you don't want it to crease within a few hours. I did one lid with primer and one without, and the primed lid began to crease a bit after 5 hours or so. The one without primer creased almost immediately. It could be because I used a fairly rich eye cream in the morning. Nonetheless, this line is inexpensive enough and the colors are so lovely that I don't feel like it was a waste at all- just use your shadow primer first!
If you want to check out Mark products, there's a link on the right hand side of the screen. A great area of their store is called Final Chance and it's items marked down 50% or more!

Very Irresistible by Givenchy is very light and elegant. The smell is a floral, but not cloying- no bonking you over the head here. Instead, it's refined and dignified with a subtle sexiness. It has star anise, which tones down the floral and gives it a fresh vibrancy, keeping it from being too little girly. I become immune to it's scent pretty quickly, so this isn't one for those who want to be able to smell a perfume trail following them, but believe me- others will notice it for many hours to come! I've gotten compliments on it from folks who normally don't dole out the niceties.

 

Also available at Ulta.

ALL NATURAL BEAUTY MALL SUMMER SIZZLER SAMPLER!

Updated with video review- because I FINALLY got it posted! HeeHee.....

All Natural Beauty Mall is a blessing and one stop shopping for safe, effective and natural health and beauty products. I was so excited to get my Summer Sizzler Sampler, because they only do these every so often and their samplers have introduced me to companies that I am now a lifelong customer of! You get tons of full sized products for a fraction of their normal cost.

What will I receive in the Summer Sizzler Sampler?

·        Nature’s Gift: Skeeter Beater Gel ($5.00)
·        Dropwise Essentials: Full-Sized Refresh Aromatherapy Room & Body Spray Mister. ($12.50)
·        Jenulence: Full-Sized Golden Peach Mineral Foundation/Concealer (SPF 15), Cranberry Mineral Blush and 2 Eye Shadows (Mauve Pearl & Blue Pearl). ($42.00)
·        Alexandra Avery: Hawaiian Sun Oil ($8.00)
·        :Evan's Garden

Full-Sized Meadow Foam Hand Soap in Lemongrass ($9.95)
·        Shear Miracles: Wholesome Beginnings Baby Sunscreen ($3.00)
·        Oceana Naturals: MelanSol® 100% natural Sunscreen SPF 25 ($14.95)
·       

Ferro Cosmetics Minerals

: Full-Sized Eye Candy (Random Color) & Dual Shadow Brush Applicator + $5 Cosmetic Credit Voucher.($25)
·        Monave Mineral Cosmetics: Gran Marnier Bronzer ($7.50) and Flush Lip Gloss ($11.50)
·        Green Gardens Naturals: Full-Sized Silky Face Daily Moisturizer (vegan) ($14.99) and Full-Sized Smoothie Max Lip Balm ($2.99)

How much does it cost?

Just $29.50 plus a shipping and handling fee of $7.95. (Retail Value is $157.38!)

How long do I have to take advantage of this offer?

This offer is good while supplies last, so don't delay. There is a 2 bag limit per person. This offer is only available to residents of the U.S.

PICK ONE UP BEFORE THEY'RE ALL GONE! I got mine and it's awesome (as always).  Video to come, and products will be reviewed in later posts.