A Day In The Beauty Life

I have a few items I've pulled out this week so far, but the first I want to show you because I have been using it the most.  It is the Femme Body Lotion from Avon.

I have been slathering this all over my skin after drying off from my shower in the morning and I am LOVING it.  The notes are jasmine, magnolia, and amberwoods.  It is just strong enough that I can breathe in the fragrance and feel invigorated and ready to start my day with a smile on, but is subtle enough to not be offensive or overpowering to anyone around me.  If you want something that makes you feel happy for a moment in time and starts your day off the right way then this is the scent for you.

Completely off topic here, but for all my readers I have a quick update... I pulled Potent Pleasures by Eloise James back out for a re-read.

It's basically a romance novel which I normally do not enjoy, but the main character is just sassy enough and there is just enough of a real plot to this story that I don't actually hate it and have read a few books in the series.  Still not my favorite kind of book to read but I've definitely read much MUCH worse.

Also off topic but worth mentioning... can we just give a quick cheer over Once Upon A Time being back on and the new Wicked spin it has?  WOO-HOO!  ok...now back to our regularly scheduled program.

It has been a good mail week for me.  I just opened a box to find that I get to try True Smooth by Coolway.  

Stay tuned to find out how that turns out.  I also got a few samples of Burberry Brit Rhythm 

in the mail, so I'm excited to use those up as well.

I've been trying to play catch up on filming and have completed one video for my website which will go up on Friday and a book review which will go live next Tuesday so watch for those.  I loaded another Organizational video which will go live on Thursday.  This Saturday there will be a new Ready, Set, Shop! video and so I have been putting away the products from last week and pulling out new ones for the next video.  A sneak peek of a few of the products in this Saturday's video include Covergirl Instant Cheekbones contouring blush in Peach Perfection, Ulta eyeshadows in 24K, Cashmere, Bronze, and Espresso, and N.Y.C. Smooth & Natural Matte Powder Foundation in Midtown Medium.  Ssshhhhhh!  That is special insider information for you guys only.  ;)

Now, on a more personal note I finished up my favorite lip liner from my everyday makeup routine.  You can get all the details about the products I've finished up most recently here.  So, the new product you will be seeing on my lips moving forward most likely will be Avon Glimmersticks in Red Brick.

I'm also well into my next week's worth of products so a few to mention include Philosophy kiss me - red very emollient lip balm.  Mine is the kind that came in the tub which you can't get anymore, but I did link the newest packaging which I'm sure works just as well.

I've also been using the Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-Pure detoxifying cream cleanser.  It definitely has a perfume fragrance which smells exactly like a perfume I wore back in highschool, but I just can't put my finger on it.  It would run in the Exclamation, Navy, Coty for Women time frame and I'm leaning towards Emeraude if my memory serves me correctly.  It will probably drive me batty till the end of time unless I can find my old bottle of Emeraude and other such fragrances from the late 80s and figure it out.

The most random and unrelated thought for the day?  I'd like to go to Hong Kong Disneyland

and Tokyo

Why?  Well, why not?  I think I'd like to go to every Disney park on the planet.  Just putting it out there.

A Day In The Beauty Life

So the other day I promised you a photo showing how my nails turned out with the Maybelline New York Color Show Nail Lacquer in Styled Out.

Just a great denim blue with flecks of silver throughout for added interest.  I did my nails as part of a look I was replicating.  It turned out like this...

The look started with my Avon Glimmersticks Chromes in Night Star and then I smoked out the edges with the Wet 'n Wild Coloricon trio in Don't Steal My Thunder.  If you'd like to see swatches of these two products then comment below and I will happily do that for you.

Now, my beauty week has been a little slow due to a recent family emergency, so I dropped a lot of the beauty tasks that I had intended to complete like a hot rock.  I'm skipping a few videos BUT I am still trying some new things.  One of these new things is a lipstick.  It is one of the Avon Ultra Color Absolute Lipsticks in the color Coffee Creme.  I only have a sample of this particular color, but I've talked about these and shown the full size before either way.  You can click here if you want to see one of my full size colors.  I did swatch the sample for you so here is a peek.

It really is a pretty tan shade with a bit of an orange toffee hue to it.  It is very early 90's, and I wore colors just like this during and after college.  It has been fun doing it again but in an entirely different way.

I also pulled out a product that might make a few of you gasp and/or blush.  It's my Body Dew Moisturizing After Bath Oil from Pure Romance.  Yes... I said it... Pure Romance... the company that sells... well... you know.

I only have a mini size, but I'd buy the larger size eventually.  You are supposed to shower or bathe, spray yourself evenly, and then blot dry.  You can also add some to your bath water for a hot oil bath.  I have yet to try that option.  If you use it while you are still wet it does not get slick the way you would if you tried to apply sunscreen while wet.  It applies just like it would if you had already dried yourself off.  I actually prefer to just go ahead and dry off, but it really isn't for any reason other than I don't like to be wet for a single second longer than I have to.  I actually love the scent.  There is carnation oil in the ingredients, but if I had to guess I'd say there is likely also a very nice version of patchouli in there as well.  Patchouli gets a bad rap sometimes but usually only from 20-somethings that don't REALLY know what they are talking about when it comes to the fragrance.  If you've only smelled patchouli in a place that sells posters and lava lamps then I'd say you didn't sniff the greatest quality product most likely.  This smells very similar to baby oil, but better and hey... if a little pheromone action attracts you a hottie while you wear it then more power to you right?  I have been choosing to use it after my evening shower rather than after my morning shower though because I find the scent very soothing and calming and enjoyable at bedtime.  It relaxes me without being overpowering.

Well, like I said before.  I'm a bit behind on my beauty bonanza but I'll do my best to catch up soon.  In the meantime, what has been happening in your beauty world lately?  Let me know in the comments below.

A Day In The Beauty Life

Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream

I have been using a sample of this product for about 2 weeks or so and OMG I'm in freaking LOVE!!!  Now, this product is not for my hair type... at all.  I received it because I indicated I have a bit of a wave to my hair which is true.  It is definitely for someone with much more coarse or curly hair than mine for sure.  It is extremely thick almost like a white paste that does not melt and soften as you rub it in your palms although you can't see it once it is on the hair.  It is also somewhere in between tacky and sticky feeling.  I had to kind of place it into my hair rather than smooth it through like you might normally do with a "cream" product.  It left my extremely long and baby fine hair feeling the way a pliable gel might which for someone with serious curl would hold each curl that you wound into shape in place perfectly without making it look crisp or wet and crunchy, and even though it isn't what I really need for my hair type I was still able to curl or straighten my hair without issue.  It is designed to be worked into the hair in sections from root to tip (which I didn't really do because I don't have enough hair to bother), is made with 100% shea butter, aloe vera, and coconut oil, and is supposed to provide intense moisture and strength for soft manageable curls while adding shine and healing dry damaged hair.  Can I just tell you how FANTASTIC this stuff smells?!?  It is like coconut mixed with fruit (but it's not pineapple which makes it a refreshingly new twist on a fruity coconut scent) and the scent lasts and lasts.  It has been FOREVER since the last time I've found a product that had fragrance that actually sticks with you and every time the freezing cold bitter wind would whip I'd get a nose full of this most incredible scent EVER.  I'd even catch myself holding my hair under my nose and sniffing while I was concentrating on work during the day (which I don't recommend doing in public unless you are completely ok with strange looks from people).  It is SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOD!  I'd really like to know what my friends with natural hair think of it.  The brand also offers Twist & Lock Gel, Activator Cream, Hair Lotion, Shine & Hold Mist, Co-Wash, and a Deep Treatment Masque.  I'm prepared to beg them to create a mousse so I can use these products on a regular basis the smell is that good.  I should also mention they have no mineral oil, sulfates, parabens, soilicone, phthalates, gluten, paraffin, propylene, PABA, or DEA.

Of course we have to talk about the Oscars for a moment.  My pick for best dressed?  Kristin Chenoweth for the win!

She looks beautiful every time I see her, but this look takes the cake!  I really don't think this Roberto Cavalli gown photographs well at all, but seeing her during her live interviews I swear was the closest thing to perfection I have ever seen.  When you find out that the gown is beaded (which doesn't show up on film) and then realize the metallic finish would be due to what is undoubtedly hand beading you realize that it is pure art you are seeing.  And can we just say for the millionth time how gorgeous she is with her short hair?  I'm so glad girls are giving up the extensions!  She looks 20 years younger this way!  That's hard to do on someone as pretty as she is.

While we are talking about television related topics I should also mention that I finally got caught up on the latest episode of The Vampire Diaries.  I'm always behind on my favorite shows!  It's mostly because I work when I should be watching instead.  Haha!  I'm not going to lie... this Damon stuff is getting a bit too gory for me.  I'm a wimp when it comes to the visuals.  I could live without them and still get the point.

While I watched I painted my nails for a photo challenge I need to do tomorrow as part of my leadership endeavors stemming from my Regional Makeup Maven/Avon Color Brand Ambassador status.  Do you know how hard it is to type this and let your nails dry at the same time?  I'm using my Avon Nail Experts Adhesive Base Coat, 

my Avon Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel in Clear (as a topcoat)

, and Maybelline New York Color Show Nail Lacquer in Styled Out (#20).  

Stay tuned for photos of how the nails turned out.  I'm a lazy nail cleaner upper and prefer to peel the messy edges off the next day.  I find it strangely rewarding, kind of like peeling Elmer's glue off your hands as a kid.  (Come on.  You know you did it too.)

It has been quite a few days since my last post.  Last week was a very busy week for some unknown reason.  I want to catch you up a little bit since there is a lot you missed out on.  (Totally my fault.)  First of all, all last week I was using my Almay Intense Eye Palette for Blue Eyes.

I also used my Avon SuperExtend Infinitize Mascara

To see swatches of the eye shadow and hear what I have to say about the mascara and see how both look on click here.  Just a few "shop my stash" items I decided to show some love to last week.  As much as I love new products I do not let my old products go to waste.

Well, that's about as much as I can fit into one day.  Don't forget to subscribe and then tell me in the comments below what your day of beauty looked like.

A Day in the Beauty Life

This is a day in the life of a beauty junkie.

I started my day with a little Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf.  

It was pre-shower, but I just needed a little indulgence to start my morning right.  It is of course a floral which you know I am generally not a fan of, but this is a floral I don't mind.  There is just enough Ballerina Freesia to lighten the mood and soften the Sambac Jasmine and Centifolia Rose.  The Cattleya Orchid and Patchouli mix to round out what normally might be rough floral edges.  Even though it is described as an Oriental, Gourmand, Floral I honestly don't get the Oriental part.  It just doesn't have the bite or burn or bitterness of a typical Oriental fragrance.

Speaking of Oriental Florals... can we just talk about this little doozy for a second?  I'm referring to Gucci Guilty.  

We're talking Mandarin, Pink Pepper (there is that bite), Peach, Lilac, Geranium, Amber, and Patchouli.  This fragrance is described as daring, rich, and sexy.  I'm sure from the notes you can see why.  Which leads me to my next mention which is Gucci Guilty for Men.

While similar to it's sister fragrance in that it has Mandarin and Pink Pepper, the Lemon Citrus, Fresh Lavender, and Crushed Green Leaves give it the masculine distinction we expect from Gucci.  This scent is described as youthful, charismatic, and fearless and we can all conjure up what that should look like in our heads can't we?  Hubba!  Hubba!

All I can say is it makes me want to grab a bottle of PAMA Pomegranate Liquer,

whip up a pomegranate martini, grab Mr. Gucci Guilty for Men straight out of my daydream, and shutdown this computer for the next 48 hours.  COMMENT BELOW if you'd like me to post my pomegranate martini recipe and then be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it when I do.  

How did your day begin?  Inquiring minds want to know.