Cosmetics Sales!

Walgreens runs weekly sales on various cosmetics. This is what's in my local ad for this week (which can be different from region to region so make sure to double check for your area).

Rimmel Lip and Eye Cosmetics:
Buy One Get One Free thru July 4.

Sally Hansen:
40% Off thru July 4.

Pond's Skin Care:
33% Off thru July 4.

Olay Complete Skin Care:
Buy One Get One 50% Off thru July 4.

L’Oréal Lip and Nail Cosmetics:
Buy One Get One Free thru July 4.

Featured Youtube Channel of the Week: The Style Diet

TheStyleDiet

The 21-year old is an aspiring fashion stylist. Anna does videos on "fashion trends, style tips and fashion/accessories hauls" while also throwing in "some beauty hauls and reviews." She's a gorgeous girl with some great instincts.

Product Review: L'Oreal Revitalift Cream

I got a free sample of L'Oreal's Revitalift but I threw away the package and didn't write down exactly what it's called. I know, shame on me! :) I think it was Revitalift Day Anti-Wrinkle Cream, something like that, but I'm not actually a hundred-percent on the name.

But, I tried the sample and it was super, super thick. I thought I'd love it, and it would rejuvenate my skin in a whole new way, but my skin did not absorb it well at all. It just stayed on the surface and it didn't do anything. After I waited awhile and still nothing happened, I ended up just washing it off. This may be some sort of wacky personal skin thing that I have and don't know about, but I would not buy the Revitalift based on my sampling results. Just a heads up if you're looking into it--it may not work for everyone. :)

(Image from a Google Search.)

Cosmetic Surgery Digitally

I posted this on my photo blog too, but in case you only see this one, here goes. Hehe.

Here it is, the article you've been waiting for: "How to Digitally Lose 10 Pounds, Rewind 10 Years, and Get the Look You've Always Wanted." :) As I say in the article, even if you're not seriously entertaining the idea of getting plastic surgery, it can still be fun to digitally alter pictures and see how your look can change.

And if you are actually interested in getting some procedures done, it can be helpful to digitally play around with settings on your own in addition to whatever your doctor will provide.

Photo Editing Tutorial: Digital Cosmetic Surgery
"Digital Cosmetic Surgery made easy with the help of editing programs like Adobe Photoshop and GIMP. How to get the surgical results you want in your digital pictures."

Favorite Makeup Brands

I've tried a lot of drugstore brands of makeup. In fact, I honestly don't know of a drugstore brand I haven't tried. :) Here are my favorites for various types of products.

Mascara: Hands-down L'Oreal!

Eye Shadow: CoverGirl

Eye Liner: L'Oreal (for microliners) and N.Y.C. (for regulars)

Foundation: L'Oreal

Concealer: CoverGirl

Blush: Jordana (for current favorite) and N.Y.C. (for longtime favorite)

Bronzer: Bonne Bell

Face Moisturizer: Neutrogena

Body Lotion: Jergens

Perfume: Candies Original

Lipstick: N.Y.C.

Lipgloss: N.Y.C.

Nail Polish: Wet 'n Wild

(Image from lusi on Stock.Xchng)

Summer Makeup!

I was just watching a Johnny Lavoy something and he was talking about how summer's the perfect time to experiment with colors. So, I guess we should really be taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Hehe. Come on girls (and guys) let's make this happen! :) Summer makeup on three. 1, 2, 3, SUMMER MAKEUP!

I found some purple eyeliner in my drawer today, I guess the next step is actually putting it on. :) I'll report in how my Summer Makeup project is doing when I have updates.

P.S. I forgot to use my John Frieda samples. I know, it's horrible! I straightened my hair and everything yesterday, but I just used my regular Matrix-wannabe serum from Suave. I'm sorry. Product review still to come.

Youtube Channel of the Week: Blair's Juicystar07

Blair, aka Juicystar07, is apparently the sister of allthatglitters21. I'm not sure how since Blair says she's half Turkish, but that'll just have to stay one of life's great mysteries. Unless allthatglitters21 is half Turkish too, but I'm not going to pretend to know anything about that. :)

Blair's got some great makeup and hair tutorials, and she's the 53rd All Time Most Subscribed Guru on Youtube, which is pretty noteworthy. You can check out her channel if you're interested in finding out more.

Product Review: Harajuku Lovers Fragrances--Music, G, & Lil' Angel

I bet you thought I was never getting back to those final three Harajuku Lovers fragrances after my first two not-so-positive installments. Well, I finally broke down and sampled the rest, just for you. :)

Music is advertised as sparkling, yummy, and juicy. To me, it really smells like Skittles. So, if that's the sweet kind of scent you want, by all means, grab it!

G is branded as tropical, sunny, and delicious. I think it translated fairly well--it smells like tropical coconuts. It's actually a very pleasant scent. I think it's still a little too sweet for my personal tastes, but it's nice.

I can't even find words to describe Lil' Angel. Marketed as colorful, tasty, and sweet, I can't think of a word to use besides nasty. Perhaps my sample was wrongly contaminated, but it was really gross. Sorry if you love it. :)

So here are my Harajuku Lovers rankings:

First Place: G

Second Place: Music

Third Place: Love

Fourth Place: Baby*

Fifth Place: Lil' Angel

*Baby has to beat out Lil' Angel for me since smelling like baby powder really may be a goal for someone, whereas smelling unpleasant likely isn't one for perfume purchasers. Hehe. That's my take at least.

(Image from Google Search.)

Product Reviews: Top Five Face Cosmetics

Here's my rundown of top five face cosmetics, including moisturizers, foundations, concealers, and bronzers from trusted brands like Neutrogena, L'Oreal, CoverGirl, and Bonne Bell. Check out the article to read my top picks. :)

Top Five Face Cosmetics (From Drugstore Brands) for Great Looking Skin
"If I could only have five cosmetic products for face care, this is the set of items that I would choose in order to achieve flawless, even, and natural-looking skin."

(Image from dreamjay on Stock.Xchng)

John Frieda Samples!

I got some John Frieda samples in the mail today. Yay! Hopefully you did too, or will soon be getting them. :)

I'll have to use them and report back what I thought. I might end up waiting to use them until I actually do my makeup and fully get ready, which pretty much isn't going to happen until Sunday. He he.

Top Foundations and Other Skin Cosmetics

I have a very exciting (okay, maybe not really) post coming up talking about my five favorite cosmetic products for skin coverage. I have to wait to post it until the other site publishes it, which may take forever. But I'll give you a hint in that I mentioned this product below: L'Oreal's Feel Naturale Light Softening One-Step Makeup. The skin results are beautiful! Just beautiful! :)

Youtube Channel of the Week: Truggy

Okay, so this channel isn't really cosmetics-related, but I can't stop watching "Miss Misery" either way. Here's Alex Wagner-Trugman (of American Idol Season 8's Top 36) Youtube channel filled with a handful of amazing covers.

Truggy

Warning: The videos might make you kind of feel like a peeping Tom, spying into some poor college boy's bedroom. But if you can get past that, the songs really are spectacular. Oh and when I watch "Miss Misery," I fast forward like the first 30 seconds of talking. No offense Alex! Ha ha. But just to give everyone else a heads up. :)

Product Review: Celine Dion's Fragrance Sensational

In an attempt to further prolong sampling the other Harajuku fragrances, today I tested out instead my sample of Celine Dion Sensational. :) And guess what! I actually kind of liked it!

It's a very mild but pleasant scent--a little flowery but not too strong. If you're looking for more than just a hint of fragrance, it might be too light for you though. It's a very subtle scent.

But for those who want just a hint of perfume, it might actually be something to look into at your local perfume counter.

(Image from a Google Search.)

Curling Hair with a Flat Iron!!!

Why did nobody tell me before that this is possible? I just found out!! :) For those of you who don't already know this trick, it might blow your mind! I'm not even joking. It's crazy! I'll report in later, when I shouldn't already be in bed. :)

UPDATED: Bedtime didn't take. Here goes . . .

I'm reluctant to post the youtube video I saw because the model getting her hair done really needed to (1) pull up her shirt or (2) get a new shirt. :) But I don't want to blindly recommend another tutorial in case someone else doesn't explain it as well as this one stylist.

UPDATED AGAIN: Okay, this little girl's video will do the job. :) It's not exactly the same, but you'll get the basic idea.

P.S. It just occurred to me a few days ago that when I publish and then edit and republish a post, perhaps a subscriber would get two emails. Is that really what happens? Because that seems super annoying. But what do you do, not edit posts you know need corrected? I guess I should do a better job of making sure things are right the first time. :) My apologies!

Youtube Channel of the Week: FloridaSweetyPie

I've got to give a shout out this week to Barbara, aka FloridaSweetyPie.


She's from New York but lives in Miami with her husband. She does great product reviews and is very resourceful in finding quality products at affordable prices. She is very relatable, has a lot of great insights, and is hilarious--what more could you want? :)

Cibu Brand Explained

Last week I listed Jenn Mapp's Cibu17 Youtube Channel as my pick for Channel of the Week. But, perhaps you haven't heard of the brand Cibu. Here's an article I wrote reviewing the trendy hair care line along with its diverse product offerings and online presence.

Company Overview

"Cibu markets itself as 'Ancient Secrets for Modern Hair.' Stylists from Cibu's parent company, Bubbles Hair Salon, actually created the hair care line themselves. Jennifer Mapp is the current Cibu Brand Manager and maintains a mutually beneficial relationship with Christian Siriano, famed fashion designer and former Bubbles Hair Salon employee.

"In fact, Siriano chose the Cibu brand for his fashion week debut, a fact that will likely go noticed if improperly credited. Proof that Jenn Mapp does her homework: after being wrongly overlooked by a style magazine, her company blog featured a new post, 'No Cibu Love for Modern Salon Magazine.'

"Cibu hair products can be purchased at participating salons, in particular, at Bubbles Salons (which unfortunately service only Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C according to the Bubbles Salon Locator). Brick-and-mortar locations may be few and far between, but Cibu products can be internationally purchased online. For full product and shipping details, you can visit the company's homepage at Cibu International."

Continue reading article for details on Cibu's product offerings and online presence.

(Image from Cibu International.)

Product Review: Suave Leave-In Cream

A few days ago I posted a glowing review of Sunsilk's Straighten-Up Leave-In Cream. Because I'm cheap, I tried to buy a similar product in Suave. :)

I picked up Suave Professionals Sleek Anti-Frizz Cream. The label says it's actually a comparable product to L'Oreal's Matrix Styling Creme, which I haven't personally used. The product idea is to transform "frizzy, curly or dry hair" into "smooth, manageable hair in no time," and I was completely satisfied.

I pretty much equally love the results of the Suave product in comparison to the Sunsilk Leave-In. The only thing is that I think the Suave might be a tiny bit weightier than the Sunsilk, i.e., it weighs my hair down more using the same technique and product amount.

That won't discourage me from buying it, it just makes it more important to pay attention to what I'm doing when applying the cream. :) But I really do love it for styling my hair straight. It does a great job of managing hairs, minimizing frizz, and adding overall sleekness.

(Image from a Google Search.)

Blog Background

I'm not sure if the background will stay like this, but I just wanted to give proper credit in the mean time. :)

I got the original makeup photograph from Val-J at Stock.Xchng. And the Swingset BB font from 1001 Fonts. Then I put everything together in GIMP.

Article: 5-Minute Makeup Makeover

How to Do a Five-Minute Makeup Makeover

"In general, we want to look good. Whether we're going to the office, running errands, or just staying at home, most of us want to be able to pass by the mirror and not cover in shame. It's a simple enough task, but we're not always willing to sacrifice a lot of time and energy in order to accomplish it.

"Some equate having a polished look with spending hours getting ready. That need not be the case with a few quick fixes. Of course there are times when we want our makeup to look exquisite and we'll put a bit more effort in. But for busy days when all we need is a small pick-me-up, here are some basic steps in getting the most out of a five-minute makeover.

Skin Care

"Nice looking skin is the first step in creating any type of put-together look. In all actuality, the best thing you can do for your skin to look good is to be healthy. That includes getting enough sleep at night and drinking enough water during the day. Rested and hydrated skin is undoubtedly going to give you a better base to work with when applying makeup. Hydration is most effective from the inside-out. Do all you can to take care of yourself and your skin in order to optimize your personal beauty.

"Use a facial cream to topically moisturize skin. Add a layer of foundation; whether it's liquid, powder, or cream is up to you. If you have some notable blemishes or imperfections, add spot concealer to the troublesome areas. Setting your foundation and concealer with additional powder is entirely subjective when doing a five-minute face. You may or may not feel it's necessary. . . .
Continue reading article for tips on eyes, cheeks, and lips.

Product Review: Sunsilk Straighten-Up Leave-In Cream

SunSilk Straight to Perfection Straighten-Up 24/7 Heat Defense Cream: "Smooth things out for satin-straight hair with elastyn-e."

The hair cream is part of Sunsilk's "Straight to Perfection Collection" to be used in accordance with the matching shampoo and conditioner, and it's safe for color-treated hair.

I haven't tried my shampoo and conditioner free samples yet, but I absolutely LOVED the Sunsilk Straighten-up leave-in cream. I used it as a replacement for my normal leave-in conditioner Infusium as well as for a styling aid in making my hair sleek and straight.

I naturally have a wave to my hair and this product was instrumental in giving me a nice and smooth foundation to build on. If Sunsilk is in your price range, and straight and sleek is the look you're going for, I'd highly recommend this product. :)

Product Review: Harajuku Lovers Perfume "Love"

Like I posted about before, I received a free sample set of the "World of Harajuku Lovers Fragrance" in the mail containing 5 scents. I previously reviewed Baby and decided tonight to sample Love.

Advertised as "tender, romantic, [and] sensual," Love was just okay for me. I didn't think it was bad, but I didn't think it was great either--but it's definitely better than Baby. :) It's kind of flowery and reminds me of White Soldiers, but it has a bit of an "aftertaste" that I don't love.

And it seems like a ladies perfume to me, which is great if that's what you're going for. But I like to wear fragrances that are a bit more youthful.

I still have three scents to go in my Harajuku review, but so far it seems like the Lovers Collection is probably not for me. We'll see if that opinion changes. :)

(Image from a Google Search.)