Schick Intuition

Shaving's not a glamorous thing, we all know that, but it is a necessary evil. Come spring the first thing you start worrying about when spring weather hits is if you remembered to shave your legs. In the winter, under sweats and jeans you can let it slide a bit but come summer and capri weather, not so much. There's only one thing I know of to make it more bearable... my Schick Intuition razor and pomegranate refills.

If you've never ventured into Schick territory, and I know a lot of ladies are loyal to their Venus razors, you have to give it a try. First of all you can't beat the convenience of built in shaving lube. Last year my roommate passed down a box of nice brand men's razors to me and I being the cheapskate I am, I promptly bought a can of shaving cream and prepared to slum it for a while. Summer was fine, no problems, in fact my legs were super smooth. But winter... that's a different story. My legs tend to get dry, super dry and no matter what I did I could not get a close shave with these razors, exfoliating first, using more shave cream, nothing worked. I quit when I came out of the shower and it looked like I'd taken a razor blade to my legs. I'd nicked myself at least 10 times and you know how those sting like a mother.

So, not able to completely give up I picked up a box of refills for my Intuition. It's never failed me before but with the price of the refills I thought I'd be cheap and use any razor I could. I should have known better, I've never had much luck with sub-par razors, even the Venus leaves me with razor burn if I'm not super careful. Some things you just can't scrimp on. Instead of picking up my trusty sensitive skin refills I was enticed by the scent of the pomegranate ones, I could smell the scent through the box. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed when I pulled it out in the shower. I want all my products to smell that good.

Moral of the story, never sacrifice your skin to be cheap. I don't honestly know what I could have done differently to make those razors work but I passed them on to someone who could get more use out of them. Also, as an added bonus, I find the Intuition MUCH easier to use on underarms and bikini line, just make sure you clean that sucker out often or you risk clogging it and wasting your hard-earned moola.

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 2: Aspirin Mask

Phew! Week 1's confession was all in good fun. It's time to get serious. (If you haven't read week one, check it out here: to see what the heck I'm talking about).

Week 2's is a little more conventional and after I gave it a shot I wondered why I'd never done it before. Pretty much every beauty blogger and makeup junkie knows about the Aspirin mask but it bears repeating, just in case you aren't in the know.

It's simple. Take an Aspirin (I use the cheapest I can find at the drugstore, uncoated, about 99 cents for 50 pills) and crush it up in your hand. Add a drop of water, or if you need extra hydration I've heard of people using Argan Oil. Mix those two up until you have a semi-dry paste and apply to your face. DO NOT RUB just dab it on avoiding the eyes and any sensitive areas. The acids in the Aspirin go to work exfoliating your face, the same salycilic acid we pay for in our products in it's closer to nature form in the pain reliever. After 5 minutes (less if you're in a hurry) rinse off. Trust me, you will not be able to believe how soft and smooth your skin is, you won't be able to keep your hands off. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

This mask is perfect for use a couple times a week for 5 minutes or even daily if you keep application time to a minute or so. You'll wonder why you never did it before.

The Greatest Invention Since Sliced Bread

....Ok, maybe I shouldn't go that far. If you haven't already found your perfect match in L'Oreal True Match foundation, and if you're anything like me and read tons of magazines to find one, the L'Oreal Shade match tool is just about the coolest thing you will come across.

It's a clear piece of plastic with the colors of the line sheerly applied. Lay this nifty little thing over your cheek and watch the right shade for you completely disappear. You'll know you found the one when you can't see it on. Even though I'm positive I'm a cool-toned girl, the closest shade match for me is Warm 1, which I've already found to be true with experimentation. I can attest to the fact that it really works, I swear!

I hope they attach these little gadgets to the display at stores so you can really figure it out if you aren't lucky enough to find one in a magazine. I've found two already!

Buxom Lash

Oooh, Mascara Monday again. Time flies. I'm excited to share with you this week's pick, from one of my favorite lines: Buxom!

I can't rave enough about this mascara, it's so great I want to wear it everyday, a rarity for me with any product. The rubberized brush separates my lashes and somehow pulls them for incredible length. Usually, the combo of separation and length means your lashes are wimpy and thin, not with Buxom Lash. My lashes are impossibly full. Best of all, this mascara is so dark and glossy without being too over the top for everyday use.

Dare I say this is one of my favorites. You know I'm a drugstore mascara girl but this one is so great I might just concede on that theory. Buxom lash retails for $18 (nearly double the cost of my favorite drugstore brand) but that won't deter me. I love this stuff! Plus, I'm a huge fan of blue mascara and Buxom Lash comes in Blue Noir too, both colors without Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic dyes and fragrances which could potentially irritate sensitve eyes in particular.

Face-off Friday: Lindsay Lohan

Ok, we all know the train wreck that is Lilo but if you're old enough to know her from before all these scandals you know that she's a pretty girl. Drugs, drinking and smoking have taken their toll and her look is paying the price. No matter what you're opinion on the girl I wanna know what you think of her haircolor variations over the years. She's been a blonde, a brunette, and of course her natural red hair. I'll let you know what I think after the pics.

Wow. This is a hard one. I did like her with brown hair but in this particular picture it's my least favorite. Her coloring really works with the shade but it's too "normal." Then, of course her blonde. Who isn't blonde in LA? I like it on her and her colorist did an incredible job but it just doesn't make her stand out. As a longtime redhead myself (my natural hair is dark, dark brown) I'd have to vote for that. If you have natural red hair why the heck would you wanna cover it up. What do you think? Am I redhead biased? Is it because when she was a redhead she was also relatively stable? Hmm, I guess we'll never know.

Bright Blush for Spring

I'm a huge blush girl, I get it from my mama. Sometimes even I can tell I'm wearing too much, luckily spring is the perfect time to brighten blush and explore the trend. I've never been much of a bronzer girl (I'm Casper pale, remember?) but I've never met a bright sparkly blush that I didn't love. Here are a few of my spring picks.

Urban Decay Afterglow Cheek Tint in Crush and that's exactly what I have on this product, a crush. I'm a sucker for purple packaging and cream blush is definitely a favorite of mine. Pat a little of this tint on with your fingers for a sheer look or build it up until you look like you just ran a marathon. While Crush is my favorite shade I love and want to collect them all.

Another great Sephora option is the new Amazonian Clay 12 hour blush from Tarte. I'm a huge fan of Tarte's cheekstains but when I'm in the mood for a powder blush (or better yet when I want to add a pop of extra color below or on top of gel blush) you can't go wrong with these beauties. I'm partial to Blissful, Tipsy and Amused, all great options for any complexion. These blushes are infused with Amazonian Clay which they claim does amazing things for any complexion, hydration for dry types like me and minimizes oil for those with combination/oily skin.

For those of you on more of a budget (like me!) I've heard great things about Sonia Kashuk's cheek tints at Target. All the shades are beautiful and this liquid-gel formula is easily blendable for a more subtle finish or built up for a brighter look.

Of course, you can't go wrong with a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick or, if you're pale like me, pretty much any MAC Mineralize Skin Finish.

What about you? Blush or bronzer? Bright or Subtle? Shimmer or Matte? As always I'm curious!

Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Palettes

With all the love I'm giving to palettes you'd think I love the things but truthfully, I usually pass on them. It's not because they aren't beautiful (that's why I usually cave and buy the ones I do *ahem Enchanted Glamourland*) it's just that usually I know I'm not going to be able to use all the colors and I don't want to waste my money. One trip around the blogosphere and I realize I'm probably the only girl out there that feels that way so I'm going to share the love when a palette strikes my fancy. Enter Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful Palettes!

Take a look at these....

Four coordinating shadows, a cheek color and three lippies. I have to admit, Bobbi Brown knows what girls like and these are it. The eye shades are all very wearable, the blushes great on a range of skintones and the there's something for everyone to love with the lips. These would be great if you travel a lot, particularly business travel as these shades are very work appropriate. Also, who doesn't love the convenience of having all your products in one place, just pop this in your makeup bag with a little foundation, concealer and mascara and go.

Beauty Girl's Secret: Week 1: Vibrating Cleansing Tools

Do you ever have a product that you just love, love, love but it's so silly that you never bring it up with friends? I do, and since we're all friends here I thought I'd pass along the information to you, shame free.

For the past six months or so I've been going absolutely crazy with a product but it's not what you would expect. I'm pretty loyal to my face wash (right now it's Purity Made Simply by Philosophy for cleansing and their Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash for gentle, yet thorough sloughing) but sometimes I just need something MORE. I found it without a need to stop using the products I know and love, in fact, I found two things that up the oomph of my cleansing routine.

Ready for this? Now that I've got you thinking it's something weird or unconventional I'll spill, resting you assured that I have not lost my mind and starting exfoliating with moldy bread or something like that. It's these babies....

Yes, I know it's not weird but wait until I tell you the best part. It's not that I use (and love) these little gadgets it's that I don't use them with the products you're meant to use with them. I've not once touched the L'Oreal 360 Clean cleanser that came with the scrublet and while I use the Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser and Neutrogena Wave pads that came with these products I like to use the vibrations with a clean washcloth and my own cleanser. Is that weird? Someone please reassure me that I'm not the only one!!!!!

Now I know I'm not the only one who does things like this or has a secret recipe for the perfect hair cocktail. I love these little factoids and I'm ready to share them with you. Every Wednesday here on Drug of Choice I'm going to share with you a secret or two from my vault. Try it if you dare and spill your secrets to us so we can all be as beautiful as we can be.

Zoya Mod Mattes, Sunshine & Summertime

I'm the last person who should be giving advice on nailpolish. I'm going on two weeks with a manicure that was chipped the day after I painted it. Still, I'm a pretty avid nail polish collector, I'm just too lazy to keep up with my nails. Though, if I found a great base and/or topcoat I'd probably be much better off. Suggestions are definitely welcome, leave me a comment or send me an email, I'll try anything.

I don't know about you but I don't like to blend in with the crowd, at least when it comes to my nails. I've always liked to be different and that's probably why (so far!) I've bucked the greige nail trend. Granted, living in probably the least fashionable city in the world ladies barely bother with nail polish let alone know what the heck a greige nail is.

It's not just color that tickles me it's finish and patterns. For that reason I really want to get into Konading (check out the stamps on ebay and you'll understand what I mean)! No one could compete with me but, like I've alredy said, I'm far too lazy for that. Instead I play around with different finishes, frosty/metallic, high glos and matte. While I feel liek the matte polish thing was a flash in the pan and now it's gone, I can't help but get excited when I see the new Zoya Mod Mattes collection. These aren't Fall 2009 dark, moody mattes, these are bright Spring/Summer 2011 shades. Look at these babies. Go on, I'll give you a minute to sink in their awesomeness...

If those don't do it for you what about Zoya's Sunshine and Summertime collections. If you love nail polish there is sure to be a shade that catches your eye. I'm thinking about trading my lazy, devil may care attitude towards my nails in for a ride with Breezi. And of course, since you know me so well, Miri and Danni are tied for a close second. What do you think?

Covergirl NatureLuxe Update

Remember when I told you about the NatureLuxe line from Cover Girl? Well now that I've had a chance to try out the foundation I just had to let you know how I liked it.

I ordered up a sample from target.com (did you know they have samples? Neither did I until I found it in my frugal girl Facebook feed, if you don't already subscribe you simply must, just search frugal girl on Facebook)!

Of course, the sample came with two different shades, both of which were entirely too dark for my pale skin? What's a girl to do? I enlisted the help of my normally makeup-phobic friend when she wanted me to snap some new pics for her. Not only did she not complain about the way it felt (a common complaint for girls who don't wear foundation) once she saw the results I had to hand over the coupon that came with the sample so she could pick up a tube for herself.

Know why she loved it? While she doesn't get breakouts she definitely suffers from dark circles after spending entirely too much time gabbing and not enough time sleeping. Add that to a crazy work schedule and she's bound to be fighting off the blue undereye rings. This foundation covered it right up without sinking into lines or dry skin. It evened out her complexion and made her face silky smooth without causing breakouts. Can't get much better than that.

L'Oreal Spring 2011

You may have been noticing, like I certainly have, an upcropping of tons of new L'Oreal ads this spring, new spokesmodels, new products, new everything. I, for one, am excited about it. L'Oreal's an affordable line with their hands on the pulse.

I cannot get over how gorgeous Jennifer Lopez looks in the EverSleek ads. Wow. Her hair is something to covet anyway but these gorgeous caramel highlights take it to a new level. Then there's haircolor ads with Gwen Stefani and her gorgeous platinum locks and Evangeline Lilly and her pretty coffee colored coif. You couldn't get much more different than both of these ladies but they both represent the L'Oreal brand perfectly and have the amazing hair to pull of the ads. I'd kill for a mane like that.


There's no doubt that L'Oreal makes some killer haircare products but you may not know that their makeup line is just as impressive. If you haven't given it a fair shot because it's at the drugstore you might just want to rethink that. The Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez lipstick ads have me wanting to run out and buy all the red lipstick I can find even though I swear I'll never wear it out of the house. You can't get better marketing than that. And even though I've heard less than stellar reviews of it I really want to try The One Sweep Eyeshadow because of the gorgeous ad with Freida Pinto that I can't seem to find online to show you anywhere! I hope you've seen it because it's gorgeous. This shadow is revolutionary because it contains three shades and a sweeper brush that picks up all the colors in the proper order to give you an amazing smokey eye.

I hope to continue to see some great new ads and, in turn, great new products from L'Oreal.

Melie Bianco Ariana Bag

I don't normally talk about fashion on the blog but I'm a huge believer that the right bag or shoe can really elevate an outfit. You can never be too fat for a shoe or a bag. Jewelry's never been my thing, I have tons but I never ever wear it without a huge reminder. I'm never without a great bag and a nice shoe. Whether it's the perfect pair of purple snakeskin peetoes or the tan Nine West bag I relived my best friend of seasons ago, I always wear the right thing for my mood.

I can't stop thinking about the Melie Bianco Ariana Bag in turquoise, I can't get my mind to stop going there. It's so beautiful and I can see wearing it all the time, the color works for all seasons and you know how I feel about turquoise. I even have the perfect pair of peeptoes in my closet to match if I'm in a matching mood and plenty of neutral shoes for when I'm all about the contrast.

What do you think? What accessories would you pair with this gorgeous bag? More importantly tell me about your spring fashion lemmings.

CK One: Fragrance, Jeans and Underwear

I'm all about CKOne and I have been since it came out 17 years ago. I was in grade school but I remember smelling it on everyone and their mother. Funny story, one of my classmates dropped her bottle in the locker room before a basketball game and we literally smelled it for the rest of the year. Fast forward to 2011 and I'm rocking the scent with my man. Who doesn't love to share a bottle with the one you love? It smells great on both of us and the unisex fragrance is just so comforting and fresh, just spicier than shower fresh.

If you've never tried out the scent the best way to check it out is with the Calvin Klein Fragrance Collection from Sephora available around the holidays. I picked up the men's version for my baby last year and I've loved smelling this scent, you know, when he actually remembers to wear it. It just screams sex appeal to me. I love it so much I picked up the body spray version for him this Christmas and it sits on the bathroom sink for both of us to use whenever the mood strikes.

For a limited time you can pick up CKOne Summer, a fruitier incarnation in a fun, bright bottle. I can't think of anything better than CK One in the summer, add in some fruitier notes and you can't go wrong.

In some interesting news out of Calvin Klein, the CKOne brand has been expanded to include jeans and underwear. This new line promises to be both comfortable and sexy. Can't go wrong there. Even if you can't afford Calvin Klein runway styles you can wear the skivvies. Who doesn't love when a man sheds his clothes and you're left staring at his Calvin's? Mmmmm.

Lancome Color Design Eye Brightening Palettes

Remember back in the day when the Charlotte Hornets were THE thing? My guess, everyone just wanted to rock the gorgeous greens and purples of their jerseys. Now that they don't exist anymore how can we get away with it? Lancome's come to the rescue, at least mine, with their Color Design Palettes in gorgeous shades of green and purple.



I definitely haven't had enough experience with Lancome products but I've heard great things. Just looking at these palettes though and I know I love them. I'm all about the greens and purples on my eyes (they are my favorite colors). Both look amazing on my cool skintone but the right shades can work on anyone. Who doesn't look good in plum shadow?

That said, if green and purple aren't your shades check out one of ten palettes, I'm sure you'll find the right five shadow/one liner palette to add to your collection.

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Foundation

First off, let me introduce my new series of posts: My Makeup Bag. This series is featuring products I use from my own stash and just have to share with you. Now some of these items obviously aren't going to be the newest thing on the market and since I wanted to actually be able to share reviews instead of just telling you about something I covet I thought this was the way to go. Hope you enjoy.


First up: Revlon ColorStay Mineral Mousse Foundation. Personally I love this stuff. The way it looks, the way it feels on my face, the color, I can't get enough of it. I had it in my stash for a while but somehow it got forgotten as I tried new foundations. The color is 010, the lightest shade available and it works really well for me, I could conceive of going a shade darker which is pretty much unheard of for my fair skin. It's pretty full coverage, I'd say higher medium coverage, exactly what I need when my skin is in the transitional phase.

A lot of people have mentioned the "oil" that seeps out when you first squeeze the tube, don't be alarmed, it's not going to leave you a greasy mess or break you out, in fact I don't notice it at all. Sure there's a little bit there but I wipe it off my hand before squeezing more foundation out onto my fingers. The package claims a soft matte finish and I'd say that's the perfect way to word it. My skin is the perfect canvas for adding shimmer via highlighter or sparkly blush. It doesn't break me out or clog my pores to speak of.

I've found that this foundation works well alone or with primer or moisturizer, neither seem to make a difference. As I've said before during the winter months I like to use cream foundation, this mousse however is incredibly moisturizing without being greasy at all, I could wear it year round. With this I can skip moisturizer and it has SPF 20 for a little coverage on the face.

Another thing I like is the sleek packaging and clear slot to show you the color of the product before you buy it. How convenient! Then there's the clear expiration date stamped on the top of the tube, you can't go wrong with that.

Make Up For Ever Unretouched Ad

If you haven't been living under a rock for the past few years beauty-wise you're sure to have heard about Make Up For Ever's HD Foundation. This stuff is the real deal. There are so many shades I would be willing to bed you can find a perfect match for your skin color and undertones without much difficulty, in fact it can be hard to choose between two nearly perfect matches.

I was shocked when I was reading Cosmo and came across an ad for MUFE that claims to be the first unretouched make up ad. Oh yeah, they went there. It's certified by a notary, no bs-ing here. I was shocked. Of course, the model has gorgeous skin, that's what makes her a model but the ad looks perfect, exactly what I would expect it to look like if it was touched up with a little photoshop. Wow! Color me impressed. Now if I could just afford MUFE HD Foundation or magically wake up with skin like that!

Wow Talk About a Giveaway

I'm a huge giveaway girl, I actually have pretty good luck. I've won $500 from Pepsi, a book and skincare from two separate blogs and a Transformers/Pepsi Optimus Prime from Pepsi. Okay, so maybe I only have good luck with Pepsi and blog giveaways but that's okay. I just found the best giveaway in all of the blogosphere- The Makeup Divas MAC Wonder Woman Giveaway. Who doesn't love MAC and Wonder Woman?

If you don't already you should really add the Makeup Divas to your daily reading. Not only is the site incredibly cute but I've definitely come across a few of my favorites via the site.

http://www.themakeupdivas.com/2011/03/mac-wonder-woman-giveaway.html. Hurry, the contest ends March 23rd. There are many ways to enter and you can never have too much beauty news on your facebook or twitter account.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

I can feel it in the air, summer is coming, or at least spring. All these fashion mags I read tease me with shorts, skirts and capris but most of all I'm ready for the feeling of sun on my face (SPF-ed of course).

Clinique has released their moisture surge moisturizer in a tinted formula, perfect for those lucky girls who don't need much coverage. Unfortunately, I need far more coverage than a tinted moisturizer can provide, even with concealer I'm not convinced I don't look awful. The ad claims that you get a mega dose of hydration to form a protective barrier and it's just sheer enough to make little imperfections disappear. Sounds great, huh?

I have to applaud Clinique for adding SPF but 15 is no where near enough for me. I'd like to see someone make a tinted moisturizer with different SPF levels for different needs. For me, I'd need SPF 45 or more to even factor in SPF when making a choice.

Samy Fat Foam & L'Oreal Sublime Mousse Hair Color

I'm a haircolor junkie who's lazy if that makes any sense. I've been a redhead since I was 18, since before I met my man, in fact, he's never seen me with my natural hair color. Right now I've decided to grow it out since it's impossible for me to color over the red on my own (hello! I colored it black {big mistake, btw} and I still had red tips). Of course, less than a year into this process I found my first gray hair but it looks like a fluke because I haven't found another. Phew! Now I'm ready to color my hair a shade closer to my natural color and add caramel highlights, a good way to grow out the roots without losing all my length. I've already chopped off 6 inches, I can't bear to part with more of it.

I've been curious about mousse haircolor for a while, since I saw Fat Foam at Walmart six months or so ago. However, I didn't see any red colors that would work for me (there are 18 shades) so I passed. Then there's L'Oreal Sublime Mousse. This line comes in 12 shades, all very natural and hard to go wrong. I do believe these would be amazing for anyone who is scared to color their hair on their own, all you do is rub it in and work it through the hair, it's foolproof. L'Oreal even claims on the box it's as easy as shampooing.

When coloring your hair stick with 1-2 shades lighter or darker than your own haircolor, goofs are much harder to notice this way and you won't end up with an unnatural color for your skintone. Once you become more experience you can try for different shades.

I can't wait to grow the red out of my hair, I really can't. I have visions of gowing lighter and lighter until I'm blonde, trying all the colors along the way and deciding where I'd like to stay for a while. My hair is naturally dark brown but with my fair skintone I would love to see what I'd look like with dark blonde hair or even light brown highlighted hair. We'll see. I'll be sure to update you on my color when my lazy butt gets around to coloring and highlighting my hair. Wish me luck!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh

A couple years back, when I was just getting into higher end makeup and fragrances, and just starting out on Makeup Alley, I got a sample of Marc Jacob's Daisy in a swap and immediately fell in love. It was like nothing I've ever smelled before, so fresh without being sweet or overly floral. Heaven.

Fast forward a few years, Marc is coming out with another version (and not just a new bottle like he's tricked us with a few times) of Daisy, Daisy Eau So Fresh. This incarnation is sweeter with more fruit notes. Daisy to me is a spring/fall scent where I could see wearing Eau So Fresh throughout the summer. Of course if you know anything about me you know I don't play by those rules. I love to break 'em. I'm the girl who uses lighter amber scents (like Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber) for a summer night, it's so unexpected and fresh.

As usual Marc's ads baffle me and I'm not quite sure how the heck the ad is supposed to sell the perfume but that is his creative genius I guess.

What do you think? Are you a Daisy girl and if so are you gonna try out the new version?

Tokidoki Prisma Lipgloss

Now that it's almost spring I'm dying to finally get the guts to wear bright lippies outside of the house. It's a bold move considering I always have breakouts on my chin that don't need any more attention. I thought, what the heck, you only live once, I'm going to do this.

I'm going to start small. Wear sheer lipcolors and gradually increase the opaqcity until I'm wearing full on lipstick. That's where Tokidoki comes in. I love everything from the brand, it's just so adorable I can't resist but I feel like it's marketed at teens with the Japanese characters all over the place. You know what, I'm going to go on record stating I don't care. I like them and think they are cute. I've had my eye on the Prisma Lipglosses since I saw them in Life & Style Magazine (my favorite tabloid by far) last month. The magazine says they smell/taste like blueberries. Oh My God. Stop the presses. They aren't vanilla/cupcake flavored? LOL. As much as I enjoy the scent of *those* glosses I always like something different and blueberry is right up my alley.

What do you think? Are you going to check these out the next time you're at Sephora? Life & Style showcased Ciao Ciao (sheer light pink), Arlecchino(sheer fuchsia) and Rodine Love (sheer dark pink) but I also love Devil Girl (sheer orange red), Burger (sheer orange), Bullets (sheer berry), Samba (sheer peachy pink) and Strawberry Latte (sheer baby pink). With so many to choose from I have no idea which one I'd like first but it's a can't lose.

If Lip Balm or Stain are more your thing (and who doesn't love them?) check out the Gelato Lip Balm Stain. Pink Martini and Donutella are calling my name.

MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga

You know what I love? Buying a product I love and having actual proceeds go to Charity, not some measley 5%, not only in October (although I go crazy for Breast Cancer Awareness Month) but every damn day. That's why I love MAC's Viva Glam Campaign. Every Cent from the proceeds goes to HIV and AIDS charities.

Know what I don't love? The new Lady Gaga shades. To me they looks like baby poo, not that I've been up close and personal with baby poo too much. Who would look good with light brown lipstick? It's too brown to be nude and too pale to be brown. The ad looks amazing, Gaga looks gorgeous and I completely dig the eye makeup used as well as her pretty normal looking hair.

What do you think? Does anyone have this color? I'd love to see pictures or swatches on a range of skincolors.

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil

NARS, NARS, NARS- I wanna love you, I really do but so far we don't have the best relationship. The lipgloss does nothing for me, the scent, the opacity, the stickiness, I just can't do them. There are much cheaper products out there that work better for my particular needs. The eyeshadows are gorgeous but I haven't had the best luck with those either. Now, you just might have me with these glossy lip pencils. Now, I haven't tried them but I love me a lipgloss pencil. They are so easy and convenient to carry around especially in the summer.

I have heard great things around the blogosphere and I can't wait to get my hands on them to try them out. For a light lippie lover like me you can't go wrong with Happy Days and New Lover. But with the way NARS and I get along I'll have to wait until I can check them out at Sephora. I can't bring myself to make a blind purchase of $24, not with the gas prices right now. If anyone has tried these, I beg of you, please let me know how you like them. I need to know!

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Talk about marketing. Who the heck things of this stuff? Bottom lash mascara? Ok, I know I shouldn't knock it until I try it but who they hell are they kidding? Personally, the stubby wand just makes me think I'm going to poke myself in the eye. Plus, I'm not really big on mascara on bottom lashes for everyday, blink once, transfer a little and you're good, right?

Well, Clinique apparently disagrees with my theory as they've just introduced Bottom Lash Mascara. A tiny tube of mascara that is made for use only on the bottom lashes? Sounds like a waste of money for me. Wouldn't you dry up the tube before you ever used it up? And for $10 dollars. I think not. I'll stick with a drugstore brand I can use on top and bottom. Just like between the sheets, you gotta be good at both.

My solution, buy a package of spoolies (mascara wand shaped applicators) smudge a little mascara on each one and put it on your lashes. I mean, I understand not being able to apply mascara on bottom lashes with the Covergirl LashBlast wand but a regular sized brush? I could be wrong but I'm too stubborn to try it. To me it sounds about as useful as mascara primer, don't even get me started on that. Agree? Disagree? Let me know your thoughts.

Cheapies on My Radar: Sonia Kashuk

I'm always on the lookout for the next great thing, something I can find that I could never live without again. Perhaps that is why I have sooooo many items I've never used and probably will never get around to using completely. Some people gamble, others drink or do drugs but my drug of choice is beauty (oh and music but more about that later).


Sonia Kashuk has been a favorite of mine because unlike the other prestige brands available at Target her line is affordable. The brushes are divine and so soft I find myself rubbing my flat face brush on my face when I'm not applying makeup. I have a cheek stain from her line that is the perfect vibrant pink pop on my cheeks but I will review that as I get to it in my makeup stash.

Right now I'm coveting the Instructional Eye Shadow Palette I saw in People Stylewatch. I have to admit that the promo picture doesn't look that great, the shadow looks chalky but I'd be willing to bet that's not the case and is just the camera tricking us once again.

This palette contains 12 shades, the basics as well as updated shades for spring and summer, every color you could ever imagine needing for any pastel or medium toned eye look. For $20 you really can't beat it. This is the kind of palette I'd toss in my makeup bag and use for weeks at a time and never get sick of. Heaven in my book. For those of you who love a neutral eye this palette is also available in neutral shades.

What do you think? Would you try it out? Do you have something similar?

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips

Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways!
1. You're easy as hell to use. 2. Being my stingy self I can scrape two manicures out of your box of 16 nails and still have a few randoms left over for mismatched manis (and you thought you'd trick me with only 16 strips in a box, I'm too cheap for that). 3. No chip wear for days and days, not like polish, even my beloved Sally Hansen brand that chips on me by the next day. How could I not love thee?

I tried the nail strips in Booty Camp, a pink camo I found the day I found out my baby brother was on his way to Afghanistan for 8 months. Wanting to show my pride, and be reminded of him in a positive light, I picked my selection without hesitation. Had it not been for my state of mind I would no doubt have had problems picking from one of 23 awesome shades. Next up, glitters. I'm really hoping they figure out how to do a metallic minx style manicure. I'm all for that.

These, in my opinion, could easily replace traditional nail polish in my word if I weren't such a junkie. Besides, what self respecting beauty girl can work with only 23 styles? When the range is expanded I'm all over that. They are a cinch to apply and even though they take longer to apply than regular nail polish there is no drying time so you're out the door quicker with no chance of smudges. Just fit them to your nail, stretch and file off excess. If you're good, don't have particularly long or wide nails, there is no reason you can't use ease pre-sized strip for two nails. Press down firmly until the sticker adheres and you're good to go.

The good news, I didn't have chips for 7! whole days. This coming from the girl who chips after five minutes, impossible you say? It's not. Even then it was mostly tip wear and growth at the bottom of the nail, hardly noticeable.

The bad? These are a little tricky to remove, much more labor intensive than wiping off your light pink creme shade but no more difficult than removing a stubborn glitter. I suggest acetone nail plolish remover and a good TV show to keep you entertained for the 15 or so minutes you'll need. No problem with that. It's a trade off and I'll take harder removal for days of perfect wear. What about you?

Face-Off Friday: Jennifer Aniston

Wow. Talk about a commotion. I wasn't even going to post anything about it, everyone else already has but I couldn't resist. Yes, Jennifer Aniston cut her hair, big deal, the girl is allowed to do that, no?

I think I'm one of the few people who liked her hair when she cut it towards the end of Friends. I liked the bob length on her. It was something different and fun but not too different. It's not like she became a brunette and got a pixie. I also like it when she kept it super long. I'm a creature who likes change, not necessarily for me but I love when celebs change up their look, on the red carpet, in real life, even in movies. It's what makes me like them. I applaud them for taking risks.

Now I know what you really want to know. What does she think of the cut? The color? I can tell you I'm not a huge fan of the color, I think it's too light for someone with her skintone, I'm a firm believer in having your hair darker than your skin. I don't know why, I just am, it usually looks better. Of course, if you have dark, dark skin you can go a few shades lighter to add interest.

As for the cut itself, I think it's cute, flirty and fun, something she needed to do to get out of the hair and style rut she's been in. That's not to say that she doesn't look fabulous most of the time it's just always the same look. It's about damn time we saw something different from Ms. Aniston.

Bare Escentuals Catalog

By now you all know how much I love the Bare Escentuals Buxom line- The glosses, the shadows, even the mascara. Now I thought I'd share with you a list of the other Bare Escentuals items I've been dying to try. If you've tried 'em, let me know how you like 'em.

I'll admit I have multiple samples of BareMinerals Foundation, a couple different shades, matte and original, I just haven't had the time or inclination (or nearly perfect skin) to try them for a week or two and report back. I will, someday I will.

With that being said, I'm super interested in the SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen. It comes in 3 shades although, frustratingly, I'm almost positive the lightest will be too dark for my porcelain complexion. It's all housed in a built-in brush applicator and I haven't had good luck with those in the past. They seem like such a good idea but they never work properly for me.

There's also the Skin Revival Treatment for Nighttime. Ok, first of all, if it's for night use why the hell is it colored? Duh. I'm pretty sure it's only listed as a night product because it does not contain sunscreen and is not for use under makeup. The powder is housed in a sponge top applicator and like the brushes I have a hard time with these. The product claims to "promote faster cell turnover, reduce pore size, minimize fine lines, gently exfoliate and increase skin luminosity." Wow. Talk about a multi-tasker. I have to try it just to see if it lives up to any or all of it's promises.

Multitasking concealer is a must have if I were to ever commit to using BareMinerals on a daily basis. If you're anything like me mineral foundation isn't going to hide all your flaws, breakouts, past sundamage, bluish dark circles. I'd love to try the concealer with the foundation. I need to hook myself up with a sample.

The Tutorials Kits are adorable and would make amazing gifts. I'm really loving the look of The Foiled Eye Kit. How gorgeous is that look? These would be perfect for someone who's just learning makeup application or anyone who needs more instruction.

I'm not a huge lipstick girl but I love trying them out anyway. I hope to one day venture out of the house with a more intense (read: not sheer) lippie. I adore the French Pastry shade of 100% Natural Lipcolor. In swatches it looks like the perfect peach for me, not too warm to be unwearble on my cool complexion and not frosty like some other light peaches.

The 100% Natural Lipglosses are also on my radar. Who doesn't love natural items. Just the Buxom glosses I own could keep my lips glossy until I die, I'm not sure why I am lemming these so hard. *Sigh*

But what I'm most excited about trying from the line are the High Shine Eyecolors. I'm a huge fan of shimmer and shine on the eyes and these scream to me to try them out. They come with a "quick draw" wand, whatever the heck that means. I'm sold. These will be my next BE purchase for sure.

While we're at it why don't I mention the items I'm going to pass on from the line. I'm HUGELY against loose powder. I'm a carry around my makeup bag kinda girl, I take it in my purse, it's where I keep my eyedrops, tweezers and Chapstick, stuff like that. I can't carry around loose products. They ALWAYS spill. They have some amazing blushes/face colors and eyeshadows but I just can't do it. Maybe small samples that I swap for on Makeup Alley, I love those and have plenty of jars to acquire more.

The Big & Bright liners also look like they could be fabulous for someone who enjoys mechanical eyeliners, I just don't for some reason. IDK. Plus, I'd really like some brighter, more intense colors.

The line is great and I've loved everything I've tried so far with the exception of the only perfume I sampled from the line, Bare Skin just didn't work on me. I found it too powdery on my skin but I think I'm the only weirdo who thought so, everyone else seems to love it.

What are some of your favorite Bare Escentuals products? Do you think I should bite the bullet and just try the lip and cheek colors even though they are my nemesis loose powder? What about the products I want to try, if you've given them a go I simply must know how you like them.

China Glaze Crackle

By now I'm sure you've seen and heard enough about OPI Black Shatter polish, it's everywhere. I'm surprised but I haven't seen many comparisons to the Covergirl Crackle polishes of the past. Huh. Anyway, back to 2011 and OPI has a little competition.

I've always loved nail polish, even though I'm usually too lazy to take the time to apply it or keep my manicure looking fresh. Daily polish changes as a girl were far from unheard of, I think my mother thought I was crazy even though she got me started in the first place. Now that I'm a big girl I've upgraded my drugstore stash with the likes of Essie, OPI and Zoya but for me and my needs China Glaze always takes the cake. The colors are more innovative and fresh and I get the best wear with the brand. Of course, that's not to say that I don't love me some Sinful, Sally Hansen or other cheapy brands, I'm equal opportunity. Until now....

China Glaze has just launched a whole Crackle collection. Now you aren't stuck rocking black polish if that is not your thing you have your choice of white, black, purple, teal, pink and gray. If you missed out on Shatter but still want to try it look for these. They're so fun and give way to many opportunities to display your creativity on your nails.