SunBurnt Therapeautic After Sun Relief Gel & Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel

Today I wanted to talk about what to do if you didn't fully protect yourself from the sun. First of all, shame on you but I'm not one to hold a grudge! Secondly, let's work on doing better shall we? Reapply every two hours, after getting wet or excessively perspiring. I like spray SPF for it's convenience but use whichever formula you're most likely to actually use. Make sure to get everywhere, not just your face but ears, neck, chest, even hands and feet. The bottles have an expiration date for a reason but as long as you use within a year of purchasing you should be fine. Remember that 8oz bottle is supposed to last you a couple days, not a whole summer.


Well, if you're still reading that means you've been there. We all have. I've been so much better about protecting myself and my last major sunburn was in 2003. I burned the back of my thighs so bad I was a lobster shade of red and could barely walk. Plus, don't even get me started on the peeling, I shed so much Matt called me a snake for a while. That's the last time I'll make the mistake of not protecting my legs when I'm at the beach.

The best thing you can do is immediately take a cool shower to rinse off anything that can further irritate your skin. Use a gentle soap, if anything at all. As soon as you get out and dry off slather on some Aloe or after sun care, read on to see my favorites. Take 2 ibuprofen because it reduces inflammation that can cause pain. Make sure you're hydrated so you don't add dehydration on top of a killer sunburn, you don't know how much the sun takes out of you.

If it's really bad I've heard of people bathing in whole milk, the natural chemicals in the milk are very soothing to the skin. Hopefully you didn't get burned that bad and a little aloe works for you. If you're not lucky enough to have an aloe plant here are my favorite products. {PS, if you store them in the fridge they feel extra wonderful going on}


The product I currently have is Banana Boat Aloe Vera Spray Gel, it's so soothing I was sure it had Lidocaine in it but it doesn't seem to be in there. Just rub this on every couple hours and you'll feel relief. It can make your skin a little sticky as it sinks in but after a few minutes that feeling is gone.

Another one, one that I'm dying to try if I ever have a need for it, is SunBurnt Therapeutic After Sun Relief Gel. See a theme here? I love gel formulas because they sink in faster and seem to hold the cold better thus making them more soothing straight from the fridge. This one is also free of Lidocaine and is homeopathic.

Both of these products will keep your skin hydrated which goes a long way in preventing peeling. Since peeling is worse than the actual sunburn to me I definitely recommend reapplying as often as you want.

StriVectin SH Age Protect SPF 30

Surely, you've ignored StriVectin ads in the past, they're pretty nondescript and the packaging is nothing to write home about but the products... well, those are amazing. I recently had the luck to try out a StriVectin product and I loved it so I'm really looking out for you with the company's new release, SH Age Protect SPF 30.

This one is a light formula sunscreen that protects against UVB rays with SPF 30, those are the ones that cause you to burn (just remember B=burn) and UVA rays that cause aging (A=aging) with PA+++. It's oil-free and lightweight so you won't feel it on your skin in a slimy layer come the middle of the day, I HATE that. It's so light in fact that they actually recommend layering it over other skincare products.

While SPF 30 is great I think for my fair skin I'd want to use another product with sunscreen for added protection like foundation (mineral or otherwise) or my regular sunblock spray. I know new regulations mean SPF 30 is the highest that bottles are allowed to say (starting next year), I'm not sure how I feel about that. Personally SPF 30 hasn't been enough for me in the past, I hope the backlash doesn't leave companies using less SPF leaving me a sunburned mess next summer. For those of you with darker skin, and for winter months, this is a great every day product to put on for incidental exposure. I know I'm just as guilty as the next girl of forgetting SPF year round though I am pretty good about using it on cloudy summer days.

StriVectin-SH Age Protect also includes NIA-114 "molecule that was discovered in skin cancer research to help rebuild skin’s natural protective barrier and reverse signs of aging." That sounds like a great added bonus to me.

If you purchase through the StiVectin site you get a bonus pink travel bag and a sample of StriVectin-SD, the product I tried and loved. While the $49 price tag might scare you, these products really deliver great results and looking 10 years younger than your friend is PRICELESS.

Finger Paints Aren't You Glad-iolous? Nail Polish

After a post on Essie Lilacism, I thought I'd share with you the polish that really started my lust for lilac nails. I've never been able to find the perfect color but when I spotted Finger Paints Aren't You Glad-iolous? in a magazine I knew it was exactly the color I wanted at a price point I could easily afford. If you're iffy about Essie for whatever reason you owe it to yourself to check this one out instead. Available at Sally Beauty for $4.99 )that's almost half off the price of an Essie Polish) and if you've got the Sally card it's only $4.49. I can deal with that! Here's a closeup of the color.....


This one looks even more blue based than Lilacism, the exact reason I love them both. These polishes get rave reviews for being up there in quality with big brands like OPI, Essie and China Glaze at almost half the price. If you're one of those girls who has to have every color out there, or if you're looking for something in particular that you can't find in other brands, I would definitely check out finger paints the next time you're in Sally Beauty.

Face-Off Friday: Evan Rachel Wood

If you've read every post on this blog than you already know how I feel about short hair on women. I cut my hair in 8th grade and ended up with a horrible cut and haven't looked back since. Now my hair is mid-back at all times. That's not to say I don't think there are some women who look great with shorter hair, I just don't usually prefer the look. Here's a great example of someone who has worn a huge range of hair colors and styles, Evan Rachel Wood, who is now test driving a short 'do.

I loved Evan as a redhead, liked her with dark hair and thought she looked great with her natural sandy blonde hair in Thirteen. She's had so many different colors it's hard to keep up but usually it was long. I adore the classic styles she pulled off to perfection, the old school waves that were just lovely with her personal style at the time. I don't know if it was just a phase when she was dating Marilyn Manson or what but she seemed to always wear her hair in retro inspired styles. Here is one of my personal favorite, Evan Rachel with blonde hair and her trademark waves.



Then, recently, she decided to be even bolder than dating a middle aged goth rockstar and chopped off those gorgeous thick locks. I have to say the included picture was not the best one of the cut but it is an accurate one. The sides are practically shaved and the top is quite long for this style. I like that she left some of the length but I don't think her hair has enough texture to keep the style she was looking for, a kinda Halle Berry type look. I also think it would look immensely better with a different color, something more funky and less natural looking, to really give it a rebellious feel.

I think it's safe to say I'm not loving this look from Evan Rachel but I can't wait to see what she does next and how long it takes for her to be attaching extensions to that mane of hers.

Theme Song Thursday: What I'm Listening To Right Now: Part 1

With so much new rock music coming out lately I've gotten pretty overwhelmed and backed up in my reviews. Instead of trying to give you a play by play of each album I'm just going to give a quick overview of all of the newer records I've been bumpin'. Check back next week for Part 2, there's just too much ground to cover. Music is seriously the best motivator so I put it on whenever I'm cleaning (which has included finishing painting my bedroom a seriously gorgeous shade of lilac), working out or cooking. I've purchased more CDs in the past few months than I have in years. Here they are in no particular order:

Crossfade- We All Bleed(6/21/11): I'm a huge Crossfade fan and have been since Cold hit mainstream rock radio years ago. The band's second album, Falling Away, it's honestly one of my favorite albums of all time. This one is quite a bit harder than the last with some amazing guitar licks that I love and simpler songwriting that I can't quite get on board with. I don't know how I feel about the addition of a lot of keyboard on this one, it sounds too Euro, too industrial for my tastes at times. I love the chill vibe of the album and it makes it perfect background music for writing blog posts to. Best Track: I Think You Should Know, it's reminiscent of the tracks on Falling Away, slower/lighter, heartfelt and incredibly emotional.


Theory of a Deadman- The Truth Is...(7/12/11). This is a really fun album, let me just say that. While I'm more of a fan of TOAD's less-sarcastic, less "I hate my life" type of stuff, this music is so fun to listen to after a shitty day. With huge crossover hits (even I was sick of those songs, but I'd played them out more than a year before they hit pop radio) from Scars & Souvenirs, expect to hear some great ballads on this one; Hurricane and Easy to Love You are coincidentally two of my favorites on the album, as is Bitch Came back, a super fun post-breakup song that could be insanely huge on rock radio. Make sure you pick up the deluxe version because it has 18 tracks instead of the standard 12 (it's the one I've linked above)!


Rev Theory- Justice(2/15/11) The Third album from Rev Theory was a little bit of a letdown for me. I really love Rev Theory and Light It Up is one of my favorite albums of all time (look for my top 10 list, coming soon). This one is significantly harder, a disappointment to me because Rev Theory shines on their slower songs. The harder songs are still good party anthems with amazing guitar lines and I can't resist air guitar-ing along whether in the car or washing dishes. I know it's great to clean the kitchen to and I bet it will be great workout music too. The tracks to look out for on this one are Hollow Man, a hauntingly beautiful ballad and The Fire (ditto).
My favorite line from The Fire is "Tell me that you hate me, it wouldn't be the worst thing you ever said, but don't tell me that it's over, don't tell me that it's over." It gives me chills every time I hear it!


My Darkest Days- My Darkest Days(9/21/10) This CD was actually a gift from Matt for Christmas and I have to say it is definitely the best debut album I've ever heard, even he likes it. You've probably heard Porn Star Dancing and wondered who it was, it's these guys. Definitely make sure you get the deluxe version of this one because bonus tracks Without You and Still Worth Fighting For (as featured in my post: Top 10+ Songs That Never Were) are two of my favorites. You'll never tire of Porn Star Dancing and Move Your Body to workout to and you absolutely can't miss a cover of Duran Duran's Come Undone and perfect summer hit Set It On Fire (featured in the video above). I love this album so much that I can't wait to see My Darkest Days, Crossfade and Sick Puppies this Sunday in my hometown, even though I shouldn't be spending the money, I'll never regret going to a concert and creating memories.


Hinder-All American Nightmare (12/7/10) I love Hinder, they are one of the best bands out there. I've seen them live and honestly it sounds just as good as the album, amazing testaments to their talent. All American Nightmare is very Motley Crue-esque (the two bands toured together recently), loads of fun and catchy as hell. If you love their other albums then you are going to love this one as well. My favorite tracks are What Ya Gonna Do, an ode to getting your life on track instead of suffering through it (basically my life motto) and Red Tail Lights (a breakup song that reminds me a lot of the novel I'm writing). This one's a great mix of ballads and fun fast songs. This one also has a deluxe version with demo versions of What Ya Gonna Do and Put that Record On, again showing just how musically talented these guys are without record label input.


10 Years- Feeding The Wolves (8/31/10) Another Christmas gift from the hubby, I feel ashamed that I didn't know about this one sooner. As soon as I did hear it though, I fell in love, especially with the song I knew was destined to be the second single Fix Me. This is one of the only albums I've actually managed to make a copy of for the car but eventually I plan on doing that with all my favorites to protect the original copies from extreme weather and my messy car. Again, you have to pick up the deluxe version of this one as well because Silhouette of a Life, a bonus track also featured on last Theme Song Thursday, is one of the best on the album. I love how 10 years can say things that make you think about life, not just relationships or pet peeves but about deeper issues and they do it in a way that isn't shoving their beliefs down your throat. Love, love, love!

Dove Nourishing Oil Care Serum

Dove is one of those brands that you have to love for their message. The marketing campaign uses real-looking women who don't necessarily embody the Hollywood ideal. They are all about empowering women and girls to be there own best self instead of trying to fit into some impossible mold. I can really get behind that.

When Dove first came out with their haircare line I was in love with the shampoos and conditioners. They were light enough for thin hair but still really hydrated my thick tresses. While I haven't tried them in a while I do know that a formula change a long time back really didn't impress me so I jumped off the bandwagon. Still, I couldn't help but take notice of the Nourishing Oil Line, the Care Serum in particular. I love using oils on my hair and even though it might sound gross I swear the products soak right into distressed strands, leaving the hair looking just as clean as it did before applying. Start with a dime sized drop and add more if needed, it's a lot easier to add more product than to try and take it away. If you're still iffy on using straight oil in your hair there is also a cream available that contains the oils in a lesser concentration with a more flexible base.

A great way to care for your hair is to add a little hair oil to the driest bits and let it air dry. Avoid that hairdryer and straightener as long as you can stand it, it's probably the worst thing you could do to your strands. If you must use it (and we all have to sometimes) make sure you protect your hair with some kind of hydrating product, you can even use oils like this on the plates of your straightener to help seal in moisture and shine. This product is great on breakage around the hairline and really helps the frizz lie flat instead of puffing up like a balloon in the heat and humidity.

This one is only available in real life at Walgreen's but you can find it online at many locations including Walmart.com, Drugstore.com and Amazon and will set you back less than a 10 spot. To complete your collection also check out the shampoo, conditioner and daily treatment conditioner.

Lust List

There are so many makeup products out there that I can't keep up. I want to tell you about so many great things but a lot of them are out of my price range and I'm all about sharing great deals with you, I'm not about to make you fall in love with something you can't afford. So if you're in that place don't read on. This is my lust list, everything I've seen around the blogosphere or in the magazines that I love but can't even fathom shelling out for.

First and foremost who hasn't seen the Dolce and Gabanna Animalier Bronzer, the animal print one that's exlusive to Saks. Wow! It's so beautiful I wouldn't want to use it and probably wouldn't due to the fact that the print is only overspray and doesn't go through the whole compact. The two reviews on the Saks site are completely contradictory to each other so I have no idea what to believe as far as color and shimmer go! This is for a fierce chica, one who can rock animal print on a daily basis for some reason I'm picturing JLo! It's $50 and therefore out of my price range but Too Faced makes some cute alternatives.

Karla Sugar and her fabulous swatches always get me and this week is no exception. I seriously have a whole Word document dedicated to the items on her swatches I want to buy or look for on MakeupAlley when I get back to swapping. This week she got me with pink lipsticks and I'm not even a lipstick wearer. Check out this link, I'm in love with these Lancome Color Design Summer Pinks, especially S.O.S Pink and Rekindle but I'd take any of them for a spin. How pretty! Also, at this link j'adore the Rouge d'Armani Lipsticks in 519 & 520. Jeez! Plus, there's the Lipsticks from the Dior Blue Tie Collection. Swoon! I'm loving Coral Crystal and Tourbillion Pink. Karla and I have similar skintones (I think she's a smidge darker and warmer than I am) so it's always great to see her swatches and know what will look good on me too.

Another place Karla got me was with Le Metier de Beaute Rock 'n' Romance Nail Polishes. Karla has this amazingly innovative way of swatching polishes, with tape on her arm. It's great because you can still see the color against her skin but she can get them out faster if they aren't on the nail swatches. Don't get me wrong she has amazing nails and when she features her manis they are to die for. I want this whole set and not just because Chrome Passion is a near dupe for the new Chanel but because the Rock in Rock 'n' Romance really appeals to me! The set is only $25 for all four polishes, the same price as one from Chanel.

What are you lusting after that needs to be on my radar as well? Please do tell!

Payless Shoes Unforgettable Moments Cosmetics & Fragrances

The times, they are a changin'. I guess they have been but I'm stuck in my little bubble named the state of Maine. I'm sure you're sick of me whining about how long it takes to get products up here, I realize we're the edge of the USA but not the end of the world. Thanks!

A while back (um, winter, again!) I found out that Payless, the giant shoe store in every mall in the country, now does fragrance and cosmetics and shocker! they're great! I couldn't help but sample some of the goodies and I actually bought a lip balm and a lipgloss, two things I definitely didn't need any more of. They are so surprisingly amazing that I should have told you about them sooner. Fear not, they're still available. Before we get into that I wanted to share the other goodies with you.

While there are also a naturals line, Zac and Zoe, I really want to talk about the product line I've tried Unforgettable Moments. I have a huge affliction with cheap scents like those from Avon and Victoria's Secret, the perfume grade scents that is. I can't tolerate them, they give me migraines. I hate it because many of the scents are amazing! I do love Avon and Victoria's Secret body sprays and those seem to be fine for me. Don't want to confuse you! Anyway... the fragrances from the Unforgettable Moments line aren't like that at all. No headaches in sight. I tried Charmed and Promise and both are light but noticeable. They are clean and fresh without overpowering you. I couldn't get over how great they smelled, truly! You should check these out, they're so cheap that you can't afford not to at least look into them next time you're in Payless.

Now, onto the beauty! While I'm always a gloss lover, some of the cheaper ones are, let's face it, crappy! Sometimes the flavor is non-existance and therefore it tastes like dirt or they are too sticky or too thick. Not this one. It's thinner in consistency and non-sticky. They have a slight shimmer and a plastic slant tip applicator (great if you want to sanitize and swap/share). They feel silky on the lips and the sheer color is totally wearable in any situation. Best of all they're $2.99, I can't think of another brand besides ELF that is so affordable. Beautiful!

The other purchase I made was the potted lip balm. I used to be very adverse to these, I was always worried I'd end up with product under my nails but that doesn't seem to be the case, at least not when you're still dealing with a full pot. I like mine to have a little bit of color or shimmer (this has both) as well as be soothing to my lips, no stinging or irritation. This one comes in a really awesome tin pot and I've had no problems with it opening up in my makeup bag, however I did have a super hard time getting it open in the first place, that was quite the trip but not a problem once it was initially opened. It's hydrating and makes my lips feel great and looks good on, not invisible. I should also mention that it does melt a little in the summer but it doesn't effect the product at all and I haven't had any leakage, just awesomeness! This one's $3.99!

Dudesday Tuesday: Comic Con's Best Dressed Celebs

Jaime here. Let me just say better late than never. First it was Matt's fault for not writing this post last night then it was my fault for not getting around to posting the pictures until this afternoon. Well here it is... Dudesday Tuesday, Matt's opinion straight from the horse's mouth.

I remember a few years ago Comic Con was just a convention for 'nerds' where fans went over the top and dressed up like some of their favorite comic book heroes. Most people didn't even know what the hell a Comic Con was, now it's all over the news, companies actually hold off on major announcements regarding movies, television shows and action figure lines until Comic Con, and celebrities not only attend but they get all glammed up for it as well. So while I would love to tell you all about the new He-Man figures they're coming out with, or the relaunch of Thundercats, or WWE's Legends- oh forget it, let's get into the pretty dresses.

There were quite a few that caught my eye, some in a not so good way, but in the end I had a little trouble narrowing my picks down but here are my top five. I wanted to challenge myself a little so I'm going to attempt to put them in order, even though my wife is going to smack me for my number one pick. (He's right I hate the bimbo)

1 - WWE's Kelly Kelly, the current Diva's Champion, shown here with her title. This dress is the epitome of summer formal. The tight fitting white material looks perfect on her body and I love the simple pattern that makes this one look so elegant. Without the flashy championship belt on her shoulder she looks like she could fit in at any Hollywood awards show.

2 - Nina Dobrev, of Vampire Diaries, looks great in this intriguing black dress that any quintessential vampiress(not that she is one) would love to own. Against her pale skin it looks almost like the black fabric is wrapping her body, leaving parts of her skin exposed which is always sexy, even if it is just an illusion. I'd prefer it without the sleeves and maybe some black heels rather than the red ones but still an amazing look, and my wife will be proud I put Nina at the top of my list.

3 - Even though she didn't wear a dress, I'm giving third place to Kristin Stewart. It probably took a long time to find the perfect jeans and loose white shirt to wear to the event even if it looks like something she threw on minutes before she left, which is part of what I like about it. It's simple outfits like this that men love because she looks gorgeous without trying, and I'm not even a fan of hers, she seems like a sourpuss and definitely needs to smile more. The black bra beneath the white top usually looks kinda slutty but it's somehow almost classy here which is hard to pull off.

4 - Another wrestler, TNA's woman's champion Mickie James, is holding down the number four spot. Being in the physical condition these women have to be in, it's easy for them to look good in tight dresses that might show off too much ribcage of some of the actresses who attend these events. Mickie pulls this off perfectly and I love the design here, the colors in her dress actually match the championship belt slung over her shoulder. And wow, look at her shoes, those are hot. If I had noticed those sooner she probably would have moved up on this list, but I guess it'd seem like the ladies of wrestling were getting preferential treatment in that case anyway. I don't think Mickie could have made this outfit anymore perfect.

5 - And rounding out the top five is another of my wife's favorites, Emma Stone. I love simple black dresses, skintight is even better so this one was practically a given. Aside from her dress, I'm glad she went back to the red hair, if you ask me she should be playing Mary Jane in the upcoming Spiderman movie instead of whatever other character she was given. It's hard to see in some of the photos but to spice up the plain dress, there's a hole in the right shoulder and as I said before, unexpected exposed skin is always good, it adds a whole other dimension to the outfit. Her pale skin contrasts perfectly with the all black outfit, making her red locks stick out even more. She gets an Easy A for this one, hehe, get it? Shut up, I thought it was funny.

I'm sure there were a lot of other gorgeous dresses at the event but these are my favorites so far, and it'd take something really amazing to push one of these out of the top five. A few worth mentioning were Ashley Greene and Kate Beckinsale who would have made it had this been a top ten list. It's great to see the Comic Con gain so much mainstream exposure, I can't wait to see what they wear at next year's. If ever make it there, I'm so going as He-Man, wish me luck gaining a couple hundred pounds of muscle. Well I'm off to do some push-ups, thanks for reading.

Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm

I'm so behind the times. I've been meaning to post about this product since it first came out oh, last winter. Oops. I hope you'll forgive my laziness.

Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm is just that, lip color and balm in a chubby stick. Personally I'm a huge fan of these types of products. The stick is so easy to use and versatile too. If you apply with just the tip you can line your lips and use just the edge and you can fill your lips in with one swipe. They travel very well and you don't have to worry so much about melting in your makeup bag the way you do with lipstick.

This one's moisturizing so there is no need for balm underneath, yet shiny enough that you don't need gloss on top. I love the color selection (8) and the $15 price tag ain't that bad either. I'll give that to Clinique, they do have decent prices, not too much more than what you'd pay at a drugstore for some brands. While it doesn't last that long who cares?!? You can look hella cute reapplying this one and I'm sure everyone will ask about it. "Are you coloring on your lips with a crayon?" I can see it now! Be prepared to perplex people, especially the men in your life, I can't imagine what dad's would say!!!!

Another great thing about these are the sheer colors, a great way to try out colors you'd never normally wear like bright pinks and corals as well as the pretty berry shades. As a fair girl with dark hair I'm sure if I had the balls to do it, mid to dark berries would look quite good on me, too bad I'm a chicken!

Clarisonic

How many times can you read about something and how amazing it is without breaking down and buying it? After about the millionth time reading about the Clarisonic I'm still not ready to make the plunge, what about you? I've heard so many great things but I don't have the money to plunk down for something I'm not even sure if I'd use. Know what? I got a cheap knockoff (unopened) at a yard sale a few weeks back and it's not even opened in my bathroom. That's how much I'd use my $200 Clarisonic. Yeah, not a good investment but I'm sure for a lot of you it would be worth the price.

This thing does some pretty amazing things for the skin that's for sure. It helps remove more dirt (always found that funny, who has literal dirt on their faces?), grime and makeup in two minutes than manual scrubbing, six times better to be exact. I know I'm lazy about makeup removal, I use makeup remover wipes if I do anything at all, oops! That's probably why my skin is mediocre at best but hey, there is NO WAY I could have the skin I want, I'm freckled and there's no helping that, not even SPF 100 would make a difference, trust me I've tried.

The Clarisonic is also a great manual exfoliator, it gets rid of the dead skin on the surface so that your products can penetrate the skin better and you get much better results than just slapping it on over all that dead skin. It also is proven to reduce the look of pores (God, I need that) and eradicate blackheads (ditto!).

It's pricey $155 for the Mia, $195 for the classic Clarisonic and $225 for the Plus which comes with body brushes.

I'm partial to the Jaguar Mia linked above but if I were to make the leap and purchase I would wait it out and get a set with skincare included, like the recent Dr. Brandt version. I've tried the cleanser included with the classic model and while I didn't find it to be bad, it wasn't anything special, nothing worth buying again after you've used it up.

What do you think? I have to know. Do you have a Clarisonic? If so what version? Would you buy one? If I had disposable income I would definitely try it out, I'm not afraid to return things!

L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

Sometimes I wonder how companies figure out ways to make things more complicated than they need to be. Who needs an extra step in their routine or something that is more complicated than other options out there? L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara is just one of those things, really. How hard is it to mascara-ize? Well, L'Oreal figured out how to make it about 20x harder. I know this isn't a new one but I thought I'd share my experiences with you anyway.

This one is all about the wand and honestly, it's hard to get past. Really, there is no way to make a mascara more complicated than this one does. This is a ball shaped wand like Givenchy Phenomen'eyes mascara, with tiny little spikes all over the place. Wow, talk about a violent way to do mascara. It's frightening, you can't even get close to the lashes without worrying about killing yourself via the eyeballs. Not only that but I ended up with globs of mascara in certain places and hardly any in other places. It's impossible to spread out and don't even get me started on the lack of length.

I can't even attest to the color and wearability of this product, I couldn't get past the application. It's strange to even think that something as simple as mascara can be so seriously flawed in both thought and application!

While the price is right, the only real use I could see for this would be for those with pale lashes since you can hit them from the top a lot easier than you could with a regular wand. Does anyone have any experience with this product? Are there special tricks that I'm missing? What did you think of it?

Avon Naturals Body Spray

It's one of those days where it's too hot for life. I just want to crawl into a dark hole and emerge when the weather is more comfortable. I can't stand being hot. There are those people out there that would rather be too warm but I'd rather be too cool. Now I hate winter as much as the next girl but I do love my blankie and snuggling up on the couch with my furnace of a husband and my kitty. Can't do that in the summer!

Know what else you can't do this time of year? Wear any kind of sexy perfume. Sure you can wear fruity or slightly floral but you can't wear the same ones you always wear, not unless it cools down at night. Not only will it make you and everyone around you want to gag but you'll probably sweat it all off before the morning is through. For that reason I'm a big body spray girl. I probably have 20+ sprays from Bath and Body Works, Calgon, Victoria's Secret and Avon.

I know what you're thinking...Avon? Yeah, I know. I'm not a huge fan of their makeup and their actual perfumes ALWAYS give me a headache but I love their body sprays because they are so light. These only stick around for a few hours so they are perfect if you're fickle like me or if you just need a boost to prevent knocking out those around you with your offensive odor.

Right now I'm loving Avon Naturals Strawberry & Guava spray. This post was originally supposed to be about the Gardenia version but I can't find that one the website and I'm afraid they might have discontinued it. If you have it savor it and if you want it I suggest hitting up ebay or makeupalley. If you're looking for something lighter and fruitier look no further. I own this one and it's about as sweet as they come without making you smell like a candy factory.

This one is subtle so it's not going to offend even the touchiest of sniffers and there are no harsh notes, just light and fruity. Seriously, you'll smell like a daquiri (in a good way, I promise).

If Strawberry & Guava is not your thing there are a few other options, all of them retail for $9 but as with other Avon products, there are usually great sales.

Aveeno Sun Protection

What a heatwave! I hope you get to be outside enjoying this beautiful weather with the ones you love or, like me, are at least cooped up in the AC while your other half works his butt off 6 days a week. God bless the air conditioner, I don't know how I would survive without it.

If you are outside enjoying the sunshine you're gonna need a great SPF and one of my personal favorites, along with the Coppertone I already told you about, is Aveeno. It happened by accident, I grabbed the cheapest bottle on the shelf and actually quite enjoyed it. That happy little accident was Aveeno Continuous Protection, and now I can't live without it. This stuff is the real deal, it even smells good. I'm partial to sprays but I must be careful to get every last inch of my body. It's light and the cool mist directly from the can is quite refreshing on a day like today when it's over 100 degrees.

Another huge hit this summer is Aveeno Hydrosport. Honestly, I haven't tried this one out yet but many of my favorite beauty bloggers are loving it. Check out Julia's Review on All About the Pretty and Christine at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic. This is one you can apply to wet skin so don't worry about being completely dry before applying. I imagine it would be wonderful for those squirmy little kids and for boyfriends/husbands who can't stop throwing around a football long enough to get SPF'ed up.

Both of these are a fantastic value at under $10 anywhere beauty products are sold. They are available in both lotion and spray versions in varying levels of protection. You can't go wrong with that. I'm not willing to shell out big bucks when brands like Aveeno, Neutrogena and Coppertone make such affordable and high quality SPF products. What about you?

Face-Off Friday: August Magazine Covers

It's time to shake things up for Face-off Friday and I can't think of a better way than with a poll. Now if you vote in the poll feel free to give me your reasoning in the comments section as well as suggestions for people you'd like to see featured!

As I've said before I'm a huge magazine girl, I would estimate that I have around 500 in my house, thank God I have a pretty big place. I'm in the process of reading them all, weeding through them and keeping the ones I want. I have a collection of Cosmopolitans and Glamour scanning back to 2003, almost every single issue! I love it. It's a shame I don't plan on having children because I could only imagine how awesome that would be for a teen girl. Maybe my brother will have a daughter I can spoil with them when she's old enough.

This week I'm featuring four of my favorite magazines; Cosmo, Glamour, InStyle and Harper's Bazaar. While I can't actually say that I truly read Bazaar on a regular basis I did get a free subscription and I love looking at the pictures. The other three, well, I read those cover to cover pretty much the day I get them. So here goes. Take a good look over all the pictures and let me know what your pic is and why.

Online Surveys & Market Research

L'Oreal Colour Riche le Gloss

Yesterday I shared with you one of my all time favorite cheap lippies, CoverGirl Wet Slicks Fruit Spritzers, but today I'm dying to talk about a new contender, L'Oreal Colour Riche leGloss.

This one is around the same price point as my favorite from CoverGirl, yet as you can see in the promotional pictures, it appears to be more pigmented than others on the market. I'm sure you know how frustrating it is when you get a pretty baby pink or light peach gloss and get it home and it's essentially clear on your lips. Well, the swatches around the blogosphere prove this is not the case with this one. It comes in 16 shades and they smell like caramel. I'm sure I've mentioned it before but I don't really screw around with glosses that have "no" flavor, most of the time they just taste like icky chemicals that I'd rather not have near my mouth.

I've been a fan of L'Oreal Colour Juice glosses for a while, they were close to the first of their kind released in drugstores that were touted as much for their shine and color as their scent and flavor. I think I had pretty much every one. This time they come in a more sophisticated package for all those big girls out there that still want to rock a fruity lip. Mind you Colour Juices came out back in the early 2000s when lipgloss wasn't nearly as mainstream with the older populations, now everyone and their mother (literally!) rocks the gloss.

What really gets me with this one is the beautiful ads. I'm not usually a sucker for advertisements but how could I not be with this one? Beautiful ladies, Jennifer Lopez (how sad about her divorce, huh?) and Laetitia Casta totally rock le Gloss.

Tanda Tanda Zap

I've had pretty good luck with zit zappers like the Zeno in the past so I am really curious how well the Tanda Zap works. Where the mini Zeno that I know and love used only heat to treat pimples, the Tanda Zap uses heat, vibration and blue light, a triple threat to bust those pesky pimples outta there! The main problem with the Zeno is it only treats part of the problem, it only reduces the size of the bump under the surface, it doesn't work on whiteheads and it doesn't reduce redness.

The Tanda Zap is $49, pretty cheap if it's as effective as it says it is. Hell, even just a reduction in redness is worth that to me. I'm an acne sufferer, I usually have a blemish on my face at any given time and have even been known to get them on my neck, chest and back, always an embarrassing fact of life. This one's effective for 1,000 uses, significantly more than other products on the market.

The blue light kills the bacteria that clogs pores, the bacteria that the vibration and heat bring to the surface. I've read that this one doesn't get as hot as the Zeno or ThermaClear so it's great for those of you that couldn't handle the heat on your face, like Matt can't. It was too hot for him and sometimes, on more delicate areas, it was the same for me. This one is proven to lessen the appearance in 24 hours, though I'm hesitant to believe that.

What do you think? The perfect gadget or too good to be true?

CoverGirl Wet Slicks Fruit Spritzers

You know what I love? Cheapie lipglosses! They are pretty high up on my list of the best things in life. Even though I own over 200 glosses there are definitely some that are better than others, some I reach for more often than others. They're thick but not goopy, non-sticky, scented/flavored and sheer enough for every day use without being completely clear. I know it sounds like I'm asking for a lot but I'm not, not when CoverGirl Wet Slicks Fruit Spritzers can meet all requirements.

I love that these cost less than a cup of fancy coffee and are easily available at many of the stores I'm in and out of all the time, Walmart, Target, every drugstore imaginable. How great is that? Available in 12 colors and fruity scents I'm sure you can find one you love. They are all pretty sheer, slightly shimmery and high shine. They smell and taste amazing, not unnatural and chemical tasting like other cheap glosses.

The best part about these is the texture. They are not watery but they aren't thick and goopy either. There is not a trace of stickiness so you don't have to worry about getting your hair stuck to your lips in a windstorm. They are slightly hydrating but they don't take the place of a good balm.

Have you tried these? Let me know your favorites in the comments.

Boscia Black Mask, Pore Strips and Blotting Linens

Wow do my pores take a beating in the summer. Year round I'm pretty much a dry mess but add a little dehydrating sun exposure and my dry skin flakes up between exfoliations. Yet my skin still gets shiny from the sunscreen liberally applied to it every two hours. I could use some help and Boscia is coming to the rescue.

The quickest fix for the shinys is a blotting paper, or a Boscia calls it, a blotting linen. Instead of adding powder that can cake up or make your skin look fake and overly dry, just blot your face with a Boscia Blotting Linen. I'm completely lusting over the limited edition green tea version and for only $10 for 100 sheets it's something I can indulge in. That's the price of two green tea lattes that I drink every week in the winter, this can be my summer green tea fix. I love that they get Sephora's Natural Seal. Don't worry if green tea is not your thing, they have a regular formulation as well as other limited edition versions throughout the year.


For those pores there are many options but I can't get over the coolness factor of Boscia's Black Mask and Black Pore Strips! At $34 and $15 respectively they are a little on the pricey side for masks and pore strips but they are completely worth the price, they work. I can't tell you the great things I've heard about this mask, it seems like it's everywhere, everyone and their mother is trying it out and looking awesome while doing it. The black pore strips adhere better to the skin, really pulling all the impurities out of the nose. Blackheads stand no chance with these. If you haven't had much luck with these types of products and suffer from blackheads you might want to give these a try. If you're fascinated by what comes out of your pores (and I know I can't be the only one) the black really makes everything show up to show how effective they are.

Do yourself a favor and check out this amazing brand the next time you're at Sephora, the black mask is exclusive to them.

Too Faced Primed & Poreless SPF 20 Bronze Tint

I embrace the pale I really do but that doesn't mean that I ALWAYS want to be Casper the Albino Ghost. Sometimes life just really calls for a little bit of bronze. Take today for instance, the eyes were played up yesterday and lips the day before, when does a girl have a chance to play up the skin. Sure, you can wear bright blush for a foxy flush, put on some sparkly bronzer but then the cheeks only get to have the fun. My forehead, nose and chin are jealous!

All kidding aside there is no way I can go to an important even this summer without a primer under my foundation. I just can't. Not only does primer help my makeup last all day but the colors stay true to life instead of facing and creasing in the sun. Foundation can oxidize and change color making you looking like you're wearing the wrong shade or spent too much time with a bottle of self tanner.

Too Face Primed & Poreless Bronze Tint is awesome. It's subtle but you can see a slight difference in the tone of your skin. It's so subtle in fact that when I tried it out I slathered it on Matt's forehead instead of my already covered face. He looked naturally tanner on his forehead but it wasn't as if he had a tanning mishap the previous weekend. There's also a very subtle amount of shimmer to liven up the skin. I mean, Matt's a boy, and no one would think he turned into a sparkling Edward the Vampire.

At $30 the price is pretty comparable to similar primers but this one really works. It's not as heavy as say, Smashbox, but the silky silicone makes your face feel soft and look matte. I love that this adds another layer of sun protection, something we need year round which really helps justify the price.

So whatever the occasion, work, play or mundane, you really need this product in your life and if you've never used a primer I promise you will not be disappointed.

Essie Lilacism

Are you a pink or a purple? There are a lot of girls who love, love, love the color pink and I feel like purple gets less love. I'm a purple girl myself and if I were ever to have a daughter she'd wear more purple than pink I'm sure.

Purple is one of those colors that really flatters me, dark, light or anywhere in between but especially shades that are bluer in nature. My new favorite nail polish just might be Essie Lilacism, a perfect light purple shade that I can't get enough of. Here's a pic of my most recent pedi. (I had just added lotion to my feet so they are a little shiny, don't want you to think I have chronic foot sweat or something).


This color really bonded to my toes and without a base coat (I'm just starting to use them) I had no chipping or tip wear. I did find it a little difficult to remove so I ended up slapping a sheer grape shade on top and rocked that for about a week because I didn't have the time to sit there and rub off the Lilacism.

This color is pretty close to the lightest purple shade in the flowers and since they happen to be my favorite, lilacs, I just love the name of this. While I know names mean nothing, I like colors with cute names, sue me! It's so pretty though, I would seriously wear it year round. It was a little light on my toes so it looked best with a dark shoe to really stand out but if you're looking for something subtle to use on those tootsies check this one out.

Dudesday Tuesday: Men's Summer Fashion (or lack thereof)

For those of you who are new to DOC I'd like to introduce my husband, Matt. Matt is the resident dude and writes the Dudesday Tuesday columns for Drug of Choice. He shares his view on the latest fashion, beauty and fragrance choices for both men and women with a dash of the everyman's perspective on the side. You can expect his opinions to be honest even when we don't want to hear it and fun as well. The most important part of Dudesday is the man's perspective but it doesn't mean you have to change a thing about you to please ANYONE, we love you just the way you are.

Men expect a lot from women and tend to be very critical. Guys sure can dish it out but can they take it? Because for all the complaining coming out of men's mouths, the majority of them have no right to be making demands. If you want to help your guy out, or make fun of ones who deserve it, here's a few fashion no-no's I've seen so far this summer.

For one, men in tanktops/wifebeaters is fine, if you have the body to pull it off. This doesn't just mean no gut but there really shouldn't be body hair curling over the edges of the fabric. Chest hair, back hair, even the nasty four inch long armpit hair, it all needs to go. No one wants to see that. But it doesn't stop there, if a guy is wearing a white tanktop, one of the top priorities should be making sure it is still white. Now if you're a 50 year old chain smoking, alcoholic with a gut that has shielded your genitals from any form of light for the past fifteen years, then by all means wear the ratty old disgusting tanktops with hairs sticking through, it's a classic look, otherwise, please make sure you're able to pull this look off.

Another equally important fashion statement among clueless men is sandals. Many will argue that they have no place on men's feet but let's cut us guys a little slack, it's hot, some dudes don't want to wear sneakers. So to any guy wearing sandals, please make sure they are not flip flops, they should not 'fwwp' when you step, stick with Jesus sandals please, the ones that strap to your feet. And if you must show your toes, this requires the removal of socks. No socks under sandals. If women can't, men can't, simple as that. And remember gentlemen, you will have hair on your feet, make it go away.

Being born and raised in the inner city, shorts don't really go with the whole dressing gangsta style I've grown accustomed to. It's really hard to look cool in shorts so they created ones that hang low, too low. If the bottom of your shorts come within an inch or two of the top of your socks, you are not wearing shorts, those are capris, do not wear them, under any circumstances. On the same note, and this generally goes for older men, if the shorts come dangerously close to showing off the bottom of your underwear, you should not be seen in public with these on. Shorts should hover around the knees. Any material should be fine, or so you'd think, kids are okay wearing cotton shorts but grown men should find another fabric. On more than one occasion I have noticed guys, usually quite large ones, with visible stains on the backs of their shorts and let me tell you, the stains were NOT from sitting in the grass. So if you must wear cotton shorts, please wear underwear and I can not stress this enough, you must wipe after using the bathroom. It's a serious enough problem to warrant a blog post of its own but for now we'll just stick with wearing clean underwear beneath shorts at all times.

If you're a little grossed out right now, good, that means I'm not alone. Now on to a happier male wardrobe screw up that is quite common and one I made before my wife put me on to the truth about socks. We don't think much of them, hell, with pants on no one even sees them, but with shorts, socks tend to stick out. Why? Because men insist on wearing white socks that are jacked halfway up their legs. First of all, pull 'em on down, unless you're playing soccer. Now I just buy the ones that only come up to my ankles and I love them, they're much more comfortable and not nearly as itchy. The other problem with white socks is that they don't match your black shoes. Let's face it, most men's sneakers are black, so although your feet may be representing your racial diversity, keep black footwear with black socks and the same goes for white ones, keep the similar colors together.

Last but not least, I understand the need for men to look cool and dressing down in shorts and a light t-shirt isn't exactly the best way to look bad ass but for God's sake it's summer. This means no hoodies, especially with the hoods up, no winter hats, no coats not even rain coats (if it's raining get wet and enjoy the cool rain), no combat boots, no long sleeve shirts and no multiple layers. I have seen far too many guys dressed for winter, so ladies, do not let your man leave the house looking like that, people will laugh behind his back, I promise. Do him a favor and hook him up with some of your fashion advice because from what I've seen this summer, he probably needs it.

China Glaze High Hopes with Swatches

Oh China Glaze, how I love thee. I've tried a lot of nail polish brands and I have to say China Glaze is my favorite by far. Not only are the colors perfect and varied but the wear is not even comparable to other brands, it's so much better. I get way more wear with China Glaze.

High Hopes is a bright pink with a slight orange leaning. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was coral but it's not a straight up pink either. As you can see from the above picture in darker lighting the orange becomes a little more noticeable. I love the way this color looks with my skin, it really brings out my pink undertones and makes me look healthy and rosy. I used to have a shirt this exact color (well, technically I still have it but it doesn't fit so well anymore) and I got so many compliments when I wore it because the color truly flattered me, same with this polish. No one ever says anything about my polish but I got a compliment on this one!

High Hopes would be a perfect pedi color year round but I love how it looks on my fingers in the summer. I got amazing wear with this one with one coat of Seche Vite. I'm the type of girl that can't even go a day without a chip and I went four with this and even when it did start to chip I wasn't left with huge missing chunks of polish like I have been lately, just small little missing pieces. It makes it so much easier to just touch up spots if you're in a hurry or not sick of your polish just yet.

Too Faced Lashlight Mascara

Oh the things you didn't know you needed until they come into your life. Flavored water, gel manicures, lighted and mirrored mascara. Oh yeah, you heard me. Too Faced Lashlight mascara. Seriously, it's awesome! Of course throwing an LED light and mirror on an awful mascara doesn't mean anything but put it on a great mascara like this and you've got something going on. I love the mirror on the side of the tube, it's perfect for putting your mascara on in the car (as a passenger only, of course) or for reapplication after the beach.

This mascara is awesome! It's glossy black, volumizing and lengthening and never clumps or smears all over my face. The wand is thin fiber and it really leaves your lashes clean and gorgeous and it's easy to get into the inner corners. I love that the applicator really comes out clean so that you have no worries about applying on the go. You really can't overdo it with this mascara. This one doesn't leave your lashes dry and brittle, it leaves them hydrated and conditioned. It's got vitamins to leave your lashes in better condition than when you started.

You know, I didn't even realize there was a light on this product for the longest time. The button on the top of the applicator wand is actually turning on the light. Hey! It doubles as a flashlight if you're caught in the dark, as the name suggests.

Ralph Lauren Blue

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you're all enjoying the weekend. It wouldn't be right without a little bit of beauty.

Like many of you I'm sure, I don't feel complete without a dose of perfume. Even on the hot summer days when all I want to do is lounge in front of Netflix (minus the price hikes, thank you very much) with AC on high, I still want to smell perdy. You've probably heard me say it before but it bears repeating, I usually do not alter my makeup and beauty routines drastically in summer. I like items that can be used year round and that's why I'm such a fan of light, fruity or floral fragrances. This summer I can't be without my Ralph Lauren Blue.



Not that it matters much in the scheme of things but how cute is that bottle? It's classy and pretty and best of all it really evokes the scent of the product itself. This one is clean and fresh, never heavy or overpowering even when the temperature is soaring above 100 degrees. I reach for this one again and again. It's sweet but not too sweet, fruity but not overly so, I feel like it's perfect for everyone. It just smells like clean fresh skin and clothes but isn't as simple as that. I think you have to smell it for yourself in order to understand what I mean.

The other day Matt and I were in the car and after becoming quite immune to the Sweet Pea air freshener from Bath & Body Works Matt leans over and asks me if that's me that smells good. He's not one to notice, although he still notices more than most men, but it takes a lot for him to actually ask. It made me giddy with excitement, of course but it also made me want to spritz it on all of my clean clothes, on my sheets and towels and all over my house, it's that good.

What do you think? Do you have a favorite summer fragrance? Tell me all about it in the comments.

MD Solar Sciences Ultra Sport Stick SPF 40

By now you know sun exposure is bad, very bad. In fact, I was trying to write this post on my deck but the sun beating down on my chest was not conducive to writing and I couldn't in good conscience write a post about sunscreen when I wasn't fully protected myself. I started off the day with SPF on my face. I applied to my arms and legs while sitting in my car burning like a crisp but my chest and neck are still exposed to the elements and being the idiot that I am, my sunscreen is in the car that my husband took to work. That's why something like MD Solar Sciences Ultra Sport Stick would be so handy. I'd keep it in my purse, all packed up neatly, no risk of oozing from a tube or accidental spraying from an aerosol can. It's $16 and so portable that I couldn't imagine ever being without it.

If you're more prepared than I am at any given moment (and it's not very hard to be) than you might be thinking that you don't need this product but you could be wrong. Stick formulas are perfect for application on delicate eye areas, on your nose and ears and places like the backs of hands and tops of feet that you wouldn't want to be sticky or greasy.

Although we're supposed to do away with the use of very water resistant it's still okay for now and this product claims to be very water resistant, okay for light sweating or getting splashed by the pool. As I've said before just make sure to reapply after you sweat like a beast/ towel off from swimming or every two hours, whichever comes first.

Keep yourself safe this weekend and don't suffer another day with a horrible sunburn that allows you to do nothing but lie in bed and curse the day you ever went outside without adequate sun protection.

Neutrogena Skin Clearing Liquid Makeup

I never knew I needed skin clearing makeup until I looked in the mirror during one of the most stressful times in my life and realized, for once, that my face was completely clear. I've had breakouts my entire life. Not only does it plague me but my mother and younger brother are both acne sufferers as well. Short of Accutane (which I'm not ready to do just yet) there isn't much I can do about my genetics. Prescription gels are too harsh for my dry and sensitive skin and my skincare routine is lacking to say the least.

I thought I must have been dreaming when seemingly by chance my face just happened to look great. What was going on? I realized I'd switched my foundation, just finished up the last of my cream foundation for winter and was now using a tube I'd found in my drawer, Maybelline Pure Makeup (sadly, discontinued). This miracle tube contained salicylic acid so I'd been giving myself a daily dose of the wonder drug without even realizing. My face wasn't dry, wasn't irritated it just looked healthy and radiant.

Well, we all know how that works. You find something you love and they don't make it anymore. There are a few drugstore brands that still offer skin clearing makeup but none as great as Neutrogena. A while back I tried the line and wasn't impressed with the shade range, all were too yellow and dark for my pink-toned pale skin. Since then the line has been reformulated and lighter, more neutral shades have been added.

If you suffer from acne that's not shattering your world but you'd like to control without adding extra steps to your routine you owe it to yourself to check out this line. It even comes with a concealer and a powder so you add extra doses to clear skin faster. Sayonara, acne!

Face-Off Friday: Bristol Palin

Today's FOF is a little bit different. You see, I normally make you look at two photos of the same celeb and judge them on their outfit, hair and makeup but today we're going deeper. We're going into plastic surgery land *dun dun dun* I'm not one to sit around and criticize celebrities for going under the knife, getting injections or in any way altering their appearance, that's up to them. However, I do think that as a society where everyone is judged based on their appearance all is fair game when it comes to discussion. Here we go....

Bristol Palin, come on down! You're the next contestant on Face-Off Friday! Whether you loved her on Dancing with the Stars or hated her, whether you agree with her mother's politics or think she's a raging lunatic, you have to agree that Bristol is a pretty, if ordinary looking, girl. That's what makes her special. With a sea of blonde, fake-breasted, overly tan and thin starlets out there it's nice to see someone in the public eye who doesn't look so cookie cutter. Until now....

Here's a picture of Sarah Palin's eldest daughter from a few years back. She's got the cute little baby face, an adorable dimple in her chin and just looks wholesome and.... REAL.


There's nothing wrong with that. Here's Bristol after her "medically neccessary, corrective" surgery.


While she doesn't look too awfully different I do think that the chin implant is a look that only Hollywood could love. Who in their right mind actually wants a prominent chin like that? Sure it could settle after her surgery but that remains to be seen. Honestly I'm loving the darker and fuller hair but I'm not sure about the rest of the look. She complains about her "baby fat" face but honestly I don't think this really helps matters all that much.

So what do you think? Normal teenage Bristol or Hollywood Diva Bristol? She's beautiful either way but is there too much of an emphasis on perfection in Hollywood? Let me know in the comments.