ProductWhores

More Korres To Love

I got a chance to try out a few more Korres products this week and now I'm wondering where this brand has been all my product-buying life because I'm really digging it.  (I'm totally trying to bring back the phrase "digging it" after seeing it on a rerun of "Three's Company" this week).  Their Provitamin B5 & Rice Bran Mascara is a really great every day mascara.  At $16, it has a lash-strengthening formula that uses natural Rice Bran extract to add add volume and length to your lashes.  What I like about it is the brush, which is the perfect size to let you slip on the mascara without getting it all over your face (a common problem for the uncoordinated, like me).  It also really doesn't clump, even when you put on several coats, which I totally appreciate.  It just gives me natural-looking, thicker lashes and it's perfect for the daytime.  It's also available in some interesting shades - besides Black and Brown, there's also a Grey Green and Blue Black.  They'd be a nice way to try a subtle, different color on your lashes without going too wild. 

  

I always like the look primers give my skin, but half the time I'm too lazy in the morning to put them on.  But I really wanted to test out this Face Primer, so I made myself put it on every day for a week, and it's definitely made itself an indispensable part of my routine.  It's a silicon-free, 99% natural primer that goes on smoothly and leaves my skin looking much better than it does normally.  (For some reason, whenever I put it on, I always think of it like I'm spackling my face.  Too much watching my dad fix things around the house while I was growing up, I guess!)  It just seems to fill in the pores on my face so that when I put on foundation, my skin looks closer to perfect.  (Which, uhm, sadly it is not).  There really is a difference in the way it looks with and without primer and it's a big enough difference to make my lazy self add a step to my makeup routine, so you know it's worth it!

And as a bonus, from now until September 30th, you can get 30% off your order at www.korresusa.com when you use the promo code PRODUCTWHORES.  It can't be combined with any other offers, but you'll be able to pick up some great products and save some money at the same time and who doesn't love that?  Happy shopping! 

Two New Go-Tos by L'Oreal

Okay, so I am in love with two new products by L'Oreal because they actually do what they're supposed to (what an odd concept, eh?)  I have been using their Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair Eye Duo (you know the cool, red tube that Andie MacDowell talks about in the commercial) for a few weeks now and I am really happy with the results (and very surprised, actually).  One side of the tube has the AM cream (which contains SPF) and the other end is the PM cream.  The creams contain Pro-Retinol A which supposedly aids in reducing the size and depth of deep-set wrinkles.  While I can't speak to "deep-set" wrinkles, I have small ones around my eyes and they have dramatically reduced in size.  Both creams are fragrance free and instantly sink into the skin so you don't have any sticky residue to deal with.  I also love the fact that the tube is so easy to travel with (no lids coming undone in the suitcase).  While the tube costs a somewhat hefty $19.99, I think it's well worth it.  Just think what you'd pay (and I have many times) paid for a department store brand.  In comparison, this is a bargain. 

My other new go-to is the Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara by L'Oreal.  What impressed me the most about this new mascara is that my lashes actually looked fuller without using my eyelash curler.  I was stunned!  Also, minimal clumping, which I love.  The wand is fat and contoured (it's kind of curvy like a woman's body) so it really plumps up lashes.  The mascara was a bit hard to get off (even the non-waterproof one), so you just have to put a little more armwork into the scrubbing at night.  Well worth the money, though, in my opinion.  Plus, if you go to drugstore.com now, they are having a BOGO event with this mascara included.  Score!  

Wipeout!

No matter how lazy I am (and believe me, I can out-laze anyone) I never go to bed without washing my face.  Even on my last birthday, when I had a few (okay, eight) too many drinks, I woke up feeling like death, but with a perfectly clean face.  I even brushed my teeth!  But still, there are plenty of normal nights where I just don't feel like dragging out my beloved Clarisonic and on those nights, I'm reaching for Korres Pomegranate Cleansing & Make Up Removing Wipes.  With a few quick swipes of the cloth, all my makeup comes off, including eye shadow and mascara, leaving my face clean and feeling great (no tightness or itchiness left behind).  And the scent is nice - I know they're pomegranate, but for some reason, they smell like wine to me.  (I do have to warn you, the scent is pretty strong, so you might want to give one a sniff before you buy, just to make sure you like it).  The great thing about these wipes that sets them apart from others is that they're all natural - they have no parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes or petro-chemicals, so you're not putting anything full of chemicals on your skin.  And since they're not a liquid, they're easy to slip into your bag for the gym, a flight, or even just a normal day running around town.  (It's been about 105 degrees in Los Angeles all week and I would've killed to have one of these things in my purse on the way home today).  The package is $12 and comes with 25 wipes in them, so it's a pretty good value.  Now if I could only find a similarly effortless way to get my laundry done, I'd be all set...

Defend Your Dark Circles

When I don't get a lot of sleep, it takes me, oh, about 2.4 seconds to develop very unattractive dark circles under my eyes.  My only explanation is that my skin is really fair, so maybe that makes them show up faster?  And, uhm, darker.  It's really not cute.  Enter Tarte's Dark Circle Defense, a natural under eye concealer that covers my dark circles brilliantly.  It's packaged in the cutest little pot that's the perfect size for slipping in your bag for touch ups on the go, but most exciting, it comes with a medium-sized brush that I found made application a cinch.  (Yeah, I know.  It's just concealer - how hard can it be?  You'd be surprised at the beauty rituals that I can screw up...)  The brush is also great for blending the concealer without a lot of tugging on your delicate under eye area, so not only does it cover your wrinkles, it helps not to create any new ones.  And because it's natural, there are no parabens, fragrances, or sulfates in it to irritate your skin.  For $32, it gets me that much closer to faking the perfect complexion.  Well worth it!

Made To Order

I was just browsing Sephora.com today (as I'm likely to do when I'm trying to waste time) and I discovered Stila's Made in Your Shade Foundation Wardrobe kit.  For only $18, you get a bevy (I've always wanted to use the word bevy in a post and finally, the day has come!) of products to give you the appearance of perfect skin.  The kit comes in three different shades - Light, Medium and Warm - and lets you try out all of Stila's best-selling complexion products to find out which ones work best for you without laying out some major cash.  The Medium Kit (my color choice) comes with:

• 0.07 oz Convertible Color in Peony 
• 0.17 oz Natural Finish Oil-Free Makeup in Shade D
• 0.24 oz Hydrating Primer SPF 15
• 0.24 oz Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer in Shade 01
• 0.27 oz Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Medium
• 0.17 oz Illuminating Liquid Foundation in 50 Watts

Even though I've used a lot of these products, there's still a few that I've been wanting to try, so this might have to come home with me this weekend.  Plus, I love that the products are the perfect travel-size.  If I like any of the ones I don't already have enough to buy the full-sized version, I can keep the small one for weekend getaways.  Now that's good shopping!

All Skins Mineral Makeup

You know how you just go through phases where you're all about certain products or brands?  Well I'm feeling that way about Prescriptives at the moment.  I've tried a bunch of things from them lately that  work really well for me, so I was very excited to hear about their new All Skins Mineral Makeup 16 Hour Wear/SPF 10.  It's a long-wearing liquid mineral makeup infused with vitamins, minerals and Prescriptives' exclusive R.E.C. (Radiance Emitting Crystals – a combination of Amethyst, Rose Quartz and Calcite) that gives skin extra luminosity.  Here's a list of all the great things about it:

• All day wear (Up to 16 hours)
• Transfer-resistant
• Humidity and sweat-resistant
• Reduces the look of lines and wrinkles
• Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin
• Weightless
• UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum SPF 10 protection
• Oil free
•  Fragrance free
• Non-acnegenic
• Ophthalmologist tested
• Dermatologist tested   

Best of all, it's available in a whopping 18 different shades, so you're definitely going to be able to find the perfect match for your skin.  Considering that that's normally one of the hardest parts about choosing a foundation, that makes me very happy.

All Skins Mineral Makeup is available now at your nearest Prescriptives counter for $32.50.     

Invigorate Your Skin

I've been a tad obsessed with Ole Henriksen lately.  Pretty much every product I've tried, I've loved, plus I had the most amazing Deluxe African Red Tea Body Cocktail treatment at the salon in West Hollywood.  I've literally been dreaming about it ever since.  It was that good.  But my favorite Ole product at the moment is the Invigorating Night Gel.  I'm all about the serums when it comes to skin care because I feel like they usually do things that cleansers and toners can't.  (And as a side note, I better look damn good when I'm old after all the effort that I've put into fighting things like wrinkles, crow's feet, etc...  If it does not pay off somewhere down the line, I'm going to be one very unhappy product whore).  I put the night gel on after I've cleansed and toned at night and I think I'm definitely seeing results.  (I've been doing it for about 6 weeks now).  It's a light gel that has a concentrated complex of alpha hydroxy acids, so as you're sleeping, they're working to give you a brighter, glowier (is "glowier" a word?  If it isn't, I'm making it one right now) clearer complexion.  It also has vitamins in it, is paraben-free, and tightens your pores, which in turn makes your skin firmer and smoother.  I think my skin just looks better since I've been using it, which is all the proof that I need to want to keep using it.  It's pretty cost effective too - the jar is $45, but a little goes a really long way.  I still have a ton left after all the time I've been using it.  But the best part really is that you get to look better and fight aging with basically little to no effort.  Effective and easy?  I'm totally in.

A Flawless Finish

I don't travel a ton, but I do fly back and forth between the east coast at least a few times a year, so I'm always looking for products to make that process simpler.  (Because the 10 pairs of shoes I always "have" to bring weigh me down enough).  Laura Mercier's Flawless Face Kit is my new go to item that will be making the journey along with me.  For only $65, you get an array of products that all combine to let you create the perfect complexion.  First, you put on the Foundation Primer (and as a side note, it took me most of my life to discover primer and now I can't believe that I ever put makeup on without it.  SUCH a difference.  Everyone should be using it.  Prime, people!)  After the primer comes the Tinted Moisturizer.  I'm a big tinted moisturizer fan, especially for the daytime when there's just no need for a heavy foundation.  The kit also comes with concealer and a translucent setting powder, so you can hide dark circles and blemishes.  But what I love the most about this kit is that it also comes with all the tools and brushes you need to use these products, so you don't have to apply with your fingers.  There's the Secret Camouflage Brush, the Camouflage Powder Brush, the Velour Puff, and an Egg-shaped Sponge - all meant to make application practically idiot-proof.  Such a great value too, since brushes are usually what ends up costing the most.  Even better, everything comes packaged in a travel-sized zipper case, so it's totally easy to throw the whole thing in your suitcase.  I'm being extra careful to keep all the products together so the next time I have to pack, I don't spend three hours looking for all the different pieces.  (That may sound insane, but I once spent the better part of a day looking for a MAC lipstick I just HAD to bring back to NJ with me.  I finally found it, but I swear, it would've been easier just to buy the damn thing again once I was there.  At the end of my life, I'm really going to want those hours back!) 

The Flawless Face Kit is available only at Sephora stores or Sephora.com, so start planning your next trip to the mall.  (Like you needed a reason!)

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Complexion Perfection

I'm all about healthy, glowing skin (I hate fake orange looking foundations or even worse, foundations that make my already pale skin look like Casper the Friendly Ghost).  Lately, my morning routine for getting my skin to look great is a combo of Tarte's The Eraser Concealer and ReCreate Anti-Aging Foundation With Wrinkle Rewind Technology SPF 15 (now THAT'S a mouthful!)  They both come in a wide variety of shades, which always makes me happy because even though I'm fair, not all light foundations look good on me, so the more I have to pick from, the better.  I love that the concealer comes in a pen style applicator (my favorite kind) and the fact that it contains ingredients meant to soothe irritated skin is an unexpected bonus.  (And it covers the dark circles under my eyes very well, which is always my litmus test for concealers).  The foundation also works great on me - it blends easily and totally disappears into my skin, so it almost looks like I'm not wearing any makeup.  (I'm practicing my, "What?  No, my skin always looks this flawless when I wake up" speech as I write this).  It also has ingredients that are clinically proven to decrease fine lines and wrinkles, and anything that's going to do that automatically gets my vote.  (And the SPF 15 makes me happy, too).  I feel really old saying that I'm excited about a foundation, but I sort of am.  It's all downhill from here.  Pretty soon I'll be buying support hose and collecting coupons for early bird dinners.  Shudder...  

Photos courtesy of Sephora

What I'm Loving Right Now

As usual, I'm testing a bunch of products all at once.  Some of them I love, some of them... not so much.  Here are the ones I've been telling my family and friends to go out and buy.  (Or at least listen to me talk about!)

Estee Lauder's new Nutritious Vita-Mineral Makeup is my foundation of the moment.  I really like using mineral makeup, but don't usually love powder foundations, so this if perfect for me.  It goes on smoothly and blends easily, and it comes with an SPF (although it is only an SPF 10 - I'd love it if they could make it a 15 or higher).  It's oil and fragrance-free (who wants fragrance in their foundation?), but it does have minerals, Vitamins C and E, and pomegranate-extract, which is a strong anti-oxidant.  It also helps erase signs of fatigue, which is perfect for me because lately, I look like I'm permanently in need of a nap.  (Getting older sucks!)

After I put in the Estee Lauder foundation, my powder is Clinique's Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder.  (I'm all about the minerals lately!)  It's also oil-free and gives my skin more of a matte look, but what I really love is the way it takes the redness out of my face.  It makes it look more even and less blotchy whenever I need that to happen (like when I've been running around all day and then have to go back out without having time to shower.  This product is totally made for days like that).

Bare Escentuals Face Fashion is a great all in one makeup kit.  It contains two eyecolors, one liner shadow, one blush, and a Buxom lip polish.  The colors create a great dark smoky eye, and the lip color is a sheer nude to go along with them.  (Plus, you get that tingling sensation when you use it, which I love).  And the small sizes make it easily portable and perfect for a trip or a weekend away.  I love it when companies put shades together for me so I don't have to think about what matches.  The less thinking in the morning, the better!