Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Bonjour, mes amies! I have just returned from a much needed one week vacation in London and Paris with John. My apologies for not updating for awhile, but as you can tell, I had other things on my mind (like crepes!).

When I first read about this mask on the Sephora website, I was mystified. A black face mask? That peels off? How black is it? How scary do you look when you put it on? So many racing questions going through my mind!

I had to have it. I tried ordering it online, and it was sold out. I went to the Boscia website and it was sold out. I called the nearest Sephora store and it was out! How am I going to review products when I can't get them, and I'm a nobody (so no one just sends them to me!)?

My solution was to drive to a Sephora located in a JC Penney store in Tempe (those hippies don't use fancy face masks, right?), and they had the mask in stock! Jackpot!

We raced home, and I carefully applied the mask, avoiding my hairline and my eyebrows, as the website cautioned. This thing must be strong. I let it dry while sipping a gin and tonic and watching Netflix in bed, and then started peeling from the edge.
Remember those Biore nose strips that pulled all the blackheads out of your nose? This is like that, but for your face. NO JOKE.

That satisfying and slightly disgusting sense of joy you get when you look at the back of the mask and see a tiny forest...? This mask does that. My skin felt softer, and refined. When looking at my pores, I couldn't tell a huge difference, but think that with consistent use, I'd be able to tell.

The mask is BLACK. And it pulls. You definitely do not want to get too close to the edges with it. At 2.8 ounces for $34, it's a bit pricey, but this should last me about six months. I have a feeling that this mask will have a cult following, and I will be one of those followers. When I run out, I'll go all over town again to get another.

I hope you all are having a beautiful week!

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

I'm slightly obsessed with all eye makeup, as previously described. When I saw the commercial for Maybelline Falsies Mascara, I was a little more than excited. The problem was that I had JUST bought a new tube of some other mascara, and even though it was only $7, I had to wait until it was completely gone (don't try to figure out my thriftiness because there is no common logic to it).
I recently FINALLY ran out of my mascara and happily bought Falsies in "blackest black" (of course).
Please note that I have several sets of real false lashes at home. Shu Uemura, M.A.C., and the cheapies from Sally Beauty Supply; so I do know what real false lashes will do for my "look".

I didn't actually expect that this mascara would have any kind of effect similar to actual false lashes, but was hoping it might be a step up from regular mascara. And that it was.
It defines, doesn't get clumpy, separates, and adds volume. It doesn't flake off, and doesn't get smudgy on my eye lids. The brush is a weird spoon-ish shape, and it really does get the tiny corner lashes that can easily be lost with other, straight brushes.

As long as you aren't expecting the results that real false lashes would give you, I think this mascara is a great deal! At around $7, it's inexpensive, and does a great job at defining my eyes. It still isn't the "perfect" mascara that I have been dreaming of, but I think it's because my expectations are a little unrealistic. I have short, light lashes, and nothing is actually going to make them look like false lashes. Well, except of course, false lashes. 'Til next time, later!

Belmacz Glow Lip Balm

Decadent. Luxurious. Glamorous. Beautiful. Any classy and wonderful word you can think of to describe the most beautiful lip gloss that I have found to date! And that is truly something to be said as I am a lip gloss fanatic. I even have my own drawer at home, filled with lip glosses in every color, tube and texture. It is pretty ridiculous, and a little sick, as I'd guess there are EASILY 50 different glosses in there. BUT... I am always on the prowl for a new gloss, the perfect gloss. The one that isn't too sticky, but sticks around enough to stay put, makes my lips shiny and juicy, no shimmer, and the perfect hint of pink color.
This stuff is just crazy. This is the kind of thing that when I see, I must have. Lipgloss with real, 24 karat gold leaf in it. My mind couldn't even wrap around this idea at first. Gold? In lip gloss? Do you get pieces of gold on your lips? What can this possibly look like?

Belmacz Gold Leaf Lip gloss in Scarlet

To quote Gwen Stefani, "This shit is bananas." For real. The lip gloss is soft and slightly goopy. You apply it with your finger or a brush, the gold leaf is on your lips, you rub it on, and presto! Gold leaf has blended into the cherry color, your lips are shiny and pink, and you're wearing GOLD ON YOUR LIPS! It doesn't get much more luxe than this! I ordered mine through Barneys, after seeing it in Nylon Magazine, and at $32 per pot, it isn't cheap. But considering I've had mine over a year now, I think the price was well worth it. This isn't "everyday lip gloss". This is the "I want to feel amazing, I know I'm amazing, and I freaking LOOK amazing" lip gloss. As you can see from the picture below, I am going to need to replenish my lip gloss soon, and luckily, Barneys has opened up at Scottsdale Fashion Square. So now, I can save on shipping costs!
visit Barneys online to buy your own!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

I LOVE the idea of barely doing my hair; giving it a bit of a blow dry, and letting it go. I was super excited to try this product, and have always heard great things about Bumble and Bumble.

You can spray this in alone, when your hair is damp, but I normally use it after I spray in my Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion. I blow dry my bangs (so that they don't stand straight up), do a quick blow dry all over the rest of my hair, scrunching a little here and there), and let the rest air dry. My hair turns out loose, slightly wavy, piece-y, and the perfect amount of "undone". My hair is pretty layered, and longer than my shoulders, but I think as it gets even longer, this spray will work even better! I can also see it working great in shorter, messy hairstyles.

It is great to use the day you wash your hair, to help keep it from feeling too clean. Having recently been converted from an "every day hair-washing freak" to a "only completely wash once-a-week" girl, the day that I totally wash it just feels weird to me. It feels too clean, it feels like I have flyaway hair, it feels lifeless. The Surf Spray adds a little "grit" and helps me to feel better about my clean hair. What a weird statement! HAHA!

I've used it prior to doing flat iron curls, and it really does hold well. It also smells great, a little like a sweettart. Remember those? :)

Description from the Bumble and Bumble website, Buy it!
Sexy, salty, sun-dried, windswept styles - whenever, wherever.

Who: Anyone; excellent for wavy types and surfers with winter blues; adds body to fine hair; a nice texture for silver hair.
When: Anytime; after Prep or Tonic Lotion, during styling.
How: Work through damp or dry hair; let dry naturally or blow-dry with a diffuser. Or on dry hair for detailing and adding lift at the roots. The less you touch it, the longer it will hold.

Have a beautiful day!

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow

Benefit was the first brand of "luxury" makeup that I began buying. Before that, it had all been from Target. I remember the first time that I got the cutest little bag full of Benefit makeup from John, for my birthday. It was truly an amazing feeling. The packaging was kitschy, the products worked amazingly, and it wasn't quite as expensive as some of the other department store brands. I was hooked!
We've talked before about my oily skin, my oily eyelids, and the fact that I wear shadow primer EVERY DAY. Even with that kind of prep work, cream eyeshadows still become a cakey mess on my face. I would have never put the money into a cream eyeshadow, but being a V.I.B. at Sephora allowed me to try a generous sample-size of Benefit's Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow (I am still working on the sample, and got it last year!).
The color of the sample is R.S.V.P., which is a champagne, shimmery gold color. I tried it out, immediately loving the color, but fearing that it wouldn't last. To my astonishment (seriously), this not only lasted until the end of the day without creasing, but still looked amazing!
With 12 colors, and at only $19 for a giant pot of color that lasts forever, this is seriously a great product to have. I have since purchased "Get Figgy" a maroonish-brown, and "Skinny Jeans" a greenish-grey. I'm including a pic of Skinny Jeans, which I am wearing today to work. Here's a hint; this can also be used as a liner, with an eyeliner brush! AMAZING!

Go to Benefit's website!

Giant Coffee

This little gem of a spot is hidden next to CVS and the Cancer Survivor's Park, east of Central and McDowell. I first heard about Giant Coffee when visiting Matt's Big Breakfast on a Saturday morning. We never go there to eat anymore, but instead, call ahead and take out (a little tip for those of you who crave the food, but aren't into waiting outside in 100 degree weather, or sit in a cramped and hot dining room).
Giant Coffee is also owned by Matt and Erenia Pool (Matt's Big Breakfast, and The Roosevelt). They serve Four Barrel Coffee from San Francisco, and the milk and cream is organic Barista Milk and Half and Half from Straus Family Creamery or California, which is organic, specially formulated milk and cream for coffee.
The decor is modern, yet warm, with long wooden tables and benches down the middle, and high two-seater desk like booths.

Though the view of McDowell and the flowering trees isn't amazing, the sliding glass wall is. I can not WAIT until the weather is cool, the glass is opened, and I can have a latte while relaxing.

I ordered a plain, hot latte, and a bagel with cream cheese. The bagel was plain, but occasionally had large flecks of salt, making it a bit more like a pretzel. It was hot and crispy outside, and chewy inside. The cream cheese was organic and had chunks of peppers and I think carrots in it! They give you plenty of cream cheese, in your own little cup, so you can put as much or as little as you like. I REALLY hate when places skimp on the cream cheese. Just saying.

 The latte was hot, foamy, not too strong, and they even make a little foamy heart in the top. Delicious.

Giant Coffee is great, and I think it's a wonderful addition to downtown. The barista's are helpful and friendly, and the two times we've been there haven't been busy at all. It doesn't feel pretentious, and you don't have to be hip to go in.

The only downside is that they only take cash. I don't know if that's a temporary thing, or this is how it's going to be, but it's worth making an extra stop at the ATM.

Reebok: Women's EasyTone Reeinspire Sneakers

So, I REALLY dislike exercise. Add that to my love of eating anything bad for me, and there was a problem. About 3 months ago, I decided that a workout regimen was necessary. I got my Jillian Michaels 30-day Shred DVD and committed to doing it 5 days/week.
I knew I needed some sweet sneakers, and had seen the ads for the EasyTone shoes. Who wouldn't want their shoes to make their leg and butt muscles work harder than usual, while working out, or doing every day activities?
I had seen the Sketchers ShapeUps, but they look so goofy, I just couldn't bring myself to buy them.

The search for the perfect color of EasyTone's began, and I settled on this pair:

By now, you already know how I feel about all things gold, so this should be no surprise. And my luck was that no store in town carried this particular color, so I ordered from the Reebok website. The price of the shoes plus shipping was right around $130. I agree, the price is steep, but I've also gone from flabby legs that wouldn't even SEE a pair of shorts, to being comfortable in shorts around real people!
Granted, I did start working out 5 days per week, but it is not intense leg work, and I really do believe that the shoes have given me that extra little boost that I needed.
I had also noticed that I was starting to get "old lady butt" (wider and fatter at the top than at the bottom) and slowly but surely, I've been returning to a "young-ish lady butt).
You don't feel like you'll tip over or trip with these shoes - the bottoms have air pockets which secretly make you a little off balance, and cause your muscles to work harder to stabilize your body. It really isn't something noticeable though, and I definitely recommend getting a pair of these shoes! Welcome back, cheerleader legs!!!