Farouk Systems CHI 1-inch Ceramic Flat Iron

As flat irons go, I haven't found a "mid-range" flat iron to suit my needs. I can easily find one for $30 at Target, or find them for $100 and up at a specialty store, but no in between prices.
I have always wondered, what is the difference between such a cheap flat iron, and a really expensive one? Is there REALLY a difference? I mean, it's two hot plates that you squeeze together to straighten your hair. What could the big difference really be?
I have always gone with my gut and and purchased the cheapest version at Target, and never thought much about it.
That all changed when I got a coupon from Beauty Brands that showed this:

White flat iron? Yes, please. Skull and cross bones on the flat iron? YES PLEASE. I purchased the CHI Ceramic Flat Iron and never looked back. Here's the difference between this, and the cheaper ones at Target; when you iron your hair with the CHI, it is smooth. It doesn't pull, and doesn't feel rough. There are no heat settings on the CHI - only "on" and "off". Well, wait a minute, I want to select the hottest setting for my hair, just like I did with my Target flat iron. This doesn't exist in CHI land. "On" equals the hottest setting available. The warning tag says you can burn your eyes out, and also that people in Canada are not allowed to use these. Not sure exactly why CHI is OK with Americans burning their eyes out, and not Canadians, but that's another discussion for another time.
Higher heat equals less time in your hair, equals less damage. The smoothness of the ceramic plates means your hair isn't stretched out and then ironed, with also equals less damage. And the thermal carrying case that they come with is amazing. You actually CAN flat iron your hair, unplug, and throw it in the bag. This is especially helpful when I've been traveling and have to pack up - no more waiting for the flat iron to cool off.
The power cord also swivels, and is very long, so it's easy to maneuver, and flat iron wherever you need to.
I can also create tousled flat iron "curls" which give a beachy, rocker look.
I definitely recommend using a protective spray before flat ironing, as the heat is very high. CHI makes their own spray, and also a leave in protectant, and I've used both with great results.
The CHI flat irons also come with a one year warranty, so save your box and receipt. I've searched eBay and found quite a few CHI flat irons for much cheaper, but the risk of that is that you don't have the warranty. If you're OK with that though, you can get a less expensive one online, and have a really great flat iron!
I would definitely recommend not scrimping when it comes to your flat iron - it's for your looks, and for the health of your hair!
Have a beautiful day, lovelies.

Neutrogena Body Oil in Light Sesame

Winter is brutal on my skin, and although I like a heavy cream lotion as much as the next girl, I don't love that it never seems to soak in, and my arms and legs feel "slippery" and sticky all day.
In the winter time, I will itch my legs until they bleed if allowed. I've even been known to use my boar bristle brush to scratch my legs, because they itch so bad!
So what's a girl to do?

Enter Neutrogena Body Oil in Light Sesame. I remember my mom having this on her bathroom counter, and I'd occasionally steal a squirt of it, feeling both luxurious and sneaky at the same time.
It has a light fresh scent, and I apply it to my arms and legs right after drying off from my shower. If you apply when your skin is still a little bit damp, the oil soaks right in, and truly moisturizes all day. It isn't smelly enough to compete with any perfume, but you could use only this, and smell the fragrance throughout the day.
At under $10, the oil is affordable and lasts forever. I think you'll be surprised at how well it moisturizes, without leaving a slippery or sticky feeling. No more brushing my legs until they bleed! Hallelujah!

St. Francis Restaurant - Phoenix, AZ

I ate at this restaurant about 24 hours ago, and STILL can not stop thinking about it. I am slightly obsessed with delicious food, and this place created a new monster last night! Here's the description from their website:
St. Francis is an urban gathering place set in the heart of Phoenix. We are a neighborhood restaurant like no other: a modern, family-owned establishment that aims to nourish the community with exceptional cuisine in an inspired setting at good value. We offer Happy Hour all day long, free meals for kids and a seasonal menu that incorporates the freshest ingredients available.
http://www.stfrancisaz.com/
The decor is warm but modern, with brick walls, exposed wood beam ceilings, and a garage door that opens the bar out to the patio. It was chilly when we arrived, but the ample amount of heat lamps made it comfortable, even waiting at the bar outside.

We started our dinner with gin and tonic while waiting for our table, and were seated upstairs on the mezzanine. This level overlooks the bar area and the outside patio.
The menu is small, with a limited amount of choices, but I have always found that means that the chefs can focus on creating really delicious food, instead of being kind of semi-good at creating a larger variety of dishes.
Our waiter was fantastic, and guided us through the menu, helping me to narrow down my choices. I ordered a Chopped Romaine Salad, which has endive, apples, smoked bacon, and cheddar buttermilk dressing. The apples are sliced tiny, and perfectly balanced with the bacon and the dressing. I also ordered a cheese flat bread, which is basically a pizza, with a three cheese blend, tomato, garlic and oregano. The flat bread was sliced into 8 pieces, and shared between two us with two pieces still left over! So cheesy and hot!

Cheese flat bread, fresh, warm and delicious!

John ordered a french onion burger, and fries. The burger had smoked bacon, Gruyere cheese, and crispy onions. The cheese was melty and delicate, and nicely combined with the bacon and onions. My guess is that the bun is a brioche bun, but regardless, it was one of the best things I've ever tasted. The fries were thick cut, with the skins on, and served in a small white bowl, just like they serve them in London!

The french onion burger of my dreams

We had the leftovers tonight for dinner, and they were just as good as yesterday. I will be going back to St. Francis any chance I get, and will probably order the exact same meal. I mean, why fix it if it isn't broken, right? I only wish they had takeout. Or a drive-thru.

Haha!

Home Sherpa Throw Blanket

I will first start off by saying that I mainly like to review beauty products, but if there is an especially good (or horrible!) product that I use, I will let you know my opinion of it!

Shopping at Target, I can never manage to leave without buying a bag full of things I don't really need. This trip was no different, as I ended up with a throw blanket. I don't know if it was the color (a luxurious turquoise), the weather (yes, Arizona gets chilly), or the soft fuzzy white inside. Regardless, I brought a blanket home to a house with little to no storage for blankets and such.

Good thing, as this blanket hasn't been put away since I got it home! At only $16.99 it is not only a great price, but also SUPER warm. The thing that surprised me about it was that it isn't a heavy blanket, so I didn't really expect it to be as warm as it is. I can have this as my only blanket at night, with the windows open, ceiling fan on, and humidifier running (yes, I am an old, old woman), and be totally warm.

It is 100% polyester and is machine washable. The instructions say to line dry, but I threw mine in the dryer and it did fine. 

The size isn't really big enough for two people, so this might not work as a bedspread on a full, queen, or king bed, but is perfect for one.

Bring on the cold weather!!

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!!!

AMAZING finds at Olive In Paris!

If you haven't been to the "shop at the top of the stairs", then you are truly missing out! Located at 4624 N 7th Avenue in Phoenix, Olive In Paris us just upstairs from Paris Envy. Makes sense, right?
You might remember Olive Annie from awhile back - well, this is still Lani's shop, with her amazing clothes, jewels, and knick-knacks.
I love everything about this place: The colors, the lights, the displays, the glitter.....
On my last visit, I was in to borrow some jewelry for a photo shoot we had, and one of the pieces so generously lent to me by Lani was THIS:

Ummmm, gold? Check! Guns? Check! Mine? Check!!!!!! As I drooled a bit over this necklace, Lani explained that when she ordered it, she knew that it was meant for someone who would come in, and would "understand" what it was about. I'm pretty sure that she was thinking of me exactly! Now, what other shop can you go in, actually meet the owner working there, and get the background on a piece like this? And where else can you GET a piece like this?

It is seriously heavy, and the cashier at Target even complimented me on (he was a boy, mind you!).

It is definitely a statement-making piece. Sort of like telling everyone "you don't wanna mess with this" all in a bedazzled cloud of shiny gold. Now I get that sometimes you don't want to look so tough or menacing (I mean, I never feel that way, but whatever). Maybe you're going on a blind date, or maybe you're going to church and want something "softer" or more feminine. There are all sorts of options at Olive In Paris. Statement-making jewelry, flowy dresses and tops, and even a photo booth where they'll take a Polaroid of you in whatever you buy.

Stop by the shop, and try to find my picture!

Bye, lovelies!

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner Pencil

This eyeliner is, hands down, the best BLACK pencil eyeliner I have EVER used in my life. I splurged on it once at Sephora (it is $17 for one pencil), and never looked back.
The Mat Black is my favorite, as I tend to think black eyeliner is appropriate for any situation. Maybe it's not, but what do I care?
I use the black to line my upper eyelid, lower eyelid, and rim the inside of my eyes (usually not all at once, mind you). It goes on smooth and satiny, doesn't "skip" and leave a bumpy line, and seriously stays on all day.
I have used other liners that go on well, but if you are rimming the inside of your eyes, and your eyes are a little watery, or you even blink, it just comes off, or gets faded. That is NOT that case with this liner.

It also sharpens well, which is really important for a pencil liner. I hate when you sharpen, the lead breaks out, you sharpen again, repeat, repeat, and boom! Your pencil is gone! Not the case with Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner. I have tried a few other colors in the same line, and while they go on very smooth, sharpen well, and stay forever, they don't show up as well when rimming the inside of your eyes. I'm not quite sure why. The black just comes out inky, silky, and delicious.

Here is a link to Sephora's website where you can see the 25 or so colors that they have:
Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner!!
Crap! I just saw that they have gold. I guess I'll be doing a little online shopping today. :)

An easy design idea for the weekend!

I get bored easily. I like to change stuff, and in our house, I especially like having random things in random places. Things you normally wouldn't think of, but seem to work.
Now this is just a quick little idea that anyone can do, hardly takes any time, and to me, made a big difference!
WALLPAPER YOUR MEDICINE CABINET!
They are so boring, so routine.... then you open one up only to be greeted by a paper of your choosing, and somehow, it just makes all the rituals a little more fun.
I had some leftover wrapping paper that I'd bought at World Market, and it was just too stiff to actually wrap anything with. So I removed the shelves from my cabinet, measured the back square, cut the paper to size, and used clear thumb tacks to hold it in place. I put the shelves back up, and arranged my products. It's a little pop of color in an unexpected place. It's a deep green with a gold wash, and gold embossed printing.
This isn't my favorite paper, but was what I had on hand. I really need to find some cream and black striped paper - now THAT would be luxury. You could use wrapping paper, tissue paper, anything you have on hand. Have a great weekend everyone!

Tokyo Milk Parfumarie Curiosite No. 06 Bon Bon Bubbling Bath and Dead Sexy Candle

Okay, so you may not be a bath person. I know a few people who don't take baths because they feel that they are "stewing in their own filth". I mean, how dirty are you? I just don't get that. I'm not a regular bath person, per se, but my baths are usually taken when I'm sick, or when I'm sad. 

Yep, that's right. My husband knows we are in a fight if I start running a bath, or he knows that I am really feeling badly.

Today was a great example. I'm sitting at work, minding my own business, when I start getting migraine symptoms. I've had migraines for years, so I know when one is starting. I have trouble seeing clearly, and my arms and lips go numb. Rather than wait it out, and hope that this didn't turn into a full-blown migraine, I headed home and laid down. After taking my prescription med, which is a whole other sick feeling in itself, I decided a bath was needed.

This is where all the deliciousness and luxury of Tokyo Milk comes in. As you should know by now, I'm a sucker for skull and cross bone designs, and all things creepy/fancy. This bubble bath and candle caught my eye when I was doing some shopping at local boutique Paris Envy (http://www.parisenvy.blogspot.com/). An antique-looking skull and cross bones is printed over a faded background of pink roses and scripty writing. The bottles are antique looking, with the Tokyo Milk logo in small typewriter print. If the liquid inside was good as the package, I was sold!

I chose the Number 06 bottle, and the description of scents read: Deep Vanilla, Exotic Wood, White Orchid, and Ebony. I'm not normally a fan of any sweet vanilla - I mean, who wants to be smelling like a cookie? Blech.... 

Anyhow, the scent is amazing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

The best way I can explain it is that I imagine it is what a rich lady smells like. You know, they aren't wearing the perfume that is the latest rage at Sephora. They wear things that smell like traveling, like money you'll never have, like they never get dirty or never have a bad manicure. You imagine that the perfume they wear is specially made for them, or that it has a name that you can't even attempt to pronounce. Well, yeah, that's what this smells like. 

And it bubbles like no other bubble bath I've seen. These are the bubbles of t.v. and movies, people! Big bubbles that foam up, over the side of the tub, and stick around just long enough to soften your skin and leave it smelling like a rich lady. And who doesn't want that?

The candle is the same mix of scents, but seems to have even more of a woodsy, tobacco smell. It reminds me a little of the sweet smell of a cigar, but not so "creepy old man"-like. It comes in a small tin, with a lid emblazoned with the same creepy/fancy skull and cross bones-over-roses print, and is perfect for traveling, or on the back of your toilet (where mine is). It really does have a great scent that carries throughout the house. It also has "Dead Sexy" printed on the side, which just makes me feel like a bad ass.

Tokyo Milk does have a website, but if you like the instant gratification of buying your products in person, pay Paris Envy a visit. Tell Laurie I sent you, and happy bathing!

Holy crap! Holy crap!@

This is not a review. This is a picture of something that I want so badly. We are supposed to be watching a movie in bed, yet all I can do is scour the internet until I find this. Ladies and gentlemen, behold...CHANEL LUMIÈRE D'ARTIFICES Metallic Eyeshadow 

Josie Maran 100% Organic Argan Oil

Photo and description from http://www.sephora.com/

Josie Maran Argan Oil is a legendary oil that's rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and grown organically in Morocco. Argan oil is known to have many treatment benefits, including hydrating and nourishing skin, as well as toning and firming. It's gentle enough to use on all skin types and is believed to help with skin conditions including acne. The oil is housed in a recyclable glass bottle, and purchased from women's cooperatives in Morocco to support their social and economic welfare. These cooperatives work within a UNESCO biosphere reserve that ensures the protection and reforestation of Argan trees.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens

- Sulfates

- Synthetic Fragrance

- Synthetic Dye

- Petro-Chemicals

- Phthalates


I was beyond excited to try the Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil. Aside from it being organic, housed in a recyclable bottle, and benefiting women in Morocco, it also moisturizes cuticles, lips, skin, hair, and is said to be beneficial to those with acne! What more could this product possibly do?!
Now the site says that one oil is usable on both the face AND the hair, but there is also a separate Argan Oil Hair Serum, so I got one of each.
I'll start with the Hair Serum as I think it is absolutely amazing! About a year ago, my hair was literally breaking off from over-bleaching. I decided that trying to be glamorous by having white hair just wasn't working for me. I grew it out as much as possible (having trailer trash roots for MANY months), had it dyed back close to my natural color (thanks to Jodi at The Fringe and Shampoo Ink!), and started taking the best care of it that I could.
I use the Hair Serum at least 3 times a week. After showering, when my hair is still damp, I use three pumps of the serum, rub it in my palms until it's warm, and work it through mainly the ends of my hair. After I've gotten all the ends, I will run it through the rest of my hair. I'll either blow my hair dry, or let it air dry, and the results are beautiful. My hair feels soft, it has body, it is not frizzy - if it was longer, and thicker, I could almost have Victoria's Secret model hair! No lie!
My hair doesn't feel greasy or overloaded with product, but I can definitely tell a difference when I use the hair serum versus when I don't.

Now onto the skin serum! As I've mentioned before, I have oily skin. So to add oil as a moisturizer seems a bit crazy, right? Well, it's really not. I started getting into oil cleansers with Shu Uemura, but sadly, they have taken their line out of the U.S (More about that in a later post).
This serum IS oily. Meaning that I don't use this in the morning before I go somewhere, although, if my skin was extremely dry, I might try a few dabs just to hydrate. The best time I've found to use the Argan Oil on your skin is right before bed. While you sleep, it does some sort of magic, and when you wake up and wash your face, your skin is left feeling hydrated, not tight, and looking luminous.

Both of the serums have a sort of light, lemony fragrance, and I would definitely recommend both to anyone looking for a skin or hair moisturizer. I will be sure to pack these in my carry-on later this year when we head to London - we all know how stuffy and drying the airplane air is. I'm excited to see if these will stand the test!

Below is a link to the Josie Maran organic products on Sephora's website. I love ordering from Sephora, not only for the enormous selection of beauty products, or the free samples, but here's a little secret: Every time I order, I have them gift wrap my products (it's free!), and when I receive them in the mail, it's like Christmas! You're not just opening a brown cardboard box stuffed with packing peanuts; it's either a cute little drawstring bag, or a gift box. Christmas in July? No way, Christmas every month! Below is the link to all of the Josie Maran Organic products. I just saw a bronzing Argan Oil (fist pump!), and also a Primer Mist that look promising.

Sephora Website - Josie Maran products

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour

Description and photo from www.chanel.com:

**Classic and trend-defining shades from the runways of Paris. State-of-the-art formula strengthens and moisturizes nails as it delivers long-wearing, high-shine, chip-resistant colour. Applies evenly without streaking. **

OK, I love fancy. Like, a lot. Though I'm not technically a "label whore" (I have pants from Target!), I do love a good fancy-labeled item. For example, John and I are in a store, and me picking up a ridiculous looking high heel exclaims, "Oh, look! This is a Jimmy Choo!" and then it suddenly starts to look cute to me. If I were ever to buy a Louis Vuitton bag, I would get one that clearly exclaimed, "Look at me! I'm expensive!" rather than the plain leather one with a small name tag. It's just how I am. I figure, if I'm going to spend the money on it, I want people know I spent money on it. (PS: I don't own a Louis bag, by the way)

When it comes to Chanel, the whole brand intrigues me; the way it began, Karl Lagerfeld, the boucle jacket, the quilted handbag... I think my idea behind buying Chanel nail polish was that it was a way to own something of the brand, without going into debt over it. The first Chanel polish I ever bought was the color "Fire" and is, to this day, the best red-colored fingernail polish I've ever seen. It's got a certain brightness to it, without being overwhelming, and has just the right amount of both orange and pink in it.

I'll tell you this; when you're wearing Chanel fingernail polish, the world seems different. I find myself pointing to thinks, touching things, just basically being ridiculous about it all. The biggest letdown of this manicure situation was when two days into it, my nails looked horrible. The polish was wearing away at the tips of my fingernails and started chipping the next day. Now, I had done my regular base coat, then polish, then another coat of polish, then top coat, just as I always do. Still chipping!

How is it that $23 per bottle nail polish can look horrible after 2-3 days?! This just isn't fair!

I'm a sucker for original colors though, because I somehow have a collection of 10 bottles, even knowing that they are going to wear off quicker than a $3 bottle from CVS. You have to understand though, they were one of the first lines I saw to have a really great metallic gold nail polish! I can NOT say no to gold. It's a flaw, I know. Then came Black Satin, then Inattendu.... and the list goes on.

So while the new colors are great, and yes, you can have Chanel on your fingertips, if you are into staying power (which, who isn't?), then Chanel nail polish isn't the polish for you. I will continue to use mine, hoping to use them up before they get chunky (!), and I'll just know that I'll be doing my nails again before the weekend.

Ugh!

Zeno HOT SPOT Blemish Clearing Device

Yes, I am almost 30, and yes, I still get zits on occasion. It is weird, embarrassing, and frustrating at times, but something that I just have to deal with!

I am vigilant with my skincare routine, thanks to the Clinique 3-step system, and am always sure to do it, even if I'm sick or super tired. But even after ALL OF THAT, I will still get a zit (that usually comes up when we have pictures, a performance, or something else important!).

I have the normal arsenal of zit creams, but after noticing that none of them actually worked that well, and most ended up leaving me with dry, patchy skin surrounding a big ugly zit (wow....sexy!), I decided I should give the Zeno HOT SPOT a try.

I picked mine up at Target for about $40. Yes, that it is a lot to pay if you aren't sure something will work, but THIS WORKS!

I pretty much get three kinds of zits; the mountainous, under-the-skin ones that you aren't sure will ever pop up, the white ones that I can usually take care of myself, and blackheads which just multiply if I even look cross-eyed at them!

I have found that that HOT SPOT works best on the under-the-skin ones that haven't yet made their way to the surface. I have also tried it on ones that have already come to the surface, and it is effective, just not as effective as with the other type.

It gets its power from a battery, you turn on the power, and put the circle metal tip on the affected area. You hold it there for 2 minutes, and the HOT SPOT runs through a series of beeps, once every 30 seconds. It heats up, and does tend to get pretty warm, but nothing that was uncomfortable to me. There will usually be a small circle of red skin where you've held the HOT SPOT, but that goes away in just a couple of minutes. When it's done, it shuts itself off, you clean it, and put the cap back on. Easy! And no drying chemicals!

Now, the time can really add up if you've got more than a couple of areas to be treated, but I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who suffers from the occasional breakout. And if I've had a really stubborn zit, I'll use the HOT SPOT a couple of times a day, and haven't had any negative reactions to it.

Dos Gringos!

Friday night is usually the time I decide to forget about healthy eating, and drink until I fall asleep. This Friday was no different!

We were going to Off Saks 5th Avenue to get some discounted accessories for our band photo shoot, and wanted to eat somewhere in that area. I'd never been to Dos Gringos, so we decided to give it a try.

Walking up on the patio, I was surprised to see it so crowded. Being that it's over 110 degrees here in Phoenix, and humid, not many patios are full of restaurant patrons. Dos Gringos keeps theirs cool with plenty of misters, and it was full of young dude-bros on summer vacation, old dude-bros at after-work happy hours, and girls with fake tans.

We opted to sit inside, and took our seats in the sticky booth. Inside was warm, but it was basically empty, and that's something I always like.

I ordered the taco salad with beef, minus guacamole (my nemesis). I also ordered a Long Island Iced Tea, and we got our complimentary chips and salsa.

The chips didn't taste very fresh, and the salsa was pretty mild. I get that not everyone likes spicy, but if you're eating salsa, I feel like you'd assume it'd be spicy over assuming it'd be mild. I salted my chips and downed 2 Long Islands.

The salad arrived and was enormous! It was in a light and fluffy taco shell bowl, the ground beef was hot and delicious, and there was a sour cream sauce across the top. I'm not sure if there is anything better than sour cream. The lettuce was fresh and crisp, and the black beans were well cooked, but not too soggy.

Overall, Dos Gringos was good, and would be a fun place to go with a group of friends. Seeing that I have a hard time finding any place where I can only drink two drinks, but still start feeling good, I'd give this one a thumbs up! Lets just say that drunk shopping at Off 5th was definitely a fun experience. Good thing I didn't have control of the debit card that night!

CoverGirl SmokyShadowBlast Eye Color

I just have to say that when I first saw the commercial for this new CoverGirl product, I was very excited. Anyone who knows me knows that the majority of my makeup is eyeshadow, eyeliner, anything and everything for the eyes! I love creating different looks, wear a different color every day, and rarely (if ever) go without some sort of shadow on my eyes.
The commercial promises a quick and easy "smoky eye" and there are a few choices of color. I chose the Silver Sky Duo as my eyes are brown, and I thought that the purple would look great. I couldn't wait to do my makeup the next day and try it out!
I primed by eyelids as I do every day with my Benefit F.Y. Eye, which I have just discovered is discontinued! Hold on while I have a small panic attack! Uhhh... I guess I'll be reviewing eyelid primers later!

I applied the "step 1" silver color on my eyelid, and found the color to be a bit sheer. It wasn't vibrant like the commercial shows, but I figured that was lighting, photoshopping, etc. I kept applying. I then applied the "step 2" purple that is supposed to go in the crease of your eye and under your eye. I had a hard time getting the purple color to go on over the silver, and it too was very sheer. The overall appearance of the finished product was so-so. Nothing special that I couldn't have created with the bazillion shadows I already owned. It was, however, convenient to have both colors in a handy stick.

I made the drive to work, and then checked my mirror to see how my new shadow was looking in natural light. To my horror, the shadow was already creased and cakey, with a big silvery-purple line on my eyelid. Yuck.

This stuff is not worth the $7-$8 that you'll pay. Yes, I do have oily skin, but using my primer every day helps all of my shadows to stay in place. Not this one though.

Welcome!

I have always been one to adventurously try new products, new places, and new things, and have often been approached by friends asking, "Have you ever tried ______ (insert name of the newest beauty product, type of food, etc)?

I decided to create a place where I can rant, rave and warn you about products that don't deliver, and give praises to those that have found their way into my heart, and stayed. I hope you enjoy!