Thong Song!- Thonga, thong, thong, thong!

I am not really much of a shoe person (really!). I would rather spend $100 on a new outfit than a pair of shoes.  But, I admit I have found myself really excited about this Spring's footwear.  Along with the wedge, thong sandals and gladiators are still big for this Spring and Summer. This season's thongs are metallic, strappy and embellished, and best of all, COMFORTABLE...Here are some great finds for under $30 (some for under $10!). Happy Fashion Friday!



  



Ruffle T-Strap Sandals, $9.80 at Body Central.





Studded Gladiator Sandals, $9.80 at Body Central







Call it Spring, Swanzy Sandal, $29.99 at JC Penney.





Mixit Bow and Gem Flip Flops, $15.99 at JC Penney



Mixit Ankle Cuff Thongs, $15.99 from JC Penney



Mixit Braided Thong Sandal from JC Penney, $15.99







Taza Sandals, $29.90 from Alloy





Stella Sandal, $29.90 from Alloy





Anna Sandal, $29.90, from Alloy



Viola Sandal, from Alloy, $24.90





And we interupt this post to say....

LINDSEY LOHAN, STOP DOING DRUGS!!!!

You need a serious beauty intervention (and a regular intervention of the "drug" kind.)!!! We don't need another Magda!


Thank you.

John Frieda's 3-Day Straight- Miracle Worker, or Over-hyped Straightening Spray?

3-Day Straight by John Frieda makes some pretty big claims. Three days of super-straight locks for those with curly hair? All you need is a blow-dryer and straightening iron? I had to try it. I do have wavy, and not curly hair, but I figured that if  the product works on curly hair, it will do wonders on my wavy hair!
Here is what the John Frieda website says about 3 Day Straight:

3-Day Straight™ spray utilizes a new proprietary thermo-plastic polymer technology that is patented by Kao Corporation and is not available to competitors. This technology, activated by the heat of a flat iron, transforms curly hair into naturally flexible, straight hair. This product is designed for use with a flat iron to straighten hair and to keep hair straight for up to 3 days. This is the first product of its kind due to the semi-permanency that allows hair to remain straight for 3 days. Competitive products utilize conventional polymers/silicones that do not provide this unique, long-lasting effect.

Here are my findings:

Day 1- After washing my hair and towel drying it. I sprayed my long hair with about 15 sprays (as the bottle recommends), making sure to spray my hair thoroughly all the way down to the ends, with a light misting at my bangs, where my hair is the most unruly due to heat damage. Then, I blew dry my hair while using a straightening brush. After blow drying, I flat ironed my hair with a Chi straightening iron in sections.  I noticed that my hair straightened much easier than usual, and it had a different, smoother texture, without using a ton of additional product. It also felt less greasy than it usually does, because I did not need to use a ton of serum to get my hair straight.  I was very pleased with how great my hair looked!  Unfortunately, after about an hour, the front left side of my layered hair began to slightly bend. The rest of my hair stayed straight. The cuticle also looked much smoother than usual. I could also not see as many split ends as I usually do.

Day 2- When I woke up in the morning, my hair was wavy underneath, but not as much as it usually is when I wake up after straightening my hair the night before. I also had sprayed to close to the roots of my hair to get my bangs, and that area was a slightly over saturated with product, and a little oily due to the natural oilyness of my hair at the scalp area. I had to do the touch-ups with the straightening iron, that the bottle mentions may occur.  Contradictory to this, the marketing on the website says that on Day 2 you can "Stay in bed a little longer. Linger over your morning coffee".  This was not the case for me. After the touch ups, my hair looked straight and great all day, with a slight touch up that evening before I went to a party.

Day 3- My hair was pretty wavy all over, much as it usually is when I wake up after straightening the night before, only this was day three. My hair is too oily to go this long without washing (this is not due to the product, but my natural hair). Even so, My hair was not as straight as I think it should have been due to the claims made on the bottle, and I had to do quite a bit of touch ups to get it straight. I then wore it up to disguise the oilyness.

Bottom Line- I think this product works great, but not as it claims. I will definitely buy it again, but more as a general high-powered straightening product, not to get a full three days of perfectly straight hair (I couldn't use it that long without washing, anyways). Keep in mind that my hair is also not the "curly" hair the bottle mentions this product is for. I would be curious to know how this product works on someone with that type of hair, since I had problems with my own wavy hair curling up while using this product.

Where to Purchase- Drugstores everywhere or Drugstore.com

Fashion Friday-It is all about the WEDGE

Happy Friday everyone! Well, this summer it seems to be all about the wedge shoe, which is good news to me! Wedge shoes give support to all areas of your feet, so you can add height without pain (most of the time!). This Spring, wedge shoes are popular in espadrille, cork and wood styles.  See below for some inexpensive wedge shoes that I located on the web.

Mossimo Petula Wedge Sandal in Yellow,$29.99 at Target

Mossimo Wedge Clogs in Tan, $19.99 from Target

Xhiliration Tallis Espadrilles in Leopard, $19.99 from Target

Dolce Vita Cork Wedge Sandals, for Target, $29.99



*Megan* Cork Wedge Sandal, $19.99 at Payless



Studded Leatherette Wedges, $24.99. Available at Forever 21

Suedette Basketweave Wedges, Forever 21, $28.80

I hope this gets you started on your Spring sandal collection! Let me know if you purchase any of these shoes, and how they fit and feel!

Happy Fashion Friday!

Neutrogena MicroMist Self Tanning Spray- Airbrush Yourself for Spring Break for $12

In my opinion, Neutrogena MicroMist Spray Tan in Deep is the best self-tanner on the market, and it is also one of the least expensive!  You can spray yourself like crazy with this product, and it almost never makes streaks if used properly (it has never,ever made streaks on me). You can also spray your back and other hard-to-reach places that you would usually miss with a self tanning cream or mousse.  This product also has NO COLOR (I hate the instant bronzing self tanners. The color of the automatic bronzer never looks natural), and limited self-tan stink.  It also dries well within 15 minutes, and is oil free.

If your skin shade is charecterized as Light and above (Light-Medium, Medium, etc.), you MUST use the Deep to see any color at all. I have what is normally charecterized as "Light" skin and I need to do about 2 days of spraying to get a good base tan.  If you have very pale, freckled and/or Ivory skin, you may want to start with the Medium, or not self-tan at all. In my opinion, very pale girls look best with their own skin color, as it is very easy for them to turn orange and look un-natural from self-tanning.

Another thing that is great about this product, is the color is somewhat controllable. You can increase your level of self tan by doing an additional spray session the following day after your first spray without worrying about spraying too much. If you do happen to get too dark from self-tanning you can always use a loofah or scrub brush on your body to lighten the color, and use exfoliating products like a grainy facial scrub or Clarisonic, and/or a alchohol based toner on your face. This won't remove all of the product, but it will definitely help lighten the self-tanning effect.

Make sure to exfoliate your body very well with a loofah or salt scrub before using MicroMist. Also, do not spray the product too close to your skin. Stay at least 15 inches away from the area to be sprayed, and mist in a continuous light motion all over your body. I have read some reviews on this product that said that people have had streaks from using it. Honestly, these people must have definite issues, because I have never messed up an application of this product in over five years of using it, and I am a impatient person who has trouble being slow and steady with anything! This product is foolproof.

Remember to never spray the product directly on to your face. If you are going to self-tan your face, spray the product on your palms first, and then lightly press your palms against your face, making sure to cover the areas leading up to your hairline in an upward motion. Then, blend, blend, blend. The areas around the hairline and chin are often missed with self tanners, and can result in a "mask" appearance if missed. Spray a second round of MicroMist in to your palm and press against the apples of your cheeks for an extra dose of sun-kissed color right where the sun would normally hit your face. I love the look that this self-tanner produces on my skin.  Remember that your face will be the first place that the self tanner will fade, so you may need to do a light touch up in day or so. Especially if you use exfoliating products such as the Clarisonic.

I suggest that you use this product at home on the weekends, or at least three hours prior to going to bed, so that you can take a shower before you sleep. If you don't, the product can stain your sheets, and may result in some streakage. I have worn this self-tanner to bed and have woken up with streaky hands and orange feet from moving around during the night.

I have used other inexpensive spray tanners, including the L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Pro-Perfect Airbrush Self Tanning Spray, and this is by far my favorite. The L'Oreal, sprayed easily, but the color that it produced was far too light for all of the effort, since this product only comes in Medium. In my opinion, if you are going to spray tan, you must see a dose of healthy color, or why do it at all? Neutrogena MicroMist spray in Deep gets the job done for much less than a private self-tan, and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Bottom Line- Buy, buy, buy this product and see a glowing self-tan in 3-4 hours.

Where is it Available- At your local drugstore, or the Neutrogena website.

*Update 6/28/11- I have seen several people searching for this self-tanner, asking whether or not you can shower afterwards. You must let the self-tanner set at least 3 hours prior to bathing. This is the same rule that applies for almost all self-tanners. Also, if you are very pale, as I mention above, try the Loreal Pro-Perfect formula in Medium (this formula is very sheer), or the Medium from the Neutrogena MicroMist. Proceed with caution if you are fair skinned, and remember that it is best to err on the side of using too little, as opposed to using too much, since you can always re-apply if needed. Light to Medium skin tones should use the Deep formula, as mentioned above. Good luck!

*Update 7/14/2011- I have also noticed people looking for ways to remove self-tanner. So, here goes...
1. Use a Clarisonic, loofah, or salt based exfoliant and rub-rub-rub.
2. Use Sea-Breeze or another strong astringent. This works really well, especially on the face, where I often mess up and apply too much self tanner.
3. Nail Polish Remover- Use only in limited quantities and on limited, small areas. Rub lightly and wash off quickly.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

This is how the Rimmel website describes their lash accelerator:

Our first mascara and lash treatment in one that works both instantly, and over time. The advanced ultra-lengthening formula instantly makes lashes appear up to 80% longer!

Rimmel also conducted research on 41 women, and says their lashes grew up to 117% longer in one month of use. After one week they saw stronger lashes .

According to Rimmel, the magic ingredient that causes the lengthening is Procapil, which is said to stimulate hair growth at the root. Procapil does work on the scalp, but according to my research online, it has never been proven to work in mascara.

This product is probably not going to make your lashes grow, although this has not been proven either. Lashes are already dead (just like your hair is). Think about the proven lash accelerator, Latisse, that is sold for around $100 from your dermatologist's office.  It is applied along the edge of lashes like eyeliner, exactly where the roots of the eyelashes are located.  Studies show that you can stimulate root growth on the scalp, which is where Procapil has been tested.  It is rare that anyone uses mascara close enough to the root to actually make a difference, and Procapil has not been proven to do so anyway.

The best thing to do is to think about this lash accelerator like a really good hair conditioner. If you condition your hair, it can appear thicker and stronger, and it is less likely to break off. This can make it look fuller, longer and healthier. This lash accelarator does the same thing and works in a similar way. It conditions your lashes, which makes them less likely to break from mascara or eyelash curler use. After using this product for a few weeks, your eyelashes can appear to be more full and lush, not necessarily because they magically grew, but because they are conditioned. The lash accelerator formula also deposits small fibers on the ends of your lashes to make them appear longer when you apply the mascara. This is why Rimmel says the product makes your lashes instantly look "80% longer", not because it is causing your lashes to actually grow.

As far as my personal review is concerned, I love this product. I have used it for almost a month, and my eyelashes look great. My lashes look like they have grown and multiplied, even though I think they are really just in better condition. The brush actually works really well to catch fine hairs on the corner of your eyes and along the lash line, but I find that I actually use this mascara along with another one to get the coverage I need. 

I am not alone in my positive review. From checking the internet, it seems like most people who have tried this product have seen great results, and actually believe that it is making their lashes grow (we know better). This is good stuff.

Bottom Line- This is a great product that will condition your lashes so that they will naturally appear longer and thicker after you have used it for several weeks. It also instantly adds fibers to the ends of your lashes to produce results right away. You may need to use this mascara in conjunction with an additional mascara to separate and cover all of your lashes effectively.

Where to purchase- Your local drugstore, or http://www.rimmel.com/

Victoria's Secret "Miraculous" Bra Alternative- Add Up to Two Cup Sizes for $16.99, From Target!

I was watching Gretchen Rossi from The Real Housewives of OC on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live (click the link to see Gretchen wearing her Miraculous bra)! and she looked like she definitely had her breasts enhanced since the last season of the Real Housewives of OC. When Gretchen was asked by the sassy Andy Cohen if she had a breast enhancement, she said that she had not had anything done, but that she was wearing a bra that she had labeled "Victoria's Secret $50 boob job". The so-called $50 dollar boob job is actually the Victoria's Secret Miraculous Bra. This bra claims to add up to two cup sizes to what God gave you (so you would go from an A to a C, a B to a D, and a C to a DD, etc.). The bra is actually selling for $54 on the Victoria's Secret Web Site and in stores. $54 dollars for a bra? I don't think so. I don't care what it does, that is not happening, Miraculous or not.

Well, the other day when I was at Target, I noticed the Self Expressions Twice as Sexy Bra. It claims to also add two full cup sizes to your chest just like the Miraculous bra, but it is only $16.99! Well, I had to check this out, so I bought one to see what it would do. Secretly, I had always wanted to see what I would look like with a big DD chest! Well, the bra definitely works, but there was some small gaping in between may breasts and the bra from all of that enhanced padding. The bra looked fine underneath a t-shirt and fitted dress, and the gaping was unnoticable. I definitely felt more va-va-voom with my new chest. I wore the bra out that night to a restauraunt under a fitted sweater just to see the kind of response I would get, and I noticed that an older man that I walked by was definitely staring at my chest and not looking at my face! It was a weird feeling that I never have had before, but one that the big-busted must feel all the time. I must admit, this bra looks the best and most natural under fitted clothing. I have actually only worn the bra out just that one time. Honestly, I feel like my boobs are too big when I wear it, and it makes me feel conspicuous and uncomfortable. I would actually prefer to go up just one cup size! When I try on the Twice as Sexy bra with an outfit and then the same outfit with my regular bra, my regular bra always seems to win out. I guess I actually prefer what God gave me to what I bought at Target for $16.99.

Bottom Line- Great buy for $16.99. Definitely try this bra out if you are interested in purchasing the Victoria's Secret Miraculous Bra. This bra probably works and looks the best on girls with an A to a small B cup.

Where to Buy- Selected Target stores, or online at http://www.target.com/.

Happy Fashion Friday to you and your bazooms!

I Heart Jennifer Flavin-Stallone and Serious Skin Care

I heart Jennifer Flavin Stallone. She is beautiful, smart, has her own skincare company, and is married to Sylvester Stallone. Ok, maybe I don't heart the last part.

I first got hooked on Jennifer's Serious Skin Care line when I first caught it on HSN three years ago. I don't know about you, but I can watch HSN for hours, especially when Jennifer is on, or Wei from Wei East (another great skin care company. All Wei's products are made from natural ingredients from her native China) both ladies care about skincare and know what they are talking about. I don't want to hear "Buy this and your skin will look great!" I want to know why and how the products work and what is in the products that make them work. Jennifer knows her stuff.  She isn't just the 'pretty face behind the brand'.  If she comes on HSN, make sure to watch her. You will learn a lot and *warning* will probably buy something. Check http://www.hsn.com/ for product times.

Now, before I get started, let me tell you that Serious Skin Care is about results and not scent and appearence, so there are some products in the line that do not smell very good or have the greatest texture. If this means a lot to you, you won't like Serious Skin Care. I have to admit, I can't stand the much-touted Super Creamerum that is raved about by customers for changing the appearence and texture of the skin. Super Creamerum has anti-oxidents, peptides and Glycolic Acid in it, which are great for protecting the skin, healing past damage and evening out sun spots and skin tone.  Unfortunately, Super Creamerum smells awful and has a sticky texture to it that leaves the face sticky and does not moisturize the skin when applied. I was so excited to recieve Super Creamerum in the mail, but once I applied it, the texture and the smell just didn't appeal to me enough to use the recommended 3-4 times per week.  For the most part, this product remains un-used in my make up bag unless I force myself to use it. (See update in Red below)

On the flip side, I absolutely love the No.8 Serum. Although some reviews have customers saying it does not smell great, I disagree and think the smell is fine. The texture is soft and makes your skin feel like velvet. No.8 also works great as a serum and a primer in one for those who don't want to use a primer separately. Plus, it has antioxidents to fight free radicals as well as peptides to plump the skin and diminish the look of fine lines. I use No.8 every day and plan to keep it in my beauty regime (which I admit, I am very fickle about). If you are interested in buying this product, I recommend that you search on Ebay. Smart people buy the beauty packages and specials available for Serious Skin Care on HSN and break apart the products that are included to sell them separately on Ebay. This means that you can buy Serious Skin Care products for as little as $5. If you are looking, keep your eye out for the squeeze bottle of No.8 as opposed to the pump, since the pump is known to sometimes be defective and a big deterrent for this popular product. Also, always make sure that the product you are buying is fresh and has not expired. If you don't know, ask the seller.

For those of you who are not familiar with serums, serums should be used prior to moisturizer and can even be layered. Serious Skin Care recommends that Super Creamerum be used on top of other serums, so if you choose to use both products, you would use No.8 first, and then follow it with a thin layer of Super Creamerum, followed by an additional moisturizer if you have dry or mature skin. Those with oily or combination skin may find that just one serum, or a serum and light moisturizer is enough to moisturize their skin effectively.

A great product that does smell good is the Super Mel-C line. This product contains Vitamin C, as well as Melon (a big part of Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty line) which has skin enhancing enzymes as well as vitamins and minerals to nourish the skin. I prefer this product to the Serious Skin Care C-No Wrinkle line. Every woman who has spent time in the sun needs at least one boost of Vitamin C in their beauty routine to help repair their sun damaged skin, so this is a great way to get it.

Finally, my final reccomendation is the Serious Skin Care Around the Clock Q10 line. It has a super rich and moisturizing morning serum, and a lavender smelling night serum.  I especially love the texture of the morning serum, and it works great with Super 8. For anyone who is not familiar with the benefits of Q10, Vitamin Q10 helps aging skin helps boost cell repair and fights free radicals. What exactly is a free-radical?  Free radicals damage the skin and are known to be one of the causes of wrinkles and loss of elasticity and radiance in the skin. They are found in anything that contains oxygen, such as; pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke, even acne releases free radicals. Basically, every day your skin is bombarded with free radicals. It is very important that you block free radicals in your skin whenever possible. For a more detailed explanation on free radicals see the article online from Articles Base, The Effect of Free Radicals.

To learn more about Jennifer Flavin-Stallone and Serious Skin Care, check out http://www.seriousskincare.com/. If you are looking to purchase any of the products I mentioned above, check out HSN, at http://www.hsn.com/, or ebay, http://www.ebay.com/. Make sure if you purchase any skin care from Ebay that you always ask the seller if the products are new or expired. Never use expired products on your skin.

Important Update 7/11/2011- I have completely changed my mind about Super Creamerum (see link above). I have been using it throughout the Summer religiously, and I have noticed an amazing transformation in my skin! Even after I (gasp) experienced a sunburn, my skin stayed soft, supple and young looking. Love, love, love! I am going to buy this product forever (or as long as they make it). Yes, it doesn't smell great, and yes, the product is kind of gooey, but it is worth it.

Everything's Coming Up Floral!

Ok, I am really showing my age, but part of the reason I really love this trend is because it reminds me of when I was in college, in the summer of '95. The "Aniston" haircut was big, and everyone wore little floral dresses with white t-shirts underneath and/or little floral skirts with white t-shirts and denim jean vests, and brown chunky MIA sandals. My friend Jamie is a little younger and funkier than me, and she wore floral baby-doll dresses and combat boots. At any rate, enough nostalgia...I am here to right about my favorite trend for spring...FLORAL DRESSES and FLORAL SKIRTS!

I am dying to buy the skirt above, which is from Forever 21, and is only $17.80. They have several different colors and styles, and at that price, you can buy more than one. Kohl's also has several cute floral skirts at a similar low price. Top the skirts off with a cute denim shirt or a white t-shirt and jean jacket, and you are good to go! Here is Rachel Bilson rockin' the look.

Floral dresses are also a big trend, and Forever 21 also has several of these options. They are also very inexpensive, with the dress below costing only $22.80. You can also add a jean jacket to this look for spring. Kohl's also has a selection of floral dresses. Check out the LC Lauren Conrad line. The dresses are super adorable, although they are a little more expensive. I can't wait to wear these Springtime looks!

Happy Fashion Friday!

Dove Nourishing Oil Care- LOVE THIS STUFF

If you have severely dry and damaged hair, you will love the new Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care line! All of the Nourishing Oil Care products contain weightless Nutri Oils to, as the bottle says, "Revive(s) Dry, Rough and Frizzy Hair". The bottle says that the Nutri Oils are "Natural Almond and Mineral Oils". From reading the ingredients, it looks like the Nutri Oils contain Coconut Oil and Mineral Oil. I didn't see Almond Oil listed? Hmmm... At any rate, these products are amazing! The conditioner left my hair extremely silky and manageable, and my highlighted hair is always dry, frizzy and hard to manage.

 I also love the Nourishing Oil Care Anti-Frizz serum. I found it to be much more effective product than my CHI and Paul Mitchell Skinny serums. But, let me warn you, use this product lightly. It is easy to go overboard, and if you do, this product will make your hair very greasy.  Keep in mind, my hair is also very dry and has been highlighted and treated daily with styling tools. If you have healthy hair, you probably want to stay away from the Nutri Oil line and try other Dove products.

Pros- Dove Nourishing Oil Care Conditioner with Nutri Oils and Dove Nourishing Oil Care Anti-Frizz Serum will leave your hair amazingly silky and manageable for an affordable price.

Cons- May be too greasy for healthy hair.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, http://www.walgreens.com/.

Bottom Line- Great salon-quality (even better in my opinion) products for very dry hair. A great deal, with each product under $4 and available at the drug store.

Better in Multiples? E.L.F. Countouring Blush and Bronzer Duo-Inspired By Nars Orgasm/South Beach Multiple Duo

Despite the naughty name, Nars Orgasm blush is always listed on Editor's Favorites lists, and is a must have for every make up kit. Unfortunately, the price can leave you cold, at $27 a pop. The reason this blush is so popular is the pretty peachy color works on almost everybody, and gives you a sunny pop of color that brightens your face. I have wanted to purchase Nars Orgasm, or the more sparkly-gold Super Orgasm, but I just can't justify spending that much money on blush. Even though I love make-up, I am thrifty.

I was at the drugstore the other day and I noticed the E.L.F Contouring Blush and Bronzer in Blushed and Bronzed, and I was amazed at how similar the Blushed color is to Nars Orgasm! (I thought I had discovered this long-lost twin myself, but I checked on the internet, and apparently a lot of people have noticed the similarity) This duo looks like it was designed  to be similiar to the Nars Orgasm and South Beach Multiple Duo. I was also amazed at the price, it is only $3! $3 compared to $45 for the Nars Multiple Duo? Who is going to pass that up? I purchased the E.L.F duo and was so excited to try it, that I put it on immediately in the car. The duo comes with a bronzed color, called Bronzed, along with the Nars Orgasm-like Blushed color, so I blended both together with a fluffy brush, and proceeded to bronze and blush my face. Bad, bad, idea! If you purchase the E.L.F Bronzing Duo, NEVER put it on anywhere except somewhere you have really good light, and you must be very light handed. After using the duo together quickly in the car, I looked like a big, orange Oompa Loompa. The bronzer, I hate to admit, is highly pigmented and orange colored. It is notat all like Nars South Beach, and the two colors cannot be blended together easily like you can with the Nars Orgasm and South Beach Multiple Duo. If you are looking for a bronzer, you will have much better luck with Xen-Tan Perfect Bronze (my absolute favorite bronzer!). I ended up tossing out the bronzer and leaving the square of Blushed by itself in the compact. Unfortunately, E.L.F. does not sell Blushed on its' own (they should!) Blushed has now found itself as a permanent fixture in my make up bag. I absolutely love this color.

Bottom Line-For $3, you can't go wrong with the E.L.F Countouring Blush and Bronzer, when you can't purchase the real thing. The packaging is cheap and falls apart, but that made it easier for me to pop out the horrible bronzer. For $3, you can't really complain. Of course, if you can afford it, Nars Orgasm and South Beach Multiple Duo , or Nars Orgasm or Super Orgasm on their own, are worth the price.

Where to Buy- E.L.F. Contouring Blush and Bronzer-Your local drugstore or http://www.eyeslipface.com/
Nars- http://www.nars.com/, or http://www.sephora.com/ (highlighted links above will also take you directly to mentioned products)