Olay Massaging Body Bar in Silk Whimsy- Olay, Olay, Olay!

Being the girly-girl that I am, when I saw the new ads for Olay's new Massaging Body Bar (along with those scratch n' sniff strips attached in the ad. Genius!) I had to try it! After re-smelling the bars in the store, it was a tough decision between the "romantic Silk Whimsy, and exotic Luscious Embrace", but I decided on the rosy, feminine, Silk Whimsy. The "refreshing Purely Pristine" was too cucumbery for me. Personally, I do not want to smell like a salad.

According to olay.com, Silk Whimsy is "Deeply romantic, with rose scent touched by notes of citrus, melon, jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla." The bar is also loaded with glycerin, softening almond oil, and bits of rose, that make the soap much more organic and home made looking than I expected. As advertised, the bar comes with lovely massaging bumps molded in to the soap, but after a few washes, they were long gone. This soap is also not for the thrifty. My current bar of Silk Whimsy is almost out after a week and a half, while the small piece of month-old Dove I had left is still intact; after being tossed aside for the Silk Whimsy.

The bar is very softening, and I found it to be more moisturizing than my usual Dove Extra Moisturizing formula body bar.  In the summer, what could be better than to drench your sun-parched skin in extra moisture?The Silk Whimsy also smells divine, and I really look forward to washing with it, even if it is just to smell my skin afterwards. I do have to admit that using this bar was almost like washing with butter, with the soap melting in to my skin with each use, and also washing down the drain just as quickly. But for around $5 for a four-pack of  massaging soap bars, can anyone really complain?

Bottom Line- Great soap for guest-rooms, or for people who like to replace their soap often. Very softening, smells great, and gorgeous to look at. Don't expect the massaging bumps to last more than a couple of washes.

Where to purchase- At your local grocery store, or Amazon.com.

Amazing Inexpensive Custom Beaded Jewelry- Caroline's Designs

Me in my Caroline Designs Cross Necklace, picture by Shayla Jiles Photography.

Caroline Gonzalez makes the most amazing necklaces by hand, for much less than you would expect. Almost all necklaces are $40 and under and come with a set of matching earrings. Caroline will even make small tweaks here and there, to help you design the perfect necklace for your taste. I have the white cross necklace below, and I am ordering an additional necklace in black. Order from Caroline soon, before some boutique picks her up and her gorgeous designs cost twice as much!

For more information and for prices on individual items, visit http://www.carolinegdesigns.com/index.html Make sure to tell Caroline that you heard about her from Megan, and Girly-Girl in Big D.

Here is just a sample of some of her designs. They are even more beautiful in person. For even more amazing jewelry, visit her website link above.

TreSemme Thermal Heat Tamer Spray- Spray Away Poofiness and Frizz!

I love this spray! All you have to do is lightly mist your wet hair before you blowdry, and it will make your hair super soft and manageable and protect your hair from heat styling products! If I use this product, I need less styling time and need to use less serum to flatten my wavy, frizzy, unruly locks! It is more than worth the $4 it costs at your local drugstore. BUY IT!!!

Where to Buy- Your local drugstore, or Amazon.com.

Love Your Freckles, Hate Your Sunspots!

Last summer, while on a beach vacation, I was absolutely horrified when two sunspots I had been trying to fade re-appeared after only one sun-soaked day without re-applying SPF. Call it the curse of the Irish, English, whatever...freckley, moley skin is my birthright. I used to hate my freckles and cover them up with spackle until an ex-boyfriend told me he actually loved them. I still wear foundation, but only on the areas that need it, and I avoid my nose and cheeks where my freckles are the most prominent. I now find great joy in letting the real me shine through, freckles, splotches and all. I love them!

Recently a dermotologist told me I had "chocolate chipping" around my hairline...or freckle-like discoloration that results in tiny blotches on your skin. It sure sounded like something horrible that anyone would want to get rid of, and they promised me $300 a piece for multiple laser sessions to do just that. You know what? I told them to shove it. I like my "chocolate chips". I love that my skin has different colors and shades to it. I look at my  freckles and splotches as tiny kisses of summers past and memories of happy times. Anyone who thinks freckles aren't hot need only look at two Victorias Secret Models, Marissa Miller and Erin Heatherton. I also think actress Rashida Jones has the cutest freckles EVER!


Victoria's Secret model Marisa Miller Sans Make-Up, with another freckle-faced model




Victoria's Secret Model Erin Heatherton



Actress Rashida Jones



Now, sun spots are an entirely different thing. Those weirdly shaped dark blotches, about the size of an eraser head, make me want to rip my hair out. They don't look cute, they aren't hot, and they are almost impossible to cover up. How do you prevent them? Never, ever go in the sun. If you don't have anyone in your entire family history who is from the British Isles, or if you are Italian, Mediterranean, Indian or Black, you have a slightly less of a chance of developing them, but the chance is still there; and once you get them, they are almost impossible to get rid of. Even if you manage to fade your sunspots in the Winter months, even one day in the sun can make them come right back.

An extremely large sunspot. YIKES!

To help fight and cover your sunspots, you need the following beauty weapons in your aresenal:

1. Sunscreen of 30 and above- One to try, Peter Thomas Roth Mineral Powder Sunscreen for Oily Skin
2. Skin Cream/Serum with Vitamin C- One to try, Serious Skin Care Precious C, Serious Skin Care C Morning Magic, Garnier Anti-Sun Damage
3. Hydroquinone Lightening Cream- One to try- Ambi Skin Discoloration Fade Cream (For a higher level of hydroquinone, see your dermotologist)
4. Cleanser with Vitamin C, Soy, or Licorice- One to try Serious Skin Care C-Clean, Aveeno Positively Radiant
5. Concealer with Strong Coverage (DON'T COVER YOUR FRECKLES!)- One to try Maybelline Superstay Concealer; Dermablend Smooth Indulgence

These products may help you manage your sunspots, but will not make them disappear. If you are interested in laser treatments, keep in mind that they are costly and that many spots will re-appear if your skin is not properly protected. Check the internet for licensed laser treatment centers in your area. As always, make sure that any treatment that you have administered is safe and in the hands of a licensed professional.

Maybe an easier and safer route to go is just to let your skin be your skin (love the freckles, but cover the sunspots)? This girly-girl says yes!




Summer Proof Your Make-Up

Ever find your make-up running down your face in the hot summer heat? By the end of the day do you look like you are wearing no make-up at all? Here are some ways that you can prevent your make-up from disappearing like Harry Houdini while keeping it protected from the summer sun.

1. Wear a primer- Primer works as a canvas for your make-up, and not only can it smooth out lines and wrinkles, it can also help make your make-up last longer. A great primer to try is Loreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base.

2. Switch to a high-powered base and/or concealer with staying power- More humidity and more sweat means foundations and concealers with moisturizing properties are more likely to disappear during the day. Switch to a formula designed to last throughout the day. Note that this does not mean you have to wear more make-up, just one with more staying power. Products to try are Revlon Colorstay Mineral Mousse Make-Up, Maybelline Super-Stay Concealer and Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation. Of course, if you are the type of fresh-faced, clear skinned beauty that doesn't need foundation, skip it by all means (but don't forget your sunscreen! (This Girly-Girl is also insanely jealous!)

3. Lighten up on moisturizer- With all of the humidity, you will want to lighten up on your moisturizer to help reduce moisture on your skin and make-up slippage. Moisturizer to try, Dry/Normal/Combination Garnier. Estee Lauder Day Wear (Dry /Normal/Combination)and  Estee Lauder Clear Difference (Acne/Oily)

4. Carry pressed powder foundation in your purse- Carrying a powder based foundation in your purse can help with light coverage when your original liquid or cream foundation has disappeared and you are doing quick touch ups on the go. The powder formula will also allow you to control the coverage and apply your make-up without a lot of hassle or mess.

5. Use a less moisturizing but potent cleanser in the morning to prevent over moisturizing your skin in the heat- Those with oily skin or acne should keep their routine the same, but combination skin and those with drier skin types may want to change their cleanser to match the summer season. Those with dry skin may want to use a lighter cream cleanser, and combination skin types may want to switch from a moisturizing cleanser in the morning and oily/acne cleanser at night, to an invigorating less moisturizing cleanser in the morning. Oily/Combination skin should remain with a high powered cleanser at night to fight acne and/or wrinkles.

Morning Cleansing Products to try:

Combination: Clean and Clear Morning Burst; Murad Sun Undone (Vitamin C is always great for sun damaged skin), Serious Skin Care Glycolic Cleanser; Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean
Dry: Serious Skin Care Glycolic Cleanser; Estee Lauder Soft Clean

6. Use loose powder to set your make-up- Using loose powder will help lock in your foundation. You can also use a teeny-tiny smidge of mineral powder-base over small areas that need extra coverage, along with your regular cream or liquid foundation (if you use it). But, do not use too much, or you will end up looking like Tammy Faye-Baker.

7. Use a Powder Sunscreen- Powder sunscreen is great for oily skin and can be re-applied as needed throughout the day without wrecking your make-up. It is also easy to apply and carry around, and it fits easily in to your purse or beach bag. Product to Try- Peter Thomas Roth Powder Sunscreen

If you have any other ideas for keeping your summer make-up in place, let me know! Enjoy the sun (but wear sunscreen) Girly-Girls!!!

Travel In Style- Mini Salon Products to Go!

Girly-Girls rejoice! Who says that you need to haul large sizes of your favorite products in your suitcase, or spend time messily squeezing your favorite conditioner and cleanser in to mini-plastic bottles? Several popular salon brands now sell mini sizes of their products online and in stores.

You can purchase mini sizes of  salon hair-care brands like Frederic Fekkai (in picture) and facial cleansars like Dermologica through Ulta.Com. Drugstore brands like Pantene and Basis can be purchased through the site Minimus.Biz. Mini sizes of the ultra luxe Kerastase' products can be purchased through the Kerastase website for a hefty price (this also can give you a chance to try out their uber-popular hair care conditioner and styling products without breaking the bank).

Minimus Biz also sells mini deodorant, face wash, and even natural product lines like Tom's of Maine, through their site. Many of the products are only a little over $1, so It is a one-stop shop for everything you need to travel like a true Girly-Girl on the go.

Happy Summer Traveling!