Your Perfect Blush? PH Matchmaker Blush- Physician's Formula

I have been wanting to purchase Stila's Custom Color Blush in Pink for months now, but the $20 price tag kind of set me off.  I was really excited when I saw that Physician's Formula was coming out with their own shade-sensing blush, for an affordable $13. The PH Matchmaker Blush is supposed to sense the ph level of your skin and adapt to your skin's perfect color within 60 seconds.

As for the packaging, the compact itself lights up, just in case you decide you want to put on your blush in the club, I guess...HAHA. Like anyone would do that? No, it is a nice touch in case you want to touch up your blush, but I wouldn't recommend it with this one, as you could end up looking like a clown.

Me in the Physician's Formula PH Matchmaker in shade Natural.

I chose the Natural color, but there is also a Rose shade. The Natural blush color is very heavily pigmented and it looks nice, but a little definitely goes a long way. I wouldn't exactly call it "Natural", but it provides a believable color. I don't know how much the shade actually changed from the compact to my face. It looks pretty much the same? But I guess I will believe Physicians Formula when they say "The first ever blush with pH Power Complex transforms into your perfectly personalized hue!" (listed on the box) Maybe my ideal color was the color that I saw in the compact? At any rate, I still want the Stila Custom Color Blush. From trying it on in Sephora, it was the exact pink that I blush and you don't have to worry about putting on too much.

Bottom Line-This is a heavily pigmented blush.  A little goes a long way. It also doesn't seem to change much from the compact to the face.

Will I Buy it Again?- Probably not.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere

Cool and Inexpensive Accessories Site! My Cents of Style

I am always on the lookout for a website that offers really cute accessories at low prices, and I found it at My Cents of Style. Everything is $40 and under, with most jewelry ranging around $10. Here are some of my key finds for this month!

Talent 260 $36.60. Click here to view on Site.

Angie- $9.60 Click Here to purchase

Marlee, $10.60 Click Here to purchase

Margo, $10.60 Click Here to purchase

Mardy, $30.60. Click Here to purchase

Mae $9.60, Click Here to purchase

Rico, $36.60 Click Here to purchase

Helen, $10.60. Click Here to purchase

Your Perfect Pink? Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm

I am usually a sucker for anything that says it was designed just for you. That somehow, make up will sense the perfect color to compliment my complexion and make me look better than before. So, of course, I fell pray to Dior advertising, and had to try out the shade-sensing Dior Addict Lip Glow for myself.

According to the Dior website, Dior Addict Lip Balm is:

A made-to-measure lip balm that beautifies and durably enhances the lips’ natural color. A customized color result : thanks to its Color Reviver technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its color ingredient. Lips seem revived from within, amazingly fresh, full and radiant. 

Well, I tried out the balm, and at first I didn't like it. On my lips, the color turned a soft, but punchy pink that took some getting used to. After a while, I really started to like it, and now I wear it every day. I like a lot of gloss, so I usually pair it with some clear, shiny, lip gloss on top. I wasn't really convinced that the shade didn't  just turn the same color on everyone, so I asked my friend Jamie to try it out. 

Here are the results:

Me on the left, Jamie on the right.

Both Jamie and I used Dior Addict with my clear gloss. I have "Light" skin with golden undertones, while Jamie is more of a "Fair" or "Porcelain" complexion. The shades are very similar, but the glow balm is slightly more pink on me and mauve on Jamie, so there is a small difference in the shade.

Dior Glow Balm also contains SPF 10, and moisturizes with Mango and Luffa Cylandrica (similar to a cucumber plant, and often used to soften the skin), so you are also protecting and softening your lips every time you apply it. 

Dior Addict is not cheap, but if you like pink lips, and have $30 burning a hole in your pocket. You will love this balm. Thrifty girly-girls, I will be looking around for a cheaper version of this product, and I will let you know as soon as I find one!

Bottom Line- Softens and provides lips with a perfect but not necessarily natural, pink.

Will I Buy it Again?- Yes, if I have $30!

Where to Buy- Neiman Marcus or Dior.com

Cool Site- Temptalia.com

Temptalia is cool beauty website with a great idea- type in the name of a high-end beauty product, and Temptalia will pull up a list of similar less expensive shades. The listing also includes a percentage of similarity, and an explanation of the percentage.

For example, I typed in Nars Orgasm for blush, and Temptalia came up with pages of similar products. One product that came up was E.L.F. Blushed, which I reviewed here, and it gave it a 90% rating, saying that it was less pigmented than the original (Not sure if I agree. I think Blushed is more pigmented). They have a listing of contributors on the site, and I am guessing that they are the ones that tested the products. I really wish the site gave an explanation of the percentages, and listed the product matching in some kind of order, like highest to lowest percentage, and included price range, but it does not. At any rate, it is a great idea if your favorite product is discontinued, or if you need to save some $$$ and have time to research and test a long list of products.

Bottom Line- Great site if you have the time. Wish the list was shorter and more concise with less duplicate listings.

To Visit- http://www.temptalia.com/makeup-dupe-list

Dr. Oz's ALL NATURAL Fat Fighting and Metabolism Boosters!

First, let me say that I heart Dr. Oz. I trust him, and I think he has great knowledge and advice. Whenever I get a chance, I try to catch his syndicated show (since his show is Oprah's brainchild, it has replaced her regular show time in a lot of national markets.) I also think that everything we need to cure everything is already available in nature, we just have to find it.

That being said, I am so excited to bring you Dr. Oz's all natural Fat and Metabolism Boosters from his show on February, 13, 2011 (try to catch it again, if you can!). A lot of these supplements are hard to find in regular drug and vitamin stores and are best (and cheapest) researched an purchased online. I went to my local GNC looking for 7 Keto, and they had no idea what I was talking about, but I easily purchased some on Ebay for $16.00.

Here are Dr.OZ's all natural Fat Fighting and Metabolism Boosters:


1. Metabolism Booster for People Over 30- 7 KETO, 100 mg, 2X per day.
2. Fat Buster- Forskolin- 12 mg in the mornings.
3. Belly Bloat/Muffin Top Fighter- Caraway Seeds- A handful every morning after breakfast.
4. Appetite Suppressant- Saffron Extract- 88 mg, 2X per day


Bonus Supplement-
Additional Supplement for Metabolism Boosting Power (Not from February 12 show, but from an earlier Dr. Oz show)- L Carnitine- 500 mg, 2 X per day (I have read online elsewhere, that to lose weight you may want to increase to 2000 mg per day).

I am so excited to try all of these supplements out, and I will let you know what I find out! 7 KETO and L Carnitine are the first that I am going to try. Dr. Oz said these supplements are especially helpful for those in their 30's and 40's who have tried everything else to lose weight, and can't seem to get their old metabolism back. That is me!

Bad Breath Busters! Therabreath

Face it- we all have bad breath sometimes, even though nobody wants to admit it. Bad breath can be a big problem, especially during the Winter and Spring when allergies and illness are common, and it is so embarrassing. Believe it or not, a lot of bad breath occurs in the throat and tongue, NOT only by the teeth and gums. To start off with, it is always important to floss every day, just to keep your teeth and gums healthy, and to catch food particles that may be stuck between your teeth. Those particles can rot just like food does in your kitchen, and smell just as bad if they spend enough time stuck between your teeth.

To catch those little buggers, I love the minty fresh flossers I buy at CVS.  A guy at work got me hooked on them, and I keep them in my purse so that I can use them throughout the day if I need to (being stuck in traffic is a great time to floss! Keep your eyes on the road, of course!) The kind I buy is generic, but you can also purchase them through G.U.M.online, or find them in your local drugstore. Also, don't forget to make brushing your tongue a part of your daily teeth brushing (I saw on Dr. Oz that the whiter your tongue is, the more likely it is for particles to get stuck in the crevices in your tongue and produce bad breath. I have a kind of white tongue! Eeek!)

Something else that really helps especially if I have been sick or have allergies, is Therabreath mouthwash, created by Dr. Katz out of love for his bad-breathed plagued daughter. Every night, I swish for 30 seconds with Therabreath between my teeth, and then gargle it in my throat for 30 seconds. I repeat the process sometimes, if necessary. I don't know what it is about Therabreath that works so well. According to the Therabreath website, Dr. Katz believes bad breath is caused by Sulfur Compounds, and his formula works to attack it. Dr. Katz's patients have eliminated 98% of the Sulfur Compounds that cause bad breath. At any rate, I am hooked! Therabreath is fresh, minty, works like nothing else! There is no alcohol in Therabreath, so it does not have a mediciney- taste that makes you want to gag. I am willing to drive all over Dallas looking for Therabreath, and it is often sold out. This is because it really works! It is not cheap, but for $10 a bottle, it is more than worth it!

Bottom Line- Every girly-girl should have Therabreath in her beauty arsenal!

Where to buy- Drugstores everywhere or www.therabreath.com

Monthly High End Beauty Samples Via Mail for $10? Yes, Please!!!- Birchbox

If you are like me, the only time you enjoy going to get the mail is A. If you get a magazine subscription, or B. If it is Christmas. Well, that is about to change! With a $10 monthly subscription to Birchbox, you get about 5 deluxe high end beauty samples by mail, in a cute little box. I just started my subscription, and I am already in big trouble, as I have already bought one of the deluxe samples in full size (Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum! It clears blemishes and helps fade acne scars and skin discoloration $29, and I am dying to buy the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in Pearl  $38. It makes your skin glow and has great coverage in a lightweight formula). That is the great thing about Birchbox, it is also a neat little website with carefully selected beauty products that seem hand picked by a caring staff of beauty product lovers. There are brands you recognize like Stila, Dermologica, and Juicy Couture, but there are also lesser known brands like Jouer that have amazing products that you might not ever hear about our try on your own. Not only that, the products that are selected for you are based upon a quick questionnaire that you answer about your beauty routine. My friend Stephanie also subscribed to Birchbox, but this month she recieved a completely different box than I did! Birchbox has now made going to get the mail something I look forward to. Why not make your mailbox a little more beautiful?

My February Box- Every month the selection is different

To Subscribe to Birchbox for $10 per month- Subscribe (Tell them Megan from Girly-Girl in Big D sent you!)

Milani Illuminating Face Powder- Color, Highlight and Bronze!

First thing's first- I love Milani Cosmetics. They are affordable and come in great colors. Also, they don't seem to have as many orangy and pinky tones in their make-up they way that other common drugstore brands seem to. I almost didn't buy the Milani Illuminating Face Powder in Amber Nectar, because I had just bought another bronzer, and I wasn't sure what this powder would do. Was it a bronzer? A highlighter? A blush? Well, I am so glad that I bought it, because it makes my pale winter skin look a-maz-ing!!! It is the perfect shade of soft peachy- highlight and light bronze, so it looks natural, and it gives my skin a glowy, bronzed look that is healthy and natural and somehow perfect for my light skin tone. So, the answer is, this product does it all- highlight, blush and bronze-and it looks natural!

If you have light skin with golden/warm highlights, you must, must buy the Amber Nectar!!! It is a limited edition, so you better goto the drugstore before I do, because I am buying the whole stock.

Available Shades:

Amber Nectar- Peach/Pink Glow- Light-Medium Skin (highlighter/bronzer/blush with gold/peach highlights)
Hermosa Rose- For a Natural Glow- Medium Skin (bronzer/highlighter/ pink-blush)
Beauty's Touch- Pink Glow- Fair Skin (Looks like a pink blush/highlighter for the very fair)

Bottom Line- Amazing bronzer/blush/highlighter.

Would I Purchase Again-? Ummm...I am buying every Amber Nectar I can find!

Where to buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Milani.com. Only $9.49!

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer- An Inexpensive Version of YSL's Touche Eclat!

I have been a bad girl lately, and I have not updated my make-up to go from Summer to Fall/Winter, when my light skin goes from somewhat tan to pasty white, so imagine my lack of surprise when my Maybelline 24 Hour Concealer in Cream started to make orangey like dots on my face where it was supposed to blend in. Well, it was time for me to get to the drugstore and purchase a new concealer for my lighter skin (and a new foundation as well, but more on that later).  Imagine my delight when I saw the new Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighter and Concealer Pen? Right away I thought it must be Maybelline's cheaper version of the YSL cult favorite/award winning must have product, YSL Touche Eclat. I wasn't big on "brush" type concealers, but I thought I would give this one a try. I purchased the Nude color, as Ivory is often too light, and this shade looked like it had the right light amount of light sandy beige that my skin needs.

I couldn't wait to try it, so I opened it up in the car after purchasing it. Guess what? The brush is actually very easy to use, and makes concealing facial discoloration a snap. The formula is also light, but buildable, so you can cover quite a bit, and more than once, without feeling like your going to look cakey. The Nude shade blended right in, and the highlighting pigments actually deflected away attention from my skin imperfections, and gave my skin a soft glow. The Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer is not for those that need a lot of heavy coverage, but if you are looking to cover mild acne and sun damage, this concealer is perfect.

Available Shades-

Ivory
Radiant
Buff
Nude
Beige
Honey

Bottom Line- Light, buildable coverage, easy to use pen, and inexpensive price makes Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch Concealer and Highlighter pen a great alternative to YSL's Touche Eclat.

Will I Purchase This Product Again?- Definitely!

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere

Biosilk Shine On Spray- Makes Your Hair Like Silk!

I was looking for a spray-on hair shine and silkener product, and I love Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum, so I thought I would give this spray shine product a try. Biosilk Shine On Spray is amazing! The aerosol spray is fine, lightweight, and easy to use, and it instantly makes your hair soft and silky and eliminates frizz! My hair is highlighted blonde, and is very dry and frizzy. After I use this product, it feels so healthy and soft, and my frizz and poofiness are GONE!!!! Who cares about shine?? This product does so much more!!! Shine on Spray is not cheap in stores, pricing at around $17, but you can buy it online for $10.45 at Amazon. I am normally very finicky with hair products, but I am sold on this one!!!

Bottom Line- BUY THIS PRODUCT IF YOU HAVE DRY HAIR!!!!

Would I Buy This Product Again?- YES!!!

Where to Buy- Drugstores, or Amazon

Lancôme 'Hypnôse Doll Lashes' Mascara

I have been wanting to try Lancome Hypnose Doll Lashes Mascara for months, and Christmas (and being able to get a free gift at purchase) gave me my chance! I wasn't quite sure what "Doll Lashes" meant exactly. Dolls have long lashes? Separated lashes? Fringey lashes? I wasn't sure. According to Lancome, the secret behind the amazing definition lies in the mascara wand, and I guess "Doll Lashes" are shiny, defined, and fringey.

The secret behind this amazing result? A new, unique, cone-shaped brush with nylon bristles provides an extremely smooth and clean application, precisely defining even your hard-to-reach corner and lower lashes. Combined with the exclusively developed FiberShine™ formula, it sculpts, curls and loads each lash for the ultimate shiny lash fringe. Lift and thicken every single lash without weighing it down. Push up your lashes for your most flirty, wide-open eye look with a clump-free finish.

This mascara is not cheap, it retails for about $25, but it has that level of amazing formula and wand that makes it worth it. This mascara did not take weeks for me to get the formula to a less drippy, workable level that it usually takes me to get to with drugstore brands; it was immediately workable, and the sleek packaging made it seem worth the price. I really like Doll Lashes. I admit that I still use it with my L'Oreal False Fiber Lashes Mascara, but it works perfectly with it; leaving my lashes long and defined and clump free. Love! I will buy this formula again (if I have the money!).

Bottom Line- If you have a spare $25, this mascara will leave your lashes long, defined and fringy, without a lot of mess. You may want to use it with another mascara formula that deposits fibers on your lashes, or adds volume, but it is a great mascara to use for that fringey finishing touch.

Where to buy- Most department stores, like Nordstrom.

Lashing Out- Andrea Perma Lash Starter Kit False Lashes

I have to admit that I have fallen prey to the recent false lashes craze. I didn't realize just how many stars, both real and of the Jersey Shore variety, have false lashes added regularly. Lash boutiques have recently popped up all over Dallas, offering to give you the long and luscious lashes of your dreams for about one hour wait time, for up to $200 for a set!

After learning that Kyle Richards of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills puts on her own lashes regularly, I figured that I could also do it myself, and save myself the money.

Kyle Richards puts on her own fake eyelashes. Why can't I? Maybe I should read her book, Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All.

I had heard that individual lashes look the most natural, and are the easiest to apply and care for. You also don't have to put a full set of lashes on. You can just add a couple to the corner of your lash line on each eye, for a fuller look. That sounded pretty easy and right up my alley.

After purchasing the Andrea Perma Lash Starter Kit, I pulled out the mini bottle of lash glue and attempted to add two drops to a piece of foil, just like the instructions suggest. Well, the bottle the glue comes in is tiny, and the glue itself is extremely thick. It would not pour out on its' own, no matter how hard I shook it, tilted it, and left it upside down. Finally, in desperation, I used the tiny lash pliers that came with the kit to scoop out the glue, because they were all I had around me that was small enough to fit inside. Bad idea. Only, one small drop came out this way, and the pliers became stuck with glue. I couldn't get all the glue off, no matter how many times I washed it.

Finally, I figured the pliers were clean enough, and I knew that I better use that one drop of lash glue quickly, because I doubted I would be able to get another drop of the glue out of the bottle. I positioned the small set of lashes in the pliers, dipped them in a small amount of glue, and then attempted to get them to stick to my lash line. Fail. The lashes did not position or stick. I tried again, and again, and again. It is hard to stick the lashes on with the tiny pliers, and it is hard to see if they are next to your lash line or not, before you pull the small lash set off, or move them to where they are not supposed to be. On the fourth try, I was able to get one small set of individual lashes to stick to my eyelashes, and it looked pretty good. One small set down, 5 more to go (I wanted to try 3 sets on each eye). I managed to scoop out a little more glue with a safety pin, and I wanted this next lash set to stick. I stuck the lashes in a big dollop of glue and then attempted to put it a little to the right of my first set, to make a fanned-lash effect. Fail. The lashes I just applied then slide to the right and attached itself to my eyelashes, bonding them and not the lashes together. I now had a semi-permanent clump of my own eyelashes stuck together. What a disaster.

I only tried two times more to add only one small lash set of lashes to my right eye, since I was successful with one small set on my left. After these attempts failed, I gave up, and pulled the only set I was able to apply off.  This was over a week ago, and only today has the eyelash glue come off my bonded eyelashes. I think next time I get the desire for longer, fuller lashes, I will either save up my money to go to a lash boutique, or just continue my search for the perfect mascara.

Bottom Line- Not worth the hassle. Unless you have a lot of free time, or a patient friend to help add the lashes for you, don't even try it.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Walgreens.com.

Christmas Kissed Cheeks- L'Oreal- The One Sweep in Poppy

I wasn't a big fan of the L'Oreal One Sweep Eyeshadow when I tried it. The color blurred together to make one color, and I looked nothing like the model in the ads, with defined eyeshadow in multiple colors after one sweep of shadow. I actually love L'Oreal The One Sweep Blush in Poppy. It gives my light skin a fresh, believable pop of fresh, pink color, like my cheeks have just been pinched, or I have just been outside in the cold. I love this color for my lighter- winter skin. This color is so natural looking that my attempt to show the color blended in perfectly with my skin color and did not come through on my camera when I attempted to take a picture of it for this blog.

To be honest, I don't see how The One Sweep Blush "contours" my face as it claims. On the label it is called a "Sculpting Blush Duo". The brown color in the duo seems to blend in with the fresh pink to produce a believable blush shade. It actually looks a lot scarier in the compact than it is on the skin. The brown shade looks very bronzy and the pink looks very pink (the pink is a lot brighter than it appears in this picture). I was afraid that after I applied this blush, I would look like a tan clown. Instead, as I mentioned earlier, the two colors blend together well on the skin to produce a very believable pink cheek color.

If this blush is sculpting my face, I don't see it. If you want to see a more sculpted look, I would suggest using the two colors separately to contour your face, rather than blending them together. Also, I had to skip the brush included in the compact for my own blush brush, as it was small and awkward to use, and did not collect enough color (if the brush was bigger, it might have made it easier to see a contouring effect, but then again, it would not fit in the compact). As someone who is a little "heavy handed" with make-up, I find that I can apply and apply this blush, without looking overly made-up. I love it, and I will definitely purchase it again!

Other Available Colors-

Poppy- Fresh pink for fair/light skin.
Flush- Darker pink shade for medium skin.
Posh- Subtle pink shade for light/medium skin.
Nectar/Peach- Subtle peach shade for light/medium skin.


Bottom Line- Great color, very believable, not sure if it sculpts the face as it claims, but it is a great product anyways.

Where to purchase- Drugstores everywhere, or Amazon.

Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara

Ok, I know that if I use Rimmel Volume Accelerator mascara, my eyelashes are not going to look like Zooey Deschanel, but I am a mascara junkie, and I can't pass up trying a new one! So, here I am again, trying out a new one...Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara.

According to Rimmel, this is the "First mascara formulated with an Advanced Volume Boosting Complex. Instantly lashes appear up to 10x fuller" I looked all over the internet, and I could not find out why? Does this mascara have Procapil in it like the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara? I still don't know for sure..

The brush is not plastic (yay!), and it is easy to work with, catching every lash. The brush is a little big, but I love that it has tons of fibers in the lash brush. For the first couple of weeks, there was too much product in the tube and the formula was a little watery. I found that it was very messy and hard to work with. My mascara ended up all over my brow bone. I almost gave up on it and threw it away. Now, after a few weeks, the formula has dried a little and is working great, and my eyelashes look thicker and longer. I am glad I gave this mascara a chance!

 I find that the best way to use this mascara is in conjunction with L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes Mascara, that adds tiner fibers to every lash to make them look longer. So, in the end, while using both products, I have both longer, thicker and more conditioned lashes. What could be wrong with that?

Be sure to check in on my next post, where I try adding false eyelashes at home...My obsession with fuller, longer lashes continues...

Bottom Line- My lashes do look thicker. The formula was a little messy at first, but worked well in a couple of weeks. In my opinion, this formula works best with L'Oreal Voluminous False Lashes Mascara, to get the longest, thickest lashes possible!

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

Emi-Jay Hair Ties- Chic, Comfortable, Hair Ties that Benefit Locks of Love

Jennifer Aniston with her Emi-Jay hair tie in Black Pearl.

I am tired of my Goodie black hair elastics that add no color or dazzle to my ponytails or up-do, and end up giving me a head ache.  Where is the color? The comfort? Expressing yourself through your ponytail?

Well, two young teens from California found it with their Emi-Jay Hair Tie collection. These hair ties and headbands are adored by celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, Courtney Cox, Demi Lovato and Oprah, to name a few, and a portion of each purchase is donated to Locks of Love. They are also colorful, stylish and comfortable, and can be worn all day without hurting your head. They also HOLD your hair tightly if needed, and are less likely to make dents in it like regular elastics do. I purchased a white, red, blue and pink hair tie when I visited my hair stylist, the fabulous, Melissa Del Castillo at Salon Pompeo. If you live in Dallas, you can purchase a hair tie for $2.50, or headband for $8.50 by visiting the salon. Outside of Dallas, you can visit the Emi-Jay website at http://www.emi-jay.com/, and buy Emi-Jay hair ties for around $12.00 per pack.

The Winter Hair Tie Collection, with Cocoa Brown, Red, Tan, Blue and Eggplant Hair Ties. $12.00 at Emi-Jay.Com

Bottom Line- These hair ties are amazing and for a good cause!

Where to buy- Emi-Jay.com

Throw Out Those Strips! Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste

Kind of a funny story- a co-worker stopped by my desk to ask about my friend, Stephanie, a salesperson at our company, whose picture is on my desk. The co-worker asked me, "Did Stephanie whiten her teeth? I saw her a couple of weeks ago and they are so white! They are gorgeous!" My co-worker certainly had a lot of excitement over Stephanie's teeth.

After a call to Stephanie, I found out that she is using Crest 3D White Vivid Toothpaste, Fluoride, Anti-Cavity, Radiant Mint. She had not whitened her teeth at a dentists office, as my coworker thought, she was just using a toothpaste! This may sound pretty hard to believe, but I had also seen a commercial that stated that Crest 3D White Toothpaste is the first toothpaste to ever be included in the Marie Claire Beauty Awards as a product you can't live without, so I was definitely intrigued.

My teeth have been looking a little dull lately, so after telling my coworker what Stephanie uses, I high-tailed it to my local CVS at lunch time, and I purchased my own tube of Crest 3D White. I have to say, my teeth looked quite a bit whiter after only two uses, noticeably so. Now, after a week, I may not be to "dentist office white" , but it definitely looks like I used whitening strips! The box says that 80% of stains can be removed in two weeks, but I saw quick results in only a couple of days! Plus, I thought that the toothpaste might have less breath freshening abilities with all of its' whitening ability, but this hasn't been the case. After using the toothpaste, my breath actually seems very fresh, as fresh as it would with a normal toothpaste, maybe even more so. Plus, the toothpaste is around $5, and my teeth are whiter. Thanks, Stephanie!

Bottom Line- Great deal, amazing product! Works quickly, effectively, contains fluoride, and makes your breath smell minty fresh.

Where to buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Amazon.com.

L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Powder-YES!

I have to admit, today was the first day in a long time when I actually sat in my car, checked out my after-work make-up in the car mirror and wasn't horrified. My make-up was all in place, looked fresh, and it wasn't running down my face...My concealer also didn't need a touch up for my skin discolorations. I have to actually thank a new powder for this miraculous change (or maybe it is the cooler TX weather?) at any rate...the powder to thank is...

                           L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Powder!

According to L'Oreal, L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Powder:

*Introduces 16 hours of flawless - versatile coverage
*Unique powder is formulated with high resistance pigments that help defy heat and humidity so you stay shine-free all day
*Ultra fine powders blend comfortably with skin - so the look is natural - seamless and never heavy or dry *Coverage you control - form sheer to full
 *Use dry for soft - buildable coverage or dampen the sponge and use wet for more foundation-like coverage
*Silky press

I use the powder throughout the day to control shine on my oily skin. I do not use the puff it came with (which is more like a foundation sponge), I switched it out for a more standard powder puff by Total Beauty.

The powder formula is a little bit thicker than I am used to, but it has great coverage, and from what I can tell, it really stays. The powder is also soft and silky. I would say that the weight of the powder is in the medium coverage and weight range on the skin.

Now, I can't say if it for sure lasts 16 hours, as I made about three light touch ups during the day. But, as I mentioned earlier, I almost never go to the car with make-up equal to the way I left in the morning, and today I actually did. This kind of coverage and oil control never happens with my oily skin! I am super impressed! Now, let's see if this powder can handle a TX Summer!

Bottom Line- Appears to live up to it's name! A silky powder with long-wearing coverage. Great for oily skin.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Amazon.com

Maybelline's New Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara- Big Dissapointment!

Let me start by saying that I have never been a fan of Maybelline Great Lash (although I do love Maybelline's Volume Express Mascara Line a lot! It was my favorite prior to Revlon's Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara), and I have always wondered why it wins numerous beauty awards every year. The brush is kind of thin to me, and it doesn't do much for my fine, somewhat long lashes.

That being said, I was excited to try Maybelline's new Great Lash Lots of Lashes, with the new Christmas tree shaped plastic brush...Although I am not crazy about plastic mascara brushes (i.e. Cover Girl Lash Blast line), I thought the new shape may make a difference. I admit it, I am always excited to try a new mascara.  As the name implies, who wouldn't want lots of lashes???

Well, grab your lashes this wand does. But, after three coats, this mascara makes my long but fine lashes look spidery and covered with mascara, and two coats just didn't seem to thicken my lashes at all. I actually looked like I had less lashes, as the ones I have ended up clumped together. This is not a mascara to "Plump" fine lashes, as it claims. The way the brush works along with the mascara formula would probably work best for people with already thick lashes that just need them defined or lengthened. After one use, I tossed this mascara in my purse to be used in case of emergency. I am back to my Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping with the standard nylon brush with multiple finely spaced bristles, (which, by the way, has seemed to make my fine lashes grow and seem like they are thicker after 3 months of use. I love it!).

Bottom Line- Skip this mascara unless you are already blessed with thick lashes. Try Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping, or Maybelline's The Colossol Volume Express or Volume Express Falsies mascara instead.

Where to Buy- Drugstores everywhere, or Target online.

Right Now I Am Also Loving...

Furry Leg Warmers!

I have been wanting to buy some furry boots for this Fall/Winter, but living in TX, considering that we have about 2 months of actual cold weather, it isn't the smartest thing for my pocket book to spend money on boots I will not wear more than a couple of times. Lucky me! I ran across the Furry Leg Warmers below while shopping on Ebay. You can pair these furry leg warmers with both pumps and boots, turning almost any shoe in your closet in to furry footwear! On most sites, these toppers are about $30, but if you visit Ebay, you can find most pairs for around $10. I can't wait to purchase my own pair!

Where to Buy- http://www.ebay.com/

Right Now I am Loving...

Vestique.com!!!

This adorable online shop features adorable game-day fashions, inexpensive jewelry, and tops and dresses that money-conscious fashionistas will love! The site was started by two college friends, Caroline and Morgan, who were disappointed in the fashions in their local boutiques, and decided to start their own online website to share the fashions they love. Now those fashions can be ordered online and shipped straight to you, at amazingly inexpensive prices!

Here are some of my picks from http://www.vestique.com/:

I am just blown away by the prices! There are so many amazing tops, dresses, accessories and jewelry pieces that I could not include them all!

To purchase any of these items, go to http://www.vestique.com/. You can also like Vestique on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter.

Happy shopping!