Sugar

I LOVE sugar! It's a great exfoliant when added to your daily facial cleaner! My face feels awesome when I use it!

Arden B 75% off sale

I saw a sign for 75% off while walking in the mall (LOVE a sale).

Arden B has a 75% off sale. Not only that but there's a special promotion (I think when you sign up with their rewards card - that or just part of the sale). I bought a black knit top with a faux leopard cami (part of the shirt, not an actual cami underneath) that was originally $78 for $19.50 with the sale and also received the free bracelet as well. I also got a coupon for 25% off a spring item Jan 17th - Feb 3rd.

Your Holiday Face and pictures

This Sephora Favorite layered under your foundation mattifies to control *that shine* that often appears on your t-zone in your pics. This is good for oily skin and sensitive skin. It also comes in formulas to minimize redness, to conceal undereye circles and veins as well as for under bronzers.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P9889&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=3990

Brushes

Keep brushes cleaned once a week. I allot a time to do so on one of my days off. Wash them in warm soapy water and dry on a towel. This will help keep your cosmetics fresher longer!

(Never share cosmetics with others for sanitary reasons)

Cleaning Up - end of the year

It's that time again; the end of the year. Check those makeup bags and cases! Chances are we all have old cosmetics that should have been tossed (and new ones bought). This is a great time to toss old stuff (out with the old and in with the new) especially since many of us receive (and buy new ones ourselves) nice cosmetics as gifts at Christmas.

Make buying new replacements and keeping up with things as your resolution for the New Year! (I know I will as one of my resolutions)

Most powders are good for 12-18 months as are lipsticks and glosses. Anything you dip your finger directly into the product should be tossed 3-6 months after first doing so. Mascara is always 2-3 months. Sharpening eye pencils will make them last as long as a year without having to replace (unless they skip and dry out, in which case toss them anyway because they aren't working properly).

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Have a Happy and Healthy holiday!

<3karen

Cargo PlantLove Botanical Lipstick

I saw an ad for this in a Sephora Favorites pamphlet and I can't wait to try this.

This is cool! Now we can look gorgeous and also be environmentally friendly (what a step up from the 1920's when tubes of lipstick were wasteful and worse - whale blubber was used in the formula way back when). The packaging sprouts flowers when planted and the tube is compostable when thrown out. Even better, $2 for every tube bought is donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P172734&categoryId=C11630

Too Faced "Lights, Camera, Glamour!" (Limited Edition)

Contains a make-up mirror that lights up (for that Hollywood glamour effect) with eye shadows, lip glosses, blush, duo-bronzer, foundation powder, brow definer, eye liner cake, and face shimmer. $40 (wow!! If I hadn't gotten the Candy Box and the Box of Pink Chocolates I would have gotten this cute pallet) This looks like a great deal (you get a lot...Sephora says it's worth $150 - you can clearly see how many things you're getting here).

Carmindy's 11/22/07 Newsletter

Carmindy is writing a second book, "Feature Focus" (first book is the "The 5 Minute Face") and asks:

What is your favorite facial feature and why? (1-2 sentences long) Example: "I love how my right eyebrow forms a question mark whenever I'm lost in laughter." or "My apple cheeks show off my dimples."

What is one question you have about playing up a certain facial feature? And you know me ladies… focus on the positive! Example: "I really like the way liquid liner looks and I'd love to play up my eyes using it. Any tips?" or "How can I use foundation to accentuate my smooth skin, while evening out its tone?"

What's your favorite "mirror mantra"? Meaning, when you choose to celebrate yourself and your unique beauty, what do you say to yourself to keep feeling confident? Example: "Today I'm healthy and I'm so grateful!" or "Nobody has these eyes, baby!"

Candy Box - Too Faced (Limited Edition)

The Candy Box (pink shades "Pink Bon Bon" and caramel shades "Caramel Truffles") has its inspiration from last year's Box of Pink Chocolates but contains 9 shades of gloss and 4 eye shadows. (Currently out of stock on sephora.com) This makes an awesome holiday gift!! (I know, I personally received these). Yumm!!

DiorShow Waterproof Mascara

I got this mascara as part of my anniversary gift. I really do like it since it's the best mascara so far on me but I still hope for a miracle mascara to help out my short, super straight lashes. Here is my Amazon.com review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R5HVQTFPZ4B5A/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

New Raves

Here are the top things I've been interested in lately:

Make-up by TooFaced and Dior (especially the DiorShow Mascara).
Peep toe shoes with bows.
Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream and Naked Body Butter.
Lip Gloss pallets.
Make-up kits (for on the go).

Holiday Shopping this year

Man, holiday shopping isn't easy this year with the new baby. I decided to do most things on Amazon.com (instead of going to the mall) but with all the different things the items won't all ship together and some would come later than others. Despite that, I find ordering things on line easier but not as fun as shopping for it in the stores. I do miss going to Sephora and all the other girlie stores even if it can get crowded.

Philosophy

Not so fond of the Hope products because they don't smell too good but Purity is a nice product.