ProductWhores

Beauty.com and Lela Rose Join Forces

Fashion designer Lela Rose (her wedding gowns are gorgeous) and Beauty.com have teamed up to offer customers a limited edition beauty bag filled with products.  (As a side note, I love the phrase "filled with products."  Every bag that I buy should come "filled with products").  The exclusive Lela Rose Travel Bag is available to customers who spend $100 or more on Beauty.com (SO easy to do with all the great products they carry) and is a limited edition “mini-valise” that features Lela’s signature dot print for 2008 with vintage luggage trim and feminine detailing.  The bag has products inside worth more than $120, so it's like they're GIVING you $20 to buy it (at least in my twisted little shopaholic mind) and has both deluxe and full sized samples in it, including:

• Arcona Cranberry Toner
• Alterna Caviar Moisture Shampoo with Seasilk
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
• L’OCCITANE Verbena Harvest Shower Gel
• L’OCCITANE Verbena Harvest Body Lotion
• Vincent Longo La Dolce Vita Lashes
• Vincent Longo The Curl Mascara
• Freeze 24/7 IceShield Facial Cleanser with Sunscreen SPF 15
• Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash (I just bought this and I love it)
• tarte Cheek Stain in Tipsy

For those of you who aren't shopping on Beauty.com yet, this is the perfect opportunity to start since you get a ton of perks, including gifts with purchase, free shipping, 5% back on every purchase, the free sampling center, their 100% color match guarantee, and their partnership with drugstore.com (which means you can share one cart for both sites).  To find out more about this promotion, go to www.beauty.com/lelarose.  Happy shopping!

Weather Proof Your Hair

The weather here in Los Angeles has been kind of weird lately.  One day it's 95 degrees and sunny, the next it's 60 degrees and overcast.  It's very annoying, not to mention the fact that it's making my hair look awful.  On a whim, I decided to test out the new Weather Works by Frizz-Ease shampoo and conditioner from John Frieda ($5.99 each).  Designed with a special Shielding Technology that gives your hair a barrier to seal in the moisture that you need and keep out the extra that you don't, they prevent your hair from frizzing up while protecting it from the sun (with a UV inhibitor) and windy conditions.  So pretty much anyone from Chicago to Texas can use this duo and improve the way their hair looks.  I love all purpose products that I can use year round - there's nothing worse than when you love a summer product and have to give it up in the winter (and vice versa).  I've been using these for a week and my hair definitely looks better.  There seem to be less flyaways and it's smooth and shiny.  (I love when my hair is shiny - it makes me so very, very happy). 

Part of the reason that my hair look so great too might be that I've been pairing this duo with the new Frizz-Ease Crème Serum Overnight Repair Formula ($9.99).  As much as I like the shampoo and conditioner, I love this product.  It's a serum that you rub into your hair at night and it works while you're asleep, giving you healthier hair without any effort.  (No effort improvement is the best, isn't it?  I don't mind working to look better, but when I can make my hair softer while I lay in bed dreaming about calorie-free brownies, all the better).  The best part is that it doesn't leave any weird oil or residue on your pillow while it works.  I was scared that I would love the product and be forced to wash my pillowcases every other day, but that's not the case at all.  Score!  Now if the weather in Los Angeles could just pick a temperature and stay there for more than a day, I'd be a very happy girl.

John Frieda products are available at drugstores, food stores and mass retailers across the country. 

Photos courtesy of John Frieda

I Have Achieved Vitalization

When I first put my hands on the giant tub of Bioelements Rich Intensity Body Creme, I knew I had to try it.  I am a huge fan of their skin care line, so why would I not have the same love affair with their body care line?  Well, I am happy to report I am still actively dating Bioelements (although we're not exclusive so all you other brands don't need to start crying).  The Rich Intensity Body Creme while expensive (retails for $49.50) is deliciously scented with botanical oils and is fantastically moisturizing.  I am so impressed with how quickly such a rich creme sinks into my skin.  Let's put it this way, I can drown my hands in the stuff and can type on the blog in a matter of minutes.  Amazing.  The scent reminds me of a day at an exclusive spa (you know, the burning oils, clean linens) but quickly dies down, leaving a slightly spicy fragrance that encourages me to continually smell myself.  The creme contains powerful moisturizers (sunflower seed oil, shea butter, olive oil) and other amazing things like red tea (fights sagging skin) and beta carotene (antixoidant).  Also, even though the price tag is hefty, the tub is huge so it will last a decent amount of time.  Of course, I say that, but at the rate I'm slathering on the stuff I'm not sure how long it'll last me.  Well, I'm a moisture-a-holic.  Maybe I should seek help.

Photo courtesy of Dermstore

Make Your Cheeks Glow

My love of DuWop's Lip Venom (in all its forms) is well known.  I seriously make everyone I know try it when they're around me.  So I was super excited to hear that DuWop had come out with a cheek version and couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  Cheek Venom is a cream blush that comes in a little pot - you apply it with your fingers (you can use a brush too, but I think fingers work better).  It uses a blend of silicones and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and condition your skin, and it also firms and tightens your cheeks.  I was a little scared when I put it on the first time - I don't mind that tingling feeling on my lips, but I wasn't sure how I would like it on my cheeks.  The good news is - it's a lot less intense on your cheeks.  You can definitely feel it working, but it's not uncomfortable at all.  Once it's on, the mix of essential oils in it warms up your cheeks and stimulates your circulation, giving your cheeks a natural flush.  And as a bonus, there are long lasting pigments in the formula that will leave a little bit of color on your cheeks all day, so you don't need to reapply to look good.  Also, I love that it's a cream because it's totally portable.  No need to take up space in your bag with a big brush - just apply and go.  Cheek Venom comes in two shades - Sidewinder, a nude flush, and Diamondback, a hot coral pink.  I tested out Sidewinder and loved the color it gave me - it looked like I'd just run a few miles around my neighborhood.  (And any makeup that can make me look like I've been working out when I've really been sitting on the couch watching "Gossip Girl" definitely gets my seal of approval).  Now if only it could actually DO the exercise for me, I'd be all set.

Cheek Venom retails for $24 and can be found wherever DuWop is sold.  To order online, go to Sephora.com or Beauty.com.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Blushing Cherry Blossom

I have been a huge fan of Bath and Body Works since I was thirteen.  I can clearly remember when they had that whole country logo and were designed to look like a rustic barn on the inside of my mall back in New Hampshire.  Ah, memories.  Anyway, I love that they have been consistently putting out awesome products but now have grown to include amazingly high-class lines as well.  I feel like ever since they incorporated the additional brands they really upped their own products to match the level of quality.  The new Blushing Cherry Blossom (released just in time for Mother's Day) is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.  This new fragrance is definitely floral (Rose Damascena, White Jasmin, Violet) but also contains Musk, Soft Amber and Creamy Sandalwood which help to tone down the flowery and accentuate the earthy.  This scent is a must check out for anyone looking for a new lightly floral scent that really has depth and stays fresh the better part of the day.  My Aussie mother-in-law is in town and already hijacked it for herself.  Man, between my mom stealing my products and now my other mum doing the same thing, I'm going to be left with... well... Tupperwares filled with products, but whatever, I'm going for dramatic here.

Blushing Cherry Blossom Eau De Toilette retails for $19.00 and can be purchased online or in store. 

Photo courtesy of Bath and Body Works

Free Makeovers

For those of you in the Los Angeles area (which luckily includes us - whoo hoo!) head over to Barney's in Beverly Hills next Saturday, May 10th from 11am-6pm for a complimentary makeover.  Hourglass cosmetics creator Carisa Janes will be there, as well as lead makeup artist Josh Wolf, so you know you'll be getting great advice.  (Plus, you're in Barney's and when is that not fun!)  It's too bad my parents live on the east coast because this would be the perfect Mother's Day outing.  (If I get a chance to go, I'll think of you the whole time, Mom.  I promise...) 

To make an appointment, all you have to do is call the Hourglass counter at (310) 276-4400 ext. 5598. Everyone who attends will receive a full-sized eye shadow, and if you purchase over $100 worth of products, you'll receive the Sheen Reflective Lip Gloss in Beach.  If you spend over $250, you'll receive a leather cosmetic bag. 

Sounds like fun!

Experience C.O. Bigelow

C.O. Bigelow is America's oldest apothecary - their store in New York City's Greenwich Village has been around for 170 years.  How crazy is that?  (I've been there and it's awesome).  If you're a Dallas resident, this Saturday, May 3rd, you're in luck.  C.O. Bigelow will be coming to the Dallas Galleria in a mobile AirStream filled with fun activities and goodies. You can enjoy a day full of free apothecary-themed events for the full C.O. Bigelow experience including:

• Design your own C.O. Bigelow “Honest. Genuine. Trustworthy.” t-shirt
• Vote for the presidential candidate whom you believe is the most honest, genuine and trustworthy
• Sample C.O. Bigelow’s penny candy, just like the original apothecary used to carry (yum!)
• Receive a problem/solution skincare consultation from a C.O. Bigelow expert to create a personalized Bigelow skincare regimen
• See how Lemon Body Cream is created and walk away with a free sample from a fresh-blended batch

The event is at the Dallas Galleria (which I suddenly want to shop at - the word galleria is so much better than mall, don't you think?) from 11am-5pm.  And for everyone in Atlanta, they'll be in your city on May 10th.  Have fun!

Spend Some Time at Warren-Tricomi

I'm always nervous when I go to a new salon, especially one as famous as Warren-Tricomi.   You just never know what to expect and I'm always halfway convinced that the people are going to be mean and I'm going to turn into Julia Roberts from "Pretty Woman" and just walk around touching things.  Well I'm happy to report that on my visit to Warren-Tricomi, I wasn't tempted to touch anything (except maybe those mirrors - aren't they fabulous?)  Stylist Christine Symonds instantly made me feel right at home while we chatted about products and decided what I should do with my hair.  Somehow she made it not scary to chop off six inches, even though the thought of that usually brings me to tears.  (I know six inches is a lot, but my hair was seriously approaching Rapunzel status - and not in a good way). 

Gloss For The Summer

The best part about heading into the summer is that when the weather gets warmer, I can get away with wearing less makeup.  For some reason, when it's cold out I feel obligated to put on more makeup, but in the summer I feel justified throwing on only blusher, mascara and lip gloss when I run errands.  (I'm constantly amazed by women who can leave their house not wearing any makeup at all.  I mean, don't they have ex-boyfriends or people they hate that they're worried they might run into?)  Out of all the glosses I've tried recently, my favorite so far is Clinique's new Long Last Glosswear SPF 15.  Part of their Long-last bronze collection for summer, the gloss gives your lips color and shine PLUS an SPF 15 (so important when you're trying to look good at the beach).  The moisturizing formula also helps keep your lips smooth and fights chapped lips.  I have to say, they're not overselling this - most glosses I've tried are more sticky than moisturizing, but Long Last Glosswear really kept my lips soft and there was no stickiness to be found.

My Eyes Have It

If I love something, I always take it too far and never shut up about it which I think pretty much annoys everyone around me.  I mean, okay, New Kids on the Block - didn't shut up for all of 1989.  High School boyfriend - didn't shut up for all of 1993 and then when he dumped me, didn't shut up again for all of 1994.  Whatever, you see where I'm going with this.  I focus...entirely too much.  Products are no different for me.  I haven't shut up about Become Beauty since I was introduced to them earlier this year and here I am, still going on and on about them.  I have been dilligently slathering their Age Resistant Eye Cream on and I am (no surprise) very impressed.  It sinks in almost immediately, has a very pleasantly light fragrance and soothes and cools the eye area - really reducing puffiness.  Aside from containing Pearl Extract which brightens the area, it also contains Matrixyl 3000 which promotes collagen production (helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles - I think it sounds like a space station).  I adore how incredibly moisturizing and how reasonably priced the eye cream is (for a big ol jar of the stuff).  It retails for $39.00 and comes in their signature, adorable, red container.

To order Become products, call 877-232-6632 or order online by using the code #100109 with the password “become."

Photo courtesy of Become.