Skin Care

Molton Brown: Because You’re Worth It!

May 8th, 2010 by Karen 5 Comments

Written by Annabella

Today UK beauty blogger Annabella of Skin Scrubs shares a few choice goodies from one of her favorite skin and body care lines.

Several years ago when I lived in London I took my new flatmate Kiesha shopping on the world famous Oxford Street. She had just arrived from Barbados and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. We walked out of the clothes shops empty-handed after perusing racks of clothes that were only ever going to fit a five year old and made our way to South Molton Street, so we could visit Molton Brown.

Keisha and I ended up staying for ages, smelling shower gels, playing with make-up and spraying perfume. She turned to me at one point and said, “You know what I love about shopping here — no matter how big or small I am, everything fits.”
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The Highlighting Power of Rosebud Salve

May 6th, 2010 by Karen 28 Comments

Written by Julianne

Today Julianne of The Family Julas shares an unconventional way to put a beauty cult classic to work.

We all know the famous Smith’s Rosebud Salve, the famed multi-purpose medicating machine in the pretty tin can. You can use it on your lips, on your skin, and on your diaper rash.Â It’s always sold right by the cashiers at Sephora with all of the other beauty musts, like the Shu Uemura eyelash curler. It’s an American classic.â€¨â€¨

However, you may be underestimating the true power of your tin of Rosebud. While it’s pretty on the outside, and pretty on your lips (maybe not so much on your diaper rash…), it’s also a very pretty highlighter. While droves of makeup addicts have long been spending heaps of cash on Benefit’s High Beam or MAC’s Strobe Cream and other facial equivalents to blinding Christmas lights, the solution to your highlighting woes may be sitting in your purse.

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Neutrogena Hydrating Cleansing Towelettes: Another Great Reason to Wear Makeup

May 5th, 2010 by Karen 40 Comments

neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes hydrating review

Reason No. 352 to love makeup: It provides a valid excuse to test new ways to REMOVE makeup. 🙂

This may not come as a complete surprise, but I have a soft spot for makeup wipes… What can I say? I appreciate anything that helps me feel productive while my booty’s parked in front of the TV (SIDE NOTE: I’m caught up on episodes of Entourage now; two thumbs up! Can’t wait for the new season to start).

Lately I’ve been testing Neutrogena’s new Hydrating Cleansing Towelettes ($7 for 25). As the newest addition to Neutrogena’s line of makeup removing wipes, they come pre-moistened with glycerin and the soothing extracts of cucumber and aloe.
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Benefit Boo Boo Zap: You Can Be My Hero, Baby!

April 29th, 2010 by Karen 44 Comments

Well, I finally get why there’s a comic book superheroine on boxes of Benefit Boo Boo Zap ($20). I just started using the stuff a few days ago, and already the best word I can use to describe it is This cult classic executes vicious beat downs on blemishes.

If you’re new to Boo Boo Zap, it’s a liquid zit zapper with pimple-fighting ingredients like witch hazel, camphor and salicylic acid (it doesn’t indicate what percentage). Designed for spot treatments with a bottle built for travel, you apply it directly to skin or on top of makeup.
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Competing Makeup Removers Won’t Benefit from Gee… That Was Quick!

April 28th, 2010 by Karen 40 Comments

AT LAST! After months dutifully removing all manner of eye makeup, my beloved bottle of Bliss Lid + Lash Wash finally gave up the ghost.

As much as I love the stuff (I’m sure it went to makeup and beauty heaven), its departure makes room to try something new.

Ideally, I’d like a remover that works just well as Lid + Lash but comes in a sassier bottle… What can I say? I like it when the stuff on my sink looks cute. 🙂

I was wandering around Sephora the other day when a pink, red and white label caught my eye. It was attached to a bottle of Benefit’s Gee… That Was Quick!
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Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia Body Butter: A Different Kind of Herbal Essence

April 20th, 2010 by Karen 35 Comments

I smell like parsley.

From head to toe, armpits to booty dimples: parsley. 🙂

Had it been my intention to smell like the herb, I might be looking at this jug of Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia Body Butter ($15) differently.

I ordered it online with my 15% off Sephora VIB coupon sight un-smelled, assuming I’d like it as much as I liked Pacifica’s Malibu Lemon Blossom last month.

Unfortch, my body chemistry just doesn’t jive with it well. I like the way it starts — a lightly tropical mix of gardenias and baby powder like the fresh leis my mum-in-law gives when we visit her in Hawaii — but within half an hour it changes from tropic to tossed, as in tossed salad, with parsley.
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I Only Have Eyes for Clinique All About Eyes Serum

April 7th, 2010 by Karen 29 Comments

I believe El Hub has officially resigned to his fate as the partner of a beauty-addicted weirdo. We’re at the stage now where nothing fazes the boy, not even beauty products in the fridge. 🙂

Case in point: I’ve been storing my latest skincare obsession, Clinique All About Eyes Serum ($26), next to the yogurt and cat food (yes, I said cat food)…

El Hub: Babe? Uh…why is there lipgloss in the fridge?
Karen: That’s not lipgloss; it’s Clinique All About Eyes Serum. Don’t touch.
El Hub: So…why is there eye serum in the fridge?
Karen: It feels better on my eyes when it’s cold.
El Hub: Okay… Can I put it with the cold cuts so it’s out of the way?

LOL!
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Have You Tried Boots Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes?

April 6th, 2010 by Karen 37 Comments

I’ve been on a serious Boots kick 🙂 lately that really kicked into high gear when I gave their Expert Sensitive Cleansing & Toning Wipes a try.

Target now carries at least, like, six different varieties of Boots makeup wipes… And I’m on a mission to test them all!

Last week I started using their biodegradable Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes, which Boots packed with botanicals like mallow to sooth and calm the skin.
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