Kiehl's Marvelous Mineral Mascara

I'm always on the hunt for good mascaras. I personally think that you need different mascaras for different looks. I have ones that I love because they make my lashes look super thick and intense. But sometimes I want something a little less crazy and more subtle, for a more casual look.

Kiehl's brand new Marvelous Mineral Mascara is one of those mascaras. It goes on easy, defines and darkens my lashes without making them look heavy. They actually look natural, only better. According to Kiehl's, they are the first prestige brand to come out with a mineral mascara. It contains nourishing natural ingredients, including natural mineral color and it’s paraben and fragrance-free. So it sounds ideal for people who have sensitive eyes and want to protect them from harsh chemicals and dyes. Makes since right?! Not sure why this hasn't been done before...

My favorite part about the package of this product is the warning label on the back. I find it quite hilarious (do people really spit in their mascara?! Gross!) and yet very good advice (don't share mascara!):

"To safeguard purity, reserve this product for your personal use. Treat the applicator with the hygienic care you give your eyes. Never apply this product in a moving vehicle. Do not dilute this product with water, saliva, or any other substance. Cap tightly after use."

So this mascara is definitely going into my arsenal of choices. Daytime: check. Natural look: check. Safe for my eyes: check!

Mineral Lovely!

Smashbox Spring Muse Collection

It has been exceptionally beautiful and sunny here in San Francisco the past few days. I'm really hoping this means spring is here to stay, which makes me very happy since Spring is my favorite season. It means breaking out the bright and light colors again and showing a little more skin (even if at first it is stark white like my legs!) in cute dresses and flip flops.

Smashbox's Spring 2009 Muse Collection is all about unleashing your inner artiste and playing with the fun colors of spring. I love the white packaging on the compacts, with random splatters of color. Makes me excited to dip and dab into them. I got to try two things from the collection, a lip paint in artiste and the blush rush in masterpiece. Here is what I thought.

The muse lip paint ($21) is a pretty nice lip gloss; not too sticky and has a nice shine with a touch of glitter in it. The tube was a little frustrating at first, because when you pull out the wand, there is next to nothing on it. I dipped in like 5 times the first time I applied it. Ugh. But then I realized I could also squeeze the tube and push the gloss up out of the tube that way. This worked a bit better, since I got more gloss on the wand, but be careful not to squeeze too hard or the gloss will go everywhere. I liked the color of artiste as a nice neutral pink, but if you want a color with lots of pigment, look elsewhere. It seems to work best on fair skin tones or people who don't already have a colorful pout naturally.

The muse blush rush in masterpiece ($24) is a pretty spring blush. As I said, I love the packaging, but since it is made from paper, I don't think it will hold up for a super long time, especially if you carry it around your makeup bag everyday. The peachy coral pink color seemed a little on the pale side in the package, but I was surprised by how much pigment went on to my cheek. I actually had to wipe off a bit because I went overboard. Seeing that, I think it might work for darker skin tones as well as fair.

I would love to try the artiste eye palette ($48). It has a whopping 10 eye shadow shades and comes with a brush! I can just imagine all the fun spring-y looks I could come up with. The cream eye liner pencils also look like fun ($36 for set of 4). The collection is available now at smashbox.com, Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom.

Muse Lovely!

Weekend Beauty Reads from the BBN

Beauty Anonymous features Shiseido's Majolica Majorca Summer 2009 Collection.

A Touch of Blusher looks at YSL's Asia-exclusive collection for summer 2009.

Economy got you down? Cybelesays.com is giving about 12 boxes of beauty to help perk you up! Click here to enter.

Missed out on MAC Hello Kitty "On the Prowl" Nail Polish? Well wipe those tears. ThisThatBeauty is giving away bottles of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics "Dangerous" Nail Colour. "Dangerous" embraces the uber trendy gray nail color trend! Click here to enter.

The Makeup Divas reviews a few products from the new Avon Celestial 2009 Spring Collection.

The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having another giveaway. Click here to enter to win a Galvanic Spa II kit, valued over $350!!!

Looking for the perfect cleanser to go with your Aminogenesis Tripeptinon? The Shades Of U dishes out a review on Aminogenesis Really, Really Clean Facial Cleanser.

mark. Spring 2009 "Flip For It" Color Kits

I don't tend to be a big fan of multi-product palettes. I find then usually contain one too many products I'll never use (like dark red lip colors or pale blue eyeshadows). But I kinda like mark cosmetics Spring 09 set of "Flip For It" Color Kits in LA and Tokyo. They each contain two eye shadows, a blush, and 4 lip colors. Each one is suppsoed to mimic the style of the city they are named after, and being the California girl I am, I like LA (although I'm not always fond of that city... ugh the traffic!). Well smog aside, the eye colors in LA are pretty and very wearable. The blush is a little on the pale side. Then you flip the inside over to reveal 4 lip colors! The two ligher shades of gloss are very wearable, and the darker ones just have a hint of color. They actually superised me by being super moisturizing and having a subtle, sweet taste. So if you are a minimalist when it comes to what you throw in your purse, this little cube might work for you and its only $20. mark is available from a mark rep or at meetmark.com

Flip Lovely!

Fresh Pomegranate Anise Fragrance

This scent is so different from anything else I wear but it is definitely in my go-to top 5 scents now. Categorized as a woody oriental, I would not think I would like Fresh's Pomegranate Anise AT ALL. But reading the notes, it makes a lot more scent. Of course grapefruit is number one! This "spicy" citrus scent is heavy on the citrus and light on the spice, which is why it appeals to me. The amber, star anise, and sandalwood add a level of dimension and depth, while the mandarin, pomegranate, and magnolia are light and soft on top. I douse myself in it (its a sickness I have) and it just lingers the right amount. The result is a clean, fresh scent with a definite uniqueness.

Spray Lovely!

Weekend Beauty Reads from the BBN

• The Makeup Divas is giving away some fabulous Chella anti-aging skin care products valued at $175.00! So hurry on over and enter today!
• Whoa, there are a lot of beauty products coming out right now! Cybelesays.com just started an on-going feature picking their favorite ones. Click here to check them out.
• A Touch of Blusher looks at Dior's new range of eyeshadow palettes.
• Beauty Anonymous shares Paul & Joe Summer 2009 Makeup Collection.
• Beauty Junkie in SF adds another face serum by Murad to her skincare routine. A true junkie can never just stick to one!
• Check out Beauty and Personal Grooming's giveaway!
• ThisThatBeauty shows off NEW!!! Prescriptives U-PICK Refillable Compacts...Check out ThisThatBeauty's chosen compact combo and Felicia's FACE OF THE DAY
• The girls over at Beauty in Real Life are having a giveaway with Shecky's Girls Night Out. Click here to enter to win 2 tickets and 2 goodie bags to a GNO event near you!!!
• Face Candy is giving away 2 items from MAC's new Well Defined Collection. Enter to win here.

Benefit's Coralista Powder Blush

I am so excited for spring I can taste it! The weather has finally (fingers crossed) stopped this yucky rain business in San Francisco and been sunny and beautiful the last few days, if a bit cold in the shade. The pretty weather makes me want to break out my pastels and light brights in celebration. For a touch of summer glow on my cheeks, I reach for Benefit's latest box o' powder, Coralista. It is a beautiful shade of coral pink that lights up my face from every angle. It even has a nice soft scent to it, which makes my nose and my cheeks happy and ready to start another (hopefully) beautiful, clear blue sky day!

Blush Lovely!

Gillette Venus Embrace Razor

I've been a fan of the Gillette Venus razors for a long time. In all of their many forms, they were are great razors that never led me astray. The latest one, the Venus Embrace has 5 blades instead of 3 and a much bigger head. I like all the moisture strips because it means that if I'm in a hurry and I just need a quick touch-up leg shaving job, I don't even need to use shaving cream. The replacement heads are a bit more pricey, but the shave is closer and the comfort increased. I like the squishy handle and space-age like shower holder. It comes with suctions, instead of a sticky strip, which I much prefer since it makes moving it from shower to shower easier.

Shave Lovely!

Murad T-Zone Pore Refining Gel

While I am pretty sold on the amazing-ness of the Bliss Peeling Groovy serum, I have to continue to try new product since, duh, that is why I have this blog! So when I got a chance to try a similar product from Murad, i.e. a serum that helps the skin exfoliate, I decided to incorporate it into my skin care routine. I've been using Murad's T-Zone Pore Refining Gel at night after I wash my face. I pump only once and get enough gel for my entire face (its not just for the T-zone, its can go everywhere!). It goes on a bit more wet and a little sticky, which is why I use it at night, followed by a heavier moisturizer than I use in the morning. The gel contains some of the best proven ingredients for helping skin be clearer and brighter, like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and retinol, and a antioxidant, Pomegranate extract. So far, I like the results, clearer skin and fewer breakouts. It can sting a little on application, especially if my skin is dry or irritated, but if it helps me go through my peeling groovy slower, I'm a fan. Also, at $40 for 2 oz. it is a decent bargain.

Exfoliate Lovely!

Dr. Obagi at Nordstrom in downtown SF this weekend

Dr. Obagi is heading to San Francisco this weekend to host a seminar helping people "Face the Facts" about their skin, separating myth from reality.

Obagi is one of the most renowned dermatologists in the country and is coming to SF to debunk the most common skin myths that have many people spending BIG bucks unnecessarily and not getting the results they are looking for (and paying for) – and in this economy advice like this is few and far between to say the least!

Known as a nonconformist in the skincare industry, Dr. Obagi has been in publications like USA Today, Vogue, Allure, InStyle, US Weekly, Fox News, ABC News, Dermatology Times and Cosmetic Dermatology.

Here are some of the myths he will be debunking:

• Did you know that just because a package says ingredients like retinol or anti-oxidants it doesn’t mean there is enough in the bottle to make one iota of difference?
• Did you know that just because something is natural or organic doesn’t mean it’s safe for your skin?
• Did you know that many clinical studies are manipulated to create results that the companies want you to see?
• Did you know that skincare products aren't effective unless they penetrate the outermost surface of the skin? The molecular weight of many skin care ingredients are too heavy to get past that barrier.
• Did you know that many pricey ingredients like diamonds, crystals and pearls are usually worthless (though expensive) additives in skincare products?
• Did you know that moisturizers are useless and can actually do more harm than good?

I actually went to college with his son, so it might be interesting to go hear him speak. I am definitely curious about all those "myths"... So here are the details:

Who: Dr. Zein E. Obagi
What: Face the Facts Seminar
When: Saturday, March 7 2009, 11am-1pm
Where: Nordstrom San Francisco Centre (Conference Room), 865 Market Street, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $25, redeemable with the purchase of any ZO Skin Health product.

Learn Lovely!