Caudalie Review: Mixed Results

I've been using a few Caudalie products I got from Sephora for about a week now, so i think I can state some preliminary opinions. A bit of a warning, this stuff is not cheap! It is highly luxurious all natural, often all organic, skincare made from grapes straight from the french countryside. I like the idea of using natural skincare, but at these prices, it better work wonders. I came back with mixed reviews. Here goes nothing!

Beauty Elixir: This spray on toner was not my favorite at first. The smell is herbal and I wasn't sure I liked it but it grew on me and now I am in love. I bought the full size and a mini to keep in my purse. I spray it on after I wash my face and before I moisturize. Then through out the day, I spray again, to wake myself up at 2pm, after the lunch slump or just to refresh my face. It sets your makeup and provides a refreshing pick-me up after a long day, before heading out for happy hour specials. Try it, you'll fall in love. The set of three mini ones is a good buy ($41), and you can give them away as gifts! The full size is a bit pricey ($49), but I think it will last me a long time.

Instant Foaming Cleanser: This is by far my favorite Caudalie product I tried. It is a delightful face wash with an extremely pleasant smell, a light fresh fruity scent. It pumps out foamy and washes off easily, leaving my face clean yet not tight at all. I got a sample of the gentle cleanser which the product rep told me they mix together in their spas (there are a few in Europe right now, but one is opening soon in New York) and I love it. The foaming cleanser is only $26, but if I get the gentle cleanser too, $26 also, the process gets pricey!

Pulpe Vitaminee Energizing Cream: Here is where the disappointment came in. Told the rep I was having problems breaking out and having bouts of dry skin as well. He recommended this moisturizer and I trusted his judgement. My breakouts have not improved, in fact they may have gotten worse. This cream smells lovely (a recurring theme with this brand... maybe its the wino in me but I love that it is made with grapes!). But doesn't mattify my skin and half way through the day, my face is oily and shiny. Hmmm. Not sure this is the moisturizer for me. Thank god Sephora has a great return policy. $59 is not worth shiny, greasy skin. I might try it for awhile longer (the breakouts could be hormonal and maybe this will help neutralize my skin???) and sometimes skincare takes a few weeks to fully effect your face. We'll see.

So there was my experience. I got a few more samples of products but not enough to give full reviews. A bit of advice: never be shy about asking for samples, when buying skincare products. They want you to be happy with your purchase and what better way to insure that then letting you try before you buy! So speak up, ask for suggestions and get those samples!

Skin lovely!

Back In Love With L.A.M.B

So I know I've written about this perfume a few times, but I discovered a new product that made me excited about it all over again! Gwen Stefanie's L by L.A.M.B. is the perfect mix of citrus fruit, floral and a touch of musk to give it depth. I have complained in the past that it doesn't seem to last very long. I ended up going through my bottle in a month! Not ok when its like $40 for 1oz.! Well, I just picked up the rollerball for $25 at Sephora, and let me tell you, it hasn't left my side! I can reapply this delicious scent whenever I please! I get compliments all the time! I'll probably go through it in a flash too. Too bad its not refillable.

Smell Lovely!

Cutical Care In A Pen

Among other things I picked up on my Sephora haul the other day, I got a fabulous new toy to keep in my purse at all times. I have noticed my cuticles getting really dry and gross this past winter. I even committed the cardinal sin of getting them trimmed during my last manicure. Girls, never do that! Its terrible for them! All you need to do is moisturize them regularly and push them back with a wooden cuticle tool.

So now in my purse, along with multiple lip glosses and my compact powder, I carry Sephora's Cuticle Care Pen. It is the handiest way to keep your cuticles soft, without a lot of muss and fuss. It has a slight smell of tea tree oil which has tons of benefits. Go pick one up today and you'll never want to be without it!

Care Lovely!

Korres Full Colour Gloss

I was fortunate to spent last Friday afternoon perusing around the Union Street Sephora here in SF. They just got in both the Korres color collection and Givenchy. I picked up a new skincare regime from Caudalie, partly because the brand rep Jeremy was there and he sold me with his incredible knowledge and persuasive selling skills (I'll review them after I've had a change to use them for a week or so, give you the real test of their effectiveness!).

I did pick up a lovely lip gloss from Korres that I am obsessed with already. The Full Colour Glosses are made with cherry oil, so they taste nice and moisturize the heck out of your pout while giving you a nice color. I got beige pink, but I have little doubt that I'll be heading back to stock up on some more shades! At $16 each, they are a steal for all that color and moisture, not to mention all natural!

Colour Lovely!

Lipstick Jungle: Great Makeup

I was just catching up on my weekly tv shows online (I hardly ever watch tv on tv anymore) and I noticed that I can never keep my eyes off the women in Lipstick Jungle's makeup! It is always impeccable and brilliant. The show is sponsored by Mabelline New York but I don't know how they get the makeup to look so professional. I am sure it would look a bit much off screen but I love the shading and contouring the artist does. Each character has there own sort of style and the makeup always goes perfectly with them. I love Nico's makeup the best, her eyes are always so perfectly highlighted and beautiful and her cheekbones are gorgeously shaded. Victory's are usually more dramatic, with lots more black eyeliner, which fits her fashionista character perfectly. And Wendy is the most subtle of the three, doing the more natural beauty look with such grace and easy as only Brook Shields can do. So check out the show if you haven't already and be wowed by the beautiful makeup!

Watch Lovely!

Treat Your Lips Right and Save Puppies

I haven't given much thought the food I eat harming others or myself in the past, but recently some people in my life have enlightened me to the dangers and risks of eating animal products. I am not sure I can become a full-on vegan any time soon (I just love cheese sooo much!), but I can practice with some of my beauty products.

Everyone knows that we ingest tons of our lip products everyday (gross, huh?!), so why not get one that is vegan AND supports a good cause?! TheBalm, a small makeup company based in San Francisco, has a limited edition over sized vegan lip treatment called theBalm to the Rescue. It is a 100% vegan (no animal bi-products) lip gloss with jojoba and shea butter that is formulated to condition lips and leave them extra soft and guilt free.

Not only are you doing something good for your lips, all net proceeds are donated to Pug Rescue which saves dogs from being euthanized and helps abused pugs get the love, treatment and homes that they need. How can you say no to that?

So really, it is combining my two favorite things at the moment. Vegan awareness and PUPPIES! You can pick up yours at most Sephora stores and of course online.

Balm Lovely!

I've been tagged! 5 must NOT have beauty items

Yummy411 tagged me the other day and I have been way too busy to do anything about it. So now that I have a moment free, I will respond to her challenge:

My 5 Must NOT Have Beauty Items:

1. Eyelasher curler: I've never been a fan of these. Maybe because I'm blessed with long lashes, that curl enough when I put on mascara or I was scarred as a child when I ripped out a few lashes trying to use one. No matter, I may own one but I haven't used it in YEARS.

2. Cream eye colors that crease! I had never met one that didn't until the wonders of UDPP and Mac Paint Pots. Thank god. But any other cheaper variety... no way!

3. Vanilla perfumes: no thanks! I don't want to smell like something I can bake.

4. Thick Foundation: I can't stand when girls wear too much foundation and it looks all orange and cakey. Gross!

5. Pimples! Of course no one likes them, but I have a special hatred for acne. Whoever said you grow out of it as an adult was totally lying... so lame. Ruins my beauty day for sure!

I am not going to tag anyone else, since i feel like everyone else has done this, but if you want to list your Beauty Must-NOT Haves in the Comments, feel free!

Beauty Lovely!

In A Beauty Rut!

I really need to shake things up... I keep trying to come up with new products to write about and then I realized there are none! I haven't tried anything new in ages. Life has been too crazy and...gasp!... I haven't gotten product shopping in AGES! So not ok!

So hopefully some time soon, when life stops getting in the way, I will get out there and try some new stuff. Seriously tho. It's quite depressing... Sorry ladies!

Beauty Lovely!

Vote For ME!!! Glam Network Awards

Now that I am a member of the Glam Publisher Network I get to be a part of their Network Awards!!!! So go vote now!

You have to be a registered member at Glam in order to vote, so if you are not signed up yet...you can do that here at the top of the page on the left.

Voting started March 10th, so please show your support and vote for Beauty Junkie In SF, a blog about all things beauty!

So go to the link and vote for me under the beauty category. You can vote once a day until April 10th, so vote and vote often, if you love me!

Vote Lovely!

Korres Makeup : Naturally Nude

From the makers of a delightful natural skin and body care straight from Greece, we have a new makeup line to explore. Korres uses real botanicals in their products and they seem to be a lovely addition to the color world. Here is their description of their new collection:

"Minimal makeup never looked so beautiful—or felt so good. The Naturally Nude Collection from Korres uses products that give just a hint of sheer color infused with healthy anti-aging ingredients. The radiant result: luminous skin fit for a goddess, a perfect look for work or play."

The line is available at select Sephora store and of course online.

Color Lovely!

Total Beauty Member!

Once again, I am proud to say that another awesome blog network has accepted me into their fold: TotalBeauty.com! Total Beauty is a great resource for all things beauty, especially really handy product reviews. Their product database is continually growing so you can get useful information on products you are thinking about purchasing or add your own opinions. I am honored to me in their "Blogs We Love" section along with many other great beauty blogs!

Browse Lovely!

CK Calvin Klein Beauty is finally here!

There has been lots of blog gossip about a beauty line coming out for CK by Calvin Klein, but now it's finally available! I've heard tell (see comments section) of some Macy's carrying it, but I know for sure the full line is available online at Sephora.com. It is being rolled out into select Sephora stores this month. Very exciting!The line looks interesting overall. Nothing really jumps out at me but I am a visual person, so I can't wait to see it in person. I like the dark, bright tones and the dramatic look shown here. The package looks simple and chic, but is it different enough to make it stand out? Or with CK's reputation for cutting edge simple chic fashion be enough for it to be a winner? This is the 3rd time they have tried their hand at beauty, hopefully for them the saying will ring true "3rd time's a charm"! Here is what they have to say:

"Fashion. Fragrance. And now, Face.Introducing ck Calvin Klein beauty, the newest evolution of ck Calvin Klein.

An innovative fusion of fashion and beauty, the collection reflects a wardrobe, with signature elements enhanced by accessories and trends. Modern concepts of color and texture begin on the runway, then translate to the face. Fabrics are reinterpreted—black cashmere becomes a smudge of eye liner, slick patent a sexy lip gloss. A line of individualized shades designed to create the look of the season."

Browse Lovely!

I'm a Glam.com Blogger!

I am now proud to be a member of the Glam Publisher Network. Glam.com is the fastest growing website for women and I am proud to be a part of it. Check it out for all the latest news on Fashion, Beauty, Celebrities and more!

Read Lovely!

How Obsessed Are You?

I wouldn't say I'm low-maintainence, but I don't think I'm a prima donna either, or, as my friend Sar would say, "Hi-May." But this survey told me otherwise! I'm 78% Obsessed with products! Well no wonder I always have something to write about on this blog!

So how obsessed do you think you are? Mark X’s by the items that you use/do and then multiply by 2 to get your percentage.

Do You Use? (to be fair, some of these things I don't use on a regualr basis, but I do still own them and have used them in the past month or so.)

Hair:
[x] straightener
[ ] curling iron
[x] mousse
[x] hairspray
[x ] gel
[x] other sprays
[x] bobby pins
[x] round barrel brush
[x] blowdryer
[x] mirror
[ ] you have dyed you hair
[x] you have/had highlights

Eyes:
[x] black eyeliner
[x] other color eyeliner
[x] eye shadow
[x] mascara
[ ] fake eyelashes
[ ] eyelash curler
[x] eye shimmer
[ ] colored contacts
[x] huge sun glasses (is there any other kind?!?)
[x] eye makeup remover

Lips/Teeth:
[x] clear lip gloss
[x] red or pink gloss
[x] lip stick
[x] chapstick
[ ] lip plumper
[x] mechanical toothbrush
[x] teeth whitener
[x ] lip liner
[ ] whitening gum
[x ] had/has braces
[x] more than 15 lipglosses

Complexion/Overall Face:
[x] blush
[x] moisturizer
[x] face wash
[x] bronzer
[ ] makeup remover
[ ] face wipes
[x] powder
[x] cover up

Nails:
[x] nail polish
[x] filer
[x] nail clipper
[x] nail buffer
[x] cuticle remover
[x] nail hardener
[ ] nail brush
[ ] fake nails
[x] nail scissors

Now you try it and share your results in the comments!

Survey Lovely!

Great Volumizing Haircare

The saleswoman at Pure Beauty sold me on a product I already knew I liked, but wasn't sure about the high price. My old hair stylist back in Seattle always used Alterna products on me and my mom and I loved the way they made my hair smell and feel. But how the cleaver woman at PB sold me was explaining about Sulfate-free shampoo. Apparently, most shampoos have sodium sulfate as one of the first ingredients. It's what makes them lather up nice and soapy. But in fact, it strips away too much oil and your high priced highlights! No way! So I purchased Alterna's Life Solutions Volume Restore Shampoo and Conditioner. For $25 bucks each, they better last me forever, but so far I am liking the results. My hair feels soft and light, nothing draging it down. It still needs to get washed everyday, but it smells delicious when I do. Ah, what we do for beauty!

Soap (sulfate-free) Lovely!

Dark and Delicious

Finally got my nails done professionally (I've been trying to improve my own painting skills but these dark colors are HARD!) on Saturday. I chose a deliciously dark, dark red that almost looks black. Figured I might as well enjoy the dark colors while it is still winter. It is OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark. The sun was out in full force all weekend in SF though. Very soon I'll want to break out my bright pinks and pastels to celebrate the gloriousness of spring! Yes, I can't wait for tank tops and sunbathing in Washington Square Park. But for now, I can at least enjoy the dark, delicious colors of winter!

Polish Lovely!

All Organized!

Yeay! My sunday was spent doing something fun and productive: going through all my makeup, throwing away old, used, and never used makeup, and putting it into my new traincase. So happy! Now I know exactly what I have... and maybe what I still need! I still have to used those ugly blue cups, but for now they are the best way to keep all my brushes, eye pencils, and mascaras in order. I found products I had forgotten about and things that for sure needed to be trashed. I even fit my nail polishes in there, granted I only have a few. It's much easier to find everything now, since there are different sections for my bronzers, blushes, eye shadows, etc. Only trouble is... it's pretty much full! It's not like I'm going to stop buying makeup... hmmm. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!

Organize Lovely!

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