Precleanse by Dermalogica- 10/10

Your cleanser is nothing without Dermalogica's Precleanse.  Dermalogica  designed Precleanse as part of the double cleanse system to dissolve oil and debris before you apply your normal cleanser.  Because oil attracts oil, it is to be applied to clean dry hands and then massaged onto the face and neck.  Now that the dirt is loosened, a small amount of water should me added and massaged to create a milky texture before rinsing off with water.  At this point, your skin is primed for your cleanser to get rid of any residual debris, making  your face completely clean.  Clean skin is more responsive to vitamins, toners and moisturizers that are applied versus when applied to skin with leftover makeup and sunscreens.  Basically, this means that your after cleanser products aren't penetrating as they would if your skin is or was truly clean.  I've just started using it recently and am in love with the feeling of my new found clean face.   Precleanse results in amazingly clean skin and I will never go another day without it. 

Search Amazon.com for precleanse

Buy precleanse from the Dermalstore

Buy precleanse directly from Dermalogica

Eye Kandy Cosmetics- 10/10

I recently came across this line at the Premiere Beauty Show in Orlando and instantly fell in love!  Since I am always openly honest, I must tell you that Eye Kandy is not for everyone.  It is designed for those who have a love for glitter and glam although they do have colors that aren't quite as loud and have minimal shine!  The difference between these eye glitters and others is the specially formulated sugar water that keeps the glitter in place.  There's no more of that "glitter on your cheeks" look- the glitter stays where applied.  The kit comes with a miniature brush, your choice of colors and the amazing sugar water with a price dependent upon the amount of colors selected, though extremely affordable.  I find that these are best applied over a light similarly color eyeshadow and eyeliner.  Simply drop a few drops of the sugar water into the container's lid, wet the brush, dip in your choice of color and smooth across eyelid.  For a dramatic look, it will take a couple of wipes over each eyelid. Let dry before moving on to the next eye to avoid any clumping in the creases. Choose from numerous impeccable colors and get ready for all of the compliments on those gorgeous peepers of yours!   You can thank me later!  ;)

http://www.eyekandycosmetics.com/

 

http://www.blingmenow.com/products/Eye%20Kandy.htm 

 

E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadows- 9/10

 At about $3.00 a color, this is an absolutely dreamy line of shadows!  The consistency is similar to that of Bare Minerals and the colors are just as bright.  The only slight difference would be that the application seems a bit messier than Bare Minerals, but again, for $3, who can complain?  Once the color is applied, it is long lasting.  Living in Florida, it is hot and humid but my eyes never cease to sparkle when wearing these shadows.

I prefer the shimmery colors solely based on my personality but they have lovely matte mineral shadows as well.  They are best applied with an eyeshadow brush and the company has no shortage of those available.  All E.L.F. products are economically priced and really do provide more bang for your buck!  E.L.F. stands for "Eyes Lips Face" for all of you still pondering over the acronym.  I have included a picture of the brush container I purchased, along with the brush cleaner (that I have not opened as you can see- lazy me!).  They offer every color imaginable; there are so many in fact, that I can't seem to choose a favorite.  Perhaps you can be the judge of that when you purchase your own!  :)



http://www.eyeslipsface.com/minerals/eyes/eyeshadow

Loreal Collagen moisture Filler- Day/Night Cream- 8/10

Loreal is one of the best skincare lines when it comes to "Drugstore Brands".  I absolutely love this product and I use it every day as part of my evening skincare regimen.  This product indicates that it can be used during the day but I find it a bit too heavy to wear under makeup.  When looking at the ingredient list, the fourth ingredient is shea butter which seems to be all the rave this day in age.  Shea butter serves as great emollient for skin and being as it is one of the first ingredients listed, we can be sure that a mentionable amount is included in the product.  Some may not know that ingredient lists are not a random list of what is included in a product but that they are organized by the amount of ingredient used in a product.  This means that the product contains the most of the first ingredients and the least of the last ingredients. 

There are two main reasons why i did not give this product a 10 rating.  First of all, I'm not a huge believer that Collagen can be absorbed through the top layers of the skin.  The molecules are just too large to be penetrated into the skin.  Secondly, I can still feel a slight residue on my skin in the morning, telling me that the product did not absorb completely.

All in all, for moisturizing purposes, I love this product.  Massaging a rich cream into the skin in itself stimulates collagen formation.  Despite the slight residue on my skin in the morning, I could tell a drastic difference in the condition of my skin after a month of using this product nightly.  My skin feels smoother and more supple.  I would recommend this product for those in their late 20's, 30's  and 40's or for anyone older whom is a beginner in caring for their skin.  This product is quite affordable and serves as a great starter night cream.

http://www.drugstore.com/loreal-skin-expertise-collagen-moisture-filler-daily-moisturizer-daynight-cream/qxp223048?fromsrch=loreal+collagen

L'Oreal Paris Collagen Moisture Filler Day/Night Cream, 1.7-Fluid Ounce

OPI Chip Skip - The solution to chipping nail polish- 10/10

OPI is an especially well known company in the nail industry as they have amazing products.  One of my absolute favorites is their "Chip Skip".  Most people are not aware of the natural oil a nail possesses.  These oils oftentimes hinder the ability of a nail polish to adhere to the nail efficiently, thus resulting in chipping and sometimes peeling.  Chip Skip eliminates these oils just enough for the polish to adhere but not so much that the nail becomes dehydrated or brittle.  This product should be applied to clean dry nails directly before the base coat.  As you apply it, you will see it immediately absorb into your nail as it is a completely different consistency than that of a polish of lacquer.  There is no moisture so it does not require time to dry.  The price ranges but is usually under $10.00 and can be purchased at most OPI retailers as seen in the links provided below.  I use it on every client requesting a manicure or pedicure and they always seem to come back to me thrilled about how long their polish lasted.  Of course I would love to take all of the credit, but must give a good portion of the credit to OPI's Chip Skip.

*Colby*

http://www.amazon.com/OPI-ChipSkip-Nail-Lacquer-Preventor/dp/B001ARSVT4

http://www.adiscountbeauty.com/store/products/OPI-Chip-Skip.html

http://www.beautynaildiscount.com/servlet/the-2558/OPI-Chip-Skip-0.5oz/Detail

Mini Review- Benefits of Silk Pillow Cases

Silk pillow cases offer multiple benefits that are not always noticeable right away but highly beneficial in the long run.  Silk is smooth and therefore does not pull at our hair while we sleep, resulting in less breakage and less frizz than sleeping on a cotton pillowcase.  Silk is also not very absorbent.  This is beneficial to our skin because when we apply our night creams, they will absorb into our skin as intended versus absorbing into our pillowcase.  Also, due to the flexibility  and smoothness of the product, it is less likely to cause those unsightly sleep wrinkles we get time to time from cotton pillowcases.  Below, you will find a few links to purchase your new silk pillowcase.  Sweet dreams!

*Colby*

http://www.amazon.com/Silk-Charmeuse-Pillowcase-Blush-Standard/dp/B00024L6SE/ref=pd_sim_k_3

http://www.ellesilk.com/review/product/list/id/16/category/5/

http://www.feelingpampered.com/10nasipica.html

What is beauty?

I have always been what some might call a beauty junkie.  I'm usually the first to jump on the band wagon of trying out a product or means of beautification.  Due to this, I have tried many products as well as techniques in an effort to keep myself at my best physically.  I have learned through time that although it is fun to focus on the physical appearance of ourselves, it is even more important to maintain what's on the inside.  By this, I mean we need to keep our bodies healthy by being aware of what we're ingesting and subjecting ourselves to as well as keeping our minds and sense of self strong and in tact.  I plan to share all that I have learned about various products and ways of obtaining beauty from the world but our moms weren't crazy when they said "True beauty comes from within". 

*Colby*