Youngblood has some new things coming out in June 2012 I thought you might want to get a sneak peek. (Yay! Sneak peek!)

For the summer season they have:

• Mighty Shiny Lip Gel ($25.50)
• Luminous Crème Blush in two new shades ($27.00)

The Mighty Shiny Lip Gels come in a plastic see-through tube so you know exactly what you’re getting. Above is “Stripped”, a shimmery clear gel. Below is “Bared,” a sheer peach gel.

To use, you squeeze the tube and the gel comes out the end. Easy access.

This is what they look like out of the tube. You can see that they’re super shiny with sheer pigment. They’re also a bit sticky (which is a bummer if you have long hair and it’s windy outside.)

While Youngblood’s Luminous Crème Blushes are nothing new, they have added two new shades for June, 2012. I got to try Pink Cashmere.

Don’t be fooled by the condensation, by the way. This happens during shipping with most cream blushes and eye shadows. It goes away after a while.

The Luminous Crème Blush goes on easy and turns into a somewhat powdery consistency once rubbed in. I’m the most impressed with this blush from what I’ve tried for their summer line.

You can have the blush subtler just by rubbing it in a little bit more, which I like.

Have you tried Youngblood? What do you think of their new summer products?

But what about the scalp? The brand new hair care brand, Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy, looks to address that issue.

In addition to cleaning and conditioning your hair, Clear shampoos and conditioners promise to make your scalp healthier, thus improving hair quality overall.

I got to try the Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Total Care Nourishing Shampoo and Nourishing Daily Conditioner.

How do you use it?

The Clear Total Care shampoo and conditioner works just like any shampoo and conditioner, but with one big difference: you massage it into your scalp. It says so right in the directions. And not just the shampoo, but the conditioner as well.

When you start to rub the shampoo into your wet scalp, it does another thing differently: it foams. Most shampoos lather, rather than foam. I liked that little difference.

A Big Test

I wondered how I could test a scalp-centered shampoo and conditioner when there isn’t much out there to compare it to. Then I thought about my scalp. It’s biggest problem is dandruff.

While Clear does have a separate dandruff shampoo, and I wasn’t using that, I figured for something called “Total Care” that’s supposed to make your scalp healthy should take care of dandruff in some way anyway.

So, while I used this, I planned to lay off my dandruff shampoo.

Did it work?

I’ve been using Clear Total Care every other day for two weeks now. I can safely say that my scalp feels awesome.

Not only that, but I haven’t had any dandruff since I started using it. Success!

How does it smell?

Even the best working shampoo fails if it smells terrible. Luckily, Clear Total Care smells good.

Downside? While it smells good, it smells just like Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner. To me, it smelled exactly the same.

The Final Verdict

I love it when beauty and hair products live up to their promises. With Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy, my scalp feels healthier, my hair is clean and soft, and I’m dandruff-free. If it weren’t for the completely unimaginative scent, it would get a perfect score. Instead, it gets a…

B+

You can pick this up in most drugstores and big box stores for $5.99-6.99 suggested retail price.

While Drusilla was known for great nails, including the red and white, she also rocked the black and white French manicure as well. Just like I promised I would, I’ve done the black and white version this week:

I used Sinful Colors nail polish in Nail Hardener, Black on Black and Snow Me White.

With the red and white, the colors were more forgiving of mistakes. And, since I do my French manicures freestyle, and black isn’t forgiving, it’s super easy to see all the mistakes.

Still, I totally feel like I’m channeling Drusilla now. All I need is Spike and I’ll be set!

Some people with a bit of ingenuity decided to make a product that could help with that: Beauty Spoon.

The Beauty Spoon comes in a two-pack. You get:

• 10-inch Beauty Spoon with a 0.75-inch wide spatula
• 7-inch Beauty Spoon with a 0.5-inch wide spatula

At the top of the spoon, you get a thick handle that’s easy to hold.

At the other end, the “spoon” part. This is just like the kind of rubber spatula you’d use while baking a cake, but on a much smaller scale. The plus side with this type of spoon is that it’s soft so it can fit into bottles with smaller mouths. The spatula spoon has a lip on one side to make it easier to scrape product off the inside of a bottle.

As you can see, it also has a bendy party so it can move around tight spaces.

How do you use it?

Pick out a bottle of beauty product where you’re having a hard time getting out the last few drops/blobs. Stick the spatula end of the Beauty Spoon into the bottle and swirl it around to pick up the product. Pull it out an you’ve got more product so you’re not throwing away hard-earned beauty money.

The Plus Side: This gets out product that you couldn’t get at before, saving you some money. Also, it keeps the contents clean, since using your fingers could introduce bacteria to your beauty products.

The Down Side: Even though this comes in two sizes, the smallest size still doesn’t fit inside a wide range of bottles. If you have a product with a very small opening, you’ll have to find another method to get everything out (or give up). And, since most hard-to-get-out beauty products have super small openings, this is a bit of a problem.

For these reasons, I give the Beauty Spoon 2-pack a…

C+

You can pick this up at the official Beauty Spoon website for $9.99 suggested retail price.

(FYI, there will still be Makeup Files posts while I’m gone. No worries!)

Since this is a road trip, I don’t have to worry about airline restrictions. I can take whatever I want!

It all fits inside this black travel bag. I’ve been using it for years (hence how beat up it looks) and it fits everything you’ll see below. This bag isn’t too big. It’s just about the size of a medium handbag.

Here’s what I’m bringing:

Body

For the body, I’ve got…

• Degree Expert Protection motionSENSE deodorant in Linen Dry
• Pacifica Island Vanilla Body Butter
• Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-On
• Harvey Prince Eau de Lite Perfume Roll-On
• Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55

It’s all about smelling good and protecting my skin.

Hair

For my hair, I’m bringing…

• Samy Conditioning Serum
• Suave Professionals Captivating Curls Whipped Cream Mousse
• BioInfusion travel shampoo and conditioner

I’m also bringing hair brushes and spare hair binders. Plus, there’ll be a flat iron and hair dryer, too. And I’ll probably use whatever body wash is available in the hotel room.

Face

For my face, I’ve got…

• Absolute Make-Up Cleansing Tissues
• Colorscience Pro Sunforgettable Primer SPF 30
• Colorscience Pro Sunforgettable Mineral Powder Sun Protection SPF 30 Brush
• Meaningful Beauty Cindy Crawford Crème de Serum
• RoC Retinol Correxion Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System Anti-Wrinkle Treatment

Expect reviews of the Colorscience Pro products when I get back.

Makeup

For makeup, I’m bringing…

• Pixi Ultimate Beauty Kit
• Youngblood Mighty Shiny Lip Gels in Stripped and Bared
• Maybelline Define-A-Line Eyeliner
• Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara
• Klix Blush Brush
• e.l.f. Eyeshadow Brush

Expect swatches of the Youngblood Mighty Shiny Lip Gels next week.

As you can see, I’m bringing quite a bit for this week-long trip. I have a feeling that I’ll be adding more to my carrying case before I leave tomorrow; mostly in the form of eye shadow.

Do you think there’s anything I’m missing? (Don’t worry, I’m bringing a tooth brush.)

But before I get to that, I have to tell you about what’s coming up in the next week.

An Upcoming Trip

In a few days, I leave for a road trip. I’m heading back to my hometown to visit family and friends, and I’ll be gone for a little over a week.

Why do I bring this up? Because this will be my first vacation while on Nutrisystem that’s longer than a weekend.

I’m a little nervous about how I’ll eat while I’m away. Especially since four of the days (two going there and two coming back) will be spent in the car—a place I always snacked in incessantly during road trips.

One good thing about it being a road trip, as opposed to a plane ride: I can bring my Nutrisystem food.  I’ll be bringing enough breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert to cover the entire trip, although I do anticipate some off-plan eating.

We’ll see how I do.

Another reason I bring this up? I’ll be gone through next Monday. That means there won’t be a Nutrisystem post next week. But I’ll be right back to it the Monday afterward.

(Although I’m going to be out of town, I’ve got posts scheduled for Makeup Files while I’m gone. Don’t forget to stop by! This place will still be hoppin’!)

It’s time to weigh in.

This is what the scale said this morning:

I lost 2.2 pounds this week! That brings my total to 88.6 pounds lost in 56 weeks.

That’s so close to 90 pounds!

Body measurements, y’all!

I measure key spots on my body every 4 weeks to see the changes in my size and shape. Here are the changes from week 52 to now:

• Upper arm: –0.25 inches (-4.75 inches total)
• Chest: –0.75 inches (-12.25 inches total)
• Waist: –1.25 inches (-11.75 inches total)
• Hips: No Change (-12 inches total)
• Thigh: No Change (-6 inches total)

That means I’ve lost 2.25 inches total in the last 4 weeks, and 46.75 inches total in 56 weeks.

See how much I lost in my waist? I guess that explains how I got down to size 10 jeans last week!

Here’s my weekly progress from the  beginning:

• Week 1: –6.4 pounds
• Week 2: –2.4 pounds (-8.8 total)
• Week 3: –3.8 pounds (-12.6 total)
• Week 4: –2.4 pounds (-15.0 total)
• Week 5: –3.0 pounds (-18.0 total)
• Week 6: –1.6 pounds (-19.6 total)
• Week 7: –3.4 pounds (-23.0 total)
• Week 8: –1.0 pounds (-24.0 total)
• Week 9: –2.6 pounds (-26.6 total)
• Week 10: –3.4 pounds (-30.0 total)
• Week 11: –0.6 pounds (-30.6 total)
• Week 12: –4.2 pounds (-34.8 total)
• Week 13: –1.0 pounds (-35.8 total)
• Week 14: –1.8 pounds (-37.6 total)
• Week 15: –3.0 pounds (-40.6 total)
• Week 16: –1.2 pounds (-41.8 total)
• Week 17: –2.8 pounds (-44.6 total)
• Week 18: +0.8 pounds (-43.8 total)
• Week 19: –2.6 pounds (-46.4 total)
• Week 20: –1.4 pounds (-47.8 total)
• Week 21: –1.6 pounds (-49.4 total)
• Week 22: –3.4 pounds (-52.8 total)
• Week 23: –2.6 pounds (-55.4 total)
• Week 24: –0.6 pounds (-56.0 total)
• Week 25: –1.8 pounds (-57.8 total)
• Week 26: –1.4 pounds (-59.2 total)
• Week 27: –2.2 pounds (-61.4 total)
• Week 28: –1.0 pound (-62.4 total)
• Week 29: –1.6 pounds (-64.0 total)
• Week 30: –2.6 pounds (-66.6 total)
• Week 31: –0.6 pounds (-67.2 total)
• Week 32: No Change (-67.2 total)
• Week 33: –2.2 pounds (-69.4 total)
• Week 34: +1.0 pounds (-68.4 total)
• Week 35: –3.0 pounds (-71.4 total)
• Week 36: –1.0 pounds (-72.4 total)
• Week 37: +2.6 pounds (-69.8 total)
• Week 38: –1.4 pounds (-71.2 total)
• Week 39: –3.4 pounds (-74.6 total)
• Week 40: –0.2 pounds (-74.8 total)
• Week 41: –1.4 pounds (-76.2 total)
• Week 42: –0.4 pounds (-76.6 total)
• Week 43: –0.6 pounds (-77.2 total)
• Week 44: –0.8 pounds (-78.0 total)
• Week 45: –0.8 pounds (-78.8 total)
• Week 46: –0.6 pounds (-79.4 total)
• Week 47: –2.4 pounds (-81.8 total)
• Week 48: –1.4 pounds (-83.2 total)
• Week 49: –1.8 pounds (-85.0 total)
• Week 50: –1.2 pounds (-86.2 total)
• Week 51: –0.6 pounds (-86.8 total)
• Week 52: +3.4 pounds (-83.4 total)
• Week 53: –1.6 pounds (-85.0 total)
• Week 54: –1.4 pounds (-86.4 total)
• Week 55: No Change (-86.4 total)
• Week 56: –2.2 pounds (-88.6 total)

See you for my next weigh-in in two weeks! (but stick around Makeup Files because there will be other posts)

Disclosure: Nutrisystem is providing their program and support services free of charge for my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program.

PS: Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting the Nutrisystem website.

Today, as the last item in the line, I present to you the PixiGlow Straight on Till Morning Liner.

This liner is similar to the Endless Silky Eye Pens of Pixi’s regular line. They come in pencil form and have a very soft consistency.

Pixi describes this sparkly color as “deep golden green.” I find it more like bronze with a green tint. The color seems rather odd to me and I had a difficult time fitting it into my makeup routine since it was hard to match it to other colors.

The Straight on Till Morning Liner didn’t go on as smoothly as the other liners by Pixi, but it does have a long wear-time. I applied this in the morning and it was still right where I left it at the end of the day.

By the same token, it was a bit harder to remove with makeup remover than is typical.

For these reasons, I give the PixiGlow Straight Till Morning Liner a…

C+

You can pick this up at Target or online at Pixi’s website for $14 suggested retail price.

Have you tried any of the PixiGlow line?

It comes in a heavy, light green plastic case (the light green being Pixi’s signature color). It measures 3.5 inches wide, 5 inches long and 1 inch thick. Yeah, it’s pretty big.

I like the Tinkerbell design on the cover. It’s cute!

The Fairy Face Palette comes with…

• 5 baked eye shadows
• 5 lip creams
• 3-color blush
• Applicators for each
• Mirror

While I like the blush and lip brushes, I’ve never been a fan of sponge applicators for eye shadow. I used my own eye shadow brush instead when testing this out.

On the left, the baked eye shadows. Since these are baked, they’re harder to the touch than Pixi’s usual eye shadows. Still, they apply well.

In the middle sits the 3-color blush. While you could figure out how to use each color individually, the wide brush is best for using all three at once.

On the right are the 5 colors of lip cream. They’re like a lip gloss and lipstick in one.

Here are the eye shadows swatched dry (above) and wet (below). As you can see, both wet and dry, they produce a lot of color and shine. If you want slightly bolder color, then apply the eye shadow wet.

This is how the blush looks when using all three colors at once. It has a nice shimmer that warms up skin and makes you glow. This is my favorite thing in the PixiGlow Fairy Face Palette, and what I’ve used the most. (I look awesome with it on!)

As you can see, the lip creams have a lot of color. Each one has it’s own shade and personality. They’re soft and shiny like a gloss and pigmented like a lipstick.

The Final Verdict

As is usually the case with Pixi, the PixiGlow Fiary Face Palette impressed me. The eye shadows are saturated in color and apply well. The lip creams are colorful and the 3-color blush is my favorite thing.

Still, the eye shadow applicator is useless (to me) and the packaging is pretty huge. For all of these reasons, I give the Fairy Face Palette a…

B

You can pick this up at Target or online at the Pixi website for $34 suggested retail price.

Since the world is increasingly mobile, I decided to create a mobile version of Makeup Files.

Now, whenever you visit the site on an iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry, Android phone and other mobile devices, you’ll see an easier-to-view version of the blog.

You’ll still see all of the posts and pages. All photos are intact, and you can even comment on posts, straight from your phone. Yay!

And if you’d prefer to see the original version of Makeup Files on your phone, as opposed to this mobile version, just scroll down to the bottom of the blog and turn “Mobile Theme” to the off position.

I’d love to hear what you think of the look of the new mobile version of Makeup Files! Let me know in the comments!

“Wait…these really fit?”

I’ve been needing new jeans for a while now. Aside from the size 12 peach-colored skinny jeans, I’d been wearing a pair of size 14  capri jeans that just kept getting bigger and bigger. They’d become comically large.

Off I went to Old Navy to look at some capris. I grabbed a size 12 from the rack, but then had a sudden urge to grab the size 10 as well. Hey, just in case!

In the dressing room, I tried on the size 10 first, just to get out of the of way. I was shocked—shocked!—to find that the size 10 jeans fit me perfectly. And I mean perfectly. They weren’t tight in any way.

Needless to say, I didn’t even bother trying on those 12s.

I came away from the store with my new pair of size 10 capris, although I still couldn’t believe it. Me? A 10? That can’t be right.

I actually checked the inside tag of the jeans just to make sure I hadn’t accidentally grabbed a 12. And there it was:

These are indeed 10s. 10s!

OMG. I’m a size 10!

Time to weigh-in.

Here’s what the scale said:

I didn’t lose any weight this week. That keeps my total at 86.4 pounds lost in 55 weeks.

That’s a bit of a bummer, but I have these size 10 jeans to keep a smile on my face.

Here’s my progress from the beginning:

• Week 1: –6.4 pounds
• Week 2: –2.4 pounds (-8.8 total)
• Week 3: –3.8 pounds (-12.6 total)
• Week 4: –2.4 pounds (-15.0 total)
• Week 5: –3.0 pounds (-18.0 total)
• Week 6: –1.6 pounds (-19.6 total)
• Week 7: –3.4 pounds (-23.0 total)
• Week 8: –1.0 pounds (-24.0 total)
• Week 9: –2.6 pounds (-26.6 total)
• Week 10: –3.4 pounds (-30.0 total)
• Week 11: –0.6 pounds (-30.6 total)
• Week 12: –4.2 pounds (-34.8 total)
• Week 13: –1.0 pounds (-35.8 total)
• Week 14: –1.8 pounds (-37.6 total)
• Week 15: –3.0 pounds (-40.6 total)
• Week 16: –1.2 pounds (-41.8 total)
• Week 17: –2.8 pounds (-44.6 total)
• Week 18: +0.8 pounds (-43.8 total)
• Week 19: –2.6 pounds (-46.4 total)
• Week 20: –1.4 pounds (-47.8 total)
• Week 21: –1.6 pounds (-49.4 total)
• Week 22: –3.4 pounds (-52.8 total)
• Week 23: –2.6 pounds (-55.4 total)
• Week 24: –0.6 pounds (-56.0 total)
• Week 25: –1.8 pounds (-57.8 total)
• Week 26: –1.4 pounds (-59.2 total)
• Week 27: –2.2 pounds (-61.4 total)
• Week 28: –1.0 pound (-62.4 total)
• Week 29: –1.6 pounds (-64.0 total)
• Week 30: –2.6 pounds (-66.6 total)
• Week 31: –0.6 pounds (-67.2 total)
• Week 32: No Change (-67.2 total)
• Week 33: –2.2 pounds (-69.4 total)
• Week 34: +1.0 pounds (-68.4 total)
• Week 35: –3.0 pounds (-71.4 total)
• Week 36: –1.0 pounds (-72.4 total)
• Week 37: +2.6 pounds (-69.8 total)
• Week 38: –1.4 pounds (-71.2 total)
• Week 39: –3.4 pounds (-74.6 total)
• Week 40: –0.2 pounds (-74.8 total)
• Week 41: –1.4 pounds (-76.2 total)
• Week 42: –0.4 pounds (-76.6 total)
• Week 43: –0.6 pounds (-77.2 total)
• Week 44: –0.8 pounds (-78.0 total)
• Week 45: –0.8 pounds (-78.8 total)
• Week 46: –0.6 pounds (-79.4 total)
• Week 47: –2.4 pounds (-81.8 total)
• Week 48: –1.4 pounds (-83.2 total)
• Week 49: –1.8 pounds (-85.0 total)
• Week 50: –1.2 pounds (-86.2 total)
• Week 51: –0.6 pounds (-86.8 total)
• Week 52: +3.4 pounds (-83.4 total)
• Week 53: –1.6 pounds (-85.0 total)
• Week 54: –1.4 pounds (-86.4 total)
• Week 55: No Change (-86.4 total)

Are you having a good week, too?

Disclosure: Nutrisystem is providing their program and support services free of charge for my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program.

PS: Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting the Nutrisystem website.

So, I jumped at the chance to try the Silk’n Flash & Go permanent hair removal system. It’s a light treatment to permanently remove hair at home. It works similarly to expensive laser treatments in that it takes several sessions before you see great results.

At least, those were the claims. I had to see for myself whether this would do what it promises. So commences the frequently asked questions of the Silk’n Flash & Go, answered by yours truly. (And this includes before and after pictures!)

How does it remove hair?

The Silk’n Flash & Go uses light to zap the dark portions of your skin hiding hair follicles. The follicles deaden and slow down or stop hair growth.

Can anyone use this?

Nope. Since the light attacks dark parts of your skin, this isn’t going to work on people with naturally dark skin, or those who’ve gone tanning. Silk’n suggests you avoid tanning at all while using this, just to be safe.

Also, you can’t get this in Australia or New Zealand.

What does it come with?

The Silk’n Flash & Go comes with…

• Flash & Go gun
• Extra light cartridge
• Power cord with two different plug types
• Instruction manual
• Instruction DVD

How do you use it?

Before you do anything, you have to shave the area that you’re going to zap. That’s right, the Silk’n Flash & Go doesn’t remove your current hair. It’s only meant to prevent it from growing back.

This is essentially like a light gun. After shaving, you plug it in, press the power button, and you’re pretty much ready to go. You can set the intensity of the light with the plus and minus buttons.

When the Flash & Go is ready, the lights will flash at either side of the purple control panel. You press the gun to your skin, press the trigger, and there will be a flash of light. As the gun charges again, you move it to the next patch of skin and press the trigger again.

Does it hurt?

It depends. When you’re doing it on tougher skin and at a low intensity, at most you’ll feel is a little warmth. On sensitive areas and at higher intensities, it will sting a little only as the light flashes. I felt this especially on my knees.

Does it take a long time to use?

The light that’s used to slow hair growth is relatively small. It’s only 4 cm across. That means it can take a while to cover large areas, like your legs. But small areas, like you chin or upper lip, can be complete in a minute or two.

When I was testing this out, I would do my upper lip, chin, underarms and legs (at the knee and below). I could get all that done while watching a movie.

How often do you use it?

Silk’n suggests you use the Flash & Go every two weeks at first. Then, after four treatments, you use it every four weeks if you still see hair growth.

Does it actually work?

Yes. But, if you don’t believe me, I happened to take some pictures.

One of the fastest hair growing spots is on my ankles. So, I took pictures of the same spot on my left ankle.

I started with a picture of one week after shaving before I started using the Flash & Go (without shaving for that entire week). Then a new picture one week after each Flash & Go treatment (three treatments in total).

As you can see, hair growth got sparser as the treatments went on. Hair grew in slower, too. I could go a whole week and still look like I just shaved my legs.

Success!

Do you ever need to buy light refills?

This depends. The kit comes with an extra light cartridge, so you have two to work with. I found that the first light needed to be replaced after two full treatments (which covered my upper lip, chin, underarms and legs), so I installed the second light. If your hair is particularly fickle, you might have to get one more light. Silk’n sells replacement cartridges for $45.

The Final Verdict

I’m always skeptical of stuff like this. After all, the Silk’n Flash & Go makes a big promise: permanent hair removal. While I can’t know for sure if the success I saw will last forever, I did see success. I know for sure that I won’t have to shave my legs nearly as often now. And, if I keep using it, there may come a time where I don’t have to shave at all. I’m pleased.

So, I give the Silk’n Flash & Go a…

B+

You can pick this up at the Silk’n website or at Amazon for $299 suggested retail price.

So, I spent the whole of yesterday fixing everything, and now we’re back up and running. Yay!

Thus commences this week’s results (as of yesterday).

Time to weigh in!

This is what the scale said this morning:

I lost 1.4 pounds this week! This brings my total to 86.4 pounds lost in 54 weeks.

Awesome!

And here’s my progress from the very beginning:

• Week 1: –6.4 pounds
• Week 2: –2.4 pounds (-8.8 total)
• Week 3: –3.8 pounds (-12.6 total)
• Week 4: –2.4 pounds (-15.0 total)
• Week 5: –3.0 pounds (-18.0 total)
• Week 6: –1.6 pounds (-19.6 total)
• Week 7: –3.4 pounds (-23.0 total)
• Week 8: –1.0 pounds (-24.0 total)
• Week 9: –2.6 pounds (-26.6 total)
• Week 10: –3.4 pounds (-30.0 total)
• Week 11: –0.6 pounds (-30.6 total)
• Week 12: –4.2 pounds (-34.8 total)
• Week 13: –1.0 pounds (-35.8 total)
• Week 14: –1.8 pounds (-37.6 total)
• Week 15: –3.0 pounds (-40.6 total)
• Week 16: –1.2 pounds (-41.8 total)
• Week 17: –2.8 pounds (-44.6 total)
• Week 18: +0.8 pounds (-43.8 total)
• Week 19: –2.6 pounds (-46.4 total)
• Week 20: –1.4 pounds (-47.8 total)
• Week 21: –1.6 pounds (-49.4 total)
• Week 22: –3.4 pounds (-52.8 total)
• Week 23: –2.6 pounds (-55.4 total)
• Week 24: –0.6 pounds (-56.0 total)
• Week 25: –1.8 pounds (-57.8 total)
• Week 26: –1.4 pounds (-59.2 total)
• Week 27: –2.2 pounds (-61.4 total)
• Week 28: –1.0 pound (-62.4 total)
• Week 29: –1.6 pounds (-64.0 total)
• Week 30: –2.6 pounds (-66.6 total)
• Week 31: –0.6 pounds (-67.2 total)
• Week 32: –0 pounds (-67.2 total)
• Week 33: –2.2 pounds (-69.4 total)
• Week 34: +1.0 pounds (-68.4 total)
• Week 35: –3.0 pounds (-71.4 total)
• Week 36: –1.0 pounds (-72.4 total)
• Week 37: +2.6 pounds (-69.8 total)
• Week 38: –1.4 pounds (-71.2 total)
• Week 39: –3.4 pounds (-74.6 total)
• Week 40: –0.2 pounds (-74.8 total)
• Week 41: –1.4 pounds (-76.2 total)
• Week 42: –0.4 pounds (-76.6 total)
• Week 43: –0.6 pounds (-77.2 total)
• Week 44: –0.8 pounds (-78.0 total)
• Week 45: –0.8 pounds (-78.8 total)
• Week 46: –0.6 pounds (-79.4 total)
• Week 47: –2.4 pounds (-81.8 total)
• Week 48: –1.4 pounds (-83.2 total)
• Week 49: –1.8 pounds (-85.0 total)
• Week 50: –1.2 pounds (-86.2 total)
• Week 51: –0.6 pounds (-86.8 total)
• Week 52: +3.4 pounds (-83.4 total)
• Week 53: –1.6 pounds (-85.0 total)
• Week 54: –1.4 pounds (-86.4 total)

I hope you’re having a great week!

Disclosure: Nutrisystem is providing their program and support services free of charge for my participation in the Nutrisystem Nation Blogging Program.

PS: Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting the Nutrisystem website.

That’s a long time in the blogging world!

A lot has happened in the last year. SHAPE Magazine nominated me as a top beauty blogger of 2011. I lost a bunch of weight on Nutrisystem. I continued to give you blog posts on inner and outer beauty.

To celebrate Makeup Files 4th blogiversary, I thought I’d highlight the best posts of the last year.

The Best of Makeup Files’ 4th Year

• 6 Ways to Wear Green Eye Shadow
• Braaaaains: A Makeup Tutorial Inspired By Zombies
• 10 Ways to Break Through the Gloom and Start Feeling Good About Yourself
• 10 Tips for Better Beauty Sleep
• Autumn Leaves Makeup Tutorial
• You Are Beautiful
• Beauty Storage Idea: Pretty Pink Gravel Makeup Brush Holder
• 5 Ways to Climb Out of Your Makeup Rut
• Why Beauty Blogs Are Better
• What is the Cupid’s Bow Dimple and Why Should I Highlight It?
• Nutrisystem Nation Week 52 and Before and After a Year of Weight Loss
• Nails of the Day Inspired by Drusilla From Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• 10 Reasons to Get Out of Bed in the Morning

Is your favorite Makeup Files post of the last year not listed here? Let me know in the comments.

And here’s to a great fifth year!

If you’re having trouble pulling yourself from the warm embrace of an expertly piled mound of down comforters and fluffy pillows, I can help with that, too.

10 Reasons to Get Out of Bed

1. You haven’t broken in those new heels yet. You’ve been meaning to. Now’s your chance!
2. You haven’t read the last book of the Hunger Games trilogy. Mockingjay is waiting for you…Might as well read it before the next movie comes out.
3. You have some frozen waffles and Nutella spread waiting for you in the kitchen. Come on. You know you want to eat it.
4. You smell fresh-cooked bacon. Even if it’s not coming from your house, how can you lounge about when bacon’s in the air? And maybe your neighbor will let you borrow some.
5. You haven’t done your nails in a fun way. Maybe you want some sparkly tips or a red and white French manicure. Time to get it done.
6. You hate bed hair. So messy and scruffy? You’d better get up.
7. You actually like your job. That’s so rare. You should be happy!
8. You don’t want to miss the next episode of Castle. Me either! When are Castle and Beckett going to get together already?!
9. You haven’t written the next great American (or Canadian, or wherever you’re from) novel yet. You can always start today. It’s never too late!
10. You want to read Makeup Files and you don’t have a laptop. Aww, you’re so sweet.

Then again, you can do at least half of these in bed, so…

Photo credit: Marya

That’s largely because RoC is a trusted skincare brand. So many have used RoC products with success.

In fact, when I told my mom that’d I’d be trying out the RoC Retinol Correxion Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System, she was super jealous. That’s pretty much the only time she’s been visibly envious of the many products I get to try as a beauty blogger.

I had to see what all the fuss was about. Up to this point, I’d never owned a single RoC product. But does this new AM/PM, wrinkle-reducing moisturizing kit live up to the RoC reputation?

The kit comes with two products, in two steps:

• Step 1: Anti-Wrinkle Treatment with RoC Retinol
• Step 2: Resurfacing Serum with E-Pulse Technology

RoC suggests using this kit whenever you’d use a facial moisturizer, whether once or twice a day. For me, that’s once after showering and once before bed.

Both come in 1.0 fl. oz. tubes that should last a month, depending on how often (and how much) you use them.

The Anti-Wrinkle Treatment comes in a white cream. You smooth it over your entire face as the first step of the resurfacing system.

Be warned: this stuff stings. You’ll feel it tingling on your skin. This was especially the case when I used it right after getting out of a hot shower. FYI, this is normal. RoC even tells you about it on their website. It’s caused by the retinol in the product.

Still, if you don’t like a stinging sensation, then you may want to avoid this.

As for it’s anti-wrinkle properties, I did notice a very slight reduction in the fine lines under my eyes. It wasn’t a super drastic change, but just enough that I noticed it.

The Resurfacing Serum is supposed to “boost skin’s radiance.”

You smooth this dark gray serum on your face right after using the Anti-Wrinkle Treatment.

The Resurfacing Serum is greasy. In fact, it reminded me so much of grease on only because of the consistency, but the color as well. That dark, milky gray was a little off-putting. But, once smoothed onto my skin, I didn’t mind it so much. The color disappeared.

Keep in mind, this stuff will be way too greasy for those with oily skin. If you have oily skin, but still want to use this, leave it for nighttime use only. It’ll make your face far too slick if you use it in the morning before you start your day.

As for brightness, I noticed a change for this step of the process as well. While it didn’t necessarily even out my skin tone or reduce dark spots, it did make my face seem brighter overall.

The Final Verdict

The RoC Retinol Correxion Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System did exactly what it promised, even though it was only on a small scale (which gives it massive points). However, this kit isn’t for everyone. It may be too abrasive for those with super-sensitive skin, and too greasy for those with oily skin.

Also, the scent was a tad much to me. It smelled a bit like soap and chemicals (just the Anti-Wrinkle Treatment, though. The Resurfacing Serum appeared fragrance-free). For all of these reasons, I give the RoC Retinol Correxion Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System a…

B-

You can pick this up in drugstores, groceries and mass retailers, or online at Amazon or Drugstore.com, for $26.99 suggested retail price.