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ecoTOOLS, are a line of affordable and eco-friendly makeup brushes, available at some drugstores and big box retailers (I often see them at Target). I will admit to being a bit of a brush snob. I do really like the higher end makeup brushes. However, ecoTOOLS does a good job at competing by making decent makeup brushes at an affordable price. That they are environmentally friendly is a bonus.

EcoTOOLS recently added two new products to their line. The first is a six piece eye brush set packaged in a cute canvas case with a mirror. This is a nice purse size set, but the brushes are not so small that they are difficult to use. In fact, I tend to prefer short handled makeup brushes. The set provides all that you need for creating various eye shadow looks.  The second new item is a soft bronzer brush.

EcoTOOLS created a series of videos to demonstrate the new brushes. Below are two videos that show how to make good use of the eye shadow brushes.  The first shows how to create a smoky eye using the six piece brush set. The Second shows how to do makeup touch ups using the set.

Next week, I will be showcasing more of the videos and giving away two of the ecoTOOLS six piece eye brush kits. So if you are in the market for some new makeup brushes, stop back next week for a chance to win!

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Awhile back I was in Vegas and realized that I had left my makeup bag sitting at home. Now, a girl can’t be in Vegas without makeup, so I popped into a CVS and grabbed a few items to get me through the trip and purposely picked out things I had not tried before so that I could review them.

For foundation, I grabbed Revlon New Complexion One Step Oil Free Makeup With SPF 15.  This is a cream to powder type of foundation. The foundation comes in a compact that flips up to expose an included sponge applicator—something else I needed since I left mine at home! Overall, the Revlon New Complexion Foundation wore fairly well. It wasn’t the best I have ever tried, but I liked it fine. Coverage was medium, and it stayed put for most of the day.  I didn’t experience any breakouts or serious issues with it. Mostly, the color wasn’t perfect.  What I hate about shopping for drugstore products is the general inability to test the times in the store.

At $12, the price is OK. I don’t know if I would buy the Revlon foundation   again, but it certainly was perfectly serviceable, and I liked that it came with a sponge applicator, which is always good when traveling.

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PH8 stores, which are a rebranding of Bebesport stores, offered me a gift certificate to visit their Chicago store and do a bit of shopping.  Not being one to turn down excuses to go shopping, I was happy to oblige! PH8 carries sportswear ranging from daily wear items and accessories to trendy workout clothing.

The sales people were friendly and helpful, and I had a great time visiting. I picked up a couple of jackets from the PH8 spring collection on my shopping trip. The first is a lightweight, filmy jacket with a cute drawstring waist. I love the material on this, and the arms look neat pushed up to around the elbows as shown in the picture.  It has a unique look to it that I really like.

The second jacket I purchased is an exercise jacket that will be perfect for spring runs. Made from wicking material, it is soft and light—this is a seriously comfy jacket! Now if it would just warm up enough outside for me to wear it instead of a coat! Unfortunately, I probably have another 6 weeks at least to wait. It is cold here in Chicago!

I also grabbed a vest on sale. The one in the photo is black, but I purchased it in brown.

PH8 has stores across the country and the Chicago location is in the Water Tower Place mall on Michigan Avenue. There are also Chicago area locations in Orland Park and Schaumburg. For a list of locations, visit the PH8 website.

Note: This post is based in part on ag ift certificate given to me by a representative of the company. For more, please see my disclosure page.

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I love shopping field trips! Tomorrow, I will heading into Chicago to attend the PH8 Store New Year, New You event.  PH8 is the reincarnation of Bebesport stores and carries a variety of sports wear, accessories, bags, shoes and jewelry that are competitively priced from $19 to $139. You can learn more at ph8stores.com.

On January 30, 2010 (tomorrow), US PH8 stores are giving away free gifts and refreshments, along with 25 % off of your purchases!

I’ll tweet from the event and post more about my shopping field trip to PH8 next week. Follow me on Twitter to read my updates. You can also follow PH8 on twitter, join the PH8 facebook page, and follow the twitter hashtag #PH8party for more.

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Prevage is pricey, but its active ingredient, Idebenone, an antioxidant closely related to CoQ10, has been touted as a great item for skin protection and wrinkle treatment.  As a general treatment cream, I have always liked it, although, as is the case with most wrinkle treatments and skin care items, it is hard to say if it really is having any meaningful effect.

In any event, now Prevage is available as a day moisturizer with SPF 30.  Elizabeth Arden Prevage Day Ultra Protection Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 30.  If you are a Prevage fan, this is a must have item. The moisturizer is on the lighter side and suitable for all skin types. I have been using on my oily, acne prone skin for several weeks with no problems. Yet, it would moisture dry skin fairly well too. It also has broad spectrum SPF 30 protection, which I find essential in a day moisturizer.

So, if you use Prevage and want to get your moisturizer and sunscreen packaged with it, now you can do so!

Note: This review is based on a  product given to me by a representative of the company. For more, please see my disclosure page.

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Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure is marketed as base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, color, and top coat, all in one. I grabbed a couple of bottles of the polish to try. Pictured below is a swatch of the shade So Much Fawn.

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Right off, I didn’t particularly like the brush with this polish. It is wide and reminds me of the Borghese nail polish brush, which I don’t at all care for. However, the formula is fine and I got great one coat coverage with it. Without the extra coats from a bottom and top polish, it dried very quickly.

As for wear, it was OK. I didn’t think that there was as nice of a shine with this polish as I would have gotten with a top coat, but it looked generally OK. The polish wore about average in length for me. I am hard on nails and usually start chipping them a day later. Sally Hansen Complete Salon managed to make it to day two.

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