Although many, many things in my life seem to fall through the cracks, I really try to keep my feet and toes looking somewhat decent with a pedicure every two weeks.  One of my girlfriends has been wearing a very dark, somewhat purplish, navy blue shade called “Russian Navy” from Opi all summer. When I came upon it at the salon last week, I decided that it was my turn to go navy!

While my toes were being lacquered up, a very sweet, 70-ish year old lady was having her toes done too, and chose a very conservative peach, pinky color, and glanced at my feet and enthusiastically said, “Oh, I like that color! But, I always go for the same shade because you cannot take those risks at my age!”

“Oh you should, you really should!” I replied.

You know, going bold with your nail color is an excellent way to get a little expressive in a very temporary way.

Here’s a challenge, have some fun and take your nails sometime soon to the navy (navy blue), or possibly to turquoise, lime green, sky blue, or whatever… the possibilities are a whole lot of fun!

Want to win one?

In short, my life took a detour. Nobody died, just things got rearranged – a divorce, starting back at full-time work, and a move. And, I am still here and still passionate about the beauty industry. Along with these changes, my anxiety and stress levels have soared, and my skin has definitely taken a hit. I started breaking out more and more, and the anxiety triggered some of my prior, picking habits. I have been getting super discouraged about it, having not just one or two, but continual breakouts around my jaw and chin and cheeks. This type of breakout is generally termed “hormonal” or “adult acne,” and although I have read a TON about the treatments of acne, wasn’t finding relief.

So, I have been experimenting with a lot of different solutions. Thinking back at times that my skin has done its best and what worked during that time, and what other things might be contributing to my acne. I also consulted with my personal doctor, and through the web on health, dermatological, and homeopathic sites. There is much to cover, but to get started, I would recommend writing down a list to help target the triggers and issues that may be associated with your acne.

Step #1:  Assemble a List

Lifestyle (Habits, Health, Stress, Skin Care Routine)

Diet (Sugar Intake,  Dairy, Gluten, Vegetarian, Fiber)

Daily Caffeine Consumption

Vitamins/Supplements

Medications

Household Products/ Detergents

Skin Care Products – Regimen

Allergies/Reactions

So, if you are serious about getting to the real solution for your breakouts, make your list. I would also love to hear from you about your experiences and discoveries. In the coming weeks, I will share some of my trial and error experiences while my ongoing battle of adult blemishes continues.

If Crash can do it, so can you. Oh really? I am always nervous about wearing false eyelashes, mainly because my timid self is afraid of them looking “false.” I also imagine a co-worker being polite, but doesn’t want to point out that one of my eyelashes is flapping half way off every time I blink while having a conversation with them.

Urban Decay offers several varieties of false lashes that look very chic (tease seems way cool – it might be worth the risk!) Any of you use false eyelashes? And if you do, any tricks or tips you could share?

One of my favorite skin care sites, SkinCareRx.com recently added some very well researched content articles on several ingredients and skin care conditions. Here is a little excerpt from their Vitamin C page:

“Vitamin C is an antioxidant which protects skin from the sun and neutralizes free radicals. It effectively promotes collagen production and tones and tightens the skin to help repair the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has also been proven to reduce skin discoloration due to sun damage, aging, and acne scarring. Vitamin C is very unstable and can easily oxidize, making the compound ineffective, so it’s important to pay attention to expiration dates on products.”

Vitamin E is another highly praised antioxidant ingredient, and when used topically can hydrate and heal the skin, as well as reduce the scars left by acne.

In honor of Vitamin C & E, Mythbuster Beauty is giving away two SkinMedica Vitamin C & E Complex (Retail Value of $90). I have enjoyed using this complex because it leaves my skin feeling smooth and protected. The Vitamin C is suspended in silicone to prevent the dreaded oxidation (read quote above), and enjoy the extra hydration of the Vitamin E, as well as the added Bisabolol which is an anti-inflammatory.

And with this contest, there is a question. On the SkinCareRx.com Vitamin C page, which form of Vitamin C is found in SkinMedica’s C & E Complex?

Just like great take out, I often crave the trip to the spa for a super relaxing facial or skin care treatment, but cringe at the thought of the price tag associated with this luxury. I just discovered the best at-home microdermabrasion device, and after trying it out, was really wow-ed! I used the blue disks which are the finest gradient, and lightly went over my face and the back of my hands. The results? Super smooth, polished skin.

A very easy-does-it approach and watching the instructional DVD is highly recommended. The Personal Microderm is a serious skin care tool, and if you are a fan of microdermabrasion, this device can give you comparable results without the repeat spa visit pricetag – a must try!

Mythbuster Beauty is giving away one Personal Microderm System (retail value of $179). Be sure to enter and get some fantastic “take out” skin care for yourself!

I went in about a week ago asking about the collection, since Karla at TNBTTGSY swatched them and made me want them SO BAD. Seriously, she swatches like nobody’s business. Anyhow, I was just dying for some of the collection and I hopped in to see if it was out yet. It wasn’t on the counter but my gal Jessica let me sift through the spanking new testers and pre-order what I wanted. You can bet your buns I went straight down after work yesterday to pick up my new babies. Good thing too, 3 of the 5 items I picked were already gone and the store had only been open for 3 hours! This is a really fun , not too bright(imho) collection and I will get tons of use out of my purchases.

For a full selection of swatches visit Karlas posts here and here. And click through at the end for my pictures as well

I nabbed Sweet & Punchy and Humid($14.50), two gorgeous shadows and Float on By($14.50), which is a beautiful dark green/turquoise eye pencil. Since no purchase is complete without lip color I also grabbed Lipglass in Splashing($14), a pretty pink, and a lipstick in Funbathing($14), a bronzed plum color. Funbathing is almost exactly a more sheer version of my favorite lipstick ever, MAC’s O. It’s a perfect way to wear my favorite color through summer and I’m so tickled that I just might have to go buy another one before it sells out. I highly suggest you run to your nearest MAC counter ASAP and give this collection a whirl, I love it. And hurry, some of these products are already sold out online!

Pictures!

Sweet & Punchy, Humid, Float on By, Splashing, Funbathing, and O, for comparison to Funbathing.

Sweet & Punchy, Humid up close. Look how shiny and beautiful they are!

And here’s how I wore it to work today. All 3 eye products and Splashing lipglass. They also look divine with Funbathing.

I had my first serious reaction to eye makeup about a week ago. The thing is, it was ultimately my fault.
I have in my possession some mineral shadows that contain dyes. While these aren’t strictly “mineral” shadows, the range of color offered from these dyes gives me some of the variety I crave. I am aware that many D&C dyes and other synthetic colors can be a problem, particularly in the eye area, but I decided to use the product anyway.
This isn’t a new concept for me. Writing here and researching certain common ingredients has led to an increased awareness on my part about the possible hazards of cosmetics. Knowing this I make my choices accordingly. I know the hubbub about parabens, and I understand it, but I will still purchase products with parabens. However, I have issues with ingredients like bismuth and dimethicone, and try to avoid them as much as possible. I have a responsibility to myself and the other women in my life to weigh risks and benefits and decide what is most important. These are personal decisions, and I won’t ever fault anyone for purchasing strictly organic products OR for not giving a damn and purchasing whatever they feel like. If you have the information you need then, well, you’re a grown up and you are entitled to do whatever you please.
So, I applied this vividly pigmented  shadow one day and headed off to work. I used nice clean brushes, my usual primer, and a touch of sealant mixed with the shadow. The only new product was the shadow. About an hour into the day my eyelids started to itch a bit. Then they started to itch a LOT. By the end of the shift my lid from lash to crease had developed a stinging, itching feeling that made me want to claw my eyes out. I thoroughly washed my makeup off the minute I got home and went through the rest of my day cosmetics free. Those who know me know that the reaction had to be pretty bad to prompt that kind of response! The next day I returned to using my tried and true mineral shadows with no ill side effects. My lids remained tender for about a day after removing the offending shadow.
I was aware that certain dyes CAN irritate skin, but I have fairly tough skin and have never before experienced a reaction of this sort to an eye color. I started to search out more information on some of the ingredients in question and was very surprised at what I found. The warning on the website where I purchased is fairly mild, suggesting a patch test if you have sensitive skin and noting nothing else. What they failed to mention is that some of the ingredients in particular aren’t FDA approved for use in the eye area, even though they are  marketed as EYE PRODUCTS. In my opinion, there is a huge risk to be had in using these products for their intended purpose, and consumers aren’t being made aware of these risks before they purchase. I have removed from my collection similar shadow formulations, and don’t intend to use them again. Looking back now I can see that it would have been advisable to check this stuff out BEFORE I purchased these items, but I had purchased from this company before and have had a decent experience up to now.

My main point here is pretty much what MBB is about. You have to know what you’re dealing with. It’s not enough to read a PR blurb or product description and  believe that it contains everything you need to know. Even the informed among us don’t know everything, so we have to take accountability for our own well being and be our own advocates. Companies exist to sell products and make money, and will always present information in a way that is favorable to them, even if it isn’t an intentional fallacy. Information is more than power in this scenario, it’s a way to keep your body safe and your eyesight intact.
Ingredients matter, results matter…and most importantly, truth matters. We only get one face, one body, one life, be careful what you do with it.

The two things I just had to add were the new makeup setting sprays by Skindinavia. There are 3 formulas available, but I just grabbed two to try out, the De Slick spray and the All Nighter formula. With my active job and the stuffy air in our work space, makeup has a tendency to slide right off of my oily/combination skin. I’m always on the lookout for anything to help keep my face in place, especially if it means I don’t have to touch up my makeup every hour or two and pile on powder.

First I started using the De Slick spray. A mist over your face before you apply your cosmetics helps to keep oil under control, and a misting again afterward sets everything in place and amplifies the mattifying effect. It’s such a quick and easy step. I expected this liquid to smear my makeup, but if you use moderation when misting, it is actually a refreshing sensation that leaves everything just as you applied it.  And it works. After my early morning shift and a light nap I still look fresh and I can dash out of the house to run errands without touching up anything but my lip color and maybe a quick pass with a light powder. My only complaint about the spray is that it may actually work TOO well. A few days into use, a coworker mentioned that my eye area skin looked more “crinkly” than usual. It mattifies and dries so well that it absorbs  absolutely every bit of oil, leaving most skin types a bit over dry. For all but the oiliest of skin I would recommend trying this out under makeup  first and skipping the finishing spray unless you feel like you really need it. I bet it would be super helpful in very humid areas as well. This didn’t irritate my skin or cause me to break out either, a total plus for blemish prone skin.

The All Nighter setting spray is used over makeup only. It doesn’t mattify like the De Slick spray, and leaves a soft, dewy, but not shiny, look. It made my mineral makeup look even more natural, though it did make my mascara transfer to my upper eye lid. I now use it before I apply mascara but after everything else is applied. This works just as well as the De Slick at keeping everything in place, and has a less drying crinkly effect. This is an oil free formula but moist enough for drier skin types, a perfect formula for normal /combination skin. All Nighter spray used in conjuncture with a good mattifying primer is the perfect team for my skin and keeps everything looking gorgeous through my shift at work and all day long. De Slick under your makeup with All Nighter over is a great combo as well, but at $29 a bottle that could be a spendy proposition. I’m not one for late nights out, but I can say with certainty that if I can sling bags at a frenzied pace and still look perfectly put together, then you can go out dancing with the same effect.
Also available is Dew Me, a moisturizing spray for drier skin types that I didn’t try for obvious reasons. I imagine that it’s very soothing and I bet it will be great during the winter or in especially dry regions. This would also be a treat for more mature skin. All 3 formulas are oil free, paraben free, fragrance free, cruelty free, AND vegan. That’s something everyone can love.

I’ve already seen several other companies bringing out new or reformulated setting sprays. There are great improvements over the old heavy setting spray you might have used years ago. This is a definite permanent addition to my morning routine since it keeps my face in place. Have you tried any of the setting sprays on the market? Do you have any favorites?