Guess what?  They still don’t.

I fell into the hype of the Happy Booster™ Glow & Mood Boosting Powder and when I finally found it in Walmart, I snatched it up.  I chose the shade “Light Bronzer”.   The pressed powder “looks” cool and it does have a nice smell to it, but after several attempts to apply it to my face, it just makes me look spray tanned.   I figured it had to be my application, so I headed out to You Tube and watched a few of the gurus applying bronzer.  Try and try and trying again, this powder just settles in my fine lines and has yet to blend to where I don’t look like I’ve been in a spray tan booth (a bad one at that).   The little pink heart in the powder is a nice color and I have used it in the middle of the day to touch up my cheeks at work, but you have to use your finger to just get that color.   I will keep trying with this product because it does not break me out thankfully and I really want to like it.

Another product of Physicians Formula I am trying now is the Mineral Wear® Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Powder in Translucent. According to the website, this is a “3-In-1 Corrector + Primer + Powder“.   So far, the only thing this powder has done for me is help me find my dry patches on my face.  I see no “correcting” yet.  I tried this over a tinted moisturizer … fail.   Over my primer before makeup … fail. For a translucent powder it sure as hell shows up bright and shiny where ever I put it.   Trying again yesterday, just like the Boosting Powder, this found my fine lines and ran into them as fast as it could.   My small dry patches stuck out like a single light bulb in a dark room and as for correcting?  I still could see the reddishness I have on one cheek.

Save your money?  Yes, I would say so from my results.  I will keep trying to see if I can find any use for both products above, but so far, I’m not impressed.

Am I going to give up on Physicians Formula?  Probably not.  Their eyeliners are getting good reviews on MakeupAlley.com and I’m still looking for that great liner that goes on smooth and stays where I put it.

So I’m still on the hunt for a good bronzer and translucent correcting powder.

Here are a few I follow.  Check them out for yourself.

emilynoel83

EnKore Makeup (Professional)

Makeup by Tiffany

MakupGeekTV

There are a few more, but the above are the ones that update regular and have a large volume of videos to go through.  Yes, they are in order of my favorites.

Another place to find great makeup tips, along with other issues like skin and hair care, check out Makeupalley.com.  There are message boards and product reviews.  Daily visits are a must.

So go out there gals and learn something new and have fun.  Our face to the world should be at its best!

So here are the questions and my answers:

1. How old were you when you started wearing makeup? I don’t know how old I was, but I know it was very early in my years, say around 10 or 11, watching my mother put on her “war paint” before going to work or out for the evening.

Makeup

2. How did you get into makeup? My aunt was into makeup for her shop, even going to California to learn how to put it on.  I remember her coming back and showing us gals how to put on mascara, hitting even the little lashes in the corners and on the ends.  To this day it drives me crazy to see people just glop on mascara to their middle lashes and leave them wisps uncovered!   I believe I was around 14 years old at this time and from then on, I wanted to learn how it was done.

3. What are some of your favorite brands? Right now I’m experimenting, mainly Emily’s fault, but I gravitate back to Bare Escentuals.

4. What does makeup mean to you? I really don’t have an answer for this.  Since its something I’ve always worn, I feel naked without it on in some form.

5. If you could only wear 4 products on your face what would they be? Mascara definitely.  It opens the eyes and they are the window to the soul.  Base makeup, eye shadow that doubles as blush and lip gloss.

6. What is your favorite thing about makeup? Being able to hide the imperfections, either given by God or done to oneself.

7. What do you think about drugstore makeup vs high end makeup? To me BE is high end makeup, but I’m learning that drugstore makeup is just as good.  I have ventured more into e.l.f and other products you find in drugstores or retail outlets like Target.

8. What is one tip of advice you can give to a beginner? Go to a professional, even if you are not going to use their products, learn how they put it one, the tips and tricks. Read a lot of magazines and watch/follow people on the internet that are into makeup.  Also, find those products that work for you, not necessarily the most expensive.

9. What is one makeup trend you never understood? Super bright eye shadows.

10. What do you think about the beauty community on YouTube? I’ve learned a lot from the various people I subscribe to and the majority are there because they love makeup and want to tell others what they have learned.

Thanks Emily!

Sephora Haul

From left to right the three items I ordered:

Tart Picture Perfect Duo: “What it is: An ergonomically designed eyelash curler and a deluxe sample of tarte’s best-selling Lights, Camera, Lashes! natural mascara.”

Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector: “What it is: A pore-refining complex that delivers a natural, long-lasting matte finish.”

Above the Pore Minimizer: BADgal Lash Mascara: “What it is: A mini size black mascara.”

You can also choose samples with your Sephora order and mine were: Urban Decay Stardust Eyeshadow in Retrograde & Space Cowboy; Stila One Step Makeup Foundation in Dark; Dr. Brandt Skincare pores no more anti-aging mattifying lotion.

Now why I got the Stila I can’t tell you.  I think it was the only product I had left that remotely looked like I would want to try it.  It says “dark” and I’m fair to light right now.  No clue.  I haven’t opened it yet.

I haven’t had an eye lash curler in ages.  Lord knows when it was the last time I used one. But – its something I wanted to bring back into my make up kit and this was a good price, with a sample of Tart’s Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara.  I have to confess, I put this on the night I got it home.  No use trying out the curler without putting on the mascara right?  Plus I need to make sure I wasn’t allergic to it before putting it on and trying to wear all day.  Yes, that sounds like a good excuse!  I curled the lashes, did some tightlining and then put the tart mascara on the top lashes and tried out the BADgal Lash Mascara on the bottom.  I had them both on for a couple hours with no issue.

However, it has been over a week now since I’ve gotten the above products and am thoroughly disappointed in all of them but the eyelash curler.  The BADgal Lash flakes and drops product all over my eye when I am applying it.  The applicator brush is way to big for my eyelashs and I have to clean up the eye area after putting it on.   The Tart mascara does the same thing, even though the applicator brush is a bit smaller, the mess it makes is equal to the BADgal Lash.  So both are going to the bottom of the make-up box.

The Clinque Pore Minimizer has a nasty habit of rolling up and flaking off about five minutes after I apply my make-up; either liquid or powder.  It works great if I’m going MU free, but anything on top of it doesn’t work.   So I will keep it for those weekend days when I don’t want any base, but won’t be using it for anything else.

The Stilla sample went in the trash – too dark.  The Dr. Brandy Skincare pores no more burned my skin, so it went in the trash and I haven’t don’t anything with the Urban Decary Eye Shadows yet.

So that’s how all that worked out.  I’m glad I bought small samples of products instead of a full size. 

As you know from a previous post, I’m getting laser treatment on my face to take care of red veins and other imperfections on my face. I’ve been watching several videos on the internet via YouTube in regard to make up applications and treatments for acne and fine lines.

One I ran across is about the Aspirin Mask.  I have posted it below.  Go ahead and watch it and then below the video I will tell you about my experiments with this home remedy.

I purchased a cheap bottle of aspirin from WalMart and some honey.  I found these neato little packets of honey from the Fresh Market.  Capilano Australian Honey in the Snap N Squeeze packets.

Following the recipe on the video – the aspirin turned to soup.  I wanted it a bit thicker, so I threw that batch away and again using three (3) aspirin, I put just a bit of water on them this time, eye-balling it.  They melted a bit more thickly this time and then I snapped open the packet of honey and put it in there.  The packets contain one teaspoon of honey, but I didn’t use all of it.  Once the honey was mixed up well into the dissolved aspirin I started patting the mixture on my face.  Swirling felt rough, so patting appears to be better.   I let it sit on my face about 35 minutes.  During that time I found that part of the mixture had ran down my arm and some slid onto my eye lids.

To wash it off, I used warm water and patted it on my face with my fingers to soften it up.  I did swirl a bit on my chin where I’ve had some flaking from the fine line medication I’m using so figured it would work like an exfoliator.  I used a very wet, warm washcloth to get the remainder off.

Then I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and a hand held.   The only thing I did notice was the redness around my nostrils I had from blowing my nose all day (head cold), was gone.  Otherwise my face was taught.  I put my moisturizer on right afterward.  Some people have said their face felt soft but mine didn’t.  Yes it felt smooth, but not soft.   I’ll note how it is when I get up in the morning.

Morning After First Mask:  I did notice that some smaller bumps I had on my forehead appear to be gone.  Otherwise, I don’t see any difference in my face.   I will try again ….

Further recipes can be found here, along with other uses feelings about this mask.

I started this move after breaking down and going to a dermatologist and having laser treatment done for some damage I’ve done to my face.  Wanting to update my look from damaged to the best it can be at my age lead me on this path.

Brightening Eye Color in Silver Lining

One of the first products I heard about on my quest was E.L.F. (eyes, lips, face).

Below are from the e.l.f. Essentials line I purchased at KMart.  They were on sale, 5 items for $5.  Can’t beat that with a stick when wanting to try out new products.  I will note how I liked or  disliked each product.

.

All Over Cover Stick in Apricot Beige. It is very, very creamy and easy to apply with either your fingers or a concealer brush.  I’ve tried both.  As my skin is oily on the t-zone, most slide right off by lunch no matter how much I soak up the oil.  But this cover stick didn’t slide and was still on my nose by the end of the day.  Not sure if I would use it every day, but for what I tried it on (brown spots) it worked fine.

Super Glossy Lip Shine SP15 in Pink Kiss.  Super Glossy is the word here.  This stuff is thick, thick, thick!!  You don’t pull this out and just slather on like a lot of lip glosses.  I tried that and had to wipe it off with a kleenex.  The best way I found to put it on was put some in the middle of my bottom lip and then spread out with either a lipstick brush or my fingers.  Either works fine, and shine it does!  I also like the SP15!

Brightening Eye Liner in Ash.  I love eye liners hands down.  They can open any eye up as wide as you like and set off a great eye artistry.   This product comes with its own sharpener, plastic, but useful.  It went on smoothly and smudged just fine with a small liner brush.  The only issue I had was in removal.  I use Purity to wash my face, including my eyes, and I have to take a q-tip to remove the rest of this liner.   I will buy this again and probably in different colors too.

Eye Widener.  This product was thrown in the trash 30 seconds after I first tried it.  The reason for the purchase was to use in the corner of my eyes to open them up some.  It caked, flaked, fell apart and the product that did stay on my eye was a white shimmer that looked awful!  Granted, it didn’t want to come off so that’s one plus for it – but I finally was able to cover it up well enough to get through the day.  When I checked the reviews of this on MakeupAlley.com I learned I wasn’t the first one with the problem and the product has evidently been reformulated.  Still, it won’t be back in my makeup kit no matter how cheap it is!

Brightening Eye Color in Silver Lining.  (Pictured Above) There are four colors in this small pallet, all shimmers.  There is a light pink and a darker pink, then a blue and very, very dark navy blue.  They shimmer more than I thought they would, so these would be great for a night time look.  Not so much during the day unless you want a pop of color.   I have hooded eyelids, so these will be used sparingly.  Next time I’ll get a more matte pallet.

Do you use or like e.l.f. products?

What have you used if so?

There will be more of these to come!

Have you scheduled your spring pedi yet?  No?  tsk tsk 

Ladies … remember the The Open Toed Shoe Pledge

As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free …

I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won’t wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won’t duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl’s if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids’ sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.

So dial up your favorite manicurists and get that appointment scheduled. Your feet are the support of your whole structure and should always be looked after properly. There is nothing more sickening than seeing a nicely dressed women with feet like the above.

…

The SGM is off to kill bambi and I forced myself to sleep in until six.  

But Jo, you’re not out shopping? you ask. 

Ah … let me think on that a second … NO! 

I plan on dragging out the Christmas decorations today, signing up for the local gym, and shopping online.

I hate crowds, I hate pushy people and I’m sure half those dolts will drag their screaming, tired kids along just to make the process more painful for others.

I have no clue what I’m looking for.  The SGM and I buy what we want throughout the year, so by the time holdiays, birthdays, etc, roll around – we have nothing to buy each other.   (Having him home is the best blessing, but that’s wearing off now)  Haven’t a clue what to get him.  

But there are co-workers to buy for, other family members and friends.

So off to QVC, HSN, Amazon.com, Half.com, Dell, JC Penny and lord knows where else, but … I’m doing it in my pajamas, drinking my coffee while watching Fox N Friends.

Yes – life is good!

… and your little dog Toto too!

OMG – are people in this country really so damn shallow that they can’t even think beyond what thrill Chris Matthews has flowing up or down his leg for Barack Obama to allow the media to rip apart a women for dressing nice?

Can you image how much nose holding, finger pointing, and martini party snarking would be going on from the news media if Gov. Palin had shown up in a dress from Wal-Mart and shoes from Payless at the RNC Convention?

They – would – have – ripped – her – to – shreds.   Hell they ripped Cindy McCain to shreds and all she did was sit there and clap!

Evidently they hired a (gasp) make-up professional too!  OMG, how dare the RNC want to have their candidates look good when out on the stump on in the interview chair. Tsk Tsk.  I mean, I’m sure the DNC doesn’t do that right?  (snort)  Sorry about the coffee on the monitor.

The DNC, or Obama campaign spent $140,000 on greek columns.  Where is the outrage?  Can’t find any?  Stop looking – there isn’t any.

I’m going to confess something here that will probably make some people cringe – but the SGM and I are not rich.  We make a good living and we took advantages of certain opportunities that came along and we are not in much debt at all (house and my truck). 

On this past Saturday I spent $140 in the beauty salon.   Yup – hair and waxing.  And part of that was tip.

So – go ahead and rip me apart – because when we start ripping Sarah Palin, or Hillary Clinton, for our clothes or make-up, you are ripping every other women in the country apart that splurges on something to make themselves feel better, or look better.

I also use Bare Escentuals Make-UpI get from QVC or Ulta, and $50 bottle perfume from Philosophy called “Amazing Grace”.

Problem with that anyone? 

Uhm?

Bring it on.

Some of the articles I found about Women’s Clothes, Palin’s Wardrobe and Hillary’s Style. 

• Should we be covering Palin’s wardrobe?― Sarah Hepola
• While Obama Commits Largest Campaign Donations Fraud In History… Media Focuses on Palin’s Clothes ― Gateway Pundit
• Hillary Clinton’s Tentative Dip Into New Neckline Territory― By Robin Givhan, Washington Post Staff Writer
• MSM Silent On Obama Spending 5 Million On Barackopolis â€• Flopping Aces

The Open Toed Shoe Pledge

As a member of the Cute Girl Sisterhood, I pledge to follow the Rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.

I will go polish-free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free …

I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.

I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.

I will shave the hairs off my big toe.

I won’t wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.

If a strap breaks, I won’t duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put.  I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.

I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl’s if my feet need him.

I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids’ sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.

I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.

I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals.  Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.

Nuff said.