ACTIVATING MY YOUTH

According to Lancome, I can have visibly younger skin in just 7 days... SEVEN DAYS?? It's worth a try, don't ya'll think? I'm gonna test out the Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate (GYAC for short from now on) for the next 7 days, twice a day, and I'll let you know if there is a difference in my skin.

Photo from Bloomies

According to the Lancome website, the results from using this product include, "Visibly younger skin in just 7 days. Skin looks as if lit from within – breathtaking radiant. Its youthful quality returns: cushiony soft and velvety to the touch. Drop by drop, skin is vibrant with youth, its tone becomes astonishingly even, its texture dramatically refined."

I will be applying the GYAC every morning and night after washing and toning my face. I will allow the GYAC to soak in my face for a few seconds, then follow with my normal moisturizer (Sisley Ecological Compound in the AM and SK-II Skin Signature Cream in the PM) and eye cream (Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Eye Contour Cream). 

If I'm impressed with the concentrate, I may try the entire Genifique line which includes a night cream, eye cream, and cream-serum. The "cream-serum" is basically just a moisturizer with the serum in it.

I'll let ya'll know how it turns out... Wish me luck! 

NEW FROM SK-II

SK-II just came out with a NEW size for the Facial Treatment Essence.  It's a whopping 11.2 oz, and best of all, comes with a pump! No more contamination!  :)  I'm thinking that this sucker would last you like 5 years... LOL... It better last a long ass time for a price tag of $275!

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Max Size with Pump

Heavy Metal Music? Sure... Heavy Metal in Makeup? No Thanks!

According to an article on YAHOO,

Heavy Metals Found in Many Cosmetics: Not Listed on Labels

"Of the 49 tested, these items were found to have the highest levels of impurities:

Clinique Stay True Makeup foundation (Stay Ivory) — arsenic, cadmium, beryllium, lead, nickel, thallium

Sephora Sculpting Powder Trio eye shadow (Brown and Pink) — beryllium, lead, nickel, thallium

MAC Sheerton Shimmer Blush (Springsheen) — beryllium, lead, nickel, thallium

L'Oreal Bare Naturale mascara (Black/Brown) — arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, thallium

Cover Girl Perfect Point Plus eyeliner (Black Onyx) — beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel

Almay Intense i-color Trio eye color (Trio for Blues, Brown and Dark Grey) — beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, selenium

Benefit Benetint Pocket Pal (Red Tint and Clear Gloss) — arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, nickel, selenium, thallium"

NO BUENO!!

Sale Alert!!

NEIMAN MARCUS BEAUTY EVENT ONLINE NOW IN STORES FEBRUARY 23

With your cosmetics or fragrance purchase of $100 or more, you'll take home one of three NM Exclusive totes, including an assortment of beauty samples:

• Cle de Peau Beaute Le Coton, five sheets.
• Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum Vaporisateur Spray, 1.5 ml/.05 fl. oz.
• A Dozen Roses Electron Eau de Parum, .88ml/.03 fl. oz.
• Kiehl's Since 1851 Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, 5 ml/0.17 fl. oz.
• Molton Brown Vitalizing Vitamin AB+C Shower Gel 30mL/1 fl. oz.
• Fekkai Ageless Rejuvenating Shampoo 9mL/0.3 fl oz
• Fekkai Restructurizing Conditioner 9mL/0.3 fl. oz.
• Fekkai All-Day Hair Plump 7mL/.024 fl. oz.
• Kate Somerville Clinic-To-Go Resurfacing Peel Pad, two pads.
• La Mer Bounceback card for a deluxe sample with your future La Mer purchase.

Not to mention the bonus gifts from each individual cosmetic counter! DOUBLE GIFT! :)


On a side note, did ya'll know they sell SulWhaSoo at NM?  I knew they sold Amore Pacific, but I didn't know they sold an individual Amore line like SulWhaSoo. Korean products are creepin' into the US market. Very Interesting...

Got it

At target for 5.99...

LOVE THIS LOOK!

NARS via Facebook

NARS via Facebook

SHOW: Naeem Kahn
LEAD ARTIST: James Boehmer, NARS Director of Global Artistry

FACE
• Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30/PA+++
• Concealer
• Loose Powder
• Sex Appeal Blush


EYES
• Carpates Eyeliner Stylo (new for Fall 2012!)
• Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara


LIPS
• More Velvet Matte Lip Pencil (new for Fall 2012!)
• Triple X Lip Gloss

KILLER LIPSTICKS

According to an article in Yahoo, the FDA tested about 400 lipsticks, and several had traces of lead.

"The FDA found the highest levels in lipsticks made by Procter & Gamble (Cover Girl brand), L'Oreal (L'Oreal, Body Shop and Maybelline brands), and Revlon. The lipsticks containing the most lead (measured in parts per million) are:

1. Maybelline Color Sensational, Pink Petal (7.9 ppm)

2. L'Oreal Colour Riche, Volcanic, (7.0 ppm)

3. NARS Semi-Matte, Red Lizard (4.93 ppm)

4. Cover Girl Queen Collection, Ruby Remix, (4.92 ppm)

5. Nars Semi-Matte, Funny Face (4.89 ppm)

6. L'Oreal Colour Riche, Tickled Pink (4.45 ppm)

7. L'Oreal Intensely Moisturizing Lipcolor, Heroic (4.41 ppm)

8. Cover Girl Continuous Color, Warm Brick (4.28 ppm)

9. Maybelline Color Sensational, Mauve Me (4.23 ppm)

10. Stargazer Lipstick, #103 (4.12 ppm)"

EEEEEKKK!! Read the article for the details...

Loving it...

I know this has nothing to do with cosmetics/beauty, but I'm really liking the High/Low skirts and dresses. Kind of reminds me of the mini wedding dress with a train that I wore for my wedding photos. hahahahaha...

BCBGeneration Skirt - High Low - Bloomingdales

Strapless High-Low Gown - White House Black Market

Fun Facts

Read this in Allure Magazine a while back.  Thought I'd post it for shits and giggles. :)

The 28 Most Frequently Mispronounced Fashion and Beauty Words

BULGARI BUHL-guh-ree

CAUDALIE koh-da-lee

CLE DE PEAU BEAUTÉ clay duh poe BO-tay

DÉCOLLETAGE day-cole-ay-taj

EMPIRE (as in empire waist) em-pire OR ohm-peer (They're both correct!)

FRÉDÉRIC FEKKAI fred-er-riq fehk-eye

GIVENCHY zhee-von-she

GUERLAIN gair-lahn

HERMÈS air-mez

ILLAMASQUA ill-ah-moss-kwa

ISSEY MIYAKE EE-say me-AH-kay

KÉRASTASE care-a-stoss

LA ROCHE-POSAY la roshe po-ZAY

LANVIN lahn-vahn

L'OCCITANE lox-ee-tan

LOUBOUTIN loo-boo-tan

LOUIS VUITTON lou-ee VEE-tonn

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ nar-SIS-oh rah-DREE-gez

OMBRÉ om-bray

ORIBE or-bay

PROENZA SCHOULER pro-en-za skool-er

RALPH LAUREN ralf LOR-uhn

ROCHAS ro-SHOSS

RUCHING roosh-ing

SHISEIDO she-say-doe

SHU UEMURA shoe-eew-ay-murah

OLIVIER THEYSKENS oh-liv-ee-yay tay-skins

YVES SAINT LAURENT eve sanh la-rahn

I have my eyes on you!!

YSL DESSIN DU REGARD WATERPROOF EYELINER

This one is next on my list to try! 

YSL

According to Sephora ($25), "This eyeliner offers the look of a liquid with the ease of a pencil. Its formula offers intense, shimmering color in nearly any circumstance for up to 16 hours of beautiful wear."

According to YSL ($28), "The look of a liquid with the precision of a pencil. This exceptional long-lasting waterproof eye pencil will stay put on your lids for up to 16 hours!"

Why are the prices slightly different? I have no idea. All I can think of is that Sephora is selling the older version, while YSL has come out with a "new" version. I'm willing to bet they are the same. Either way I got my eyes set on 'em! :)

BB Cream

Short post today... But there is one thing I'd like to mention because I thought it was kinda neat... BB Cream is all over the US!  It seems like EVERYONE makes it now.  Just in case you're wondering, here is a list of just a few...

• Garnier BB Cream SPF 15 2.5 fl oz  $12
• Maybelline Pure Minerals BB Cream SPF 27 $??
• Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35 $39
• Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF 30 $37
• Boscia B.B. Cream SPF 27 $38
• MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm SPF 35 $30
• Estee Lauder Daywear BB Multi-Perfecting Beauty Benefit Cream SPF 35 $38

I'm sure there are others out there that I haven't seen yet.  I personally haven't tried any of the above, but I have tried a few Korean brands like Skin79, HanSkin, Missha, and Etude... All very similar.  However, I think it's pretty neat that I can run out to my local Target and buy some BB Cream if I wanted to, especially since it's only 12 bucks!

CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN' WEEKEND!

Clean Hair WITHOUT Shampoo?

I saw this in Allure Magazine... What do ya'll think?

A cleansing conditioner, made of 1/4 shampoo and 3/4 conditioner... I want to try it, but my head is starting to itch just thinking about it... LOLOLOL! I'm gross!

Nars Larger Than Life Pencil Eyeliner Review

As you know, I ordered this eyeliner a while back, but I haven't had a chance to test it out. I had really really high hopes for this pencil, but after using it this weekend, I must say that I am a tad disappointed. All in all it's a good eyeliner and i give it a B+...


PROS: 

• Long lasting (for a pencil)
• Automatic/Twist-Up, no sharpening required
• Built-in sharpener: although sharpening is not required, there is a little sharpener if you want a nice point on the liner.
• Minimal transfer to bottom lids after eyeliner is set
• Short setting time, which is nice not to have to keep your eyes half closed waiting for your eyeliner to set...

CONS:

• Hard: It's not creamy or gel like, making it a bit hard to apply smoothly. (You can probably remedy this my taking the pencil to a blow dryer for 2-3 seconds to soften the lead. Be careful not to over heat the pencil, because you will ruin it!)
• Price: $23 is a lot of dinero for a B+ eyeliner, especially when I apply super thick lines.
• Availability: Always sold out everywhere you go, which is REALLY annoying...

I may have hyped this liner up too much at first... Now I'm bring it back down to reality... LOL

Sale Alert!!

Urban Decay Sale on Hautelook


$9 for Eye Primers... what a deal!

LANCOME FREE GIFT @ MACY'S

"Receive a FREE 7-Pc. Gift with any $35 Lancôme purchase. Choose your makeup and skin care favorites."

"Receive an additional gift with any $68 Lancôme purchase. Choose your Perfect Cleanser & Toner Duo, 3 Color Design Lipcolors or a 3-Pc. Makeup Artist Brush Set."

All photos from Macy's