Picture Tag

You've probably seen this tag going around the beauty blogging community lately...it's a fun one so I thought I'd participate!

All you have to do is open your picture folder, scroll down to the 10th photo and post it. So here's mine, and I promise I didn't cheat:

(click to enlarge)

This photo was taken on my lunchbreak when I used to work in La Jolla. The photo itself is of La Jolla Cove. This was my view when I'd walk to grab a sandwich every day. It's sad that I used to take this view for granted, but I think I remember that on this particular day, I liked how the birds were all perched in a row on the rock, so I took a picture on my phone.

So if you're a blogger and you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!

Milani Limited Edition Nail Lacquers, Part Two

So I went back to CVS today in a hurry to return that orange glitter color I bought from the Milani Welcome Back Color collection (see yesterday's post for pics of the Black Magic and Welcome Back Color displays). You know how quickly Limited Edition products sell out so I didn't want to waste any time (I was already having nightmares that I'd walk into CVS to see all of these displays completely empty by the time I got there).

So first I want to thank everyone who commented yesterday about which color I should buy from the Black Magic collection. I got it down to two choices but I just couldn't pick one, so I bought them both. I know that's so indulgent (I mean really, who needs mulitple black glitter polishes?) but I couldn't help myself because, well, they're limited editions and they're gorgeous.

(All pics where taken after three coats and no base coat or top coat.)

I bought "Magical" which is the orange micro-glitter in a sheer black base:

(please click to enlarge these pics--they're even prettier when bigger)

(with flash)

(without flash)

Isn't this gorgeous? It reminds of a crazy night sky where all the stars are burning hot orange. Oh and I want to add that if this polish looks extra bumpy, it's not the glitter--I accidentally touched the tip of my finger so the bumps you see are my fingerprints. This formula actually isn't really too bumpy because the glitter is very fine. Also, these pics were taken after three coats. I achieved almost 100% opacity with two coats, but the third coat really brought out the orange so I went for it.

The second one I purchased was "Fairy Tale" which is the royal blue micro-glitter in a sheer black base:

(click to enlarge these--the color is so pretty!)

(with flash)

(without flash)

(This color is so beautiful I just had to throw in a third picture of it)

Boy oh boy are these shades gorgeous, and I'm SO happy to report that they are just as pretty on as they are in the bottle. The only complaint I have is that they take a while to dry, but I think that's because I'm not used to applying three coats (I'm a two-coat kind of girl because I have no patience). Other than that, they apply very smoothly and they're only streaky on the first coat (which is to be expected because the base is sheer black).

Also, I tried to snap some better pics of the Milani Welcome Back Color display so that you can get a better idea of these gorgeous pastels. I had the light bubblegum pink and the green in my basket for the entire time I was shopping but then put them back at the last minute. I'm so in love with the purple I bought yesterday that I just instantly wanted to buy more...but I don't really think I'd get much use out of the pink or green (at least not until next summer maybe?) so I couldn't justify it.

The back row is the creams and the row in front of that is the creams with the multi-colored micro-glitter and bar glitter (sorry that you can't see the glitter at all in these pics!):

(click pictures to super-size)

I still think it's kind of strange that the coral, green and purple colors are all creams but their glittery counterparts are shimmers, while the rest of them are creams with cream & glitter counterparts.

What colors do you want from these collections? I would LOVE to know what you've got your eye on!

OMG, these Milani Limited Edition Nail Colors are out of control!

I love love love it when I'm totally shocked and surprised when I walk into my local CVS. Today I hit the JACKPOT for all of you Milani and nail polish lovers out there! Have you seen these new nail polishes? (Before I begin, let me say that they're all $4.49 retail and they are all free of the big three.)

Let's start with the Limited Edition Black Magic collection:

(click on the pictures to super-size)

I realize these all look like plain black nail polishes in this crappy Blackberry camera photo (sorry but I don't have the nerve to bring along a digital camera when I'm in the drugstore!). But up close, these colors are AMAZING!

Basically, they all have a sheer black base, and each one has a different color of micro-glitter in the black base.

I know it's really hard to see in these photos so let me tell you the six different colors of glitter: ORANGE (when is the last time you saw a black polish with orange micro-glitter?? And of course this is the one I forgot to put in the picture. Argh!), purplish-magenta, red, midnight blue, ROYAL blue (gorgeous!) and silver. From what I could tell, the base is the same for each of these (sheer black).

I was literally so overwhelmed by the beauty of these shades that I did not make a purchase. I need your help! Please leave me a comment and let me know which one I should get! I can't make up my mind (I've really got my eye on that orange glitter because I've just never seen this combo in the drugstore before).

Moving on. So after I am literally blown away by the Black Magic display, I turn around and right behind me I see THESE:

The lighting is HORRID, I know, but trust me when I say that this "Welcome Back Color" collection is GORE-JUS. Basically, there are two different versions of each shade (blue, purple, yellow, orange, bubblegum pink, coral, hot pink and green). Each color has its own pastel cream polish, and then a pastel cream polish with multi-colored micro-glitter AND multi-colored BAR glitter. I have never seen BAR glitter combined with regular micro-glitter together in a pastel cream base before. Have you? I mean, in the drugstore? OK, anyway, so for some odd reason, there are a few of these shades where the glittery version is NOT a cream but a shimmer (from what I can remember, the purple, coral and green shades all have a shimmery glitter counterpart).

Here's a closer look at the blues:

In this shot, you can kind of see how the glittery version of the purple (far right) is way darker and is a shimmer instead of a cream.

Now I couldn't just walk away from these without buying one of each, a cream and a glitter. So here's what I got:

Radiant in Purple (left) and Flashy Orange (right)

In this pic I think it's easier to see the bar glitter floating around with the regular micro-glitter.

Now as for how they apply, I love love love Radiant in Purple:

Two coats, no top coat or base coat

As for Flashy Orange? Not so much...

If you look closely, you can see that this is crazy-streaky (after two *very* thin coats) and the bar glitter on the lower right side of my nail looks like a piece of hay or something! Seriously, the combo of orange cream and glitter is baaaad, ladies. It turns all of the glitter into a cream color and the bar glitter reminds me of the little particles that are left behind when you break apart bamboo chopsticks!

So even though I was simply mesmerized by the pastel bubblegum pink shade with the multi-colored bar glitter and micro-glitter, I'm way too afraid it's going to end up looking like the orange. So tomorrow I'm going to return "Flashy Orange" and pick up one of the Black Magic shades.

Which one should I get? Please help me out here! The choices again (all in a sheer black base): Orange glitter, purplish-magenta, red, midnight blue, bright royal blue and silver. Right now I'm torn between the royal blue, the orange and the silver (the silver one has SO much glitter in it that it makes the polish look like a crazy starry sky). Help!

[UPDATE: Click here for the second part of my adventures with these limited edition polishes, including more pics!]

Review: Dove Body Wash with Nutrium Moisture

If I had a dime for every time over the years I've heard a skincare expert (including dermatologists and even some gynecologists) recommend using the original Dove White Beauty Bar for cleansing the skin, I would probably have a small fortune by now. Dove is just one of those brands that most people equate with being good and gentle on the skin, so I was delighted to receive their newest body wash collection to test recently.

Dove Body Washes with Nutrium Moisture are special, there's no doubt about it. This collection has a first-of-its-kind technology that preserves both proteins and lipids during cleansing. What does that mean to you and me? How about a body wash that doesn't just coat the very top layer of skin to make it feel soft (yeah, I'm talking to you, Olay Ribbons), but one that actually works to moisturize the surface skin ten layers deep. Sound appealing? Here's a great photo to illustrate exact what these new body washes can do for your skin:

I have been rotating all three formulas in my shower for the past two weeks, and I've got to say that at first I thought these body washes were nice, but just like other Dove body washes. The three formulas are all great and each one performs exactly as its name implies: Sensitive Skin is fragrance free and feels very gentle on the skin, Deep Moisture is super rich with a creamy, luxurious lather, and Gentle Exfoliating has great little scrubby beads that help slough dead skin.

But here's the kicker: After the first use, my skin felt a little bit more moisturized but nothing to write home about. My skin definitely did not feel dry or tight, but it also didn't feel miraculously different. But over the past two weeks, I noticed something pretty amazing. The texture of my skin started to change. Not withstanding my hands, feet and elbows that are all ridiculously dry to begin with, my overall skin just felt a bit softer and more moisturized. But not in a "I just put on lotion and now my skin feels so soft" kind of way. My skin felt softer and more hydrated before I put on my lotion. Granted, this didn't happen over night, but I can honestly say that after two weeks I saw some great improvements to my skin. These improvements appeared to be deeper than just the top layer of skin, so, in other words, they don't just "wash away" like other body washes that leave a moisturizing film on your skin.

I have found that in two weeks' time of using these body washes, I can skip applying lotion to my body altogether (now let's not get silly--I still need lotion on my hands, feet and elbows). But it is SO refreshingly wonderful to be able to skip the lotion routine on my arms and legs. For that, Dove Body Wash with Nutrium Moisture deserves a permanent spot in my shower.

Dove Body Washes with Nutrium Moisture launched in July of this year, so they should already be available in your area, wherever Dove products are sold.

Have you tried Dove Body Wash with Nutrium Moisture? I'd love to know your thoughts!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and gratis samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.

Review: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment

A little while ago I posted an entry about how I purchased this product and was excited to give it a try. Well here's my follow-up review based on my experience of using this product every few days for about two weeks.

I've got to say that the first time I used it I was SO excited. The texture, the fragrance and the promise of soft, moisturized hair left me all giddy in my shower. Look at the neat consistency of this product!

The first thing I noticed when I applied this to my clean, damp hair was that it was sort of difficult to work through my hair from roots to ends. Most deep conditioners have a lot of slip, making them sort of melt like butter into the hair. This one felt sort of like a regular conditioner that is not meant for dry hair. Yes, it's thick, but no, it doesn't glide through the hair when you apply it--I really have to work to get it to cover my hair.

Since this is a "3-Minute Undo" I left it in for three minutes and crossed my fingers when I rinsed it out. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my hair was softer than I thought it would be, but it didn't feel like a miracle product by any means. In fact, I still had some tangles in my hair after I rinsed, and I tried to work those out with my fingers while still in the shower but they wouldn't budge.

Let me back this up and tell you that my hair is long and I have fine hair but lots of it. Also, my hair is color-treated and prone to tangling. I have very dry ends and oily roots and also, my hair is naturally wavy but I have to use product to make the waves consistent. If I use the right products, I can get lots of curls (ringlets, even) but if I use the wrong products, my hair can be a flat, lifeless mess.

That said, it seemed like 3-Minute Undo would be an ideal product for me, right? The bottles says that it is "For Dry to Over-Dried or Damaged Hair" and that the "3 nutritive fruit oils penetrate to nourish every strand to the core." The three oils are olive, avocado and shea, and they also added apricot seeds for extra nourishment (you can see those in the photo above).

With all of this working for me, I certainly hoped that I could see and feel some results after my hair dried. I will say that my hair was a bit shinier and softer after using this product. I loved the extra shine, but honestly, my hair didn't feel significantly softer than how it feels after using other conditioners that I own. Also, I noticed that my hair wasn't as bouncy and my curls were not springy. In fact, my hair didn't have curls at all after using this product. My curls were reduced to flat, almost lifeless waves. I found this peculiar since my hair didn't really feel greasy or weighed down.

I tried this again two days later and was cautiously optimistic. You really can never judge a hair product after using it just once, right? So again, I had the same struggles with getting this product into my hair, but I waited the three minutes and hoped for the best.

I let my hair air-dry as I often do, scrunching my curls in my hands every so often until my hair is completely dried. I've got to say that on the second time around, I noticed that while my hair did feel soft, it didn't seem like a softness that was actually penetrating my hair. The softness seemed to just be sitting on top of my hair, if that makes any sense. It felt like my hair was coated, but I could still feel the dryness underneath. This is sort of disheartening because the effect on my hair is the exact opposite of the product's claims.

On my 3rd and 4th use of this product, I got the exact same results. This product was still difficult to apply to my hair in the shower and it didn't help with detangling one bit. In fact, I felt that it almost encouraged tangles when my hair was dry. Also, every time that I used this, my hair seemed less bouncy and my waves were flatter than normal. Yes, I did see an increase in shine, but I don't think that flat hair is a good trade-off for shiny hair.

And once again, my hair felt soft and coated, but I could still feel the dryness underneath.

When I use this product, it really feels like it's coating my hair but not doing anything to help actually restore moisture to my dry ends. I'm thankful that it didn't leave my hair greasy or oily, but I don't foresee any long-term benefits from using this product (at least for me).

Have you tried 3-Minute Undo? And if so, did you have a better experience with it than I did? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Holy Moly! Check out my Fresh & Easy haul!

If you don't have a Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market in your area, it probably means you don't reside in California, Nevada, or Arizona. And for that, I'm very, very sorry.

For those of you who have never heard of this grocery store before, I can sum it up in a few sentences. Fresh & Easy is owned by the British retailer, Tesco, and their stores focus on food that's, well, fresh and easy (they also carry lots of fun UK products because of their parent company. Love that!). All of their pre-made foods (dinners, salad dressings, dips, salads, bakery items, etc.) are made without any preservatives or artificial colorings, and everything I've ever purchased from this store has been absolutely deeee-lish-us. Not to mention that their food is ridiculously inexpensive (a large carton of cherry tomatoes will set you back a whopping 99 cents) and you can get yummy items like a tub of crumbled goat cheese for $1.99 (usually around $4 everywhere else). Also, I LOVE how they source their products locally whenever possible, and I admire their dedication to being one of the greenest grocery store chains around. Their main distribution center is solar-powered, and when they move into an existing building in a community, they make it a goal to install energy-saving lighting fixtures, they keep their parking lots impeccably clean, they promote recycling and they're just all-around good neighbors.

Which brings me to their clearance section. Ladies, I'm telling you that you have never seen a clearance section so good. It's always chalk full of wonderful items, all slashed to either 50 or 75% their already-low retail prices. In addition to the Pepperidge Farm Mint Milanos I bought today for 89 cents (still trying to figure out how these made their way into my cart. lol!) I also SCORED in the way of beauty products. Check this out:

The retail price of Burt's Bees Hand Salve (which is also great for the feet) is $8.99 at Walgreens. How much did I pay at Fresh & Easy? $3.99. Yay! But that's not all:

We all know that Garnier skincare costs anywhere from $7 for the cleansers to about $20 for the moisture creams. Guess how much I paid for all four of these items? $24! Yep, they were all reduced to $5.99 a piece. Seriously, I bought multiples of the Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisture Cream for my mom, who loves this stuff, because she's been paying $17.99 for it at Rite-Aid. $5.99? That's just ridiculous!

So anyway, if you reside in CA, AZ or NV, you must get yourself to a Fresh & Easy as soon as you can to take advantage of their great deals on food AND beauty!

Do you already shop at Fresh & Easy? Tell me about the bargains you've found!

The Wednesday Question

Hello Fall! It's the second day of September and if you're in the US and on the East Coast, you're probably enjoying some cool, fall-like weather today. I've heard talk of people buying their first Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes of the season today, but unfortunately for those of us on the West Coast, it's gonna be another scorcher and it still very much feels like summertime. But fall will arrive here too...it just comes around the middle of October.

That said, my Wednesday Question is an interesting one that I hope you'll answer:

What beauty products are you excited to bring back into your rotation this fall?

Is there a vampy red nail polish you love to wear in the fall and winter? Are you excited to bust out your deep brick red lipsticks to wear with that cute turtleneck sweater? Or how about those luscious vanilla-based perfumes and body sprays that are too heavy to wear in the spring or summertime? I'd love to hear what you're excited to dust off and start using again now that it's September!

Review: Sally Hansen Extra Strength Wax Hair Remover for Face - Brazilian Formula

It's a cold hard fact in this economy that we're all making large and small sacrifices. I know that personally, I've chosen to skip my usual salon waxing when my brows are looking shabby, in favor of busting out the ol' tweezers to make things look presentable. But no one can debate the look and feel of a freshly waxed brow. When all of those tiny, fine hairs are removed from the bottom side of your brow, it's heavenly. Your primer applies better, and most definitely your eyeshadow looks better. Everything's just so nice and clean.

Which brings me to the topic of at-home waxing. Ever done it? I have nightmares about it, actually. I've never had anything bad happen, but I've sure as heck spent plenty of money on at-home waxing kits that yielded less-than-stellar results. Have you ever pulled the strip off in slight pain, only to look at the strip and see NO hairs on it? That's happened to me more times than I can count. So mostly when I think of at-home waxing, I think of nothing but a big mess and no payoff.

But that was then and this is now, ladies (and gentlemen if you're reading this). Let me introduce the Sally Hansen Extra Strength Wax Hair Remover for Face.

Let me break this down for you and make it as simple as possible. How is this different from other at-home waxing kits?

1) There are no strips. The formula, which you heat in the microwave before applying, dries in a minute or two and actually becomes the strip that you pull off your skin. Genius, and it works (just be sure to make the side that you're planning to grab hold of a little bit thicker so that you have more to hold on to).

2) IT WORKS! This magical Brazilian formula is specially designed for thick, coarse facial hair (hello, eyebrows) so it really grabs those hairs and makes them easy to remove.

3) The wax is loaded with tons of good-for-your-skin ingredients like coconut oil, aloe leaf extract, orange flower extract, black walnut extract, chamomile extract and wild cherry bark extract. It smells divine.

4) The price! I picked up this kit for under $10 at CVS. Oh and someone at my local CVS tucked $2 off coupons in each box, so I actually ended up spending about $7 when all was said and done. Waxing in a salon can run you anywhere between $10 and $50 per appointment, versus $9 for multiple do-it-yourself waxings? That's my kind of bargain.

Here's what you get in the kit:

As you can see, you get detailed instructions, eyebrow guides in three shapes (I skipped these but I'm sure they work for some people), a pot of wax (this pot will last a long time if you're just using it on your brows), a spatula and the best part: Azulene Finishing Oil with Vitamin E, sesame and menthol. Seriously, this oil ROCKS and it is sooo soothing to apply it immediately after waxing. It calmed my skin immediately and took away the redness. Oh and it didn't break me out either. Good stuff.

I recommend giving this kit a shot if you've tried other at-home waxing kits that have left you frustrated and disappointed. Just remember to follow the instructions to a "T" and don't overheat the wax. Oh! I almost forgot! The spatula is super cool. It has the word "ready" printed on the side, but the only way you can see this word is when the wax is cool enough to use. So when you're stirring the hot wax and you DON'T see the word "ready" on the side of spatula, you know it's too hot to apply to your skin. Love that!

Have you tried at-home waxing? I'd love to know your thoughts.

One day only: Lippmann Collection 10th Anniversary special promotion

Nail polish divas! Heads up! Have you heard about this one-day-only promotion going on over at LippmannCollection.com today? Check this out:

Lippmann Collection is celebrating their 10 year anniversary! To kick off the celebration, they are giving away a $50 gift certificate to every 10th customer who makes a purchase on www.lippmanncollection.com on September 1, 2009. The promotion only lasts one day so act fast! To commemorate this milestone, fashion manicurist to the stars Deborah Lippmann created a limited-edition collection of glitz and glamour shades available for just $35. Celebs are flocking to the colors; Lady Gaga loves Ruby Red Slippers.

Left to Right: Ruby Red Slippers (Dorothy's shimmering ruby), Funky Chunky (sequined sheer black), Superstar (show-stopping copper flecked fudge)

Here's another photo including the packaging (how cute is this?):

As you're probably well aware, one bottle of Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquer will run you $16. So this set is quite the steal and one you don't see come around often (if ever). So if you've been pining away over Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquers for a while, now is your chance to get an excellent deal on some gorgeous colors for fall (and possibly win a $50 gift certificate while you're doing it!). But hurry because your chance to win a gift certificate ends tonight.