Algenist's Firming & Lifting Cream

Uh-oh.  I got another skincare sample, y'all.  Yes, I'm about to take the plunge and try out a deluxe-mini of a skin cream I received with a recent purchase.  All of its ingredients sound quite promising, but after the DDF debacle, you know I will be approaching this with extreme caution.  So, without further ado, let's chit-chat a little about the newest cream trying to earn a spot on my skincare roster: Algenist's Firming & Lifting Cream.

Algenist's Firming & Lifting Cream combines the collagen boosting/anti-aging benefits of peptides with the powerful, regenerating compound derived from microalgae called Alguronic Acid to create this potent skin cream.  Not only is it supposed to fight aging hazards like wrinkles, but it also lists firming, lifting and softening as its many skin enhancing credits.  Avocado and olive fruit oils are two of the cream's more notable moisturizing agents and it is paraben-, sulfate- and cruelty-free.

The white cream feels light and emollient, but not greasy.  It has a faint, unobtrusive fragrance and spreads nicely across the skin; therefore, a little dab will go a long way.  It is formulated to be used on both the face and neck and reviewers have claimed visible results in about ten days.  Sounds ambitious, but I'll be their huckleberry and take it for a spin.

So, you know how this goes.  I'm going to mindfully apply it to my skin over the next couple of days and if all goes well, I'll give a glowing report via an update.  And on the other end of the spectrum, if my face turns out looking like I did a ten rounder with Mike Tyson then I'll update you on that, too.

Welp, keep your fingers (and toes) crossed for me.  I'm going in...

Algenist Firming & Lifting Cream is available at Sephora and retails for $94/2 oz.

*Update on 1/31:  I've been using this cream religiously (twice a day) over my entire face and some of my neck for two weeks now and I am happy to report that I've had no breakouts or any type of adverse reaction to the cream whatsoever.  It feels good going on and leaves my face feeling soft.  Now, I don't have wrinkles to speak of yet, but I do have laugh lines around my mouth aaaannnd... they're still there.  But my skin does feel somewhat tighter which, in turn, has caused my laugh lines to be slightly less pronounced.  It's a modest result that only I would notice, but a realistic one since it never claimed to totally annihilate wrinkles and reverse all signs of aging.  No cream has that power.  But it puts up a decent fight as far as firming the skin goes and for that I give it a thumbs up. 

Project Pan - Into the Mix

I was rummaging through my makeup drawer and pulled this little number out that I've had for awhile, but haven't really used much.  Honestly, that seems to be the recurring theme of most of my items and I think it's high time I kick my butt into gear and change that.  I need to hit pan on something or at least get close to pan, so I'm nominating this blush as the first in my quest do so: MAC's Dollymix.

Dollymix is described as a "candy pink" and it has a scattering of silver shimmer through it.  It is one of MAC's Sheertone Shimmer powder blushes and when they say "sheer", they're not playing.  I bought it after hearing so many rave about it, but afterwards found it to be quite disappointing as I had to apply layer upon layer of the color on to even notice any evidence of it.  The blush leaves not a tint, but a slight hint of color to the cheek.  However, I found an adequate workaround by boosting it with a cream blush and/or base underneath.

So while this is far from being my favorite blush being that it is extremely sheer (practically non-existent, at least on my complexion) and just didn't live up to its hype for me, it is precisely because of these shortcomings that I find strong motivation to finish it up.  I'm going to make it my business to use it as much as possible so I can eventually achieve pan status and clear the way (as well as my conscience) for adding more items to my stash.  But I've got to be diligent and I've got to get going.

Man, I wonder how long it'll take to finish it?  Months?  A year?  I mean, it's a lot of blush.  Well, I have no idea, but I'm ready to find out.   And I already know that there will be many more items thrown into the mix for my "project pan" initiative so stay tuned and I'll keep y'all posted!

MAC Dollymix is available at Macy's and Nordstrom, and retails for $21.

Weekend Report: Red, Neutral and Tweed

Hey, guys!  It's the second weekend of the first month of the new year and I'm so ready for it.  This whole week has been nothing but a bitter beast thanks to the polar vortex that took up residence across most of the states.  However, the weather is supposed to be relatively warmer the next few days -  a welcomed respite I plan on taking advantage of by doing some winter time frolicking... outdoors.

For my face, I'm doing a dark neutral with a pop of ruby.  Besides wearing my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, I'll be rocking the smokier side of Stila's Artful Vol. II along with MAC's Format blush and RiRi Woo lipstick.  Buxom mascara will be dressing my lashes.

And what in the world shall I wear?  Well, I'm so glad you asked!  I will be rocking a chunky tweed, 3/4 length jacket with a high-waisted, flared jean and black leather handbag to round out the ensemble.

Flanked by wide, wooden, button-like snaps secured by leather ties, the form fitting jacket boasts a herringbone and houndstooth weave of red, white and black wool.  A simple, black lace camisole will be paired underneath.

And on my feet will be my mid-heeled, black leather boots, which will make for the perfect footer to my surreptitiously casual outfit. 

So, that's about all with me.  Although we had the frigid temps in my neck of the woods, we were ultimately spared all the black ice and snow (though I not-so-secretly wished for the latter on Twitter; I love the snow!).  But all will be fine and good on the roads so I will be able to come and go without much hindrance.   And that, my friends, is definitely a very good thing.

Anywho, enjoy!

Perhaps To Carrots?

I was in Target when I picked up this cute, little travel case filled with personal care goodies from Yes To Carrots.  I've seen and passed by their products during trips to the store several times before, but finally found the temptation of trying out a number of their items in one go too strong to resist.  Add to that the fact that it was the last one available and you have the perfect recipe for a "must buy" scenario.  And so I did...

Yes To Carrots is just one branch from a family tree of natural products that cater to hair and skin.  From its Blueberry line to its Tomato collection, the Yes To brand touts paraben-free products made from organic fruits and vegetables.  The Carrots line boasts a beta-carotene rich formula dedicated to normal-to-dry skin.

The first of four products in the clear, zip around, plastic case is the Carrot Rich Shower Gel.  In addition to carrot juice, it also includes sweet potato as well as other extracts and anti-oxidants.  It has a light, unobtrusive smell and is a predictable orange color.  All in all, it looks and sounds promising...

Next up is the Deliciously Rich Body Butter, which also enlists the help of shea butter to achieve smoother, softer feeling skin. 

The body butter is thick, reminiscent of buttercream icing, and also has a light smell.  It felt good when I rubbed it on the back of my hands, but I have yet to slather it on my body, which is when the real test would begin.  But I am encouraged by the initial results...

The third product is the Hand and Elbow Moisturizing Cream.  A hair thicker than a lotion, but not as substantial as a butter, the cream was a nice texture and - again - felt good going on the skin.  It's virtually scent-free, but does carry the seemingly generic "lotion-like" smell.  Very faint, though.

Which brings us to the last item, the Body Moisturizing Lotion.  True to its title, the texture is thinner than the Cream, but still holds to a nice consistency.  It felt good on my hands, but I have my doubts as to how well it will do on other parts of my body.  My body is ravenous when it comes to moisture and lotions usually do not cut it for me.  Therefore, this one may have to be strictly assigned to hand duty while I take the other skin care products out for a full gamut of testing.

So, has anyone else tried anything from the Yes To brand?  If so, what did you think about the product(s)?  One thing I am happy about is that it didn't cause any breakouts or weird rashes on my sensitive skin, so that's definitely a good start.  If the Carrots are a success then maybe I'll say 'yes' to their other products like the Blueberry line; I'm always up for a good anti-oxidant piece.  Well, we'll see how this goes.  So, 'Yes' is more like a 'maybe' for right now.  But we'll see...

Yes To Carrots is available at various drug stores, including Target, and prices range for full-size items from $2.99 to $15.99, depending on the product. 

Aloha, Awapuhi!

This past weekend I decided to perm my hair.  The perm that I buy doesn't come with a neutralizing shampoo, which is just fine by me because I find that they make my hair feel like straw.  I like using a regular one, one that's somewhat moisturizing since the whole perming process can be potentially drying.  Oh, and I prefer it to be thick so that I can slather it on my head and feel like every lock is being coated with suds.  My Phytojoba is too refined and not suitable to be this type of workhorse so I prowled the aisles of Ulta to peruse some more viable options.  And along with re-upping on my Paul Mitchell Skinny serum, I picked up this yummy blast from my past - Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi Shampoo.

Awapuhi Shampoo is a richly hydrating cleanser from Paul Mitchell, a hair industry juggernaut well known for its schools in addition to its high-end products.  When I first started on my hair improvement journey, I dove head first into Paul Mitchell's products; I became obsessed.  Besides the Skinny line, sprays and pommade, I tried this shampoo.  Named after the Hawaiian wild ginger it's infused with, Awapuhi gently removes dirt and build-up while promoting shine and adding moisture.  It is suitable for all hair types, including processed and color-treated hair, and has an alluring, light smell to it - a touch of sweet with a dash of tropical.

When I first tried the thick, clear shampoo some years ago, it was just one of many I juggled in and out of my routine as I worked feverishly to fine tune and develop the perfect roster of products for my hair.  So, it kinda got lost in the process and was forgotten about.  But now that I've revisited it, I can truly say that it is all that it's cracked up to be.  I used it to wash out the perm and it left my hair soft, supple and shiny.  And in addition to using it on your hair, it also doubles as a body wash - a claim I haven't exploited yet, but I'm sure it's sufficient in that capacity as well. 

So, all in all, I am very happy with this shampoo.  But I'm not surprised because I like a lot of Paul Mitchell products.  And if you're in the market for a thick, do-it-all, moisturizing poo then you may want to give this one a look-see.

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Shampoo is available at Ulta and retails for $3.98/3.4 fl. oz.

Naked Beauty - 319

When Urban Decay came out with the Naked 3 palette, it seemed like everyone was fawning over its beguiling variants of dusty pink shadows.  I liked the idea of the palette and thought it was pretty looking, however, my enthusiasm for it was stymied after I realized the numerous dupes and "sister" shadows for it I already had in my stash.  If you have a moment, I'd like to talk to you about one of those shades - Inglot's #319.

#319 is a creamy, rosy nude from Inglot's Freedom System of single-pan eyeshadows.  Besides having a delectably soft texture, it is potently pigmented and yields opaque color with the slightest touch of your brush.  It has a matte finish.

To say that I like this eyeshadow "a lot" is a gross understatement.  It's a gnarly nude that leaves my craving for all things pink well fed as well as satisfies my need for diversity (both in color and texture) in my makeup wardrobe.  Therefore, to say that I am absolutely "head over heels" for this shadow and "extremely elated" to have it in my lineup is a much better assertion of my true feelings.  And if you, too, go gaga over rose-hued eyeshadows then I definitely think this naked beauty is worth checking out.

Inglot #319 is available at their boutiques, online at InglotUSA.com and select Macy's, and retails for $6.

Happy New Year - 2014

Well, it's official.  The new year is finally here and I'm so glad we made it!  Woo-hoo!  And now the real work begins...

I'm not one for proclaiming lofty resolutions or grandiose plans at the dawn of every year, but I do have a certain mindset... a mantra, if you will, that I will be submitting to over the next 365 days.  It's one that I've adhered to for quite a while now and sums up a heap of would-be mantras in the process: live life while you're alive.  For me, this means to never nestle into a zone of comfort, but always be willing to try something new.  It also means to live fully by being present in your life, documenting the good and the bad while keeping fear from marring the whole experience. 

Faith and fear cannot occupy the same space at the same time; therefore, I must live a life of abundant faith.  Faith must govern my actions so that I can boldly go and do what others can't and don't.  Fear ardently suspends passion.  And without passion, dreams suffocate and die.  Faith propels, fear paralyzes.  Faith grants time and opportunity, fear is a thief of both.  Life is finite and I don't have time to mess around with "woulda", "coulda" and "shoulda".  I've got to eschew any semblance of fear, step out on faith as much as possible and live life while I'm alive!

2013 was good for me and to me.  I tried some new things, got rid of a lot of emotional baggage and gained tons of clarity in the process.  So, I'm going to keep that momentum going for 2014 and use my mantra as the perfect litmus to check myself against.  I can't afford to be stagnate and can't thrive on the mundane.  This year, I refuse to understand the word "no" when it comes to fulfilling my wildest dreams and will only continue to dream bigger.  I'm going to embrace the foreign and familiarize myself with the strange.  And then have the nerve to smile while doing it.  While I'm still breathing, talking and walking amongst the living, I am going to make good use of my time and live life while I'm alive!

Here's to a happy and prosperous new year for us all!  Cheers!