Summer is approaching. And may I say AMEN! It was a long winter and I am so looking forward to outdoor grilling, spiked lemonade and being lazy by the beach. Unfortunately, the early weeks of summer often result in the blind light which is reflected off my pasty legs. I am use to it, but Im not so sure my comrades are. As I get a little older and a little wiser I have learned the use of tanning beds is not an option, between the horror stories of bacterial infections, my own cases of excessive burning due to new bulbs and the cost, and not to mention its affects on aging, I have opted no longer to join in such festivities. Even though they can be so appealing.

Rather this year I am committing to using globs of SPF and sunscreen. Protect your skin, protect your life. No bronze is worth it to me. But there are some solutions. Sun in moderation with the help of sun screen. You will still get a summer glow, but a healthy one. Not the kind induced with baby oil and third degree burns. The other option is fake tanning products. This month I am going to try out different products in hopes of finding one that gives a natural glow.

I will update on my finds, but until then here are a few that have received rave reviews from other gurus:

-St. Tropez Sunless tanning Foam (at Sephora 25-40 dollars depending on the place of purchase)

-St. Moritz tanning foam (Basically a knock-off of St. Tropez for a fourth of the price. Unfortunately it is only sold in the UK so us Americans have to use ebay...boo)

-Sephora Collection Self-Tanning Mist ($12)

-Xen-Tan Dark lotion (Nordstom $29)

-L'Oreal Sublime tanning lotion with instant bronze ($10)

My Future Dog

April Favorites

Favorite Products of this month.

My go too's, my must haves, and my can't live without's:

1) TRESemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

I tend to have very oily hair, and often times I do not get the option of going without a

shower no matter how rushed I am. But let me tell you this product works, a spray here

a spritz there and I get enjoy more time for my morning coffee and less money on my

water bill. Plus...your hair styles the best on the second day.

2) Pastel Nail Lacquer

I have been in love with the milky pastel nail colors out for spring collections. Because

I have committed to using product I already have, I often mix my own nail color. Start

with an opaque white and add to taste :) but for those who are just starting to collect nail

polish or have steered away from bright colors here are a few I suggest

-Rimmel in Steele Gray- a lilac gray that makes a subtle statement

-China Glaze in For Audrey- beautiful baby blue with milky undertone

-Essie in Mint Candy Apple- statement color and looks like cotton candy!

3) Very Sexy For Him cologne

I love this scent! I am approaching the end of the bottle, so now......on the hunt for summer

a new summer scent. I think Parisenne by YSL is calling my name!

4) Espresso.

I know, I know. That's not considered a make-up product, but I have a new found love for

to-the-point caffeine.

5) Rosebud Lip Balm

Prefect on-the-go product. You can use it on lips, hands, cuticles, and even blemishes but I have yet to try that.

6) Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid foundation

I have been loving this foundation. I had an old one on hand that is slightly too dark for

me. I use this in the center of my face (nose-cheeks-under eyes) and use a lighter foundation on the outer part of my face. A little trick from Eve Pearl, a well-known makeup artists who uses this technique to achieve the perfect complexion.

7) Cucumber Water

Cucumber water.....yummmm. Good for you and your skin!

8) Witch Hazel

Great for preventing break-outs. And a tip for the ladies....since swim suit season is approaching, use witch hazel on areas that tend to get razor bumps or in-grown hairs from shaving or waxing. Make sure before doing either to EXFOLIATE, gets off the dead skin, brings the hair to the surface to allow for a smooth shave. Then after apply a thin layer of witch hazel to disinfect and prevent irritation. End with a calming lotion or cream.

April Disappointments

Revlon Photoready Foundation....BOOOO

I really love the finish of this foundation, I love the color selection for my skin tone, I love how light it feels on my skin. Unfortunately it caused my skin to break-out. I stopped wearing it for one week and immediately my break-outs cleared. I was so hoping this would be a hit! But I do have very sensitive skin, so don't let that stop you from trying it.

Cetaphil Lotion

The gentle face wash is excellent, unfortunately the lotion is lacking. It breaks my skin out,

and it does not rub into the skin easily, rather it sits on top.

Beauty on a Budget

Who doesn't love Yves Saint Laurent. To die for fashion, luscious scents and heavenly makeup.

But you know what I don't love......their price tag.

Sure, there is the saying you get what you pay for, but I got to hand it to Drug Store makeup because the past two years they have really stepped up their game (and the price...oopps)

This weeks item on hand:

Brightening under-eye concealer

High end pick of choice: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat ($39). This pen like packaging allows for easy application, the formula is smooth and light so there is little need for over blending or warming the product.

Drug Store Dupe:

Milani HD Advance Concealer($6.99-$7.99 I have seen this brand primarily at Ulta, CVS and occasionally in CUB): Milani must have been purposely marketing their product to be comparable to YSL, the packaging is the same gold, the same applicator, and from what I could tell the same formula.

Admitting that I am not an owner of the YSL concealer I do have my own HD concealer from Milani. I have tried the YSL in department stores, but from first reactions they do seem very similar. I have also read reviews from Beauty Guru's who have both these product, and they agree that Milani is very comparable.

So there you have it....$39 vs $7

Take your pick.

J'adore Dior

Commitment....

So here it is....I have commitment issues. No, not with my boyfriend, with my blog. Due in part because of my latest family obligations and finals approaching my posts have become infrequent and very much lacking.

Starting now...NOW (pinky swear through cyber space) I will commit to doing a minimum of one post every other day. I do enjoy blogging, and I hope that in some way you may enjoy reading them, and maybe just maybe learn a new trick or find a new product.

Thank you for reading.

Here's to the upcoming posts, may they be bigger and better than my last!

You put WHAT on you face?

My latest makeup must have for the month of April is Milk of Magnesia. Thats right, you heard me correct, Milk of Magnesia.

Every morning after moisturizing my face and applying my eye cream, I follow up with a thin layer of this stomach taming tonic. I learned about this from another makeup guru who suffers from extremely oily skin. I my self have combination skin, my T-Zone could probably support the Exxon fuel market, but my cheeks and orbital area is surprisingly dry. To keep my makeup looking fresh and to last all day, also to reduce the oil shine, I apply the milk of magnesia where I feel I need added coverage.

When doing this you must let the product fully dry, you may notice some white patches that need to be smoothed and erased with your finger or a brush. After doing this you can continue with your foundation routine. I will admit that this product does cause a slight drying effect, if using liquid foundation this will be easily relieved, but if you have a mineral or powder foundation you may need to apply an addition product after completing your makeup look. I suggest Fix plus, Evian aerosol water spray, or if your on a budget follow my D.I.Y. fix plus spray recipe.

I swear by Milk of Magnesia. My eyeshadow, foundation and blush lasts a minimum of 7 hours, which is pretty damn good considering this product retails at roughly $4 in comparison to other foundation primers which can cost upwardly $20.

Note: Do not use this if you have extremely dry skin, and avoid areas with wrinkles and fine lines.

MAC Love Lace = Love MAC

I knew the Egyptians Were Ahead of the Game

This months Obsession:

EGYPTIAN MAGIC

I have yet to buy this product, but have been obsessed with researching it and reading reviews. I will be purchasing it for my mom, and hopefully I can steal a little to give it a try myself.

Egyptian Magic is a multipurpose balm. It has 6 main ingredients, all of which are natural. This can be used as a heavy duty hand cream, hair mask, lip balm and also as a night-time face cream. It is very moisturizing and has anti-agin properties. This is a great pick for those who are going green and want something free of harmful chemicals.

Retail Price $40.00, a little spendy but you get 4 oz. which is a TON of product and could probably last at least one year. This product is only retailed in Whole Foods stores and a few other Co-op chains.

(You can find better prices online, some even offer deals with free shipping, check out Amazon.com)

D.I.Y. Fix Plus

Do you wear mineral power foundation? Do you feel powders can get cakie and feel drying or heavy?

If so I got a 'do it yourself' project just for you. This is a little something I learned by fusing together some of the research I found when trying to do my own replication of the M.A.C. fix plus spray. This is a great product for refreshing the skin with or without product, using it to set power foundations so that it bonds better to the skin, rather just sitting like a thick layer on top of the skin, and can also be used as a mixing medium for pigments, loose eyeshadows, creating eyeliner from dry shadows or to use with tricky products like shimmer or glitter.

You Need:

Glycerine: Which can be found at any drug store, just ask the pharmacist

1 Cucumber

1/2 Lemon or substitute with Lemon oil extract.

Distilled water

Tea Trea oil

Rose Water or Rose oil

1 green tea tea-bag

First boil 2 cups of distilled water, when it reaches the boiling point turn off heat and add the green tea. Let sit. Then cut one whole cucumber(medium size-or 1 cup when cut). Add the cut cucumber into the hot water-tea combination. In a different glass add 2 Tablespoons of Glycerine and 4 Tablespoons of distilled water. Stir well. Add 4 drops of Tea Tree Oil to the Glycerine-Water combination, one drop of lemon oil (or one teaspoon of lemon juice), one Drop of Rose oil (or one Tablespoon of Rose water), and then for fragerance you can add any kind of oil you wish (Lavender, Jasmine, Sage, and Rosemary-any or all but only use one drop). Take the Cucumber-Tea Tree mixture and drain into a bowl, you can use a coffee filter to strain out the cucumber and seeds. From this mixture take 4 Tablespoons and mix it into the Glycerine-Water-Oil combination. Stir Well. Put into any spray bottle, and Voila! You have a cheep version of Fix plus, and all those ingredients can be used to make SEVERAL batches of it. Make sure to date the spray with a label, this has a shelf life of about 6-8 weeks. Whenever using fresh foods as ingredients you have to make sure it doesn't spoil quickly, which is why we added the lemon. The Tea Tree oil is good for the skin as is the Rose oil. The cucumber is moisturizing, and the caffeine from the Tea is invigorating for the skin. You can add Vitamin E oil as well, but go light, you don't want the mixture to get too oily, otherwise with will not work over makeup. This spray is also great as a moisturizer, a toner, and an aftershave.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

(I know I did)

Revlon Photoready Foundation Review

The time has come. I have been using my latest foundation, Revlon Photoready, for over two weeks now. What had been my obsession, watching youtube videos and reviews covering peoples opinion of this latest drugstore foundation craze, I have come to my own conclusion of its success and failures.

What I LOVE:

I love that this foundation is less cakie than the Revlon Colorstay foundation, which offers great coverage, but is heavy and often dries too fast to thoroughly blend.

I love the medium coverage, which can be buildable to a high coverage foundation.

I love the overall finish, which is dewy with a slight subtle use of shimmer, so that your best features glow and create a high cheekbone and brow.

I love that this bottle has a pump, therefore the bottle doesn't get gross with extra product around the lid and I can conserve how much I use.

What I could DO WITHOUT:

I have to agree with some beauty bloggers that this foundation does creates a white cast, and I do not think it is as photographable as it has been hyped up to be. I would say Relvon Photoready is a close dupe for an HD foundation, but doesn't achieve it completely.

I don't like how it can exaggerate the look of pores. In natural light you can easily notice how the shimmers within the foundation sit within the pores, and for those like me who have very large pores in my T-Zone, this is not super flattering.

I have a love hate relationship with the hydrating consistency. I love that it is moisturizing enough that it does not sit in my fine lines and exaggerate dry areas, yet I still have to set this foundation with a powder so that it won't slid right off my face. A translucent powder is great at making the foundation last longer, yet it changes the dewy affect of the finish, which ultimately was the most appealing aspect of the makeup (for me atleast).

Overall I would say that I am glad I gave this new foundation a try, and I will continue to use the rest of the product, but I do not think I will re purchase it. My next try will probably be the Coastal Scents HD foundation which retails at about $16.50 online while the Revlon Photoready is any where between $10.50 and $13.50 depending on store specials.

For those who are interested in this product, or currently have it and and are experiencing some of the same problems I am as far as its staying power and exaggeration of pores, here are some tips you can try which have worked for me:

-First to combat my oily skin and to keep the foundation from slipping off my face I use a thin coat of Milk of Magnesia ($2-$4 at any drugstore) on my T-Zone, yes I know that sounds weird but it helps my skin from getting oily all day and acts as an adhesive for the foundation so that I can get the dewy look without having to use powder to set it, this will keep your makeup on all day.

-Second, to stop the large pore look, I use the Revlon Color Stay foundation only on my nose, I get full coverage, lasts all day and hides my largest pores, then I use the more sheer and flattering Photoready on the rest of my face.

Thats my opinion and I'm stickin to it!

April Showers bring......lots of wine. Thats right, wine.

One Bottle

Two Glasses

and a crap ton of make up=

One GORGEOUS lady!

Here is my April pic of the month staring the one, the only, McKenzie Michelle.

Put a little SPRING in your step!

Steal your boyfriends......what?

As I was browsing through the April issue of Cosmo, and yes you guessed right I only bought it because Gagaloo was on the cover, I came across a quick tip to help get the best bang for your buck when it comes to body scents. Heres the trick.....steal your boyfriends, or in my case I stole my dads. I started wearing mens cologne months ago, after my friend McKenzie told me she had snagged her dad's Aqua Digio and had been using it as a new fall scent, let me tell you she smelt like a dream, and not a bit masculine. There must be something about the chemical make-up of females, because so far almost every male scent I have tried for myself has been a success....well except for Old Spice, that been chemically created to remind everyone of old man aftershave no matter what gender you are. My personal favorite is Very Sexy for Him by Victoria Secrets, it lasts all day, and most men's cologne is much cheeper in comparison to high end perfume.

So next time you find your favorite parfume is meeting its end, save yourself some money and stress, grab your husbands, boyfriends, fathers or brothers.....it just may be your signature scent!

Out with the Old in with the New

As I have previously posted on my top-ten favorite products, my go-to foundation for the past few years has been Revlon Colorstay. Its got great coverage, controls my oils and most importantly it has my shade. But lately I have been flirting with the idea of trying the much raved about Revlon Photo Ready. Many bloggers and vloggers have had great reviews, so lastnight....I gave it. Even with 4 almost full variations of foundation sitting in my drawers at home, I decided I needed to try one more, just one. I have yet to decide exactly how I feel about it since I have only applied it one, but so far so good. I will be sure to update with a full response and review soon.

Picture This

Making Faces

I thought I'd indulge in a little Kevin Aucoin fix.

For those who love make-up or could just use a fun coffee table book I highly recommend the following which feature make-up looks by celebrity make-up artists, Kevin Aucoin.

1: Making Faces

2: Face Forward

3: The Art of Makeup

Makeup'a Good Cause!

Fight the war on HIV/AIDs by purchasing any of the VIVA GLAM products by M.A.C.

100% of the proceeds go directly to HIV/AIDs research.

Just think, one lipstick just might save one life!

(Plus who doesn't love Gaga?)

March Madness

My favorite product for the month of March:

StriVectin SD Eye Cream

Hands down this was my favorite product during March. I purchased this cream around the middle of February at my local Target, and frankly I was surprised they even carried this high end brand. Now let me warn you this is not a cheap product, it is a bit on the pricy side, but worth every penny. I figure you only get one face, and taking care of it is crucial in helping to prevent sun-damage and early aging.

Years ago I use to work as a beauty advisor for the make-up counter Prescriptives and one of the products we sold within our department store was the original StriVectin Cream. This product was originally found to work wonders on stretchmarks and it miraculously worked on wrinkles too! The original face cream retails at $130, this product can be used all over the skin and neck the only draw back is for those like me who really only have fine lines around my orbital bone some of the aromatic compounds including peppermint caused irritation to the eye. StriVectin now carries an eye cream that is the same formulation as the original, but has left out any irritating agents so that application around the eyes is safe and comfortable, while continuing to bring the same great results of the original formula.

After using this product for over a month I have seen a drastic change in the texture of the skin under my eyes. It is much more smooth and moisturized, helping to reduce the appearance of my fine-lines as well as the small white bumps that line my dark circles. I apply this both morning and night, and if I forget even just one night.....well I definitely see the affects, that how quickly I notice a difference. This eye cream has encouraged me to try the original formula for the face, so hopefully I will get my hands on a bottle soon and promptly give a review.

I found this product marked down in price from the retail value of $60 to a bargain... $25! When looking for products such as these I always recommend checking out your local Target stores, T.J. Max and Marshals for many of them carry the same brands for less. Brands I commonly see there include StriVectin, Clarins, Origins, Big Sexy Hair and several others.

For those who are skeptical to try an eye cream for the price of $60 here are a few facts that may change your mind.

-First the bottle is 1.3oz which is a lot of product considering most eye creams are packaged in sizes less than 0.5oz.

-Secondly even cheap eye creams from your local drugstore are still going to cost you upwards of 10 dollars, giving results that are not as impressive and also providing smaller amounts of product.

-Thirdly you can often find deals online when looking for StriVectin products, do a little research online and at your local discount stores.

-And lastly....Your WORTH it. Your eyes are the window to the soul...and don't you think they deserve a little lovin too? But don't take my word for it, tell me what you think.

http://www.strivectin.com/

Tit for tat...or me just blabbing.

Fact or Fairytale?

Relationships. What can one say about relationships? They are confusing, frustrating, messy, inconvenient, bring out the worst in people, and sometimes, just sometimes worth it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a hater of love (or what we mistake for love), but over the years I have accumulated chronicles of the what not’s, and the never go there’s in this treacherous world of dating.

The most infamous of dating urban legends is the “Fairytale a la Broad” also known as long distance dating. We all have that girlfriend, the one who comes home after meeting someone by accident, and all of a sudden she is seeing stars. After what feels like an eternity of explaining exactly how they met, she mentions that he is from Alabama and leaves in two days, but ends with the good news, which is that he promises to call her when he returns home. As a woman I feel it is my obligation to my fellow sex to say with confidence that this is never going to work. Let’s get real. You met him at a bar, most likely after throwing back a few drinks, you had great conversation, a couple laughs, and best of all “sparks,” which all too often is really indigestion, but tomato/tomato, or however that saying goes. You have one MIRACULOUS weekend, and before you know it he’s on a plane back home. Weeks go by with text messages, and the occasional phone call, and bam! The next moment your friend is talking about how she needs a change of scenery and is considering finding a job in Alabama after she graduates in May.

Now ladies, and gentlemen if this fits your scenario, let’s be honest. There are no jobs is Alabama. And the most disturbing of all is that you think you’ve found the “one” just because every Friday night he drunk texts you the oh so romantic line of “Goodnight Beautiful.” Let’s raise the bar a little bit, shall we? Quickly I will sum up the outcome of this one-sided relationship. He stops calling, and she vents about this to her uninterested friends for weeks on end. He goes out with the guys, no qualms about it. She goes out but checks her phone every 23 seconds to see if he has called. Long story short, it doesn’t work. If you’re lucky you might have a couple cousins marrying each other in a town near his own, and possibly you’ll have another romantic tryst, but the calls stop, so do the cheesy texts, and seven and a half months later she’s finally over it. All because of thirty hours or so with a man who she barely knows.

Whatever happened to having a great night with great company and enjoying it for that, with no strings attached? Well, I blame society for brainwashing us with all those romantic Disney movies, all those damn damsels in distress who get carried away by a prince on some snazzy horse, a modern day prince who just so happened to be the heir to the Super 8 motel chain. Well I say enough! It’s time we start approaching life with a little more reason, and a little less fairytale. That’s that, and I’m sticking to it.

Love Always….or at least until next week,

Miss M

Sister Blog

The most wonderful, most brilliant, most humorous blog I read. This site is the best for quick pick-me-up's and quirky stories. I love them. Check it out!

http://thejoyoflifesm.blogspot.com/

The best of beauty

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed...never throw out anyone! Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

-Audrey Hepburn

Ode to Illamasqua

Products I LOVE to HATE

To kick start each week I will stay true to my Monday-Freak-Out-Mode and do reviews on products that I truly love to hate. These are my own personal opinions, I do not take the stance that everyone will feel the same about each of the products I review, but for those who have been on the fence regarding a future purchase, these reviews just might be helpful. Most of the products I will post are either over priced and have failed to perform as was advertised or I had weird reactions to them (Which often is the result of my sensitive skin).

This week's Hate product of choice is:

Model in a Bottle

I watched several youtube reviews regarding this finishing spray and had high hopes, these hopes were quickly dashed. This clear finishing spray is advertised as a product that sprays directly onto the face after full makeup application, acting as a sealant. It is meant to help with the longevity of your makeup, stopping your eyeshadow from creasing and keeping your foundation from rubbing off. Some online guru's even compared it to MACS fix plus which is a mixing medium and hydrating spray. Well lets just say after receiving and trying this product multiple times I was less than satisfied.

With the first application I noticed that the spray was not a mist, but rather a spurt. This left huge drops of product on my face which I then had to blend with a sponge. The product itself felt very heavy, almost sticky at first, it was as if I took a can of Aqua Net hairspray and went to town on my face. The stickiness soon disappeared as did its not so pleasant scent. I was willing to over look some of these downsides, since I know many products do require some work, and wishing this would be one of those brilliant potions I went on using it for one week, just to give it a fair shot. The main reason that I could not continue with Model in a Bottle is because it settled into my fine-lines, exaggerating them, giving my skin a dryness and leaving a finish that looked almost filmy. Every now and again I pick up this product and use it, in hopes that this time will be different. Each time I am disappointed.

So let me give it to ya straight. If you want to look like Rasinface (Rachel Zoe), the woman who Perez Hilton always mocks on his blog for having wrinkled and over-tanned skin, than this is the product for you. But me...well I'm going to save my 18 dollars plus shipping and purchase something that makes me look ageless not aged.

Thats my story and I'm sticking to it!

Miss M's Top Ten

To kick off my new blog here are my top ten favorite makeup products of all time. These are products I have repurchased several time and plan on having a long lasting relationship with them. If only men could be as reliable...ha.

Top 10 Favorites:

Prescriptives Brow Kit

(F.Y.I. Prescriptives cosmetics are going out of business, for those interested in purchasing, now is a good time to visit your local counter- most department stores currently have one. Otherwise for a good dupe of this product I suggest Urban Decay brow kit or the one by Benefit, a cheeper alternative is E.L.F.)

2. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage

3. Mac Paintpot in Indian wood

4. Revlon Colorstay Foundation: Combination/oily

5. Nars Blush in Orgasm

6. Coastalscents Blush Palette

7. Ben-Nye cake eyeliner in Black

8. Benefit Moon Beam

9. Benefit Bene-tint

10 Rosebud Lipbalm

Hey, Hay, Hey!

Salutations and welcome cyber world!

Over the past year now I have found myself watching video after video of youtube beauty guru’s reviews on products, make-up and beauty ideas. It seems as though I can’t get enough. Well, after careful deliberation I have decided to throw myself into the world of product junkies and give my two-cents worth on information and advice on things have tried or am currently using. I must tell you that as much as I love make-up and products I also love a bargin, being a student is not cheap, and let me tell you I have yet to find an attractive millionaire worth marrying who is over the age of 85 and willing to give me his fortune, therefore I am doing my best to conserve on cash, but try to curb my appetite for products by buying the things that are worth it.

I am committed to giving you my honest opinion and keep you entertained all at the same time. Hope you enjoy and spread the word. Oh and I can’t forget, I love getting feed back, things that you have tried and love or just letting me know about experiences you have had with products.