The Clock Stops Here...
Showing posts with label Beauty Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty Reviews. Show all posts

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Hair Restoration; Two things to share

Baby Bliss Italo Luminoso Hair Dryer

I feel extraordinarily guilty about my blow dryer graveyard.  It's extensive and they are all in perfect working condition.  If any of you Lovelies, have a recommendation as to where I can donate them, I'm all ears.

The one thing I do know, is none of them were giving me what I desired; reduced drying time, high wattage and nano technology for increased shine, despite their claims.  I've always wanted to try a Baby Bliss dryer, but was not interested in paying a couple of hundred dollars for one.

Neither apparently was my colorist Melissa, who discovered the Baby Bliss Italo Luminoso Hair Dryer.  It's a goodie, and with a $79.99 price tag, I left the salon and headed straight to Ulta.  While researching this post, I just found it available through this link at Walmart, for a whopping $20 less.  2000 watts of perfect.

Pretty much, it's the dryer of my dreams, so whether or not you need it, I don't think you will be disappointed if you buy it, and certainly not, for that price.

That's part 1....



Saturday, July 1, 2017

Happy 4th Beautiful!



I recently blogged about my go-to leg tanning fave, Vita Liberate's Body Blur. I love everything about it except the $45 price tag.  Still, I cannot live without it, in the summer, when I tend to wear dresses daily.

I noticed my tube dwindling, so I decided to look on line and see if anyone would ship it to me free.

Well, not only did I find an online beauty company that ships everything free, always, they were also selling my beloved Body Blur for 25% less than everyone else!  This heavenly site is called Lovely Skin.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Update: L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara

L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
$10 (in the Hinterlands, somewhere...)



Well Lovelies, I told you the Internet was blowing up over this  Too Faced Better Than Sex dupe by L'Oreal.  Glamour just reviewed it just reviewed it and there editor was pleased with her results.

I finally got to CVS and was initially flummoxed not to find it among, maybe twenty different L'Oreal Mascara offerings, (if men wore mascara daily, there would be two choices from one product; waterproof and non-waterproof. Period.)

Then my brain cells kicked up a notch and went to the front of the store where the newest launches live... Voila!

I got lucky. There were only two left; one Black and the other Blackest Black. Guess which one I chose???? Riiiiiight.

Monday, June 5, 2017

Combating Dark Circles



NYX Dark Circle Concealer
about $6.99


Well, yuk...I've always been lucky enough not to have an issue with dark circles. I'm a good sleeper and I'm not feeling particularly tired.  Usually just a swipe of any concealer would do the trick and a few days of vacation eliminated the need for using it at all.

Sadly, my luck seems to have run out!

Naturally, I needed a quick fix and fortunately, I found a simple two step solution. The first is a lucky, random find, the second, something I decided to order from Amazon, after reading a rave review on Makeup Alley.  Nicely, they are both inexpensive...Cheap and cheerful!

Yippee!

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Revlon One-Step Volumizing Hair Dryer

Revlon One-Step Volumizing Hair Dryer
$56.99 at Ulta


Oh Lovelies, this is an amazing find...I must admit, I find myself relying more and more on the talented Viviana at Hott BlowDry to care for my tresses. To create even a semblance of her blow out, I need a blow dryer, 3 brushes, my hot rollers, a curling brush and a flat iron.  I wish it weren't so.  All that work, with middling results at best.

I was doing an Ulta run the other day, and as I have before, found myself drawn to the hot tools section for hair.  I spotted Revlon's new One-Step Volumizing Hair Dryer and did what I often do when considering a beauty purchase...I Googled and than read reviews.

Monday, January 23, 2017

TotalBeauty's 11 Highest Rated Anti-Aging Products




TotalBeauty  is a site I browse daily.  I like there editors and their articles. When they do a round-up, the stats are derived by tallying the product ratings, submitted by devoted readers. That's a win.

There was no way I was passing up what readers rated their 11 best anti-aging products.  Naturally, there were some pricey picks in the mix.  And naturally, I perused them all, hoping to find some beauty bargains.

I found three, two great serums and the Olay product above, that acts as both a moisturizer and primer and it came in at #2.  Yup. For $25.99, I will run out to buy it.

Do take a look at the total TotalBeauty Link to see all of their highest rated anti-aging products.  At least if your splurging, you can do so with confidence.

xox,
DD

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Maybelline Master Precise Curvy Liner

Maybelline Master Precise Curvy Liner
$7.99


It's been 30 years now, and I still have not perfected the "cat eye"....in fact I haven't even come close.  I don't know if it's a geometry challenge, right angles and I don't align, or my semi challenged fine motor skills.

This new liner from Maybelline promises a line hugging applicator, that guarantees a thicker more dramatically lined lid and a tip that will provide the perfect "flick", ensuring a seamless cat eye.

There wasn't a chance on earth I wasn't trying it.

Monday, June 20, 2016

The Drugstore Discoveries a Beauty Editor Made When She Ditched The Good Stuff








When I do my daily rounds, scouring different beauty sites for interesting tips and tidbits to share with you, I always zero in on the ones about drugstore beauty bargains. If there is a hack for an expensive eye cream, mascara or foundation, I want in.

Today TotalBeauty.com ran a feature slideshow by one of their beauty editors. Allie Flinn made the ultimate sacrifice and gave up using luxury beauty products for a whole month.

Poor Darling...

Friday, April 29, 2016

Beauty Emergency! Oh and Michael Kors

DivaDebbi and Michael Kors at Richards
(lashes intact)
I've been a Personal Shopper for over 20 years.  Within that time I have experienced dozens of fashion emergencies;  broken zippers, sensors left on dresses, imploded seams, peek-a-boo linings... I've seen it all. A few weeks back, my husband literally sewed me into a gown that would have benefited greatly from two more hooks and eyes. My mistake? Not heeding my own sage advice to my clients--always try on an altered garment, well in advance of when you will be wearing it, not 15 minutes before you have to be out the door.

Late Thursday afternoon, I had my first beauty 911.  Michael Kors was coming to Richards to present his Fall 2016 Runway Collection to a small group of devoted clients. I considered this a special enough occasion to glam up with a half fringe of false lashes in the morning.  30 minutes before arriving, my eyelash strip was hanging by a lash...

Monday, April 4, 2016

Review: Physician's Formula #InstaReady BB Cream SPF 30

Physician's Formula #InstaReady Super BB Cream
$14.95


Oh my, my.  This BB Cream was worth 3 CVS trips, even if the darker shade I was seeking was a phantom... Physician's Formula #InstaReady BB Cream SPF 30 only comes in two shades; Light  and Light/Medium.

I suggest the peeps at Physician's Formula start whipping up other shade offerings, because this stuff is amazing!  The premise behind this launch is that #InstaReady is that it will make you, "instantly selfie-ready".

Here is how they describe it:



  • #InstantPerfection: Ultra-lightweight formula glides on effortlessly, instantly smoothing & rebalancing skin with dual-sphere particles that absorb oil but not moisture for perfectly balanced skin and a smooth semi-matte finish. 

  • Multi-tasking BB cream neutralizes skin tone imbalances, minimizes shine and visibly reduces pores, instantly hiding imperfections and smoothing the appearance of fine lines while protecting with SPF 30.
  • Saturday, March 26, 2016

    Review: Givenchy Ombre Couture Waterproof Cream Eyeshadows

    Ombre Couture - Nude Plumetis No. 14

    $26





    I was at Sephora recently and spotted Givenchy's very lovely Ombre Couture Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow, available in 10 subtle shades.  It occurred to me, that I have never used a cream eye shadow on my lids or crease.  Why, I have no earthly idea.  Probably, because powder shadow simply dominates the category.

    I first tried Nude Plumetis #14 on my lid.  I was amazed how nicely it glided over my existing makeup and how instantly refreshed and alert I looked. I loved the texture and how it created a fresh canvas and what looked like more lid to work with.

    Wowza!

    Sunday, March 20, 2016

    Bare Minerals: Chase Your Dreams Marvelous Moxie Lipstick

    Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick
    in Chase Your Dreams
    $18


    I love my Girlfriends, really, I do.  I am blessed with a large posse who I know, truly have my back, as well as my face and hair.  If they are calling me out, I am all ears. If you have trusted sibs or pals who have your best interest at heart, listen up! Sometimes, they are a better mirror than your own.

    Case in point, I was having breakfast with my friend Monica a few weeks ago.  "Your lipstick is too dark", she admonished between bites of her eggs.  Really??? Here I thought I had finally found "the one" in MAC's Amplified Lip Cream. "Yes. You can find something with depth that's a hair softer."

    I could see Monica's point, but I knew it was a tall order...I have tried lighter shades and with my large, dark eyes, I tend to look like a classic Alien sketch; all eyes and no mouth.

    I stumbled upon Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Chase Your Dreams, during my newly sparked mission at Ulta. It is part of a set, but can be purchased on its own.  It is also part of a, "limited edition", two words that strike fear in my heart and kick start my hoarder gene...What if I love it??? Should I buy three???

    Wednesday, February 24, 2016

    Review: Glow Airbrush Tanning Studio

    \\
    Glow Hamptons
    760 Montauk Highway
    Watermill, NY 11976
    631-726-0811



    Glow
    14 Rye Ridge Plaza #220
    Rye Brook NY
    914-305-1999
    I've noticed a trend on the last few Girl's trips I've been on...Everyone arrives with a full on tan. While I arrive milky as a baby's bottom, they are kissed by the sun before we have hit the first lounge chair.   So what's the story?

    The missing link here was that my friends were pre-gaming; a day or two before departure, they were going in for full body air brush tans. Rational? You arrive looking rested, and end up taking in less damaging sun, since the pressure is off to get some color. Of course having a faux glow does not preclude wearing appropriate sun screen, but any additional color is like a cherry on a sundae.

    My friend Janice always arrives with a gorgeous caramel glow. I knew she would be the perfect person to ask. "I'm going to Glow in Rye Brook. Come with me!"

    Done.

    Friday, February 19, 2016

    Review: Osmosis Curling Mascara

    Osmosis Curling Mascara
    $22


    Nearly 8 years in, I have the stats to prove that my best read posts are ones that feature recognizable brands.  Still, I can't help wondering on occasion if I'm passing up the opportunity to sample something really special, that I can share with you.  Does it really matter if it's not available in a place fashioned from brick and mortar?  How much are we all buying via the Internet anyway?

    Plenty.

    Thus, Osmosis Curling Mascara peaked my interest and I agreed to try it...and what a lovely product it is! Firstly, it really does curl...I know this because I used it without an eyelash curler. So nice when I product actually do what it purports to. Secondly, it creates the cleanest flush of clump free lashes I've ever seen.  My first thought? Doll lashes! And that was with just the first coat!

    Sunday, February 14, 2016

    Dupe Review: Hard Candy Cheeky Tints

    Hard Candy's Cheeky Tint's
    $6.00
    Exclusively at Walmart and Walmart.com


    Gel blushes and sheer tints are definitely having a moment. I'm a fan of the concept.  I find powders drying and creams vanishing.  The challenge with gels is that coverage can be uneven and streaky and there is no easy fix.

    I fell in love with Perricone MD's No Blush Blush and recently reviewed it. There is only one shade but it's mine to the tee.  I'm not a huge believer in "one size fits all cosmetics", so you might be out of luck. Less lovable was the $33 price.

    When my friends at DNA PR emailed me about the launch of Hard Candy Cheeky Tints, nicely available for $6 and in 6 shades, I asked to receive samples in the hopes of find a possible "dupe" for No Blush Blush.



    I received 3 Cheeky Tints Sheer Blush Gels; Goddess (bronze), Geisha and Surfer Babe.  The closest match to No Blush Blush would probably have been Diva (um...), second from right, but hey, if the consistency and staying power were right, I can be a sport and buy one myself.

    The best news is that Cheeky Tints do provide a natural, streak free flush with great staying power.  The color does have a lot of pigment, so you may want to consider choosing a lighter side. I combined Goddess with Burts Bee's Radiance Body Lotion and created a rather fabulous tinted bronze moisturizer that looked stunningly natural.

    All in all, a terrific buy, and a decent dupe.  What other pricey product is  Hard Candy a great dupe for???
    I have no clue. But I will be checking out other items and of course, I will keep you in the loop...

    xox,
    DD

    Friday, February 5, 2016

    Genius: Sephora's Virtual Artist App

    I
    Sephora's Virtual Artist App

    For the last several years, my dear friend Linda Levy, has dreamed of finding her perfect shade of red lipstick. She's tried dozens in vain.  I have also tried to aid her cause by donating every sample of red lipstick that comes my way via blog review samples, goodie bags or Sephora VIB Rouge perks.  Alas, nada.

    When Linda arrived the next day, with the perfect red lip, I couldn't wait to find out how she achieved it...

    She finally decided she was going to make good on her promise to carve out some time and ask the experts at Sephora to help her find the shade that has always alluded her. She did and two brilliant things emerged; 1) They have technology in store that when applied to your face, analyzes your skin tone. With that hurdle out of the way, scientifically, it then can match you with the ideal shades for your foundation, blush and lipstick. 2) If you download Sephora's Virtual Artist App on your phone and allow access to your camera, you can experiment and see yourself in real time, with lipstick in every shade of the rainbow.  I was mesmerized!

    Friday, November 13, 2015

    Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

    Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil
    38 Shades/$20


    My beauty and my blog life have always seem to run in parallel...I was down to the nub of my very nice espresso brown Palladio eye pencil just before I left for London.  Ulta, had very few in stock when I purchased it, so I wasn't about to risk hauling back, to an empty shelf for a $4.99 pencil.

    I was taking the Red Eye and had immediate plans to meet friends for breakfast.  I needed a new pencil that could, literally, last through the night, but whose???

    Kismet prevailed, as my inbox produced a reach out from on of the editors of Reviews.com , with an extremely comprehensive review of the the best waterproof eyeliners. Cutting to the chase, I went straight to the most highly rated, which turned out to be Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.

    I was heading to Sephora anyway, as I always enjoy bringing my London host a bag full of my "can't live without" faves of the moment.  I veered straight to the Urban Decay area and was blown away by the staggering array of shades offered.  (When I'm happy with a shade I'm trying to duplicate, I always bring it with me so I can stripe swatch my wrists with a close match. )   I thought "Demolition" to be an excellent dupe. When I repurchase, I will probably go for a shade lighter since it appeared a hair harsh under my eyes.



    True to their rave, Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencil held up without a budge through my Ambien slumber, and wide eyed on my return trip.  My only grudge about the no budge, is that I would describe the application as a bit more "tug" than I would "glide".

    Overall, I'm pleased and I'm happy that I went with Reviews.com's recommendation. To read the entire article for yourself, please click here.  Their team take their work very seriously.  It was written with as much depth as many of the medical abstracts I have read on breast cancer over the years. Either way, whether you skim or hunker down, I promise you will come away more informed then when you started.

    With luck, the next time I'm running low on something, my beauty stars will align and another Review.com will again, come to the rescue.

    Here's hoping...

    xox,
    DD


    Sunday, October 11, 2015

    Dove Dry Spray Anti-Perspirant How do I love thee???

    Dove Dry Spray Anti-Perspirant
    $6.49
     
    Fashion Week has finally come to a close in Europe. I don't think I've ever been more acutely aware of the shows than now, thanks to the onslaught of images from both the runway and the street, courtesy of Instagram and other mediums flooding us with images. No complaints from me.  I don't really need the interpretations; images serve me well. Vogue.com does an exemplary job of digesting it all for us in beautifully curated thumbnails and I'm grateful, but I digress...

    Want the fastest way to get in lock step with the European trends?  Spray it under your arms...

    Environmentally safe, dry spray deodorants have been in favor in Europe for a quite some time, making up 60% of the market compared to 2-5% in the U.S.  In the past,  American models would horde them in their suitcases on return trips, favoring the instant dry factor and the hallmark achievement of truly creating an anti-perspirant, that is Little Black Dress proof. To wit, all my own stick trials have been failures that left me wondering about how the manufacturers were able to get away with such misguided claims.

    (Sidebar: The fastest way to remove chalky deodorant marks from clothing is either steam or pantyhose.)
    Photo Courtesy of the N.Y. Times

    No need to horde anymore... In December, Unilever launched 5 of their reformulated dry spray anti-perspirants sold in Europe to the U.S. Market.

    My first foray was their Degree Dry Spray, since I had previously been a Degree Solid Girl. It immediately made me question whether those nasty fluorocarbons really were a thing of the past.  I tried it for a few times. Each time left me gasping and choking and imagining my family tsssk tsssking over my autopsy report.

    NO NO. And back to  CVS.


    Drum roll for the winner...Dove Dry Spray Anti-Perspirant, curiously, also a Unilever product. No gagging or choking here.  This fabulous spray does indeed, dry in an instant, leaving no tell tale chalky marks on my black and navy dresses and tops.  It also claims to keep you dry and fresh smelling for 48 hours. Other than being stranded on a desert island, one I will never be test driving, but nonetheless, good to know.

    Sidebar to sweaty palm owners: Dry sprays can be used on your hands.

    Nostalgically, it also contains Dove's classic 1/4 cleansing cream claim to fame, (one that intrigued me enough as an 9 year old to ask my Mother to buy, "the soap that won't dry your skin like soap can".  Talk about an iconic marketing campaign!)

    Available in 6 fragrances, my repeat performer is "Beauty Finish". As I have said before, one of my real goals in all of this beauty trial and error, is to find my Holy Grail in each category and stick with it...

    Consider Dove Dry Spray Anti-Perspirant officially anointed.  Do try it...

    xox,
    DD

    Thursday, October 1, 2015

    Review: Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

    Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
    $7.99

    I like gel eyeliner pencils.  Trish McEvoy's Intense Gel Eyeliner Pencil in midnight blue delivers beautiful results, but it's pricey ($28) and requires sharpening almost daily. Translation; it has a short shelf life.

    I noticed Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner because it was advertised in a few of the mega September fashion issues, one of the rare times a year I actually purchase glossies anymore.  I made a mental note to try one, but had no luck finding them on any of my drugstore runs.

    What the puck???

    As I honed down to to the tale end of my last Trish Gel Eyeliner Pencil,  I was trying to figure out when I would visit Saks or Bloomingdales to replace it. I was also out of my HG lip gloss, Pur Minerals Chateau Kisses Lip-Plumping Lip Gloss in Glitzy, which required an Ulta run. On my way out, I decided to see if they might have Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in stock.

    Sunday, September 27, 2015

    Review: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

    Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
    $23

    I have been on the hunt for a really good mascara. I know it's a lot to hope for; massive length and volume, a glossy rich black hue, no clumps or flakes and the ability to remove it without removing my existing lashes.
    Oh.  And can it please be less than $25?

    I nearly caved, and repurchased Benefit's They're REAL Mascara after trying and returning Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara (a gloppy mess), and Dior Addict-It Lash Mascara (which lived up to none of it's promises.)

    I love everything about They're REAL Mascara, probably the best product Benefit has ever produced. except when it's time to take it off.  Even with expensive removers, specifically formulated for waterproof mascara, (which They're REAL is not), it's hard work. I just knew I was damaging my lashes, so the love fest did end and after many purchases,  I quit cold.

    Sephora has a display of mascara's from different brands that allows you to compare them by promise and applicator. One of their associates saw me pondering them and offered help.  I in turn, asked what her absolute favorite mascara was, whether displayed or not.  "That's easy", she replied...

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