Frownies Aroma Therapy Cellulite Cream; The MIRACLE Worker

Frownies Aroma Therapy Cellulite Cream
$39.00 4 oz.

Ok Lovelies, I must apologize for not taking before and after pics for you...Not of my behind, I'm blessed not to have a cellulite problem, but of my arms, because they absolutely do appear firmer and more toned.

I workout almost daily and do lift 12.5 and 15 pound free weights to keep my arms toned and defined.  What was driving me crazy was the patch of skin above the inside of the crook of my elbow, and under my armpits (having just written that sentence, I realize I sound a bit like a madwoman.)

I bet you have heard of Frownies.   The original product, adhesive strips worn at bedtime on the forehead, crows feet and "coin slots" between the eyebrows, were developed by Margaret Kroesen in 1839 and are still sold today!  Pre facelifts and Botox, they were favored by movie stars and other public figures.

I tried them once and I'm not a fan.  My husband already puts up with plenty regarding my beauty antics.  He no even longer comments when I'm ensconced, a la Freddie Krueger, in a face mask, with mere cut out slits, for my eyes, nostrils and lips. Nightly flesh colored anti-aging strips do not add to my allure, even if they do work.

This all natural cream, however, is a miracle worker!

H&M Beauty; They knocked it out of the park

H&M Cosmetics
Luxurious packaging; budget friendly

H&M Beauty  Powder Blush $9.99
High Definition Eye Shadow $6,99

I took a field trip on Monday to H&M.  I wanted to see with my own eyes, what so many beauty editors can't stop meowing about...the lovely packaging, the enormous depth of product, the beautiful brushes and the amazing prices. Oh, and they loved the body products too.

There is much to take in. I was most drawn to the eye shadows and blushes. So many beautiful shades to choose from!  I went for a blush that is a dupe of one of my all time faves, Charlotte Tilbury's Cheek to Chic Blush and Chantecaille's Peony Eye Shadow.

I know myself pretty well, If they were duds, I'd have to chalk up my $17 loss to a beauty lark, curiosity satisfied...In fact, I don't even know what their return policy is for cosmetics.

Straight Laced

Straight Laced by divadebbi 

Marni short mini skirt / Dakota Suedette Lace-Up Bodysuit / Gianvito Rossi red heel shoes, $535 / Chloé suede handbag, $2,825 / Jennifer Fisher chains jewelry, $130 / Aedes De Venustas eau de perfume /

Flashback Friday: Maybelline SuperStay Concealer Better Skin

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Concealer

I know how fickle, some of y'all think I am, and you are not entirely wrong.  I declared this fabulous drugstore find my Holy Grail concealer not even 8 mos ago.  Yes, I have tried dozens over the years; Laura Mercier, Nars, Dior, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Benefit, Stila, Lancôme, Hourglass, Trish McEvoy , IT, Bye Bye Eye Concealer, just so you know I've gone the high end route as well.

I stumbled upon this last December and was amazed how much I like it.  Smooth, full coverage that lasts, some ingredient that "allegedly" helps lighten dark circles, a perfect match for my skin tone and priced under $10 bucks...What could be better.

Grey Gardens and Mom

Grey Gardens by divadebbi 

Sea New York off the shoulder dress, $465 / Grey shoes, $690 / Brunello Cucinelli leather handbag / Leather jewelry / Linda Farrow sunglasses, $410 / 



I wonder if you have missed my Polyvore creations?!  Polyvore, is an interesting place. Fashionistas, like moi, from all over the world, create our little slice of paradise in our personal fashion sets and post them on Polyvore, as well as our blogs, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

I have been a member for over 4 years and was fairly addicted to the process and the camaraderie for a long time.  At best, it always kept my eye very fresh, particularly since I would get to see what my European counterparts were swooning for...and let's face it, they just have a 6 month jump on U.S. trends.

I was pleased to be awoken from my Polyvore slumber, by my oft sited inspiration, Stacey Bewkes' incredible Lifestyle blog, Quintessence.

The photograph above, was taken at Grey Gardens in East Hampton.
The estate was infamously owned by Big Edie Beale, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis eccentric aunt, who lived in it with her daughter Little Edie for decades, despite dirt, decay and disrepair.  It was sold and lovingly restored by Sallie Quinn and the late Ben Bradlee. Stacey's friend Liz Lange, rented it last summer, allowing for a rare glimpse of Grey Gardens as it exists now.

Immediately after reading her post, I "clipped" this image and created a fashion set around it. Merci Stacey!

I have been a bit less prolific of late as I have had to deal with 3 family health crisis, one that ended with my mother Joan Lieberman's unanticipated passing, one month ago tomorrow.

I do intend to write a memorial post about the most special and important woman in my life. She was not a Diva, more Grand Dame. Beautiful, loving, determined, strong, a good listener, wry, a fabulous cook, gardener, painter and more.  I know the words will come...

Mom enjoyed my blog DivaDebbi immensely and we both were delighted that I finally found a medium in Polyvore, that allowed me to create a form of art that a brush, pencil or crayon always eluded.

So please bear with me a bit, as I try and get the sunshine back in my soul. What I wouldn't give to pick up the phone right now and say, "Hi Mommy"! Those of you who no longer can, know the void I am feeling... Those of you who can, do.

Missing and loving you Momma, more each day...

xox,
DD

Glamour.Com Goes Shopping at CVS

L'Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Glycolic Pads
$19.99

Lovely longtime DivaDebbi readers know I am a well known face at CVS and Sephora in Greenwich.  Nicely, they are situated just a few doors down from one another.  Yes, I have a soft spot for certain high end products, but nothing makes me happier than when high end products and formulas are copied launched by mass market brands.  Why??? Because they are now more affordable.

Glamour.com is a site I visit often.  I was curious to see what their beauty editors were liking best at CVS these days.  Here is the link for you to peruse. I already made my first purchase above.

Speaking of Brows...

Benefit Gimme Brow 3 Shades
$24

L'Oreal Brow Styler Plumper
Light/ Med, Med/Dark and Translucent
$9.99

A few years back I discovered Benefit's Gimme Brow a tinted gel with built in fibers. It's a fabulous product and surprisingly, has not been copied in the mass cosmetic market until now.

Benefit has now increased their Gimme Brow shade options to three, they also seem to have shrunk the tube by a third.  I was, frankly, shocked and a wee cranky, when I took it out of the package.

Wha happind???

Mea Culpa! I.O.U.

Lovelies!  Forgive me.  I totally forgot that I promised one of you my new Holy Grail Drugstore Mascara, Maybelline Colossal Spider Effects Mascara.

My search for the perfect cheap and cheerful mascara has concluded after 35 years.  To celebrate, I picked up an extra and decided to give one away.

My long overdue, randomly chosen winner is Rachel. Entrants left comments on my blog and my FB page.  Rachel my dear, congrats!  I hope you will love it as much as I do! Please remember that my first coat of mascara is always the primer from L'Oreal's Voluminous Superstar Mascara. Spider Effects then acts as my second coat.

For everyone else, I don't think you'll be disappointed. My lashes are long, full and lush everyday, it washes off fairly easily and the price can't be beat.

Do give it a whirl...

xox,
DD

N.Y.C. New York Color Show Time Lash & Brow Mascara

$1.87 at Walmart (and online)

I know I can get a bit preachy about brows, but ever since I had them really professionally tended to, not zip waxed at my nail salon du jour, I am a die hard convert.

There truly is a difference when you put yourself in the hands of someone who is passionate about the art of brow shaping.  Recently, when I went to visit Pina, my brow maestro, she finished her magic with one last slight of hand.... a sweep of clear gel.

"You do finish your brows by brushing them up with clear gel, don't you???"  "Ummm, yes, of course I do Pina", I fudged.  Uggh...one more thing to apply each day.  Note to self:  Buy some clear brow gel.  Pina cannot be denied.

My beauty stars aligned, when I got a reach out then following week asking if I wanted to sample New York Color's Showtime Lash & Brow Mascara.  Kismet...yes please!!!

L'Oreal Revitalift Volume Filler

L'Oreal Revitalift Volume Filler
$21

It's been a loooong time since I've found a moisturizer that I like as a night cream.
This cream is very rich so I could not imagine using it before makeup, but at night, it feels just right. If I wrote about every night cream I have bought and returned lately I would have to change my blog name to DivaDowner.

More importantly, my skin does look plumper and perkier! Mind you Lovelies, I am a devout nightly user of my Jenu Ultra Sonic Infuser.  I got a wee lazy and took about 6 weeks off from using it nightly.  Let's just say you gradually return to a hag.  It doesn't hit you quite  how effective this little gizmo is at making your creams and serums considerably more effective, until you start using it again.

Lessen learned...Now it even gets packed for vacations and long weekends.


Revitalift Volume Filler and Jenu are a formidable duo.  Don't let the big box or nice size jar, fool you though...I will probably get 3 weeks out of it at best, but if it gets the job done, it's worth it's weight in La Mer.

Reviews  for Revitalift Volume Filler are fairly stellar....I always prefer reading them after I've formulated an opinion.  I also like trying and reviewing products that are readily  available to my readers, despite receiving numerous pitches each week to sample little known brands.

I know it's loaded with good old Hyalluronic Acid which does help keep skin plump and hydrated, and some other proprietary ingredients to add volume.  Do I see a difference??? 

Yes. I do. This version of Revitalift Volume Filler was created for day and night use. Since I don't use it by day, I will pick up the one that is intended for night time use only when this runs out next week. 

If this is good, I'm hoping for even better. 

Stay tuned....

Xo,

DD 

P.S.  I purchased the night time only version.  Oddly, the consistency is far thinner than the day and night cream.  I actually prefer the thicker one.  If I'm slathering before bed, I want to feel like I'm doing some "good" and yes that means a heavier cream. I will return and repurchase my original pick.

Avene High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50

Avene High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50
$36

It was a glorious 4th of July weekend in the East, fair skies, plenty of sun and low humidity. Over the busy weekend, I got to try out the newest thing, that I had to have STAT.  Thank goodness for Amazon Prime...you can barely blink and "it", whatever "it" is, is sitting on your doorstep.

J'adore.

I am a fan of Avene products.  I wish they were more readily available.  I was first introduced to Avene Cicalfate Cream, after having a Halo Peel, performed by Dr. Mark Schwartz.  It is a soothing balm that feels like something you could use on a babies bum.  I needed to purchase my third tube, so I started perusing Avene products on Amazon, (the complete line is also available at Drugstore.com, though you may find yourself paying more for it.)

I spotted Avene High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50 and was mightily impressed by the love fest reviewers felt for this product.  Interestingly, it was an absolute favorite of women athletes, from equestrians to race car drivers! Apparently it doesn't melt or budge and really does provide excellent sun protection.  Yippeee!  I should sail through my mat pilates class looking red carpet ready.

Naturally I had to try it.