One to Skip; Physician's Formula Argan Wear Bronzer

Physician's Formula  Argan Wear Bronzer

I am officially, DEVASTATED.  My long term DivaDebbi Holy Grail Bronzer,
Stila's One Step Bronze has been relegated to the beauty graveyard.  

My antennae was raised when I was unable to purchase it at retail, with Stila's other One-Step products.Covertly, they do have a similar looking product called One -Step Illuminate. It appears bronze in hue and I nearly purchased it.  My friend Jane ordered it twice, before realizing this was no mistake... One-Step Bronze is officially MIA.   I did find one on Amazon, that hails from Australia and could be mine for a 30% up tick. No thanks. Beauty Graveyard websites and Ebay have also proved futile.

OK, so what is it about Stila One- Step Bronze that made it so irresistible?  I adored the light mousse like formula, that, once applied with a fluffy brush, added a lit from within, bronze glow, that never stuck in fine lines and pores, unlike powder bronzers.

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.

Stila One Day Sale!

Stila One Step Bronze
$36

Goodie for me and Goodie for you!  As my Holy Grail Bronzer, Stila One Step Bronze, dwindles to the point where I'm standing on it to get the last drop, Stila is having a one day 25% off sale plus free shipping!

This gorgeous mousse-like gel is infused with many shades of bronze, to add a perfectly natural touch.  I prefer it to powders which can streak or stick in fine lines.  I always apply One Step Bronze to my palm and then swirl a large brush around it. This way it applies flawlessly in a snap. It's the last step in my daily makeup routine.

Do try it!  Many readers and friends have thanked me.

To take advantage of the sale and free shipping, enter promo code BTS25.

Happy shopping!

xox,
DD

Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation; A knockout

Lancome Miracle Cushion Foundation
11 Shades $46.50
Refills available for $39

There has been a tremendous amount of buzz about Lancome's Miracle Cushion Foundation as being a completely new, portable foundation.

Actually, Pur Minerals beat them to the punch, with their Pur Minerals Air Perfection Cushion Compact Foundation.  I wrote about it, with love, back in September.  Available in only 3 shades, I was riding the crest of my summer color and was using the "tan" shade...Too dark for my winter pallor and relegated to the back of a drawer, I honestly forgot about it.

Friends had been raving about the light-medium coverage and glow they were getting with Lancome's Miracle Cushion Foundation, so needless to say, I had to try it for myself, STAT.

I blogged last week about having some really good skin days and teased that I was also testing out an unarmed foundation. Since  I also started using Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer at the exact same time,  I couldn't be sure if my great results were from the primer, the foundation or the 1-2 punch of the two together...I'm pretty sure it's the latter, so be prepared to invest in both.

I can say the exact same thing about both products, "it's a snap to use, the cool, lovely texture blends seamlessly and with ease. In seconds, your skin will appear as close to flawless, as it might ever be. Score 1 for Lancome, Miracle Cushion Foundation, that it is also infused with treatment ingredients to hydrate and brighten.

Truly, it's such a simple concept, that makes so much sense...as long as we are applying something to our face, why shouldn't it also provide benefits?  Amiright???

DivaDebbi wearing Lancome Miracle Foundation in Buff 220

Stila One Step Bronze: The only one you need

Stila One Step Bronze
$36

This is one of my favorite beauty products...definitely a Holy Grail and one that I have now replaced 3 times, since I first discovered it back in March of 2013. The last purchase came via Amazon. I was starting to get spooked that it was being phased out.

First my local Sephora dumped the whole collection. Fortunately I found it at Ulta.  They recently upgraded their packaging and the prices have creeped up a bit.  I'm O.K. with that, it's an attractive upgrade...as long as they don't discontinue Stila One Step Bronze.  Inexplicably, it has not been restocked in months, or it has and has flown off the shelves in between my visits--quite possibly, the latter.

As I eeked out the last pump last week, my husband detected my frustration, and nicely, surprised me and ordered it from Amazon, a great source for beauty products that sustain untimely deaths. Happily, it arrived today.  (I just checked Stila's website and thank goodness, it has not been discontinued.)

So, what makes this a DivaDebbi Holy Grail?  I find it a winning choice over powdered bronzers,  which are always too matte or too shiny.  They also have a tendency to settle into fine lines, no ones goal, ever. Another plus? It also has skincare properties that hydrate and improve tone and texture, something never found in powdered bronzers.

This lovely, mousse like tri-color gel, can be used on bare skin, mixed with your foundation, or applied as I do, with a big fluffy brush as a last step, anywhere the sun naturally hits; the forehead, the bridge of the nose and the tops of my cheekbones.

Bronze and glowing...what more could you ask for???

The Allure of Allure

When Allure Magazine debuted in 1991, it felt like a gift from the God's.  In the talented hands of it's longtime Editor-in-Chief Linda Wells, Beauty now had its own glossy; no longer just the lonely step-sister, banished to page 205 in the Fashion Magazines.

I was of course, in heaven  subscribed for well over 10 years.  Each month I looked forward to it's arrival and pored over their editorial picks. Then Beauty Blogs arrived on the scene...

 

The first Beauty Blog I discovered was Beauty Addict, written by the product obsessed Kristen Kelly. Readers like me, were equally obsessed with Kristen and somewhere along the way her lipstick flame fanned out. She was one of the best and an early inspiration to me. I still miss her blog.

Review: Physician's Formula Bronze Booster

Physician's Formula Bronze Booster
$18.95 at CVS in Greenwich, CT.
(cheaper anywhere else)

Have I ever been to CVS for standard drug store fare; Q-Tips, toothpaste, Advil etc... and not left with some type of beauty product???

No. Never. Not once...whether I need it or not.

I'm still not sure what the purpose of Physician's Formula Bronze Booster is.  I have stopped using bronzing powder because I find it to look matte, dry, and a little streaky.

Physician's Formula bills itself as, "Number 1" in Bronzers.  They certainly offer a lot of them...7 to be exact.  I have no clue what the difference between them is. At least Bronze Booster stood out from the pack a bit.

Review: Stila One Step Bronze

Stila One Step Bronze
$36

I have been struggling lately with my faux tan or should I say my, "no tan".
Do you think it's possible for self tanner to plateau?

One thing I do know is that I really don't like using powdered bronzers. It doesn't matter if they are matte or illuminating.  I think they are aging on anyone over 40.

I went to Sephora today hoping to find something different. I was not looking for a sheer bronzing gel, or an illuminating bronze lotion like Nars Laguna. I have tried using darker BB's creams and end up looking like I had a Hershey Bar on my forehead.

The truth is I had no idea what I was looking for, or if it even existed....