Celebrity Fragrance

For all your beauty advice…
It seems like every time you turn around, there’s a new celebrity fragrance to be bought. My first thought is always, “how many new blends of fragrance can there possibly be?” Well, apparently, a lot. Here is my take on a few of them!

I know I’m a little late to the game with the fragrance by Jennifer Aniston (WAY late to this game, I’ll admit), but I finally got to try it! I’m a huge Jennifer Aniston fan…Team Aniston, all the way! I love the pictures, and the packaging of the fragrance, but I was so disappointed with the scent itself. It’s been described as clean and light, but to me it smelled heavy and flowery…WAY too much floral going on here. It didn’t smell “clean” to me. It was overbearing and I just didn’t like it. I tried it on, and hoped that maybe it would smell better after I wore it for a bit, but nope. It smelled just as bad on me as I thought it smelled in the bottle. When I think of Jennifer Aniston, I think of words like warm, elegant, classy, stylish. Sorry Jen; this was grandma in a bottle to me.

Another one I’ve been late trying is Fame by Lady GaGa. It’s unique being that it’s the first fragrance made of a black liquid that turns clear once it evaporates. The bottle is unique, so it gets an A+ for packaging. I really like how it smells in the bottle, and it blended well with my chemistry, so I liked the way it smelled on me. Lady GaGa is very over-the-top with her image, so I expected her fragrance to be odd. Nothing odd about it; it’s really nice!

I’m not a huge fan of buying into celeb scents, there are just too many of them out there, and they’re really just annoying. However, I do have a favorite and it’s Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker. I resisted ever trying it, but once I smelled it, I was hooked!

Ok, what do you think about celeb fragrances? Which ones do you love, and which ones can you not stand? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

You’ve Been Beautified!

Product Review…Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser

For All Your Beauty Advice…

I’ve been using this cleanser for about 3 months now, and thought I would give you my thoughts.

Dr. Brandt skin care is a well-known skin care line that is known for its quality products, with high performance, without a prescription. Usually that means expensive! The entire “Pores No More” line is pricey, but overall, I think it’s worth it.

This cleanser is designed for combination to oily skin, and since my skin falls into that category, I thought I would give it a try. It’s a really nice consistency with small granules to gently scrub on a daily basis. It’s not heavily scented, and I know that’s important to a lot of you.

It did a great job of keeping my oily skin in check, and over the 3 months I’ve been using it, I’ve noticed a big difference in the texture of my skin, and my pores looking smaller.

It costs $35 for 3.5 ounces, but a look at the website today showed a sale price, so if you are looking to try it, now is the time! Even full price, I don’t think this is too bad for a cleanser, when you think about how long it will last.

But, there is ONE thing I need to warn you about…most products have the disclaimer on them to “keep away from the eye area”. If you try this cleanser, this is something you want to take VERY seriously! Get this product anywhere near your eyes, and you’ll think you’re dying! I’m not kidding! When you’re washing your face, it’s impossible not to get water near your eyes, but I’ve never used a cleanser that has burned my eyes this much. So, if you try it, hold a wash cloth over your eyes while you’re cleansing.

Bottom line: I would buy this again because of what it does for my skin, but the excruciating eye pain would make me think twice before I spend $35 on it!

Have you used this cleanser, or anything by Dr. Brandt? Tell me your thoughts!

You’ve Been Beautified!

Product Review…Katy Perry Lashes by Eylure

For all your beauty advice…

Award-winning Eylure, the eyelash specialists, have released their new collection designed exclusively by platinum-selling recording artist and global pop superstar, Katy Perry!

Known for her fashionable and unique personal style, Katy Perry is expanding her exclusive beauty portfolio with the launch of her first false lash collection. Teaming with Eylure, (leading British lash specialists which are currently taking the US by storm), Perry supervised every aspect of her signature lash range. Katy Perry Lashes created by Eylure are a direct extension of Katy’s style and will provide fans with the perfect blend of sweet and sexy!

Katy’s four distinct varieties include:

Sweetie Pie: A dainty, natural hair lash that will discreetly add length and volume to your own lashes.

Oh, Honey!: A flatteringly full lash, textured for a natural finish but with enough volume to take your lashes from fine to fab!

Cool Kitty: Because they will make your eyes look amazing. Gorgeous framing with manicured tips, these lashes can be worn in the day to be daring or at night as the perfect finishing touch.

Oh, My!: It is big and beautiful with a layered effect. All the texture you could want in a lash yet so wearable and really flattering. Be daring, go double effect!

These lashes were fun to play with and easy to wear. I don’t wear false lashes on a daily basis, but I reach for them occasionally. I tried Sweetie Pie, and Oh, My! From this line. Sweetie Pie was a more natural look, and really made my eyes look defined and my lashes naturally long. Oh, My! is a more dramatic look that gives you very thick, volumized lashes. Either way, they were fun and playful…just like Katy Perry! They are priced right, and durable, so you can use them time and time again.

All Katy Perry by Eylure lashes retail for $6.99 at ULTA Beauty Stores nationwide and on www.ULTA.com

As always, I look forward to your feedback, so let me know your thoughts when you try them!

You’ve Been Beautified!

Product Review…Surface Hair Care

For all your beauty advice…

I just recently got introduced to a new line of hair care called Surface. I tried two products from the line and I was very pleased with both products.

The first one I tried is called Swirl. It’s a sea salt spray that adds tons of volume to your hair, and lets you create different looks. You can use it on dry hair to add some volume and texture to your ‘do, or use it on wet hair and either let it air dry into natural waves, or lightly blow dry it for volume and waves. What I’ve found with most salt sprays is how they change the texture of your hair and make it feel dirty. This salt spray is so light-weight and effective, it’s crazy! It smells really good, and it gave my hair tons of volume without that “salty” feel to it. I was really impressed with this product and will definitely keep this in my styling routine. This salt spray is made with ocean salts and citrus fruits. One of the best sea salt sprays I’ve ever tried!

The second product I tried in this line is Bassu Shine Spray. This is another product that has a lot of versatility. You can use it on wet hair or dry hair. If you use it wet, it adds shine and helps detangle your hair. If you use it dry, it works great if you spray it on prior to any kind of heat styling. It adds a pretty shine to your hair. I was really impressed with this product as well. I have tried numerous shine enhancing products and you have to be careful you don’t use too much, or your hair will be weighed down, and it will start to look greasy. This smells so good…so good….So, So, So good!!! I want to spray it right now just so I can smell it! Did I mention it smells good?

Surface products are paraben free, gluten-free, and vegan. They are found in professional salons only, so if your salon uses Surface hair products, then lucky you! If your salon does not use Surface products, tell them they should! I’m sold; this line is awesome! Tell me if you’ve tried it, I want to hear!

You’ve Been Beautified!

Product Review…Batiste Fresh

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I seriously think I have purchased every dry shampoo ever made, in my quest to find the perfect one. While spending obscene amounts of money on new products, I keep going back to the only one that’s ever lived up to what it promises. I’m talking about Batiste Dry Shampoo. It brushes out clean, not leaving white residue behind. It freshens up my hair, and doesn’t make my hair feel like I just poured baby powder all over it. I’m a lover of sudsing up on a daily basis, but sometimes shampooing my hair feels like a monumental chore! So, I”m happy to say I’ve finally found the best dry shampoo out there. And now they have a new scent that I’m in love with! Read on…

 

The war of the sexes is over because Batiste Dry Shampoo now comes in a funky Fresh scent for both women and men!  Batiste Fresh is a liberating unisex scent that contains tantalizing fresh notes with a fruity twist of pear and citrus accents and base notes of woody musk and sandalwood inspired by the rainforest.

I think this is a great idea to have a unisex dry shampoo! Out of all the product lines I’ve seen for men in hair care, I’ve yet to see a dry shampoo. Just because they keep their hair shorter than most women (for the most part) doesn’t mean they wouldn’t benefit from a product like this!

You don’t have to use dry shampoo as a cleansing product only. It’s a great way to give your hair extra texture. If you have short hair, you can get that “piecy” look by using dry shampoo.

I know some of you out there are Batiste lovers! So, check out this new scent and tell me your thoughts. I love it, I think it’s great that it’s unisex, and I love that my husband shaves his head, so I don’t have to share!

Email me your questions for Q&A Monday to brookeknowsbeauty@hotmail.com

You’ve Been Beautified! 

 

Product Review…Pure Fiji

For all your beauty advice…

It’s official, I am in love with a new product line! I love discovering new products, and I’ve discovered Pure Fiji. Just the name of the brand had me loving it before I even tried it. Who wouldn’t want to be basking in Fiji?

I tried two different products from the brand. The first one I tried was the Coconut Sugar Scrub

It comes in a variety of scents. I almost want to call them flavors instead of scents, because it smells so good. This can be used all over the body to soothe and soften rough spots, and it can also be used on your hands for a mini manicure. I love it for the hands! Just wet your hands, put some of this scrub on and give your hands a spa treatment. Push back your cuticles while you’re massaging this into your hands. It will scrub away hang nails, and moisturize your hands and nails. And the smell! I can’t describe how good this smells, but when you put all the yummy, natural ingredients this scrub has together, it makes one delicious scent. I let my daughters try this, and being typical children, they wondered if it tastes as good as it smells…it does.

The next product I tried from Pure Fiji was the Dilo Rescue Body Gel.

 Known as ‘the tree of a thousand virtues’, the Sacred Dilo tree makes its home on white coral sands in the pristine Islands of Fiji – drawing its sustenance directly from the nutrient rich warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. It is known to possess a unique capacity to enhance the skin’s own repair mechanism, soothe pain and irritation as well as promote the growth of healthy skin. The rescue gel has the consistency of a gel and a lotion mixed. It has aloe in it that has very soothing properties. The gel is great to soothe sunburns, bug bites, roughness if you shave too close. I burned my arm on my oven a few months ago, and the burn mark that was left behind would not go away. I started using this gel, and it has faded considerably. It has a really nice scent to it, and it’s very nourishing, and it absorbs fast. Typically, I don’t like to use balms for burns or other skin irritations, because they leave a greasy feeling behind. I love how fast this absorbs!

Ok, so we’ve established that I’m in love with Pure Fiji! If you haven’t heard about it, check it out. Anything you get from this line will feel like you brought the spa home with you! I want to hear your thoughts if you get a chance to try Pure Fiji!

Email me your questions for Q&A Monday to brookeknowsbeauty@hotmail.com

You’ve Been Beautified!

Product Review…Carlene K Shine Bronzer Body Glow

For all your beauty advice…

Ok, I’ll admit it…I’m not a fan of tanning naturally, I haven’t tried a Mystic tan yet, No matter how hard I try to open my mind, I don’t like self-tanners, and I hate, hate, hate tanning beds!! That being said, I still want some color. Yes, I want it all…what’s wrong with that? I have a good natural, olive-tone to my skin, so I don’t look too pasty year-round, but sometimes I need a little extra color.

I’ve been playing around with bronzing lotion lately, and I’ve fallen in love with a particular brand. Carlene K. bronzing lotion is amazing for adding some color to your skin! When I was first introduced to bronzing lotion, I was a little lost. Where would I put it? How would I apply it? What’s the point?

Well, the first rule of thumb is this: don’t over-think it. A bronzing lotion is exactly what it claims to be…a lotion that bronzes your skin…just like a bronzing powder. Carlene K. bronzer is so easy to apply, and it can go on as light as you want it, or build on the application, and make it darker. And where do you apply a bronzing lotion? Honestly, anywhere you are wanting a little bit of color. With a bronzing powder, the basic “rule” is, apply it where the sun would naturally hit your skin. So, apply it to your shoulders, your chest, even your cheek bones, and the bridge of your nose. It’s also great to use on your legs to even out the coloring and make veins, scars, or bruises less apparent.

Carlene K.comes out of the tube as a dark color, but it goes on very natural and gives a beautiful sun-kissed look. It smells amazing, it has anti-aging benefits from vitamins C and E; it also has pumpkin extract to boost elastic tissue and restore firmness to the skin. It’s been used on tons of Hollywood beauties, and was even used on Dancing With The Stars! I love how it applies to the skin evenly, and it’s non transferrable  so it won’t rub off on your clothes while you have it on. Removing it is so easy, just take a wet washcloth and rub it off.

I hope you get to try this bronzing lotion, it’s one of my new favorites! Have you tried it yet? Let me know your thoughts!

You’ve Been Beautified!

Product Review…Eylure Lashes

For all your beauty advice…

 

I don’t usually wear false lashes, I’ve purchased them  before, and they’ve sat in a drawer, forgotten. I have been wanting to kick up my look a little, and thought I would start playing around with false lashes. I got my hands on some Naturalites, by Eylure. #1 bestselling lash in the UK, and now they’re available in the U.S. of A.

I think the hardest thing about false lashes is the application. I will admit, this is one area of beauty that I typically steer away from because applying lashes is so challenging. But, once you get the hang of it, they go on pretty easy. Follow the step-by-step directions, and you will be able to do it. Make sure you use tweezers, or a lash applicator, because using your fingers feels impossible…to me. I know some people who can whip them on with their hands and they make it look so easy…I am not that person!

So, now that you’ve gotten them on, how do they feel? Well, in the past, most false lashes have felt heavy on my eyelids, or they have felt like they’re poking me in the eye, and I think that’s why I just nixed them altogether. Eylure lashes are very light, and while I could tell I was wearing a little something extra, they weren’t weighing my lids down and feeling uncomfortable.

And how do they look? SO GOOD!! Once I had the lashes in place, I really liked the look I ended up with. Lashes give your eyes so much dimension, and they really make a statement.

Now to answer the question I always get asked, and the one I used to ask myself: Do I put my eye makeup on before or after I apply the lashes? The best advice I can give is this: Prime your eyes for shadow, apply your shadow and liner, then apply your lashes. The last step should be to swipe some mascara over your permanent, and “borrowed” lashes to bind the two together for the best results!

Over the last 60 years, Eylure has remained at the forefront of creation and innovation in an exciting and ever-changing industry, producing gorgeous original lashes that have been worn by iconic beauties Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Raquel Welsh and Joan Collins (among others) during their illustrious film careers. Eylure remains one of the only brands to genuinely innovate in the false lash category.  This drive to create and improve is perfectly showcased by their creation of ‘Naturalites Double Lashes’. Additionally, Eylure ensures the best possible customer experience with the inclusion of glue with each lash package.  All Eylure lashes are made of 100% human hair, are reusable and suitable for contact lens wearers.

Eylure is currently available at Ulta stores and online at www.ulta.com

Check them out, and let me know what you think! 

You’ve Been Beautified! 

 

Product Review…Zoya Nail Lacquer

For all your beauty advice…

I just tried Zoya Nail Lacquer for the first time. I have to admit, I feel kind of stupid…they’ve been around since 1986, and I just now discovered them. It’s not entirely my fault…I blame my beauty supply, since they don’t carry Zoya. So, it’s not like I’ve been under a rock, but I will admit I’ve been distracted with products like OPI, CND and Essie.

Zoya has an amazing range of colors to choose from; over 300. From nail strengthers, to your classic pinks and whites for French manicures, to the gorgeous blues and greens you’re seeing everywhere for spring, you certainly have choices. The only hard part would be choosing which color, they’re all so pretty.

I tried Zoya Nail Lacquer in the color Caitlin, from their new Intimate collection. It’s a pretty purple/grey/shiny shade. No sparkles in this color, but plenty of shine. It almost looked vinyl on my nails. The first thing I noticed about this polish was how much coverage I got in the first coat. Most polishes, sorry…lacquers, don’t show up on your nail the way they look in the bottle. I didn’t need a second coat with this one, that’s how evenly it applied. I did give my nails a second coat, simply for the reason that I never feel like my nails are finished if I only apply one coat. Old habits are hard to break, right?

Zoya is known as the longest lasting nail lacquer on the market, it’s also vegan friendly. Honestly, I didn’t feel that it lasted any longer than any other professional nail product, but it did hold up. Beautiful colors to choose from, smooth application, now one of my favorite brands! Too bad it took me this long to find it!

Are you a fan of Zoya? What’s your favorite color? I look forward to your response!

Email me your questions for Q&A Monday to brookeknowsbeauty@hotmail.com

You’ve Been Beautified!

Product Review…Intellishade SPF 45 Matte

For all your beauty advice…

Tinted moisturizers are a great multitasking product. They provide moisture, they even out skin tone with light coverage, and if you’re lucky, they’ll provide some sun protection. But, if you’re really lucky, they’ll provide those three things, and then go above and beyond, and minimize pores, protect your skin against future aging, and only come in one shade that is formulated to match every skin tone. Yes, ladies, there is such a product. It is called Intellishade SPF 45 Matte Tinted Moisturizer.

Just like it took me a while to hop on the mineral makeup bandwagon, I didn’t embrace tinted moisturizer right away. To me, they always made my oily skin feel sticky, they didn’t give me the coverage I wanted, etc. So, I always bypassed the tinted moisturizers and stayed with what I liked. I decided it was time to step out of that box and give this product a try. It did not disappoint.

There are many pros of this product. I love how it comes in just one shade. No guessing on whether you’re light #1, medium beige, or fair. Formulated with Intellishade smart tint technology, it’s a perfect match for every skin tone, every time. Not sure on the science part of that and what makes it work, I just know it works. It’s very light weight so it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. The high SPF of 45 is a major plus! And, the fact that it’s not only moisturizing, concealing and protecting, but it’s going the extra mile for me and preventing! I don’t know of any other tinted moisturizers that can do that.

Information on where to buy this amazing tinted moisturizer can be found at http://intellishadespf45.com/ 

I definitely want feedback from anyone who has tried this product, or if you try it based on this review, let me know what you think. I love it when people get as excited about makeup as I do!

Email me your questions for Q&A Monday to brookeknowsbeauty@hotmail.com

You’ve Been Beautified!