Stylemint & Jewelmint reviews

I joined Stylemint and Jewelmint last week.  I received my first order from each this week.  Here's a photo of all I got from Stylemint:

On the left was the style pick, it's the Albany in charcoal.  The fit is pretty good.  I'm a normal sized woman, so the models in the pictures make the shirts look much better.  I have real curves, so the style looks different.  I still like it, but I will have to make sure I keep that in mind when picking out my next style.  Also included was a bright pink tank top.  It's one size fits all, so I will be wearing this under another shirt of some kind.  The quality of the shirt is shirt is great.  It's soft to the touch and has a great shape.  The sleeves are nice and loose, and the bottom of the shirt is asymmetrical - longer in the back and shorter in the front.  The neckline dips a little lower than I expected, so I may have to wear a tank under it in work settings.


Also included in my Stylemint shipment was a Jewelmint piece.  It's the Desert Rose necklace.  It isn't something that I would pick out for myself, but I may wear it a time or two.  It's very pretty.

My Jewelmint order came the other day.  I ordered a trio of rings called Lady Luck.  I really like them and wore them to work today.


I really wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised with the quality.  The rings look great worn all together.

I am impressed with both so far and I'm looking forward to next month!  Now, if Birchbox would just lift their wait!

Much Love,
L

Daily Skin Care Routine

My daily routine is one I've used for a while now.  I'll start with my evening routine, then move to my morning routine.  

Each evening, I use the St. Ives scrub.  I have oily skin and lots of large pores and blackheads.  I've been using this daily for just over a week now and I've seen some improvement. I follow that with the Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion.  I then apply the MB Glycolic Eye Cream, then I apply MB Seaweed Night Cream.  If I have a break out, I use the MB Drying Cream (VERY good at trying out breakouts - highly recommend).  At least once a week I use the MB Silver Powder on my nose and chin.  It does a great job of clearing blackheads.  

Each morning, I wash my face with MB Botanical Facial Gel, followed by MB Special Cucumber Lotion and Aloe Moisturizer SPF 15.  In the summer months, I use very little moisturizer.  A lot of times I will apply moisturizer and wipe most of it off.  If I don't, my make up disappears by 10:00 AM.  

In the very near future (another week or two) I hope to purchase the Clarisonic Mia 2.  It's my hope that I will see an ever better improvement of my skin with daily use (ultimate goal will be to reduce oil, reduce the size of pores, and reduce the amount of blackheads).  I'll be sure to blog about progress when I get it!!

Also, I'll be reviewing L'Oreal Ever Creme.  It a new product (it was still behind the counter at Ulta today) that is supposed to be similar to WEN for hair.  My hair dries out fairly easy since I blow it straight.  I'll blog and review that as well.

Much Love!

L

The Smooth Lip

Another favorite in my evening beauty routine and my quest for all things smooth and silky,  is exfoliating and conditioning my lips.  The perfect solution is by Sara Happ.  The combination of the lip scrub and the lip slip have been totally worth the steep price.

First, let me say that I am addicted to lip balm.  I have several favorites.  My all time favorite lip balm is not something that I use all the time.  My favorite is Le Mer The Lip Balm.  It's not something I can afford regularly (at $50 per tub), so occasionally, when I have a gift card, I'll pick one up.  I use all kinds of balms.  I am using two from CO Bigelow right now.  One is My Favorite lip balm and the other is My Favorite Night Balm (both are $7.50 at Bath and Body Works).

I have lip balm stashed all over the house, in my car, in my purse, in my gym bag and at the office. I never like to be without! Another go-to favorite can be found at any drug store, Target, Walmart or even grocery store.  Eucerine's Aquaphor is a great lip conditioner.  Makes my lips feel great and not too greasy.

Sara Happ makes a great lip scrub and lip balm.  I have used both of these each and every night and I have to say that my lips are so smooth and I believe have fewer wrinkles and look fuller.  I don't think this MAKES my lips fuller, however because my lips are in great shape, they just look better and lipstick and gloss looks flawless.  I highly recommend the Sara Happ lip products!

I chose the Vanilla Bean flavor, but there are other flavors to chose from.  Both of these tubs retail for $24.00 each and I bought mine from www.beautycollection.com.  Give it a try.  I know you will love it as much as I do!

Much Love!

L

Kiehl's & Dry Winter Skin

I know, I live in an area that doesn't really experience a harsh winter, but my skin still gets dry.  On top of it, I am just obsessed with silky smooth skin.

After each shower, while water is still on my skin, I apply baby oil all over.  It really helps keep some of my body's natural moisture in.  When I get out of the shower, I pat my skin dry and I apply my all time favorite moisturizer, Kiehl's Creme de Corps.  There is nothing that keeps my skin softer, smoother longer than Kiehl's Creme de Corps.  Love, love, love it.

I know it's an expensive lotion to use every day, but I love it!!!

Lots of times in the evening, I use one of my favorite scents from Bath and Body Works either a lotion or a cream to keep my skin feeling smooth.  Like I mentioned above, I am obsessed with smooth, skin, so daily moisturizer is super important!

In the summer months, when I want my legs to look super silky and shiny, I add a little bit of baby oil to my lotion for super soft, sexy legs.

Much Love!!
L

Products, Products and more Products!!

I'm such a sucker for beauty products.  I am always searching for my next favorite thing!

For a little about me, I'm a 40 year old mom of two that works full time outside the home.  I have oily skin on my face, but the rest of my skin is dry.  As a 40 year old with oily skin, this creates it's own unique situation, as most women my age are using heavy night creams and are in need of moisture and skin firming features.  But since my face is so oily, it's hard for me to use those.  I also live in a suburb of Dallas, TX, where it's hot and humid a lot.  That usually makes my make up slide right off my face in the summer months.  I am also prone to some mild acne, some regular acne, and some are those big tumor-like zits.  My quest is to find the perfect foundation or primer/foundation combination that will last at least until lunch time and share my finds with the internet!

I'm currently using Smashbox Anti-Shine each and every day under my foundation.  It works well, and I can usually make it until mid-day before I need to reapply or touch up my foundation. I use it under my MAC Studio Fix foundation.  MAC rocks!!

Highly recommend Smashbox Anti-shine if you have a hard time keeping your foundation in place!

My other new find/obsession is the Urban Decay NAKED eye shadow palette.  I can't believe that I have come to the NAKED palette-party so late, but I'm glad I arrived!  For a pale-skinned red-head, I'm super excited to have an eye palette that is full of colors that I can wear!!  So many manufacturers have created palettes that have beautiful colors in them.  But over the years, I haven't used half of the colors or palettes that I've purchased.

From left to right the colors are:  Virgin, Sin, Naked (matte), Sidecar, Buck (matte), Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal.  There is not one color in this palette that I will not use!  Love it!!

Next week, the NAKED2 palette comes out.  It will take everything I have not to run out and buy it!  But, I'll have to wait another week or two (or more) for that purchase.

Much Love!
L