Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Happy Halloween from Blogdorf Goodman!

The Line Up Project: Revlon Line Fantasy
Review by MUA's Cavewoman

Limited Time Only! Those words get me every time. Limited Editions are those grab-while-you-can items that have makeup addicts running to the stores and counters to obtain these little gems before they're gone, whether they are drugstore or department store. And then when they're gone, we are swapping or ebaying or asking our buddies to check around to help us find the elusive goodies. Just ask any MAC fan!

I can't say that these Revlon Line Fantasy cream liners have flown off the shelves since their release a few months ago, I'm still seeing them even at my grocery store. Four shades are offered, black, brown, indigo and plum. I chose the latter two, during a Buy-One-Get-One-Free sale at a local drugstore. Blogdorf alerts us to the great sales each week, so there's no need to ever pay full retail if you just wait a week or two.

I chose to start with the Plum. It's a beautiful true purple with shimmer, perfectly balanced between red and blue. You can see how these are packaged in the photo. The jar is made of glass, and the weight of product is .16oz or 4.6g. As soon as I touched the brush to the surface of the liner, it appeared even more shimmery. It was easy to load up the little brush that comes with. I like the short stubby bristles, more firm than the NYC brush. It's flat and has a slight taper. The product itself is more workable than the NYC, which was hard as a rock and took a real serious poke with the brush to break the surface. This Revlon isn't as thick as the NYC, but it still has a very dense texture, a bit on the dry side. Application took a bit of work, though. As I applied again from the center of the eye outward and then inward, I noticed that I didn't seem to be getting a nice opaque application. It looked a bit sheer to me. So I went over it and instead of pulling the brush across the lash line, I dotted it on. That gave a nice opaque look, the shimmer was very pretty, and the color looked beautiful with the Chanel Stage Lights quad I chose to wear today. A great match! Again as in testing the NYC, I used the Sonia Kashuk bent-angle liner brush on the other eye, and again the application was easier, but I still found it to go on sheerly and did the dotting technique to get my desired results.
I loved how it looked!

During the day I kept checking for signs of wear. The liner lasted equally on both eyes, so it isn't the brush that is a factor in how long the liner will last on the eye. About four hours after application, I noticed that the liner did seem to have worn off a bit, but it was not coming off on my lid, and it wasn't flaking off onto my face. I don't know where it went! 9 hours later, the color had seemed to fade a bit, and there was some clumping in areas and gaps in other areas. But I can't say it smudged or smeared. I think the clumps resulted in the dabbing technique I'd used.
I did notice a bit of shimmer fallout onto my eyelashes.

Removal was not quite so easy. I used a cotton ball with BeneFit Gee That Was Quick, a non-oily eye makeup remover. The liner color itself took a bit of work to remove, and when I was finished, I did notice that some of the liner and shimmer particles were still stuck to my eyelashes. At least I had gotten pretty close to the lash line! My application techniques are improving!

In the final analysis for Revlon Line Fantasy Cream Eyeliner, here are my thoughts. Staying power is very good, the colors are beautiful, application is moderately easy once I got the hang of it, and the best part is that there was no flaking when it wore. Don't rush to the drugstore for this one unless you see a BOGOF sale. But when you do, that's a good time to try. I'm pleased with the results. I give it a 7 in my rating system! Now I want to try the black. I'm waiting for a sale, but I'm not waiting too long, you know how it is with those Limited Editions.

Credit: Cavewoman
Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this review were purchased by the reviewer.

Blogdorf Goodman's Drugstore Deals and Steals for October 26th through November 1st 2008

CVS

Maybelline: The Colossal Volum Express Mascara is priced at $5.99 with CVS card. Check out Beauty Addict's review!
Mineral Power Natural lipcolor is $5.99 with CVS card
Instant Age Rewind Crea, foundation is $7.99 with CVS card
Neutrogena: Moisturizers(excludes Healthy Defense) is $9.99 with CVS card
Aveeno: Cleanser 5-6 oz, scrub 5 oz or pads(28 ct) is $6.99 with CVS card
All Aveeno Positively Ageless is $17.99 with CVS card
Lumene: Vitamin+Facial care 0.34-2.5 oz or beauty drops 28 ct is $14.99 with CVS card
L'Oreal: $2 extra CVS bucks with a purchase of L'Oreal Tubes mascara with CVS card
CoverGirl: Exact Eyelights Mascara is $8.49 with CVS card
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on all face,eye lip or nail products with CVS card
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on liner,shadow or mascara with CVS card

Rite Aid

L'Oreal: Age Perfect Radiance Perfector Tinted Moisturizer is priced at $15.99. There is a single check rebate for $15.99 on this product. Check your local Rite Aid for deets.
Almay: Buy any foundation and get a concealer for FREE
Jane: Buy any Mineral Makeup, and get second for FREE
L'Oreal: Buy foundation, powder, liquid concealer or blush and get the second FREE
Maybelline: Buy any mascara and get single eye shadow for FREE
Revlon: Age Defying Liquid or Compact Make Up and get a Revlon Age Defying Power for FREE
L'Oreal: Buy any Advanced Revitalift or Age Perfect skin care and get second FREE
Wet n Wild: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on liquid makeup,pressed powder, blush or concealer
Nail Enamel: Buy 1, get 1 50% off(excludes Wet n Wild)

Walgreens

Maybelline: Buy 1, get 50% off on cosmetics
Revlon: $3.00 off revlon foundation, powder, concealer, blush or lip color
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on nail products
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on foundation,powder, concealer or blush
Mail In Rebate for Age Perfect Pro-Calcium Radiance Perfector
Eucerin: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on facial creme, lotion or cleanser
Almay: Mail in rebate available on One Coat Mascara is priced at $6.99. Check Walgreens for details

The Line Up Project
By MUA's Cavewoman

It's very fitting that I should start the Line Up eyeliner series with this little jar from the local drugstore. Annie and I are in a New York State Of Mind right now! The NYC brand boasts great products at super low prices, and with the buzz on MakeUpAlley about this limited edition MetalEyes Cream Shadow/Liner, I thought I'd give it a try. I'm pretty sure it was just around $5. The color I chose was Onyx, a steely dark dark gray but not quite black, with tiny silver shimmery particles. Pretty! And, comes "with Professional Brush" -- even better! The package shows the weight of the product at .11oz, or 3.1g, and the liner comes in a little glass jar with a silver lid upon which is printed all the info you need after you toss the box. One note I must add here, the box states "Not Tested On Animals."

I thought I'd try one eye with the brush that was included in the box, and the other eye with the Sonia Kashuk bent-angle liner brush (white handle, at Target stores.) I'd already bought the brush in anticipation of the switch from pencil or twist-up crayon liners to pots of cream or gel liners, so I was ready.
The first thing I noticed was how thick and dry the formula was. It took a bit of effort to break the crust, so to speak, to load the little synthetic orange bristles with product. The brush is flat, but the edges are a bit tapered, not like the older totally flat across the top styles like Trish McEvoy's or Smashbox, which I think were the first companies to do liner brushes like these. Since I am a novice at this, I started to apply the liner in the middle of my top lash line, and worked my way outward and then inward. The brush felt fine and not scratchy, but it wasn't laying down much product at all. And, I wasn't getting as thin a line as I wanted. I had better hopes for the Kashuk. But the same thing happened on the other eye, I couldn't get a thin line. So since I used two different brushes, all I can think is that the thickness and dryness of the product itself causes it to apply too thickly, no matter what the brush. I used the brushes to apply the liner under my lower lashes, too, and then I checked out how it looked. Not bad! In fact, very pretty!!
The effect of the NYC MetalEyes in Onyx is a soft charcoal look with the shimmer visible but not glittery or disco. I liked the softness of the color, it would be great for someone who wants dark but not black for a liner color, and doesn't want to go to a color or does not wear brown.

And now for wear. My goal in trying all of these liners is to find one that will stay put for at least half a day. I don't know why I have such trouble with liners staying on, maybe it's my aging droopy crease area, but it's a challenge. In fairness during the testing, I'm not going over any of the liners with a powder shadow to set it and to see if that could affect the wear, but I am sure I'll try that sometime in the future. The NYC liner lasted for about four hours, but when it wore, it wore off in chunks. I had gaps in the line and pieces of liner stuck to my lids. Not pretty. What is odd is that the liner lasted longer on the eye with which I used the Kashuk brush, and didn't chip off as much as the eye with which I used the enclosed brush. Score one for the Kashuk!
Removal of the liner was easy, with a cotton ball and some BeneFit Gee That Was Quick. However, I did notice some silver particles stuck to my lashes even after removal.

Should I give a numerical rating to all the liners I will be testing? Ok, I will! On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being Absolutely Horribly Miserably Awful, and 10 being Holy Grail Perfection No Need To Ever Try Anything Else, the NYC MetalEyes receives a solid 4.

Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this review were purchased by the reviewer.

The Line Up, A Preview
By MUA's Cavewoman

When Annie and I first started talking about this new Blogdorfgoodman project, I was just beginning to explore the world of gel and cream liners that are applied with brushes. My old Almay Amazing Lasting eyeliner pencil, the twist-up crayon type, had had a change of formula, and wasn't even lasting an hour. I dabbled in other lines, from department store to drugstore, and could not find a crayon-type pencil that lasted very long at all. And so with the advice of some very wise buddies on the MakeUpAlley, I set out to try the gels and creams. And to acquire a few brushes to go along with them.

The possibilities and combinations of brand, formula, color, and brush, are almost endless. I got to thinking of how in the world I would accomplish this project. It reminded me of a class I took at Youngstown State University when I was an advanced student in the art department, working in independent study. I chose, under the supervision of my professor, who himself had never done this kind of work before, to do hand sensitizing in cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown, and platinum printing. Only one student in the department had ever done these before, and he wasn't in town to help me. So I started my research, dug deep in the school library, mailed away for chemicals, scoured the stationary stores for Crane's cotton paper, and bought myself a big fat notebook. And into the darkroom I went. After seven weeks, my professor wasn't happy that I had not produced one single print for him to evaluate. At that point I handed him my binder, two inches thick with my lab work, pages and pages of notes, combinations of film and film processing chemistry, exposure data, chemical formulas, proportions and measurings, and all the little pieces of test strips that I had done in order to find the perfect combination of film, film processing chemicals, developer, fixer, and the formulas for the printing paper which I had to make by hand in total darkness. Sometimes even one tiny drop added or subtracted from a formula was the key to success. I documented every minute and every trial. He didn't say another word to me until our final evaluation, when I presented three perfect prints in the cyanotype and the Van Dyke Brown, and four in platinum. When he saw my final portfolio, he told me that I had achieved the most perfect platinum prints he'd ever seen. It took ten weeks.

Dear reader, I do not intend to take my eyeliner research to those levels, but it would be entirely possible to spend that kind of time testing each brand, color, formula and applicator! But I'll try my best to experiment, test, wear, evaluate, and report on the ones I can find and try.

I present to you two sample prints of a small still life that I did as I was working out my formulas, one in cyanotype and then the identical negative printed in platinum. And a little photo of a few of the liner pots that I've started to test. I've got work to do. Lots of it. I'll start reporting soon!

Credits: Cavewoman
Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this review were purchased by the reviewer.

Never Let Them See You Shine by Philosophy: A Primer Review

This is an oil and shine control product from the Philosophy line. It provides a velvet-like finish to the face. It quickly goes matte and does seem to cling to the foundation in a satisfying way. There is no morphing of the color shade throughout the day. There is some wear and tear. My makeup did not appear fresh after an 8 hour workday. My chin really seemed to take some "extra hits" even with careful attention paid to that spot. It contains some "cones" such as dimethicone and a dimethicone crosspolymer. There is panax ginseng root extract along with non-chemical sounding bark extract and rice bran. During my testing I never experience any acne flare ups or skin irritations. This is pretty good for a silicon primer. I have recently moved away from silicon primers due to skin dryness. This formula is not drying but it also did not give me the superior results that a silicon themed primer does.

My verdict is mixed. I did not think it performed like Smashbox or Face Time but it was fair. Nothing to gush or diss over. But there is something about Never Let Them See You Shine that I could not stand. The scent is a strong and slightly stomach turning lavender. In the morning it would catch me off guard and start a gagging reflex. This is a fresh laundry smell on steroids. This is a huge drawback for me. I love scent in some makeup products. There is nothing like a rose scented blush from Chanel or a loose powder from Caron.

But a primer should be scentless. What do you think about makeup products being scented? Let us know in the comments.

Never Let Them See You Shine retails for $20 @ http://www.philosophy.com/

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Philosophy

MAC's Red She Said Collection: A Review of Sorts


I have been calling this collection Right Said Fred, because I am a child of the 80's. This lame joke is lost on every MAC SA under thirty. I have mixed feelings on this collection. It is brilliant due to the inclusion of the return of the very popular dazzleglasses and a surprise red lippie that could rival the great Lancome Behnaz lipstick. There is also a lovely pink blush called Stark Naked.
The part of the collection that I am not a convert on is the eye shadows. I am not a fan of this thick chunky texture. I love when a shadow formula is velvet thick with high pigment. This formula is more like a fleece blanket of color. The middle shade is metallic. It is messy and is prone to crumble action.

Red She Said has a very strong lippie story. The collection boasts a red lippie that is quite extraordinary. "Red" She Said is a blue toned blue that is not like a British redcoat. It is more poppy like. This makes it bright and is a spot light to the lips. The feeling it evokes is very Behnaz-like. A hidden jewel is in the collection. Layered with the Love Alert dazzleglass it achieves holy grail red lippie status. You just have to look at the ad and model to see how amazing the layering it looks.
The other lippies are as follow:
Quiet Please is a sheer pale milky beige. MAC has been churning out nudes in ever collection. This one is fairly sheer and hard to wear alone.
Crazee is a coral red with pearl.
Soft Pause is a sheer brown fall-like berry.

Pomposity is a violet pink shade. This is beautiful yet safe way to wear a purple-like lip.
They retail for $14.00($16.50 CDN)

There are only two blushes in this collection. Stark Naked is a mauve that never goes into a dirty territory with slight gold shimmer. It is more pink-like on the skin. Very brightening.
Enough Said is more of a bronzer than a blush. There is subtle gold shimmer in this pan.
MAC Blushes are priced at $18.00($22.00 CDN).

The nail lacquer story is red and beige. I never spotted the beige polish. It looks like it is already long gone from my counter. The reds featured were pretty fabulous.

The mineral eye shadows are a new design that features three shades. MAC calls it a daring menage a trois. The two shades are divided by a slim bronze or silver metallic.
Persuasive is a frosty light blue and indigo with a silver pearl strip.
Danger Zone is a frosty red and black with a silver strip. This just makes me think of a Coke Cola can.
Word of Mouth is a very frosty beige and blue grey. A very pretty combination topped off with a copper strip. You would think this combo was begging for a cool toned silver strip.
Outspoken is a plum and violet with an appropriate silver pearl strip.
Inter-view is a deep navy frost(this is a great navy!) with a autumn bronzy brown. The mid strip is a warm bronze.
Threesome is a blue toned bubblegum pink with a burnt red toned plum wing man. The middle strip is a copper.
All of these shadows are priced at $17.50($21 CDN)

I have a horrible habit of blowing off eyeliners and mascaras due to being distracted by all the shimmer of lipglasses and shadows. It is a major failing from a beauty blogger.
the fluidlines in Red She Said are:
Silverstroke, a metallic platinum and the trusty Blacktrack which is a solid flat black. These retail for $15.00($18.00 CDN)

The mascara being promoted is Fibre Rich Lash in All Black. I have never tried this formula so I can not gush or pass any kind of judgment. It retails for $12.00($14.00 CDN).

The dazzleglasses are pretty much sold out. The one I did not purchase was Miss Dynamite. This was an orange copper shimmer. I think this would look brilliant on red or brown lippies. It would make a autumn shade just pop.

Tell us what your verdict is on the Red She said in the comments.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman and MAC

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by MAC Cosmetics. I also purchased products from this collection from my local MAC counter.

The Holidays with Bond 9

This is a sneak peek at the holiday offerings for Bond 9. Laurice is a fellow shimmer lover. The jewel from this entire collection is the 42 oz amphora vitrine, covered with 16,500 hand-applied platinum Swarovski stones. You can fill it with any of the 32 Bond fragrances. The price is $3,500. Can you imagine having Lexington Avenue "on tap" in a blinged out perfume keg?

There is a limited edition Bleecker Street flacon that retails for $395.

The pearlized milk glass Eau de New York bottle is studded with diamond-colored aurora borealis stones. Chelsea Flowers is bedazzled with emerald-colored stones. Chinatown features ruby-colored stones. Each bottle is loaded with 5,000 reflective Swarovski stones. Each bottle is $650. By all accounts, I have heard that the shimmer power on these three bottles are stunning.

Credit: Bond

The BG Hair Removal Odyssey: Testing the Tria Device

In the next few months I will be testing the Tria Hair Removal system. I always thought that I would be the perfect candidate for this system. I am fish belly pale with dark hair. I shave every other day. I had been looking into laser treatments but it is a pricey alternative that carries a slight embarrassment factor. The Tria system is a at-home system that provides the same benefits of a laser treatment. Hair is supposed to grow back lighter and sparser. Plus I loved the privacy factor. No stranger would be zapping me. I would be in control. This is the miracle I have been waiting for.

The science behind the Tria laser is that the hair is removed by disabling the hair follicle. The laser emits a light pulse that is absorbed by pigment. If the hair has enough pigment, the light is absorbed by the hair and converted to heat, which disables the hair follicle. The Tria is effective at treating natural brown or black hair. This is not for use on white, gray, blond or red hair. It is also intended for people with light skin tones. This can not be used on tanned or dark skin tones due to the skin absorbing too much light. This would cause burning or scar the skin. Luckily this laser has a built-in safety trigger. You have to test your skin before using it. If your skin is too dark it will automatically lock and disable itself.

The Tria device looks and occasionally sounds like a hair dryer. It is fairly heavy but not cumbersome. To activate the device you have to call a personal consultant. This activation process is another safety measure to ensure that the system is safe and effective for the user. Before calling make sure you charge the Tria for at least three hours.

The Tria is fairly easy to use. It does not take anyone with exceptional techie skills. You take the skin sensor and test it on a patch of skin. A green light appears if your skin is light enough. You take the skin sensor and wave it over the Tria laser indicator lights. This will activate the lights and beep. After the beeps, a single light will be on. There are three levels of intensity. I used all the settings for this first initial test. The third level will deliver a smidgen of pain. The pain is a quick prick of hotness. It made me jump. The 2nd level is milder.

You place the device flat against the skin. The Tria will beep once and a light pulse will start automatically. The laser will beep a second time in a lower volume. This only takes a few seconds. After the end beep you move the device to the next patch of skin. Tria recommends about 1/4 of an inch. This is the only part that I screwed up. I was watching Gossip Girl and it was a Chuck heavy episode. I am guessing that there will be patches of hair that I missed.

It took an hour to use the device on my legs. There was no redness or swelling. My legs also did not feel hot to the touch. There was no special preparation for the skin before use. Tria instructs that you should be cleanly shaven and not have any soap or lotion residue. I used an Aveeno moisturizer afterwards.

It is too soon for dramatic results but I did notice that my hair was less aggressive. I could actually skip a day of shaving without feeling like Chewbacca. Tria states that hair will start falling out and growing back lighter in two to three weeks. I will report any molting results. This process is estimated to take up to 6 to 9 months.

The Tria device is currently sold at Bergdorf Goodman. The counter number is 212-872-8630. Also check out the website @ http://www.triabeauty.com/
It retails for $995.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Tria.

Prescriptives Friends and Family Online Offer

Enjoy 25% off and FREE SHIPPING with online purchases until October 24th 2008.
The code is FRIEND8.
There are some restrictions. This discount is not valid for Holiday gift sets or custom color for eyes and cheeks.
Visit Prescriptives.com and start shopping!

I would make a great class president because I promise to put two new pop machines in the cafeteria, and I'm also gonna get a glitter Bonne Bell dispenser for all the girls' bathrooms....

The Lancome Winner is...

The winner has been chosen.
Clearly there were favorites and passions ran high in my office. Personally I was hoping that a stubby lash girl would win. Kenny was pulling for Pink Sith. Ebony was rooting for Jamie, Rural Beauty.

The winner was chosen in a non-scientific way. Her entry was pulled out of a file folder.

The winner is Katie M (Kamo). Contact me today with your full name and address. Lancome will be handling the mailing.
Congrats Katie M! You will have to let us know how the mascara transformed your "Napoleon Dynamite" lashes.

Oscillation is on sale today! Check out your local counter or www.lancome-usa.com

There is nothing like a Dazzleglass gloss to mend a broken heart....

Dazzleglasses were back...for maybe 24 hours before selling out again. These are like crack for shimmer addicts. I want to collect these glosses like baseball cards and build them a special cabinet.

Baby Sparks is a cherry blossom pink with blue shimmer
Sugarrimmed has all the fire of an opal.
On the lips Datenight is a doll-like rosebud shade with blue shimmer.
Love Alert is a red with magenta shimmer. It is a great pop of color.

Have you caved on any Dazzleglasses yet? Let me know in the comments.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by MAC

Tripping with Chanel

I am planning a trip next month to the big apple. I am trying to pack light to have enough room for purchases that will range from a boatload of beauty products to most likely a coat or two.

Chanel has come out with a beauty kit for the more frazzled world weary traveler. The kit includes the following:

Chanel sleep mask
Hydramax + Active Serum Active Moisture Boost
Soin Tendres Levres Hydra Treatment Lip Care SPF 15
Pro Lumiere Correcteur Professional Finish Concealer in Medium
Inimitable Mascara Multi-Dimensionnel in Noir-Black, and a mini Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Seashell.

It retails for $175 and comes in a Chanel makeup bag with a removable, full-size clear insert that keeps beauty products safe and easy to spot.
This will help with those frantic moments when you can not locate your mini-skunk brush or MAC Pleasantry blush. It is inevitable that I will have to dump out my makeup bags at least a dozen times during my trip.

Does anyone have any suggestions for packing light when it comes to beauty products? I tend to overpack. I am just always worried that I will need to do a smoky eye at a moments notice.

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Chanel.

Tbone Quotes

"It would be wonderful to have an orchestra follow us around all day and play a movie soundtrack to match our mood"
"Wearing perfume is a little bit like that. It scores the day. It makes breathing,ordinarily a purely functional thing, bring a little bit of beauty into you with each breath.

Quote from my buddy Tbone in November Elle Magazine

Photo source: I can not remember. I think it is from a London paper.

Blogdorf Goodman's Drugstore Deals and Steals for October 19th through October 25th 2008

Rite Aid

Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
N.Y.C: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics and skin care
Garnier: Buy 1, get 1 50% off Nutritioniste skin care
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skincare and bath care
Physicians Formula: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on Organic Wear cosmetics
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lip color
Buy 1, get 1 FREE on Revlon eye color
Almay: $2 single check rebate for eye makeup remover or eye make up
Olay: Definity moisturizers are priced at $23.00
Nivea: 25% off on body care or lip care products

Walgreens

Rimmel: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on Rimmel lip or eye cosmetics
L'Oreal: Double Extend Beauty Tubes mascara is priced at $10.99
With any purchase of Skin Genesis serum, cream or lotion(1.7 oz)at $19.99 and you will receive a FREE Skin Genesis eye or night cream
With any purchase of L'Oreal skin care Collagen Definer or filler(1 oz) or Wrinkle De-Crease($18.99) and get a FREE Wrinkle De-Crease eye or night cream
With any purchase of Advanced Revitalift lotion or cream(.5 to 1.7 oz) priced at $16.49 and get a FREE Advanced Revitalift eye or night cream
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 50% off beauty tools
Nivea: Buy 1, get 1 50% off body care
Cetaphil: Cleanser or lotion(16.oz) is priced at $6.99

CVS

L'Oreal: Beauty Tubes mascara is priced at $9.99 with $2 extra CVS bucks off with CVS card
Buy L'Oreal Advanced Revitalift skincare and get a FREE Advanced Revitalift Day,Night or Eye cream with CVS card
Buy L'Oreal Age Perfect Pro-Calcium Day Cream or Radiance Perfector and get a FREE Pro-Calcium Night Cream 1.7 oz or eye /lip cream(.05 oz) with CVS card
Buy L'Oreal Collagen Filler or Wrinkle Decrease and get a FREE eye or night Collagen Remodeler with CVS card
Buy Age Perfect, Revitalift or Skin Genesis towelettes and get a FREE Age Perfect, revitalift or Skin Genesis cleanser with CVS card
Buy L'Oreal Age Perfect Day Cream and get a FREE Age Perfect Night Cream 2.5 oz or Eye Cream(0.5 oz) with CVS card
Buy L'Oreal Skin Genesis Daily Moisturizer and get a FREE Skin Genesis Night Complex 1.7 oz or Eye Serum with CVS card
Milani: Buy 1, get 1 50% off cosmetics with CVS card
Maybelline: Maybelline XXL Extensions mascara is priced at $7.99 with CVS card
Sally Hansen: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on Sally Hansen or Healing Beauty cosmetics(excludes lip) with CVS card
Get $3 extra CVS bucks with a purchase of Sally Hansen Lip Treatment with CVS card
Neutrogena: 40% off regular retail on cosmetics with CVS card
Wet'N'Wild: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics with CVS card
No!No!: It is priced at $250
Lumene: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on Premium beauty with CVS card
Bio-Oil: Save $2 on Bio-Oil with CVS card
Cetaphil: Cleanser, lotion 16 oz or daily moisturizer is priced at $9.99 with CVS card
Nivea: Save $1 on all Nivea body with CVS card
Neutrogena: Save $1 on Neutrogena speciality bath, rainbath or body oil with CVS card
Ponds: Towelettes(30 ct) are priced at 2 for $10 with $3.00 extra CVS bucks with CVS card
University Medical or AcneFree: Save $3 on WrinkleFree system, face lift filler 1 oz or AcneFree kits with CVS card

Duane Reade

L'Oreal: True Match makeup, blush or concealer for $7.99 with DR card
40% off L'Oreal skincare(excludes cleansers) with DR card
L'Oreal cleansers are priced at $5.99 with DR card
Bare Naturale, Double Extend or Volume Shocking mascara is priced at $6.99 with DR card
Almay: Eye makeup remover pads are priced at $3.99 with DR card

Target

Neutrogena: Energy Renewal Day lotion is priced at $16.99
10% off all other face, hand and body skin care
CoverGirl: LashExact or VolumeExact mascara is priced at $5.79
10% off other selected CoverGirl eye and face products
Garnier: 1.7 oz Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew eye roller or 1.7 oz Advanced Revitalift anti-wrinkle concentrate is priced at $9.99
10% off selected Nutritioniste and L'Oreal skin care

Lash Games: Oscillation GiveAway

Ôscillation goes on sale at Lancome counters on Wednesday, October 22nd. My local counter is currently pre-selling like a bandit. The national waiting list is actually 13,000 strong. This truly is a mascara movement.

Lancome is working with 24 other bloggers to give away these wiggling tubes of goodness. I have been asked to participate and of course I said...Yes.

I thought about coming up with a unique and cutesy idea to give these lash puppies away...but I am spent. Instead we will have a simple straight forward giveaway.

Leave you first name and the initial of your last name in the comments for this post only.

Tell us what kind of lashes you have.

Short stubs or long fans. Curly or poker straight.

On October 22nd, all the names will be put in a hat. A jazzy co-worker will chose a name while blindfolded. The name will be posted in the mid-morning.

The winner will be instructed to contact me and I will send the deets to Lancome.

I do have my comments moderated so do not panic if you do not see your name appear instantly.

This contest is only open to US residents. (Sorry to my international and Canadian readers...one day I will have a contest only for you!)

So let the lash games begin.

NARS Sephora Flame Lipstick (exclusive from Sephora's 10th Anniversary)
Review by Storybookheroine

This limited edition lipstick is only available at Sephora stores and Sephora.com as an exclusive for their 10th anniversary celebration.

I am a huge NARS lipstick fan and have owned, in either regular form or palette, almost all the shades at one point or another but one thing I've not found is a very deep matte red brown shade. Flame is it for me. The formula is semi-matte, highly pigmented and long wearing. This shade does not go pink, it does not go fuchsia and it is not bright in the least (I think the touch of brown really helps in this). Sephora Flame is a true retro deep red shade worthy of a pinup and maybe slightly gothic to some. It's what I call a redhead red. Now I'm not exactly a redhead but I have light brown hair with a lot of copper in it so I do lean a bit in that direction and any redhead will tell you a good red is hard to find if you do not feel comfortable in brights. My skin is fair, some light freckles and neutral to leaning warm and Flame really flatters my complexion. It makes my eyes, which are a mix of green, gray and blue, really stand out so if you have any of those shades this could be a great red for you. This is the POW! factor I've been searching for!

I had hoped Fire Down Below (semi matte pure blood red) or Spanish Red (satin sangria) would have been this shade but as Fire Down Below is a brighter fresh blood red and Spanish Red turned a odd shade on me, Flame is more a dried blood red. Sorry if that sounds terrible but I want to describe it as accurately as possible. I do not find it drying but if you do I suggest using a bit of lip balm under the color. Overall I love this and it's just in time for the holidays. I can't wait to try it with Misbehave or Moonfleet gloss over it!
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P223426&categoryId=C7010

Credit: Storybookheroine
Disclosure: All products mentioned in this review were purchased by the reviewer.

Best Beauty Counter

I was having a beauty conversation with Patti aka Cavewoman recently. We were discussing what cosmetic counter always has exceptional sale associates who love their product line and are knowledgeable. Wherever we go, the Christian Dior SA's are enthusiastic and know their line inside and out. They are like beauty historians. They remember every discontinued product or hard to find shade. We visited a forgotten mall in Canton Ohio. There we discovered an adorable Dior SA that was up to date on every product including Sephora exclusives. The SA was not bored even though she was in the middle of nowhere. She was just as enthusiastic as a new employee.

I thought it would be fun to pose the question to my readers.
What beauty counter or line has the best sale associates? Grade on consistent performance at every counter you visit. Do they have knowledge of past or future collections? Are they excited to dish about products? Are they cheerleaders for their line?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Lip Gloss with a Cause

Shiseido Pretty Pink Lip Gloss

Shiseido Cosmetics is partnering with CEW’s Cancer and Careers to donate $5 for every unit of Shiseido The Makeup Lip Gloss in Pretty Pink, which will be sold throughout the month of October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This is a very light wash of a milky pink. It layers well over pink or fuchsia lippies. The formula is what makes it unique. It is hydrating like a lip balm. The product retails for $20.50 and is available online at Macy’s, Nordstroms and Sephora.

Credit: Blogdorf Goodman and CEW
Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by CEW

Michael Kors Very Pretty: A Review

This fragrance was influenced by the fall 2008 collection. Everything was very Hitchcockian. You can almost see Eva Marie Saint and Tippi Hedren strolling down the runway with furs draped across their shoulders. The fragrance is an embodiment of old school elegance mixed in with something tropical. Think Casablanca. It opens with bergamot and mandarin and settles into a milky coconut. The mid notes are a hodgepodge of white florals(jasmine) and greens(violet). The dry down is heavy on the very strong and high volume vetiver. It cuts through the mid-notes quickly and mixes well with the coconut note. There is a aquatic vibe to the whole fragrance.

The bottle is decorated with crystals and a silver cap. It reminded me of the silver violet mink from the 2008 fall show. It retails for $75 and will be available in November 2008 at a department store near you.

Credits:Style.com and MK
Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by Michael Kors

Blogdorf Goodman's Drugstore Deals and Steals for October 12th through October 18th 2008

Walgreens

L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on L'Oreal or HIP cosmetics
CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics or Olay skin care
Neutrogena: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on cosmetics
Maybelline: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on foundation,powder, concealer or blush
Bonne Bell: 40% off on cosmetics
Jane; Buy 1, get 1 FREE on Jane and Jane Be Pure Mineral cosmetics
Yes to Carrots: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on lip butter
Biore: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on skin care
Lubriderm: 16 oz lotion is priced at $6.99

Target

Eucerin/Nivea: 13.5 oz daily lotion Nivea body moisturizing lotion or Eucerin replenishing lotion is priced at $5.69
10% off all other selected Nivea and Eucerin skin care products
Revlon: Beyond Natural skin matching makeup or smoothing primer is $10.29
10% off other selected Revlon face and eye products
Olay: Regenerist Recovery Treatment 1.7 oz is priced at $16.99
10% off other selected Olay skin care products

Rite Aid

CoverGirl: Buy 1, get 1 50% off CoverGirl cosmetics and Olay bath and skin care
L'Oreal: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on foundation,powder, blush or concealer
Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on foundation, powder, blush or concealer
Almay: Buy 1, get 50% off on cosmetics
Sally Hansen: Diamond Strength, Salon, Maximum Growth or No Chip Nail Polish is on sale for $3.49
got2b: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on hair care
Jergens: Buy 1, get 1 50% off on lotion

CVS

Revlon: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on face, eye, lip, nail or beauty tools with CVS Card
Lumene: Time Freeze day, night, eye cream,serum, mask, wrinkle treatment or eye stick is priced at $14.99 with CVS card
RoC: Save $3 on skin care with CVS card
Biore: Save $1 with CVS card
Garnier: Get $3 extra CVS bucks when you purchase 2 Garnier Nutritioniste Nutri-pure products with CVS card
Get $7 extra CVS bucks when you purchase 2 Garnier Nutrioniste Skin Renew or Ultra-Lift products with CVS card
24.7 Minerals: Get $5 extra CVS bucks when you purchase 24.7 Minerals face makeup or all skincare with CVS card
L'Oreal: Beauty Tubes(mascara) are priced at $10.99 with CVS card
CoverGirl: Spend $10 and get $3 extra CVS bucks
Lash Blast mascara is priced at $5.99 with CVS card
Eye Enhancer is priced at $3.99 with CVS card
Wetslicks Amazement lip gloss is priced at $3.99 with CVS card
Lubriderm: 16 oz lotion is priced at $6.99 with CVS card
Jergens or Curel: Jergens Naturals 16.8 oz or Curel lotion 13 oz is priced at $6.99 with CVS Card
Almay: Buy 1, get 1 FREE on cosmetics with CVS card

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: DuWop Pink Shimmer Brick

DuWop introduces a limited-edition Pink Shimmer Brick to raise awareness about breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and DuWop has joined in the fight to help save lives. DuWop proudly supports courageous women everywhere working during and after cancer treatment by donating a portion of proceeds from Pink Shimmer Brick to Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation's Cancer and Careers".
DuWop’s Pink Shimmer Brick is housed in a sleeve bearing the names of many women who have been affected by breast cancer. “DuWop honors all women in their journeys dealing with breast cancer,” said Cristina Bartolucci, DuWop co-founder and creative director. “By listing names of women we know and love who have been affected by this disease on the packaging, we are creating a physical tribute.”

DuWop’s Pink Shimmer Brick is a whispery blue based pink that can be used as a highlighter, blush or a final dusting powder. It looks pretty on bare skin. It brightens and gives a silvery glow. I have been layering it with the long defunct Chanel Rose Blossom powder. It is lovely and gives just the right amount of rosy glow.

It retails for $18 and is available at http://shop.duwop.com/index.asp

Disclaimer: A press sample of this product was provided by CEW