Laura Mercier Pressed Powder Review

I have combination skin and have been addicted to buying all the pressed powder I can get my hands on, to find the best possible. Along the way, I have also encountered a few that I would not recommend to anyone. Laura Mercier's Translucent Pressed Powder is one of them, though Molly Sims love it. I was very excited to try this product because Laura Mercier is known for her amazing line of foundations, concealers, powders, etc - everything you need to achieve the perfect flawless face for your makeup application.

I bought this because I am a fan of her Translucent Loose Setting Powder, which contains absolutely no pigment and is made from pure talc, thinking I could get the same results on the go and in a more user friendly format.

Unless you plan to carry around a big fluffy brush to powder yourself with the Translucent Pressed Powder, you are stuck with the sponge. I made one of my few - I would like to think - beauty faux pas when I blotted myself lightly using the provided sponge without looking at the mirror. I was horrified when I went to the bathroom half an hour later to find some white powder streaks on my face! Imagine my horror. I was thankful it only took me half an hour before I checked myself in the mirror and since then, I never powder without looking at the mirror.

In spite of this, it did keep my T-zone matte throughout the day. Do not get me wrong, I still love Laura Mercier, but I just would not buy or recommend this product unless you plan on using a brush with it, and in that case, it works great. For my purpose, I wanted a pressed powder on the go, that I can blot as needed and not worry about visible streaks on my face.

If you still want to buy it, you can find it at Sephora.com for $30.

Vogue Beauty Giveaway

Special thanks to my online supporter, Tiffany, who offered the following samples to one lucky Vogue Beauty's reader! Leave a comment about what you would like to see and which articles you have enjoyed for your chance to win all of the following:

Vogue Beauty's Samples Giveaway:
1. Estee Lauder Hydra Bright Skin-Tone Perfecting Moisturizer, 7ml
2. Clinique Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer, 15 ml
3. Estee Lauder High Gloss Ultra Brillance, 7ml
4. Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer, 3ml
5. Oscar Blandi Hair Serum Olio Di Jasmine, 5 ml

This giveaway ends 7/25/2008!

Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask Review

Featured in the November 2006 issue of Instyle, and a best buy, this mask delivers on everything that it promises. It is no wonder that this mask was a top seller in 2007 and a beauty insiders' favorite. I am addicted to the triple oxygen treatment at Bliss Spa. but for $160, excluding tips, I cannot afford to go as often (which is everyday) as I would like. Bliss' Triple Oxygen Mask allows people like me, who are limited by the power of our wallet size, to enjoy the glow we get from the actual facial itself, everyday =)

I highly recommend this product, even for people with sensitive skin. I like exfoliate my skin before this mask and to follow with my regular mask! I especially love how the pink/peach colored cream reacts with your skin to form white bubbles that deliver doses of oxygen into your pores. Your skin is left feeling invigorated after just one application! At $52, compared to the $160 facial, you bet this is a steal. I have to admit, although this comes close to the actual facial, I still like going in once a month for that professional Bliss dose of oxygen. This mask is the next best thing which then helps me extend and prolong my glow. Use it 3 times a week and your skin will be thanking you.

Buy yours today for $52, at Sephora: Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask.

Kai Fragrance Review

Kai...I have been in love with this fragrance since 2000 when I discovered it on my first trip out to LA. Created by a Malibu boutique owner, this fragrance catapulted her into the limelight over night. It was not long before Kai, the fragrance, became her main line of business.

This fragrance, a pretty blend of white flowers with a strong note of gardenia, reminds me of all my summer vacations in Hawaii. And when I want to escape the harsh New York winter, I wear Kai. The highly popular and sought after perfume oil is extremely concentrated and a little dab will have you smelling like a lovely gardenia from morning to light. All my boyfriends have loved it. Many secretly confided in me that they wished more women wore fragrances like Kai - lightly-scented and fresh; as opposed to overpowering and pungent!


Needless to say Kai has a long list of celebrities die hard - Naomi Watts, Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Debra Messing, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Tommy Lee, the list goes on. Hey, at $65, what is a better way than to smell like your favorite celebrity. This unisex fragrance will have strangers, and dogs, sniffing you out for more.

Hey, after all, it is one of Usher's favorite scent on a woman =)

Buy it today at Eluxury.com for $65: Kai Eau de Parfum. Or try the perfume oil for $45.

Revitalash Review

"Are those lashes real?" I get asked this question on a regular basis and up till a year ago, I would fess up about having eyelash extensions every two months. Thanks to Revitalash, those days are gone. This product is truly amazing and it makes my eyelashes grow and grow - thicker, longer lashes like I always dreamed of having since I was a little girl. This product takes time and patience. I was about to give up at 6 weeks, but I was determined to find a solution to those expensive extensions. I started noticing a huge difference around week 8, my bottom lashes started growing. All of a sudden, I have to apply mascara on my bottom lashes?? LOVES IT!

Finally, after years and years of praying, I have those amazing set of lashes I always dreamed of! My hairdresser even commented how gorgeous my lashes looks without any mascara on. I must admit that it was weird when they first started touching my sunglasses, now I know how people with thick full lashes feel like. Before Revitalash, I have tried ALL, I literally mean ALL lash juice on the market and none of them worked!

Extra’s Dayna Devon took the Revitalash challenge and after 60 days, she has longer, fuller lashes. Check this video out for yourself:

http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2007/06/the_secret_to_getting_bigger_a.php


Revitalash has a cult-like following in Hollywood and among models. Celebrities love this product! Marcia Cross, check! Even Kim Kardashian, who has naturally has to die for lashes swears by it. This is what she has to say on her blog about Revitalash "It's amazing! It makes your eyelashes grow soooo much!"
Check it out at: http://www.kimkardashian.com/

$150 might be a little steep for some people, but for me, that is money well spent! Lovely lashes without having to use mascara! Get yours today at Revitalash.com.

Special thanks to Dr. Brinkenhoff who changed my life and made me give up my daily starbucks for a tube of Revitalash.


Note: Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff created this product as a gift to his wife whose eyelashes were damaged from intensive chemotherapy. Who knew that the gift Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff gave his wife would change the life of so many around the world.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Review

Being on Allure's Best of Beauty, Hall of Fame, is by no means easy. Yet Cetaphil^® Gentle Skin Cleanser managed to do just that! This is one product that you can find in most celebrities', beauty editors', models' bathroom, Molly Sims swears by it!

This is a great daily cleanser, and I love to use it to remove my makeup. I used to suffer from bad acne when I was young, knock on wood, and as part of my daily skin care regimen, my dermatologist recommended this cleanser to me. Fast forward 10 years, my skin has cleared up and I am still hooked on this drug store product.

As noted by the maker, Cetaphil^® Gentle Skin Cleanser will not strip the skin of natural protective oils or emollients, or disturb the skin’s natural pH balance. It is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, making it an excellent choice for daily facial cleansing. Some days I apply it to my face and remove it with a cotton pad, there are also days where I remove it using water. It is really up to each individual, though I think I much enjoy the feel of my face after removing the cleanser with a cotton pad. Just be sure to thoroughly clean the face! It might take 2-3 application if you are wearing heavy makeup.

I really feel that for a product like this, with a price like that, I need not say more. Just go and try it. Most drugs stores have a good return policy, if you do not like it, simply return it for a full refund! My guess is you will be going back for more.

Buy it today at Drugstore.com or any drug store near you for $11.99: Cetaphil^® Gentle Skin Cleanser. And for those with oilier skin, try Cetaphil^® Daily Facial Cleanser, Normal to Oily Skin for $11.99, also available at Drugstore.com!

Stila Smudge Pot Review

I recently purchased Stila's "the perfect face kit", mainly because I am a sucker for their convertible color and smudge pots. I figured with the savings, I could have all the products for a bargain price!

Overall, I would rate this product an 8, on a scale of 1-10. I would recommend this product for someone who is looking for the dramatic liquid liner look, but has yet to master the application technique. This creamy, gel-like product is easy to use, goes on smoothly, and dries instantly for a semi-liquid liner look (minus the clean line of a liquid liner.)

Some reviewers have said that this product tends to bleed mid-day. After years of usage, including many 20 hours day wear, I have yet to experience that problem. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Urban Decay's Primer Potion really does the trick when it comes to preventing migration of eye makeup, and I credit it for helping my smudge pot stay on all day! The smudge pot blends easily, or smudge, my upper lash line for dramatic, smoky eyes!

I have been using this product for years and would recommend people who want to try it out to purchase it whenever Stila's has one of these promotional offers because the smudge pot comes in a smaller size. Some of my smudge pots in the past have dried up, while some lasted until close to the very end, so I always jump at the opportunity to buy it in smaller quantity! When it does dry out, I usually mix it with a wee bit of eye cream, any would do!


The only thing I would recommend against, is using this product for tightlining because of how the texture is. And if you think black is too dark, give brown a shot!

But it now at Sephora for $18, Stila's Smudge Pot.

Or buy the smaller version as part of the Perfect Face Kit, $45.