New Year, New You: Bliss FatGirlSlim

 

Bliss FatGirlSlim cream, $29 for 6 oz, blissworld.com, sephora.com

Why you want it: Slims, energizes, and helps increase circulation.

What it does: With Bliss patented QuSome technology, the anti-cellulite ingredients help to penetrate deeper into the skin, leaving you with smoother skin over time when used as directed.

My thoughts: When first applied, the tingley sensation feels nice. It is a gel-cream texture and easy to massage into the skin. I used this daily per package instructions. While I was using this, I also upped my time at the gym, and I would attribute any firmness I gained to that rather than this cream as I did not see any difference in cellulite appearance. Bliss recommends using this as part of a system, which can get a little pricy.

A note on use: This is a treatment and not a lotion so use accordingly. While you may see a slight hydration from this cream, you may still need an additional body hydrator. Bliss claims you will see best results if used in combination with a body scrub (they now have one aptly called FatGirl Scrub) to get your circulation going. I used theirs and also a draining one from Caudalie while using the FatGirl cream. They also recommend using their FatGirl Sleep cream at night to further drain the area of any fluids.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

One of my fave youtubers, emilynoel83, put together great beauty stocking stuffer ideas. Check out her nifty recommendations:

Snow Days + Philosophy Snow

 

When I was little, my aunt brought a truck full of snow home for me as a surprise and I made a snowman on my front lawn. It was very fun and all of the kids who walked by my house after school thought it was awesome. Even though I love building snow people, it doesn’t snow where I live and I am definitely okay with that. Shoveling snow from the drive way, waking up to find your car under a pile of snow, and driving in it never seemed appealing. If I want to experience snow in all its winter glory, I only have a two-hour drive. Confession: for senior skip day in high school my friends and I went to the snow. 

 

If you want to capture the essence of being in the snow without freezing, try Philosophy’s seasonal Snow line. The collection features shower gel, lip gloss, shimmering lotion, foot and hand cream set, and two other gift sets ranging in price from $10 for the gloss up to $25 for the gift sets.

Holiday Gift Guide: Sweet Treats

Need a gift for a real sweetheart? These fun and irresistable gifts are great for little ladies and grown up ladies alike. 

 1.  L’OCCITANE Limited Edition Creme Caramel Candle: $28, usa.loccitane.com; To create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, light this decadent scented candle to find your own comfort and joy this holiday. 

2. Fossil Candy Dome Ring Size 7: $40, fossil.com; This pretty metal and gemstone ring will be sure to please even the most finicky of recipients.

3. Hard Candy Just  Nails Polish; $5, select Walmart stores; The newly reinvented Hard Candy line is now exclusively sold at Walmart. With a larger color selection and variety of finishes (cream, shimmer, glitter) there is something for everyone. These also still include the signature ring in a coordinating color. Tip: Online is almost always sold out of these so input your zip to find a store nearest to you. 

4. Lush Creamy Candy Bubble Bar: $6.65, lush.com and stores; This bubbling bath treat smells so yummy you’ll want to eat it but it’s best enjoyed crumbled into your warm bath water for a deliciously scented bath-time escape. Bath bars can be crumbled into pieces and used for multiple baths. Best when kept in an air-tight bag or container. 

5. Sephora Sweet Candy Gloss Trio: $13, sephora.com; These glosses are slick and never sticky while having a slight shimmer and shine to make your pucker look irresistable. Set includes Guava Passion (my personal fave), Apple pomegranate, and Tropical Jasmine. Glosses are also sold individually in 8 different flavors for $7 each. 

6. Girl’s Juicy Couture Eat Candy Hoodie: $74.00 for toddler and child size 2-6, $98.00 for girls size 7-14, juicycouture.com; This soft velour-feel hoodie features glittery “eat candy” print on back. Matching pants and candy tee also available separately. 

7. Dylan’s Candy Bar Birthday Cake Batter Lip Saver: $8, sephora.com; DCB best-selling flavor “birthday cake” scented lip balm is hydrating and smells delish.

Holiday Gift Guide: The Spa Lover

Since most of us can’t get spa treatments done often, giving the gift of spa-inspired products is a great way to treat someone this holiday season. Here are my top picks for the spa-lover in your life (or even for yourself):

1. Caudalie Spa in a Bag: $30, sephora.com; This luxe set includes everything you’ll need to relax and revitalize the body. Includes a full size Fleur De Vigne shower gel, Crushed Cabernet Scrub, and travel sizes of Caudalie’s best-selling hand cream and body lotion.

2. Elemis Spa Candle: $76, timetospa.com; Indulge in this cinnamon, vanilla, and orange candle. The beautiful wooden base is reusable when your candle has finished its 130 hours of burn time.

3. Clarisonic Plus Skin Cleansing system: $225, sephora.com and clarisonic.com; As your cleanse your face and body, the sonic system rotates 300 times per minute to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells to reveal more radiant skin with less oilyness, fewer dry patches, fewer blemishes, and reduce wrinkles and pores. Used in many salon treatments and recommended by estheticians and dermatologists. This new plus system now has a third setting and special brush head for the body. Replacement brush heads, $25.

4. Calvin Klien Lush Bathrobe in White: $99, Macys.com; This cozy machine washable cotton robe is a great gift for anyone on your list. One size fits all, also available in the color Green Tea. A good alternative to this robe is the Bath and Body Works Sweetest, Softest Ever Robe, $39.50-$49.50, in multiple sizes and colors.

5. Tanda Regenerate Anti-Aging Starter Kit: $275, sephora.com; Is there someone on your list that must try all of the hippest, newest skin care gadget trends? Give the gift of youth with the Tanda. This anti-aging light therapy device helps to improve skin texture, tone, and firmness. There is also a blue LED light (sold separately) for acne.

6. Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Cream: $75, drbrandtskincare.com; Previously called “microdermabrasion in a jar,” this fine, smooth facial exfoliant is the creme de la creme of at home treatments. A version for the body is also available. Treatment may not be suitable for those with hyper sensitive skin or open lesions.

Holiday Gift Guide: Eastern Influence

 

1. Eastern Inspired Throw Pillows: $14-$24.99, worldmarket.com; With several patterns, colors, and styles, World Market is a great place to shop for unique decorative pillows. Check out more styles in-store and stop at the sale section.

2. Carved mirror: Various prices in-store at World Market. See store finder for the location near you.

3. Blue Velvet Mary Janes: $21, amazon.com; Other material options include cotton, silk, and velvet. This pair only in size US size 5-7. See seller for other styles, colors, and sizes.

4. Woven Tray: $39.99 sale price, westelm.com; This 24″diam x 14″h woven tray is perfect to use as a table, as a breakfast tray, catch-all, magazine, tray, the possibilities are endless. Stand not included.

5. Cargo Eastern Eye Pencil Set: $18 for five, sephora.com; This set of five mini eyeliner is perfect for any fashionista, girl on the go, or anyone that likes to emphasize their gorgeous peepers. Make sure to pick up a pencil sharpener, too.

6. 1928 Middle Eastern Style Jet Black Filigree Hoop Earrings: $15, 1928.com; Polished, textured hematite is finished with grey and black crystals.

7. Chinese Nylon-Cloth Fan: $11.99, amazon.com; Also available in yellow, magenta, and black.

8. Japanese Cherry Blossom Hanging Paper Lantern: $13.95, amazon.com; 10 mini paper lanterns are lit by 10 mini lightbulbs (included).

Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation

I first tried Bare Escentual’s Bare Mineral foundation back in 2005 and despite all of the fabulous infomercials that promised this foundation would deliver beautiful skin, it did not work for me at all. The coverage was OK and application was easy (albeit very messy) but it made my oily skin feel greasy and the bismuth oxychloride made my face itch like crazy. I also did not like how shiny it made my skin look.

I swore off the brand, even after a colleague of mine ended up working for the company and tried to convince me that it was a good product. When the matte foundation was released, she gave me my very own jar to try out and said I would like this new formula better. It sat in my makeup organizer for months until recently when I decided to break it out and finally give it a try.

I like the new packaging; its user-friendly closable sifter ensures that you won’t end up with a powder explosion when opened. I also love that it is matte and is free of bismuth oxychloride. I did not like the coverage as it seemed to be lighter than the original. I also didn’t care for how it felt on my skin, though to be fair I feel this way about all mineral makeup, not just this brand. I felt itchy when it was first applied and then that feeling went away after a few moments of wear. For me, it is totally better than the original. I can absolutely see how others love Bare Escentuals products and I’m still not a fan of the brand.

PSA: I know that the B.E. slogan is “makeup so pure you can sleep in it,” but please don’t. Even though the makeup won’t clog your pores, you are still producing oil and not washing your face after wearing any kind of makeup can contribute to clogged pores or acne.

The new matte foundation is $28 and can be found at Bare Escentuals stores and Sephora.

I <3 Going to the Theatre

 

I’m a busy bee this week so I won’t be blogging again until next week. The photo above is a peak of the show I’m currently working on.

Next week I plan to review Bare Escentials Matte Foundation. I’m generally NOT a B.E. fan (the bismuth oxychloride makes me itch soo bad) but I’m trying to give the new formulation the benefit of the doubt. I’ll  let you all know how it goes after I’ve been wearing it for a few more days.

Lush Figs and Leaves Soap

 Mmmmmm. I love Lush’s Figs and Leaves Soap because it smells like a little peace of heaven. The scent is light, slightly clean and also a little foody. It also feels divine and exfoliates without being messy or leaving behind a film. Figs and Leaves exfoliates with fig seeds and is scented with essentials oild of ylang ylang, orange blossom absolute, and added fragrance.I love this because it’s gentle, smells divine, feels wonderful on my skin, and doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry. The only downside, for me, are the leaves on the top of the soap. Sure, it’s pretty decoration, but it gets mushy with use and can clog the drain. I just simply peel the leaves off after my first use. I discovered this soap thanks to a little sample that a nice sales lady added into my bag and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love it during fall and winter the most and will sometimes indulge in a bar during other months as well.This soap ranges in price in store depending on the size you get and the online quote for a 3.5 oz bar is $7.60. You can also have the lovely sales people at the store cut your very own custom bar as well.

Lush is best known for its natural approach to skin, body, and hair care. Sometimes synthetic materials (man-made) are used and they strive to use skin and eco-friendly versions. There are several locations world-wide and the online store is the only place to find “Retro Lush” items (previously discontinued products). Many items are also vegan friendly.

Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer

 

I’m all for HD technology when it comes to my makeup. Who wouldn’t want their complexion to be perfection? Makeup Forever has finally formulated an HD concealer ($28) to fit in with the rest of their HD line, which includes primer, foundation, and finishing powder.

Some of the highlights of this product include having 14 shades to match the fairest skin to the deepest complexions, being oil-free, light weight while still providing a medium finish, and not making your under eye area look cakey or creasey. It also has a gentle tip for precise application without any tugging on the eye area.

I have two different shades and like them well enough to use them daily. It still hasn’t replaced my trusty Balm concealer for tough to cover problems but I do really like these. They feel light, blend smoothly, and I love that they come in a wide variety of shades. One thing to note is that a little goes a long way and it’s best to use a light hand in application.

Makeup Forever is sold at Sephora.com (and in stores) and can be found at the Makeup Forever Boutique in NYC. For international locations, visit makeupforever.com