My most recent box from Beauty Fix included, Purlisse Pur Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher 0.5oz, a daily lip nourisher that will now and forever be found in my purse. Love, Love, Love it! and you will too.

It kept my lips silky soft for hours at a time, but my biggest secret was to put it on before bed for long lasting kissable lips.

Not only is this velvety sensation petroleum free, it includes Mango Butter, Shea Butter and Vitamin E which makes the cost of $22.00 completely worth it. The clear glossy look is perfect for daytime but the nourishing balm is also great to wear under a vibrant lip color for a smooth application for a night out on the town!

You will want to check out Purlisse Pur Lip Comfort Daily Lip Nourisher 0.5oz   for yourself.

Technorati Tags: Purlisse , Beauty Fix, Lip Balm

  Currently, it is a personal pet peeve that some bloggers choose to write only favorable reviews. I perceive this behavoir as entirely offensive due to the absurdity connected with the idea that every product (especially cosmetics for women???) would appeal to everyone.

 I threw caution to the wind because I was very impressed with the professionalism of the woman behind the request, as well as the full service offering of related products, mineral makeup education, companion cosmetic brushes and an appealing website.

  A few short weeks later the package from Erth Mineral Make Up package arrived at my door complete with the following items enclosed:

• Erth Organic Cleansing Souffle
• Erth Vitamin C & Chamomile Eye Cream
• Erth Minerals Foundation 1.2
• Erth Minerals Foundation 2.0
• Erth Minerals Moth Veil
• Erth Minerals Glow
• Erth Minerals Petal

   I had a Kabuki brush in my cosmetic bag although I paid MUCH more for mine than the comparable brush available on LushBrush.com where you can also purchase Erth Minerals.

  I decided to use all Erth products for two consecutive weeks. To my the delight, the foundation shades adjusted several levels to accommodate my deeper skin tone which was a big plus. My foundation preference is a dewy finish which cannot be achieved with just the mineral Foundation however once I brushed the Glow on top, it was closer to the look I prefer except too labor intense and sheer for me. At the end of two weeks, I noticed my skin appeared dry and was flaky in some areas. Minerals of any sort have not suitably performed on my specific skin type in the past, so I am not faulting this product.

  No Problem…

  I passed the products over to my daughter for review. She enjoyed wearing the Minerals 2.0 and Petal for the natural, fresh look of very little makeup with the added benefit of a 15spf for daytime. She loves the Eye Cream due to it’s non creasy and weightless feeling  unlike any she has tried in the past. She continues to wear the Glow Erth Minerals over a tinted moisturizer and finishes with a light dusting of Moth Veil to create a genuinly flawless look for evenings out. She plans on purchasing both on a regular basis and is anxious to try shadows in the future.

  If you have Normal to Oily skin and/or a fan of Mineral Make Up then I would certainly recommend Erth Minerals. These products compare to any I have used in the past and are so affordable that it is certainly worth a try.

Technorati Tags: Mineral Makeup, review, foundation, cosmetics, woman, brushes

  1. Self Sunless Tan – Why?

• It will make you eye’s appear whiter as well as your teeth. The deepened color on your face will naturally create the illusion.
• Everyone will think you look healthier.
• Makes you appear thinner and will even diminish the unsightly appearance of cellulite.

  I have a couple of favorite Self Tanners in my beach bag. The first is Bella Bronze Sunless tanning Lotion . The Mediterranean blend of Chamomile, Goats Milk, Olive Oil and Shea butter will make you skin feel fabulous while revealing a flawless, deep golden tan…Love it! and no streaking allowed.

SeneSun wash on tanner offers a fail safe application process by applying it with a body poof in the shower and rinsing it off. Step out, towel dry off to discover a light brown bronze tone that will become more intense with a second and third application over the next few days.

  2. Teeth Whitening – Why?

• The added confidence alone is well worth the effort.
• Most teeth have a yellow or gray tint which intensifies with various foods you eat and is never attractive..
• Whiter teeth will naturally make you appear younger and the added benefit will make you smile more often.

  Unless you plan on having your teeth professionally whitened, the winner is Crest White Strips…hands down. Crest White strips are the best over the counter, moderately priced teeth whitening system.

 

  3. White Eyeliner Pencil/Shadow – Why?

• A white liner pencil/shadow on the inner bottom lid will give make your eyes appear whiter, brighter and larger.
• Use your white liner on the inner corner of your eye for highlighting your way to a more youthful, wide awake appearance.
• My favorite is a gel white eyeliner pencil with the ease of a retractor.

  4. Eye Whitening Drops – Why?

• Moist eyes appear to look well rested and bright
• Clearer eyes, whiter eyes are more appealing.

  The best eye whitening moisture drops are Refresh Redness Relief by Allergan.

  5. Contact Lenses – Why?

I am not recommending that you run out and purchase contact lenses if you do not require your vision corrected, you may want to consider these lenses for pure cosmetic enhancement. Compliments galore will come your way!

•  Allure/Equinox contact lenses by Marietta vision, come complete with what I refer to as semi permanent Iris Eyeliner on the lens. This circle appears to look like eyeliner will enhance the color of your iris and make the whites of your eye appear much whiter and brighter. The deep black small lines around the contact lens are called a “Limbal” ring.

  Begin with a safe and healthy self tan followed by a few simple tips that will springboard you on your way to fabulous this summer.

   

Technorati Tags: sunless tan, bella bronze, whiter eyes, allure, equinox, eye, contact lenses, whiter teeth

I don’t mean the BIG stuff like Cars, Electronics or over the top expensive denim.

RATHER…The small INEXPENSIVE “gotcha” gifts that really create unexpected excitement. You know! When it’s opened you can see “THE LOOK” of…it’s kinda cool, NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT OR even considered that I needed it.

Last year, the AH HA gift FOR MY MEN, was a small shoe shine kit with your basic black and brown shoe polish, ecetera, from The Men’s Warehouse . No kidding! It was awesome and they all loved them.

HOORAH! I just found this year’s gift. How Sweet! Just in time for the holidays and the men in my world a useful gift of beauty in a manly sort of way.
Burt’s Bees is known for delivering some pretty powerful, natural products that are male friendly because they perform and are not too frilly.
Check this out! Burt Bee’s Canvas Dopp kit with all the greatest essential grooming products at just the right price.

Just a little FYI! Last spring, I gifted all friend’s male graduates a fully appointed Dopp Kit and enclosed a Target gift card as well. You may want to consider purchasing a few extras at this price for your graduate gifts.

Technorati Tags: Burt’s Bees, Men’s, gifts, dopp kit, beauty

Time to Face the fact that a self proclaimed fashionista determines her own wants, needs and desires and rest assured age doesn’t play a factor.

My premier gift recommendation this season deserves a bit of a prelude or more like a story. When I launched my first blog, I was clueless about all aspects of blogging except the products I wrote about. In search of some direction, I consulted someone I respected that directed me to seek out a couple of beauty bloggers to follow. The criteria she purposed sounded easy as I only needed to feel drawn to the content and naturally the author. Simple? NO! I took it very seriously and after two weeks of countless hours of reading I ended up following two women and Yes! There blogs.

Time to come clean…Whew! I lost track of one the two beauty bloggers for a brief amount of time and was absolutely elated when happenstance via Twitter landed Christina (Jones) my way once again. The Joy! You will find her at Cristina Loves which is a fun,warm place to hang out while reading her quirky slant on just about everything related to beauty.

Christina started a new job with Blush Media where her first project as the Community Manger is launching a ginormous exciting effort called Beauty Fix .

Love it! It’s a fareal feminine craving!

The skinny on Beauty Fix is that you join by signing up for $50.00 paid quarterly you will receive somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 of cosmetics delivered right to your door. These products are put through rigid review and nominated by top beauty experts for prestigious inclusion in the quarterly package. You can’t buy your way into this one! You can count on “What’s Hot” in your package with many additional perks because you are NOW a Beauty Fix insider.

Check it out! The gift that keeps on giving in oh so many ways.

Honesty is sitting on my shoulder as truth presents that it is a fact that Lipstick sales rise when the economy is in the tank and you can bet those boys rally around the keg as beer sales also soar. Needless to say that being a cosmetic junkie…. I choose lipstick and a good glass of Chardonnay. Silly as it may sound, a new fashion forward pigment in a tube can alter the way you feel about yourself.

Here are my top 5 Lipstick picks for…

THE PICTURE PERFECT LUSCIOUS LIPS PICK ME UP!

• L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick – My color choice is Tawny . This is a luscious creamy sheer lipstick that delivers a moisturized feeling. L’Oreal Color Riche offers an incredible value for the low cost of $8.95.
• Mac Cremesheen – My pick is Fanfare. This lipstick supplies a just the perfect amount of sheen and a nice light coverage. Yes! Mac lipstick is still in that very reasonable price range of $14.00.
• Nars Satin Lipstick – Check out Blond Venus. This is a long lasting color with a dazzling sheen. NARS Lipstick is a little pricey at $24.00 but worth it.
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Lip Color – Yummy Raisin Berry although many captivating shades. This long wearing lipcolor is moisturizing and leaves you lips oh so soft.

Most of you that I am an eternal loyalist to LipSense which I have been affliated with for quite some time now. It is only logical that I would add it to the mix.

• LipSense Lipcolor – Red! Umm gotta love it! LipSense Cranberry with Diamond Kiss gloss. This long lasting red is the only way to go when wearing red and the gloss adds all the moisture you need. Rest assured this red will not transfer to anyone or anything.

OK! It’s your turn now…Share your favorite.

Technorati Tags: Lipstick, woman, shopping, lipcolor, lipsense, mac, bobbi brown, nars

Don’t you have glasses Alexis? and the usual reply of mom in seranade of four syllables.

After a fifteen minute phone call listening to Alexis plead her case of having NO TIME to handle any piece of the re-order, I decided to take over the task for her. Rest assured that I am well aware that anything I have to do would NEVER be as important as my children’s needs according to them. Come on! She’s eighteen…Still can’t say no. For some odd reason, I thought this would be as simple as one phone call…Silly me.

I will not blast the local mass merchandiser that holds her prescription because I will shop there for other merchandise as soon as today because it’s close and cheap.

But get this! With every request I made regarding ordering, pick up, mailing her contact lenses, I was told something to the effect that it was not store policy which translates to NO. Excuse me? My anger connected with the freakin disturbing phone call will not allow me to elaborate further except to share with you that contacts…prescriptions…mailing…credit cards are all what they are…SIMPLE and should involve no frustration.

The silver lining is that I remembered that I had ordered my own contact lenses online just a few months ago after doing some price comparison. OH NO! I would love to lie at this moment and offer up some ridiculously complicated reason why it didn’t even cross my mind to order her lenses online; however the reality is that I am often a victim of status quo. In fact, I was proud of myself for thinking that I would be able to take of it all with one phone call instead of going to the store. The following statement I cannot say loud enough to any person that wears contacts…Starting today! Only buy your Contact lenses online. Why?

• They stock all the name brands.
• Prescriptions are what they are and shown on the box.
• In most cases, purchasing contacts online is cheaper.
• They verify your prescription by calling the Doctor for you.
• Fast Shipping! Many options. Both of my orders were shipped FREE
• They ship contacts to any address and supply tracking.

Alexis will receive her Bausch & Lomb PureVision contact lenses at her dorm in the morning. This contact lens purchasing experience from Costal Contacts has been Speedy, Painless, cheaper as well as fast and efficient from start to finish. You can count on my family only purchasing contacts in the manor in the future.

Technorati Tags: contacts, contact lenses, bausch & lomb, mizzou, buy, shopping

No one enjoys wearing braces especially for extended period of time that I have been told can be over two years. Having a metal mouth that long is close to intolerable if it were not for the incredible end result…a beautiful smile. I would be the first to admit that a warm and inviting smile can be life changing which should lessen the pain of braces.

Those dreaded braces just became much more bearable with the introduction of the state of the art software called SureSmile . Never heard of it? It is cutting edge, innovative orthodontic software that has been available for the last four years. SureSmile allows the Orthodontist to deliver a complete customized solution for the patient and the desired end result in half the time of traditional braces.

This technology based software generates a 3-D image that makes it easier for the orthodontist to view the patients’ mouth. He can then actually move the teeth on the image to perfect location for the straight teeth and bite thus minimizing errors that occur with standard orthodontics. Suresmile software then calculates and a robot takes over by bending the wires to the exact specification. Amazing!

The downside of SureSmile for the Orthodontist is the cost of the equipment as well as the extensive training related to the operation of the system. The patient will pay approximately ten percent more for SureSmile although it is covered under insurance.

Hands down the feature and benefits of SureSmile far out weigh traditional braces. You will only have seven to ten office visits instead of the average of eighteen to twenty with standard braces. There is less pain associated with the Suresmile system and of course… the absolute best part is a stunning smile is half the time.

Technorati Tags: teeth, braces, teenagers, orthodontist, suresmile, smile

Not so Quick! Last night I was giving thought to my beauty blog’s name, Italkbeauty. How limiting is the word beauty? Is it at all? In the beginning stages of planning out my blog “Beauty” in my minds eye was limited to primarily women, cosmetics, product reviews, beauty tips, etcetera. After awhile my thoughts evolved regarding my blog and I realized that beauty encompasses many different areas not limited to just women looking beautiful or finding more items to assist them in becoming more beautiful. Interesting thought and highly liberating! In that moment, I realized that I did not necessarily need to ditch my original identity but that instead I would have the ability to embrace other meaningful topics while maintaining my original intention of focusing on Beauty. You can imagine my excitement in the realization that my boundaries had just opened up considerably.

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. What comes to your mind when someone asks you the definition of beauty? My answer would not even come close to something as trite as a gorgeous set of eyebrows although that would be one of the very first tasks I would recommend a women invest in having professionally done as well as being what I would write about on my blog. Taking the time to explore your heart, soul and mind to set the parameters of your beauty blog as well as branding will in the end make you fell completely empowered. Your success will not be accidental when your branding genuinely suits you and makes others feel comfortable & welcomed as though they know you.

Technorati Tags: beauty, blog, women, cosmetics, branding

Check our the BEFORE & AFTER Below:

You may think that it sounds to good to be true! When you apply these highly unique contact lenses, instantaneously you notice yours eyes appearing much enhanced & whiter. These types of contact lenses are actually referred to as a Cosmetic enhancement lenses. The “Allure” contacts have a very natural looking black rim called a “Blacklimbal Ring” on the outer most edge of the lenses. The rim is referred to by some Optometrists an Ophthalmologists as an eyeliner for the actual Eye. When you put the contact on your eye, the deepened outer rim of your iris will not only enhance the color of your eye (Yes! even the deepest color of brown) but will also make the whites of your eyes appear much whiter. Think about it! It is only logical when you add the Contact Eyeliner that creates additional focus on your beautiful iris while at the same time adding a deepened darker color right next to the white of your eye.

Truly Attractive, captivating, understated enhanced beauty with such minimal effort. Your eyes even appear to look larger with these contacts. The added bonus of the Equinox Allure Lenses is that they are very comfortable contacts due to the gel edge technology and easy to locate if you happen to drop one.

Technorati Tags: contact lenses, equinox allure, whiter eyes, women, glamour, eyeliner, beautiful