posts by Kori
My son E has some crazy great hair. It’s cute and it’s curly and it has a mind of its own (Exhibit A). I am absolutely in love with it. The only characteristic our hair shares is that mine is also brown, however, mine also mainly hangs there like bad drapes at your grandma’s house–so, you know, maybe not a great comparison.
Anyway, with his curly hair comes tangles (Exhibit B)–particularly in a one square inch area right on the back of his melon.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
This area is snaggly no matter what I do. Comb it wet, comb it dry, comb it after being washed and conditioned–doesn’t matter. It’s just a patch of super tight curls.
While a dropping a hot dime at Target last week on lots of other things I didn’t need (new t-shirts, cookie dough, headbands), I thought I should see if I could find a detangler that would work. I was faced with two options: one by L’Oreal Kids and Johnson’s No More Tangles Detangler Spray.
Johnson’s can be used on both dry and wet hair, comes in a bigger bottle for less money and, frankly, is a company with upteen years of baby care behind them. I went with the Johnson’s.
I used it that next morning when E’s hair was especially snaggly, especially in the back. One spritz didn’t seem to do the job, so I spritzed 2-3 times, did a comb through and it he was tangle free (and with minimal whimpering). Also, since I used it while his hair was dry, I wanted to see what his hair looked like at the end of the day. Guess what! It was still tangle free and nice and curly and smelling lovely.
Since I first whipped it out, I’ve used after a bath (fabulous!) and on continuous days on dry hair in the morning (still performs with zero bizarre build-up). The product is wonderfully gentle on his hair and has a pleasant scent.
But would it work on my drape-esque hair? I don’t get many tangles but earlier this week it was hotter than hades here in the Midwest and I drove with my windows down all day. This did result in a few tangles. I took a shower and tousled my hair up real good to create a few more snarls (no one said this testing would be scientific). Using the Johnson’s No More Tangles worked as well on my super straight hair as it did on E’s super curly hair.
Bottomline: I recommend.
Johnson’s No More Tangles Detangler Spray, price varies from $2.99 and up, found at drugstore.com and most other major retailers.
I guess I knew that so many people love Burt’s Bees (even the Husband uses it), but it was great to read in the Comments section what exactly people use and why.
Via random.org, the lucky winner is…
Lisa G.
Congratulations!
I am a mascara fiend. As my friend Amy put it, “You are the only one I’ve met who will spend money on a new tube of mascara and throw it away if you don’t like it.” This is true. I pull no punches with mascara. Although, as an earlier post mentioned I am to apt to just return them now.
When the t.v. spots first started running for the L’Oreal Double Extend Mascara and I literally saw Linda Evangelista’s eyelashes extended with tubes, I gasped. (Ask the Husband. I did.) Questions flooded my brain: Is this a load of crap? Do they really just wash off like that? How much does it really lengthen? Is the brush suitable? (It’s always all about the brush.) I may or may not have bought this mascara the very next day.
Basics: This mascara works on the principal that you first use the white end to lay a sort of foundation for the tubes to do their work. The L’Oreal website calls it “an ultra-nourishing base coat with Ceramide R and D-Panthenol that protects and strengthens lashes creating the perfect base for tube application.” Got it? The opposite end, the one with the actual mascara-y pigment, is considered “ultra-lengthening” and states that it will “lengthen lashes to amazing new lengths.”
Okay.
Using advanced photo technology (aka bizarre-o eyeball pics taken yesterday morning with our digital camera while I was getting ready before work), I documented my personal experience with this mascara. Now I’ve been using this mascara for awhile, but the photos taken below are with a brand new tube, cracked out of the package mere moments before the first picture.
Picture #1: The mascara-less eye.
Picture #2: Lashes after having curled my lashes and applied the white base coat. The base coat doesn’t really do anything more than coat your lashes in white stuff.
Picture #3: Lashes after having applied the other end containing the tubes technology.
Picture #4: Lashes after having two coats of Double Extend applied and then needing yet another coat of a different mascara. Having done so made my lashes a little stickier than wanted, but looked darker and at least noticeable.
I find this mascara disappointing in adding fullness, darkness and noticeable length. The alleged tubes only become truly noticeable if adding a second, different mascara on top. Then I think the length is longer than perhaps with just a volumizing or thickening mascara. And while I don’t mind layering makeup (I do so with mascara, lipstick, blush), not many women want to take that extra step.
I think the washing-off consistency is important to mention as well. L’Oreal mentions that Double Extend doesn’t smudge, flake or run off and it doesn’t. In a pinch, I’ve worn this swimming with my Small Fry and even with water splashed in my face–it doesn’t run off. A plus.
And while it doesn’t warrant a makeup remover like waterproof formulas do, it does take a bit of gentle rubbing to loosen the tubes off your lashes. Once loosened, the mascara comes off in…chunks? Blobs? I’m not even sure what the correct descriptor would be, but it’s different.
Bottomline: This mascara does not deliver like I need it too. It does, however, work well when I want to wear at least a dash of mascara and not worry about it running. I’m willing to keep it in my makeup bag, but not consider it a heavy hitter.
L’Oreal Double Extend Mascara, prices varies from 8.99 and up, found at drugstore.com and most other major retailers.
Lip balm is not on my “NEED TO WEAR” list. Mascara and concealer are (as well as underwear). Lip balm–meh. I wear lipstick, lip gloss, etc. so I sort of feel like my lip care needs are being met by those myriad of products.
What I do love, however, is a tinted lip balm. Something with a dash of low pigment color that I can slather on and not worry about coloring inside the lines.
Awhile back I read a mention of Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil and was intrigued. It looked slightly tinted, but not overly so and has the Burt’s Bees name behind it. The next time I ran across it in the store, I scooped one up.
I tried it that next morning and really liked it. If you’re familiar with Burt’s Bees original Beeswax Lip Balm, you’ll know that that product has a minty smell. The Replenishing Lip Balm doesn’t, however, the scent is not off putting; just different than the original. Both feel equally smooth and non-waxy on the lips, making it a great first layer before adding lipstick.
With the slight tint, I find that I notice the hint of color more after the first application, first thing in the morning. Later in the day, the color–for whatever reason–is less noticeable. It could be because I’ve already worn a stronger shade of lipstick or lipgloss, I’m not sure.
Also, should you put lip balm on before you go to bed–the tint is not something you need to worry about rubbing off onto your sheets at night. Again, after a good teeth-brushing, I’ve put a bit on before heading to bed. We have white sheets and I’ve never noticed a smear of whatnot when I wake up in the morning.
I find it a great alternative to the original lip balm and I think you’ll like too. I recommend.
So that you can try this product out for yourself, Live Well Spend Well will send one winner their own tube of Replenishing Lip Balm along with a small parcel of other Burt’s Bees goodies.
To enter, leave a comment on this post. If you refer others here and they tell us you sent them (“Amy sent me!”), both you and the person you referred will get a BONUS entry.
You can also receive extra entries by following us on Twitter (@livespend) and by mentioning this contest by typing: “Great Burt’s Bees giveaway@livespend (insert link) pls RT.” Comment back with a link to your tweet and consider that extra entry yours.
Giveaway will run until August 14, 2009 11:59 EST. For full information on how giveaways are run, please see the Disclosure Policy.
Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil, price varies but almost always under $3.00, found at burtsbees.com, drugstore.com and Target stores.
My makeup bag, while not at all fancy, is near and dear to my heart. While coming home from Europe a few years ago, Air France lost three of our five bags. I panicked and worried that among the lost was: a) the bag of all the goodies we purchased and b) the bag that had my makeup in it. Do you know how hard it would be to replace either one? I shudder to think. (It was actually our suitcase full of dirty clothes that was rerouted through Dallas. Take that suckas.)
At any rate, I love my makeup stash, and the world would know all my dirty little secrets (I look like a zombie/John Mayer without my under eye concealer) if I were to be without it.
One of my favorite items is (rooting through bag) my Rimmel 1000 Kisses Stay On Lip Liner Pencil in Spice. A heck of a lot cheaper than the infamous MAC pencil that everyone can’t seem to live without, it lines my lips in a nearly imperceptible color that allows me to just color in the lines with any shade of lipstick. I also love using it all over my entire mouth and then using my Clinique Glosswear in Shy for a pinky/beigy yet-not-sickly look.
If you haven’t already, you really need to check out the Rimmel line. I discovered it years ago while trolling the aisles of Wal-Mart and now you can get it at most larger chain stores. Random bit of trivia: they were one of the few companies that didn’t skadoodle on Kate Moss after that rather unfortunate “photo-op.”
What was I talking about? Oh, yes…
…so, really, give this lip pencil a whirl. And if it doesn’t appeal to you, heck, it was only $3.49. I recommend.
Okay, here’s the thing: I adore buying new stuff. Am assuming many of you can relate, but, man–new stuff kind of makes me feel tingly.
A few months ago I was trolling the makeup aisles of Target like a junkie in need of a fix and came across lipsticks that cost .99. Yeah, that’s right–not even a full dollar. Made by N.Y.C. Cosmetics (New York Color Cosmetics), these lipsticks range in price from .99 to $1.99. I know, right?!
I bought two at each of the different price points because I wanted to try a deeper, wine color and then branch out and do a red. I’ve always been intrigued by red lipsticks, but I know it’s a tricky game. Too blue? Too orange? Too much of Dustin Hoffman in “Tootsie”? It’s a gamble. But at a $1.99, I was feeling sassy.
And you know what? Those lipsticks rock. They’re creamy, they stay on forever and when reapplying over partially gnawed off lipstick–it doesn’t look cakey or grody (okay, not terribly technical, but you know what I’m talking about).
And here’s the thing: The red? It lasted even longer. I wore it to a birthday brunch for a friend where I took no prisoners at the buffet. Really, it was scary. This involved lots of wiping with the napkin and drinking of mimosas and when I left 3 hours later, I still had red lips.
Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t miracle lipstick and it did wear off–but it was hard hitting enough to withstand a meal and lots of chatting, so I’m thinking that this affordable lipstick is something to be contended with. I recommend.
Via random.org–the winners of the giveaway for the Pencil Me In Cosmetics eyeliners are…
(drumroll, please)
sil, and
leighann
Congratulations!
I have a ranking of items I have to wear when it comes to makeup: undereye concealer, dusting of pressed powder, mascara, eyebrow pencil, lipgloss. Not enough to make me look clowny and “done up” on a Saturday morning, but enough so that I don’t look like Death.
In the past, eyeliner often didn’t make the cut. I’m not sure why, really, it just seemed tricky and not very exciting and kind of a pain.
However, that changed yesterday because I think I may have used perhaps the smoothest, most flattering, fun-colored eyeliner pencils evah.
The eyeliners by Pencil Me in Cosmetics are quite fabulous. Available in over 30 colors I have to admit I was kind of wondering if this spectrum of colors was even necessary for a gal like me. In my makeup bag currently I have brown, gray, black and white. Not exactly Roy G. Biv.
But Linda Eisner (founder and self-titled “head pencil pusher”) sent me a variety of colors so I branched out. I tried Purple Passion and Jet Sparks. My eyes are gray/green and I am a brunette, so I thought these might work. Oh, and you should know that since I had the day off from work yesterday and in the interest of trying both pencils at once–I wore one on each eye. The men in my family didn’t judge.
I loved the Jet Sparks pencil. A black, charcoaly color–it comes complete with sparkles which you can see from the website. Now this is important: it was not enough sparkle to make me look ready for Vegas, rather it was the perfect amount of sparkle to make my eyes (eye?) look perkier and more awake and a tidgy brighter. This would be totally appropriate for work and not too, “Hey, look at my eye makeup! I love sparkles!”
Purple passion was a branch out for me, but I loved it too! It complimented my skin tone and eye color and was not too dark or too purpley. Don’t get me wrong, though, these pencils are chock full of pigment and you won’t need to worry about it melting into your face halfway through the day. Simply swipe on and you’re good to go knowing that the color will be there until you want to take it off. Also, you should know that I wear contacts and these did not both bother my eyeballs at all.
Here’s the thing: Jet Sparks is going to replace my current department store black eyeliner, in fact I chucked that one last night (I hate a cluttered makeup bag). Purple Passion I’ll crack out knowing that I can now consider myself a tidgy adventurous.
Oh! Here’s perhaps the most clever thing: each individual pencil comes with its own sharpener! How nice is that! It’s built right in with the cap, so you’ll never have an excuse for dull pencils and the resulting dodgy application.
Additional pencil tidbits from Ms. Eisner:
The pencils are allergy and clinically tested to be non-irritating, eco-friendly, tamperproof and hygienic. Plus a pencil sharpener is cleverly built into every cap. The finest natural ingredients are included to appeal to retailers and consumers searching for premium natural products at a reasonable price. The suggested retail is $6.99 each. Anti-oxidants and vitamins have been included to help to protect the eye area from daily exposure to destructive elements your skin is exposed to. My exclusive formula includes natural ingredients and blended botanicals like Green Tea Leaf Extract, Pine Bark Extract, Grape Seed Extract, Lecithin, Shea Butter, Cacao Butter, Jojoba Oil, Wheat germ oil, and Safflower seed oil. It also includes Vitamins A (Retinyl Palmitate), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin D, E (Tocopherol) .
Pencil Me In Cosmetics is offering our readers the opportunity to Buy 2, Get 1 Free. Buy 4, get 2 free, and so on. To take advantage of the promotional offer log onto: www.pencilmeincosmetics.com and choose the pencil colors that you would like to purchase then proceed to the shopping cart page. The cost for each pencil is $6.99. On the shopping cart page you will see in purple a link for this promotion. Click on it. The user name and password for this section is the same word: Healthy. Choose your free pencils and proceed to check out.
Because she is crazy wonderful, Ms. Eisner sent me enough extra pencils to offer TWO lucky readers, three pencils each as a giveaway.
To enter, leave a comment on this post. You can get extra entries by following us on Twitter (@livespend) and mentioning the contest, or by blogging about it and reporting back with a link to your tweet or post. And if you refer others here and they tell us you sent them (“Kori sent me!”) both you and the person your referred will get a BONUS entry!
Contest will run until July 18, 11:59pm CDT. For full information on how we run our contests, see our Disclosure Policy.
