I was going to wait until I start posting my holiday gift ideas (after Thanksgiving, cause I’m not INSANE), but I just couldn’t wait to talk about this fan-effing-tastic Paul & Joe Limited Edition Eye & Cheek Color Set…cat-themed, of course. I want to be clear when I tell you that I’m probably never going to actually use the blusher stick because, really, I just like starting at the little cat face top and my lips would absolutely destroy it’s cuteness. Regardless, this set is a must-have for any cat lover/girly girl; You get the cute cat bag, an eye color duo, an eye gloss and a blusher stick…and for only $65, mind you. Get it now, available in two versions: Sugar & Spice and Gingerbread.
Jennifer Lawrence, in Dior, at The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Premiere in Los Angeles
I’m not ashamed to admit the fact that I love (seriously LOVE) both of The Hunger Games movies. Sure, I know everyone raves about the books but I’d rather be surprised while watching each movie, as they come out. Sorry I’m not sorry…and luckily for me, COVERGIRL is the official beauty sponsor of Catching Fire, the second Hunger Games movie in the series. COVERGIRL invited me and a few LA bloggers and web editors to a fun prep suite at The Standard Downtown, followed by the official Los Angeles premiere of the movie and guys…it was just SO GOOD. My mouth literally DROPPED at the end, but don’t worry…I won’t give away any spoilers! You NEED to see this movie when it opens (this Friday) and also make sure to check out the COVERGIRl Capital Collection– a fun assortment of Hunger Games-inspired makeup, all of which is awesome. The Flamed Up Mega Curl Mascara is my favorite not only because it’s a great mascara but also because every time I use it, I start singing Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire”…love. “This girl is on fiiiiiiiiiire; she’s walking on fiiiiiiiire.” Must-see, must-sing.
1. Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water: I know what you’re thinking…spa water? Really? But it’s just soooo good. The Cleansing Spa Water is actually Koh Gen Do’s bestselling skincare product and is easy and gentle to use for all skin types. Made with mineral-rich hot spring water, it’s basically infused with six essential herbs to protect and nurture skin. White birch sap, harvested only three weeks each spring, adds minerals and Xylitol as it removes makeup, oils, and residue. The formula includes the extracts of essential herbs including: rosemary leaf, sage leaf, lavender, artemsia princeps leaf, perilla ocymoides, and ginger root…so yeah, it’s not actually JUST spa water.
2. Jouer Liquid Shimmer Eyeliner: Aside from the awesome animal-themed color names (Panter, Lynx, Fox, Leopard, Mink and Sable), this liquid liner is just ridiculously good…and more importantly, easy to use. The subtle shimmer in each shade offers extreme wearability while the water-base formula allows for a little extra dry-down time; it’s also rich in vitamins A and E…bonus.
3. Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge: This sponge is serious business. The Japanese have traditionally used konjac root as a dietary staple that helps to detoxify and calm the skin so it makes total sense that it now comes in sponge form. Konjac Root is naturally alkaline, and balances the acidity of the skin’s impurities and oils while being naturally enriched with protein, carbohydrate, iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folic acid. Interesting fact: Konjac was originally introduced to Japan as a medicine in the sixth century, and continues to lend its incredible benefits to health foods as well as skincare. Today, it is grown wild and in farms at very high altitudes, which help to keep the sponge extremely pure and free of pollutants.
4. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: First of all, I LOVE that this mascara is inspired by the curves of a woman’s body; the hourglass-shaped brush was designed with extra stiff bristles to maximize the performance of this carbon black, collagen-fueled formula. All it takes is one coat and your lashes are full and defined…this is definitely a mascara winner in my book.
5. Olie Biologique Rejuvenating Oil: I love a good face oil, let me tell you. This product boasts a blend of eight organic plant botanicals and floral extracts that provide all-natural skin quenching properties with lightweight, healing potency. Anti-oxidants, fatty acids and naturally occurring retinoic acid preserve elasticity, plump lines and improve firmness. Oh, and it’s non-greasy for anyone worried about that.
I can’t begin to tell you that I don’t even believe myself right now when I tell you this: if you’re going to use an eye cream, you need THIS ONE by Restorsea. I’ll be honest when I say that I’m not always as consistent as I should be with this stuff, e.g. using Retinol every night, applying eye cream, etc. which is exactly WHY I’m insanely impressed after just a few uses of the Restorsea Revitalizing Eye Cream. My skin is in pretty good condition to start but, at 30, I’ve definitely noticed some fine lines (aka crow’s feet) around my eyes and they were starting to bother me a bit. I’ve been using this eye cream for just about two weeks and, guys, I swear the lines are basically gone. Here’s the back story on Restorsea’s technology, according to Style.com:
Three years ago, Dr. Runhild Gammelsaeter made a shocking discovery. While observing workers at one of Norway’s many salmon hatcheries, the researcher noticed that their hands were incredibly youthful—smooth, even in tone, and startlingly devoid of age spots or wrinkles. It led her to start a biotech company that found a special enzyme released by Atlantic salmon during the hatching process that increased elasticity and hydration levels in skin while accelerating cellular turnover. Shortly after this, former Avon exec and beauty industry veteran Patricia Pao noticed the same phenomenon that Gammelsaeter did when on a chance tour of Norway’s largest salmon hatchery; Pao then spent months researching a similar enzyme, after which she teamed up with a different marine bio-tech company in Oslo to develop an even more active form of the ingredient. The ingredient has been extracted from the hatching waste water along with eggshell fragment proteins and amniotic fluid, to create a super-charged skin-correcting agent. Naming the complex Vibransea, and bolstering it with vitamin C to brighten the complexion, and brown algae, which enhances moisturization and reduces the inflammation that can lead to the physical signs of aging, Pao launched Restorsea—a pared-down line of two products: the über-rich Rejuvenating Day Cream and the Revitalizing Eye Cream, that also contains wild oats to calm irritation and citrus-derived hesperidin to increase circulation and reduce dark circles. The line has since expanded to also include a serum, night cream, day lotion with SPF 30, cleanser, finishing mist, etc., and I can NOT wait to try them all.
I’ve always had what you might call a “thing” for stationery goods. It all started back in elementary school when I insisted on always having Lisa Frank school supplies and those cool bright colored pencils that were etched…I’m blanking on their name! Anyway, I was recently introduced to the AMAZING California-based brand Wrapped LA, and my old obsession has reared its not-so-ugly head. Guys, I’m obviously really into the animal print products (duh) because their leopard print is that awesome kind of leopard print that is classic, not Snooki-apprived, if you know what I mean. Here are a few of my favorites:
