self tanner and the art of being frugal

Well if there is one thing i have even more of than lip stains, its self tanners. If there is even one positive comment about " not having that tell tale funky scent" I'll usually have it by weekend. However, and i will make the list this week of exactly how many i do have in my possession.
I have to say----almost everything I've read that said they didn't smell was pretty much " big white lies" so to speak.

So last weekend when i was in my local Sephora and saw a Clarins liquid product i thought well this is cool because it must dry right away ( and really who on earth is going to wait for that stuff to dry !) --but the new frugal me said , oh really like the other 20 you have at home?

So I'm proud to say, i slapped that liquid all over my face and went home to see if it worked. It did but no better or worse than any of the other ones that i love. That whole experience though made me think of ways to maybe try the products i had at home in a new way, and I'm happy to share my results !
First off, the towelettes of self tanner are to damn expensive, and just always wrong, not enough product , to much product . However much easier to use and somehow more even and you seem to not be as wet as the lotions, so-----i decided to try and take a tube product and apply it with a facecloth . The results === it worked like a dream, and i just saved 36.00 on that Clarins liquid.

I just can't tell you how thrilled i was at this baby invention of mine. Its made me start thinking about what else could i be doing with the bazillion products i have around that I'm to guilty to ditch but just don't love enough to use.

Stay tuned the Self Tanner list of Best and Save your money girls,,,,,to follow.

Lipstick now Literary,the bliss of The Thirteenth Tale !

If I've been absent dear friends its because I've been in the car savoring every single word of
" The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. It was voted the best first novel of the year for 2006, and i don't know where i found the lead for it ( most likely the NY times book section) but I'm so thrilled i did. I know last summer i wore you guys out over how fabulous The Shadow of The Wind was, and i can't say this is better but i love them both so much that on this last of 14 audio discs I feel terrible that it is about to end.

This is the very essence of what intriguing intelligent fiction( with that small Gothic spooky spin)is supposed to be. Whomever this Diane Setterfield is ( and I'm about to stalk her) so if anyone knows her save me the time, she deserves every bit of praise lavished on her.

Run do not walk and get this book right now, i borrowed the 14 CD version( maybe 20 hrs in the car) from the library, but I'm right now going to go buy it in a Hardcover and anything else this wonderful author has penned.

Isn't it wonderful to discover a great new read !!!!!!!

Lipstick Journey, last call

So we are down to the final two. Marks' version Tattoo Kiss, ( youth brand of Avon ) offered this to the marketplace at least a year ago, maybe longer. Its a great product. In a pen like the Pixie
product, they could have been separated at birth in the lab. One thing about the Tattoo Kiss though, its got adorable packaging , and really when your pulling that out of your bag doesn't that count for something! The only problem with this one is your ability to get it easily. If you don't have an Avon lady, your bound to stay with nude lips. I'd say this for sure ties for second place in the smack down.

So lets talk about the lip stain that started my call to action Cover Girls Outlast . What can i say i really did not care for this product. Of all of the options, this one really did not even come close. It is the latest on the scene and so mass market you can get it anywhere, but runny , lousy taste, and seriously could their be less sexy packaging. I just read some very positive copy on this product in either the LA times or the New York times, they must have been on the dole, choose any of the other choices if you can.

So what should you run out and buy ..............get yourself to Target and get the Pixie Lip Blush in any of the colors in comes in. Its easy to get to ( who doesn't have a target next to them these days), very affordable, cute and you can easily fall in love with a number of other products in that aisle.
Stay away from that Cover Girl junk if for no other reason than their poor choice of design in packaging !

So this journey ends dear reader, but with so many things to buy, barter, read or comment on don't worry...........the eye spy i buy blogger will never be to far away,,,,,,,,

Now go put on some lipstick and stay Gorgeous !

battle of the lip stains

From a point of historical reference BeneFit : Benetint does deserve the nod. This practical bottle can be used not only as a lip stain but also as a cheek stain. Since Bonne Bell and Max Factor exited the stain business when i was still in my 20's, BeneFit should get props for bringing the product to life again. Judging by how many variants i had in my cosmetic drawers its a definite market segment.
Flavored with the taste of Roses its a treat to swab on with the little brush, but forget about that on the cheekbones ! The product is thin there is no other way around dissing the granddaddy. Developments make all the other contenders just a little hipper, easier to use and more practical. Sorry , cause i love many other products in the BeneFit sisters line !

Here's a suprise. Rummaging through an old beach bag today i came across a Revlon product called Just Bitten. It has to be at least 3 years old and for sure launched to early to jump on the Vampire craze.

This stain is in roller ball vehicle. Its a mess. a completely unpractical delivery system for the product. However the drips that collect on the bottle and then your fingers do look like you just cut yourself opening it. That would make it very popular with the Soukie set! The one thing i can say about it.......a really great Font. If there was ever a font that said Vampire this is it!

Next post we look at Avon's' youth line Mark, with its clever " Tattoo" marker, and then Outlast by Cover girl which was really the catalyst for this entire series. Until then dear reader go grab a lipstick and make yourself gorgeous !

my lipstick journey

So next up in the lipstick stain battle royale is " pixie" lip blush in color happiness.
The taste is fantastic, like a cherry ice pop. Its delivered in a pen medium so its super convenient. I picked this up at Target last winter, so I'll tell you right off the bat that it was already a favorite when i started the battle.

so far the urban decay and this pixie are clear favorite, both taste good, last long, but don't try to eat anything with oil. You might want to use a straw really if you want any lip color to last , who are they kidding in these ads.

I have to say though the urban decay a little thicker, so less of a bleed factor, but still Pixie, in a white pen like marker, super cute, and easy to tote. The urban decay bottle more adorable on the desk !

For sure pick up a Pixie marker the next time your in Target, all the products in the Pixie line are wonderful, great colors and super smart packaging ! I totally want to give this to everyone i know!

Tomorrow Benefit 2 : benetint !

Battle of the Lip Stains

To say that i am a bit obsessed with makeup might be slightly exaggerating however i did find myself rushing out to buy the newest stain being hawked on the market. Since i already had 3 in the makeup vault at home i thought I'd do a little battle royale.

Stay tuned dear reader as everyday for the next four days we pit stains against each other and then stain vs traditional lip color.



Saturday : Urban Decay , Lip Envy: color Greedy



You can't get much cooler than this little gypsy bottle of packaging. It has a wonderful almost gel like texture, pleasant flavor, not overpowering. Color is deep and rich,and not the least bit runny. So far I'm digging it.