The Life of A Ladybug

Bronze and Red

Last night's skincare:

• Cetaphil Daily Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
• Berwick Beauty Coming Up Roses Night Cream (under eyes)
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• Avon Anew Ultimage Age Repair Night Cream

This morning's skincare:

• Cetaphil Daily Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
• i.d. bareEscentuals skin rev-er upper
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• Berwick Beauty Coming Up Roses Day Cream (around nose)
• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream

Today's makeup:

• Bobbi Brown Luminous Foundation in Golden (applied with Beautyblender Sponge)
• Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Bisque (MAC 242SE brush)
• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit in Golden (MAC 242 SE brush, MAC 224 SE brush for powder)
• tarte emphasEyes in Black (to line inner lower rim of lashes)
• Bourjois Metallic Eyeliner in Brun Inoxydable (lining upper and lower lashes)
• L'Oreal Voluminous Naturale in Blackest Black (two coats on upper lashes)
• Smashbox Fusion Eye & Cheek Color in Heatwave (as shadow and over blush)
• Sally Hansen (with Carmindy) Natural Beauty Bronzer in Summer (used darker end as contour color, lighter end as highlighter on cheekbones and under brow)
• NARS blush in Exhibit A (on apples of cheeks)
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
• pop beauty lip smoothie in Salmon

Today's fragrance:

Philosophy Falling in Love

Today's outfit:

• red and white printed long-sleeve top from New York & Company
• brown double button pants from New York & Company
• gold printed leather pumps by BCBGirls
• gold hammered hoops from Claire's
• wedding set
• gold and pearl ring I bought on a cruise
• stretch bracelet with cowry shell and seashell dangles (a Mother's Day gift from Sarai)
• camel purse from Baghaus.com

Berwick Beauty Coming Up Roses

I love the rose in all its forms.  And I love rose-scented things.  So Berwick Beauty's line Coming Up Roses appeals to my senses.

The jar packaging is heavy silver metal, which looks elegant and swanky sitting on your vanity or sink.  The jars are beautiful, but if you have a thing about sanitation, you aren't going to love these, as you'll have to dip your fingers in to apply the product, unless you use a spatula.  Also, the jar packaging means that any antioxidant properties may be lessened, since the product will be exposed to light, etc.

Berwick Beauty's site contains a lot of information about the supposed benefits of the main ingredient of these products - Damask Rose Oil.  I have no idea if those reports are true, but I do know that the information contains a lot of gobbledy-gook that sounds "scholarly".  Then again, so does every other company's reports - every product on the market will have all sorts of research backing it.  That amounts to marketing and nothing else.  The true test of a product is what it does for your skin.  So, what did it do for mine?

Keep in mind that I have oily skin, prone to breakouts and that I have lots of melanin, as I am a Black woman - LOL!

The Balancing Day Cream is nice - I haven't found it to add any oiliness to my already oily skin, but it does have a smoothing effect on the skin so that my powders/foundations go on nicely without pulling.  I've also noticed that the skin on my nose doesn't flake when I use this product.  The Restoring Night Cream is good for added moisturization at night.  The company's blurb that the two creams "tone complexion providing an overall healthier appearance" doesn't really mean much - any moisturizer worth its salt does that.  The Eye Contour Gel is a bit weird.  It has a nice consistency that is light enough that you can apply concealer over it, though I don't think it's quite thick enough to be used at night.  However, what's weird about it for me is that it contains these tiny little red granules (rose particles, perhaps?).  The company's information says that these capsules (?) contain ceramides designed to "stimulate protein synthesis beneath the skin."  I don't know what that even means or why it would be beneficial, but I'll tell you this - it seems strange.  When I think of a product containing granules, I expect it to be a scrub and the last thing I want to do is exfoliate on the gentle under eye skin.

So, anyway, thumbs up on the look of the products - the packaging is beautiful - and the luscious rose scent.  A "meh" on the creams - they're nice, but not spectacular.  Thumbs down on the granules in the eye cream.  I'll keep using these products until I run out because I love the scent, but I probably won't repurchase.

You can check the products out on www.berwickbeauty.com.

Passionate about purple and Paint Pots

Seriously ... have I told y'all how much I love MAC Paint Pots?  Have I???  Because I do.  I love 'em, y'all.  They are the best.  Swipe it on with your finger, add liner and mascara and go.  A polished, slightly shimmery eye in seconds.  Yummylicious!

Today's skincare:

• Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin
• Paula's Choice Blemish Control Liquid (or whatever it's called)
• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream
• Elizabeth Ardene Intervene Moisturizer

Today's makeup:

• YSL Touche Eclat in 3 (under brows and under eyes)
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep (all over with BE Handy Buki brush and used as concealer with BE Max Coverage Concealer brush)
• MAC Paint Pot in Nice Vice (applied over lid and into crease with finger)
• tarte emphasEyes in Black (used to line upper and lower inner eye)
• MAC Dual-Edge Eye Pencil in Fab Orchid (upper lashline)/Dash Lily (lower lashline)
• Cover Girl Lash Blast in Very Black (two coats on top lashes)
• tarte cheekstain in blushing bride (applied to apples of my cheeks and blended with fingers)
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF15
• NYX Round Lipstick in B52
• MAC Lipgelée in Mega

Today's outfit:

• purple drape cowl neck top from Torrid
• brown tweed pants from New York & Company
• cream lace kitten-heels pumps by Isaac Mizrahi for Target
• silver dramatic crescent/rhinestone earrings from New York & Company
• wedding set
• camel large tote from baghaus.com

Today's fragrance: Fresh Sugar Lychee eau de parfum

Today's hair: sprayed with my homemade leave-in (water, leave-in conditioner, pomegranate seed oil, olive oil) and pulled up in a Tomoka's Twist with silver beads

It's not easy being green ... but it sure is pretty!

ETA: I'm adding a couple pics that I managed to get on my cell phone.  Admittedly, they're not the greatest, but I guess they're better than nothing!

This morning's skincare:

• Clean & Clear Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin
• Clean & Clear Acne Advantage Treatment
• MAC Moisturelush Cream
• Elizabeth Arden Intervene Cream

Today's make-up:

• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit in Golden
• Jane Iredale PurePressed Base in Butternut, applied with the BE Handy Buki brush
• MAC Paint Pot in Cash Flow, as eyeshadow base
• MAC Eyeshadow in Bitter, over whole lid and up past the crease
• MAC Eyeshadow in Swimming, on outer half of the lid and blended up into the crease
• MAC Eyeshadow in Mulch, blended into the crease
• MAC Eyeshadow in All That Glitters, above the crease
• Bourjois Duochrome Liner in Noir Emeraude, used to line top and bottom third of lash line
• Tarte EmphasEyes, used on waterline
• Prescriptives False Lashes mascara, two coats on top lashes
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Waikiki Strip, used to highlight brow bones and cheekbones
• CARGO blush in Rome, on apples of cheeks
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
• NYX Round Lipstick in Galaxy
• Bobbi Brown Glitter Lip Gloss in Buff

Today's fragrance: Fresh Hesperides eau de parfum

Today's outfit:

• black, white, gray and yellow-green printed top by Mossimo for Target
• black double-button pants from New York & Company
• black mock croc pointy-toed mary janes by Isaac Mizrahi for Target
• silver cuffs bought from a fellow tribal bellydancer
• silver bamboo earrings from The Icing
• camel "leather" tote from www.baghaus.com

New on counters from MAC

New beauty from MAC!  Okay, seriously - when isn't there new beauty from MAC?  I think that's why it's one of my all-time favorite brands - there's always something new and fun to try!

Now on counters is Strobe!  There are three products available in this collection: Strobe Cream, which is a rich cream designed to add a touch of softness to the face and neck; Strobe Liquid, which is a lighter fluid with iridescent pigments; and new Tinted Lip Conditioner Sticks with SPF 15, containing strobe pearl, sun protection, color and moisture.

On counters next Thursday, the 13th, are the new Beauty Powder Blushes!  An entire blush collection, y'all!  Do you know how much I love a beautiful blush?  The Beauty Powder Blushes do double duty as they are pigmented enough to serve as blushes, but also act as softly highlighting shades.  These are Limited Edition, so be sure to snatch them up as soon as you can!

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser and Toner

Kiehl's was founded as an old-world style apothecary in New York's East Village, in 1851.  Kiehl's is now introducing two products designed to go along with its original Ultra Facial Moisturizer - the Ultra Facial Cleanser and Ultra Facial Toner. 

The cleanser and toner were created in response to consumer feedback.  The gentle foaming gel cleanser is made with a sugar-derived foaming agent and the toner is non-astringent and milky, offering hydration without stripping skin of its natural oils.

The Ultra Facial Cleanser reminds me of Cetaphil, in that it is an extremely gentle cleanser that effectively removes dirt and make-up without leaving your face feeling dry or tight.  It has a light, clean fragrance that I find very refreshing.  The toner is exactly as it is advertised - milky and non-astringent.  It felt funny to me at first as I am used to a toner that is more liquidy and feels like it removes oil - that's what I look for, as an oily-skinned woman.  Seeing the thicker, milky consistency of the toner freaked me out a bit and it didn't feel as if it was removing oil as well as some others I've tried. I do have to say, though - the cleanser and toner leave my skin feeling soft and moisturized, but haven't added any oiliness at all.  I've not noticed any breakouts, either.  So, while they might not be what I'm used to, it is quite effective and a nice change, I think.  I like this for the colder, drier seasons - it feels as if you're pampering your skin more and giving it the moisturization it desperately needs.

You can purchase the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser and Toner in freestanding Kiehl's stores or on www.kiehls.com, as well as in some retailers (I know my local Nordstrom carries Kiehl's, so you might want to check in your nearby high-end department stores).

The cleanser sells for $17.50 for 5 oz. and the toner sells for $15 for 8.4 oz.

MAC Moisturelush Cream

Once again, I have invited my cousin Ericka to review a heavy cream that is best suited for those of you wiht dry skin.  Please enjoy!

Overall, I'd say Moisturelush is a perfect product for a girl like me. My skin is chronically dry in the winter. MAC's Moisturelush is rich and creamy. I wear it in the morning and at night, after cleansing. My skin drinks it up. Another plus is the pleasant, soft fragrance. It's thicker than the old Moisture Skin Feed by MAC. It's just what I need, though. I'd love to try this in the summer, mixed with a tinted SPF moisturizer. It'll probably go a long way.

Finally moisturized,
Ericka

Unfortunately, Ericka couldn't send a picture this time, as her camera is being repaired.  Boo!

You can purchase MAC Moisturelush Cream for $32 at www.maccosmetics.com, in MAC stores or at MAC counters.

I'm a peachy bronze beauty!

Last night's skincare:

• Purity Made Simple
• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• Avon Anew Ultimate Repair Overnight Cream

This morning's skincare:

• Clean & Clear Sensitive Skin Foaming Cleanser
• Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Liquid
• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream

Today's make-up:

• Laura Geller Spackle
• MAC Select Cover-up in NC42 under eyes and NC45 to cover redness
• Monave Mineral Foundation in Beverly
• Benefit That Gal primer, patted under my eyes and used as highlight on my cheekbones and bridge of my nose
• Monave Face Illuminizer in Radiant, used as highlight under my brows and on my tear ducts and on my cheekbones
• Monave Mineral Bronzer
• Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in P Orange 53
• Tarte EmphasEyes used to line my upper and lower inner rims
• MAC Eye Kohl in Orpheus
• MAX Factor 2000 Calories mascara in Rich Black, two coats on my top lashes
• Rosebud Salve
• MAC lip liner in BBQ
• Guerlain Terracotta Lip Gloss in 20 (peachy-bronze)

Today's outfit:

• peach v-neck shell from New York & Company
• peach cardigan from New York & Company
• black and peach glen plaid pants from New York & Company
• black ankle boots by Nine West
• silver thumb rings
• silver filigree ring
• wedding set
• silver bamboo earrings
• white purse with gold hardware from www.baghaus.com

Today's fragrance:

The Body Shop Peach Body Butter, Fresh Fig Apricot eau de parfum

I feel Dazzling today!

This morning's skincare:

• Clean & Clear Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin
• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
• Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Liquid
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream

Today's make-up:

• Laura Geller Spackle
• MAC Select Cover-Up in NC42 (under eyes), NC45 (on dark spots and to cover the redness of that one zit that just popped up on my forehead - argh!)
• Monave Mineral Foundation in Beverly, applied with the BareEscentuals Handy Buki brush
• Monave Face Illuminizer in Radiance, under brows and on tear ducts
• tarte emphaseyes, to line upper and lower inner rims
• MAC Eyeliner in Coffee, used to line top lashline
• MAC eyeshadow in Orange, used to line bottom lashline
• MAC Zoom Lash in Zoomblack, two coats on top lashes only
• MAC Shade and Sculpt in Warm Light/Definitive
• NARS blush in Mounia
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF15
• MAC Dazzleglass in Money, Honey

Today's fragrance: Fresh Fig Apricot

Today's outfit:

• brown sweater with silver thread from Target
• brown tweed pants from New York & Company
• brown stretch ankle boots from Payless
• silver thumb rings
• wedding set
• silver filigree ring
• silver bamboo earrings
• turquoise purse w/silver hardware from Cents of Style

Bangalore beauty

Last night's skincare:

• Philosophy Purity Made Simple
• Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• Bobbi Brown Overnight Cream (as eye cream)
• Dove Pro Age Night Cream

This morning's skincare:

• Clean & Clear Sensitive Skin Cleanser
• Paula's Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Liquid
• Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Treatment
• MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream
• Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF15

Today's make-up:

• L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Concealer in Warm Medium/Deep
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep, applied with the BE Handy Buki brush
• Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencil in Bangalore
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Sunset Strip - used as highlighter under brows and on cheekbones
• MAX Factor 2000 Calories Mascara in Rich Black - two coats on top lashes only
• NARS blush in Taj Mahal
• Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment
• Scott Barnes Flossy Glossy in Juicey

Today's outfit:

• black, white and lime green printed top from Target
• black double-button pants from New York & Company
• black pointy-toed mock croc mary janes by Isaac Mizrahi for Target
• silver "tribal" cuffs from Urban Outfitters
• silver bamboo earrings
• wedding set
• black slouchy purse

Today's fragrance:

L for L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani