The Life of A Ladybug

Fresh Sugar Deodorant

I didn't know that I would ever use a deodorant that actually costs $18.  I still think I'm a bit crazy for buying it, but I've been curious about it for quite a while.  I have to say, Fresh Sugar Deodorant is a really good deodorant.  It goes on with the light, pleasant scent of all of Fresh's Sugar products (which smells like lemon to me, interestingly enough) and serves to keep you odor-free all day.  On the other hand, this is a roll-on, so it feels wet when you first apply it, which I don't care for.  And it's $18!  It would have to be the Holy Grail of deodorants for me to pay that much.  So, I'm thinking that this will be the last tube of this I ever buy.  Secret works just as well and you can get it at the market for a couple bucks.

You can buy Fresh Sugar Deodorant in Sephora stores or on www.sephora.com.

Comments4aCure: eBay auction update!

Elke, our wonderful founder, just sent us an e-mail listing all the products that will be up for sale in our eBay auction!  You won't believe the huge amounts of fabulous stuff.  Please place your bid, starting 12 noon on this coming Sunday, June 10th.  Whoever gets these goodie bags is a very fortunate woman (or man)!

Nubar 2 Nail Collections + 1 Travel Manicure Set: x5 available

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230139712907

starting bid: $20

1 Manicure Travel Kit: includes

1 Cucumber Cuticle Oil

1 Cuti Cure

1 Nu-Nail

1 Plastic Cuticle Pusher

1 Two sided sanitizable nail file

1 4” Cuticle Nipper ¼ jaw

1 Summer Breeze Lacquer Collection

includes 7 nail polishes

1 Trousseau Collection

includes 7 nail polishes

Gigantic Goodie Bag #1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230139106723

starting bid: $100

IN THIS AUCTION:

GOODIE BAG  #1

So Cosmetics

1 2.5 fl. oz So Sinful body fragrance

1 .67 fl. oz 1 So Wild eau de toilette

1 1.7 fl. oz So Desirable eau de toilette

1 1.7 fl. oz So Kiss Me eau de toilette7uhn

1 3 pack Spa Towells body moisturizing towelettes

the Original body lotion towelettes

1 Dermacia Foundation Set

includes 1 instructional tips dvd

2 brushes

2 breathable toners

1 breathable moisture

1 Medium Kit spf 15 breathable foundation in #5 Ebony/Tawny

Hottiedots!

The perfect way to add a beauty mark.

One in “Chocolate Kiss”

One in “Toasted Kiss”

Retail $4.95 each

1 Pure Pashmina Black Shawl

Size 36x80

1 Sassy Tails Hair Accessory for tweens and teens.

2 (1 black, 1 white)  The Ultimate Shoe Lace.

The Lace that Stays in Place™

Tarte Cosmetics -

A Collection of their Best Sellers

by Tarte Cosmetics

3 Tarte Cheek Stains in tickled . tipsy . flushed

3 Borba Inside Out lip glosses in apple a day . am . liquid sunshine

1 Lights, Camera, Lashes 3 in 1 mascara in Black

1 Rest Assured

1 Clean Slate Face Primer

1 Eye Shadow in bathtub gin

1 mouth off spf 15 lip balm

1 spf 15 moisturizing lipsheer 24.7 in champagne brunch

1 frxtion all natural sugar exfoliator & lip balm

1 Little Blot Book

1 The Toolbox brow know how in medium

1 Rock Royalty bronzer/highlighter/brush palette

1 Glam – to – Go

1 Perfect Eye lash Curler

KENZO Parfums -

1 1.7 fl oz  eau pour l'ete FlowerbyKenzo

1 50 ml eau de parfum KenzoAmour

1 30 ml eau de parfum KenzoAmour

China Glaze Nail Polishes & Treatment Products

by China Glaze

via Michelle at All Lacquered Up

1 Nail Collection in Surf

1 Strong Adhesion Base Coat

1 Patent Leather Top Coat

1 Calcium Gel Fortifier

1 Orange Cuticle Oil

1 4 oz Spa Caviar Green Tea Hand Creme

Skin MD Natural – 1 4oz  bottle

Shielding Lotion

by 21st Century Formulations

Head & Shoulders

1 14.2 fl. oz Citrus Breeze Shampoo . hydrating formula

Herbal Essences

1 6 fl. oz Body Envy Weightless Volumizing Gel in white nector/pink coral flower

1 8 fl. oz Dangerously Straight Pin Straight Hairspray in honeyed pear/silk

Clairol Herbal Essences

1 Bold 'N Brilliant Permanent Hair color in Star Light/Light Blonde

1 ZOYA gift bag. (not pictured)

Everything you need for perfect manicures and pedicures.

Contents:

1 Zoya Professional Nail Lacquer Gift Pack

Jute bag with wrapped items includes 1 each of:

Zoya Color Lock System (includes instructions)

Zipper bag containing

Zoya Remove +

Zoya Anchor – base coat

Zoya Armor – topcoat

Zoya Hurry Up – speed dry drops

Zoya Smitten Collection Sampler – 6 shades

Zoya Candy Collection Sampler – 6 shades

From Bespoke Labs

1 Dual Voltage 110/220 V . 1200 Watt Collapsible handle T3 Overnight Dryer

Gigantic Goodie Bag #2

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230139698810

starting bid: $100

IN THIS AUCTION:

1 3 pack Spa Towells body moisturizing towelettes

the Original body lotion towelettes

DuWop Cosmetics - a few new Summer products

by DuWop Cosmetics, Melanie Peralta - DuWop PR

duwop.com

1 duet eye shadow

1 blush booster

1 real lipstick

1 gloss infused

1 smoothset powder primer

Hottiedots!

The perfect way to add a beauty mark.

One in “Chocolate Kiss”

One in “Toasted Kiss”

Retail $4.95 each

Srina Green Tea Set

Includes green tea packets, and a multi fuction tea pot.

2 Sassy Tails Hair Accessory for tweens and teen.

2 Black . The Ultimate Shoe Lace.

The Lace that Stays in Place™

SkinActives Products

by Derek Thurston, Skin Actives Scientific

1 1 fl. oz Celestite Spriz

1 1 fl. oz Marine Nutrient Serum

1 1.8 oz Anti-Age Cream

1 0.5 oz Bright-I Cream

1 0.5 oz ELS Base Serum

1 0.34 oz Liquid Rainbow Lip Treatment

1 1 fl. oz. Marine Nutrient Cream

$250 worth of Bourjois Paris makeup

by Bourjois Paris

a baggie full of: blushes, eye shadows, lipstick, lip gloss and more.....

KENZO Parfums -

1 1.7 fl. oz eau de parfum FlowerbyKenzo in Oriental

1 1.7 fl. oz eau de parfum FlowerbyKenzo

1 100 ml eau de parfum in KenzoAmour

Alterna Hair Care Items

by Alterna Hair Care

1 8.5 fl. oz Hemp Repair Shampoo

1 8.5 fl. oz Hemp Repair Conditioner

1 8.5 fl. oz Life Volumizing Spray Gel

1 15.5 oz Caviar Working Hair Spray

China Glaze Nail Polishes & Treatment Products

by China Glaze

via Michelle at All Lacquered Up

1 Nail Collection in Blush

1 Nail Strengthener & Growth Formula

1 Strong Adhesion Base Coat

1 Ridge Filler

1 First & Last

1 Fast Freeze Quick Dry

1 4 oz Spa Caviar Hand Creme

Green Tea

1 Ardell Fashion Lashes and Eye Lash Adhesive in dark tone

1 Healthy Hoof Intensive Protein Treatment for nails and cuticles

Skin MD Natural - 1 4 oz. bottle

Shielding Lotion

by 21st Century Formulations

MAX Factor

Volume Couture Mascara

7 MAX Factor MAXalicious lip glosses in

    -- Stood Him Up

    -- Too Much Wine

    -- Secret Rendezvous

    -- Two To Tango

    -- First Kiss

    -- Spring Fling

    -- Table For Two

5 MAX Factor Exotics Collection Eye Shadows in

    -- Serengeti

    -- Rainforest

    -- African Violet

    -- Ravenous

    -- Tigress

Head & Shoulders

1 14.2 fl. oz Restoring Shine Shampoo . hydrating formula

Herbal Essences

1 8 fl. oz Body Envy Volumizing Hairspray in white nectarine/pink coral flower

1 6 oz Totally Twisted Curl Scrunching Gel in french lavender twist/jade extracts

Clairol Herbal Essences

1 Highlights Hair color in Rich Copper

Clairol Hydrience

1 Permanent Hair color in Burgundy

1 ZOYA gift bag. (not pictured)

Everything you need for perfect manicures and pedicures.

Contents:

1 Zoya Professional Nail Lacquer Gift Pack

Jute bag with wrapped items includes 1 each of:

Zoya Color Lock System (includes instructions)

Zipper bag containing

Zoya Remove +

Zoya Anchor  basecoat

Zoya Armor  topcoat

Zoya Hurry Up  speed dry drops

Zoya Smitten Collection Sampler  6 shades

Zoya Candy Collection Sampler  6 shades

From Bespoke Labs

1 Narrow Duality Wet or Dry 1inch Iron

The Opera Collection Clutch from Bo's Art/Los Angeles

A beautiful silver clutch bag.

Flirt Squeeze Super Shiny Lipgloss 4 piece

in Nectar Fizz . Mighty Aphrodite . Cherries Jubilee . Radical Raspberry

Take a look at Maryam's Soap Nook!

Maryam Diab of Maryam's Soap Nook very kindly sent me several of her products to test and I'm so glad she did!  I've been jealously watching the other beauty bloggers raving about her wares and I wanted to test them out for myself ... and now I have, with great enjoyment on my part.

Included in the package she sent were Tuberose and Neroli Handmade Soap, Tropical Paradise Whipped Shea Monoi Body Butter, Fresh Cut Flowers Luxury Body Mist, Peach Gardenia Exfoliating Bath and Shower Gel, and Sweet Lavendar Flowers Dead Sea Salt Scrub.  What an embarrassment of riches!  I was overly excited to try out these products.  I immediately took a bath using the Peach Gardenia Exfoliating Bath and Shower Gel, then slathered myself with the Whipped Body Butter.  The next night, I used the soap and body butter.  Then, the next night the scrub.  And today, the luxury body mist.  All awesome - awesome, I tell you!

The Exfoliating Bath and Shower Gel really foams nicely when used on a body pouf and left my flaky skin on my legs smoothed out and noticeably moisturized.  And, since peach is one of my favorite scents (and fruit), I was happy to be surrounded by the scent of ripe peaches as I bathed.  The Whipped Body Butter is a Godsend - it applies so smoothly and doesn't require as much rubbing as shea butter usually does to make it liquify and spread on the skin.  And it didn't leave behind an oil slick on my legs, which I greatly appreciate.  The soap is so beautifully made and looks so fancy laying in the soap dish on the side of my tub.  It feels lush when rubbed against the skin and I really felt like I was pampering myself when I used it.  My husband absolutely loved the scent of it and I'm pretty sure I've been smelling traces of it on him - I would not put it past him to be using my soap ... of course, this is the man who washes his hair with pink Herbal Essences shampoo because it smells nice.  My baby - he's such a girl.  Anyway ... the scrub worked wonders on my dry, leftover from winter, skin and didn't require much clean-up afterward ... I always hate when I have to thoroughly scrub the tub after a bath because of how much oil is left behind from my scrubs and bubble baths.  Last, but not least, the luxury body mist - I was surprised at how much I liked it.  I am a fruity smell girl and am usually turned off by floral scents, but I really liked it.  It smelled fresh and pretty and clung nicely to my skin without making me feel that I'd rubbed around in a pile of dead roses.  Score!

Maryam's Soap Nook is a worthwhile company.  Give these products a try - they get my glowing endorsement!

Coming next week!

Make sure to tune in next week, when I'll have reviews of Maryam's Soap Nook and NYX Liquid Liner!

Today

Last night's skincare:

None.  I fell into bed with all my make-up on.  For shame!

This morning's skincare:

• Cetaphil Daily Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
• i.d. BareVitamins Skin Rever-Upper
• Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisture Gel

Today's ensemble:

• chocolate brown stretch cami from New York & Company
• yellow and white flower printed split floaty top from New York & Company
• brown tweed pants from New York & Company
• gold printed leather pumps from BCBGirls
• gold etched drop earrings
• wedding set

Today's purse:

brown leather bag w/gold studs and gold chain strap, accented with fringe, from Cents of Style

Today's outerwear:

melon short trench from Old Navy

Today's make-up:

• BareMinerals Foundation Powder in Medium Tan
• BareMinerals Multi-Tasking Powder in Honey Bisque (used as concealer)
• BareMinerals Tinted Mineral Veil
• BareMinerals All Over Powder in Warmth
• MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy
• Benefit BADGal Lash
• Jane Iredale PurePressed Blush in Golden Apricot
• Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm
• MAC Lustre Lipstick in Rubia
• MAC Lustreglass in Love Nectar

Today's fragrance:

Lavanila Vanilla Grapefruit

Today's hair:

Sprayed with a mixture of water, lavendar oil and pomegranate seed oil; edges smoothed with Elasta QP Glaze and brushed into a high puff.  I spritzed the puff with the water mixture and rubbed in Carol's Daughter Hair Milk for moisture and shine.

Product review: Sharon Bolton Scents

I was impressed from the beginning by Sharon Bolton Scents.  Sharon contacted me through e-mail and I could feel how nice she was, even through that medium.  When I received the samples, they came in a beautiful white hat box with turquoise blue paper inside, holding a full-sized Soul perfume oil, body lotion and shower gel, as well as sample sizes of the Truth and Luv perfume oils.  Sharon Bolton Scents is a fairly new company located in

Santa Barbara

,

CA

and the company is committed to giving back through donations to The Muscular Dystrophy Association, Susan G. Komen Foundation, The Teddy Bear Foundation, The Diabetes Association and others.  The products are cruelty free and the packaging is 100% recyclable.

After trying all Perfume Oils, I found that I liked them all, particularly Soul and Luv.  Truth is a light, springy scent, but citrus isn’t exactly my thing.  However, I would wear it at a time when I was in a very good, light-hearted mood or when I wanted to put myself in such a mood.  Soul is my kind of scent – tropical, sweet but not overpowering, and clean.  I feel like I’m on vacation when I put it on.  It’s totally luxurious.  The Luv scent (a favorite of the always fabulous Patti LaBelle) is quite close to one of my favorite fragrances, Kuumba Made Pikaki Lei.  The Perfume Oils are long-lasting – longer lasting than perfume sprays.  The Body Lotion is as rich and moisturizing as is advertised – it leaves my skin smooth and soft … it actually glistens!  When I layer the lotion after having bathed using the Body Wash (which, by the way, offers creamy lather and gorgeous bubbles), I feel especially pampered. 

I am so glad to have received a full size of the Soul products - I smell like yummy coconut-y goodness all day!

Definitely give these products a try.  Tell Sharon that Toya sent ya!

Today

Last night's skincare:

Last night, we did promotional pictures for the NDC, so I was in full bellydancer mode (read: drag queen make-up), which had to be chipped off with an ice pick.

• Top layer of make-up wiped off with a fragrance-free baby wipe.
• Face washed twice with Cetaphil Daily Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
• All remaining residue taken off with Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner
• Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisturizer for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin (my skin was feeling a bit dry after all the washing)
• Walgreen's Eye Cream

Today's skincare:

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Daily Cleansing Scrub
• Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Moisturizer for Normal to Oily/Combination Skin
• Walgreen's Eye Cream

Today's Ensemble:

• Old Navy Perfect Fit white ribbed-knit tank
• New York & Company deep-v sweater in purple stripes
• New York & Company chocolate brown double-button knit pants
• beige socks
• Nine West brown pointy-toe boots
• silver thumb rings
• wedding set
• silver ring w/purple stone
• silver hoop earrings

Today's make-up:

• MAC Studio Stick Foundation in NW 35 - swiped around the nose and on under eye circles and blended with my finger
• lashes curled with the CoverGirl eyelash curler
• Maybelline Full 'n Soft Mascara in Very Black - two coats on the top lashes only
• CARGO Suedeblush in Gold Coast - This blush offers great shimmer, but isn't as pigmented as CARGO's blushes normally are.  Suedeblushes are great for days when you have a heavy eye or lip that requires more natural-looking blush or as an added layer, for extra shimmer, as I've used it today.
• Bobbi Brown Blush in Apricot
• Carmex
• Kimora Lee Simmons Fabulosity Glossamer in Chocolate Martini

Today's fragrance:

Kuumba Made Pikaki Lei