Splurge, Steal, or Skip – Conditioner

The Splurge: Bumble & Bumble Creme de Coco Conditioner

It’s no secret that I’m deeply in love with Bumble and Bumble’s Creme de Coco scent.  I love the Hair Masque, and this conditioner is equally fantastic.  While I don’t see the dramatic improvement I do with the mask, I get smooth, soft, and deliciously scented hair without the time commitment.  Perfect for the everyday shower routine.  $24 at Bumble & Bumble (and buy one get one free at Target!)

The Steal: Aussie 3-Minute Miracle

Surprisingly effective for the low, low price, Aussie 3-minute Miracle delivers “deeeeep conditioning.”  There’s a noticeable difference in my hair texture after one use.  It’s not as softening as Bumble & Bumble, but it’s the nicest drug store conditioner I’ve used.  The scent is a little bit like a strong, cheap fruit punch, but it’s not unpleasant.  For the $4.29 price tag (at Ulta and drug stores), it’s worth smelling like the Chiquita lady.

The Skip: Terax Crema Conditioner

Insultingly priced at $24.99 at Amazon, this ‘luxury conditioner’ was surprisingly lackluster.  I’ve read about its cult following, and checked out the rave reviews… but for me, it did almost nothing.  It has a truly bizarre scent – a little bit fishy with hints of plastic and play doh – but I rubbed it into my hair anyway.  (Seriously, why did I do that?)  I gave it a few minutes to get to work.. then a few more minutes when it didn’t feel any different.. then eventually I had to get out of the shower.  Nothing.  Even after a few tries, I’m struggling to see what this fish paste does to my hair.  I don’t know what the hype’s about, but this bottle’s been lonely in my shower for a few months now.  Skip.

M

Orly, Supergoop and Alterna at Hautelook

Heads up – it’s a beauty extravaganza over at Hautelook!

If you’re not familiar with Hautelook.com, it’s a great flash sale site, similar to Gilt.  Right now (and I mean RIGHT now, these sales will be over in the next two days), their beauty section is killer – Alterna hair products, Supergoop sun protection, Tweezerman tools and Orly nails.

Orly polishes are on sale for $4.50 each, marked down from the usual $8-$8.50.  It’s a good time to try out the brand, if you haven’t, and experiment with new colors at about half the price!

Alterna hair products are going for 50-70% off, and Supergoop’s not too shabby at 30-40% off retail prices.  I haven’t tried either brand yet, but I’ve read great reviews, so I picked up a couple of things on the cheap.

I’m excited to share my haul when it gets here.

M

Splurge, Steal, or Skip – Lip Balm

The Splurge: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15

If you’re fancy enough to drop $20 on lip balm, this is the one to buy.  It’s nourishing and smooth, like rubbing a warm stick of butter on your lips… if you’re into that kind of thing.  I most certainly am.  This lip balm is not at all waxy or sticky, and there are tons of great colors to choose from.  Luscious as hellll.  $22.50 at Sephora

The Steal: Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 20

Baby Lips should really have its own Best Stuff post, it’s so good.  For being such a cheapy cheap lip balm, it out performs almost every other brand.  Baby Lips skips the waxy chapstick feel, and soaks into my lips comfortably and quickly.  It’s a must-have in every purse and car compartment, especially since it’s cheap enough to replace if/when it melts.  Quenched and Peppermint (both clear) are my two favorites – I didn’t realize the other four kinds are tinted, and picked up Cherry Me and Peach Kiss also.  The tint is noticeably cheap; the colors are Bonne Bell awkward and they apply unevenly.  Save yourself the patchy peach lips, and stick to clear.  $3.99 at Ulta and drug stores

The Skip: Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

I know I’ll probably be one of the first official Burt’s Bees haters, but hear me out.  A few years ago, Burt’s Bees Beeswax lip balm was in every one of my jacket pockets.  It was my miracle drug – smooth, but a little waxy, with a soothing minty tingle.  But over the past two to three years, something at Burt’s Bees has changed.  I was thrilled when I saw the lip balm in grocery stores and gas stations, but when I picked up a replacement tube, I noticed it was hard.  Like a solid beeswax candle.  It wasn’t a fluke, I received more tubes as holiday gifts, and they were exactly the same.  Solid, waxy, and almost impossible to rub on my lips.  So I gave up on Burt and every single one of his bees.  Farewell, old friends, you were loved.

M

Everyday Skin Care Arsenal

I love makeup to death, but at the end of the day, I want every speck of it off my face.  It creeps me out thinking it’s lingering in my pores, so I go hard on my skin care regimen.  Here’s what’s working for me:

First I pre-wash the majority of my makeup off with my hands and Noxzema deep cleansing cream ($4.39) – the kind in a big blue pot.  (I pre-wash because I don’t like to get my Clarisonic brush too clogged up with makeup… it feels like I’m rubbing foamy old foundation around on my face.)  I’m not especially attached to this cleanser, I mostly use it because I get to scoop handfuls out like ice cream.

Next I deep clean with my Clarisonic Mia 2 and a cleanser: Purity Made Simple facial cleanser ($20), old school Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser ($11.49) or Biore Complexion Clearing Ice Cleanser ($7.49).  Whichever I blindly grab.

Usually, my eye makeup sticks around even after the brush, so I rub in some Clinique Naturally Gentle Eye Makeup Remover lotion ($18) and wipe it off gently with tissue (cotton balls leave awful little fuzz strings in my lashes.)

After that, I swipe my face and neck with Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1 ($13) and CVS’s hugest cotton balls ever ($1.49).  (I know, I’m sharing my favorite brand of cotton balls.  But they’re seriously huge and luscious.  I love them.)  It removes the last traces of makeup or dirt and leaves my face feeling fresh.

Then I apply Clinique Repairwear Eye Cream around my tired old eyes, and Alba Even Night Cream on my face and neck.  And it’s relaxing and wonderful, and my skin is grateful.

What skin care product or routine do you swear by?

M

In-Store Haul

Planning an upcoming trip to Vegas, I realized I am dangerously low on bronzer and couldn’t order a new one in time.  I drove to my nearest Sephora with a shopping list in hand to keep me from straying.  Once I’m in a makeup store, I’m stuck for a good hour, and will likely come out with a number of things I “never knew I needed”.  I’m proud to say I made it out this week with only one impulse buy, and I’d say it’s a good one.

Here’s my haul:

Nails Inc. Kensington Caviar base coat.  I grabbed it on my way to the register without looking closely.  I meant to get the top coat, I’ve heard wondrous things about its wet look and I’m a little low on Polishield… but I’m hoping this base polish will be a happy mistake, because I’m basically too lazy to return it.

Too Faced Powder Pouf Brush.  My previous powder brush has been with me for years, so long the branding has worn off and I don’t even remember where I got it.  It’s been a real trooper, but it’s starting to get a little scratchy and it’s losing some hair.. so in with the new.

Too Faced Starry-Eyed Liquid Glitter Eyeliner in Mad Mad Love – this was my in-store must-have!  I grabbed for the powder brush and my eyes stuck to four little tubes of glitter eyeliner.  Normally I can breeze past it, but I have Vegas on the mind, so…

Tarte Mineral Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess.  My irreplaceable everyday bronze – there just isn’t one as golden, neutral, and with just the right amount of shimmer..  This is a long-term relationship for sure.

Bumble & Bumble Defrizz Mini.  I’ve had a little issue with flyaways for a while, but LA’s dry summers don’t exactly help.  I tried some of this in the store (and more when I got home) and it seems to tame the frizz layer without any greasiness.  I tentatively dig this.

Bumble & Bumble Styling Creme Mini – honestly, kind of an impulse buy also.  It was $7 and my B&B Defrizz said I could mix it with Styling Creme “for a humidity-proof polish.”  I don’t know, I trusted the bottle.

Along with these lovelies, I got a couple of Burberry Brit Sheer samples that I promptly rubbed all over my forearms.  I’m liking it – it’s definitely the summer version of my old faithful Burberry Brit.  It’s like running a Burberry Brit-spritzed tee through the dryer with fabric softener.

Looking forward to smooth hair and glittering eyes in Vegas!

M

Bumble and Bumble Bargains at Target

I don’t know if you know about this, but daaamn – Target has some killer deals on Bumble and Bumble!

Their selection is pretty limited, but right now, the full-size bottles are buy one get one free.  And at $20-$27 each, that’s a great deal.

Target offers Salon Travel Kits if you want to try before you invest – $29.99 for a 2 oz. bottle of a shampoo and conditioner (either Creme de Coco or Seaweed), plus 2 oz. bottles of Styling Creme and Styling Lotion.  The styling products work fabulously with just a couple of drops, so those mini bottles will last you several months at least!

I already love the Creme de Coco hair masque and conditioner, so I decided to try the shampoo.  I also picked up the Styling Lotion (because I’m digging the Styling Creme) and a Seaweed shampoo.  Four full-size products, and I only paid for two.  Big ups to Target.

M

July Polish Picks

Happy July!  It’s hot and lovely out, so it’s time to get my nails right for beach season.  Here are my nail polish picks for the month:

Left to Right:

• Sally Girl Amped
• Essie Bikini So Teeny
• Orly Oh Cabana Boy
• China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise (obviously a well-worn bottle for me)

To me, these are ideal colors to mix and match on mani/pedis all July long.  Bright, summery, fun, and easy.  Like delicious neon popsicles.  And there’s no color combination I wouldn’t wear (even Amped and Turquoise together would be ninja-turtle-hip), so I can pack these four on summer road trips without a second look.

Dark colors and neutrals be damned this month.  It’s too hot to look mysterious and sophisticated.

M

Best Stuff: Alba Botanica Even Advanced Night Cream

I’m going to make this really simple – I love Alba Botanica Even Advanced night cream, $10-$15.

It smells great and it’s non-greasy, thick night cream that doesn’t feel suffocatingly heavy.  I don’t have a lot of “discoloration,” but regardless, this lotion really beautifies my skin overnight.  When I wake up, my skin looks as smooth, calm, and well… even.  My pores even look smaller.  It’s the only moisturizer I’ve used that noticeably changes my skin, as opposed to just keeping it hydrated.  I love it so much, I use it any time I don’t need an spf boost.

Annnnd it’s easy to find!  I’ve seen this stocked at Target, drug stores, and grocery stores – so there’s no waiting for an online shipment, or braving mall parking to go to Sephora.

Great find, pretty skin.

M

tokidoki Sale at Sephora

I got an email this morning about a raging tokidoki sale going on at Sephora right now, so I clicked over to browse.  I love tokidoki for its endlessly cute packaging, and surprisingly good quality makeup.. but by the looks of this sale, it won’t be around for long.  C’est la vie – stock up while you can!

Stop by sephora.com/tokidoki to pick up some great deals, like various shadow and blush Arte palettes for $6 each, rollerball scents for $10 (I can’t vouch for the scents, but they are CUTE), and lip glosses from $9.

If nothing else, they’re a couple extra bucks in your cart to bump you up to free shipping!

M

Average Day Arsenal

I recently shared with you my super-quick makeup arsenal.  It gets me through the grocery store and the post office, but if I’m doing anything social I usually step my game up a bit.  A very tiny bit.

Here’s my “average day” makeup routine.

First comes the Devita SPF 30+ moisturizer and Clinique Repairwear eye cream.  Keeping my face together under the makeup is a must.  I give the moisturizers a little time to soak in, and stare blankly into my closet at all the “nothing to wear.”

Then comes Rimmel London Primer (apparently now in the lead in the battle of the primers).  It just feels a little more moisturizing than my Make Up For Ever primer, and it makes me look more natural in the day time.

I smear on about two small pumps of Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation in #145 or #150 ($42) near the center of my face and then buff it out with my foundation brush.

The Sephora Pro Foundation Airbrush #56 ($32) amazes me.  As long as it’s clean, it buffs liquid foundation out to a really smooth, even layer.  The trick is shampooing this brush often, because after about three days, the bristles are so stuck together with leftover foundation they’ll leave straight-up stripes on your face.

Next, I tap on Benefit Erase Paste in Medium ($26) under my eyes, using my finger.  It’s a little lighter than my skin, but its crazy miracle formula blends right into foundation.  As advertised, it really does brighten up dark circles – but it takes a very tiny bit to look good and not like a reverse raccoon.

To set the erase paste, I use a wedge sponge to dab on MAC Studio Fix in NC35 ($27).  Then comes the big powder brush to buff on a very light powder layer.  I know it’s kind of foundation-over-foundation, but it works.

Then blush.  The three I have in heavy rotation right now are: Milani Blush in Luminoso ($7.49), Cover Girl Cheekers Blush in Pretty Peach ($3.99) or Benefit Bella Bamba ($28).  I just follow my heart.

Next I use the Sephora Complexion Brush #53 ($19) to add a little Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess ($29).  The brush is not my favorite, and I don’t especially care for it.. but it’s big, and it’s here, so I use it.  The bronzer goes just under my cheekbone for a liiiittle bit of contouring – I’m no crazy 80’s freak, but I like a little definition.  This is a perfectly subtle warm color.

Then again, the eyebrow fill-in with the darker brown in Clinique Colour Surge Eyeshadow Duo in Coffee Shop  ($19.50) and an angled shadow brush.

A quick swipe of Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in 0L ($18) along the top waterlines and lash lines.

I set the liner with tokidoki Cromatico Eye Shadow in Adios matte black ($15) and the flat side of Sephora’s Classic Dramatic Eyes brush ($7 on sale).  I might even be fancy and go for a little bit of a cat-eye (ooh la la.)

With the opposite end of the Dramatic Eye brush, I sweep a little of the Tarte bronzer from the outside corner of my eyelid along the crease.  It’s the no-eyeshadow eyeshadow.

I do a little highlighting with a small shadow brush with Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Soft Shimmer in Sugar Sugar – shimmery white and/or Starstruck – shimmery light nude ($15) in the inner corner of my eye, along the inner bottom lash line, and just under my eyebrows.

 Then I curl my eyelashes and choose between Smashbox Hyperlash or Maybelline Full N Soft Mascara (both from Splurge Steal or Skip awhile back) – depending on how humid it will be, or whether I plan to cry later in the day.  Who knows!

Lastly a tinted lip balm if I’m keeping it casual, maybe some lipstick if I’m being a fancy guy.  But more on that later.

M