This Weeks Lip Gloss Favorites.

As I have been digging through the bins to find all the cosmetics that get stashed away when I find a new favorite, I have been rediscovering some old favorites!  This week I have been using two in particular.

The first is one that I received as part of a purchase from a blog sale.  I got an entire set of Avon's Glazewear Lip Gloss.  The one that I am using a lot this week is the color Crimson.  I love this lip gloss as it is not very sticky, yet manages to stay for a long time.  Crimson is misleading in it's name in that it is not a red.  It's more of a deep plum.  But a gorgeous plum it is!  And at just $6.00 per .15 oz tube, they are very affordable.  I looked at Avon's website this evening and the Glazewear Glosses were on sale for $2.99 per tube!

The other gloss that I am using a lot this week is the Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss in Strip.  This item is available at Target stores in the US.  Strip is a pale peach gloss with a light gold shimmer in it.  This gloss goes on very light and not very sticky.  I can apply it any time of the day, even right after eating, and it still looks natural.  It just adds a pretty shimmer and sheen to my lips without a lot of color or goop.  The Target website says these lip glosses are $16.00.  I can't read the size on the tube, but they seem to be about the same size as an average lip gloss.  Even the Jemma Kidd website doesn't mention the size.  Hmmmm.

I think I probably got my gloss on sale, as I don't think I would have tried something new at full price when it's that high.  Would I spend $16.00 on a Jemma Kidd lip gloss now?  I might.  I really like the texture and consistency.  I know that MAC's Lipglass are $14.50 for .17oz.  And I prefer the Jemma Kidd much more than the stickier MAC Lipglass.

I am not a cosmetics snob.  I do enjoy splurging on some high end goodies, but I also love to find a good bargain.  Expensive doesn't always mean better!  In these two lip glosses, I think I have found reasonable alternatives to the department store offerings.  Avon's prices are always good, and Target frequently has sales....so you can find good items at good prices!

Thanks for stopping by!

Malamute Monster!

Tonight I got home from a quick trip to the hockey store in town.  When I let Kuma and Bella inside, Kuma obviously felt it was his duty to remind me that I should have taken them with me, if for no other reason than they like to ride in the car. Below is a video of a similar situation, where Kuma thought that everyone needed to hear what he thought about something.  

Tonight he was louder/more obnoxious than this, but I didn't have my camera with me.  If anyone he knows comes in the house, he holds a conversation with them.  Woo-wooing and shaking his head.  He loves to tell a story!  

The temps in our area have been in the low teens and single digits during the day, dropping to sub-zero at night.  Bella and Kuma are SO happy about this!  I looked out the kitchen window this morning and caught Bella chasing her tail in big circles in the snow.  When she finally stopped, she had a huge Malamute smile!!

Life with these goofy dogs is never dull!  I don't know what I would do without them. How can you be sad when Kuma is telling you a story?!?!  Thanks for stopping by and listening to us ;)

Favorite Facial Peels!

I know I said I was going to finish my Project 10 Pan before I bought any new beauty products.  I'm still working on the Project Pan, but I did cave and use my Sephora gift cards from Christmas.

I had been noticing that my skin just wasn't looking all that great.  No major breakouts, but just looking dull.  I also have an area of hyper-pigmentation from an acne cyst when I was in college.  This area of skin is darker than the rest of my face, and sometimes give the appearance of being a bruise, which it is not.  The acne cyst had been buried very deep under the skin and would not go away.  It felt like a large garden pea had been stuck in my cheek.  Finally, after months of hoping it would go away on it's own, I was forced to visit a dermatologist who had to anesthetize the area and insert a large gauge needle in to allow it to drain.  Ever since, that area has been darker.

I knew I wanted some sort of peel system, but didn't know which one.  There are lots available!  I decided to try the Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads.  At $45 for 60 pads, they weren't the cheapest, nor the most expensive products in the category.

How often you use them is dependent upon your skin texture and sensitivity level.  Since I have oily skin that is not overly sensitive, I use the pads daily.  I am very excited with the results I have gotten after just 2 weeks of use.  Small blemishes disappeared overnight.  My skin has a new glow that was missing before. And my pores appear smaller.   These pads are formulated with alpha, beta, and gamma hydroxy acids which act as exfoliators, and amino acids.

I also picked up the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel.  I use this peel twice a week, in addition to the Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads.  This peel utilizes pumpkin enzymes to stimulate cellular turn-over, improve the skins appearance, and provide natural hydration.  I have to say, after using this peel just twice, I am impressed.  My face is so radiant and soft.

The Pumpkin Enzyme Peel is $44 for 3.3 oz.  I would definitely purchase this item again!  A little bit goes a long way.  Some people may notice a slight burning/tingling sensation as the enzymes go to work.  For me, this sensation fades very quickly and is not at all uncomfortable.  This peel also has a slightly spicy pumpkin smell to it.  Not strong at all, and sure beats the medicinal smell of some products.

If you have any questions about whether these products would be suitable for your skin type, visit your local Sephora and request a sample!

Thanks for visiting!!

Project 10 Pan

Since my make-up collection can manage to get out of hand at times (just ask my mom), I have decided to do what is commonly called a "Project Pan".  A "Project Pan" is where you pick a number, in this case 10, and vow to not purchase any new make-up/hair care/fragrance items until you hit the bottom of the pan/bottle on that many of your current items.  The photo below is my Bobbi Brown palette.  As you can see, I have hit pan on 2 blush and 2 eyeshadow.  But for my challenge, I am trying to completely use them, not just hit the bottom of the pan.

Since I have a lot of everything, I am doing a Project 10 Pan, and that will include all items.  I've been focusing on using some of the perfumes that maybe aren't my absolute favorite, although I do still like them.  Estee Lauder's Beyond Paradise is a prime example.  I very much enjoy this scent, although of all my perfumes, it isn't my favorite.  That award goes to Dior's Dune.  So I am vowing to use up some of my "other" scents before I can buy anything new.  I've been eyeing Beyonce's Heat.....but won't let myself splurge on it yet.

I have several different shampoos and conditioners, since I like to rotate.  I need to use up some of the bottles that I currently have before I will allow myself to try the Moroccan Oil shampoo and conditioner.  I DO need to throw away 2 bottles of conditioner that I will never finish though.  I have Bed Heads Control Freak Conditioner and their Self Absorbed Conditioner.  They both have an awful scent.  The Control Freak smells like rotten fruit.  Really.  It makes me gag.  The Self Absorbed smells weird, but not as bad as the Control Freak.  I just know I will never use them up, so it's time to throw them out.  It surprises me since the Bed Head styling products that I have tried have good scents.

In the cosmetics area, the only items that I am not including in the Project 10 Pan are items that I only have 1 of....like my Double Extend waterproof mascara.  When my current one is empty, I will get a new one.   And my mattifying primers.  I have one by Murad that is awesome, so when that runs out, I will replace it.  I try to only use it when I have some where important to be or when I know I will be gone for a long period of time.  For light use during the day, I am using up my other primers that don't control the oil nearly as well.

I am being good and saving my Sephora gift cards from Christmas too.  I want to wait until I have finished this challenge to myself, and then get a fun reward!