Travel in a Carry-On, How to Fit it All in A 3-1-1 Bag

Have you seen Up in the Air? This is me.

Ryan: You know how much time you lose by checking in?
Natalie: I don't know. Five, ten minutes?
Ryan: 35 minutes a flight. I travel 270 days a year. That's 157 hours. That makes seven days. You're willing to throw away an entire week on that?

I've fully established that I am not a light packer (here's just one of many packing posts to prove my point). I need a lot of items when I travel, and so many of them are liquid that I can't even fit what I need for a quick 2 day trip in to a TSA approved 3-1-1 bag. So I check. Always. I'm not quite Natalie Keener (who even packed her own full sized pillow), but I do have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, face and body moisturizer, toothpaste, concealer, foundation, lip balm.... All in small travel sizes, but still too much to fit into a quart sized bag for TSA approved carry-on travel. So I check it all.

Last week I shared my super high maintenance girl packing of nail polish as part of the Manicure 101 series. I mentioned it mostly because it had come up a few times recently over on the Makeup Alley Nail Board that I like to frequent. Girls over there think nothing of bringing a huge number of colors, all carefully bubble wrapped, for a weekend trip. They're like me, I love this.

A reader, Deb, commented on that post, and I had to know more!

Christine, I think we are twins separated at birth :) I was reading your previous travel posts and we both have the same struggle...so much stuff to bring. I travel constantly for my job and have been slowly getting it together.

Yes! A reader that travels and has gotten this whole thing down! She has a system and it isn't because she needs less stuff than me. It's because she's super smart and has figured out how to work within the system to continue her high maintenance ways. I asked Deb to write me with her tips, and she did. She wrote and she was very detailed, which made me even happier.

Read on to see how Deb travels!

Arbonne Triple Action Mascara

Arbonne has just released a new mascara that promises to pretty much be everything a girl could want in a single mascara product Length, curl and volume? Yes please!

I found that this mascara does take a while to get used to using. The brush has very densely packed bristles, and while that meant every little hair was able to be picked up, it also meant that sometimes it can be hard to transfer the mascara on to the lashes or to not have the ultimate Tammy Faye Baker-Spidery lashes. It took a few days to get used to it, but it seems to require a little bit more wiggle to the wand for the best results.


While this mascara promised triple action, I don't think it delivered very well on the curl. My lashes were curled prior to application, and during that process somehow they seemed to come out a little bit straighter. I did however get great volume and some added length with this mascara. By the end of the day I still had my volume, most of the length but none of the curl left.

The day I took these pics I was having a horrible, horrible day with my allergies. There was some eye rubbing despite all of my efforts to not touch my eyes! Notice that even though this mascara isn't waterproof, it stood up to any tearing and rubbing beautifully! Not a smudge or flake in sight.

Arbonne Triple Action Mascara

Tanda Zap: Does it Really Zap Away Your Zits?

I fully admit that I'm a little late at jumping on the at home light skin care treatment band wagon. Plenty of studies have found that at home LED lights do in fact work. I love the idea of being able to fight aging or acne without a chemical. But, I'm also a time pressed (and lazy) person. It's simply faster to slather on a cream or lotion and be done with it.

Tanda Zap is my first real experience with light therapy and I have to say that so far I'm impressed. The Tanda Zap is a bit different than other at home LED therapies. First, it is a targeted spot treatment. Second, it isn't only light. It also incorporates heat and sonic vibration. I guess to shake the pimple out of your skin?

The hand held device is about the size of a C battery, but longer. Why is this my point of reference? Because every baby item in my house runs on C batteries. We should all buy stock in Duracell. Anyways, it is pretty small and lightweight. At one end there are little plastic bumps, and this is where the light comes out of. When I turn it on there is a very light vibration, though it isn't very obvious. The end lights up blue, and after about a minute it is faintly warm. The entire treatment lasts about 2 minutes and should be performed about 2-3 times a day on affected areas.

I was going to do a little info on how the blue light works. But then I found that over at Future Derm you can read Nicki's little summary as she's already done a more scientific sounding overview than I would have done. The bottom line is the blue light affect P. Acnes, the bacteria responsible for acne, and after a little while the bacteria basically self implodes. The light should work for pretty much any type of acne except for cystic, which is not recommended as it may be extra painful.

The light bulb works for about 10,000 uses, but once it is used up you'll need a new Tanda Zap. Considering it only costs $50, I think this is less expensive per use than any of the over the counter acne spot treatments.

So, after all of that, does this little gizmo actually work??? I think it does. Now that I only have sporadic outbreaks, I've been in the market for a spot treatment that works and doesn't dry out the surrounding skin. The Tanda Zap is my answer. I've had a few blemishes over the last several weeks, and they have all resolved in less than 12 hours after being exposed to the Tanda Zap once or twice. Seriously. For realz. The pimple is completely gone, and all I did was hold this little blue light over it for a few minutes.

I'm telling all of my friend to get one.

Tanda Zap

Plumping Up the Volume: Alterna and Oscar Blandi Take A New Approach To Volumizers

My hair has suddenly really entered the post-partum shedding phase. Part of me is sighing in relief (it was a bit too much, my hair was so thick it was hard to style), but part of me is afraid. What if it... just keeps falling out? What if my hair, which has always been very thick, becomes thin and lanky?

So, while I'm worried about losing too much volume, I've started looking for new and different ways to replace the volume that I'm losing. Alterna and Oscar Blandi have just released products that are perfect for this, and they work in somewhat similar ways, though I definitely prefer one over the other.

Alterna's Plumping Strand Expand does exactly what it sounds like, plumping up each strand to add volume. Oscar Blandi Hair Lift attracts moisture to the hair with hyaluronic acid increasing the size of each hair strand. I don't really know too much beyond that little bit of info. I am a little curious how the plumping affects the cuticle of the hair. Does it lie flat or are the scales all lifted up? If so, the hair is usually dull appearing and more prone to breakage. Both products do seem to keep my hair looking shiny and healthy, so my feeling is that the cuticle is likely lying flat.

Alterna's product does increase the volume some. I felt that it didn't weigh down my hair, but I did feel like there was "something" on my hair, as if I had used too much gel. The added volume lasts most of the day, my hair falls and looks a bit more lanky than usual by the end of the day. I've also found that my next day hair is too difficult to deal with. Usually I can style without an issue, but even dry shampoo can't salvage my second day hair with the Alterna.

The Oscar Blandi on the other hand is ahhhhmazing. Love it. I get great volume that lasts all day long and even into the next day. My hair doesn't feel like it has product on it at all, and I've found that my hair can be styled very easily. My hair looks shinier and healthier on days that I use it.

So, plumping up the actual size of each hair strand isn't what most of us have done in the past to add volume, but it definitely seems to work. I've been loving the Oscar Blandi product as it lasts longer and I can't detect it in my hair. This is something I'll be repurchasing in the future.

Oscar Blandi
Alterna Hair Care

Aveeno's Road to Healthy Skin Tour

Right now I'm bummed. The Aveeno tour is coming to my area (well, not my town, but one nearby) and I'll be stuck at work! This tour is making its way across the country this summer. If it is coming to a town near you try to make your way over to the bus.

The Road to Healthy Skin Tour is from AVEENO and the Skin Cancer Foundation, will be offering FREE skin cancer screenings with board certified local dermatologists (screenings are first come, first serve). You can get sunscreen samples, coupons and complimentary copies of Fitness magazine.

Skin Cancer screenings aren't just for those of us that are pale and spend a lot of time outdoors! Check the schedule below for the Tour Bus date near you (this widget will always show the next 5 stops, but you can view the entire schedule as well). Making an appointment with a dermatologist for this screening is on my to-do list, add it to your list as well!



Aveeno
SkinCancer.org

Things to Check Out...

Acuvue is holding a contest that gives teens the chance to be flown to Los Angeles to be mentored by one of five top teen icons: musician Joe Jonas, all-American actress Meaghan Martin, singing phenom Charice, World-champion runner Allyson Felix and actor Sterling Knight. Five lucky winners will also receive a second trip to LA to attend a teen awards event, and a one-year supply of contact lenses. To enter, head over to the Acuvue Brand channel on YouTube and upload a 30–60 second video showcasing what you hope to achieve one day, how you find the confidence to pursue your dreams and why you should be chosen for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


Over on the Schick Quattro for Women Facebook Page you can enter to win their Dare to be Spontaneous Contest. One lucky winner will receive a spontaneous getaway vacation with three friends to an undisclosed, secret location in the United States . The trip will include hotel, airfare, tickets to a Katy Perry concert, and a chance to meet Katy Perry.

Zoya Touch: Now On Pre-Order!

It feels as if nude nails are everywhere, but it can be hard to find a nude that not only works with your skin tone but isn't so boring that it puts you to sleep. Zoya is releasing a new collection, Touch, to fill the fun but nude toned nail polish void.

Minka (ZP561) - latte beige cream with a metallic kiss
Shay (ZP562) - desert rose sand beige cream with a metallic kiss
Pandora (ZP563) - mauve beige cream with a metallic kiss



Personally, I don't think you need to wear these as your perfect "mannequin hands", I love the hint of color and shimmer in each of the shades. I think I'll be ordering all three colors, the look perfect for the transition from summer to fall. Which shade do you like the looks of the most?

Zoya

Concealer Series: Estée Lauder's Ideal Light

To me, Estée Lauder's Ideal Light is what the cult favorite Touche Eclat should be, but isn't. This is a concealer with decent coverage, with the added benefit of light diffusing particles.

According to the Estée website:

Light-reflective Photo Optic™ technology diffuses light to minimize the look of fine lines, wrinkles and imperfections.

I admit that usually the idea of light diffusing particles makes me a tad nervous. Some companies just don't seem to have the light touch that is needed with them, and instead of distracting from imperfections you end up calling attention to them with too much shimmer. Not cool. This Estée pen has just the right light touch, which I love.


I rated this a 3, but really it is nearly a 4 in coverage.

Consistency: Liquid
Blendability: Very blendable
Buildable coverage: Yes
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: 10-12 hours
Problems with wear: No caking or settling into fine lines
Shades Available: I used light, there are 4 skin toned shades and a Soft Pink, described as a "highlighter shade is ideal for all skintones. Brings light to your face and focus to your features."

Estée Lauder Ideal Light

Manicure 101 Extra Credit: How I Travel With Nail Polish

First, let me start this post by reminding everyone that I am not a low maintenance girl. There's a reason I've had the slogan above since first starting my blog 4 years ago.... If you need even more evidence, you might want to check out some of my previous travel packing posts. Obviously, I'm a girl that has problems paring things down and I need to have a lot of options at all times. I simply can't travel with just 1 option, I need to have 3 or 4 at all times!

So, now I'm going to reveal how completely and utterly insane I am. This is how I bring nail polish with me when I travel. I'm not sharing how I do it for a simple weekend trip, this is the full blown, I'm heading out of town for a week and want to have lots of options because I will need to change my mani and likely my pedi while I'm out of town.

So, read on to see what I bring with me!

My Favorite Make-Up Brushes

Lately I've been wondering if expensive make-up brushes are worth the money. I have a pretty large collection of brushes. I have brushes that came as a Gift with Purchase, that I bought from brands like Bobbi Brown and MAC and even cheap $1 brushes from places like Target and nail supplies. Despite having a huge collection of brushes, I do find myself reaching for the same ones over and over. My favorites are very well used, and they aren't necessarily the expensive brushes.

1. MAC 182 Buffer Brush: This kabuki is what I reach for to help buff in my powder.

2. The Real Techniques Kabuki: Definitely smaller than my MAC buffer, this brush can open up which I find makes it pretty versatile. I've been using it to apply bronzer or MAC Beauty Powder.

3. The Real Techniques Foundation Brush: The first foundation brush I've ever used that wasn't flat and about 1 1/2 inches wide. This one is a little fatter and a tad less than an inch wide. I've found that this helps a lot with blending around my nose and under my eyes.

4. The Real Techniques Blush Brush: If I want a lighter touch with my bronzer or Beauty Powder than the RT Kabuki (#2) offers, I go for this brush.

5. Clinique Blush Brush: I got this blush as part of a gift with purchase in college. Which means that it is probably 12 or 13 years old (yes, I'm old!) I love it because that little brush is the perfect size for applying blush right on the apple of my cheeks. I like a little pop of color right there. This gets it there.

6. Billy B #11 Slanted Eye Liner Brush: This is perfect for pushing a little dark shadow into my lash line and then getting the perfect amount of smudged color onto the lid itself. I have a lot of other slanted eye liner brushes, but this is definitely my favorite.

7. Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Brush: This is my favorite eye shadow brush, sent to me by Coastal Scents with some eye shadow samples about 3 years or so ago. At the time this brush was selling for about $2 on their site, and I should have bought 10 more. A few months ago I decided I need more... and they don't sell this exact brush any more! I bought 1 of every shadow brush they offer, "just in case" I couldn't figure out which brush it was. I got some nice (and cheap) brushes, but not this one. It's perfect for applying shadow over my lid without overflowing too much over my crease. Love it.

So, those are the brushes that I'm reaching for every morning. What are your favorite brushes? Should I check them out?

Concealer Series: DuWop Surface Concealer

I had some pretty high expectations for this concealer for some reason. Something about the lipstick-like form it comes in, I was hoping it would be highly pigmented. I also love that it is solid, and therefore won't need to go in the 3-1-1 TSA bag during travel. While it didn't live up to my expectations, it is still a nice concealer. I've put it in my purse for everyday touch-ups on the go.

Note that in the picture here it looks like there are 2 shades in 1 container, mine was 1 shade. I'm not sure why the pic is this way, but it is 1 solid color.



Consistency: Similar to lipstick, it's hard but seems to melt and swipe onto skin very easily
Blendability: Easily blended
Buildable coverage: Not as buildable as I would like. I felt like I could add a layer of concealer, but it would remove some of the product below.
Feeling on skin: Lightweight feeling
Wear: 6-8 hours
Problems with wear: No Caking or settling into fine lines
Shades Available: 6 shades are available, I used Shell which was a good match for me.


DuWop Surface Concealer

Weekend Beauty Blog Network Reads

Phyrra gives Jemma Kidd's Light As Air Liquid Foundation SPF 18 in Ultra Light a try. See what she thinks about the foundation by the international makeup artist.

Raging Rouge thinks shades in the MAC Fashionflower Eyeshadow Collection are perfect for Spring 2011!

The Pink Sith dishes on the new and limited edition L'eau par Kenzo Wild for Women fragrance and does some creative writing to boot!

Smashbox Photo Finish or Too Faced Primed and Poreless? Ashlee from Painted Ladies reviews and gives her verdicts on three different primers.

Nicole from Lipstick and Luxury has Spring fever for the Elizabeth Arden Bronze in Bloom Collection Check out the swatches!

Teri from Beautiful Makeup Search tells you how to highlight and brighten your eyes.

A Touch of Blusher introduces you Shiseido's &Face line.

Concealer Series: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

When the Fit Me display arrived in my local Walmart, I was hard pressed to not snap up one of everything immediately. The line promises lightweight coverage that allows you to shine through. The foundation, concealer and powder are coordinated (love that, I hate it when matching up products is difficult in a single line).



Consistency: Liquid, comes in a tube with a sponge tipped wand for appliation
Blendability: Yes
Buildable coverage: Yes, though it is a little difficult to build. Wait a few minutes between layers to avoid wiping off what you've already applied. Though, if you have to do that, you probably need a different concealer...
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: 6-8 hours
Problems with wear: Settles into fine lines
Shades Available: I used #15 (fair), there are 6 shades and they all seem pretty fair/light

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Manicure 101 Extra Credit: At Home Paraffin Wax Treatments

I received my paraffin waxer as a holiday present about 9 or 10 years ago from my medical school roommate. It wasn't something I would have bought for myself at the time, but wow! I was in love with it from the first use. The waxer has moved across the country with me twice and been used a huge number of times, but it's still going strong. (Obviously they no longer sell my model, but I think it might be the great-great-great-great-great grandparent of this paraffin hand bath from Homedics.)

I don't break out the paraffin spa very often, but when I do it is definitely worth it! The wax is warm and soothing, and I swear it does amazing things to hands that are dried out. My favorite wax is Gena's Peach Paraffin wax, which contains Peach Oil and smells super yummy.

The wax is very easy to use. Simply turn on the machine to the "melt" temperature and wait until the wax is a liquid (this takes about 4 hours), and then you'll want to turn down the temp a little so it isn't super hot when you dip in your hands. When you're happy with the temperature you're ready to dip!

I like to apply either cuticle oil (like Solar Oil) or a hand lotion first to dry areas. Then dip your hands into the wax for a few seconds and lift out, allowing the wax to harden slightly. I usually do a few layers of wax. I wait about 4 or 5 minutes until the wax has cooled and then I can easily peel it off of my hands. To lengthen the time before the wax cools you can put a plastic treatment bag over your hands and then an insulating mitt. I find this difficult to do on my own so I skip this step.

Once the wax is removed your hands will feel oily, so a quick hand wash is necessary. This is why I typically do my wax treatments in the bathroom so clean up is easy. I follow it up with an application of a very occlusive cream to seal everything in, my favorite is Orly's cuticle cream.

If you want to go ahead with a manicure after the paraffin treatment, you'll need to clean the oils off of your nail before nail polish application, or everything will slide right off. Using a little rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover do the trick.

Make sure you throw away the wax you just took off! It is incredibly tempting to just throw the wax back into the machine, but you shouldn't do this. I fully admit I used to do this back in my cheap/broke student days. It's fine if you're the only one using the wax, but I warn you that little bits of dead skin will be floating in the wax. This is definitely not a pretty sight.

I typically use my paraffin wax when my hands are undergoing quite a bit of abuse. So, a lot of severe hospital soap hand washings at work... winter cold and arid conditions... You get the idea. A paraffin wax treatment can take my hands from dry, aching and looking 20 years older than I really am to hydrated and happy.

Concealer Series: Make Up For Ever's Lift Concealer

This MUFE concealer is a solid product, though I feel it isn't too terribly different from MUFE's Full Cover Concealer. Full Cover is a little more pigmented, though has some caking issues when I layer it unless I'm careful with my blending. Lift doesn't have those issues, though the coverage is a little less and I felt it didn't build as well as Full Cover with more layers. To me, if you need a little more coverage and want a MUFE concealer, go for Full Cover. If not, I'd look at Lift.

Lift also contains Vitamins A and E, both are anti-oxidants.


Really, this is a 3.5 on the coverage scale, I just don't have a graphic made for that level.

Consistency: Liquid, in a tube
Blendability: Very blendable, though it seemed to set up a little faster than other MUFE concealers
Buildable coverage: Yes, though not as buildable as Full Cover
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: ~8-10 hours
Problems with wear: None
Shades Available: 5 available

Make Up For Ever's Lift Concealer

Manicure 101 Extra Credit: Gelous & Instant Artificials

Gelous is something that I've just started using at the continued recommendations of the girls over on the Makeup Alley nail board. Instant Artificials is something that I just bought yesterday, but is the same idea (and again, beloved by the MUA Nail Board), but it's just there looking pretty in the picture, I haven't actually used it yet. They are available pretty much only at Sally Beauty Supply, and really seem to be somewhat all purpose very thick polishes.

Gelous and Instant Artificials can be used at almost any point in the manicure. The Sally site recommends using them directly on the nail (something about bonding to the nail). I haven't noticed a difference in wear if Gelous is applied over a treatment coat (I like Barielle Fortifying Nail Builder, when I'm having a lot of weakness or peeling issues I put that on first). I have noticed that a coat of regular base coat and then the Gelous results in a more smooth looking manicure that lasts an extra day or so.

Gelous also has a great 2nd life as a top coat for glitter polishes. Have you ever put on a great glitter polish, only to notice the next day that your top coat (even a thick one like Seche Vite) has been "eaten" by the glitter? A coat of Gelous over your glitter polish and then your top coat over that seems to do wonders. It smooths every thing out and makes the glitter really shine.

So, if you want at thicker polish look, to make your nails tougher or need something to go over a glitter polish, these are both great options!

A Few Things to Check Out...

Kiehl's has just started an event named Erase Lines, Fill Needs, and Ensure That No Kid Goes Hungry in America. From now until May 31st they're working toward a $75,000 fundraising goal. You can donate at your local Kiehl's store or Kiehl's.com.


Bloom.com is an on-line beauty store, driven by social networking. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems to link through your Facebook, helping you choose the correct products and letting you interact with friends. They're holding a contest over on their Facebook page, giving away $10,000 in BloomDollars.


CoverGirl is hosting an amazing contest over on the CoverGirl Facebook Page. Winners will win an amazing trip to the 2011 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this summer!

Mommy Beauty: Hourglass Cosmetics' Gina Brooke Shares Her Pregnancy Beauty Must Haves

Gina Brooke is the Artistic Director for Hourglass Cosmetics and a highly, highly sought after makeup artist. She works with people like, oh, Madonna. Yes, really. Recently I received word from a little birdie about Gina's favorite products during pregnancy, and I had to share!

“I loved being pregnant, but it certainly inspired some changes in my beauty routine. Ensuring my body stayed hydrated, protected and free of irritants were my top priorities.”
--Gina Brooke

Problem: Sun Sensitive Skin
During pregnancy your skin is particularly prone to sun damage. Not only the typical sunburn increase your risk of cancer and promote aging issues, but also hyperpigmentation like melasma (the dreaded mask of pregnancy). Using sunscreen everyday is even more of a must during pregnancy, so adding it in to your primer is a great addition. The SPF in Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer SPF 15 is purely physical (read more about chemical vs physical sunscreens) with broad spectrum UVA and UVB coverage.






Problem: Dry, Chapped Lips
I have to say that this issue took me by surprise. It wasn't mentioned in any of my pregnancy books, but I had a real struggle with chapped lips during my pregnancy. I was very vigilant about lip balm and not licking my lips, but still had issues. Gina recommends Smashbox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant, which is something I haven't heard of previously. It is a sugar based scrub with shea butter to help hydrate. Gina also recommends using a lip stain like Hourglass Aura Sheer Lip Stain, which has Vitamin E and Green Tea to help your lips. Apply balm over the stain like crazy!


Problem: Dry Hair
I think this is a pregnancy issue that all women have. Dry hair and split ends. Like many new mommies, I ran to my hair stylist and chopped a few inches off after I gave birth. Intensive hair treatments can definitely help your hair maintain moisture. Gina loves Phyto’s Phyto 9 Daily Ultra Nourishing Botanical Cream for Ultra Dry Hair, which is a leave in treatment. If you're an intensive hydrating mask girl like me, my fave is Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie.


Problem: Dry Skin, Non-Existant Glow
I completely, 100% agree with this one. I was definitely dry. To the point of scaly at times. But somehow also oily over the dry. And that pregnancy glow everyone wants you to have? It was no where near my face. I used a bunch of products to correct these issues. Typically a thick moisturizer, a primer with ingredients to help soak up oil (Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel), a light foundation, and usually a shimmer powder over all of that. Not exactly quick and easy.

Gina recommends Hourglass Illusion Tinted Moisturizer, which is more hydrating that many other tinted moisturizers. As well the moisturizer has light-reflecting properties (glow) and once again has SPF 15.





In the past I have received samples of the Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Smoothie and Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel.

Manicure 101 Extra Credit

I hope you've enjoyed the Manicure 101 series! Last week I covered the basics of my manicure in 5 posts. For the next couple of weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays you'll find posts that deal with more advance nail care issues such as specialized base coats like Gelous and Instant Artificials, Paraffin Baths and Vitamins to help your nails grow stronger. Let me know if you have any nail questions you'd like to see addressed!

Sunscreen Tips for Summer and A Contest from Eucerin & Dr. Schultz

In the spirit of yesterday's Dear 16 Year Old Me post, I wanted to share this video from Dr. Neal Schultz. He's a derm in NYC and has some great tips. You can also visit his Facebook Page and enter to win prizes, such as a Lands End Beach Package, a $50 gift card to The Sunglasses Hut and some amazing Eucerin products. Simply leave your favorite sun protection tip to enter!

Concealer Series: Ellis Faas

Ellis Faas isn't very well known in the US, though this high end brand probably should be. Ellis is a very well known make up artist. She's worked with brands like Clinique, Lancôme and MAC. She helped create the Biotherm make-up line. And now she has her own line, and this concealer is pretty much to die for.

First, can I just gush about the packaging? It comes in a metal bullet/pen as pictured above. This thing is heavy duty and feels aaaahhmazing. For reals. It's heavy, super smooth, and once you pull off that top you'll find a nice concealer brush. The concealer comes out of the pen to saturate the brush, which you can then use to direct your application.



Consistency: Liquid
Blendability: Blends very easily with a light touch
Buildable coverage: Yes
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: ~10 hours
Problems with wear: No Caking or settling into lines
Shades Available: There are 8 shades available, I used S201

Ellis Faas Concealer

Dear 16 Year Old Me.... Why Tanning is Bad and You Should Wear Sunscreen

You may have noticed that I'm a bit obsessed with avoiding the sun. I'm a pale Irish girl with a lot of red headed relatives. I freckle and burn, no tan in sight. I've tried to do the tanning thing in the past (I've never tanned in a bed, only outside), but with little success. By default I've embraced the pale, happy about the anti-aging benefits of my choice.

Not everyone is lucky with their sun exposure. My husband's uncle died of Melanoma at 41. A friend of the family was diagnosed at 18 (she's had Mohs surgery and is now fine). I watched an 8 year old die of Melanoma as a pediatrics resident.

In the last 24 hours I've had five family members post this video to their Facebook pages.

Weekend Beauty Blog Network Reads

The Pink Sith adores her new Le Metier de Beaute Color Core Moisture Stain Lipstick in Monaco but she wouldn't have purchased it had she not seen it in real life. Come see why on line swatches are not always what they seem.

Phyrra raves about Sonia Kashuk Makeup Remover and tells you why it's her favorite.

Enter for a chance to win 3 wonderful products worth $265 comprising a sexy gift set from Honey Cat Cosmetics, Soulgasm fragrance by Sasha Varon and the brand new Ferrum Styler. over at Beauty and Personal Grooming

Joanna Chien of Unt Skincare shares the Proper Summer Skincare Tips on Elke's Blog.

Raging Rouge starts her at home LED Light Therapy with Sirius Aurora!

Thu from Painted Ladies reviews TouchBack Brow Marker ... did she achieve brow perfection?

A Touch of Blusher reviews Elemis' Freshskin range.

Grey goes in depth as she reviews the Dinair Airbrush System.

Cinnamon Kitten tries out the new Borghese B Moisture Advanced Care Lipcolour.