Hello Fox 17 Viewers!

So, I've kind of hinted over the last few weeks that something was up, and as you're reading this it is on. Live. Yes. I'm on TV, Fox 17 in Grand Rapids. While I don't live there currently (I'm on the other side of the state), I did grow up west of Grand Rapids, in Spring Lake. Which means I have spent more than my fair share of time on the beach and I was the girl that made fudge in the candy store on the boardwalk during high school. So, I'm really a West Michigan girl at heart!

Today on Fox 17, I'm featuring July 4th Beauty items. I've published more in depth reviews of each product below. I'll add a video of my appearance as well when it is available.

Tattoed by Inky Body Sprays

Remember back in the 80's when the spray cans of Designer Imposter Perfumes were everywhere? This is not an updated version of that. Instead of badly imitating a different fragrance, these have their own scent and really I think they smell pretty good. So, don't let the reasonable price and aluminum container throw you.

There are 5 scents in the collection, 2 for women, 2 for men and 1 unisex.
Women's
• A Mi Amor: White florals, vanilla and amber
• Sudden Freedom: Aquatic florals, pink jasmine and rosewood

Men's
• Monkey Business : Leather, lavender, pepper and sandalwood;
• Drako: Spices, musk and precious woods

Unisex
• Koi: Citrus, ginger and patchouli


When you first spray any of these scents, do not pay any attention to how you initially smell. The initial scent is very heavy in alcohol. My initial reaction was "ewww.... gross." But, after about a 10 minute dry down, the alcohol smell will be gone. What is left behind varies depending on the notes in the fragrance, but generally is a slightly subtle scent that seems to last all day long.

My favorites are Sudden Freedom and Koi. Sudden Freedom is an unexpectedly somewhat sophisticated floral scent (for something that was in an aluminum spray bottle). I didn't feel too "grandma" in it, instead it is pretty and would be appropriate for almost any occasion. Koi is a little bit fresh but the patchouli makes it more mysterious...I really can't describe it any better.


Tattoed by Inky Body Sprays are only $5.99 at Target.

Bare Escentuals Bright Stars

This cute little kit is a great way to be introduced to a few new products or have tiny extras to for on the go.

In the box you'll find:
• Dolly Big & Healthy Baby Lip Polish (dusty mauve)
• Starlight Eyecolor (light champagne rose)
• Mini Big & Bright Eyeliner in Intense Black (black)



The colors are very universal, a very black eye liner, a sparkly neutral eye loose eye shadow and a neutral dusty mauve.

I've purchased this liner in the regular version previously and found it very easy to work with. It smooths on nicely and can still be smudged into the lash line for a minute or so after application.

The lip gloss is plumping, though I didn't see much difference in my lip size. It is minimally sticky and lasts a few hours before needing to be reapplied.

And the eye shadow is a great color, though I did find it works best in combination with additional, non-sparkly shadows. This is just too much sparkle for every day (though alone it would be great for going out to watch fireworks).

Bare Escentuals Bright Stars

July 4th with Essie

I created my July 4th mani with a few of my favorite Essie polishes.

A-List
This is an amazing red. I think it is a true red, without leaning too far to either the cool or warm side. So, it should work really well for most skin tones. It is highly pigmented and I could *almost* get away with just 1 coat!

Marshmallow
This has always been my go-to color for at home french manicures. It is more ivory than white, so perfect for avoiding the "I'm in 3rd grade and just painted my nails with White-Out" look. While it can streak like most whites, it does seem to be easier to manipulate than most whites. It took 4 thin coats to reach opaque, but it comes across as the "just right white" that I was looking for.

Aruba Blue
A mid-tone blue with a little bit of same color shimmer, this took only 2 coats to opaque

Essie

Patriotic PocketBacs

Hand washing is pretty universal in my work environment. I wash before and after seeing patients, randomly in between, pretty much any time I'm walking out the unit.... You get the picture. There's a lot of hand washing, so my hands can get very dry. Luckily, in the last 3-4 years anti-bacterial gels and foams have become much more popular in the hospital environment. In fact, it is often encouraged over washing with water and soap in certain situations. While the hospital does have little foam dispensers mounted throughout my ICU, I usually prefer to use the gel I carry in my pocket. What's in my pocket? This stuff.

I love the PocketBacs for a few reasons. Yes, they're cheap and the size is perfect for my white coat pocket. But it's as effective as they stuff stocked by the hospital (both have 68% alcohol as the active ingredient), but doesn't leave a thick gooey layer of... something behind on my skin. That hospital foam can make my ezcema flare up (not a pretty site on your doctor's hands), but the PocketBac is just fine. And the PocketBac even seems to be a little bit hydrating due to the Tahitian Palm Milk in the formula.

PocketBacs are frequently released in festive designs with new scents, so it can be fun to keep up with the latest designs. My favorite scent from the new patriotic collection is the clear s'mores scent. Yes, it does smell mostly like alcohol, it really can't be helped given how much is in there to make this stuff work, but the s'mores scent is there! It goes away within a few minutes.

Bath & Body Works PocketBacs

While I received samples of these scents, I have purchased PocketBacs many times in the past.

What I'm Looking for In Sunscreen

I've had a lot of readers asking me recently about my personal preferences/choices for sunscreen, so I thought a quick little post was in order. I've covered a lot of the background info on how sunscreens work and different things that you need to keep in mind when picking one in my sunscreen 101 series.

Physical vs Chemical Sunscreens
You should note that I am not particular about chemical vs. physical sunscreens, though I know some people are.
• If you have any sort of sensitivity to your skin or a skin condition, typically a physical sunscreen is the way to go.
• If you are concerned about chemical sunscreens being absorbed, look for a physical sunscreen. However, micronized physical sunscreens can also be absorbed.
•I know that the EWG makes a big deal about oxybenzone and estrogen mimicry. I've looked at the literature, it was a study in rats. Not humans. Obviously our endocrine systems are exactly the same. So, I've decided that for me, oxybenzone is fine, so I don't avoid it. This is a personal decision, but know that the jury is still out (I haven't seen anyone duplicate the study, though no one has come out with evidence against it either).
• Physical sunscreens tend to feel heavier on the skin, this is the main reason I go more for chemical sunscreens. If I'm not comfortable in my sunscreen I won't wear it, so what's the point?


I think about sunscreen for different situations, and my preferences are a little different depending on what I need. So, my preferences for each of these situations can change.

Everyday Sunscreen
I don't usually wear a sunscreen every day on my body. I wear one every day on my face, and for this I want one that is built into my daily lotion, not a separate product. I tend to skip it if I need to do an extra step.
• I want at least SPF 15, 30 is better. Since this is meant to protect me just as I go about my daily business and not protect me for major sun exposure (such as hanging out at a pool, yard work, etc), I'm not picky about covering the entire UV spectrum. I want some UVA coverage, but I don't freak out if I only have part of the UVA range covered.
• The sunscreen can not be part of my makeup or come in a powder form. I don't apply enough foundation/tinted moisturizer to count and I'm not going to apply enough powder to reach that actual SPF (the average woman applies 1/14th of the amount of powder needed to get that SPF). Not gonna happen. So, those SPF numbers are a little bonus, but I completely ignore them.
• I want to not feel the sunscreen that I'm wearing, don't want it to make my skin shiny and I certainly don't want it to interfere with my makeup application.

High Suns Exposure Sunscreen
When I am spending more time outside than walking to and from the car, I'll go for a higher level of sun protection. For a typical day outside doing gardening, hanging out at Disneyland (oh, how I miss my yearly pass) or just with family, I'll go for a SPF 30. If I'm on a beach vacation with my hubby, we tend to spend a lot of time chilling at the pool, so I'll go for SPF 50+, even as high as 80 or 100.
• Full UV spectrum coverage is a must.
• I'm ok with feeling the sunscreen on me, but I can't be uncomfortable with stickiness.
• I actually kind of like smelling like sunscreen a little at the pool, but it can't be overwhelming.
• For those SPF 30 situations, I like to be able to put some makeup on without issues. If I'm at the pool I wear minimal makeup so this is not as important.


So, that's what I look for. Starting soon I'll be featuring some sunscreen reviews, so watch for those. What do you look for in your sunscreen?

A Few Things to Check Out...

Don't forget to enter my Carol's Daughter contest.

I think you should think about participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer if there's an event near you!

Beauty Ticket is starting a Tini Beauty sale today with prices at 50% off.

Jergens has created a Fantastic-o-Meter which I found interesting.

Nancy over at Beauty 411 has some great tips on how to save money on beauty products.

Neutrogena Naturals: Eye Makeup Removal With Your Fingertips

I've been on a never ending quest for a great eye makeup remover. While I'm not likely to ever stop looking (it's an addiction, hence I have this blog), I've been remiss in not sharing a great one that I've discovered! I've already repurchased it twice, so you know it's got to be great.

This cleanser is thick and creamy, so I can use it with my fingertips. A light herbal scent, a little bit of foaming, though not too much and easy to rinse. Those are all good points. But, the best part is that it removes my eye makeup without a problem. Only the most stubborn of waterproof eye liners have caused an issue, and with a second application I can removed anything.

Neutrogena Naturals Makeup Remover and Cleanser

Avon's Walk for Breast Cancer

Every year I share info with my readers about Avon's Walk for Breast Cancer, and there are a few walks remaining! The walk

The remaining 2011 walks are in:
• San Francisco (July 9-10)
• Santa Barbara (September 17-18)
• New York (October 15-16)
• Charlotte (October 22-23)

You'll get $20 off registration with the discount code WALK1.

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Win It! Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Products

I'm definitely a fan of Carol's Daughter. The products are amazing. Ahhhmmaazing. Seriously, everything smells yummy. It all makes your hair soft and manageable, pretty much no matter what your issue. I'm pretty impressed that Lisa Price (the founder) took $100 in her kitchen to create a brand that is sold in places like Sephora and HSN. With cult products (helloo, hair smoothies) that are often back ordered, this is some good stuff.

So, I'm pretty excited that I have a Carol's Daughter contest! There will be two winners, and you'll each get the Black Vanilla Shampoo and Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner.

You can only win once, and you must be in the United States to win. You can have multiple entries! Fill this out once to enter. For additional entries, you can follow me on Twitter or are my Facebook Friend or subscribe to my daily emails. For each of these items you can fill out the form again, and indicate why you are cool. You have until next Monday, July 4th at midnight eastern to enter. Good luck!


Carol's Daughter

The prizes have been provided by the company.

Eva Mendes and Thierry Mugler

Eva Mendes recently became the new face of Angel by Thierry Mugler, and I had to share her look when I saw how amazing she looked! Celebrity Makeup Artist Genevieve Herr used Clarins and Thierry Mugler products to create the look.

Face
Prime skin with Clarins Beauty Flash Balm and Multi-Active Day Cream.
'Cooling Effect Compact Foundation' in Color #50.
'Blush & Light Powder' in Brown & White was used to contour.

Lips
To prep the lips, she applied 'Flash Lips Foundation' in Nude and blended with 'Rouge Unique Lipstick' in Heaven.

Eyes
To create the sultry dramatic eye, she lined the whole eye from inner to outer corner on both the upper and lower lash lines in black "Eye Liner Cream". To highlight the lids, she swept on "Eye Shadow & Lights Quartet" in Sublime Nature to contour the eyes with beige and golden hues. Finally, she applied "Flash on Lashes Mascara' in Black to the lashes, but the secret weapon was a final coat of 'Vinyl Gloss' on the lashes to leave them looking wet and glossy.


Clarins
Thierry Mugler

Image- Getty Images, provided to me by Clarins.

A Few Things to Check Out...

Don't forget to enter my contest for a prize pack celebrating the premiere of Nail Files on TV Guide!

My friend Michelle over at All Lacquered Up has the fall 2011 Chanel nail polishes!!! I think I still need Graphite, though I bet Peridot is the one collectors will want years from not. I'm not really a green girl, so I'm likely to hold off on that one. I probably would have purchased Quartz based on looking at the bottle, but Michelle's swatch shows that it is much too warm for my skin, so I'll pass.

DERMAdoctor is holding daily contests over on Twitter. More info on The Velvet Doll. The Photodynamic Therapy looks really interesting, I hope one of my readers wins it!

I can't believe I missed this in my email, but today is the last day and I hope everyone can run over and donate! Over at Casey's Blog, she's raffling off a basket of amazing beauty products to help raise money. Why? She and her hubby are trying to adopt a 2 little babies and need a little extra help to do it.

MAC Bloggers' Obsessions Lip Glasses

Yesterday I shared a peek at MAC's Bloggers' Obsessions Collection, but I only showed the shadows. Today we're looking at the lip glasses.

Read on for a look at swatches.

MAC The Bloggers' Obsessions Collection: Oh Yes, They Did!

Back in January, I received a top secret email from MAC. There was even a non-disclosure agreement associated with it. What on earth could have been so amazing that it needed a NDA? MAC was going to have a blogger's collection! They wanted to have bloggers submit ideas for a lipglass or eye shadow. What had we been obsessively searching for but couldn't find?

I had an idea of what I have been searching for, and it wasn't really ideal for lip glass MAC wanted, but I submitted it anyways. Literally, the submission deadline was January 27th, and I wasn't done typing mine up, but I was in labor and wanted to send it in anyways. So, for the 2 hours that my epidural actually worked, I typed it up and sent it in. Then went back to being in pain and had a baby girl a few hours later. I hoped that they didn't pick me because I didn't want to leave my baby to head to Canada and help formulate it. (I feel like I still won, what I wanted came out recently, it is Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Honey.)

Read on to take a peek at the eye shadows that came out with this collection.

Tinted Balms, Something I'm Loving This Summer

I've been pretty forthcoming about my lip gloss addiction in the past. Lately I'm trying to change things up a bit, and add some actual color to my lips. Such a revolution! A look with a little more than a faint hint of color or just shimmer on my lips! But, one of my requirements for this is that I need to be able to reapply while on the go, sans mirror. Which means I've made things a bit difficult on myself.

Enter the tinted balm. Most have a color associated with them, but it's about half as pigmented as a lipstick. So, with my own lips showing through, the color is more flattering, easier to apply and the formulas are generally more moisturizing than regular lipsticks. Perfect!


Here's a quick peek as some of my current favorites:
1. Fusion Beauty LipFusion Conditioning Stick in Berry
2. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Plum
3. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Honey
4. Tarte LipSurgence natural lip tint in Peaceful

I'm currently lusting after the Fresh Sugar in Rose and I might need all of the shades of the LipFusion, especially buff.

Not pictured are Tarte's 24/7 natural lip sheer which come with SPF 15. I'm a big fan of these as well, I just couldn't find any to include in the pic since they seem to be stashed around the house in various pockets, purses and likely some are at work in my white coat pocket as well. Thursday and Twilight are my favorite shades.



Some products here were samples, some I've purchased myself. All are difficult to locate at any given time since I keep carrying them with me everywhere and losing them. Oops!

The Best Smelling Shampoo Ever: Privé Concept Vert

When I lived in So Cal, I had a Meyer Lemon Tree in my backyard. Meyer lemons are not regular lemons. They are tres Martha, a fancy lemon. The difference is that they aren't quite as tangy, instead they are slightly sweeter and deeper in flavor with a tad bit of an herbal note. Yes, I just wrote note when discussing a lemon flavor.

Why is this important? Because I swear that this shampoo and conditioner smell exactly like the lemons from that tree. So yes, tons of nostalgia, but mmmm..... so yummy in the shower!

The interesting thing about this duo (other than the sumer yummy meyer lemon scent) is that they come in pressurized cans, almost like moose. And yes, it's eco friendly! The can is powered by air and is designed to be refillable (Privé has info on how to reuse the cans on their website). Each can gives the same amount of useable product as a bottle twice the size. Since weight is saved on the container size, the product also saves fuel and emissions.



What comes out of the container initially isn't too terribly different from normal shampoo and conditioner, though they do feel a bit more dense. When you rub your hands together they foam up quite a bit and are much lighter and more airy. I recommend getting the foam up first before applying to your hair, the product will distribute more evenly. After that, other than the amazing scent, things aren't too different from normal products.


I also tried out the Volumizing Froth. This product comes in a 3 ounce squeeze bottle, and while it looks like a styling milk in your hand initially, after about 30 seconds you'll notice bubbles appearing. Rub it in your hands and again you'll have a light foam, though you can see it is definitely thinner than the shampoo and conditioner and with less "oomph". I didn't notice the scent as much of this product. It has light hold and some shine associated with it, perfect for the days I decide to let my hair air dry to slightly wavy. It doesn't feel sticky or weigh down my hair.

Privé

Trying Out a New Comment System....

You've probably noticed that I have to approve all comments on 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic. I find this highly annoying, but the spam filter on Blogger doesn't catch most of the 10-20 spam comments (mostly about buying fake prescription drugs or purses) that the site gets each day. I really don't want to let those go through, so I have to moderate. Drives me batty. Also, I wish I could just hit reply on different comments, there was a way to show someone's URL if they have their own site, etc.

After hearing from other beauty bloggers how much they like Intense Debate and CommentLuv, I've installed both this morning. I have NO CLUE how they work, if we'll need to sign up for new accounts somewhere, etc. I did set it up to only work on new posts, so all the old ones will still be the same. Let me know if this is good, bad, you are indifferent, etc. Obviously I can always just go back to moderating comments.

My Top 10....

I'm usually not one of those people that displays the blogging awards that people give me. Why? I have to tag other people, and this is when my shy side comes out and I get super nervous. What if I tag someone and they don't like it? Seriously, I don't know why this makes me nervous. But, in the last week or so I've been tagged with a Top 10 award by both Makeup Minutes and Pammy Blogs Beauty. This award came with a list of different top 10 items, and I couldn't resist sharing! I've altered mine slightly, and sometimes I didn't make it all the way to 10, but here it goes....

Fusion Beauty's Prime Results: The Tinted Moisturizer I'm Using Every Day

Every spring I start talking about "lightening up" on makeup for the hot and humid summer months. Who wants to wear heavy foundation in mid July? But, the reality is that I haven't really found a tinted moisturizer to love. While there are a few that I've been willing to recommend as "decent" tinted moisturizers (such as the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Philosophy Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer or Tarte Smooth Operator), the truth is that I haven't been using them myself. The products are all nice, but they just haven't been quite right for me. They're a little too much moisture for my combination skin, don't work well with a SPF product or they aren't enough coverage over my melasma or freckles. Something is always slightly off, inducing me to reach for a light weight foundation instead (Neutrogena Healthy Skin is my fave).

Well, I've finally found a tinted moisturizer with just enough coverage to cover up enough of my skin issues, allow my skin to shine through and it even has some of the bonus items that I love in moisturizer. Such as a little UV coverage and some ingredients to help fight aging.

Prime Results includes a built in primer, so during application it feels a bit different from other tinted moisturizers. It feels like lightweight silicone based product, but a bit airier in feeling that most silicone primers that I've tried in the past (really, I'm thinking of the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer). It feels smooth during application, and you can feel it sinking into your skin pretty much right away. I literally smear this around for about 10 seconds with my fingers, hit any problem areas with a cosmetic sponge to blend them a little better (usually around my nose) and I'm done.

The moisturizer provides a little more coverage than most tinted moisturizers, but it isn't obvious at all. It looks like my skin is just... better. It covers my little residual bits of melasma from being pregnant, a couple of stray freckles and it still doesn't look like I have anything on. Love it!








Fusion Beauty

The Nail Files: A Common Pedicure Mistake and A Contest!

I fully admit to liking reality television, though I'm pretty selective about what I will watch (some Kardashians, Real Housewives of the OC... but no Bachelor. Sorry.) There's a new show coming out soon on the TV Guide Channel that will likely be making my list of reality shows!

Nail Files is from the creators of Jersey Shore. Katie Cazorla, owns a Hollywood nail salon popular with celebs, is engaged to Walter Afanasieff, a Grammy award-winning music legend. The series follows Katie as she aspires to take The Painted Nail to the next level. Katie has gifting suites at Sundance and the Oscars, attends the Grammy Awards with Walter and has a ton of drama with her staff. She looks fun and just... real.

The series premieres on Tuesday, June 21st and I've already set my DVR!




To celebrate the premiere, I have 5 prize packs! Each includes Katie's line of Painted Nail Nail Polish, a mini fan, a manicure set, TV Guide Network T-shirt, and a poster. The Painted Nail's polish is created with Nubar, and my friend Michelle over at All Lacquered Up loved it in her recent review.

You can only win once, and you must be in the United States to win. You can have multiple entries! Fill this out once to enter. For additional entries, you can follow me on Twitter or are my Facebook Friend or subscribe to my daily emails. For each of these items you can fill out the form again, and indicate why you are cool. You have until next Sunday, 6/26 at midnight eastern to enter. Good luck!

I used Random.org to draw numbers, the winners were entry numbers: 27, 98, 125, 6, 7


The prizes have been provided by TV Guide

China Glaze Latticed Lilac Metallic Crackle Nail Polish

The metallic China Glaze crackles seem to wear better than their OPI or other China Glaze counterparts. I'm currently on day 6 of this manicure with no chips or other issues. In person this crackle shifts between light purple and silver depending on the light. I wore it to work (I work in a very shatter loving ICU) and I had a huge number of compliments. Definitely my favorite crackle polish so far!

China Glaze