Fragrance Wednesdays: The Joys of Scent

I've always found fragrance reviews a little hard to write. I find it hard sometimes to describe how a scent feels, what type of person would love a particular fragrance. So, while I absolutely love fragrance, I haven't been covering them as much.

Sometime over the summer, I was talking with my good friend Melissa about fragrance. She used to work at the fragrance counter and she's really great at smelling something and saying who would love that scent. She can quickly come up with words that describe the feeling of the scent. So helpful!

So, I've been quietly taking perfume samples over to her, and she's been writing a few reviews, though they haven't been featured yet. However, she's a busy lady (she's a nurse in my ICU and has 2 little ones under the age of 5) and I love fragrances as well. So, we've decided to start doing reviews in which we offer both of our perspectives on the fragrance. You'll still find the list of base, middle and top notes in each review. I'll still try to describe how the scent felt to me, how the notes changed and how the staying powder was. Melissa will offer her views on those things as well in most of the fragrance reviews, though I bet her descriptions of the feel of a fragrance will be more complete than mine since she just has more training in those areas.

Let me know if there is anything else you think we should include in our fragrance reviews!

Jennifer Aniston: The Clean Fragrance You Expect, And I Love It!

I think I've stopped and started this review about 20 times since I received this fragrance as a sample in the spring. In the meantime, I've been happily using it a few times a week and this clean and slightly beachy floral has become my go-to subtle fragrance for everyday. Easily my favorite of the summer.

“I wanted this fragrance to be a personal library of scent memories. For example, my love of Night Blooming Jasmine has lasted a lifetime. Growing up in California, I distinctly remember the scent of the Jasmine on summer evenings."
-Jennifer Aniston

This quote alone made me want to try out this scent. One of my favorite things when I lived in So Cal was walking my dog around the neighborhood and smelling the Jasmine and Orange Blossoms.

Notes:
Top Notes: Citrus Grove Accord, Rose Water
Middle Notes: Blooming Jasmine, Wild Violet, Amazon Lily
Base Notes: Sensual Musk, Golden Amber, Sandalwood

In actuality, this is a lightly floral, clean scent that is very subtle. Initially I smell the Citrus with a bit of the Lily, but after about a 15 minute dry down period I have a light mix of the Jasmine and a little bit of musk and amber to balance things out. Musk notes usually are a bit heavy on me, but that simply isn't the case here. Instead, it is light and fresh and just... pretty. I've found that the scent is very subtle, so it is perfect for wearing to work (since I work in a hospital I don't like to wear heavy scents to work).

One of the complaints that I've read on-line about this fragrance is that it seems to be "missing" something. I can see why people think this, I do feel as if other fragrances with these notes and this "feel" would have a stronger white floral note after the dry down. I have quite a few scents like this and do like them, but I like not having the strong white floral here. It is a bit cleaner and more simple, something I was craving this season.

As well, many feel that the scent doesn't have great staying power. It does seem to only last about 8 hours on me, and that's with about 4 hours of very subtle scent. I typically just spray it on my chest/neck area and head out of the bathroom, but if I actually take the time to apply to pulse points as well (I spray behind my knees and on my wrists) then the scent is there for about 10 hours. I'm hoping that sometime soon a companion lotion will be released. Layering will really increasing how long the scent sticks around.

Skin Care Tuesdays: Lots to Cover!

So, skin care reviews are definitely the most time consuming of the reviews I write.

I test skin care for a very long time prior to considering a review. Usually 4-6 weeks so I have time to tell how my skin is reacting to a product.

Then there's all of the research involved in writing up the post. I typically try to cover the science involved in a skin care product, particularly if it is something new/unique for that product. For ingredients that are frequently found in skin care products, like retinoids, I refer back to free standing posts with a lot more info. I get my scientific info from a variety of sources, but I do own a few Cosmetic Dermatology text books, regular dermatology text books, and of course I do a lot of scientific literature searches. While I'm not a dermatologist, obviously as a pediatrician I have the medical background to understand the basics and translate that over to know if something works, doesn't work, etc.

With each review I try to let you know what the product looks, smells like and feels like as I apply. If it is a product meant to be applied in the morning, I think it's really important to know how much residue is left behind once everything has absorbed. Is it enough to interfere with makeup application? Did that retinoid seem more prone to irritating my skin than others? Did the mask make me glowy or just... oily? I try to include all of those items.

Read on to see my "normal" skin care post graphics.

Clarisonic Plus with Deep Pore Cleansing Head

Recently, I was asked by B-Glowing to review the new Clarisonic Blue Plus Deep Pore Cleansing System. Obviously I was pretty excited about this, as I've loved using my Clarisonic so much that I keep naming it one of my favorite products. I use my Clarisonic a few times a week, though I had already been thinking about upgrading. My old Clarisonic had 1 speed and I had the sensitive brush heads. This new one has three speeds, a setting for the body, and a few other heads. Including the new Deep Pore Cleansing brush head.

So, yes, I was excited about this. Read on to learn a little bit more about Clarisonic.

Mascara Mondays

So.... Obviously for mascara reviews I'm going to continue posting these pics. I think it is helpful to see how things look right before I apply (I even have my lashes curled), right after application and then after about 12-16 hours of wear, depending on the day. I don't wipe off any residue that might fall on to my cheek, I don't reapply and on these days I don't use a lash comb. Most women don't use one, so I skip that step on picture days to show how clumpy (or unclumpy) the mascara is with typical use.

Other things I try for with my mascara reviews: I've usually used a mascara for at least 4-5 days to get used to applying it, so I can let you know if I've discovered any tricks. I comment on how well I think things applied, how the volume, length and curl holding were initially and at the end of the day. If something is hard to get off I'll let you know.

I can't really think of any other items to include in these reviews, so let me know if you want any other info on mascaras! I should note that I've tried to take pics of the mascara from above, looking down on my lashes. So pretty, but soooo hard to duplicate in pic after pic for the same angle. I have enough problems getting a good pic just looking up. So, don't ask for those pics!

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mascara

In the past, every time the words "natural" and "mascara" were linked, I inwardly groaned. "Oh sure, I'll try out your natural mascara," is what I said, but inside... I just knew to expect. Wimpy lashes that would rain down black powder and flakes onto my cheeks.

So, when I heard that CoverGirl, the makers of my beloved LashBlast Mascara, I was really unsure of what to expect. Would this just be "Natural" a'la those mascaras you could buy that promised natural looking lashes (I never got those, why even bother with mascara then?) or would this be different?



I think it is different, though I couldn't quite capture the lashes with a picture. No matter how many days I took these pics, they look clumpy. In person they are not clumpy. I can only assure you that they are not. Instead, they have great volume and length, and hold curl very well. My lashes look just as good at the end of the day. And there isn't a collection of black gunk on my cheeks either.

Apparently a few of the synthetic ingredients have been removed and in their place you'll find natural ingredients. Like honey. I only noticed because my lashes actually felt a bit softer and lighter.

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mascara

Clean Logic Bath and Shower Products

Remember back in the day before shower poufs were everywhere? I think I was in high school. When the pouf came out, suddenly they were everywhere. Why would you use soap and a washcloth? So passé. Fast forward about 15 years or so, and we're still using poufs. Personally, I never feel like I get all of the soap washed out of it and after a few weeks mine are always falling apart. So, I was pretty excited to tryout a new option!

Clean Logic has a full range of shower products, including body wash and lotion. Today I'll share a few of their pouf alternatives with you. All of the products that I tried are "exfoliating", so they are a bit rough, though not much more than the typical Buff Puff. I do think a few people on the Clean Logic website were a bit confused about the exfoliating bit, so I assure you they're nothing like the "steel wool" that one woman claims!

Exfoliating Stretch Bath & Shower Body Cloth
This cloth is pretty large, about the size of 1 wash cloth wide by 2.5 wash cloths in length. It is very stretchy and this makes it pretty perfect for really scrubbing down your back, though obviously it works great for the whole body. It rinses out very easily which is great, much more so than the typical washcloth.

Exfoliating Body Scrubber
It's a bit hard to see what this is in the package picture, but really it is a two sided sponge, about the size of a kitchen sponge. It is covered by fabric, one side is soft like a washcloth and the other is exfoliating (this exfoliating side is the softest of the exfoliating options that I tried). There is a ribbon sewn on the scrubber to help hold/hang it. I liked this for using all over my body, though it seemed a little undersized and could be hard to rinse well. The sponge that was imbedded within the fabric really held on to soap and I couldn't ever seem to get all of the sides out. I'd pass on this one in the future.

Stretch Bath & Shower Gloves
The gloves were definitely my favorite item! They are made of the same material as the stretchy body cloth, so they do stretch some and are exfoliating. They are super easy to use, just put them on and apply soap to the gloves with either a bar soap or body wash. I actually found that bar soap was easiest to use, body wash seemed to "run out" on the gloves very quickly so I went through more body wash in each shower. Next you simply rub all over to wash and exfoliate. This made it really easy to exfoliate awkward areas like ankles, elbows and knees. I was able to shower a little faster with the gloves and my skin is super smooth because of them. I'll definitely be buying more of these!

Clean Logic Bath and Shower Products are available on their website and on Amazon.

Saturday Plans: Shower Shake Up!

As promised yesterday, in my blog revamp post, each day will have a different special post. Saturdays will be "Shower Shake Up" days, in which I share a great new product that I've been using each morning to help get ready for the day. Obviously this is an extension of my recent shower posts. I loved forcing myself out of my morning rut, now I just need to force myself to share everything with you!

So, look for soaps, body washes, body lotions, scrubs, etc. Shampoo and Conditioner could go here, but I'll be including those in my Friday Hair posts.

Changes and New Features

Yup, things have been a bit quiet around here lately. I promise that I'm not ignoring the blog, rather I'm doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff with my limited blogging time.

1) So, there's been a big reorganization in my office, which I'm still not done with. I had products everywhere and things that needed to be tested or have already been tested were all jumbled. It was confusing. Things are better now, though I'm not done.


2) During my reorganization, I realized that I've really been putting off writing about a lot on skin care products. Which has always been my favorite category. The issue is that these products just take more time to write about, which is hard when I'm spending a lot of time with my little one. (Total aside- she isn't so little! She's just hit 7 months and is so tall I just ordered her the next step up in car seats. I can't believe it!)

So, to help remedy the ignoring of entire areas of beauty products, I've decided to start a little schedule. You'll see it off to the right side of the page, and while those images won't take you anywhere now you'll find that eventually you'll get to all Monday posts, etc.














This coming week I'll address each day's topic in a little post and ask for feedback about how I cover certain items. As well, I'll likely be posting mostly once a day (in the past I've posted as much as 2-3 times a day), but on days that I do post more than once the "bonus" post will never be of the same category as the main post. As well, there are definitely some categories that aren't in the days of the week above. Like nails. I love me some nail polish. I'll be posting mani pics a few days a week, just kind of randomly.

3) I couldn't resist and revamped the graphics a little for fall. See, the girl is now wearing a trench! And a berry colored lippie!

Biore Prove It! Take Care of Your Skin to Earn Points and Prizes

Over on the Bioré Facebook Page there is a fun new program that you'll want to check out! Just "like" Bioré and sign up to get started. By checking in every day, answering skin care questions or entering codes on specially marked packages of pore strips (you know you buy them, we all do), you'll earn points. The points can be turned in to get prizes!

When you sign up you can enter a Blogger Keyword which will earn you an additional 100 points, which is huge! My blogger keyword is "minute". I'm off to start answering questions and collect points, what about you?


Disclosure: If enough of my readers sign up there's a chance I'll win a prize. Likely to happen? Meh, not so much. But, I thought this was cool and I'd share it with everyone anyways!

Concealer Review Series: LORAC Double Feature

It's been a little while since I reviewed a concealer, so today I thought I'd share a multi-tasker. In this product there is a light concealer, a roller ball to help blend that concealer and a great highlighter. It's highly portable, so perfect for travel or just keeping in your purse. While the coverage isn't of the level that I prefer for my undereye area, I have found that a few quick swipes in my t-zone over my tinted moisturizer and then blended well is just perfect for days that I need a tad more coverage but don't want to up my routine to a foundation.

The concealer is a stick foundation, hiding under the cap. It is not dry, it seems to have silicone in it since it is slippery feeling. I found that this really helps with blending. Inside of the cap you'll find a plastic roller ball, when rubbed over an area it helps to blend. It definitely works, though I did find this more time consuming than using my fingertip.

At the other end you'll find a highlighter, in a matching skin tone. The highlighter is liquid and comes with a felt covered applicator. A little goes a long way, so be careful! I think this is meant to be used under the eye, though I definitely felt that there was too much shimmer to do so. I found that it was great for the brow bone, inner corner of the eye and cheek bone.



Consistency: Stick
Blendability: Yes
Buildable coverage: No
Feeling on skin: Lightweight
Wear: 6-8 hours
Problems with wear: Caking, Settles into fine lines over time, especially with more layers
Shades Available: 5 shades, I used shade 1

LORAC Double Feature

Fall Hair Trends From Patrick Melville

AVEENO® Presents - Celebrity Hairstylist, Patrick Melville's Tips on Cutting & Color Trends from Ali Kalis on Vimeo.

Mmmm more fall goodness! I'm really feeling the increase in movement at the ends as mentioned by Patrick. And, if I wasn't already getting my color done tomorrow I'd be heading out to pick up some of glaze tonight! I did start using the color Shampoo & Conditioner last week and have been loving them. I'll hopefully write up a full review soon!

Aveeno

Fall in 1 Palette: Glo Minerals' Alloy Eyes Collection

I'm really starting to think of fall. I want to wear only Fall Makeup (oh my gosh, so much fun stuff to share over the next few weeks), I want red lips and I've been working on my cat eye as well. I've already bought 2 (yes, 2!) amazing pairs of new boots and I have an order of some great updated fall basics in transit from Loft. So yes, I'm very much into fall, despite the 84 degrees it is in Ann Arbor today!

Anyways, this fall is obviously all about the smokey eye and red lip. Honestly, because every fall is about those 2 things. But really, I think a slight update is coming, since with your red lippie you should have a matte smokey eye. See how that is different? Matte. Yes. (I've been reading Hyperbole and a Half this morning, hence my more sarcastic than usual writing.)

Regardless, matte is coming for fall and this palette has some amazing colors for your smokey eye. 4 Matte shades and 4 Metallic shades, for the days that you can't handle being matte any longer and need to spice things up. They all look super wearable and like it should be easy to mix and match for your perfect fall smokey eye look.

Glo Minerals

Pure Silk Shaving Cream: Super Foaming Action to Protect and Soothe Your Legs

Another day, another product I've been secretly loving in my morning shower.

Pure Silk is made by the same people that make Barbasol, so they obviously know shaving. It comes out as a somewhat stiff foam, tons of bubbles everywhere. It spreads very easily and I like that it stays really foamy. This is definitely the best choice for those of us that are addicted to foam. It stays put and I found it helps a lot with my shave.

The whole shaving process is definitely well lubricated. I've yet to have a nick while using Pure Silk. I've also noticed that my shave is very smooth, though I'm not sure that it is any smoother than when I was using Skintimates. As well, one of my biggest complaints against Skintimates is the can. I swear it gets rusty in about 12 hours of being in the shower. Pure Silk is in a rust free can, love that!

Pure Silk is made in the US. I've been somewhat appalled as I watch the ABC News Made in America series. I'm trying to make more of an effort to buy things made in the US, though I fully admit that it can be really difficult to find some things made in the US.

Pure Silk Shave Cream

Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol: Really, a Burgundy for The Pale Set

This is a much darker blush than I thought I'd ever be using. I'm very pale and using a blush that is darker than a mid tone pink (with a big fluffy brush) is asking to look like a clown.

Somehow, that isn't the case with this blush. I think it must be that there is enough gold and white mixed in, but this blush has been really great on my skin tone. I've found myself reaching for it over and over. It took me forever to take pics of it. I couldn't keep it in my "typical" photo area. I was continually hunting it down each morning!


The blush is suprisingly light, really it is more of a rose color. The gold adds a little faint shimmer, really it just barely catches the light and that's it. I think this blush would work for pretty much any skin tone.

Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol

CoverGirl Intense ShadowBlast: Better Than It Looks, and The Secret to A 30 Second Smokey Eye?

It feels like ages ago, but was only a few years ago that I was able to meet makeup artist Jake Bailey, who at the time was working with Max Factor. He's now with CoverGirl (they're both owned by P&G and Max Factor jumped ship in the US, so not too surprising that Jake made the switch), but he had the fastest smokey eye ever using eye liners. I bet that Jake is using the new CoverGirl Intense Shadow Blast to update this tip, I can picture him smudging it on with his fingers to create a fun and sexy look!

Anyways, these new eye shadows from CoverGirl are all kinds of awesome. Read on to learn more.

Dial Nutriskin: Who Knew They Made Stuff Other Than Soap??

I fully admit that I had the best of intentions when I had my Shower Shakeup Week recently. I totally lost steam, and rather than having a few reviews a day for a week I did a lot less and I don't think I even made it a week before I was distracted by pretty eye shadows to blog about. So, I'm going to really try to blog about a 1-2 new shower things a week from now on, which means that the whole "week" in shower shakeup is just wrong. Because I'm just going to do it all the time. Hmmm... time for a new graphic.

Anyways, today's product is one that confused not only me, but a lot of people. Looking at those bottles, with the Dial name on them, what do you think is in there? Body wash? That's what I thought. But no! It is lotion! And, it's a pretty good one too.

Somehow, Dial has managed to make what feels like a light lotion insanely hydrating. It's perfect for summer. The lotion I tried has a cucumber, minty scent that I found really refreshing. The lotion is really very light, but it sinks in to skin immediately with no residue. The end result is super hydrated skin that lasts all day. The lotion includes Vitamins A, C, E and fatty acids.

I'm typically a Cetaphil Cream addict, but I'm definitely keeping this one around for the hottest days of the summer!

Dial Nutriskin Moisturizer

Biore Prove It! Take Care of Your Skin to Earn Points and Prizes

Over on the Bioré Facebook Page there is a fun new program that you'll want to check out! Just "like" Bioré and sign up to get started. By checking in every day, answering skin care questions or entering codes on specially marked packages of pore strips (you know you buy them, we all do), you'll earn points. The points can be turned in to get prizes!

When you sign up you can enter a Blogger Keyword which will earn you an additional 100 points, which is huge! My blogger keyword is "minute". I'm off to start answering questions and collect points, what about you?


Disclosure: If enough of my readers sign up there's a chance I'll win a prize. Likely to happen? Meh, not so much. But, I thought this was cool and I'd share it with everyone anyways!

Betsy Johnson's Too Too: Not Even Released and I Can't Resist It!

Last week, Betsy Johnson celebrated the launch of her new fragrance, Too Too. The fragrance (which is coming out in October) just sounds amazing!

The fragrance is deliberately enticing, boisterous and youthful, using key fruity and floral notes. The vibrant scent is comprised of sweet passion fruit, sparkling mandarins, ginger, and strawberry leaves spun together with an underlying delicate must that suggests femininity and warmth. To round it out, jasmine, bulgarian rose, patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla add just the right touch of sweetness and radiance.

Betsy Johnson definitely knows how to have fun, and the perfume, the bottle and even the launch event all seem to go along with that. I love the bottle. Betsy says, “I thought that if I ever did my own perfume I would do that bottle. I wanted to connect it to my work from yesterday and today.” I love that it features her trademark pink, with a tutu!


I may have been swayed in posting about this because of the cupcakes. Love them!

Palette to Covet: Estée Lauder Travel Exclusive

I feel like Estée Lauder is taunting me. They come out with these great travel exclusives and I have no other excuse to travel! If you're heading anywhere near an airport, keep an eye out for this great palette. (As an aside, I seem to remember the duty store was online, but I can't find it. If you have the link let me know!) The palette includes a great selection of Estée's Pure Color Eye Shadows and Lipsticks.

Shadows (top to bottom, on the right side of this pic):
• Black Crystals
• Silver Ball
• Enchanted Forest
• Polished Platinum
• Sugar Cube

Lippies (top to bottom, on the left side of this pic):
• Scarlet Siren
• Cafe Chic
• Fuchsia Fever
• Beige
• Candy

Estée Lauder

Washing Your Hair Without Washing It: Caressing Cleansing Balm by Kerastase

Since my pregnancy last year, I've been having a bit of a hair issue. Greys are popping up. I had hoped that genetics would keep them at bay (my grandma only had a few at her temple when she died at 80, my mom just now has a few greys), but it appears that luck is not on my side. I have only a few, but it is more than I want. So, I'm doing some coloring in addition to my usual highlights. And, I'm being more protective of my color. I don't want it to fade and let the greys pop back out!

So, part of how I baby my hair is avoiding shampoo. Seriously. Washing less, and using color safe shampoo when I do, definitely helps my color last longer. Kerastase has decided to help me avoid shampoo even more with their Caressing Cleansing Balm. This product is a great alternative to the typical shampoo and conditioner duo.

Cleansing Balm comes in a pump and is thick like conditioner, with a light floral scent. It definitely feels different during use though. It has a very light foaming action and feels like you're shampooing lotion onto your head, if that makes any sense. It rinses out easily and while my hair isn't super hydrated like on "normal" days, it does feel like it has had a light conditioner on it.

On days that I've used the Cleansing Balm my hair is pretty easy to style and definitely feels fresher than if I'd skipped getting my hair wet altogether. I'm not sure it would be worth the price for everyone that colors their hair, but for those of us that need to baby our color (I'm looking at you Redheads!), this is a great option to help keep the fresh from the salon look!

Caressing Cleansing Balm by Kerastase

Is Going Pro Worth It? I Check Out the HANAair Professional Hair Dryer

Recently I was asked by Misikko to check out one of their products. I've dealt with them in the past with a few of their professional flat irons and had great customer service, so I was more than happy to agree. Misikko offered to send me a blow dryer. The fact that it was a blow dryer made me pause. I've never been an expensive dryer girl. The last time I spent more than $40 on a blow dryer was in college. It didn't seem to make a difference in how quickly I could dry my hair, the results were the same and the first time I dropped it, it was toast. I went back to my big box store dryers and haven't looked back.

Fast forward more than 10 years, and surely things have improved since then? The advent of ceramic and tourmaline not to mention the ions flying all over the place... I really think blow dryers have made some great leaps forward. Now I just need one that can hold up to my general klutziness. If I get better, faster results I'll be even happier.

So, Misikko has a list of their best blow dryers. I'd start there if you're looking for a new one. They sent me the HANAair Professional, which is one of their most popular models. It features the ceramic, tourmaline stuff and the ions that fly around. It has separate toggle switches for the power (with high and low speed options) as well as high and low options for the heat. There's a cool button for locking in your style at the end and it comes with a concentrator, though I don't know of a diffuser that fits on it.

The cord is 12 feet long, which I love. During the winter I blow dry my dog after his baths, so I'm sure the cord will help with my husky wrangling. This has been a big issue in the past, he knows he only needs to move a few extra feet and then be stubborn about returning to the drying area if he's sick of the whole blow dryer situation. I'll be able to follow him all over the bathroom now!

The best thing about this dryer is definitely the heavy duty design. While it isn't heavy, it is heavy duty. The cord is thick and well protected. The toggles are more substantial. It has already been dropped a few times without an issue. From this standpoint, going for a professional blow dryer is definitely worth it if you are a klutz like I am. The sturdy factor will make this blow dryer last for years.

So, how does it work for me? I have a ton of hair, even after my post-partum shedding is done. In the past I've even gone so far as timing how long drying my hair takes for a dryer review. The HANAair wasn't any faster than my Conair, though I suspect this is partly because they both feature the same ceramic and ions and such. The HANAair's wattage is a bit higher, though the heat is a bit lower. I think it balances out in the end, anywhere from 12-15 minutes to fully dry my hair. The HANAair is a bit quieter than the Conair and the end result is a bit better. My hair is shinier and softer with less frizz on days that I use the HANAair.

While I love my Conair, going for a pro hair dryer does seem like it can be worth it. I love the durability of this model and the end result of my hair each day.

HANAair Profession Blow Dryer