• I purchased the shade of this mascara designed for blue eyes
• Its lengthening and thickening properties were just okay
• Because the pigment is more shimmery than dark it really didn’t define my lashes
• I tried applying it over a standard dark mascara and found that gave me the definition and shimmer I really wanted–I think the photoshop on the ads featuring Rihanna make it appear a much more miraculous product than it actually is
• I only really noticed the “brightening” aspect of this product when natural light shown on my lashes
• All in all an adequate product but nothing too exciting

pic courtesy of drugstore.com

Just the other night after a few cocktails I found myself downtown and within close proximity to Sephora.  I hadn’t been in awhile and at the time it seemed like a great  idea to head over and check it out.  Now I had in mind two things that I really needed to purchase.  Alright I only reallyneeded a  new Bare Escentuals foundation because I was out but I also wanted to try a certain lipgloss  because I like its blush counterpart.  Gah getting sidetracked.

Ok so once in Sephora I found myself in my usual state of excitement upon being surrounded by so many new and expensive products.  I found the Bare Escentuals and obviously should have stopped after I got the foundation…but where’s the fun in that??  So I did a lap around the store looking for any items that instantly grabbed my attention–and in my platinum margarita haze ended up with this:

Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss

It wasn’t until the next day that I really took a close look at the product…and wow, really?  The packaging on this product is probably the most creative I have ever seen in a lipgloss:  the top of the tube is a hologram of a guy in a tuxedo…and at a different angle some boxerbriefs.  I really have to include the product description from the outside package:

“our juicy gloss is slick, sexy and extra-shiny, infused with a yummy creme brulee flavor and hyaluronic spheres to keep lips looking full.  Slip this rocket in your pocket.  The case is super slim (no unsightly bulge), and laced with pheromones…give it a rub to unlock them.”

Again, did I really buy this?  Ah yes, maybe twas my subconscious trying to tell me something.  I mean pheromones in a lipgloss?

• anyway, beyond all the ridiculousness , this gloss is pretty great
• my chosen shade was “Eric” described as “American born, but schooled abroad, Eric retains many European sensibilities, including Italian bravado, French table manners, and German soccer skills.  Undress him with a flick of your wrist for a little Spanish fly.”  Yeah, whatever the hell that means.  Basically the shade is a very nice reddish-pink that once applied, appears more like a stain than a gloss
• it has a really great scent–I would say more like coffee than creme brulee, but still very pleasant
• the texture is better than any gloss I have used recently very smooth and moist but not sticky
• the applicator is a brush rather than the standard lip gloss applicator and I think it makes application a bit more precise
• all in all, a great gloss, but perhaps a slightly embarrassing in-store purchase.  I would suggest sephora.com if you’re interested, or maybe just have a few cocktails beforehand:)
• as for the pheromones, I’ll keep you updated…

Feels good to be back and I made several other purchases on my ill-advised inebriated trip so stay tuned!

pic courtesy of Sephora.com

The regular spray gives an instant bronze but is far messier.  I have been getting the clear spray and am really happy with the results.  My one complaint with the spray tans I had previously gotten was that I looked super dark right after…not very natural.  So with the clear spray, the tan develops gradually over about a five hour period.

I got a special…5 tans for $55.  Normally they are $30 a piece, so it was a sweet deal.

www.alittlespa.com/

I have now had both of the stylists at the salon do my brows and have to say that they both did a fantastic job. This time I just walked in sans appointment and had no wait. During my prior appointment at least 5 women stopped by just to ask if they could be threaded…definitely a good sign. The $10 price is just the icing on the cake.

After just doing a little web-based research, I was impressed by this salon’s website: http://www.waxonwaxoffspa.com/.  I always like it when places have websites to I can get a better idea of the services they offer and their various price points.

My appointment was for a trim and eyebrow threading.  Things did not get off to a great start.  My stylist arrived about ten minutes late and was not all that apologetic about it.  The salon itself was very small.  Basically a front room with three stations and a very small back room with a manicure station (with very few nail polish choices) and a pedicure station (which appeared less than immaculate).

The haircut itself was kind of a disaster.  I wanted a TRIM.  She said, “ok, so about an inch, and clean up the layers.”  If only that was what she did.  It took me awhile to figure out why exactly I am not happy with the cut…and it finally came to me…it’s the “Rachel!”  You know, Jennifer Aniston’s iconic cut from like 1990?  Yeah.  Way too many layers, which just does not work with my fine hair.

Because I like trying different things and hair to me will always grow back, I didn’t really freak out.  I might just try another place and see if they can make the cut more appealing to me.  Oh, I also failed to mention that the stylist had forgotten her straightening iron.  She gave me a discount, but still…who does that.  It basically just seemed like she didn’t give a shit.  Now I don’t expect to be treated like royalty, but I do expect salons and their employees to have the basic tools necessary to complete my look.

I know it sounds like I totally hated my experience, but I was very impressed by their eyebrow threading.  I had never done it before and found it less painful and quicker than waxing.  My skin was also red for much shorter period of time.  The price ($10) was also very reasonable.

So all in all, haircut, not so great…but threading fantastic.  Until next time…

Some observations I made:

• All male facial/body/shaving products MUST have somewhere on the packaging in very prominent letters MEN/MEN’S/FOR MEN…god forbid someone might think a guy was using women’s products!
• I sampled a few exfoliating face washes and skin smoothing lotion…and basically they seemed to be almost exactly like the products I use…with one major exception…MANLY SCENTS
• I guess guys have to make sure everyone around can tell by the scent of their products that they are using MANLY MASCULINE lotions and smoothers
• I’m sure anyone who caught a whiff of my old spice 8-hour bodywash scent must have been a little confused

One product of my brother’s particularly caught my interest

NXT Shavegel

• ok, the bottle alone had me when I first saw it
• I got even more excited (yes, products are exciting…shut iiiiit) when I saw on the packaging description that the gel would light up
• I was thinking that the gel itself would light up when applied to the skin…what an ingenious way to shave! No more missed patches on my legs!
• ha! after asking my brother why the gel wasn’t lighting up, he kindly informed me that only the bottle itself lit up…boooooooring
• my dreams of a perfect shave shattered, I still tried it out
• The gel did not create a heavy lather, but I suffered no nicks
• I really like the minty scent and it left my legs nice and smooth

if only I could figure out how to make a light-up shave gel!

pic courtesy of drugstore.com

Hmmm a product that “erases” the dreaded blackhead sounded good to me. Ahh typical impulse buy. When will I learn?? So that night I tried the product and…

yeah, basically the exact same product as the Neutrogena Wave. I really should have figured, considering Neutrogena is a J & J company. (ha I only know that bc my friend Jeanna works for J & J and told me to stop talking smack about her company)

Truthfully, I only used this product maybe two times…likely not enough to give the “specially formulated blackhead-fighting serum” a chance to do its magic. Therefore I will postpone a more formal review until I use the product and truly give it a chance to work.