Wine for My Face! Cheers!

A while back, I started my search for a good night cream.  My skin is slightly blemish-prone and can get oily, so I have to be careful in my choice of moisturizers.  I'd found a good day lotion towards the end of the summer, but it wasn't cutting it as the weather became cooler. Plus, I didn't like the idea of wearing SPF at night.

I'd heard good things about Caudalie, mostly from customers of my former employer - a retailer that carried the line once-upon-a-time.  These women would come in, swearing by Caudalie's products and allowing my to guess their ages.  I'd usually be off by about 20 years, as in, they were 20 years older than they looked.  Now that's a club I want to be a part of!  Not only did I have visual proof that these were some great anti-aging products, they are almost all listed as paraben, synthetic dye and sulphate-free on Sephora's website.  Caudalie's products are derived from grapes and wine and somehow, what red wine is for your heart, Caudalie is for your face.

 The Writer and I spent the day shopping yesterday, during which I picked up the "Beauty Essentials from the Vine" Caudalie starter kit.  The full-size products can be pricey, so I wanted to be sure I liked them before investing. Oh, the wonder of minis! The set includes: Cleansing Water, Vinoperfect Radiance Serum Complexion Correction, Pulpe Vitaminee Eye and Lip Cream, and Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Creme.

I'm loving the Quenching Sorbet-Creme!  Its like a mousse, so it doesn't get greasy, but is definitely hydrating.  I'm pretty sure the eye cream and serum will end up on my list of most loved products, although it hasn't been long enough to really see their effects.  The only one I'm not sure about is the Cleansing Water.  Its a cleanser that you aren't supposed to rinse off, just swipe across your face with a cotton ball.  I used it last night and, while it took off my foundation and lipstick, I didn't feel like my face was completely clean.  It may work better as an AM cleanser, when I don't have as much to wash off of my face.

At the very least, I'm glad to not have a dry, flaky face anymore! Cheers!

Two-Toned Twinkle Toes

I first saw Essie's Lilacism on Joanna Goddard's blog, A Cup of Jo.  After she wrote about it, lilac kept popping up, so I decided to give it a try.  Lilac was a nice, summery change from my go-to ballet pink (Dear Diary... by Sephora by OPI).

I had to take the polish off of my fingernails after only a few days for a job interview, so I haven't decided if its a contender in the long-wearing category like the Sephora by OPI polishes are.  I've been wearing it on my toes, too, and its seemed to do alright.

I took another tip from some fashion bloggers and decided to try the half-moon pedicure.  I would've done a manicure, but I didn't want to have to take it off for an interview, especially not if I ended up liking it.  I applied a few coats of Lilacism as a base and waited for it to dry.  Then, I used binder reinforcement stickers at the base of each nail to cover the lilac.  Using Caffeine Fix by, you guessed it, Sephora by OPI, I carefully painted the front half or so of each toenail and carefully peeled the sticker back to reveal a lilac crescent.  A little more drying time and I finished the job off with some topcoat.

Lilac = Lilacism by Essie/Dark Purple = Caffeine Fix by Sephora by OPI 

I have to say, I love the outcome.  It looks a little bit like a half-and-half job since some of my nails are quite small.  Not bad for a first attempt, if I do say so myself.  I'm sorry for the poor quality of my photos. My point and shoot is out of commission due to its cracked screen, so I'm fully reliant on my webcam for its delightfully grainy shots.

The 411 on the 3-1-1

I am strictly against the idea of checking luggage when flying, at least for myself.  I know I'm a chronic over-packer, so the carry-on only rule helps me narrow down my selection.  It also saves me from having to wait for my luggage to arrive at baggage claim and subsequently having to drag a giant suitcase to my final destination when traveling alone.  There's also almost no risk of the airline loosing your luggage if you don't let them man-handle it.

One of the only problems that comes with flying with carry-on luggage only is the TSA's 3-1-1 rule.  The other problem lies in the shoe department, but this time, the shoes were easier to cram in than that little bag of liquids.  For those who are unfamiliar, the TSA allows each passenger to have one quart sized bag of liquids, each of which must be under 3.4 ounces each.  For women, you quickly realize how many products you use when you are trying to cram them all into a tiny clear bag.

Say Yes to Tomatoes Trouble-free Face Wash, decanted
shampoo/conditioner, Patricia Wexler Acne Spot
Treatment (tucked behind)

So, how do you decide?  If you're staying with a host, think about what's most likely already in their bathroom.  Most people have shampoo and conditioner.  I brought my shampoo because I know The Writer has some, but it's VO5, which irreparably damages my hair.

Think about what you can buy there.  When traveling to some locations, particularly internationally, it may be worth the $50/round trip to check a bag, rather than to find yourself running around a foreign country looking for body lotion.  However, when traveling domestically, chances are, you'll be able to find amenities when you get there and for less than $50.  I left my shower gel, body lotion, and shave cream at home.

Mary Kay Firming Eye Cream, Sephora Waterproof Makeup
Remover, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer, Paul Mitchell
Hot Off the Press heat protectant spray, Say Yes to Tomatoes
Totally Tranquil Facial Lotion

Along the same lines, consider the cost of a product. For me, I knew I could find shower gel, but it would get costly if I picked up a whole can of heat protecting spray or glossing cream when I got there. Luckily, I found a travel size can of Hot of the Press at my salon this past weekend.  Specialty items will most likely need to be brought with you.  What made the cut for me: Paul Mitchell Hot of the Press, Sephora Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover, Mary Kay Eye Cream, Urban Decay Eyelid Primer, Fekkai Glossing Creme, Say Yes to Tomatoes Facial Wash and Lotion.

It definitely took some maneuvering and some trial-and-error before I got it all to fit.  I didn't worry about my mascara or hand sanitizer, since I've never had the TSA stop me for having these items loose in my bag.  I also luck out because I'm a Bare Minerals fan, so no liquid foundation to squeeze into the bag.

Once I arrived, I purchased shower gel and lotion, both at $2.99/piece, shave cream at $1.99, and a travel sized hairspray for $.99 for an overall total of less than $10, which means I saved $30-$40 that I could use for other fun things on my trip!

Day 15: Something or Someone You Couldn't Live Without, Because You've Tried Living w/o It

My Boyfriend.

Not.

I am not THAT girl.

I don't want to live without him, but I know I could go on if I had to.

I'm going to go with the "Something" on this one.  It's going to seem shallow, but this is the first "thing" that came to mind.

photo credit

I think some people overlook eye makeup remover which is an absolute tragedy.  It's a must have if you don't want to wake up with raccoon-eyes, or worse yet, have your eyelashes break off. I've tried so many of these products, most of which weren't worth using.  I guess if those products are what you think of when you think of eye makeup remover, than no, I guess you might as well not bother.  

I came across Sephora's Waterproof eye makeup remover a year or two ago and I cannot let it go! It's often difficult to find in the stores, which makes me think a lot of other people must love it too.  It isn't cheap. Oh no, it's almost $10 for 4.2 ounces, but it lasts a long time, is gentle, and gets the job done.  

I tried living without it a few months ago when I couldn't find it in stores and was more poor than usual.  I tried a certain product by Maybelline that claimed to be "America's #1" or some lie like that, and absolutely hated it. My face was an oily mess and there was still mascara stuck to my lashes.  Yes, it was only about $3, but I used less than an 1/8 of the bottle before I cast it aside.  It was a waste of $3.  Even though Sephora's formula uses oil and you have to shake it up to mix it before using, it doesn't leave the skin around my eyes overly oily or irritate my eyes.  

I love it. Plain and simple. A trip to Sephora isn't worth it unless I can get this product. Since it takes me about an hour to get to the nearest Sephora, I get pretty darn depressed if I get there and have to leave empty handed. 

I won't even put makeup on if I can't be sure that I'll have this little bottle to help me get it off. I can't live without it.