Vacation

Still on vacation, no make up mondays... When I get back I will tell you all about my nasty sun burn....

Oh Aveda, My Super Hero Brighten My Day !!

Anti-aging products and I have a bad relationship history. My need to look younger always leads me down the wrong road with one of these products that promise me the fountain of youth and all I seem to receive is a small puddle of hope in a jar. I think it's an unfair abuse of my vanity, so I avoid skin care sales people and magazine advertisements, stick with basic skin care cleaners and hope for one day I will find a product that will be my super hero-skin care who "walks the walk and talks the talk".

One month ago I had a little talk with an Aveda skin care rep, she sang the praises of Aveda and I did my best not listen. As I rolled my eyes when she talked about how important organic and natural skin care, like Aveda, she caught my interest when she told me about a brightening skin care system from Aveda. She now had my attention, for years I have tried endlessly to lighten and remove the dark spots I have on my face and chin, all from a hormonal reaction from medication. She talked me into buying the "Brightening correcting serum". The correcting serum is a highly concentrated plant-powered brightening blend to diminish the appearance of dark spots and discoloration.


Stuff Inside;
100% naturally derived Plant-Powered Brightening Blend including Ascorbyl Glucoside (a vitamin C derivative), mulberry root, and grape extracts to help diminish the appearance of discoloration and dark spots.

Salicylic Acid and Glucosamine help promote surface cell turnover.

A soothing aroma made predominantly with organic lavender, sustainably sourced sandalwood, organic rose geranium and organic rosemary essential oils also helps soothe and calm the skin.

Information is from the Aveda web-site

The Verdict;
I was very surprised, within one week of using the product twice a day (AM and PM) I noticed the spots on my face starting to fade. Unlike other fading products I tried, this product did not dry my face or was not a bleaching cream. The salicylic acid acts as cell renewal and my dull skin has gone away. I repeat my dull, dry looking skin is gone !! I have used this product now for three weeks and I Love, Love it ! Im so happy I was not cheep and spent the big buck for it, worth every penny. The spots on my left side chin are much lighter, and this is the side that had the darkest spots. I found a picture of myself from six months ago, the spots on my chin where so dark then now you can barely see them. If you're looking for skin lightener serum that will not dry the skin, works deep into the skin tissue to give you a youthful appearance and have dull looking skin like me, this is the one for you.

One Last Thing;
I also bought the Brightening Cleanser, Im also in love with this product too, Shape Magazine 2009 Award winner in skin care cleaners. Aveda has a special online, orders are free shipping if you spend $50 bucks, easy to do at Aveda, you will get two free top rated samples.

Happy 4th of July

Sorry no make up mondays today, have a wonderful fourth of July. We will be back next Monday !!

Method To My Lemon Ginger Madness

I will be the first to admit it, I smell natural cleaning products first, based off the scent this determine what product I buy. Yes I know that Eco products are better for the environment but lets be honest, these products just smell better then regular cleaners. If one of the largest surfaces to clean in your home is the floor, then it goes without saying that (especially in my home) a pleasant scented floor cleaner is essential. The smart people at Method have a nifty floor cleaner, lemon ginger scent Squirt + Mop hard floor cleaner.

Stuff inside;
purified water, methoxyisopropanol a non-toxic solvent, alcohol produced from corn, ethoxylated lauryl alcohol cleaning agent, partial natural essential oil content, partially synthetic ingredients

The Verdict;
Love it, squeaky clean floors that smell like sweet lemon ginger tea. I don't know if you eliminate all germs for the five-second rule, but in my unscientific test, you sure do come close !  Two felines also reside in my house, I pay the bills and they get to live here rent free. So there is also a need to have products that do not leave a chemical residue on their furry paws, preventing them from becoming sick. Im please to say that my cat's like the scent too, they do not hide when I clean because of the smell, they wait to track paw print marks on the floor until later on, so sweet.

One last thing;
Also comes in ginger yuzu scent, "it's a little spicy-and-sweet from the ginger, and a little citrus-y from the yuzu. rumor has it there's even some lemongrass and coconut thrown in there for good measure."

http://www.methodhome.com/product/squirt-mop-hard-floor-cleaner/?lemon-ginger

Beauty No. 7

I hate dry skin, more then I hate dry skin is when my foundation looks like the skin of an alligator, dry lines and cracks all over my face. I may be exaggerating but I find the closer I move to 40 years old in age, I'm having a hard time with fine lines and dry skin. Foundation has become a little to thick and the deep pigment matte coverage is to much for my skin. Plus the fact that I like easy when it comes to makeup, the discovery of tinted moisturiser became a welcome answer to my problems.

Stalking the make up isle of Target, sunshine lit my way down the Boots isle. There among the beauty products that have been rated highly by Good Housekeeping Magazine, was the No. 7 Soft & Sheer Tinted Moisturiser

Active Ingredients;
Octinoxate 5 %
Titanium Dioside 1.9%
SPF 15

The Verdict;
Sheer color that hydrates for hours, one simple step to even out skin tone and moisturize, I love it ! Comes in three different shades, fair, medium (that is what i have) and dark. No heavy coverage but still sheer enough to have light coverage.

One last thing;
I also use Boots Mineral Perfection Power, to help set the moisturizer. Bonus gifts like mascara with select No7 Skin Care products at Target.com.

Boots web site
http://www.us.boots.com/SoftSheerTintedmoisturizer/

Le Toilet Cleaner That Smells So Good !

Would you think I'm crazy if I told you that I love my toilet bowl cleaner? Seventh Generation, the eco friendly company, that has been around for over twenty years, makes a toilet bowl cleaner that smells so good you will want to use it everyday.

The Background,
"Seventh Generation has been committed to providing safe, environmentally conscious household goods for over twenty years. Today they are one of the most trusted names in eco-friendly cleaning products. Formulated to be safe for your family and the environment, this product does not create harsh fumes and is non-toxic biodegradable. "

Natural Stuff Inside,
Natural lactic acids, coconut-derived surfactants, natural thickener (xanthan gum), whole and natural plant essences (a blend of emerald cypress, balsam fir, and lime essential oils), water.

The Verdict
Plant derived cleaning agents work very well removing stains easily from the bowl. Eliminates mineral deposits without the use of harsh chemicals. The bottle shape, makes it easy to use for under the rim, cleaner is thick and clear, good for holding on to the sides and not washing away quickly. The best part is the smell, Emerald Cypress & Fir, its like walking outdoors in the woods, reminds me of vacation in Big Sur.

The smell alone is the main reason to buy this product, I sometimes squirt a little in the bowl because the scent makes my small bathroom smell good. I wish the company would make this scent into an air freshener.

One last thing,
The web site also has weekly coupons to download.

www.seventhgeneration.com

Makeup Mondays, A Brow Above

Are you one of the lucky one's who was born with amazing eyebrows ? I hate you, really don't hate you just wish I had the same. So for the rest of us sexy minks who brow shape is more slump back mountain and not enough Kim Kardashian, you will need a great eyebrow pencil.

Anastasia Beverly Hills, the "must" see guru of the perfect eyebrow arch. Oprah swears by her waxing talent. Once Oprah give's anyone the thumbs up, we at Buddha are sold on her suggestion (lock stock and barrel ) so we tried the eyebrow pencil today.

The Subject:
Perfect Brow Pencil ,Dark Brown/Brunette. "Anastasia specially designed this pencil to apply and blend color into the brow to achieve a brow look so natural it looks like your own. With a velvety-smooth pencil on one end and a built in brow brush on the other, this product is perfect for anyone who wants to achieve a fuller brow look".

The Verdict:
I like it, the dark brown color was a perfect match and according to the sales girl at Sephora today, the colors pretty much are a good match for every skin tone. Comes in 6 natural colors for blonds, redheads and brunettes. The color glides on smooth, good for making a smooth arch line without skip marks. The tip has small brow brush on the end, genius idea, helps to blend the line and makes for one less brush in your makeup bag. Life is good now, I have "Anastasia perfect eyebrows", watch out Oprah and Kim !

One last Thing:
Nordstroms stores have a "Anastasia Brow Studio" within the cosmetic section. Im going to try and have my eyebrows arched there sometime next week, will keep you updated.

http://anastasia.net/index.php