Philosophy Hope in a Jar Foundation

When I was waiting to get my haircut at Ulta, the Philosophy saleslady was telling me about this foundation. The Philosophy foundations that I have tried before were too dry and heavy on my face. I wasn't really interested until she tried this on my face. It is lighter, not cakey and has a dewy finish, It doesn't have an overwhelming fragrance and doesn't take a lot to cover my face. I was actually impressed and ended up purchasing it.

It also claims to have some skin care ingredients that help long term. Another great ingredient is SPF 20! She matched me Shade 6 and it works really well. This is the first Philosophy "high end" skincare that I have tried. During Christmas they had some incredible skincare sets and that was all it took for me to love the brand!


Have you tried Philosophy foundations? What do you think? Do tell! Sherry

Milani Gel Powder Eyeshadow

Left top: Bella Emerald
Left bottom: Bella Bronze
Right Top: Bella Violet
Top Right: Bella Copper
Bottom middle: Bella Purple


Milani is an inexpensive and well made product line that I have purchased lots from. There are some hits and misses, however; this is a win in my book! These eyeshadows are silky smooth and have a great pigmentation. The swatches have a base of Urban Decay eye primer. I am not sure about the gel because they feel pure powder to me. Because CVS doesn't allow testers, I was unable to test out the other colors. I have heard that some of the lighter colors are hard to see and the pigmentation lacking.

I am overall impressed with these eyeshadows. I picked these colors because I have hazel eyes and these compliment my eyes well. They are $3.99 at CVS and so far, I have seen a wide range of colors available.

Run girls, these are going fast! Tell me, have you tried these eyeshadows? What are your thoughts? Do tell! Sherry

Highlighters that I can manage

L-R:
Revlon Highlighting Palette in Peach Glow
IT Cosmetics Hello Light Illuminating Powder
Revlon Photoready Skinlights in Peach Light
Benefit Watts-Up
Bare Minerals Ready Color Boost
Benefit Sunbeam
IT Cosmetics Hello Light Crème Luminizer
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal



I am the first to admit that I am a neophyte to highlighters. I have watched countless Youtube and read many articles on how to apply highlighters, especially for over 40 skin. I find that when I apply highlighters it gives my face a lit from within glow and rather than looking greasy it works well. Yes, it still scares me that I will look greasy and teenage, yet with practice I have found it gives me a healthy glow. Along with bronzer to warm my face, the highlighter just tops off my look and give me a healthy glow. I have a really red face and most of the products I find help to temper the red. I don't want to be over the top, as a nurse I need to remain professional.

These are the products that I feel comfortable with and work well with my skin. The powder I am light with because I don't want to emphasize pores or fine lines. I find the crème works much better. There are so many ladies that have taught me highlighter placement and I am grateful that there are many who give me education. Seriously, what would I do without internet education!

Revlon has some really great products and Ulta has all of these. The Photoready crème is easy to apply and blends seamlessly. The palette needs to be applied with a light hand.

IT Cosmetics is my favorite by far, as they have anti-aging ingredients and just really give me a subtle (light hand) glow.

Benefit is known worldwide and both these products are awesome. Blendable and easy, seriously subtle or buildable. I love these!

Becca is also known worldwide and is lauded all over the internet. I was fortunate to get this sample size and it works with my skin so well. I am tempted to get the full size but a little goes a long way and this will last me a long time. Again subtle but buildable and seriously easy to apply!

I keep learning and expirementing and in the summer it just gives my face such a luminous glow, which let's face it girls makes me happy!

Tell me your highlighter secrets, I would love to know and what products you can't without it! Do tell! Sherry

Makeup Monday Linky Party

Make sure you check out all the fabulous ladies and their blogs included in the Linky Party. The beautiful Maria at Agapelovedesigns.blogspot.com is hosting this Monday event.

Thanks ladies for stopping by the blog. Have a blessed week, Sherry

Loreal Visible Lift Blur Products

Foundation #204 Creamy Natural
Concealer #301 Fair Pale


As a woman who is well over 40 sliding into 50, I am all about having my skin appear smoother, "blurred" if you will. I was browsing in my local drugstore and saw the display for these and started checking these out. I then came home and started trying to research them to see what they were all about. Ladies, back to the store I went and got these products!

This is what Loreal says: "Instantly erases the look of lines. Lightweight, anti-aging." "A makeup that blurs the look of lines, wrinkles and uneven texture while delivering the anti-aging benefits of Visible Lift.". Uses Opti-blur technology.


If you look at my swatch of the

Bite Beauty Lippie love #bitebeauty

From top:
Dolce
Tawny
Suede
Flush


Bite beauty lippies are absolutely extraordinary! The company is a natural lip care company that states that the lippies are so healthy you can eat them. They have resveratrol, shea butter and essential oils to nourish and protect lips. There is a wide variety of lipsticks, pencils, glosses, matte and regular. I remember the first time I saw them at Sephora and swatched them and immediately fell in love with them. I have since collected quite a few of them!

The lippies are smooth, feel wonderful on the lips and have beautiful colors. The swatches above are multiple swipes, the pigment is not "in your face" and takes quite a bit to show up. The fragrance is minor and they taste good. The longevity is a couple of hours and needs to be reapplied often, however the solid black suede feeling case is a pleasure to pull out and use!

Bottom line, go to Sephora and check them out as they are awesome lippies. Bitebeauty.com
has all the information you could want and some of the products are on the website that aren't at Sephora. All in all, I love BITE lippies and will continue to purchase them!! Thanks for stopping by the blog :). Blessings, Sherry

Trend: Clutch

I have never been one for carrying a clutch. But this one caught my eye and when I go to concerts and special dinners, this is perfect for dressing up the outfit. It is a sparkly black and the top has rhinestone inlays where the finger holders are. There is a great chain to use for crossbody or shoulder carrying. I have seen this particular type of clutch in magazines and catalogs and am excited to own this trendy clutch!

I usually don't do fashion type posts but felt this was right up the current trend and had to show it off! Do you carry clutches? What do you think about this one? Would love to hear your thoughts! Have a great day! Sherry

Japonesque Velvet Touch Foundation

Shade 01



When the brand Japonesque showed up at Ulta, I spent some time swatching and getting to know the products. I am impressed with the ones that I really took some time to look over. I am always on the search for a foundation that I like and decided to get this one. The one thing I noted was that most all of their foundation colors are yellow based. It comes in a glass jar and a spatula. I like that the spatula keeps the foundation from getting bacteria introduced, but the large opening still makes me leary.

The foundation itself is quite thick and gives a full coverage. I really had to "sheer" it out so that it didn't look cakey. It doesn't have an obnoxious fragrance and overall is pretty easy to apply. It states on their website that it is a "whipped" foundation and it is possible that my jar dried out. It dries to a matte finish and I found that it wore well on my 12 hour shift. I think that this foundation will be more suited to winter time as I like lighter bases with our 100 degree heat here!

I will definitely be checking out other products from their line. Have you tried Japonesque from Ulta? Thanks for stopping by the blog :) Sherry

Summer moisture switch up

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel Cream
Dry skin-(pink)
Normal to combo skin-(green)



Ladies with the temperatures in Texas being the high 90's to low 100's, there is not a lot I want on my face! To top that off, add in that lovely "hot flash" glow (yeah right) and greasy is the effect I run far away from. So my moisturizer had to change and Garnier was a great company and inexpensive option to try a gel moisturizer. These take very little to cover my face, take a minute to sink in and feel cooling to my face. Although, I sweat seriously badly this time of year I know I need to use a moisturizer because hey at my age I can't play around!!

I use these mainly at night because I like to have a strong SPF in my daily moisturizer. I do use these in the day when I am off work and not doing a lot of running around. I have placed some of my eye products in the refrigerator to make the cooling sensation even better and these gels cool really well and when refrigerated just totally refresh me and help me to wake up.

So ladies if you are looking for a great gel moisturizer that is easy to pick up from your local drugstore then this is one you want to check out! Thanks for stopping by the blog and leave me your thoughts below if you are trying gel moisturizers! Sherry

Seriously, goodbye Aqua Net!

L-R
Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Working Hair Spray
Loreal Elnett Satin Hairspray
KMS Hair Stay dry xtreme hairspray
Oscar Blandi pronto Texture and Volumizing Spray


Back in the day (and I am talking the 80's here :) I was addicted to my Aqua Net. Seriously a day didn't go by that I didn't have my super permed super out to there hair shellacked with this stuff! My hair didn't move and was a serious fire hazard. *Sigh the 80's. These days I am more educated about products and know my hair better than ever. I favor softer more fluid holds and since I have very fine, thin hair I like a boost of volume without the stickiness.

Enter some old and some new hairsprays that are absolutely a pleasure to use. They give my hair lasting hold, volume and shine. The Loreal Elnett is my everday go to work hairspray. I have read that makeup artists and hairstylists used to hoard this stuff from Paris. Now that it is available here in the US and at local Target stores, Ulta's and even Walgreens, lots of people can get their hands on this product. It holds without the stiffness and although the smell is pure old school hairspray, it works.

When I want some heavy duty hold, KMS rocks! I received this size as one of my points rewards from Ulta and fell head over heels in love with it. It is very dry and a little does a lot. I have replaced this travel size several times and it fits in a purse quite well.

The Alterna was in a haircare kit of Caviar Anti-aging products and it is a medium hold. It smells great and also provides my hair with a shine. Another great size to travel.

Last but not least, the Oscar Blandi spray is great for spraying near my roots and getting instant lift and volume. It has a serious hold as well and helps my fine, thin hair look a little thicker.

What hairspray do you use? Were you addicted to Aqua Net? Do tell! Sherry

Gold Elements Truffles Infusion Brightening Eye Cream Giveaway

Pixi product love! #pixibeauty

From left:
Flawless Vitamin Veil Foundation
Redness reducing primer
Eye Bright Kit #2
Succulent Lip Twin in Peony
Correction Concentrate in Brightening Peach
H2O Skintint Tinted Face Gel
Illuminating Tint and Conceal


My first foray into Pixi products was a beautiful copper eyeliner pencil. Target has a large variety of Pixi and has grown more as time goes on. The products are reasonably priced and the efficacy is wonderful. I am in love with their website and Petra's blog. There are great videos on how to use the products and it definitely makes it easy as Petra shows step by step. There are some items that are not available in the US and I would love to get my hands on the Glow Tonic!

The H2O Skintint is very weird when applied as it is very watery and is hard to blend because it dries very fast. I have learned to apply it and have grown to love it. The correction concentrate in brightening peach is awesome for my terrible under eye circles and lasts all day. All in all Pixi is a fabulous line and plays a major part in my daily usage.

Are you a fan of Pixi? What products do you use? Share your thoughts and let me know if there is a product that I need to get :). Sherry

July Lip Monthly Box

From Bottom:
City Color Lip Lush
Stila Lip Glaze Stick in Orange
City Color Lip Balm in Bright Red
Appeal Cosmetics in Nude Up


Lip Monthly subscription box sends lippies as well as a random sample. This is my first box and overall I am impressed with it. I have never heard of City Color or Appeal Cosmetics and of course Stila is well known to me. There was also a John Frieda Frizz Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Crème and I will get a lot of use out of that! The box is $10 a month and it can be purchased for $5 for new customers.

I have heard from reviews about this box that they do send discontinued items and some really awful items. This box seems to be good and I hope to continue to get usable items. Do check out their website http://www.lipmonthly.com and use the code "summerlips" to receive your first box for $5.

Have you tried this subscription box? Did you receive decent lippies? Do tell! Sherry

MOO Business Cards

I had the pleasure to get Klout points and get some MOO business cards. They are great to hand out when I need to let people know about my jewelry creations and my blog. I was impressed with the cards themselves and love that I was able to create the layout. I am learning to put myself out there and although sometimes I get insecure about advertising, these are an excellent way to do that.

Check out their website www.moo.com and play with your layout! You will be impressed with the product.

Do you use business cards? Have you tried MOO cards? I love them and plan on continuing to use the MOO company. Sherry

Making your lips kissable!

ELF Lip exfoliator
Tarte Maracuja Lip exfoliator
Laura Geller lip trip smoothing sugar scrub



Back in the day (:) I just used a soft toothbrush to exfoliate my lips so that my lipstick and glosses didn't look sickly. Although I can still use that particular way, using lip scrubs are so luxurious! From inexpensive ELF twist up tube exfoliator to the Tarte tin, these lip exfoliators are a pleasure to use. As for the ELF tube, it is very gritty and should be used with a light hand. The Tarte is the least gritty of the bunch and the Laura Geller sugar scrub is just right!

The ELF lip exfoliator can be obtained at Target and the other two are available at Sephora. Yes, the winter is when these are used the most, however; summertime swimming, sun and wind tend to chap my lips badly and I want to make sure they are soft and silky. Hey, my husband gets the benefit of lip care!!

What lip scrubs/exfoliators do you use? Do you have a favorite? Do tell! Sherry

Diorskin Rosy Glow Blush

Other than the crack in the corner this blush is beautiful! Housed in a silver toned, weighty compact the blush stands out a gorgeous sheer pink that is blue based. It is a healthy glow booster blush and they aren't lying! It goes on sheer but brightened my face like nobodies business I'm tellin' ya. I have a very red based face and this blush just made my face glow with healthy looking skin. It takes a couple of swipes to really show the blush and I place it with a big fat fluffy brush. I actually got a compliment the first time I wore it (and not from my hubby:). It says it reacts with your particular skin tone and moisture to give a pink all your own. Well the pink it gave me was so pretty and subtle. I love it.

I haven't gotten a lot of Dior products as I cringe at buying things so expensive, but this blush was well worth it! Have you tried this blush? what are your thoughts? Do share! Sherry

No 7 Perfectly Bronzed

Bronzers are hot right now. With summer here, the glowy bronzed face is popular and safer than tanning. Although the container with the round bronzed balls looks a bit shimmery, it actually shows matte. I use a large fluffy brush and place it on the areas of my face that the sun would naturally hit. It does have a bit of an orange undertone but a light hand works wonders. The swatch above is heavily placed.

This is available at Target and the No 7 brand has some really great products. If you are looking for an affordable bronzer, this is definitely something to check out!

Have you tried No 7 products? Do tell! Sherry

Sacred Earth Body Scrub

I had the pleasure to win this product from the beautiful Sissi at beauty4free2u.com. I adore scrubs, especially in the summer time when my skin gets scaly. My hubby also gets into my scrubs and this one has been used already! (I totally had to laugh because I am a nurse and saying my hubby gets into my scrubs is a double entendre :).


The scrub contains dead sea salt, organic coconut oil and rosewood oil and the fragrance is not overwhelming. The oils help to soften with the exfoliation and my elbows and knees love this! The jar is a heavy glass jar and I have to be careful not to drop this in the shower.

There are several different types of scrub and are based on goddesses. Maia is about safety and abundance. Please check out their website, sacredearthproducts.com and find out which goddess suits you! I am very pleased with this product and may have to obtain the other ones as well :).

Have you heard of this brand? What scrubs do you use? Do tell! Sherry

An unexpected find

As a beauty blogger and addict. there is no store that doesn't get perused for beauty products. I don't care if it's a dollar store! I was browsing an ethnic beauty store and found this very interesting product. I love using the sheer lip liners that make a great barrier as they work very well for me. At a dollar, I thought why not!

Then after researching this product I was SHOCKED that it is carried at Sephora! It is mostly carried at drugstores in Canada etc and is super affordable. It works like a charm and especially when I am wearing bright lippies. Sephora carries it for $16, so I will definitely stock up at the dollar store.

Do you wear waxy lip liner? What is your favorite? Have an awesome day and thanks for stopping by the blog :) Sherry

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri

#260 Sonic Bloom


I love bright summer colors on my toes because it is sandal and flip flop season. Sally Hansen has some really great colors and I absolutely love the Insti-Dri ones as I am terrible when it comes to waiting and invariably I always mess them up! This color just rocks for summer and is such a happy color too. I always like to do my toes as most of the time my nails stay natural, being a nurse.

What color are you rocking this summer? Do tell! Sherry

PS: I know that feet are not people's favorite thing to see but I had to show you how pretty the color looks :)

Guerlain Terracotta Jolie Teint Foundation

Foundation is my never ending quest and this one was an impulse purchase after I swatched it. I love the tube with it's pump top, very hygienic and dispenses the right amount every time. I wore it today after priming my face and immediately liked how it felt on my skin. It is medium to full coverage and needs blending really well. It didn't have an overwhelming fragrance (a big deal for me) and the color Natural was perfect for my skin tone.

I have used Guerlain's bronzers and loved them so felt that the foundation was probably pretty good as well. The selfie that I took above was after wearing the foundation for 6 hours and it stayed beautiful the whole time! It isn't too thick or runny and was very blendable and smooth. Although the color in the swatch looks dark, it was perfect for my skin and I would suggest you swatch it prior to buying as the colors are very different for each skintone.

Overall, this foundation works really well and I am happy with it. It will be in my rotation when I need something a little heavier as I am wearing CC creams during the worst of the Texas heat. Have you tried this foundation? What are your thoughts? Do tell! Sherry

The BB/CC Cushion revolution

Laneige BB Cushion in Medium
IT Cosmetics CC+ Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation in Medium



The beauty world has been taken by storm with the BB/CC cushions. I remember buying the Amore Pacific cushion compact and absolutely loving it. It was sheer yet buildable and covered my face really well. Now there are other companies that are making their own and I had to see if they were workable.

First, since Target has started carrying high end beauty brands, Laneige made a big splash. I purchased the BB Cushion and it has the "well" in the middle with a liquid foundation and a foam sponge to apply the liquid. It goes on cool and smoothly and covers very well. I am able to put a bit more on spots that need covering. It comes with a refill which makes it a very good buy. There is no fragrance to speak of and hasn't broken me out. I am impressed!


The IT Cosmetics CC+ Veil fluid cushion is the same "well" in the middle and a foam sponge to apply and also goes on cool and smoothly. It definitely covers the redness on my face and can be built up for areas that need it without looking cakey. It does not come with a refill. I have only had a few duds with IT Cosmetics and this is NOT one of them! This one also impressed me.

For summer these are definitely awesome options for lighter, cooler bases and I can see myself repurchasing both of these. I am not sure that I will carry them with me because they are very liquid, and although they have snapped lids, they tend to run easily. Have you jumped on the BB/CC cushion bandwagon? Do tell! Sherry

Bliss triple oxygen facial in a box

There is nothing better to me than to take super good care of my skin. Its the canvas for my makeup application and when it is doing well, the makeup just works! Bliss products are at Ulta and I have passed by them numerous times and this time I saw the "try it" box. For $12 it contains 2 facials. There are 3 products to complete the facial and after reading the instructions, it really is quick to use!

The box states, "Known for helping our busy clientele get their spa fix in a flash, our Quickbliss spa services are available to take on the road. Featuring the very same formulas used in our top treatments, our facial in a box allow you to indulge in our world famous spa sessions from the comfort of your home-in mere minutes."

I did the facial and it was 10 minutes total! The oxygen mask felt cool and tickled as the oxygen worked on my face. When rinsed it felt clean and bright. The second part which is a peel wasn't harsh and you don't rinse it off and it definitely felt tight but not uncomfortably so. The final part was the triple oxygen glow moisturizer and just finished up the facial very well. It made my face feel refreshed, cool and plumped. I liked the ease of use, the feel of the products and how it felt afterwards. I will definitely look forward to using the second set in a week and will definitely repurchase.

Ladies if you are looking for a quick and easy facial, I would highly recommend this one by Bliss. I will now be doing some more research into their other products! Skincare is the basis of great makeup (IMO) and this one isn't harsh. So onward and outward! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by the blog :) Sherry