Wedding Cakes
Be a Natural Beauty This Summer
Sport these makeup looks and hairdos as temperatures rise |
Check out these celeb looks for inspiration, then read expert hair and makeup tips to get you looking hot hot hot -- in a totally natural way. Get tips |
Beauty Product of the Week: Exfoliating Scrub
What is it? Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub is a "skin-clearing, water-based scrub for strong, oily skins. De-flakes, refines, softens tiny lines. Leaves skin refreshed." Available at Sephora and wherever Clinique products are sold for $18. What did you think? Clinique's description of this product is insanely stark, but also accurate. While I don't have strong, oily skin, I've been using this product off and on for the past 20 years (really? How in the world did I get so old?!?) and have loved the results. Whenever I try a new facial exfoliator, I inevitably compare it to Clinique's old stand-by. And product after product, I like what I get from Clinique better.
My skin feels smooth and soft after using this scrub. It doesn't strip away any of the good oils in my skin, but instead sloughs away the dead cells that can dull my complexion. My skin looks rosier (in a good way!) and the texture feels so much better when I use this product.
The final verdict? In my world, Clinique's Exfoliating Scrub is a consistent, reliable, effective product. Also, for less than $20, this is very reasonably priced. Add this to your skin care routine (use it twice a week), and you'll be happy with the results. I know I am! My skin's tone and texture are much improved. I've loved this product forever, and it remains one of my top 10 beauty products of all time.
Review: Revlon Photo Ready Makeup SPF 20
Name: Revlon Photo Ready Makeup SPF 20Description: "Revlon PhotoReady™ Makeup - for poreless, airbrushed skin in any light. Photochromatic pigments bend and reflect light to erase every flaw. Complete, yet undetectable coverage. Soft, luminous finish; Oil free; Fragrance free; SPF 20"
Price: Reg. $12-$14 USD (varies by location)
Shades I bought: 006 Medium Beige and 008 Golden Beige (BOGO-Free sale at Walgreens)
NOTE: I've been trying this product since last February if I'm not mistaken. I always like to try different methods of application, different primers or other makeup bases and setting powders. Also, with time I also can determine if it's breaking me out or causing other issues in my skin.
PROS
- The obvious one---A PUMP!: I really hope Revlon keep adding pumps to their foundations...for example...Colorstay? (**crossing my fingers and wishing someone from Revlon is reading this**). Not only does this foundation has a pump, but it is a really good one, very manageable and easy to use.
- No fragrance: I wish the Colorstay Foundation had the same smell as this one--NONE!
- Good SPF level: For a foundation anyways. Now some people doesn't like SPF in their foundations but I do. It has Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. Titanium can cause the dreaded "ghost face" but honestly with this foundation I haven't had that issue (once I understood and decided which one was my right shade).
- Oil-free
- You can get it almost everywhere
- A bit pricey for a DS foundation but can be bought on BOGO-Free sales
- Soft finish: they mean it with the soft finish description, it is not dewy or look shiny (do no confuse this with shimmery). It really looks luminous without overdoing it--I honestly didn't have any issues with the "shimmers". I feel that issue has been a bit exaggerated. But that's just me.
- Don't be confused: the shades in this foundation have nothing to do with the ones in the Colorstay line. Similar names, different color.
- Texture: at first it goes on soft but it feels dry. After a few hours on my skin and getting mixed with the oil in my face, I see it starts to "crack"--the textures changes, separates and the product looks very obvious on my face.
- It emphasizes my pores: I have "rough skin"--I have very noticeable pores and when I apply the product it goes an sits inside them, no matter what primer I use. I've found that applying a bit of oil (almond) on my cheeks right before applying the foundation erases that problem. I do not have this issue with many other foundations.
- Also emphasizes any dry area, big time.
- It transfers...badly.
- Lasting Power: Not much really. And if I sweat...pffft...it looks terrible.
- Not too much coverage, medium at much: this is a CON for me, but you may find it is okay for you. Though I do have to say I wasn't expecting full coverage.
- My skin feels dry (at a point where it bothers me) when I apply this but after a few hours it is super oily. Huh??
- I find it a little hard to blend.
Okay, I was expecting a bit more from this foundation. Now, if you see the pics, you could say my makeup do look nice under "every light" --in this case my bathroom light (with and w/o makeup camera flash) and under natural lighting. But up close and personal...I am not impressed. It looks obvious. I don't like that my face is super oily a few hours after application and boy did it transfer. It's not as bad as my experience with the Maybelline Super Stay 24hr Makeup basically because it doesn't fails at every claim Revlon makes. What can I say? I did was expecting the "Photochromatic pigments to bend and reflect light to erase every flaw" and to help with my hyperpigmentation problem. It does that to some extent but I feel it make my wrinkles look a little more obvious. IDK.
I have read and seen videos about the "glitter" and "shimmer" this product has. This foundation has mica as many others do. Maybe they added a more to the PhotoReady, IDK that, but I personally think that this product does not makes me look like a disco ball. I even went outside, under the sun at different hours and did not noticed all this glittery stuff. I did notice the "glowy, luminous effect" and it was pretty. L'oreal True Match foundation also has shimmer in it (check out the bottle against the light) and I have not seen many people talking horrors about it, LOL. You can always tone down the luminous look by setting the foundation with a matte powder.
Bathroom Light
Natural Light
About the white ghostly appearance many ladies have mentioned, I had that issue with the Golden Beige shade which was a good match for my skin tone. I then used the Medium Beige one (a touch darker but almost imperceptible) and it looked good in real life and in pictures.
As you can see, I'm on the fence here. I like it but I don't think I will buy it again just because for me a foundation shouldn't make me look for a thousand ways to make it work. And it just does not feels that great on my skin. At least the L'oreal True Match blends super easily. I would rate this product a little above average because it does makes my skin look nice in pictures but honestly that effect wouldn't last a whole day, let's say, at the office.
RATING: 3.5/5
I you have dry skin, I'd say moisturize super well before using this foundation and set it with a spray like MAC Fix+. I you have combo/oily skin, use a mattifying primer or product on your T-zone and moisturize well your cheeks before applying the Photo Ready.
Bathroom Light--No Flash
Bathroom Light--With Flash
Natural Light--No Flash
My makeup in these pics:
BORGHESE Prima Viso Face Primer
REVLON Photo Ready Makeup in Medium Beige
ELF HD Powder
ELF contouring blush & bronzing powder--Used both products
MAYBELLINE Full-n-Soft Mascara in Black
MAYBELLINE Define-A-Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
LIPS--Can't remember =/
I hope this review is helpful to you.
¡Vivan, amen y rían!
Welcome Back
The legendary Air Jordan 11 was first released for for 1995-96 season. May 1st the Air jordan XI's will be release to a store near you!
ecoTOOLS Giveaway!
It's still April, which means it's still Earth Month! And to wind down the month, I'm hosting a little giveaway, thanks to my friends over at ecoTOOLs.As a pioneer in environmentally-friendly cosmetic and bath and body care products that are affordable, effective, and eco-fabulous, EcoTools makes it simple to green your beauty routine without sacrifice; all you need are the right tools!
Just in time for Spring 2010, EcoTools unveils the brand-new body butter, body scrub, body mists and EcoPouf – helping consumers start the season with eco-friendly essentials for a spring clean and cleanse.
A little lather goes a long way as the pioneers at ecoTOOLS introduce yet another eco-innovation with the world’s first 100% recycled plastic bath sponge! Launching in March 2010 at Target stores nationwide, ecoTOOLS takes scrubbing to a new level and – pouf! – totally updates daily bathing routines. The first of its kind, the EcoPouf ($1.99) sets the standard for bathing, showing beauty buffs everywhere that getting squeaky clean and supporting sustainability can go hand-in-hand.
Strip skin of grit and grime, and replenish and restore radiance naturally with the “Polished & Protected” Body Scrub ($5.99). The earth-friendly exfoliating scrub contains crushed walnut shells that gently remove dry, flaky skin to reveal soft, smooth and stunning skin, proving you don’t have to sacrifice effectiveness for eco-friendliness! The brand-new “Replenish Your Natural Resources” Body Butter ($5.99) banishes dry skin while saving the environment. Enriched with mango butter that replenishes and hydrates all over, it meticulously massages to keep skin supple and well-protected. The body butter exudes a warm lavender, vanilla fragrance – and an eco-friendly recipe – that will put minds and bodies at ease.
Enrich the body and the earth with two fresh fragrances from ecoTOOLS. Featuring organic botanical extracts, the new “Passion for Change” Body Mist ($5.99) wraps the body in rich, earthly warmth with just one spray. Get back to basics with a natural, yet luxurious, aroma that soothes and settles. The new and improved “Blooming Planet” Body Mist ($5.99) returns with a revised floral fragrance. Notes of organic peony and passion flower shower skin with a sheer layer of soft, pink petals. With sophisticated scents, organic extracts and affordable prices, the ecoTOOLS body mists bare it all to bring green into daily beauty routines. Although you didn’t receive these samples, they are available upon request.
Now, here's the giveaway part: Leave me a comment and I'll pick two of you at random to receive an ecoTOOLS EcoPouf. I'll give you one week and will announce the winner next Wednesday. NOTE: this giveaway is open to US residents only--sorry! Please be sure to leave me a way to contact you. Good luck!
The Iron Man 2 Premiere in Hollywood
Last night was the Hollywood premiere of Iron Man 2. Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Scarlett Johansson were among the stars out and about on the red carpet supporting their soon-to-be blockbuster sequel. If you haven't yet seen the original, rent it tonight! Iron Man 2 hits theaters on May 7.
Photo: Alex J. Berliner, Berliner Studio/BEI Images
How To Look Good....When You Feel Like Crap!
I'm a relatively healthy person, but I do suffer from seasonal allergies (pollen is my arch enemy). To add to my sneezing and running eyes, I got a nasty cold last week. I spent too many days with a stuffed up nose, a raging headache, and the itchy-est, watery-est eyes ever. To put it short and sweet: I felt like crap.But a cold/allergies can't keep a good woman down...oh no! So here we go...here are my quick tips for looking presentable when all you want to do is crawl under the covers with a box of aloe tissues shoved up your nose:
- After you take all your meds, be sure to exfoliate and then moisturize. The skin around my nose and lips tends to get scaly and gross when a cold/allergies strike. Exfoliate your lips by brushing them lightly with your toothbrush, and be sure to coat your irritated nasal area with moisturizer.
- Lay down a light foundation. When I'm not feeling great and I have to go out into the world, I don't like spend a lot of time on makeup. I've been swearing by Laura Geller's Barely There Tinted Moisturizer. It makes my skin feel good and provides a light amount of color and coverage.
- Add a little color. To give my skin a little lift, I swipe a bit of Pur Mineral's Mineral Glow over my cheeks and on my eyelids (instead of wearing eyeshadow).
- Groom the brows. Colds and allergies mean weepy eyes for me (so lovely), so spending a lot of time applying makeup that will run down my face doesn't make a lot of sense. I do, however, take a moment to make sure my brows are in place and fill in what I need to using Anastasia's Universal Brow Definer.
- Curl lashes and apply mascara--at your own peril! Even if I don't bust out the mascara, I'll at very least curl my lashes. Since mascara is my favorite beauty product, I tend to add a quick coat of whatever waterproof mascara I have in my kit. I just think it helps make my eyes look a little more open and a little less frightening.
- Keep your lips hydrated! A stuffy nose means mouth-breathing, and mouth-breathing means chapped lips. I've been using (and love!) LypSyl LypMoisturizer.
Vera Wang Wedding Dress
Vera Wang Wedding Dress
Vera Wang Wedding Dress
Vera Wang Wedding Dress
Vera Wang Wedding Dress
Vera Wang Wedding DressGUEST POST: Prepping Pretty Spring Skin by Sarah Logan
NOTE: The next article was submitted by a reader of our blog who wanted to share some of her experience in the skincare industry. I (Beda and/or BedasBeautyBlog.Blogspot.com) did not write/own/claim copyrights of the material shown below. All links provided in the article are for information purposes only and will take you to another website. I do not get paid for posting this article or providing links. Please read the regular disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
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Sarah Logan, one of our readers, wanted to share some basic skincare tips for gorgeous skin in the Spring (but I guess they work all year round!):
Prepping Pretty Spring Skin
By: Sarah Logan
When the sun finally begins to warm our faces again, and the world slowly looks a little greener, we always feel the need to freshen up our looks a bit. In an enthusiastic hurry to apply this season’s bright makeup colors, we may forget to stop and realize that the most important step is good skincare for a clean, smooth base. After the cold wind, dry heating systems and dark days are done with our faces, most of us go into springtime looking a little dull.To bring your face back to life, there are some basics that always help whether you’re at a spa or your bathroom sink. Firstly, be sure to exfoliate: it can be as simple as adding salt (for oily skin) or sugar (for dry skin) to your face wash or buying one with exfoliating beads in it. It always helps to add a product with something like fruit enzymes or hydroxy acids into your regimen for added results. Going to get at a local spa is a great choice for deep exfoliation that will be noticed right away. Any of these options will reveal fresh skin that is glowing and smooth.
Second, you need to continuously moisturize to have skin perfect for makeup application. If you’re getting a facial at a spa, that’s great because they will both exfoliate and moisture your skin while you’re there. At home, be sure you’re using a formula appropriate for your skin type, like a gel for oily skin, a thicker cream for dry, or something in between. Some of the face lotions with radiance/skin brightening ingredients are perfect for dewy spring skin and are a nice boost for any look.
If we just take a little extra care in reviving skin at this time of year, the reward will be a complexion that’s more awake and well-textured. Your face will look flawless all season long!
---Content provided by Sarah Logan on behalf of Aesthetic Science Institute (ASI). ASI is a beauty school for new students interested in a career in aesthetics and licensed aestheticians interested in advanced aesthetics training and certification.
---Sarah Logan has always been interested in beauty and fashion. While she enjoys freelance writing about a wide variety of topics, she loves sharing information related to the ever-changing beauty industry. When she joined the outreach team at ASI, she was excited about the opportunity to learn new industry techniques and to offer tips to interested individuals who come across her article content.
If you have any question about this article, please post it in the comment section.
See you later!
¡Vivan, amen y rían!
This Product Surprised Me!
I get a lot of products to try out...it's one of the hazards of being a beauty blogger! And I recently received a bunch of products from mark (a division of Avon). The products they sent over are double-sided multi-taskers called mini mark it sticks: on one end is a lip pencil , on the other side is eye color. The idea is that you can mix and match and make your own combination of colors.Using a pencil on your eyes is nothing new, so that side of the mini stick didn't surprise me in any way. The lip pencil, however, I instantly dismissed. At first look, I thought--well, I would never use that. I don't use a lip pencil because I am not a big fan of that dark lined lip look. But then I looked at the lip pencil and realized it is meant to be used to color the entire lip. That intrigued me, but also concerned me. Would it make my lips too dry? Would the color go on nicely?
So with a level of trepidation, I swiped the Plummy Pearl pencil over my lips. And to my surprise, the color went on smoothly. My lips weren't cakey, they weren't dry....they felt shockingly slick. And even more surprising was that the pencil color produced a bit of shimmer. The Plummy Pearl reminded me--at least a little bit--of Clinique's Black Honey. And for a fraction of the price.
So there! My initial impression was meh!, but on final inspection, I don't think mark's mini mark it sticks are a bad product whatsoever. This product proved me wrong...and I'm glad for that!
ALIFE "Go Green"
As you may know, me (ya girl) Chu loves eco-friendly, go green. So April 22nd was EARTH DAY! Titled “GO GREEN”, this time Alife was honored to present CYPRESS HILL and NINJASONIK as performing guests and FISCHERSPOONER as guest DJs. As an added bonus, Ricky Powell kept things interesting as the evening’s MC, while DJ NIRE entertained between acts.The event celebrated 420, the date of both Ninjasonik and Cypress Hill’s new album releases, among other things. As usual, Alife created a themed atmosphere: Green walls, green grass and a commisioned two-story tall mural that reflected the spirit of 420. In addition, and in line with Alife Session tradition, a comemorative “concert” T-shirt was also created.
A Bape Sta Summer
A Bathing Ape has released this week their Ape Sta. The high top sneaker comes in 4 canvas colorways. The Bape head logo can be attached and removed via velcro on the side-panel.Personally I fake like this sneaker, maybe if it came in low top then it would be perfect, but I'll try them out anyways. =)
Zoe Saldana does nothing but be her "SELF"
