Fall Beauty Favorites!

Skin Care Products

• Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum (fragrance free) - I LOVE this under my moisturizer and makeup! I went through the whole bottle & will be getting the jumbo size from Costco next
• Olay Pro X Eye Restoration Complex - I'm on my third bottle of this & I do see subtle results. I like the texture of this alot. It's expensive, but I've always purchased w/ coupons or 20% off
• Alpha Hydrox 10% Glycolic Cream - I use this every other night under moisturizer. It's great at exfoliating & leaving skin smooth. Disclaimer: You have to build up a tolerance to AHAs
• Q-Tips Precision Tip Cotton Swabs - These are great for cleaning up mistakes w/ makeup and nail polish

Hair

• Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment - This hair oil smells fabulous, leaves my hair soft, and my  split ends moisturized
• Clairol Natural Instincts in #24 Clove/cool medium brown (not pictured) - Gives my usual boring mousy brown hair a richer color, temporarily covers my grays, and has a nice cool base

Fragrance

• Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely (not pictured) - I love this sensual woodsy floral fragrance. It's very reminicent of another fave, Narcisco Rodriguez For Her Eau de Toilette, not the Parfum
• Tom Ford Black Orchid (sample size from Sephora) - This scent is super potent and heady. It's very difficult to describe, but people will either love or loathe this fragrance

Nail Polish

• L'Oreal Project Runway in Owl's Night - Deep khaki green w/ lots of gold shimmer/fine glitter
• Wet N' Wild Fast Dry in Buy Me a Drink - Gorgeous deep metallic burgundy
• OPI in Lincoln Park After Dark - It looks like a creamy black, but w/ a deep plum undertone
• Essie in Power Clutch - Creamy deep green-ish charcoal gray

Makeup/Face

• Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in #23 - Very creamy with an initial gray cast, but melds into the skin nicely. Nice light-medium coverage for me & perfect for my paler/dryer fall skin
• MAC MSF in Lighscapade - Pretty cream highlight w/ pastel veining and a subtle sheen
• MAC Blush in Breath of Plum - Matte plum-berry sheertone blush for a gorg fall flush
• MAC Mineralized Blush in Warm Soul - Gorgeous tawny-tan neutral blush with a lovely sheen
• Cargo Blush in Prague - Super pigmented matte dusty mauve-brown. Buildable and beautiful

Makeup/Eyes

• NYX Champagne and Caviar palette - 10 gorgeous neutral pigmented shades, must have!
• Urban Decay single eye shadow in Sellout - Shimmery champagne w/ gorg sheen, not glitter
• Urban Decay single eye shadow in Shakedown - Matte cool-toned deep brown-gray (almost exactly like another all-time favorite crease color, MAC Copperplate)
• MAC eye shadow in Soft Brown - Matte warm mid-tone brown for blending out the crease
• MAC Blacktrack Fluidline - Very smooth opaque formula, great w/ Bobbi Brown ultra fine eyeliner brush or MAC #209/Sigma E05 brushes
• Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara - I absolutely LOVE this mascara. I get great volume and length plus it's buildable and doesn't make my lashes crunchy. Better for me than They're Real!

Makeup/Lips

• MAC Lip Liner in Stone - Creamy taupe pencil liner that looks great w/ nude and brown l/s
• Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Instinct - Neutral mauve-brown lip stain that works great as a liner or base for mauve-plum toned lipsticks
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Pearl Plum - Plum gloss w/ fine silver glitter/shimmer
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Copperglow Berry - Berry-plum w/ a metallic golden sheen
• MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Can't Get Enough - Creamy, glossy neutral mid-tone beige <3
• MAC Lipstick in Plum Bright (lustre) - Deep violet-plum w/ a lovely glossy finish

May Favorites!

HAIR:

GHD Flat iron - Super hot and great for straightening and curling! I got mine from beautychoice.com with a 10% coupon code and free shipping.


SKIN (face):

Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Serum - I really see a difference in the tone and texture of my skin after 2 months use. I purchased this in a kit from Sephora based on Makeup Alley reviews.


BODY:

The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel - Energizing orangey goodness.

Philosophy Eternal Grace eau de toilette - So fresh & so clean.

Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom Perfume (not pictured) - Fresh & lemony.


NAILS:

Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds in Fiery Glimmer - Gorgeous metallic coral with fine gold glimmer. I scored this at a Job Lot store for $1. It's very unique & perfect for spring/summer.

Haken Essential Fragrance Cuticle Oil (not pictured) - Very moisturizing and smells like watermelon.


MAKEUP:

MAC mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus - Although I wore SPF 55 in Cabo, I still ended up darker than usual. My MSF in Medium is just too light this time of year. I'm self-tanning now to preserve my glow:)

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer - Great non-orangey matte bronzer that smells like hot cocoa. YUM!

Sonia Kashuk Beautifying Blush in Sunset - Beautiful coral/pale orange blush w/ subtle golden shimmer. IMO it has better color payoff than Benefit's Coralista, which I use as a highlighter since it's so light and frosty.

Urban Decay Roller Girl Palette - Perfect shimmery neutral brown eyeshadow palette. L-R: Woodstock (luminous fuschia, I use this as a lip stain = LOVE!) Verve (pale silvery taupe) Suspect (light golden brown) Darkhorse (from the Naked palette, deep chocolate brown w/ golden shimmer).

Pixi Fairy Light Solo e/s in French Lace - Perfect canvas for any e/s! I use this almost every day over a primer for a great bright-eyed look on the lid and as a highlight. It's a very fair skin tone color. It's a creamy powder with a satin finish. It's kind of matte, but has a slight sheen. $14 at Target.

MAC Velvet e/s in Mulch - Medium-dark brown/bronze with golden shimmer. Great to line, for the crease, and for the outer V.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Caviar Ink - VERY dark brown gel liner that doesn't budge!

Pixi Eye Bright Eyeliner - Retractable nude liner for the water line.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Demure (creme) - Obsessed! How do I describe this perfect lippie? It's a beautiful peachy-pink coral nude with a luminous sheen. This lipstick makes not only my lips glow, but my skin too! Every time I wear it people tell me how tan and glowing I look - seriously!

NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in La-La- - This is a great formula. Smooth & creamy, not sticky at all. I have several colors & La-La- is a bright shimmery coral-pink.

January Beauty Favorites!

      My favorite products for January, 2011

      The goodies are listed clockwise from L-R:

• Ecotools angled brow brush & spoolie
• MAC e/s in coquette (for my brows)
• Wet N Wild e/s trio in silent treatment
• Clarisonic Mia
• Tarte Smooth Operator tinted moisturizer
• Essie n/p in chinchilly
• Auric Blends perfume oil in Egyptian Goddess
• TreSemme Fresh Start refreshing mist for hair
• Physician's Formula Happy Booster light bronzer
• Physician's Formula Happy Booster blush in natural
• EOS lip balms in summer fruit & lemon drop
• Revlon Grow Luscious mascara
• organza flower hair clip :)

Beauty Product Haul (Sally's, Ulta, Prestige)

I went on a totally unnecessary spree this past weekend. I am a marketer's dream. If I get a coupon, I have to use it. If it's 15-20% off? The more I buy, the more I save! Really, what is wrong with me?! I'm such a sucker. Anyhoo, I was kid & fiance' free for a day, so I decided to visit some of my favorite (their least favorite) beauty stores. Here's what I scored (15% off @ Sally's & 20% off @ Ulta)...

Sally's

• Hot Shot Tools 1" pink titanium curling iron (on sale)
• Orly polish in 54 and love one another
• China Glaze holiday set w/ mistletoe kisses & mrs. claus (clearance)
• Hold It! hairspray (clearance & yuck, I don't like it!)
• Palladio wet/dry powder foundation in 400 (forgot pic)

Ulta

• Smashbox In Bloom e/s palette (for my wedding maybe:)
• Sue Devitt silky blush in Los Angeles
• Urban Decay e/s in hot pants
• Barielle polish in snow day (clearance)
• Barielle polish in seductive
• Ulta ridge filler (clearance)
• China Glaze polish in bogie (on sale)
• Ulta polish in jaded
• Essie mini 4-pack in wedding day (clearance)
• Essence lipstick in glamour queen (forgot to put in pic)

Prestige Beauty Supply

• Palladio e/s single in bark
• Color Club in covered in diamonds (pretty flakey)
• Essie going incognito
• OPI sparkle-licious

Walmart

• Essie polish in coat azure
• Essie polish in lapiz of luxury
• Essie polish in sand tropez
• Montagne Jeunnesse chocolate masques (LOVE these!)

2010 Beauty Favorites!

I finally have a chance to do a blog post on my beauty faves of 2010! I couldn't make it into work today because of the nasty weather (snow & icy mix). Here's a pic of my car - another 2010 fave of mine!

Astro, my 2010 Prius, covered in ice & snow (purchased in October)

So, here is a pic and list of my 2010 beauty favorites, please enjoy!

Nail Products

• Beauty Secrets acetone
• California Mango cuticle oil
• Orly French Polynesian tropical dew hand butter
• China Glaze polish in cords
• Sephora for OPI polish in under my trenchcoat
• Pure Ice polish in kiss me here
• Poshe' super fast drying topcoat

Skincare Products

• FAB (first aid beauty) face cleanser
• FAB ultra repair cream
• MyChelle incredible pumpkin peel
• Earth Science liken plant deodorant in herbal scent
• Narciso Rodriguez For Her Intense EDP (musc collection)

Hair Products

• Ecostyler krystal hair gel
• Carol's Daughter tui hair oil
• Goody spin pins
• Goody metal-free barettes
• 100% cotton flour sack cloths (to "plop")

Makeup Products

• Physician's Formula mineral wear pressed powder (creamy natural)
• Bobbi Brown corrector (light-med bisque)
• MAC blush in harmony (contour/bronzer)
• Smashbox blush in bare
• Pixi sheer cheek gel in #1 natural
• Urban Decay primer potion (original)
• UD vegan palette
• UD deluxe e/s in ruthless
• MAC e/s in vex
• MAC e/s in copperplate
• Wet n' Wild e/s trio in sweet as candy
• Wn'W cream eyeliner in black
• MAC impeccable brow pencil in taupe
• Bare Minerals flawless definition volume mascara
• Korres lip butters (guava & jasmine)
• Crazy Rumors vegan lip balms (all flavors)
• MAC lipstick in viva glam V

Makeup Brushes

• Ecotools brushes (all)
• ET bronzer brush, small e/s brush kit, brow kit, and small brush from face kit shown
• Sephora Professional angled eyeliner brush

I hope this was entertaining and helpful! I think I'll do another post on a haul from this past weekend.



Happy New Year!

It's been awhile since I last posted - again. Life just flies by I guess, and since no-one reads my blog anyway, it doesn't really matter. I felt compelled to post since a new year is upon us.

Still vegan-ish. I am using some personal care products that contain bee products and perhaps some other obscure animal by-products far down on the ingredient list. I also decided to continue wearing my goose down coat and my Minnetonka boots for the winter, since they were purchased prior to me going veg. I continue to refrain from consuming all meat, dairy, and eggs and I won't use any cosmetics, personal care, and household items that are made by companies that test on animals. Thank goodness for the modern American supermarket, health food stores, and local farms!

The wedding plans are going great! We have SO much taken care of at this point - the venue, my dress, our officiant, photographer (our engagement photos came out great, see link below to check them out), caterer (vegan & non-vegan buffet), DJ, and eco-florist. My moms gave my fiance' and me a week of their time-share in Mexico for Christmas. We still need to pay the balance on a few things, get suits and dresses for guys/girls, my groom's ring, gifts for the attendants, invitations, and favors. We registered at my favorite store, Target. I love them for donating 5% of their sales to various humanitarian charities. Thank God for my mom/wedding planner, it's been alot of stress-free fun planning my wedding with her help.

Here's the link to our engagement photos, scroll down to "The engagement of Beth and Charles". When you scroll down past a few of our pics, check out the slideshow Gary put together for us, it's AWESOME! http://www.christinestudios.com/

I was thinking of making my next post a favorite beauty products of 2010. I'll take some pics and try to get that up this week. Until then...

Updates & VEGAN for 7 months and going strong!

Dear Blogland,

It's been 7 months since my last post and I have had an amazing time living cruelty free! SO much has happened since my last post, both good and sad...

March 6th I got engaged to my boyfriend and "baby daddy". He gave me a beautiful ring at a great vegan restaurant near us - Pure City. I'm super excited and busy planning our wedding for April 23, 2011. I really wanted Earth Day, April 22nd, but it falls on Good Friday next year, so I thought that might be weird. We've gotten alot done - booked the place, won a rad photo pkg (I'll post that stuff later), got a dress... still have a few important details to go, but so far, so good.

My beloved cat and companion of 23 years, Spider, passed away on April 7th due to renal failure. It was one of the most heart-wrenching things I've ever gone through. I made him a little coffin and my son, mom, and I made him a lovely memorial stone. I had a beautiful DNA pendant made from a sample of his blood from the vet, it's called a Perpetua life charm. It's such a pretty momento, but of course it doesn't come close to my Speedy Spide - God I miss him!

Lots of other stuff as well - My Grandfather passed away after 86 wonderfujl years. God was merciful and ushered him to heaven to be with my Grandma before his dignity was lost. Life won't be the same without my Pop. He was my last Grandparent to pass away. I've had alot of loss in my life in the past year - my Aunt last October, my future MIL in December, my Spider in April, my Pop in June. On another depressing note - my step-mom was diagnosed with breat cancer in March.

All catching up aside, I've been going strong with my vegan diet and lifestyle and I'll probably devote this blog to my journey towards greener living with a smattering of life updates.

I lost about 20-25 pounds since I became vegan in mid-January and I feel amazing. I feel lighter and cleaner and just plain better! I did the 21-Day Quantum Wellness Cleanse by Kathy Freston from June 21st to July 11th and it was great! Caffeine-free for 1 month +, WOOHOO!!! Drug-free me. The gluten and sugar were the other difficult ones to kick with some serious cravings and withdrawals - especially the first week. I re-introduced gluten slowly, but not whole heartedly. I'm avoiding too many flour laden products and sticking to lots of brown rice. I've replaced most refined sugar with agave syrup, brown rice syrup, and maple sugar here and there. Since kicking caffeine I sleep SO much better and have way more sustained energy throughout the day. Less sugar and floury stuff makes me less sluggish and bloated. I've never been a big drinker, a glass of wine, one or two beers, like every other month, that's my limit, so I didn't find that challenging. I had already given up all animal products and will definately be veg for life!

My next post will address other changes I've made regarding my vegan lifestyle and the domino effect of conscious living...