Cosmetic Connection: Fifteen for Fall, part one Archives

« Jemma Kidd Make Up School | Main | Hot new item over at b-glowing »

Fifteen for Fall, part one

Greetings fellow product enthusiasts! Can you believe that fall is already upon us? Those sultry summer days are firmly in the rearview mirror as we head into cooler weather. This year, I decided to take a different approach with my annual Cold Weather Product Report. I've picked fifteen new (or new to me) products that stand out as exceptional, revolutionary, and/or just downright fabulous, and will be presenting them in two parts! So, without further adieu, here is the first installment of my "Fifteen for Fall." Be on the look out for part two coming shortly! I suspect that you will find a few items that will carry you well through the blustery days to come. The following are in no particular order.

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum (2oz $29 at Sephora.com)
I love using organic, natural skincare, but sometimes, the formulas can be a little daunting. The weird smells and strange textures of many organic/natural beauty products can be a turn off; you know they are good for you, but they don't exactly provide a luxurious experience. Thank goodness for Juice Beauty! Juice Beauty uses over 40 organic, raw ingredients including juices, aloe vera, honey, botanicals, plant oils, sugar, and essential fatty acids directly from USDA approved certified organic farms. All packed into sophisticated, easy to use formulas!

This serum is a new staple in my cosmetic closet. It provides a burst of exfoliating and healing power for grumpy, blemished skin. I used it once a day (before bed) and it did not over-dry or irritate my skin, yet provided significant improvement in a few days. You can "spot use" to attack a specific blemish, or apply a thin layer over your entire face when there is a lot going on "below the surface." I also use this on my back when it breaks out, and it works wonderfully!

Fresh Cannabis Santal Eau De Parfum (3.4oz for $75 at Sephora.com)
Fragrance is a very personal preference, so I can't say if you will be as enamored by this scent as I am, but I simply had to give it a spot in my Fall Fifteen. This is (officially) a men's fragrance, but I fully admit to snatching it from my husband's medicine cabinet at least once a week. Three words to describe this scent? Drop Dead Sexy. Don't be afraid by the name - you won't smell like a Grateful Dead show, I promise. There is a musky, hemp-y note, but it is a very subtle component to this sophisticated mix of ripe fruit, patchouli, vetiver, and vanilla musk. Delicious!

Smashbox Eyeliner Palette in Proof ($32 at Sephora.com)
Once you try these cream eyeliners, you might never go back to pencils! Easy to apply (with the included brush and mirrored compact) and remarkably long-lasting, cream eyeliner from Smashbox is a revelation! I tried Scout (a rich, apple green) a few years back, and liked it so much I decided to splurge on this credit-card sized palette. Shades include: Lava (deep slate-gray shimmer), Picasso (deep ink blue), Midnight Purple (deep regal violet), Midnight Brown (dark chocolate), Putty (medium brown), Caviar (true jet black), Thunder (mossy gray), Midnight Green (deepest chalkboard green), Deep Bronze (chocolate shimmer), and Cameo (russet brown). Once this liner "sets," you can even top it with a favorite shadow for the sultry, smoky eyes.

Ojon Hair Restoration Treatment (5oz for $55 at Sephora.com)
Considered to be the flagship product of the Ojon line, this conditioning treatment transforms my dry-ish, wavy/frizzy hair into silky, shiny strands. Made from a specific type of palm oil and other natural ingredients, this balm smells strongly of coffee and spice. I love the smell, but many people have commented in reviews that they find the scent to be too strong or unpleasant, so people who are scent-sitive should sample before they buy.

You can use this product two ways: apply to dry hair before shampooing for an intensive, restorative conditioning treatment (I give it at least 2 hours, but tend to use it overnight for a super-burst of moisture (just put a towel over your pillow to absorb the excess oil)) or apply just a dab (seriously, like the size of a rice grain) on damp, freshly washed hair before styling for moisture and manageability.

Lippman Collection Nail Polish in Stardust ($15 at Beautysak.com)
Speaking as an "aging hipster" from Generation X, I like to keep my look a little edgy while giving nod to the fact that I am not in my twenties anymore. Fingernails and toenails coated in this shade of shimmering steel are a perfect evolution if you wore Urban Decay Nail Polish when it first came out. Lippman polish lasts and lasts, and there are a wide array of great colors to choose from. Stardust is my must-have color for this fall's wardrobe of grey, plum, and wine. See? Growing up isn't so bad after all!

Simply Divine Botanicals Keeping Abreast of It Body Cream (4oz for $29.95 at simplydivinebotanicals.com)
Speaking as somebody who has struggled with assorted breast issues for years, I have to say that this cream is a wonderful find whether you want it for the treatment aspect, or simply as a luxury body cream. If you spend a little time reading about this product at the Simply Divine Botanicals website, you might find that it is a good option for some other health problems as well; the customer and health practitioner testimonials are pretty impressive!

Reviewing it strictly as a decolletage cream, though, it is fabulous. Packed full of botanical ingredients, it is moisturizing, comforting, and it smells great! It is pretty rich, which makes it nice to use before your monthly BSE (breast self exam) so that your fingers move around easily. After using this product regularly, my skin felt silky-smooth, and looked fresh and taut. I love this item, and use it religiously before bed. And, you certainly cannot beat the price for such high quality ingredients.

GoSmile ADVANCED Formula B1 Tooth Whitening On The Go ($89 at Sephora.com)
Everyone knows that the best accessory to go with that new lipstick is a dazzling white smile. However, most of us are not patient enough to deal with those "strips" (too messy and inconvenient) or mere whitening toothpaste (I don't think they really make any difference). I rolled the dice and tried this product from GoSmile, and I'm so glad I did! The bleaching agent (which does not cause tooth sensitivity like other products) is housed in individual use ampoules that have a brush-like end. Gentle pressure to the ampoule gets the product flowing, and allows you to "paint" each tooth with the product. While this item is not cheap, it is very effective and easy to use. If you are considering laser bleaching, you might want to try this item first!

Cosmetic Connection

Be who you are, and look good doing it.

Fifteen for Fall, part one

Recent Entries

get updates in your email

RSS Feeds

Search

Archives