Archive for July, 2009

I’ve been hearing rave reviews about this finishing spray since I first saw it on The Today Show a while back, and I have to say it most definitely lives up to my expectations. Not only does it set your make-up, but it actually keeps it in place all day as promised.



And that’s something I most definitely need right now, seeing as how The Bay is pretty much a damn sauna, and the sweltering heat reaaaaaaaally doesn’t agree with my heavily made up face. You know what I’m talking about ladies- when you leave the house lookin’ fab and arrive at your destination looking like half your face meted off?

Well this stuff prevents that, with some kind of fancy pants technology that cools the surface of your skin by 20 degrees. You can actually feel the cooling sensation as soon as you spritz it on, which is quite refreshing when it’s so freakin’ hot outside you can see steam rising off the concrete. It does feel a little sticky at first, but once it dries that goes away and you can’t feel a thing.

And I have to say, it really did help seal my make-up in place all day – the only thing I had to touch-up in the whole 8 hours I was at work was my lip gloss. The next day, I even did a lunchtime workout with my co-workers and though my make-up did start to come off, it didn’t smear like it normally does.

The original version – the one I tried- is the most highly concentrated, but they make a bunch of different formulas suited for everything from dancing and weddings to travel. Mine was about $35 total with shipping for a 6oz bottle, which really isn’t bad considering how much money it’s been saving me on foundation now that I don’t need to touch up as often.

All in all, this is THE must have summer item. That being said, FALL WHERE ARE YOU!?!?


Final Verdict: LOVE IT!
Price: $29
Get It: www.skindinavia.com

Products Used:
Benefit Playsticks Foundation – Jumprope
Stila Sheer Pressed Powder – Dark
Benefit Hoola Bronzer (cheeks)
NYC Glamour Lashes – Black
Urban Decay Primer Potion – Sin
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner – Underground
Lorac Glam Rocks – Gold Metallic
Stila Eye Shadow- Starlight, Twig
L’Oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner – Carbon Black
Benefit Lipliner – Lush
Nars Lipstick – Faux
Bourjois 3D Cosmic Lipgloss – Brun Galactic

By hot, I mean the weather. I don’t know about you guys, but we’re melting out here in The Bay. And such hot weather can only be accompanied by one song in my book. Because I too am melting like a sundae in California…

RIP Aaliyah…your music lives on <3

It’s hot as hell out there, and when you’re sweatin’ like a whore in church, you may find you need a little perfume to keep you smelling pretty. So I headed to Sephora and found the best summer scents to keep you smelling so fresh and so clean, clean!


Best Fruity Scents:


Escada- Ocean Lounge
I actually bought this one because it smells like a really classy fruit punch. And by classy, I mean spiked with booze. Seriously though, the scent is very light, which is what you wanna go for during the hot summer months. The reason being, when your skin heats up it reacts with the alcohol in your perfume, making the scent even stronger. Hence why it’s such a nightmare to sit next to the old lady doused in Jean Natte on an un-air conditioned bus. That may or may not have actually happened.


Salvatore Ferragamo – Incanto Heaven
This sweet, almost citrus-y scent smells so good I wanted to lick it off my arm. But I didn’t. Cuz that would be weird. I’m still gonna buy the perfume though.




Best Floral Scent:
Island Michael Kors- Fiji
I like this one because it’s less overpowering than your average floral scent. And the smell is tropical, and almost warm if that makes any sense. It’s remarkably close to the aroma that hits you whilst sitting on a tropical beach somewhere.




Best Clean/Fresh Scents:


Marc Jacobs Splash- Cucumber
This is one of the cleanest smelling fragrances you can find – like sweet cucumbers on ice! I tried this out and smelled like I just stepped out of the shower. The only downside is it’s pretty pricey – $68 – but then again you get like a gallon of it. Plus it’ll last you forever – I have the Rain version and it’s lasted me two years. **Note- perfumes will keep really well if you store them in a dark, cool place. I keep mine in my underwear drawer and they last forever!


Lilly Pulitzer – Beachy
I love, love loooooove this one! This blend of citrus, sea crystals, sweet vanilla and more offers just the right balance of floral and fruity scents. It’s fresh, it’s fun, it’s like a roll in the sand – in a bottle!


Best Overall Scent:


Aqualina Pink Sugar Body Spritzer
Pink Sugar is one of my all time favorite scents, though I usually tend to wear the eau de toilette in the fall and winter months. The spritzer however is perfect for summer since it’s light, sweet and can be sprayed in your hair. And the best thing is it’s really hard to use too much of it, so you don’t have to worry about smelling like the Jean Natte lady.


So those are my favorites for now, but since I’m perfume obsessed you can expect plenty of follow-ups. And feel free to share your favorite scents in the comments, since I’m always looking to try something new. Mmm, you smell Purdy…

but you have no idea. Ha!