The Beauty Cabana

What’s better than a fabulous lip gloss with a cute name? How about two of them in one great product?! That’s what you’ll get with the double-ended lipgloss from tarte. ($19)

These glosses pack a mega punch of moisture thanks to the natural ingredients such as acai berry extract, pomegranate and goji berry extract to name a few. Equally as important is the list of things the glosses do NOT contain: parabens, sulfates, preservatives, gluten, petro chemicals, GMOs, artificial fragrances and phthalates.

This formula is thick, but goes on smooth with no sticky or tacky feel at all. There’s a light scent of vanilla and a pleasant fruit-juicy flavor. Even the brush is exceptional. It makes applying just the right amount to all the right places very easy, even when you’re on the go. I also love the fact that you can unsnap each color from the center piece to mix-and-match colors. All the more reason that owning one of these combos just isn’t enough!

I will admit that I purchased these glosses 100% based on the name and fell in love with them after the fact. Each duo is named after a famous couple including some from TV, film, literature and history. The colors are pretty vibrant in the tubes, but don’t be intimidated. They go on with just a hint of color. One end of each tube is sheer while one is a shimmer. I own Westley & Buttercup (sheer peach/sparkly sheer peach),  Bogey & Bacall (sheer magenta/shimmery lilac pink) and Fred & Ginger (sheer nude/shimmery champagne). Check out tarte’s product description for swatches of these other great color combos:

• Adam & Eve
• Anthony & Cleopatra
• Cliff & Clair
• Daisy & Gatsby
• Danny & Sandy
• Elle & Emmett
• Ferris & Sloane
• Jake & Samantha
• Johnny & Baby
• Lloyd & Diane
• Lois & Clark
• Luke & Laura
• Odysseus & Penelope
• Paul & Holly
• Rhett & Scarlett
• Ricky & Lucy
• Mimi & Roger
• Romeo & Juliet
• Ronald & Cindy
• Tarzan & Jane

Told ya the names were cute.

I always try to take a “head to toe” approach to my beauty routine. Unfortunately, with all the time I spend on my locks and face, I think the parts of my body closest to the ground end up getting the short end of the stick. It’s really not fair to neglect my feet after all they do for me. They support me (literally) in all of my endeavors whether it’s a  sweat session in the gym or just a long day on my feet. That’s why I’ve decided to start treating my feet more often. Enter this Mentha Tingling Foot Cream from C.O. Bigelow. ($14)

This non-greasy lotion is part cream, part gel and rubs in effortlessly leaving no residue. The mint fragrance is S-T-R-O-N-G and literally made my nose hairs tingle even though I was applying it to my feet. Mint usually isn’t my favorite scent in beauty products, but I was willing to over look that fact once I felt the immediate results. The cooling sensation as is the relief it provides. The aches and pains of a long day in heels  just melted away. I’m pretty sure I heard my feet let out a sigh of relief. Once I felt the effects on my feet, I decided not to stop there. Applying this product to my shins and super-tight calves gave the same great benefits.

I continue to use this product regularly. It’s become a staple in my gym bag as well as a go-to product after day at work.  This initial tube was a gift, but it’s a product I will absolutely purchase on my own in the future.

It’s a lipgloss! It’s a cuticle balm! No, it’s Smith’s Rosebud Salve!

Multitasking might be an understatement when it comes to this product. Besides it’s renowned use as a lip treatment, the packaging lists its uses to include soothing chapped skin and blemishes, relieving rough cuticles, softening hands, aiding with diaper rash and healing minor burns.  That’s quite a list for something that costs just $6 (at Sephora).

The vintage packaging isn’t just cute. It’s actually a testament to the product’s long history. The balm itself was originally created by a druggist in 1892 and the current packaging was introduced in 1962. Anything that has remained successful for that long deserves a try.

This is one of my desk drawer staples at work. My primary use is as a lip balm or lip shine. It goes on with a light scent of roses and leaves my naked lips feeling instantly smooth and supple. I’ve also applied it over lipstick, tinted balms and stains for that extra pretty little “oomph” of shine.

I have also attempted to unleash it’s powers as a blemish treatment and as a cuticle balm. For blemishes, it provided a little relief from itchiness and pain although I didn’t care much for the greasy residue on my skin.  It’s good for cuticles as long as I give it a while to soak in and start working it’s magic. I’ve found that it can leave greasy spots on my paperwork if I go back to handling that too quickly after applying.

My husband and I are expecting our first child in October. I think I’ll pick up a separate tin before I attempt the diaper rash thing.

Bare Escentuals has done it again! I’ve come to expect amazing products and color collections from them and this is yet another slam dunk. The colors are bold, fun and fresh for summer. What’s even better? Sold exclusively at Sephora, the Siren of the Sea Collection has been dropped $10 in price making it just $39!




The set includes:

• 0.02 oz bareMinerals High Shine Sand Dune (gilded sand, high shine)
• 0.02 oz bareMinerals Mermaid Eyecolor (dark blue-green velvet)
• 0.02 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Coral Blush (coral dusk)
• 0.07 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Mineral Veil (brightening finish)
• 0.14 oz bareMinerals 100% Natural LipGloss in Chiffon (nude sand)
• Double-Ended Hydrate & Brighten Duo Brush with Custom Bamboo Handle
• Straw Clutch

The eye colors have just the right amount of shimmer without being teeny bopper glittery and the hydrating blush feels like silk on my cheeks. The BE 100% lip glosses have become one of my must-haves this summer and the shade included in this kit (Chiffon) is fantastic.

The straw clutch included with the kit is what truly takes it all over the top for me. I carry it as a purse rather than a makeup case and get constant compliments. It’s the perfect size for holding basic essentials and some BE for the road.

I do have 2 small issues with the set. I’m not crazy about the brush in the set. The end for eyes is great and the bristles are very soft, but the fuller end isn’t very full and doesn’t do a great job in applying blush or mineral veil. The other thing I’m not crazy about is the hydrating mineral veil. I know some people swear by it. It does go on very smooth and feels great on the skin. For me, it just doesn’t do as great a job of controlling shine and concealing pores as the original mineral veil.

I’m recovering from a nasty cold and my lips have taken a huge hit. They’re chapped, peeling and cracking. For some relief, I’ve turned to one of my favorite standby products, Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm.

I love the feel of Burt’s Bees lip balms and the fact that they’re made from natural ingredients. I’m not crazy about the heavily minted flavor of their original formula which burns my lips rather than just tingling. This honey version has a  similar texture, but the flavor and feel is much more appealing to me.

Besides just the taste, this product packs a serious punch of moisture thanks to beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil,  lanolin and, of course, honey. It works miracles to soothe dry lips and help prevent cracking. I find myself applying it repeatedly throughout the day in order to keep the satiny feel going. It tastes and smells sweet (like honey, imagine that) without being at all perfumey or artificial.

At $3, this lip balm that won’t break the bank. It’s available at most drug stores, big-boxes and even groceries.  FYI – The Red Plum coupons in last Sunday’s paper (6/6/09) had a coupon for $1 off the purchase of 2 Burt’s Bees lip products. I’m a coupon junkie anyway, but I think I seriously had a surge of adrenaline when I saw that. I cut it out faster than you can say “Holy lip balm!” and have solicited several additional copies from friends, family and neighbors.

I was drawn to the Alba Botanica Pineapple Enzyme Facial Cleanser while browsing the skincare aisle at the drugstore because of it’s bright, fun packaging and convinced myself to give it a shot because the price was certainly right. Turns out I love what’s inside the bottle just as much (if not more) than I liked the outside and the price point.

I’ve been using this product day and night for a few weeks now and I’m smitten with the results. This clear gel cleanser has a pleasant, pineapple scent. It’s tropical without being overpowering. There isn’t as much foam as other facial cleansers I’ve tried, but that’s because it’s not loaded down with artificial junk. I have pretty oily skin and it does the trick for keeping that issue under control throughout the day.

This product gets another thumbs up from me for what it doesn’t contain. There are no parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, or other harsh chemicals. This product is not tested on animals and the ingredients are 100% vegetarian. It’s also hypo-allergenic.

I’ve incorporated two other products from this Alba Hawaiian line into my daily skin care regimen. Watch for those reviews to come, too!