Beauty Steal: Victoria's Secret Liquid Liner Pen!

I was almost ecstatic when I got home tonight to find a package from Victoria's Secret sitting on my step. Last week I ordered a Very Sexy liquid liner pen (normally $12 but on sale now for $5.99!) and I couldn't wait for it to arrive.

After trying my mom's ck Calvin Klein Electric Edge Liquid Eyeliner Marker Pen (what a mouthful!), I became mildly obsessed with the idea of a felt-tip marker as an eye liner pen. Simpler than regular liquid liner to put on, but sexier and more precise than a regular eye pencil, it is the best of both worlds!

While I was scoping out bathing suits at Victoriassecret.com, a quick look in the sale section revealed one very sexy liquid liner pen that is (as far as I can tell) identical to my mom's Calvin Klein Pen, at about 1/3 of the price.

After receiving and actually trying the product, it is as good, if not better than the Calvin Klein version ($18 at Sephora.com) the line is very thin and precise and barely smudges. It is perfect for creating that doe-eyed pin-up look! Pair this with Benefit's BADgal lash mascara and a sexy shadow duo such as Too Faced EyeShadow Duo which combines a darker, defining shade with a shimmery highlighter at Sephora.com.

Laura Mercier Face Polish

Going through my favorites on my Sephora Beauty Insider profile, I noticed that I had starred Laura Mercier Face Polish as well as Kate Somerville Exfolikate. Having recently used both of these products, I can now safely eliminate one from my wish list!

People say that first impressions are also the most lasting impressions, and with these two products that is definitely the case. Just price and quantity alone put Laura Mercier Face Polish far ahead of Exfolikate. At $30 for 3.5 ounces at Sephora.com, Laura Mercier Face Polish gives twice the amount of product for less than half the price of Exfolikate ($85 for 1.7 ounces)!

After using Exfolikate, it is obvious it is a high quality product made with some great ingredients such as fruit enzymes, but I am sorry to say that the results are just not worth the high price tag! It did help some of the "time-of-the-month" break-outs I had dry out, but the overall quality of my skin was not improved very drastically. Most importantly, the results of this product only lasted for a few hours. I didn't see any long term benefits that lasted after the immediate usage of the product.

To seal the deal, Laura Mercier Face Polish is the best facial scrub I have ever used, period. My skin has never been so soft! It is called a polish as opposed to a scrub and it really does feel as if I am polishing my skin, making it soft, fresh, and new. Just using this product twice a week I have seen a difference in the clarity and feel of my skin. My skin feels more supple even on days when I don't use it, and many of the tiny scars left by past blemishes have started to fade away. The reasonable price just seals the deal, I dare anyone to find a better exfoliator at a lower price!

Memorial Day Weekend

While it has been a slow few days as far as beauty and fashion in the world of iCandy, it has been a time filled with family and fun! With work and school and blogging, I know better than everyone how hard it is to keep up with friends and family as much as I would like, but take advantage of the holiday and go see, or even just talk to someone who has fallen by the wayside because of a hectic work schedule. If there is anything I have learned, it's that when it comes to good friends and family, it's never too late to call and say hello or I love you! Living in this big glamorous city, (or even if you live in a small, nameless town) a good friend is one of the hardest things to come by, so make sure you show the ones you have how much they mean to you (and maybe score some sweet beauty tips to report back here!).
Have a beautiful memorial day weekend, and remember, it is better to feel good than to look good (but just barely)!
love,
iCandy

Wanted: Reader Review!

Has anyone tried this? I am always generally satisfied with Rimmel London products, they have great lipglosses and eyeshadows, but this sounds a little too good to be true. I would love to hear your experience! E-mail me at iCandy.faceaholic@gmail.com.

Pacifica

Today I want to spotlight not just a product, but a brand. Recently Pacifica has found it's way to Sephora. I have been purchasing Pacifica products from my local Whole Foods for about a year now, for myself and also as gifts, and while I admit at first the price tag put me off, it is a small price to pay for a lotion that is free of parabens, sulfates, and all that other weird stuff you can't pronounce that is normally in lotion.
While some people say there isn't enough evidence to prove parabens are harmful, I say why take the chance when there are plenty of lovely natural products you can take home instead? And we all know summer is right around the corner (I can feel the hot breath on my neck) and you're going to need lots of lotion to keep up that tan, so why not make it something natural and healthy (and did I mention they smell amazing)! With scents like Bali Lime Papaya and Malibu Lemon Blossom, how could anyone resist?

makeupandbeautyblog.com

Although you probably can't tell, I actually love to read and listen as much as I love to write and talk (I know, right, crazy!). So yesterday I came across something at makeupandbeautyblog.com, that I just have to share! The post is called 21 skin care tips (you can link to it from the title or from the picture at the top). If you're like me, or most women, your skin isn't perfect (sadly!), but what most of us don't know is how our lives and our habits are affecting our skin, not just what we wash our face with. I love this post because the tips are great, and it's not just about preventing blemishes and aging, but also about erasing the scars and damages that have already been done!
What I like most are the videos and links that provide even more information! So don't stress about those mini-wrinkles or those acne scars, or even that tell-tale pms pimple, because there is always something you can do, and let's face it, stress is the most damaging thing to our skin and our lives!

My Favorite Mascara!

I don't know about you, but I always seem to have a problem with my mascara. It's clumpy, it turns my eyelashes into spikes, it gets all over my eyelids, but after trying this benefit mascara as a sample from Sephora, all of my troubles evaporated and I finally lost those last ten pounds. Just kidding, but it is the most amazing mascara I have ever used! The brush itself does most of the work, which is the secret, I have found, and the mascara itself doesn't stick or clump but makes my lashes look thicker and longer. I have tried everything from department store mascaras, to revlon and maybelline and target brand mascara and this is the best so far. Granted, I still haven't tried cult fave DiorShow (feel free to comment if you have), but this is great value for the price, $19, and it is perfect for that doe-eyed pin-up, "who me?" look as well as the sultry, vampy, smoky, "oh yes, me!" look. You know what I'm talking about ladies.

The Mean Reds

"...the blues are because you're getting fat or because it's been raining too long. You're just sad, that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of." -Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Ann Taylor?

During one of my endless web-surfing pretend-shopping extravaganzas, I discovered what is now AnnTaylor.com. Now, I know what you're thinking, Ann Taylor as in my mom used to shop there? As in boring, stuffy clothes? It turns out Ann Taylor has had a major makeover! She is now the epitome of chic. From the sassy but relaxed boyfriend jacket to their new looks for spring, I think I might have found a new obsession. In fact, knowing me I definitely have found a new obsession. While some of their clothes are a bit pricey for the average jane, there is no shame in scouring the sale rack and keep in mind, you really do get what you pay for!