Public University: A cheap sandal's nightmare

If you're wondering why I haven't posted in eons (or so it seems) it's because I started school on Tuesday! Due to budget cuts galore thanks to Mr. Governator, it has been a very stressful time (if you are at a public university in California, then you know what I mean). Either way, on to the beauty!

This past summer I bought these Mossimo Penina Sandals from Target (can't remember the exact price, around $20), thinking

they were so cute and such a great deal! Coincidentally, less than a

week after I fell in love with the Sam Edelman Ginger sandal in

pewter (on the right) at Nordstrom Rack (JLo's been spotted in the gold version). I have to say I wear them constantly, almost every day! Since buying the Target sandals, I have worn them occasionally, to the movies or out running errands, but never worn them for an extended period of time that required a lot of walking,

until this past week.

I don't know about you, but the first day of school for me is always complete chaos, and this year was by far the most chaotic. Parking spaces were literally non-existent and traffic was beyond awful. To make a painful story short I had to park about a mile away from the building my class was in.

After speed-walking for about 15 minutes, I made it to the class only to figure out that I would not be able to add. Since my next class was hours away, I decided to go back home, which meant another mile-long walk back to the car. If you haven't already figured out where this is going, I ended up with blisters on the balls and heels of both of my feet.

So the moral is, ladies, that cheap sandals may look cute and innocent and seem like the greatest thing since volumizing mascara but they will never be as good to you as their more expensive counterparts. I feel like I could walk a 5k in my Sam Edelman sandals, and they are gorgeous on top of that! Even though they cost about 3 times what the Target Sandals cost, I have worn them 10 times as much and they haven't so much as pinched me let alone given me blisters.

Next time you find yourself leaning towards the shoe aisle at Target or Forever 21 take the money you would have spent on those flavor-of-the-week shoes and put it in a jar labeled "Shoes that will last me a lifetime fund" and once you get enough splurge on those Calvin Klein heels you can't stop thinking about or those expensive but oh-so-comfy flats you know you'd wear every day!

P.S.- they make the aforementioned Target sandals in black patent for fall, please, please do not buy them! I know they are cute, but evil is a wily temptress, just say no!

love, iCandy

Pretty Pink Polish & Free Shipping!

Yesterday I got a Beauty Insider e-mail from Sephora (if you're not an insider you desperately need to be!). Apparently, until 11:59pm tonight Sephora.com is offering free shipping on 12 of their top-rated products! Among them, Diorshow mascara, Nars blush, and Bare Escentuals Buxom lip gloss. To take advantage of this offer use the code RATEWINSHIP at checkout.

I love this offer because usually you need to spend $50 or more to enjoy free shipping, and my pet peeve is shipping charges. For the shipping charge I could get another lipgloss or eyshadow!

Obvously I couldn't resist getting a little something for myself (and I do mean little). School is just around the corner and I can't spend too much, but I did get myself a Sephora by OPI nailpolish in Arm Candy $9 (isn't is the sexiest pink?) as well as a limited edition smashbox eyeshadow duo a $24 value but only $5!! I love my rimmel eyeshadow compact, but they discontinued the colors I use, and I dropped the compact about a year ago and the cover broke off, so I figure it is time for an upgrade.

With tax, my purchase altogether was $15 and some change, and no shipping! I can't wait to try them both! Let me know what you score.

love,

iCandy

A simple pleasure, but is it worth the price?

I got this Olay Body wash with Tone Enriching Ribbons free in my gift bag from Shape's Beach Body Tour in Santa Monica earlier this summer (as well as a killer booty work-out). So far I've only let myself use it on "special occasions" or if I really need a pick-me-up because it smells so amazing and is just so luxurious and rich.

First of all, the smell is a gorgeous tropical combination of coconut, and mango and tropical flowers that reminds you instantly of the beach, and the lather is full and smooth. A little bit goes a long way.

However, I'm not really sure how "tone enriching" this body wash. I didn't notice any better results with this than with my dove beauty bar apart from a little extra moisture. Also, I noticed that the primary moisturizing ingredient is mineral oil, which is not at the top of the list of moisturizing ingredients as far as quality.

Now, since I got my product for free I am a little bit biased. It's easy to see the good in something when you didn't have to put up any green.

I've seen this being sold from $6 to $8 (Burt's Bees body wash and other more expensive natural brands also retail for around $8).

Although I love the smell of this body wash, and of course I'll use it until it runs out, I would not purchase this from the store when there are so many other products to choose from that are much more high qaulity. Sure, maybe they aren't "tone enriching", but what does that even mean anyway? Empty promises are certainly not worth $8.

At just under $3 ($2 on sale now) CVS Hydrating Body Wash with Essential Oils contains shea butter and sweet almond oil. Say goodbye to mediocre mineral oil and hello to natural ingredients that are professional moisturizing ingredients, for less than half the price!

If you are willing to pay more to keep your skin hydrated, try Burt's Bees Citrus and Ginger Root Body Wash, $8 at CVS. This body wash has too many amazing ingredients to list (coconut oil, sunflower oil, lemongrass, honey, and lavender oil to name a few) and is 97% natural and PH balanced. Definitely miles ahead of Olay, but for the same price.

I've always been curious about Burt's Bees products, I tried a few in high school but now there are so many more products to choose from. Let me know your experience!

love,

iCandy

My first pair of shoedazzle shoes!

Yesterday I got my first 5 choices for this month on shoedazzle.com. Unfortunately, none of them tickled my fancy but, after using the option to get 5 more choices, I found these sexy puppies today and soon they will arrive at my doorstep!

One thing I am concerned about is the fact that most of the shoes are not brand name and no details are offered about the materials the shoes are made of other than "faux" this and "faux" that which doesn't sound too promising.

When they do indeed arrive at my doorstep I will have to do a thorough quality inspection! Don't worry I'll let you in on all the details.

love,

iCandy

Tarte-tastic savings thanks to lazybeautiful!

Head on over to lazybeautiful to find a promo code that will get you 40% off tarte products until August 24th! Most of the products are already reasonably priced, so at such a steep discount why shouldn't you try a tinted lip balm or a cheek tint?

Treat yourself to some amazing, natural and eco-friendly beauty products from tarte. At 40% off, there's really no reaosn not to.

Go to lazybeautiful for the code and head on over to tartecosmetics.com to start shopping!

Bobbi Brown Crystal Lip Gloss

Even after trying this crystal gloss ($17, bobbi brown) just one time, I have to take back everything I said about it being like the drugstore gloss I used in high school.

This morning I applied the gloss over my bobbi brown SPF 15 lip balm just for fun. It went on so smooth and silky, not sticky at all. The best part was that my boyfriend didn't even complain about the gloss when he kissed me! I don't think he even noticed it, that's how smooth it is.

The shine itself was very nice, not overpowering or ultra-lacquered, but a very nice polished shine. After I applied it I didn't even notice I had it on. I used to really dislike gloss in general because most of them are so sticky or taste terrible or are just plain uncomfortable, but this sets the new standard.

This gloss would be perfect over my covergirl outlast lipstain, and over any lipstain for that matter! I highly recommend this for anyone craving a little more shine or for someone who wants a natural but "done" look for day or night. I hope you love it as much as I do.

love,

iCandy

Shoedazzle.com

I know I've never told you guys this, but I love shoes just as much as (if not more than) beauty products, which is why I joined shoedazzle.com today. The site (which was founded by Kim Kardashian), for $39 a month gives you a choice between 5 shoes. Each month you pick the pair you want to have most and voila! it's yours. The best part is you can choose to skip a month if none of the shoes strike your fancy and you won't be charged. If they look different in person or they just don't fit, returns are easy with a pre-printed label!

Some people have gotten confused thinking it is a show rental site like bag borrow or steal, but it's not. You are buying the shoes so of course you get to keep them. I think this is a great idea for shoe lovers (who isn't?) and people that can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars on shoes, no matter how great they may be.

I am definitely looking forward to my first recommendations and to my first pair of shoes! Hopefully this will be as great as it appears to be! I'll keep you posted.

love,

iCandy

Things I Learned Today

1. A fedora can really complete an outfit!.

2. Cleansing oil isn't all it's cracked up to be (at least not for my skin).

3. Stress can keep the most successful face-clearing routine from having any effect.

4. Love Stories and love realities are two completely different things.

5. Happiness is one of the most expensive things on earth.

6. Never throw anything away you might one day be able to sell for $3 at a garage sale.

7. Boys will never live up to your expectations (and maybe we never live up to theirs).

8. A pig decorated cake= one of the cutest things you'll ever see.

Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15- Quick Take

Last week I ordered this lip balm from bobbi brown. I figured I might as well take advantage of the free shipping and the samples.

Although this balm is definitely a necessity, I bought it mostly because it was one of the few things I could afford ($17). After getting home and opening the package, I saw it is a little smaller than what I thought I would get. It is 15g in comparison to my Rosebud Salve which is 22g. But, there are a lot of really great, high-quality moisturizing ingredients in this balm like jojoba oil, olive oil, and lavender.

I like the texture of this balm, it is very fine and smooth and really sinks in to make my lips soft as opposed to sitting on top of my lips without being absorbed. Combine that with SPF and I say this balm is a definite winner. I think it is definitely worth it despite the high price, but we'll see how it performs on a day-to-day basis and I will keep you posted!

On another note, the mini crystal gloss sample was a little disappointing. It looks like the clear gloss I used to buy from the drugstore in high school, but as I haven't even tried it yet I probably shouldn't judge. The other two samples I got are the cleansing oil (which I'm dying to try) and the luminous moisturizing foundation.

Happy almost-Friday! love, iCandy

I like my salad tossed but...

That doesn't mean I want to smell like one!

I've been reading in a lot of magazines lately about DIY body scrubs and I think it is a great idea. Body scrubs are very easy to make and there isn't too much a store-bought scrub can do that a homemade scrub can't. One thing I thought was puzzling was that most of the articles recommended using olive oil in a homemade scrub.

While olive oil is a great moisturizing oil, I don't think there are too many of us that want to smell like a salad or pasta when we are done moisturizing (unless your boyfriend is into that sort of thing ;)).

For a sweeter, more feminine, less "Olive Garden" smell to your scrub, try adding jojoba oil or sweet almond oil to natural cane or brown sugar. Remember, you want enough oil to give it a nice, slushy consistency, but not so much that they sugar is swimming in it. Use the same guidelines except with salt to create a muscle relaxing scrub (just watch those cuts and scratches!), or with coffee grinds to make an invigorating scrub that is said to help reduce cellulite and prevent varicose veins (I will definitely have to investigate this).

If you have any experience with at-home scrubs please share! And if you've tried coffee grinds let us know if the caffeine is really as much a miracle ingredient as it is made out to be! Have a great Thursday, just remember the weekend is right around the corner.

love, iCandy

Something good and something just ok

During the bath and body works sale I purchased Patricia Wexler Fastscription™ Instant De-Puff Eye Gel, $19.50 Bathandbodyworks.com. A multiple award-winning product, I had very high hopes for this little gel. To my surprise (and delight!) it really delivered. I had a few rough nights which resulted in puffy and droopy eyes, and after applying the gel under my eyes and along my brow bone (very lightly) my eyes were instantly brightened and I looked ten times more awake and alert.

Along with reducing puffiness, the gel is said to reduce the appearance of fine lines over a period of time. I haven't been using it long enough to tell, nor do I have enough fine lines to be able to support or deny this claim, but all of the reviews of this product are positive and it is definitely a very handy tool for any woman to have, fine lines or not.

Note: the tube is on the small side, but a little goes a long way, a very long way! Just the tiniest dab will see you through both eyes in the morning.

My "just ok" product today is my Clinique Acne Solutions Concealing Stick, $13.50, Sephora.com. When I bought it I thought that it sounded too good to be true, a concealer that also helps solve the problem, sounds like fantasy-land. Now that I've been using it for a few months I know it actually is too good to be true. Aside from the fact that it doesn't help blemishes clear up any faster than normal, and judging it only as a concealer, this product is alright, but nothing special. It is good at reducing redness or darkness under the nose and at covering small, flat spots, but it doesn't work so well on pimples that protrude from the face (and don't they all?) or on blemishes that are darker in color.

But, considering the fact that it does claim to help blemishes heal faster but doesn't, it just drops the score even lower. I would recommend this product to someone who has clear skin and is looking for a minor concealer that won't cause blemishes, but I would also recommend to shop around and to see if a better or cheaper alternative is available. As for all of us who do have pimples now and then (especially during that special time of the month) we need a product that delivers and gives us the results we deserve, so let me know if you've found one!

I hate to post a negative review, but sometimes it just has to be done. Sorry Clinique, but I do have my eye on the Acne Solutions Post Blemish Formula, so hopefully you can redeem yourself!

love, iCandy

Christian Siriano for VS Makeup

While I'm not exactly a die-hard fan of Victoria's Secret and their clothes/lingerie/cosmetics, I have to admit that everything I've ever bought from there (makeup, underwear, and body lotion) has been pretty amazing (especially for the relatively low prices on beauty products)! Which makes me wonder why I don't shop there more often, but it's never too late to start, right?

And what better time than now when Christian Siriano has launched his makeup line through Victoria's Secret to complement his Fall clothing line. The best part is that all of the items are under $20 (take that Bobbi Brown). And, as if I would expect anything less from Victoria's Secret, the packaging is gorgeous and very sexy.

Quite possibly my favorite thing from the collection, this adorable makeup bag, $12 is perfect for stowing your daily essentials. Who really wants to have to dig through their entire bag to find their chapstick? With this bag you can keep everything you need for daily touch-ups neat and

organized.

I have to admit, even I sometimes use shimmery eyeliner as a cheekbone highlight shade, but now, thanks to this pretty bronzer highlighter trio, $16, I won't ever have to again! With a bright, pale highlight shade, a matte and a pearly bronzing shade, what more could you ask for to create the perfect endlesssummer glow?

Now I don't know about you, but I sometimes find my eyeliner, a little, oh I don't know, boring. Although I never leave home without my eyes lined in black or navy blue, I sometimes wish my liner would add a little extra glamour to my life. That's where this Kajal Kohl Eyeliner, $12 comes in. Channel your inner Cleopatra with this smoky liner and add a little extra va voom to your look.

What would any smokey liner be without a sexy eyeshadow? I absolutely love all of the colors this silky eyeshadow, $12 comes in. Use the darker colors like royalty and gilded fierce layered on top of eyeliner for a more dramatic smoky eye, and use the lighter colors like nude and sandstorm in the inner corners of the eye and on the browbone.

I love these products not only for what they can do, but for how adorable they look! These will sex up your bathroom or your make-up bag and make you feel sexy before they're even on your face. If I had an endless supply of cash I would buy them all. But since I don't, all I can do is dream...

love, iCandy

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics

For a few weeks now I've been eyeing the fancy beauty products at bobbibrowncosmetics.com, but I haven't built up the courage to spend so much money on products I've never tried before. So I was pleased tonight to find this in my inbox:

WEEKEND EXCLUSIVE
Enjoy FREE Standard Shipping on Any Order PLUS a Mini Crystal Lip Gloss!
This Weekend Only: August 7-9

Enter offer code ENJOY5 at checkout (one time use only)

This gives me the perfect excuse to try some of Bobbi Brown's award-winning products! So, in honor of this weekend's exclusive promo code and beauty in general, here is my fall wishlist of bobbi brown cosmetics!

1. Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner $21.00- A multi award winning eyeliner that comes in the most amazing colors! Somewhere between liquid and solid, gel eyeliner combines the drama of a liquid liner with the

application ease of a solid liner. For myself and all of my other brown-eyed bunnies, I would go with a dark blue, indigo or a shiny blue-green such as cobalt blue (03), Indigo Ink (20), or Ivy Shimmer Ink (14).

For all of you icy blue-eyed gals I recommend a warm brown with orange undertones like Bronze Shimmer Ink (09).

Don't think I forget about you green-eyed and hazel gals. Go with a Red-based brown or deep purple to really make your eyes stand out. My picks are Black Plum Ink (08) or Violet Ink (04).

2. Shimmer Wash Eye-Shadow $20.00- A shimmery, sheer

eyeshadow; use the lighter shades (Gold, Petal, Beige) as a highlighter on your brow-bone and in the inner corners of your eyes, and the darker shades (Black Plum, Eggplant, Sapphire) as a defining shade on top of liner.

3. Lip Balm SPF 15 $17.00- Simple, but so necessary! A daily lip balm with SPF to protect your lips from the harsh rays of the sun. Normally I just slap on some Rosebud Salve in the morning but sadly, it doesn't give me any sun protection so I might just have to upgrade to this lovely balm!

Remember, you get to choose 2 free samples with any online purchase (plus the crystal lip gloss sample makes 3!).Enjoy the promo code and have a happy friday ladies!

love,

iCandy

Why didn't I think of this?

An amazing, recession friendly hair tip from Holic.boX courtesy of face-a-holic friend Polaris Supernova:

Instead of spending your hard-earned cash on fancy products to make your hair look like you spent a day at the beach lounging in the sun and splashing in the ocean, just bring some of the ocean home with you to re-create the look!

Check out the post HERE to rule the shore with your sexy waves.

If you can't get to the beach or feel more comfortable making your own salt-water spray at home, mix about 1/4 cup of salt into a spray bottle of water, mist onto freshly showered hair, and let your hair dry naturally.

love,

iCandy

P.S.- Want more hair tips? Check out this about.com article, Hair Styling: 13 Secrets to Sexy Hair to steal tricks from the pros.

Don't Forget your SPF- it's not just for your face!

By now most of us never leave the house without some kind of sunscreen on our faces (at least I should hope so), but why stop at your face? Hands need protection as well, as does your neck, and your chest, and your arms, and really any skin that is exposed to the sun on a daily basis.

Need proof? Take a look at any woman over 50, if her face doesn't give away her age, her chest and hands will.

I'm not saying we should be ashamed to look our age once we start getting up there, I'm saying, if there are little, relatively simple things we can do everyday to better preserve ourselves so that when the time comes, we will be able to relish our wisdom and maturity instead of worrying about our sagging and spotted skin, then why not take the time do to it?

In honor of growing older gracefully, every morning after I use my oil-free SPF 15 moisturizer on my face I slather Coppertone Nutrashield Dual Defense SPF 70 (not only does it have a high SPF, it also contains antioxidants Vitamin E and Vitamin A to nourish your skin) on my hands, arms, neck and chest. It is great because it offers great sun protection plus antioxidants, all without the tell-tale sunscreen smell or greasy residue. I've been using it for over 6 months and no one has ever noticed that I'm wearing sunscreen at all. In fact, I barely even notice it; once I put it on, it just gets absorbed into my skin like any other moisturizer. With a product this great, there is no excuse not to wear SPF on a daily basis.

Just remember, a little SPF now could help you look a whole lot better in the future, so don't be lazy and leave yourself unprotected!

love,

iCandy

P.S.- you'll thank me when you're 50 with great skin!

Keep the "Beauty" in "Beauty Sleep"

Even though we all like to pretend we're perfectly gorgeous creatures 100% of the time (especially me), every month perfection is thrown to the wind as we all struggle to deal with mother nature's monthly "gift". Prior to last month, I had only heard about menstrual pain so bad you can barely move, and so painful you can't think about anything else, but just a few weeks ago I actually spent a whole day experiencing such monstrous cramps that it was all I could do to keep myself from crying.

All I can say is thank goodness I had the good sense to get some Midol PM from the store (and the commercials are so cute). Before taking it that night, I had never taken Midol PM or its daytime counterpart and I never really gave it much credit. Well, let me tell you, not only did it take the excruciating pain away, as soon as it kicked in, I slept like an unnaturally well-adjusted baby. I have never slept so good on my period! Normally I'm up every few hours, going to the bathroom or "just checking" and I can't get comfortable enough to really rest. With Midol PM I only woke up once, at around 7 in the morning and after that I slept until around 9.

If cramps ever keep you awake at night, it doesn't have to be that way! Do yourself and everyone else who has to interact with you a favor and keep the "beauty" in "beauty sleep" by helping yourself to a Midol PM . Just be aware that you will most likely be knocked out so make sure you have the right pad for your flow and cover your mattress and sheets appropriately so you don't have any accidents.

Thank you Midol!

love, iCandy

Battle of the Drugstore Blush!

Just to let you know how afraid of looking like a trampy circus clown I used to be, I never used to wear blush (granted, just a few years ago I was a fresh-faced teen so I didn't really need any), but now mineral make-up has appeared to tame my clown-fueled anxietes with blush that is so natural people will just assume you are a beautiful, rosy-cheeked angel and not even realize that you're wearing blush at all!

Blush Challenger #1- L'oreal Paris Bare Naturale Blush

This blush is already way ahead of its competitors just due to the fact that it comes with its own brush. The dispenser is like most other mineral make-up brands, a small container with holes to

shake out the make-up, but sadly, no way to secure it for traveling (perhaps with tape?). Built in brush and packaging aside, the blush blends flawlessly into skin, giving a super natural glow. The formula is extra shiny with a lot of dimension and lasts all day, through work, sweat, and play.

The blush in Pinched Pink works great for my medium skin, just a sweep along my cheekbones gives me a natural wash of color that brightens up my face and makes me look like I spent a few minutes in the sun. The only drawback is that there aren't too many colors to choose from, mostly in the pink and bronze family, but it is a really great quality brush, drugstore brand or not.

Blush Challenger #2- Maybelline NY Mineral Power Naturally Luminous Blush

I bought this blush in True Peach for my vacation last month. The first thing I noticed about it (apart from there being no brush) was that the blush was more matte than shimmery, which is not so great. You want your blush to attract and reflect light, not absorb it. This blush comes in a wider range of colors than the L'oreal blush, most of them seem universally flattering, but just in case you aren't sure which will work for you, the website offers a color matching tool where you enter your skin tone and eye color and it selects the best colors for your coloring.

I discovered that while the blush is not very special on its own (despite the pretty color), it makes a perfect cheek stain when I mix it with equal parts of my rosebud salve, which also gives it a nice shine that the powder alone lacks Using it this way is also nice for summer, because a stain will hold up better than powder in hot weather.

Although both put up a good fight, I have to say that the L'oreal Bare Naturale beats out the Maybelline Blush just by a few hairs, mostly because of the brush and because of the shimmery and long-lasting powder. Let me know which one is your favorite.

love, iCandy