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

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

Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Shampoo

Wandering the aisles at Target (always unnervingly well-stocked with the latest and greatest in beauty products- they just added origins!), I was trying to stay away, I really was, but I just couldn't pass up $2.99 for Garnier Fructis Curl Shaping Gel and a sample size of Wonder Waves Shampoo.

Overall, I have to say the shaping gel was just ok. I used about 10 sprays on my whole head, and then used my fingers to scrunch and spiral my curls into place. My curls were nicely shaped, very bouncy and ringlet-y but not well defined. I'd say it is nice if your hair isn't prone to frizz or you live in an area with low humidity. My hair is thin and fine and frizz is second nature, so I have to say that it was a little disappointing for me.

On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised with the wonder waves shampoo. It didn't dry out my hair like some shampoos do, and it left my hair really soft before conditioning.

I've never tried any of the Garnier products before, and I think they could work well for certain hair types and textures, but for me it just didn't cut it. Life is too short to have bad hair days, right?

In a rut?

I'm sure my loyal readers have noticed I have been strangely AWOL lately (all 3 of you, love you ladies). I guess I just haven't been 100% myself. In honor of feeling like crap, I've made a list (it's short, but useful nonetheless) of things to help you get out of that hole you're in and back into the sunshine with the regular folks!

1. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner-great for rejuvenating tired, depressed hair, think of it as Valium for your locks! It may be cheap but it is also great at its job! You don't need to spend a million bucks to look it.

2. Take a Bath!- It's ok to wallow sometimes, as long as you do it in a luscious, perfumed bubble bath. Target's Soap & Glory line has amazing smelling bubble baths and body scrubs ( and tons of other great, fun beauty products) to turn you from dud to diva in no time, or as much time as you want!

3. Break a Sweat- whether you prefer good old fashioned exercise or like to bellydance in the privacy of your bedroom, a little endorphin buzz can turn anyone's moody blues into cheerleader enthusiasm!

4. Laugh!- look up babies eating lemons on youtube or Tivo America's Funniest Home Videos (it really doesn't get any less funny as you get older) to help you see the lighter side of things. Laughter and happiness are contagious so help spread the joy!

5. Treat yourself to a Mani Pedi- I don't know about you ladies, but there is nothing that makes me feel more masculine than messy, unkempt toes. A pretty shade of pink or sweet summery orange (I'm lusting after Dior's Sweet Orange from Sephora.)

What keeps you out of the doldroms? All tips are welcome and appreciated!!

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain

Even after all these years of wearing make-up and trying this product and that product the one thing that still intimidates me is lipstick. Some women can pull it off and look amazing (Scarlett Johansson, Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, you get the picture) but how do you know if you are one of those women? Instead of trying to figure it out I have just stuck with my sparkly gloss and my rosebud salve, but recently I found myself thinking if only my lips had a little more color, then my look would be complete!

After weeks of procrastinating (for really no good reason) I finally made it to CVS and got myself CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in color 415-Teasing Blush. After looking at all of the colors available online I wish I had gone in sooner because a lot of the colors, like 430-coy coral, and 435-flirty nude that I would have loved to try were sold out!

That being said, I am absolutely in love with this product! I use it on just-licked lips (the directions say to use on dry lips but it is harder to blend the color when your lips are dry) and lightly fill in my lips, then rub them together to make sure the color is even (sidenote: it even smells and tastes good!). I apply lip balm on top of my lips to moisturize and seal, and voila! It instantly amps up my daytime look without being too obvious.

The color (415-Teasing Blush) works great for my medium/tan complexion, giving me a nice pop of sexy, just-bitten color. This also lasts forever! I put it on in the morning before an eight hour workday, and when I went out to dinner my lipcolor was still there as if I had just applied it. I love the concept of a lipstain, and I love CoverGirl's affordable, quality take on such a great idea. I love products that make my beauty routine shorter, and this is one must-have that takes seconds to apply and tens of hours to fade away.

Let me know your experience with lipsticks and lipstains. If you've tried one of CoverGirl's more expensive counterparts I would love to hear about your experience! Reader reviews are always welcome and wanted!

Reader Review: Tammy on Rimmel's Stay Matte Foundation

Name: Tammy
Website: http://lazybeautiful.wordpress.com/
City: Los Angeles, CA

Skin Type: Oily/Acne-prone
Skin Tone: Medium/Tan

Never leave the house without: Lip balm! I make my own. Also, Ben Nye Neutral Set face powder and Ecotools Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki brush.

Summer Slim-Down Secret: 1. Drink lots of water. I highly recommend using a Sigg aluminum bottle. They save you money by not having to buy plastic water bottles all the time! 2. Take your vitamins. I love Centrum Chewables; they're so convenient and don't make me queasy! 3. Exercise (duh!)

Review: Rimmel's Stay Matte Foundation
I usually purchase my foundations from Sephora because I've never come across a drugstore brand that has not given me a bad reaction (and the color is never exactly right). I had been looking for a drugstore foundation to save some money, so when I saw the ad for Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation, I decided to give it a try. Target had it on sale for five bucks! Score! I got it in Sand, the darkest shade available. Let's start with packaging. Love it! It's compact, great for travel, and easy to see how much is left in the tube. Also, the tube makes it very sanitary because you don't have to pour it out or stick applicators inside to get the product out. The application? Smooth and blended easily, but sadly the shade ended up being a bit too light for my medium to tan, Asian skin. Also, it does not stay matte like it claims. I have very oily skin and I thought this would help keep shine at bay, but it didn't. It has very little staying power; I wore this with primer and it still faded within hours and made my face feel slick. Not a good look. The only good thing is that I didn't get any bad reactions. In fact, it helped clear up my little cluster of acne on my forehead! I returned it after a week and went straight back to Sephora. If Rimmel made this foundation with better staying power and more colors, I would give it another go. Until then, I'm sticking to Sephora for my foundation needs. I guess you really do get you pay for when it comes to foundation.

A thousand thank you's to Tammy for submitting her review, I was dying to know if this foundation was worth trying! Make sure to check out Tammy's blog at http://lazybeautiful.wordpress.com/.

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.