MillieBea's Jasmin Matcha Vegan Lip Balm

                                 http://milliebeasvintage.com/natural-body-products


I have this friend, Stephanie. The kind of girl you wish you could be more like. She's always cool but not in a Hollywood kinda way. She doesn't try, it's just her. Nothing pretentious or unnatural, just an organic goodness that radiates around her. But don't get it wrong, she's the real deal and will get the job done and all while having a great time. Much like her creation.
Jasmin Matcha Vegan Lip Balm is her product, she makes it from scratch with all natural Vegan ingredients, along with other indulgent scents and flavors. I have been using it for about 3 weeks. My initial reaction was amazement over the buttery texture but I was leery over the squeaky clean ingredients. We are often lead to believe we need some sort of pharmaceutical miracle to heal, I too am a victim of this. Ok a little dramatic...would it serve my purpose, soothe my dry ..wintery lips?  I decided to wait a while, use it everyday and find out. At this point, my 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old are using it, asking for it in fact.
At $4 a tube, it's a great value. My lips (and my babies lips) are once again smooth. I like to use it at night if I plan on wearing a longer lasting lipstick the next day because it is extra emollient. Under gloss and everyday lipsticks it's actually a great primer. Nothing looks flawless unless you have a flawless canvas.
As I discovered her lip balm, I also discovered that her style is actually even deeper than I thought. Her website, which you can get to from the link at the top and bottom of the page, is absolutely refreshing. All those ideas you have in your mind about finding some wondrous vintage piece to add to your wardrobe or your home, it's all on her site. From feather hair clips and earrings, to authentic vintage dresses, nobody else but you will be wearing. And she alters some of them to bring them up to tempo. You can also find some of her things at Hybrid Moments in Ferndale.  Worth taking a look, but I bet you will be hooked just as I am.

                                             http://milliebeasvintage.com


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Roc Eye and Lash Anti-Aging Primer

I have been actively looking for a new eye primer since the day Paula Dorf was pulled out of Nordstrom. I was known to tell my clients they could party for 24 hours and their eyeshadow would still look the same even if they napped in between. I still find Paula Dorf eye primer in small boutiques but I wanted something that was easier to get a hold of.
If you have never used an eye primer, which I know many people haven't. It will change your whole outlook on eyeshadow. Color is truer, pigments seem more evident, and blending is a breeze. Not to mention staying power that can tackle any of you oily eyelid peeps out there. A few good ones (no match for Paula Dorf eye primer, but good) Urban Decay Eye Primer, Laura Mercier Eyebasic in Wheat or Cotton if you are super pale, and Trish McEvoy Eye Base in Bare.
Just when I thought there was no hope to be had, I found a really cool multi-functional product by Roc. I didn't care if my eye primer smoothed out my lines around my eyes, but this does. I didn't have the expectation that any eye primer could ever make my eyelashes seem darker, longer, fuller, but this does. What I wanted was eyeshadow that stayed on and blended well, and it gave that to me too. What a lovely surprise. Here is a tip however, do not use too much, a very thin layer will do it, otherwise, your eyeshadow will crease. I have used it on clients and they raved about how long their look held up.
So thankful I tried this. A bit pricey for a drugstore product at 22 dollars, but if it were sold in a department store it would easily sell for that or more. It's a do for sure!

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Deanna Nellenbach, Makeup Artist: Guest Blogger

It has been years and years since I have tried drugstore lipstick.  I was spoiled

for so long working at Nordstrom with my fab employee discount... (sigh.....)

Still, I do like to wander through the aisles, checking out the new stuff and how

it mimics the "real deal" found at department stores. Usually I leave empty handed

knowing that I have something far superior in my at-home assortment of all things

Chanel, MAC, or Bobbi.
 
Well, my view was changed...  at RiteAid.....  by (gasp!!) Covergirl!!!
 
Their new Lip Perfection lipstick has gotten a lot of press in the beauty blogs

and I have been mighty intrigued. Funny how in the department store world, a $20

lipstick seems very reasonable in price, yet a $7 lipstick seems a bit pricy in

the drugstore. Well, there is a $1 off coupon on the covergirl website to make

it even better.

They have 44 shades in this collection, browns, mauve to burgundy, nude to red,

and pinks.The Covergirl website says that these lipsticks contain Silk Therapy 

Complex to give you "smoother lips in just 7 days". I was more concerned with 

pigment and staying power.
 

I bought a bright shade for Spring called Fairytale. OK, so this particular shade

will look much better on me after I bask in some Florida sun at the end of the

month......  but still, the feel is great, rich pigment, and its almost like a

long wear!  Its pretty great!  
 

I am headed back to RiteAid today to pick up some more.  Do I need 5 new tubes

of lipstick? Ummm, definitely not!!  But at $6 and some change I can get four 

more and still feel good about it. 

The $1 off coupon is at www.covergirl.com , so print it out, and go out and try it 

for yourselves!
 
 
 
   

Shayla Gabbara Haboosh, Make Up Artist: Guest Blogger

I welcome other experts and friends to tell us what they experience with other products. I don't have time to try everything and my skin would just fall off (such a drama queen). Shayla is a dear friend and a super make up artist. Not to mention one of the youngest looking (almost) 40 year old women I know.  She can be reached at the Nordstrom Partridge Creek MAC counter at 586-203-4360. She also gave me a little inside information about gifts with purchase throughout her department (and other goodies) March 15-20 and a new MAC collection coming April 7-10. I say, we are going to buy it anyway , we might as well wait until they have something special to offer, right? And here she is..........   My favorite product 8% Alpha Beta Serum..aka Salicylic Acid it can be found at www.makeupartistschoice.com  The FDA only allows 2% to be sold in department and drug stores but this web site has some as high as 15%. I recommend caution when using these products they are Pharmaceutical grade but they work! I have always had oily skin but turning 40 this year I didn't think I would be dealing with Acne too! This product helps control the sebum, minimizes oil and blackheads and helps with hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone (common with ethnic or darker skin tones). This Serum can help clear up a stubborn blemish in about 24 hours...Amazing! It's highly recommended to use an SPF of at least 30 when using this product. Going to a Dermatologist or Spa would have cost me thousands of dollars.The 8% Alpha Beta Serum costs about $25.00 and a bottle can last up to 3 months. If you want to just try it, you can buy a sample (half an ounce) for $12.00. It Comes with step by step directions and the website has a 1-800 number to call for more information. I love the way my skin looks and feels!   Thanks Shayla!!  XX

Porcelain Veneers

 

Ok, Channing Peirce (Miss Michigan 2011), we all wish we looked as pretty as you even before the smile was perfected by Dr. Ali Saad. What a difference a smile makes in a person. This post is totally personal to me because I have Porcelain Veneers and my confidence level is much improved since getting them. I don't think I realized just how much just being confident in my smile improved my mood . I have always had smaller teeth and a few spaces that my dentist filled with bonding. I had braces when I was young but it didn't correct all the spaces and of coarse it's not going to affect the size of the teeth. Before I got married in 2002, I decided to get Veneers because I covered my mouth every time I laughed. I wanted to be able to smile in my pictures. I was probably being a little dramatic by hiding my teeth but when my smile was corrected, I felt so good, I now smile all the time.

It was a little scary, I'm not gonna lie. My teeth were filed down and temporary Veneers were applied until my permanent ones came in. I was then able to choose a color and wanting them to be as natural looking as possible, I did not choose the whitest. If I have one regret that may be it. As time goes on they stain a little (emphasis on little). I drink a ton of coffee and wine and they still look pretty white.  People ask me "Your teeth were filed down and you were ok with that?". Well, yes. My natural teeth weren't wonderful and the 10 to 30 years that these Veneers are going to last are probably longer than my natural teeth would in the condition they were in from bonding and over brushing. 

This process is like an art, that is why they call it cosmetic dentistry. I found a Dentist who was able to see the same vision I had for my smile and he crafted them exclusively for me. It's a bit pricey and I am pretty sure that insurance doesn't cover it. I financed it and skipped out on a few pairs of shoes and a few dinners out to pay for them. The best person to consult with is the dentist who did Channing's teeth. His name is Ali Saad, he has an office in Birmingham, and his number is 248-646-3515.  I am also sure that there are other treatments and procedures that we don't know about that he could offer us to improve our smile. This goes for the guys too.   

If you smile you can change yourself, others, and your future.- Japanese Proverb

A bit cheesy but I believe it!

Raquel Welch Human Hair Clip-In Extensions

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We all love long hair and until Kim Kardashian cuts her gorgeous hair off, we are stuck with the trend. It's not always our easiest option however. The care it takes to maintain everyday is almost like a full time job. So for myself, I like to have the option to add some volume and length to my just below the shoulder length hair. I've tried many brands, I've made my own a few times, but I have never found better quality than these.The hair is thicker than cheaper brands, and the texture of the hair is perfect. It's so easy to clip them in, small sections at the nape of the neck and work your way up. No one has ever asked if I'm wearing extensions, and to an untrained eye, it's really hard to tell with these unless the color is way off. The color chart is usually pretty accurate (always read the description, it's helpful). Or you can order a color ring to look at for free and then send it back. Also, I always get the longest ones(they are not that long and you can always have your stylist cut them), and if you have coarse or curly hair get the curly ones because you can always straighten them when you straighten your hair. The best place to get them is at www.hairextensions.com.
The best part about these extensions are the clips. They clip in secure, and they are really soft and comfortable. Sometimes I forget I have them in. And I definitely slept in them after a night out. Woke up feeling terrible but not from hair angst!
You can curl them, flat iron them, wash them, color and bleach them. They are just like your hair. I am the worst at taking care of them because I am usually wearing them when I go out and whip them out and fall into bed. They still last a few years for me, so imagine if you really took care of them.
If you want them, and you want help you can inbox me on facebook there is a link on the right of this page.
They are 250 dollars(the shorter ones are cheaper), alot of money, but way less than salon extensions, way less damage to you hair, and if you want to have a shorter style, a girl has options. A friend said to me the other day, "I love being a girl". I could not agree more.
That being said, I promise to chat about some men's products soon! ;)

Are Jolt "pick me up" Jeggings a beauty product? I think so.

So you want to look, younger, smoother, happier, more awake? I'm not talkin' skin here. I stumbled upon these mistakenly one afternoon while I was looking other jeans. It was a frenzy, as usual, I had 15 minutes to find what I wanted. Both kids were screaming about something in the stroller, cheerios flyin', balloons being used as weapons. I grabbed a pair of jeans I thought I already had and gave em' to the girl, who's trying to tell me why she loves these jeggings " they lift your butt, it's crazy". I'm half listening, just hoping she would hurry up so the screaming will stop, and I can stop pretending to smile. I'm glad I wasn't listening because I wouldn't have bought them, we all need a little lift, but these things never look good, or natural. Well, I was wrong. got home tried em' on and HELLO! My belly looked flatter, my legs slimmer, and my booty, never looked better. But, I didn't look like I was trying to hard, I wasn't sausaged into these things. I wish I would have bought a smaller size because the do stretch. So until all of our creams and potions that promise a firmer appearance start working their magic, just buy these jeggings! They are truly a product that makes you beautiful! Oh and they are 32 dollars!!! No way!