Try Mario Badescu Products for Free!

After perusing thru some old posts at xsparkage's blog, I found the killer offer to receive FREE SAMPLES of Mario Badescu products...NO PURCHASE NECESSARY!  Best thing about it, it is quick and simple. 

Just go over to the registration or consultation page on MarioBadescu.com and fill out your information and questionaire.  Make SURE you fill out the consultation questionaire for your specified list of products suggested.  You will see the types of products they reccommend for your skin issues and will have the opportunity to purchase them quickly and easily from one page. 

Not ready to commit?  Afraid yet another treatment won't work for you?  WAIT!  You will receive an email into your inbox within a couple of days of filling out the registration and questionaire.  The email will give you a link to receive your complementary package of samples that are compiled directly from the list of your suggested products!  Mine are on their way to me now!

Where as I KNOW we all like free stuff and LOVE to try before we buy, I am going to purchase a few of the items that were suggested to me.  I am really having a hard time with break outs, it is just down right embarrassing.  My Proactiv is working well, but my acne is tougher than it can fight I do believe.  (I am still waiting on my Severe Acne kit from them, so I have not given up completely on Proactiv yet!)  However, rather than using some of their spot treatments and such, I am going to get the Mario Badescu Drying Cream, Drying Lotion, Buffering Lotion and Drying Mask.  Probably to start, the best way for me to go is going to be the Acne Repair Kit which includes the Drying Lotion, Buffering Lotion, and Drying Cream for only $49 which also includes a Mario Badescu tote!  And, if my Proactiv ends up no longer doing the trick, I will most likely discontinue its use and try the acne washes on this site.

I know what you are thinking...the products are SO expensive and the packages are super high priced!  Well, this is how I look at it...No, I don't have tons of money and I am surely not made of money.  However, this, to me, is a small price to pay (especially in comparisson to a dermatologist and prescriptions) for confidence.  If you have never had acne (even the smallest little attack), you won't know what I am talking about.  There is something about a clear face that makes me hold my head higher, have more eye contact when talking to people and my overall confidence level is through the roof when my skin is clear! 

Not to mention, generally, the higher priced items last a great deal longer because you don't have to use as much as often.  Three of my 5 bottles of Proactiv generally last 2 months and the other two bottles last upwards of 3 months!  That is $70 for 2-3 months generally.  Well, I know I have spend at least that in one month of rooting through drugstore products that claim to work miracles!  Yes, you pay a little more for these products, but in the end...the results speak volumes!

So, I figured since I have heard such rave reviews about this line (not only from xsparkage), I would just give it a whirl!  I will be doing full reviews on each product that I receive after a good bit of time of using them, that is.  If you are interested in this line, go register on their site and fill out that questionaire for your free trial run of 5 products!  If nothing else, you will have a better knowledge of the brand!

Let me know what you guys think about this line of products!  Do you currently use Mario Badescu Products?  Are you in the market to buy some?  Are you going to participate in the Free Sample Offer?  Let me know you thoughts and opinions in the comments below and I will let you all know how this endeavour turns out for me in a future post!

-Laura-

Trying Out Revlon PhotoReady Foundation...

I’m in love…with another product that is! This time, it is a foundation. Revlon has caught my attention with their new, light catching foundation, PhotoReady. I was taken by the packaging first and foremost. This has to be one of the only drugstore foundations that I have ever found with a pump & attractive glass bottle. The pump allows for controlled product distribution and says “Good-bye” to the mess their traditional Colorstay foundation can create. It easily dispenses a small amount or large, which is great, considering I mix these foundations.

The reason I mix the foundation, isn’t because I can’t find a color that is perfect for my skin tone, it is because of the super shimmer finish of this formula. Since I have started getting older, I prefer a more matte finish to my skin so anytime a foundation has light reflective properties, I tend to add in a more matte foundation to tone it down a bit. At first, I added some of the Rimmel Stay Matte foundation and it worked wonderfully. However, I wanted to lighten the Revlon color a little, so last week, when Revlon Foundation was on BOGO at CVS, I picked up a lighter hue of their Colorstay and one of the lightest versions of the PhotoReady. I mixed in the Colorstay and had fabulous results with the finish and the staying power was tremendous!

I ended up getting one of the lighter shades of the PhotoReady foundation, to highlight. When I have a great deal of time to work on my makeup, I like to apply a lighter-than-my-skin tone shade to the high planes of my face including my nose, cheekbones, and forehead. I also like to apply these lighter shades over my under eye concealer to brighten that area even more. I have found the light-reflective finish in this foundation has been perfect for this application meshing together two steps (foundation application and highlighting) into one, which cuts down on time. Time management…something I am always working to perfect!

You all know that I have issues with acne and keeping my skin clear. (Not such a daunting task since I started using Proactiv again, but breakouts CAN & WILL occur if I use the wrong products.) When I first tried this foundation, it felt a little greasy before it was set with powder, so I thought it would break me out and I would be out another $13. However, I have had no issues. During that normal, aggravating time of the month I did, but I don’t attribute that to this foundation at all. I

 do find this foundation to be buildable if I let it sit in between “layers”. The colors I have used have all turned out to be very bendable and mixable. There are only about 8 shades in this line, so you may end up having to purchase two colors to get an exact match or to adjust the color as you begin to get some sun now that we are going into spring and summer. (Only the third day of spring and here, it is only about 40 degrees! WTF?) Never fear, Revlon does BOGO on foundation all the time so you won’t have to pay full price for two!

I have yet to do a proper comparison to MAC Mineralize Satinfinish, but I will because I feel the finishes might replicate one another. Right now, I know that there is no comparison when it comes to smell. The MAC foundation has a stronger, “foundation” smell (you know what I am talking about) where as the PhotoReady has no strong smell that I can speak of. I really like that because I REALLY hate smelling THAT smell all day!

If you are in the market for a new foundation for those summer night outtings, you may want to try this one. It goes on pretty sheer for a typical foundation and does not feel heavy or cakey at all. Plus, with an SPF of 20 you are going to get the sun protection we all need in the spring and summer months! I am a huge advocate for wearing and layering SPF to protect the sensitive skin on your face. If you want color on your face….get it out of the bottle! It’s SAFER!

(I did get the PhotoReady Powder as well. If you guys would like to see a review on this product, I will happily do one!  I will be picking up the translucent version as well since I recently ran out of the translucent powder I had.  So, just let me know in the comments below or feel free to email me.)

**I give the Revlon PhotoReady Foundation ($13.96 @ CVS) 4 out of 5 stars**

Review - Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in True Black

You can find a full review on this product on my YouTube Channel NOW!

I have purchased a good deal of gel liners that were not Blacktrack Fluidline by Mac.  I know, I know, I should stay true when I find one that works well.  However, not everyone likes to purchase MAC no matter how many times I tell them that the $17 is worth it considering it will last FOREVER!  They only see the price tag and that they must take a department store trip to pick it up.  THIS is the main reason I had to have this one...it is easily attainable at your local drugstore, Target, or WalMart and constantly going on sale keeping the price tag around or below $8. 

I rather enjoyed the formula.  You can see in the vid that I made sure to take notes about the wear throughout the day as to not miss anything for you guys.  It worked rather well in my waterline as well as on my lash line.  There was minimal fading...generally only where I rubbed my eyes or they watered profusely throughout the day that day.  However, by the end of the day, it was still looking decent and my complaints if any were about things that were not super relavant. 

The consistancy is very creamy and BLACK.  It was not runny or clumpy and when I used one of MY liner brushes (NOT the one that came with it), I had great luck with no bleeding.  It glided on with ease and since I have been using this product, the double winged and reverse liner techniques have become very easy and second nature to me!  This is just an easy product at an easy price!

Make sure to check it out, the next time you are in your local drugstore!  If you have a review on this product, make sure to post it as a video response to the YouTube video on my  channel!  I would love to see you thoughts and opinions, especially if they differ from mine! 

Have you picked up this product?  IF so, how long have you been using and why do you love it or hate it??  Let us all know in the comments below!

Much love always...xoxo!

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask

I went to Sally's last night to pick up a few things for my next series, Beauty Secrets, and finally remembered that I wanted to try the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask. The little jars were on sale, but I decided to take advantage of my $5 gift card, and my beauty club discount and basically get the ginormous jar for free! I was super pumped to get it home and try it so I could see what all the hype is about!

The claim is that it is supposed to help dry up acne and tighten your skin, thus reducing the size of your pores. All of the above just about covers my issues...so I feel this "miracle jar" was made just for me....as long as it really does work! LOL!

My first impressions were positive. I loved the smell, the color wasn't too gross, and the texture was smooth and creamy! Once I applied it, after cleansing my face thoroughly, I could feel it start to work. There was a minty, cooling sensation that felt phenomenal and I could feel my skin tightening underneath.

It only took about 5 minutes or so for the mask to dry because I applied it in a thin layer, just as the directions stated. You want to make sure to, FOR REAL, keep it away from your eye area! I accidentally got it a bit close to my eye and it started burning like crazy!!! (All I did was wet a Q-Tip to "erase" the mask from places it didn't need to be...like that one!

Still following the directions to a tee, I wet a wash cloth with warm water and used that to gently remove the mask. I find this really is the way to go. You don't make a huge watery mess and the heat from the water-soaked cloth will melt the mask right off your face easily!

Once the mask was gone and my face was dry, I could tell my skin was a bit tighter and was so soft and smooth!!! I am not sold yet, too soon to tell, on the claim of reducing pore size. But, this morning, I DID notice a couple of my spots were drying up! Now, that could be because I applied a tea tree oil stick (that I also picked up at Sally's last night), following moisturizing and such.

Now, I plan to continue using this mask twice a week or so. I will keep you guys updated weekly or biweekly on my results in the event you guys have not tried this supposed wonder mask! LOL! I do like it upon my first impression, I just really hope it does all that it claims!

*If you guys know of any other masks like this that you have heard of and want me to try, I will happily do so! Queen Helene has a few differnent types of masks so there is one for every skin type! Check out your local Sally's Beauty or visit http://www.sallybeauty.com/ and check them out for yourself!!!

I hope you all have a fantabulous day and I will talk to you all VERY soon!