Archive for September, 2008
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
Lumiere Mineral Cosmetics is having a sale!
25% off ALL products
Discount Code: Bruno
(10% of profit going to Humane Society)
sale from 9/22 - 9/26
offer not valid with any other discount code -
$10 minimum order to qualify
I really enjoyed Lumiere when I tried their makeup.
You can read my reviews and see swatches at Lumiere Blush Swatches, and Lumiere Mineral Cosmetics Review.
Posted in Life | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
I love Cargo’s PlantLove Lipstick packaging!
The white tube with pink hands and flowers are adorable, and fun!
Yes, this tube of lipstick brings a smile to my face, and not just because of the pretty color inside the tube.
The fact that $2 from the sale of every lipstick in the PlantLove Botanical collection to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital also makes me happy.
Cargo’s new PlantLove collection is natural in origin and free of parabens, phthalates, petro-chemicals, synthetic dyes and fragrances, and the packaging is made entirely from a corn derived polymer, Polylactic Acid (PLA), while the boxes are made from post consumer waste paperboard, manufactured in carbon neutral conditions, using renewable energy.
Cargo PlantLove lipstick in Sagamaratha
I tried the Cargo PlantLove Botanical lipstick in Sagamaratha, the Lip Gloss in Magnolia, and the Natural Balm Stick.
Sagamaratha is a sheer rosy cream, and it’s a rosy version of my your lips but better (YLLB) color.
The color is intense enough for one coat to be enough, but I do need to use lip balm when I use it. Fortunately the Natural Balm Stick fits the bill - although I have discovered that it works better if you apply balm first, and the lipstick second.
As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t normally wear lip pencil, so this lipstick wears off in about an hour and a half, although it does leave a slight stain behind if I haven’t reapplied too much lip balm over it.
Cargo PlantLove natural balm stick
The Cargo PlantLove natural balm stick is smooth and moisturizing, without being as waxy as my normal chapstick. The tube and the balm itself are as big as Cargo’s lipsticks are, so if you don’t like dealing with different sized tubes it’s great. Of course it does mean that you have to check the label or look inside to make sure you’re getting the right thing when you’re digging around in your purse looking for lip balm or lipstick.
Cargo’s PlantLove lip gloss in Magnolia
Cargo’s PlantLove lip gloss in Magnolia is a beatiful, pale icy pink, that looks great (although a bit pale on me) alone, or over the Sagamratha lipstick. It can be applied sheerly for a hint of color, or layered for a darker color with more intense color.
I didn’t notice an odor with any of the PlantLove products that I tried, and they all applied smoothly and evenly.
And when I’m done with the lipbalm and lipstick the tubes are compostable - and I can plant the box the lipstick came and grow wildflowers!
It’s a little too late plant wildflowers this year, so I’m planning on testing that out next year!
If you’ve tried Cargo’s PlantLove collection I’d love to know what you think about it.
I’d also love to see pictures of the wildflowers you grew if you planted the lipstick box!
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, September 19th, 2008

If you’ve been reading for a while you know that I really didn’t start to like mineral shadows until I started using the MAC 239 brush.
Well I’ve found a brush that’s even better for applying and blending mineral shadows.
The MAC 239 brush is great for applying shadows but the bristles are a little too short and stuff for me to use when I’m blending shadows - I can blend, but I can’t get a good circular motion going, and the circular motion is what helps keep the shadows from streaking, or looking unblended.
The billybBeauty Paint Brush Eight has bristles that are soft enough, long enough, and flexible enough for me to be able to get the eye shadow exactly where I want it, and for me to be able to blend it without ending up making a mess.
I’ve used eight wet and dry - and it works great both ways.
This is definitely the first eyeshadow brush that I reach for most mornings.
As you can see - it’s even soft enough to be Scrappy approved - even when it’s wet.
Here’s the look I did with eight yesterday.


I used About Face Cosmetics pigments from the limited edition Cinderella Dumps Her Fella Collection (which is set to be removed from the site today) in:
Dragon Breathe -as a wash over the entire lid, although I did apply it in eyebrow area.
Here’s the description if you’d like to try to recreate the look “multiple personality pigment starts as lime green iridescent but then goes to iridescent turquoise, lime and a hint of gold.”
Be The Fairytale in the crease and outer V. This is a “fabulous iridescent kelly green with layers of bronze, copper and golden flashes of iridescent light.”
Rescue Yourself wet as liner across the the upper and lower lid. I used billybBeauty paint brush twelve to get a thicker line.
Rescue Yourself is described as “Magical olive with layers of hot cocoa, gold and bronze. Finishes with a hint of gold and crystal twinkle.”
I also have to add that I really didn’t think a kelly green and yellow would work well with my fair skin and blue eyes - but I loved the look! That’s why I think it’s so important to play with different colors when you have the opportunity too.
If you’re interested I was also wearing a very light coat ofAlice Cosmetics Light #2 foundation, and L’oreal’s Bare Naturale Mascara in Black.
If you have any questions or comments about the look or the brush let me know!
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | 4 Comments »
Monday, September 15th, 2008
After my unleasant experience with N.Y.C Ultramoist Lip Wear, I decided to try Revlon’s Renewist Lipcolor in Raspberry Rush.
Revlon had a lot of pretty lipcolors, and it took me a while to decide what to try - of course I should probably add that the color I chose was on sale for about $2 at Target, and I had a coupon so it ended up costing me about $1.
Revlon’s Renewist Lipcolor has a “ProCollagen® Moisture Core instantly boosts moisture by 80% while reducing the appearance of fine lines and gently enhancing lip fullness over time.”
I didn’t realize that the lipstick was supposed to reduce fine lines, or enhance lip fullness, so I didn’t pay attention to whether it did or not while I was using the lipstick. Of course I haven’t noticed any changes in my lips while I was using it either.
The ProCollagen Moisture Core (which is the pale center of the lipstick) has enough moisture to let my chapstick loving lips go with out chapstick for about 30 minutes before they start feeling dry.
Considering that I ususally apply chapstick right after I apply lipstick, this is a big deal for me.
The Moisture Core is white when the lipstick is opened, but the lip color soon smears on top of the lipstick.
Some people may think it looks messy, but it doesn’t bother me.
The Moisture Core can leave a paler color in the center of your lips, so it’s necessary to check your lipstick after application, or to rub your lips together so that you can make sure you don’t have a lighter colored area in the center of your lips!
This lipstick also lasts for a couple of hours, and when it wears off (depending on how much chapstick I’ve applied) it leaves a soft stain, so I at least look like I have on some lipstick, instead of looking like I forgot to put it on when I did my makeup.
I really like this lipstick - and I would definitely purchase it again - even if it wasn’t $2.00.
If you’ve tried Revlon Renewist Lipcolor I’d love to hear what you think about it.
Posted in Beauty, Reviews | No Comments »
Friday, September 12th, 2008
I was really excited when I heard about Green By Nature - it’s nice that there is an affordable line that is over 95% natural, and free of parabens, sulfates, DEA, petroleum, propylene glycol, sacchrine, dioxin, and phthalates.
I know that many people are looking to cut some (or all) of these chemicals out of their lives, but they don’t have the time to check products, and sometimes it’s easier to just grab the tried and true products you’ve been using forever, than to take the time to read all the labels and find a new product that doesn’t contain the bad stuff while you’re at the store.
Green By Nature has products for your lips, your body, and your hands and feet - all of which will probably need some extra moisturizing as we’re going into winter.
There’s also a line of lip polishes, lip scrubs, and a lavendar vanilla body spray that are only available at Target.
Of course not all Target’s carry the line, so check and see if yours does in the store locater before you run out to look for the products.
My Target doesn’t carry the line, so I’m pretty disappointed. I’m going out of town for the weekend, so I even checked to see if they had it in the city I’ll be visiting, but they didn’t.
If you’re lucky enough to have a Target that carries Green By Nature near you, for every 3 Green by Nature products purchased, send in a copy of the Target receipt to receive a complimentary Peppermint Lip Glaze. The address to mail in the receipt is on the image at the bottom of the post.
Also if you purchase from the website and use the code GBNVIP08 you’ll get a 10% discount off all Green By Nature products.
I haven’t tried Green By Nature yet, but I do have high hopes - and I should be getting some goodies to review for you soon.
If you’ve tried Green By Nature, or if you have any comments about the line - just click on leave a comment and let me know what’s on your mind.

Posted in Beauty | No Comments »
Monday, September 8th, 2008
I know a couple of you were curious about the Walgreens Rebates program when I mentioned it in the Jane Be Pure Mineral Free After Rebate at Walgreens post.
Bibi left a great comment about the program that said:
“Jeannie, I take advantage of the Walgreens Easysaver catalog all the time, it’s great. If you have them mail you a gift card ONCE (not sure how long that will take, as I got mine ages ago), then you can have them just add the following rebates to your card. There are 2 advantages to this:
A) They give you an extra 10% bonus, so not only do you get products for free, but you even make money for trying them (just a few cents, but still), and
B) You can submit your rebates online and it will only take 5-10 business days to process and credit to your gift card.
Of course the downside is you can only use the gift card at Walgreens, but you could always use it just to buy toilet paper and tooth paste!
Hope this helps.”
I’d heard that Walgreens was offering online rebates in some test locations, but I wasn’t aware that it was available everywhere yet.
Thanks to Bibi I submitted my rebate online (and saved myself a stamp so my FAR items only cost me what I paid in taxes on them). If I’d used the gift card option, I would have gotten an extra 10% back.
Anyways, I wanted to let you know my rebate check came last week - so I’m very happy.
Now if only my Walgreens will get the revlon nailpolishes that are free after rebate this month back in stock I’ll be even happier.
Posted in Stuff | No Comments »
Friday, September 5th, 2008
I’ve got a Candles By Victoria Candle and Tart Review up on Sarah’s Surprises.
The candle and tart I tested were great, with a really strong scent throw.
Enjoy.
Posted in Stuff | No Comments »