Red Hair and Black Nail Polish shows us Nails like Barbie with Catrice-Just Married

Midnight Manicures – The China Glaze Glitters from the Metro Collection

Nailfiled – Back (again) with The Face Shop GR502

Polarbelle – Reviews of the Madre Labs and Enter to Win Huge Giveaway from Iherb.com

Makeup Counter Confessions – Sanitation Please

Polish Pauper wants you to Forget the Rainbows, Bring on the Unicorn Puke!

Polish Insomniac shows us a Halloween Inspired Mani #1

Beauty.Mark Style & Fashion – New Updates

From Mascara To Meatloaf – Apples & Brown Sugar in Phyllo Shells

Nails and Noms – Essie Winter 2011 Cocktail Bling Collection (swatches & review)

Glitter Gloss Garbage reviews Bath and Body Works Paris Amour

Addicted To All Things Pretty – Women Of Color Interactive Product Map

Cosmetically Challenged – Ruby Kisses Ultra Control Eyeliner and why it’s a Keeper

You ever feel like you need to “reinvent” yourself?  And not so much you or your personality as a whole, but you as far as your look and style.  Lately I’ve been feeling this way, and I think part of it has to do with the change in weather.  I’ve just gotten so bored with my same old look.  I’ve been trying new hair styles, new makeup choices and colors, and I’ve even found myself liking some perfumes I NEVER would’ve liked years or even months ago!  It’s almost amazing what we initially dislike only to later enjoy.

In addition to my cosmetic choices, I’ve been back to trying to figure out my whole weight loss battle.  I was diagnosed as insulin resistant and having PCOS about three months ago.  Basically, I was a step away from becoming diabetic.  My cholesterol levels were high too, and I’m not really one for greasy, fatty foods.  I was put on medication to regulate my insulin resistance with the  hope that it would also affect my cholesterol positively.

A few weeks ago I started South Beach Diet, and so far it’s been great for me!  I’ve already lost 6 lbs. in three weeks ~ Mind you, I only lost 8 lbs. total in the two months I was on Weight Watchers!  I’m trying to look at this as more of a lifestyle change than a diet, and it hasn’t been too hard to make it.  The first week was a task, but I’m surprised at how quickly you can catch on to what you can and can’t have, and even more surprising has been my willpower and ability to turn away yummy treats!  I mean, we had a bake sale at work and I somehow was able to keep my strength and bypass apple cider, cider donuts, lemon bars and chocolate covered strawberries!  Are you serious right now?!

I’m too embarrassed to say how much I weigh or how much more I need to weigh, but I’m sure over time the numbers will add up and you’ll be able to figure it out.  And when I finally lose to where I’m happy with how I look and feel, then maybe I’ll share numbers.  For now, I’m just taking it day by day and week by week!  Wish me luck!

Product: 4 of 5
Packaging: 5 of 5
Quality: 4 of 5
Price: 5 of 5
Overall: 4 of 5
Would I repurchase? Probably so

::: The Product :::
Reviva Labs Firming Eye Serum with Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C Ester & DMAE is an eye cream meant to “reduce the appearance of eye-area wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles as you protect against future signs of aging”.  It comes in a glass pump bottle containing 1 fl. oz. of product.  The cream itself is fragrance-free (to me at least) and is milky white with a thin, almost silky consistency without being watery.  The pump bottle isn’t too finicky in that you can get just what you need without dispensing too much product.

Reviva Labs claims the following about their eye cream:

• DMAE, Alpha Lipoic Acid & Wheat Protein help firm & fight bags, puffiness
• Alpha Lipoic Acid & Vitamin C Ester antioxidants help protect against future damage
• Mulberry & Lime help lighten dark circles
• Hyaluronic Acid & Allantoin, in a unique blending moisturize & texturize area

Reviva Labs Firming Eye Serum with Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C Ester & DMAE can be used morning or night, and is supposed to be applied by using gentle tapping motions using an oval pattern with repeated movements approximately five (5) times.

::: The Ingredients :::
Demineralized Spring Water, Olive Oil, Cyclomethicone, Whole Wheat Protein, DMAE Bitartrate, Mulberry Extract, Lime Extract, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid

::: My Experience :::
I have hereditary dark circles, but don’t experience a lot of puffiness.  Even still, anything that claims to help lighten dark circles and reduce puffiness is worth trying.  So far I don’t have any eye wrinkles trying to sprout, so I’ll hope this will help keep them at bay!

I have been using this product for a little over a month, and though I can’t say I’ve noticed it lighten my dark circles, I have noticed my eye area isn’t as dry feeling as it tends to get at times, and feels very soft.  I use this eye cream both morning and night, and a little really goes a long way.  I think using too much might have caused my eye shadow to crease a time or two, even though I used my beloved Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Reviva Labs Firming Eye Serum with Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C Ester & DMAE might be a cheaper solution to Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream, which is an eye cream I’ve been loving.  The biggest plus for me is that Reviva Labs Firming Eye Serum comes in a pump bottle, which I truly prefer over a potted eye cream.  Also, even though Vitamin C Ester (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate) is the most stable, it’s not the most effective on skin. It might be a better benefit if Reviva Labs used L-ascorbic acid, though more effective on skin it’s more unstable and needs to be kept in a dark, cool place ~ not to mention it goes “bad” faster.

::: Overall :::
I would definitely purchase this, though I’m not sure if I couldn’t get just as good of an eye cream at the drugstore.  For only $19, it’s not a bad price, and Reviva Labs doesn’t test on animals.

Disclosure: This product was sent to me for review by Reviva Labs.  However, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not compensated for this review. For more information, please view my Disclosure Policy.

Hello my loves!  Did you miss me?  I sure missed you, but life has been nutty and I have been a busy bee!  While I wish I could say I was busy with all sorts of glorious things, I haven’t been (sadly).  However, I am back once again, and I brought a yummy recipe with me!  I have a few recipes I plan on sharing, and I’m going to try to get some new reviews in too!  YAY!

Hands-On Time: 20 mins.
Cooking Time: 5 mins.

Servings: Approx. 16-18 mini shells

Ingredients:
3 apples
3 TBSP butter
4-5 TBSP brown sugar
1-2 packages mini phyllo shells
Whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Peel and diced apples into small chunks.
3. Melt butter in skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Cook apples until soft, then add in brown sugar.
5. Stir until syrup forms, then remove from heat.
6. Place phyllo shells on lightly greased baking sheet.
7. Fill shells with apple mixture.
8. Bake for 5-8 mins.
9. Serve and enjoy!  You can top with whipped cream if you like

As much as I have meant to have a monthly favorites, I’ve failed miserably. I generally stick with a product once I realize how much I love it… Well, that isn’t even true. It truly depends on what the product is. I do like to test new things out, and I figure I can cheat on a beauty product without it hurting a loved one’s feelings, right?

A few months ago I started using the Bath & Body Works Triple Moisture Shower Cream for shaving. I’m not too sure what possessed me to shave with it, but I did and couldn’t be happier with that decision! I absolutely love shaving with these since they leave my legs silky soft and they seem so much more moisturized than using regular shaving gel/cream. I also seem to have a closer shave.

I did try the Bath & Body Works Shave The Day, but I didn’t care for it at all. Thank goodness I got it during the current Semi-Annual Sale at half price! I ended up with razor burn for the first time in ages after I used it, and my legs seemed so dry! Definitely not a favorite of mine!

So, if you’re in need of a good shave cream, then you might want to look into the Triple Moisture Shower Creams from B&BW. True, they’re pricey at $12 each, but you could also use it as a body wash so you don’t feel as guilty. You truly only need a dab too for your whole leg, so it’s well worth the money in the long run in my opinion. Not to mention, Bath & Body Works is always having a Buy 2 Get 1 Free (or Buy 3 Get 2 Free) sale or have coupons. My fave scent is Coconut Lime Verbena, but I sadly think this is being discontinued

Polish Insomniac is Crusin Nude

OHC Beauty is going to teach you how to Treat Tone and Moisturize

Midnight Manicures wants to take you Across the Universe

Glitter.Gloss.Garbage reviews L’Oreal Paris Double Extend Eye Illuminator

StyleEyes reviews a body was for Earth Lovers

Lambchop Mobile shows off her nail polish layering skills

Beauty by Kayla’s Rainbow Polka Dot NOTD

Beauty Mamas FOTD and Friday Favorites

Kewtified revisits Misa Paradise Shore

Killer Lipgloss is having a Father’s Day Giveaway

Creatively Yours introduces you to Danessa Myricks

Reve Noir has Glamour Doll swatches to share

Beauty Thesis reviews The Porefessional

Aquilah is having a massive Blog Sale

Royal Beauty Designs has a Target Haul

Let Them Have Polish lets Illamasqua grace her tips again

Painted Pixies swatches Zoya Casey

Purple Eye Diamond gives an update on Makeup School

Hey everyone!!! Please forgive my absence! I was feeling a little uninspired, and then I came down with a nasty, nasty cold! Now that I’m finally over that, I finally had the time to put together a MASSIVE blog sale! At least this time I came bearing presents!!!

I do have feedback on other sites, which can be supplied if requested. I prefer a minimum order of $10.00, and please feel free to make reasonable offers. Purchases of $15 or more can pick a $1 polish for free, and purchases over $20 can pick two polishes from the $1 polishes. Pictures can be taken of all items by request.

Shipping is $2.50 for the first bottle and $0.50 for each additional polish, up to a maximum of $5 unless you buy more than I can fit into a flat-rate box (which can fit anywhere from 6-8 polishes). USA & CANADA ONLY!!!

I accept PayPal only, and payment needs to be made within 48 hours of being invoiced. Items will only be held for 24 hours before I move on to the next request. I can also be swayed by the following fragrance lemmings: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Viktor & Rolf Eau Mega, Aquolina Pink Sugar Sensual, or Coach EDT.

Given the large amount of polishes listed, everything is listed by brand. Unless noted, all polishes are BN, have only been swatched, or have been used no more than 2x.

Misc. Nail Polishes – Individually priced
CND Tart-A-Licious – $3
CQ Shimmering Bark – $1
Illamasqua Fern (1/2 bottle in separate jar) – $6
MAC Violet Fire – $8
Savvy Femme Couture Red Caviar – $2

Claire’s – $2 each
Envy

Pure Ice – $2 each
Busted
Electric!
Heart Breaker

Hard Candy – $4 each
Beetle
Rumor Mill

L’Oreal – $3 each
Color of Hope
Ocean Breeze
Rendezvous
Sweet Chiffon

Milani – $3 each
2.0
Angel Pink
Bare In Mind
Fashion Design
Tailor Made

WnW – $1 each
Bijou Blue
Blue Moon
Sterling Silver

Finger Paints – $3 each
A Collector’s Dream
Art Of Theft
Art You Blue?
I’m A Survivor
Merry Mittens
Signed By The Artist

N.Y.C. – $1 each
Bowery Black
Chinatown
Downtown
Madison Avenue
Manhattan
Park Avenue (1st release – light purple iridescent)
Peony
Prospect Park Pink
Red Stiletto
West Village

Revlon – $2 each
Perplex
Star (blue glitter top coat)
Vixen

Rimmel – $2 each
Hard Edged
Night Before
Night Life (Play Fast – 1/2 bottle in different jar) – $1
Rave (Play Fast)

Maybelline – $1 each
Blackened Maroon
Blue Aluminum
Brown Aluminum
Matte Brownie
Matte Grey
Pink Glaze
Poolside Plum
Rare Ruby

Confetti – $1 each
Ice Ice Baby
Just Dancin
Masquerade Ball
My Favorite Martan
Smitten

Avon – $2 each
Golden Wine
Midnight Plum
Pearl Shine

Orly – $3 each
Garnet Truth
Je T’Aime (French Manicure)
Super Natural
Take The Plunge

Zoya – $4 each
Harlow
Irene

Color Club – $2 each
Give Me A Hint (no label – Ross set)

Nicole by OPI – $3 each
Mall Queen Mauve (50% full) – $2
Rare Vintage
Shimmy Shimmer

Sephora by OPI – $5 each
Absinthe Makes The Heart – $10
Meet For Drinks
Opening Night

Essie – $3 each
Ballet Slippers
Fiji
Looking For Love
Munis Mauve
Neo Whimsical
Potato Fields
Swept Off My Feet

Sally Hansen Complete Manicure (BN LE Colors) – $10 each
Midnight in NY
Silver Lining

Sally Hansen Salon Manicure – $5 each
Plum Licorice
Grenadine Glaze
Exotic Magenta (Canadian Exclusive)
Mulberry (Canadian Exclusive)

Sally Hansen – Misc. Lines – $2 each
Black Diamonds
Black Out
Blue Chip Frost
Diamonds
Embellish Frost
Emerald City
Flair
Lucky Cream
Pale Lilac Opal
Petal Pusher
Purple Pizzazz
Rose-a-go-go (75% full) – $1
Ruby Stilettos
Spark
Tailored Crème

China Glaze – $3 each
5 Golden Rings
Blk-Bila-Bong – $5
Caribbean Temptation
Chiaroscuro
Coral Star
Grape Juice
Light As Air
Ruby Deer
Sexy In The City
Something Sweet
Strawberry Fields
Sweet Cream Pink (50% full – old bottle style) – $1
Tempest
VII
VIII
Your Touch (75% full) – $2

OPI – $4 each
And This Little Piggy… (black label)
Black Onyx (black label)
Changing Of The Garnet (black label)
Charge It In Milan (black label)
Color Of The Zen-tury (no label)
Conga-Line Coral
Copper Mountain Copper
Cozu-melted In The Sun (black label)
Don’t Melbourne The Toast (Chip in glass, but doesn’t affect product)
Dreaming Of Red – $10
DS Jewel
Fireflies (black label)
Give Me Moor!
Holy Pink Pagoda! (black label)
How To Jamaica Million (black label)
It’s A Doozi Says Suzi
It’s Sheer Luck (black label)
I’ve “Red” The Script
Jewel Of India
Kennebunk Port (85% full – black label)
Log On To Love
Mauving To Manitoba
My Big Break
Nice Color, Eh? (black label)
OPI Ink.
OP-I Love This Color!
Overexposed In South Beach
Painted Desert Crimson (black label) – $15
Queen Of West Web-erly
Royal Flush Blush
SoHo Nice To Meet You (black label)
Sonora Sunset (90% full – black label)
Stars In My Eyes
Suzi & The Lifeguard
Suzi Loves Sydney
Suzi Skis In The Pyrenees
Sweet Heart (90% full – black label)
The More The Berrier (black label)
Tijuana Dance? (black label)
Venus Di Violet
Who Needs A Prince?
Wine Me & Dine Me

Other Items – Individually priced
Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer Shade 4 (BNNB) – $15
Victoria Secret Bombshell Fragrance Mist (x2) – $15
Mary Kay Thinking Of You EDP(x1) – $10
GAP Heaven EDT (BNIB) – $15
Banana Republic W EDT (x4) – $15
Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Fragrance Mist (x1) – $5
Bath & Body Works Country Chic Triple Moisture Body Cream (x2) – $5
Bath & Body Works Country Chic Fragrance Mist (x3) – $5
Bath & Body Works Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Mist (x3) – $5
Bath & Body Works Black Apricot Vanilla Fragrance Mist (x2) – $5
Bath & Body Works Orange Sapphire Fragrance Mist (x1) – $5
The Healing Garden Organics Pomegranate Vanilla Body Mist (x1) – $5
Barielle Ultra Soft Hand Cream SPF 15 (BNNB) – $5

Stop and see the flowers with summer’s Nice Stems! by OPI, a limited edition collection featuring four new nail lacquers in stunning shades of pink. With whimsical names based on their floral inspirations, these vibrant, flirty colors range from pale, frosty pink to rich fuchsia. Nice Stems! offers fingers and toes a perfectly pink shade for all of summer’s looks.

“These vibrant, feminine hues complement 60’s ladylike fashions, 70’s glam looks, and bold color-blocking, which are the season’s staples,” says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The Nice Stems! collection also offers an interesting contrast and feminine accent to the punk and biker looks on the runways.”

Nice Stems! by OPI shades include:

Play the Peonies
We’d put our money on this lovely soft-pink.

Come to Poppy
Surrender to shine with this shimmering coral-pink.

Be a Dahlia Won’t You?
Give the gift of fabulous fuchsia—to yourself!

I Lily Love You
Fall head over heels with this light pink sparkle.

“Using different micas and glitters can give lacquer a 3-dimensional look,” adds Weiss-Fischmann. “I Lily Love You is a glitter coat that can be layered over any of the other three shades to add a bright sparkle; or, it can be worn on its own for a subtle tint of pink with strands of glitter.”

The Nice Stems! Nail Lacquers by OPI contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

This limited edition Nice Stems! collection will be available beginning June 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each Nail Lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

******************************
OPI joins tennis superstar Serena Williams in announcing the latest three lacquers in the Glam Slam! collection. To celebrate the world’s oldest, most prestigious tennis tournament, Glam Slam! England features two duo-packs filled with sparkle.

The first Lacquer set includes Your Royal Shine-ness, a metallic silver shade, paired with Servin’ Up Sparkle, a shimmer-packed silver glitter. The second Lacquer set also features Servin’ Up Sparkle, along with Grape…Set…Match, a metallic purple.

“England’s premier tennis tournament warrants colors with extra glitz and glamour,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The next big trend in nails is making lacquer look 3-dimensional by adding different micas and glitters, turning fingertips into jewelry. With two bold metallics and a sparkling glitter, these colors are fit for royalty.”

“For stand-out nails, I love experimenting with different glitter shades,” explains Serena Williams. “The new Glam Slam! England lacquers can be worn alone for a bright pop of color, or layered with Servin’ Up Sparkle to create a textured effect.”

Serena Williams has received the World Number One in singles ranking by the Women’s Tennis Association on five separate occasions, along with being listed as sixth on the all-time greatest champions list. Additionally, she has won two Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles and has earned 27 Grand Slam titles to date. Serena is the most recent player to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously and only the fifth woman in history to do so.

New shades in the Glam Slam! collection will be introduced to coincide with each of the four major tournaments, beginning with the Australian Open in January 2011, followed by launches in May 2011 for the French Open, June 2011 for Wimbledon and August 2011 for the US Open. As with all OPI Nail Lacquers, the Glam Slam! collection contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and each includes OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.

Glam Slam! England will be available beginning June 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $14.95 ($20.95 CAN) suggested retail for each duo-pack.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

Servin Up Sparkle

Grape… Set… Match

Your Royal Shine-Ness