February 2012 Edition: My Wishlist

It's the month of LOVE...and, I can't help but gush over some very, splurge-worthy items this month. Perhaps, my Valentine will read this post and pick something just for me!

1. NARS Makeup Removing Water: This is a brand new item that has been getting glowing reviews across the blogging community. I'm curious about how it compares to other micellar waters (Bioderma Crealine, La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution, etc.). Available at NARS counters and online for $28.00.
2. Kate Spade Haircalf All Wrapped Up Bow Belt: I saw this unusual belt last fall, but didn't wan to commit to the full price. It's now on sale (50% off), so maybe I'll take the plunge. It would certainly pair well with a little black dress! Available at Kate Spade for $72.00.
3. J. Crew Tillary Purse: I've been stalking this red handbag ever since I received my January J.Crew catalog. While it's more compact than my others, this one seems so versatile. You can adjust the strap into various lengths, or, remove it altogether and transform the handbag into a clutch. Available at J.Crew for $148.00.
4. Kate Spade Sealed with a Kiss Cards: Here's a pretty set of 10 cards with lined envelopes. Perfect for Valentine's Day, or everyday love notes. Available at Kate Spade for $25.00.
5. Trish McEvoy Wild Blueberry Vanilla Scented Candle (90 oz): My favorite candle in gigantic form. Seriously, this 4-wick size will last FOREVER (ok...200 hours). Available at Trish McEvoy.com for $375.00.
6. Tom Ford Martina Cat Eye Sunglasses: Love, love, love! Yes, I've shared a similar cat eye in the past. But these are not as extreme in their shape. Available at Bloomingdale's for $390.00.

The Balm is the Bomb: Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15

One of my pesky skin care issues is constant dry lips, especially during the winter months. Their utterly annoying and prevent my lip color from applying smoothly. To help remedy the problem, I always apply a thick coating of By Terry Baume De Rose at night. It's one of those holy grail products that I can't live without. However, it is super pricey and its glass pot container isn't practical for day use as it takes up extra space in my handbag and I'm always afraid of breaking it.

One amazing — wallet-friendly — alternative is Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15. Specially formulated with Wheat Germ and Olive Oil, this comfortable, non-greasy lip balm immediately goes to work comforting and protecting lips. Just a dab of the thick balm will generously cover your lips and stay put for hours at a time so you don't have to constantly apply it. And, I love its sleek and portable polished silver tin. It adds a little extra va va voom to your makeup bag or purse!

My only pet peeve is does leave an icky aftertaste in my mouth if I apply too much.

Purchase info: Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15 is available at local Bobbi counters and online. It retails for $19.00 (.5 oz).

Beyond the Iconic Trench: Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation

When I think about Burberry, my mind immediately pictures a nicely structured, yet elegant, trench. Perhaps in a lovely shade of teal or maybe practical beige. Add some striped rain boots, and I'm ready for a London stroll in the rain. Back to reality...I live in Southern California and rain is rare in these neck of the woods. However, I can still appreciate some Burberry, but instead from the beauty department.

Recently, I visited the Burberry counter in Nordstrom South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA). We don't have a counter in San Diego county, so this was the closest one to me. I was extremely curious about trying Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation as I've heard nothing but positive feedback.

A friendly sales associate from another line offered to match me since the Burberry counter manager was not available. She automatically reached for Trench No. 3 — a light beige shade with peach undertones. Its peach undertones reminded me of Trish McEvoy's Treatment Foundation in Cream.

For the past week or so, I've been testing a store sample of No. 3 and experienced favorable results. On the skin, it was a tad dark, but it was very sheer and blendable and seemed to melt into my skin. I feared that it would oxidize to a darker hue with time, but it remained true to its original shade throughout the day. (Note, next time I'll try No. 4 as it seems more yellow and less peach, which might be a better match for me.)

I immediately loved how it hydrated my skin, similar to a moisturizer. What surprised me most was that even though the product is sheer, it is extremely buildable if I want more coverage. It also wore extremely well throughout the day although my t-zone did get slightly oily in the late afternoon. I found that a light dusting of powder after application took care of this issue.

Overall, it was quite lovely and a viable alternative to Chanel VITALUMIÈRE AQUA.

Purchase info: Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation is available at Burberry Beauty counters in 9 shades. It retails for $55.00.

A Drugstore 2-for-1 Dry Hair Wonder: L'Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner

I've tried countless times to find drugstore hair products that impressed me. But I usually end up wasting my pennies on products that don't work for my hair type — dry, curly, and extremely sensitive to sulfates and silicones. However, after hearing some positive buzz around the beauty blogs and curly hair web communities, I decided to try L'Oreal's EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner. It's part of a new drugstore product line designed for dryer hair types.

EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner is is an ultra-gentle, combination of 1/4 cleanser + 3/4 moisture, which is formulated with Omega-3 and 6 to leave hair super soft and nourished without weighdown. According to L'Oreal, its a low-poo, or low-lather, cleansing product that reduces friction of the hair fiber to help minimize breakage.

In my experience, there is absolutely no lather. It's pretty much like trying to use conditioner as a cleanser, which is a growing trend in the curly girl community. Unfortunately, I've never had great luck with low-poo products since they just weighdown my hair and leave flaky buildup. But I decided to give this one a whirl.

On the first "shampoo," I made the mistake of not following the directions correctly. I treated EverCream Cleansing Conditioner as a regular shampoo and rinsed it out immediately and followed with my regular conditioner, Matrix Biolage hydrathérapie Conditioning Balm. I then washed out the conditioner and applied a leave-in conditioner plus gel. Once my hair dried, I immediately noticed that my hair was over conditioned and extremely dull. Rather than wait a few days between shampoos, I immediately went back to my regular shampoo and conditioner routine the next day. And, I had the best hair day ever! Hmm...interesting.

I don't give up easy, so I gave EverCream Cleansing Conditioner another shot. This time I read the directions on the bottle! I realized that I needed to leave the product in my hair for 1 to 2 minutes BEFORE rinsing. Since I was shaving my legs, it probably stayed on for about 5 minutes. In addition, I generously worked the product in through from root to end. The last time I just applied to my scalp since I was treating it more as a shampoo.

I also read on the bottle that there is no need to use another conditioner. So, I went ahead and combed it through at the 3-minute mark just as I do with the Biolage rinse-out conditioner. Since the comb slipped through my hair super easily, I skipped the Biolage. However, I still used my leave-in and styling gel combo.

Once my hair was completely dry, it was incredibly shiny and soft — yet not over conditioned — and my curls were well defined. The typical "extra" hair volume and frizz were gone even on a rainy day, a curly girl's worst nightmare! In fact, it stayed nearly perfect for another two days.

I've repeated the same process four times and had the best hair days ever. My only complaint...the product's pump. It's terrible in dispensing the rich product. I think it would dispense easier from a tube.

Purchase info: L'Oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner is available at drugstores and mass retailers. It retails for $6.99 (8.3 oz bottle). I bought it on sale at Target for $5.99.

Post-Workout Muscle Reviver: AHAVA Mineral Bath Salt in Sugared Fig

January is my up-the-ante workout month where I meet with a trainer for a few weeks to get my bod in better shape for the new year. However, my muscles always take a beating after these intense training sessions, and I long for instant relief! One way I'm dealing with the pain is via my tub and a big ol' handful of bath salts. There is something so wonderfully therapeutic in these salts from the sea.

One of my new favorites — AHAVA Mineral Bath Salt in Sugared Fig — was discovered after Christmas on a clearance shelf at my local Ulta. This limited-edition item contains 100% pure Dead Sea salts that are scented with natural oils. This sugary fig combination is both sweet and fruity, a combination that I love.

For best results, I'll pour a generous handful (or two) of salts into my bath water while it's running. I'll then sit back, relax and soak for 20 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to completely unwind and let the salts work their magic on my sore muscles. I also find that a good soak helps me sleep like a baby!

Purchase info: AHAVA Mineral Bath Salt in Sugared Fig is a limited edition item so it may be hard to find in stores. However, their are a few online retailers such as Amazon.com and Skinstore.com that still have it listed on their site. I snagged my jar for less than $10.00, but normally this item is priced closer to $22.00.