Shout Out to the Cosmetics Cop

If any of you have listened to me talk... okay, rant... about beauty and skin care products, you've inevitably heard me talk about Paula Begoun. I absolutely love her! If you've read any of my reports, you've seen her name countless times. That's because she really knows her stuff and she backs up all of her opinions with solid scientific evidence. If I've learned anything in my three years as a beauty writer, it's that you can't always trust everything you see in fashion magazines (even though they're super fun to read). After you've looked at beauty editors' recommendations enough times, you start to see a trend. They hype up the same things that manufacturers hype. But manufacturers want to sell their products... and they'll say just about anything to do so. Hence, all of those wrinkle creams that didn't work for you! (Come on, admit it... you know you secretly try them... or at least want to.)

That's why I don't hesitate to recommend Paula's line of skin care and cosmetics, Paula's Choice, even though I have never personally tried them. (But, I'm going to... I really am. I just usually go for immediate gratification at my local Wal-Mart over online ordering. But I will be ordering her Exfoliating BHA Liquid when I get paid this week...watch for an upcoming review.) I know that she only uses the best, proven-to-be-effective ingredients and she doesn't make any over-the-top promises. And here's what makes Paula vastly different than any other manufacturer in the beauty industry: Even though she sells beauty products, she still recommends hundreds (if not thousands) of products from other manufacturers. Who else does that?? In fact, many of my favorite products come from her recommendations.

Check out Paula's latest blog post to see what else is unique, and special, about her product line. I have a few products from her line on my wish list. What products are you dying to try?

And the winner is.....

Thanks for all of your votes and comments! You guys are the BEST! I seriously have the best friends, family and neighbors ever. It looks like haircut #3 is the winner. Stay tuned to see after pics.

We have a winner in the drawing..... LIZ KIRKBY, it's YOU!!!! Stay tuned... maybe I can convince Liz to share a review of the mascara for us!

Have a fun 4th! See you back here soon.

Time for a new hair do

I noticed today that my hair is getting a little wacky and unmanageable. I'm way overdue for a haircut and color, if you can't tell. I want to do something different, but I'm not quite sure what. I have a very ROUND face and I really don't want to accentuate it. Nor do I want to accentuate my nose. And, yes, a haircut can do that! Help me choose by leaving a comment below with your fave pick (you can tell me too if you don't like any of them). Also let me know if you have any color choices. Be honest!
Note: All pictures are courtesy of InStyle magazine's Hollywood Hair Virtual Makeover

Hairstyle #1: (above) Ignore the weird sheen - it occurred when I changed the original hair color.


Hairstyle #2: (left) This is the one I'm leaning towards. I love the dimension this one gives to my face and head.


(I'm totally kidding.... don't vote for number 2 .... it will NEVER happen.)



Hairstyle #3: (Right)
And last, hairstyle #4:


Leave a comment with your vote and I'll enter you in a drawing for a free Cover Girl Great Lash mascara!

FREE Stuff at Ulta.com

I just found out about a SMOKING deal at Ulta.com... spend $25 and get free shipping and 8 free samples. The catch? It's only good for today... so hurry and check it out! Need some product suggestions? I just love Cover Girl TruBlend Liquid makeup (foundation... it's lightweight and the colors really match skin - at least mine) and Cover Girl Advanced Radiance Pressed Powder.


other good stuff: Neutrogena Age Shield Sunscreen, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer (tinted moisturizer), Maybelline The Collosal Volume (mascara) and many, many more.


Need some help? Ask me for product recommendations... it's what I do for a living, so I have access to some GREAT resources. Just leave a comment below with your questions.... please??

(Keep scrolling down the page: I'm also sharing some coupons for later use.) And check back often... The only thing I love more than a SWEET deal is SHARING it!!

6/19/10 ONLY! Free Shipping & 8 Free Samples w/ ANY $25 Purchase Using Code 57372 - ONLINE EXCLUSIVE


And here are the coupons I promised:
$10 off any $60 purchase (some exclusions) - use code 50116 (6/6 - 6/26)


$3.50 off any $10 Purchase (some exclusions) - use code 46544 (6/6 - 6/26)

Losing it

I'm starting a new diet today... okay, I've been sort of doing it for a few days. I've got about 35 pounds to lose and I just need to do it. Not just because of the way I look, but because of how I feel. I've just been tired and ho-hum.... okay, it's because I want to fit in some decent clothes, but hopefully I'll feel better in the process.

So, here's what I look like now (no, I'm not pregnant):

(Let me just tell you that it take a lot of guts for me to post a pic like this in all of my glory... so hopefully it will be worth it.)

Here's what I look like in my head:

Just kidding.

This is how I really imagine myself (on the right) and, as you can see, the pictures don't quite match. I'm a little stuck in the past. The picture was taken when my 9-year-old was a baby and I had lost a lot of weight. I was doing the Herbalife program at the time and it really worked. I lost 35 pounds in 2 1/2 months.

I'm going to try that again. I liked it because it was easy. I didn't have to cook any special food, count calories or points, or weigh my food. I just don't have the time or motivation for that right now. So, I'm going for easy. Check back next week to see how it's going.

Starting weight: 150.6 pounds (Did I mention I'm only 5'3"... even though in my mind, I'm about 5'10" with legs a mile long.......I can dream, right?)

Life Lessons Learned at the Blogger Conference

I just attended an amazing blogging conference in Sandy, UT over the weekend. (I believe it was created by the women at MormonMommyBlogs.)I'm brand new to the blogging thing, but I'm so glad that I went. Not only did I get to meet some great, amazing, funny people but I learned a lot too. Here's my top 10:



10. Blogging is a lot more work than it seems. Not only do you have to figure out what you want to write about (your niche), you have to find your own, unique voice, then you have to find followers... facebook, twitter, SEO (keywords) and networking. wheeew!!!

9. Blogging is about connecting. When we blog, we take a piece of ourselves and put it on display to share with the world. This can be scary, but you never know who might benefit from your experience.

8. Women build relationships by chatting, men build relationships with action. Hey, you never know what you'll learn at a blogging conference! But, that statement does explain a LOT... think about it.

7. I CAN get organized. That's gonna take some serious time and patience on my part, but I CAN DO IT. Marie Ricks was there and she gave me some one-on-one guidance, that really impacted me on a very personal and spiritual level. That was worth the conference fee, in itself. And I bought her system... even though I said I never would. I'm telling you... you just never know what to expect from a blogging conference.

6. Zupas has yummy food. I will be bringing my husband back.

5. Maybe high fructose corn syrup isn't so bad?? The jury's still out on that one, but at least I know that there are differing opinions on everything. And NO ONE tried to tell me that sunscreen is bad.

4. Companies really like to give away tons of stuff. And I mean, tons. It's all publicity, I guess.

3. Apparently, I'm not very lucky, because even though I had tons of tickets, I didn't win anything. Darn it!

2. Photography is pretty tech-y, but I think I'll give it a try anyway.

1. I have a LOT to learn... and it's going to take me some time to figure it all out. In the mean time, I hope you'll all bear with me. I may have to make some changes a long the way (pivot), but it's all a journey, right?

Comment below and let me know what type of beauty posts you'd like to see.

Why do we buy into the hype?

I just read the latest posting from Paula Begoun's blog, beautybunch.com. I could go on and on about Paula's wisdom, and I probably will in a later post. Needless to say, this post really hit home for me.

The various players in the beauty industry are truly marketing geniuses because they have us buying into (literally) all of their over-hyped promises and false premises. But, who can blame them, really, when we will continue to pay big bucks on our never-ending journey to the fountain of youth, beauty in a bottle and other such hype?

Even my editor, in my day job, often fights me on my claims that these lies just aren't true, and I have loads of research (that I document) to back me up. The fact of the matter is that more money does not equal a better product, eye creams are not necessary, nothing in the beauty aisle can get rid of pesky dark circles and a higher SPF does not always mean more protection ... and many, many more. I promise to write more about each of these topics as this blog progresses.

In the meantime, I challenge you to be a detective and compare ingredient labels. Even if you if you don't understand what each of those super long scientific names means, you'll be able to tell that the lists are virtually the same, regardless of price. Let me know, if there is a particular product that you love and swear by!

What's in my vanity?

I have a little secret... even though I know a lot about what goes into skin care products, I still don't have it all figured out for myself. But here's the thing, our skin is always changing. So we have to understand that the product we absolutely adore today, may not work as well for us a year from now, or even next month. Some of this has to do with seasonal changes, but our age and hormones also affect our skin. The other thing: what works for me, may not work for you. Talk about confusing, right?! But, when you understand the ingredients and how they work, then you'll have a better chance of finding what does work for you. Although, it'll probably take some experimentation. So here's what I use... some of it I swear by, and others I'm not completely sold on.

• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser - I LOVE this stuff. It's so affordable and it works! It cleans off all of the makeup (although sometimes I have to go back over my eyes a second time), without leaving my skin feeling tight. This works for all skin types, except super dry or sensitive... in that case, you can use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (although, you'll need a seperate eye make-up remover... I'm still working on a favorite in that category).

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment - This is a definite keeper. In fact, I'm a little scared to try anything else. It has salicylic acid, which can usually be a bit drying. But this stuff does not dry my skin out and if I use it every day, it keeps the acne at bay (do you like my little jingle?).
  

• Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel - You guys, this stuff is soooo good! In fact, it's the only product I use that I can't get at the drugstore. But it's still super affordable. It has 5% benzoyl peroxide, but it does not irritate or dry your skin out.

• Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum, Fragrance-Free - If this stuff had sunscreen, I would use it in place of my daily moisturizer. I love the way this feels on my skin! It provides all the moisture that my normal-to-oily skin needs, without feeling too heavy or greasy. But, it won't be enough for you if you have dry skin. Plus, I know I'm feeding my skin well with Olay - it has lots of antioxidants and other good-for-skin ingredients.

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch SPF 30 - This isn't technically a "facial moisturizer", but it provides just enough moisture for me, especially in the summer. It dries to a slightly powdery finish, that keeps my oil at bay. Plus its a great primer for makeup. A lot of athletes also love the texture of this because it stays put - no running into your eyes when you sweat.

• Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF15 - I'm not completely sold on this. It has excellent ingredients, but it usually a little to heavy for my slightly oily skin. If you don't have oily skin, you'll probably love it. Don't use it if you have sensitive skin, though - it contains a little bit of fragrance, which can cause irritation.
  

• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream Night Treatment - This is another one that is a little too heavy for my skin type. I want to love it though. It's loaded with antioxidants and retinol (which fights wrinkles). If you have normal to slightly dry skin, this one is a good bet.
  

I'll keep you posted on other products I find. In the meantime, what are your favorite skin care products and why?

Welcome

Hi world, welcome to my blog! I'm finally biting the bullet and joining the wonderful world of blogging. Just a little about me and what you can look forward to here: I am a professional health and beauty writer. I know lots of scientific stuff about skin care, cosmetics and hair products, but I'll try not to bore you with too much of that! Since I've been writing so much about beauty products, I've had the chance to try out lots and lots of fun products... and I want to share what I've discovered with you.

But, I must admit, I'm no fashion diva. In fact, you might even call me the Ugly Betty of the beauty industry. I'm a mom of 4 kids with a crazy busy schedule. Confession: I've been know to go shopping without makeup and I've even gotten the mail in my pajamas on more than a few occasions! But, as much as my neighbors might disagree, I actually do care about the way I look. I'm 34 but I still feel like I'm 25, and I'd love to look like it too.

So this blog, is my journey and I'm sharing it with you. I'm a writer, not a cosmetologist, so I know lots of details but not a lot of technique. But I'll share with you what I have learned and what I'm trying. And maybe you can even share a few tips with me along the way.

What to look forward to:

• product reviews and comparisons

• budget options (I don't like to spend too much if I don't have to)

• quick, timesaver tips

• sale prices and coupons that I find along the way

Coming up soon: What's in my vanity? and What's in my makeup bag? Plus, I'm currently testing out several sunless tanners. Look for details and product recommendations in next couple of weeks.
In the meantime, let me know if there is anything in particular you'd like me to cover. See you soon!