A Radiant Summer Glow

Hello Everyone,

We all want healthy looking glowing skin during the summertime. It's a time when we show the most skin and we want our skin looking it's best. One of the best ways to achieve more radiant skin starts with exfoliating. When you exfoliate your skin you are removing the very top layer of dull, dead dry skin cells. When these dead skin cells are removed it helps to expose new radiant skin. There are several different brands of facial and body scrubs on the market.

My personal all time favorite facial scrub is "St. Ives Timeless Skin Apricot Scrub" This scrub contains alpha hydroxyl and natural finely crushed walnut shells to exfoliate, polish, soften, and smooth the skin. This scrub leaves my face feeling refreshed and very soft. Another facial scrub that I like to use also from "St. Ives" is their Sensitive Skin Apricot Scrub. This scrub has a bit more exfoliating particles and I use this one when I want a deeper exfoliation.

For my body I like to use an exfoliating body wash. The body wash that I used is "Irish Spring Deep Action Scrub" This contains tiny little beads that polish the skin and of course remove dead skin cells. Now I know that "Irish Spring" is marketed for men, but it can be used by women as well. It has a refreshing cool scent. In my opinion is has a unisex scent so it's suitable for men and women.

The are also homemade facial scrub recipes that you can make yourself out of some very common household ingredients. One of the facial scrub recipes I have tried is made with good old natural sugar and it's incredibly simple to make.

First you want to start with a clean face so wash your face with the facial cleanser of your choice. Then combine 2 tablespoons of sugar with 1 teaspoon of water. Mix to create a smooth paste. Apply to your face with your fingertips and gently message in a circular motion. Enjoy more beautiful glowing skin!

Victoria's Secret Makeup

Hi Everyone

I visited the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale over the weekend and picked up some makeup. This was the third time I've gone during this sale. I usually don't purchase VS makeup so I decided to try some new stuff. First we have...

1)Prime and Glow Kit: This kit was created to help you get flawless-looking skin that glows and a makeup application that lasts. This includes four of VS pro bestsellers.

• Airbrush FX Perfecting Primer SPF 20
• Lasting FX Eye Shadow Primer
• Light FX Eye Brightener
• Radiant FX Face Illuminator

Airbrush FX Perfecting Primer SPF 20: This primer is suppose to create a smooth velvety surface for flawless application that lasts. I'm new to primers in fact this is the very first primer I have ever tried. When I applied the primer to my face it felt heavy and oily. Honesty this primer didn't make my makeup look any smoother and definitely far from flawless. After a couple of hours my face looked greasy.

Lasting FX Eye Shadow Primer: The eye shadow primer actually works pretty well. It does what it claims to do. I applied this to my eyelid up to my browbone. Then I applied my eye makeup and it stays on really well throughout the day. The colors of my eye shadow are more vibrant and it doesn't crease.

Light FX Eye Brightener: This is used to brighten the look of dark shadows under the eye. I don't have a problem with dark circles under my eyes, but I really like the brightening effects of this eye brightener. It gives my faces a refreshed look.

Radiant FX Face Illuminator: This is suppose to diffuse the look of imperfections and give your complexion a warm glow. This illuminator is a cream with a light shimmer to create a dewy glow. However this was too light for my skin tone. I think this would have worked well for me if the color blended better with my skin.

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2) The Essentials Color Collection: I love this cute hot pink makeup bag. This little bag includes deluxe mini sizes of the VS Essentials Color Collection.

• Baked Mineral Bronzing Powder
• Color Drama Lipstick
• Eye Shadow Duo

Baked Mineral Bronzing Powder (Goddess shade): This gives your face a sun-kissed glow like you've spent the day at the beach and got a nice tan. I use this bronzer to contour areas of my nose and my cheeks. It creates good contours on those areas. I also dust a little on my face for a light shimmering glow.

Color Drama Lipstick (True shade):  This lipstick feels very moisturizing on my lips. It glides on nice and smooth. I would describe the color as a creamy neural light pink. Kind of like a nude color. This lipstick does not have good staying power. I had to re-apply within a couple hours and I didn't eat or drink anything within that time.

Eye Shadow Duo (Modern Love shade): I like the way the two colors of this eye shadow blend together. I would describe these as a sandy earthy color. I used the lighter of the two colors as the base and blended the darker color from my lashline to the crease. It creates a soft natural look.

3) VS Tutorial Eye Shadow Kit: These eye shadow kits provide pictures and instructions on how to create the specific look featured on each eye shadow kit.

Sultry Spring: This eye shadow kit has pretty pastel colors that are perfect for spring. The colors blend well together and they don't crease or fade. The pictures and instructions were clear and easy to follow. This helps you learn a new application technique if you don't already know it.

Sexy Smoky: This eye shadow kit helps you to create the ever popular smoky eye. It features the classic smoky eye colors of black, gray, and white. It also has brown and tan colors as well for a different smoky eye effect. The colors are dark and rich and create a wonderful smoky eye effect.

Taking Skincare Up a Notch

Hello Everyone,

As some of you may already know from some of my previous posts I have acne prone skin. So I've been searching for a cleansing system that would provide a really deep, exfoliating yet gentle cleansing at a reasonable price. I did some online research and came across facial cleansing brushes. I learned that they can be very beneficial at removing dirt, oil, and makeup up the 6X better than traditional cleansing. There are several different brands of facial cleansing brushes on the market today. They range from expensive high end facial brushes to more affordable reasonably priced facial brushes. One of the most popular of these facial cleansing brands is "Clarisonic" This brand offers a wide range of rechargeable sonic pulsing facial cleansing brushes for specific facial cleansing needs. Although this brand has a wide variety of choices Clarisonic also comes with a pretty hefty price tag with prices starting at $110 to over $200.


Unfortunately that is way out of my price range. So when I spotted "Olay Advanced Cleansing System Limited Edition Pink" I immediately bought it for just $29.99. On Olay's website it claims that their Advanced Cleansing System is as effective as a system sold for $200 (Clarisonic)I figured If Olay claims their $30 facial brush preforms as well as one sold for $200 it's definitely worth a try.

At a Glance: When I first opened the box I noticed that the actual brush head is much smaller than the brush head pictured on the front of the box. The difference between the actual size of the brush head is kind of misleading and I was slightly disappointed.But I do like the pretty pink color of this facial brush. This cleansing system includes

• 2-speed, rotating water resistant system
• Replaceable soft bristle brush head
• Sample of Olay ProX Exfoliating Renewal (.68 oz)
• 2 AA batteries

Putting it Together: The battery compartment was a little difficult to remove because is creates a water tight seal. The directions say to gently rock the battery compartment side to side while pulling down. This was not so easy to do, but after a few tries I finally got it off. The brush head on the other hand was very easy to attach. It snaps easily into place by simply pressing it on.

A Good Deep Cleansing: Although this came with a sample size of Olay ProX Exfoliating Renewal I didn't use it. It can be used with a wide range of different facial cleansers so I chose to use my Olay Foaming Facial Cleanser. I applied some of it to the brush head and turned on the power button on the back of the handle. I used the higher of the two speed settings and it really felt good on my face. I have to admit when I first purchased this I was slightly skeptical about how this facial brush would perform. I thought that the brush would be to harsh and rough on my skin, but the brush is actually very soft and gentle and feels like a nice facial message. The brush rotates in a circular motion. There is no pulsing action with this brush. This really gave my skin an excellent cleansing it removed all traces of makeup from my face. It really exfoliates and polishes the skin and it makes my skin feel very soft like the softening effects of a microdermabrasion system. My face felt so much softer and smoother after the first use. The texture of my skin seems to be improving all ready. I've only been using this for a couple of days and so far I'm really liking the positive effects of this product.

Brush Replacement: The Advanced Cleansing System does not come with any replacement heads. They are sold separately, but are pretty easy to find. They are available at Walmart, Target, most drugstores, and online. There are no specific instructions as to how often to change the brush heads. I guess it's a matter of personal judgment. I think I'll replace my brush head every two months or so. There are also no specific instructions on brush sanitation. I remove the brush head rinse it really well and wash it with a little bit of facial cleanser then I rinse it again and let it air dry.

The Bottom Line: If your looking for a great deep cleansing at a fraction of the price of the more high end brands I definitely recommend trying this product. It cleans thoroughly and really softens, smooths, and exfoliates very well. It's easy to use and can be used with practically any facial cleanser of your choice. It's well worth a try it's a great savings and it sure beats paying $200.

A Clean Routine

Ok I realize this may be an awkward and perhaps a little too personal. So please forgive me if this is a little too touchy for some, but today I want to talk about personal hygiene. I have watched many different videos on Youtube.com on this subject and it seems to be a new trend in the beauty world. Oddly enough I find these "hygiene routine" videos to very interesting to watch. In these videos women discuss the various products that they use to keep themselves fresh and clean. Let me just be clear when I say "personal hygiene" I mean general personal hygiene. I won't be touching on feminine hygiene in this particular post. This post is in no way an attempt to educate anyone on keeping themselves clean as I believe that is a matter of personal judgment. I just want to share the products that I'm currently using to keep myself feeling fresh, clean, and confident. My hygiene routine changes all the time. I'm always rotating and changing what I use. I change up my routine during the colder weather months to incorporate more moisturizing products to combat the drying effects of the winter air.

I want to share the products I use on a daily basis during the summer months. The products that I'm featuring today are part of my summertime hygiene routine. So I'm pretty much going to be walking step by step what I do when I'm in the shower, when get out of the shower and, right before I get dressed.

Rinse it Real Good
1) The first thing I do when I get in the shower is give myself a good rinsing and just let the water run over me for a minute or so.
2) Then I wash my face with Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser or if want a good foaming cleansing I'll use Olay Foaming Face Wash for sensitive skin, but before I wash my face I wash my hands with the same cleanser as I'm washing my face with. I do this to wash any germs away on my hands as well as I don't like to get any other product residue such as body wash etc. on my face that could potentially cause irritation to my sensitive skin. I know sounds a little OCD, but The facial cleansers I'm current using don't cause irritation so I don't want other products to get on my face,
3) Next I'll usually wash and condition my hair with L'Oreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing shampoo and conditioner.  I wash and condition thirdly because I like my conditioner to really penetrate my hair for the duration of my shower. This is the best Moisturizing haircare line for my hair needs. Makes my hair so soft, smooth, and shiny.

Time to get Clean
4) Maybe this is my OCD kicking in again but if I use a body wash I almost always wash with a bar soap first. I love using body wash but it's just habit for me to wash with bar soap first. As some of you may already know during the summer I like to use Dove Go Fresh Cucumber and Green Tea soap. And I always wash up twice whether I'm using soap and then a body wash or just soap on it's own. I love the fresh cool scent of Dove Go Fresh in the summer.
5) After the first washing with soap, I'll usually wash up a second time with body wash. My body wash of choice these days is Neutrogena Rainbath Refreshing shower and bath gel. I love the scent that this shower gel leaves on my skin. The scent is so wonderful and unique.

A Smooth Touchable Shave
6) I like to use Pure Silk Cherry Blossom Shave Cream for the days that I shave my legs and my underarms. This shave cream is actually a cream and not a shave gel. The cherry blossom scent is amazing. I use Bic Soliel Bella which is a four blade razor. The four blades do a nice job of providing a close, smooth, and comfortable shave without any nicks or razor bumps. Also I don't have to go over the same areas. Kind of a one and done deal.

Soft as a Baby's Bottom
7) After my shower I dry off and moisturize my face with Up& Up Sensitive Skin Facial Lotion which I purchase from Target. This lotion it really light and it absorbs fast with no heavy sticky feeling.
8)Then I apply lotion while my skin is still damp. Applying lotion to damp skin will give you the best moisturizing benefits because damp skin absorbs and seals in moisture best. My two lotions of choice are Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh and Johnson's Original Baby Lotion. I like to use these lotions during the summer months because they lightly moisturize and they absorb quickly without any sticky residue.
9) If I'm showering at night, after my shower I will apply my Neutrogena Light Night cream to my face. In the morning my face is super soft smooth.

The finishing Touches
10) Now comes the finishing touches. I apply my deodorant which is Secret Outlast in Completely Clean scent. It contains 19% of the antiperspirant ingredient and it works really well for me. Next I apply my fragrance. My two favorite scents right now are Victoria's Secret Dream Angels Divine Angel Mist and Bath & Body Works classic Juniper Breeze Body Splash.

Well...That completes my "hygiene routine" I think my routine is pretty simple. Some of the videos I've seen makes me think "You seriously do all those steps everyday"? I thought it would be fun to share my routine on how I stay fresh and clean and I really enjoyed doing so. Thanks for reading!



Dry Hair Remedy

Over the years I have tried many different shampoos, conditioners, and treatments in search of something that would moisturize my dry chemically processed hair. Several months ago I discovered L'Oreal's EverCreme line. All the products in this haircare line are sulfate-free, paraben-free, and 100% vegan. I can honestly say that this is the best moisturizing haircare line I have ever used. My hair is smoother, shinier, and incredibly soft! I also love the scent, it smells like warm vanilla buttercream frosting! Here are some reviews of my favorite Evercreme products. 

EverCreme Intense Nourishing Shampoo
This shampoo far surpasses every other shampoo I've tried so far. It's even better than the salon brands I have tried and for a friction of the price. I have a lot of fine, dry, chemically processed hair and this shampoo cleanses and moisturizes my hair without stripping it of it's natural oils. It lathers very nicely and glides it on your hair smoothly like a conditioner. My hair is smooth, shiny, and incredibly soft to the touch. The EverCreme line is a great for ethnic hair and again the scent is amazing!

EverCreme Intense Nourishing Conditioner
This conditioner literally makes my hair feel like silk! Prior to using the EverCreme I was previously using L'Oreal's EverSleek line (which I love as well), but EverCreme works even better for my hair. This hydrates my hair without weighing it down. It's so hard to find products that moisturize well without weighing down my fine hair. EverCreme works so well at rinsing clean and leaving my hair full of body yet soft and moisturized.

EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner
I'm very new to cleansing conditioners in fact this is the first one I have ever tried. I must say I am impressed. It's thick and creamy just like a traditional conditioner, but it foams ever so slightly. It really does a great job of cleansing and conditioning in one simple step. It's gentler than ordinary shampoo because it cleanses without stripping essential natural oils from my hair. It's also a great time saver because it's one simple step to soft, manageable hair. The only negative thing I could find about this cleansing conditioner is the pump bottle design. You have to pump the bottle a lot to get enough product to cleanse your hair. Aside from that it is a great product and it really works well for me.

EverCreme Nourishing Leave-in-Spray
This nourishing leave-in-spray softens and conditions my hair without weighing it down or leaving any residue. My hair is so easy to detangle after using this spray. I use this while my hair is still damp. I also use this as a heat protection spray. It really helps to smooth my hair to glossy shiny perfection! Unlike most conditioning sprays that have a watery base, EverCreme leave-in-spray is actually a cream. It's very nourishing and hydrating and it makes combing a cinch!

If you have dry hair EverCreme is a great moisturizing haircare line. The shampoo and conditioner come in two varieties. "Nourishing" for normal to dry hair and "Intense Nourishing" for dry to very dry hair. EverCreme is also very budget friendly. So if your looking for a great quality moisturizing haircare line at a great affordable price you should give EverCreme a try. You may be very pleasantly surprised.

New Found Love

I have seen this shower gel on store shelves for years, and I've always been curious about it. So one day while in my local CVS pharmacy I found myself on the soap and body wash aisle staring at Neutrogena Rainbath. My curiosity finally got the best of me and I decided to purchase it. I must say I'm in love! This is like nothing I've ever tried before. The scent is very unique and aromatic. The scent is described as being a blend of spice, fruits, and herbs. To me it smells warm and musky with hints of sandalwood and spice. It's almost smells a bit masculine, but I still love the scent. It's very therapeutic and it's a great morning pick-me-up. It really wakes up your senses and gets you ready to take on the day! It rinses clean and lightly moisturizes.
This is not your typical sweet, fruity, frilly shower gel. So that being said if your a person who is strictly into really soft feminine scented shower gels this may not be your cup of tea. This is such a sophisticated and luxurious scent and I'm so glad I finally gave it a try. This shower gel is definitely my new favorite.

Softness in a Bottle

I picked up this bottle of Johnson's Baby Lotion on a whim at my local Walmart. I hadn't used baby lotion in quite some time, so I almost forgot how wonderful it is. This pretty pink lotion truly makes my skin feel baby soft. It has a creamy non-greasy consistency that glides on smooth and absorbs quickly. The classic baby powder scent is fresh and subtle and it doesn't interfere with my perfume. It provides all day moisture and softness and it's gentle enough to be used as a facial moisturizer. It also works wonders as a primer (base) for makeup. My foundation goes on nice and smooth! Baby lotion is a really great bargain as it costs much less than regular lotions. You really can't beat the great price and performance. It's an excellent gentle lotion. For me this is definitely a keeper.

My Current Skincare Regimen

I'm always on the search for the perfect facial cleanser and moisturizer for my sensitive skin. Not only is my skin sensitive, but it's also prone to breakouts. Most of the products that I use are developed for sensitive skin. Right now the products that I use for my face are by Neutrogena. So far (crossing fingers) no breakouts. I will do a short review each of the products that I use for my face.

Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser
This is a non-foaming fragrance free cleanser that adds moisture back to your skin. To be honest it took some time for me to get use to this cleanser. It feels like a light lotion when I apply it to my face. It cleans surprisingly well for a non-foaming cleanser. It removes all traces of dirt and makeup and rinses clean without any filmy residue leaving my face feeling clean and moisturized..

Up & Up Oil Free Sensitive Skin Facial Lotion.
Okay so I purchased the generic version of Neutrogena's Oil Free Sensitive skin lotion. The Up & Up brand can be found at Target. I must say it's every bit as good as Neutrogena. I use this after I wash my face. It's very light yet very hydrating and non-greasy. It absorbs fast and doesn't leave a sticky residue behind. The best part is it doesn't clog my pores so I don't breakout.

Neutrogena Light Night Cream
I apply Neutrogena Light Night Cream before bedtime. Let me first say that this night cream is not exactly "light" It's a very rich hydrating cream so when I use it I use it sparingly. It feels very soothing and it calms the redness on my cheeks. This is really great for anyone with sensitive skin because it's fragrance free and oil free.

Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment
I use this vanishing cream when I have problem breakouts. It's a very effective spot treatment for stubborn pop up pimples.The active ingredient is 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. For me benzoyl peroxide works better than salicylic acid and is much less irritating. This also works very well as a preventive treatment.

My Summertime Moisture Essentials

During the summer months our skincare needs change. Due to the warmer moist air our skin requires  lighter moisture. We also want to feel fresh, clean, and comfortable without that uncomfortable sticky residue that heavier lotions, body washes, and soaps can leave behind. So during the summer time I like to use products that are light weight and have a crisp refreshing scent. When I shower I like to use Dove Go fresh Cucumber and Green Tea soap. Then I like to moisturize with Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh lotion. These two particular brands have a very similar scent so they pair very well together.

Dove Go Fresh Cucumber and Green Tea Beauty Bar
This beauty bar is perfect for summer. It lightly moisturizes and leaves my skin feeling soft and clean. It rinses clean and leaves my skin with the refreshing scent of cucumber and green tea. I  have sensitivity issues with certain soaps, but this soap doesn't irritate my skin at all. This soap is gentle so it's great for people with sensitive skin. Did I mention that I love the scent? I just had to say it again! The fragrance is so wonderful and it fills my whole bathroom when I take a shower. This soap is great for summer or any time of the year. For me it's definitely and summertime staple.

Vaseline Total Moisture Aloe Fresh Lotion
This is a wonderfully light moisturizing lotion. It features "Stratys 3" which is a multi-layer moisture system, that absorbs deep to keep skin hydrated. It definitely lives up to my expectations. When I apply this lotion it absorbs quickly without any heavy or sticky residue, and it leaves my skin feeling soft, smooth, and hydrated all day long. The scent of this lotion layers very well with the Dove Cucumber and Green Tea soap. They both have a very similar scent. Very fresh and clean like rain-kissed leaves. This light weight lotion in combination with it's refreshing scent is perfect for summer.

Overlooked Treasure

Hello everyone,

I want to review a fragrance that has not had it's fair share in the spotlight. The fragrance that I'm referring to is Dream Angels Divine from Victoria's Secret. It's not easy living in the shadows of the heavily promoted Dream Angels Heavenly (not a fan of this overrated scent). Divine is my favorite scent from the Dream Angels line. I like other scents from the Dream Angels line such as Halo and Desire, but this overlooked gorgeous scent takes the cake. The scent of Divine is very soft and clean. It's not over the top or too strong smelling. The top notes in this scent are Lotus Flower and Water Lily and the base notes are Amber and Sheer Sandalwood. I always thought that Divine smelled like very expensive soap. The eau de parfum has great staying power and it lasts all day. I always receive great compliments when I wear this fragrance from both men and women. It's very non offensive so it's perfect if you work in a close office setting. It's also perfect for day or night and great for all seasons.

Sadly on a recent visit to my local VS the sales associate informed me that Divine has been discontinued. I was also informed that it will still be available for semi- annual and clearance sales. So I'm definitely stocking up during the sales. It's too bad VS decided to discontinue this beautiful scent. It's the best Dream Angels scent of all time.

Mini Bath & Body Works Haul

So I recently made a visit to BB&W for their semi-annual sale. I love catching this sale! I stocked up on some great discontinued classic scents like Juniper Breeze and Country Apple. Why does BB&W take away some of their best scents and then only bring them back for the SAS? I miss both of these scents so much. I especially miss Country Apple. It's a scent that's neither too fruity or too sweet. It's a crisp apple scent with a touch of apple blossoms. I was also hoping to see Pearberry another great classic. This is one of my absolute favorite summer scents but it wasn't there. However, it is available on their website. I want to order it but, I don't want to pay the shipping and handling fee. I will definitely make another trip to BB&W before the sale ends. They may have it in stock next time around. What is your favorite BB&W scent?

Product Junkies Gather Here

Hello my name is Stephanie and I'm a self confessed Product Junkie. Ever since my teens I have had a serious love for beauty products. I love everything beauty from makeup to hair products and bath and body products. I love to try new things and I'm always trying to catch a great sale. I go through phases when I'm focused on hair products, then my focus will shift to bath and body products. Although I love makeup I would say it's the lesser purchased products of the three. I'm currently going through my bath and body phase. The main things I seem to purchase most are soaps, body wash, lotions, perfumes, body mists, Shampoos, Conditioners, and many hair styling products and treatments... I'm also kind of a clean freak. I love to smell good and feel clean. My goal is to share my passion with other fellow product Junkies. I want to connect and share my favorite products and even my not so favorite products. I also want to see what my fellow junkies love to use. So if you can't resist a clearance sale and you love stocking up on your favorite must have beauty products stop by and share your haul!