Review: Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector

I received this product through Influenster as a complimentary sample for testing purposes.  Used it for a few weeks now, and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with it!  The full-size tube gives you a lot of product, and only a little is needed.  I loved the light scent which was pleasant but not overly pefumey, and the fact that it was easily absorbed into the skin as opposed to just sitting there, drying out, and getting sticky.  I have a lot of redness and angry patches on my skin, so this was a nice product to try.

My tips on how to use this product:  Make sure that your face is really, really clean.  Don't use a moisturizer or something and then add the Equitance serum because otherwise it may not be absorbed as well -- which I figured out when trying to combine with my Boots calming serum.  Also, it seemed to me that exfoliating on a regular basis helped boost the effectiveness of the Equitance serum as well.  It's best to put this on overnight so that your skin can repair itself and show the nicest benefits possible.  Another quick tip:  I've heard some people say that the scent is a wee bit overwhelming at first.  You don't need much product to get results!  Try using a little less than you have been, and give the product time to be absorbed to the skin.  The scent will dissipate as the product is absorbed.  Personally, though, I like the fragrance. :)

Boogie on down to the Equitance website at Equitance-US.com and use their promo code, INFL15 to get a 15% discount on your brightening serum from Equitance!  You also get a free skin care kit full of fun trial products that compliment the serum very well.  Enjoy!

L'Oreal Colour Rays Has Been Discontinued!

Oh, love of my hairdye life!  I'm so sad to see you go.

The "Colour Rays" line has been a staple in my hair coloring repertoire for so many years now.  I would just brush this stuff on and get the easiest root maintenance EVER.  There were no zillion steps to follow, no foiling, no worry that my hair was going to melt and fall out from bleaching, and that formerly mandatory "second step" of adding Manic Panic could be done when I was damned good and ready (or not at all, if I really didn't have the time).  Who can forget the ease and simple beauty of hues such as Red Rays, Way-Out White, and the crown gem of color awesomeness, Fuchsia Flash!  Touted as the one-step hairdye system which is "highly visible on even the darkest hair," L'Oreal Colour Rays has touched my life (and my roots) with easy, perfect, maintainable vibrancy since the mid-2000s. 

Even in the beginning, this miracle of cosmetic wizardry has been elusive and difficult to find; I used to have to import my stash from New Hampshire, and once that connection dried up, scouted the Internet for new sources.  Alas, so many of my bookmarked shops are no longer carrying it that I decided to do a quick bit of research to confirm that my deepest fears have indeed come true. 

Here's the official word from L'Oreal Paris in response to a Facebook user's query: "We are sorry to confirm that this line has been discontinued. We do not currently have a replacement product to achieve red or fuschia highlights, but our creative teams are hard at work coming up with new and exciting products. In the meantime, if ever you are interested in a full-head colour, we do offer some high-intensity red and violet shades in our Féria line (http://bit.ly/mRZqFs). For personalized advice and help with shade selection, please don’t hesitate to call our Colour Experts at 1.888.456.7325!"  This is a truly a harsh blow to my beauty regimen, especially since now that I've begun swimming, my hair color fades more easily than it used to.

From what I can see, this product is still available for purchase at the L'Oreal website and a few other places online as well. (I just bought two boxes from Amazon.) Better stock up while they last!

I will be exploring other brands and products, so watch this space for more details!

Fare thee well, Colour Rays, as you escape this mortal coil. Know that your admirers and well-wishers shall always carry a place for you in their hearts!

Let's Make a Face-Washing Mitt!

I usually just splash cold water on my face and wipe with a napkin or something. (I do exfoliate in the shower, though.) Lately, I'm feeling the need to mix up my face care repertoire!

Today, I made this cleansing mitt out of a baby wash cloth and a length of ribbon.

It would have been better if I had 2 wash cloths, but I used what I had. This is designed to fit over the hand in order to get an easy, gentle cleanse.

This is all you need! If you're hand-sewing like I did, you'll require a needle and thread. My washcloth was a tiny bit bigger than my hand; I wound up using about a foot and a half (give or take) of ribbon.

And what adorable ribbon it is! This neon yellow poly ribbon came from Michael's, Gotta love those Halloween scores that work all year 'round! :)

After I eyeballed my ribbon and snipped the ends (always on the bias to help defray fraying!), I folded my washcloth into a triangular hand approximation and aligned my ribbon along the seam. This mitt-length ribbon helps to strengthen the seam, but its real purpose is so that I can hang the mitt to dry when I'm finished.

Overcast stitches along the edge will do nicely.  They needn't win any beauty contests to be effective.  Just make sure that your washcloth edges both get poked with the needle, or else you're gonna have holes!

This took me less than 15 minutes, and was super fun to make! I love easy & functional crafties. Any ideas what to make next? Post 'em here! :)

Review: LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter

This product first came to my attention last year. I've always gotten these weirdly rough scrapes and "frayed" dry skin around my fingers. Not exactly on the cuticles themselves, but that area around them. (Some people consider that to be part of the cuticle as well, though.)

At $16 for a small 1.5-ounce container, this stuff is pricey.  I decided to give it a try, though, to reward myself for having an especially good month. :). Then I eagerly waited for it to arrive.

It truly is very similar in texture and color to actual butter -- thick, melts on contact, and very buttery yellow. It has a great lemony fragrance that lingers for awhile after it is applied to the skin.  This is very nice stuff!

I am sure there are probably products that do the same thing for a lower price, but I haven't found anything yet. (And I would welcome a comment or two!) I'll give it a final grade of B+. Pros: Smells pretty, works nice! Cons: Small container is fairly pricey, butter has a greasy afterfeel.

November 2012 Look Bag Review

In direct contrast to my "Fine and Illustrious Art of Using Shit Up" movement, I subscribed to The Look Bag a few months ago.  It's a fun subscription service which, for $12.95 a month, sends you a monthly bag of beauty samples.  Actually, they're not all samples; usually you get a couple of full-sized products, and a few sample-sized items as well.  I thought it'd be nice to have something to look forward to in the mail aside from bills, so in October, I subscribed.

My October Look Bag was cool.  (I should've reviewed that one!  It had a black crackle nail polish!)  In November, I got a vague email stating that because of Hurricane Sandy, the bags would be arriving late.  And then at the very end of December, I got another email suggesting that I tell my friends about how awesome The Look Bag was; I wrote back and said it'd be even more awesome if I got my November and December bags!  (A lot of folks around the internet seem to be rather pissed with the Look Bag's lack of customer service, but I can't fault someone for screwing up in the wake of a ruinous hurricane.)

Anyway... That's my little explanation for why the Look Bag review for November is happening in January.  (I'll do December's later.) Now, onto the review!

 This month's package came in a pretty pink bag (just like last month's), and contained the following:

1.  Sally Hansen La Cross round tweezers.  My first thought when I saw the tweezers was "WTF??"  I guess they're useful and all, but it seemed like a real waste of bag space, not to mention the fact that most beautyphiles already have as many tweezers as they probably need.  I'll put these in my "treasure trove" for now.

2.  Pixi by Petra Lip & Line in "Petal Pink."  I got one of these in October as well, so it was disappointing to see another one.  It was in a different color, though, and my last one was given to Dax 'cause she thought it was cool.  So I guess this one is for meeeee!  It's a lip liner and lipstick 2-in-1 that's the exact same shade, so no need to look for matching shades.  The concept is cool.  I haven't tried it yet, but am looking forward to seeing how it does.

3.  June Jacobs Spa Collection Green Tea & Cucumber Body Bar.  This looks like a creamy, smooth bar of soap that smells so amazing!  June Jacobs stuff is kind of fancy-schmancy.  I may be stingy on myself and gift this to someone I like, 'cause it's so awesome.

4.  "Lola" by Marc Jacobs sample.  Are Marc Jacobs and June Jacobs related?  I have no idea!  This sample came in a convenient little spray.  I've heard of "Lola" before, but never smelled it.  Tried a bit on my neck, and A Boy I Like said it was "very nice," which is high praise indeed!  Another comment: "It's there, but not in your face.  Smells very sweet and flowery."  That's probably some of the nicest things I've heard about my scent choices.  I am wearing my "Lola" sample today, and I am enjoying it.  Probably won't purchase more, since there are a lot of other scents on my stuff-to-get list once I've used up what I currently have.

5.  Pop Beauty "Eye Magnet Shade" shadow in "Tantalizing Teal."  Nice full-sized item!  I've got my Pop Beauty crackle nail polish from October, and I adore that.  The eyeshadow looks interesting, but I'm not a blue-based eyeshadow person.  So it'll go into my Treasure Trove and my nieces will probably love it. :)

6.  Korres Liquid Lipstick in "Raspberry."  It doesn't smell like a raspberry, and I think it looks more like a cherry.  The color is dense and lovely, with some sparkles to jazz things up a bit.  I think we have a winner!

7.  Scarlett & Greene "Young Skin" sampler pack.  I don't have young skin -- haven't in years. ;)  The pack features three sample products, including a cleanser, moisturizer, and spf creme.  I think this would be fun to try if you're part of their target audience, and the packaging is like a cute little booklet.  I'll put this in the Treasure Trove.

The Little Things in Life

I think I'll take Rihanna's advice for now, and STFU. :)

I apologize for not posting more lately, but I have suffered some injuries through an accident which, for legal reasons, I can't really discuss just yet.  I'm alive and in one piece, but beyond that I really need to keep mum for the time being.

Before this happened, I had a few projects cooking, but the progress has slowed to a halt for now.  I recently read someone else's blog where the main article was a list of things that the blogger was "into right now."  It's a bit of a cop-out for PGS, but what the hell?  It's a nice cheerful distraction, and maybe if some of my current mini-obsessions spark some interest in you, you will find something cool or new to make your own life a bit better.  So, here's a rundown of what I'm into these days:

1.  Modal fabric.  This stuff is amazing!  It's technically not a natural fiber because of the process it needs to go through in order to become fabric, but it's roots are natural.  Modal comes from beech tree fibers.  It's softer and more absorbent than cotton, hangs beautifully, and always seems to look great even if you don't iron it.  This makes it beautiful for any body type, as it drapes and flatters the wearer to a T.  Over the past few months, I have acquired a few pieces of modal clothing; it's wonderful to go out and be seen in, but also to stay home and just live in.  I love it!

2.  No-fuss nail treatments.  If I could marry nail foils, I would.  My nails are short and brittle, and often, my nail polish chips off the edges within a day or so of applying it.  But the nail foils I've been using are designed to stay on for up to 10 luxurious, polish-free days!  They come in solids, but also in a cunning array of cute designs as well.  They're available in stores for $5-$7 a pop, but being a patient cheapie, I bought mine from this eBay store for only 99 cents.  My favorites?  Black with skulls or spiderwebs, of course!  (A close runner-up is the Sally Hansen nail pen, in chrome colors.  It dries quickly and with a minimum of BS, so it's just right for a 30-second touch up before you run out the door.) 

3.  Scramble With Friends.  A good friend of mine surprised me with an iPad for my birthday this past month, which thrilled and exhilarated me -- I've wanted one for a couple of years now, mostly for a curiosity.  But let me tell you, the convenience and fun of the iPad has made it an invaluable tool for me, whether it's for work or play.  One of the awesomest games going is Scramble With Friends, which is easier and quicker than the better-known Zynga app, Words With Friends.  I feel that it helps my powers of concentration too.  If you don't have an iPad or iPhone, no problem -- you can play it on Facebook too. :)

That's all I can think of right now.  What's everyone else into these days? :)

The Sweet Smell of... Failure

Here's a DIY idea that I am unlikely to repeat: making my own body spray.  Actually, I probably will try to make it again, but I'll remember the lessons I've learned from this batch.

My ingredients were simple: some denatured alcohol (rubbing alcohol from my local CVS) and the remaining bit of my half-ounce "Blue Nile" body oil... I'd say about a quarter- to a third- ounce was still left.  My container was a clean 2-ounce spray bottle which used to be a rose-scented body mist.  (The bottle was from Hot Topic and had an Amy Brown fairy on it, which was cute -- but boy, that body spray was nast-ay!)  You could try this on your own with any clean spray bottle, if you don't mind getting the kind of result that I did!

The "process" -- and I use the term loosely -- was simple: pour the Blue Nile into the empty 2-ounce bottle, then fill the rest of the way with alcohol and shake well.  I was pretty amazed at how nicely the two combined.  If any of you used to make "potions" as a kid, or used way too much of your mother's perfume & tried adding water to conceal the evidence of your pilfering -- well, you'll know how easy it is to make the mixture cloudy, gross, and generally unappealing.  I have learned a lot about perfumery since then, but nevertheless it excites me to see how beautifully the alcohol and oil can blend.

While the bottle was aesthetically pleasing, in no small part due to the pretty coloring of the Blue Nile perfume oil, the smell was... ehhhhh.  I would spray it on in the morning, but it would take some time for the alcohol to dissipate and the Blue Nile to become the predominant scent.  Someone hugged me an hour after I spritzed myself and declared, "You smell like booze!"  Well, that pretty much ended my perfume-making hobby before it began. :)

I would up diluting my leftover Blue Nile body mist with some water (and yeah, it became the awesome cloudy mix we all know and love) and used as linen water to scent my hand-washables during the rinse phase.  It worked quite well, and I was glad to find an alternate use for it.

Now I have two-thirds of a bottle of rubbing alcohol that I need to think up uses for.  Any ideas?

Elder Goths Contest Giveaway!

Hi all!  Our "Goth Afer 30" Facebook group is holding a photo contest!  To enter, all you need to do is take a picture of yourself and submit it to the group's wall.  Let's show the world that our lifestyle choices aren't necessarily "kid stuff."  Photos can be funny, serious, silly, dark... whatever you feel like expressing.  Elder goths rule, so don't be afraid to show it! :)

The contest is from now to March 14th.  A winner will be chosen at random from those who have submitted photos to the group.  (Just mark it "Contest photo" so that I know to add you to the list of entries.)  If you want to add a watermark that says "Goth After 30 on Facebook" -AND/OR- the URL (http://www.tinyurl.com/ElderGoths) that would be awesome, but not necessary.  I'll draw a winner and notify the group on March 15th.

The winner will receive a lipstick in the blackest black we could find (and it's FRESH too!  Not a Halloween clearance item!), a black nail glaze (perfect for adding a darker shade on top of your favorite color OR use a few coats all by itself), a spooky black pentagram candle, and a black-soybean isoflavone facial treatment to keep you looking your loveliest whether you're 30, 40, or beyond!  (Items are provided by NecessaryEvils.com)

Good luck, everyone!  Can't wait to see your photos! :)

P.S.  Excuse me for posting this on my blog, but I needed a good place to stick the contest information. :)

February's Body & Soul Party

My friends and I decided to throw a party this month!  We called it the Body & Soul Party, and invited ladies who needed some extra pampering.  Each of us had a skill -- between us, there was an esthetician, a professional stylist, a licensed masseuse, and me -- a professional psychic and gourmet cook!  I can make more than disco fries and choochacheechachoo, you know. ;)

We all used our talents to create a night of home-spun luxury, style, and general fabulousness.  The services offered ran the gamut from professional facials and waxing, to hair-cutting and styling, to spa-quality massages, to real psychic readings.  The party ended with all our guests feeling a little more pretty and/or handsome, as well as relaxed and rejuvenated.  A great time was had by all!

My biggest regret is that I failed to get pictures of my food platters!  I made stuffed mushrooms with lemon-herb filling, vegetable nigiri sushi, and fruit salad skewers with a myriad yummy things.  The rice could have been cooked a little better, but overall I'm pretty pleased with my cooking efforts.  We're already dreaming up new ideas for next month's B&S party, and I'm planning my next menu.

If you're in the New England area and you are interested in attending, feel free to visit our website at www.DawnSoul.com :)

Review: Karma Naturals Cosmetics

I apologize for not posting more within the past several weeks -- believe me, you have not been far from my mind! :)

Unfortunately, the cell phone that I keep with me to document all of my awesome projects -- a Motorola Cliq that I had finally gotten used to using -- has died a sudden and untimely death.  Currently I'm back to using the first cellphone I ever had, a Samsung r225, from around 2002.  All of the phones since then I've donated or thrown away, but I always keep my durable old r225 for "just in case."  Although the technology is primitive, and there's a lot less to keep me occupied while I'm on the toilet, it's a durable and serviceable phone.  I am rather enjoying my bout with involuntary simplicity, at least as far as phone usage goes.

Because I don't have any cute pictures to share, I figured I'd just do a fast review on a company that I've recently done some business with.  I needed some new mineral foundation, so I bought a few samples from "Karma Naturals" through eBay.  Although I had ordered a "White Mousse" shade, they were out of that -- so I wound up getting colors called "Almond Latte" and "Vanilla Creme," which I mixed together and added a bit of baby powder to lighten.  (I have very pale skin, so it's not an uncommon thing for me to have to do.)  Despite the substitutions, I still liked the foundation.  It covered smoothly and evenly, and definitely made my skin look prettier in a natural way, rather than a corpse-y way -- which is good, since I've been needing to be a little more in the public eye lately.

Added benefits of doing business with Karma Naturals: The items shipped fast, and they even included a free vegan lip balm in pina colada, which I enjoyed even more than the foundation itself!  The foundation has stayed in the makeup kit in my purse, though the lovely moisturizing lip balm has a place by my bedside; I tend to use it in the morning and at night.

I was also given a coupon code to use at the website as well, which I definitely intend to do once I run out of stuff.  I am sooooo getting another lip balm -- with flavors like Devil's Food or Clover Honey, how can you resist? -- and the African Red Tea (rooibos) face cream sounds like something I'd like to give a whirl as well.  Their presentation is just the way I like things to be -- practical and effective, yet luxurious and fun, all at the same time. Karma Naturals makes all kinds of very interesting things, from organic lip balms and vegan makeup products, to soaps, fragrances, lotions, and other interesting body products.  Their website can be found at http://shop.karma-naturals.com, so check 'em out -- and hopefully they won't be too mad at me for borrowing photos from their website for this post! ;)

On My Mind: Spiritual Bath

I just came across this charming post at the simple-living blog "Down To Earth" which encouraged its readers to share a photograph and to explain a bit about it.

The one that I chose was this picture, which I'd recently taken and had been meaning to add to my blog for some time now.  This past year, I had recently discovered how wonderful it was to take a long, luxurious soak in the tub.  One of the awesomest things about taking a big ole' bath is that anyone can do it.  Doesn't matter if you're old, young, rich, or poor -- if you have access to a tub and some water, you can make it an amazingly sensual experience no matter what other accoutrements you choose to add.

There's a joke that goes something like, "You know you're ghetto when you break out your best dish detergent when it's time to take a bubble bath," but really, who cares?  It makes no difference if you bathe with a 3-for-99-cents bar of soap from the dollar tree or a pot of $140 Russian Amber shampoo by Philip B., you can make your tub time truly luxurious with only a few little additions.

I like to add a few candles on the edge of my tub; they need not be expensive (and if you can make your own candles out of leftovers and an old spaghetti jar, so much the better!) but they certainly can lend an air of tranquil pleasure to your bath.  You can even find an artificial candlelight generator app on your Android phone (if you're so blessed), which I've done more than once.  The one I have (which I downloaded for free) even gives you customizable flame colors -- purple flame, anyone?

And bubbles are nice, but not always necessary -- by the way, I recall a few times where my own mother broke out the Ivory or the Palmolive dish liquid when, as a child, I craved bubbles in my bath.  If it's not going to harm your skin, who really cares?  No shame in being creative.  These days, I save my pennies for the luxury of something special from the Lush store when I can get it (and use it carefully).  But even bubbles from your dollar store or local pharmacy will do the trick wonderfully.

Some folks choose to do their entire beauty regimens in the bath -- shaving legs, deep conditioning hair, even wearing a facial masque while splashing away in the tub.  And some people bring a cocktail (or in my case, a nice cold can of soda) into the tub, sipping their cares away.  Or, you can just relax and allow your tension to melt away, enjoying the sights, sounds, and scents of your spiritual bathing experience.  The bottom line is that your bathtime rituals can be fully customizable and specifically tailored to your needs and wants.

So grab your rubber ducky, and your favorite towel, and enjoy!

Spa Day at Home: Make Your Own Hair Conditioning Treatments

Any type of hair can benefit from a little TLC every now and again.  There are some great products available anywhere from specialty stores, to salons, to your local drugstore down the street.  For a truly customizable experience, you may also treat yourself to a little "spa day" in the comfort and privacy of your own home.  Making your own beauty treatments is fun and inexpensive; it's always satisfying to make concoctions for loveliness according to your own unique needs and specifications.

Here are just a few recipes for wonderful homemade hair conditioning masques.  Try a few, and enjoy the results!

Olive Oil & Egg Hair Masque:

This masque is a deep, intensive treatment for dry, damaged hair.  Some people swear by mayonnaise as a hair conditioner --this recipe gives you all the nourishing properties of this homespun beauty secret, without as much of the "ick" factor!  Take 1 egg yolk and beat it ferociously with a hand mixer or food processor.  Slowly drizzle in about a cup of light olive oil.  (Feel free to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to this recipe, too!)  Once the last of the oil has been added and the mixture becomes creamy and thick, it's ready to use.  Slather your hair in this conditioning masque for about 20-30 minutes before shampooing as normal (you may need to shampoo twice).  

Nourishing Guacamole for Hair:

This one is easy, vegan, and works well for most hair types.  Take a very ripe avocado and mash it to bits with fork or blender.  Add the juice of half a lime, and you're ready to roll.  You can keep this on your hair anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour before shampooing.

Yummy Banana Hair Smoothie:

Another super-easy masque with only two ingredients!  Mash a banana with half a cup of yogurt (plain, "light," or even flavored), blend thoroughly, and apply to your hair for about 30 minutes.  Rinse and shampoo as usual.

Lemon Meringue Hair Treatment:

This one requires just a bit more effort, but it's impressive and fun, and will remind you of your favorite yummy dessert.  Beat 2 egg whites until they're extremely fluffy; if you need help "fluffing" the eggs, add a few dashes of cream of tartar, though either way, the treatment will be beneficial.  Once the desired consistency has been reached, fold in a big squirt of honey (maybe 1-2 teaspoons or so) and the juice of half a lemon.  Saturate your hair with this mixture for 15-30 minutes, and wash as usual.  Make sure you don't rinse this out with water that's too warm; you don't want to cook the egg!

For best results with these treatments, use a shower cap in conjunction with these treatments.  Use a hair treatment once each week for optimal results.  Be sure to refrigerate any unused masque.  The olive oil & egg "mayo" masque should last in the fridge for a couple of weeks, but the others should be used as soon as possible.

Photo credits:  Avocado pic by the awesome ingserban, banana smoothie fixin's picture by the creative & talented quinn.anya, and the yummy meringue photo was done by the amazing Sunset Sailor!  Thanks for sharing on Flickr, my friends! :)