| Check out this buying guide to one of the most popular drugstore brands |
 Ever walked past a Lumene display at a CVS and wondered "Hmmm, what's the deal with that brand?" If so, you'll love this guide. Check it out, but be warned: you may feel the need to rush to your nearest CVS soon after. |
| The Worst: No. 2: Lumene Cleansing Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover, $6.49 |
| TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 6.7* |
 What you said: "The product merely smears mascara around the eye area and..." |
| No. 1: Lumene Cleansing Sensitive Eye Make up Remover, $6.49 |
| TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 5.8* |
 What you said: "It burns the skin around my eyes, especially under..." |
| The Best: No. 10: Lumene Vitamin C+ Energy Cocktail Pampering Drops, $22.99 |
| TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8* |
 What you said: "My skin is dry in the winter and I found this cocktail to give it the pampering boost..." |
Friday, March 20, 2009
A Life of Style: Lumene
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A Life of Style: Beauty Bargains
Paying too much? These beauty bargains will get you more for less |
 Everyone loves a good bargain, but sometimes -- thanks to sleek packaging or fancy-sounding ingredients -- it's not so easy to spot. Think you're an expert? Test your ability to spot a good deal with our quiz. |
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A Life of Style: The $1.00 Non-Beauty/Fashion Deal I Got Today
I love when I stumble upon a deal!!!! Today while I was at CVS, I saw two huge bins of these HMDX Sprockets. There was no price on them but I assumed they were on some type of markdown. They were $1. I bought five of them to keep in my gift box (you never know when you may have to put together a last minute gift bag for someone). Whenever I come across a deal like this I grab a few to add to my gift box.
I hooked my iPod up to it when I got home. The sound quality is great!!!! I'm giving one to my friend who likes to play jazz and classical music for her three year old daughter at bedtime. She's going to love this!
Run to your CVS and see if they have these on clearance.
A Life of Style: Hair Care Boot Camp - Client Etiquette
In my last Hair Care Boot Camp post, I gave tips on finding a new stylist. Now it's time to focus on client etiquette.There is no doubt that your stylist needs to maintain a certain level of professionalism to ensure that you'll keep coming back. As a client we have to do our part as well.
I'm at the salon every week so I see many client faux pas. Here's a list:
- Being late for your appointment and having an attitude when you have to wait - Okay things happen, you lose track of time and you're way more than 30 minutes late for your appointment. Just call if you're going to be late for your appointment. Remember your stylist has a schedule to keep and one late client can throw his or her day off.
- Indecisiveness - It can be very helpful to have a hair style in mind when you get to the chair. I once witnessed a woman slowly flipping through a style book as she was sitting in the chair. She had no clue how she wanted her hair styled and she was asking the stylist for his opinion which he gladly gave and she shot down every one of his suggestions *rolling eyes*. Eventually her stylist had to escort her to the waiting area so he could begin working on the next client while Miss Indecisive made up her mind.
- Rudeness - Treating the salon receptionist and assistants like peasants is never cool. The staff can and will report your funky attitude to the manager or stylist and who knows how your hair could turn out? "Ooops! You did say just a trim and I've just given you a shorter version of Diddy's infamous mohawk. My bad." I have seen women stroll into the salon tossing their furs at the receptionist, barely acknowledging the young lady. Check your attitude at the door. Sometimes when you're nice to the receptionist, they'll slip you product samples when you check out ;) I even come bearing small gifts, a cup of joe from S'bucks can always brighten a day.
- Expecting a miracle - Remember that scene in Barbershop 2 where Queen Latifah was a stylist? The woman in her chair had a big ol' bleached blonde afro and asked "Do I look like Beyonce?" And Queen Latifah replied "Yeah, just like her." The look on Queen Latifah's face was priceless. There is no amount of hairspray, hair color, or sew in weave that can make any of us look like Beyonce Knowles. Please remember your hair stylist is not a magician. Stop expecting a major transformation at the salon.
- Poor hair care at home - I can't stress this enough. You have to take good care of your hair in between salon visits. What's the point of going to the salon every two weeks if you're frying your hair with hot irons everyday, not drinking any water, eating a bunch of unhealthy foods, and the last time you were on a vitamin regimen your mom was twisting open a bottle of Flinstone's chewables! Your stylist will get annoyed with you if he or she is taking good care of your hair and you aren't doing your part.
I really believe in treating people the way you want to be treated and it's important to maintain good businesss relationships. If you want your stylist to take good care of you then make sure you exhibit good client etiquette.
Have you guys witnessed any examples of poor client etiquette at the salon? Leave your stories in the comments section and I'll post them.
Monday, March 9, 2009
A Life of Style: Find the Look. Keep the Look. With Stacy London
It doesn’t stop there! Woolite and Stacy also offer additional tips and sweepstake offers to readers like:
A Chance To Meet Stacy London – Fashion victims are encouraged to compete for a chance to shop and be styled by Stacy in New York. To enter, submit a photo of yourself showing why you need Stacy London’s help to dress more fashionably. In one–to-three sentences explain which style sin was committed in your photo. Stacy London will eventually choose the winner who needs her help the most.
Check it out today at:
http://www.findthelookkeepthelook.com/
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A Life of Style: Tea Tree Oil
Good Morning Fabulous Ones!!!! Happy Thursday =)
Today is Tea Tree Thursday.
For the past month my face has been acting out. In addition to the monthly visitor breakouts (ugh!), I have had a couple of out of nowhere eruptions that have truly annoyed me. None of my standard products were working so I visited my local health food store to pick up some natural products. Having run out of my Body Shop tea tree oil cleanser which I swore was the *bee's knees and have used for quite some time, I decided to try Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Tea Tree Liquid Soap.
The first time I washed my face with this soap I was pretty blown away. My skin was super clean. Honestly it was the first time I actually felt a cleanser working. After I cleansed, I dabbed pure tea tree oil on a cotton pad and applied to the mini Mount St. Helens. Within a week I was all clear. I don't think any of my old stand by skin care products have ever worked this well. These products are now a part of my daily skin care starting line up. *grinning ear to ear*
Tea tree oil not only saved my skin, it proved to be a real gem while I was sick. Last week I came down with an awful sinus infection - severe headache, terribly congested, post nasal drip, and intense pressure. I was having such a hard time sleeping due to my nasal passages being completely closed. My humidifier was working overtime and not providing a lot of relief...until I added a few drops of tea tree oil. Soon after, I was able to breathe through my nose and sleep a lot better.
Gotta love that tea tree oil =)
Before I sign off, I want to share the ingredients for the Body Shop tea tree oil facial cleanser and Dr. Bronner's. I've been reading product labels a lot more and doing way more research than I ever have before I purchase certain items now.
The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash:
Water (Solvent/Diluent), Glycerin (Humectant), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (Surfactant), Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Surfactant), PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate (Viscosity Modifier), Polysorbate 20 (Emulsifier), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil (Natural Additive), Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Benzyl Alcohol (Preservative), Allantoin (Skin Soothing Agent), Polyquaternium-10 (Hair Conditioner), Sodium Salicylate (Preservative), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster), Yellow 5 (Colour), Blue 1 (Colour).
Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Tea Tree Pure-Castile Soap:
Water, Saponfied Organic Coconut Oil*, Saponified Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Glycerin, Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Altenafolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol (*Certified Fair Trade by IMO)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A Life of Style: VIP Access for Victoria's Secret PINK NATION
Victoria’s Secret PINK is launching “PINK Nation”, an exclusive club where members receive free gifts, exclusive offers, special access and the inside scoop on everything PINK.
A Life of Style: Mineral Makeup
Perhaps one or two of these 18 will be my next purchase ;)
| These reviews tell which foundations and powders are best in their class |
 From powders to liquids, these mineral makeup formulas were voted most impressive (and least irritating) by TotalBeauty.com users. Find the perfect match for your skin -- and your budget. |
| TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.2* |
 Why it's great: "It doesn't make me itch and it stays in place all day long..." |
| TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.2* |
 Why it's great: "It is easy to apply, it blends in with my skin, it stays all day, and it looks natural..." |
| TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 8.2* |
 Why it's great: "I have some issues with acne scars and this covers [them] right up. There's a good selection of colors as well so you're sure to find your color..." |
