1. If you need VOLUME you’ll want a thick, fat brush that will put a large coat of mascara on in one application. They recommend for us to try Stila Major Las Mascara ($22).

2. If you need LENGTH you’ll want a classic brush where you can do slow applications which trains your lashes to eventually increase in length. They recommend we try Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara ($6.15), but I don’t think I will try this because there are better mascaras than this brand.

3. If you desire CURLS then you’ll want to use a curved brush and “apply pressure at the base of the lashes and wiggle up!” They recommend Lancome Courbe Virtuose Mascara ($23.50).

4. For DEFINITION you’ll want to use a flexible brush with separated bristles which will prevent clumping. They recommend using LOreal Paris Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara ($8.15).

5. If you want a REFRESHER to just go over what you have applied earlier to clean up clumping they recommend going with Tarte Rejuvelash ($16.).

Want to know what I use? I use Sephora’s Weather Everything Waterproof Mascara and it for all of $15 it doesn’t clump up, it makes my lashes look thicker, helps them to grow longer and I have no problem curling with this mascara. Best of all, it’s not coming off and it’s waterproof. I recommend this simple product to everyone.

(pictured: lave lip gloss heart ring $68. , barrel in stripe $58., wristlet in velour $78., lip gloss heart pendant $78., zip pouch in crown $78., soft train case in velour $128., hard train case $347. (I WANT THIS!!), brush set in stripe $78. and bowler lip gloss charm $58)

Examine your face carefully each night. Make notes about what you did that day, what you ate, what you put onto your face and importantly, make note of success and failures. For example, I have those hideous large pores in which I want to shrink. I look into the mirror each night and take a look at how they are doing since I’ve started using this product. It usually takes about a week to two weeks to be able to review a product after using it for it’s specified amount of time to be fair. You can then try another product if the one is not working for you.

Look at your face while moisturizing it. I know a lot of people will say they don’t have time to do this, just slap on the moisturizer and be done with it. I say take the time and look at your face as your apply your moisturizer. This gives you the opportunity to “feel” your imperfections if there are any. Sometimes there is a problem, but you can’t see it because you’re applying too fast or you just can’t see it in the mirror.

Experiment with your makeup. Many people have a set way on how they apply their makeup and even the tones of makeup they use. I say experiment. Take a look at the style channel and get a glimpse of their makeup minute to get new makeup tips. It doesn’t hurt to experiment, you may even find something you like and will possibly be able to change up the way you’ve been doing things all of these years. I always buy one new product, reasonably priced to experiment with and I add it to my makeup case. If I don’t like it, then I can just take it back to the store and let them know it didn’t work out and that you’d like to exchange it for something else. YES, YOU CAN DO THAT!

Admire your hard work. It’s OK to love yourself, your face and everything about your existence so tell yourself “you better work girl!” when you know you’re looking your best. If you don’t do it for yourself first, don’t expect anybody else to do it for you. Only you can make you feel good about you. Remember that!

Mirrors. Mirrors. Mirrors. I have a large mirror in my bathroom, a good one on my dashboard (don’t work on your face while driving - BE CAREFUL), a good sized mirror on my desk at work and I always carry a pocket sized mirror in my purse each day. Keep your confidence up. Always keep a mirror handy. For those of you who like to shine like me definitely needs to keep a mirror glued to herself. Make sure you know when you have to pat or wipe.

That’s all for now. Stay beautiful

I put on two coats and it took about 2 minutes and 15 seconds to dry. That equals 135 seconds. I was hoping it would take 100 seconds since this polish is supposed to dry in 50 seconds and that’s per coat. Or was I not supposed to do a double coat?? Everybody does a double coat so I think Maybelline’s plans for this nail polish didn’t actually work out right. Just my honorable opinion.

I will say this though, I love my new color and the polish is thick and rich. I’ll using mine instead of giving them away as Christmas gifts this year. I’m enjoying my new polish!

I broke down and bought the Bare Escentuals BareMinerals starter kit and I must say I love it. I watched the little DVD and found that only the first three minutes of it (after the introduction from Leslie Blodgett) pertained to me since I was only “covering up” my facial flaws. That was fine, but then I wanted the other kit…you know, the one for the eyes.

Although I am happy with the foundation and warmth, I am not too enthused about the brushes I got. I bought the kit from Sephora so that means I didn’t get all of what I could have gotten if I had order the kit directly from the manufacturer. I really wanted that feather light brush. Anyway, I had to go to the store to see if I really wanted it so I ran over to Sephora to talk to one of the Sephora girls. I’m one of those people who must try it on first before I buy it.

To make a long story short, I love my new foundation and it’s easy to put on. I like the fact that I have two shades of foundation to play with so I’ve been mixing both and it matches my skin perfectly. The brushes are nice, but I was not wowed by any of them. The instructional DVD was OK, but it would have been nice to see a darker skinned person be made up. After I did my covering I didn’t know if I had done it right or if it looked the way it was supposed to look. If any of you Bare Escentuals people are reading this please put a model with darker skin in the DVD please!

Last but not least, I also left out of Sephora with a sample of Clinique’s pore minimizer. I don’t know if I like it yet, but I definitely need it. I’ll report back on that later.

That’s all for now.

Official description from Neutrogena:

Neutrogena^® Oil-Free Acne Wash Foam Cleanser is an effective yet gentle acne-fighting cleanser.

This maximum strength formula gently cleans deep down into pores for clear skin. It contains Salicylic Acid to get rid of the acne you have now and help prevent future breakouts. Its light, airy foam lifts off oil and impurities, while special skin soothers help prevent irritation and over-drying.

Skin is clean, without a heavy residue–and never oily.

There is also organic makeup too which is kind of cool if you are not into chemicals and what not. Organic anything does cost more money than the regular, but can you really put a price on beauty? Well, only the individual making that decision for him or herself can make that call.

My advice, if you’d like to try out mineral makeup, is to start with a mineral foundation like the one below, in your shade of course, and if you like that then move on to a mineral kit. After you become comfortable with what you got then you can move on to the eye, blush and bronzer kits. They are sweet!

Bare Escentuals i.d. bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation Tan

Discover why millions of women are going “bare” with the award-winning foundation that started the mineral makeup revolution. Made with pure, crushed minerals from the earth, bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation looks like a powder, feels like a cream and buffs on like silk, giving skin a natural luminosity. Free of preservatives, talc, oil, waxes, fragrances, and other chemicals that can irritate skin and cause breakouts, its ideal for all skin types and conditions, from sensitive skins to acne and rosacea. Our weightless, silky minerals give you flawless coverage with the amazing look and sensation of radiant bare skin. Plus, it provides natural SPF 15 broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. What’s not to love?

I went to their site to see what this “hair smoothie” is all about and what it does hair. This product is said to help condition hair that is tangle, dull and hair packing. I just calls it a moisturizer with a twist. Love the name by the way. The official name of this product is “Khoret Amen Hair Smoothie”. It’s not out yet, but it’s on it’s way. Stay informed.