(First off, yes, I know…it’s been awhile…don’t make things worse by making me feel guilty.)

As much as I love cosmetics, I have to say I’m pretty smitten with skincare.  I love researching new products, trying them out, discovering what works, and what I probably shouldn’t have wasted my money on.  Lately, I’ve been on a bit of a natural kick.  By no means do I buy all my skincare needs at Whole Foods, but I do try to use natural and less harsh ingredients when I can. 

One natural product that has been on my radar lately, is Argan Oil.  It first caught my attention after psudo-model, Josie Maran started her own natural cosmetic company, and used Argan oil as an ingredient in many of her  products.  The JM line even sells bottles of the stuff in pure form, which ranges from $14 for a 15 ml bottle all the way up to $96 for a 4 oz bottle.  But, it didn’t truly catch my attention until a few weeks ago when I went on a business trip with my husband to Long Beach.  Here we were, cozied up in our separate beds (wonderful room, very small double beds) watching Josie Maran on HSN selling her Argan oil and Argan Color Sticks to America.  While I feel I was more consumed watching Josie and her models  frequently rub the oil  all over their  lips, cheeks, elbows, hands, etc with the grace and movement of a Price Is Right model, my interest did peak about the product.  So, when I got home I started my investigation.

I started at her website, then quickly sashayed over to Sephora to find out what the people thought (Sephora has great reviews).  JM’s Aragan oil got almost all 5 stars with most people loving it.  I know a bunch of you might be reading this and thinking, “okay, okay, what the heck is so great about argan oil?”…well, you’re right, let me fill you in.  Argan oil is extracted from Argan trees which grow in Morocco and it’s basically supposed to be a beauty miracle worker, curing/helping/preventing such things as acne, wrinkles, stretch-marks, split ends, eczema, psoriasis, scars, etc.  People use it on their face, on dry skin, they put it on their hair for softness, and mix it into lotions, conditioners…I mean, the list really does go on.

Even with all the raving reviews, I was still very leery about the price tag, because a 1.7 oz bottle was going to set me back $48. ouch.  So, me being a bargainista, I started doing some research and it didn’t take me very long to find an equally wonderful product, with the same raving reviews, but for A LOT cheaper.  Josie Maran Argan Oil, meet Watts Moroccan Oil.  JM’s oil is: 100% argan oil, organic, cold-pressed, free of parabens, vegan, fair-trade, and is made by a women’s co-op in Morocco, which helps to build jobs for women.  Sounds, wonderful, right…the high price tag might be making more sense, but wait.  Watts oil is:  100% argan oil, organic, cold-pressed, free of parabens, vegan, fair-trade, and is made by a women’s co-op in Morocco, which helps to build jobs for women.  And, what’s more, the jumbo 4 oz bottle is only $36.45 compared to JM’s 4 oz bottle at $96.  Fancy model, higher price tag.  Not so fancy bottle, lower price tag.  I’ll take the not-so-fancy bottle, please.

I ended up paying $18 total for my 1 oz bottle of Watts Moroccan oil, tax/shipping included in that price.  I’ve been using the product for a week now and so far I really like the product.  At night, I’ve been putting about 3-4 drops on my face and letting it sink in for a few hours before I apply my night-time retinol (Roc) at bedtime.  For the first time this weekend, I’ve applied it to my morning moisturizer and it gives my skin a nice glow (my husband even said my skin looked glowing without having to probe him first).  I’ve even applied it to my ends hoping my split ends might magically disappear.

Now, I can’t say that I will never have acne again, or that I will now forever look like a 28 year old.  But, I can say that my skin is very soft, I like the natural ingredients, and I do hope to see some long-term results.  I’m also pretty thrilled that I didn’t let Ms. Maran pull a fast one over me…and you shouldn’t either.

Normally, descriptive words such as “fresh” and “clean” are not what I’m looking for in a fragrance.  I generally gravitate towards spicy, sweet, and slightly musky fragrances.  But, when I smelled the new, and first, fragrance by Bliss (as in the Bliss spas/products), Bliss Eau de Toilette, I have to admit, I couldn’t resist giving myself a little squirt.

Bliss Eau de Toilette was created to embody the mood-boosting smell of the Bliss day spas…fresh, crisp, and clean.  The combination of the notes, bergamot, dewy cucumber, and bright florals like lily, ylang ylang and violet will leave you smelling like the cleanest and slightly sweetest person on earth.  While it smells nothing like fresh laundry, it is one of those smells that you can’t stop breathing in…kind of like a freshly laundered shirt.  I think this is the perfect pick-me-up fragrance; perfect for day and the workplace since the smell is not obtrusive in any way.  And while the bottle doesn’t make the fragrance, I have to admit I’m more than smitten over the bubbly blue bottle. 

To sum it all up, Bliss’s new fragrance will leave you smelling clean, subtly fragrant, and slightly intoxicating.  Fresh Laudry, minus the Tide smell.

Vaseline (aka petroleum jelly) is one of those products that you probably have hanging around in your bathroom somewhere, but do you really use it…or for that matter, do you even know what to use it for?  I like to think of it as the WD-40 of beauty products…the possibilities are endless.  Below are a few of my favorite uses for Vaseline.

1.  Eye Makeup Remover:  Apply Vaseline on a soft tissue or cotton pad and gently swipe over your (closed) eye lids to remove makeup and soften skin.  This trick is particularly great for removing stubborn mascara and fake lashes…gentle and effective.

2.  Cuticle Softener:  Rub Vaseline on cuticles to help soften and repair.  You can also do this trick before painting your nails.  Just apply the Vaseline around your nails, take a little nail polish remover to remove any excess from your actual nail…and after you polish, you are left with nice, neat nails.

3.  Lip Smoother:  Smooth Vaseline onto lips, then gently scrub lips with a toothbrush or damp wash cloth.  Voilà!  Your lips are now smooth and soft.

4.  Rough Patch Resolver:  I like to do this one before going to bed…just smooth Vaseline onto feet, massage in, and apply your favorite aloe socks (normal socks works too).  When you wake up your feet will be smoother and more hydrated.  For even greater hydration, use Vaseline on feet first, then apply your favorite foot moisturizer over the Vaseline layer and rub in!

5.  Nix Lipstick Teeth:  This is an old beauty pageant trick.  When wearing bright shades of lipstick, always apply a thin layer of Vaseline to teeth to prevent the tragic lipstick to teeth transfer.

6.  Create a Tinted Balm:  This is a great idea to make your wallet stretch.  Just mix a bit of Vaseline with your favorite lipstick to create a healthy-looking tinted balm for your lips and you can even use it on your cheeks!

7.  Dewy Lids:  This is probably one of my favorite uses.  To create a dewy look (which is perfect for summer) just apply your favorite eye shadow as you normally would, then sweep a thin layer of Vaseline over your lids to give them a creamy glow.

8.  Body Scrub:  Mix Vaseline with sea salts for a softening hand, foot, or body scrub!

9.  Facial Moisturizer:  For those of you with really dry skin, you can use Vaseline as a facial moisturizer.  Just apply to damp skin after cleansing.

10.  Protect Your Hairline:  If you color your hair at home, apply Vaseline to your hair line to prevent the dye from staining your skin.

11.  Groomed Brows:  Just a touch of Vaseline keeps your brows in place all day.

12.  Sensitive Shaver:  Use Vaseline on “sensitive areas” when shaving for added protection.

With Vaseline, the uses are endless…and with a price tag of around $2.99, you really can’t go wrong.  Do you have an amazing use for Vaseline?  Please feel free to share in the comment section!

When it comes to body wash, I don’t discriminate…I love everything from luxury formulas right down to my drugstore favorites.  So, when Tone approached me about trying out their new Daily Detox body wash I was more than thrilled to give it a whirl.

In high school I was obsessed with Tone’s original Coconut Butter body wash, but I honestly haven’t purchased any Tone products since that time.  Since I’ve been in high school (my 10 year reunion is rapidly approaching, if that give some perspective) Tone has really extended their brand and their body washes; they now have six different formulas on the market.  So, when I was asked to try out their newest, Daily Detox I was really intrigued to see how the product had changed.

Tone’s Daily Detox helps to wash away daily impurities and leaves skin nice and soft with vitamin E. I started using the body wash this week and from the first time I used it I was sold alone on the scent.  The formula contains white clay and pink jasmine to help detoxify your skin, and if those are the smells I’m breathing in, then I love them!  The scent isn’t overly flowery at all, it’s just a rich, intoxicating scent that I can’t get enough of.  The body wash formula itself builds a nice rich lather and leaves my skin feeling soft with a slight linger of a scent.

With a price tag well under $5 Tone’s Daily Detox is money well spent…I would pay more for the scent alone.  And if you’re a wheeler and dealer like me, you can head on over to Tone’s website to pick up a coupon…no shame in the game.

I am all about vanilla fragranced anything so Bath and Body Works new line, Summer Vanillas is right up my alley!

Vanilla is such a yummy, sensual fragrance, but it can sometimes be a little too heavy during the warmer months, but BBW has found a way you can wear vanilla all summer long by pairing it with summery inspired scents such as berry, coconut, apricot, and lemon!

I’m personally itching to try the Aprioct Vanilla and Lemon Vanilla scent, but with the line including a body lotion, body splash, cooling mist, shower gel, and lip gloss you can mix and match all your favorites…not to mention the line is super affordable with prices ranging from $7 to $12. 

So, while you’re out shopping for some cute summer outfits, make sure to swing by Bath and Body Works to check out the new line…so you can smell as sweet as you look!

I love perfume, I seriously can’t get enough of the stuff.  If someone were to make me choose a signature scent my head would probably explode from the frustration of picking that one bottle that I identify with most.  The great thing about perfume is that you can pick a fragrance according to your mood, an event, a time of year, etc.  I applaud those who have found that one bottle that they identify with most (I also find the idea of a signature scent terribly romantic), but I am just not one of those people and I have come to accept that about myself.

Because of my openness with fragrance, I am constantly falling in love with new scents.  When I read that Marc Jacobs 2010 Splash Collection was inspired by the “decadent indulgences of a patisserie shop” I knew I had to own a bottle from the collection, I mean, hello!  Cupcakes Taste Nice…see where I’m coming from here?

After reading about the three scents from the collection:  Pomegranate, Apple, and Biscotti, I knew that I needed the Biscotti fragrance.  The scent just sounded scrumptious and embodied a lot of notes that I love such as, orange blossom, freesia, vanilla…and it included pistachio blossom which just happens to be my favorite gelato flavor.  It seriously took every ounce of will power that I possess not to just out right by a bottle of the stuff without smelling it first.  But, I decided that it was only fair to give the fragrance a whirl before buying, especially with the $68 price tag.

As soon as I could I made my way to Nordstrom to try out the fragrance.  I dodged several eager sales associates, found my bottle of Biscotti and breathed in deep.  Hmmmm…no smell.  This did not stop me, I decided to spritz the fragrance and asked the sales associate to make me a sample; I needed to investigate this further in the comfort of my own home.  But, as I walked around the store I didn’t find myself falling in love with the fragrance, if anything I could barely smell the scent.  Still, I brushed it off thinking that maybe I didn’t spray enough on.

The next few days I wore the fragrance, but I never got to that moment where I fell in love with the scent.  If anything I could barely smell the fragrance and when I did it smelled very musky…not my favorite fragrance combination.  In the long run (rather, short run) my love affair with the Biscotti body splash fizzled very quickly, which I think they call that a crush.  I’m just glad I didn’t dish out $68 on a body splash…what was I thinking?!  The next time I want to smell like dessert, I’ll head on over to Bath and Body Works for a $10 bottle of vanilla body splash.

I have been really good about moisturizing my skin everyday, which in turn gives me the chance to try out different moisturizers.  I’ve tried everything from Aveeno to Jergens and while they’ve all moisturized, some didn’t leave me feeling moisturized all day and others left me feeling greasy.

I thought my quest was over the other day when I ran upon Eucerin Plus Smoothing Essentials moisturizer.  Eucerin claimed it was fast-absorbing and would keep your skin silky smooth all day without the greasy feel, not to mention it was recommended by dermatologist, something I’m a sucker for.  I was in. 

The very next day I had to try this moisturizer out, even though I hadn’t quite ran out of my other bottle.  My excitement quickly faded away.  After ten minutes had past, my skin still felt as if I had just applied the lotion…half an hour later I was struggling to pull my jeans on thanks to my slippery skin.  Uh-huh, non-greasy and fast-absorbent.

Am I going to throw this stuff out?  No.  But, will I buy it again?  Not a chance.  The thing is, this lotion has a lot going for it.  It has AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) which exfoliates skin making it smoother and softer, it moisturizes all day, and about three hours later skin feels pretty freaking soft…and hello, it’s recommended by dermatologist!  But, I have to say booooooo to Eucerin for boasting a non-greasy/fast absorbing lotion that as anything but.  I’m generally a fan of Eucerin products, but this one did not take the cake for me.

See, I promised all of you that I would share!

Up for grabs from The Body Shop’s Original Collection is the Dewberry body lotion and shower gel (valued at $19)!  This deliciously fruity duo will leave your skin clean, fragranced and moisturized.

The contest begins today and will end Thursday the 28th, so make sure to enter to win!  You don’t want to be without this yummy cult favorite from the 80′s.

If you’re like me, you probably love The Body Shop.  Not only do they have amazing products, but they are also made with Community Trade ingredients.  What’s not to love?  Well, here’s one more thing for you…

…back by popular demand, The Body Shop has decided to re-launch your favorite products from the 80′s!  Yep, Dewberry and Fuzzy Peach are back.  How could it get any better?  Well, now the Originals Collection includes Community Trade ingredients such as honey from Zambia, aloe vera from Guatemala and shea butter from Ghana, just to name a few.

I was super excited to hear about the new launch and even more excited when I found out The Body Shop was sending me the entire collection to try out!  My shower’s capacity has officially been reached.  While I’m not usually one to share, I have decided to send one lucky reader a product from the collection.  Make sure you check back this week to see what’s up for grabs and to enter to win!

I cannot wait to try out all the products to review, but if you’re itching to try the products out yourself, check out the entire collection here.  You can take your pick from Banana shampoo, Green Apple bath and shower gel, Carrot moisture cream, and many, many more…and right now the collection is priced at 3 for $20, so there is no reason not to stock up.

The 80′s are officially back…but only for a limited time.

…on a beer budget.

Just because the economy is a little lackluster these days, doesn’t mean you want to be.  But, let’s face it, times are tough and sometimes it’s hard to justify or stomach that $50 eye cream.  So, I have compiled a splurge vs. steal list for all you bargainistas out there in search for comparable beauty products that won’t compromise your beauty routine.

The Splurge:  Benetint-the cult classic rose tinted lip and cheek stain.

The Steal:  Sonia Kashuk Lip and Cheek tint- same tint, same results…but for $20 cheaper.  You be the judge.

The Splurge:  Wen Haircare-  This cleansing conditioner is a favorite of celebrities and housewives alike…but a 30-day supply will set you back $30.

The Steal:  Hair One-  At $10 a bottle and an overwhelming amount of positive reviews from people who have tried both Wen and Hair One, the question is why would you opt for the splurge?

The Splurge:  DiorShow Mascara-  Ah, another cult favorite…and a favorite of mine for several years.  But, now with so many amazing drugstore formulas I can’t believe I coughed up $24 every other month for a tube of mascara.

The Steal:  Covergirl LashBlast Mascara-  I’ve been using the Luxe version of this mascara (Luxe has shimmer) for several months and I have not once missed my DiorShow.  This mascara lengthens and volumizes…only difference is it’s at a fraction of the cost.

The Splurge:  Bliss Fatgirlslim-  I love Bliss products and fatgirlslim is one to love.  It does what it promises, which is smoothing the appearance of dimpled areas, but it does so at a cost…of $29 for a 6 oz tub!

The Steal:  Soap & Glory Slimwear-  You’ll get the same amazing results, but for half the cost and some  extra change.  Know what I really love?  The fact that Soap & Glory was created by Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Bliss.  How’s that for a comparable?

Substituting a splurge for a steal doesn’t have to be painful.  Think of all the money you’re going to save for that new handbag…um, I mean for that savings account you’re going to start!