May Hits and Misses

Hit...Kiwi Fresh Force shoe freshener. I bought this at the Hanes
et.al. outlet store. You pump it into your shoes and they smell like
flowers instead of the gym. The cost is $3.99 It's highly flammable
and you're not supposed to shoot it into your eyes...do it for the kids
instead of letting them do it themselves.

It was my 40th on May 19th and though I'm still trying to be a bit (!)
frugal (as in only paying for treatments, such as hair cut and colour,
waxing, etc) no new products.... I did get some lovely things in May.
My faves were definitely the Tarte products brought to me by a real
"insider". Their new mineral powder (pressed) is fantastic, as is
their Pop Tarte eye collection. Also really like the superglosses and
their regular double ended glosses. May was a Tarte month for me!

Big hit: DDF Organic Sunblock (spf 30). I apply a LOT of sunblock to my
face and neck in the morning–– this doesn't sting at all, doesn't seem
to run during the day, and has made my face feel really soft. (I have
normal to dry skin and olive oil is an ingredient, at least according
to the Sephora website.)
Alicia U.

Hits:
* Chanel's Ruben Perle in the peachy color.
I use this on my eyelids as eyeshadow and in the center of my lips.
Gorgeous! Makes my eyes look years younger.
* Chanel Double Perfection Creme Poudre (creme powder makeup) My
current holy grail summer foundation. Matte finish, covers everything
I need to cover with no masky look, and the color is my perfect skin
match.
* Chanel powder blush in BeBop –– gorgeous sunny pink, subtle (my
daughter is repeatedly "borrowing" it from me)
* Tony and Tina herbal mascara –– very natural looking, no eyelash
fallout from this one. Love it, as long as you understand it's for
everyday –– doesn't create dramatically long lashes.
* MURAD Essential C Dailey Renewal Complex. Beautiful under make–up ––
makes pores disappear.
Maybe:
YSL Anti–cernes multi–action concealer. It flakes under my eyes, so
I'm currently using it as a highlighter under my browbone and around my
nose. It's fine there, but the whole POINT of it being "anti cernes"
was to use it under my eyes. Will not repurchase.
MISS:
– Only one this month –– not bad: Benefit FYEye. This is supposed to
be an eyelid base that works as a soother and eye shadow too. Well, it
stinks. It gobs up in the creases like crazy no matter how well I
blend it in. I've never had any luck with Benefit products though I
keep trying because I love their packaging and names!
Teresa

I've haven't been much in the mood to shop the past couple of months,
but I made up for it in May, and all my purchases were hits!
––MAC Gitane lipglass, a beautiful bright warm brick red (I like to
cool it down with a pinkish liner like Quartz
––MAC Gilded White Power Point pencil. Applied carefully at the inner
corners, this makes my eyes look a little larger and further apart than
they really are.
––These sandals:
http://tinyurl.com/8oznf
Hmm...they look much better and less matronly both 1) on my foot and 2)
in black than they do just floating around in brown on nordstrom.com.
I mentioned in another thread that they've tricked my feet into
thinking they're walking on leather car seats. Nice leather car seats.
Which is a pleasant illusion when I hit the asphalt. Even better...I
had Nordstrom rebates banked on a gift card!.........Laurie B.

I did so much shopping this month, I'm categorizing. ;)
Fragrance hits:
Hermes Eau des Merveilles
Hermes Hiris
Madeleine Vionnet
L'Ombre Rose (repurchase)
Jean Louis Scherrer EDP (repurchase)
Bath/Body/Home fragrance hits:
Blanc Lila Mignonette Savon––lilac season is too short and this soap is
so pretty
Claire Burke Gardenia potpourri––absolutely heavenly! Wish I could get a
fragrance that smelled like it
The Bath Lounge Tropical Bath Cocktail in Classic Margarita––what a nice
way to wake up in the morning––with a cocktail ;)
Goofy GWP Sephora set hit:
a copy of Elycia Rubin and Rita Mauceri's _Frumpy to Foxy in 15 Minutes
Flat_, a fun read, although hardly earth–shattering. It came packaged
with makeup––I fell like a ton of bricks for this marketing scheme, and
it turns out I like the makeup:
Bourjois e/s in 08 Beige Rose
Bourjois blush in 95 Rose de Jaspe (lovely when applied lightly––it's
very pink)
Bourjois Pump Up Volume mascara––this might be a holy grail
Drugstore Hits:
Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds lipgloss in Mauvey Rocks
Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds lipgloss in Clear Cut Diamond
and last but not least––Cover Girl TruBlend Powder Foundation in Classic
Ivory––a doppelganger for OoO Complete Radiance!
Jury's still out:
Bourjois Effet 3D lipgloss in shade 4––maybe too light? not sure
Eclat d'Arpege––haven't tried yet
Priscilla
–––
p...@midway.uchicago.edu "Here comes the most beautiful woman in
puppetland!"

Trilby wrote:
SNIP
I think that the folks at CG are going to have to send you a lovely
thank you gift for tripling their sales of this product after AF reads
your comments!
HITS:
The Balm Plump Your Pucker gloss in Boyz'n My Berry –– the first gloss
I can tolerate!
Stila tinted moisturizer in Tone –– not very moisturizing, but just
enough color to even my skin tone; destined to be a summer staple
Stila concealer in Tone
UNDECIDED:
Stila Lip Glaze in Black Cherry. It's VERY bright.
Barbara

Trilby writes:
and last but not least––Cover Girl TruBlend Powder Foundation in
Classic
Ivory––a doppelganger for OoO Complete Radiance!
I hope this is true because I am on the last compact of the (once huge)
OoO Complete Radiance stash, and I probably only have a couple more
months before it's gone. I'll have to give this product a try in a
darker color to match the self–tan and see how it works. Thanks for
posting this. I thought I'd have to google to see what people are
using as a replacement.

I haven't done a lot of beauty shopping lately but...
Hits:
Joey New York Chin Breakout Relief – works really well
CITY Lips Nighttime Treatment – Not sure how much of a difference I notice
but it does make a nice lip gloss/moisturizer. (I still prefer LipVenom, I
like the cinnamon)
JCrew Pocket Skirts from the Sunwashed cotton collection – soo comfy!!
Misses:
Sephora Indulgences Whipped Body Lotion in Pink Grapefruit: the scent was
very soapy & manufactured.
Juries still out:
Clarins Hydration – Plus Moisture Lotion SPF15: I have been using this every
day but I dont feel that it assorbs as well as other mouisterizers.
––
Cherie

Hits:
*The Clarins spf 40 sunblock that's been mentioned here lately. It has
a high SPF, less whiteness than other physical sunblocks I've used, and
a non–greasy texture. It seems to persist well, I apply it in the
morning and can still feel it on my face at the end of a hot, humid
day.
*DHC white lotion sunblock. Similar texture to the Clarins, but
overall I don't like it as much as the Clarins because it has a lower
SPF (25) and looks a little more white on my skin. However it's a good
cheaper alternative to the Clarins.
*DHC eyebright
*DHC mineral mask
*rediscovered summer makeup from my makeup drawer: Fresh eyeshadow in
clever girl and Stila lip glaze in vanilla.
Misses:
Michael Kors slides w/ wood soles. I love the way these look and the
rubber insert in the wooden sole makes them a lot more comfortable than
one–piece wood soles, but the sole came apart at the rubber insert on
one of the shoes after only a few wearings.

Hits:
Mark cheek/lip tint – better than Tarte, just the perfect color of
pinch your cheeks and stays on all day
Revlon 12 hour eye liner – it does last on the eyes long, but I went
through this rather quickly.
Misses (too many this month!)
Mario Badescu skin care – I bought everything and broke out – I am
going to try the MIR line that some recommended – after reading the
info on line it just makes sense.
Urban Decay mascara –awful expensive does nothing.
Almay new brightness line – CVS had a buy one get one at half price and
I bought several items, all went back, the colors were not pigmented.

MaureyL wrote:
Oh, I so agree! This is my favorite foundation. It can be very light
with a brush, or cover red spots with a sponge. It doesn't have the
weird metallic look of bare minerals. Totally wonderful.
S.

Hits:
Neutrogena UltraSheer DryTouch SPF 45 – an AF rec, and it's very good –
doesn't make my skin turn bright red when I put it on. Really should
wear it a few more times to make sure it doesn't break me out, but SFSG.
Korres Primrose eye cream– I had a sample of this from somewhere and
tried it finally. Liked it so much I bought a tube from Sephora. It's
only SPF 6, but is a nice mid–weight moisturizer.

I very rarely do these as I haven't purchased many products recently.
However, this April and May I did test drive some and here are my "H &Ms" :
Hits:
*Andra Sina skin care. Its all based on an aloe plant that naturally
exfoliates dead skin while nurturing new skin development. They also have
some body care that is great for burn victims and people undergoing
radiation treatment for cancer. I do not work for this company...here is
the website: www.andrasina.com
*Caudalie Eye Contour Cream...nice rich formula that doesn't break me
out...and keeps my skin supple. FWIW...anyone traveling to France..go to
the pharmacies...Caudalie, and some other brands that are sold at Nordstom
are there and are much cheaper.
Miss:
*md skincare lift and lighten eye cream. It did neither. I wasn't asking
for my bags to disappear...but this stuff did nothing that a basic
moisturizer couldn't do. Crapola. I'm glad this was a sample.

This sounds like it's a must have since the TBS Tea Tree is effective
but I want something that smells nicer.
More May hits for me:
Lilly sun hat – rock a hula pattern
The Michele H system of breaking up one big wallet into 2–3 smaller
ones. I now have a small billfold + coin purse and the load is lighter.
My back thanks you muchly Michele!
Discovering Silpada silver jewelry at AFDC, I can't wait to get my
earrings – one silver studs w/ round MOP drops and the other fishooks
w/ tumbled rose quartz and silver bead dangles.
IM for Target rimless sunglasses, taupe lenses. They fit well and do
the job.
Something I'm going to do for June and should be a June hit; get
several patterns of narrow grosgrain ribbon to make into shoelaces for
my plain white Liz sneaks. I'll pick up the colors of the ribbon(s) in
the rest of my outfit. I'm already thinking pink and green to wear w/
my lilly hat, denim capris, and either a pink or green top. For July
4th I'll find a red/white/blue patriotic pattern ribbon, use it as
laces, then wear the sneaks w/ a red top and blue jeans or dark blue
denim shorts.
Miss – a BIIIIIG one. Kors Island fragrance. My DH HATED this, it
reminded him of something an ex of his from hell wore and gave him some
very nasty and intense scent flashbacks. I definitely WON'T be getting
this now. Yikes.
Vicki in DC