Sugarpill Cosmetics & Pursebuzz

One of the highlights from The Makeup Show (LA) was stopping by the Pursebuzz booth and meeting the Sugarpill girls! I have always loved really girly accessories. Bows, hearts, rainbows, mermaids, cupcakes, stars, hearts, lips, lighting bolts...you name it! My Mom started buying me Hello Kitty items when I was a baby (most of which I still have & in mint condition) and I've always gravitated towards cute characters/images like that. With what's out now, I like the brands Tokidoki, Harajuku Lovers & stores like Kid Robot & Toy Tokyo that sell anything that's cute along those lines. They tap into the little girl in me and even though I don't wear these items every day, they're still very present in my life.
When I saw that Pursebuzz was going to be at The Makeup Show in LA I knew I was going to buy something! I had gone on the website beforehand and feasted my eyes on all the fun accessories that are right up my alley!

Love my goodies!

When I got to Pursebuzz booth I immediately fell in love w/and bought this ring! It came in red and a deep pink but this was my favorite.
How cute is this?! It's SO Me!! Baby pink bling lips & mini lipstick! Love it!!
I kept directing people to the booth because of all the compliments I got from it! Lol!

I introduced myself to Elessa Jade (owner) and she was just the sweetest woman ever! She saw I had a press pass and asked who I wrote for. I gave her my flier and said it was for my blog.
She then gave me a few items that I have worn all over the place already. (Hi Elessa!! Thank you again! Xo)

A Pursebuzz Pink Headband with a bow...

...a Silver Spike Stretch Bracelet and...

...Pink Crystal Stud Bow earrings.

Aside from her online shop, Elessa has so much going on! If you go to her website, you can click on links to see her YouTube tutorials and fashion/lifestyle tips. I can spend a good few hours just looking at everything and shopping! Lol!


I saw the Sugarpill Loose Eyeshadow sample on the table and took one because I had been wanting to try their makeup. I've seen a few tutorials with people using their makeup and it just looks amazing!
Goldilux:
SO pigmented and shiny! It looks like real gold! I have my eye on a few others now because they're so amazing ;-)

I also got a sticker! I've collected fun stickers forever and this one is so girly. It's pink and swirly and glittery! Weeee! I love the logo, it represents the brand so well!

When I actually saw Amy (owner) & Yume (works for Sugarpill,) I felt like I was in a rave! They looked amazing!
The colored hair, platform sneakers, Hello Kitty bags...it took me back for sure! Such sweet girls and they look like they have fun in life and in what they do!

(L to R) Amy, Moi, Yume

How fun, right? :-)

Even though the brand is just over 2 years old, it's already left a mark on the makeup world. It's brought something bubbly and carefree to the table, which I think was missing. A lot of brands offer makeup for fun but but Sugarpill really lives it, so it's for real!
Amy started her business a few years ago with her clothing company called, Shrinkle. The makeup was launched to compliment that, which I think she's accomplished ;-)
I remember seeing @macNC40 (Suzy) wearing a pink, fuzzy hoodie in her avi on twitter and asked where it was from. She directed me to Shrinkle and that's how I got interested in the line.
She was also super sweet!

Speaking of colorful...I know I mentioned it before, that I got to meet Lauren (Queen of Blending) but I never posted my pics. If you don't know who she is, please Google her name and watch her videos. She's adorable, extremely humble and has so much talent!
I've seen her and a few other girls use Sugarpill in tutorials and heard them mention Pursebuzz so this all ties in together.
If you use it all together, it works! The accessories, makeup and clothes. It's very "club kid chic" but very put together. Years ago the people going to raves and such always looked a hot mess, this is different! Now I know why they love it all so much! Lol!

To shop & find out more about the brands, click these links below...Xo
http://pursebuzz.com/
http://blog.shrinkle.com/
http://www.sugarpillshop.com/

Keep it pretty!
*Stephanie*

Beauty Army Gift Basket

Just when I think my relationship with Beauty Army can't get any better, Lindsey gives me a huge gift basket full of goodies!!
Who told Lindsey I love presents?! Lol!
While at The Makeup Show in LA 2 weeks ago, right as I was about to leave, the lovely Lindsey hands me a 14 item (17 if you count the 3 pink army men) gift basket! I didn't have a chance to open it and play with everything because I was traveling but I opened as many things as I could as soon as I got back.

Inside were products from:
Erno Laszlo, Cover FX, myface Cosmetics, Rain Cosmetics, Boo-Boo Cover Up, Chella Skin Care, LaROCCA, Classified Cosmetics, Minteas.
*Note the pink army men...Nancy-Lee painted those herself! They're so cute!

The Rain Cosmetics lip therapy is separate because I gave it to my Mom's friend who did a huge favor for me so it was in the goody bag I made for her. She did tell me it was creamy and that she loved it. It comes it 4 different colors. This one has a slight, pale shimmer to it. I wanted to show a picture of it because it looks like a big drop of water, which I think is adorable!
Sorry it's so small but I'm not a photographer, thanks! Lol!

myFace Cosmetics
Nail Polish: Bellbottom blues & Limelight
Blingtone eye shadow: Limelight
Silkscreen Eye Art, Eye shadow duo: Pop Culture
Slinky, Metal Liquid Liner: It's so new I don't have the name yet!

I think it's funny that a few of the shades are called Limelight because I was always at the Limelight (club in NYC) and there was a lotion from Bath & Body Works with the same name that I loved! It seems to follow me around...Lol!
Anyway, I got a blingtone eye shadow in my first kit back in January. The shadows are really pigmented & have the perfect amount of sparkle. I love the nail polish b/c it's also extremely pigmented! At first it looks like it's going to be streaky b/c the colors are somewhat of a soft metallic but after 2 coats it settles down. It yields such a smooth result, it looks like you're wearing nail stickers. Gorgeous! True story.

The Slinky liquid liner is silky and the applicator is similar to the Urban Decay liquid liner, so it makes it easy to use. The small brush also makes it easy to build your line from thin to thick w/out making a mess. Love it!

(L to R) Limelight (blingtone eye shadow)-Pop Culture (Silkscreen Eye Art eye shadow duo)-Silky liquid liner

If you haven't been living under a rock, you've probably realized green is very big for spring/summer this year. I can wear most colors but green & blue have always been tricky for me. I have to be really tan or they just wash me out. The blue has to be deep like navy and the greens have to be on the pastel side. I did see the other colors they have and they're gorgeous!

I tried the Classified Cosmetics spray on bronzer and spray on illuminating primer in white gold. I have never been interested in airbrushing or spraying anything on myself because it usually makes a big ole mess. I tried Sally Hansen's spray tan once and swore I'd never use something I couldn't apply with my hands or a sponge.
I have gotten spray tans but those are being done for me. I have a hard time reaching around myself to spray. I'm sure it's funny to watch me trying though! Lol
I thought this would be more of a mist but it did come out like a spray at first. However, it wasn't like a violent spritz, it was soft enough. It says you're supposed to "mist evenly" but I found it hard to do because my instinct is to just spray! You must be light handed when using this or you will make a mess! I did spray some on and just rubbed it in with my hands. What a beautiful finish!! It's lightweight & oil-free and the color worked perfectly. It evened out my skin and didn't look overdone. I would skip my tinted moisturizer & just use this. It is bronze, not orange, and it looks like I've been in the sun but not tanning. You can use this on your body as well, which I plan to immediately!
The spray on makeup primer also had the same feel. I actually used this under the bronzer. It has a very light shimmer, but just enough to give you a radiant finish. I like how the bottle has a shimmer to it, keeping true to the white gold theme! Very clever! I can see myself spraying the bronzer on my legs and then giving a light mist of this on top just to kick it up a notch & have shimmery, glowing skin!
These will go very quickly!

The Boo-Boo Cover-Up is like a cosmetic band-aid. I tried a little to see if it would cover a tiny bruise I had on my hand and it did. I'll have to find out if this comes in different shades because this looks like it's strong enough to cover tattoos! It's made with Aloe, Chamomile, Green Tea, Tee Tree Oil & Vitamin E.
I have high hopes for it! :-)

At first I thought the LaROCCA, C-Or C-Gold Reparative Primer was just a makeup base. I see the word "primer" and assumed it would be but it's SO much more than that!
First of all, it contains 24K Gold & 15% Vitamin C! It's velvety & lightweight, not heavy like a silicone based product. I used a drop by itself with no make up on top and first it felt slightly slippery but then it sunk into my skin and left a dewy texture. I loved it!
Some of it's benefits include: sun damage repair, energizing & stimulating cell turnover, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles & age spots while softening the skin. It has no scent and you need the smallest amount.

The Cover FX's, Clear Prep is probably not something I'd use. It's a Matte Foundation Primer but also an Anti-Acne Treatment Gel. I don't have acne & I don't like too much matte on my face because it can feel dry. I did squeeze out a drop on my hand to feel the texture and it's smooth with a nice finish. I wasn't crazy about the scent but I noticed it's only noticeable at first. It vanishes once you rub the product into the skin. This is perfect for my kit because I come across so many different skin types, I'm sure someone will benefit from this.

I grew up seeing Erno Laszlo products in my house because my Mom uses them all the time. The MULTI-pHASE Makeup Remover was made for all skin types & promises not to irritate eyes or skin. It has a soft, bland scent so I'm sure most people will find this appealing. It's a mixture of oil & water so it can be gentle enough to not irritate but tough enough to remove mascara & long-wear lipstick.
I'll put it to the test the next time I wear an OCC Lip Tar ;-)

I first heard of Chella through Beauty Army so this is a new brand for me. In the gift basket was a Brow Beauty Tools Kit that came with tweezers, scissors & a really cool razor & brush/comb on the top. What I like about this is the tiny razor it comes with. I usually get the brow razors separately and they're about 2ce the size which can make it hard to get into the tiny eyelid space. I'm not saying they don't exist but I've never seen the brush, comb & razor together. I love it!
This is great for Makeup Artists and/or Brow Specialists because it's compact, which means one less thing for us to carry ;-)

I have to say I was really excited to try the Minteas, Lime Mojito tea mints because I love mints and Mojitos! Lol
I popped 2 in my mouth and I have to say they're odd but I liked them. They're refreshing and they do taste like lime & mint. I'm so used to carrying around mints or gum, especially when I'm working. I always like to be fresh and it's good to have breath fresheners to give to clients that really need them! Just saying...

So thank you again to Lindsey and the girls from Beauty Army, I'm so glad I finally got to meet you all! It was great putting faces to the names and it was like seeing an old friend once Nancy-Lee and I got to talking. I sincerely wish them the best!

(L to R) Me, Nancy-Lee, Lindsey

Cheers to a long & prosperous relationship between us!
*raises champagne flute...clink*
Big XO!!

Keep it pretty!
*Stephanie*

Beauty Army-March 2012 Haul

I'm back with the latest chapter in my Beauty Army book of yummy goodness for the soul! :-)
I knew I'd be seeing my Mom this month so I decided to pick all 6 of my samples for her. I know you're thinking, "what a good daughter you are!" Yes, you're right, I am (LOL) but it's nothing compared to how good she is to me, so really it's the least I can do. (Hi Mom!! Xo)
This is where being able to change your Beauty Army profile really comes in handy. I was able to alter my settings to match my Mom's skincare needs. My Mom is under 60 & has beautiful skin and takes care of it the way I do mine (who do you think taught me how to do all of this?) so I chose a mix of products she could really benefit from. Since she's the real product Queen (No lie, the woman could open a Sephora store with just what she has alone) I tried to imagine she was going on vacation and needed to pack some essentials...

(Clockwise from L to R) Sun FX Body Wash, BABOR Argan Cream, Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil, Cover FX Eye Prep, CellCeuticals CerActive Moisturizer, Control Corrective Botanical Soothing Cream SPF 30

I chose the Sun FX body wash because I knew I liked their tanning cream so I figured the wash would be good. It smells just like the tanning cream, like coconuts! I knew the calming/soothing ingredients like Aloe, Chamomile & Calendula Extract wouldn't irritate her sensitive skin. Since it promises to create a light foam, that tells me it's detergent level is low, which also guarantees no irritation.
My Mom said she can't wait to use this!


I got the BABOR cream because it's made with Argan oil which is "Morocco's liquid gold." It's good for all skin types and it stabilizes the skin's barrier. The skin keeps it's elasticity and maintains it's natural collagen fiber. All of this works together to keep the skin looking radiant! From the gold trimmed box to the elegant glass jar, it has luxury written all over it. It even smells like a million dollars!


I raved about Indie Lee's Coconut/Citrus scrub in my last Beauty Army post.
I was looking forward to trying more products from her line because they just all look SO good! I wanted my Mom to try the Squalane Oil because the benefits seem endless. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles & hydrates the skin. Over time it evens skin tone so eventually you won't need to use makeup. It soothes eczema, sun damage and wounds. Hello?? Who doesn't have 1 of those 3? See what I mean? ;-)
I actually got to meet Indie Lee a few days ago during her trunk show at Henri Bendel's on 5th Ave in NYC. First off, she's beautiful, like inside and out! So bubbly, smart, funny and she radiates goodness! It felt like I was running into a friend I hadn't seen in a little while. I absolutely adore her! We talked for a while and I can't wait to see her again. I believe in her products because the way she came about creating them is really inspirational & true so knowing her heart is in this, I know she's going to be bigger than life! She kinda already is...just saying.
She even offered me a discount so I picked a big bottle of the Squalane Oil for my Mom, this way I'd take the smaller one for myself. I had given my Mom a mini facial and after trying this oil I knew we'd need more, so it was a no brainer!
(Thanks Indie!! Xo)
If you're looking for a real natural line of skin/body care please check out her products. I promise you'll love them and there's something for everyone!

Indie Lee in Henri Bendel's!!! Yay!! :-)

Us girls :-)

Knowing you can never have enough eye cream, I chose the Cover FX Eye Prep. Like I mentioned just before, when I gave my Mom her mini facial, I used this as her eye cream and she liked it. I know my Mom doesn't wear a lot of makeup but I got this for her because it's also serves as an eye cream. It has anti-aging properties, helps to reduce swelling, dark circles, puffiness & wrinkles. She wore it all day and since it didn't irritate her skin, she's now going to use it until it's gone :-)

I had picked the CellCeuticals scrub in my first Beauty Army haul and loved it so much that I wanted my Mom to fall in love with the line too. I've long known of Dr. Garth Fisher's work as a reconstructive and plastic surgeon so when I found out he was the one half of the brand's creators, it all made sense. He does beautiful work and must know what products work best. I love when real, practicing Doctors (especially the prestigious ones such as Dr. Fisher) make skin/body care because you know that chances are, it's all going to be really well made. Why, you ask? Because their celebrity and best clients will be using it, so it can't be anything but the creme de la creme!
This cream is for a dry skin and I thought it would be good for my Mom during the cold months of the year. She used some yesterday and for those of you that were in Manhattan, you know it was cold and windy :-( However, she liked it because it created a shield from the wind and she escaped windburn on both her hands and face. See?
Creme de la creme! ;-)

I picked the Control Corrective Botanical Soothing Cream SPF 30 because it's more than your plain SPF. It's good for sensitive skin, it's anti-aging and unlike most SPF creams, it's especially good for rosacea like skin. It helps reduce flushing and redness. I thought this would be a good choice for her too because even though she doesn't have rosacea, her skin is sensitive so she can use this all year with no problems while getting the added benefit of SPF. She hasn't tried it yet but she's going to, this week. I'm making her! Lol!

So that's it for this month! Don't forget that anything you get from Beauty Army as a sample, you can also buy in regular sizes on their website. Love them for this!
You won't have to wait a whole month for my next Beauty Army haul because somewhere in the next 2 weeks I'll be dissecting the gift basket Lindsey Guest (Beauty Army owner) gave me at The Makeup Show in LA last weekend. I literally got it home, oohed and ahhed and then I had to jump on a plane, so I didn't really get to play with anything! I can't wait to go over everything in that thing because it all looks amazing! (Thanks again Lindsey! Xo)


Keep it pretty!
*Stephanie*

ClickR-Figure It Out/Stop-Time Night Cream

If you don't know by now, I'm in absolute LOVE with ClickR! I posted a review on their No More Derma Drama, Daily Dermabrasion Wash 2 months ago. 

To give you an update on the No More Derma Drama, I thought I'd end up using it every 2 weeks because it gave such a thorough cleansing, I figured I wouldn't need it more often. I found myself wanting to use it more because it never irritated my skin. I would use it to wash my face after being out all day. It never burned my eyes or felt abrasive. It's almost like a cleanser and exfoliant because it serves both purposes. 

So much for every 2 weeks! Lol!

Since this last post my relationship with ClickR has blossomed! We send each other tweets on twitter & share an equal respect and admiration for each other's work. I've never spoken to Florence (the owner) directly but I enjoy our tweets and always send along my best wishes to the woman who's made many people's skin dreams come true! (Hi Florence! XO)

I do my absolute best to let anyone, who will listen, know just how brilliant this product line is! I had a chance to speak with Lauren (Hi Lauren!!), who wears many hats for the company, and she suggested I try another product. I gave details about my skin and she decided to send me the Figure It Out/Stop-Time Night Cream. By the way she described it, I thought it sounded perfect!

She sent it right away and OH EM GEE! 

First of all, I opened the box to find it wrapped in black tissue paper with skulls on it! It was funny because it seemed contradictory to this product that brings your skin to life but it was edgy and fun, I loved it so much that I kept it, all of it! :-)

It also came with another handwritten note, which we all know mean the world to me :-)

As for the cream, the first thing that got me was the scent. I always smell creams/lotions before I put them on and this smells SO good! It reminds me of a candle I had that's been discontinued but it has the kind of scent you want around you all the time. I'd want every room in my house to smell this good! It smells pure and there's no trace of junk ingredients. Have you ever gotten a cream that smells like chemicals, medicine or plastic? This is NOT that cream! It's sweet yet soothing but gentle enough that it could also work in a baby's room. I'm telling you, everyone will LOVE the scent. I wasn't sure if I wanted to eat it or use it as body cream, perfume, shampoo or sit in a tub of it!! True story!

I noticed the texture was PERFECT!! It wasn't oily, it sunk right into my skin, leaving no residue behind, just supple, smooth, hydrated skin. I also put some on my hands and gave some to my Mom, who wanted to keep it! Lol! 

As usual, I read the literature and it became crystal clear why it works so well:

Before I say anything, remember that night time is extremely important for skin care. It's the time when our skin repairs itself. It detoxifies itself by pushing out toxins and it absorbs whatever we put on it as well. So I'm very careful with what I use at night because I know it's making a huge difference for my skin.

It's made with Gold, Silver & Mother of Pearl! How luxurious, right? Perfect for me! 

The Silver helps to minimize lines & wrinkles while fighting bacteria and the Mother of Pearl helps fight free radicals. The Gold sends oxygen to the skin which gives a "healthy glow" that we all want! 

Sunflower Extract helps to smooth & nourish the skin. Ceramide 2 helps repair environmental & sun damage while the Sodium Hyaluronate traps moisture in & locks it in the skin so it can't escape. Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline rejuvenates, firms & moisturizes and the Hydrolized Mytrus Communis Extract reduces lines & wrinkles while promoting cell longevity. 

I know the ingredients may sound foreign but as a Licensed Esthetician I can tell you these are all good! 

The best part is it's good for ALL skin types, even the most sensitive skin! I'm quite amazed at ClickR's diversity with their products. They make these products that are essentially for a certain skin type yet others can still use them with no complications. Genius!

Do your skin a favor and try ClickR!

http://www.clckr.com/

ClickR-Figure It Out

Stop-Time Night Cream

($38-1.7oz)

Keep it pretty!

*Stephanie*

The Makeup Show LA-Haul

So after a whirlwind weekend of makeup, body paint, lashes, skincare, nails, glitter and the "who's who" in the Makeup industry...I'm finally sitting down to give a quickie preview of what I'll be vlogging about soon!
Thank you to everyone who's encouraged me to throw caution to the wind and just go for it! Your words have not fallen on deaf ears ;-)

The Makeup Show is something I look forward to every year. It's 2 days full of shopping, networking, educating & shmoozing! I love seeing what people are wearing, how they've done their makeup, trying new products, meeting with friends (old & new) & watching other artists work.
This year was the best by far! I got to meet some of my all-time favorite Vlogging Gurus (For example, Queen Of Blending-Lauren-Hey Sweetiecakes!!) who's work I've admired for years, so that was a huge treat for me! I believe in giving credit where it's due & I love telling people how they've made a difference in my life.
Who doesn't like to hear that? ;-)
I had a few funny run ins with some people and met with a lot of friendly faces I've gotten to know from twitter. It's funny how in a few conversations, you'd hear people refer to each other by their twitter name, it gave us all a giggle.
I've been going to this show since the beginning so it's interesting to see how it evolves and grows. It's a testament to what a positive, uplifting & supportive community I belong to. It shows that people who are doing well on their own have nothing but positivity to give to others. I noticed that it's usually the ones who do nothing & make nothing that complain and hate on the ones who do.
Shame on you, haters!
Cest la vie!
Events like this are essential because they set the stage for artists to receive, & take full advantage of, the best there is in education, networking and the opportunity to keep our kits stocked with the best products the world has to offer, at prices that make it all worth our while.
I got some amazing things but I fell in love, love, love with the Pursebuzz jewels! If ever there was something made just for me, it was this ring in the shape of lips w/a mini lipstick on it & everything is covered in baby pink bling! I haven't taken it off!!!
Elessa Jade, the brand owner, gave me a really cute pink headband w/a bow on top, this amazing spike bracelet with a purse & pink bow on it (I almost slept with it on before I realized I might poke my eye out! Lol!) and a pair of beautiful pink bow earrings, also bling-ed out!
I'd like to break it down and do as many individual reviews as I can so to spotlight my faves because they totally deserve it!
I also had really amazing encounters with people, like Jeffery Paul, that I wanted to talk about. He's possibly one of the most easy going, talented, kindest people I've ever met. I spent most of Sunday with him and his camera crew while he interviewed a slew of celebrity Makeup Artists & vendors. I don't want to give away too much of the story but we met on twitter a few months back and kept in touch. He calls me Mona Lisa...Lol! I'll explain later! ;-)
It was perfect because I had done all of my shopping Saturday so Sunday was my day to get familiar with new lines and really get to explain what my blog is all about.
I designed 300 fliers advertising my blog and used this glittery paper that everyone fell in love with!!! I sent 200 to this huge fashion/beauty event I'll be attending this week (blog on that soon) so they could be placed in the goody bags, which I must admit was one of my brighter ideas in life :-)
I took the other 100 to the Makeup Show to hand out and see how people reacted. I felt like I had done something right when the accomplished Victoria Stiles said she'd like to do something similar for herself but using different colors. This statuesque beauty has worked with Cher, I don't know about you but that was an honor to me!
Needless to say, they were a huge hit and people remembered me because of the glitter! haha!
Mission accomplished!
I have SO much to tell! Ahhhh! Thank God I took notes because everything happened so fast. Lol!

What you see here is a mix of products & items from:
Sugarpill, Pursebuzz, MUD Cosmetics, Kim Greene, Beauty Army, Nigel Beauty, MakeUpForEver, OCC, Marinello, Beauty Treats, Biobliss, Model In A Bottle, Alcone, Crown Brush, Lit Cosmetics, Auraline Beauty, Embryolisse, Pinnacle Cosmetics...just to name a few!!!!! That's not including all the people I met and other products that are being sent to me!

I have about 50+ more photos to post so I'll try to get everything done as soon as possible!!!

Keep it pretty!
*Stephanie*

Klout Perk-gud from Burt's Bees

Before I start I'd like to mention that this is my 50th post so, Yay for Me! Thank you for reading & getting my blog to almost 6,200 views in less than 10 weeks, I'm flabbergasted! : )

Ok, I received my "perks" from Klout yesterday!!! I can't believe they got here so fast! Originally it said 2-3 weeks shipping but it seemed like less than 2.
A few people have asked me about what exactly "Klout" is. It's a networking tool that helps to track how relevant you are in social media. This is done by tracking how often your name is mentioned on different sites (such as twitter & facebook) but you can also get recognition by receiving +K from others in categories that pertain to your purpose.
For example, I've gotten +K in Beauty, Cosmetics, facebook, blogging and nail polish, to name a few.
A +K is described as "the ability to vouch for your peers’ influence in topics."
I thought it would be a great way to help spread the word about my blog and so far it's really helped. It's also fun to see your peers giving you support & being able to support them right back.
You can receive "perks" for your participation & according to klout the perks are described as "exclusive products or experiences that you earn based on your influence" so it's not just about the products.
So far I have earned 2. The first being a box of body care items from the company gud from Burt's Bees. It required me to have a minimum klout score of 45 and at least a medium strength level in the Beauty topic. The box was heavy & gorgeous! It came with a thank you note acknowledging me as an "influencer" and encouraging me to review my items, which I was more than happy to do :-)

They don't test on animals and all products are natural & free of parabens, phthalates & petrochemicals.

Everything comes in 4 scents:
Floral Cherrynova (Cherry Blossom & Almond Milk)
Pearanormal Activity (Pear & Acai Berry)
Orange Petalooza (Hyacinth & Blood Orange)
Vanilla Flame (Vanilla & Rice Milk)

They make the following products:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hand Cream
Body Wash
Body Mist
Body Lotion
Body Butter
Foaming Hand Wash

I was happy to see 3 out of the 4 scents in the box they sent me.
(L to R)
Vanilla Flame Body Mist, Floral Cherrynova Body Lotion, Orange Petalooza Body Wash

I tried the body lotion right away and the texture is great! Smooth & creamy but not greasy. To get a better idea of the scent, it's very reminiscent of the Cherry Blossom from Bath & Body Works. I can't wear it all the time b/c it's too floral for my taste but I do have a few perfumes that would compliment it well.

The body wash smells like an orange popsicle, but with a tiny bit of added perfume, deelish! It's very citrus-y so you must be a citrus fan to use this. I am so it'll work for me! It's very moisturizing and I can tell it's not loaded with chemicals and detergents. At first the orange is dominant but after you've washed with it, the hyacinth takes over & it settles beautifully into a soft, sweet scent. Never overpowering!

I didn't always, but in recent years I've grown to love Vanilla scented body products. I didn't like them because I felt they were generic in the sense that anyone could go to the drugstore & buy a cheap bottle of Vanilla spray. I liked unique perfume instead and truth be told it lasts longer anyway. For whatever the reason, they've grown on me and I now find the scent to be soothing. I gave my bathroom a few spritzes of the vanilla body mist (just in case I didn't like it, I wouldn't have it on me all day) and I loved it! It's sweet but not nauseating and it's strong enough that you can smell it if someone wearing it passes by you but subtle enough that when they do, you're not gagging. I tend to keep these body sprays in my car because I like to keep the inside smelling fresh. Plus, it's always good to have something you can spray in your bag at all times. If you've ever been on a subway, bus or a taxi in NYC, you know exactly what I mean ;-)
I choose these as air fresheners for my car over products like febreeze because they're easier on the senses & usually don't have subtle traces of a febreeze/lysol type of product. Chemicals basically :-(
I would love to try the Pearanormal Activity (could you just die with these genius names for everything?!?!) for when I want to smell sweet like a fruit salad b/c even though it's fruity tooty, if mixed properly, it can smell amazing.

The box came with these full size (love that!) goodies but also with great literature. We know, I love to read up on what I'm using and this gave me plenty to look at. It came with a big booklet outlining the products and an envelope filled with coupons! It also came with a scratch & sniff page so you can sample all of the scents (genius). It shows 6 here so maybe they have 6 scents but I only saw 4. They could be coming out with new ones.

Overall it was a success & Klout just got a whole lot more interesting! My next perk, that I should be getting soon, is by a company called Simple and they're sending me skincare. It looks like I'm going to love it so we'll see...

I believe you can buy these gud natural treats at most Target stores or via their facebook page, where you can also sign up to try a sample product...(facebook.com/gud)

I hope that explained it. Though I'm still trying to figure out how Melanie Griffith (yes, the actress) retweeted one of my tweets & my score only went up 1 number...haha!

It's not confusing once you get into it, I promise!

klout.com

Keep it pretty!

*Stephanie*

Nail Of The Week- "Bright Lights, Big Color" By OPI

This color surprised me because it looks so unassuming in the bottle but when I put it on it really popped! I didn't want to do a pink or purple so I picked this blazing fireball, which was all alone in the back of my nail drawer. I'd forgotten all about it (sorry little guy) so I thought I'd try something new, so to speak.
I am a huge fan of orange/coral and I love mixing turquoise, coral & white together. This is definitely a summer color for me and can be as powerful as red or hot pink.
In fact, this would be perfect with a white & turquoise mini tunic I have paired up with these fierce Richard Tyler sling backs, warm, glowing skin, minimal makeup, no nonsense lashes and big hair.
Yay! I just found it a home!

Keep it pretty!
*Stephanie*

L'Oreal Magic LUMI Light Infusing Primer

L'Oreal has always been my favorite drugstore brand for makeup and, at times, for skincare as well.
I love the smell of their lipsticks/glosses & their eye shadows have the other drugstores beat. I'm always willing to try a new L'Oreal product because chances are I'll definitely like it.
I was flipping through the pages of a magazine (I'm guessing Glamour or Allure) and I found a sample packet of their new makeup primer. Can I just say, I love when companies do this!
Those little samples have talked me into so many makeup & skincare purchases over the years! They cater to people's need for instant gratification. They know that if you see something that looks like magic in a bottle, you're more likely to buy it if you can try it right away. Very strategic marketing in my opinion.
I put it on under my tinted moisturizer. At first I felt as though I looked really shiny, like futuristic shiny, and got a little freaked out. After I applied my tinted moisturizer it subsided and I could see what L'Oreal was trying to accomplish when they made this primer.
The packet came with only so much product that I used it all and I think that's why it didn't look so good at first. I recommend using a tiny bit just to add a dewy appearance. If you use too much, you'll look like a robot. Lol!
I wore it for a few hours and went out to see how it looked in daylight (yeah, I'm not too concerned with people thinking I look like a robot) and it was surprisingly natural. It gave a smooth appearance and I could see how it would be considered dewy.
Primers are usually made to be used under makeup but after my experience I'd definitely mix in a tiny drop of this with my tinted moisturizer.
Also, it suggests using it as a highlighter on areas of your choice. It's funny because after I had it on, I thought the same thing, "this would make a great highlighter."
I have been wanting to try the Magic LUMI Concealer which looks amazing. I like concealers that have a slight highlighter mixed in because it does double the work in 1 item.

This primer is great because it's a lot less expensive than your average highlighter.
It's priced reasonably at $12.95 and since it's proven to be a dual purpose item, I'd say it's worth it ;-)

Keep it Prettie!
*Stephanie*