Thursday, January 5, 2012

Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub

Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub


From the Website:
Infused with refreshing Sweet Orange and Grapefruit Oils, this facial scrub removes dirt, oil and makeup. Formulated with Ground Almonds, Oats and Pecans to gently exfoliate while Sweet Almond Oil and Glycerin help moisturize your skin. It’s something to celebrate!

-Helps removes dirt, oil and make-up with a blend of Sweet Orange and Grapefruit Oils
-Exfoliates gently with Ground Almonds, Oats and Pecans
-Helps moisturize skin with Sweet Almond Oil and Glycerin

9-5: Beauty For Everyone Review
1. Affordable: Yes (Under 10)
2. Easily Available: Yes (Target)
3. Effortless Application: Yes
4. Wearable: Yes
Overall Beauty for Everyone Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

1. Affordable: For under 10, it is a steal. It runs about $7 and can last up to 6 months if you use it as a once a week exfoliator. I use it everyday, and it still lasts about 2 months.

2. Easily Available: I wish it was also at CVS or Walgreens, but Target is just as easy to get to.

3. Effortless Application: Take a small dab, slightly larger than pea size and add a drop or two of water. Rub into the skin, gently exfoliating and revealing fresh, glowing, beautiful skin. And since it is natural, I even use a little to exfoliate my lips as well. Rinse off and you are done. I definitely prefer doing this at night instead of the morning, since rubbing can make my face just a little red. And my skin still feels oh so soft the next morning. I love the smell and texture, kind of like a holiday spiced oatmeal. It's like health food for your skin.


4. Wearable: I love doing this every night, and even look forward to washing my face. My skin feels supple and soft, but not greasy. It doesn't leave behind any residue and is the only thing that has ever gotten rid of my blackheads.

See, squeaky clean!

And so good I bought it twice!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Revlon Lip Butters

Revlon Lip Butters

According to the website:
-Buttery Balm + Shiny Color
-Buttery balm with beautiful shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy glowing lips 94% of women felt lips were softer, smoother, and instantly hydrated.

- Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156%
- Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth
- Sheer to medium colour with buttery shine
- Available in 20 luscious shades



9-5: Beauty for Everyone Review

1. Affordable: Yes (under $10)
2. Easily Available: Yes
3. Effortless Application: Yes
4. Wearable: Yes
Overall Beauty For Everyone Rating: 4 out of 4

1. Affordable: Absolutely! Target has them for around $6.50 and CVS has them for $7.50 but frequently has them as buy 1 get 1 50% off.

2. Easily Available: I bought one every time I entered CVS. Now that they are available at Target, they are even easier to find. They are wildly popular right now, so a few colors may be sold out. Luckily they are all beautiful. I have purchased these 5 so far. Actually my husband bought me 2 of them for Christmas!


3. Effortless Application: It has way more pigment than you would expect from a lipstick like this. It goes on super smooth, and is rich and creamy. I like that I can put it on straight from the tube, no lip liner, no prepping. It has a lot of color, but at the same time is somewhat sheer. If you are not used to wearing lipstick, or are just trying to upgrade from your usual lip gloss or go to lip balm, give these a try.

4. Wearable: The colors are great! These butters pack a lot of color, but because of their somewhat glossy creamy texture, even the crazy looking ones like Tutti Frutti are totally wearable. Some of them have a slight iridescence, but nothing too sparkly. It is the first collection I have every wanted as a whole collection.

Overall 9-5 Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

There are tons of swatches of these all over the place. Karla Sugar has them all swatched here. But personally I like to see them on people, so here they are on me.

In Tutti Frutti (015): A really nice kind of coral shade. Probably my favorite of the bunch.





















In Creme Brulee (095): A soft browny neutral with just enough shine. Try it with a little more color in the rest of the face.





















In Berry Smoothie (050): A soft pink with a hint of gold.





















In Sugar Plum (095): A slightly deeper pink with purple undertones.

Product Criteria

What I Look For In Makeup For Personal Everyday Use

When I buy makeup or beauty products for personal everyday use, I like to keep a few criteria in mind.

Criteria

1. Affordable:
2. Easily Available:
3. Effortless Application:
4. Wearable:
Overall Beauty for Everyone Rating: 1 star for each criteria met.

1. Is it affordable? $65 for a blush palette is fine for my kit, but I could never justify such a splurge for something I wouldn't actually use very often. I wouldn't reccomend it to my friends either. For personal use I like to keep it under $15, unless I am actually treating myself, or it really will last forever.

2. How easy is it to find? Can I purchase it on a whim? If I didn't do makeup, going to Sephora or ULTA, Frends Beauty Supply, or even shopping on line might actually be a big hassle, not to mention overwhelming. My favorite hassle fee time to shop for things on a whim is when I am already there. I look for items on sale while waiting for a prescription at CVS or take a detour into the beauty isles at Target when I go pick up trash bags or toilet paper. If I have to make a special trip for it, well it's not that hassle free.

3. How easy is it to use and/or apply? I own a lot of makeup and a lot of brushes, but not everyone does. And honestly, sometimes I just don't want to be bothered with it. I look for products I can fit into my everyday 10min makeup routine. These are products I will usually put on while sitting at my vanity, but I can also toss in my bag if I am in a rush, or put on in the car just before going into work. I tend to lean towards the more sheer side, since it is more forgiving when the application needs to be very quick. But sometimes minimal and bold works too. For makeup, it needs to last to lunch, but not through it. If it rubs right off, fades, or just plain vanishes in an hour, it is probably not that great. I don't really have time for touch-ups every hour at work, but I don't mind a little maintenance at lunch. I very rarely do touch-ups at work, but I like knowing it is in my bag if I decide I want to.

4. How wearable is it? Do I like it enough to work into my everyday look? There are plenty of products I love, but are not really appropriate to wear to work. A slight iridescence is ok. but anything too sparkly or shimmery is is little too overdone for the office. (For my office anyway- I work in education). You don't want to look too made-up or like you are wearing the same makeup from your previous night out.

And now for some reviews...


Beauty for Everyone (Product Reviews)

My Favorite Kind of Makeup

When I first started doing makeup, well more seriously doing makeup anyway, I was worried. I was worried it would change me into someone who obsessed about my looks. I was worried the more I learned about the products and application, that I would want to start putting more and more on my face for everyday looks. What if I fell in love with false lashes and I decided I NEEDED to wear them everyday!

I am happy to report, that although I admit to being more preoccupied with my vanity than I was before, I have not crossed over to the all- glam-all-the-time side. In fact, the opposite has happened. I find myself constantly looking up natural looks, new ways to apply makeup for that un-done look, and looking up the best videos on the no makeup makeup. My current favorite is Lisa Eldridge. I can watch her for hours. And she has a massive body of work.


In part, this preference is due to the fact that I have a normal 9-5, and the fact that I am not 17 or even in my early 20s for that matter. I wouldn't want to hear, "oh your makeup is so pretty today," because I'd much rather hear, "you look so pretty today." Well actually I'd rather hear "you are so clever, or talented or creative etc." but ok, "pretty" doesn't hurt either. (See the vanity coming through).

I think that's why I like makeup for film so much. It's about enhancing natural beauty. I get a lot of question from friends who don't really wear much to begin with, and I always steer them towards a really natural look. Because when I get these questions, no one is asking, "How do I wear more makeup?" Mostly what they are asking is, "How can I look better everyday, fit it into my busy schedule, and not spend a fortune?"

And the answer is always the same. "You already are beautiful. You have really great______. But here are a few products to help enhance your beauty and give you a more polished and really healthy look."

In my case, I have clear skin so I try to play it up as much as possible. The first picture is my Before: No Makeup. I smiled anyway, I mean why be sad and glum when you are showing off what your mama gave you.
The second look is my No Makeup Makeup look. I still look just like me, I just have a healthy slightly glowy look. I look awake and ready for the day, without looking like I'm really trying. This really is one of my favorite ways to wear makeup.


Before: No Makeup


After: No Makeup Makeup

So this section is for you, my friends who I have helped, and those that I have yet to meet. Those of you who may or may not love makeup, who just need help picking out products that fit into your life and style. This section is Beauty for Everyone.