Essence eyeshadow

Cheap and easy to apply, Essence eyeshadows are a real treat - Colors 01 Fabulous & 28 Wild One are mixed together here for a green eye enhancer. And under $5 for the two. Good deal!

Sally Hansen Lip Inflation lip gloss

On the beauty throne today we have the Lip Venom knockoff, Sally Hansen's Lip Inflation. It tingles, it's got a berry scent, and it doesn't seem to do a whole lot to puff up them smackers. Already heading to my makeup graveyard. Since seeing is believing, check out my pics below:

Lip Inflation in Sheer Pink

Lips... awaiting inflation

And... a little bit o' puff.

Frownies Challenge - 2 week mark - cont

What do you think? Do Frownies work? Would you buy them? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Frownies Challenge - 2 week mark

Here are the latest pics for 2 weeks of Frownies (minus one nite when I fell asleep without putting them on, so sorry...)
I love before and after pics... hope you do, too!

One week of Frownies:

I am not really the color pink. It's just the gold lightbulbs in the bathroom and the magic of cheap camera phones.







And here we are at the two week point... drum roll please bad dum dee dum!

Product Roundup

Here's the results of Clairol Perfect 10 haircolor from my review yesterday, and embarrassing pics of my evil cystic acne battle using Prid's Drawing Salve.

Dark brown matches ok

Aaah! Thanks for nothing Prids.

Yours truly, ready for my Frownies update tomorrow.

Clairol Perfect 10 haircolor

This runny, smelly haircolor covered me and my entire bathroom. It does cover gray perfectly, and it is true to the box color. But the reason why it probably works in 10 minutes is because it is extremely strong. I had to leave the bathroom and gasp for air because the smell was so strong.

Hmm... this might work!

Here's the goods

Aaah! I'm a mess!

Another product pushed by my nemesis Allure magazine as the #1 hair color in America. Really? American women must love trashing their bathrooms. Not my favorite OTC color kit. But yeah, it works.

Happy Thanksgiving!

High Heels & Sparkles returns tomorrow with a review of Perfect 10 hair color. Tune in!

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Power Tools

I recently hit the Sally Beauty Supply for these snazzy items:

Girl tweezers! Tweezers painted with cool chick silhouettes. Makes brow tweezing a bit less of a chore. A buck a piece and I've seen them showing up at Targets as well.

Dy-Zoff! Hair dye remover pads. Now I wonder why I ever lived without these. If you dye your hair on a regular basis, these are a must have. $5.50 for a jar- and you get to go out in public right after hair dye day not looking like a freak.

Prid's Drawing Salve

 I've been reading about this smelly, tar-like substance smites down cysts, zits and other unattractive face invaders (boils, although those went out with the Middle Ages... I think).

I'm stressed, so I woke up this morning with an evil cyst on my chin. It hurts, too. I am going to test out Prid's Drawing Salve and see if this works.

A cyst tries to ruin my looks

Ha ha! Not so fast! Prid's is here.

Smells ... medicinal

Adding a circle bandaid...voila!

Do you have acne? What natural products have you tried? I'll be back tomorrow with my results.

Osteo Bi-Flex

Since the media has women scared out of their wits that without jumbo calcium pills we'll all end up like hunchbacks, Osteo Bi-Flex is a great new alternative to pills. This joint drink tastes like Kool Aid and contains joint strengtheners such as Glucosamine, Calcium and Vitamin D. I don't like how sweet it is, so I add it to my daily dose of Smart Water and I'm good to go.

What do you use to strengthen your bones? Would you choose a liquid over pills? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about liquid supplements. HX8NTMH78F74

Evil Twin - Opi Vs. NYC New York Color Minute

Here's my version of the OPI Burlesque color "Glow Up Already" using the following nail polishes from NYC.

• NYC New York Color Minute in Flat Iron Green
• NYC Starry Silvery Glitter 105A

The result? Super glossy green tips with chunks of sparkles make this a keeper for winter nails.
What do you think? Leave a comment if you think this Evil Twin is a winner!

Mixing the colors

Voila! A cheap and easy alternative!

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Frownies Challenge - Almost a week!

I am sooo glad I am single during my Frownies challenge!

Ok it's been a week of using Frownies, and I haven't noticed much of a difference.

I am committed to using this product for 30 days, as directed, to see if these patches diminish forehead and facial wrinkles.

Here are some pics of my wrinkles after one week of Frownies:

Forehead invaders!

Pesky wrinkles!

What us women do to stay bee yoo tif full!
I'll be back with a Frownies update next week!

Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller

I love the idea of this product. Roll on and poof! Away go under eye circles. I chose the tinted version so I could get the added benefit of concealer.
The eye roller's active ingredient is caffeine, which is supposed to reduce puffiness. It has a cooling effect when applied, which feels great on those tired peepers.
Initially, I found this concealer shade to be too dark for a "fair" tint, and a bit runny and uneven when applied. I used cosmetic sponges and my fingers, and I found that this product is applied better when using fingertips.
It also improves with "cooking time". Leave it to set on the undereye area before smoothing. I found that this concealer set very well as far as coverage, although it does sink into crows' feet, so - stay hydrated.
Here are some pics of the product and my application.

Getting my eyes ready!

A picture of the product in the beauty throne.

DivaDebbi: Lash Dip- Would You Take The Plunge?

Diva Debbi's blog is super fun and features some of the latest in beauty trends - we've been trading comments about lash treatments. I enjoy lash extensions and Debbi just tried out the amazing Lash Dip. Read all about it here

Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick

Now I know why some women wear lipstick to bed.

Maybelline's Color Sensational lipstick is a creamy, smooth formula that smells faintly like    honeysuckles. I was hooked by the commercials for the Red Revival shade, and if it is the #1 red in America I am not surprised - this perfect hue contains that magic color combination - just enough pink, just enough blue to dazzle up any skin tone.

This lipstick is very thick, and a couple of coats will leave your lips with a glossy shine. But how does it hold up? I took a couple of swigs of mineral water, did a few test kisses on my hand and... not too bad. Although the delicious shine of this lipstick only works if you keep your lips from getting in contact with anything. Good for a night out when you need to look fabulous, not so good for kissing practice with your beloved.

Here's some pics of the product and me modeling my red lips.

Eucerin Daily Skin Balance hand cream

This newbie from Eucerin cites “climate change” as one of the factors in dry skin. Wow, the world is changing when references to global warming are appearing on hand cream tubes.


Daily Skin Balance has a stickier texture than other hand creams, and does actually sink into the skin quickly. The fragrance is mild, but not perfumed or medicinal.
One ingredient that is missing from this product is sunscreen. Since our hands our constantly exposed, I think this is an ingredient that should always be present. But I will continue to use this product at my day job, where I am constantly washing my hands and using hand sanitizers.

What it promises:
Enhances skin health
Strengthen’s skin’s protective barrier
Provides essential moisture for hands and cuticles
Non-greasy formula absorbs quickly

What is delivers:

Quick absorption into the skin

Long lasting softness

Inoffensive mild fragrance

Want Something Reviewed?

See a new product on the market and not sure if it's for you?
Send me an email and let me know what beauty goods you would like to see reviewed.
I focus on all beauty products that are mid line - stuff you can get at CVS, Walgreens, grocery stores, etc.
I do not accept samples from manufacturers, so you can be sure of an unbiased review.
Or, just send me a note to say hi!
Warmly,
Liz

Jergens Daily Hydration/Nightly Restoration

This is another of those “old lady”, chronic dry skin lines that has rebranded to reach out to women obsessed with aging. I was fortunate enough to receive some samples, so I slathered both creams on after showering - the day cream on my arms, and the night cream on my elbows, knees and buns. I've never been convinced that the formulas in beauty products change or become more effective when they are designed for "night" or "day". Same with eye creams - these formulas are usually just the same skin cream in a small bottle. We are too smart to fall for this nonsense, right?
Anyway - that's my rant for today. Jergens is very oily. I was very apprehensive applying these creams as they turned super slick and oily - and the creams were NOT being absorbed by my skin. I kept massaging the cream into my skin and then eventually just wiped off the rest with a towel. Jergens, is pretty good at keeping the skin soft, though. I noticed that my elbows and knees were noticeably less reptilian than usual. But TOO oily! I will not be using this one again.Thank God for samples.

The $10 Sequin Pump at Wet Seal

Today at WetSeal.com the sequin pump is on sale for $10.00 Get a pair now! I just did!

Go here to see more details.

My 30 Day Frownies Challenge

Today in the beauty throne are the very popular Frownies, which are basically strips of paper with an adhesive on the back. The idea is that you paste these on your face at bedtime and sleep your wrinkles away.
These are good times to be single, that's for sure. I looked very strange with paper plastered to my forehead and cheeks.

The product promises to diminish facial lines in 30 days. We'll see if I can keep to my regimen and what results I get!

The Magical Mystery Salve

I am very puzzled as to why fashion magazines are always raving about a product that is impossible to find in regular drugstores and supermarkets. That's right folks, we're talking about Smith's Rosebud Salve, the balm that celebs and makeups artists use for a "little bit of everything".
How much you wanna bet this stuff is the same as Cherry Chapstick cut with some Vaseline?
The Smith's company does not sell directly to individuals, as stated on their website, but you can get this stuff on Amazon.com or Sephora. It's too bad, because their product only costs 5$, so it's a low end balm that would do well in stores like Target and CVS.
Then again, celebs and makeup artists get to feel special that they have access to a product that average American women can't easily buy.
I'll stick with Burt's Bees for now, but I'm going to order some of this stuff so I can do a product comparison. Stay posted!

Sally Hansen Insta Dry nail polish

I am in love with this product. Sally Hansen's Insta Dry nail colors are modern, shiny and really do dry quickly and evenly. I'm really impressed with the variety of the colors - unlike other brands, these colors such as the ones shown are fashionable. Try them! They are excellent!

Clairol Natural Instincts

Not enough product, but a lot of conditioner. That seems to be how many of these OTC colors are stocking the boxes these days.Clairol Natural Instincts is way too drying, and the browns are not true to color and too "inky". Clairol colors are better for those that need strong gray coverage - this stuff goes on and sticks... but has very little dimension. Overall very disappointing.

Olay Total Effects body wash

Aaah paradise in a bottle! Oil of Olay does it again with a product that is superb, even though it is made with the same ingredients as a million other products. Maybe there is some magic to the Olay brand after all.
This lavish, creamy body wash goes on like a moisturizer then slowly starts to foam, leaving the skin with a subtle sheen. I've noticed that my skin has a softness to it - I did a test with this product and the dreaded Softsoap body wash, and wow, what a difference.
As far as the fantastic claims that Oil Of Olay makes regarding this body wash and its anti aging properties, I'm less convinced. We all know that the way to stop aging is to stay out of the sun, be healthy, and get a good dermatologist!
I do admire Oil Of Olay for rebranding their products for a more modern skin care line. I remember when the pink lotion in the bottle was THE Oil of Olay product. Women are very loyal to this brand, so it takes alot of chutzpah to change it up. Good for them.

Maybelline Great Lash BIG mascara

Allure magazine touts this product as a #1 Readers' Favorite. I'm sure that has nothing to do with the fact that Allure runs several giant two page advertisements every month for Maybelline, right?
I generally wear eyelash extensions since I have small, round eyes. When I use mascara, it really is to define my face by enlarging and expanding my eyes. Great Lash fails on both counts. This watery, runny formula is bad enough, but the blimp shaped brush makes it even worse. With all the varieties of mascara on this market, any woman who uses this garbage needs to get out more.

L'Oreal Voluminous eyeliner

Imagine being able to use a Sharpie marker to line your eyes, and you've got the concept behind this liquid pen eyeliner. The tip of the eyeliner is a bevel edged sponge, with continuous liner- no sharpening, turning, twisting, brushes - NADA! Just an eyeliner that feels like a magic marker.
The eyeliner itself is fairly thin - it smudges easily, so make sure you allow enough time for drying. The strength of this product lies in the ease of application. And if you make a mistake you can just smudge it for the smoky eye look. A great eyeliner product.

Cheap Heels Alert!

CharlotteRusse.com is having a "Buy 1, Get 1 for $15" sale online. I just bought a pair of platform heels and they are surprising comfortable. Check out their goods!

Exfoliate... uh.. what?

I love how fashion magazines are always crowing about exfoliating the skin, especially before shaving or waxing. Does anyone really do this? I decided to give it a try by using some old foot scrub that I wasn't into using anymore.
What's the verdict? Shaving my legs was the same boring experience as always. I did find the Dollar Tree foot scrub worked pretty well as a shaving gel. Use, re use, substitute!

Cover Girl Discontinued Lipsticks - Tru Shine and Continuous Color

Since everything is PINK PINK PINK for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I decided to review this CG's Tru Shine, as shade #400, Powder Pink Shine, is one of the most flattering pinks I have ever found in an OTC lipstick. This line has been
discontinued, but you still may find extra stock at CVS, or even try EBay. Tru Shine advertises itself as a line that flatters 97% of wearers’ skin tones, and I can see how that’s possible. Tru Shine almost melts into a liquid when applied, and is super sheer. It leaves a faint trace of color after it smudges off. You would be hard pressed to find a color that clashes because of how translucent the shades are overall.
This is a lipstick you want to keep on hand; it doesn’t last past a few sips from  a coffee cup. But it shines, it’s odorless, and it can be layered with other colors. I recommend using a lip pencil to keep the lips from looking too messy. A great buy for the money.
You may wonder why I am reviewing discontinued products – the fact is, many of these products are still lurking around on the shelves of your local Walgreens or CVS. Also, many of the colors in the more expensive and more recent CG lipsticks can be matched to these brands. Look under the discontinued section on the CG website.
In any case, I did a test drive of CG’s Continous Color lipstick. This stuff smells like wax. It’s an earlier version of their Outlast product concept, and this lipstick stays put. I tested it on my lunch of chicken strogranoff – sauce, cheese, noodles… all the ickiness that usually obliterates my lip color. However, with all the other exceptional lip colors out there that do the same thing, I would not recommend this product, unless you find a color match you really love.