Try DIY: More red wine vinegar toner recipes....

I have turned my bathroom into a skincare laboratory this past week!!!!

I decided to experiment with some red wine vinegar toner combos.  Here is my original post with more in depth measurements for making 1/2 ounce, 1 ounce and 2 ounce combos as well as the recipe for the original red wine vinegar toner. 

Recipes and my thoughts after the break...

Bare Escentuals: Stunner, Oasis, Pussycat

Here's what I did.  Hope you like! 

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance lash to brow
BE Stunner lash to brow
BE Oasis outer 1/2 lid
BE Pussycat outer V and crease
MAC Feline lower lashline
Liquid liner pen Brown upper lashline

These products were purchased with my own money for my own personal usage.  I am not affiliated with this company.

Try DIY: Make your own hydrosol at home

While doing research on hydrosols for my own personal interest, I found out that I could make them at home.  Sounded easy, so I gathered the ingredients and went to work. 

Many ounces of herbs, the destruction of one pan and many squares of cheesecloth and coffee filters later, I got the hang of it!  Seriously, it is not hard to do and you could have your very own hydrosols in as little as an hour. 

The instructions make it seem harder than it really is, so do not be discouraged. 

I Googled this topic to find the instructions before I ventured into making them, but after a series of trials and errors, I can give you MY instructions, tell you what to expect and what NOT TO DO.  More after the break...

Bare Escentuals: Invitation, Incense, Girlfriend Michelle

I was copying a look from someone on one of the forums that I frequent.  I would have never thought to put these colors together if I had not seen it on her first. 

Here is what I did. 

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance lash to brow
MAC Cashflow p/p lid
Invitation lid
Incense outer V and crease
Girlfriend Michelle under brow
Flawless Definition Mascara
Liquid liner pen Brown upper lash line

Don't forget, you can click on the pictures to make them bigger if you would like. 

These products were purchased with my own money for my own personal usage.  I am not affiliated with this company.

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Garden of Wisdom Hydrosols

Today, I am turning my attention to Hydrosols.  What are hydrosols? 

The Garden of Wisdom website describes hydrosols as: 

 "A by product of Pure Essential Oils, hydrosols are steam-distilled from plants, are water based and deep hydrate while also lending the medicinal properties of the herbs they were distilled from. "

Hydrosols are an integral part of any Garden of Wisdom regimen.  Hydrosols help keep skin  hydrated.  Garden of Wisdom also uses them in many of their products to give a subtle scent instead of using fragrances or other chemicals.  You can find the benefits of each hydrosol here on their website.

I was first introduced to hydrosols in the Blemish Prone Skincare kit.  The hydrosol that was included was Basil/Fennel.  Now the kit contains Basil/Witch Hazel hydrosol.   I have not tried this combination, but both basil and witch hazel are anti-inflammatory and soothing to the skin.  Especially Basil if you have acne prone skin. 

I really like the Basil/Fennel mixture.  It has a very faint scent.  I found it, and hydrosols in general, to be very refreshing to the skin.  I felt no burning or irritation either.  Since my skin is so oily, hydrosols are a way to keep my skin moisturized without using a lotion or "moisturizer" in the way that we think of moisturizers. 

I have tried other hydrosols from Garden of Wisdom and also liked them.  One that I find especially good for my skin is the Immortelle hydrosol, but the smell is...I cant even describe it.  Immortelle has a very interesting smell and I have to hold my breath when I spray it on my face.  The smell fades when the hydrosol has dried.  I can deal with the smell because I get great results from this product. 

I have learned to make my own hydrosols, but I do still buy hydrosols from Garden of Wisdom.  I get the ones that I cant produce in my own home.

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Garden of Wisdom Banana Healing Serum

Another entry into the CENTER OF ATTENTION SERIES focuses on Garden of Wisdom's Banana Healing Serum

Review after the break.

My take on the 1st Rethink Beauty kit...

I wore this kit to a National Artistry Event.  I got the idea to wear it like this after seeing Stacey do it during one of the QVC presentations.  Here is my take Rethink Beauty shipment 1.

Here is what I did:

Brightening eye primer lid and inner V
BE Lucky outer V and crease
BE Big & Bright eyeliner in Ink upper and lower lash lines
black mascara

I hadn't gotten the hang of the liners yet, so please excuse the messy liner application. 



These products were purchased with my own money for my own personal usage.  I am not affiliated with this company.

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Garden of Wisdom Some Kinda Glow Wonderful Detoxifying Serum

My CENTER OF ATTENTION series  today is still focused on Garden of Wisdom products.  Especially the products that come in the Blemish Prone Skincare Kit. 

Today I am going to review the Some Kinda Wonderful Detoxifying Serum 

My review and pics of the products after the break...

Bare Escentuals: Soho and Nude Beach

Here is a look that I did quite awhile ago.  I couldn't come up with a good combo to go with Soho, so I just went with Nude Beach.  Hope you all like it.

Here is what I did:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time for Eyes lash to brow
BE Nude Beach inner 1/3 lid and inner V, lightly under brow to blend out Soho
BE Soho mid to outer lid, outer V and crease, wet lined upper lash line and dry lined lower lash line
black mascara

There products were purchased with my own money for my own personal usage.  I am not affiliated with this company in any way. 

Bare Escentuals Sweet Obsessions: Mint, Dark Chocolate, Creme de Menthe

Here is a look that I did using the bottom row of colors:  Mint, Dark Chocolate, Creme de Menthe.  

Bare Escentuals Sweet Obsessions: Lemon Meringue, Spiced Biscotti, Cherry Coco Truffle

Here is a look that I did using the colors from the second row:  Lemon Meringue, Spiced Biscotti and Cherry Coco Truffle. 

Bare Escentuals 12-hour sale today March 18th

Bare Escentuals is having a 12-hour sale today, March 18th from 9 am to 9 pm PDT.  

30% or more off of selected items. 

Get to shoppin' ladies! 

Here is the link:  BE 12-hour sale

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Garden of Wisdom Oxygen Rich Gel

Garden of Wisdom Oxygen Rich Gel

Bare Escentuals Sweet Obsessions Look: Strawberry Mousse, Berry Custard, Berry Flambe

Here is a look that I did from the Bare Escentuals Sweet Obsessions kit using all of the top row colors:  Strawberry Mousse, Berry Custard, Berry Flambe. 

CENTER OF ATTENTION: GoW Cleansers Part 2

This part of my CENTER OF ATTENTION series is focusing on the cleansers that are part of the Blemish Prone Skin Care kit.  Yesterday I showed you the Cleansing pads and liquid.  Today, I am going to focus on the Simply Clean Tea Tree Cleanser.  More after the break...

Bare Escentuals Sweet Obsessions kit

See more pics, swatches and my review after the break...

CENTER OF ATTENTION: GoW Cleansers Part 1

My Garden of Wisdom Haul!!!!

Today, my CENTER OF ATTENTION series is going to focus on the two cleansers that are included in the Blemish Prone Skin Care kit.  The two cleansers are the Cleansing Pads and liquid and the Simply Clean Tea Tree Cleanser.  I use both of these cleansers daily.  The pads and liquid in the mornings and the tea tree cleanser in the evenings.  They are the beginning of my routine...cleansing. 

More after the break....

CENTER OF ATTENTION: Garden of Wisdom Overview

The CENTER OF ATTENTION this week is focused on Garden of Wisdom (GoW).  What is Garden of Wisdom you may ask?  It is a small online based company offering the best skincare products that I have found in a long long time.  Their products are made in small batches so that they are sent to you fresh each time.  They have skincare tailored to your specific skin type. 

I was introduced to Garden of Wisdom by the ladies of another forum that I go on often.  They raved about the products and the owner Markey.  I decided to give it a try.  After all, it couldnt make my skin look any worse right???

Let me tell you about my skin.  I have oily, acne prone, blemish prone skin.  I am 31 and still have the skin of a teenager.  I have cystic acne break out, hormonal break outs, stress induced break outs...name something and chances are it makes my skin break out! 

I ended up ordering the Blemish prone kit from GoW.  I loved everything about the regimen and how it made my skin look.  This was the best that my face had looked since before puberty.  I even figured out how to DIY some of the products.  But, I didnt get full sizes of all of the products.  Mistake #1. 

Here we are some 2 years later andmy skin is a mess.  I have been trying other products and nothing is working.  Lightbulb moment!  Garden of Wisdom!!!   I have decided that I NEED  to get the items from this kit.  They arrived a few weeks ago and I have been using them ever since. 

This week I will be focusing on the items from this kit, what they are supposed to do and how to use them in the regimen.  Just basically my opinion/review of them. 

If you have used GoW products in the past let me know how you like them. 

These products were purchased with my own money for my own personal usage.  I am in no way affiliated with this company.  The review given is my own opinion. 

Back to regular programming and 2 Barielle nail polishes...

Well, the new little one has arrived and Big Sister has gone back home, so the blog will be back to regular programming starting next week. 

Boy, do I have some goodies to share with you!  Expect to see my review on Alima foundation, my Garden of Wisdom haul will be my CENTER OF ATTENTION and I will throw a few of my favorite things in there as well. 

To tide you over until then, here are those Barielle nail polishs I promised!

Barielle Slate of Affairs

Barielle Secret Encounter

Just wanted to let you know...

Hello everyone,

No, the blog has not fallen by the wayside...ending before it got going good.  We are expecting a new addition to the extended family.  I have been busy helping out the mom-to-be and taking care of the Big Sister! 

I am having a hard time swatching, taking pics, playing with dolls and watching Toy Story 3...yet again.  Hopefully everything will calm down soon and I will be back to my blogging activities whole-heartedly. 

Thanks!