Here are several Vitamin C products that I like a lot:
My faves
Awake

I like the fact that you use only as much as you wish, and it liquifies in your hand as the warm of your fingers touches it.

Lancome
Sensation Totale, which has been discontinued. I love the feel of this. It makes your skin silky. I don't know anything about the product they say is replacing it -- and it makes no mention of vitamin C.

Estee Lauder
Perfectionist Cp+ is a great product and feels terrific on the skin. It is supposed to build collagen within two hours. I don't know that it contains vitamin C but the "C" is in the name. Every time you walk through a store, put some from their tester on the back of your hands. If it works that fast on your hands, it must work on your face.

Beauticontrol has three C products. I have not tried these because I have the others, but I have several beauticontrol products that I love, and I would think these would be excellent.

Aromaleigh
I have tried 25% Vitamin C Serum- I like it a lot. I will likely begin to try the other products too.

Signature Club A
Super Strength High Potent-C Anti-Wrinkle Capsules $29.50
I like this a lot. It's in my rotation of C products.

My second choice category

Olay
Olay Regenerist and Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging UV Moisturizer plus Touch of Foundation both have Vitamin C. In general, I like Olay products. I'm not sure they are as heavy duty as the Awake one.

Mary Kay TimeWise® Replenishing Serum+C
Mary Kay has come out with a C serum product in 2009. They were late to the party.

Give collagen a boost.* Help skin bounce back.

With TimeWise® Replenishing Serum+C, skin will appear lifted and firmed. This antioxidant-rich serum is formulated with ingredients that enhance the production of new collagen and help keep existing collagen from breaking down. It also contains ingredients known to support elastin. The formula is enriched with a potent blend of multiple botanical sources, known for their high levels of vitamin C.

The four weekly vials help maximize product freshness and provide an effective weekly application measurement to help you get the best results for your money. MaryKay.com

I don't see or feel as much difference when I use this as I do with the Estee Lauder. However, you can see how dramatic the above picture makes it look. This is a customer's unretouched photo, not the company's. I continue to use the product on my neck -- truthfully, I had not used a serum C on my neck before. I see a difference. I wish it were as dramatic, but then again, my before look is more youthful.

Avon
I did not care for the Avon one I tried a number of years ago. It was gold colored and sort of sticky. I don't know if they still make it. It's possible they have reformulated it. You can't go wrong with their product guarantee.

I have not tried these
Lumene, which is available from CVS, also has a C line, day and night creams, eye cream and serum. I've not tried that line either.

Prescriptives also has a line of C products, but I have not tried them.

Do you use a C serum?
What is your favorite?

Karin
www.savvythinker.com

Originally posted 2010-01-29 07:41:39.

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There are a number of brushes you need in your arsenal in order to apply your colors in the best possible and easiest way. In general, I like real hair brushes, except for ones that are meant to be synthetic (foundation and concealer.)

Keep them clean
Clean them whenever you see residue in the brush. If you are oily or prone to acne, this will be more often (even daily) to keep the brushes clean. And you won't contaminate any of your product.

Some people use a conditioning shampoo.

I use a cleanser made for brushes by Merle Norman. I do not use a whole capful. I use 1/4 of the cap, filled with 3/4 water (that is the percentage). Put it in the sink. Swirl my brush(es). Add more water to it. Swirl some more. Empty basin. Squeeze excess out of brush. Fill basin with water and swirl brushes. Empty and repeat until brush is clean and water is clear.

Why do you need so many brushes?
Because using the right brush makes application easier.

Much less blending is required. In general, I believe if you lay it down right, you don't need to do much blending.

And you won't look like a clown with too much blush, for example, unless that is the look you are going for.

And if you have sensitive skin, where blending can actually feel hurtful, the better the brush, the softer or less pull on the skin.

Do I have to have them all?
No, but these work. Use what you have, but begin to collect others as you need them. If you buy good brushes (consider buying them when there is a gwp offered), they will last nearly forever.

Several of these brushes have hit the market only in more recent years, so it is possible that a brush we can't live without will be offered in the foreseeable future that meets a need we didn't know we had.

BE gives their brushes as part of many of their sets for face or eye. They are really good, and many are only offered in their sets, they cannot be bought separately. That's an added perk for buying their sets.

You can also look in places that sell brushes for arts and painting. These may work just as well and cost less than something you find at a cosmetic counter. For the most part, I have shown shapes so you know what you are looking for.

Brands I like
Bare Escentuals -- every brush I've used has been top notch -- often included in sets

Clinique -- the two I have are great; one type I've only seen at Clinique, a large fluffy eye brush (will add the name later, if it is on the brush) (works great for laying down strong color without being too much)(which is how the SA used it on me and therefore sold me on it -- I don't have anything like it)
CVS -- nice quality; not so easy to use as they are dual ended (they won't stand upright in a container -- they have to be flat)
Estee Lauder -- I'm still using a 20 year old set.
Lancome -- nice quality, I especially like the L'angle brush for eyes and use it daily.
Update: Lancome's mineral foundation brush is superb! It feels like velvet -- you are transported to a spa. If you use mineral foundation, do yourself a favor, go to a Lancome counter and try this brush. Let me know if you do! Do you know if there is anything out there that is identical to this brush in a different price range?
Mary Kay -- nice quality for the price.
Sephora -- every one I've tried has been top notch; they have great travel sets.
Trish McAvoy I have a couple of hers. They are good. Hers was the first brush similar to the Lancome L'Angle that I bought, but it is bigger and fuller than the Lancome.
Ulta -- I just bought a very small angle eye liner brush (I wanted something similar to a drugstore one that I can no longer find -- this is smaller, but it works for what I want to use it for. I used it to line my FOTD today)

Brands that are said to be good, but I have not tried
Aromaleigh edit: I love their fiber optic brushes.
MAC -- edit: I use a fiber optic brush of theirs for blush.

Types of brushes that you should have at a minimum
Anything else you have is just a plus. These should be in your staples.

Eyes
Angle eye brush to lay down the crease
Medium fluffy eye brush to lay down a base color
Short almost semi-circular eye brush to lay down the outer corner color
Sephora makes one called a Smudge Brush. It's perfect.

Denser round eye brush to use with Chanel type colors, if possible.

Fiber Optic eye brush as much for fun as anything. I have a BE one. Aromaleigh's are supposed to be very good. I really like their fiber optic eye shadow brushes.

Brush you could use for blending, if necessary
Angled or flat eyeliner brush for laying down shadow as eyeliners, usually dry, but works with gel also.

Regular shaped eyeliner brush for doing a wet or gel liner or
Regular shaped eyeliner brush with bent handle This is surprisingly easy to use.

Brow Brush if you use a powder form. Often these brushes come with a comb on one side. I rarely use the comb.

Face
Use any soft good sized fluffy brush for blending away any mistakes, if necessary.
Concealer brush(es), synthetic (or use your clean fingers)
Some concealers feed through a brush, in which case you might not need one.
Small thin one, for spot concealing.

Medium one for under eyes.

Fluffy dense brush to apply mineral makeup with, if you use it. BEs is very good.
Take your pick:

Fluffy brush, not so dense angled or not, to apply powder or BE Mineral Veil. Just like the above only a bit smaller in diameter.

Medium sized fluffy angled brush, to apply blush

Dense, flat round brush to apply blush, for certain colors

Fiber Optic Brush to apply blush or bronzer, when the color is strong and you only want a bit. It looks similar to this. I have one by BE and by Prescriptives. I have a smaller one by MAC. Aromaleigh's are supposed to be very good. I really like their fiber optic eye shadow brushes.

Specialty
This is a nice brush. The one end applies dry liner nicely.

Optional
Lips, only if you use one
Or, use the brush on the end of a lip pencil, if you have one, rather than buying an extra brush.
Lip brush, only if you use one.
Lip brush with a cover for your purse.

Makeup foundation brush
Synthetic brush to apply liquid or cream makeup, if you desire. Using your fingers is just as good and there is no product waste. You could also use a sponge.

Eyes
Dense round eye brush Sephora makes one, for laying down intense colors, such as Chanels. See above. (You can use the half round flat brush above just as easily, maybe more so)
Brush suitable for applying shadows wet -- I sometimes use an older brush that gives it new life.

Travel Set if you travel a lot or if you should need one for your purse.
Sephora has some good sets. Check for the one that has the type of brushes you like the most. Chanel often has one, but expensive.
Aromaleigh carries a set too, see link above.

This is a quick run down, and I might have forgotten one or two.

Which brand of brushes do you know and love?
It looks as though ELF and NYX have brushes reasonably priced, but I have not tried them. I have used several from CVS that are good.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-06 16:54:13.

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Finding a color that works for blonds that isn't too dark or too yellow, is a trick.

Here are some favorites of mine that were collected over time:

Top to bottom:
Powder: Merle Norman -- Perfect shades when mixed and matched together;
Pencils: Chanel, Clinique, La Prairie, Prescriptives (love the tiny diameter and the tiny brush, also that it feeds up and doesn't need to be sharpened -- comes in only two colors), Mary Kay, Tova, Avon, Revlon (this tends to be darker) (packaging has changed now, but has gel at one end.)

Swatches:
Generally, brow pencils are harder. They draw well on the brow, not so well without a brow bone behind them. La Prairie is not pictured, it wouldn't draw and just made my skin red, sorry about that! Then the red showed through some of the other colors, so look at the bottom.

Left to right: Powder:
Merle Norman lighter color (barely visible on skin, but shows up well on brow), then deeper color; Pencils: Chanel, Clinique, Mary Kay, Tova, Avon, Prescriptives, Revlon first without gel, then with gel.

Do you have any other colors or brands that you particularly like?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-08 19:00:54.

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Today I wanted to copy one of the images in the Mary Kay Look Magazine. The colors are from the Spring 2009 Luminous Eyes pan. You can see the other FOTD here and here.

Primer: Avon Magix
Foundation: L'Oreal True Match N1 Blends easily, very sheer

Base: Lancome Shooting Star (cream in tube); then my sparkly mix for eyes
Outer corners and Crease: Lime
Inner corners: Brown

Tightlined Lined upper and lower: MK Bahama Blue (LE collection)
Drylined outside Tightlined upper and lower: Turquoise
Drylined on top of that: MAC Reflects Purple duo, to give it some spark and soften
Concealer: AL Pink, followed by MK Facial Highlighting Pen Color 2
Brows: La Prairie pencil
Mascara upper: Guerlain Maxi Lash Wonder Black
Mascara lower: Lancome Definicils Black, sample size

Lips: Contoured in blue, see separate post for pix as I went
Entire lip: MK Pink Diamonds gloss
Outer corners: MK Ocean Blue eye pencil (I wanted a softer blue for day, not a navy.)
Outline lip and over outer corners: Clarins Nude Lip Pencil
Highlighted center of lip: Too Faced Mermaid Girls Dig Pearls gloss
Blush: AL femmefatale rocks! sonic rouge, using BE FO blush brush
Highlighting Center of Face: MK 4 shades in 2 pans, brush over all 4

I like the colors on the eyes placed like this, rather than placing the brown in the crease. It's a brighter look. I can hardly see the brown in the inner corners and I went over it more than once. I was afraid it would be too dark there, but it isn't.

How do you like it?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-20 13:04:50.

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The Audrey Eye look is one of two sets that Arbonne has put together. It's important to see these looks in RL compared to the catalog or as individual colors. As nice as they are individually, they are really superb when used together.

The first time I saw the Audrey Eye look in RL in the travel palette box, I thought the colors were amazing and couldn't wait to try them on. I resolved they would be in my next order.

You can see them on a model here.

Then when I saw the look on Shari, I realized that it was gorgeous, neutral, and rich looking. And would go with everything.

She had filled her palette box with the additional recommended blushes: Promise (I have that one, it is softly pink, and I use it almost daily) and Savvy (softly apricot which was a good color for me also, and one I didn't have yet) and shadows (these are fairly new colors): Illume (shimmery white) and Mystery (very dark black.) I could tell immediately by looking at it that the colors were right together.

I have trouble choosing across the color range to put together a look like this myself, so it is better that it is done for me. Arbonne has 12 shades of brown, ranging from light to dark, and encompassing warms, cools and neutrals, so you can imagine that it might not be easy for me, especially with brown eyes.

Here’s what Arbonne says about their shadows:

… pressed eye shadow in a range of 34 moisturizing shades that won’t flake or smudge

and this is really important when dealing with a dark color like Mystery.

Mascara: Arbonne, 2 in 1
Brows: La Prairie pencil
Tightlined both top and lower, then smudged with MAC smudge brush: MAC graphblack, then along lower also earthline

Primer: Smashbox with dermaxl (it looks sort of apricot)
Foundation: Prescriptives Photochrome Cool Rose
Rouge under powder: Chanel stick
Powder: Guerlain meteorites
Blush: NARs Riviera

Lips: Arbonne Illusion (beautiful golden light bronze which I felt I could use to lighten and highlight) + Razzberry I was aiming for a blue-red, since they show this look with red. I think it leaned more to the pink side, but still very pretty color.

You can see my poor nose here, and what happens when I put product on it. I think it was the MAC concealer, but this didn't bother me the first couple of times I used it, so when it disappears, I will try it again carefully!

What do you think?

Next up, the second look: Arbonne Smoky Eyes.

If you'd like to order any of these Arbonne products and do not have a consultant, Book Girl would be happy to help you.
Karin

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Going for an easy look today, and I wanted to try the couple of ELF products that I hadn't tried yet. Just because they are inexpensive doesn't mean they aren't nice.

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost
Lids: combo of ELF Berry Mix cream shadow duo -- I wanted to stay somewhat plum, and I wondered if it would drift. It did some.
Tightlined: Sephora Flashy Mauve waterproof pencil -- doesn't show up
Drylined: AL ladystardust rocks! sonic eyes -- lots of glitter, matches my T
Brows: La Prairie pencil
Mascara: Guerlain Le2

You can see how pretty the AL ladystardust is in this picture:

Primer: MUFE
Foundation: Prescriptives Rich Camelia Blue-Red Soft Glow
Highlight: Laura Geller Liquid Candlelight face and body glow, up the center of my face
Rouge under powder: Beauté Harlot, stain
Powder: Guerlain meteorites
Blush: used what was left of the lipstick on my lip brush to blend into my cheeks

Lips: Arbonne Razzberry + BubbleGum one on each lip, then smooshed + Gleam Prep and Plump gloss up the center of my lips, used with a lipbrush -- I debated between On Point which is a great pink and Gleam, which is coppery that I adore. Gleam didn't copper it down much, if at all. I'm happy with my choice!

What do you think?

I hope you're having a great day!

I you would like Bookgirl to be your Arbonne consultant, she would be happy to help you. If you have any questions, email me here and I will forward them on to her.

Karin

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Going for an easy Mother's Day look -- I hope your Mother's Day is lovely! Do you have plans?

Eyes:
Lids: NARS Riviera I wanted to see how this did on my eyes because it is marketed for eyes, lips, cheeks, an all over product. I've not used it for my lips yet.
Crease: Prescriptives 04 gray cream,
Outer corners: Mary Kay Silver Shiver, waterproof cream
Over lids: Trish McEvoy sparkly opalish pressed glitter shadow

Gel Liner
I wanted to see if the same technique I've been using with Black Cherry gel liner would work with the other colors I have. Again, I used the back end of the shadow brush for most of it.
Top tight lined: Peacock gel liner
Lower water lined: Tidal Wave gel liner

Brows: Merle Norman powder
Mascara: upper, Guerlain; lower, Tarte

Sunscreen: La Prairie
Primer: Avon Magix
Foundation, Glow, Blush: L'Oreal minerals -- this time for foundation I used the L'oreal brush dipped into the top of the bottom container -- the bad thing about that is if you need more product, you have the screw the brush back on in order to tip it upside down to get more product into the top.
Powder: no extra today
More blush: NARS Riviera on cheek bones

Lips: NYX Lips Champagne

Karin

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Face:
Primer: none
Foundation: Lancome minerals -- I'm getting more used to applying it. I preferred what I added today.
Powder: Lancome minerals, then Mary Kay mineral pressed powder
Radiance Highlighting: L'Oreal Bare Natural Pink Glow, then Mary Kay up the center
Over primer: Clarins Instant smooth -- love this product!
Concealer: Mary Kay

Eyes: Mary Kay minerals
Outer corner and crease: Lemongrass; this didn't show up well so...
Crease: added Denim frost
Inner corners: Amber blaze -- normally I wouldn't choose this for the inner corners, but in the 2009 summer colors, they showed the brown not in the crease, but in the inner corners and it looked great!
Under brow: lemongrass, lightly
Lined lower: Denim Frost
Tightlined top and lower + wet lined lower: Tidal Wave Gel liner -- this is such a pretty blue
Brows: Prescriptive pencil
Mascara top: EL Blue; lower: Tarte

What I think of Mary Kay pressed mineral eye shadows
I like Mary Kay shadows very much. They go on like silk. There is a wide array of beautiful colors, but they do not have the indie colors that Aromaleigh or Fyrinnae have.

I give them a 5.

What do you think?
I like the look of my face today.

Addendum: I'm obviously not an expert at applying mineral makeup. It looked great here and in the bathroom, but when I saw it in sunlight I had to wipe it down on one side of my face as it was very weird looking. I would say it looked as if it had settled in my pores, but I don't have any for it to settle into in that area of my face. Once I wiped it twice (in the same area) it was fine. I'll definitely have to check this when I use minerals. Do you ever have this issue?

Karin

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