I got a fix!

Welp, remember that ULTA gift card insanity? I STILL have the dang thing because it wouldn't work online, and I don't have an ULTA here. Today i got an email saying that from now until Sunday, (8/2) ULTA is giving away a Deluxe Sample Bag - (in addition to their usual 3 free samples with any purchase) - when you spend $25.

I lurve samples.
i lurve beauty products.
i lurve free stuff.

So i went browsing to see if anything jumped out at me...
And then i saw it - Bare Minerals Hydrating Mineral Veil! HUH?? How did i miss this? You know how using too much mineral veil can make your face feel tight and dry? Well this is meant to solve that problem! And since my skin is naturally on the dryer side, this sounds perfect. I ordered the kit which includes an antibacterial-treated Hydrate & Brighten Brush.

The only thing holding up the purchase was the gift card issue. I have refused to buy anything from ULTA until i could use the rewards i EARNED. So, like so many times before, i plugged in the numbers and VOILA! IT WORKED! YAY! I don't have to boycott anymore!!!! And i've got awesome goodies on the way!

BTW - If you decide to place an order to get the rad gift bag, be sure to try using the $3.50 off $10.00 coupon. The code is 22959. (Some products are excluded from this promotion, like Bare Minerals, dang it.) And if you spend $50 or more, you'll qualify for free shipping. :)

My Fave Things

These are a few of my favorite things...

1. Smith's Mentholated Salve by Rosebud Perfume Co.
Awesome stuff. The only cure for chapped lips. Also good for bug bites, irritated skin or dry nose when you have a cold. I even used it on my tattoo while it healed. Comes in a tin that is about 2 in. across and a little under an inch deep - one tin lasts a long LONG time.


2. Clean and Clear Sensitive Skin Facial Cleanser
I used Clinique 3-step for most of my life, but i felt like my skin became immune to it or something. After trying products of all kinds, i found that i really like Clean & Clear. It doesn't burn my eyes out or taste like I've swallowed anthrax if i accidentally get some in my mouth. I use it every day and one bottle at about $3 lasts for months!


3. Clean and Clear Daily Pore Toner
See above. This stuff is also awesome and doesn't burn like some astringents. I love it!

4. Q-tips.
Do i need to explain why? Accept no imitations. I hate generic Q-Tips. Can't live, if livin' is without Q-Tips.

5. (Anything by) Soap & Glory
Very distinct scent that isn't too soapy and isn't floral/sweet. I just love their Righteous Butter. Their Body Scrub is the perfect thing to use to exfoliate before putting on your sunless tanning products..

6. Bare Minerals Foundation
The key ingredient to a flawless yet natural looking face. You don't need all that heavy liquid stuff and cakey powder. Seriously. And best of all it's the fastest of all my beauty routines. Getting my face on in under 5 minutes means more time to play with my eye makeup!

7. Loreal Telescopic Mascara
I've used so many mascaras and i love this one best. (plus, i'm not spending over $10 for mascara when i go thru it so fast!) the brush takes some getting used to but it's the best stuff.

8. My Shower Cap
Okay I don't have a link for this because a shower cap is a personal choice that i just can't begin to make for you. lol. I used to use one that i had from a hotel stay and it actually lasted me a very long time, cheap as it was... During the great NYX/Big Lots event a few months ago, I picked up two caps for $0.80 each and they are super cute. Very girly and not old-lady-ish. I am an every other or every 3 days shampoo-er so I can't live without my cap.

9. Manicure Buffing Block
Besides cuticle removal (and well, painting them like you AREN'T drunk) using a good buffing block is the best way to get a good salon finish for your nails when you manicure at home. I especially like how now they have the order of things numbered right on the block itself. Buffing smoothing and shining your nails is literally as easy as 1-2-3.

10. The RockSTARR FAM
once upon a time, before I was a ROCKSTARRMOM, i was just plain old Cara Starr. Sometimes i miss how easy Cara had it back in the diz-ay, but i always wonder if i could be anywhere near as fulfilled without my little fam. So, here they are, my sexy hubby and my rockstarr kids. Make up and beauty stuff is to stay attractive for one, and in spite of the others. It's my "me-time" stuff. :)

My Hunny.

Caleb

<--- Riley & Tyler --->

Review: Joppa Minerals

Somewhere i saw a reference to Joppa Minerals and looked them up. They had a sample kit for $0.01 + s&h so i ordered it. The sample kit came with 2 tiny jars of foundation, 1 tiny jar of "finishing silk" (their version of mineral veil), and then 4 baggies of various concealers, bronzers and blush. I did get to select each and every color i wanted for the kit so that was cool. I've had it for a while now and just didn't even know where to begin with it, such small amounts, and in baggies and stuff...

Finally today i gave it a whirl and EWWWW. I didn't even get thru the entire application because it is so chalky and powdery. ugh. it felt AWFUL. Just AWFUL! Even to the touch. Bare Minerals are creamy to the touch. These Joppa Minerals made me feel like i'd just been playing with sidewalk chalk. I seriously had to go wash and put on lotion like, stat, because where i rubbed my finger tips against my hands and everything, just felt sucked up and dried out.

So i give these like, negative 5 starrs.

Seriously.

So bad.

Review: Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer

Well, this past week, Target had Revlon's new "Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer" foundation primer on sale for $10.89 down from the usual $12-ish. I had Target & Revlon coupons so in the end, i spent $5.89 + tax for a .85 fl. oz. tube of the stuff.

I compared the primer to Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

Side by side my initial impression was that Revlon goes on "wetter" than Smashbox. So I would venture to say that if you have dry skin, or if Smashbox ever felt drying to you, Revlon may feel more comfortable on your skin.

Perhaps because of whatever makes it "wetter", this product also seems much more noticeable on. As in, I am aware of it being on my face for some time after I apply it, like it is thicker or heavier... I've never noticed that with Smashbox.

Second, Revlon's primer is scented, & this feature really bugs me. It is a faint fresh scent, but the idea of adding fragrance to something that you put on your face, RIGHT NEAR YOUR NOSE, strikes me as a bad idea. It's so unnecessary. I wonder if the fragrance will cause any negative effect for sensitive skin users. I would caution you to try it in a small inconspicuous area first, if you have sensitivity to such things.

The first time i ever used Smashbox, i rubbed a bit on the back of my hand at the store. I was like WOW! because instantly, my skin looked smoother, my pores looked way smaller and the effect was dramatic. (Not to mention it felt good on, and wasn't SCENTED!) When i tried the same thing with Revlon, it didn't have that wow factor.

So then I wore the Revlon primer under my minerals yesterday and i just wasn't impressed. My make up stayed put, but Bare Minerals have a way of doing that on their own. The reason i like using the Smashbox primer is because of how great it makes my skin look before and after i apply the mineral foundation. I just didn't notice the same effect with the Revlon primer.

Perhaps Revlon's primer would be better reviewed by someone who uses liquid foundation. It has, after all, premiered along with an entire line of Beyond Natural Skin Matching liquid make up. It's possible that i don't see a dramatic result because it isn't meant to be used with mineral foundation. Then again, neither is Smashbox's primer, yet i love the combo.

So I'm at a loss. I hate to say don't buy it if i just haven't used it in conjunction with the correct products. But i hate to say GO GET IT! when i'm not really impressed by it. I'll say for the price, it isn't a bad product to keep in your arsenal. Especially if you don't want to shell out $36 for the other. If you are simply in the market for something just like Smashbox but with a lower price tag, this isn't it.

How to Apply Bare Minerals

My version of how to apply Bare Minerals/Bare Escentuals. Good music too!

ETA: I should mention that my left eye looks extra dark, and has a big lump on my brow bone because i smacked it against the front door. *sigh* Have you ever read my blogger profile? The worst part of it was i tripped walking up to the front door after jamming to starbucks, and while falling FACE FIRST, i also managed to dump $10 worth of coffee all over the front step. As much as my face hurt, i was crying for my mocha.

Red White and Blue Eyes

Happy Fourth of July!

Face: Bare Minerals with WARMTH all over face color.
Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion, NYX Shadow Pencil in RUST, NYX Single Eyeshadows in Navy and White Pearl. Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in espresso, and Loreal Telescopic Mascara in Black.
Lips: E.L.F. clear gloss.

Going Shopping

Well, I joined my husband on his trip out of town for work. While he sits in boring classes all day, I'm strategically planning my shopping trips. Today after I meet him for lunch, I'm off to one of THREE Ulta stores in this area. *SIGH* Why are there 3 of them here, and I can't have ONE where I live?

Before we headed here for the week, we took the boys to San Francisco for the day. It was a nice day but HOT! We went to Pier 39 where i discovered a BARE ESCENTUALS STORE!!!!! But after spending the entire day sweating and sweltering, I felt really gross and was too embarrassed to play make-up with the sales girl. I did take a good look at all the goodies, and will get to see more at Ulta today.

I forgot my cord for the camera, so i can't upload eye makeup pics today - but i will when i get home because today i did a purple and turquoise eye with purple liner and it turned out so cute!

Stay tuned to see my Ulta haul! :)

ULTA Sale

So, being that I am a busy RockSTARRMom to 3 little boys, there isn’t a lot of time or opportunity to do things that I want to do, without planning it around school taxi duty, naptimes, or feedings. This is why I get such a pathetic thrill out of picking up a new eyeshadow or two (or twenty) from my local PHARMACY. If you’re like me and can’t get out when you’d like, or don’t have some of the fun beauty supply stores near you, there is the wonderful world of ONLINE SHOPPING! I frequent ULTA.com more than Sephora simply because that was where I bought my Bare Minerals, and when I did, I joined a “club” and even got a special “membership card” and those kinds of things suck me right in.
The nearest ULTA is about 8 towns north, and saving a dollar on my favorite hairspray just doesn’t justify the $25,435,434.00 in gas I would spend to get there. So when my ULTA sale ad came in the mail my heart just sank. There is a coupon for BOGO NYX cosmetics, Loreal H.I.P, and Make-up brush sets! PLUS - Hot Tools ROUND brushes on sale, AND! A new BareMinerals set came out called “Masterpiece Collection” and when you purchase it, you can schedule to take a class in-store, to become a Master of the Masterpiece set. Then I realized that all of these specials are for June… and I’m supposed to be doing something in June… OH THAT’S RIGHT! I’m going out of town with my husband! And I’ll be near an ULTA STORE! And you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be buying all of my travel souvenirs THERE! I’m so excited that I could just burst! So watch for some new eyes appearing soon… I’ll be such a MASTER after my class, I’ll have tons of secrets to impart!

Bare Escentuals - Before and After Pics

I cannot praise these minerals enough. The time i spend doing my face is mere minutes and when time is not on your side, saving it is priceless. I thought I'd show you a before and after of myself so you can see what exactly the minerals do for me. Pay attention to the dark circles under my eyes, and the evenness of tone and color on my face, and the zit on my chin that i managed to hide. It's not a drastic change - but it does make just the right difference!

Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals Mineral Make-up Review

So i ordered the Bare Escentuals starter kit from Ulta.com because I don't have an ULTA or a Sephora store near me. Each store sells a slightly different starter kit, but both include the basics and brushes, as well as a DVD to show you how to apply it properly. (ULTA currently has a free shipping special on the BE starter kit, just use the code KITSSHIPFREE at checkout.)

The kit i purchased included the Flawless Application Face Brush, the Handi Buki Brush, and the Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush. The brushes are soft and do a good job, but mine shed A LOT, and it really irritates me. When i'm in the middle of "swirling and tapping" i get loose hairs in the jar lids.

It also included two jars in two different shades of BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation so that you can get your color just right. It included All Over Face Color in the usual "Warmth" and a bonus jar of All Over Face Color in "Glee". I started out using Warmth but now use Glee all the time. I love it. It has more of a pink-ish hue instead of a gold/brown one. The trick for this is to use VERY LITTLE, seriously, like ONE mineral in the lid. Swirl, tap and buff onto the cheeks in usual blush fashion, then i do the "W" motion over my forehead, cheek, & chin, with the residual, just so i have a slight color all over.

And lastly, it includes a jar of Mineral Veil. I've heard people complain that the Mineral Veil feels too much like powder, or makes their face look too matte when they use it. I found that it finishes my face just right, but the trick is to use very little. The mineral veil is much finer than the other minerals, and it taps out into the lid in larger amounts. You only need a teeny bit to work with.

Overall, the minerals feel very creamy to the touch - not like a powder at all. And they feel good on my skin. I wasn't a big foundation wearer in the first place, and this make-up provides a light, sheer coverage, that just balances out the color on my face and helps with my shiny t-zone. If you are used to putting on really thick and heavy foundation, this won't seem like enough to you. (But i think it IS. I think people wear too much foundation and it looks too obvious.)

Separate from the kit, i also purchased a Multi-Tasking Mineral in "Well Rested". It is supposed to be an eyeshadow base for your lids, but also works beneath the foundation as a concealer. I bought it to cover the very dark circles under my tired mommy eyes, but i have rarely used it, because i found that using the foundation with the Maximum Concealer Face Brush usually does the trick. On an especially tired day i'll use it under my eyes and on the inner corners of my lids where my eyes get really dark.

The biggest pro about this make-up, and the reason i originally bought it, is that is is very easy and FAST! The first few times you do it may take a little time, because it is something new and you have to learn and practice to get it right, but i can get my face done in less than 5 minutes, and spend extra time doing something fun with my eyes. I give Bare Escentauls a thumbs up for all the busy RockSTARRMom's everywhere. *Rating ~ 5 STARRS*

Coming Soon

DIY French Mani Pedi Tutorial

How to Tease/Backcomb Your Hair

How to apply sunless tanner

Blow drying with a round brush

Bare Escentuals Review