Black Sweet: November 2009

The Goudlylox Gift Guide: Gifts for Gal Pals

Like every other good blogger, I have been compiling a list of gifts worth giving all year. Here is the thing with gift guides: People list stuff you can buy, but what if you don't know what your giftee would like? What if they like gadgets and beauty? What about the people you want to impress or ladies who love their cosmetics and have seen it all? Welcome to the first installment of The Gouldylox Gift Guide: Gifts for Gal Pals.

Gal Pals are your friends you hang with when you go out. Or maybe they are the group you lunch with. They aren't your besties, but they fall completely within range of being gift worthy. Instead of cookies or an ornament, here are some fun ideas that won't break the bank, but will leave them oohing and ahhing.

Pick up a few of these collections and create your own personalized little gift baskets (or makeup clutches). They're thoughtful, hand-picked and easy on the wallet. Here are my selections for your gal pals.

And since it's Cyber Monday, be sure to check out my list of checkout codes and store coupons to make the most of your money.

Stila Smudge Pot Holiday Collection, $32: These little pots pack seriously addictive color.

BE Keychain Kisses, $15: - These little lip glosses are small enough to go anywhere and leave you smoochable at all times.

Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash, $36: This set of nine mini liners includes favorites and a few new shades, so there is something for everyone!

BE Buxom Babes About Town, $39: This lip stick and lip polish collection contain colors that are sure to work on all of your friends.

Radiant Skin Regimen Sampler by Sephora, $38 - What a great way to share your favorite products with your gals!

Fresh's Star Light, Star Bright, $28, This kit contains multiple goodies at bargain prices. Everything inside is sure to please!

Shower gel Collection from Korres, $9: These floral shower gels are a wonderful way to wake up! Use code Gouldylox at checkout and save 30%!

Mix and match from any or each of these collections and you will surely leave your gal pals a bunch of happy campers.

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Black Friday Through Cyber Monday: Sales and Checkout Codes Too Good To Miss

Happy CyberMonday! Here is a list of shopping codes and deals I've compiled. There is a lot to haul- what is on your list?

TODAY ONLY! Everything at Tarte is 40% off, plus you get a gift for you AND free shipping! Use checkout code CYBERMON9.

Kate Somerville is offering 30% off November 27 -30 with checkout code KATE2009. Go here for my review of Quench.

Bare Escentual Friends and Family Sale December 2-6: 20% off with checkout code BLOGFRIENDS.

Sue Devitt Beauty is offering free shipping from November 27-30 with checkout code SHP1109. Check out my Sue Devitt Story.

Drugstore.com is extending their $5 off $30 or $10 off $50 offer. Click here to add the code to your order.

Vis-a-Vis Cosmetics is selling everything on their website for $5! (Plus tax and shipping)

Stila is offering huge discounts on many items, up to 80%! I can't keep track of everything on sale, you have to look for yourself! UPDATE: Free shipping, with no minimum purchase now through Monday! Use code THANKS at checkout.

Smashbox Friends and Family Sale now through December 1, save 20% with checkout SBFF9.

Korres is offering 30% off of everything with code GOULDYLOX at checkout and free shipping when you spend over $35. This code should be good through 12/15.

LORAC is giving you a free gift with purchases over $50 and offering free shipping (over $50). Go here for a review of one of my favorite concealers.

Beautydeals.net is offering 20% off November 27-29 with checkout code 6291.

Finally, give back to yourself by entering to win $1,000 in beauty products from Beauty Xpose!

UPDATE!

Lancome is also having a friends and family sale - save 20% online and get free shipping through November 30 with code HOLIDAYJOY2.

Shu Uemura is giving free shipping and the 20% discount using WISHDELUXE09 when you checkout, today only!

Keihls is giving 20% off orders and get free shipping on orders of $30 or more. Enter FAMILY at checkout. Code is good through December 1, 2009.

Too Faced cosmetics is offering 30% off and free shipping on orders of $50 or more with code LUCKYBREAKS. This code should be good through the holidays.

Code HOLIDAY on Bobbi Brown will get you a free Indigo Gel liner.

Save 20% at Bliss with code CYBER20.

Save 10% at Juara with code NOV09.

Save 20% at Sally's Beauty Supply with code 55945.

Save 20% at Peter Thomas Roth Cyber Monday only. No code needed.

Lierac Paris wants you to use checkout code FF2009 through December 6th and save 30%.

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Elianto BB Breaks Me Out + Barenaturals' Primer Actually Works Great

I am both ranting and raving today.

After finishing half of the 50mL Elianto Multiplex BB Cream I proudly considered my HG, I am officially announcing that it breaks me out! I feel terrible seeing how this BB cream has "turned its back on me". Boohooo.

I've always blamed my hormones and sleeping late as the causes of my never-ending chin breakouts. Recently, I often stayed home (I quit work to give way for my review, remember?) and skipped my bb cream moments. I'm surprised that despite sleeping in the wee hours of the morning and that my period's coming up, no new zits have piled up on my chin! I can actually see my chin these days, I thought.

And then it hit me... the only product I stopped using since I noticed an improved chin was my prized Elianto Multiplex.

And so it's official... the great bb cream isn't for me.

On a happier note, I am falling in love with Barenaturals' Skin Perfecting Primer! I've earlier claimed that it poorly controlled my oilies. Allow me to retract that. Let me tell you that I am considering this as my daily primer.

No, it still doesn't impress me that much when it comes to keeping my 'oiliest of the oiliest' face mattified, but it does a decent job in keeping my makeup on and my face clean on a daily basis. I still use blotting papers a couple of times, but since I am only attending review classes (inside an air conditioned room), Barenaturals' Skin Perfecting Primer is perfect!

And oh, I've commuted from my place to my patient's (it's a polluted, sweaty, and humid 30-minute jeepney and tricycle ride) and I'm surprised that I'm only a little bit on the dewy side! This happened thrice already.

And so it's official... Barenaturals' Skin Perfecting Primer is an impressive one.

**********************************

Let me share one more thing with you guys. Look what I found:

Must be the reason why I broke out, huh?

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First Look: Nubar to Launch Prisms Nail Polish Collection in January

By guest blogger, Anne Houseman, of Beauty Xpose.

Those of you who’ve been following us for a while know of our long-time love for Nubar Nail Lacquers. With a brilliant spectrum of colors in different themed collections released each season, perhaps the best part of these long-lasting lacquers are what they don’t have — harmful, carcinogenic ingredients including formaldehyde, toluene and phthalate (often found in many popular salon brands). These pretty polishes are also vegan and cruelty free, so you can be rest assured that no matter what color suits your fancy, it was created with the highest standards in mind.

We were fortunate enough to get the first look at the Nubar Prism Collection, which is scheduled to be released in January. The prisms collection consists of eight spectacular nail polish colors inspired by the colorful play of light through a prism. Each is filled with holographic glitter reflecting every color of the rainbow, with base shades just as varied:

Spark – A shimmering champagne

Jewel – A dreamy, cool bronze

Gem – A rosy gunmetal glitter

Essence – A classic pink shimmer

Treasure – A deep translucent purple

Brilliant – A translucent violet pink (shown with three coats)

Absolute – A translucent shimmery baby blue

Prize – A hot cherry red

All of the nail polishes glide on evenly without chunky glitter poking through the top as you might expect; the glitter lies flat, resulting in a smooth, glass-like finish. These pictures hardly do the holographic Nubar Prism nail polishes justice — depending on the angle of your nails, the glitter really does pick up every possible color with a magnificent, prismatic play of light. It’s really quite a remarkable sight. Of course, like all the Nubar nail polishes we’ve tested, the polishes are salon-quality and lasted a week without chipping (which is the gold standard for our nails).

Stay tuned for more details on when you’ll be able to purchase the Nubar Prism Collection for yourself. In the meantime, enter our Holiday Haul giveaway, where on Dec. 20, one lucky winner will get the entire Nubar Prism Collection along with $1,000 of other great prizes!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful day and remember to give thanks for the little things.

Personally, I am thankful for family and friends. I am also thankful for my and Mr. Lox's health, as well as the health of my pets. Finally, I am thankful for the kindness of new friends I have encountered on this blog, as well as at Karma Dogs.

Enjoy your day and Happy Thanksgiving!

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

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Works of Art and Science: Paul and Joe Beaute'

When I recently visited Baltimore's Brow Whisperer, I was delighted to find a new line cosmetics that I couldn't stop admiring. Paul and Joe Beaute' create beautiful works of art that look as good on you as they do on your vanity.

(Paul and Joe Beaute' Pressed Powder. I love this compact!)

I have been using a mineral powder for touch-ups, which is fine and I have no complaints. But when I saw this compact and tried it on, I realized I had to have it. Not only does the powder look beautiful on, the compact itself reminds me the ones I use to admire on my grandmothers' dressing table.

(This pic doesn't show how gorgeous this compact is in real life, but it is beautiful, trust me!)

This powder offers medium coverage and imparts a slight radiance on the skin, that isn't glittery, despite being able to see bits of sparkle in the powder. It is just a beautiful radiant powder, in an even more beautiful compact.

I couldn't pass up trying Paul and Joe's Lip Lacquer, either. This is the least stickiest lip gloss I have tried in some time. It also wears really, really well. This is no doubt due to the technology behind this gloss, which sets it apart from the rest. Paul and Joe lip lacquer contains thixotropic, a gelatin agent that spreads smoothly over the lips and adheres firmly. Depending on the amount you put on, it could feel slightly "thick", which doesn't bother me the way stickiness does. The result is long lasting, beautiful color and a slightly fuller lip appearance. I picked it up in the color #5, a delicate nectar sheer color. When paired with a creamy foundation and cream blush, it is the perfect finish to a creamy complexion.

(My pucker in Paul and Joe #5 Lip Lacquer)

Check out Paul and Joe Beaute' on Beautyhabit.com, PeaceLoveLipgloss.com or in Baltimore at La Papillon Salon .

I purchased these items because I am a can't pass up new, pretty things.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

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BE Friends and Family Sale Starts a Day Early For Readers!

Save 20% on all Bare Escentuals purchases through the boutique and online by using code BLOGFRIENDS at checkout from December 2 - December 6th. (The official friends and family sale starts on December 3.) If you want to shop in-store, print out the invite below and shop 'til you drop. Start planning your haul now!

With so many things to pick up, what are you going to get? Don't forget, if you pick up The Surprise, you may win a lifetime supply of BE Foundation!

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Pro Makeup Artist, Jacque Carder, On Getting Actors Camera Ready

I am a television commercial producer, which is a fun job. I get to meet lots of people and learn lots of behind the scenes tips and tricks. One of my producer pals, Mary Holland, recently worked on a huge commercial job in Atlanta and was really impressed by how amazing her talent looked onscreen. While I get to work on HD projects all of the time, I don't get to do a lot of beauty shots and most of the talent I work with aren't trying to look glam. When Mary mentioned she was impressed by the makeup on her HD shoot and wanted to track down the products that were used for herself, I knew something really amazing must have happened.

(photo courtesy of makeupandstyling.com & Mark DeLong Photography)

With Mary's help, I chatted with the makeup artist from her shoot, Jacque Carder, to find out what impressed Mary so much that she was still talking about it weeks later. Jacque is a pro makeup artist who does a little bit of everything - from television to features, commercials and print. I often chat with pro makeup artists about their tips and tricks to make everyone look amazing on camera. But Jacque's answer honestly surprised me a little bit. What was her secret to totally flawless skin under the microscope of the HD camera lens? Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector and/or Smashbox Photo Finish. Really? Clinique?

While Jacque often uses an airbrush, she said the difference in how her talent look is because of the primer she uses before the foundation. "I use a lot of silicone-based products or specifically dimethicone. Some of my heavy hitters are Smash Box Photo Finish and Clinique Pore Minimizer. You apply the products first and foundation or powder glides on. They work as an oil absorber and spackle all in one. Little imperfections are filled creating a smooth canvas. They can even smooth out wrinkles a bit. You dont want to use too much or it will become greasy and even lumpy. Less is more."

I picked up the Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector to try for myself. (I opted to try the Clinique instead of the Smashbox because I have been told the Smashbox isn't the best fit for mineral makeup.) The Clinique reminded me a lot of another much more expensive foundation/primer I had tried and liked in the past. And I am confident in saying that today is the best "face" day I have had in a bit. By that, I mean my skin looks luminous, as if it has been airbrushed. I am definitely wearing a lot more than just the Clinique primer, but my pores are gone and the fine lines by my eyes are camouflaged just a bit. My skin looks much better than if I had skipped this step. (Including skin care, I am wearing 7 products before I even get to my foundation today*.)

Have you tried this primer? What product makes you feel HD ready? Tell me in the comments!

I purchased Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector because I chase magazine-airbrushed perfection, despite the fact I know it doesn't exist.

*
1. Jan Marini Age Intervention Face Cream
2.Jan Marini Age Intervention Eye Cream
3. Jan Marini C-Esta Serum
4. Jan Marini AntiOxidant Sunscreen
5. Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector
6. Makeup Forever Primer in Blue
7. Makeup Forever HD Foundation

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

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Was I Ripped Off?

I posted a while back how I loved using The Bodyshop's professional sponge to achieve a better look with my mineral foundies. I would've gladly backed it up sooner if it didn't go out of stock in almost all branches... for weeks!

Imagine my relief when I scored one over their branch at SM Fairview. Great, I thought. It was just a lil weird that the one I bought previously costed me P200 flat, while this new one was P250.

Price increase, I thought.

But to my horror, I discovered that I might've paid a lot for this new one. The sponge is inside a resealable type of packing (so is the old one I got from Galleria), so it's a little easy for me to think I might've been cheated.

Let me show you Exhibits A to D, and you be the judge:

New one (left) vs Old (right) one: New- P250 Old- 200. Bodyshop: "We've increased the price and shrank the sponge! It's recession after all!"

New sponge (left photo) out of the resealable plastic

Length and width difference

Thickness difference

Height difference

If anyone has been an avid fan of the bodyshop's professional sponge from way back, have you noticed this difference if in any case you've repurchased recently? I'd love to know as I hate to imagine that I was cheated on this.

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Allow me to sidetrack a bit...

I've been procrastinating my review that I was enrolled into 3 years ago for my busy life as a physiotherapist. Today, I quit work to make way for what I've been putting off for the past years. I will miss hospital work, but I still get a tinge of it via my home care patients.

Honestly, I'm scared of review school. I'm scared that I forgot a whole lot of my profession's theory. It's a great deal of difference between the academe and hospital set-up... a lil prcentage of the classroom stuff is significant to the job. Sad, noh? But that's reality. At least for us, PT's.

I enrolled last 2006. Good thing that it was a 'lifetime' review. Ayos noh? Where on earth can you find something like that?

I hope to take the US Licensure for PT mid-quarter of next year. Wish me luck as I jump into a whole new facet of my career.

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Jan Marini Gets Serious About Skin Care

I recently had the chance to chat with skin care aficionado, Jan Marini, the woman behind JanMarini Skin Research. Jan's line is known for being a leader in new anti-aging, resurfacing and repairative skin technology. Since I am all about the science behind the products, I was thrilled to get a chance to speak with her and find out what products she would suggest to help my skin, as it begins the newest phase of the aging process.

First off, I should tell you that one of Jan's newer products, the Age Intervention Regeneration Booster uses topical Telomerase Enzyme therapies to deliver truly dramatically skin rejuvenation benefits. This therapy is so ground breaking, three scientists were recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work surrounding the anti-aging properties of telomeres. Clearly, her products go way beyond the glossy hype that surrounds so many of her competitors. I can't wait to get my hands on this tiny bottle of dramatic rejuvenation. More importantly, I couldn't wait to learn more from Jan herself.

Before I dive in to my skin care overhaul, here are some facts I learned by chatting with Jan Marini:

- Wrinkles are actually wounds to the skin. Wound research has shown that topical agents have the ability to help heal wrinkles. If you concentrate on skin cell communicating ingredients that aid in wound healing, you will have the ability to heal wrinkles (ie greatly diminish their appearance).

-80% of sun damage occurs before the age of 10. (10!?! I was thinking of how I could meet The Karate Kid and make him fall in love with me, not about wrinkle prevention!)

-If you have a blemish, dab a bit of cortisone cream on the spot and cover with a band aid. This yields a similar (although not exactly the same) result as getting an injection would.

While this isn't a fun fact, I did enjoy this portion of our conversation immensely (when speaking about another brand who uses a myth about mineral oil to promote their products):

"Mineral Oil is not bad for the skin. It is one of my favorite myths about skin and skin care - that skin needs to breathe. No one has ever shown me lungs within the skin and skin does not breathe. Mineral Oil is actually organic and it's job is to be occlusive. It's not a bad thing. It isn't causing the death of skin by not allowing it to breathe. Again, skin doesn't have lungs."

I love it when science trumps hype.

I was excited to get a chance to chat with her about what products would actually work for me. Perhaps someone can get to the bottom of this sponge-like appearance near my nose (which Paula Begoun said was due to being perimenopausal) and the fine lines around my eyes.

I explained to Jan that I had nice skin, with lots of (undeserved) melasma, that was very dry, with fine lines and had the spongey next-to-my-nose skin. Without missing a beat, Jan said the change in skin texture was no doubt due to becoming perimenopausal. If I didn't know better, I would say she and Paula Begoun were in cahoots.

Jan suggested an intensive treatment regimen to revamp my skin, help diminish fine lines and improve the radiance and texture of my skin. Thank goodness she sent me a checklist of what to do, because it is some serious skin care. It doesn't take any more time than what I usually do, but it is intensive.

Here is my plan:

Wash (in a specific way) using BioGlycolic Facial Cleanser twice per day. I have been doing that prior to our chat, so be on a the look out for a review soon!

Follow up with C-Esta Face Serum twice a day and BioClear Lotion in the evenings.

Use Age Intervention Face Cream and Age Intervention Eye Treatment twice each day.

Once per week, cleanse and treat with two enzyme treatments, Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme and use the Age Intervention Regeneration Mask (but not on the same day).

Of course, each day use the SPF 30 AntiOxidant Sunscreen (which is my favorite sunscreen of all time). I can't stress how important it is use to sunscreen anytime you are outside between the hours of 5am and 10pm. It's not about being sunny and needing sun screen. It's about preventing damage from the UVA and UVB rays you can't see. Rainy, cloudy or after 3pm, you still need to protect your skin from the sun.

It's intensive, but as I start week three I am seeing a difference. My skin is definitely smoother and is glowing. I am hopeful the fine lines will begin to diminish soon. You know I will give you the scoop, as soon as I can. For now, here's to fewer lines and glowing skin!

Products were sent to me for the purposes of review.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Copyright 2009, Gouldylox Reviews. All rights reserved.

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