Win Cold Plasma From NVPerricone!

At BeautyXpose, we love Perricone MD products (Kristin has an unhealthy obsession with the brand’s No Foundation Foundation). Now, we’re excited to offer the chance for one lucky reader to win Dr. Perricone’s newest product — NVPerricone Cold Plasma, worth $150!

According to the brand, Cold Plasma “addresses the 10 most visible signs of aging: wrinkles, enlarged pores, dryness, discoloration, redness, uneven skin tone, impurities, loss of firmness, loss of smoothness and loss of radiance.” This anti-aging cream is power-packed with ingredients also found in the Perricone Neuropeptide Serum, so it’s sure to be a fan favorite.

• To enter, simply leave a comment here (NOT at the bottom of this post) telling us why you want and need NVPerricone Cold Plasma!

• On Sunday, March 7, at 8:00 p.m. ET, one winner will be chosen at random and notified via e-mail.

Legalese, Schmegalese:

To be eligible, registrants must be U.S. or Canada residents at least 18 years old. Eligibility is at the discretion of BeautyXposé. One winner will be chosen at random on Sunday, March 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Contest sponsored by Perricone MD. Dates, times, and other contest specifications are subject to change at any time. BeautyXposé reserves the right to cancel the contest for any reason at any time.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

MUFE Comes Up With an HD Blush

High Definition makeups are definitely in these days.  Imagine my surprise when I found out about MUFE's HD blush, a new addition to their photo-makeup line.

Photo Source

Sephora website sells these 0.33 oz cream blushes at $25 each and captions the product with:

VIEW ALL PRODUCTS BY MAKE UP FOR EVER  HD Microfinish Blush What it is:A cream blush that naturally sculpts and highlights the cheeks for a healthy glow.What it does:HD Microfinish Blush combines mattifying and reflecting powders to create a soft-focus effect for a  radiant complexion. Its ultra-fine, second-skin texture blends seamlessly, imparting a healthy  glow that's hard not to notice.What else you need to know:Formulated with evaporating oils, HD Microfinish Blush has a long-lasting result.  Dermatologist tested. Paraben free.

Swatches here, click to enlarge:

It rates a 5/5, with its being natural-looking on the cheeks as its strongest point, in the site's currently 4 reviews on it.  I'm eager to read more feedbacks!Sigh, don't you wish we had our own Sephora here?  If we did, it'll be a hell lot easier to compare this newbie with the famed NARS blushes!

moreless

Finding the Perfect Peach: Peach Blush Super Swatch-tacular

For months, I have been all over any blush that wasn't pink, purple or brown. I have a lot of pink in my skin, and while I am drawn to pink blush, it has been hinted at - by much more makeup-savvy people than I - that pink blush on my easily flushed skin is similar to a disaster.So my quest began. Then one evening, while strolling in Walgreens (yes, I stroll in Walgreens) Loxy said, "I know it has a NEW! sticker on it, but I think you have that color." Granted, I have a lot of makeup. Believe it or not, I think I had more a few years ago, way before I started writing about it. But if Loxy was telling me I already had a particular color and he understood that this color was a light peach, with a slight shimmer with cool undertones and no glitter in a cream base, it was starting to sink in that maybe I had gone to far.So here, for your perusal, are swatches of most of my peach blushes, in the hopes that you can find what may be your perfect peach blush. And maybe it will inspire you to try something new OR remind you to walk away from the makeup counter if you truly already have that color.I believe I have the peach cheek market covered. There is one more color I am dying to try, but it isn't available at my Sephora yet. I will be sure to let you know when I pick it up. In the meantime, I promise to walk away from the peach blush. Unless I don't have anything like it.Do you have these? Am I missing something amazing? What is your favorite? (Based on the swatches, mine might be both TEMPTU colors.)Out of all of those swatches, the only one that was given to me for the purposes of review was Tarte Eco-Cheek.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

Prove It! Stila Long Wearing Lip Stick

Stila has an adorable long wearing lip stick that comes in a really cute pencil-like applicator. This lippie gives color like a stick and sheen like a gloss. What's not to love? It even claims to be long wearing, thanks to patent-pending polymers. But can a color this light, with this much sheen really be long wearing? On a good day, I would give a similar color no more than thirty to sixty minutes. Can this color stay true for longer than one hour?

(Stila Long Wearing Lip Color in Darling)

I applied this color at 4:30pm. I worked with an editor, chatted on the phone, debated the importance of American Apparel clothing and checked in on Dog Lover199709 to see what she has been up to. I checked it at 5:30, right before I left work. Here is what was left.Not much. I suppose that means this color officially lasts for about an hour. My lips till looked slightly shiny and moisturized, but the color is all but gone. So I guess the success depends on how you define long wearing. This is a really light color. Perhaps a darker color would last longer? I do like how hydrating it is compared to other long wearing lip colors. I just can't say it impressed me with it's long wear.I suppose I am left with no choice but to say that this lip stick doesn't live up to it's long wearing claims. I do like it perfectly fine for a regular sheer lip color, but they had to put a claim in their name, which makes this a FAIL.Have you tried this lip stick? Did a darker color fair better? Tell me in the comments!I spent 20 minutes trying to find a parking spot to lay down my own cash to buy this product.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

I Can Only Be Expected, As A Woman, To Maintain Certain Things: Vajazzling

And I don't think this isn't one of them.Bryce Gruber of The Luxury Spot, www.theluxuryspot.com, decided to cover a C-section scar with what Completely Bare calls their newest must have service, Vajazzling. Call me lazy, but after maintaining my eyebrows, hair color, skin care routine, shaving/waxing, and daily makeup, I don't think I can work this into my lifestyle and maintain my paying day job and the other two jobs that go with it. But then again, maybe for a special occasion.Thoughts, please? Would you get your va-jay-jay vajazzled?Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

MAD Minerals Indelible Cream Shadows

On my quest to find a decent cream eyeshadow, everyone on Twitter kept suggesting the cream shadows from MAD Minerals. Always curious, I ordered two shades: Plumpkin and Man Hunt.Plumpkin is a really pretty dark-ish purple color that makes green and blue eyes POP.Man Hunt is a gorgeous gray with a bit of sparkle. Here are both colors swatched.They are both very long lasting and the best part is, they don't crease! The color stays true all day (I am counting a day as no less than 9 hours). Plus, they are bargain priced at $8.99 each. So far in my quest for the perfect cream shadow, this wears the best and is the least expensive. The pots are on the smaller side - the are big enough to get a finger tip into the jar, but a brush probably works better.Now I need to find the perfect cream shadow brush. Thoughts? Is there anything else better? If you have found it, please let me know!I bought these colors and I want more.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

More Fashion Week Hair I Adore: Wella's Ponys

Last week at the Cynthia Rowley show, Wella helped create some really fun looks that you can easily pull off for yourself. This funky version of a traditional pony is a fun, easy way to show off some serious personal style without looking like you are trying too hard (my biggest personal peeve).

Here is how to get the look. Start by sectioning off pieces of hair, adding texture by crimping, curling or straightening each section of hair. The goal is to have the sections look non-uniform, so get creative! Add in a brightly colored hair extension, making sure to add texture to the colored section of hair as well. If you are using a synthetic extension, be careful - it could melt, so watch that heat! Place the extension off center, but under a few layers of your own hair, so it will blend seamlessly. Pull your hair into a low pony and let the ends go where they may. Keep everything in place with System Professional Ultimation, a strong hairspray that also adds shine to your tresses. As soon as my hair is long enough to attach a faux pony, I will be sporting this look often. You?Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

Adventures in Beautyland: My Chemical Peel Experience - The Results!

It has now been a little over two weeks since I went for a Rejuvenize peel from La Papillon Spa. The Rejuvenize peel is a medical grade chemical peel from SkinMedica and is only performed in doctor's offices or by trained professionals at medi-spas. This type of chemical peel requires several days of downtime, where you won't want people who don't live in your house to see you. I got my peel right before the largest snow storm in Maryland history hit, but had I not been snowbound, I would have been homebound for three or four full days. This peel is normally prescribed in a series of three. My results show what happened to my skin after one peel.To recap, this peel doesn't hurt, but does tingle when it is applied. It also can feel like you have a sunburn from time to time. Essentially, you are putting a controlled chemical on your skin to remove several surface layers of skin, so you should expect a small amount of discomfort. However, it the amount of "uncomfortable-ness" isn't anything that would make me hesitant to do this again. You can read everything that happened during my peel here, or keep reading for the results.

(Me last August.)

Here is where I started, at the beginning of my quest for perfect skin, or at least, as perfect as my skin can be. I have obvious melasma on my forehead and cheeks. My skin has an overall darker yellow-ish tone to it in some areas. I had seen some improvement with topical creams and basic spa peels, but still had a lot of melasma to contend with, especially on my forehead, cheeks and chin.Under a Woods Lamp, which highlights sun damage, here is what I looked like pre-peel:I was able to go to work for the first twenty-four hours. I started peeling dramatically around hour thirty-six.

Seventy-two hours into the peel, my face looked like this (above.)While you are in the peeling process, you can't use any of your regular skin care. No eye creams, no serums, no moisturizers. Once I was cleared for returning to my usual routine (around day 8), I needed a little help. Without the use of my normal products, my skin needed a little boost to get back into the swing of things. To get my skin into its most glowing condition possible post-peel, I used SkinCeuticals Rextexturizing Serum. This product claims to surpass the results of using a 20% glycolic acid daily. It also helps boost hydration and helped my skin continue to look even more radiant and luminous post peel.When my skin seemed to be dehydrated in the week following the peel, Madeleine suggested I switch from my Kate Somerville Quench to something a little stronger. She suggested I use SkinCeuticals B-5 Gel, which is like a tall drink of water for your skin. Once I used the B-5 a few times, I noticed a distinct improvement in my skin's hydration levels.

On day eight, when I had a little bit of peeling left around the hairline, I also opted to use an accelerator product by Jan Marini. Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme are two products that work together to remove dead skin cells. These two products use proteolytic enzymes that have the ability to digest dead skin cells without harming sensitive or irritated tissues. Using Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme got rid of the last trace of skin that had been peeling. It almost worked like a gentle eraser to get rid of the skin that was sticking around beyond its welcome.And here is what I look like two weeks after having the Rejuvenize Peel:

Before & After

While the angles aren't quite perfect (it's hard taking photos of your own head in the dark with your eyes closed), you can see where my melasma has been slightly diminished. The area between my brows looks much more clear. My nasolabial folds, where I experienced quite a bit of peeling, looks much more clear and is probably the area where I am seeing the most results. The center of my forehead also looks much lighter and while not perfect, is well on its way!The biggest improvement, I think, is in the overall texture of my skin. My skin had a slightly rough texture that normal exfoliation wasn't fixing. Now, the texture of my skin is much more smooth and my skin looks luminous and healthier.So what does this look like without any makeup and with a light, sheer foundation in natural light?

(Me the night before the peel and two weeks after the peel. I am not wearing any makeup, except clear lip balm. Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

(Here is another shot of my skin in different lighting that really shows the improved texture of my skin.)

(Minimal foundation and concealer only under my eyes.)

Want a Rejuvenize peel for yourself? Visit the SkinMedica website to find licensed professionals. In Maryland? Call La Papillon at 410.252.1400 or visit them at www.lapapillonspa.com. This peel was provided for the purposes of review. Products were also partially furnished by Jan Marini and SkinCeuticals for the purposes of review.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

How to Plump Your Pout Without the Pain

By guest blogger, Anne Houseman, of Beauty Xpose.Dear Anne,

I love the look of plump lips, but I’m not about to run out and get collagen injections. I’ve tried a few lip plumpers, but I feel like they either don’t work or they sting so bad that I end up not using them more than once. Any suggestions?

-Courtney L.

Ah, Courtney, from the looks of it, you’re suffering from the age-old “stinging smackers syndrome,” which arrived en masse when Angelina Jolie came on the scene. True, injections do the trick, but for those of us who don’t want to pay someone to stab needles in our lips, topical lip plumpers are certainly another option. Of course, like you mentioned, we have a sneaky suspicion that the masterminds behind some pucker plumping potions are masochists at heart (just ask blogger Kelly Gould about her experience with the lip plumper she calls El Diablo.)

The bottom line is that without the help of a good doctor, your lips are not going to look exactly like Miss Jolie’s, but you’re probably better off anyway, since very few people can pull that off (and Octomom Nadya Suleman isn’t one of them). Nonetheless, all is not lost in your quest for a big mouth, so here are a few pucker-plumping pointers.

My lips before HydroPeptide and 10 minutes later

• Look for lemon. Pain-free plumpers like Huge Lips Skinny Hips feature lemon peel oil, which tends to counteract/neutralize the S factor (stinging). Rule of thumb: Products using the words “venom,” “injection” or “stings like a mo-fo” are probably best avoided if you’re terrified of tingling.

• Fork over the dough. Sure, the e.l.f. lip plumper is only a buck, but does it really make your lips any bigger? Not so much. In our ongoing search for plumpers that actually work, one really stands out above the rest — HydroPeptide Lip. Sure, it retails at $38, but the proof of a truly plump pout is staring you in the face, and it’s not that tingly either.

• Fake it. Who ever said fake is bad? You can create the illusion of fuller lips with lip liner, lipstick and a hint of gloss. Simply line your lips just outside of the natural line (keep it close, though, or you’ll look like Carol Channing), and fill in the rest of your lips. Apply a matching shade of lipstick for staying power and apply a dab of gloss in a lighter shade right in the middle of your pucker.

Good luck, and keep us updated on what you try out!

Photos: Cover – Stock Xchnge user loleia; Huge Lips Skinny Hips; BeautyXpose/HydroPeptideDisclaimer: HydroPeptide provided complimentary for purposes of review

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

Three Custom Color Creme Concealer / Foundation

Always searching for a foundation that provides creamy, perfect coverage; without looking as if I am wearing a a mask, I was so happy to come across Three Custom Color Creme Concealer/Foundation. This concealer and foundation in one product covers all of your needs. You can apply it directly for concealing or full coverage or mix with moisturizer or apply with a damp sponge for more sheer coverage. It gives me beautiful coverage, glowing skin and I can honestly say I have never gotten as many compliments on my skin as I do when I wear this foundation. I love that my freckles still lightly show through, but the annoying blemish flare-ups I was experiencing when this was taken (around my upper lip) are totally invisible.If you are getting married or having photos taken for a special occasion, this foundation is a must because of how it reads on camera. It's totally natural and not heavy, yet makes you look radiant and perfect. I really love this foundation - and it is perfectly priced at $22.50 per pot!I received a sample of this foundation from the company for the purposes of review.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless

Prove It! Maybelline Expert Wear Long Wearing Blush

When I see a drugstore product sitting on the shelves with a NEW! sticker on it, boasting that it offers fade free color for hours and hours, I assume that Maybelline execs are specifically challenging me to a duel. Their stuff, my face, no less than eight hours. It's on!My recent drugstore purchases have not gone well. And it is that very reason I can tell you who accepts returns and what the rules are at any major drugstore chain. Among things I recently returned? That miserable Revlon cream eyeshadow quad, two different Revlon lipsticks for being weirdly bright pale colors when they should be nude-ish and a Neutrogena SPF product that smelled like cat tinkle. There are others, but they have already faded from memory.

(Maybelline Expert Wear Blush in Sweet Cinnamon)

So when a blush, which likes to leap off of my cheeks on a good day, proclaims it is long-wearing and does not fade for hours, I'm game. Maybelline's semi-new Expert Wear Blush claims to be long wearing and fade free. Not to make it hard for Maybelline, but I picked the color Sweet Cinnamon, because it was pretty and NOT pink. I am sick of pink blushes and trying to avoid them. (Turns out I am doing a good job. More on that later.) Here is what the color looks like:So here is me, bright eyed and bushy tailed, wearing Sweet Cinnamon at 7am. It's delicate and pretty. No way this is going to make it 8 hours.Here is me eight hours later, looking as if I got up at 3am (which I did) and much worse for the wear. But to my shock and delight, there is still some blush there! Well done, Maybelline!I suppose this round goes to the drugstore brand. Maybelline Expert Wear actually wears for a very long time!I bought this with change from shovelling out someone's parents.Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement.Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2010,Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

moreless