Estee Lauder Holiday Collection

By Guest Blogger, Anne Houseman of Beauty Xpose

In the words of the queen of pop Madonna, “Holidaaaaaa-iiiiiieeee. Celebraaaa-eette.” Okay, so while it might not yet be Halloween, we can certainly look ahead and lust after all of the pretty holiday makeup palettes that already hit the shelves.

Take the Estée Lauder Holiday 2010 Collection, for example.

We all know I love me some Estée Lauder, and this new collection does not disappoint. This year, the brand unveils Pure Color Extravagant by Tom Pecheux, a collection featuring shimmering golds and deep winter reds fit for a luxurious holiday season.

In my humble opinion, the Pure Color Five Color EyeShadow Palette in Extravagant Gold ($42) is the highlight of the collection.

Featuring shimmering shades ranging from gold to pewter to a center matte chocolate brown, these Pure Color shadows could work for any occasion all year round. Simply layer on lightly for day, and amp it up for night with a more dramatic look with the center brown swept in the lid crease. Here’s a look using every color in the palette:

Gorgeous, no? The one thing to note here is that all of these shadows are definitely on the “warm” side, so if you tend to gravitate toward cooler tones, then this probably isn’t for you. But that just brings us to the new lip products, which work with almost all tones.

Take a look at this gorgeous Pure Color Lipstick in Extravagant Berry ($22):

The color lasted for about four hours (granted, I was being very careful not to drink anything), at which point just a quick re-application was needed to touch it back up. If a true red is more like it, you’re covered with Pure Color Lipstick in Extravagant Red.

My favorite part of these lipsticks (just like any Estée Lauder lipsticks) is the formula. Seriously, guys — this doesn’t feel like lipstick. At least not the way lipsticks typically feel. There’s no waxy, heavy feeling at all, and I often forget I’m wearing anything because it just has the perfect balance of moisture without feeling glossy or dry. Isn’t that what all lipsticks should do?

If you’re more of a gloss girl yourself, the new Estée Lauder holiday collection also features three limited edition shades of Pure Color Gloss ($20). Check out Extravagant Plum (my favorite):

If you just can’t make up your mind, try the Pure Color Five Color Lip Palette in Extravagant ($42), which is a compact with five gloss and lipstick shades in three textures (all in one spot!

To polish the collection off (yes, bad pun), pick up one of the limited edition shades of Pure Color Nail Lacquer ($18), available in Extravagant Pearl (shimmery opal) and Extravagant Night (glittery plum). I love that these aren’t the typical reds you see this time of year.

Just looking at photos of the Estée Lauder holiday collection makes me feel luxurious and opulent! Of course, with a collection this gorgeous (especially the eye shadows), I can’t keep it all to myself. Mom — if you’re reading this, I guess you already know what I’ll be buying you for Christmas!

Photos: Estée Lauder; Anne Houseman/BeautyXpose
Disclaimer: Select products furnished complimentary for review purposes

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

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Of Cheap Belts and Bags

When I bought my cheap Trunk Show braided-strap flats weeks ago, I forgot to mention that I snagged cheap accessories from the Landmark, Trinoma after a hearty meal from Cyma.

I bought a 99php (a little over a dollar) gray waist belt that matched a lot of my clothes!  Most of the pieces it went well with are dark-colored tops, skirts and dresses.  I never realized that it looked clean and nice on whites, too!

Gray waist belt, the Landmark Trinoma

striped spag top- Cotton On

linen skirt- forever21

coral shoulder bag- the Landmark Trinoma

the star: gray waist belt with silver buckle, 99php

The cute coral chain-strapped bag on the other hand was a bargain I got from the same store when I met up with the beautiful beauty guru, Pammy (you should check out her Nyx cream blush reviews and her ingenious discovery on lipstick dupes).  I got it for 500 bucks ($10).

The other belt I bought was the braided type .  It was priced 79php! Hah! All in all, I hauled only 678php for these fab closet staples (2 belts, 1 bag)!

waist belt + braided belt= lalalove

Don't you just love it when you get to score great stuff you know you'll find useful at such a low price?  Thank heavens for The Landmark for making most fashion quick fix affordable!

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Beautyland Tour, Week of 10/24

It may be only Halloween weekend, but the buzz is building for holiday beauty! Get yourself party-ready with beauty tips and product finds from this week's roundup. You're sure to find something that catches your eye for the special season ahead.

Charlestongirl from Best Things in Beauty showed us three all-new sumptuous shades of Tarte's iconic Cheek Stain, perfect for carrying in your makeup bag. It's now available at a 20% discount on Sephora.com with the Friends & Family sale code FF2010.

Still looking for last-minute Halloween makeup? Chelsea at BeautyXposé explained how Sephora's limited edition kits will leave you preening like a peacock (or other costume) in no time at all!

From the pretty new packaging to the sparkling holiday colors, Kari from Fab over Forty reviewed several makeup palettes this week, including the Pure Color Extravagant Collection created by Tom Pecheux for Estée Lauder.

Are you having Mad Men withdrawals like Gaia from The Non-Blonde? Missing the oh-so-popular vintage look? Read her take on the new book by Dyna Moe: Mad Men, The Illustrated World. It may leave you longing for more Mad Men.

Feeling blue? Sabrina from The Beauty Look Book reviewed the new nail polish by Lancome called Le Gris L'Wren (021). It's a steely blue that just might steal your heart.

Do you love the glitter, but hate the mess that some makeup creates? Kelly from Gouldylox Reviews found a glittery, holiday must-have with the LORAC All That Glitters set. Put some sparkle in your life!

One of the toughest makeup challenges can be to find the perfect concealer. Laurie from Product Girl may have found the one that works perfectly for her. She reviewed the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, and it might be what you're looking for too!

Debbi from DivaDebbi shared a secret with us: the makeup artists selected by most famous celebrities. See what the Kimara beauty team did to Debbi to make her look red-carpet ready.

Do you love beauty must-have lists? Marcia from the Beauty Info Zone Blog created a "Top Ten" list of her favorite go-to beauty products. Is there anything on her list that you already have in your beauty bag or think should be in your bag?

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

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IT'S HALLOWEEN...

...and as per usual, I have had an INSANE week. Between running to meetings, photo shoots, and everything else in between, I haven't even had the time to put together an amazing week of blogging. Well I've got three days of Halloween Q&A for you starting today with a friend's reqest for tips on recreating the Marie Antionette look from the movie starring Kiersten Dunst. Even if this isn't your ideal costume, think outside the box and how you can use these techniques for your look!

So this is what we are going for:

HAIR
So impossible to get this kind of volume with your real hair, right? WRONG! While its going to take some work, your hair can look like this too!  Start by setting your hair into a loose curl with an iron or a set of curlers (use heat-set in your hair is particularly straight).  Then, what you want to do is attach a hair piece close to your natural color to the back of your head using a pin curl (twist hair with fingers until it becomes very tight then cross-pin with two bobby pins).  For best results use one thats like a ponytail with a clip already attached and form a bun with it.  This is where it gets tricky and time consuming.

With a lot of strong hold hairspray (I like BEAD HEAD Hard Head), start pulling up the pieces and pinning them around this "bun" that you have created, being careful to hide the pins.  You may want to get some help for the back pieces.  All the while ensure that you are using LOTS, and I mean LOTS of hairspray.  Once you have the up-do together, its a walk in the park.  You are going to want to spray the entire thing with white hairspray, even if you have blonde hair.  The best is KRYOLAN Color Spray in D20(white).  Since you have used so much spray, your hair is going to be very stiff, and it will be easy to pin the flower to the side (the lighter it is, the better it will stay for the evening).

$16 - Bed Head at Drugstores Nationwide

$8 - Kryolan at Alcone Company www.alconeco.com


MAKEUP
Your first instinct when shopping for makeup is to go straight for the clown white, and its actually best to NOT do this.  What you want to do is first start with a non-silicone primer.  (I suggest non silicone this time as you really want full coverage for this look, and silicone creates too thin of a layer)  Try the SMASHBOX Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light (it's water-based).  Then, using a makeup sponge, apply your foundation (MAKE UP FOR EVER Pan Stick Foundation in Ivory works great) in a patting motion, tapping the color onto your skin.  do not rub, as the coat may be too light.  Finish with a translucent powder.  No eye makeup is required here, but you are going to want to rosy cheek tint.  Using a large blush brush starting on the apples of the cheeks, sweep color back and away from the face to create that perfect blend.  Try BOBBI BROWN Blush in Apricot.  Last, focus on the lips first with a nude pencil to prevent bleeding, then using a lip brush, apply the lipstick carefully over the lips without extending past the edges.  MAKE UP FOR EVER's Rouge Artist Intense in #42 will give you that perfect shade with a hint of orange!

$36 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

$30 - Make Up For Ever www.makeupforeverus.com

$22 - Bobbi Brown at Fine Department Stores Nationwide

$19 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

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IT'S HALLOWEEN...

...and as per usual, I have had an INSANE week. Between running to meetings, photo shoots, and everything else in between, I haven't even had the time to put together an amazing week of blogging. Well I've got three days of Halloween Q&A for you starting today with a friend's reqest for tips on recreating the Marie Antionette look from the movie starring Kiersten Dunst. Even if this isn't your ideal costume, think outside the box and how you can use these techniques for your look!

So this is what we are going for:

HAIR
So impossible to get this kind of volume with your real hair, right? WRONG! While its going to take some work, your hair can look like this too!  Start by setting your hair into a loose curl with an iron or a set of curlers (use heat-set in your hair is particularly straight).  Then, what you want to do is attach a hair piece close to your natural color to the back of your head using a pin curl (twist hair with fingers until it becomes very tight then cross-pin with two bobby pins).  For best results use one thats like a ponytail with a clip already attached and form a bun with it.  This is where it gets tricky and time consuming.

With a lot of strong hold hairspray (I like BEAD HEAD Hard Head), start pulling up the pieces and pinning them around this "bun" that you have created, being careful to hide the pins.  You may want to get some help for the back pieces.  All the while ensure that you are using LOTS, and I mean LOTS of hairspray.  Once you have the up-do together, its a walk in the park.  You are going to want to spray the entire thing with white hairspray, even if you have blonde hair.  The best is KRYOLAN Color Spray in D20(white).  Since you have used so much spray, your hair is going to be very stiff, and it will be easy to pin the flower to the side (the lighter it is, the better it will stay for the evening).

$16 - Bed Head at Drugstores Nationwide

$8 - Kryolan at Alcone Company www.alconeco.com


MAKEUP
Your first instinct when shopping for makeup is to go straight for the clown white, and its actually best to NOT do this.  What you want to do is first start with a non-silicone primer.  (I suggest non silicone this time as you really want full coverage for this look, and silicone creates too thin of a layer)  Try the SMASHBOX Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light (it's water-based).  Then, using a makeup sponge, apply your foundation (MAKE UP FOR EVER Pan Stick Foundation in Ivory works great) in a patting motion, tapping the color onto your skin.  do not rub, as the coat may be too light.  Finish with a translucent powder.  No eye makeup is required here, but you are going to want to rosy cheek tint.  Using a large blush brush starting on the apples of the cheeks, sweep color back and away from the face to create that perfect blend.  Try BOBBI BROWN Blush in Apricot.  Last, focus on the lips first with a nude pencil to prevent bleeding, then using a lip brush, apply the lipstick carefully over the lips without extending past the edges.  MAKE UP FOR EVER's Rouge Artist Intense in #42 will give you that perfect shade with a hint of orange!

$36 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

$30 - Make Up For Ever www.makeupforeverus.com

$22 - Bobbi Brown at Fine Department Stores Nationwide

$19 - Sephora Stores www.sephora.com

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YBF - Your Best Face Skincare

I had been hearing all about YBF from a blogger pal of mine, who swore up and down they were the best skincare she had used. So obviously I jumped at the chance to test drive a few of their products for myself. Just so we are all on the same page, I'm talking about YBF Skincare, which stands for Your Best Face. (A few of you asked me about their makeup, which is a different line that is sold on HSN. That YBF stands for Your Best Friend.)

YBF was started by two friends who just wanted to make honest, awesome skincare that delivered on its promises. Their products are fresh, use airless pumps and require very little preservatives in the formulas. They don't use added fragrances, just active ingredients. One of the main active ingredients in their formulas is spin trap. Spin Trap is a type of antioxidant that doesn't just kill free radicals, it restores balance to unbalanced molecules and protects your cells better than other free radical fighters.


I tried four products. I've already told you all about my love affair with Prep, an amazing home micro-derm system that has my friends (whom I had given samples to) begging for more. A little goes along way and this will polish your skin in a way you didn't think possible.


The first product I'll tell you about is Restore, which brightens skin and helps promote healing. This is great for helping to correct sun damage. It contains alpha arbutin and stable, high-end vitamin C, that synergize with one another to even skin tone, reduce appearance of "age spots" and slow the tanning response after UV exposure. This is a lightweight serum that I applied after using my cleanser. It left my face looking radiant and definitely brightened my complexion. I still have some of the same spots I've been battling, but overall, my skin tone has evened out and is really, really radiant.


I also used Boost, which quite honestly, knocked my socks off. My skin looks uber-radiant. I've met with a few skin care pros while using these products and they are surprised to learn I am 37. I'll happily take that compliment!

According to the website: Antioxidants, vitamins and botanicals along with caffeine help tighten, tone, refresh and protect the face. Boost immediately soothes, reduces redness and balances skin. As it dries, the face becomes more toned and stays supple to the touch. Boost also allows your skin to breathe and draws moisture from the air throughout the day, helping skin stay hydrated and toned while discouraging blemishes and excessive oiliness. In addition to niacin and B5 which encourage healthier-looking skin, boost uses a water soluble, natural wax to seal in moisture but yet easily washes off so it doesn't clog pores.


Finally, I have been using Quench, their signature lip balm treatment, nightly. At first blush, this lip balm doesn't feel much different from other balms I have tried. It doesn't feel particularly hydrating on contact and doesn't add any extra shine to lips. Where it does pay off is when you wear it overnight. As your body rests, this lip balm sinks in and restores your lips to a hydrated, plump state. I normally have very dry lips this season, but haven't experienced them yet since I have been using this. According to the website, Quench keep your lips naturally full, bright and youthful-looking with collagen boosting, skin brightening vitamin C (the most beneficial and gentlest form of vitamin C we've found). Peppermint and clementine oils wake up your lips and add an invigorating tingle.

I think the best proof of how well these products worked is to take a look at my almost naked skin in the early September and now. Obviously, in the first picture (originally taken to show my bangs and under eye concealer), I am wearing lip gloss and a touch of under eye concealer. Otherwise, I am nude-faced.

(Before using YBF)


(Me in the morning, when I first got up.)

(Me at the end of the day. My skin looks different in the am than it does in the pm, so to be totally honest, I'm showing you both.)

The biggest difference I personally see is on my nose and the area where my under eye area meets my cheeks. Not only do I usually have sun spots, I have patches of skin that is more yellow that the rest of my face. This makes my overall skin tone look dingy. In the after pictures, I am not seeing as much of that as I had before I started using the products.

Have you tried YBF? I still have a product or two of theirs to tell you about, so stay tuned!

Product was sent for the purposes of review. YBF does not test on animals.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

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Do or Dye: Cheap Hair Color by Revlon Colorsilk

UPDATE: My colorist divulged that she used Revlon Colorsilk #54 on my virgin, black hair on the first coloring session. Succeeding colors, I was alreading using Revlon Colorsilk #50, Light Ash Brown
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It was hair color that turned my life around at one point.  It may seem shallow but it actually did.  Revlon Colorsilk was a big part in boosting my self-esteem (me ranting in this post is an isolated case).

I dreaded having my hair colored but I was persuaded by Revlon Galleria's colorist to give it a shot.  And I think it was one of the few risks I made that I really felt happy about!

Hair Evolution

I had virgin hair for 26 years.  No treatments, just plain hair cut.  I was never vampy or chic.  I was almost always hesitant to venture into new things (like fashion, makeup and attending events) because of the lack of confidence.

Here's a shot of my black hair (and my nene look!).  My life revolved around my dog.

And so when I decided to have my hair colored, it was a real milestone for me.

How much does hair color treatment range these days?  You'll be shelling out more than a thousand pesos ($20) in salons if you want a satisfactory service, over two thousand if you want something superb.

Revlon Colorsilk in 50, 395php ($8)

I spent 350 pesos ($7) for mine.  It isn't celebrity-ish, but it just enhanced the way I looked and turned out to be more than what I expected.

Here's after having Revlon Colorsilk in Light Ash Brown on my locks.

Revlon Colorsilk in Light Ash Brown (50) without flash

with flash

Revlon colorsilk can look a bit toned down over natural lighting

Color has worn off.  Tie your hair in a pony or a bun to hide the hairline that shows irregularity in color.

I've been having my hair colored (on an irregular basis) since then and fortunately, I'm always happy everytime I walk out of the salon.  To sum up my experience:

What I love:
- cheap but the color looks sosyal (classy) on the hair
- free hair coloring on promo days (or months!)
- great color pay-off, Coloesilk has a wiiiiiiide range of colors you can choose from
- the colorist was expert enough to pick the perfect shade for me; she evenly applied the color, too
- light ash brown accentuated the shine on my hair


More info

Revlon Colorsilk is a permanent hair color.  It doesn't wash away, it just grows out

Have the color applied at least 24 hours post-shampoo/conditioner.  Natural oils are stripped from the scalp when using these products and you need at least a day to renew these oils. These oils will protect the scalp from any damage that the chemicals might cause

Post-coloring, it leaves the hair with a nasty smell that can last days

Colored hair needs special care.  I use L'oreal Elseve's hair rinse (for colored hair)daily  and their Re-nutrition hair masque (with royal jelly) once a week

This hair color has high ratings at MUA (4.0/5.0 by 438 reviewers)

 Normally, Revlon Colorsilk hair color is priced 395php ($8), if you're lucky, like me, you can get the product at 10-20%off and have it applied on your locks, free!  Otherwise, you can buy the color and have your hairdresser work with it

Check your brows.  You wouldn't want to look weird. I lightened mine using Sally Hansen's bleaching kit.

LOL at the brows!

Color me brown! Brown hair and brows look better together

If you're still thinking in disbelief how Revlon Colorsilk can turn my life 360, then you must be a guy.  I've done things I never dared to before, improved my public speaking, actively participated in events, and I've done a long list of things I'd normally become reluctant about because I felt ugly.  Yes, things have changed because of a hair color!

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LORAC All That Glitters (Doesn't Have To Fall On Your Cheeks)

It's holiday time and the goods are hitting shelves. Sparkle is everywhere, but all that glitters is not equal. I love holiday sparkles - the lights, the champagne bubbles, the dewy, glistening eye lids of fashionistas everywhere. But what kills a look faster than Courtney Love showing you how to apply it? Accidental face glitter. A dewy cheek is lovely. A dusting of highlighter above the brows? Beautiful. Glitter freckles? Not so much.

While gentle application of scotch tape on the glitter freckles will fix your face, why should you have to do that? The solution is easy.


Pick up All That Glitters from LORAC at Ulta. The colors work as a liner or shadow (just dust a little translucent powder over them to set them) and the glitter doesn't fall. For $19 you get 5 chunky pencils that leave you ready for the holidays without the worry of messy glitter freckles.

From the top: Paparazzi Pencil, Midnight Sparkle, Gunmetal Glitz, Sapphire Shimmer and Cobalt Sky.

I'm including both photos so you can see how the colors look in two different types of light. Hands down, my favorite is Cobalt Sky.

How do you handle glitter fallout? Just avoid it? Super primer? Tell me!

LORAC doesn't test on animals. I swatched this in-store.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

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Clinique Moisturizing Gel Review

It's a love-hate relationship with one of Clinique's famous products --- the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. I've been using it for more than a year now and this is what I have to say:

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, 2400php ($24 @ Clinique website)

What I love about it:

- easily absorbed by the skin, no sticky feeling!

- made my face more radiant and supple the next day

- allows makeup to glide smoothly on the skin

- the scent is not too strong

- i can mix it with my mineral powders to create a mineral creamy base

- good value for money since 1x pump can cover the entire face

- works like a primer (like Skinhour mattifying moisturizer) on cooler days

Uh-ohs:

- no SPF

- after 9 months, I started breaking out because of this; and so

the Antidote:

- use it every other night

- avoid using it under makeup if it's gonna be real humid 

I'm still using the dramatically different moisturizing gel right now.  When I broke out after the 9-month love affair, I totally stopped slathering it on for 2 weeks.  My skin got better but I noticed the significant dullness.  My skin also started to get a bit coarse.  That's when I resumed using it every other night (and I no longer moisturize in the morning) which brought back the radiance that I missed.

This would last me another 6 months with this kind of frequency of use.  I really don't know if it was a good thing I broke out (I get to prolong my supply and save some moolah!).  Nevertheless, I'm still sticking by Clinique because my combination-to-oily skin just can't get enough of the brightening effects of this moisturizing gel!

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My skincare regimen includes: pond's cold cream, kojic soap from Doc Six Foronda (my derma), clinique toner 3, retinoic acid 0.1% from derma and spot treatment using acne solution from my derma

Moisturizers are given 2-3 years before they expire.

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Peter Lamas Chinese Herbs Hair Serum

I haven't updated you on my hair growth in a bit- the end of July was probably the last update. Since then I have been trying a lot of different things to aid my newly longer locks. I have been dealing with frizz and humidity - things that normally don't happen when you have a pixie.

Since I have been *forced* to try other shampoos, I haven't been using my Peter Lamas shampoo and conditioner regularly. However, I have been using the Chinese Herbs Regenerating Scalp Serum every other night (on the nights before I wash my hair in the AM).

According to their website, This botanically-rich, advanced therapeutic treatment incorporates a proprietary blend of centuries-old traditional Chinese herbs. These herbs have proven effectiveness; stimulating and re-invigorating weakened hair and scalp to promote healthy hair growth while helping prevent further hair loss. In addition, this product utilizes the latest botanical-technology incorporating Swertia Extract and Apple Stem Cells. These potent ingredients are scientifically proven to promote healthier hair growth. The Chinese Herbs Regenerating Scalp Serum protects the scalp from toxins and DHT build-up while providing the desired visible result of thicker, fuller hair.

While my hair isn't growing as fast as it was when I was using the whole system, it is still growing much faster than normal. Here was my hair when I last did a length check - in July.

Three months later, after using the serum every other night, my hair is dramatically longer. I have also had a haircut where I lost quite a bit of volume, so the shape is more flattering.
The serum itself smells a little minty, is very fresh and is the consistency of water. I apply it all over my scalp and go to bed. It dries very quickly, doesn't make a mess couldn't be easier to use. It is also vegan and cruelty-free.

Without further adieu, here is me now.


I can almost get it in a pony tail! Sweet! I've come a long way since I started growing my hair in January!

(Me in January!)

This was sent for the purposes of review. Peter Lamas does not test on animals.

Subscribe and never miss a thing! Disclosure/Disclaimer Statement. Makeup, beauty, skincare reviews & more! Copyright 2009-2010, Gouldylox Reviews. All Rights Reserved.

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