For the Love of Linen

This week has been crazy! Even though we had the day off on Monday, I spent plenty of time on a couple of work projects in preparation for the rest of the week. Fortunately, I was able to get some relaxation in as well.

As I've written about before, I am in love with bubble baths. A good bubble bath relaxes me and puts me in a great mood for the rest of the evening. I do have to say, though, I have definitely been re-thinking my stance on bath towels. It used to be that I'd reach for any one of the thick towels in my linen closet but I've become less enamored with them (too heavy, sometimes don't air dry well, etc). Well, at Christmas, my husband purchased two sets of linen towels for me and now I am hooked!

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"Why linen?" you ask? Here's the deal: linen is absorbent, dries quickly, feels luxurious and doesn't take up a ton of space on the closet shelf. It's also not heavy, which I really like. Hubby giifted me with the goodlinens Diamond Weave towels that he found on the website The Grommet (you MUST check it out!). I absolutely LOVE these towels and now they are all I use. I'm never caught with a damp towel because these dry so fast. And you know how those thick towels can sometimes smell not so good (like musty smells never leave them no matter how much you wash and dry them)? Yeah...that doesn't happen with my goodlinen towels. So check them out!

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Besides the natural color of the Diamond Weave, they also have a couple of other patterns which I will be sure to try out (and you should too). One of the other things I love about this towel is that it's made by a small business and I love supporting artisans. 

Love these towels! goodlinens, you have a new fan for life!!!

Ages of Beauty rating:: *****

Urban Decay Ink for Eyes in Perversion

Have I told you lately how much I love Urban Decay’s Ink for Eyes? No? Then let me tell you now! I first bought this liquid liner when it first came out earlier in 2014. But then things went to hell in a hand basket and I stopped blogging for awhile (and I had planned on telling you then about my new favorite black eyeliner). Suffice it to say that Ink for Eyes was a staple for me all thru 2014 until I mistakenly left the top off of it after months of use and it dried out during a business trip (sad face). BUT I LOVE IT! Let me show you why…

See that tip? Yeah, I know…you really have to look hard because it’s so tiny and fine. That’s one of the many things I love about this liner. Precision is key when drawing a fine line whether it’s on paper or on your eyelids and this liner is as good as it gets. I can achieve the finest, blackest line ever on my eye lids or go thick, rich and dark for a more dramatic look. And flicks and cat eyes are NO problem! If you’ve never been able to get a good flick or cat eye, then this one is for you!

See how perfect? The color is also a to-die-for rich, deep black. Perversion is glossy and the blackest black. What’s not to love?

Yes, that is the thinnest black line you have probably ever seen (OK, maybe not). This stuff also holds tight, doesn’t smudge and lasts all day and into the evening. Awesome stuff!!

You can purchase UD’s Ink for Eyes at Sephora for $20 (click here). I know you’ll love it as much as I do!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Sometimes All You Need Is A Little Skin Conceal!

After a very intense work week last week, which included a flight out to the West coast, all day meetings (with a lot of people) in a too small conference room and then the pollution, traffic and stress that go along with all of that, my body and skin needed a break! Well, fortunately for me, I just had an hour and a half massage with my favorite massage therapist, Mike. That took care of the knots all over my body. Last week, though, my skin reacted differently to all the stress---in the form of a large blemish! It had been literally YEARS since my face had seen such an eruption! Having just re-packed my traveling makeup bag, I (fortunately) discovered that I had packed Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics’ Skin Conceal. Honestly, most of my love had been given to my up-to-the-moment favorite, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye, so I was anxious to give Skin Conceal a real workout!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Skin Conceal in R1 (light, red-based skintone)

Available for $20 in twelve colors at Sephora and at OCC’s Website, Skin Conceal will take your complexion to places it has never been! I found that not only did it cover the minor discolorations that come from normal aging, but it also concealed the major spot that my newly-teenaged self seemed to grow over night. And it did so ALL DAY!!!

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Skin Conceal in R1 (light, red-based skintone)

See below for before and after pics:

Before: No makeup, no concealer (wet hair!)

Midstream: After a light layer of Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream in Light

After: CC Cream plus OCC’s Skin Conceal in R1. Wooohooo!!!

Before, Midstream and After OCC Skin Conceal

Before and After: OCC Skin Conceal

OCC’s Skin Conceal has now found a permanent place in my makeup bag---it’s that good!!! Check it out at Sephora or OCC and find a shade that’s right for you.

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

I’ve been traveling a lot this summer and today, my husband and I are actually on the way to the Bay Area for work (me) and relaxation (him).  My habit has been to not really fully unpack (except for dirty clothes) so I’ve kept my makeup bag pretty steady all summer. One new staple has been the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette. It’s size and the flexibility of the shades has made this one a winner for me. Read on to find out more!

The palette consists of nine neutral shades, ranging from very light to very dark and matte to satin. Each shade is VERY pigmented and goes on as smooth as a dream! I’ve also found that the color last more than twelve hours on my oily lids (I almost always wear a primer but even without a primer, these shades last and last!). The color selections are split into three categories: Day, Classic and Fashion. Day shades tend to be matte while the Classic and Fashion shades have a little bit of shimmer (not too much, which I really like). Lately, I’ve been mixing the Day and Classic shades to create my own look. In the pictures below, I’m wearing Silk Teddy on the inner half of my lid, Push Up on the outer half, Erotica on the outer crease and Heaven under the brow. From a texture perspective, each shade is silky and easily blendable.

Natural Eyes is an excellent palette and a great choice for someone looking for a compact palette full of long lasting, neutral shadows. You can find it for $36 at Sephora and where Too Faced Cosmetics are sold. This one is definitely worth the cost!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Don’t Bug Me!!! (Or, How to Make Your Own Mosquito Repellant--That Really Works!)

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I’m one of those people who can literally sit on a patio with a citronella candle between my ankles and STILL get eaten up by mosquitoes! No matter what I have tried---candles, those fancy “bug lanterns,” the petroleum-based oil torches or just covering up in layers, those little jerks always find me. Then, in about two days, I’m covered in ugly, itchy red welts. This summer, I decided that it was high time that I faced, and beat, my nemesis so I began looking for a solution that really works.

Since I have successfully made lotions, soap, shampoo, conditioner and a number of facial products, I decided to check out my trusted sources in the hopes that there would be information on mosquito repellent. It wasn't too long before I stumbled across this post on the SoapQueen.com website. In it, Anne Marie explains how she came up with two recipes for natural bug repellent using essential oils. I already had some essential oils in my soaping stash but not the catnip essential oil, which is used in the “stronger” recipe so I ordered it from Brambleberry.com. Now, this essential oil isn't cheap, but you only need a little bit. I was desperate for a solution so I gladly parted with $10 for .8 ounce. Anne Marie makes it really easy if you don’t have the ingredients. One click of your mouse puts all the needed items in your cart for quick check out online and in a matter of just days, the ingredients for your very own natural bug spray arrive at your door!

I admit that I did tweak the recipe a little bit as I did not have enough citronella essential oil (I just used more catnip). This recipe made enough for me to halfway (or so) fill two 6 ounce spray bottles, one of which I gave to my stepson and his girlfriend to take to the beach (a place notorious for vicious mosquitoes). This recipe is enough to take most people through the summer but not so expensive that you can’t easily (and inexpensively) make another batch.

The big question though---does it work? You bet your bug bitten butt it does! Tested in both the buggy Outer Banks of North Carolina and the humid, bug-ridden forests of Virginia, this recipe gets a big 5 stars!!! So for those of you who want a more natural, less chemical-ly bug repellent alternative, get yourselves over to SoapQueen and check out the tutorials. You can thank me later!!!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Keaton Row: Your Personal Shopper and New Best Friend!

 A couple of months ago, while reading one of my favorite message boards, I learned about Keaton Row, a new personal shopper/stylist service available on the web. Since I both hate shopping and appear to have a faulty accesorizing gene, I decided to give it a try!

Once I created a profile, I was immediately able to browse the profiles of stylists that have been working with Keaton Row's customers. The profiles are really helpful because they allow you to understand a little bit about the personality about each stylist. Honestly, I can't remember if I chose my stylist or if the Keaton Row system chose for me (both are options available at any time), but my assigned stylist, Leah Price, contacted me within a day and we started the process of figuring out my needs.

I told Leah that I was mostly interested in putting together some "casual chic" looks that included jewelery, shoes, handbags and other accessories. Since my profile included not only the types of styles I liked but also my sizes, favorite colors and problem areas, Leah was able to come up with quite a few possible looks. This whole process can be done via email or over the phone (I chose email) but once the stylist has finished putting pieces together, the looks are available on the Keaton Row dashboard.

Leah really got my style right from the beginning! She was so easy to work with and the options she gave me were outstanding! I also asked Leah to take me out of my comfort zone somewhat and, for me, that showed up in earrings that I would have never picked on my own. When wearing Leah's outfits, I truly feel well styled and put together!

The key to working with Keaton Row is understanding that the items chosen by the stylist have a shelf life---sometimess if you don't act quickly, the items will not be available in the participating store. You can be sure, though, that you will receive the best price offered by the retailer even though the Keaton Row site may not yet be updated with the promotions that the retailer may be running. I definitely found this to be true with my purchases, as sometimes the Keaton Row site showed one price but when I purchased the item, I actually received the store's sale price.

Another things I really like about the looks is that you may already have something suitable in your wardrobe that can be substituted instead, giving you a new way to wear one of your own pieces! I did this with a pair of shoes, a handbag (I substututed a Rebecca Minkoff bag I already had in my collection) and some jewelery. Of course, I did end up spending quite a bit that time around but it was all worth it! Leah hit a complete home run with my looks and every single item I received fit beautifully!

I give Keaton Row and Leah Price five stars so you should check them out at https://www.keatonrow.com/

Skin Actives Pumpkin Enzyme Peel

Happy Monday!!! Hope you had a great weekend and are refreshed and ready to go for the week. Techincally, this is the beginning of the first week of summer but here in Virginia, it has felt like summer for quite awhile!!!

With the warmer weather often comes skin problems. Gone are the blustery days of winter when my skin is often dry and chapped. These days, I'm fighting the perpetial glow of humidity and sometimes my facial pores get clogged and bumpy. That's usually when I increase the amount of exfoliation power I'm using. For toners, I go from my DIY White WIllow Bark concoction to a full on salicylic acid potion. As I still use my Retin A every other evening, I often feel the need to use a "day time" exfoliant and Skin Active's Pumpkin Enzyme Peel fits the bill! 

This clear, colorless liquid provides the gentle exfoliation that we all need. Containing 100% Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Enzyme, usage is anywhere from a couple times per week to every day (depending on whether you have dry, normal, oily or acneic skin), I normally use it once or twice per week, in addition to my normal routine, but for those months when I experience hormonal breakouts, every day does the trick for me. I've tried so many different exfoliants including really strong acid peels and it's so nice to use a product that is effective yet so gentle on the skin---there's no worry about burning or painfully "roughing up" your face by accident. Skin Actives Pumpkin Enzyme Peel is like that friend who is always there for you---you may not realize how much it does for you when you're using it but you sure do notice when it's not around!!!

Just like all of the Skin Actives product line, Pumkin Enzyme Peel is so well priced at $9.50 for one ounce. A little goes a long way so you will get much more benefit than you can imagine for the price! Click here to purchase at the Skin Actives website.

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Great Memories Brought to You by Bobbi Brown’s “Beach”

When I was a little girl, my family spent three weeks every summer at Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina. As did many of my parents’ friends, we rented a cottage on the inner sound area (my Mom called it the “lagoon”) and spent hours running around with other kids, swimming, boating and just generally reveling in the joy and freedom that went along with the season. Those memories are precious and fill me with a sense of nostalgia---the sites, sounds, tastes and smells of the beach. My brothers and I still reminisce about those days and it really makes me happy.

Now that I’m older and have my own “place at the beach,” life isn’t quite as simple as it was then (when I was eight years old!) and I can’t get to the beach as often as I like. I am, however, quickly taken back to those days every time I spray Bobbi Brown’s Beach eau de parfum. I LOVE this fragrance and it immediately reminds me of suntan lotion, salty waves and sunny days on the sand.

Unlike a lot of beachy-type fragrances, Beach isn’t a cloying, sickly sweet combination of coconut and pineapple. This beach scent is clean, dry, salty and almost earthy. It IS the beach! The fragrance is described as a mixture of sand, jasmine, sea spray and mandarin. Despite its floral notes, I think it actually works as a unisex scent. Reminiscent of Coppertone Suntan Lotion (which is, without a doubt, the main reason this perfume tends to bring back those nostalgic memories), it’s soft and clean rather than chemical and harsh. For me, this scent lasts throughout the day and is a staple for me throughout the spring and summer.

This lovely scent is available in perfume, body oil, lotion, a scrub and also shower gel. You can find the perfume for about $70, wherever Bobbi Brown products are sold.

I love this scent so much that I’m sourcing a scented fragrance oil to put in hand made soap! Will definitely let you know how that turn out!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush: Mood Exposure

When Hourglass released their Ambient Lighting Blushes, I, like a lot of other people, rushed Sephora’s website and purchased as many as I could (five, to be exact). A few weeks later, I added Ethereal Glow, which was sold out originally. I had intended to review the entire collection at that time but life “happened” and I had to rush back to Florida to take care of things with my parents. The good news is that I have been happily using these blushes since then and I’m ready to review!!!

Mood Exposure

I have to admit…when I saw Mood Exposure in the pan, I thought, “Ewwww!” It appears to be  “brownish” and blah. “Yeah, I guess it could work on some skin tones,” I thought, “but no way will it work for me.” This, my friends, is another one of those “Don’t judge a book by its cover” moments!

Mood Exposure (heavy swatch)

When swatched, Mood Exposure turns into a soft, glowing rosie plum. Never could I imagine that the ugly duckling in the pan could possibly turn into a beautiful swan! You can’t tell from the picture above, but Mood Exposure has almost an ethereal quality as it seems to have its own inner glow. Once I applied it to my cheeks, however, it became off the charts gorgeous!

Mood Exposure

I find Mood Exposure to be one of those blushes that completely transforms my face and my mood. Believe me, this one was a surprise, my friends, and every time I wear Mood Exposure, I get compliments! My face glows (in a good way) and this blush helps me exude health and happiness. It wears really well and looks fresh even after a long day. About the only difficulty I have with the Ambient Lighting Blushes is their price ($35 each) but, clearly, I purchased them anyway. If you’re going to splurge on a blush, this line is the way to go!

Mood Exposure is a winner for me! Check it out (along with Hourglass’s other Ambient Lighting Blushes) at Sephora.

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Brush Cleaning Made Easy With Benjabelle

I know, it’s a chore but it’s a chore that we all must do. Yes, I’m talking about cleaning makeup brushes. Ideally, we should clean them once a week at the very least but…you know…sometimes it’s a job that fills the bravest of us with dread. Clutter! Mess! Smudges on Counters! Water all over the place!!! With as many makeup brushes as some of us have, it’s a pain having your brushes positioned around the sink so that 1. they drip into the sink and 2. they don’t fall into the sink (which mine always do). Fortunately, I found the answer to this (First World) problem---Benjabelle Brush Trees!

The geniuses at Benjabelle designed a beautiful solution to all of our makeup brush woes. Available in four “flavors,” these brush trees allow brushes to drain the water out thru the “hair” part of the brush, making i t impossible for water to get into the ferrule (the metal part of the brush). This is important because if water gets into the ferrule, the brush can literally fall apart. Makeup brushes are expensive, y’all, and I personally don’t want mine ruined by water.

I purchased two of these (the Original and the Mini) and this product makes me dread this weekly chore a whole lot less! Even better, Benjabelle Brush Trees are compact, they break down to store easily and they are Made in the USA!

The Mini

Priced from $19.95 to $39.95, BenjaBelle Brush Trees can hold any size brush, from the smallest eye liner to the largest face brush, keeping your investment in your makeup brushes intact.

Check these out at the Benjabelle website. You NEED this product! Click the link now (and this is not a sponsored post)!!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

The Garnet Rose Soap Company

Would you believe that I only recently purchased my first bar of handmade soap? One would think that since I am so interested in beauty products, bath products, etc, that I would have sampled a bit by now. Fortunately for me (and now for you), I discovered The Garnet Rose Soap Company on Etsy! I purchased four bars of the most beautiful and fragrant soap and wanted to share my newly found obsession with you!

The Garnet Rose Soap Company’s products are made the old fashioned way---with oils, lye, essential oils, etc. The proprietor of Garnet Rose, Ms. V, uses natural products from her surrounding area (the Blue ridge Mountains of North Carolina) to produce a beautiful line of soaps that you won’t want to miss! Although there are many “flavors” of soap available at the Etsy store and on Garnet Rose’s website (click here), those that caught my eye include Lavender, Lemon & Dark Patchouli and Bergamot Citrus.

The Lemon & Dark Patchouli is the first bar I have tried and OMG, is it breathtaking! A mixture of goats milk, olive and coconut oils, she and cocoa butters as well as lemon and patchouli essential oils, this soap provides a luxurious, silky lather and a heady, mysterious fragrance. It also contains a small amount of steel cut oats for exfoliation and I think this bar is to die for! I also love the top of the bar, which is decorated with botanicals and mica---it feels like a luxury spa experience! Fortunately for me, I have two of these so will look forward to using this scent for a long time!

Wow!!! Look at that huge bar of soap!!!

The Lavender soap bar is also lovely. Containing Bulgarian Lavender essential oil, olive and coconut oils, shea and cocoa butters, natural botanicals steel cut oats for exfoliation. The scent is a herby lavender scent that is out of this world. If you love lavender, you’ll love this soap!

Last but not least, is the Bergamot Citrus. This mellow scent is fresh and slightly tangy and much more sedate than I originally thought. It is so lovely and sweet smelling. Bergamot is not a scent that I am usually drawn to but it really works combined with the citrus. This one is definitely a win and a combination I will continue to look for.

Garnet Rose’s soap ranges in price from $6-$7 per bar and is available in the Etsy store as well as their website. There are currently twenty-two varieties of soap on their website so check it out! You won’t be sorry!!!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Garnier Smoothing Cream Cleanser

Every so often, I find a product that really surprises me in a good way. The latest is Garnier’s Smoothing Cream Cleanser. This product has been my go-to facial cleanser all winter and I love it! I usually find that drugstore cleansers are too harsh, even the ones that are supposedly for dry or sensitive skins. The key to this one is the ingredients:

Aqua/Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Parfum/Fragrance/ Methylparaben, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-39, Ethylparaben, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Ascorbyl Glucoside, F.I.L. D162186/1

The surfactants in this cleanser, sodium cocoyl glycinate and coco-betaine, are both very gentle. I won’t get into why there are two of them in this formula but they do work well together. The slight foaming comes from the coco-betaine and because it’s not harsh, this cleanser won’t give you that tight, squeaky clean feeling that I hate. Other ingredients in this formula are a number of preservatives (some of which are present in the fragrance used. A note about the preservatives in this formula---parabens are nothing to be afraid of! They are GREAT preservatives and are safe for cosmetic use. I get irritated when people get all hysterical over an ingredient due to internet hysteria), a few oils (very small amount), some sodium hydroxide, which is probably used to adjust the ph to a skin-friendly level, a number of ingredients to help with emulsification/texture of the product and also fragrance. The amount of salicylic acid in here is small so it probably isn’t doing much for exfoliation (in a cleanser it doesn’t spend much time on the skin, which it needs to do in order to exfoliate). If you’re sensitive to fragrance, you may want to skip this one. I happen to really like the scent but it is definitely there.

In my opinion, Smoothing Cream Cleanser is a great product and if I had oily skin I would also use it as it definitely will break up oil and is gentle (which, in my humble opinion, is important for all skin types). This one’s a winner!!!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****

Paula’s Choice Mega Length Mascara---My New Holy Grail!!!

Man, I love a good mascara! I’m known among my friends (and here) for going to great lengths to find the perfect non smudging, ridiculous length lash making mascara. I’ve found it with two high end mascaras (see posts here and here) and have almost found it with several drugstore mascaras. Imagine my surprise when I also found it with Paula’s Choice newest mascara, Megalength! I normally think of Paula’s Choice as a skincare brand but I am impressed with this mascara. Check out the before and after pictures, below!

Before Mega Lash

Before Mega Lash

After Mega Lash

After Mega Lash

 Paula’a Choice describes Mega Lash as volumizing, lengthening and water resistant. I’ve been wearing it every day since it arrived in my mailbox and have to say that I love it! There’s no flaking smudging or racoon eyes with this mascara but it’s easily removed at the end of the day. Perfection!!! In the pictures above, I’m wearing two coats on the top lashes only. Just imagine what it will do if I apply it my bottom lashes! Vavavooooom!!!

Available for $12 on the Paula’s Choice website (here), this is a heck of a great buy. If you’re a makeup junkie, you NEED this mascara. In fact, you need it even if you’re not! This one goes into my “Love” category!

Ages of Beauty rating: *****