A
    Amanda

    Amanda

  • Not My Dad's Lotion

    I was skeptical when I opened my mail and saw Lubriderm was the item in question this month. My entire life, I have associated Lubriderm with my dad. Its what he has always used. I know the commercials always have that beautiful woman and the crocodile, but they never got through to me. Lubriderm = Dad. End of story.Until now.Here's a little TMI: My husband and I exchange foot rubs as we watch trashy tv almost nightly. I figured this was the perfect introduction to my new lotion. Surprisingly, I loved it! It was lightweight yet had enough moisture to get a good rub on. ...

  • Rapunzel, Rapunzel....

    ...Let down your hair...or don't...I've had my eye on this brush, so I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to try it out. I had high hopes of being transformed into a smooth haired goddess... but like most things in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Now, keep in mind that

  • CND Saves the Day

    I have a confession. When I first tried this polish, I was sitting at a stoplight. During a series of many lights, I managed to swipe two coats of the Desert Suede on my nails. No top coat, no base coat, just the polish vs. my nails and daily activities. I didn't want my opinion of this line to be influenced by any other products' durability on my first go around. <br> Needless to say, I was pretty impressed. When I first examined my work, I thought the polish was a little streaky and figured "another one bites the dust." Then, something fantastic happened. The polish dried (extremely quickly, I might add) and all the streaks were magically gone and I was left with smooth, tan nails! It doesn't end there... My nails looked good for days! This stuff really had some stay power! (Keep in mind that there was no base and top coat to protect.) <br> The color was not the best on me, but that's just me. My mother in law loved the color, so she was the lucky recipient of the bottle. <br> Now for the save of the day. My pedicure was looking less than admirable, and I had no time to scoot into the salon for another. Then a Gold Shimmer light bulb popped up above my head. I grabbed the bottle and added a generous coat of the shimmer to my tootsies. Voila! I went from obviously overdue red toenails to shiny, firey orange gems. Less than 5 minutes later, I was teetering through my house getting dressed, and kicked a pile of laundry. My "oh no" moment was immediately hushed when I realized I was already dry! <br> Great polish, in my opinion. Durable and very quick drying. Now if I could only find a retailer in my area to buy this fantastic polish!

  • User Post: This Beauty Guru Needs Suggestions

    Next Monday I will be 29. I know in the grand scheme of things, that isn't old. I also know that in reality, I probably don't look that old. In my head, however, I feel old and therefore am on a quest to rejuvenate my 29 year old skin. I look at the fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes and g

  • I Heart Kiehl's

    The new Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream is the best moisturizer I have tried in as long as I can remember. I have loved all things Kiehl's for a very long time, and this cream is no exception. I have been using this moisturizer every day since I was lucky enough to receive it in the mail earlier this mon

  • User Post: Body Full Letdown

    I was thrilled beyond belief when I received this month's assignment. My hair is long and straightish. Not too thick, not too thin. I'd say I have very average hair. I'm always looking for a great miracle to add body and volume, so this new Redken Body Full line at first glance, had great promise. T

  • User Post: Olay Regenerist Happiness

    About a month ago, I had a knock on my door. I wasn't expecting any delivery, so imagine my delight when I open my package and have received 3! Olay Regenerist products to try! "I love this gig," I said aloud, and immediately went and applied some product. I was gifted with the anti-aging eye roller

  • User Post: My hair vs. Texas heat and humidity.... and I WIN!

    I live in Dallas, TX, so beating the heat and humidity here really isn't an option. In fact, when I read this assignment to my husband, his answer was "stay inside." Touche. However, being a mom of a 1 year old requires me to constantly be out and about, looking (sometimes desperately) for activities to keep my little busy body busy. I know alot of moms who come to playdates and parks and storytime just as they are, and I can't blame them one bit. It reached 105 degrees multiple days where I live, and heck, getting anything done on days like that is applause worthy. That being said, I refuse to be the smelly mom with the smelly kid. I try my best to always take a shower before I go anywhere, which is usually pretty do-able. Its the next part that gets tricky. I rarely have time to fully get ready, and if I manage to do so, the heat and humidity zap my effort as soon as I'm out of the house. My main problem is my hair. Its long and slightly wavy and thin-ish. I have several cowlicks, which, sadly, my daughter inherited. My seemingly no- fail solution is this: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum. Its a miracle worker and the price ($16) fits reasonably into my budget. Honestly, though, I would pay much more. My secret was learned from Cosmo years ago and adapted by trial and error. After showering and combing my hair, I run a small pea size dab of the serum through my wet hair. I then blow dry, upside down, until my roots are dry and my ends are maybe 75%. Once done, I separate my hair in two sections as if I were about to put pigtails high on top of my head. Next I twist each side loosely (loose is the key to not having flat roots) and inward into a bun. Then secure each bun with with a clip or bobby pin. A minnie mouse look is what you're going for here. Once done, I proceed to chase my daughter around the house, dress her, pack her bag, and hurriedly do anything else that needs to be done before I brave out into the sweltering sauna that is Texas. Right before I Leave, I unclip my hair, rub another pea size dab of the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny serum (who wouldn't like something called "super skinny?!) between my fingers and shake out my soft waves. The serum combats frizz like a champ. My hair is left super soft and super skinny, but not flat. I find that doing the Minnie Mouse buns instead of one bun is the key to a natural looking wave. You also come out with a beautiful Farrah Fawcett effect because twisting inward sweeps the hair away from the face. I even use this method on date nights with my husband for a romantic wavy look. He loves it, and always compliments my soft and silky hair. I even noticed he has started using my serum, as he has wavy hair also. Just don't tell him I told all of you that!

  • The One Beauty Product I Couldn't Live Without... my saving grace from becoming a human circus attraction

    In the 6th grade, my mom bought me a bottle of Nair Depilatory Creme for the face. "What's this for?," I asked. "Your mustache," she replied. What? I have a mustache? I looked in the mirror. I HAVE A MUSTACHE!!!! The lifelong relationship began. The Nair and I were immediately BFF's. Every two weeks