Bluefly Goodies

I have what some would call a "shopping obsession." I can't help but drop by Bluefly.com or Net-a-porter to make extensive wish lists. Well, every now and then I splurge. Here's 2 of my current faves.

- Marc by Marc Jacobs Chocolate Leather 'Soft' Purse (originally $286 for $188)

- Michael Kors Michael Red Patent Leather 'Carina' Pumps (originally $109 for $65)

My wallet is a little sad but the shiny red and soft chocolate leather cheer me up.

New Collection: MAC - Naughty Nauticals

The ship's in port and she's out cruising for romance. Her looks: uniformly chic, superbly shipshape through an alluring fleet of pinks, corals, reds and bell-bottom blues, and the deepest, bluest, navy nail lacquer seen this side of Marseilles. In style and desire, she's poised, perfect and ready for her evening cruise.

Lipstick ($14)
Buoy-o-Buoy- Creamy neutral pink brown (lustre)
Port Red- Clean yellow red with gold pearl (frost)
Party Mate- Sheer mid-tone pink (lustre)
Ahoy, there!- Sheer light dirty pink with multi-dimensional pearl (glaze)

Lustreglass ($14)
Hey Sailor- Blue plum pink with white pearl flecks (lustre)
Love Knot- Sheer pink with blue & white duo chrome (lustre)
Bateaux- Neutral brown peach with white frost (lustre)
Ensign- Peachy pink with white and gold pearl (lustre)

Small Eye Shadow ($14)
Shore Leave- Pale frosty cream (veluxe pearl)
Illegal Cargo- Mid-tone frosty grayed plum (frost)
Meet the Fleet- Matte midnight blue (matte)
Pandamonium- Frosty gunmetal with white pearl (lustre)
Submarine- Mid-tone frosty clear blue (frost)

Pigment ($19.50)
Lark About- Sheer frosty white blue (frost)
Mutiny- Clean sky blue with gold pearl (frost)
Bell-Bottom Blue- Frosty blue with white pearl (frost)
Lovely Lily- Dirty lilac with red pearl

Technakohl ($13.50)
Smoothblue- Ocean blue with frost
Greyprint- Rich pewter grey with frost

Pro Lash ($11)
Coal Black- Honest-to-goodness-black

Nail Lacquer ($10)
Naughty Nauticals- Dark royal blue (frost)

Review: John Varvatos Women's Eau De Parfum

John Varvatos- the new scent for her- celebrates the diversity of today's woman while exemplifying the ideals of the John Varvatos philosophy. It exudes warmth, delicacy, elegance and sensuality. I think this is a lovely fragrance for summer. It's flowery and sweet at the same time. I found myself sniffing my wrists throughout the day because I liked it so much.

Fragrance Elements:
-The Enticing Introduction- Coriander Flower, Georgian Apricot, Damascus Plum, Golden Mandarin from Sicily, Aromatic Grappa "Di Nebbiolo" Accord
-The Sophisticated Heart- Rubrum Lillies, Rose Attar from Turkey, Mango Blossom from India, Jasmine 'Grandiflorum' Concrete from Egypt, High Altitude Narcissus Absolute from France
-The Sensual Background- Tolu Balsam, Adriatic Oakmoss, Styrax from Laos, Patchouli extra Pure, Wild Honey from Spain, Tonka Beans from Venezuela, Hibiscus Seeds from Ecuador.

Eau De Parfum ($92 for 3.3 oz., $70 for 1.6 oz.)
Parfum ($125 for .5 oz.)
Cleansing Oil with Grains ($58)- The luxurious cleansing oil is enriched with antioxidant Vitamin E and jojoba oil to nourish and moisturize skin while cleansing and leaving the subtle scent of John Varvatos. The innovative grains provide a customized exfoliation expierience leaving skin soft and touchable.
Body Milk ($50)- A sumptuous body milk enriched with antioxidant Vitamin E, to help moisturize, soften and rejuvenate skin and leaves it softly scented.

Review: 3 CC Papaya Lip Gloss

Diana Gregg is an awesome makeup artist, who wrote her 6th grade "thesis" on Coco Chanel and is now living the dream of merging art and artifice in the context of makeup. She recently created the makeup looks for the weekly catwalk on Bravo's "Make Me A Super Model." Visit her website here.

One of her favorite 3 CC products is the Papaya Lip Gloss (shown on top, color below is Simply Beautiful.) She uses it constantly because it is so universally flattering. Papaya Crush is a Cherry pop of color on the lips. It brightens the complexion immediately. Provides just enough color to enhance your other features. I use it constantly, along with the brow powder. Just can't get enough. Try it! You'll like it.

Bobbi Brown - Beach

Bobbi Brown's beach is a classic Bobbi best-seller. It's the perfect Summery scent and its name pretty much says it all. Try to smell it and NOT think of the beach. (Left to right.)

beach Shower Gel ($32)- Soften and cleanse skin with this moisturizing body cleanser is specially formulated with Pacific Sea Kelp Extract. Lightly scented with beach Fragrance. Packaged in a convenient and travel-friendly tube. Dermatologist tested.

beach Fragrance ($55)- 1.7 fl. oz., A Bobbi Brown best-seller. This light scent is designed with notes of sand jasmine, sea spray and mandarin. It's wearable anytime, anywhere. Comes in spray bottle for light application.

beach Sandbar ($16, limited edition)- This soft, creamy, lathering soap contains sand to gently exfoliate while lightly scenting the skin with beach Fragrance. Leaves skin looking and feeling soft, clean and smooth. Use together with other beach products to create a richer, long-lasting scent.

beach Body Oil ($28)- A unique, moisturizing body oil that gives skin a sultry sheen and scents it with beach Fragrance. Contains 4 essential oils (Olive, Sesame, Avocado and Jojoba) and Vitamins E and C to soften and nourish skin.

beach Body Lotion ($35)- A lightweight body moisturizer contains a soothing and hydrating blend of Aloe Vera and Olive, Jojoba and Sunflower Oils. It reduces peeling and prolongs the life of your tan. Green tea and Vitamin E provide antioxidant protection.

beach Body Scrub ($35)- Great for smoothing skin - Bobbi's emollient body exfoliator is lightly scented with beach Fragrance. Contains Orange Peel and Pumice to gently, yet effectively, help remove rough surface skin. Shea Butter and nourishing essential oils infuse skin with moisture. Leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

New Product: Benefit - Posietint

I was browsing through the Sephora website, when I came across this little gem...
Benefit's new, limited edition, only at Sephora, Posietint ($28) is a poppy tinted version of the original Benetint. Benetint in PINK! Our prayers have been answered! Holy crap I can't wait to get my hands on this... Thank God there's that little "Email me when available" button. Excited? Or not so much?

Brand New Givenchy Goodies

-Givenchy Prisme Again! Eyes- Summer Escapade ($49.50) - A chic, limited edition compact containing two different powder textures, both of them gentle, fine and creamy, for a variety of effects: matte, semi-matte, satiny, iridescent or pearly shine. I'm pretty bored by the colors in this palette. Not worth the money, IMO.

-Givenchy Prismissime Mat & Glow ($53) - A sunny checkerboard of color that's workable anywhere- from Cannes to Tahiti. Two Textures, one matte, to unify the complexion and give it a matte finish, and one ultra pearly, to illuminate and sculpt the face- add instant dimension. The nine shades can be mixed together or applied separately. Now, this is something I can get excited about. I can't wait for summer.

Review: Tarte - Double Dose Lip Gloss and Rejuvelash

Left to Right: Acai Boost (sparkling raspberry), Acerola Rush (sparkling golden peach), Go Go Goji (sparkling blush) and Pomegranate Punch (sparkling red delicious.)

Tarte's Double Dose Lip Gloss ($21)- Combines the inner t5 super fruit complex concentrated pigment with the outer high shine gloss. My favorites are Acai Boost and Acerola Rush.

Skinvigorating Ingredients:
• t5 super fruit complex™: proprietary blend of the five most active superfruits: goji, acai, maracuja, acerola and pomegranate
• vitamin C: helps accelerate production of natural elastin, protecting against free radical damage & restores skin’s clarity
• peppermint oil: soothes lips
• shea butter: nourishes, moisturizes & conditions lips
• mineral pigments: adds a natural color & has been know to soothe and soften the skin
• natural peppermint fragrance
• paraben-free, mineral-oil free, phthalate free

For a perfect 50/50 mix, squeeze the tube from the top. For a more pigmented effect squeeze the tube from the middle.

*With every purchase, you'll be helping preserve the Amazon Rain forest through forest conservation, improved living conditions and educational opportunities for communities in Brazil. Tarte supports Sambazon's Sustainable Acai Project.





Rejuvelash ($16)- A lash exhilarator that treats, protects and revives lashes. Use as a conditioner before applying mascara or refresh late day lashes while treating and protecting them from brittleness and breakage. The emulsifying agents and patented flexible brush gently eliminate clumps. Herbal hair restoratives help treat the overall quality. I love the brush, it separates and combs very well. I like to use before mascara. Gotta love the purple packaging.

Skinvigorating Ingredients:
• provitamin B5: treats and thickens eyelash hair
• aloe leaf extract: improves the texture of eyelash hair to increase suppleness and prevent breakage
• vitamin C: acts a film former to protect against cosmetic, environmental and free radical damage
• mineral oil free and phthalate free

New Collection- Laura Mercier Gold Digger

Eye Colour Pot ($32) - A double decker pot holding a cream and a loose powder eye colour.
Available in: Bronzed Gold, Solid Gold and White Gold.

Dual Eye Colour Brush ($34) - A double ended brush with a blend of natural and high quality synthetic fibers for the application of creme and powder formulas.

Lip Glace ($22) - A high shine, perfectly pigmented lip gloss with rich, long lasting color and brilliant shine that makes lips appear fuller. Available in: Bronze, Gold and Platinum.

Nail Lacquer ($15) - A long-lasting, chip resistant, protective nail colour. Available in 24 Karat and Sterling.

Gone From My Sight...

I thank all of you for your kind thoughts, concerns and prayers for my Mom and I at this difficult time. My father, Rollin Todd Kingsley, 59, passed away on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. He was surrounded by family and friends when he opened his eyes and took one last breath. He was an amazing father and husband and son. He will always live on in me.

Gone From My Sight

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads his white
sails to the morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.

He is an object of beauty and strength
I stand and watch him until at length
he hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says;
"There, he is gone!"

"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all.
He is just as large in mast and hull
and spar as he was when he left my side
and he is just as able to bear his
load of living freight to his destined port.
His diminished size is in me, not him.

And just at the moment when someone
at my side says, "There, he is gone!"
There are other eyes watching his coming,
and other, voices ready to take up the glad
shout,
"Here he comes!"

No New Posts (for a while)

My Dad is very sick and we don't know how many more days he has. He's at my house in hospice care with my Mom taking care of him. She's also sick now, because she hasn't been getting sleep and not taking care of herself. I watch him alone during the night, and it's a rather draining task. Extremely draining, actually. All of these factors leave me little time to post. So I'm sorry to say there won't be any new ones for a while. Thanks for understanding.

Review: S-Solutions

S-Solutions products are designed to target the skin by slowing down the aging process, improving its natural attiributes and reversing aging by restoring the skin's balance and harmony. All of the products are specifically formulated to address free radical damage to the skin caused by environmental stress.

-Crucial Exfoliating Cleanser ($35)- A vital exfoliating cleanser that contains glycolic acid which helps eliminate dead skin, surface debris and oil. Continued use will improve skin texture and promote a healthy glow. Suitable for all skin types. I really like this gentle cleanser for everyday, night and day. Has a faint cucumbery smell.

• Alpha Lipoic Acid- A powerful anti-oxidant more potent than vitamins E and C
• Cucumber Extract- Helps soothe and tone skin.
• Glycolic Acid- Speeds up skin renewal process and removes dull layers of skin without irritation. Effective against white heads, blackheads, bumps, psoriasis, eczema, dry skin and age spots.

-Body Paint ($65)- A "all over body solution" and age-defying treatment that hydrates, tones and tightens your body with its powerful antioxidant benefits of caffeine. This stuff is so cool, it's so popular that it's almost constantly sold out. You apply this coffee-like soltion to your entire body with a large paintbrush.

• Caffeine- Tightens and firms, dehydrates fat cells to give the skin a smoother apearance and increase circulation.
• GABA- Causes immediate tightening effect.
• Hydrolyzed Soy Protein- Tightens and smooths skin.
• S-Gen100- A proprietary complex which increases the synthesis of growth factors in skin.

-Hydra Blast ($65)- A hydrating moisturizer that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, tones and tightens skin and delivers the benefits of powerful antioxidants to create a smooth and luminous surface. I personally was not a huge fan of this moisturizer. For whatever reason, it left my skin feeling tight and itchy.

• GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid)- Causes immediate tightening effect.
• Green Tea (Camellia Sinesis)- An anti-inflammatory antioxidant that prevents cellular damage.
• Hyaluronic Acid- Hydrates skin, causing a reduction in fine lines; smooths and softens skin.
• S-Kelp (Ahnfeltia Concinna)- Increases skin moisture, enhances smoothness and reduces surface lines.