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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite

Chick Lit Plus is kicking off a fabulous new feature called “Charming Tuesday” on our website. Every Tuesday, we will choose a beauty product and narrow down our absolute favorites, often times featuring a giveaway of one (or two) of our beauty “must-have’s”. So, check back every Tuesday to see which products make the cut.

Charming Tuesday Product Of The Week: Foundation

Samantha’s Must-Have:

My favorite foundation hands down is Almay’s Smart Shade, Smart Balance. I wrote a post on Almay products and highlighted this foundation way back in December of 2009, and it is still a staple in my bag. I remember when I first bought it and squeezed some product into my hand, freaking out because it was white. I didn’t understand that it literally blends into your skin, matching your skin tone perfectly. So not only do not I have to worry about those pesky lines showing, but this foundation also balances your skin so you don’t get oily or dry throughout the day. I absolutely recommend this product!

http://chicklitplus.com/category/chicklitplus/style-fashion-beauty/page/7/

 

Sara’s Must Have:

Living in Texas, it can be difficult to wear foundation most days because of the extreme heat in the summer. In the past, I have usually used a tinted moisturizer pretty much year round, but during pregnancy, I felt like I needed a little more coverage than what a tinted moisturizer could offer. So, naturally, since I am a huge fan of Bobbi Brown makeup in general, I thought I would stop in and give them a try. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed. This foundation did it all- the weightless coverage helped even out my ever changing skin tone, minimized the appearance of pores and blemishes, and helped my super-dry skin stay hydrated. Plus, there is the added benefit of UV protection. I highly recommend this foundation to anyone looking for a smooth applying, never cakey (or dry) foundation for their skin that still provides a natural (almost tinted moisturizer like) feel.

April 24, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway

Chick Lit Plus is kicking off a fabulous new feature called “Charming Tuesday” on our website. Every Tuesday, we will choose a beauty product and narrow down our absolute favorites, often times featuring a giveaway of one (or two) of our beauty “must-have’s”. So, check back every Tuesday to see which products make the cut.

Charming Tuesday Product Of The Week: Conditioner

Samantha’s Must-Have:

I really found a winner when I bought Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness Conditioner. I purchased the conditioner separately the first time, but have since bought the shampoo as well and think they are both fabulous. I’ve always been a big fan of Herbal Essences, but this conditioner really had me excited the first time I bought it. It smelled wonderful (though I haven’t run into a HE product that hasn’t) went on easy and really did make my hair frizz free. With so many products out there that boast results that I never see, I was thrilled that this one really worked. I definitely recommend Herbal Essences, and especially None of Your Frizzness if you deal with frizzy hair.

Sara’s Must-Have:

I have very, very thin hair … so most of the time, I don’t even use a conditioner because it really weighs my hair down. But, whenever I feel like my hair needs the extra moisture, my go-to conditioner is Aussie’s Moist 3 Minute Miracle. This product has been a long standing favorite of mine for YEARS (and my mom has also used it for as long as I can remember too). Now, what makes the 3 Minute Miracle so…miraculous you ask? Well, in my opinion, it is in the Australian aloe and jojoba oil that it contains. So, if you’ve been swimming in chlorine, dying your hair too frequently, or just need a deep conditioner …. give this bad boy a try! I promise you won’t regret it.

Chick Lit Plus will be giving away one Moist 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner. Please leave a comment below and tell us what your all-time favorite conditioner is and we will select a winner at random by 6:00AM Friday Morning. Good luck!

April 17, 2012
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Beauty Review: Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Mousse
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Beauty Review: Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Mousse

As much as I complain about my hair (seriously, how many of you have heard me gripe?) there are some good things about it. I’m a lucky one that can wear my stick straight thanks to a great straightener and some fab products, and I can also do the scrunchy/curly look if I skip conditioner. It’s nice to have these choices, and I get a lot of compliments either way, so I like to switch it up. In order to do the scrunch look, I do skip the conditioner like a mentioned, and then I just use a mousse to hold the curls. I have used a Tresemme mousse in the past, and was pretty happy with that. I went through a phase of buying a lot of Herbal Essences products, and also picked up their Body Envy Volumizing Mousse. I’m pretty darn happy with it, and would recommend this product. It doesn’t make my hair feel really heavy like some can do, and it’s not too sticky either. It holds my curls well and even has a nice smell to it. This is something I would buy again!
[Rating: 4]

April 14, 2012
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Beauty Review: Pantene Pro-V Flat to Volume Shampoo and Conditioner
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Beauty Review: Pantene Pro-V Flat to Volume Shampoo and Conditioner

We all know my hair is frizzy. I complain about it – a lot – and review a lot of anti-frizz products on here. But…

April 11, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway
Chick Lit Plus

Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway

One of my favorite always-have-on-hand cleansers lately is Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Fresh Cleansing Foam. From the first time I tried this product I knew it was going to be a hit for me. It’s refreshing, doesn’t leave my skin feeling dry or tight, and works. I actually use the moisturizer as well, and picked up the cleanser because I was so impressed with the moisturizer. Though I am known for liking to try different things, I will always have a bottle of this cleanser in my bathroom cabinet.

A runner up that I actually just recently started using is Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser. I received a sample of this product in my March Birchbox, and became immediately addicted to it. It’s a little on the runny side, but if you apply with a washcloth or round it isn’t so bad. To me it smells like apples, and leaves my skin feeling super smooth. It also really did a great job at clearing up some lingering acne marks. I will be buying the full-sized product from Birchbox.

April 10, 2012
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March Birchbox Review
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March Birchbox Review

Once again I’m behind on getting my Birchbox review up. This review is for my March box, which is one of my favorites yet! Some of my must-have beauty products were in here, and I felt like this was my most personalized Birchbox to date. Sign up to receive your own box and read below for my reviews!

“Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.”

1. Color Club Neon Nail Polish – Neon is all the rage in fashion right now. From clothing, shoes, and yes – nail polish – this is the trend to get on board with. The color I got is a greenish turquoise, and I tried this on my toenails first and loved it! The colors in this family also include bubblegum pink, fluorescent orange, purple, electric blue, yellow, and magenta. I would buy more of these!

2. Harvey Prince Yogini – The scent is designed to help keep us calm and the stress at bay – like being in a yoga class. I must say, each fragrance I have received from Birchbox is spot on in the description. My first whiff literally made me feel like I was sitting on my yoga mat. It’s hard to describe it, but it truly does smell…calming. I love this product!

3. Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser- I love trying out new cleansers, and this one definitely hit the spot! The scent is just what the name says – juicy – and I could feel it working on my skin. I used it twice a day for four days in a row, and could see an improvement. I would buy this full-sized product.

4. Lulu Organics Lavender + Clary Sage Hair Powder- I have been using dry shampoos for the past few months, but haven’t found one that I was a big fan of. Usually they leave my hair feeling gross to the touch and weighing everything down. This powder is a lot lighter, and smells nice in my hair. I would recommend others to give this one a try.

5. stila Smoky Eye Shadow – I was introduced to stila products through Birchbox, and they have become one of my favorite brands. I just recently purchased their tinted moisturizer at Ulta, and am loving it. The three pack I received is for the classic smoky eye. It shows clearly what is the base, the lid and the liner, and gives the instructions on how to achieve the smoky eye on your own. Love it!

6. Tea Forte skin-smart Teas – I won’t lie – I haven’t tried this yet. I am not a fan of tea, and though I set this on my countertop to make sometime, I just haven’t been able to try it yet. Though the descriptions make them sound pretty awesome – containing “mega-high levels of antioxidants to repair your skin from the inside out,” I just haven’t got around to try them out yet. But I will! Who knows? Maybe this will be the product to change my mind about tea.

April 4, 2012
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway
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Charming Tuesday: A Beauty Favorite & Giveaway

I started using Maybelline mascara when I first started college. It’s been my go-to mascara since. I love to try out other products, always searching for that gem, but a particular Maybelline mascara will always be in my bag. I love the ones that feature a double brush, one side being the microfiber base coat, and the other side the mascara. The one that I am currently addicted to is the Maybelline XXL Curlpower. It makes my lashes longer and really lasts throughout the night, coming off only once I use my makeup remover. I haven’t found a mascara yet to top this one!

A good runner up that I’ve found is from Too Faced. I’m a big fan of the Too Faced brand, and own many of their products. The mascara that I really love is the Too Faced Lash Injection. It has a 3-D formula that builds tubes around the lashes, making them look longer and fuller. And it’s the truth! When I take off this mascara at night, the little tubes come off. It’s pretty neat to see something really working. I also always have this mascara in my makeup bag!

Sara’s Must-Have:

I am without-a-doubt a beauty product connoisseur; I read reviews online, engulf myself in “the best-of-the-best” lists in magazines, and spend too much time browsing the beauty aisles when I am out and about. The reason why is because I am always searching … searching for the next “must-have” in my beauty arsenal. I have found a few new additions over the years, but none of them have ever been Mascara. I have used Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest Black since I started really wearing makeup when I was fourteen. I have deviated some here and there, lured by advertising for a new product that promises a “thicker, fuller lash”, but nothing has ever come close. By far, Maybelline Great Lash is hands down my absolute favorite and an absolute beauty must-have of mine.

April 3, 2012
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February Birchbox Review
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February Birchbox Review

February’s Birchbox was my favorite so far! I had three favorite products this month, and my March box has just been shipped so I can’t wait to get that. Read my reviews and sign up to receive your own Birchbox each month!

“Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.”

1. BENTA Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream – Loved this product! It was a thick cream that smells like berries and left my face feeling soft. I read in the information that this is actually a uni-sex product, but I have to say I thought it was much more feminine due to the scent. I also read in the information that the product just became available statewide, which is pretty interesting. I would definitely purchase more of this!
2. Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint – Another favorite for February! Jouer has been featured in all my previous boxes, and this brand is quickly becoming a fave of mine. I wear moisturizer every day, and always with a SPF – even in the winter. This product has SPF 20 included, and makes my skin look dewy and smooth. It gives just the right amount of tint to my look so I can skip any bronzer that I would normally put on, and I would recommend this product!
3. Violent Lips Lip Tattoo – this is one that I wasn’t so sure about. To be honest, I never tried this product because I really have no interest in it. The tattoo’s are basically like a lipstick, but they stick on to your lips and our pretty over the top. Mine came as silver with sparkles in them – not something I think would fly in Iowa. These were a little too out there for my taste.
4. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant – My third favorite in the box! I thought this one was pretty unique, it’s actually a powder that you put on your hands and then add water to it and apply to the face. The product is made to smooth skin, clear dead cells, and remove any buildup and debris on the face. It smells kind of like oranges too, and I really enjoy using this!
5. Supersmile Powdered Mouth Rinse – I wasn’t a real big fan of this product. I’m big on whitening my teeth, and I thought the powder mixture combined with the whiten teeth and get fresh breath all in one would end up being a favorite, but that wasn’t the case. Actually using it wasn’t so bad, but it made my teeth feel really grimy afterwards. I would actually brush my teeth to try to get rid of the feeling after I was done using it, because I couldn’t stand what my teeth felt like. Not one I would recommend.

March 6, 2012
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Beauty Review: Rimmel London Mascara
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Beauty Review: Rimmel London Mascara

While browsing for new mascara a few weeks back (I’m a mascara junkie, I always like to point out) I spotted a two for one deal – score! I snapped up Rimmel London’s Lash Accelerator Mascara and Glam’Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara. I rushed home in abandon, slapping my palms together. Technically, not only did I get two mascaras for the price of one, I got three! The Day 2 Night has two separate wands, one for length and one for volume. I was conquering these puny lashes!
Just kidding. I wasn’t conquering anything. Sadly, neither mascara really did it for me. I did favor the Lash Accelerator over the other, but I don’t see my lashes growing, and the mascara was pretty clumpy. The Day 2 Night is a big joke. Neither wand does any lengthening or volumizing or…anything. It looks like I don’t even have mascara on five minutes after I apply it. This was my first shot on Rimmel London products, and looks like it will be my last. Next!

February 16, 2012
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