Come Monday...weekly newsletter

Today was one of those days that kept me running non-stop, and I'm glad I can finally sit down and relax! The trick-or-treaters have come and gone, and while it makes our dogs crazy, it's fun to see all of the little kids so excited and dressed up. So if this Come Monday edition seems a little mixed up, it's because I'm seriously disorganized today! I try to make notes of interesting things I see and read during the week so I have some hopefully interesting content to share with you on Monday, but my notes are scattered about and not making as much sense to me now as they did when I wrote them! Lots of things to cover including some winners, so let's get started.

Crazy to think that tomorrow is November 1st, and you know that means Holiday shopping. Have you started yours yet? I've made a very weak attempt at it, and I'm going to try and tackle the bulk of it next week. Black Friday info is starting to emerge, and for those of you who brave that day for some bargains, Target has announced that due to consumer demand, they will be opening at midnight, rather than their usual 4:00 a.m. I seldom participate in Black Friday, because it's crazy! There are some great bargains to be had if you're willing to fight the crowds though. All of the hype over Revlon's Lip Butters made me recall a Black Friday deal from Walgreens years ago that I did partake in...they had Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Glosses for .99 each, but there was a limit of two or three, so I drove to all three of our Walgreens and snatched up my limit, then I made my husband do the same. He wasn't too happy about it, but I was! Does anyone remember that? It had to have been seven or eight years ago.

Here's a pretty good deal I saw on InStyle for RGB Nail Polish. They're offering 30% off through the month of November. I keep meaning to order some of these because I've yet to try them, so maybe now is a good time.

I see where Cargo is offering an Ulta Exclusive on nail polish, and I love Cargo Cosmetics. I seem to group Cargo, LORAC, and Smashbox into the same category for some reason, and I have always been impressed by all three of them. You can view this collection on Ulta's web site here.
I was trying to let my hair grow out this year, but three weeks ago I decided that wasn't working out, so I had about 5" cut off. It looked fine for a couple of days, but then it just would not style right no matter what I did. So of course I decided to take the scissors to it myself! That is never the answer, so tomorrow I'm going to go in and have her trim things up and do something like this. At least I hope it looks like this when we're done. Now I don't have blonde hair and unfortunately I look nothing like Jenna Elfman, so we shall see! Back away from the scissors, Mary.


If you've managed to read through that maze of useless information, I've got some winners to announce! The winner in my first installment of the Winter Hand & Skin Care Series is Miss Tapia! She will receive Seed's Hand Scrub and Hand Lotion. We thought Essie's Luxeffects was going to ship a few weeks ago, but there were some delays and they are now scheduled to ship no later than November 4. I've closed the October contest, and drawn a winner...Paula N. I don't believe she has a blog, so I can't link you to that. I'm going to send an eMail to both winners in just a couple of minutes. Congratulations!

Have a great week!

Frightful! Forgotten Halloween Giveaway!

Yikes! I somehow tucked these treats away and forgot all about posting them for a giveaway! Oh well, you can still smell Fall-like and paint your nails with these shades beyond Halloween, can't you? One follower will receive all five of the Bath & Body Works Halloween body lotions in the travel size (3 fl. oz.), and four ghoulish nail shades! The lotion scents are Wicked Spiced Pumpkin, Spider Cider, Black Candy Apple, Sinful Vanilla, and Plum Potion. The nail shades include one Claw Polish in Voo Doo, and three Wet n' Wild Fantasy Makers in Purple Potion, and two in Black Magic because it's an awesome color so you need two!

If you'd like to enter, just leave your eMail in the comments section below. I'll draw a winner via Random.org on Wednesday (11/2) morning, and the winner will be announced in Wednesday's post.

Happy Halloween!

New Duo Chrome! Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Black Tie

Once again, I can thank (blame!) Nouveau Cheap and one of her readers for this purchase! Last night I saw her post here, and I made a mental note to be on the lookout for this new Sally Hansen Diamond Strength display. Erika, one of her readers and the owner of the blog Polish Fixation, should be thanked (blamed) as well, for discovering this huge collection! There are lots of new shades in this collection, but the only one I really wanted was Black Tie. Of course, once I start to see more swatches, I may have to go back for some of those other shades.





Black Tie is a purple to deep teal duo chrome that I would say has an average or just slightly below average duo chrome flash to it. These were all taken outdoors in some shade to show the duo chrome, but when I had the nail wheel in full sun, it looked to be a purple shimmer with little to no duo chrome. That's why I rate it a little below average in the duo chrome department. It's still a gorgeous polish, and I love these two colors together.

These are priced at $3.98 each, and I found the display at Wal-Mart. I used two coats on the nail wheel, and from that limited use, the formula seems to be fairly pigmented and easy to work with. Have you spotted this display yet?

BCA 2011: Dermelect Resurface Stem Cell Reconstructing Serum

Dermelect is participating in Breast Cancer Awareness this month by donating $15.00 of each Resurface Stem Cell Reconstructing Serum sold to the Young Survival Coalition, a New York-based charity that supports young women battling breast cancer. This product retails for $75.00 (1.0 fl. oz. bottle), and is available at C.O. Bigelow, Henri Bendel in NYC, The SkinStore (currently on sale for $52.50), and Dermelect.com.



Dermelect Resurface Stem Cell Reconstructing Serum comes packaged in a sleek and modern heavy plastic encased aluminum bottle with a built-in pump top dispenser. This product doesn't come cheap at $75.00 for a 1.0 oz. bottle, but thankfully I just need to use one pump for a complete facial application. The product itself is a lightweight clear gel serum that has a lovely light rose scent. It feels soothing on the skin, and doesn't leave any tacky residue. It absorbs immediately, and seems to smooth the surface as soon as it's been applied. I've been using this as my first step product, followed by a facial moisturizer. Dermelect recommends using this twice daily, in the morning and evening.

Stem cells are rapidly becoming very popular in skin care products, and while I certainly don't claim to understand it entirely, there are numerous studies that show various plant stem cells to have a positive effect on our skin. The main purpose of the cells is to protect and potentially regenerate our skin cells, while preventing further damage. I'll be honest and tell you that my understanding of the concept is very basic, and it would seem that there is quite a difference between human and plant cell biology when it comes to repair and especially growth of new cells. I'm inclined to believe through studies and doctors that I've talked to about this subject, that the repair/prevention factor is absolutely something that plant stem cells (some plants more than others, obviously) are capable of when used in skin care. I'm still researching the actual ability they have if any, to grow new human skin cells, which is something I'm not so certain of.

That being said, this product did seem to produce visual benefits to my skin, such as glowing, smoother skin, lessening of fine lines, and moisture retention. I finished up another stem cell skin serum in September that I'll be reviewing tomorrow, and I also had very good results with that product. I'm intrigued and curious about the validity of stem cells in skin care, so I'm going to continue to read more on the subject.

*Product featured was furnished by the manufacturer or PR firm for consideration.

Winter Hand & Skin Skin Care Series & Giveaway: Dr. Hauschka Neem Nail Oil Pen

Welcome to my ongoing Winter Hand & Skin Care Series! If you missed the first installment here (still open for entries through 10/30/11), I'll be focusing on products that can help your skin confront the colder months ahead. I have a number of products I've been sampling, and I'll share reviews with you, as well as giveaways associated with select reviews, tips & tricks for cold weather skin care, and more.

Cuticle care is something that's very important to maintain, particularly during the Winter months. Our skin loses more moisture in the colder temperatures, and dry cracked cuticles are often the first thing we notice as the colder months approach. I have quite an arsenal of cuticle care products that I like to use, but none of them are designed specifically for portability. Saffron Rouge, an on line retailer specializing in organic cosmetic and beauty products, sent over Dr. Hauschka's Neem Nail Oil Pen for review, and included one for a giveaway. If you'd like to follow Saffron Rouge to stay updated on their products and specials, you can join them here on Facebook.

Dr. Hauschka introduced his skin care line in 1967. "The concept was and continues to be simple: infuse nature’s healing qualities into each preparation in order to stimulate the skin's ability to find its way back to balanced health." Their product range includes items for the bath and shower, body, cosmetics, facial care, and hair care. They are a natural, sustainable, and cruelty free company. Let's take a look!

The pen itself is the same length as a Sharpie marker, and a bit wider in diameter. The product size is 0.13 fl. oz. and it retails for $18.90. Both ends are capped, with an applicator at one end, and three refill tips at the other end. The applicator tip is very firm, and is much like a Sharpie marker in its composition. I'm not sure why I keep comparing it to a Sharpie, but it is a good comparison! I should have turned it a bit more in my photo, because the opposite side has a slant to it, which is designed to allow you to easily push back your cuticles when applying the oil. You can see the slant better in the photo of the refills, below.


The convenience and portability of this product makes it perfect for carrying in your bag, and it allows for a mess-free application. You won't have to worry about any residue on your hands and fingers, because this applies directly to the cuticle and it dispenses just a small amount. It isn't necessary to rub it in, but it seems to work better for me when I use it that way. It's not a perfect solution because I feel that it should dispense a little more product than it does, and I've been known to remove the wrong end of the cap more than once! But it is a great option for a portable cuticle treatment for those times when you're out and about and realize that your cuticles need immediate attention.

Additional Product Information

Provide intensive care to cracked and brittle nails and soften dry cuticles with this nurturing oil. The convenient stick is perfectly portable and contains disposable tips for easy-to-use cuticle application. The fiber-like tips also help push back cuticles as you quickly dispense as much or as little oil as needed by applying pressure to the stick. Anthyllis and Indian neem strengthen keratin protein to encourage healthy nail growth and reduce breakage. Soothing chamomile calms and softens. Has a mildly medicinal neem scent.

Ingredients

Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea) Oil, Neem (Melia Azadirachta) Leaf Extract, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Apricot (Prunus Armeniaca) Kernel Oil, Matricaria/German Chamomile (Chamomilla Recutita) Extract, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Linalool, Limonene

To Enter: If you'd like to enter for a chance to win Dr. Hauschka's Neem Nail Oil Pen, just leave your eMail in the comments section below. Entries will be accepted through 11/5/11, and the winner will be announced on 11/7/11. Followers only, please.

*Product and prize featured were furnished by Saffron Rouge.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter Complete Master List & Swatches

Revlon recently released a new lip product called Colorburst Lip Butter, and I absolutely love these. Between three of my friends and myself, we managed to come up with all twenty of them and I thought it might be helpful to put together a master list. We found ours at various Rite Aid and Walgreens stores and they retail for $7.49 each. Rite Aid had them 40% off last week, and this week Walgreens has them buy on get one half off. We were all armed with $1.00 off Revlon coupons, so that helped out also. In addition, I had a 10% off register tape from Rite Aid, along with a $5.00 off register tape, which I believe are based on the Wellness card. So shop around to see who has them on sale, and ask your Walgreens sales associate if they have any of the $1.00 coupons behind the counter.

The lip butters are packaged with various semi-translucent caps with a quilted or woven pattern. The displays we saw were all the same table top model with only two or three of each shade. The "new" sticker is attached, but I didn't see anything about this being a limited edition product, so hopefully they'll be permanent.

The reason I love these butters so much, is simply because they feel, look and wear so nicely. They are softer and more sheer than a lip stick, but not at all sticky like many glosses. They're smooth and creamy--love the texture, well pigmented for the type of product that they are, and they leave my lips feeling ultra moisturized and soft. They're a sheer lip stick with the smoothness of a gloss. They remind me very much of my Chanel Rogue Coco Shine lip products (not sure what to call these newfangled things, not a stick, not a gloss!), without the high price and with preferred wearability. The lip butters provide more than a sheer wash of color, but less color than the average lip stick. They wear well, and after testing how long they wore vs. the Chanel, the Revlon product definitely has better staying power.

The Revlon Lip Butters are full sized, and they have an angled top rather than the typical rounded point that's seen on a lip stick.

When compared to a Chanel Rogue Coco Shine, you can see that the packaging is the same size. The product weight is a little smaller on the Revlon at 2.55 g. vs. 3 g. on the Chanel. The products themselves appear to be the same diameter, and the only difference is that the Chanel has a slight dome shape at the top of the color product.


Here's a quick look at all of the shades that Revlon offers in the Lip Butters. These photos were taken indoors in the sun near a window (top photo of each group), and also indoors using natural lighting (bottom photo of each group). I used two light-handed swipes for each color, and the color is buildable to a certain point. Keep in mind that these are swatched on my inner arm, which is pale :) They will appear darker on your lips, because they're more pigmented! All photos are clickable for a larger image.




Here's an alphabetical list of all of the names and numbers for reference. We all had so much fun tracking these down and getting some great pricing in the process! Clearly, we need to find a more meaningful hobby~ha-ha! I hope this helps some of you out who are interested in this product.

Berry Smoothie 050
Brown Sugar 020
Candy Apple 035
Cherry Tart 070
Cotton Candy 045
Creamsicle 065
Crème Brulee 095
Cupcake 055
Fig Jam 030
Gumdrop 060
Lollipop 075
Peach Parfait 025
Pink Truffle 001
Raspberry Pie 010
Red Velvet 040
Strawberry Shortcake 080
Sugar Frosting 005
Sugar Plum 085
Sweet Tart 090
Tutti Frutti 015

Nicki Minaj by OPI & Link to Swatches

Here's a look at the official press release for OPI's Nicki Minaj Collection coming out in January 2012. If you'd like to view some nail wheel swatches of this collection, along with their upcoming Spring 2012 Holland Collection, Beautygeeks has a preview here.


Pink Everyday!

OPI Partners with Platinum Recording Artist Nicki Minaj to Launch Limited Edition Lacquers

OPI announces the launch of six new limited edition shades inspired by hip hop sensation Nicki Minaj, including a purple Shatter! Inspired by Minaj’s unique style, love of bright colors, and her debut album Pink Friday, the Nicki Minaj by OPI promotion will feature an array of bold hues, from neon lime green to pink.

“OPI is so excited to work with Nicki in releasing these six new nail lacquers,” said Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “Nicki has taken the hip hop world by storm, but her music is only part of the equation. She’s also become a fashion inspiration, noted for her daring costumes and hair color both on and off the stage.”

Nicki’s eclectic look made including a new hue in OPI’s bestselling Shatter coat a must for this collaboration. The purple Super Bass Shatter (a record-setting purple that “shatters” before your eyes) is inspired by graffiti art and works when painted over any dry OPI hue. Adding top coat takes Super Bass Shatter from matte to glossy in seconds.

The line features five nail lacquers in addition to Super Bass Shatter, ranging from fantastic pink, rainbow confetti glitter and charcoal sparkle hues to two green shades in lime and teal:

Pink Friday Kick off the weekend with this pop! of bubblegum pink.

Metallic 4 Life This charcoal sparkle flies with the stars in the skies.

Save Me I drove for miles just to find this silver-rainbow glitter.

Fly I came to win, to fight…and to wear this aqua.

Did It On ‘Em A lusty little lacquer that loves the “lime”-light.

Nicki Minaj by OPI nail lacquers contain no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde, and feature OPI’s exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application. This limited edition promotion will be available beginning January 2012 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer.

For more information, please call 800-341-9999 or visit www.opi.com. Follow OPI on Twitter @OPI_PRODUCTS and become a Facebook fan!

OPI Previews Spring 2012: Holland on Facebook

OPI just posted a preview of their Spring 2012 Collection, Holland! You can check out more information on their Facebook page here. This collection will be available in February 2012.

Here's a link showing the shades on a nail wheel from Beautygeeks. I love the two blue shades!

*Photo via OPI's Facebook page

BCA 2011: Decleor Aromessence Aroma Coffrets

DECLÉOR is contributing to the Breast Cancer Awareness cause this month by donating up to 10% of net proceeds from their Aroma Coffrets during the month of October. Their donation supports Cancer & Careers, a program of CEW Foundation.

"Introducing AROMESSENCE™ AROMA COFFRETS, which offer a complete skincare regimen adapted by skin concern. Each features a full retail size Aromessence™ Serum and complimentary day cream and night balm in travel size. There is also an informational DVD that provides details about our Essential Oils and the application techniques of DECLÉOR’s signature serums."



The coffrets are available in four different skin types/needs, including the Neroli Hydrating, Rose D' Orient Soothing, Angelique Nourishing, and the coffret that I was sent, the Iris Anti-Aging. Each set contains three products targeted for the skin type, a serum and moisturizer for day use, and a night balm. The first three sets retail for $68, and the Iris set retails for $84.

Iris Anti-Aging Aroma Coffret

Includes 15 ml AROMESSENCE™ Iris Revitalizing Serum retail size, 15 ml Experience de L’Age Rich Cream travel size, 5ml Iris Revitalizing Night Balm travel size, and a DVD.

Serum Ingredients: corylus avellana (hazel) seed oil, helianthus, annuus (sunflower) seed oil, rosa moschata seed oil, prunus domestica fruit extract, daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, pelargonium graveolens oil, citrus auran

Rich Cream Ingredients: Water, isononyl isononanoate, glycerin, prunus domestica fruit extract, cyclopentasiloxane, methylsilanol hydroxyproline aspartate, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, beheneth-25, cyclohexasiloxane, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter)

Night Balm Ingredients: Simmondsia Chinensis (JoJoba) Seed Oil, Corylus Avellana (Hazel) Seed Oil, Beeswaqx (Cera Alba), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii) Shea Butter), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Grave

This set gave me my first introduction to the Decleor line, and that's primarily because it's what I consider a high-end or luxury skin care line. My frugality tends to drive me toward more affordable products, especially with skin care. Facial products require continuous use, often with a number of products in the regimen, so it's difficult for me to justify the price. If I somehow won the lottery, you can be sure I'd be all about having the luxury to afford a line like Decleor, because I truly enjoyed the results. While they didn't turn back the hands of time twenty years, they did offer an improved look to my skin that I don't quite see with my normal routine.

The packaging is very elegant, the products do deliver positive results, and the essential oils provide a wonderful aromatherapy treat. The main changes in my skin that I noticed were smaller pores (more than I've ever noticed with any other product), a more even complexion that seems to have a "glow" to it, and a reduction in fine lines around my eyes. One especially good result I also noticed, was that the area around my eyes seems less puffy in the mornings, and my dark circles from constant lack of sleep have been diminished considerably. That's the good news! The bad news is that it would cost me $260.00 to purchase all three of these products in their full sized packaging. I'm off to buy a lottery ticket!

*Products featured were furnished for consideration by the manufacturer or PR firm.

Deborah Lippmann for Juicy Couture Holiday Nail Polishes

Deborah Lippmann has teamed up with Juicy Couture for the Holidays! These sets are available for pre-order here, and each set of three retails for $48.00. The are simply called the Gold or Pink set.

I especially love the look of the Gold set, and the bottle caps look like they have a large rhinestone in them. The gold flakie in the center would be my first choice, but I don't think I'll spring for the whole set just to have it. They are pretty to look at though, don't you agree? I don't think these shades are repromotes, but I could be wrong.

Winter Hand & Skin Care Series & Giveaway: Seed Healthy Hand Cream & Therapeutic Hand Scrub

The leaves and the temperatures are falling, which means Winter will be upon us before long. It's beneficial to keep your hands hydrated all year long, but in colder climates, additional steps are necessary to combat the lower temperatures and drier air if you want your hands to look their best. Between the cold dry outdoor air and the indoor dry heat that our hands are exposed to during the colder months, it's important to remember that skin loses moisture much faster.

I've been sampling a number of products that can help in the effort to keep your hands and body soft, supple and protected when the elements are harsher than normal, and I'll be sharing the ones that work best for me in my Winter Hand & Skin Care Series over the next couple of months. I've got some giveaways planned, some home made remedies you can try, tips and tricks, and several commercial product reviews planned. I hope you enjoy this series and that you learn something that can help you out with your winter skin woes!

Seed is a company founded on the belief that the products we use in our day to day life should be safe for us and environmentally friendly. Their products are enriched with grape seed oil, which contains polyphenols, an antioxidant that has been proven to slow down the effects of aging. Grape seed oil also also contains linoleic acid, a fatty acid essential for healthy skin. The benefits of grape seed oil are plentiful, and it is also an excellent supplement when taken internally.

Let's take a closer look at Seed's hand care duo! These products provide a complete do-it-yourself home hand treatment that leaves your hands soft and supple, while protecting them from the elements they face in the colder temperatures. The products include a Therapeutic Hand Scrub and a Healthy Hand Cream. This two-step process is quick and easy to do, and remember that no matter what products you use to keep your hands in shape, the key is to use them consistently.

The Healthy Hand Cream is of medium consistency, and the scent I'm using is Relaxing Lavender (also available in fragrance-free, and exhilirating citrus). This scent has a fragrance very true to its name, and it doesn't overpower any other scents you may be using. The Therapeutic Hand Scrub contains scrubbing grains to exfoliate, brighten and smooth the skin. The ingredients used in this also help to maximize moisture by removing dead skin cells.


The process simply involves applying a dollop of the hand scrub to your hands, working it in for a minute or two using small massaging circular motions, then rinsing it off. I also make sure to massage the scrub around my cuticle area, because they seem to need extra smoothing and moisture during the Winter months. Hint: Use lukewarm water when rinsing hands, because hotter water temperatures are more drying to the skin. Seed recommends using this product once a week or as needed, and to refrain from using it on raw or cracked skin. I have been using this product twice a week.

After towel-drying hands, apply the Healthy Hand Cream as your moisturizer. Hint: I don't dry my hands entirely before applying this. By applying moisturizer to damp skin, it helps to trap the moisture in the skin better. I apply this several times throughout the day, particularly after washing my hands and before going to bed. This cream feels slightly oily during the application, but it absorbs well and doesn't leave your hands with that slippery feeling. Give it less than a minute, and any oily look or feel is completely gone. This product contains several beneficial oils including grape seed, jojoba, lavender, sunflower and coconut. It also contains shea butter, a popular and effective ingredient that I'm very fond of.

Healthy Hand Cream Ingredients (3.5 fl. oz. $6.99)

Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Tapioca Starch, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

Therapeutic Hand Scrub Ingredients (3.5 fl. oz. $8.99)

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Oil), Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Seed Powder, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Powder, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice (Organic), Sorbitol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Pink Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Pectin, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopherol, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate

Both of these products are concentrated, so a little goes a long way. I find that my hands seem to remain soft to the touch, and look moisturized and healthy longer when I incorporate an exfoliating product into my routine. I can always tell when it's been 3-4 days since my last Therapeutic Hand Scrub treatment, because my moisturizer doesn't seem to last quite as long between applications. This is a reasonably priced product set that delivers results after the first use. It also works just as well on other areas such as my feet, elbows and knees.

All Seed products are cruelty free

All Seed products are plant-based, even vegan-friendly (dairy free and cruelty-free)

All Seed products are Gluten Free

All Seed products are Paraben Free, phthalate free, petrochemical-free, Laurel Sulfate-free, with no artificial colors

Seed Hand Cream and Body Cream, body soap, and hair shampoo bars are soy-free

All of our packaging is Recyclable and/or biodegradable. Our cartons use vegetable based dyes

All products are made in the U.S.A.

If you've read this far, you can now enter a giveaway! One follower will receive a full-sized Seed Healthy Hand Cream and Therapeutic Hand Scrub set, so you can pamper your hands with a little home hand spa treatment. Your hands will be able to make it through the Winter looking and feeling soft and beautiful.

The Rules: I encourage you to sign up for the Seed newsletter, which you can find in the left corner at the bottom of this page. You will not be bombarded with information from Seed, I promise you! Their newsletter is an easy and interesting read that I think you'll enjoy. You can also stay up to date with Seed by joining their Facebook page here, and following them on Twitter here. You can purchase Seed at a variety of stores and on line, all of which can be found here. If you'd like to enter (U.S. only, as product will be shipped directly from Seed), just leave your eMail in the comments section below. Entries will be accepted until 10/30/11, and the winner will be announced 10/31/11.

*Products and prizes featured were furnished by the manufacturer.

Yay! A MAC Collection I'm Finally Excited About!

Fashionista has a great look at an upcoming MAC Cosmetics Collection that I'm really looking forward to! I haven't been too excited with their offerings as a whole lately...but the Gareth Pugh for MAC has me feeling as giddy as their Barbie Collection and their Venomous Villains Collection did.

This mention about the nail polish is what first caught my eye: But can we discuss the nail lacquers for a second? Gareth wore them layered and it had this amazing beetle-like finish with an iridescent sheen. The three lacquers are Inert (creamy mid-tone grey/nude), Ascension (grey with blue violet reflective pearl), and Hyper (deep blue with violet pearl).

After looking at all of the photos, I think I may just love everything about this collection! The lip glasses look gorgeous, and the packaging is very interesting. Swatches will be the deciding factor, but it does look promising. This collection will be available beginning November 23. Click here to view Fashionista's post, and be sure to scroll all the way down to look at the polishes.

Come Monday...weekly newsletter

Hello! I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Lots of topics today...nail news, some winners to announce, and some off-topic things I found this week to be interesting and worth a mention. First up, the winner of last week's Freeman Feeling Beautiful Skin Care Giveaway was lovecarrot! The winner of my weekend Facebook giveaway was Mary P, and she'll receive a couple of Halloween Nail Polish Sets from Color Zone/Blue Cross Beauty. Thanks to all who entered, and I've got some more giveaways planned over the next couple of weeks. They'll be part of my Winter Hand/Skin Care Series, so if you're looking for products to help your skin make it through the Winter months, I hope some of the products and reviews can offer you some ideas.

Here's a look at an exclusive Dior nail polish that was created to honor Allure Magazine's 20th Anniversary. It's called Silver Lake, and this limited edition polish will be available on dior.com for $22 starting in November. (image via Allure Magazine)

Well, we knew it was only a matter of time! So many "celebrities" are coming out with their own nail polish line, and if there's any truth to this article, Snooki will soon join the ranks of the Biebs, the Kardashian's, and others.

On an off-topic note...that's what these Monday posts are for!--as my regular readers know, one of my passions in addition to nail polish and make up, is animals. Rescue dogs are at the top of that list for me, so I was elated to read that our government is in the process of hopefully finalizing a bill that would bring hope to service men and women, and homes to rescue dogs. I know I'm not alone when I say that I've become extremely disillusioned by our government these days, so the fact that this is in the works gives me a little more faith in humanity. Representative Michael Grimm (pictured below) from New York, successfully passed his Veterans Dog Therapy Training Act in the House last week. The bill allows for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to train rescue dogs into service dogs. The dogs will then be given to disabled veterans to help them in their daily life.

I have long held the belief that unemployment could be lowered and animals could be rescued by some sort of program that would encompass training the unemployed to work with rescue animals. Those animals in turn would then be sent to loving homes with a need for service animals. Dogs have so many abilities that can help people, and I truly believe that their potential for training and service in these areas is a resource that hasn't been explored nearly enough. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Senate passes this bill now. You can read the article about this bill here.

I'll close this weeks Come Monday with another passion of mine...food! Have you tried the limited edition Sweet Autumn Shake from McDonald's yet? These are so good...a light mix of pumpkin, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Limited edition food items are almost as bad as limited edition nail polishes, only this time, I was lucky enough to find them! Have a great week.
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Illamasqua Poke

Illamasqua Poke is a "bright violet purple" with an assortment of silver, violet, and blue shimmer. This was sent to me by a dear friend of mine who I need to hire as my personal shopper, because she has impeccable taste! I don't have too many Illamasqua polishes in my collection, and every time I use one, I wonder why that is. The formula is well above average, and they have a wonderful range of shades and finishes. My Sephora F & F code is waiting to be used, so I do believe I'll add a couple of Illamasqua polishes to my order.










Poke is a very photogenic polish! I normally take tons of pictures for a product, and end up with a couple that are usable. Every single one of these turned out nicely, but it's still prettier in real life. The blue shimmer is the color that stands out the most to me, and it's lovely. The shimmer colors all contrast perfectly with the purple base, making it look like it has a light sprinkling of sugar over it. We live in an area that produces a large amount of grapes, and this reminds me of a crisp Fall morning when the grapes have been lightly coated with the first frost.

I used two coats out of habit, but it was nearly opaque after just one coat. The purple shade shifts from a violet to a rich medium purple color, depending on the lighting. Many thanks to my friend for sending this to me...I love it!

City Color Nail Polish

Last month I saw a display at Rite Aid that contained six City Color brand nail polishes. The name on the display was simply "Glo". I believe I picked up some shades from this line last Spring, but they were in larger square bottles. I've done a little Google searching, and I have no idea who manufacturers these, or who City Color is. There's nothing on the label that indicates a company or a location, and the colors themselves are somewhat nameless. The label on the back says Nail Polish, followed by Dark Green and Reddish Purple in parentheses. I'm curious to know if anyone else knows more about this brand.

The bottles are small, weighing in at only 0.170 fl. oz., and they're priced at $1.99 each. But you also get a nifty rhinestone in the cap for that price! The City Color name is actually just printed on a peel-off label. The formula seemed nice enough though, and other than a rogue brush hair that I had to cut down to size, I found that they applied nicely using two coats and they dried at a fairly quick speed.


Here's a look at the less-than-creatively-named Reddish Purple. This shade has an off black base and is filled with small reddish/purple glitter...hence the name "Reddish Purple", I guess! The off black gives it a bit of a smoky look--almost like it has a slight film over it. This is a very pretty color, and it definitely deserves a more descriptive name!



Dark Green also needs a better name, don't you think? This is a lovely turquoise shimmer that has almost a plush texture look. The shimmer is very fine, but plentiful. It's more of a blue/green while the base is a turquoise, so it seems to have some depth to it in real life that I wasn't able to capture with my camera.



My little Greta girl is missing her true love, Gus. All of the dogs normally make a mad dash for the door when I go out to take my pictures, but she's been very sad since we lost Gus last week. Today is the first day I haven't had to coax her to come out with me, so I know she's healing in time, just like the rest of us.