Mario Badescu Haul!

I've been trying out different skincare products lately to add to my regimen (Obagi) so when I saw Mario Badescu on Gilt, I didnt hesitate to buy!

Here's my haul and haul thoughts: =)

Mario Badescu Lecithin Nourishing Shampoo and Hair Rinsing Condition

My Thoughts: I received this as a free sample along with my Gilt purchases. Unfortunately, I hated the duo (esp the conditioner). The shampoo seemed okay at first, but since my hair is processed it became very tangled after lathering and rinsing. The conditioner was watery and took several applications to cover my hair. After I rinsed, my hair didn't feel nourished, just stripped and dry =(.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser ($15)

My Thoughts: I chose this product for its glycolic properties. A lot of dermatologists use glycolic acid in chemical peels to reduce wrinkles, acne scars, hyperpigmentation and to improve the look of skin. My girl friend and I, felt like this was a good cleanser and gave a 'clean feeling'. However, we did feel like it was more drying than your typical facial cleanser, but this is probably largely attributed to its glycolic properties.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion ($17)

My Thoughts: LOVE. This thing is amazing and the hype about it is true-matched. The drying lotion is intended for spot treatment for pimples. I swabbed the pink sediment on a pimple before bed and in the morning it was gone! The only downfall for me was that is smells really medicinal, but that is hardly a reason to stray from buying this.

Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub ($15)

My Thoughts: This scrub smells like a strawberry milkshake (delicious). However, it failed in every other aspect. It has little strawberry seeds in it to help exfoliate the skin, but they get stuck in your hair after rinsing. I felt like this scrub was only meant for the purposes of removing dead skin via exfoliation; it wasn't really cleansing. It would be good start for a tween to remove debris since it isn't a harsh or abrasive scrub.

Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer ($20)

My Thoughts: I didn't love this moisturizer, it was just okay. It was on the thicker side and it felt somewhat heavy on my face. While the actual moisturizer is oil free, this product actually made me feel greasy after application (which is pretty uncharacteristic of my skin).

My general thoughts:

Overall, given the opportunity to buy these products from a Mario Badescu sale again, I would only repurchase the Drying lotion and MAYBE the glycolic cleanser. I felt like the rest of the products weren't up to par with what I expect from my skin care regimen; they were just okay.

Makeup Talk: BB Cream

What is BB Cream?

BB Cream is Cosmetic Blemish Balm that is used mostly for the purposes of evening skin tone. It has gained a lot of notoriety in Asia for its 'natural appearance' on the skin. There are many different types of BB Cream that can be used for acne, whitening, brightening, pore minimizing, as a primer, and can even be a replacement for a foundation.

BB Cream is starting to come into light in the US and big name cosmetic brands such as Clinique and Estee Lauder are starting to produce BB Cream as well. --They even have men's BB cream now w/ SPF properties. -- LOL

I use BB Cream as a primer under my Jane Iredale pressed powder. I like that it's light weight and still gives me a good amount of coverage [no compromising]. I currently use Boscia BB Cream w/ SPF 27 [Sephora] and Dr. Ci: Labo BB Perfect Cream in Natural [Japanese Makeup Store/Amazon]. I do prefer the Boscia BB Cream over the Dr. Ci: Labo because it has a smoother appearance [at the time, it was also cheaper! --Sephora has raised their prices]. Both are light-wear, but Dr. Ci: Labo feels chalkier on my face as opposed to Boscia which feels more like a traditional liquid foundation. Both of the products are ~$38 now.

HOWEVER, make sure you try your BB Cream before you buy it. BB Cream has a tendency to be very white to preserve its ability to make your skin look flawless. !Tan girls beware! There's nothing worse than looking like a ghost in your pics! If you are more tan and you are consider both these products, you want to lean towards Dr.Ci:Labo because it is darker than Boscia's BB Cream.

I know these BB Creams sound pretty pricey, but in my opinion, the best accessory you can have it great looking skin. If your money-tree is lacking in green leafy goodness, be happy that drug store brands are starting to introduce more reasonably priced BB Creams and for different skin colors! Yay!!

A Challenge to My Girl Friends: Choose an Outfit That Defines Your Style and Let's Blog It!

Fashion Chronicles: Ladies Edition

A few weeks ago I challenged my friends to find their favorite outfit and help me define their styles. Here's what we came up with:

Lauren: "Sailing in Stripes"

What you should know about her style: Anything nautical-looking, striped and navy this girl loves!

Megan: "Lovely in Lace"

What you should know about her style: Headbands and a wide variety of Prada flats *drool* are almost always apart of her every day outfit.

Dina: "Uniquely Chic"

What you should know about her style: She's known for rocking these amazing RayBan glasses and refers to herself as 'where's waldo' in them!

Corinne: "Classically Casual"

What you should know about her style: She's loves this beautiful timepiece her sister gave her.

Aileen: "Sassy in Sheer"

What I know about her style: This vegetarian loves herself some faux fur and tie-neck sheer blouses!

Beth: "Trendy in Tribal"

What you should know about her style: She can put together an adorable outfit like no one else you know!

Lauren: "Comfortably Cute"

What you should know about her style: She loves accessorizing: dangle earrings, watches and scarves!

Me =)

What you should know about my style: I'm most comfortable in an over-sized sweater, leggings and uggs, but when I get the chance, I love to pull together a great outfit. I have an unhealthy obsession with sunglasses and recently, any kind of wedged shoe!

In the Spirit of Chinese NY: NE Tiger

In the spirit of Chinese New Year, I've decided to fashion log my favorite Chinese designer. I've been completely obsessed with NE Tiger's designs for quite a few years now and even plan on making a purchase at his Shanghai store in the future. He's modernized traditional Chinese clothing into drool-worthy and drama-tastic designs. He makes me want to de-Westernize, bind my feet, put on some white makeup and throw my hair in a bun. KIDDING! But seriously I am OBSESSED with NE Tiger and cannot wait to get one of his gowns on my body.

A Guy's Guide: Fashion For Every Occasion

The Chronicles of Men's Fashion:

Ricky: "The Sweetheart"

- What we love most about this outfit: Blue on Blue; the Penguin sweater pulled over the navy polo. This is color on color done right =)

- Where to wear this: Meeting your Gf's parents or a romantic picnic

Eric: "Casually Cool"

- What we love most about this outfit: The Gucci Belt adds style to this outfit, making this casual look appropriate for a night out at the bars.
- Where to wear this: Grabbing beers with your buddies or on a date to the movies with your girl.

Chris: "Suited Up"

- What we love most about this outfit: The tailored fit of the suit makes all the difference.

- Where to wear this: To a job interview or to a wedding as your girlfriend's plus-one.

Justin: "The Greek"

- What we love most about this outfit: There's nothing more appealing than a Greek who wears his letters proudly and in a way that is appealing to a girl's eyes.

- Where to wear this: To a sports game, BBQ or a casual hang-out.

Travis: "The Trend Setter"

- What we love most about this outfit: The red gloves and suede kicks! A true trend setter knows how to subtly play up an outfit and this is a clear example of just that!

- Where to wear this: This sweater is not only stylish, but will keep you warm on a winter night. Take this look bar hopping or to a dinner with your friends and family.

Joe: "The Musician"

- What we love most about this outfit: The Vans add some bold color to this otherwise laid back style.

- Where to wear this: To school or on a study date with a new crush.

David: "Street-Wear"

- What we love most about this outfit: Layering a sweat-shirt and jacket adds warmth and style without adding bulk to this 'street' style.

- Where to wear this: To a party with your boys or on a mall date with your Gf.

Jen Says: The "Lob" Is In!

My friend Jen is the ultimate beauty guru. She owns a salon (Zen Spa and Salon) and she can style your hair, give you a perfected mani/pedi and bless you with a diamond-touch microderm facial all in one day of consecutive appointments.

Jen [to me] is all about the hair; it's her passion. So as a blogger, I asked myself what I could do that other bloggers don't. Since I don't have the credentials to give professional advice about hair, I've asked Jen to give me some insight into her salon and her clients. This is what Jen says:

"The 'Lob' is this season's most asked for haircut. It's an angled, longer bob -- I'll tell you why I love it: long hair has been 'in' for a good ten years now, but not everyone pulls off long hair. There's nothing more annoying than a person refusing to cut their hair when it does nothing for them. The Lob is flattering because it's chic and softens a woman's face."

What Jen says about her favorite product right now: "My favorite favorite hair product currently is Redken's All Soft Argan Oil. It's hair crack. If you have dry, over-processed hair, it will feel healthy again. It defrizzes without being heavy at all."

Here's what the Redken website about using their Argan Oil in 6 different ways:

On Wet Hair:

1. Protect: Pre-Blow-Dry Shield

2. Illuminate: Styling Shine Booster

3. Softens: Treatment Booster

On Dry Hair:

4. Moisturize: Pre-Shampoo Treamtnet

5. Smooth: Post Blow-Dry Perfector

6. Recondition: Overnight Treatment

Until next time!

Oh Good Lord, I Hope My Mom Doesn't Read This One..

Subject: Manscaping

Without sounding completely vulgar/inappropriate, let me explain myself. Earlier, I posted some advice about simple things men could change about themselves that women would appreciate. While I was brainstorming with a girlfriend, the subject of manscaping came up. I thought it was completely inappropriate (considering I just started blogging), but I decided to take a small poll among some girls anyways. I figured guys would want to know.

When asked the question, "Do women prefer men to be Shaved, Trimmed, or Au Naturel [in their nether regions]?" these were the responses:

"Hmm I think men's hair is sexy...like the happy trail, but trimmed and well-groomed [around there]."-Girl 1

"Um pretty sure shaved would freak me out"..."But so would a hairy jungle"- Girl 2

"It bothers me if he's too hairy and i'm trying to do some business down there--haha"- Girl 3

"Shaved. I do NOT like hair"- Girl 4

"Trimmed for sure. It doesn't have to be shaved, but I don't mind if it is."-Girl 5

Poll results:

Shaved: 3

Trimmed: 6

Au Nature: 3

Personally, I prefer when my man is trimmed. Not too much, not too little. I want to be able to identify your member when I'm visiting the area but I don't want to be reminded of a naked mole rat or a prepubescent boy. Also, keep in mind that when a boy shaves, hair is going to grow back..OUCH!

So there it is boys! Now you know!

A Guy's Guide: 5 Things Your Girl Wouldn't Mind You Changing About Yourself

There are certainly small things men can change about themselves that women would appreciate. Here are my thoughts.

1. Pluck your eyebrows- Men should have two eyebrows not one! Your buddy says it's feminine, but would you rather impress him or us (girls)? I found this picture on google images, the top picture screams "unibrow, unibrow, unibrow!"

--This a good example of how plucking a few hairs along the brow bone/unibrow region can change our focus. Dont overdo it! Nice eyes dude!

2. Retire the Batman undies and get some boxer briefs- there's nothing sexy about your batman or ninja turtle underwear. It reminds us of our 5 year old cousin running around with his batman cape on. Invest in some boxer briefs, maybe some Calvin Kleins? Your wrinkly cartoon boxers have got to go!

3. Suck it up and spend the extra bucks for a good hair cut and some hair product. I've noticed that guys love to brag about how cheap their haircuts are: "Yeah, only $5 bucks downtown." Why is this something to brag about? Paying someone $5 dollars to take clippers to your head? Instead, spend the $25 at a salon for a hair dresser who will spend more than 10 minutes on your cut. --Another problem is hair gel. You realize it's 2012 right? Who still uses gel? Get some molding mud, hair wax, etc. Anything besides gel 'cuz it just looks BAD in your hair; it makes it look unnaturally shiny, stiff and greasy. A girl wants to be able to run her fingers through your hair when you are kissing. If my 55 year old uncle can purchase hair wax, so can you.

4. Invest in a face wash and moisturizer (face lotion).-- Boys, the bar of soap that you just scrubbed between your butt cheeks is not sufficient enough to wash your face. GROSS. Wash your face with a real face wash, you can buy Murad off amazon or even a Neutrogena product at the grocery store. It will get rid of those huge blackheads that have been building up in your face since you were 14 years old and minimize the breakouts. Dont forget to moisturize after! There's nothing cute about elephant skin.

5. Dont be afraid to show us a little affection. -- I always appreciate when Eric gives me a little bit of affection in public. It makes me happy knowing that he is consciously making an effort to show me love. Own that you are not afraid to show us how you feel or have the need to hide behind your pride.