I want this: beautyblender

So YouTube gurus, celeb and beauty mags, and makeup lovers everywhere have been raving about the beautyblender - a magical egg-shaped sponge that supposedly will "make you look like a movie star without the pricey services of a pro makeup artist" by giving your foundation/powder/concealer/bronzer/etc. that airbrushed finish look. Celebs like the Kardashians swear by it!

According to the beautyblender website, "Beautyblender’s patent-pending elliptical shape makes application foolproof by allowing you to access hard-to-reach areas with stunning ease. Its suede texture is sensual to the touch and its unique curves fit the contours of your face, leaving your make up dazzling and undetectable. Beautyblender is latex free, non-allergenic and odor free."

You can buy the beautyblender set - which includes blendercleanser to clean your sponge - online right now on Sephora for $39.95. Apparently, each sponge lasts three or more months, depending on how much you use it.

Should I should purchase the beautyblender or not? Leave your comments below on what you think or if you have tried it before!

Can You Get Beautiful Skin from a Green Smoothie?

Lately, I have been OBSESSED with reading Kimberly Snyder's Health and Beauty Blog. Based in New York, Snyder is a raw foodie, clinical nutritionist, yoga master, and chef to the stars (she recently was on the set of "When in Rome"). Snyder only eats raw food, meaning she doesn't eat anything cooked above 118 degrees Fahrenheit - which means no meat! But, according to Snyder, the benefits of eating all organic, raw foods (think lots of leafy greens, vegetables, fruit, nuts, etc.) are endless: it heals the body from the cellular level up, increases energy, increases efficient digestion, provides ongoing cleansing, and even leads to glowing healthy skin, among a bevy of other beauty benefits! Snyder’s philosophy is that "Outer Beauty is a Reflection of Inner Health."

So now I bring you to the Green Smoothie. Each morning Snyder starts off her day with a Green Smoothie, packed with tons of green vegetables and certain fruits. Many of the ingredients can help with common beauty woes. For instance, according to Snyder, under eye circles can be reduced by eating foods high in organic sodium (celery, kale, spinach, olives) and a beautiful glow can be achieved by incorporating more organic radishes in your diet!

If you look above, you'll see a green smoothie I made recently in my blender - all it consists of is spinach, a cup of cold water, an organic apple, and a banana. It was a little thick (I should have added some more water) and tough to get down, but honestly you could really only taste the fruit! I'm going to try to drink them more often - say maybe once or twice a week. I am NOT a raw foodist and I barely eat any organic foods. But I am curious to see if these Green Smoothies add any of the above benefits Snyder mentioned to my life.

Snyder says 60-70% of whatever we put onto our skin is absorbed through the dermis, and ends up in our bloodstream and has to be processed by the liver. Needless to say, she is not a big proponent of makeup. So if you girls are sick of going out and buying foundations, concealers, and moisturizers to hide your flaws, maybe you can head to your local supermarket to find some alternative solutions!

Reviews to Come on Boston Beauty Addict

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I will be posting before (see above) and after photos of my boyfriend's eyes after he used Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Re-New Anti-Puff Eye Roller some time next week!

Other reviews to expect in the coming months are Zia's Skin Basics Nourishing Creme as well as La Roche-Posay's Lipikar line for extremely dry and irritated skin!

On Sale TODAY: Lorac & code.ai on Hautelook.com

I wanted to tell you guys about a must go-to sale on Hautelook.com today. Lorac products are on sale for up to 80% off - from eyeshadows to nail polishes to cheek stains! It's crazy that these products are selling for $4+, seeing that they typically cost $18! The above eyeshadow I posted above is on sale and one of my favorites. Lorac's eyeshadows are high quality and buttery soft. Visit the Lorac sale on Hautelook.com at http://www.hautelook.com/campaigns/registration1?event_id=1983&sid=11299&mid=bd&cid=bostonbeautyaddict&aid=lorac and be sure to register for free to learn about other great offers on everything from makeup to the latest fashions.

AND if you're looking for longer lashes or fuller brows, be sure to check out the code.ai line! http://www.hautelook.com/campaigns/registration1?event_id=1986&sid=11299&mid=bd&cid=bostonbeautyaddict&aid=codeai

Laura Geller's Lip & Eye Spackle Not So Spectacular

~Laura Geller's Eye Spackle Formula Applied to Lid~

~Eyeshadow Over Laura Geller's Eye Spackle Formula~

~Eyeshadow 8 Hours Later...~

Evening everybody! So I want to start off by saying that I had high hopes for Laura Geller's Lip & Eye Spackle. Since the consistency of it is so thick, I really thought it would help my eyeshadow to last throughout the day. But, judging from the photos above, I'm truly disappointed in it! Now, I know that there is no magical formula out there that is going to keep a girl's eyeshadow on completely for the entire day, but for $20+ I thought Laura Geller had something more powerful up her sleeve!

I haven't tried the lip spackle portion of this duo yet, just because it's winter time and my lips are really chapped. But based on reviews from Makeupalley.com, I've heard that the formula is chalky and doesn't amplify the true color of the lipstick like it's supposed to.

Sadly, I'm giving two thumbs down on this product! :( BUT this was an experiment. I'm also going to test out the staying power of my Urban Decay Primer Potion and Two-Faced Shadow Insurance, so keep checking back for photos and details!

My biggest regret: MAKE UP FOR EVER's AQUA SMOKY LASH

Words truly can't describe how much I hate MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Smoky Lash Mascara. The formula is runny and always seems to get on my contacts when I apply it to my lashes. And after applying it to my lashes, black specks appear under my bottom lashes everytime I blink! I guess I have to hold my eyes open and not blink until it's dry? It's terrible. For $22, I should have taken it straight back to Sephora, but, stupidly, I didn't. Now it just sits in my makeup case collecting dust.

My Valentine's Day Look

Hello everyone! I hope ya'll had a great Valentine's Day! So above is the look I wore for Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. Here are the products I used:

- MAC NC30 foundation

- Manual Override Conceal

- MAC Prism blush

- MAC's Naked Lunch eyeshadow all over the lid

- I blended MAC's Lala eyeshadow on the outer corner of my eye (I brought the eyeshadow slightly above my crease. I was trying to create a more "angular" look). Be sure to blend harsh lines with a fluffy brush.

- Then from Revlon's Azure Mist 12-hour eyeshadow quad, I patted on the first silver color to my eyelid, just to create a little more shimmer

- I lined the top and bottom lashes with a black pencil eyeliner

- From Revlon's 10 Berry Bloom 12-hour eyeshadow quad, I took the darkest purple color and patted it over the black liner on my top and bottom of my eyes

- Using my Coastal Scents 88 palette, I just took a matte color closest to my skin tone and applied it under my brow

- I curled my eyelashes and applied Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara to my lashes

- I finished the look with a nude shimmer lip gloss

That's it! Hope you like it!

A Hair Straightening Product that Works...and Smells Like Cake!

Hey everyone - so I wanted to tell you about a product that I have been using for the past year and love. I first learned about Unite's Lazer Straight Relaxing Fluid from my hair stylist at James Joseph Studio (thanks Kelly!). She always puts this product into my hair when it's wet and I literally salivate immediately because it smells just like cake! But besides the incredible - and dangerous smell - Unite's Lazer Straight Relaxing Fluid works. I have wavy hair and right now I'm trying to grow it longer (I have layers) so it's in a kind of weird state. What I like is that this product does not weigh your hair down like other straighteners. According to Unite's website, the Lazer Straight Relaxing Fluid "enhances weightless shine, smoothes and tames curly, wavy, or frizzy hair, acts as a thermal protectant, and you will never feel more in control." I apply this product in my hair daily, after using shampoo and conditioner and then quickly drying off my hair in a towel. I use a comb to brush it through my hair.

So, if you like straight hair - and cake! - then this product is for you!

I LOVE Sephora's Angled Shadow Brush

I had seen some tutorials on YouTube that used a large angled brush to apply a contour color to the crease and outer corner, so I decided to invest in one for my own collection. I went to Sephora and purchased Sephora's Angled Shadow Brush #20 and I LOVE it. I've seriously been using it everyday. This brush is extremely soft and precise. Honestly, you can use this to apply eyeshadow to your lid and to put darker colors in your crease and outer V. Definitely a must have in every girl's makeup collection!

Most Worn TAG Response

I pulled this tag off Rubenela's page, so here are my answers (if you're interested...)!

1. Most Worn Lipstick + Lipgloss: To be honest, I don't really wear either! Terrible, I know! Usually I just put on chapstick...

2. Most Worn Eyeliner/Kajal: MAKE UP FOREVER's Aqua Eyes Waterproof eyeliner in black and Benefit's Eye Kohl Pencil in Sable (now discontinued, I believe)

3. Most Worn Nail Polish: OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark

4. Most Worn Eyeshadow: This is a hard one. I have a few...Stila's Kitten, Maybelline's Charcoal Smokes Quad, and lately MAC's Naked Lunch with Shale in the crease

5. Most Worn Concealer: Manual Override Conceal

6. Most Worn Foundation: Almay's Smart Shade Makeup in Light/Medium

7. Most Worn Finishing Powder: Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

8. Most Worn Blush: Another tough one...MAC's Plum Foolery (I've hit pan!), Prism or Fun & Games from the Hello Kitty collection

9. Most Worn Bronzer: Stila's Sun Bronzer

10. Most Worn Mascara: Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara

Can you really prevent eye wrinkles?

I'll admit it - I'm a moisturizer slacker. I wash my face twice a day and often times don't moisturize after, simply because of pure laziness. Of course, my skin gets dry and I find that my makeup doesn't go on as nicely. But something dawned on me one day. I was putting on my mom's makeup and noticed how wrinkly her eyelids are. I love my mom to pieces but, seriously, she has the weirdest eyelids - you literally have to gently pull the skin up on her eyelid so you can get eyeshadow on. Afterwards, I began to panic. "This is going to happen to me one day," I thought!

So I hightailed it over to Sephora and talked with a skincare specialist about what I could do to prevent eye wrinkles. Since I am still young, she suggested Clinique's All about Eyes Rich eye cream, a rich and creamy moisturizer that should be applied in the morning and before bed. I bought it for $28.50 and so far I'm loving it. I don't apply it directly to my eyelids - I apply it underneath my eyes and around my orbital bone - all the way up to my eyebrows. I'm not sure if it's in my head or not, but I do feel a certain tightness in the area I apply it to after a few minutes.

Clinique's All about Eyes Rich eye cream says it "diminishes the look of undereye circles, shadows, fine lines - instantly and over time. De-puffs, calms with botanicals. Helps boost natural collagen production. Strengthens skin's moisture barrier against common irritants. Ophthalmologist Tested."

I guess time will tell as to whether it works or not!

I'm sick!

Hey everyone - sorry I haven't been blogging. I've been feeling under the weather this week and have a horrible sore throat today. I have plenty of blogs to come, like my most recent Sephora haul!

Don't you hate it when...

Your eyeliner is perfect on one eye - and then you mess it up on the other eye? I know I do.

And the winner is...

The winner of the $20 Sephora gift card is...MARCIA! She guessed that this woman above was 71 years old, and she really is 72! This woman's secret to firm, glowing skin - Vaseline. She applies it every other day, upwards on her face!

Putting Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller to the Test

So my boyfriend (he's going to kill me for mentioning him on my blog and posting his eyes - he wanted me to just call him a "friend!") is going to test out Garnier's Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller for me (even though it technically is for women). Awhile back, he asked me what he could do to diminish the dark circles and puffiness under his eyes. And last week, my friend asked me to review this product. So I decided to kill two birds with one stone and have my boyfriend review this for me!

Garnier's Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller says it has a unique combination of "skin-nutrients" that reduce under-eye puffiness and dark circles for renewed, refreshed eyes. It should be rolled under the eye from the inner corner to the outer corner, one to two times. Then use your fingers to blend it in. Apply it in the morning and then as needed throughout the day. Results are typically seen after one week of use.

Let's see what happens!

A Surprise from My Mom: Manual Override Concealer

My mom is a huge fan of QVC and happened to see the launch of Jay Manuel's (of America's Next Top Model) makeup line, Manual Override Comestics, and had the urge to buy me something.

She ordered me the "Manual Override Conceal," which arrived in the mail today. It's a nice sized tube. I put a dab of it on a blemish on my face and so far I am pretty impressed. The formula is creamy yet light and does deliver coverage. It should be applied after you put on your foundation.

Then I really decided to put it to the test. According to the brochure that came with the concealer, this product can conceal dark circles, age spots, freckles, and anywhere you have uneven skin-tone. Plus, the conceal should last all day (we'll see about that) and does not settle into lines, wrinkles, and pores. I used the formula to cover up my freckles, as you can see above in the before and after. What do you think of the results? Certainly not a miracle serum, but also not too shabby for $19!

Is Super Smooth, Straight Hair All in the Brush?

I have straight-yet-wavy hair, which I unfortunately iron everyday with my Chi. Why? Because I have a semi-edgy haircut (as you can see above) that I only like when it is stick straight. Problem: I can never seem to get it as straight and perfect as my hairdresser.

According to my hairdresser, here's the secret: Pull a comb through your hair as you are straightening it with the iron (as demonstrated in this YouTube video). So, I used to have the same comb as the girl in the YouTube vid I just posted, but, unfortunately, it broke. In its place, I bought the above Conair "Go Straight" brush, which has thick bristles that grab onto your hair and pull it straight.

My thoughts: this brush is bulky and hard for me to operate with my left hand. I can't get it really close to my roots either. And when I pull the brush through, it makes me hair static-y. All and all, I am not loving this brush. But, hopefully, I'll get the hang of pulling the brush through my hair with my left hand while ironing my hair with the right!

I'd love to hear your thoughts about the brush above or any other tools you use to get perfectly straight! Comment below! :)

Some Revlon Products Buy 1, Get 1 Free at CVS

Just got back from braving the snow to get to a doctor's appointment, and I decided to swing by CVS for a few things. I took a peak at the products in the beauty aisle (bad me, but I didn't buy anything!) and noticed that some Revlon products were buy one get one free, like Revlon's foundations, matte eyeshadows, and Colorstay 12-eyeshadow quads, which are fantastic and well-worth the price!

Many, Many Thanks to Jeri at 99 Pink Balloons

As you can all see, I have a beautiful new header for my blog. This was made by Jeri at 99 Pink Balloons, a makeup addict and blogger from New Zealand. THANK YOU so much Jeri! Please subscribe to Jeri's blog (http://ninetyninepinkballoons.blogspot.com/) - she is fantastic at makeup. She has many fun looks and she even tells you how to perfectly wing your eyeliner!

Update on where to find Cargo Cosmetics

Hey ya'll - I just got an email from a PR firm that manages CARGO Comestics. Here's where you'll be able to find CARGO products in the future:

"For 2010, CARGO has begun an evolution with its relationship with Sephora that will take several months. We are focusing our brand on Sephora Inside JC Penney and we will be a top feature brand for them. By the end of this year, over 200 Sephora Inside JC Penney stores are expected to carry the full range of CARGO products. We will be removing CARGO from the other Sephora doors in North America . CARGO products will continue to be sold within Sephora's European markets: France , Spain , Italy , Netherlands , Portugal , Romania , Turkey and the Middle East . In addition, CARGO will continue to be available at Ulta, QVC, Beauty 360, Independent Beauty Boutiques, Murale (Canada) and Boots (UK)."

Why Mascara Makes a Huge Difference

Here's what my eyes look like with and without mascara. It's a huge difference. I can't imagine not wearing mascara. By the way, I'm wearing Maybelline's Pulse Perfection mascara.

Giveaway: Win a $20 Sephora Gift Card!

Hooray - I've reached 20 subscribers! I want to thank everyone for reading my blog and commenting on the products I've talked about. I really appreciate it. And since I appreciate it so much, I wanted to do a little something for you. I'm going to give away a $20 gift card to Sephora BUT I am setting up a little contest to get it!

A co-worker (Nikia you cannot enter this!) gave me a photo of this woman (see above) who says the trick to getting young looking skin is by rubbing Vaseline upwards onto your face every other day. The person closest to guess how old this woman is will win the gift card, which I will mail out to them (nationally or internationally)!

Comment under this post with the age. I'll send an email to the winner. The giveaway will end next Saturday morning, January 23, at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. That's when I will announce the winner on my blog (and the age of this woman). Good luck!

Perfect for me: Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara

I know I am on a Maybelline kick today - but I LOVE Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara. It really is comparable to Lancome's Oscillation Lash Mascara (another love of mine) and it's almost half the price (Lancome is $34, Maybelline is $14).

So Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara has a vibrating wand, which helps to make sure the mascara goes on clump-free while lengthening and adding volume to your lashes. It really works for me. It's a must have in any makeup collection!

Drugstore Must-Have: Maybelline Smoky Quad Palettes

Want to get a lot of bang for your buck? Then you have to purchase Maybelline's Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quads. I am absolutely in love with them - not only are they affordable, but the pigmentation is great. The offer everything from neutrals to purples to greens to smokey colors (like the palette I have above). Plus, there are directions on each eyeshadow indicating where on the eye it should be placed!

Urban Decay On Sale NOW on Hautelook.com

Everything is under $10!

What's in My Purse?

Many makeup/beauty bloggers and YouTubers often do a "what's in my purse" post/video, so I decided to follow suit. If you're interested in learning what I keep in my Coach bag, read on:

1.) Tide to Go Stick
2.) Lip gloss and a sample of Lorac's sample lip gloss in Glam (which I love), both from Sephora
3.) My boyfriend's watch (I've been meaning to get the battery replaced for him!)
4.) Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizer
5.) Neosporin Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy with SPF 20
6.) Purell Hand Sanitizer
7.) GenTeal Moderate Eyedrops
8.) Target's Ibuprofen
9.) Pepto-Bismal caplets
10.) Eclipse gum
11.) Car keys/House keys (complete with a Twilight keychain of course!)
12.) Umbrella
13.) Coach wallet
14.) Hair elastic
15.) Verizon LG enV3 in Maroon

Where's the makeup tutorials, Boston Beauty Addict?

So I PROMISE I am going to start doing a "Look of the Day" or maybe just a "Look of the Week" for you guys. I just got a new camera and I am still trying to figure out how to adjust the settings so that you can actually see my makeup. Right now, when I take the photo, the makeup doesn't show up so well. But I'm working on it! :)

Calling All Cargo Fans: Cargo 50% off at Sephora

I was at a local Sephora on Sunday and I happened to be looking through the store and noticed that Cargo products were half off! When I asked the saleswoman why, she said it was because Sephora was discontinuing the line in stores! So, of course, I had to take advantage of this sale to buy Cargo's Essential Eyeshadow Pallette in Dark Neutral (originally $32, now $16). I also picked up a Tarte Frxtion lip conditioner.

Am I in love with Cargo's Essential Eyeshadow pallette? No, not really. The pigmentation of the shadows isn't great. But it's still a good purchase for $16, at least I think so.

Now, here's what you SHOULD pick up from Cargo if you can still snag them: their blushes. All of them are great and many double as bronzers!

Best Moisturizer for Combination & Basically All Skin Types

I received a request from one of my subscribers asking what would be a good moisturizer for combination skin. I have combination skin and I've tried a lot of expensive moisturizers in my day, like Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. But the one moisturizer I love the best (and always keep in my vanity) can be bought from a drugstore. It's Cetaphil's Moisturizing Lotion.

This product was recommended to me awhile back by my dermatologist and I swear by it. According to the Cetaphil website, this product is a "non-greasy formulation that is mild, non-irritating and long lasting. This gentle moisturizing formula contains emollients and humectants that bind moisture to the skin. This fragrance-free moisturizer contains no lanolins or parabens that could irritate sensitive skin."

I've been using this moisturizer for years and I never get breakouts from it. And for the cheap price of like $10 or so, it's well worth it.

What moisturizer do you swear by? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

MAC 7 Lash: Big Disappointment

Now I'm sure many of you are going to disagree with me on this one, but I was not impressed with MAC's 7 lashes. I bought them for my New Year's look (I tried to take a photo for you guys but it didn't work out - so I'll just redo the look for this blog).

Here's what I didn't like about them: I told the MAC makeup artist that I wanted a fairly natural lash that was just going to give me a hint of volume and length. When I put these on my eyes, I felt like I had long spider legs on. I hated the spacing in between the lashes as well. I thought that added to the fake look.

Since I've never really worn lashes before, I did have some difficulty putting them on. After several trys, I finally got the right eye to work. But my left eye was doomed. I ended up taking the lashes off and going without them. Sadly, $12 wasted.

I will give MAC some credit though. The tracking of the lashes are very thin, which was nice because you could get them really close to the lashline. And the glue they offer for $8 is really good and I would recommend getting it.

All and all, maybe I would try MAC lashes again, but in another design. And I definitely need more practice in putting them on!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I'm wishing you a happy and healthy 2010!

Thank you for reading (and subscribing to) my blog. I am so appreciative of your support. They'll be good things to come on here in 2010 so be sure to stay tuned! And, as always, please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas for blog posts or if you have affordable products you would like me to try.