Musings of a Muse

Good Morning Lovies!

Happy Monday!

You may (or may not) have noticed that Musings has undergone a few minor changes. One important change for me was having a new domain name setup. You can now find Musings of a Muse at it’s new address, www.musingsofamuse.com!

Yay! Exciting! If you by chance link me on your site if you could please as a personal favor to me update your link to reflect the change I’d be extremely grateful!

Secondly, you’ll notice my layout changed a tiny bit. I felt like my three columns were a bit cluttered so I now have a column on the left and a column on the right and finally my posts are smack in the middle!

Thirdly, I’ve added a cbox off to the right hand side of my column which you can use to comment randomly or just to say hey!

I have a few ads up as well! If you find these irritating do let me know and I’ll try to come up with something else as I never want Musings to be about “commercial” or “corporate”. That’s not my aim with Musings at all so if you feel overwhelmed by ads you should tell me and I’ll do everything I can to reduce the clutter so you can have the content you come here for!

I’ve temporarily moved my live chat room. I know it’s been ages since I held a live chat but I promise I’ll be adding it up soon and having a live chat

A few items that are upcoming as you know are the Musings forum and some podcasts as well!

That’s about it!

I hope you’re as excited as I am about the changes! Maybe they’ll make your life a bit easier too when browsing around here as I believe it’s better organized now!

Much Love and Hugs,

From your Muse.

Here are a few releases on the shores of beautiful Japan that won’t be available stateside.

I’m debating with myself whether I need these. The price scares me slightly as it’s about $20 USD more then what I’d pay here in the US but both items are gorgeous aren’t they?

A very beautiful friend of mine is doing my shopping for me as she lives in Tokyo but it’s so difficult for me to decide if I really need these!

Ugh choices, choices!

Loving these?

Obsessed with Givenchy?

Tell the Muse!

My love for Bobbi knows no bounds lately. I’ve done a complete 180 and I’m the biggest fan Bobbi ever did have.

I can’t believe I went from bitchin’ how bad her products were (or at least some I tried) to how fantastic they are!

I guess I seriously didn’t give her stuff a chance because lately I’m an utter convert, fan, and lover.

I wanted to do a comparison review this week of Bobbi’s Cream Compact Foundation vs. MAC Moisture Blend Foundation. But since I splurged some cash on Bobbi’s Cream Compact I thought it would be a bit ridiculous and obscene of me to go buy some MAC Moisture Blend just to compare the two. I may still do so as I’m sick enough to go buy some out of the sake of curiosity but for now you’ll have to settle for my review of Bobbi’s Foundation.

First off I should mention I don’t need a face full of coverage. If I had to go around with an entire load of mineral powder on my face all day or a ton of liquid foundation on you might as well shoot me dead in the head Zombie style.

Seriously the idea of having all that on my face all day scares me. I guess there may very well be a bit of irony in that statement considering I pack on eye color like I’m going to a rave but hey eye color and tons of foundation are two very separate things people!

Secondly, it deserves to be mentioned that I have some serious dry skin going on due to the cold weather. I’m a combination skin that gets oily come Summer and dried out in the Winter so using a cream foundation is an absolute life saver during colder weather!

Bobbi Brown’s Cream Foundation promises flawless coverage, long wear, and relief for dry skin. Hey, I’m all over all three of those things!

I think this is actually made with a mature lady in mind that has drier skin, wrinkles, etc….however it’s relief for my dry skin.

I normally use a cream foundation anyway so I had no reason to adjust to this or learn how to use it etc…My normal foundation is the Morgen Schick Hide and Highlight palette which is something you have to pry out of my cold, dead hands one day but I will say that Bobbi’s Cream Foundation is slowly become a fast favorite that may very well end up topping my list soon!

The formula is extremely easy to blend and is highly moisturizing. I use Bobbi’s foundation brush to apply to the inner corner of my nose and blend slowly outwards. I apply a bit to the shadows around my chin and shadows found under my nose, above my lip line.

That’s it done.

Coverage is beautiful and as flawless as promised! It also happens to last about 7-8 hours without touch up which really makes me do cart wheels! Sweet! 8 hours of continuous wear? The Muse likey!

The compact has a sponge applicator it comes with as well which can be stored under the cream as it’s a flip top which makes for ease of touch ups during the day if you please.

It goes on wonderfully smooth and my skin is quite happy afterwards as it doesn’t flake up as a powder would. It just sinks in and creates a lovely canvas for my makeup!

I originally purchased Sand but it was way BEIGE! Holy cow! I swapped up for Porcelain and that’s perfect.

Without Flash

With Flash

All in all definately worth my $40! I’m super happy with the results and the beautiful look of my skin when using this. If you have dry skin this is something you definately, sincerely need to try!

Do you use cream foundation?

Have you tried this?

Love Bobbi Brown?

Tried MAC’s Moisture Blend? The Muse is curious tell me about this!

Tell the Muse!

Showing Bobbi more love when I tested, reviewed, and tried out the Metallics Palettes! Click here to read!

Click here to read my Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner Review!

Click here to read my entire review of the Bobbi Brown Pink Raspberry Collection!

Click here to read my review on the Bobbi Brown Concealer Palette!

Want more Bobbi Brown?

Click on “Bobbi Brown” in the categories and be whisked away to all my entires on Bobbi Brown Cosmetics!

I’ve already done a section on Lush Cosmetics Shampoo Bars a long, long while ago but I was doing my daily Sunday night hair clarifying ritual yesterday and I thought I’d share it with you guys since it works so well for me!

As you know my hair mostly stays up and out of my face in a bun with a headband. I don’t like my hair flying around my head, my mouth, my face, etc….it irritates and annoys me since it’s so very long. I like it out of my face when I’m working so 5 days a week from 9 to 5 my hair stays firmly in it’s bun with a headband smoothing it back. After work and on the weekends I don’t mind it floating around but when I’m working it’s smoothed back!

I wash it everyday. I do not believe that washing my hair daily will strip my hair of it’s natural oils yada yada yada. If it does, it does but the fact of the matter is I don’t feel clean unless my hair is washed so every morning I take a shower and I wash and condition my hair.

During the week I use various shampoos, conditioners, and such. My hair doesn’t have a whole lot of maintenance attached to it during the week. It consists of me entering the shower washing it with my daily choice of shampoo and condition, air drying it, curling it into a bun, and going.

I don’t blow dry my hair, I don’t curl it, etc….My hair is naturally curly, a bit dry, and long.

I normally use a very small amount of gel to slick it back otherwise I do have a bit of frizz.

Since I like to switch around shampoos and conditioners so much through the week my hair becomes weighted down from all the silicons in those products plus the gel causes it’s normal wreckage with my hair.

What does that mean?

It means my hair is heavy with a bit of buildup. We all get it, it happens to everyone.

My Sunday evening routine prior to bed is to take a shower and clarify my hair. There is nothing in the world like the feeling of a lighter head of hair. It feels cleaner, my curls are softer, my hair is shiner, etc…after I’ve used a good clarifying shampoo.

My personal choice for that shampoo is Lush Cosmetics Big. Big gets my hair so clean it nearly whistles. Seriously. If your hair is oily this is a god sent!

Big is actually for people with fine hair thus the name comes into play here. Big is supposed to give volume and pouf to those of you with fine hair! I do not have fine hair but I still use Big regardless for me it’s a deep cleaning shampoo that rids my hair of buildup. If you suffer from dandruff this will surely rid you of your problem as it contains sea salt which is fantastic for massaging into your scalp to rid yourself of any nasty dandruff that’s made a home in your head!

The formula of this is a tad bit weird and probably not like any shampoo you’ve run across before. It’s clumpy and full of seat salt so it basically looks like a pot of scrub for your face or body not something you’d use in your hair. Many people are a bit wary of trying it because they are worried the sea salt will not wash out easy. Have no fear the salt washes away quickly and easily. The lather is beautiful and the smell is fresh and beautiful.

Now I had mentioned earlier on that this would be good for oily scalps. My hair is dry so do be warned that this will make your hair even drier when use it. It drys out hair big time so you need to follow up with a good conditioning. There in lays a good thing for the oily scalp folk as Big will definately dry up your scalp, remove the oil from your hair, and replace it with fluffy, soft hair!

Since Big is so drying I follow up closely with Lush’s Retread Conditioner. Retread smells just as gorgeous as Big and compliments it well in my humble opinion! Retread is one of Lush’s thickest conditioners minus any silicones. Your hair might not know what to do without the silicones you get in your normal conditioner but as it adjusts it’ll thank you for treating it to such an amazing conditioner. I normally smooth a good amount on and leave it on for 5 minutes while in the shower right after I’ve rinsed out Big. During that time frame I take a large tooth comb and start detangling with Retread in and smoothing my hair back and while working the conditioner through. Since Big leaves my hair such a mess and in such a tangle it feels good to gently work the comb through while Retread helps with the knots that Big created.

After 5 minutesI rinse with luke warm water and I’m done.

I towel dry my hair after this and go to bed with it damp. In the morning my hair is fluffy, soft, and beautiful. After this treatment my hair seems to just behave better. It accepts product better, it brushes out easier, I don’t experience frizz or tangles as much, and my hair just seems to be thankful that I took a bit of time out to treat it to a nice clarify!

So that’s about it

The Muse highly recommends trying out Big and Retread for yourself! Retread is fantastic for daily use and as for Big I only recommend using it once a week and twice if you’re hair/scalp is oily!

Already own these?

Love them?

Want to try ‘em?

Questions? Comments?

Tell the Muse!

Want to simplify your haircare? Check out my review of Lush Shampoo Bars to show you how! Click!

The idea of a mineralized foundation from MAC doesn’t get me to excited. I don’t use mineral foundation because I simply loath it!

However, this particular one intrigues me as it has an SPF of 15!

Hmmm…interesting!

I may have to try it as a finishing powder! This is available now from Nordstrom.

Wanting this?

Loving the idea MAC is getting into minerals?

Tell the Muse!

I went to Woodbury with my very best friends Jen, Jamie, and Jai on Saturday. That sounds like some kind of 50′s band doesn’t it? Bloody hell all those J’s! I feel left out as my name begins with the letter “I” sheesh! Note to self change your name so it begins with a “J”.

Anyway!

If you’re in the New York area (my stat reader tells me some of you are) you might want to head over and nab a few deals here and there.

The Cosmetics Company Outlet is hauling major MAC and you can score some serious bargains right now.

Here’s the lowdown of what I seen there:

Lovestone Mineralized Eyeshadow-I believe this was $10 bucks. I already have it but my friend Jai got it and I think he paid $11 USD.

Almost all of the Christmas Collection from this year are available at the moment including piggie vial sets, palettes, etc….

Prices:

Lip Bag Sets $22.50 USD
Pigment Vial Sets and Lipgloss Sets $20.75 USD
Palettes $23.75 USD

Quite a few other MAC bits and bobs as well. I was mostly into the Christmas Collection thought as it was great I could grab some of what I missed during the holidays!

Major Bobbi Brown is happening as well. They had a really uber cute 8 or 10 piece mini brush set with pouch for $60 which I really wanted but I was trying to practice some sort of willpower.

Tons of Bobbi Palettes from last season such as the bridal ones for $33 USD! They had Shimmerbricks as well and a trio of glosses for $26.75 USD!

L’occitane also had quite a few bits and bobs around. I nailed a awesome two piece kit for $42 USD which included a 3.4oz Mint Green Tea Perfume and 8.4oz Body Gel!

I also picked up a 3.4oz Verbena Eau de Toilette for $35 which came with a two free bottles of shower cream in Verbena and a Verbena soap! I was running low on this anyway so it was a nice deal!

Various clothes, accessories, and shoe steals and deals as well since most of the outlets are flooding in with Fall/Winter Collections which means big time deals to be had! The Factory Shoe Outlet had a ton of great Chinese Laundry purses which were considerably marked down from the normal $95-$145 price tag. Fendi had some killer bags as well at lovely prices. Yankee Candle has a slew of tart warmers in Spring Designs if you’re interested.

Lancome had Bi-Facil for $20 USD which was a steal as it’s normally $26. They also had some killer Flowerbomb box sets. The box set I purchased from Nordies a few months ago for $175 USD is $86.75 USD. It includes a 3.4oz Eau de Parfum, a mini Eau de Parfum (unsure of size), and a 8.4oz body lotion. That’s highway robbery! They had other various kits as well ranging from $76 USD at the lowest and $87 USD at the highest. If you adore Flowerbomb as much as I do you’ll really wanna haul ass over to the Lancome Factory Store to nab some of this before it’s gone. I actually ended up purchasing three of the $86.75 kits to use as gifts when I go to England this year for some mates. One of closest friends lives in London and she’ll absolutely freak when she finds out what I paid for this. She’s one for entitling Flowerbomb her “signature” scent. Seriously for the price you can’t go wrong. Random I know but if you’re curious what Flowerbomb smells like the best way I can describe it is cotton candy.

They had the normal range of Lancome bits plus they had some Shu shadows, blushes, and lip rouges that were pretty much free well not really but the price is almost free to my eyes and ears. The shadow selection wasn’t vast but the price was right at 3 for $15 USD. Sadly I had ever color they were offering at the price The rouge unlimited were the old packaging style so they aren’t exactly fresh however the price was right as well at $4 USD each.

Practically all the shoe/sneaker outlets have the buy one get one 50% off sale. Nike, Puma, Sketchers, Factory Brand Shoes, Etc….

Two places that deserve a mention on restock are Kate Spade and Jimmy Choo. I can normally never find much of anything in either outlet but I ALWAYS seem to get some killer deals around the beginning of Spring when the stock rotates. I hauled 1 Kate Spade Purse and 2 pairs of Jimmy Choos at some seriously discounted prices.

So…

The moral of my story is if you’re in the New Year area and want to score a bitchin’ deal or two or three hit up Woodbury soon!

Cheers!

PS I didn’t take pics of all my haul but I did include some of the cosmetics I purchased After all this is a blog about makeup so it’s worth snapping a few pics to put in here right?

Enjoy!

Note: For my beautiful readers abroad in any other countries a brief explanation for you about what exactly Woodbury is. Woodbury Commons is an outlet shopping mall which basically translates as a graveyard of such for older collections of items. The outdoor mall consists of a zillion different shops each housing one or several particular brands. As Seasons rotate and upscale shops need to rid themselves of older style selections those selections get sent to outlet shops for resell at considerably discounted prices. Woodbury happens to be one of many outlet style shopping centers.