Musings of a Muse

I guess we established the Muse is very much obsessed with sun protection. SPF 500? Sign me up on that dotted line.

I’m the type of person that’s slathering SPF on my face when there’s six feet of snow on the ground and heaps more falling from the sky. The moral of this story is the sun is evil and if you aren’t protecting your skin you’re insane. Get to a store right now and get some SPF, I demand it. You don’t want to be using your skin as a leather handbag in 10 years people.

I’m always looking for a good way to get my SPF on. Something easy, something not greasy or oily, etc….Anything really that will help my skin to stay as young looking and healthy as possible. Sun? Very nice to hang out in. Skin and Sun? Not good together.

Jump ahead for the latest way I’m protecting my skin!

Loving Skin79 Diamond Collection Sun Protection Balm Moist at the moment. This is the funniest and really quite an easy way to protect yourself from the sun with an SPF 50.

Basic application is an absolute snap as this is a balm which allows you to spread the SPF onto face after your moisturizing, primer, and foundation but before your makeup. It comes in a pink jar with sponge application. Simply swipe the balm onto the sponge and pat gently onto skin and blend. It has a fresh scent as well which is quite pretty if you don’t mind scented skin care. The product does every so slightly leave a white cast to skin but blended out with makeup in place (blush, etc…) that will quickly clear up. The formula is very light, very sheer, non greasy or oily. After it’s in place it doesn’t really feel like you have anything on at all.

Overall, I absolutely adore the application of this and just the idea. It’s a rather unique way to get good strong sun protection. If you’re as obsessed as I am with SPF this could be worthy of a pick up. It is a Korean product and not available within the US but a quick trip to evil-bay should yield results.

The Muse gets so scared when she sees products that say “firming” on them. Oh please tell me I don’t need any firming action on my face yet! I’m only in my 30′s….I’m scared hold me. I swear the words firming, wrinkle, and age spots just terrify me.

Of course when I got my hands on Dr. Denese Firming Facial Resurfacing Peel I got all kinds of scare.

But have no fear, it’s so much more than a firming peel!

Check it after the review.

What is it?

It’s a creamy orange peel that’s meant to brighten and refresh your complexion. Phew nothing about firming actions yet, looks like I’m safe. It exfoliates to reveal smoother skin plus…here it comes…it firms and tones while improving elasticity. EEP!

In all seriousness I’m not yet ready to firm, tone, or improve my elasticity yet. So far my elasticity is snapping back like a rubber hand. But that doesn’t prevent me from enjoying this peel.

It’s actually meant for anyone with poor skin texture and uneven skin tone, certain dullness or anyone lacking radiance and glow or even dry, rough, tired skin. Some of this applies to me in a major way.

The general idea is you apply to a clean dry face and leave on for few minutes. Those with sensitive skin may notice a tingling or stinging so do a patch test prior to use. The formula is a rich, gel-like cream that has a bright, sunny orange scent. Once it’s on my face I don’t feel much but than again my skin is bulletproof you could probably throw acid it on it and I wouldn’t notice.

One of the main things I love about it is it resurfaces my entire facial area as I wear it. This basically means those patchy cheeks and flaky areas between my eyes gets eaten up and exfoliated by the mask.

After I’ve left it on for a few I rinse with lukewarm water. You’ll instantly noticed your face is flushed and looking considerably better than before you started. I use it two to three times a week. I haven’t really noticed a major change in my skin as of yet but I do see a difference right after use and a few hours after use but nothing long term yet. I generally like the idea of having great skin just for a few hours as it seems to make makeup application smoother and makes my skin looks more like it’s glowing. I’ve only used it for a week so I’ll continue on and hope for long term results.

It’s quite an interesting peel and fairly affordable at around $30. Overall, I’d purchase again after I ran out because I do like that it exfoliates at the very least without using scratchy crystals.

Definitely in my likey book! I’ll update you on my progress with it.

You’ve recently heard the good word from me about Kevin Beautymaker Aqua Eye Concealer but actually there are two versions to that story and review. Kevin Beautymaker Color Correcting Eyelid Primer is actually the follow up. Ok, the deal is this, Color Correctly Eyelid Primer is such a cop off of Benefit Lemon Aid it’s not even funny but it does do something Lemon Aid doesn’t which I’ll tell you about in a few.

Kevin Beautymaker Color Correcting Eyelid Primer is basically a lid and under eye primer to be used prior to concealer. This kinda makes priming and concealing a two step process. It’s particularly great if you heavy duty problems going on under your eyes and need a bit of extra coverage.

Take the jump to hear the babble.

Kevin Beautymaker Color Correcting Eyelid Primer is a yellow based primer (I choose to call it primer as it isn’t a concealer per say) which brightens the eye area up and preps it prior to concealer. Place a small amount under your eyes, blend outwards, and proceed to follow up with your normal concealer of choice. The yellow base will erase dark circles, brighten your eyes up, conceal minor lines or puffiness while creating a good base for concealer. You can’t use it on it’s own really as you’ll look a tad weird after use even after proper blending as it creates a yellowish nearly white cast under eyes so it’s best to follow up with concealer after use. The point of the product is for those suffering from severe dark circles. I assure this will help considerably masking dark circles.

Now for priming my lid this is never, ever going to take the place of my beloved Benefit Lemon Aid. Benefit Lemon Aid has a beautiful texture and a harder consistency which allows it to adhere to the lid beautifully well while lasting all day. If you choose to use Kevin’s primer on your lids you must know it’s much, much more moisturizing which makes it easy to blend under your eyes but proves it’s downfall on your lids as it’ll slip, slide, crease, and create a general mess on lids. I suppose a light application will be fine but I honestly prefer to use this under my eyes not over them. If you want something to prep and conceal lids I highly suggest Lemon Aid for that job. Kevin’s primer does do something Lemon Aid doesn’t which is it’s ability to prep below the eye with it’s moisturizing formula. If you tried this with Lemon Aid you’d end up with it creasing under your eyes and have a difficult time blending it out well.

Overall, anyone who’s suffering from severe dark circles or just needs a wake up call under their eyes I highly suggest snagging Kevin Beautymaker Color Correcting Eyelid Primer. I paid retail which was probably $6-$7 at most however it’s on one of my favorite site’s for purchase of $13.99. $14 dollars is in my opinion a good deal for it.

This is Muse Approved for purchase, great way to get your eyes in tiptop shape!

So I’ve been kinda drooling over the new Temptu Airbrush System, not alot mind you just a little…like maybe enough to plop it into my Sephora cart and just kinda stare at it in awe….nothing too serious I promise. I’ve only ever played with the idea of hitting submit that probably won’t happen though…maybe…kinda….sorta….

While I’m busying trying to figure out if I want to unleash $200 or more dollars on my face I came across the new Temptu Retouch Blush and Foundation.

Ohhhhh I WANTS ‘em!

Check it after the jump.

I swear they make these things with the Muse in mind so I can get all hyper and chase my tail around the room in fits of excitement over new makeups. The Temptu Retouch Blush kinda reminds me of the By Terry line but about $10 or more dollars cheaper.

The blush supposedly delivers an airbrush quality finish to cheeks with dewy color. It’s a lightweight formula with a built-in brush for easy, peasy, 1, 2, 3-asy application. The colors all look quite exciting for a pinched cheek look. I’m normally not one to get excited about cream or liquid blush but I’m feelin’ the love here.

Temptu Retouch Foundation is the same style click pen applicator with built in brush. It’s available in an extensive collection of colors so you should be able to find at least one suitable tone. I’m a big fan of this style packaging for foundation application so I’m on this like white on rice.

The Temptu Retouch Foundation is $48 and the Retouch Blush is $35.

I wants them both please.

The Muse feels her hand wandering to that submit button! Somebody stop me please.

Ok, let me tell you a story. A hundred years ago or so I purchased my first MAC Technakohl and promptly fell in love. To this day I still adore Technakohl but I also hate it. Dontcha just love having a love hate relationship with makeup? That so means you’re totally a psychotic product junkie like me, yay us!

So let me explain. Technakohl…omg awesome liner. This is such a dreamy, creamy formula that lines my eyes so perfectly but don’t let it wear down. I swear it’s probably good for three uses tops before the pencil quickly loses it’s sharp edge. Now what? Well nothing. You can’t do anything. There isn’t anyway you can sharpener a dull Technakohl liner. How can something so great be so incredibly crummy.

Sigh.

Someone suggested to be that I can roll the liner between a napkin or paper to sharpen it…yea well people…I am so not that coordinated…I tried and ended up with a mess of black swirls on a piece of paper.

Forget all this though.

MAC I am so sorry but you’ve been replaced by the joys of Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner, damn straight she cares. She cares so much she included a sharpener and a smudger! My god I heard the angels just sing (in my head that is).

Jump ahead to learn more about the brand new Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner and why the Muse thinks it’s the best thing since peanut butter on toast.

What is it?

It’s a super, smooth, long wearing, water resistant eye liner that applies like a dream. No skipping, no going back to re-line, just simple one line perfection. This is what love is. The formula is so dreamy and creamy and manages to glide across my lash line in a quick, flawless stroke so I don’t have to go back and reline or deal with skippage.

But let’s forget the formula for a minute and concentrate on the fact that it has a built in sharpener tucked inside the end cap. Laura you’re a master mind! You’ve solved world peace in my makeup world. I can’t believe a soft kohl liner housed in a plastic pencil has a sharpener, it’s a gift…from the gods above! The sharpener is really tiny but it manages to create a perfect point each and every single time. It’s like getting a new liner every time you sharpener! I admit I purposely squashed the end of my pencil so I could try it out and it created a perfect sharp point for me. I swear my makeup life is complete thanks to this handy, dandy sharpener.

Squashed!

Brand new again!

Ok, enough raving about that.

It also has a flexible, soft spongy smudger that’s ideal for smudging out the liner and creating an air of mystery to eyes.

If all this isn’t enough let me tell you that Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner is sold in a pair for $22 bucks!

Have I sold it to you yet?

Get it. Now.

You’ll be all the happier that you aren’t stuck with a dull pointed liner that you can’t sharpener!

Laura Geller I-Care Eyeliner total loves it moment for the Muse and of course a mega Muse Approval for purchase.

Incredible.

Thank you Laura you’ve heard my prays.

Available now on QVC, Item Number A84597.

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Hey chicas!

Word on the street is that the Too Faced Natural Eye Kit is a Top Seller at www.toofaced.com

The kit contains all the things you’ll need to create a pretty, soft, and slightly sexy natural eye look. It’s one of the easiest palettes I’ve come across to create a pretty nude eye look. The palette contains everything you need from shadows, to applicators, and most important three separate cards containing step by step instructions to create a three different natural, nude eye look!

I Muse Approved this for purchase in my recent as I adore the palette. Thought you’d like to know the good word that it’s a bestselling hit at Too Faced.

I was curious who hauled it already?

Anyone?

Loving it?

Do share!

You should be dancing yeah! Why? Because Korres is being every so lovely to readers of Musings by giving them 30% Off their total order!

w00t!

Thanks Korres we lub you like family!

As I told you in a recent beauty news article Korres has officially launched an online store. I prayed for this every night before I went to bed. There’s just something about buying product from the source ya know? The site is quite lovely as it’s organized so you can easily find products for specific needs.

Visit www.korresusa.com and use promo code MUSE at checkout to get 30% Off

As for me I rec everything. I’ve fallen in love with Korres a few months ago when I discovered the Sugar Plums Color Collection which by the way they have available on the site, you need this in your life. They so need to slap a Muse Approval on that bad boy.

Check out my Korres tags for reviews to help you with your haulin’! It’s ongoing until September 15th.

Happy Shoppin’ peeps!

Come back and tell me what you snag!

The Muse went to Ibiza once when she was 12, it’s obviously been too long since that trip. I do remember thinking, even back than, omg cute guys and paradise. These things do wander through a pre-teen’s mind on occasion.

Since I haven’t been to Ibiza since I’ve been settling for partying like I’m there with Lush Ibiza Party Shampoo!

Let the games begin!

Jump for it!

Ibiza Party Shampoo was created in the good old days and recently was brought back (as it was discontinued long ago) to the Retro Lush Collection. The shampoo was created for clubbers…what? I don’t make this stuff up, Lush does. It contains lemon, grapefruit and pimento berry to keep your hair shiny and awake into the early hours…again that’s all Lush talkin’ there. The thing is I think they slipped a little hemp in my bottle because it smells like hemp and citrus, w00t I’m really going to party like it’s 1999 now!

I’m not too keen on the smell even after all these years of using it but I do so admit it keeps my hair incredibly light feeling, frizz and tangle free, and just squeaky clean. God, I love you Lush for making everyday a good hair day.

Get it while the getting is good as it is part of Retro Lush so who knows how long it’ll stick around.

Start partying peeps!

Just so you know I’ve always been a self proclaimed lover of shimmer and sparkle. I find absolutely nothing wrong with that either nor will I apologize for. Bring on the disco glitter baby!

But wait…

I am trying to mend my ways. Shimmer is much like alcohol one needs a support group and a step program to help with the addiction.

Until I can get myself off the shimmer kick I’ve been on for the past 150 years of my life I’ll go ahead and indulge my need for intensely pigmented shimmery shades of shadow from my latest Beauty Discovery, Obsessed Minerals.

Loves it!

Check it after the jump.

Obsessed Minerals carries a large range of mineral powders, shadows, lip products, etc….one item I’m partial to are their pressed mineral eye shadows. First off they have a wide range of color variety in the pressed format for a mere $10 bucks…hello inexpensive makeup! If that isn’t enough they also take anything from there normal range of loose mineral eye shadow and will press it for you for an extra dollar, is that not the coolest thing ever? God, I wish more companies would do that as the chore of pressing piggies, as we established already, is not a job I relish!

The shadows are loosely packed presses which makes the formula into this creamy powdery texture. This formula in fact makes them very easy to blend and wear. The colors are all richly pigmented and about one swipe with get you extreme color pay off. They aren’t what I would call pretty packaging wise or formula wise but the quality is there that’s for sure. The shadows are quite easy to work with aside from a tiny bit of fall out but proper prepping and priming will ease the way. I tried three shades total and I must say for $10 bucks it’s a real steal. The shades all work well wet or dry.

The shades I tried were Gotcha, Wanderlust, and Pagan. These all have an intense shimmer finish. Gotcha is a pretty copper penny shade, Wanderlust is a dirty gold, and Pagan is a sparkling royal purple. My swatches below are one swipe, one single swipe. As you can see they are seriously pigmented shadows!

The inexpensive price tag and ability to request loose shades be pressed make Obsessed Minerals a unique beauty discovery. I love the idea of browsing loose shades of pigment and have the option of someone else slaving over a press for me. Overall, Obsessed Minerals is worthy of a check out.

Loving all over it!

Anyone try before?

Do share your experience.

Visit www.mineralobsessed.com to browse or purchase.

Argan Oil, Emu Oil…it’s always sounded like the same thing to me for some reason. I swear the Muse must be so watching too many episodes of The Crocodile Dairies from years ago. Actually Emu Oil is created from the fat of an Emu…oh my god the grossness but supposedly it’s great for your skin.

Anyway, Argan Oil…that one had me puzzling…was there some species of bird out there named an Argan? Sometimes my stupidity knows no bounds. Turns out Argan is actually a tree.

Well duh how was I supposed to know that. What? I never claimed to know alot about trees.

Moral of the story is Josie Maran Argan Oil is the awesome, especially if you sport mega dry skin.

Take the jump to hear about the new version of Josie Maran Argan Oil!

The Muse actually owns the Josie Maran Argan Bronzing Oil, good stuff (review coming soon) so she was kinda tickled that they have a new Argan Moisturizing Stick. It actually debuted today and is available at Sephora for $22 w00t!

So as much as I love the oil formula I must admit the stick does tempt a girl as it seems heaps less mess than an oil. This is a multi-purpose balm so you can use it from head to toe to give a shot to dry skin areas that need a bit of soothing moisture and tender, loving, care.

Chapped lips, dry, patchy cheeks, stinging insect bites, hang nails and cuticles, dry elbows and knees, dry spots between your brows (what? I get that! For serious!)…you name it you can slip a bit of this nourishing balm right on for instant relief. No it won’t clean the house for you, don’t even ask but hey it does everything else! Joy!

Me, I want it. I need all the help I can get in the dry skin department. Josie Maran Argan Moisturizing Stick, sign me up for a case Josie…I could use it.

Anyone try Josie’s regular Argan Oil?

What are you using the ward off evil dry skin?

Tell it!