Musings of a Muse

My sister swears that conditioner is the go to product for shaving legs. Personally, I beg to disagree. I’ve tried conditioner on my legs and it’s just a no go….I’m all about the foam. Recently, I decided to test out King of Shave Shaving Gel and my first thought was, “oh yay glorified conditioner”….however, I was determined to give this a try out as it was labeled King of Shave. I could be wrong but I imagine somewhere down the family tree we have a gorilla or some hairy animal that was married to a distant cousin or relative because I’m all kinds of hairy. That was way too much info wasn’t it? Sorry but it’s true. My legs need serious TLC at least twice a week. King of Shave? Obviously this is what I my hair legs need, the King of Shave!

Click it after the review!

As per my original thoughts I was feeling like this kinda looked like gloried conditioner and honestly I was right it is glorified conditioner and it works WAY better too! Loves it!

I didn’t even look at the price during my testing so when I was finished with my shower and shave I was worried how expensive King of Shave Pamper & Moisturise Shaving Gel was going to be. This thick, creamy gel gives my legs such a wonderfully close shave and leaves my skin silky smooth and extremely moisturized. The price for such greatness must be high.

Naa.

It’s only $5 bucks and change.

Gasp! Can’t believe it.

Although I was weary of a non foaming lather I was shocked how much I liked this. The gel moisturizers my skin and allows my razor to glide easily across the skin without nicks or cuts. It leaves my legs super silky smooth and manages to get me a super close shave. It is Summer and you can’t tuck those hairy legs into sweats, jeans, or pants so best whip out that razor and some King of Shave Shaving Gel and get to work getting yourself smooth legs!

My problem? Wrestling this away from my sister.

Muse Approved for purchase. I was jolly impressed with this one and it tops my Summer Must Have list!

Likey!

Check ‘em at www.kmishop.com

Let’s step into Summer for a second here. Can I tell you the life of a beauty blogger is so NOT fun. I hate that I can’t enjoy Winter without worrying about Spring or how I can’t just indulge in Summer makeup because I’m busy testing Fall….grrrrrrr!

So today let’s step back into Summer. After all we are in the heart of it right now aren’t we? It’s almost August and the sun is super bright today! Humidity is hitting my little city so hard and I’m smiling all the more for it as I’m tired of all the bloody rain New York’s been hit with lately.

Stepping into Summer reminds me I indulged in Guerlain Terracotta Blush & Sun. Oh Guerlain how you delight the Muse.

Jump back into Summer by taking the jump for a quickie review of Guerlain Terracotta Blush & Sun!

Guerlain manages to cover both the bronzing and the blush world by creating it’s Blush & Sun powder. Capturing the essence of a bronzer with a touch of sheer blush makes thee perfect go to powder for Summer. It’s a Summer must have in the Muse’s opinion.

The bronzer aspect of the product is ever so sheer so for all the bronzer dummies (like me!) out there or those nay sayers that hate bronzers (I used to be one of those!) this is the ideal solution for getting a kiss of the sun but still having the added benefits of a pinch of blush.

The product comes in three different shades all of which are very nice however the lightest shade, 01 Sun Light, is the best of the three in my opinion and should work well on light to medium skin tones. The shade is a golden peachy beige with a kiss of shimmer. The product works more like a blush than a bronzer which is what makes it so appealing however don’t let that fool you as it does give cheeks a sunny touch of color.

The finished look is probably one of the more natural ones I’ve come across. A sweep of this across your cheeks creates a very sunny, peachy look that not only wears like a blush but also manages to look as if you’re spent an hour at the beach and got a slash of color across your cheek bones. Very, very flattering.

Overall, if you’re scared silly of bronzers and aren’t tempted to try one out for size I’d say that Guerlain Terracotta Blush & Sun is the perfect product for you. A touch of the sun and a touch of blusher creates a super flattering look in this warm, humid weather!

Delicious!

Benefit Hello Gorgeous has been my BFF for a while now. I truly adore this powder especially for warm Summer days when my best friend Jai is using my forehead as a mirror…you know what I mean right? You have those days too dontcha?

I recently discovered Cover FX Powder FX and I’m thinking that Benefit Hello Gorgeous and myself could still be friends just not BFF anymore……oh hai Powder FX wanna go steadies?

Jump for the review.

Well wow I do believe that Cover FX Powder FX is possibly the most richly pigmented powder I’ve come across to date. I’m talking seriously pigmented. I’m talking covering up everything and the kitchen sink pigmented. I’m talking making me look all fresh and gorgeous with under 5 hours of sleep. Oooo I want to hug and pet it and maybe sleep with it tonight.

Seriously, loves it!

Cover FX Powder FX is a mineral foundation available in some ridiculous color line up. I swear if anyone complains they can’t find a correct color for their tone available from this line up we can no longer be friends. With 20 or so shades to choose from I’m going to go with, yes they have your color.

The powder is deeply pigmented as I stated so it’s going to work double duty at creating an incredible canvas for makeup. It makes me skin so very smooth and…well it makes me look perfect. The powder is supposedly enriched with oil absorbing qualities and I can account for that as it sticks around on my face for a nice long wear without a crop up of nasty shine, sorry Jai best find a new mirror! Cover FX calls the finish sheer to medium matte coverage I call them crazy. What? You can totally get heavy coverage from this! The powder is totally good enough for heavy, medium, or light coverage depending on how wild you go with your sponge or brush. It is a mineral foundation but it wears lightly and doesn’t feel like a mask nor does it cause an outbreak of the itchies (I’m talking to you BE!). It’s oil-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free so you’re getting smooth, even coverage minus the gunk.

With proper prepping and priming I can get about 5 to 6 hours wear from the powder without touch ups in between. It wears incredibly well for a powder. It manages to not only even out my complexion but create a flawless finish to my skin. The powder is thick enough to conceal large pores, minor acne, and other flaws. It’s ideal for oily skin as it mattifies so very well.

Overall, I’m pretty impressed with Powder FX and do believe we’ll have many adventures together the remaining weeks of Summer. If you’re looking for something to mattify your skin while creating a picture perfect canvas for makeup, Powder FX is the way to go. Loves it!

Muse Approved for purchase. Finally a foundation powder to love!

P.S. If you noticed my skin looking all kinds of nice in some of my recent FOTD’s you can blame it on this powder.

I hate the beach. Sorry. Since I hate the beach it’s impossible to get beach hair. Beach hair seems absolutely essential to Summer and if I don’t have beach hair I might not be “in”….I must have beach hair at any cost!

Ok..dramatic I know but seriously. I don’t do beaches…sand, sea weed, etc…if God had meant for us to thread around on hot sand, wade in salt water, and have the sun beating on our heads, he’d have given us fins at the very least dontcha think?

Beach hair seems to be the in thing during the Summer months. That slightly damp, mussed up look a la the Little Mermaid. You know hawt tresses that look like you dived into the ocean, spread out on a beach towel, and let the wind dry out your salt laden hair to perfection. Who knew that the beach could do good things for your hair right?

If you aren’t a lover of the beach but still desire the hair that goes along with a trip to the shore peep at my review below!

Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist is awesome hair in a bottle sans the beach. A cocktail of sea salt, extracts of algae, orchid, Tahitian gardenia, aloe vera, oils of kukui and coconut and possible a little bit of sand (ok I made the sand part up) gives tresses texture, body, bounce, volume, and hold for that beach worthy look you’re craving.

God this stuff smells incredible. Can’t we has sniff o’ vision on the Interwebz? I’ll talk to Al Gore and see what we can arrange, the mighty guru of Internet creation. I wish I can explain the scent to you but it’s a bit complex…think fresh, think slightly floral, think…the beach…Maui with a little wowie thrown in there. Loves it!

So what’s it do?

Take your slightly damp hair (or dry but damp gets the best results in my humble opinion) and mist a bit of Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist onto your locks. Don’t comb it through just scrunch it gently if you like or flip it upside down and shake (this works a treat plus you’ll feel like you’re in some shampoo or styling commercial). That’s about it…the results are bouncy, textured locks, with a bit of volume that simply makes you look like you just bounced off the sand.

Beach hair easy and mess free in a bottle plus no sand in unusual places!

Adore this stuff. Muse Approved for Purchase, it’s one of my Summer Makeup Must Haves!

Anyone try?

Tell it!

Time to amp up Summer peeps. Want a perfectly cool coral blush for Summer? Loud, bold, funky, and fun?

My pick? the Balm Hot Mama! Likey!

Click it for a review!

I’ve been a big fan of the Balm Hot Mama since it’s release a few Summer’s ago. Such a great little blush. I’ve bragged it once or twice here and there and even did an article about it on Specktra’s Blog when I was posting over there for a spell a year or so ago.

If you like NARS Orgasm and Super Orgasm you’ll adore the Balm Hot Mama. Or maybe you feel like Orgasm is a bit too sheer and Super Orgasm a bit too shimmery…Hot Mama is neither. No shimmer here and plenty of pigment. It’s a warm, sizzling shade of popping coral that’s ideal for the Summer sun! the Balm loves making things easy to multitask so you can use Hot Mama on lids or cheeks, super!

I thought I’d pull it out today because it is one of my Summer Must Have Make Up Items and sure was worthy of a post all it’s own.

With a bit of pink, plenty of peach, and a whole like of heat this is a Summer blush you should be adding to your beauty arsensal!

Loves it!

Total Muse Approve for purchase!

I was even nice enough to compare Hot Mama, Orgasm, and Super Orgasm for ya. Aren’t I sweets?

Anyone own Hot Mama?

Lover?

Leaver?

Tell it!

This Summer I discovered that I like misting myself to death rather than suffer through wearing a facial moisturizer. I’m utterly obsessed with misting toners that offer moisture of any kind. Jane Iredale has my attention as does Jurlique and not most recently Cosmedix Mystic Hydrating Treatment!

Click for a review!

Cosmedix Mystic Hydrating Treatment is an oily free, moisturizing mist for all skin types. Oily skin types can totally appreciate this best as it offers moisture yet doesn’t clog pores or make skin oilier than it already is. Those with dry skin will be thrilled to use it in place of their normal moisturizer in the Summer and dry skin types will appreciated how it allows skin to remain dewy and fresh while allowing it to breath and break away from heavy lotions, potions, and creams.

Mystic Hydrating Treatment pretty much takes the place of normal moisturizer which is a welcome relief as having to apply base, spf, a moisturizer, foundation, and the dozen other creams that come with makeup application is ridiculous. A quick mist of this gives me just the right amount of moisture while leaving my skin soft without making it oily. Although I’m doubtful I can use this as my regular moisturizer in the Winter it comes in mighty handy right now.

Compared to other toners and mists I thought this particular one offers the most moisture, after all it is advertised as just that, a moisturizer. Not a toner, not a mist, but a moisturizer, in a bottle, in liquid form. Coolness!

Of course you can use it to set mineral makeup as well as for me it just leaves my skin beautifully prepped for makeup. Perfect Summer treat for skin! Loves it!

Muse Approved for purchase.

Oily skin? Skip the moisturizer and head straight for this! You’ll thank me! Dry? Snag some of this to use as your Summer moisturizer!

Seriously, it’s worthy of a try.

What are some mists you love using in the Summer?

Any take the place of your regular moisturizer?

Tell the Muse!

Can you guess what this is?

Nope, it’s not a sugar cookie actually it’s not a cookie of any kind. Not a Chinese dumpling either. In fact you can’t eat it at all but that doesn’t mean it’s not good for you and your body!

Click ahead to find out what it is!

Those of you who guessed that it’s a Lush Sugar Scrub guessed correctly! Looks kinda edible doesn’t it?

Ok, you need these in your life. You need these if your skin is rough and flaky. You need them if you want a moisturizing exfoliating scrub that’s sooooooo super luxurious. You just need ‘em period.

If you love Buffy you’ll absolutely adore how Lush has taken exfoliation to the next level with their brand new Lush Sugar Scrubs! The scrubs are delicately packed together lumps of joy. I do say delicate since if you handle them incorrectly and with out a little TLC you’ll find yourself with a fist full of sugar, be gentle. Each scrub is packed into a dome, raised cookie shape kinda like a scone! The scrubs are available in two versions for $4.95 each and you can probably get one to two uses if you want to super scrub your rough bits or about four uses if you’re stingy. As for me I’m terribly rough so I use an entire one for my knees and elbows plus Lush does suggest using one per a shower. The basic idea is to break it in two pieces, wet the area you’re working with, wet the scrub in your hand and proceed to rub it anywhere you want smooth, silky skin. The scrub quickly breaks up into grains of sugar and after a little scrubbing they sud up and disappear. They leave behind smooth, silky, moisturized skin. You need to try ‘em yourself as they are truly a little joy in the bath and body world.

The two scrubs available are Sugar Scrub and Sugar Babe. Sugar Scrub is Vegan where as Sugar Babe is not.

Sugar Scrub has a herbal lavender scent and is green in color. Lush says it’s good for scrubbing away dead skin cells, tackling cellulite, and and invigorating sluggish skin.

Sugar Babe is my favorite of the two. At first sniff I didn’t like it as it had a weird sour milk gardenia scent but once it’s wet it smells oddly of Lush Snowcake but with quite a bit more of a floral underlay which is a bit lily-like and a bit of gardenia as well. Lush recommends this for upper arms, thighs, and stomach. It has a center of extra virgin coconut oil which is revealed as you scrub. The actual scent is ylang ylang but for me it smells quite like Snowcake when damp. Loving it!

Lush Sugar Scrubs are available now from www.lush.com

Muse Approved for purchase! I love these. Absolutely an awesome idea and a great product for getting smooth, silky Summer skin.

Anyone try yet?

Loves ‘em?

Leaves ‘em?

Tell the Muse!

I’m on this kick lately for moisturizing toner mists. I think it’s the warm weather but I just feel the need to forgo moisturizer in the morning in favor of a mist down with a hydrating toner that acts in the place of my normal lotions and potions. Recently my obssession with misting toners has turned to the likes of Jane Iredale D2O Hydration Spray.

Jump ahead to hear what I think!

Incredible! I love this stuff.

First off the bad news.

It’s 2oz in size and $17.50 ouchie. Wish it was a little bigger for the price but no worries I’ll totally repurchase when I’m done with my 2oz bottle as it’s darn good stuff.

Jane Iredale D20 Hydration Spray contains a blend of chamomile and myrrh to sooth and refresh skin. The mist is scented with Ylang Ylang which gives off a heavy herbal scent, quite pleasant. You can use the mist in any number of ways such as in the place of facial moisturizer, or for setting mineral makeup, to hydrate skin on the fly, or oily skin users can indulge in this as a primary moisturizer thus avoiding richer face creams.

About 2-3 mists is all you need as the sprayer doses face very nicely with product. It has a slightly glycerin-like feel but dries down to a dewy, fresh finish. It’s since taken the place of my normal facial cream for Summer. I doubt I’ll be able to get away with it once Winter sets in but at the moment it’s just perfect for spraying down with for moisturizing and hydrating my skin.

You’ll like this if:

• Your skin isn’t too dry at the moment and you aren’t in need of a heavy facial moisturizer
• Your skin is oily and you’d like a tool for hydrating your face without over doing it
• You want a cooling mist to set mineral or powder foundations.
• You want to have a toner on hand for hydrating your skin throughout the day without having to redo makeup

Overall, Jane Iredale D20 Hydration Spray is a real winner. I’m loving this for Summer easy, fuss free moisture in the heat.

Total Muse Approval for Purchase!

Likey!

Anyone try it before?

What are some of your fav toner mists?

Tell the Muse!

I’m about to get all Medieval on you! Ha, I crack myself up. I so wanted to review Lipstick Queen Medieval Lipstick just so I can use that catch phrase. What? I’m easily amused, sue me.

Why was I under the impression Lipstick Queen Medieval Lipstick was a deeply pigmented, possibly matte lippie? Oh how the very confused I was. Turns out it’s an incredibly sheer, lightweight lipstick that’s simply gorg!

Jump for the review!

This lipstick was inspired by Medieval times when full coverage lipstick was considered a sin, hey they had lipstick in Medival times? Who knew? Better yet Lipstick Queen explains that women used lemons to stimulate the lips and stain their lips a see through blood red. Ha! That’s like my tip of the day who wants to hit up Trader Joe’s with me for some lemons? Ok, maybe mess, we’ll stick with Lipstick Queen Medieval Lipstick, same effect and pretty packaging too!

I’ve been privy to much of Lipstick Queen’s line and have loved just about everything I tried thus far. For some odd reason or another I was under the impression that Medieval was in fact a very bold, bright, matte red. Is there any reason why I was under said impression? It’s any wonder as Lipstick Queen is known for brighter, bolder shades of lipstick that’s for sure.

Turns out Lipstick Queen Medieval is anything but…..

This lippie is a very sheer, subtle kiss of red that’s ideal for Summer lovin’ lips. It’s a universally flattering shade of what I deem “Snow White” red. You remember the fairy tale that told us Snow White had blood red lips well I suspect Snow White was guilty of going Medieval. The shade is that of a bitten lip look for a very natural, fresh kiss of color. I’m in love.

With the market saturating itself with plenty of sheer lip treatments lately, ‘ello Dior, ‘ello Fresh, I must say that Medieval sets itself apart in a sea of red. The formula is a moisturizing blend with just the right touch of red pigment. It’s nothing overly dramatic, nothing crazy or bold. It’s simply natural, fresh, and rather ideal of you’re a minimal makeup kinda gal.

As for me, Lipstick Queen Medieval is simply gorgeous and my new Summer Must Have Make Up Item. I multitasked it in my below picture by applying a generous layer on my lips and proceeding to follow up with some on my cheeks. Yup, that’s right, I used it as a blush. The formula can easily be used as as a subtle lipstick or a cheeky little blusher for gently flushed skin. No making fun as I didn’t have time to slap on foundation or concealer this morning so I’m being really minimal today with my makeup eep!

Loves it!

Total Muse Approval for purchase. Likey alot.

Anyone try?

Loves it?

Tell the Muse!

Lipstick Queen Medieval is available at www.lipstickqueen.com for $20.

Not so long ago I reviewed Givenchy Mister Bright for you. Mister Bright was a fond friend of the Muse’s this past Winter. He brightened my eyes, made me look less tired, acted as a great primer for shadows, and just made my face glow. Recently, I was introduced to Givenchy Mister Bright Sun and now I have a new found friend. I can place Mister Bright temporarily away for the warmer weather, haul out Mister Bright Sun, and look fresh, sunkissed, and golden with a few clicks!

Check out the review after the jump!

Where as the regular shade of Mister Bright in Dawnlight is a pale, shimmering highlighter the newest shade in Sunlight is a golden, penny bronze shade that can be used on cheeks and face to create a sunkissed glow in one easy click and blend!

From my experience using the pink version of the pen I knew a little would go a long way so when I tried out the newest shade for Summer I wasn’t surprised in the least that a simple swipe would get my cheeks glowing.

If you happen to be scared of bronzers or not a big lover of matte bronzing powders, Givenchy Mister Bright Sun will be your best friend. The formula is creamy and easy to blend with a touch of a shimmery finish and a pretty coppery bronze shade that mimics that of a brand new penny. It gives cheeks and face just the right amount of a Summer sunny glow which is very natural and pretty. The end result is you’ll look like you were wandering around in the Summer sun for an hour or two but in reality a simple blend of this was all you used.

If you’re feeling a bit daring you can swipe across lids, blend, and place some shadow on top for a bright, Summery eye look!

Personally, Givenchy Mister Bright Sun tops my list for a great way to get a Summery look without ever having the step in the sun!

Loves it!

Keep in mind the flash from the camera picks up shimmer a whole lot more and the finish is alot less shimmery than it appears on my cheeks in the photo below.

The weather isn’t quite right yet for the beach or the pool sigh. If you live in New York you’ll understand exactly what I mean as it’s not much of a Summer here in the Big Apple. However, this doesn’t stop me from thinkin’ up what I need for my beach bag or in my case pool bag as the Muse doesn’t do the beach to well (seaweed, sand, eek!).

So here’s a few items that are making a starring appearance inside my beach bag this Summer!

Everyone wants beach hair, everyone. Tousled, windblown locks that are soft, seductive, and sexy. Indeed, beach hair is where it’s at! A great item to toss in your beach bag for a full head of alluring hair would be Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist, smells just like tropics plus I just really dig on the name.

When you’re at the beach or pool you want clean, natural makeup that wears well and wears long. Morgen Schick Cheek and Lip Stain is my go to for long wearing color on my cheeks which is waterproof and incredibly flattering for a sunkissed glow!

If you’re at the beach and you’ve SPF’ed yourself to death as is the Muse’s routine you probably won’t get much of a tan but you can flatter your pale white skin with hints of iridescent pink on face, eyes, and cheeks with a dollop of Eyeko Cream!

Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheers used to be my all time favorite lip treatment. Don’t overlook these little tubes of pigmented joy for a Summer lip look that’s natural and laced with SPF.

Keep your hair conditioned and protected from the sun with Blossom Under Cover Conditioning Mist with SPF. Frizz be gone!

Eyeko Face Off Wipes aren’t great for removing a full load of face makeup but they are nice for toting around in your purse and freshening up your face with. Each box contains 10 individually wrapped wipes!

A little touch up of cooling mist for your face is always a pleasure when sitting out in the hot sun. Pack up some Evian Mist in the travel friendly can to mist your skin with to keep it fresh and dewy!

I’m the first one to admit that Loccitane Citrus Verbena Summer Fragrance tends to not linger very long however I find that in the Summer heat it manages to give off a very subtle, fresh lemony scent that I find rather ideal for beach or pool lazying!

Give your face a kiss of sun with Eyeko Face Tint! Amps up your Summer tan or gives your pale white skin a touch of Summer sun.

Hope you enjoyed my picks for hauling in my beach bag this Summer!

What are some items you stash in your beach bag?

Tell the Muse!