Freebie Fun!

So this weekend when exiting the movie theater with my lovely significant other, a shiny blue package was shoved into my hands. I immediately thought that whatever this was would end up one of two places - the garbage or the bottom of the family junk drawer. However when I looked down..I saw that this was not a flier or some odd new candy treat I was being handed - it was a sample of the best kind of freebie- a beauty freebie!!

Dove Intense Damage Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner - $4.77 each (Online and nationwide at mass retailers)

So there I was holding 5 FREE SAMPLES!!! of both the shampoo and conditioner - who am I not to give them a try? Well today in the shower I braved these new sweet smelling hair products and I was pleasantly surprised. I have never been a big fan of Dove shampoo and conditioner- I have found it to be more fragrance than substance. However, this newer version of their product performed decently well on its first outing.

It is winter time so my hair is on the dry side...as a result it literally sucked up the moisture in this "therapy" shampoo. In fact, the shampoo had that feeling of more a shampoo/conditioner combo than it did pure shampoo. It was sudsy and it lathered well but my hair felt smooth and soft- almost conditioned after the wash. The conditioner was pretty standard.

So my final thoughts on this freebie? Good at first use- definitely worth a try in the winter. However, I would be concerned on hair like mine (fine and wispy) that this product would be too heavy over time. However, if you have coarse or thick hair I think this could be just what the hair doctor ordered.

All in all, I think perhaps I will give this a go for a few days in a row to see what the buildup is like on fine hair and if it is too much for a regular everyday shampoo/conditioner- this will have a spot as a once a week treat for my winter dry hair.

And good news - if you are interested in trying these Dove products out - drugstore.com is having a buy 1, get 1 50% off sale....click here for all the details.

Happy Monday and keep looking fab,
BGND

Handy Information....

The following is a post from last October but considering my hands are cracked and bleeding AGAIN and I have gone to this product as my savior - AGAIN - I thought it was worth sharing...
AGAIN!!

Hehe....


Ah the crisp fall weather has arrived AT LAST. Now for some of you in the eastern or northern parts of the country, the weather has been deliciously fall-like for some time. However, for those of us here in Southern California (and other warmer climates) mother nature has been taking her sweet time getting around to fall. Well, it has FINALLY cooled off (no more 90 degree October days hopefully!) and here at BGND we are loving it.



Well, as much as I love the cool, along with it comes a host of beauty issues that arise from cooler outside climates, drying inside heaters and inclement weather in general. Today's issue of choice?
DRY HANDS.



I love me some hand lotion....I have several tubes dotted all over the place...in the car, on my nightstand, in my purse, at my computer...the list goes on and on. Well, in these frigid times my hands really take a beating. They get red and dry and sore and cracked and it is NOT fun. So today I bring to you my favorite hand creams for fall...a little something for everyone if you will. The following list includes some classics, some personal faves and some hand lotions with a little something extra. Mix and Match- I know that you will love them all!





My absolute #1 pick? (aka the ROCKSTAR hand Cream)
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream - $4.49 (Drugstores nationwide and online at Drugstore.com)

This hand cream is no joke. It is scent free, goes on without any greasy residue, absorbs quickly and a little goes a long way. Best of all? When my fingers and knuckles start to crack and bleed from dryness (yes - gross but true for me in the winter) this is the ONLY thing that will bring them back to life. LOVE IT. (Side note - there is a version with SPF that I also enjoy but don't find it quite as effective at hard core moisturizing and repairing.)

Other great choices:
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Concentrated Cream with Vitamin E - $4.04 (Drugstores nationwide and online at drugstore.com)
- smells great, rich and creamy and feels ultra-soothing
Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Lotion (Travel Size) - $3-4 (Nationwide at Bath & Body Works and online at bathandbodyworks.com)
- great scent choices, good moisturizing and anti-bacterial..perfect for your car or on the go
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream - $11.69 (Nationwide at drugstores or online at drugstore.com)
- scent free, great for sensitive skin and all skin, not just hands

Of course, you know my love for this lotion as well...http://beautygirlnextdoor.blogspot.com/2008/08/product-of-week-august-7th-2008.html.

So go forth and may your hands, fingers and knuckles survive the cooling outside!

Keep looking fabulous for fall,
BGND

Color Me Mine

As you BGNDers know- I love finding things meant for one thing and using them for something else. It is truly how some of my best product finds have come about. But this urge to think outside the box spreads not just to the product category but to accessories as well. For example, I love to use a concealer brush for any kind of shimmer or glow application - it is just the right size for precise illumination.

Today's think outside the box moment I think is something that will benefit any of us who need help with organization (me!!). I saw this item advertised in In Style as an answer to organizing and storing menus and coupons in your junk drawer...but as soon as I saw the pic- something else came to mind...it is so pretty and color coordinated- it made me think of an eyeshadow palette.

Semikolon Accordion File Folder - $32 (Available online at seejanework.com)

I love this pretty pretty file folder. It is so bright and cheerful and in my opinion - a great organizer if you are someone whose eye make-up is all swimming around in a bag or a drawer somewhere. Simply put each color eyeliner and eye shadow in its coordinating folder and you will always know where your favorite black eyeliner or your favorite pink eye shadow is. So easy!!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

P.S. www.seejanework.com is a SUPER cute website so even if you aren't into the file folder- check out all their other goodies!!

Pop go the eyes!!

So my good friend Anne always hooks me up with free stuff - she has some killer connections! And since she is a very tan blonde and I am a very pale brunette - we don't use the same cosmetic colors and the ones she can't utilize get thrown my way.

Her most recent freebie is one that has been amazing since the first use....

Eyecake by POP Beauty - $19-$20 (see link below for locations)

I seriously have been blown away by this set. Not only are all the colors beautiful and perfectly coordinated AND they highlight whatever color eyes your momma gave you -best of all - they last.
Yup, you read that right- they actually last from when I put them on in the morning at 7am all the way through till 11pm when I am washing my face for bed (and yes that included going to the gym and sweating it up...). In a word- these eye shadows are solid quality. And what is most telling to me is the fact that when it is very early in the morning and I am staring at my make-up kit thinking I have nothing to use (you know the same feeling we all get in front of the closet) - I inevitably grab for this eyeshadow palette just like we all reach for that killer black dress. Yup - these eye shadows are that great.

Totally recommend this pack and a huge thank you to Anne for giving me my first taste of POP Beauty. I am already making a list of the other products I am going to try. So no worries POP- I will be paying money for these eye shadows and more soon enough!

If you are as into this new find as I am - click here and POP will hook you up with the retail location closest to you.

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Clearly Amazing...

Okay so all I have to say is - YES PLEASE to this device.

Recently my lovely fiance treated me to a facial (the man knows what a girl wants!) and during the wondrous event the facialist pulled out a contraption that I have heard about a TON and have been super curious about.

The Clarisonic Skin Cleaning System - $149-$225
I had seen this baby advertised everywhere and recommended by all the mags and stores as a major breakthrough in skin cleaning. But I was skeptical by all these endorsements...did I really need it? Did it really work? And holy cow that is a lot of money for a face cleanser!!!


I was not disappointed.
This tool is FANTASTIC. Made by the same folks behind the Sonicare toothbrush...think of this as the ultimate cleaning tool for your face. It gently and smoothly works your cleanser deeply into your skin but does so without irritating, hurting or damaging a thing. It reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles, gently exfoliates, allows your moisturizers and serums to absorb more effectively, reduces the appearance of pore size, helps with acne and dry patches alike- this baby does it all. It can be used with any cleanser or any exfoliant with spherical beads (this is important- they must be the round exfoliating beads otherwise you will damage your skin.)

So what convinced me that this brush was a wonder to be appreciated?
Well - The facialist started the gently buzzing brush towards my face and the moment it touched my skin I was seriously impressed. I was so blown away by the sensation, the exfoliation and the soothing nature of the brush that when I saw what my skin looked like after the facial I headed straight to Sephora to check one out in person. Then when three days after my facial my fiance said- wow your skin is still really soft- I was sold.

Now this does have a hefty price tag but there are Clarisonic options for everyone. You can buy the base model (1 speed), waterproof (2 speeds) or the one that can be used on other body parts other than the face. I will be buying the waterproof for myself in case I want to use it in the shower. I think the body Clarisonic is a bit much- I don't need to spend that much more just so I can scrub my elbows and knees. But if you want one of these and you don't want to spend too much I think the base model is also great.

Anyway, I wanted to share my love with you all and perhaps you can give your family or significant other a holiday gift idea?

Keep looking fabulous!
BGND

Old but still sad news...

So this information has been out there but I still wanted to address it now that I am back to blogging...

Two of my go-to makeup brands are going out of business! They have been staples for years but unfortunately we all know that in this economy no business or individual is really safe!
In case you don't know who these companies are....

Max Factor and Prescriptives...so sad.

Now Max Factor has been around forever...If you want some background on the company - check out their Wikipedia page here. They have made countless innovations in nearly every field of cosmetics - umm...they created foundation, lip gloss and waterproof mascara for goodness sakes!

And Prescriptives, while not as old as Max Factor was seriously formative for me in middle school and high school and they are a current favorite of makeup artists and celebrities. They have done amazing things in many areas of cosmetics and skin care including being the first company to really come out with any kind of cream highlighter or reflective makeup with their *Magic line. ( Some day I will share with you my nightmare black light experience with one of their early reflective lotions!)

Anyhoo - the saddest part for me of both of these companies going out of business (besides the obvious real world concerns of job loss etc..) is that these two companies carry two of my ultimate go-to products.

Max Factor makes the AMAZING Lash Perfection Mascara. A perfect separator, lash-coater and darkener for each and everyone of your lashes. Plus it is UBER affordable at $8.99!!
I will be going out and purchasing many many of these tubes of mascara...They are amazing and will be sorely missed! If you go out to buy this - just remember LASH PERFECTION- sometimes the packaging is different.

Prescriptives makes more than one product that I have used over the years - from eye shadows to concealer to fragrance. One that I have purchased over and over is the awesome Traceless Foundation. It is light, smooth as silk and provides great coverage without looking like you are wearing foundation. It literally just makes your skin the very best it can be. I am SO sad that Prescriptives is going away- this is THE ONLY liquid foundation I buy. Not surprisingly - Traceless is totally out of stock on line. You are going to have to hit a Prescriptives counter if you want a container of this gem.

Both of these companies are being shut down and pulled off the shelves in January 2010. So if you are a Max Factor or a Prescriptives fan- get your goods now!

Keep looking fabulous,
BGND

Holiday Time!

Okay okay - I know that it is only a couple days after Halloween but I can't wait to talk about all the fun that is happening over at Sephora!
This time of year is one of my favorites at everyone's destination for beauty supplies...
Why you ask?

Well....the winter holidays at Sephora equal one thing....

GIFT SETS!

All that fabulous packaging, all the fun little goodies waiting to be found! Now of course, these are designed to be purchased for others- so they say! I believe that Sephora and all the cosmetic companies put out these multi-faceted wonders to tempt those of us who are regular Sephora goers. They know the glossy pics and the promise of something new inside will convince us to buy more than we intended when we walked in ( like that doesn't already happen anyway!)

My favorites so far this year...

Too Faced Glamour Revolution - $39.50

Stila Smudgepot Collection - $32

These are just two of the gift sets I will be getting this year....I have seen a ton of other awesome choices in the store and online but these two will be the first of many that I pick up. I love Too Faced for many reasons and their shadows are the ones that I use almost daily. And Stila's smudgepots are the gold standard when it comes to cream eyeliner.

What gift sets are you going to get for yourselves and others?
Do you already have a favorite?

Have a great Monday and keep looking fabulous!
BGND