Fashion

Narine Nikogosian is one of Los Angeles’ best-known skin care and beauty experts, with a list of celebrity clients that include Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron, Alfre Woodard, and Kirk Douglas. Her skin care regimens are praised for being gentle, natural, and incredibly effective.
Narine is from a long line of Armenian women who have been harnessing the powers of nature to create everlasting beauty.

For the first time, she reveals her secrets in her NEW book, Return to Beauty: Old-World Recipes for Great Radiant Skin, so that you can have star-worthy skin.

Return to Beauty offers regimens made from fresh ingredients that can be found right in your own kitchen. With recipes for winter, spring, summer, and fall, you can look beautiful throughout the year. Narine Nikogosian’s natural and inexpensive products can be whipped up in less than ten minutes. Have a jar of honey in your pantry? Mix it with a few crushed walnuts to create a sensual, aromatic scrub for oily skin. Use dabs of cottage cheese to lighten under eye circles, or almond oil to rehydrate cracked lips. Narine also provides recipes based on astrological signs, such as for Scorpio, a Gracious Grapefruit Mask made of grapefruit, egg yolk, and soothing honey to rejuvenate your skin even after a late night.

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This is a brilliant book to have in this economy. If you can’t afford fancy scrubs, luxurious face masks, and expensive moisturizers, you can easy make your own with the recipes found in this book.

I can’t wait to try some of the recipes in this book! Shiny Hair Rinse, Calm Down Apricot Cleanser, Tango Mango Moisturizer, Happy Hands Cream and more! Plus recipes specifically for the Fall and Winter like the Blushing Apple Carrot Mask. So many yummy recipes, I guarantee you’ll want to run into your kitchen and whip one up.

The Sparkling Spa Honey Scrub on page 12 is made with 3 simple ingredients that would cost you less than $3 to make and I’m better you already have at least 2 of the ingredients in your pantry already. The other one I’m dying to try is the Java Juice Body Scrub on page 153. It calls for 4 simple ingredients and helps with circulation and blood flow.

I also thought it would be a great idea for Christmas gifts! Who wouldn’t love getting a jar of homemade sugar scrub or an all natural moisturizer? It would only cost you a few dollars to make and your hard work and thoughtfulness would definitely be appreciated. Even the book itself makes a great gift idea. I can think of a few people on my Christmas list that would love this book.

Would you want to try any of these old world recipes for great skin?

Fashionable Media Review Policy: A copy of Return To Beauty was provided to me, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of reading and reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

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While browsing around on SmartBargains.com I discovered a brand called XCVI.

My first impression was that XCVI was a laid-back brand offering relaxed and chic fashion made primarily from cotton. The brand falls in the mid price range for me; not cheap, but not expensive either. Most items cost under $100.

I was super excited when shortly after that, Rue La La had a XCVI boutique with prices around 65% off! So I jumped at the opportunity and bought the Happy House top in eggplant, Plaid Brushed Twill Reporter Blouse in green, Exquisite Jacket in eggplant and Totem Pole Top in a grayish purple color.

(Photo Credit: SmartBargains.com)

The Happy House top ended up being my favorite. It’s cotton voile with a jersey like material on the back, so it feels like your favorite soft tee shirt, yet it looks like a smart work-appropriate blouse. I was in love!

I went back online to see if I could find more, maybe in another color, but it appeared they were all sold out. Isn’t that always the way? Whether it’s clothing, shoes, or your favorite lipstick – as soon as you find something you like, they stop making it! Well i wasn’t about to give up. This was like the ultimate eureka in fashion discoveries for me! I loved this top so much and I just had to have more.

So I went on XCVI.com and emailed the company directly asking where I could find more Happy House tops and did they have any left, anywhere in the whole world. It was a last ditch effort in my quest for the perfect shirt and I didn’t expect a reply. To my surprise, they emailed me back and said they yes, they had 2 left in their warehouse; 1 in coal and 1 in Creme Brulle, both in a size small… Words could not express my excitement!

The Marketing Communications Director for XCVI was kind enough to give me both tops free of charge. Out of my gratitude for their unbelievable kindness, I just had to dedicate a post to their brand and my favorite shirt in the whole world: The Happy House top.

Not only were they were nice enough to gift both tops to me, but I really am a HUGE fan of their brand. XCVI has created wearable, movable, breathable clothing for women who believe in style, but also believe in comfort. XCVI delivers chic separates that are an absolute dream to wear. Cotton has never looked or felt so good!

XCVI is fashion you can live in.

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Ever been annoyed by the straps on your handbag slipping right off your shoulder?

How many times have you been carrying too much to handle only to have your bag or your purse strap slip off your shoulder and down to the crook of your elbow? Or those days when you are wearing a bulky sweater or a coat and the strap on your handbag just don’t stay put and you have to keep slinging your purse back up on your shoulder over and over again.

I have a few handbags that just stay put on my shoulder and I’ve been very tempted to get out the double sided tape and that non-slip mat stuff (I call it rubber grippy stuff) and modify my purse straps myself.

When Christine, a mom to four kids, and the founder of StrapDiva emailed me about her nifty invention, my first thought was why didn’t I hear about something like this before now! It’s perfect!

StrapDiva is a no-slip purse strap cover that snaps on to a single purse strap or two handles together. It is made of super soft and luxurious leather with a suede lining. On the outside, there is a special material to prevent slippage and help keep your straps where they belong.

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Americans’ number one environmental concern is the pollution of drinking water, with 59 percent saying they worry “a great deal” about the issue, according to a 2009
Gallup Environment survey. Given the essential nature of water to sustaining life, it is not surprising that the safety of drinking water is top of mind for Americans. From potential contaminants and disturbances in the water system, to untested well water, to less stringent requirements for bottled water vs. tap water, there are many potential worries.

I live in a city that puts quite a bit of chlorine into the town water. My husband drinks it, but I refuse to even cook with it because I know the risks of drinking chlorinated water. I’ve been buying bottled water since moving here, but after that got quite costly, I began using a Brita filter. I was never crazy with the resulting flavor though…

So I was ultra excited when Restore “Taste The Clean” Launch Team asked me if I would be willing to test and review their new Restore Clean Water System.

Restore Clean Water System is a brand new, state-of-the art and innovative in-home water purification system that combines filtration and UV Clean Technology.

Just because its filtered, doesn’t means it’s purified! Restore Clean Water System uses Ultraviolet (UV) Clean Technology to go beyond filtering by removing bacteria, viruses and more.

Restore is California certified for microbiological water purification, a first for a water pitcher utilizing UV technology and is Gold Seal Certified to National Sanitation Foundation standards by the Water Quality Association. UV Technology has been used for over 60 years for its germicidal properties in hospitals and laboratories. For the first time, an application of this unique germ-killing technology is available for home use in an affordable, easy to use water pitcher.

I thought it would be complicated to use when I opened the box, but it was actually pretty simple to set up. You flip the switch on the handle to “Fill”, then proceed to fill the basin with tap water. Let the water run through the carbon filter (much like the Brita) and then fill it up again. Once that goes through (takes like 3 mins), flip the switch on the handle to “Purify” and plug the wall unit into the pitcher and press the “Purify” button.

See it in action…

The system is incredibly easy to use and clean. Best of all, the flavor of the water after it has been purified is wonderful. I don’t usually like drinking water because it’s so… bland. Distilled water has an unmistakable icky flavor and spring water can taste funny sometimes too.

This water tastes incredibly clean and crisp. I actually find myself wanting to pour myself a glass of water now. That in itself is a little miracle.

If your tap water is less than perfect, I recommend you get a water filtration and purification system like Restore Clean Water System.

The system retails for $99 and new replacements filters for the system are only $7.99. *Note: Restore is not for sale in Iowa.

Click here to download a PDF with more information. Or you can visit www.homedics.com/restore to find more info on where to purchase.

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Fashionable Media Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to me, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. Please note that opinions expressed in this article are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

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About a month ago, I got an email from a rep at Whooga boots that wanted to know if I’d be willing to try out a pair of their boots. While the warm winter boots are quite controversial in the fashion world, you really can’t deny that they are practical for winter and a must-have for anyone living in the North East. Upon learning that Whooga boots were made in Australia, I agreed to try out a pair.

I chose the Classic Tall Ugg Boots in chestnut. And even shipping from Australia, they came surprisingly quick!

Being a sucker for cute packaging, I was delighted with the adorable box they came in…

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I untied the neatly tied bow and opened the box to find a cozy looking pair of boots…

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They have a cute little label on the back, just like Ugg Australia boots, but more whimsical looking…

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Something I noticed right away, that completely sets Whooga boots on a level above Ugg Australia is the thickness of the Merino Sheepskin wool. You can read more about Whooga ThermoFleece™ Technology here. Just look at how thick and cozy the inside of these boots are…

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Whooga ThermoFleece sheepskin is treated without the Chrome Tanning agents that are used in the majority of tanning factories. This results in Whooga boots being both biodegradable and recyclable which is friendlier for the environment. Chrome Tanning is not only harmful to the environment but often causes irritation to those with sensitive skin and is actually detrimental to the durability and flexibility of the sheepskin.

So not only are these boots warm and cozy, but they are eco-friendly too!

Now, while you may not love the look of ugg boots, their comfort and practicality is undisputed. As soon as September 1st came around, everyone up here in New England started wearing their ugg boots. And I mean, everyone. It’s only mid October and we already had a first snow fall this morning. Yuck!

So needless to say, warm winter boots are a must. I might not wear them out with an evening dress, but you can bet your booty I’ll opt for these on a cold snowy day on my way to the grocery store.

Now, here’s the important part… You’re probably wondering why you should consider Whooga boots instead of Ugg Australia brand boots if you’re going to take a plunge and get yourself some ugg boots. Well, here’s the thing… Ugg Australia brand boots that are hugely popular in the US now, are actually produced in China while Whooga ugg boots are proudly made in Australia. How ironic that Ugg Australia boots aren’t even made in Australia eh? No instead they make them in China for dirt cheap and then sell them for much more than they are worth. And we buy them because they are a brand we are familiar with. Everyone is wearing a pair, so we figure they have to be good, right?

Whooga ugg boots have proven to be higher quality than Ugg Australi’s popular boots. You really can see and feel the difference. To be completely honest with you, I have a pair of each. I have a pair of Ugg Australia classic tall boots in dark brown and this pair of Whooga classic tall boots in chestnut. I personally prefer the Whooga boots because the lining is thicker and softer. It feels like you’re walking on a thick bed of soft cotton balls.

And personally, I’d much rather have Australian ugg boots that are actually from Australia and made in Australia. Seems more authentic, ya know?

Exclusive Discount: Get $30 USD off your order, enter coupon code 73THEFASHION at checkout. There are no conditions on it and they ship to all countries!!

Shop whoogaboots.co.uk

More about Whooga Boots as an alternative to Ugg Australia boots to come…

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I love anything pumpkin flavored. Pumpkin candles, pumpkin soap, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin chapstick, pumpkin pie…. If it smells or tastes like pumpkin, I’m all over it. I just loooove pumpkins. So this review will be a little biased and not because the reps for Desert Essence sent me a tube of Pumpkin Hand Repair Cream.

I can’t think if anything more heavenly than slathering my whole body in delicious pumpkin lotion. But since I can’t do that all day long, this is the best alternative.

I have a bottle of Desert Essence Organics Pumpkin Hand Cream sitting right next to my computer screen so I can indulge in the yummy scent anytime I like. It soaks in quickly so I don’t have to worry about getting my keyboard or mouse all slimy. The organic Pumpkin Seed Oil, with high levels of vitamins A, C, E and K, plus zinc, helps to combat daily environmental stress on the hands. And a proprietary blend of Organic Pumpkin Seed and Licorice Leaf extracts helps to even skin tone and fade the appearance of age spots on the hands.

Desert Essence Organics Repair line delivers a high concentration of organic oils and organic extracts which provide intense moisture to the skin and aid in the repair process. As Organic Jojoba Oil is similar in structure to our skin’s oils, it is able to deeply penetrate the skin, leaving it soft and supple. I absolutely adore the warm and spicy smell of this hand cream. It’s just the yummiest scent in the whole word. (I told you I was bias! LOL)

The Desert Essence Organics Pumpkin Hand Cream retails for $8.99, but is on sale for only $6.99 on desertessence.com right now. You can also find it on drugstore.com.

If you get it and really, really like it, then stock up on it by getting a 3 pack of Desert Essence Organics Pumpkin Hand Repair Cream on Amazon.com for only $26.97.

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Double Duty Beauty Brand Purple Lab has partnered with The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation to launch SWAC “SEALED WITH A CURE,” a feel good lip gloss equipped with ingredients that boost beauty, health and confidence. SWAC has been delivered to help increase awareness and funds for Triple Negative Breast Cancer research.

I am a huge fan of the Purple Lab, and no it’s not just because I’m friends with Karen Robinovitz, the founder of PurpleLab. I fell in love with Huge Lips Skinny Hips the first time I tried it. So of course when they emailed me and asked me if I wanted to try their new SWAC: Sealed With A Cure lip gloss, I welcomed the opportunity with open arms lips! Especially after I heard why Karen created this lip gloss…

I met three inspiring women last year – Malaak, Andrea, and Hayley – all of whom lost their good friend to triple negative breast cancer, a rare and aggressive subtype I had never heard of. Nor had any of my friends.

And when I heard the story of their friend Nancy Block-Zenna who inspired them to create The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, a charity that supports awareness and research for TNBC, I knew I had to do something.

Meet SWAC (Sealed with a Cure, pictured right), a sumptuous gloss formulated with lots of TLC ingredients.

The shade, named Nancy, is a delicate, shiny pink with hints of gold tint (real gold, BTW!) and it comes with a love note, Nancy’s life story and the legacy she left behind.

This Paraben-free, health boosting and immune system enhancing formula contains ingredients including Mangosteens and Echinacea. The ultra-moisturizing, non-sticky gloss is lightly scented with Vanilla and is contained in one of the most innovative lip gloss tubes I’ve ever used. The tube is easy to squeeze and the tip is soft and feels great against your lips.

In addition to all the yummy ingredients that make this gloss so unique, it’s the perfect shade of pink that is universally flattering. (And remember that’s coming from someone with red hair!)

When you buy SWAC, a generous 20% of the proceeds will go to the foundation. You can get it for $18.50 at www.b-glowing.com

You can enter to win SWAC Lip Gloss in the Fashionable Gals For A Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Fund Raiser and Giveaway. (Look for prize pack number 4!)

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Urban Decay’s new Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion is a little bit different than the Brightening Complexion Primer Potion. This one is formulated for younger, more oily skin I think.

It’s a velvety formula that goes on smooth and then turns to a matte finish. You only need a little bit. The first few times I used it, I put on too much, so note that you only need tiny bit. Best to start with too little than too much! It blends in easily and fills in pores on your cheeks and nose quickly without looking clumpy or fake.

If you have oily skin, you can put it directly on your skin and then apply your foundation makeup right off top. If you have dry, more mature skin, you may get better results applying a rich moisturizer first and then applying the primer. That way you won’t feel like you need a lot to blend it into your skin.

Unlike most face primers, this one does not feel heavy or greasy when you’re done. It’s light coverage for a flawless finish!

You can get Pore Perfecting Complexion Primer Potion in your local Sephora or Sephora.com or you can get it on Beauty.com. It retails for $30.

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No Foundation Foundation is an advanced anti-aging translucent foundation that is unlike any foundation you’ve ever tried before. Dr. Perricone created this unique product to keep skin looking dewy and flawless all day long.

I like that the formula has many of the benefits you find from a traditional foundation without the heavy matte finish, which emphasizes the tiniest skin imperfections. No Foundation Foundation is a multi-purpose product that provides natural translucent coverage, corrects skin undertones, instantly smooths out fine lines and boosts skin’s natural moisture throughout the day, all the while delivering antioxidant benefits.

• Instantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles, lines and pores.
• Provides non-chemical SPF 30 broad spectrum UV protection
• Corrects skin undertones.
• Quick-absorbing
• Moisturizes
• Antioxidant benefits

Dr. Perricone recommends you apply No Foundation Foundation on top of other treatments and/or moisturizers. In gentle, circular motions, apply all over your face and reapply as often as necessary.

I found that applying a moisturizer first is absolutely essential. This is not a primer, it’s a foundation. I saw several reviews on Sephora that complained that this was a lousy primer…? I’m not sure why they were under the impression that this was primer. It doesn’t say that anywhere in the description. Perhaps Sephora mistakenly listed it under primers for a little while and then corrected the problem? I have no idea. Either way, I definitely wanted to point out that this is not a primer and if you think it is, you probably won’t like it.

I actually recommend using Urban Decay’s Brightening Complexion Primer Potion as a primer and then using the No Foundation Foundation on top. If you have dry skin, you should use something like Perricone’s Neuropeptide Facial Contour Cream first and then apply the foundation on top.

Forgive, I’m not used to taking pictures of makeup swatches! You can see that the color of the foundation is darker than my actual skint tone, but once you apply, it completely blends in with your natural skin color.

You only need a tiny bit! One pump is the perfect amount to apply over your entire face. About half a pump is all you need to cover your neck and blend down into your chest (if you are so inclined). If you use too much, it will not blend as well and you may be unhappy with the results. Less is more with this product and it really does perform quite well.

If you don’t like the feeling of heavy foundation or you don’t usually wear any foundation at all, then you’re going to love Perricone’s No Foundation Foundation. I think it is ideal for women ages 35 – 65. If you are under 35 or have oily skin, you may want to apply a light powder on top if you feel that it leaves your skin too moist and shiny. Anyone with normal to dry skin is absolutely going to love this foundation!

Learn more about No Foundation Foundation

You can get Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation at your local Sephora or on Sephora.com.

Use coupon code BLOGGER10 on perriconemd.com for 10% off your purchase!

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It’s no secret that Fall is upon us. No more hanging at the poolside soaking up all that vitamin D! But don’t worry, you don’t have to take a vacation to Hawaii to get your tan back.

Antidote Skin Care has developed high quality and environmentally conscious self-tanning products. There are two tanning systems are available: Gradual or Dark.

I was lucky enough to get to talk to Sinead Norenius, author of Self Tanning Queen blog, who created Antidote Skin Care’s line of self tanning products based on feedback she received on her blog. Readers shared with her what was lacking from tanning products on the market today and Sinead decided to make her own sunless tanner!

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After finding the perfect tan shade, Sinead eliminated all the commonly used ingredients like parabens, propylene glycol, sodium laureth (and that bad stuff) and added in anti-aging ingredients like DHA, MOC, and MelanoBronze, a compound comprised of Monk’s Pepper Extract and Acetyl Tyrosine. And on top of that, Antidote’s products are cruelty-free so you can feel good about using them too!

Sinead was nice enough to send me the Summer Glow System which contains Summer Glow, a self-tanning lotion that is packed with powerful antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients and Go Slough Yourself, a fabulous pre-tanning exfoliant.

You can find a series of videos on the website, for tips and tricks on how to apply the sunless tanners so you can achieve the perfect tan every single time you use the products.

These fabulous tanning systems retail for $46.99. You can purchase the products individually, purchase the kits, or enroll in the auto shipment program so you can have the perfect tan year round! Everything is up to the customer with Antidote.

Readers of The Fashionable Housewife can get 20% off using coupon code 09BLTFH. (Expires 12/31/09)

Sinead generously donated TWO full kits (winner’s choice of Gradual or Dark) to Fashionable Gals for a Cure. Each kit is paired with other fabulous prizes (like a cashmere shawl or Gillette Venus gift basket). Enter for a chance to win today!

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My friend Sarah was insistent. “I promise, you’ll like what you see,” she said. But I refused. I just couldn’t bring myself to even look at the shoes. I’m not that kind of person. But she told me that if I just looked, then she would buy me lunch. So I did.

That’s when I saw them. Mixed among the flip flop wedges and those ridiculous looking clogs, were a simple, non plastic pair of wedge sandals. I liked them. And they were Crocs. So I clicked on the info and thus began my love affair with the Crocs Hanalei wedge sandal.

The Hanalei is a simple wedge with a single strap open toe and an ankle strap, both made of a woven fabric in one of several colors. The base is your standard Crocs plastic foam, but the fabric upper makes it look a little less like a pair of life sized Barbie shoes. I read a couple of reviews, and found that they were supposed to be really comfortable, which is always my main goal, so I decided to purchase a pair. Since I was looking at them on the actual Crocs website, I decided to shop around for a less expensive site. I found the same pair at Endless.com for about $20 less than on Crocs.com so I bought a pair of the Natural/Stone color.

They arrived the next day (yay free shipping!) I was in heaven. They were so cute on, and I knew the second I stepped into them that they would be my favorite pair of shoes. Two months later, they still are. They are so comfortable that I can walk around all day and not have sore feet, even though they are heels! Plus, they are super cute, and since I live in a place that has pretty mild winters, I’m sure I’ll get to use these year round.

About three weeks after I got them, I decided to purchase the Jade/Natural ones I saw, because I have a green shirt and khaki skirt that I’m sure would look perfect with them. But when I went back to the website, to my horror they were gone! I was so sad. Luckily just yesterday I was looking for some rain boots online, and I found my wonderful Hanaleis available once again on Endless.com, and they’re on sale!! I’ve already purchased my Jade/Natural ones and look forward to them arriving tomorrow! I’m even going to wear my planned outfit with them the next day.

I strongly recommend these shoes for anyone. Even the Croc haters (trust me, I was with you). They are super cute and really comfortable. Plus, they have several different styles, and they’re on sale right now on Endless.com. You can pick up a pair of crocs Hanalei Sandals for $47 on Endless.com. FYI, they are no longer on the Crocs website, but I’m thinking about writing them to ask for new colors for the next summer season!

~Anna~

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The Febreze Flameless Luminary is part of Febreze’s new Home Collection. It’s a scented room freshener disguised as a cute little piece of room decor.

When you buy the Febreze Home Collection Flameless Luminary Starter Kit, it comes with little decorative, scented shades you can change every to let a flickering light shine through. Replace your scented shades every couple weeks (or whenever you can’t smell it anymore). Febreze promises to have new scents and designs for every season of the year. I’m really hoping they have something spicy and warm like pumpkin pie flavor.

I currently have the Green Tea Citrus scent in my living room. It’s a crisp, light hint of citrus mingling with the robust aroma of green tea. While I love drinking green tea, I’m not crazy about smelling it… While the luminary is a fabulous idea, I’d really like to try another scent like Cranberry Pear or Pomegranate Mango. In the little pamphlet I got with my Flameless Luminary, it says the season scents will be Caramel Crisp, Orchard Cider and Vanilla Frost. I’m thinking I’m going to like the Vanilla Frost scent best, so I better stock up on it when I see it in the stores!

The instructions were written for completely dummies so don’t even worry about this being complicated! You open a little packet, pull out the fragrance sleeve and slide it onto the the plastic pyramid base. When the paper sleeve is inserted, the base begins to flicker and release a warming glow. If you don’t want to waste the batteries, you can simple turn it off with the little on or off switch on the base. Just like most air fresheners, the Febreze sleeve starts out strong and slowly dissipates. It says to change them weekly, but mine lasted almost 3 weeks. I have allergies and am sometimes sensitive to strong scents, but I didn’t find the fragrance to be too strong or overbearing.

I think the biggest selling point of the Flameless Luminary is that it does not look like a room fresher like the stupid little Sense and Spray thingy. This completely blends into your decor like a candle or a knick knack. The only evidence you’ll find of it’s presence, is the pleasant fragrance in your room.

Other products in the Home Collection include the Scented Reed Diffuser, Soy Blend Candle and premium Room Spray. All are fabulous! I have the Scented Reed Diffuser in my walk in closet, the soy blend candle in my bathroom and the room spray in my kitchen. We’re a little bit obsessed with Febreze in my house…

The Febreze Home Collection is more than décor, it’s “a breath of fresh air!”

The Febreze Home Collection Flameless Luminary Starter Kit retails for about $15 and the Luminary Refills cost about $5 for 2 sleeves. You can find these Febreze Home Collection products online at Drugstore.com and Amazon.com or in stores like Wal Mart, Target, and your local grocery store.

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New from Origins, a leading brand in natural skin care products, comes GinZing Eye Cream, a premium eye cream that de-puffs and reduces dark circles.

Made from a proprietary complex of Caffeine from Coffee beans, Panax Ginseng, Magnolia Extract and natural optic brighteners that promises to rapidly wake up, refresh and restore radiance to tired eyes.

On it’s own, it’s not exactly a miracle cream. I used it several days in a row and liked the brightening effect and mild de-puffing, but I didn’t notice much in the way of lightening dark circles. However, when used in conjunction with under eye concealer, this stuff is amazing. Specifically Benefit boi-ing under eye concealer.

Boi-ing isn’t a miracle worker on it’s own either, but put a layer of GinZing on and then dab on some boi-ing and you’ll get the best coverage on your dark circles you could ever want.

GinZing Eye Cream isn’t being released nationwide until October, but we’re giving away 10 samples in our Super Duper End of Summer Giveaway that ends Sunday, Sept 27th at 11:59pm ET.

You can get GinZing Eye Cream at Dillards.com or directly from Origins.com

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As you know, I am huge fan of the original Covergirl LashBlast Mascara. If you are a fan too, then you’ll probably like the new CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara.

With a special pre-sale that started August 17 and a full-blown release in early September, the new lengthening mascara

CoverGirl’s new Elasta-Nylon™ formula flexes without flaking or clumping. It dries soft so you can layer it for an even more dramatic look. Because this formula is so rich and supple on your lashes, you won’t regret it if you leave it on overnight either. It’s also very easy to remove at night with warm water and a gentle makeup remover like Olay Mascara + Make-up Remover, unlike most lengthening mascaras.

While CoverGirl was very proud of their new longer brush with over 450 bristles, I’m personally not a huge fan. Maybe I’m clumsy or perhaps I’m just too used to the gigantic brush on the original LashBlast Mascara or it could be a little of both! Either way, I feel that the new longer brush is a little too long and actually makes it harder to control when applying it.

They claim that the flexible lengthening formula makes your lashes appear about 80% longer than your bare little lashes look on their own. This part I have to agree with. You can actually see the little nylon fibers on the brush and they attach to your lashes to create amazing length. If you can manage the brush and apply it properly, it makes your lashes look amazing. I only wish they had put this new lengthening formula in the original LashBlast container.

To be fair, I wasn’t crazy about the fat orange LashBlast container when it first came out. It took a while to get used to it. But now that I know how to handle and maneuver it, I love it! And after using it almost every single day for like 6 months or more, it’s kinda difficult to switch to a new brush and container that is pretty much the opposite in design.

With a price tag of $7, you can afford to give this on a try if you are:

a. a fan of the original Lash Blast formula
b. need a new tube of mascara or
c. want longer lashes without the flaking

All in all, I definitely like it, but it’s not my favorite. Only because I usually go for a more dramatic look and I prefer fullness over length. My mascara of choice is still CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Shimmery Volumizing Mascara in Black Cabernet.

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The new Gillette Venus Embrace has 5 blades to give you the closest shave ever.

I like the Gillette Venus razors over any other brand specifically because of the rounded head and moisture strip that goes all the way around the head. I’m not a huge fan of shaving, nor am I a connoisseur on razors, but I can say without a doubt that this is the best razor I’ve ever used. It’s hard for me to even imagine that every woman in the world doesn’t already know that Gillette is the best. If there are any of you out there that aren’t already loyal fans of Gillette, than that’s because you’ve never tried the Venus Embrace!

The five curve-hugging blades individually adjust to stay in contact with your skin, even around tricky areas like your knees, ankles, and bikini area. You don’t have to use the Gillette Satin Care Shave Gel to get the perfect shave, but the two products definitely work better together. (Plus the Satin Care Shave Gel comes in some pretty yummy scents like Alluring Avocado and Lavender Kiss!) When I used both the Embrace razor and the Satin Care shaving gel together, I got an incredibly close and smooth shave. I can now go almost 3 days without shaving again!

Gillette Venus Embrace Refill Cartridges are about $15 for a box of 4 cartridges. I don’t love the pricetag, but they are worth it. Razors are one of those necessary evils that cost more than you want it to, but ends up being totally worth it in the end. I replace the cartridge on my razor every 4 – 6 weeks. I don’t know if that is normal or average, but it works for me! Obviously the more you shave, the sooner the blades will become dull. With the Embrace having 5 blades though, it seems to not get dull quite as quickly.

When it comes to razors, you absolutely without a doubt, get exactly what you pay for. I have never used a cheap razor or disposable razor that I didn’t either cut myself with or had to throw away after 1 use. I personally don’t even see the point in a disposable razor unless you went on vacation and forgot your beloved razor at home.

I’m going to continue using my new and retire my well loved and very well used Gillette Venus Divine (only 3 blades).

You can of course find the new Gillette Venus Embrace Razor where ever you normally buy razors like the drugstore, grocery store, and retailers like Wal Mart and Target. And actually, Target has a Venus Embrace Value Pack for $16.99 that includes of course 1 razor, 1 shower pod, and 5 replacement cartridges!

If you want to buy it online, you can find it at Drugstore.com for $12.99 or on Amazon.com for $10.74. (Prices as of today 9/23/09)

Enter our Super Duper End of Summer Triple Prize Giveaway for a chance to win the new Gillette Venus Embrace Razor!!

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