Thank you Birchbox! Thank you Algenist!

I received a sample from one of my early Birchboxes (I think it was the Overnight Restorative Cream which I really loved!) and ever since I have loved this product line!  I made the sample I received last for months not only b/c it is rather expensive, but I also wanted to see if I noticed a difference.  And I did.

It took some discipline b/c Birchbox always has great products to choose from (yes I have to give props where props are due) but I saved up enough points to finally use my points and I chose the Algenist Firming and Lifting Cream.


It actually took me a while to decide what I was going to do with my BB points- do I get one great item that I might never splurge on or do I get two or three less expensive items b/c more is nice too- so I chose to purchase the splurge I would probably never buy for myself just because it is a bit costly.  So I am going to receive a $94.00 high quality product for free...well sorta...but hey I'm worth it (thank you L'Oreal for the great mantra).

I also want to try the Algenist multi-perfecting pore corrector which I will be saving up for next!  The science behind Algenist is simply amazing (yes I really research these things cuz I'm a bit of a nerd/geek) and it does not irritate my skin (yeah)!

So thank you BB (www.birchbox.com) and Algenist (http://www.algenist.com) for all of the wonderful hard work you do! Check out their web sites for more information and trust me you'll be amazed!

Have you tried Algenist?  I would love to hear what you think of it or what your favorite splurge item is or anti-aging product!

Garnier Fructis Fall Fight Sample Shampoo/Conditioner

Over the weekend I received the following sample from Garnier for their new product: Fall Fight.  This product is suppose to strength your hair and prevent breakage so that you don't feel like all of your hair is falling out. The sample sizes are impressive (10ml each) for shampoo and conditioner.  As a bonus there is a $1.00 off coupon good on ANY shampoo, conditioner or treatment which does not EXPIRE until March 1, 2013.  Sweeet!  I've noticed I have a lot of Garnier hair products in my cabinet.

Do you have anxiety by seeing your hair in the brush, sink, drain etc?


When I had long hair, my hair fell out all the time! I swore I would be bald by 35!  My hair is in every car, store, house, sweater, office chairs, restaurant etc that I've ever been in...every drain, vacuum cleaner brush, dryer went etc... you name it! I shed more hair than the cat!  Now that I'm over 40 and I've cut my hair short (above the shoulders) I've noticed that my hair doesn't fall out as much.  Its probably due to hormonal changes but I know my hubby is very happy that he doesn't have to clean the drains as often.

Review of Beauty Balms Part 1

Beauty Balms are all the rage and there are many great benefits including sunscreen protection, great coverage, moisturizer, and overall making your skin look great.  I snapped up the first beauty balm I saw: Garnier.  There were two choices: light/medium and medium/dark.  I chose the light/medium.  Although I was very impressed with the coverage, the color (I am very light skinned) was just too dark for me.  I also need help with covering/reducing sun damage and spots to my face.

I tried several samples of the more expensive brands and also discovered that they were too dark for my skin tone.  In looking for a solution, I really started researching beauty balms and the reasons why they are so popular.  Apparently, this beauty balm formula was developed in Germany by a physician trying to help patients with facial scars and other skin abnormalities.  The Asian market soon found out about this product and it became very popular due in fact that skin lighteners were added to the formula.  Many Asian actresses used the beauty balm to keep their skin clear of blemishes while providing excellent spf protection, skin conditioners, and keeping their skin "light".

Soon I noticed that the best BB creams came from South Korea.  So I took a chance and bought two of the ones that I thought would benefit my skin.




The Oriental Gold BB Cream is my favorite.  It is very light, blends very well into the skin w/o the "cake face" effect and does a great job of evening out my skin tone.  As a bonus, it comes with a bright pink blush/lip stain which at first I thought was hideous.  I don't use it on my lips, but just a dab or two on the cheeks give a great blush that looks natural and fresh.  (As long as you don't use too much and over due it).

The Misha Perfect Cover BB Cream took some getting used to because it was a little darker...more beige than light.  Now that I have just a little color to my face and neck (ie a light tan) I find that this BB cream works fantastically with its coverage, light weight feel, adds a touch of color to my face and doesn't dry my face or cause any breakouts. 

These formulas are very easy to apply, very light weight, last almost all day and provide outstanding SPF coverage along with many other benefits.  I usually follow each application (with a sponge not my fingers anymore) with a dusting of powder to set the look.  I recommend bare minerals, Smashbox or Physicians Formula in multi-colored translucent pressed powder.

The only cautionary note is this: research the company where you purchase your products.  There are a number of sellers that sell fake South Korean BB creams.  You can Google the product and find out how to tell if your product is authentic.  I believe that Skin79 which makes the Oriental Gold BB Cream now has an American web site up and running.  So do your research, it will take some time and money to find the right fit and when you do you'll wonder how you ever lived w/o it!