I've been spending a ton of time going through cabinets and closets tossing out the things that I don't need. I'm looking at some of this stuff thinking, "what was I thinking?!" I'm sure that most females think the same thing. After all, we are all about looking and feeling our best. So it makes sense that we would purchase things on a whim, wondering how they will work. However, once we realize that we are wasting time and money with things that we don't need, maybe we should STOP and focus on the things that work for us. Why keep on with a quest that has no point? So, here are my 5 favorite products that are tried and true for me:
1. Best skin care line for face: Obagi NuDerm Skin System. Hands down, without a doubt, the best product that I have ever put on my face! Actually several products within one line, the Obagi line does not just sit on top of your skin. It soaks in and forces cell turnover and collagen production. If you can stand your face being red and then peeling for a little while, you may like this line. The entire system costs around $500, but lasts for a very long time. And if you are a skin care junkie like I am, it ends up saving you money in the long run. The best part of it is...IT WORKS!
2. Best skin care product overall: Water. Plain and simple. Our bodies are made up of water. It makes sense that when you are devoid of water, your skin shrivels up. I can see the difference when I drink enough water as opposed to when I don't. I can tell when my clients are not drinking enough water just by looking at the texture of their skin. H2O...a simple solution! All of the moisturizer in the world won't help you if you are dehydrated.
3. Best makeup line: Ahhhh, this one is a TOUGH one for me, a makeup junkie. For color, application, choices and service, I love MAC cosmetics! There are a couple of other lines that I am a fan of, such as Stila, Smashbox and Bare Minerals... but this one is my default choice. When I need something, I head straight to the MAC counter!
4. Best exfoliant: Most of the products that I have tried have left my skin feeling dried out and damaged. I have fallen in love with Bath and Body Works Sugar Scrub. I use it once or twice a week. This stuff leaves my skin feeling fabulous!
5. Favorite Perfume: I have about 10 different kinds for different occasions. Issy Miachi is my favorite for formal occasions. For every day, my absolute favorite is Burberry (the original)...It just perfect! The scent does not overpower and I can't really smell it on me. But that's a hint to a good perfume: If you can smell it hours later on yourself, it is probably not working with your body chemistry.
What are some of your favorites?

Sephora Shopping Spree

Yesterday, I was past due for some down time. So I took a trip to Planet Beach for my favorite spa pampering~a water massage and some color. I walked in at exactly the time that my friend Jamie Blue was there. I call Jamie my little sis from another miss because we are exactly alike. Hence us being there at exactly the same time on a Saturday afternoon. We decided to check out Lafayette's new Sephora store, our first one here. I am a makeup FANATIC. My train case (Kevin Aucoin would be proud) is filled with MAC and Bare Minerals. I have stood outside of a Sephora store and not dared go in when I was not planning on shopping. If its new makeup...I'm buying! Jamie and I ventured into Sephora and proceeded to play with everything in the store. 2 hours and a good amount of makeup purchased, we happily left with stuff that we have never tried before. Jamie picked up Stila eyeshadow in Oasis, Stila kajal eyeliner in amethyst, Stila lipglaze in Starfruit and Stila eyeliner in Rose. I bought Stila lip polish in gleam (LOVE the natural color), Smashbox lipliner in Pro (very close to my favorite MAC lipliner, Subculture), Stila kajal eyeliner in Onyx (a very easy-gliding dark black that doesn't budge), Bare Minerals powder foundation, and Too-faced shadow insurance primer (which is very similiar to the highly popular Urban Decay primer). The store is not huge, but given the small damage that we did in this one, that's probably a good thing! Loving the colors and can't wait to go back once I run out of something.

Experiments In The Art Of Color

Hey! I hope that everyone is having a fabulous evening! Today, I woke up to yet another GORGEOUS day here in South Louisiana. I don't remember a week where the weather has been so clear, so cool and so beautiful. A nice change from the sweltering heat that we usually experience here. I am actually starting to think that we may have a real winter here this year!
Anywayyyy, I teamed up with my friend and neighbor, Hollie, today for some make-up experimentation. She's as much of a make-up junkie as I am, probably more so! Not only that, but she is extremely talented in playing with color and coming up with a great result! So, we've decided to dedicate a morning each week to trying out different looks. Looking forward to that and reporting the pics and techniques back to you!
I am a MAC fanatic, but also love Bare Minerals and as of today am a Shu-uemura fan too. Between Hollie and I's make-up cases, we could open a small store. The looks featured here were created using a multitude of colors and brushes. I've included the colors, application techniques and brushes used for you to try out too! It's also pretty easy to replicate these looks using other colors with the same techniques, so have fun experimenting!

Laurie's Look:



Shu-uemura "Me Yellow 300" applied on eyelid and bottom inner corner of eye with MAC brush #219
Shu-uemura "Me Brown 850" applied directly in crease above eyelid and also along bottom lashes with MAC brush #217
MAC "Prismique, white" applied directly below eyebrow with MAC brush #217
MAC "Prismique, goldish-green" applied to top half of eyelid with MAC brush #219
MAC "Paradisco Frost" applied above the "Me Brown" and below "Prismique white", blend together with MAC brush #217
MAC "Hepcat Frost" pat gently in corner for shadowning with MAC brush #217
MAC "Paint Pot" black eyeliner applied with MAC brushes, #209 and #210

Hollie's Look:


MAC "Soft Brown Mattique" applied as base for entire eye with MAC brush #2178E
MAC "Post Haste" applied on crease from bottom to halfway around the eye with MAC brush #219. Do not go all the way to inner eye.
MAC "Beauty Marked Velvet" patted on outside corner of eye for tinting with MAC brush #219
MAC "Stars & Rockets" applied over eyelid, then blended over entire eye with MAC brush #217
MAC "Nylon Frost" applied to inner eye for light tinting effect with MAC brush #217
MAC "Blanc Type" applied below eyebrow for highlighting effect with MAC brush #217
MAC "Post Haste" applied below bottom lashes for smoked effect. Apply back up and over the crease to enhance color with MAC brush #219.


I love these looks and can't wait to report more tricks back to you next week. What's your favorite trick that you like to use? Share it here!
Peace,
LL