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We’re all in search of the perfect eyeliner.  The one that stays put, lasts the whole day, won’t run when you tear up and doesn’t make you look like a raccoon by the end of the day.

So many choices, so many claims to be “completely 100% waterproof”, smudge-proof, water-resistant etc.”  Well, I’m a tough sell when it comes to the perfect eyeliner.  And the makeup junkie in me just can’t pass up a cosmetics aisle to save my life.  So when I went strolling through the aisles recently and spotted a few brands that made, what I thought might be ‘ridiculous’ claims, I had to put them to the test.

First up:

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio

These guys caught my eyes with the words on the box 100% WATERPROOF. That was enough for me.  Sold. Well, don’t run down to the local drugstore yet girls.  They are NOT 100% waterproof, they aren’t even 50% waterproof.  As a matter of fact, of all the eyeliner pencils I’ve tried, these were the biggest disappointment to me.  Great concept. They come packaged in sets of 3, according to your eye-color.  Fool proof selection, and they would be great IF they stayed on.  They don’t even slightly stay on.  After application, you can wait 5 minutes, 10 minutes, even 20 minutes, then wipe these right off.  No scrubbing necessary, just wipe.  Two hours after application, the color was completely gone from my eye-line, and it was now under my eyes in a big mess.  Don’t waste your money.  These were definitely a BIG MISS on the Buzz-o-meter.  So far off the meter, they don’t even qualify for 1 star.

Next up:

e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner

Now, in some cases you definitely get what you pay for, so what was I hoping for when I purchased a liquid eyeliner for $1.  Yep, you read it right.  Available at all Target stores, e.l.f. cosmetics offer beauty products at very cheap prices.  Unfortunately many of the items don’t really deliver either.  Their liquid eyeliner comes in a vast array of gorgeous shades, but you must have patience if you’re going to use it.  First time, it was gone in an hour.  Second time it barely stayed till Noon.  Third time, and this was the only attempt that I could actually get it to last past lunch, was to layer almost 4-5 layers of it.  Even then, it was gone by the end of my 8 hour day.  However, if you have to apply 5 layers to each eye, are you really saving that much money?  After all, with daily use this won’t last you beyond 2 weeks, not to mention you have to allow a lot of time to apply your liner every morning.  Too much effort for me.  2 out of 5 on the BUZZ-O-METER.  

Moving on to:

Maybelline Eye-Studio Master Drama Cream Pencil 

This one caught my eye with the claim “smudge-proof and water-proof for 16 hours”.  REALLY?  SIXTEEN HOURS?  That’s a pretty hefty claim to fame for an eye-pencil, so I was up for the challenge.  A reasonable $8 price tag, I thought that was a deal if it was going to create a look like the one on the model in the display that lasted for 16 hours.  Ultra creamy this pencil glides on.  The draw-back, it just doesn’t stay put.

Here is the model.  I’m guessing a little airbrush work on the picture because the liner on the bottom never looks quite that smooth for long. Now don’t get me wrong.  It really does glide on with ease.  No tugging or pulling, but it also never dries to completely be waterproof either.  Just an hour later the bottom liner is sparse and patchy. ANNE’S TIP: Try ‘powdering’ over the pencil to give it longer staying power.  Choose an eyeshadow color in a shade as close to the pencil color as possible. With a small angle brush dab along the line with the shadow.  This will help ‘set’ the liner for longer wear.  A little trick we learned in makeup school.           3 out of 5 on the BUZZ-O-METER

And last but not least:

N.Y.C. Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

This has got to be my favorite for the price!  A bargain at $3.99, this pencil delivers smooth color every time.  Doesn’t glide on quite as easy as the Maybelline pencil, but this is truly an old-fashioned kohl pencil made in Germany.  They say it’s waterproof- I’m not sure if any pencil is really waterproof, but it is very water resistant!  Once on, you have to use a little muscle to get it to move.  Moody Blue is my favorite.  A beautiful blend of royal and navy.  The only drawback to these pencils- they’re hard to find.  They say they’re available in most WalMart, Target and Rite Aid stores, but the pencils are almost always out of stock.  At that price, when you do find them, stock up!   4.5 out of 5 on the BUZZ-O-METER  

My lesson here.  If the claim on the box sounds too good to be true, like Mom always said “it probably is”.  More fabulous eyeliner reviews tomorrow….stay tuned!

Stay Gorgeous Girls~

xoxo

Anne 

• Enter our Kick off to Summer Sweepstakes

The kids are graduating, grills have been fired up, boats are launching and Summer is on the horizon.  With Summer comes shorts, sandals, sundresses and baring those legs and other body parts that have been safely tucked under wool the past 6 months.

If the glare coming off your legs is comparable to that off the ski slopes in the Swiss Alps, then have I got a quick fix for you!

Say hello to my favorite Self Tanner today, and you’ll be looking good tomorrow.  Titanium Self Tanner by California North is hands-down the best available on the market today.  Chosen by top models and actresses across the country, it will never leave you orange or un-natural looking.  Their patented formula reacts with your own skin to give you the most natural custom tan.  Apply it twice the first day, and then maintain your tan with additional applications every 4-6 days.

ANNE’S QUICK TIPS:

• Mix a couple drops of it with your favorite facial moisturizer for a daily dose of summertime sun.  It will add just enough color to give you a nice warm glow.
• Exfoliating completely before first application will add life to your tan.  A simple sugar scrub in the shower will rid your skin of dead skin.  Add a couple teaspoons of table sugar to the palm of your hand and work into wet skin after cleansing.  Then simply rinse off.

So are you READY TO WIN your own bottle of California North Titanium Self Tanner?  We’re teaming up with ANNETICIPATION and  giving one away in our Kick Off to Summer Sweeps! 

Here’s how to win:

1. Tells us in the comments of this thread WHY you should win, then SUBSCRIBE to MsBeautyBuzz.  You must be a subscriber to win.
2. That’s it- then sit back and wait.  A winner will be chosen at random on  Monday, June 4th. *No purchase necessary-winner chosen at random*

“Everything’s coming up roses for me”  -Ethel Merman

Almost every home and garden has at least 1 rose-bush in it.  My guess is that you walk past it everyday without evening knowing that you’re sitting on a beauty goldmine…am I right?  Well read on ladies, and you’ll never look at a dead rose quite the same way again.

If you’re over the age of 40 chances are you had a Grandmother than introduced you to rosewater- or perhaps a concoction of rosewater and glycerin.  The sweet smell of rosewater will always remind me of my Grandma and her ‘dressing table’.  Awwwww, the memories.  Grandma sure knew what she was talking about.

There is nothing more soothing to the skin, especially dry and sensitive skin than a homemade tonic of rosewater.  Used as a toner following cleansing, it will soothe and moisturize the skin, naturally.  Preservative and artificial fragrance free, and if you own a rose-bush, fairly inexpensive.  So gather up your rosebuds, and take yourself back to a time when life was easier, and beauty treatments were simple and natural.

Easy to Follow Steps:

1. Gather petals from approximately four wilted roses or enough to firmly pack 1 cup.  Don’t bother taking them when they’re in full bloom- enjoy their beauty and when you feel they need to be pruned, remove the petals for use.
2. Place rose petals in a heat-resistant bowl- glass or metal.
3. Pour approximately 2 cups boiling water over the petals.  The water should completely cover the petals but shouldn’t fill the entire bowl.  Add just enough water to cover petals with approx 1/4 inch  additional.
4. Cover the bowl with a lid, or inverted dinner plate to allow the petals to steep for 30-40 minutes trapping the beautiful natural fragrance in the water.
5. Using a sifter or strainer, pour the water into a mason jar.  If capped tightly your rosewater will keep for up to 10-12 days in the refrigerator.  You can add 1 tbsp of vodka per 16 ounces of water to the mixture which will act as a natural preservative extending the life of your rosewater to 30 days. Pour half your rosewater into a small spray bottle for misting skin after cleansing or before putting your makeup on.

The benefits of rosewater are endless for dry skin.  An ancient old beauty secret it has been used for centuries by women.  Completely natural and chemical and preservative free.  Modern practices of loading cosmetics with fragrances to mask the preservatives sent women with sensitive skin on a scavenger hunt for products that didn’t irritate their skin.  Used in its basic form, it is one of the most soothing astringents and toners available.

If you have extremely sensitive skin, yet are in need of a moisturizer, try mixing 50% of your rosewater creation with 50% Glycerin [available at any drug store].  It is one of the best natural moisturizers around.  Keep in mind you’ll want to mix this in small batches as there are no preservatives in your natural cosmetics.  The little time you’ll invest each week is definitely worth the final outcome.

TIP: Use your rosewater instead of regular water to wet your makeup sponge when applying liquid or cream foundation.  It makes your foundation glide on your skin.

Stay Gorgeous Girls!

xoxo

Anne

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“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” -Nathan Hale

Memorial Day…for many, the official start to Summer.  But for all of us, it should be more than just another 3 day weekend that allows us time to gather around the BBQ for another feasting get-together.

We should all take a moment out of our day, to reflect on those lives lost to protect our freedoms.  Men and women who took the oath to defend their country, and those who live in it. Without hesitation they run into danger, when most of us are running from it.

This day makes me especially think of the Moms and Dads, wives, husbands and children left behind.  They sacrifice so much that is taken for granted.   So this Memorial Day, before you head off to whatever backyard BBQ you may be headed to, please take a moment to say a prayer and give thanks for the service of all who proudly wear the uniform today, and a prayer for the families of those who have lost someone in our armed forces.  This day must be especially difficult for them.  We will always honor their memory, and remember their unselfish service.

Have a safe and peaceful Memorial Day!

xoxo

Anne

Every woman who wears foundation is constantly in search of a flawless finish, and the tool to achieve this with.   I recently spoke with an actress who sat in my makeup chair and complained about all the foundation choices available today.

She has spent a fortune on foundations over the last year.  I asked her to apply her foundation for me so I could see what the problem was, and as I suspected, it wasn’t so much with the foundation but with the technique and tools she used to apply it.

One of the newest beauty tools to hit the market is the BeautyBlender makeup sponge.  It’s an egg-shaped latex-free sponge that has no sides or sharp angles allowing an easy and perfect application.  The only drawback is the price- $19.95.  This just seems a little high for me when it comes to a sponge.  Afterall, eventually you are going to want to replace it.  Even my favorite foundation brush is less expensive.

But an alternative has been found- the new Fabulous Finish Blending Sponge is almost identical to the ever popular BeautyBlender.  One third the price, this new little find has become one of my secret tools.

It really does create a flawless finish for foundation, and makes application a quick and easy 1-2-3.   Rinse it out after every use with a drop of your favorite facial cleanser and allow it to dry.  It’s latex free, hypoallergenic and mildew resistant.  So there’s no need to worry about it. You can also use it to clean up under-eye spills of your eye-shadow.  This is one of my new must-haves in my beauty bag.    Use, rinse, dry and forget about it.

Stay Gorgeous Girls….

xoxo
Anne

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