let's hear it for the boys

Shave Swap at Kiehl's! This is what they said:

This summer, in celebration of our male customers, and to lead up to Father’s Day, Kiehl’s is honored to launch Kiehl’s First Annual Shave Swap! For 10 days, May 29 through June 7, men are invited to trade in their shaving cream (at least a 4 oz.-size, please!) for one of our best-selling Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream formulas—a full 5 oz. tube! Each customer will also be asked to participate in a 5-minute personal consultation with a Kiehl’s Customer Representative, after which he will receive three samples of the Kiehl’s products best suited to his personal skin or hair needs.

We invite men to visit their nearest Kiehl’s store, swap for one of our best-selling shave creams, and work with our representatives to explore our efficacious skincare formulations and our newest products such as Razor Bump Relief. The Shave Swap will take place at Kiehl’s free-standing stores only.

Kiehl’s Shave Swap details:

Shave Swap takes place May 29 through June 7
Shave Swap takes place only at Kiehl’s free-standing stores: visit http://www.kiehls.com/ to find the nearest Kiehl’s store.
Gentlemen patrons are invited to trade in a current shave cream, from any brand, at least a 4 oz. size, in exchange for a 5 oz. Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream formulation. Patrons can choose between Kiehl’s White Eagle, Blue Eagle or Green Eagle formulations.
Gentlemen patrons must complete a 5-minute personal consultation with a Kiehl’s Customer Representative, and will receive 3 complimentary samples of the Kiehl’s skin or hair care formulations appropriate to him.
· Kiehl’s welcomes our female patrons to trade and sample Men’s formulations on behalf of a special man in her life.
· Event is limited to one shaving cream trade per customer.


Our Ultimate Brushless Shave Cream is one of our much-loved, best-selling formulations, and we’re honored to give all of our male patrons a chance to try it, if they’ve not already! This will also be an opportunity for them to preview Kiehl’s Father’s Day gift assortments, which will be available in-store.

We look forward to your visit during the swap, May 29 through June 7!

the sticky icky

Since the fourth grade, I've always hated having dry hands. I have to apply hand cream right after I wash my hands. Everytime. I feel like my hands aren't grippy enough - things slip out of my fingers when I don't apply cream.

That's weird, right?

Anyway, I recently discovered Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula. I'd always seen it but never ventured to try it. When I was at Tar-jay the other day, I saw it on sale and decided to give it whirl because it claims that it's used by fishermen, whom apparently have trouble with dry, scaly hands. I don't know. Regardless, it was under $3 and I was out.

OHMYEFFINGGOD! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!

It's so freakin' sticky and greasy! (Um, yes, I'm the only one on the planet that likes super-duper-calafragilisticexpialidotiously greasy hand cream.) It's so thick that my hands are white with the grease and I have to wait a couple minutes after I apply before I put my hands on my mouse because it'll get all sticky!

Even the label cautioned that I should only use a dab. My little 2 oz tube is said to have 200 applications. Not the way I'm using it. I need to restock every one of hand cream hiding places with this magical stuff!

the good, the bad and the ugly (in no particular order)

the bad: had a horribly consuming battle with my mother about wedding arrangements.

the ugly: my face after several hours of crying.

the good: used the Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask by Bliss and actually saw my face brighten up and look normal!

I normally give myself mini-facials at home but can never figure out how I get that glow because I use multiple products to exfoliate and hydrate. I was lazy last night and decided to only use the oxygen mask and voila! Fancy face!

Now if only I could slather that oxygen mask all over my mother and my strained relationship then all would be better. *sigh*

TAN-tanstic!

I decided that since there is no sun to be had here, I would have to fake it. I figured that maybe if I looked like I got some sun, I wouldn't feel so depressed about the rain. For Pete's sake! It's JUNE! Not JUNE-uarary!


Actually the tan isn't too bad. I succumbed to peer pressure and bought Clarins' Delicious self tanner - and by "peer pressure" I really mean there was a free gift and I heart free gifts! Anyway, I'm not really good at applying self tanner. I've had too many moments of dirty looking ankles to venture beyond Dove's gradual tanning lotion. But after hearing rave reviews about the ease of use, I decided now was the time to try it.

Per the instructions, I exfoliated really well and then slathered on the caramel ice cream topping (that's what it looks like!) It smelled pretty good too - not that weird almost-burnt smell of most self-tanners. And it really was easy! I blended and blended until there were no more visible streaks and then I crossed my fingers.

It looks pretty darn good, minus my slightly tinted palms. Totally my fault for not washing meticulously afterwards! All in all, the results were copacetic.

Exactly three more weeks until I get my real tan in Cabo!

have you heard?

I signed up for the DiorDiva VIP last year. (I know! I totally forgot about it until my recent Dior cosmetics shopping spree!)

All you have to do is save your receipts whenever you purchase Dior cosmetics. Each dollar you spend equals one point and you can earn free samples, or even full size products! I'm sending in my receipts right now because I have 100 points. In 6-8 weeks, I'll be getting a bunch of deluxe samples! It'll be like Christmas in July!

caught up

I always get caught up in the frenzy of shopping whenever there's a crowd. I was at the Nordstrom event last night (10 points!) and while I wasn't as lucky as Miss TamPham, I still went a little crazy.

As soon as I arrived, I ran into my devilish cousin who knows how I'm a sucker for anything free. She immediately tells me about all the cosmetics lines with gifts with purchase! I hurry over to to the Dior counter and find that with the purchase of two items, I get this little carrying case with a mini eyeshadow palette, face wash and a mini DiorShow Black Out mascara. SOLD!

I picked up a full size of the mascara and also the Dior Waterproof eye liner. I'm always on the hunt for a liner that I can use on my waterline without having it run down my face within a couple hours - my goal is to look like one of the Kardashian sisters with the black rimmed eyes. *wink*

I thought I was done, but nooooo.. That damn little cousin of mine comes traipsing over with her little bag of goodies, this time from Clarins! Buy two items and get two deluxe samples! I've never even used Clarins, but the size of those freebies sucked me in and next thing you know, I'm clambering through the crowds with a friend buying random products! I'd post pictures, except I seriously don't remember what I bought. Oh the shame.. But I'm sure, whatever magical potion I bought, I'll love since they totally tested it on my hands. Errr... Riiiight.

I hadn't even made it up to the second floor to look at clothes! I didn't find anything really. I think I was already feeling a bit of buyer's remorse. Gawd, I wasn't even drunk.


But hark! Who goes there?! Tory Burch? How cute are these thong sandals? I had to have them! But now I don't know. They're not particularly comfortable. Maybe I should return them and finally get those Phillip Lim Birks once and for all.

No thanks to Karen!

babelicious

Get 20% off purchases of $75 or more (easily done!) by using the code BILLION during checkout at Kiehl's. Or just print out the coupon and take it to a free standing store!

It's good through May 15.

not that i need anything

I guess it's that time of year again. Time for Friends & Family disounts! This one is for Origins.

Use the code 0508FFL and get 25% off when you check out!

'shrooms

I love free stuff. I used this stuff before and while it smells really earthy, it feels really nice on your skin.

blink blink

I know, I know. I just bought that Jan Marini magic potion for my lashes but I haven't opened it yet. My good friend in Japan just sent over this stuff called MW Lash so I'm giving it a whirl before I start Jan.

The applicator is a lot like the applicator for YSL Touche Eclat so I wasn't quite sure how to use it. I found the website and it's freakin' hilarious. Here's an exerpt, typos included:

This eyelash essence is the pencil type .
The head of the container is soft brush .
You can apply it until the root area.
The end of the container is pushbutton type, therefore, you can control this by single thumb only .
One side of the container is half transparent, and you can see the remain volume .

I can understand all the words, but somehow it doesn't make sense!

50 lashes

I finally broke down and ordered a new tube of Jan Marini's Age Intervention Eyelash potion. I tried to make it last as long as I could, but now it's just gross. I stopped using the one I had a couple months ago.



I love the stuff. My lashes actually look longer when I'm using it.

Most places sell it for $160 but SkinWest always sells it for about $130. There's also a coupon for 20% off too! Use the code jbvuhnjy through March 24.

and the eyes have it

For those of you who don’t know me, I have an obsession with all things eyelash. Having spent nearly all my life with barely-there lashes, I am willing to try anything and everything that may boost my cils. The ones I’m using now include Rimmel Maxxx, Lancome L’Extencils, MAC Plush Lash and L’Oreal HIP High Drama Volumizing Mascara. But at any given moment, I also have three unopened tubes of mascara in my bathroom. I say unopened because I can’t justify having more than say four mascaras in use at once! It's like new underwear and socks - I always have at least one new pair for a special occassion. Waiting in the wings, I have a Diorshow, MAC Fiber Lash and Rimmel Lycra Lash Extender.

I always seem to go back to Diorshow but I love trying new ones. The L’Oreal HIP one is also one of my favorites although I don’t think the tube has staying power. It tends to get goopy after a few weeks. But the product itself really plump up my lashes.

I like to mix my mascaras too. For a while I was using Rimmel Maxxx, Lancome L’Extencils and L’Oreal at the same time, in that order. I do that when I’m not wearing much else on my face.

MAC Plush Lash works the best if you roll the wand upwards as you apply. It really curls. It has this dual action brush that's a little bit awkward at first but you get used to it. (I have to give it to MAC though, they have great mascaras that are really reasonably priced - think drugstore brands!)




The willing-to-sell-my-soul-to-the-devil-for-lashes product is hands down the Jan Marini Age Intervention Eyelash magic potion. I’ve been using it for a little over a year now and you can ask any one of my friends and they’ll tell you that my lashes are super long compared to before. I don’t know how it works but it does. I must warn you though, it’s pretty expensive at $160 a tube (you apply it like you would liquid liner). But SkinWest always has random discounts that range from 20-30% off so I recommend that you sign up on the mailing list and buy it when they have a promotion. *wink wink*

friends with benefits

t, Sorry this is a bit hard to read! I'm not really good at this yet! But if you scroll to the bottom you'll see that you can get a free one-year subscription to Lucky Magazine if you make a purchase of $25 or more and use the code "LUCKYMAG".

Want a closer look?

And here's a 20% F&F discount at Kiehl's. Again hard to read but the code is "FRIDAY" and it's good from Nov. 23-26.

I'm shy...

But I hide it by talking a lot.


Have you been to the Barney's sale yet? It was ok. I was hoping this 3.1 Phillip Lim dress would be on sale but it wasn't. The salesgal said it was a progressive sale though and that they'd be adding more stuff and marking things down even more through January. I only work a couple blocks away so I plan to take Barneys-breaks every so often to check on the dress.


I did however buy this Marc by Marc Jacobs cardigan. It's really cute. 100% wool and not itchy at all. I hate itchy. And it has these neat little darts on the bottom of the back side that make the sweater kinda cup my booty.. Or maybe I just have a huge booty. Either way, I find it rather comforting. Hold me...


Anyhoo, I'm personally not crazy about Kinerase stuff, but I am crazy about free: