Blogging on My Birthday: Can Beauty Products Really Make Your Life Better?

Short Answer: Yes. Yes they can.

Don’t worry…a very long answer is coming. Very very long.

Why am I writing a long journal entry instead of a product review? Because today is my birthday, and I feel like being all thoughtful and wordy. I’ve also decided to take long break from blogging – at least for the rest of the summer (possibly longer). I love posting; but my schedule has become too crazy, and I need to scale back for a while. So I thought I’d take a little detour from “the usual.”

The title of my post sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but I’m really not. I love to throw the term “beauty junkie” around; but I also believe that my beloved products were part of a huge change in my life.

There was a time way back in the 2000’s (lol…) when I went through a seriously frumpy phase. “Frumpy” is putting things mildly. I had truly stopped taking care of myself – and stopped thinking of myself as vibrant or feminine. I was taking care of Maria, the singer; but neglecting Maria, the person.

At that time, there were also a lot of old, destructive thoughts still running through my head. I spent a lot of time telling myself that I was too fat, my skin was bad, I was out of shape, my hair was weird, and so on and so forth. And somehow all of these “problems” had come about because I wasn’t a good enough person. I needed more drive. More discipline. Better character. I didn’t deserve to look good and appreciate myself until I’d “fixed” everything. There was certainly no point in putting any effort into my appearance until I’d lost all the weight. Or met Mr. Right. Or gotten my career established. Or won the lottery/cured cancer/whatever.

I was so full of unreasonable expectations that even the smallest step felt almost impossible. And instead of being content to take baby steps and enjoy some progress; I kept piling things on my “to do” list, and feeling even more inadequate and overwhelmed.

Of course the result of all this harsh thinking was that I felt stressed out, exhausted and demoralized. And I looked like hell. The wake up call came in June 2006 when my aunt sent a picture of me holding my baby nephew. I suddenly realized that in less than 7 years, I’d gone from this…


To this.


I was shocked. Seven years isn’t a small amount of time; and there are things like flattering lighting, etc. to consider; but I still looked about 20 years older. Again…I was shocked.

If my adorable nephew hadn’t been in that picture, I would have ripped it up and thrown it away. But adorable nephew photos are too valuable to get rid of. So instead, I buried it under a stack of other pictures. I couldn’t forget it, though. What’s worse…I felt even sadder and was even harder on myself. But only at first.

I’d also been doing a lot of internal work, and it was starting to pay off. I finally took out the picture again; and instead of berating myself, I summoned up a little bit of compassion. And…when I looked at other old (“better”) pictures of myself, I started realizing that I had always been hard on myself. Even when I looked “good,” I never appreciated it. Why? Because I was always thinking of what was still missing or not good enough. No wonder I eventually stopped trying!

Maybe it was time to give myself a break.

In the year that followed, I started taking stock of things. I realized that I had let a lot of things go. Not just my appearance; but my health, social life, romantic life, hobbies, household, and just about everything except singing had fallen by the wayside. I also realized that I spent very little time doing things to make my life happier in the moment. I was always waiting for that magic day when I would reach my weight loss, career and financial goals. Then I would be good to myself. Then my life would start! I was in my mid-forties and waiting for my life to begin. Ooops.

Somehow, I finally decided that even though I wasn’t a skinny, rich, famous opera star with a perfect boyfriend; maybe I would just go ahead and start my life anyway.

One of the first things I did was…buy clothes. Not a lot of clothes. But clothes for the body I had instead of some future body. I even bought cute lingerie. And…I felt better. Much better. Without losing an ounce.

Then came a big change…beauty products. First it was skincare. Then it was wearing my contact lenses instead of my glasses. Then my friend (Nancy) and I went to a spring makeup event at Nordstrom. I bought a lash primer. Which led to wearing mascara, which led to other things. One day I decided I would get up 15 minutes earlier so I could put on makeup before heading out the door. Shocking!

For 15 minutes every morning, I sat at my vanity and played with pretty things. And I started to remember what it felt like to feel pampered and cared for. Instead of starting the day by telling myself what was wrong with me, I began the day feeling more beautiful. And I would catch my reflection every now and then, and be pleasantly surprised! Who was that person in the nice outfit with the snappy eyeliner? It wasn’t vanity either - it was pride. The kind of pride that came from knowing I’d done something that was good for me. It was also fun. And I was putting myself out there as if I mattered instead of trying to “hide” all of my “flaws.” I even started wearing…gasp!...sleeveless tops!

A lot of things changed after that. I eventually started dating again. I also started losing weight, exercising and taking better care of myself. Again…I was behaving as if I mattered. The most important thing was that I started having a life – and more people in it who mattered to me.

Now of course I know that the beauty products themselves were not solely responsible for the changes in my life. But in many ways, those girly things served as both catalyst and tool. No matter what the state of my singing career, weight, financial situation, romantic status was; I always had a quick, easy way to make myself feel good about myself now. I think that’s why beauty products do it for me. It’s a way to be right in the moment when my feelings about the past or the future take me out of the present.

Beauty junkie-dom was (and still is) a playful, creative and positive way for me to be nice to myself every day, and almost any time. Sometimes it’s a way to step out into the limelight, sometimes it’s a bit of armor when I’m feeling insecure, and sometimes it’s a way to cheer myself up; but most of the time it’s playing, pampering and fun – and it reminds me of how lovely life can be. Most importantly, it’s taking time to show some love for myself on a regular basis in a very visible, tangible way.

This picture was taken yesterday.

Again…it’s taken from a highly flattering angle (trust me); but I think that looks like someone who is participating in and living her life. I still have a lot of issues; but most of the time I’m proud of the way I look. I’m also very happy and grateful for my life and the wonderful people in it.

And I “feel pretty” almost every single day.

(Did you really think I could resist a corny tie-in?)

I wish you all a wonderful, wonderful summer (and possibly beyond). My heartfelt thanks to all of you who visit this blog, offer your comments and send me your emails. I wish I could tell you how long I’ll be away – but I really don’t know. I’m still a beauty junkie, though – and I’ll continue to roam the beauty counters, tear ads out of magazines, read everyone else’s blogs, and try out every single product I can get my hands on.

Hair Care Friday: Surya Brasil Henna Cream (RAVE review)

Whoo! What a week! I finally realized that I have completely overextended myself this summer. And it only took me two months to figure it out! I’m going to be taking a break – probably for the rest of the summer – so I can get a handle on everything that’s going on. Which means this will be the last Hair Care Friday for quite a while.

Not to worry, though, it’s a good one. A really good one. From Surya Brasil.

Henna Cream ("Burgundy")

Blurb: It colors without damaging the hair structure. It is the only hair coloring product with organic extracts that treat the hair and scalp. It conditions, moisturizes and revitalizes the hair while coloring, leaving it much softer and shinier. Instead of using synthetic fragrances, Surya Henna Cream is formulated with essential oils of Rose, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine and Sandalwood. These give it a milder and more pleasant fragrance than any other coloring product. Since Surya Henna Cream is a semi-permanent coloring, it gradually washes out. Available in 15 different shades. Contains no Parabens, Peroxide, Ammonia, Heavy Metals, PPD, Resorcinol, artificial colors or synthetic fragrance. Therefore doesn’t harm your hair, your health or the environment.

This is exactly the sort of product that makes me glad I’m a beauty blogger!

When my friend (Kristi) was visiting last weekend, I was telling her that I was thinking of switching to a semi-permanent hair color. My hair is getting really long now, and I’m doing everything in my power to keep it healthy. Since my roots show long before my color fades, it seemed reasonable that a semi-permanent product might be a little bit gentler. Kristi suggested I try henna.

Henna? For some reason, I always assumed that if hair color wasn’t chock full of harsh chemicals, it wouldn’t work. Henna just seemed too…mild. But Kristi told me she knew of someone who got great results, so I decided to give it a try. I trotted off to Whole Foods and asked the nice salesperson for her opinion and she recommended this Henna Cream. I actually tried to talk her into talking me into something else (how’s that for being a control freak); but she stood firm. So I brought a box home.

Cue angelic chorus.

This product is a revelation. For those of you who already use henna, all you need to know is that there's no mess or mixing. It comes pre-mixed, in a convenient, resealable bottle with plastic gloves and a plastic head covering.

Henna works by coating the hair shaft instead of penetrating it. Therefore, the hair shaft and cuticle are left intact and undamaged. For those of you who have not used henna, the process is simple. Wash hair (Use a silicone-free shampoo to remove any product buildup). Towel dry. Put on gloves, open the bottle and start applying the goo to your hair. I just globbed it on until everything was covered. Don’t comb through it, though. You want the color to sit on the hair shaft. Cover your head with the plastic cap (I used my own shower cap instead), and wait. The package has all sorts of complicated suggestions for figuring out how much time to wait; but I ignored them and left the color on for 45 minutes. Then I rinsed completely. The package says it’s ok to use conditioner after rinsing, but I wanted to see what it would look/feel like without conditioner.

Wow! This stuff is actually good for your hair! My hair was softer, smoother and shinier right out of the shower. It looked and felt better than before I’d colored it, and it still felt soft the next morning. It’s been a few days, and my hair still looks and feels great. The color is beautiful and natural (not flat) and the grey is completely covered.

I’m totally sold. Forever.

The only drawbacks I found were that the color still runs off a bit in the shower even after a few days; and I’ve heard that henna doesn’t last as long as “regular” color. But who cares? I can touch up as often as needed now. No more choosing between roots and damage!

A couple of tips. You should not use henna in conjunction with other types of hair color. And your shampoo and conditioner should be free of sulfates. Before coloring, it’s also a good idea to apply lotion to the skin around your hairline (and ears) to prevent staining.

Check out the website, take a look at the other products and visit the where to buy section. Surya is also sold at health websites, vitamin stores, health food stores and Whole Foods.

Have a great weekend!

(ftc disclosure: purchased myself)

Whining and Lining: Pixi Gel Liner (review)

You probably think I’m going to whine about the heat again. You would be right. I’m just not good at hot weather. Tonight I was supposed to go home, do laundry and tidy up around the apartment. Exactly none of that happened. Instead, I watched TV. Hmm…that sounds kind of win-win now that I think about it.

Anyway, in addition to "observing" the hot weather. I’m also observing a stellar product I’ve been using this week. From Pixi.

Gel Liner ("Onyx," "Sapphire," and "Jade")

Blurb: Create retro, sexy eyes in an instant. This gel liner is super easy to use with an intense colour pay off. Long-lasting with and water-resistant, it really goes the distance and stays put all day. With an application this smooth & foolproof, there's no need to be afraid of eyeliner application anymore!

Ever since I tried my first Pixi item, I’ve been hooked. I love the packaging, the selection and the excellent quality. So when I saw yet another type of eyeliner to try out (gel!) - I snapped them up.

As much as I've come to adore eye pencils (especially sexy, smudgy ones); my first and true love is applying liners with a brush. I love the smooth, saturated, clean lines that come with brush application. I’m also able to get much closer to the lash line. Gels are especially good for getting really saturated color – and the formula is a bit more forgiving than a liquid. (There’s also a bit of smudge time before it sets.)

These gels are wonderful. “Onyx” is a true, deep, jet black, and “Sapphire” is a very dark blue/black. “Jade” (which I found on Bloom.com), is a perfect hunter green. The brush that comes with the liner is pretty good – but I always prefer using my own brushes because I’m used to them. The gels were buttery soft, went on beautifully, and delivered highly saturated color and excellent staying power. Perfect score, Pixi!

The “Onyx” and “Sapphire” are currently available on the website. There are also some great web exclusives, and you can get 20% off of your order (use code: TWENTYOFF). Pixi is also sold at Target.

(ftc disclosure: purchased myself)

Cake and Scrapes: Shea Terra Organics Cape Aloe Topical Healing Gel (review)

Today my nemesis is…a cake. A great big cake with tons of frosting and fancy writing. It’s my nemesis because I have to deliver it unharmed to an event that’s 60 miles away tonight. And it’s hot outside. And there’s no room in the work refrigerator to store it. So it’s going to be slightly gooey during the hour-plus drive.

And. And. And.

I know…I’m kind of cranky. Hot weather is not my friend, and we’ve had several days of it. Now I know why everyone gets mad at me in the winter when I get all cheerful about the snow while they’re shoveling out their cars.

The bright side (and there are several) is that I’m going to a fun event with a whole bunch of my friends. The other bright side is that if I’m successful, I’ll get to have...cake! And…before either of those things happen, I get to talk about a fine product. From Shea Terra Organics.

Cape Aloe Topical Healing Gel

Blurb: 99.5% Pure & Natural. Heal acne, burns, razor burns, nicks, cuts, wounds, bites and more all at amazing speed. Rare Cape Aloe is known to be the world's most active aloe. Off beaten paths, along bumpy, rocky roads in the Cape of South Africa grows the wonderous, succulent plant. Kept under the watchful eyes as a protected species, the outer leaves of this wonder plant are harvested to extract the healing jelly within. Made up of over 130 active chemicals, Cape Aloe's amazing healing properties is due to its high saponin, sterol, vitamin, mineral and amino acid content just to name a few. Once applied to skin Cape Aloe immediately goes to work to help cells build a protective barrier and aid them with the nutrients that they need to repair skin at an amazingly accelerated rate.

My other nemesis this week was a bad scrape on my hand. This scrape was caused by my mishandling of a cute tortoiseshell barrette. (Don’t let barrettes fool you – they look all innocent and stylish; but they can turn mean.) Of course cake can go a long way towards making any scrape feel better; but since I can’t actually eat any until after it’s delivered, I needed to try something else. So I tried this Gel.

I really love this product! Lots of people grow Aloe plants so they can run out and snip off a piece whenever they need it. Not me. I definitely prefer a handy pump bottle. It’s way more convenient. The healing properties of aloe make it great for just about anything that makes your skin unhappy. You can use it for sunburns, shaving cuts and even ragged cuticles. It helped my hand heal faster, and there was no snipping involved!

The website is currently in progress, but you can still browse the many fine products they have and sign up for VIP specials. Eventually, you’ll be able to visit the Explore Africa, and shea terra tv sections too.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Happy Other People: CLEAN Moisture-Absorbent Deodorant (review)

Oh. Em. (Eff.) Gee.

It is freakishly hot this week. Again. Last night I slept on the sofa (again!); and I’m pretty sure I’ll be sleeping there every night this week.

What a perfect time to review this product. From CLEAN.

Original Scent Moisture-Absorbent Deodorant

Blurb: An aluminum-free deodorant with Clean's original scent. This product's breakthrough formula goes above and beyond typical deodorant performance. The Exclusive Cotton Vantage™ technology helps to absorb moisture naturally, without aluminum. Reminiscent of pure soap, the time-released CLEAN fragrance has that just-out-of-the-shower fresh smell. It's everything you need and nothing you don't!

Normally I would say “run, don’t walk” and pick up one of these – but since it’s several million degrees outside, walking is probably the wiser choice.

First…Omigod it smells good! I mean really, really good. And not overpowering – just...good. If you’re looking for an aluminum-free product, this is a stellar item. It contolled wetness really well, and also kept odor at bay. I probably wouldn’t run a marathon in this; but on a hot day with a lot of errands, it did the job. It was also completely non-irritating (a huge plus for me), and it didn’t leave any white residue.

And did I mention it smells really good?

CLEAN is currently overhauling their website, but you can still shop all of their products at Sephora.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Happy Feet (And Hands): POP beauty nail glam Polish (review)

Whoa. The heatwave is beginning…again. Today was not super fun. Not only did I run around doing a bunch of errands in the heat; I also had to spend way too much time changing all of my passwords. (Something looked suspicious on one of my email accounts, so I wasn’t taking any chances.) A good reason to not have the same password for everything in the first place – it’s a pain in the u-know-what to change them all at once.

Speaking of u-know-what; I saw the final Harry Potter movie this weekend (where u-know-who and Harry have their big showdown). I won’t tell you how it ends (as if); but I will tell you it was a thoroughly spectacular movie going experience (in fancy IMAX 3-D thankyouverymuch).

No cheesy tie-in today. I just wanted to share a bit. But now it really is time for a beauty review. Here’s something nifty - also from England - and POP beauty.

nail glam

Blurb: High intensity nail polish in a dream library of POP colours. Whether you want vampy black, the perfect rouge noir, classic tomato red or way-out fluro pink, POP Beauty has a nail shade to suit your mood and your wardrobe. Each Nail Glam shade is non-occlusive so it wont stain nails and contains nylon creating a strengthening non chip barrier. Nail Glam nails stay sensational.Nail Glam is the brand new high intensity nail polish from POP in 20 dazzling new shades.

These are fabulous awesome colors, and a fabulous awesome formula! I’m showing a lot of pictures just so you can appreciate the array of shades available. It really is like being in a candy store to look at all of these. All the shades I tried had excellent staying power (I used a base and top coat), and the colors stayed true throughout the week.

My absolute favorite was “ocean.” It’s a deep, shimmering cornflower blue that looks absolutely beautiful. I got so many compliments when I wore this – even from people who favor more “traditional” shades. My second favorite was “ultraviolet” – a creamy, rich lavender that looked great on my fingers and amazing on my toes. Honorable mention goes to “orange.” It’s fresh, bright, yummy and a little bit sassy.

Visit the U.S. website, and browse the other shades, Sara's POP picks and the web deals and steals. POP beauty can also be found at CVS, beauty.com, and ULTA.

(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Happy Hair Care Friday! Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion (review)

Grrr…I just realized that my Friday post mysteriously “disappeared” yesterday. Google is really getting on my nerves lately. Just sayin. Luckily, I still had a copy of my post in a Word document, so I’m putting it back up this morning.

Its…Friday!!! My friend is coming to visit, and the weekend is going to be full of sleeping in, mall browsing, Harry Potter, and girl talk. Tomorrow is going to be fun and long; so I’m featuring a fab hair care product to keep everything in place and looking good. From Motions.

Foaming Wrap Lotion


Blurb: Get naturally beautiful control without stiffness using Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion. Holds hair in place and helps it stretch as it dries for a beautifully soft style all day long. Will not stick to irons. Collagen amino acids provide flexible hold and control while Panthenol adds shine. The long-lasting formula holds wraps, wet sets and thermal styles yet combs out easily. You get natural-looking style that leaves hair soft and shiny. Can be used for wrapping hair, wet sets, blow drying, and up dos.

This is a good hair day in a bottle. It’s recommended for fine hair, but it’s been wonderful on my coarse wavy/curly hair. Since I started growing my hair out last year, I’ve only been getting the ends trimmed. So without any layers, my hair tends to get a little bit flat – especially since the top layer of my hair is straighter than the hair underneath.

This product worked wonders as a volumizer – the volume even lasted until the next day! I also got great curl definition, including more curl on the top layer. It also fought frizz, and added some shine without making my hair sticky or crunchy. Excellent!

Check out the website. I recommend visiting find your style section and the product advisor page. Motions products can be found at places like Sally Beauty, Target, drugstore.com, grocery stores and drug stores.

It took every ounce of self control not to go all disco for Friday. But I controlled myself. Here’s something peppy, but completely disco free.



(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Thursday – Almost There! Fusion Beauty IllumiCover Luminous Concealer (review)

The week is getting easier, and I’m getting more and more excited about the weekend. My very very very good friend is coming to visit and we’re going to see the final Harry Potter movie. Woo Hoo! We’re also going to indulge in serious amounts of girl talk.

What does that have to do with beauty products? Nothing. Zip. It’s just really, really cool.

But…this is a beauty blog, so here’s a very nifty item. From Fusion Beauty.

IllumiCover Line Smoothing Luminous Concealer


Blurb: A concealer with brightening properties. This weightless concealer works instantly to diminish the appearance of shadows, dark circles, and imperfections. Its luminizing ingredients deliver a brighter, more youthful complexion. Use a single application for a weightless effect or build layers for greater coverage. FusionBeauty Products deliver instant and long-term results—this concealer is no exception. Hydro-gel technology rebuilds skin's extra cellular matrix to smooth and plump wrinkles around the eyes right away. Matrixyl® 3000 reduces wrinkle depth and volume over time.

Here’s another fabulous multi-tasker. This lovely item is skincare, concealer and highlighter all in one – and it also works well as a primer to keep shadow and eyeliner in place!

I mostly used it on my under eye area. It’s creamy, lightweight, has a very smooth finish, and brightens without looking obvious or shiny. It gave very good coverage for dark circles; and when I used it under my foundation on my cheeks and nose, I got excellent results (especially near my nasal folds which get very red when my allergies act up).

What really made this stand out was the absolute lack of creasing. Even in hot weather, there was no creasing or settling into lines at all – so it looked great all day.

Right now the website is undergoing construction, but you can easily shop their products online at Sephora (or click on the Store Locator). FusionBeauty can also be found at drugstore.com, ULTA and Nordstrom.

So…mod, moody, folksy…? I think we’ll make Thursday slightly artsy. Here’s something from David Bowie.



(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Slowly Easing Over The Hump That is Wednesday: Ahava Rich Cleansing Cream (review)

Woo hoo - it’s Wednesday! More than halfway there!

The day started out with some mid-week crankiness; but luckily I had time for a fun little break. That cheered me up for the rest of the afternoon. Maybe that bodes well for the rest of the week too. Cranky beginning followed by fun and cheerful second part. I can live with that.

Okay…time to stop meandering and get to the beauty part. Here's a super fab cleanser. From AHAVA.

Rich Cleansing Cream


Blurb: A refreshing rub-on-and-rinse-off experience with 2-in-1 skin cleansing and balancing action. This mineral-rich, soft-textured cream cleanses delicately and efficiently as it clears the complexion. Makeup and dirt rinse away effortlessly and skin is left feeling soft and supple. Cleanses skin while protecting against environmental damage. Soothes and conditions skin with Aloe Vera extract.

I’ve been using this Cream for about a month, and I am loving it!

It has just about anything I could possibly want in a cleanser. It’s creamy, gentle, lathers well and removes every bit of dirt and makeup. It even removes sunscreen! It also rinses away easily and leaves my skin feeling clean, soft and balanced. And…it doesn’t cause breakouts. I appreciated all of the minerals, vitamins and botanical extracts – but what really sold me was how well it worked.

Visit the website and take a look at the rest of the Time to Clear line. Check out the bestsellers and see what's new. (Right now through Friday at midnight, you can get a free summer straw tote with any $30 order.) You can also find Ahava at drugstore.com, and HSN.

So far, this week has brought a mod Monday, and a moody Tuesday. How about a folksy Wednesday?



(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

It’s A Tuesday Kind of Day: Lierac Sensorielle Multi-Use Oil (review)

Meaning…"It’s only Tuesday?"

It was so hot last night that I had to sleep on the sofa. The regular AC in my bedroom just wasn’t enough to cool things off. So I moved to the living room. The thermostat on my industrial strength living room AC no longer works – which causes a continuous, chilling, arctic blast. It’s awesome.

For all of my friends who still live in San Francisco: ”AC” stands for “Air Conditioner” - something I never owned until I moved east. San Francisco is freezing cold in July. Tonight, it’s about 87 degrees here in the Philly ‘burbs. Tonight’s temperature in San Francisco is a right and proper 52 degrees…sigh.

Anyway…everyone here has been all draggy and droopy for the last couple of days and the week seems endless. So maybe instead of being all whiny, I should talk about something nice and pretty. Perhaps something that smells good and makes my skin feel soft and smooth. Perhaps something from Lierac Paris.

Sensorielle Multi-Use Oil for Face, Body & Hair


Blurb: This luxurious polysensory oil provides 24-hour hydration that nourishes and softens the skin and hair with a combination of jasmine, camellia, gardenia and four precious botanical oils: argan, hazelnut, sweet almond, and grape seed.

Here’s another fine product for summer. I was worried that this would be too heavy for the hot weather; but it’s a perfect weight. This oil has a light consistency, and absorbs very quickly into both skin and hair. It also has a very subtle, lovely fragrance (a nice balance of earthy and floral). And the multi-use aspect is fabulous for long days when you don’t want to lug a bunch of products around with you.

By multi-use, I really mean multi-use. I patted some on my hair in the afternoon, and it tamed my midday frizz and flyaways. I also rubbed a little bit more in my hair before I went into the pool to help protect it from the chlorine. As a quick hydrator for my face, it also worked very well.

My favorite use for this, though, was as a body oil. Even though it absorbed quickly (my hands were “slip-free”); it softened for hours. It was a soothing, fragrant bath oil, and an excellent pampering after-bath moisturizer.

Browse all the fab products on the website. See what's new, check out the promotions page and use the store locator. Lierac is also available in European Skincare Centers (at select CVS/pharmacy and Duane Reade locations), Beauty.com, and Skinstore.com.

To balance out yesterday’s ramped-up mod Monday experience; here’s a thoughtful (perhaps...moody?) Tuesday kind of thing…



(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)

Slowly Returning To Calm and Sanity: Schick® Intuition® Naturals Sensitive Care™ Razor (review)

Very slowly. Thanks to all of you who have been patient – and for all the cute notes. This summer is full of fabulous activitivies, and awesome self-discovery, and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to discover everything. Plus, people keep visiting. Which means I have to clean stuff. It turns out that cleaning also cuts way into discovery and blogging time.

I took on far too many things this summer, and it looks like I need to sit down and figure out how to shave some time off all my obligations. But today...I finally have enough peace, quiet and relative sanity to write a beauty review. And speaking of shaving (heh!), here’s something for your pretty summer legs. From Schick.

Intuition Naturals Sensitive Care


Blurb: Schick® Intuition® Naturals Sensitive Care™ razor has a Skin Conditioning Solid™ that contains 100% natural Aloe with Vitamin E, and is fragrance free and hypo-allergenic so it's gentle on your skin and helps reduce irritation. Now gentler on the environment with 100% recyclable packaging made with recycled materials!

Somehow Schick keeps managing to hit home runs with their products. I’m a huge fan of the Quattro for Women razors, and I was really eager to try this. And because of the design, I thought it would be perfect for traveling. It was!

The first bit of genius is that I don’t need to use any shaving cream. The Skin Conditioning Solid™ that surrounds the blades lathers up while shaving. I not only appreciated not having to bring along an extra bath product; but the convenience of having the shave cream already in the razor also meant I didn't have to find a spot for the shave cream in the teensy hotel shower. The Aloe and Vitamin E also did a nice job of moisturizing.

The razor has an easy-to-grip rubber handle, and a pivoting head. It also comes with a shower hanger and cap. It's unbelievably convenient and portable. Gym bag, overnight trips, long vacations – you name it.

And…I got an excellent, close shave! Awesome!

Take a look at the website. There are some other great looking products as well. Schick products are sold in grocery stores, drugstores and places like Ulta, Walgreens, CVS, duane reade, and drugstore.com.

And…since I’ve been gone MIA for so long…here’s a nice video. Some 1960’s mod angst. The video sequence is a little strange, but this version had the best sound. And it might help wake you up if you have the Monday blahs…Enjoy!



(ftc disclosure: sample/product received from manufacturer or representative)