Musings of the Day: Wipe It All Off!

The Muse is blessed with so many incredible friends in her life but she does so wish she had more that were into makeup that way she could debate MAC Makeup Remover Wipes.

The Muse freaking loves the topic of these wipes. She adores people that go on and on about how wonderful they are, mind you the Muse thinks they are pretty special too but....

It irritates the holy hell out of me that people say these bloody things take it ALL off. But...but...but how? I love them with a passion. They don't dry my skin out, smell amazing, make my skin feel moisturized, and remove my makeup....

HOWEVER....

They do a crap job on waterproof mascara. So technically speaking they do not get it all off yet many a fan will insist they remove EVERYTHING.

Why jebus why!

I've honestly never had any success getting off waterproof mascara with these. I even seen one very popular youTuber say they took of MAC Liquidlast....she must be using a different wipe than I am or she's on crack...no freaking way are these doing that unless I scrub my eye with it like it's a brillo pad.

Damn.

That's my two dollar rant of the day.

Love 'em, just wish they'd do a better job with waterproof mascara and wish everyone who says they take off everything wouldn't say that.

But you can say whatever you like in my comment box.

Spill it!

What do you think of these wipes?

It's ok the Muse will still love you long time if you say they take off waterproof mascara...although it might be a tiny bit harder to do so after you admit that but love you she will.

Gosh Cosmetics Summer 2009: Gosh Cosmetics Golden Glamour

An unusual mix of gold, bronze, and smoky black and gray make up Gosh Cosmetics Golden Glamour Summer Collection.

The Muse can get on board with gold but she's not sure she's convinced on black?


Gosh Cosmetics paired up two rather gorgeous trios for it's Summer staple look one of which is a stunning golden, bronze affair where as the other is a black and gray trio for a smoky eye look.

The idea of wearing a smoky eye out in the Summer does puzzle a Muse but hey whatever floats your boat. The collection also includes a brand new Giant Sun Powder meant for all over application to get a kiss of the Summer's glow!


The collection isn't terribly big and most of it is made up of items already found within the catalog but none the less I'm liking the promo image at the very least.

Do share what you think!

Aveda Sun Care Review

It's kinda sorta difficult to drum up excitement when it comes to haircare but I do so admit that Aveda recently captured my attention with it's new collection!


As Summer quickly approaches, better still as my vacation quickly approaches (June 1st) it's always a good time to think about good ways to get hair in tip top shape. The heat, the beach, and the pool are all harsh elements on our hair. Aveda Sun Care is a line developed to protect hair and help defend it against the Summer elements that may be fun but turn everyday into a bad hair day.

The Muse is either easy to excite or she's just digging the entire Aveda Suncare line. One thing I'm very impressed with is the lack of build up (hey, anything that's meant to cleanse the hair of chlorine shouldn't cause build up right?) and the rather interesting scent of all three products. All the products are an interesting blend of wintergreen and cinnamon bark oils, green tea extra, organic sunflower seed oil, shea butter, coconut, palm oils, and tamanu. The Muse admits she
hasn't a clue what tamanu is but she bets anything in the world it's damn important stuff. The scent might not be for everyone but I LOVE it. It's very organic smelling. Not really floral not really green and def not fresh but it's a little green and a touch of fruit and a tad bit of floral. It's interesting, trust me.

I'm impressed with all three of the products I tried out but I'm the biggest fan of the Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil. This leave in spray protects hair against harmful sun rays. Ok, so no offense but if I'm being honest I just dig how it makes my hair feel soft and bouncy after application and I'm totally digging on how it makes my hair smell. As far as protecting the locks from the sun....well let's just say I don't see the point but it's on my to buy list again because props to a cool spray that makes my hair smell awesome and feel nice! Likey!




Lucky me I went swimming today so I took full advantage of seeing how Aveda Hair and Body Cleanser (Yes! Multitasking goodness! Score!) and Aveda After-Sun Hair Masque worked. I love, love how well this hair and body cleanser performs. It's ideal for toting with me on my trip next month as it works as a shower gel and a shampoo. It smells lovely and does a fine job of rinsing my hair clean after a swim and making it nice and fluffy, very smooth, and clean feeling. It's gentle enough that it's not causing any build up simply aiding in removing chlorine or salt (if you've been to the beach) plus product build up in general! Loves this stuff! Awesome in a bottle. The After-Sun Masque is just as good at restoring my hair to a nice moisturized finish. This is a tad heavy so I do have to be careful it doesn't load my hair down with silicons but all in all it conditions very well and makes my hair nice and soft plus it's a great follow up after using Aveda Hair and Body Cleanser.








I generally liked these alot and I'm Muse Approving them for purchase as they were quite worth checking out. Pretty nice to stash away in your luggage during travel if you're going to be at the beach or pool side a whole lot (or in the sun). I have a pool so I'm in it everyday, sometimes twice a day, when the weather is warm so anything that rids my hair of chlorine and keeps it from damage is always a plus in my book!



Learn more about Aveda Sun Care by visiting http://www.aveda.com

Drugstore Drive By: May 10th to May 16th

Week isn't yet over but get a sneak peek already at next week's sales!

Drugstore drive by the early addition peeps!


Get double points when you purchase any Prestige Cosmetics with your Duane Reade Dollars Reward Card.


Revlon Lip and Eye
Buy One, Get One Free

L'Oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara
$5.95 Sale Price

Maybelline Lip Products
Buy One, Get One 50% Off

Prestige Cosmetics
Buy One, Get One 50% Off

Almay Face Products
Buy One, Get One 50% Off

Physicians Formula
Buy One, Get One 50% Off


Maybelline Cosmetics
Buy 1, Get 1 Free

Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Lipstick
$7.99 Sale Price

Revlon Double Twist Mascara
$5.99 Sale Price

Neutrogena
Buy One, Get One Free

Covergirl Mascara
$5 Sale Price

L'Oreal HIP
Buy One, Get One Free

Happy Haulin'! And don't forget the Muse's Beauty Secret for raincheckin' your drugstore purchase.

Tarte multiplEYE First Impressions

Some of you may be sighing in relief and excitement over the brand new Tarte multiplEYE! I've been testing it out for a few days now and will be bringing you a full review in about a month's time but for now I'll give you a quickie sneak peek of what it's all about!


Tarte multiplEYE is a natural lash enhancer (paraben free). This liquid formula is meant for application daily to lengthen, strengthen, and thicken lashes.

Tarte promises 152% change in the appearance of your lash length with multiplEYE. The product contains Hydroplant peptide which is clinically proven to give the appearance of longer, fuller lashes naturally using soy and amino acid proteins combine to form an essential super-protein base that fortifies and nourishes your lashes.

According to reports Tarte multiplEYE test 100% of subjects reported an increase of lash softness and appearance of lash length while 90% experience an increase in lash thickness.

Some of the benefits of Tarte multiplEYE is it's easily obtained at your local Sephora, no need for a prescription. It does not contain parabens, prostaglandin, or any other harmful ingredients so you can feel comfortable and safe applying this to lashes that are so close to your eyes.

The product comes housed in a square tube similar to that of a mascara tube. It's a clear formula and has a straight line lip style brush for application. The product is meant for once a day application on clean skin at the lash line as you would apply an eyeliner. However, for added results you'll want to brush directly onto the lashes but do be careful not to get the product into your eyes. You'll wait 60 seconds for the product to dry before applying makeup. I find it's best to apply at night as it makes it another part of your night time regime and you aren't worrying about dry down time during a busy morning makeup application rush.




I've been using it a week so far but won't post results until at least a month's time. If your lashes are stubby, weak, break off easily, or you just desire fuller, stronger lashes, Tarte multiplEYE may hold the key to bliss!

Check back soon for an update.

Anyone want to try?

Think it'll work?

Share it!

Can't wait for my update? Nab your own by visiting http://www.sephora.com

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer Review

Concealer. You want it to last. You want it to cover your flaws. You want it to wear in the rain, the snow, the humidity, and during that crazy underground rave you're going to on Saturday night (wanna come with? What? I've haven't realized I'm over 30 yet!).

You want your concealer to perform miracles all while smiling and telling you how pretty you look. It's not too much to ask for a miracle is it?

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer does that. Well, maybe not the pretty part.


MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer is one of those icky, yucky, sticky, difficult as a biatch to blend formulas that we all run across in a very rare blue moon and end up hating. But it's this exact formula that gets you through the snow, the rain, the sleet, the heat, and the rave and maybe army training too!




Housed in a paint pot style jar this concealer falls into the industrial concealer range. It's pigmented enough to cover up virtually all problems and has a formula that's wears well in extreme conditions. The texture is a tad sticky and it's difficult as all hell to blend but once it's in place it pretty much lasts a good solid 10 hours without touch ups in between. I love it.

For the most part it doesn't fade, it doesn't crease, it doesn't cake under older, drier eyes (like mine) and it pretty much stays exactly where you put it. I think part of it's appeal is the strange formula. I do admit that it's not as pigmented as some concealers I've tried but it's pigmented enough to hide dark circles with a heavy layer, fine lines, and puffy eyes. It just works and I think that's what makes it such a fond favorite. It also deserves to be mentioned it's one of the few concealers I can pat and have it look natural. Most concealers I need to rub in but this pats into place very well and looks beautifully flawless.




I really like this concealer. Mind you it's not my HG in any form but it's greatness cannot be overlooked nor it's wonderful price tag.

Loves it. Approves it for purchase. Try it, it could become your HG concealer of choice.



How about you?

Love MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer?

Not so much?

Tell it below!

Steal It: Fresh Scents by Terri

The Muse recalls dishing out $48 dollars and some change for her very first Fresh Scents fragrance.

But now you can get them for some silly price on Cherry Culture, lovesssss it!

Cherry Culture has two (the 3rd is sold out) of the Fresh Scents by Terri fragrances on sale for $12 bucks each! Omg! These normally retail for $48 so it's a considerable savings to say the least.

Peachy Keen and Berry Cute are available but the third scent, Tangerine Kiss has already left the building. I really love these and think they are def worth trying out plus the price is ridiculously low.

Go haul peeps! Go haul!

Beauty News: Etude House Website Relaunch

Bless freaking be! The Etude House website has gotten a make over and I couldn't be more relieved (although there be a steep learning curve for those of us who can't read Korean).


I can't begin to tell you how SLOW and tedious the old Etude House website was. It's not bad enough struggling through the Korean lanuage but also having to face the horrible load time, the terrible pop up promos, and the amazing amount of ridiculous sections they had going on.

Yesterday Etude House was down all day and I thought maybe there might be some sort of new launch in the works but turned out it was EH getting ready to slip into some new clothes. The new site is a good deal faster loading, doesn't load a pop up from the get go, and seems a tad easier to navigate.

I do have to reteach myself the lay out but I'm so happy it loads fast I may just wee myself in delight (but I won't, promise!). It's pretty much a one shot site and everything you may need or want is right there on the main page. I'm just delighted that FINALLY Etude House did a revamp because the site just really needed major work.

If you're like a nosy visit http://www.etude.co.kr

Happy Drooling!

Lush Ice Blue Shampoo Review

The Muse has been a long time Lush fan but she can't honestly say she ever ran into Lush Ice Blue Shampoo. It's recently been "brought back" via the Lush Retro Collection but for the life of me I can't recall this shampoo. Was it during the Cosmetic to Go era? Was it during The Body Shop run? The Muse is clueless for sure but she thanks the gods above that it's been brought back as it's something special!


If you're familiar with Lush Washday Greens just think of Lush Ice as the same thing minus the greens. It's minty and fresh and it makes your scalp tingle and sing in joy! The scent is more of a spearmint smell and quite true to a fresh sprig of mint unlike Lush's popular Freeze Shower Gel this doesn't have that herbal, ocean water scent, it's a good deal more pleasant and sweet smelling. I like Lush Freeze but I don't love it since the water they use to make it morphs the scent into a medicine, herbal scent that isn't entirely pleasant. Taking this into consideration I was worried that Ice Blue Shampoo might lean towards the same type of scent but thankfully it's a fresh mint that's quite addicting.




The shampoo can be pretty much be used on all hair types but do be careful as it may strip anyone with dyed hair as it's a hardcore, stimulating shampoo that gets hair squeaky clean and washes silicons and build up clear away. It's considerably more gentle than many other Lush shampoos but none the less dye jobs beware.

I have many Lush favorites and I'm happily adding Lush Ice Blue Shampoo to my favorite list. It's fabulous and I highly recommend grabbing one, bet you'll love it!

Muse Approved, no doubt.

Boots Original Beauty Formula Review

Well slap me happy the Boots Original Beauty Formula is at Target! Back to basics is where it's at with Boots Original Beauty Formula. The Muse heard about Boots Original Beauty Formula about a month ago when she popped across it on the Boots UK site but little did she know she'd find it at her local Target so quickly.




Well, whoa. Awesome Target! Well done.

I honestly didn't expect to see this arrive at Target so quickly and it was shocking to see the display sitting there all happy like and awaiting me to haul from it. The Muse hearts you Target.












Jump ahead for the raves.

Back to basics is where it's at with the Boots Original Beauty Formula. Think your grandmother's skincare regime and you'll pretty much get the idea. Heavy glass jars, rose scented products, and just a very basic concept. Loves it. The Muse happens to love the C.O. Bigelow Rose line so she of course is totally digging all over everything in the Boots Original Beauty Formula as many of the skincare items are rose scented.

I only indulged in the facial line but there is an entire body line available as well. Sadly, my Target was sold out of alot of the items available but I still managed to haul three prime pieces.

It deserves to be mentioned that these items are no way going to take over my normal skincare regime but regardless they are decently priced and fun for those days I'm just hurrying to do a quick clean up at the end of the night.

I hauled the following items:

• Boots Original Beauty Formula Cold Cream ($9.99 USD)
• Boots Original Beauty Formula Overnight Skin Cream ($12.99 USD)
• Boots Original Beauty Formula Skin Tonic Damask Rose ($9.99 USD)

Before I get into my review I will mention that with the conversion rate as it is right now, the prices of the products are around the same as what you'd get in the UK minus $1-$4 at most. I picture little old English ladies running to their newest Boots to stock up on all these items.

As I mentioned this is very basic skincare, simplicity at it's best in my humble opinion. The Boots Original Beauty Formula Cold Cream has a light rose scent that's very pretty but could prove too much for those sensitive to smell. It comes housed in a heavy vintage glass style jar and is an extra thick, cold cream meant for removing makeup. Now it's not going to get off waterproof mascara but it does a fine job of removing everything else and washing cleanly away while making your face feeling very moist and dewy. To use simply rub onto dry skin and remove with a wet wash cloth, rinse and done, simple!
















Boots Original Formula Overnight Skin Cream is a bergamot scented night cream, sigh I sure did wish for rose but that's ok it smells lovely none the less. It's quick absorbing and leaves skin feeling very moisturized however it could possibly be a bit too much for oily or even normal skin types. It's not thick mind you and has a gel-like feel but it's just a tad heavy. almost but not quite greasy. I find it does an good job as an overnight cream and leaves my dry skin nice and moist but it does make my forehead a tiny shiny. Not bad though and I'm sure I'll be thankful for it in the Winter. Again, it also comes housed in a heavy vintage style jar. I'm quite partial to the packaging of all of the line as it's so retro and vanity worthy.










Lastly I hauled the Boots Original Beauty Formula Skin Tonic which is also rose scented. This contains a combination of rose oil and hydrating glycerin. I'm no stranger to these ingredients as I use them quite often in the Winter to get my face prepped and primed for moisturizer! I was in high debate with myself over the price however since it's a 5oz size for $9.99 and I can get an 8oz of Burts Bees Rosewater & Glycerin Toner for $9-$12. I've since forgiven it for the price since it comes in such a cute glass bottle. It feels a tad more moisturizing compared to what I normally use and honestly rose oil and glycerin in any form is a gift from the gods the Muse thinks. It works amazing at removing flaky skin and prepping your skin so whether you try this one or just any glycerin toner, know that your skin will thank you every so kindly for the extra moisture.








I'm unsure whether I deem the items expensive. It seems like very large jars that will last a while so I lean towards saying they are quite nicely priced. I'm quite pleased that Target imported them so quickly as I really thought we'd possibly never see them or it would be months before they reached our shores. If you're looking for a nice, simple skincare regime I recommend checking these out. I'm quite happy with all three and the entire line seems quite wonderful. Boots never really fails to make me smile. Well done Boots and Target the Muse Approves.