A few weeks ago, I attended a screening of David Arquette’s new film, TRIPPER at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

The movie was a lot of fun – my hubby and I are horror geeks. The setting was great for a screening and the party was fun! But the best part were the goodie bags…

Amongst other fun goodies were two items from Kinerase. A Pro+Therapy Advanced Radiance Facial Peel Kit and a full size Kinerase(r) Lip Treatment. Holy mackerel – product junkie heaven!

The Facial Peel contains 15 packets. You basically use it five days in a row (or whatever your skin can tolerate) and then wait two weeks and do it again. I just finished my first 5 packets and all I can say is I am obsessed! My skin is aging and I’ve been trying to find something to help it look refreshed. This product does the trick.

How it works: Pull out the little sponge on a stick (looks like a lollipop) from the packet and put it on a freshly washed face. It tingles and burns for a few minutes and then dries down to an almost mask-like quality. When you wake up in the morning, your skin looks renewed. The lip treatment magically worked overnight to make my horribly dry lips smooth, supple and soft.

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve loved something so much. The products are a little pricey, $86 for the Peels and $38 for the Lip Treatment, but, as I mentioned before, I am a convert and can’t wait to try the rest of the line. I say “thank you, Courtney Cox, but my checkbook may be saying “darn you, Courtney Cox!”

There’s a lot to be said for a pretty face; the world opens up to you more easily. Men open doors and people listen in rapture when you speak. Well, in the case of beauty products, having pretty packaging is the equivalent. The shiny object catches your eye, you flirt with the idea of picking it up in your hot little hand, and the seduction begins. But just like a pretty face with little substance under the surface, the hot fires of seduction can reduce to a smoldering ember if there is nothing behind the slick packaging of a beauty products. I”m happy to report that in the case of the Eyefly mascara, customers get beauty and brains (efficacy). The product comes in a slick but rectangular tube that is at once minimal and elegant. It mirrors the elegance of a Chanel product, but is slightly less pricey. And it works — although I have to admit the first time I used this I wasn’t all that impressed. But after several rendezvous with eyefly, I’m hooked. The consistency is creamy and easy on the lashes. It separates and defines and my goodness, does it lengthen. Simply put, it does it all. And does it all in style.

The Beauty Bug is a great friend. She was nice enough to send me a sample of the most AMAZING lip goodness ever – CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint (No. 1136). I am thoroughly obsessed with this stuff. It is super moisturizing and the color she sent is GREAT on me. It has a nice tingle and the mint flavor is not too minty, just minty enough. As promised, it really makes me feel like I have fresh breath when gum, mints or a toothbrush are not available options. To conclude: DELICIOUS – in so many ways.

The Beauty Bug must agree, these lip tints are a great buy and provide the perfect combination or color, moisture and mint. The first time She tried hers, (She tried #1137) it instantly reminded her of her MAC LipGelee in Sapilicious – same color, same texture, same shine with a hint of mint!

I was looking for a moisturizer without SPF because I do that separately (Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 55). I am a fanatic about wrinkle and cancer prevention. I browsed for a few minutes and decided on the Juice Organics Daily Nourishing Moisturizer. Disclaimer – this was BEFORE my Test Tube arrived. Now I have enough moisturizer stocked up to last for at least a year!

Here’s what they say: Nourish your skin with safe, healthy, organic ingredients. This nutrient-rich moisturizer blends certified organic, vitamin-rich grape and carrot juices with vitamin antioxidants and essential fatty acids to renew and revitalize for smooth, radiant skin.

Here’s what I say: Wow! A light, creamy, easily absorbed moisturizer for under $15? I was expecting it to smell “juicy” or “citrusy,” instead I was pleasantly suprised by my one of my favorite fragrances, yling ylang. It makes my skin feel great, not too greasy – just moisturized. It is also light enough to put on my sunblock and foundation right away. I also bought the Revitalizing Eye Cream. I have a hard time remembering to do eye creams, but this one is really nice as well. It is light and smells a little “juicy.”

And if it wasn’t Malaga Wine, it was Chanel’s Vamp that graced our finger nails. Back then, Vamp was our Black Satin. We were obsessed with Vamp – it was always on our minds. The Beauty Bug distinctively remembers one Friday – She and Vamp were at the local movie theater. It was a more serious movie, so the crowd was quiet. There was a close up of the female leads finger nails and Vamp excited blurted out “I think it’s Vamp! – definitely loud enough for the whole theater to hear. For some odd reason, The Beauty Bug compares it to the scene in Dirty Dancing when Baby’s mother exclaims, “I think she gets this from me!” Vamp was just innocently calling it as she saw it…..

Read about her switch from MAC to Chanel….

I’ve been using MAC since middle school. I loved it! Plus, I’ve have always had a small acne problem and MAC was amazing at covering up my problem areas. However, for years my mother harassed me about having a makeup line around my face and would always tell me my makeup never matched my skin tone. She said my makeup looked caked on. Soon, she had my father agreeing with her. They thought the MAC studio makeup was made for the people in front of a camera. And of course, because she’s my mother, I ignored her and thought she was just plain wrong.

About 2 years ago I started a new job as an event planner in New York City. In this business, it is important to look your best especially at high profile events. About a month into my new job, one of my co-workers approached me about my makeup and made the same comments my parents had been making for years! She said she wanted to help. She had only known me about a month when she made these comments, so I realized my parents may have been right. And that day, after over 10 years of exclusive MAC use, we went to the Chanel counter and I was a changed woman.

I quickly learned about Chanels oil free line!! That day I bought Chanel Double Perfection Compact Intensity 4, and a powder blush in Cedar Rose. For the days that I feel like I need more coverage, I use Chanel Teint Fluide Universel Multi-Vitamin Natural Make-Up with SPF 15 before I apply the powder. That evens out my skin tone. When I don’t use the tint, I always apply an oil-free moisturizer before the powder.

Soon after I started using these products, my acne improved. It did not disappear, but it improved. No miracles here girls, sorry! Also, my face did not get as oily by the end of day. Best part is, I feel like I don’t have any make up on and the shades match my skin tone perfectly. I am now complimented on my complexion, and more importantly, my mother is pleased. Most people don’t even know I have make-up on – they always comment on my natural look.

I have to say a big thank you to my co-worker. Without her, I would still be walking around with a makeup line and an unnatural look! Now I am obsessed with Chanel. Sorry Beauty Bug! We’ll always have Vamp!

Being the product whore that I am, I was SO excited to get an email about a special promotional offer from a new “Bloomingdales” cosmetics line (e.l.f. o “eyes, lips, face) where everything was $1 for a limited time. I am all for a deal, so I picked out about 20 different items and happily hit purchase.

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is…
We all know by now that e.l.f. has no connection with Bloomies (though that’s not the deal breaker for me). We also know that e.l.f. is “value priced” cosmetics. So, the items will always be $1. I am all for $1 makeup if the quality is reasonable – who doesn’t love Wet N’ Wild 666 lip liner?

Sometimes you get what you pay for…
Overall I was VERY unhappy with my e.l.f. experience. First, it took FOREVER to get. I mean forever…over a month and I only received it after I sent an email to customer service. They said due to a high volume of orders shipments might be delayed, My friend at work JUST received her order today that she placed in September. She had forgotten all about it.

Additionally, the quality pretty much sucks. The eyeliners are so waxy, I can’t even use them. The brightening eyeshadow and natural radiance blusher colors are horrendous. The Earth and Water Mascara was dry and flaky. The super glossy lip shine had a horrible grape smell. I did not even bother opening the shimmering facial whip. I wish I would have spent my 20 bucks on something I REALLY wanted from Sephora.

Maybe I’m just not the demo…? These items seem better for a 12-15 year old that is just experimenting with products. In fact, I am putting them in a little holiday gift bag with a “Scream-O” CD and giving them to my 13-year-old cousin. I think she will love them.

Things haven’t changed much! Here’s Renee from Blog for Beauty telling us what’s in her makeup bag…

A kind reader sent this over to me after I wrote about how it’s not sold here yet! This is great for (obviously!) a little bit of shimmer on your collarbones, over your eyeshadow, bronzer, etc. It’s a little too light as an individual eyeshadow, but this is great for layering on some shimmer and shine!

Chanel Teint Fluide Universel Foundation

When I do wear foundation (I try to avoid putting anything on my skin!) I wear this. This coverage is light and pretty sheer, and the finish is quite dewy looking, which I love.

Bourjois Noir & Blanc Eyeliner

This is a two sided eyeliner that I love – white and black eyeliner. I hardly use the white side but both are so deep in color. I love the black side, I would still buy this only for the black! It looks like liquid liner after it’s been applied and is the darkest black I’ve ever seen!

MAC Platinum Bronze*

I don’t like pinkish blush, I feel too pink in it! So I use bronzer as blush, which is better for me. This is called Gorgeous Gold and yes, it is gorgeous! It’s a light tan color that stays on all day, until I wash my face!

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

I dont know why this is so popular, but I bought it anyway. This honestly doesn’t do anything to my lashes, I find it’s too wide for my eyes and because of that, it clips my skin on the edge!

The Body Shop Shimmer Waves Bronzer

This is an eyeshadow and bronzer/blush set, but I use it as eyeshadow because it’s way too shimmery as a blush or bronzer! This thing has the most amazing colors, and if you mix and blend them together, the result is beautiful! This shadow stays on forever as well, without any eyeshadow primers at all. I love the colors and I’ve been using this for almost 2 years, and is still a favorite of mine. I higly reccommend this!

MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy

When I need a brown, lighter eyeliner than black, I use this. MAC eyeliners have been a favorite of mine, and before I bought this, I had about 3 years worth of their “Engraved” eyeliner. This tiny thing will last forever! *The Beauty Bug has this in her makeup bag as well!*

Clinique Active White Refreshing Spot Concealer in 01 Refreshing Fair*

I just found out this has stopped its production, and I dunno what to do! This thing is my exact skin color and stayed put the whole day.

Lancome Mat Finish Loose Powder in 04 Peche Doree*

Maybelline Unstoppable Mascara

One of my favorites. This has tiny fibres that stick on your lashes to make them even more longer. Once, my lower eyelashes looked so long, I had to cut them! However at the end of the day, there is slight flaking of the fibres!

*The Beauty Bug couldn’t find links to these items – either they are only available in Singapore, or they are discontinued.