Average Jane Beauty Reviews

Smith's Rosebud Salve Review

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:17:00 +0000

I have been hearing about Smith's Rosebud Salve for ages. It is always on top 10 lists, all time favorite lists. stuff like that. I have never been that interested because I do not love lip balm in a pot. Something about dipping a potentially dirty finger in a pot and then the germs festering for 2 years never did it for me. HOWEVER, I caved after seeing this at Sephora so many times and hearing so many raves. And let me tell you, it may have been the best $7 I ever spent. I love this stuff. This is a great lip balm. Not too greasy, not too waxy. It makes my dry winter lips feel silky and moist, but not sticky. I have also used it as a little blusher/cheek color for a mid day freshen up, and as a cuticle/nail cream, and hand cream. There are a million uses for it. It smells very lightly of roses and has no taste. Here is what the company says about it:

"Smith's Rosebud Salve (0.8 oz.)
Since 1895, this world-famous salve has been lauded by fashion magazines, make-up artists, and celebrities as their number one preferred lip balm. In addition to being a wonderful lip moisturizer, natural-looking lip gloss and lipstick base, it is still a family favorite to aid in the relief of chapped and dry skin, blemishes, diaper rash, and detergent burns.

* Outline lips with lip liner of you choice about ¼ inches from the outside of your lips toward the center. Then use a lip brush to blend the salve to achieve a “pouty look”.
* Use Rosebud Salve alone or over your favorite hue of lipstick to moisturize and give a “dewy effect”.
* Apply Rosebud Salve to eyebrows to tame an unruly brow line while also giving sheen.
* Rosebud Salve is great on fly-away or frizzy hair. Dab a small amount on the palms of your hands and apply sparingly to tresses.
* Use Rosebud Salve as a subtle accent to cheek bones, collar bones, shoulders, or any other body part that you want to moisturize or enhance.
* Apply rosebud Salve lightly to the skin above the eye as a base for powered eye shadow, and then add the desired colors you wish to dazzle your eyes with. The rich emollient properties of the Salve will help to hold that look all day."

Benefit 10 Review (a really cool bronzer/highlighter combo blush)

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:55:00 +0000

This is a cool product and a staple in my "must have/essentials" makeup bag. It is a pressed powder, and comes in a little paper box and a blush brush. It comes off on the brush VERY easily (I usually tap excess off). One side of the powder is a pink highlighter (to make your cheekbones look all "Gisele-ish" (okay, I wish, but it makes your cheek bones look more defined). The other half is bronzer and it makes you look skinny and sucked in. You use both at the same time, with the highlighter above the bronzer and you get the contoured effect. I usually have to blend the line with my fingers on my cheek. You can also swirl both together for a natural healthy blush. I usually do not wear a blush in addition to this, but sometimes I do. Let me know what you think about it! Again, my best advice is to try this stuff out at Sephora or a Benefit counter (try Macy's). Or you can buy it here.

Benefit Cosmetics Eye Bright

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:19:00 +0000

I have been waiting to review this product for weeks! I.LOVE.IT. This is my favorite new product in ages. Benefit makes such fun things. I have tried a lot of their stuff. I got turned onto this product after reading an article in a magazine. It said if you line your inner eyelids with this light pink eyeliner, it makes you look healthier, more rested, more awake. I thought it was probably all BS, but I tried it the next time I went to Sephora, and could not stop thinking about it days later. I loved the results. It really did make my bloodshot tired old full time working mom eyes look whiter and healthier. I have worn it every single day since I bought it weeks ago. You can buy it here. Let me know what you think! Did you like it as much as I did?

Next up...dying to try Colossal Mascara. It is getting very mixed reviews.

Sephora Nail Patch review (aka those nail polish sticker thingies)

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:56:00 +0000

I have been eying these things forever...I first saw them in the Avon Catalog years ago. How cool is this idea?! I was super psyched about it because when you have kids you do not have time to do your nails and wait for it to dry. I am also so uncoordinated my nail polish never looks good and usually starts chipping immediately. When I was at Sephora the other day, I found these nail patches
. I ad to try them!

Well, the review is in and..............THEY ARE NOT GOOD! With full disclosure, I did not take 10 minutes a nail to apply these things. I read the directions, slapped them on, and the results were complete and utter failure. They were easy to put on but hard to maneuver around the top of the nail. They ended up balling up and chipping within a few minutes of application (if not immediately). After the first several nails I decided to take more time- trimming the tops carefully with a nail clipper so there was not too much excess, but they still had too much "polish" at the ends. As you can see in my pic, they look like a 2 week old manicure, and this was minutes after application. Save your money and buy yourself a manicure. Although, for $8 (or 2 Starbucks) they are kind of fun to play with.

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Before and After pics above.
So, my girlfriend kept telling me about how awesome the airbrush tan was. In my neighborhood, they cost $100 or more! My friend got hers at Aloha Sun in Marietta for $35 (or $30 if you buy a package). I sucked it up, made the drive, and boy was it worth it!! The airbrush lady (probably not her real title) did an amazing job and spent a long time getting it perfect. She puts more on the areas that get more sun naturally, like the fronts of your arms. This gives you a contouring effect and it just looks fab. I am naturally WHITE AS A GHOST, as evidenced in my before picture. I do not tan. But, now it looks pretty natural. Be prepared when you go- you have to wear loose clothing and can not go run around town afterwards because if you wear your bra and undies, it will smudge the tan. You have the choice of getting as undressed as you want. I ended up having to go full monty because I was wearing lace underwear and she said it would make a lace patterned tan...not exactly the look I was going for. Being naked in front of a stranger was not my first choice of things I wanted to do today, but she made me feel comfortable. Too bad for her she usually is airbrushing bikini models and had to look at a middle aged housewife in the buff! Supposedly this lasts up to 10 days. I will let you know if that is true. Oh yeah, no showers for 8 hours before or after (hence the hideous hairdo).

Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 02:02:00 +0000

I am a big fan of the natural look, and love a lot of clinique products. BUT, Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick is awful and overpriced. Not only is the color bad (just barely a purply shine), but it fades off within seconds. This product is consistently a best seller and gets a lot of rave reviews, but on my pale lips, I consider this stuff a waste of money. Bad consistency- balls up and leaves nasty little pieces of lipgloss on your lips. You will have to try it for yourself, though, because a ton of people love this. You can try it on at Sephora for free.

Local review for you Hotlanta peeps... Toni & Guy at Perimeter Mall.

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:43:00 +0000

I have to share with the world (or one person that reads this blog...wait, that is myself...oh, well) how AWESOME Amy at Toni & Guy hair salon is. She does cuts only...you will have to see someone else for color. But good god people, this woman can cut hair. I have been going to her for a few years now, and I have NEVER had someone pay so much attention to my haircut. She is an OCD perfectionist, and takes forever to do the cut. Which is great, because if you are a vain chick like me, you have to have a good one! Or if you are a cheap chick like me, you get pissed when you pay a fortune for a haircut and it sucks. I have been to everyone and their brother in Atlanta, and I can not imagine going to anyone else for a cut. Recently, I went in to have my super long hair chopped off so I could look like Kim from the Real World Hollywood. Or just pretend that an old lady like me is hot and 23 like her. Whatever. Here is Amy's number. Go see her and enjoy listening to her crazy Chicago accent.
PERIMETER MALL
4400 ASHFORD-DUNWOODY ROAD, SUITE 2305, ATLANTA, GA 30346
770/510-4460
Me before:
Me after:

And no, my "Don't Bother Me I'm Hiking" t-shirt is not for sale, so don't even ask.

L'Oreal Bare Naturale Mascara Review

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:17:00 +0000

You may have seen L'Oreal's new Bare Naturale line. It is a group of products that go along with it's mineral makeup. Touting a mascara as a mineral makeup seems a litte weird to me, but who am I to judge (except some random girl who does, in fact, like to judge). Take a look here

I bought this mascara on a whim at Target (along with about $108 of other stuff I did not need, but I digress). I was hopeful for a light, clean lengthening mascara. For the first few days I liked this stuff. But after having it a week or so, it just seems to be getting clumpier and goopier and ends up all over my face and making my lashes look sort of like the lovely lady pictured above (not exactly the "Bare Naturale" look I was going for. Now if that is the look you are going for, invest in this mascara. If not, I stay stick with your current fav (I knew I should have spent the money and bought another fiberwig!

Favorite things challenge

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:39:00 +0000

At one of the blogs I like, Fiddledeedee, she asked readers to post their favorite thing- something that makes life easier, more fun, or more beautiful. My first instinct was to post about green smoothies, which are my new obsession recipes here . They are SO healthy and really taste good (unless you use arugula...learned that one the hard way). BUT, seeing as green smoothies have nothing to do with beauty reviews, I thought I would post one of my new favorite beauty things: pedeggrules. For ten bucks and a 20% off coupon at bed bath and beyond ( guess that would make it 8 bucks), you too can get rid of those nasty dry spots and callouses that even the pedicure people can not do anything with. You need one. Now.

Broadband light laser skin treatment Before and After

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:19:00 +0000

Here are the before and after pictures of my broadband light laser skin treatment. The first picture is before, the 2nd is after. These totally look like mugshots!! I wish I had a better camera or way to take a clearer picture, because the results are much more dramatic than they appear. I am SO happy with them, that even though it hurts like a mother, I would do it again. My skin is freckly and gets sun spots easy, so I was a good candidate.
Procedure details:
They put goggles on you (think tanning bed goggles), put a cool gel on your face, and the nurse stands to the side with a vacuum looking device that continually blows cold air while the doctor is treating you. Going into this, I had no clue this would hurt. I started to get worried when the doc told me that everyone jumps when the use the laser because of the sound and light that fills your sinuses (huh???!). She also told me to let her know if I needed a break, but it would only take 5 minutes or so. (uh oh, now I was really starting to panic). Let me preface the next part by saying I have a strong pain tolerance. I birthed two children and never complain about this or that hurting. Giving blood is no big deal. I couldnt even feel the botox injections I got. However, I was not prepared for the BURN sensation. No topical anesthetic was used. They turn the laser on and off all over your face. It snaps really loud and shoots the laser on your skin. It feels like a match is being held to your face. They do this a million times all over your face. It hurts. Me no likey the feeling of my skin being burned off. It is not warm, or even hot, it is a burn! OUCH! If I shell out another $350 some day to do it again, I will definitely being seeking a topical anesthetic to help a bit. Or a few pre treatment cocktails might take the edge off. The spots on your face immediately turn very dark brown. They last up to 2 weeks and then fall off, leaving nice skin. My face looked like it was dirty or just super freckly for about a week, then they all fell off. Has anyone else ever had a laser skin treatment? What was it like and were you happy with the results?

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Covergirl Advance Radiance Restorative Cream Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:27:00 +0000

CVS has a great deal this week where you can get $10 extra care bucks when you spend $20. Throw in several covergirl coupons from the paper, and you have yourself some free makeup. For more info on ECBs and how to get tons of free stuff from CVS check out http://www.moneysavingmom.com . Here is a picture of me wearing this makeup and blushberry shine lipstick. This makeup is basically for old people. It is so depressing that I am not some young teen anymore and now I have to buy the old lady versions, lol! Anyhow, with my dry skin, why not? It gives great coverage and blends very well. I used a very light touch. The only drawback is that it makes my face look a little "makeupy", whereas I like my skin to look super natural.

My new skincare regimen

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:27:00 +0000

After consulting my dermatologist about how to look younger, she highly recommended I start using Neocutis as my skin care. They sell it at the office, but it is outrageously expensive. I found it at Caliderma for much cheaper. I have very dry skin. I sometimes even use aquaphor to get rid of my dry skin, so I was skeptical about this stuff. It takes about 6 months to notice the difference, so I will let you guys know how it goes. So far I LOVE it, though. I seriously think my skin already looks better. I use the day cream, eye cream, and product pictured below at night. I also mix the Neocutis with Retin-A Micro about every other night.

Covergirl Wetslicks lipgloss review

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:44:00 +0000

I absolutely love this lipgloss. I have tried every expensive brand under the sun but this one is one of the best.

-It is silky and smooth, not goopy and sticky
-It has staying power
-The colors look so good, I rarely buy one that does not compliment me (My current fav. is Wine Shine)
-The pigment is heavy enough to actually show up, but light enough to look natural

Buy some next time you see it on sale at the local drugstore! You will not be disappointed.

It doesn't get any better than this!

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:06:00 +0000

Today I have decided to review my all time favorite beauty product...Clnique Almost Makeup, the best foundation EVER! What I love about it is that it gives you that "perfect skin but not wearing makeup" look. It is a sheer foundation, but still has coverage to even out your skin town and cover up imperfections. I wear Fair. Love it love it love it! I have recently also bought Clinique Moisture Sheers in Fair. I love it too- it is very similar to Almost Makeup but it is more sheer. Very light moisturizer with a little coverage. Both products have SPF 15. If you need something to buy to rake it in on the local Clinique Free Gift, I would definitely recommend these two foundations!

Oh how I love thee! Philosophy "When Hope Is Not Enough" serum

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 01:31:00 +0000

I was never a big gimmicky skincare person. I used whatever basics the dermatologist recommended- cetaphil to wash my face, purpose, lubriderm, etc.. type lotions to moisturize and that was it. My skin always was a little dry and makeup never sat right on it, especially later in the day. I NEVER used concealer because it looked so cakey and old and gross under my eyes. Then along came QVC. ON a whim I bought the Philosophy skincare line. The cleanser (Purity Made Simple) is just so so- if it did not come with the kit, I would not neccessarily buy it. The other stuff (moisturizer and mini peel) are great, but I really think the serum has made the biggest difference! Adding this serum under my moisturizer has changed my life. Ok, maybe not my life, but at least the skin! My skin stays moisturized ALL DAY and my makeup and concealer look great. The best part is the serum does not make your skin greasy. If you tend to have dry skin, I would definitely recommend adding this to your routine!

Do you use a serum with your skincare? I would love any cheapie/drugstore brand recommendations. What works best for you?

If you are a mama to young children or babies

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:56:00 +0000

I was in Tarjay the other day and happened along this stuff:Johnson & Johnson Baby Cologne. Maybe I am living under a rock, but I had not seen it before and was skeptical...cologne for a baby? What is that about? BUT, I bought it and all I can say is WOW. It smells so mild and fresh, just like a clean baby out of the bath. It is great for the mornings to put on your baby or small child to make them smell like they just came out of the tub. It is especially good for those times when you did not have a chance to bathe the baby the night before (I know, the horror!!!). If you are a mom, you must get this stuff. I use it on my 1 year old and 3 year old every morning.

Fiberwig. If you do not have it, you should.

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:53:00 +0000

Unless you already have long, luxurious bambi lashes (like my sister- beatch!) and hate lengthening mascaras, you MUST buy Fiberwig Mascara. It is the top selling mascara in Japan (it is Japanese) and is sold at Sephora (probably other places too, but I dont know where). You can go to sephora and try it out to see if you like it, which is great! This stuff literally adds little pieces of fibers to the ends of your lashes, lengthening them like you are wearing false eye lashes. It is applied like regular mascara and you cant "mess it up". It does not come off into your eyes until you take it off with soap and water or eye makeup remover. I wear contacts and it does not irritate them.

Review of Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer

noreply@blogger.com (DD) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 01:52:00 +0000

If you have dark circles under your eyes, RUN DO NOT WALK to buy Bobbi Brown's corrector and concealer. This is the best new product I have tried in years. Seriously, this stuff is awesome! I never liked concealers before- they looked cakey and accentuated the fine lines under my eyes. Then along came Bobbi. The Corrector is this pink stuff you put just on the dark circles. On top of the pink stuff you put her regular concealer. Both are such a creamy consistency that it does not looks cakey and dry. The result is miraculous. Depending on your eyes, you may need to adjust the amount of corrector vs. concealer. The makeup lady at Nordtroms recommended I go heavy on the corrector, light on the concealer, and the combo works great for looking super natural and not "over concealered". I do not use the powder that comes with the concealer.

You can find Bobbi Brown at several department stores, including Nordtroms and Sak's. It is also available at Sephora.