40 Posts of Beauty: L'Oreal Sublime Glow

Well, since I never finished my 40 Posts of Beauty for lent, I've decided to start it back up and hopefully get to 40 eventually. I've been trying lots of new beauty products (they tend to cheer me up) so I have some great new products to tell you about!

And I thought it might be a nice diversion from my daily blah!

I've tried numerous (Jergen's, Dove, Olay, St. Ive's) gradual self tanning lotions and hadn't found one that I actually liked the results and smell of. I really can't stand that nasty self tanner smell.


I bought this after reading a review of it on Beauty Addict...and instantly fell in love with it. It's slightly shimmery, but not too shimmery, smells really light and pretty, and *gasp* actually makes you look tan and not orange!

And all that after just ONE application! I've even gotten compliments at work about how tan I look! Oh, FYI...I did buy it in the medium skin tone version. If you're super pale, I would recommend the fair skin tone version.

Go to Target right now and buy this...you WILL thank me later!

40 Posts of Beauty: Mademoiselle Nail Polish

Essie: Mademoiselle

This is a super pretty light pink polish. It's perfect for just about any occasion. And, it's sheer enough that you don't have to paint your nails perfectly to have them look good. I actually painted my nails this color last night right before we went out...only one coat of course...but it looked good.

The best part is that it's so light that if it chips, it's not that noticeable, so you don't have to repaint your nails every night.

It also makes you look even tanner in the summer!

40 Posts of Beauty: Regenerist Touch of Sun

Olay: Regenerist Touch of Sun

I found this product over on Jolie's site, and neither of us have been able to find a picture of it online. But, I did find the actual product at Walgreen's a few weeks ago.

I LOVE it. It's a really light lotion that feels very moisturizing and it helps to even out skin tone. It also has the added benefit of having a touch of self tanner in it. I've been using for about 2 weeks now (just in the mornings) and my face actually looks alive without makeup.

This is the perfect spring moisturizer because it gives you that 'ready for summer' glow without the harmful risks of tanning.

40 Posts of Beauty: Apricot Scrub

St. Ives: Medicated Apricot Scrub

I know what you're probably thinking...how many face cleansers does this girl use? Well, 3 to be exact...and this is the last one.

I used to use this scrub back when I was in high school and then stopped because I heard it was bad for your skin.

I have now come to the conclusion that I DON'T CARE!!! It seriously makes my skin feel SO clean. I use it every other day (I switch on & off with bliss) and only use it in the morning.

It does such a great job exfoliating the dead skin cells. I also prefer the medicated version because it has salicylic acid to help combat breakouts.

And the best part is that is costs less than $4!

40 Posts of Beauty: Bare Radiance

bareMinerals: Bare Radiance All-Over Face Color

You didn't think I was done talking about bareMinerals did you?

Bare Radiance is this really pretty shimmery amber color that makes your skin look dewy and fresh. After applying all of my other makeup, I apply a light wash of this on the apples of my cheeks and up my cheekbones. It makes my skin look very flawless and fresh.

40 Posts of Beauty: Diorshow Mascara

Christian Dior: Diorshow Mascara

I have officially found the best mascara ever. It doesn't clump, it doesn't weigh my lashes down, it doesn't flake AND it smells like roses!!! Seriously, it really does smell like roses!

This is hands down the best mascara I've ever used, and if you read my previous post about mascara, you know that I have serious issues with my lashes.

Go to Sephora and buy this mascara...you can thank me later!

40 Posts of Beauty: Incanto Shine

Salvatore Ferragamo: Incanto Shine

So this was one of the birthday presents I got from my dad this past weekend. And actually, my sister and I both loved it so much that we both got it...I guess now we'll smell like twins too, seeing as we're always told that we look like twins.

Anyway, this perfume smells SO good I wish that there was a way that I could add a scent to my post. It's light and fresh and perfect for spring and summer. It's fruity and sweet, but not overpoweringly so. Go to Sephora or Nordstrom ASAP and smell it...I think you just may love it as much as I do.

And how could you NOT fall in love with the bottle? It's so pretty!

40 Posts of Beauty: O-Glow

Smashbox: O-Glow

This is one of the coolest new beauty products I've come across lately. It's a clear gel that turns pink with the warmth of your skin. It is really too cool for school!

I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to use it in conjunction with my coveted bareMinerals, but I asked one of the girls at Sephora, who by the way is my new best friend, and she said it should work...so she demonstrated. I instantly fell in love with it! I made me look so young and fresh.

The way that she showed me to apply it is to squeeze a small amount on to the back of your hand and use a blush brush to just dab it onto the apples of your cheeks. Believe me when I say that a little goes a long way!

It's cool, it's pink, and I highly recommend this product...even if it does cost $26.

40 Posts of Beauty: MD Formulations Facial Cleanser

MD Formulations: Facial Cleanser - All Skin Types

I know I just posted Bliss' Fabulous Foaming Face wash last week and said it was my favorite. Well, this cleanser is up there right next to it.

I originally got a small bottle of this cleanser with my bareMinerals starter kit. The lady at Nordstrom told me not to use it right away just in case I had an allergic reaction to it, that way I wouldn't blame the bareMinerals. So I threw it under my sink, which is like a black hole of beauty products, and didn't think about it for a few months. Then I read an article about how glycolic acid is a great exfoliant and helps with break outs. So I dug through my cabinet and started using this.

I LOVE it! At first I was hesitant because it's creamy and doesn't foam up...you just rub it all over face, then add water and then rinse (kind of like Cetaphil), but it makes your face feel so clean. It has definitely helped to clear up my skin, and it really dissolves all of my makeup & daily grime! It's great. Although a little pircey, $32 for a full size bottle, it's totally worth it.

I use this cleanser at night and the Bliss cleanser in the morning. I think they work really well together and am so happy to have finally found a regimen that works for my skin.

40 Posts of Beauty: Lash Exact Mascara

Cover Girl: Lash Exact Mascara

Yesterday I told you all about how my eyelashes are horribly straight and that I spend most of morning routine trying to get them to curl and stay curled.

After I use my Shu Uemura eyelash curler, I like to use Cover Girl Lash Exact mascara. It has one of those new brushes with the little rubber nubs instead of bristles. It does make my eyelashes much less clumpy that regular mascara.

The only downside is that for the first few weeks of using it, it's really wet & gloppy, so I always wipe the wand with a tissue before applying. After about a month of use, the mascara begins to dry in the tube and this is when it's the best. It is completely clump free and very natural looking. I put on multiple layers at this point to get my lashes to look really lush.

Does anyone have any other tips on mascara? Any mascaras you'd recommend?

40 Posts of Beauty: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Shu Uemura: Eyelash Curler

My eyelashes are basically straight pieces of hair that DO NOT cooperate with me. They naturally have NO curl to them and therefore I am forced to torture them every morning with a little crimping.

I grew up using a Revlon eyelash curler, because that's what my mom used, and would just replace the little rubber pads as they wore out. However, about a year or so ago, after many frustrating mornings of eyelashes pointing in various directions, I finally broke down and purchased this Shu Uemura curler. It works fabulously!

It feels different than regular curlers and I really feel that it curls my eyelashes better than anything else. The only downside is that they do not sell replacement pads, so after you use both pads that come with the curler, you have to purchase a whole new curler. But, it does seem to work better when it's new, so I don't worry about it too much.

40 Posts of Beauty: Island Hot Spot

Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa: Island Hot Spot Warming Body Scrub

This scrub is pretty much summer in a bottle. It's coconut smell is good enough to eat! The best part is that when you start rubbing it into your skin it warms up. It makes your skin super smooth and moisturized. I like to scrub it all over my legs before I shave...my legs feel SO soft and smooth afterward.

For only $13.50 at Bath & Body Works, this will make you feel like it's already summer, even though it's still gloomy out!

40 Posts of Beauty: Lincoln Park After Dark

OPI: Lincoln Park After Dark Nail Lacquer

This is a great eggplant color that looks almost black if you put enough coats on. It does take at least 2 (I like 3) coats to get it to the right color and keep it streak free, but it is well worth the time.

I painted my nails on Saturday and they just started chipping yesterday...which is pretty good for me.

I always get tons of compliments when I wear it...and it looks good on toes too!

40 Posts of Beauty: Fabulous Foaming Face Wash

bliss: fabulous foaming face wash

This is probably my favorite face wash ever! The first time I tried it was when we stayed at the W Hotel after my company Christmas party this past December. I've been hooked ever since. It has a very gentle exfolation to it (sometimes maybe a little too gentle), and it smells amazing! Like bubble gum or fruit punch. It's not too pricey...$16 for a full size bottle.

Ever tried it? Have another exfoliater you'd recommend? Let me know!

40 Posts of Beauty: i.d. bareMinerals Foundation

In honor of the 40 days & 40 nights of lent, I'm going to follow the lead over at Blogdorf Goodman and post a new beauty product that I love everyday during lent.

Feel free to comment or leave reviews of products you love!

Bare Escentuals: i.d. bareMinerals Foundation

This is my absolute favorite makeup! While I'd love to tell you about everything in the bareMinerals line that I love, I'm going to leave other items for future posts. This foundation is great. You can adjust the coverage depending on how you apply it...going from very sheer to a lot of coverage. Even when you've applied it heavily, it won't look like you're wearing a ton of makeup, not to mention your skin will feel clean & makeup free!

Not only is the foundation light, but it's actually good for your skin. Since I started wearing bareMinerals, my skin has cleared up SO much. Yes, I do still get the occasional breakout, but nothing like when I was wearing liquid foundation.

I recommend this to ALL of my friends and have even converted my mom over!