eyes	face	hair	lips	body

Sweetassgal here, to bring you the best of all things natural and organic by way of Green Chi Tuesdays!

New Years Eve was a quiet affair for me this year. With the hubby off quading in Nevada, two teenage kids both going to parties now, and a 12:30 curfew to wait up for I had to be responsible Mommie and trade in the celebratory cocktails for a 4 hour “Absolutely Fabulous” marathon on BBC. For those of you who don’t know…Ab Fab is a British comedy about two 40 something completely inappropriate “substance-abusing fashion and fad-obsessed Londoners who value fame and style over substance” named Patsy and Edina. For those of you who DO know…its nearly impossible to watch Ab Fab and not crave a cocktail…“Veuve and Bourb DAHLING…Veuve and Bourb!". Since booze was definitely out I settled in to play fashion/beauty editor Patsy Stone complete with mile high beehive and red overly pouty lips. As Patsy says ‘’One snap of my fingers and I can raise hemlines so high the whole world’s your gynecologist.'’ Well…maybe sweetassgal can’t do that but I can introduce you to an absolutely fabulous line of natural makeup and skincare!

Gabriel cosmetics was created by Gabriel DeSantino as a way to bring natural health and beauty products to people incorporating his families knowledge of the healing powers of the sea. Taught by his grandmother in Mexico to use seaweed, kelp, and a variety of herbs to make homeopathic cosmetics, he learned how the right combination of sea-derived botanicals not only revitalize the skin and keep it looking younger, but also reduce stress and help balance and remineralize the body in a natural and pleasant manner. All Gabriel cosmetics are made from 100% natural ingredients, no synthetic chemicals or animal by-products are utilized and no animal testing is ever done. These environmentally safe products contain the highest percentage of natural ingredients and come in a line of Gabriel Color cosmetics, Gabriel Skin care, Zuzu Luxe European Spa quality products, and even a Clean Kids line of shampoos and soaps to keep the kiddies chemical and additive free! The entire line is all natural, lead free, infused with essential oils and first press botanicals for the ultimate purity.

I began my courtship with Gabriel by trying out the Gabriel Color Mahogany Lip Liner. Priced at just $11 and available in seven sophisticated colors it was the perfect test subject to turn my drab lips into Patsy perfection! The liner goes on smoothly and leaves a great matte finish behind. The liner is soft but not so soft that the tip breaks off easily. I HATE that…sharpen your pencil then break it again….UG! Where’s my Bolly cocktail sweetie! According to the website these liners are “super smooth pencils enriched with natural plant waxes and oils guarantee a precise, clean finish and correct shape without pulling or smudging. Formulated to prevent lip color from fading and feathering.” The colors are rich and elegant and blend well with a variety of lipstick or lip gloss colors. I would like to see them add a few more “glam” colors to the lineup but as a basic all natural line I’m tickled with it. I wore the liner through two cups of tea, more than a few snacks, and plenty of huge laughs thanks to Patsy and Edina. Four hours and still ready for the red carpet. Lacroix sweetie….Lacroix!

Check out the website below. I love the fact that they fully divulge their ingredients lists and are committed to vegan and cruelty free products. I’ll be checking back to the line from time to time as necessity warrants, but until then I’ve got drinks to catch up on and a stack of Vogue’s to devour. Fabulous dahling…ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! GLAM ON!

Gabriel Cosmetics Buy It Here!

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SharonD I am a person who has always put my money in facial products that are suppose to do something, erase lines, brighten, lift or whatever. I ignored the toner or bought a cheaper brand as I figured it was really not the important part of a beauty routine. Sometimes I felt ordinary witch hazel could do the job. In the last couple years I have been buying the better toners and still did not notice any great improvement.

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Goddess Granny here with a special edition of Fragrant Fridays!

To my way of thinking,the sense of smell is probably the one I enjoy the most! Yes,the others have their strong points but when I sit and think about how a moment changes my life,why someone won’t leave my thoughts, or the fact that in my family, food is love, I am constantly reminded how how something or someone smells and it makes me stand up and notice!

I tend to categorize smells too…I know,there’s a bit of freak in me too although it does wear red lipstick…men that are hot, women who are not,rooms that are right, and the electricity of preparation for one of “those” moments in life: I wore “White Shoulders” perfume to my first prom and “Miss Dior” when I married. My grandma smelled of “Arpege” and my Dad of whiskey and sunshine…they are gone now but I have their scent with me always to remember!

I am a perfume/scentaholic of the first degree! I love products,makeup,and all that stuff but if you asked me what I enjoy MOST about being a girl,I’d tell you perfume and high heels without batting a false eyelash!

I wore “Angel” for 15 years:I was in Hong Kong when it launched, that was in the day of the supermodel and glam-hype. There was a BIG fuss made at the Thierry Mugler store. I was given a large crystal bottle of the beautiful blue scent as a gift. It became “me” everyone knew me when I entered a room because of the luscious scent! I love it still but a couple of years ago,my husband actually whined he could “no longer smell it on me” I couldn’t smell it either so I shed my skin yet again and stopped wearing it.I have since then been dabbling in the esoteric, the cult, the funky, the indy, and the unusual scents out there with no eartly intension of ever allowing one scent to define me again. Life is simply too short,LOL!

I received a beautiful square-red box in my package from Meg today: it was carefully wrapped in tissue but I just knew it was something amazing by the scent...OMG…even on a cold,dreary-day it smelled of ripe fruits, seductive flowers, and that rare “thing” that happens when you are warm and totally satisfied…catching my breath here!

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Gigi here with “Must-Do’s” for a Dazzling and Dream-Filled New Year!

Since Miss Meg, the reviewers, and readers of this site have been an immense inspiration and Godsend to me in a painful year, allow me to reciprocate with the beauty tips below. These are resolutions you can keep and they’re even better than Drugstore Deals–most are free! May 2009 be wonderful for you, a year replete with great people, events, and blessings!

Visit Meg’s Makeup Daily. Meg is the epitome of grace under pressure as she knocks herself out to serve others. Here you’ll continue to find content that is fresh, fabulous, and hilarious. Fall in love with Meg herself and study her insightful musings. Questions? E-mail us, as we love you! Warning: The site is highly addictive. Try not to ignore the rest of your life while you are glued to the screen, learning and laughing.

Smile. A “killer” smile can transform a woman from Miss Gulch to Cindy Crawford. Despite problems, fake it. Psychological research shows that moving your facial muscles upward will actually improve your mood. People are drawn to smiles.

Be Confident. Okay, so your knees are buckling and palms are sweating. Time to play “pretend” again. Think positively, hold your head high, and look like you can handle anything, as you can. The most alluring women aren’t generally those with the best features and figures-they’re those who feel good about themselves. It’s a natural aphrodisiac.

OD on Chocolate. As you’re probably aware, the ingredients induce a sense of well-being similar to romance. Now you have a true excuse for going crazy. If caught eating a stash of candy, say, “Gigi made me to do this.” No need to hide wrappers any longer!

Make Less of Stress. Stress detracts from beauty as few things do. Listen to classical music. Blast the stereo and dance through your home to disco tunes. Play video games. Several years ago I was furious with someone and served veal to my family the next day. Why was it the most tender meat they ever had? I pounded it for an hour!

Other fun ideas: When someone tells you to have a nice day, say, “Sorry, can’t do it–I have other plans.” Submit your income tax in Roman Numerals and write illegibly. Bill your physician for the time you spend waiting to be seen. Write a short story out of the letters in alphabet soup. Pay utility bills in pennies. Create your own nonsense language and place an order at a fast-food drive-through window. Be nice to cruel people and watch as they become confused. Better yet? Look at them through a fork and pretend that they’re in jail!

Take Your Vitamins! Your mother was right (mothers are always right!). The RDA’s suggested dosage helps you survive but doesn’t promote optimal health or beauty. Mariana reminded us that Omega Oils are full of with nutrients for glowing skin. Vitamin C is a multi-tasking wonder–it’s a homeopathic antihistamine, repairs tissue, and works to even skin tone and leave you luminous. It’s hard to overdo this–any excess is naturally excreted. Weak hair and peeling nails? Attack the problems with a potent B-Complex formula. B Vitamins are essential for the nervous system and need to be replenished every eight hours. If you are running low, these will actually be drawn from hair, nails, and skin.

Become Friends with Water. Cold water can “jumpstart” your metabolism and help you to lose weight. Toxins will be flushed from your system and skin cells plumped to keep you gorgeous. Your face and body will thank you.

Shun the Sun. That doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors, but seek products with SPF protection. Clothing offers only low SPF protection. Leather is great for clothing and accessories–not skin! GLAM ON INTO 2009!

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Jeanasina here! Body Beautiful Wednesday gets busy with Christmas Magic and Urban Decay’s Marshmallow Sweet Body Powder! Oh ladies, welcome to a total smile inducing experience at the home of Jeanasina! Urban Decay’s Marshmallow Sweet Body Powder is sooooo bewitching, enticing, delightful, special and absolutely awesome! This little box of magic has proved to be one of my favorite products to review
so far!

The powder comes in a sweet little white box with a white tassel on the top! When you open the box there is a indented plastic section on top of the powder where you rest one completely adorable, square leopard powder puff which is even more off the charts in the cute department as the puff is topped with a little black ribbon which you can hold on to when using the puff!

NOW. For the fun part…oh ladies…inside the box, is this ultra whimsical almost fairy like silvery white dust power - the sparkles are infinitely teeny so it’s just magical and when you glide it over your skin it leaves magic traces which stay and stay and STAY on your skin until you wash it off and even then, ladies…we are talking lasting magical power! Now, have I mentioned the fragrance? Oh….it’s like being inside the very middle of a marshmallow - it’s heavenly and you just want to cram that sweet little powder puff all the way up your nostril because you will just adore the smell! This stuff makes me smile!
The Urban Decay Marshmallow powder is fun incorporated for SO many reasons! You can add sparkle over the holidays or whenever you are feeling extra enchanting over your makeup- on your chest when wearing a low cut dress - glide is across the top of your foot when you wear those strappy sexy shoes of yours for double take feet! Imagine lying provocatively in a situation where your significant other looks you in the eye and then dips the leopard puff in the enticing powder and then begins to slide that puff up the inside of your thigh…hypothetically of course. In my mind you would both love this! LOL!

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Sweetassgal here! to bring you the best of all things natural and organic by way of Green Chi Tuesdays!

‘Tis the Season for lists I guess as I had been planning on doing a year end recap of reviews as well. Often times we review but never get back to finding out what worked long term and what didn’t…or if we had a change of heart about the product. The following represent my most passionate re-reviews for 2008. So check them out, find out where they really landed on the beauty radar, and have a GLAM filled New Years everyone!

Juara Rice Facial Cleanser - This is still top dog with me. The amazing scent, the softness of my skin, the reduction in breakouts…all around a winner along with everything from their line including the Red Sandalwood Face Mask for spot reduction overnight. Hands down my favorite discovery of 2008.

Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Touch Stick - Works amazingly well and never lets me down. It works so well I find myself giving my little bottle away every time someone complains about break outs just so I can share the love!

Burt’s Bees Royal Jelly Eye Cream - Hasn’t let me down yet and is a wonderful find for those who want moisturizing around the eyes that isn’t greasy and helps reduce under eye puffiness. LOVE IT for the mornings when a good nights sleep didn’t exactly leave me looking “bright eyed” and fresh.

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Kate here! Get it while it’s hot! Saturdays at Sephora!

Say good-bye to 2008!!! I can’t believe its the end of the year. I just can’t! 2008 went by just way too fast. I know that I really did accomplish a lot this year…I rang the new year in in Paris with one of my best friends, I graduated from college, saw two good friends get married, got into and started grad school, and fell in love with about 50 new cosmetic products all at the same time! And I still didn’t feel like it was enough—the accomplisments were plenty, but there’s always room in the train case for more product. (Or in my case, the train case, two 8x8 plastic crates, a mini three-drawer plastic thing, and a couple of vanity drawers….)

In case you haven’t gotten your fix yet either there’s some great markdowns in store and at Sephora.com to be aware of–especially if there were special sets or palettes you had your eye on. Many are $10 or $20 or more off the original price. Stock up!

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Meg here! I hope you all had a gorgeous Christmas! Now I’m jumping into a serious economic issue. With the stores slashing prices, jobs being cut and entering a dire financial crisis, I ask you this…Are you experiencing “THE LIPSTICK EFFECT?”

This term is being bantered around in the media. What is it? Otherwise known as the” Leading Lipstick Indicator": During times of economic uncertainty, women load up on affordable luxuries as a substitute for more expensive items like shoes and jewelry. It’s a term by Leonard Lauder, Chairman of Estee Lauder, who saw lipstick sales sky rocket after September 11th.

He didn’t just see sales rise, lipstick sales doubled! That’s a lot of pucker potion!

Why are we doing this? Are we suddenly feeling the compulsion to try every new shade? Well, maybe, but that’s not what the experts are saying. When the crunch of hard economic times stress us out we’re still craving some retail therapy. We just can’t do it via the $900 Jimmy Choo stiletto. There’s no better pick me up then feeling pretty and for $9 we can grab it in a shiny new lipstick without the guilt.

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Meg here! I have to admit my Christmas Eve has left a lot to be desired. Ex-husband wanted to go away for the holidays, he lives in a house that is up in the hills and rather secluded. We have three older dogs, it’s kind of like dog nursing home at this point. There’s a deaf one, one that has bad arthritis and then the cataract queen. I could never kennel them, I never have and now they’re old and would probably have coronary heart failure from the shock of being in a cage. I agreed to come stay at the lonely house (which is so cold for some reason) while he is out of town. Then I get sick. So now I’m alone, sick and hanging out with my geriatric dogs (who I love- but it’s Christmas Eve!) I was having a pity party for my self and then..Something happened that made me feel like I was starring in its A Wonderful Life! Clarence got nothing on you women!

Gigi sent me the email below.

I was stunned. I started to cry. I am so grateful and so shocked, I let out an OMG, so loud I almost gave the 3 geriatric dogs heart attacks. Thanks so much. I love you and really appreciate what you wrote. I’m feeling better already!

Have THE BEST HOLIDAYS EVER! You ladies all rock my world!

Off to have a piece of humble pie! Unreal!
Love,
Meg

Gigi here–Bah humbug to cosmetics today! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah to All! Did I actually just dismiss cosmetics? Too much eggnog for me . . .

I am merely a member of what one reviewer cleverly termed the “Ya-Ya Sisterhood of the Traveling Megettes” (also known as reviewers at Meg’s Makeup along with a reader, a gem who used to “lurk” before she reared her lovely head and pen!). We wanted to collectively extend our Christmas and Hanukah wishes to you, Miss Meg, and to the wonderful, incredible readers of this site who make us want to do our best! So here we go, in alphabetical order . . .

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Twas the Night before Christmas Poem By Body Beautiful’s Jeanasina!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Jeanasina’s house
Not a skin product was stirring, not even the zia body firming treatment which had spilled unto my blouse.
The Borghese active mud mask was hanging on my face with care,
In hopes that acres of firm skin soon would be there.

The Bisou Nail Rescue was nestled all snug in on my toes

While Philosophy’s Hope is not Enough attempted to ease my woes.

And Jeanasina’s Harley man in his biker ‘kerchief, and me in my flattering shower cap,
Had just covered each other’s chapped knees with Burt’s Bees and old burlap.

When over on the dresser there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my application of Borba elastic fiber night repair emulsion cream to see what was the matter.

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Sweetassgal here, to bring you the best of all things natural and organic by way of Green Chi Tuesdays!

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Sorry Mr. Shakespeare…unfortunately in todays world a catchy name, along with name branding and target marketed packaging tend to go a long way! That’s why I always find it remarkable when something with a name like Bag Balm packaged in a funky green can with a picture of cow udders emblazoned on the side seems to have such great staying power. Found in nearly every drugstore in the country, this gooey salve covers everything from a minor cut to major dry skin damage repair. And how do I know this you may ask? Well…if you’ve ever seen the way the father in “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding” uses Windex, then you’ll have some inkling of how my family has revered Bag Balm for decades.

At any crisis moment in my childhood I could depend on my Aunt Pammie to march me and my accident prone cousin Josh straight to the bathroom for a quick application of Bag Balm to ease our pain and suffering. Scraped knees, sun burnt shoulders from riding our bikes around all day with no sunscreen, no matter what the ailment out came the can and on came the goop! As the years went by I got used to the medicinal smell and began to notice the many other benefits the little wonder can with simple ingredients brought. Just a little goes a long way to cure severe chapped lips overnight. Heat rashes, chaffing, severe dry skin, cuts and scrapes, even use to seal new tattoos…anything that may scab. Bag Balm’s antiseptic qualities help heal quickly while minimizing scab size and scarring. It’s even known to be the get all end all cure of impossible diaper rash and end dry scaly patches on your elbows forever. Still, at the end of the day I’d have to say my favorite use is simply to coat my feet with a thin layer (that’s all you need), put on my warmest, woolliest socks and go to bed. Wake up in the morning and even the roughest, dry heels are soft and ready to exfoliate. Any dry skin just rubs right off. This works especially well after a day walking barefoot at the beach. Dry sand and sea water can do a number on your tootsies and Bag Balm is always the solution.

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Katie here, I am so mad at myself for promising you all renewed accountability at the beginning of the month and then just falling RIGHT off the bandwagon again the next week! But seriously, after weddings and holiday activities it’s pretty much settled down now. At least Christmas doesn’t fall on a Saturday this year or I would seriously need some help! But mostly, I just want to recap my favorite discoveries of the year - to remind you all to get to trying!

Back in July, I reviewed the Dior Hydraction Eye Cream - and it is still going strong as a daily staple in my makeup wardrobe! SPF 20! Powerful hydrators! And I love the Hyrdraction Tinted Moisturizers too! Check them out ASAP!

July really was a good month for me: thanks to the lovely Jennifer at Clinique - I discovered the wonder of, Clinique All-About-Eyes concealer. I think it probably could cover tattoos if you wanted it too. It’s that powerful.

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Sharond here! I am honored to be the new reviewer for Xplore the Xotic. We all know that something from another part of the world is exotic, however exotic can be intriguingly unusual or different; excitingly strange. I hope to introduce you to xotic items that perhaps you had not heard of.

A few years ago, my husband and I took a dream vacation and cruised from Miami across the Atlantic and then continued on for another 12 days to see the Baltic. One of the things I love about cruising is the spa. They usually are more expensive than their land based counterparts; however there is nothing that can compare to a great massage while gazing out the window watching the waves. Elemis, which have flagship spas in London, Miami and Hong Kong, were the proprietors of the spa on this ship. In the United States you can buy Elemis products on line from timetospa.com. Signing up for their mailing list can get a savings of 10%, sometimes more, and occasionally they will throw in free shipping. The best bargain is their gift packs. Along with orders, you can select from several samples to try. Packages come within a week, well packed and in good condition.

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Gigi here! here, with Dirt-Cheap Drugstore Delights for the Financially Drained . . .

Losing your merry spirit after Christmas shopping? I hope the following help you to glam on for holiday festivities and are useful to fill stockings on a tight budget.

Pond’s Clean Sweeps Towlelettes have been highly rated and are new and improved! These moist cloths remove makeup with no residue or oil, even the most stubborn products. They come in other formulas along with the classic. The Micro Dermabrasion sheets cool and refresh with ingredients like green tea, aloe, and cucumber as they tenderly exfoliate. The Age-Defying formula employs alpha hydroxy, retinol, and Vitamin C to nurture. And all this from a towelette? What else do you want? Hint: Pond’s Cold Cream is not a thing of the past, but a “must-have.” Lipids bond to remove oil for consummate purification, but follow with another cleanser.

Gloves found at drugstores come in a variety of forms (cotton, cotton/polyester blends, etc.), and no one touches mine but me! Festive, vibrant nail polish is perfect for the season, but not if your hands or nails look battered by the cold or dry heart. I’ll share my beauty secret for winter-whipped skin. Shhh . . . don’t tell anyone. I layer moisturizers, beginning with cuticle crème and then a variety of hand emollients, finishing with a silicone-based one or Vaseline itself to seal in hydration. Whip off in the morning and watch water bead from your skin. Be forewarned: gloves are not conducive to romance but are worth it at times.

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Kate here! Buy this product! Ok ok…I guess I need to take a step back. It’s Kate here, and I would like to be the first to welcome myself back to the wonderful and magical world that is megsmakeup! I am so sorry that I had to disappear for a bit. I am growing up and learning that the world is often a lot harder and sadder than it seems when you are young, and I found I needed to take some time for myself and my family to find my ability to laugh at it all again. But now I am back, ready to mock my 7th grade blue lipstick, first date waxing rash, black neck hair from a sloppy dye job and other such beauty mishaps with the only ladies who will understand, my fellow megettes!

So to start things off right, I have decided to review something I have wanted to since I first tried it, Shu Uemera’s Art of Hair Moisture Velvet Shampoo. So to jump back in where I started…Buy This Product! I know it sometimes seems like a lot of the products we review here get excellent reviews (or maybe we just have divine choice in what we choose to talk about) but I cannot give this shampoo higher marks. When my hairdresser first used this on my hair, she was using it after painting straight bleach on my scalp and leaving it on for 45 minutes. She stopped washing me and said, “feel your hair,” and I did. I would have fallen down if I were not securely stabilized in the death trap neck brace that is a shampoo bowl (seriously people…can we find some way to make those more comfortable…anything will do really). My hair felt softer and silkier and more luxurious than it had ever felt in its entire life, including after countless expensive deep conditioning treatments. And this was from only a shampoo. I immediately bought it of course, and I can say that it only gets better in time.

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