Bremenn Research Labs Upper Eyelid Lifter
Posted on | March 8, 2010 | No Comments
Hello beauties!
Unlike some of you, I am of an age where certain body parts aren’t where they used to be, and my upper eyelids are one of those parts. I don’t really remember it being an insidious slow type of thing. It seems that I woke up one morning, and my eyelids were flying at half mast. While some people manage to pull of the hooded eye look splendidly, I am not one of them.
I’ve considered surgery, and if my bank account were willing, I’d have it done in a heartbeat. I looked into seeing if my insurance would cover blepharoplasty, and it would, if my eyes were more droopy than they are right now. So I’m stuck in the peculiar situation of hoping that they get worse so that I can get them fixed. In the meantime, I walk around looking like a basset hound.
Then not long ago, I got a mailer from Sephora. One of the featured new releases was Bremenn Research Labs Upper Eyelid Lifter, and it immediately caught my attention. According to the product description, this was just what I’d been looking for.
This specialized formula was created specifically to address deflated, drooping lids for a more wide-awake look. Ordinary eye creams designed to counter under-eye puffiness don’t fit the bill when it comes to supporting sagging eyelids—choose this targeted solution for a serious boost, exactly where you need it.
So I pulled out my trusty credit card, forked over the $59, and waited anxiously for it to get here.
It arrived lightening-quick, and when I was opening the box, I got that little excited, butterflies-in-the-tummy feel that you may be familiar with if you love online shopping as much as I do. 
With the caveat that I am not a chemist, let’s start out by taking a quick look at the Sephora glossary, and at other resources from the Web to look up the ingredients, and see what they are supposed to do.
Water
Isododecane – Enhances spreadability, and has a weightless feel on skin. It’s a hydrocarbon and prevents water from evaporating on the skin.
Cyclopenatasiloxane – A silicone solvent emollient (something that softens). It enhances spreadability, and can act as a temporary plumper for lines and wrinkles.
Yeast Extract (Faex) – A source of B vitamins, purported to stimulate and activate cell metabolism
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter – Conditions and moisturizes as well as adds viscosity to product
Cetyl Alcohol – A solid fatty alcohol used as an emollient and emulsion stabilizer that gives skin a velvety feel
Silica – The spherical type of it improves spreadability and product smoothness.
Cetearyl Methicone – Skin conditioning agent that forms a barrier to slow loss of water
Glycerin – Humectant that attracts water to the skin
Dimethicone – A silicone polymer, it forms a protective barrier on the skin
PEG 100 Stearate – Can be used as an emollient, an emulsifier and a moisturizer
Glyceryl Stearate – Emulsifier that softens and soothes
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter – Slows the loss of water from the skin by forming a barrier on the skin’s surface
Tridecyl Salicylate – Beta Hydroxy Acid with multiple uses in cosmetics and skin care products
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 – Increases elasticity, firmness, and tone
Palmitoyl Oligopeptide – Aid in skin repair and renewal; work as bonds between amino acids
Phenylethyl Resorcinol – Antioxidant that brightens and lightens pigmentation
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract – Acts as a lubricant to give soft and smooth appearance
Secale Cereale (Rye) Seed Extract – An emollient
Calcium Hydroxymethionine – I can’t really find out much about this. I believe the gist of it would be that it promotes cell turnover, and it works as a protective barrier. However, keep the above caveat about me not being a chemist in mind.
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein – Provides a smoothing effect for wrinkles. Also increases the skin’s ability to retain moisture
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil -An emollient with antioxidant properties
3-Aminopropane sulfonic Acid – A surfactant
Carbomer – Used to control consistency and flow
Xanthan Gum – Various uses…improved texture, improves shelf life, aids in stabilization, skin hydrating, used to prepare water based gels
Butylene Glycol – Used as a solvent and as a viscosity decreasing agent
Pentylene Glycol – Humectant with moisture-binding and antimicrobial properties
Phenoxyethanol – Bactericide
Polysorbate 60 – Emulsifying agent
Ethylhexylglycerin – Vegetable based preservative used as an alternative to parabens
Polysorbate 20 – Various uses…emulsifier, fragrance ingredient, surfactant
Hydroxyethyl cellulose – Thickening agent
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil – Slows moisture loss
Triethanolamine – pH balancer
That’s a lot of ingredients, and some of them very good for moisturizing. But is the combination of them enough to act like a jack and prop up my drooping eye lids? I’ve not used it long enough to be able to give you a fair assessment, but I will be reporting back on the results.
Until then, remember to Celebrate Beautiful You!
Tags: anti aging > Bremenn Research Labs Upper Eyelid Lifter > drooping eyelids > eyes > sagging eye lids > skin care
Sephora OPI Because I Said So Swatches
Posted on | January 20, 2010 | No Comments
Hello beauties!
The last time I made an order from Sephora, I decided that it was time to branch out a little from drugstore brands of nail polish, and give OPI a try. I’d read a good deal of positive things about the brand on the web, and it ended up living up to it’s rep.
While I seriously toyed with getting Leaf Him at the Altar (metallic vine green), I kind of wimped out and played it safe in the shade selection. I gravitate toward burgundies, and I stayed true to that by going with Because I Said So (metallic burgundy).
You’ll have to overlook the sloppiness around the edges; I am far from being a nail pro. I really liked the shade, it has a depth to it, but not so deep that the metallic effect gets lost. Though I probably could have gotten by with one thick coat, I went with two medium ones. I’m not the most patient person in the world when it comes to letting polish air dry, but this had a reasonable dry time. The coverage was good too, and it went on smoothly.
The day that I applied this, I didn’t have time to put a top coat on, and by Day 3, when I remembered, I decided it was too late. By Day 4, I had chipping, so the next time I use it, I’ll try doing the entire base and top coat routine to see how it lasts.
Pros: Great color depth and saturation. The applicator brush was on the long and slender side, and I liked that.
Cons: I had a little sticker shock, but compared to drugstore brands, $9 a bottle isn’t bad. It was enough to push me over the $50 free shipping mark, and I am always in favor of that. I would have liked to have seen it last a couple more days without chipping. Granted, I did not top coat it. But I wear gloves to do the dishes, so other than showering, it wasn’t exposed to any harsh treatment.
Bottom Line: I would buy this shade again, and will be trying some of the other shades.
Tags: Because I Said So > Nail Color > Nail Lacquer > Nail Polish > OPI > Sephora
A Must Visit Site — OperationBeautiful.com
Posted on | January 13, 2010 | No Comments
Good morning, beauties!
I’ve got a few reviews that I’ll be posting over the next few days, and I am also soon to put up a YouTube video. But this morning, I am inspired to share a special site with you, and to also share my thoughts about it.
It was actually my oldest son that turned me on to the link. It was during the holidays, I was swamped, so I glanced through it, mentally nodded, and saved the email, knowing that I would want to re-read it at a later date. That date was today, and the site is too good to keep to myself.
Operation Beautiful, conceived by Caitlin is highly, highly recommended.
The very notion of it brings a smile to my face. Part of that stems from the fact of the competitive friction that tends to exist between women. We can be frightfully catty to each other, and it starts at a very young age. So the concept of women reaching out to anonymously give other women a boost is one that warms my heart.
My understanding is that the mission is to end what Caitlin calls “fat talk”. No matter our size, I think it is safe to say that most of us have had that conversation with ourselves. She writes very eloquently and passionately about it here. And while the site is geared toward that type of dialog…whether it be internal or directed outwardly at another woman…the more I read it, the more I was struck by all the other things the concept can apply to.
Now, before you read on, understand this…I am not advocating that we all abandon makeup and let our arm pit hair grow to our knees. Unless that sort of thing trips your trigger, of course. What I am saying is that we can embrace things for the right reason, or for a reason that is harmful to us. Let’s take two imaginary young ladies as an example.
First we have Dawn. While you’d never know it by looking at her polished appearance, Dawn has a demonic inner dialog that gnaws at the core of her self esteem. She has no self love, or acceptance of who she is. Also, being female in America, she is bombarded by societal “norms” on what she “should” be. Dawn devours fashion and beauty magazines, chasing each new release and collection, buying things she can’t afford, in an effort to make her feel better about herself. An effort that is destined to fail.
Next up is Lynn. Like Dawn, Lynn is an attractive college age girl. She also loves fashion and beauty. But it’s what is inside them that makes the difference. Lynn loves herself, and knows that who she is isn’t defined by what brand of eyeshadow she wears, or what purse she carries. Sure, she enjoys splurging and pampering herself. She loves experimenting with color and style. Lynn is comfortable within her own skin, and is aware of the messages that permeate our culture.
Do you see the difference? Dawn is chasing rainbows. There will never be a mascara formulated or a pair of boots designed that is going to fill the hole inside her.
So while Operation Beautiful is geared toward ending fat talk, I think that the concept applies more broadly. Try this experiment…try to pay close attention to your thoughts and see how many times a day that you tell yourself that you are too (fill in the blank) or not (fill in the blank) enough. In the course of your day, how often do you find yourself engaging in degrading yourself?
Now think of all the days of your life, and think of all the mental energy you have expended telling yourself that you don’t measure up. Think of the effect all that talk…day after day, year after year…has had on you.
Now look outside yourself and multiply that same mental energy and same negative sense of self times nearly every woman you know. Imagine what could have been accomplished if that same mental energy had gone toward making a positive change in the world. Imagine how many lives would be totally different, if the belief that we were somehow lacking was not so deeply ingrained.
Pretty staggering, isn’t it?
So enjoy your favorite lip gloss, treat yourself to that must-have new perfume, and snap up those to-die-for flats that just got marked down 30%. But do it from a place of power. Do it by choice because they bring you pleasure, and with full knowledge that you don’t *need* those things to be enough.
You are enough just as you are.
You are beautiful.
Grab a pad of post its and let another woman know that she is beautiful too.
Tags: beauty > operation beautiful > self esteem > self image > society > women helping women
More Clarins Goodies!
Posted on | January 12, 2010 | No Comments
The good folks at Clarins must have their eye on my poor, battered, post-holiday credit card. I intended to get on here earlier today and post this, but life got in the way. So without further ado, consider this your heads up that today only, you can get a 4 piece gift and free shipping with any $75 order. Just use code ONEDAY50 at checkout.
Happy Shopping!
Tags: bargains > Beauty Bargins > Clarins > free stuff > GWP > NARS Promo Code > One Day Only Sale
Benefit’s Annual Sale-Abration Starts Today
Posted on | January 7, 2010 | No Comments
Today kicks off the start of Benefit’s yearly Sale-Abration, which equals a hefty savings of up to 70% on select products. I took a quick look, and Lust Dusters are going to be on the top of my shopping list. They normally are $18, but at the sale price of $4.50, I see a few of them going into my cart, starting with Punk Royalty. Isn’t this a beautiful shade?
The Creaseless Cream Eyeshadows/Liners have a great price too. Normally $19, they are going for $9.50 during the sale. Happy Shopping!
Tags: Annual Sales > bargains > Beauty Bargins > Benefit > Hot Deals > Offers > sales
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