Best compliment I’ve ever received from a friend - “Did you get your lips done?” No I didn’t - but thanks for saying that!! It isn’t as dramatic as if you went and got injections, but Fusion Beauty LipFusion XL really does work. It tingles a bit (even though the chick at the counter told me it wouldn’t) and my husband really didn’t notice anything… but a friend did. And women are much more observant than men. So I will take the slight adjustment the product made and be happy about it. This is one of those things that I use everyday.

What it is formulated to do:

LipFusion XL is a non-injectable lip volumizing therapy that combines two times the pure active collagen of LipFusion’s original plumpers with hyaluronic acid (HA), in one high-performance topical nighttime treatment. It transforms the unique micro-injected collagen technology into the most advanced plumping power found in a lip treatment.

Designed to work in synergy with the body’s natural water, lips get optimal enhancement from two intense naturally-occurring fillers in one powerful, pout-perfecting formulation: Patented, dehydrated, marine collagen-filling spheres™ penetrate skin’s surface on contact, then seek out body’s natural water, and rehydrate to instantly plump and smooth lips.

Cost: $50 (ouch)

Click to purchase Fusion Beauty LipFusion XL.

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Right before my wedding I decided I needed something stronger than waterproof mascara to keep me safe from running makeup. So of course, I headed over to Sephora to see if they had anything that would do the trick. The sales person brought me over to the counter to show me a product called She-Laq, by Benefit Cosmetics. It comes in a little blue vial, like a witch’s potion. In fact, there’s actually a picture of a psychic on the bottle…that’s because She-Laq really is magic!

You just paint it on over your makeup. It’s invisible, not shiny at all. You can use it on eyes, lips, cheeks, brows, lashes, anywhere! Wherever you put it on, it gives your makeup extra hold.

Let me just say, it WORKS. I bawled my eyes out on my wedding day and didn’t have a smudge of makeup out of place. In fact, I went to bed on my wedding night without washing off my makeup because I was so exhausted and the next morning when I woke up, my makeup was still perfect. I definitely don’t recommend going without washing your face or anything like that, but I’m just saying…that’s how good this stuff is!

Cost: $28
Click here to purchase Benefit Cosmetics She Laq.

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Let me just admit that back in the day I was a sun worshiper! I shudder just to think about the damage I did to my skin in my early twenties. But I’ve since wizened up and started using sunscreen on a daily basis. When I did decide that I was going to protect my skin every day it was SO hard to find a sunblock that I like.

I’m demanding when it comes to my sunscreen. I live in Chile. There’s a hole in the ozone layer right above us here making the sun ridiculously strong. Therefore my sunscreen needed to be at least SPF 30. It couldn’t be greasy since I’d be wearing it every day, and I was hoping that it wouldn’t smell like a coconut either since I don’t think it’s too professional going in to work smelling like the beach. I searched and searched until I finally found the perfect sunscreen: Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock.

I am OBSESSED with this product. I wear it every day. It’s SPF 45 so it protects my skin, but the formula is light enough that is absorbs easily and doesn’t make me look shiny and greasy or clog my pores. The Age Shield is a special formula that shields skin “6 layers deep,” and protects from both UVA and UVB rays so I feel like I really have found the best protection that I can possibly get.

Everyone should be wearing some kind of sun protection on a daily basis. If you’re looking for a good one, I can’t recommend Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock enough!

Cost: $17.15 for a two pack.

Click to purchase Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock with Helioplex, SPF 45, 4-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 2).

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Okay so here’s the deal, most of us WANT to look amazing and have flawless skin, but we don’t have the high dollar budget to do so. Don’t worry because I found an amazing moisturizer and it’s about $17.50 and trust me this 2.0 oz jar will last you awhile.

For me my biggest concern during the winter is keeping my face moisturized without that yucky greasy feeling. So I searched long and hard and spent way too much money on a slew of different things until someone said, “Hey try Kiehl’s“. So try I did and boy did I like it. Let me break it down with a nice simple Pro’s and Con’s list…

Pro’s:

1. It’s super affordable and the bestest part is when you buy it they give you three free samples of whatever your little heart desires. YEAH, free stuff!

2. You don’t have to use a lot therefor it last much longer.

3. It works. Hands down this is a really great formula that moisturizes.

4. No scent! Yeah you heard me, no icky, yucky, chemically scent.

Con’s:

1. No SPF. So you will have to either A. Get an SPF, or B. Use a daytime moisturizer and only use it at night, or when you need something stronger. (I also consider this a pro though because you can use it in the daytime and night. All you have to do is get a separate spf.)

2. When you first put it on it can feel a little greasy, but the feeling goes away in a minute. There’s a little trick I do which is warm it in my hands before putting it on and you have a virtually feel great product.

3. No scent. Yes I know I listed under Pro, but some of you might like a scented moisturizer.

So to end this little love fest, if you want an affordable product that works and you DON’T have super oily skin then try KIEHL’S “Panthenol Protein Moisturizing Face Cream”.

I uploaded the ingredients list and you can click on the below thumbnail to check out what’s in it.

Cost: $17.50 for 2.0 fl. oz. jar. $25.50 for 4.0 fl. oz.

Click here to purchase Kiehls - Panthenol Protein Moisturizing Face Cream.

UPDATE: Vera uses this moisturizer too.

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I have a confession. I, Virenda, am a Lip Gloss a-holic and have been known to spend way too much money on way too many lip glosses. You know when people do those polls and ask you what you have in your purse and people talk about the clothes they carry and young children? I talk about the 15 lip glosses I have and how you never know which color you need. Sure most of my lip glosses are varying shades of pinks and um...pinks, but whatever. No one’s perfect.

My point being I love lip gloss and I’m deathly afraid of lipstick. I don’t know why so don’t ask. Or ask, but don’t expect a logical answer. My obsession has brought me great knowledge oh young one. I know which gloss is the right gloss and which is too sticky, too gooey, or wears off to quickly. That is why when I found Lancome’s “Color Fever Gloss” I fell IN LOVE. Here’s how it happened:

I was with my friend and her child, along with my three kids and we were in Nordstroms’ to find my friend a gloss at the Lancome counter (she lost hers). Now normally I stick to drugstore glosses, because I enjoy the late night browsing and of course the cost. But there was this lip gloss calling to me. CALLING. TO. ME. And really who am I not to answer the call of lip gloss? I mean stronger woman have failed. So I mosey on over and pick it up and try it on.

OH MY GOD! It’s perfect. The color actually brings out the color of my eyes. Plus, when I blot it off the color is still perfect. No gross gooey feeling, just a smooth application and then nothing. I’ve had this gloss for about 2 months and let me tell you it only gets better. After I apply it I rarely re-apply and no matter the moment it always looks good. Even after I’ve had my coffee and some of the shine has diminished, the color is still fantastic.

FYI, I’m a brunette with fair skin and hazel eyes. I choose the “Noise Maker” color. Please don’t let the dark color fool you it actually goes on as a more purply pink.

Cost:$23.00.

Click here to purchase Lancome’s Fever Gloss.

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