Month: December 2008

Posted in Shopping

Products I Discovered in 2008

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

As we bid adieu to another year, I wanted to share with you some of the little things I discovered over the past year that made my life a little better.  Many of them aren’t new, but I discovered them in 2008.  Frivolous information, I know, but fun nonetheless.  🙂

Earthscience Herbal Tonic Mist – This oil-free moisturizer and toning spray has completely changed my skin.  Just spritz it on after you wash your face and before you moisturize.  It’ll firm and soften your face.  I couldn’t believe just one little spray could make my skin feel so soft all day.  And the ingredients are all natural!

Avalon Organics Lavender Facial Cleansing Gel & Facial Serum – I’ve got combination skin and it’s never happy.  It’s either too dry or too oily.  This stuff is so great because it cleans, it’s all natural, and doesn’t make my face dry.  You’d think that were an easy task, but after years of trying to find a decent cleanser, it’s not.

And my face hates lotions and creams.  Either they don’t moisturize enough or make me breakout.  So I depend on serums and this one is again, all natural, and does the job by making my sensitive skin less red and blotchy.  It totally calms my skin down, moisturizes, and doesn’t make me breakout at all.  I’m a happy camper with this stuff.  🙂

Eucerin Calming Body Wash & Calming Creme – Sensitive skin has been a theme for me this year, unfortunately.  So it’s not enough for me just to find some heavier lotion for my dry skin.  Both these products are great because they’re gentle, affordable, and totally do the job.  And I’ve tried too many of them to mention.

Sue Devitt Whipped Seaweed Foundation – I hate wearing foundation, and again, couldn’t find anything that made my skin look natural and not cakey, without blocking my pores and suffocating my skin.  This stuff has seaweed extracts and other incredible ingredients that actual make your face look and feel better than before.  I’ll never go back to any of the other stuff I’ve tried, again.

Kiehl’s Super Thick Volumizer – Spray this stuff on your roots, blowdry like you would normally, and voila!  And it even has a little bit of hold in it if you want something lighter than a hairspray.  Again, so simple and so great.

Clinique Moisture Surge Refreshing Eye Mask – Got 10 minutes?  Eyes looking dry and tired?  I use this when I’ve been too lazy to use eye cream in a few days or if the skin around my eyes is looking dehydrated.  This stuff is easy to use and it works.

Try anything over the last year that you can’t live without?  Let me know and leave me a comment.  Happy New Year!

Posted in Uncategorized

Holiday Gift Giving That’s Easy & Affordable

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

cheersstemwarehg08The holidays inevitably bring on stress when you think about what to buy for everyone on your list.  And this year, finances are coming into play more than in years past.  So if you’re needing some guidance, here are some tips…

CRATE AND BARREL –

Why?  Because they have so many simple, elegant, practical yet festive gifts that won’t break the bank.  For example, those red martini glasses on the left.  They’re on sale for only $4 a piece!  (Originally, there were only $6 a piece, anyway.)  You can use them for not only cocktails, but to serve desserts in or even tuna tartare!  They’re practical and very pretty.  Get six of them for just $24!  And best of all they’ll pack it and box it up for you for free.  You don’t have to lift a finger. 🙂

SEPHORA –

Value Sets are gift sets that are all boxed up and ready for gift giving.  They’re also priced cheaper than if you were buy all the items separately!  Sephora has a huge selection of these boxed sets at so many different price points.  Because Sephora offers everything from skincare to fragrance to makeup to bath products, that gives both the giver AND the receiver some great options, just in case they want to return what you got them.  Oh, and once again because life is complicated enough, you can get a free gift box or red pouch so you never have to touch the wrapping paper.

ELEPHANT PHARMACY –

This place is so much more than a pharmacy.  Ignore that section of the store and go for the gifts.  They’ve got all natural products, organic options, health and well-being items (organic cosmetics, skincare, bath and body items), fitness stuff (yoga, pilates), and fun stuff for the home (candles, decorative items and home decor that’s very zen).  It’s the perfect place for the health conscious person in your life.

SEE’S CANDIES –

Why more people don’t consider this place an option for housewarming or hostess gifts, I’ll never know.  I’m not a sweets person but See’s Candies are always a good thing.  They’ve got more than just chocolates.  They’ve got boxed lollipops, different candies, and even X’mas boxed sets that are great for babysitters, teachers, or kids.  And they have so many options at different price points.  Some even come pre-wrapped!  Lovely.

COST PLUS WORLD MARKET –

They’ve got so many fun and eclectic food and gift items that you can spend forever in here.  There’s wine, food, even glassware so it’s super easy to put together a gift basket.  And it’s stuff you can’t find anywhere else!  Special, fun, affordable, and it’s a great place to get co-worker or teachers’ gifts.