Arbonne: Sheer Pressed Powder, Step Seven.

For more information on how my Arbonne cosmetics guide got started, please visit the initial post!

So today I am doing the fifth and final post from the "Fresh Faced to All Ready to Go" set of posts.

Remember, all products I show here can be found at my Arbonne website.  (Go to the SHOP ONLINE TAB at the top of the home page to see all of the products for sale--cosmetics are under the Arbonne Cosmetics.)  I am an independent consultant, so while not completely unbiased, I do have a lot of information I can impart to you all about how to use the individual products (or at least how I use them, lol).  I have also started to add links to the Arbonne cosmetics ingredients PDF files, as I think it is very important that you all see what goes into your cosmetics when you purchase from Arbonne. REMINDER FOR APRIL 8, 2011: The free sheer glow highlighter with any $100 plus purchase made at my website promotion ends tonight at 11:59 pm Eastern time!  Don't delay!

Here is a reminder of what the cosmetics guide collage looked like:

Fresh Faced Photo:

This is meant to be the "control" photo so you can see what I started out with...there is NO photo-shopping, etc., I promise.  I would look way better if I used photoshop, trust me.  ;)

To see steps one and two, please visit this post. 

To see steps three and four, please visit this post. 

To see step five, please visit this post. 

To see step six, please visit this post.

Step Seven: 

Every step is super critical to me in getting an "all made up" face, but I will admit to needing the sheer pressed powder the most.  I have pretty oily/combo skin, and even though I don't break out, I do know that if I don't have some sort of powder in my routine, I will be pretty shiny by mid-morning. 

Now if I am at home, just chilling at my computer, I won't even concern myself with any makeup (just all my moisturizers and serums), but when I go out, *even if it is just to the grocery store*, I will put on powder. 

The sheer pressed powder is like any pressed powder made by any other cosmetics company, with two differences.  It has "optilight" technology AND it is a formula that once applied feels as light as air.  I seriously forget I am wearing it, unlike other formulation I have used in the past (and sheer pressed powder has been my best friend ever since high school).  Cake-y is awesome for funfetti, not for me and my nose. 

Optilight I mentioned when I spoke about the Sheer Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15, but in a nutshell, "optilight" means that Arbonne formulated the powder with micro-particles that help take the light that is reflected onto the facial skin and help reflect it back outwards, creating a "glow."  In the photo above you cans see it on my cheekbones and my forehead most clearly.  That is a glow and not shine, and for that I will always be in love with this powder.

I use this cosmetic product SO much I have to make a re-order already and it has only been three months.  LOL.  I think if you just need powder for "normal" or "dry" skin, you will have it for longer.  If you are all "Suzy Shinemeister" like me, you probably should be prepared for how much you will use it.

I am also showing off the eyebrow brush that comes with the ten piece precision brush set.  I spoke about the brush set in this post, if you would like more info on that.  I use this brush at the very end, AFTER the pressed powder, to make sure my eyebrows are in their place.  I do not tweeze or wax my eyebrows, and they are thick and a bit much, but the eyebrow brush helps tame them a tad.  ;)

Sheer Pressed Powder PDF Ingredients List.


FINAL LOOK:

All together, hair brushed, cardigan on, and ready to go.  I hope you all have enjoyed this trip of mine from "Freshed Faced" to "All Ready to Go!" 

Be on the lookout for future Arbonne guides!

You all have a great night and thank you for visiting my blog (if this is your first time here)!

Arbonne: Sheer Glow Highlighter, Step Six.

For more information on how my Arbonne cosmetics guide got started, please visit the initial post!

So today I am doing part four of from "Fresh Faced to All Ready to Go."

Remember, all products I show here can be found at my Arbonne website.  (Go to the SHOP ONLINE TAB at the top of the home page to see all of the products for sale--cosmetics are under the Arbonne Cosmetics.)  I am an independent consultant, so while not completely unbiased, I do have a lot of information I can impart to you all about how to use the individual products (or at least how I use them, lol).  I have also started to add links to the Arbonne cosmetics ingredients PDF files, as I think it is very important that you all see what goes into your cosmetics when you purchase from Arbonne.

Here is a reminder of what the cosmetics guide collage looked like (and it allows you to get a sneak peek of what the last step is...if you roll like that)...

Fresh Faced Photo:

This is meant to be the "control" photo so you can see what I started out with...there is NO photo-shopping, etc., I promise.  I would look way better if I used photoshop, trust me.  ;)

To see steps one and two, please visit this post. 

To see steps three and four, please visit this post. 

To see step five, please visit this post.

Step Six: 

Today I am showing off the item that is currently FREE (until Friday, April 8, 2011) with any $100 plus purchase made over at my website.  It retails for $40, which given a cost per wear analysis, makes it a pretty decent price if you use it every day or nearly every day. 

I find that I use a bottle up over a six month time period, as you don't really need much more than a few dots of highlighter for a nice subtle glow.  It dispenses in a "dot" way, so when you receive it, you will see what I mean. 

The highlighter receives much acclaim from all the women I know who use it.  I think that as we age, we lose a bit of the natural luminosity and glow that we all know we had back when we just didn't care enough to notice (I personally shake my fist at being age 14, with stunning skin, and doing absolutely nothing outside of sunscreen to take care of it, I am now at the age where I can rightly say that "youth is totally wasted on the young," lol).  Anyhow, back on point, after about 25 or 30, with the stresses of lack of sleep, bad air, nights spent worrying about children, jobs, rent/mortgage, bad eating habits, and lack of exercise catch up with our skin.  Sigh.  And the first thing to go is that special something something that makes us look alive...I describe it as my skin looking grey, nice, right???

Anyhow, I will do all of the steps that go into this "all made up" cosmetic routine of mine, and right before the last step (next post in this series), I add just a few dots of this highlighter to very top of my cheekbones, on the outer corner of my eyes, a very small dab on the inner part of my eyes, and lastly a sliver of it on the top of my nose.  It is very subtle, but it is very evident when any light catches where I placed this non-glitter highlighter cream.  As I turn to the light, it gives off a bit of sparkle where the cream was placed.  I know it seems like a small something something, but the days I wear it, I do get the whole "you're glowing!" from folks.  :)

I have also (on my most "grey" days) mixed it in with my tinted moisturizer and then placed the whole concoction on my face.  Those days I feel lifted, knowing that I no longer look grey but rather glowy.  It *is* a bit much to do this every day, but on the days when you need the love the most, I say go for it. 

Other people have come up with ideas on how to use the cream, including on the body, so if you have used it and have an idea for others (and me), let me know! 


Sheer Glow Highlighter PDF Ingredient List.

I hope that this has helped you all learn a bit more about the fifth step towards having an all made up look!  :)

You all have a great night and thank you for visiting my blog (if this is your first time here)!

Arbonne: Eye Shadow and Lip Polish, Step Five.

For more information on how my Arbonne cosmetics guide got started, please visit the initial post!

So today I am doing part three of from "Fresh Faced to All Ready to Go."

Remember, all products I show here can be found at my Arbonne website.  (Go to the SHOP ONLINE TAB at the top of the home page to see all of the products for sale--cosmetics are under the Arbonne Cosmetics.)  I am an independent consultant, so while not completely unbiased, I do have a lot of information I can impart to you all about how to use the individual products (or at least how I use them, lol).  I have also started to add links to the Arbonne cosmetics ingredients PDF files, as I think it is very important that you all see what goes into your cosmetics when you purchase from Arbonne.

Here is a reminder of what the cosmetics guide collage looked like (and it allows you to get a sneak peek of what the next steps are...if you roll like that)...

Fresh Faced Photo:

This is meant to be the "control" photo so you can see what I started out with...there is NO photo-shopping, etc., I promise.  I would look way better if I used photoshop, trust me.  ;)

To see steps one and two, please visit this post. 

To see steps three and four, please visit this post.

Step Five: 

I am not a big eye shadow person, but I do really like how saturated the color is in the eye shadow Arbonne makes.  Again, this eye shadow is going to last far longer than I will be able to use it (I will have to throw it out before it is gone as I try to follow expiration dates closely).  This creamy white color is called vanilla and is just a shade darker and yellower than their snow, which is another color I have and like quite a bit.  In fact, the only reason I ever use eye shadow is to bring the intensity of the eyeliner down a notch, so the line seems less harsh.  So once I have applied the eyeliner, I usually sweep a light shade of eye shadow upon the whole lid, including the eyeliner portion.  I feel like the lighter color also lifts the eye a bit, and coupled with the mascara, helps create for my face a younger appearance.

The lip polish, on the other hand, is my #1 I "must have" on a daily basis bit of color.  Even if the only other cosmetics I use are mascara and makeup primer, the lip polish gives my lips a little "something something" to help me face the day.  The color I use most often is posh, as I like how it is my lip color, just darker and glimmier.  (Is glimmier even a word, lol?)

I know that many a woman is a fan of the lip polish.  It is like lip gloss, but without the sticky/really fast to fade ratio.  I know that my least favorite thing about lip gloss is that it is so pretty initially but then my hair gets stuck to my lips and then it disappears before I even make it to wherever it is where I am trying to impress people.  The lip polish has a low sticky factor and a high staying power, in other words, exactly. the. formula. I HAVE been looking for since I was 14.  (Not even kidding.)

I enjoy mixing the colors, and have had great results with mixing posh and pearl.  :)

Eye Shadow PDF Ingredients List.

Lip Polish PDF Ingredients List.

I hope that this has helped you all learn a bit more about the fifth step towards having an all made up look!  :)

You all have a great night and thank you for visiting my blog (if this is your first time here)!

Arbonne: Cheek Blush, Eyeliner, and Triple Action Mascara, Step Three and Four.

For more information on how my Arbonne cosmetics guide got started, please visit the initial post!

So today I am doing part two of from "Fresh Faced to All Ready to Go."

Remember, all products I show here can be found at my Arbonne website.  (Go to the SHOP ONLINE TAB at the top of the home page to see all of the products for sale--cosmetics are under the Arbonne Cosmetics.)  I am an independent consultant, so while not completely unbiased, I do have a lot of information I can impart to you all about how to use the individual products (or at least how I use them, lol).  I have also started to add links to the Arbonne cosmetics ingredients PDF files, as I think it is very important that you all see what goes into your cosmetics when you purchase from Arbonne.

Here is a reminder of what the cosmetics guide collage looked like (and it allows you to get a sneak peek of what the next steps are...if you roll like that)...

Fresh Faced Photo:

This is meant to be the "control" photo so you can see what I started out with...there is NO photo-shopping, etc., I promise.  I would look way better if I used photoshop, trust me.  ;)

To see steps one and two, please visit this post.

Step Three: 

Looking back at the whole set of photos, I think the MOST dramatic change was made between the photos from the tinted moisturizer (which is step two) and the eye shadow and lip polish (which is step five) photos.  These are the photos you will be seeing in this post.  It really, truly is amazing how much of a difference cheek blush and eyeliner and mascara can make on your face.  I mean I always knew that, but I think seeing the PHYSICAL difference in these photos has been (sorry for the pun) eye-opening.

The third step I take when applying my "all ready to go" look is the cheek blush.  The shade you see here is called Blossom and from what I can see, I believe this may be Arbonne's version of a universal shade (it flatters all skin tones).  I have to be very careful when applying this blush as the ingredients used make for a very saturated blush, and a little goes quite a long way.  I have had this blush for 7 months and it is only 1/4 used.  It will last for a while.  In fact, I may end up having to toss it before I finish using it when the 1-year expiration date comes (always throw cosmetics out on time--yucky bacteria, etc. grow very easily after the expiration).

You will note that I am holding up a brush.  This brush is from the 10 piece precision brush set.  It is under Arbonne cosmetics sets and accessories at my website.  These brushes ARE NOT made from animal hair, so if you are a vegan, vegetarian, or you have a specific reason for not choosing to buy animal products, these brushes are the very high quality version brush set you have been looking for...

I apply the blush to the apples of my cheeks because I have a LONG face, which means that I am vertically longer and horizontally shorter.  This means I must try to increase my width of my face, and the way I have found to "fool" the eye is to apply the blush right next to my nose right on top of the fatty bit of my cheeks.  If you are wider than longer, you are advised to apply your cheek blush closer to your ears, away from the nose, basically the opposite of what I do.

CHEEK BLUSH INGREDIENTS PDF FILE.

Step Four:

After blush, I always do mascara and eyeliner.  I love, love, love the way my eyes look after applying both.  Some days I will just do mascara, but on the days I wear eyeliner, too, I feel so chic.

I read that if you wear mascara your eyes will look wider, which in turn will make you look younger.  Since I am no longer a teenager, I will do whatever. I. need. to. look. younger.  Yes, ma'am.

I first apply the Triple Action Mascara (the one I am holding is the old version, I am nearing having to replace it with the new version).  The mascara only comes in black, but it does make my light colored eyes pop, so I am okay with that.  Having said that, I would love it if Arbonne had a plum and brown version because there are days when I would prefer to have a bit more natural look.  (So, if and when they make different colored mascaras, you will DEFINITELY hear it from me.)

The mascara is NOT waterproof.  The ingredients that go into making waterproof mascara are not on Arbonne's preferred ingredients list (the company does not use many ingredients that other cosmetics companies use because they consider them harmful and toxic).  If you need waterproof mascara, you will not find it through Arbonne until the scientists discover a way of making mascara waterproof without toxic ingredients.

I apply the mascara ONLY to the top eyelashes.  Whenever I have done it on my bottom lashes, it looks fake.  My eyelashes are quite light (almost a light brown), and the contrast is too strong with my coloring.

The eyeliner is the shade olive.  LOVE this color.  It is the right amount of green and brown mixed together, and I really love how my aqua eyes look greener when I wear this shade.

Here is my favorite thing about this eyeliner.  The eyeliner literally goes on like buttah. (Butter, get it, all smooth-like???)  I used to never wear eyeliner because I would have to "warm up" the tip with my fingertips to get it to go on smoothly and it just bugs to have to do that.  Plus other eyeliners would fade really fast.  This particular version is very long-lasting (usually 8 hours or longer).  The eyeliner, along with the lip polish, are my favorites from the Arbonne cosmetics line.

TRIPLE ACTION MASCARA INGREDIENTS PDF FILE.

EYELINER INGREDIENTS PDF FILE.

I hope that this has helped you all learn a bit more about the third and fourth steps towards having an all made up look!  :)

You all have a great night and thank you for visiting my blog (if this is your first time here)!

Arbonne: Makeup Primer and Sheer Finish Tinted Moisturizer, Step One and Two.

Like I mentioned in last night's post, I would be a right ole fool not to do more with Arbonne considering I have folks searching for Arbonne reviews and landing on my site. :)

So today I am doing part one of from "Fresh Faced to All Ready to Go."

Remember, all products I show here can be found at my Arbonne website.  (Go to the SHOP ONLINE TAB at the top of the home page to see all of the products for sale--cosmetics are under the Arbonne Cosmetics.)  I am an independent consultant, so while not completely unbiased, I do have a lot of information I can impart to you all about how to use the individual products (or at least how I use them, lol).  

Here is a reminder of what the cosmetics guide collage looked like (and it allows you to get a sneak peek of what the next steps are...if you roll like that)...

Fresh Faced Photo:

This is meant to be the "control" photo so you can see what I started out with...there is NO photo-shopping, etc., I promise.  I would look way better if I used photoshop, trust me.  ;)

 Step One:

After doing my morning cleansing and moisturizing routine (which will be its own set of posts sometime in the near future--it includes a ton of RE9 Advanced and Revelage products), I like to put on Arbonne's Makeup Primer *before* I put on my tinted moisturizer.  Some ladies prefer to put on the tinted moisturizer first, but it is a preference thing, and if you do end up using a primer and tinted moisturizer in the future, you will land upon which order you prefer.  I tend to have fairly oily skin, so the Makeup Primer helps cut a bit of the slick spots before applying the cosmetics.  I think you can see the difference between the fresh faced photo and the above photo.  This one shows that the makeup primer does what it says it will do, gives an even and smooth base for all application of makeup.  Some of my friends will go without any makeup (!!!) and just wear the primer, they like the look it gives their skin that much!  (I like to at least brush my eyebrows, put on some lip polish, and some mascara, but I also run a fashion blog and take photos of myself on a daily basis, so I am sure some of my vanity plays into that--lol.)

I think the thing I most appreciate about the primer is that it does shrink my pores a bit.  Part of my aging has been enlarged pores, so if I can find something that helps reduce them, then yes, I say!

MAKEUP PRIMER INGREDIENTS PDF FILE.

Step Two:

After the primer, I then apply a SMALL amount of the sheer finish tinted moisturizer in the shade medium.  On the days I use this tinted moisturizer, I do NOT apply a separate moisturizer like the RE9 Restorative Day Creme SPF 20 because that would just be overload.  Contrary to popular opinion, excessive moisturizing is not beneficial to the skin...just use an amount that will properly cover your facial skin and go.  Also, I should point out that even though this tinted moisturizer has an SPF of 15, if you are spending a ton of time in the sun that day, I highly recommend using one of the Before Sun products on top of your moisturizer.  The sun is one of the reasons skin ages more swiftly.  I have been using SPF since middle school and have fewer facial lines than many of my friends who have not.  I may be pretty pale in summer, but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make.  My hands have not fared as well, but in the past five years I have been very conscientious of using hand creams with SPF in them.

So why do I use a small amount (besides the fact that it is unnecessary)?  I have a tendency to be a bit generous with how I pour out skin care, and have often ended up with excess product all over my hands.  Since turning over to Arbonne 100% in the past year and a half, I have taught myself to resist that temptation.  The packaging and ingredients mean that the product is meant to last a while.  For instance, I expect that in the next two months I will have to replace this tinted moisturizer, but I have used it off and on (probably three times a week) for six months.  I would say that with daily (and proper) use, this bottle could last four months, no problem.  The product I use daily is the Revelage Intensive Pro-Brightening Night Serum, and when properly dispensed, I have made a bottle (one ounce) last three months.  (So if I do the math, that is $60 divided by 90 days which equals 67 cents a day, a cost I am willing to pay for what it does for my rosacea.)  The math for the tinted moisturizer is even better, at $36 divided by 120 days (remember, dispense only a small amount) and you get 30 cents a day.  Even if you are all crazy with how you dispense the tinted moisturizer and can only make it last two months, the math is still great...60 cents a day for moisturizing, makeup, and an SPF.

Besides providing moisturizing with Vitamin A (retinyl--an active ingredient known for its anti-aging uses), this tinted moisturizer is one of the items in the cosmetics line that has "optilight technology," which Arbonne introduced in 2010 to its makeup line.  Basically the finely sized pigments that are used in the tinting do two things: allow the skin to breathe better (I never feel like this is heavy or thick on my skin, and I do tend to notice when that happens), and it allows for soft focus effect because the pigments are formulated to help deflect light from the skin.  I am a big fan of "glowy" skin and when J. Lo did all the way back when, I jumped right on board.  Dewy skin is young skin, and that is ALWAYS my goal with my skin care and cosmetics routine.  There are other products in the line that use optilight technology, including the sheer glow highlighter (which is my current free product with purchase at my Arbonne website).

I would never go out with just the tinted moisturizer on...I feel like it makes me look a bit flat--even if I have a certain "glow," so I always add at least mascara and lip polish.

SHEER FINISH TINTED MOISTURIZER INGREDIENTS PDF FILE.

I hope that this has helped you all learn a bit more about the first two (pretty important) basics of any good foundation for an "all made up" look.  Tomorrow I will go into cheek blush, eyeliner, and mascara.  :)

You all have a great night and thank you for visiting my blog (if this is your first time here)!

From Fresh Faced to All Ready to Go! (Intro Post!)

I mentioned in my post last night that I have recently discovered many people are landing at My Superfluities because they are searching for more info on Arbonne products.  I have done quickie reviews of items before, but in general, I limit my activity with Arbonne to mentioning it as part of a giveaway or a "hey, look how my makeup works with my outfit" post.

But I have learned a thing or two about how blogs can help educate the public...and I obviously have been doing this for over two years as a big fan of J. Crew, Boden, and Anthropologie, and since this was my main "thing" early on, I guess I just decided that was where my emphasis would continue.  (And it will, I promise.)  But that doesn't mean that I should never have posts on something I know a lot about, like skin care and cosmetics.  (And mid-century modern things and historical archaeology in Virginia, but I will hold off on those for a while...lol.)

So I am going to really focus some energy (now that I have loads of it) towards increasing readership for what I know about Arbonne.  Since I am a consultant (which should be fairly obvious), I do not have the "un-biased" approach, but I am not exactly "un-biased" about J. Crew, either, hole-y shirts and all.  I will NEVER recommend something I personally don't love or haven't heard that others love.  (I think I will probably be staying away from reviews on the clear skin line as I and my friends who use Arbonne have no experience from it.)  I will grab all info and reviews on Arbonne from people I know, and I will add anything you may want to think about before using a product.  (Like if you need waterproof mascara, Arbonne's version won't work for you because the waterproof mascaras contain chemicals that Arbonne has taken a very firm stand on not using.  Also no nail polish--sad face--or hair sprays, etc.  On the days I swim, I must take off my mascara before swimming, lest I scare other swimmers away with my raccoon eyes...)

Okay.  Phew.  Nice and long explanation...I know some of you are all, "umm, dinagideon, just explain the photo collage already."  ;)

Over the next few days, in conjunction with my "Free Sheer Glow Highlighter with $100+ Purchase," I am showing how I go from freshly moisturized face to all made up in 8 total steps.  For a lot of you, this will not be super-helpful as you may already have a routine, but I have a feeling there are a few people who would love to have a step by step guide to getting made up with Arbonne cosmetics.  So I will provide.

This post just simply explains what is going on...the total posts will be based on the steps.  I may put a few together (like the tinted moisturizer and makeup primer steps, for example), while others will be stand alone (probably the one on the sheer glow highlighter itself).

So, anyhow, have a great day, and I look forward to putting the above guide/collage into words.

Arbonne Delights Gift Bag & $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway REMINDER!!!

In about 9 hours, my 500 posts/Two Year Blog-o-versary giveaway #1 ends and I want to make absolutely sure that every single one of my followers has a chance to enter, hence this reminder post.  Click here to enter...

Some of you may be wondering what I would buy if I had a $50 gift certificate to Arbonne, after all, I am a consultant and have had the pleasure of trying and/or owning most of the items you see on the website.

For those of you still on the fence about what you would buy and that is why you haven't entered the giveaway yet, here are my favorites for around $50...

1. Sheer Finish Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 ($36) & 2. Eye Liner, Olive ($22): I use the sheer finish tinted moisturizer instead of a more full coverage foundation because I prefer to let a bit more of my natural skin tone peek through. This is a preference, and I have heard from many a devotee of Arbonne's foundations, but in the end, I will always jump at the chance to buy this moisturizer (plus--it eliminates the need for a separate moisturizer that day--ding, ding, busy moms!).

The eye liner in olive is my go to color when I want to wear something on my eyelids but don't want to spend hours making my eye makeup perfect. The formula glides on super-easy (no tugging with this liner--cough, cough, other brands I have tried in the past that I won't mention for fear of them getting mad at me...). The olive works well with my green-blue eye color, but the liner also comes in black, purple, brown, etc.

3. SeaSource Detox Spa Renewing Body Gelee ($47.50): My kids, during the summer, would beg to have this put on their mosquito bites after being bitten. It worked every time and the "itch" time would be drastically reduced. I am a huge sufferer when it comes to being bitten, so I was thrilled when we got this product in the full-sized tub (we had been using the sample size for a while). I have also used it on burns from the stove and grill, and after a bath for a ting-y moisturizing treatment for my post-shaved legs.

4. Makeup Primer ($36) & 5. Lip Polish ($22): Some of us admit to going without any makeup on a daily basis, but even the most natural of us Arbonne consultants will use at least the primer and lip polish to keep our faces looking matte and our lips shiny. The primer is meant to create a smooth surface for the application of other makeup, but well, by itself, it just takes our pretty, shiny complexions to pretty and not so shiny. The lip polish helps remind the world that we do indeed have lips, just not overly made-up ones. LOL. ;)

6. RE9 Advanced Intensive Renewal Serum ($58): If I had to pick one item from the many in the RE9 Advanced Line and I could pick no other, it would be this serum. It contains a higher percentage of the nine active ingredients (including vitamin c--a well-known antioxidant) so it boosts the anti-aging power of the entire line. Sometimes I will wash my face and JUST apply the serum (obviously on the days I stay home--otherwise I pull out my SPF products--sun is pretty but so very damaging). It smells divine and it feels so light and silky on my skin. It is a true treat. And it's great for your face, too!

7. Revelage Intensive Pro-Brightening Night Serum ($60): The product that has helped my skin the most is this serum. Although I love the RE9 serum, I am still at the age where I have little noticeable wrinkling. That said, I suffer from some pretty nasty rosacea, especially around my nose and my eyebrows. It used to be that I would be beet red around those areas of my face on a near daily basis, especially in the winter. Since I have started using this on a daily basis (sometimes I will even use it in the morning even though it is a "night" formula), I only suffer from rosacea on a monthly basis, if that.

Turns out that the licorice root is the answer for us rosacea sufferers. Dr. Oz profiled rosacea a few weeks ago on his show and said that licorice root was a great way of calming the skin down during a flare-up. Since this serum has a high concentration of the licorice root, I am not surprised that my skin is looking and acting better!

It also has the added benefit of lightening sun spots. But I will get into that more with product #12 of my favorites.

8. Arbonne Essentials 7-Day Body Cleanse ($49.50): My dad and a whole bunch of other people I know are now on this cleanse. It is a great way to jump start a diet and/or change in eating habits. I have *not* used this, but am planning to, fairly soon. You add one bottle to a quart of water daily for seven days. You are meant to drink the quart of water over the course of one day, and the ingredients in the cleanse are helpful in flushing the system.

This is not a product to be used while nursing, pregnant, or under the weather, so bear that in mind! :)

Here is one story: One of the friends I know who has used it, conjoined it with a 30 day Detox plan (of which I can get anyone copies), and lost 20 pounds of postpartum weight. As someone who knows how hard it is to lose "baby" weight, I applaud her and plan on trying this the next time I have had another child. NOTE: The detox plan is RIGID, very whole-foods oriented, and nearly vegetarian. So if you are big fan of meat and potatoes and want to lose weight but are not prepared to go down the to the other side, so to speak, this is not the plan for you!!!

9. Arbonne Essentials Chocolate Protein Shake Mix ($59): Every morning since I have received this protein shake mix, I pull out my shaker cup and fill it with the right amount of mix, 9 ounces of water, shake, shake, and shake. I then drink, drink, drink. Turns out pea protein (vegan alternative to animal protein) is EXTREMELY filling. I am usually more than satisfied till lunch.

Sometimes I will even take out my blender, put in the mix and water, and a half a banana, mix, mix, mix, and have a VERY tasty dessert.

All for 180 calories (breakfast version) and 225 calories (dessert version).

10. Arbonne Essentials Digestion Plus ($49): I was beyond bloated at the Arbonne Conference in Las Vegas. Not only does traveling make me retain water, I had my "special" girl time while there, too. Add to that a mix of some salty restaurant food, and I felt my digestion was beyond challenged. This is a new product, and they had a "tasting" area set up for all of us consultants to try the products. I made a bee-line to this table and sucked it down, and got a couple of packets for later. Within a few hours, I actually started to feel less awful. The belly was not as big and I knew that any skirt or pants I put on would probably fit. It literally was a relief!

It has the same active ingredients as you find in all those yogurts and yogurt shakes that are on the market nowadays, but no added sugars, calories, and these are gluten-free, which is fab for those who suffer from gluten intolerance.

11. FC5 Ultra-Hydrating Hand Creme ($18) & 12. Revelage Age Spot Brightening Hand Therapy with SPF 30 ($37.50): My hands hate me in the winter. So I pamper them with these two products all winter long. The first is extremely moisturizing and it smells beyond good. (When I wear that hand creme, I do not wear perfume, I like the smell that much--kind of fruit-y, but not cloying, the way some fruit-scented body and hand lotions can be.)

The Revelage hand therapy is great for outdoors, it protects, moisturizes, and has an SPF. I need the SPF, especially, because for years, I forgot to apply SPF to my hands and now I have sunspots, which are like freckles, but not as cute (sad face). Now I am religious with the SPF, and I appreciate the fact that the ingredients in the therapy reduce the pigmentation of the sunspots. (Really! I have used this Revelage line for over two years and I definitely have seen a reduction in the intensity of the color of the spots!)

I hope that this look at my twelve favorites around a total of $50 have helped you decide what you would do if you won my giveaway. :)

P.S. If you don't win, but would like to find out more about any of these products, or get on my Arbonne e-mail list, please do drop me a line at dinagideon@myarbonne.com.

P.P.S. Check out this write-up on why Arbonne made the #1 spot of most favorite clean and green skin care and cosmetic lines.

P.P.P.S. Good luck!

A Little More Catalog Love...

Happy Belated Thanksgiving all! We have had a great time, and when I get a bit more time (and that ever elusive mistress of mine, energy), I will post some festive frocks that I have been wearing this week!

Today I want to show off the next in the series of "Catalog Inspired" outfits. After realizing that two other lovely blogger friends of mine decided to try the same look out I wore in this last post, I have decided that every so often I will do a post where I take my fave catalog images and show them off "in real life style." (To see the other lovely blogger ladies, go to About All and Nothing at All and to Deco Aurora.)

(Oh, and for those of you who REALLY are digging this, check out a post I did on this very subject WAY back in early 2009, right around the start of this blog.)

Here is the image from the October 2008 "If" catalog. I remember receiving this catalog right around the time baby CW was born and just adoring all the styling. J. Crew really hit the perfect mix here, just enough preppy, just enough edge, and just enough lady-like. I believe other ladies adore this catalog as much as I do...I also know there are other images whose styling I might have to steal borrow.

At the time, the jacket was WAY WAY out of my price range and considering I had just given birth, I just said "no."

Fast forward to now...

On me, last week.

Jacket: Bought the Duchamp Print Astor Jacket on ebay for a song, granted it is a "line through label to prevent returns" kind of item, but other than the itsy-bitsy little line, the jacket is perfect. I bought it in a size 4, and the fit is spot on.
Top: I had bought this Snow Leopard Harlow Blouse in a size 10 on super-sale around January of 2009 (see it on me way back when), but then I lost the post-partum weight and it was suddenly too big. This summer a JCA was selling their size 4 for a really REALLY good price and I went ahead and grabbed it. :) The size 10 went to Mint Condition to make someone else's day.
Pants: Banana Republic from 2006. Near match to the ones in the catalog.
Shoes: These are flats, the Jane Suede flats from 2008. Also bought on super-sale. Admittedly the height of the heels in the catalog image are more flattering, but I wore this on a preschool run day, and I didn't want to have to be uncomfortable.

Anyone else willing to try this styling for themselves??? ;)

Wahoo! by dinagideon featuring an arbonne

Before I go, I wanted to let you all know that I am having a HUGE Black Friday sale with my Arbonne business. The polyvore above has some of the items on sale (although almost everything I sell is on sale in one form or another). If you are interested, take a look at the polyvore, or check out this blog post I wrote on the sale. I look forward to helping some of you with your holiday shopping!!!

P.S. You all have had some really nice comments lately. I believe that today I will respond to the last two posts, so if you have written something in the past two weeks, check out the comments a little bit later tonight, I should have gotten back to you by then. :) Thank you!!!

Giveaway Winners and My Very First Arbonne Afternoon!

1. I apologize for not announcing the giveaway winners yesterday, as promised. I once again suffered from a massive migraine attack, yet this time I had to ask Mr. Dina to stay home. I was bedridden by this attack. I have contacted and have had my first appointment with a neurologist, and she has been great so far. I anticipate that by the end of the summer I will be closer to an answer of why I get so many attacks and why they are so very painful. Wish me the best, as I have to undergo an MRI as part of this screening, and I have heard those can be really difficult (I am not claustrophobic but people have said this experience could turn me!).

2. I picked two winners for the giveaways, out of 30 comments. I had made a comment to one of the comments, so that comment was thrown out and was not counted when I found the winners.

3. For the Independence day giveaway, I got #19, which is AppGal! AppGal, you are the winner of the Johnnie B. Union Jack bag and the Arbonne FC5 Conditioning Body Moisture.

4. For the Birthday giveaway, I got #19, which is HeidiG.! Heidi, you are the winner of the packet of Arbonne's Seasource Detox Spa Sea Soak and the Seasource Detox Spa Sea Mud and Body Mask.

Yay for you both. I have e-mails for both of you, so please do be expecting a congratulatory e-mail from me very soon.

And thank you to all who entered. I loved seeing what you all had to say about America (or your own country) and also what you do to pamper yourself throughout the year.


And on that note, let me tell you about one of my own very special pampering rituals (besides buying lots and lots of J. Crew--lol).

I am a big OLE bath junkie. Some people have really bad habits that they are junkies for, but not me...I pick probably the cleanest things to get addicted to...BATHS!

I have taken one every single day since I was born. I don't believe there has ever been a time where I would take a shower if I could take a bath instead. (Except for those months that I lived in a dorm, yucky, yucky communal showers--blegh!)

I have always used potions and elixirs in my baths, salts, soaks, bubbles, oils, you name it, I have tried it. :) Body Shop loved me back in the day.

It seems that I always have preferred the treatments that would leave my skin soft and clean. A lot of the potions I would use had additives that would either strip my skin or would leave me feeling a bit greasy. Over the years, I have found things and products that I love, but then they would be gone in a heartbeat (I am looking at you, Bath and Body Works), so I stopped frequenting stores and places that would get me hooked and then let me down (looking at you again, Bath and Body Works).

Lucky for me, Holly (who I have known for years) started an Arbonne business and showed me all the fab pampering products that Arbonne has, especially for those of us addicted to baths. Their Seasource Detox Spa line is awesome, with all kinds of wonderful treatments for before the bath, during the bath, and after the bath. (And unlike some other companies, Arbonne doesn't stop producing popular products when you start to depend on them!)

I was officially addicted when I tried the seasoak for the very first time...I stepped into the bath, the gentle fragrance welcomed me and through its special blend of minerals, helped my muscles relax (I tend to overuse my muscles as I exercise and lift a lot--40 pound toddlers, anyone?).

Then I had the opportunity to try the Seasource Sea Mud Face and Body Mask...I especially love this for the summertime, as my skin gets pretty oily. It feels clarifying, but it is in no way drying. I feel like I am at the spa, and I am being wrapped up by a therapist in one of their body wraps when I use this...the smell and consistency is very similar to what they use at the high-end spas. (I wouldn't be surprised if some of the spas use this line of products!)

After the bath, a good moisturizer is key. You have taken care of cleansing and relaxing, now keep the feeling up by moisturizing your skin with FC5 Conditioning Body Moisture (I like this for the summer as I have pretty oily skin--but if you are young or have oily skin all year round, this is great at all times). If you need a heavier moisturizer, I highly recommend the Seasource Detox Spa Re-mineralizing Lotion 24H.

If you click on the picture in this post (above), you will see my recipe for the perfect summer bath...I hope that some of you are able to try this! I am all for pampering, even if it means doing some of it at home!

I hope you have enjoyed my very first Arbonne Afternoon. In the weeks to come I will highlight other Arbonne products that I have personally used and love! :) After all, what good is seeing the products without actually having a testimonial to go along with them? On that note, if you have used the above products and have some of your own experiences to share, please do!!!

(If you need more info on these products, or would like to know more about how to get these products, please do e-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com or see this post!)

Have a great day, all.

P.S. I am getting my coupons and samples ready for sending out tomorrow, so remember if you would like to be on my Arbonne mailing list, do e-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com. If you have already e-mailed me, I have your info...do expect to hear more from me! Thank you!!!