Oktoberfest....

I'm really loving October and we've actually been having a fantastic fall this year (meaning the snow hasn't started, yet) and the colours and decent temperatures have me all into the season!

Thought I'd share some of my October faves with you...the stuff I've been using a lot and am currently diggin'...

{Finally I got my hands on the Wet n Wild 8 pan palette in Comfort Zone. It's the perfect combo of warm neutrals and olive tones. The pigmentation and quality is a-mazing. Srsly worth every inexpensive penny!}

{1. Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion in Amethyst Ablaze and Caffine Rush. I've never really been a fan of Maybelline eye shadows but like so many drug-store brands lately, they've really improved their quality. The application of this shadow is smooth and creamy and the color pay-off is fantastic. I'm beginning to think that my days of buying $15 MAC eyeshadows have come to an end...

2. Just in time for Halloween, orange Sally Hansen polish with a black crackle top-coat.

3. Lancome's newest mascara, Hypnose Doll Lash mascara. Like all of the Hypnose mascara's the application is impressive but the Doll Lash offers a more "wide-eye look with volumized, extended and lifted lashes."  I'm sold, who doesn't want to look like "a doll?!"

 {Ok, so since Captain Jack Sparrow arrived on the movie scene about 10 years ago, pirate costumes have had a serious renaissance and I'm ok with that. Now it's my turn to swashbuckle and plunder my way through Halloween this year.}

{Guten Tag! We survived yet another Oktoberfest at our pub. Older brother decided that on the last few weekends of October, our staff should suit up in lederhosen (the bartenders) and as beer maids (waitresses.) Kitschy? Yes. A huge success with our customers? YES!}

So how has your October been so far? What are your must have products or styles for your perfect fall looks?  

Are you a serious nerd keener like me and already have your Halloween costumes figured out (since September?) 

Latisse Update....

So I've been using Latisse for about 6 weeks now and I'm not gonna lie, this stuff is over-priced GOLD.

 After years of maintaining fairly low expectations regarding "beauty" products (they almost always over-promise and under-deliver), this is one product that really comes through. I'm not even half way through the "treatment program" but the results are really exciting and my lashes are actually considerably longer and fuller. It's kinda really strange to see them changing!

I don't know why I would expect anything less then a wunder-drug from the people that brought us Botox and Juvederm- Allergan.

 Now if they could just figure out a product that would make the hair on my head grow thicker and longer....

{Pre-Latisse, no makeup on}

{Here's my 6 week progress pics without a lick of makeup}

They're definitely fuller and longer and they're starting to curl upwards and out. Loooove this!
 I'll post more pics in another 6 weeks and final pics with Mascara when the 4 months of using Latisse is done.

Girls, forget eye-lash extensions- for the money Latisse is most definitely the way to go...

I'm on Latisse....

I finally broke down at my last doctor's appointment and asked for a prescription for Latisse- the eyelash growth miracle liquid.  Of course my GP had never even heard of the stuff before so after I explained what it was he gave me a referral to a dermatologist.  

Bring on the ridiculously long lashes please!

{Falsies are great but I want the real deal. Is it unreasonable to want this look all the time?}

{Before: short and boring- my lashes without mascara or false lashes}

{Miracle growth in a little bottle? Better be....}

I'm hoping that this overpriced little bottle of magic will make my lashes grow insanely long, thick and dark. They're already curly but just average length. I'm a pro with falsies but I'm tired of putting them on. As for the price, it's not cheap and I know you can by "generic" Latisse-like products off of eBay but I wanted the original prescribed from my dermatologist and not some knock-off coming from who knows where in China.

Stay tuned for After pics, I'll document how things looks at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. I'm excited!

Grow Grow Grow

Lately there's been a swack of products claiming they can help make your eye lashes look fuller, longer, and more fabulous. Fabulous is good right, so I've decided to jump on the lash-growing-miracle bandwagon. L'Oreal's Lash Serum claims that it can overhaul your scrawny lashes and turn them into gloriously long, conditioned and fuller lashes. After about a month of using the Lash Serum I'd have to agree that my lashes do appear to be fuller and stronger (less fallout.) But are they longer? Hard to say. I want to say that they are but there isn't any actual medicinal ingredient in it that would cause actual lash growth. But for the price it is a decent product and if you're committed to applying it everyday it's worth it.

I'd really like to get my hands on the by prescription only product Latisse that Brooke Sheilds is pushing  promoting right now. But I'd feel kinda silly asking my doctor for an Rx. "Yes, I'd like a prescription for lash growth liquid in a bottle.... no seriously."  He's a great doctor but he's also a "woman, don't you come up in here wastin' my valuable time!" kind of doctor.  But just check out Brooke's results below. Tough to beat!!  Maybe it's time to hit up an internet pharmacy?? 

I've also heard a lot about the Phyto line of vitamin supplements that are supposed to make your hair grow stronger, thicker and FASTER.  From Sephora's website: Harnessing the power of natural elements, each daily dose of this nourishing vitamin, essential fatty acids, and antioxidant blend promotes healthy hair growth, strengthens nails, illuminates skin, and fortifies (and lengthens) lashes. Hair regains its density and shine.  Sounds pretty awesomesauce to me!

Any product that can improve my tragically thin, fine hair would indeed be a miracle in a bottle.  I'm up for that...bring on the hair growing magic!  I seriously have the slowest growing head of hair in the world. I can go months between highlight touchups. So will taking this stuff make my hair grow faster, thus requiring more visits to the salon? Hmmm all in the name of thicker, more fabulous hair right?!

 I swallowed the $75.00/bottle price tag. And since the product seems pretty natural with a lot of different oils in it maybe it'll work?  The helpful sales assistant at Sephora did warn me that her husband tried the stuff and he had to give it up because it sent him running to the potty, it apparently has a bit of a laxative effect (mother- frack, why does everything have to have side effects?!)  Fingers crossed my tummy won't betray me on this one. Glorious hair, I'm expecting you to arrive within 6-8 weeks with the following results:

{I'd take the great hair, AND the great body....}

Run out and buy this. NOW

It's not very often that I can honestly say a beauty product is actually amazing. We're bombarded with marketing slogans, and glossy images of beautiful women who's lives are transformed thanks to the new and improved products their using....  "maybe she's born with it..."     Yes. Obviously she's born with it, that's why she's a model.

 98% of the time it's BUNK.

But this little wunder is not bunk, it's fabulous!
I'm always chasing the dream of long, separated, full eye lashes. (ok, it's a lame dream, but whateva)
 While mine naturally have a good curl, they're fairly average in length. (thus my recent love-affair with false lashes!)
So from Target I picked the new L'oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara with the globe shaped brush.   It's a make-up miracle!!!  (how had I not heard of this product before now? Am I living under a rock?!)

How could this be any different from any other mascara out there? IT JUST IS. The round brush changes everything, I actually see a significant change in my lashes, longer and so separated. It's even great for getting at the tiny hard to reach lashes at the corner of the eye. Too good to be true?  No. it's real. 
While it's not going to replace my falsies, it sure is a fantastic everyday option. I'm in lurve!

Run along now, go pick one up!