Faking It

Well? Have you ever, ya know, faked it?

Faked what you ask? Your tan, you weren't thinking........hey, this isn't that kind of blog.
Yes, that's what this post is about, self-tanning.

I must tell you, I have never really been a huge fan of self-tanning. You either look like and Oompa Loompa or you have streaks running up and down your arms. Not a pretty sight.
For the past few years I've been an advocate of SPF at all times. I work in NYC, during the work week, I am rarely outside trying to catch some rays. I'm usually out for a total of 30 minutes, and that includes the commute time. This means, no more laying out on the beach for me, this year I decided to "fake bake", but I wanted to do it right.

First, I was not going to buy a self tanner for the body because I always manage to fudge it up, and in my opinion, it takes forever to dry, I don't care if the label says "Quick Dry", I'm not buying it. I wanted gradual, healthy color and I didn't want to hear "Did you go away, you got so tan" from ANYONE. I read some reviews on "Jergens Natural Glow" and it got great reviews, so I decided to buy it.

Secondly, for my face, I wanted something that would instantly absorb into my skin and again, not make me look like George Hamilton. I also read some positive reviews about Clarins products and settled on "Liquid Bronze"

The Jergens really did make my body a nice "healthy" color, not too orange, I bought their new "express" formula that shows within 3 days. They weren't kidding. So that's the up-side, the downside? It smells too "self-tanner", and it doesn't moisturize as well as I thought it would. I'm actually combining this lotion with my regular body moisturizer because there is nothing worse than ashy skin.

The Clarins is amazing. First off, it's a lotion, you apply it to your face with a cotton ball so I don't get any of the tanner on my fingers. It's very very light, and it smells really really good! No funky "self-tanner" smell. A woman at work today said "Oh wow, your face is glowing, what did you do"
I faked it. That's what I did. The saleslady at Clarins also gave me a few samples of their tried and true "Self Tanning Instant Gel", so I thought I would try it out. This absorbs right away and doesn't feel like anything against my skin. No smell either. Great product! And the key?? I look healthy, not like I spent a weekend in South Beach which was my goal to begin with.
At the end of the day, I do recommend all 3 products, they are all really great!
If you don't want quick color on your body, I recommend the regular "Jergens Natural Glow". Buy it here. (p.s. Did you notice it won a "Best of Allure" award?)

Although I loved the Clarins Lotion, I have to say the gel is so much better! It was odorless and really sank into my skin right away, although both did dry very quickly.
Buy the lotion and the gel here.

I remain yours,
The CCW

Summer Boot Camp-Revised

Update ladies, click here:

Revision

Rescue Your Nails

Hi beauties! I hope everyone enjoyed the long Memorial Day Weekend. It was gorgeous out, wasn't it?
So I am totally excited to talk about this new book I just bought the other day. The title is called "Rescue Your Nails" and it was written by Ji Baek from Rescue Beauty Lounge.
I've been waiting a couple of months for this book to come out, hoping Ms. Baek will be able to guide me to perfect looking nails (see post in March)
Well, she knows her stuff. After all, she founded Rescue Beauty Lounge in NYC, I would hope I'm getting what I paid for!
Without giving too much away, I learned to give myself the perfect manicure and pedicure at home so I'll be saving MUCHO DINERO!
I really think it's worth buying the book, For only $12.95 you can buy it here.
Here's a sample of what I learned:

• Don't ever "shake" the bottle of nail polish, you should roll it in between your hands so the nail polish doesn't "bubble"

• Oil on the nail can cause your nail polish to peel, so before you put on your base coat, you should always swipe it down with nail polish remover.

So that's it ladies! I'm curious to see if anyone has the book or planning to buy it! Tell me your thoughts!

I remain yours,
The CCW

Wave Goodbye!

I think in the past few months I have given very few negative reviews when it comes to the products that I try out. I try to give new products a fair shot, but I just can't help myself.
As many of you see, I am dying for the Clarisonic Face Brush. The fact that it's $195 means I am not getting it unless Santa brings it.

I decided to go on the cheap. I read about a new "Power Cleaner" by Neutrogena. Now, most of my friends already know that there are some products by Neutrogena that I cannot use as my face will break out in hives. CCW has very sensitive skin so I must be careful about what I use to clean or moisturize my face with. But I thought I would give it a try. It was $10, a far cry from $195.

This new Deep Cleanser is waterproof so I can use it in the shower. They also come with 14 disposable cleansing pads.
Two days ago, I decided to give it a try. What I failed to realize that the cleansing pads have cleanser already in them. Oh well, I was going to use my Shieseido but I'll give it a shot.
Turn on the Wave and start massaging over my face.
BURNING, BURNING, BURNING. NOT Tingling, BURNING, I thought my face was on fire. Now a nice lady at the Prescriptives counter once said, if product burns, you are allergic and remove immediately. So, I removed and RE-WASHED my face with my Ole' Reliable.

Because I was able to realize quickly that I was allergic I didn't get hives all over my face. I just got them on my forehead.

And to top it off, it didn't really "deep clean" my face as it claims. The cleansing pads felt like cotton, I would have been better off lightly scrubbing with a washcloth. Which is what I will do, because after the fiasco that has ensued, the Wave went straight into the garbage can.

In the end, would I recommend this product? Obviously you know my answer will be NO WAY IN HELL.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

I remain yours,

The CCW

Starlight, Starbright

First star I see tonight.......you know the rest.
Wanna know what the CCW is lusting after this spring?
It's only the most rawsome face brush on the planet. It's the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush and it should be in my bathroom right now waiting for me to use it.
Only it's $195, not to be confused with "It's Only $195". I mean, OMG it's $200 for a face brush.
Now I know I've made some extreme purchases before (see post in April "Diamonds Are A Girls' Best Friend")
but, this is supposedly the most innovative face brush.
But, all I can do is wish upon that first star because I am never getting it. I don't even have a big occasion coming up for me to even ask for it. I'm stuck.
UNLESS......Clarisonic gives one to me to review for sake of my blog. Yeah, whatever, I think 3 people in total read my blog and that includes the Mooch.
But if the nice people at Clarisonic see this post, it would be awful nice if they "donated" one to me. After all, I would be putting it to good use.

If anyone has it, talk to me, tell me how it is, and maybe, just maybe, this Christmas, if I'm good, Santa will reward me.

I remain yours,
The CCW

Summer Boot Camp-Revised

Without completely starting a new post, I wanted to "EDIT" this previous post about workout makeup. I know I said I love the Clinique and I really really do. I did find a "drugstore" brand alternative for those of you who don't have a Clinique by you.
It's by Revlon and it's called "ColorStay Active Light Makeup". It claims to be completely sweat-proof and last 16 hours to boot. Last week, I tested it out on the treadmill, I have now hit a a 10 minute mile so figure how much I'm sweating already. The upside- This stuff really is sweat-proof. One wipe of my face towel and NOTHING came off. Nothing I tell you. Totally worth every penny. The down-side? I need 2 different colors to match my skin tone. So at the end of the day, the Clinique is cheaper for me.
If you sweat a lot, the Revlon is for you!


Oh my beauties,

It's been so long and I really do apologize, there is really no excuse for my lack of posts.
Well, I do have one excuse. Lately, the Mooch and I have been Gymmin' it pretty hard core so that we can look decent in bathing suits this summer so that has been taking up so much of my time. I think I just made up that word "gymmin". Sounds catchy huh?
Ok back to my post.......speaking of working out, when the Mooch and I joined the gym I literally could care less about how I looked. Until one day I looked at myself in the mirror after my workout and I nearly scared myself.
What I saw looking back was not me. This girl looking back at me looked tired and pale. Now I'm not one of those girls who walk on the treadmill while sipping a Starbucks Frappuccino (TRUE STORY, there is a girl at my gym that does this), I'm the girl that is running her ass off sweating like a pig. But that tired and beaten girl was about to change.
I realized while, I don't have to put on the false eyelashes and lip gloss I can try to look presentable at the gym.
My normal foundation was not working as most of it was wiped off the towel at the end of my workout, so I did a little searching.
I read up that Clinique has a foundation that is water-resistant so I thought I would give it a try.
What it is called is "Work-Out Makeup All Day Wear". Wow, Foundation with the word "work-out" in it, it's for me.
First off, it feels very light, like I have nothing on at all, which is good because with summer around the corner, I need something that feels like nothing. That didn't really make sense, but whatever.
Today was officially my first day using this while running. Obviously I didn't think it was going to stay on my face throughout my run, but there was noticeably MUCH LESS makeup on the towel today than other days.
I think Clinique has turned me on to something new and great!
If you're interested, you can buy it here, only $20.50
If you do buy it and try it, I'll be curious to see how it works for you!

That's all for now, I'll try to post on a daily

I remain yours,
CCW