Try: Make Up For Ever Pro Finish

I am a bit of a lazy girl when it comes to make-up, the simpler the better, despite my love of products, since I can't wake up in the morning I can't be bothered with anything that takes a lot of time in the morning. That is why when I first tried powder/mineral make-up I was hooked. However I was soon turned off it for the winter months because my face becomes insanely dry and most powders / mineral make-up has the tendency to make me look chalky and flaky and not at all attractive. So for a long while I switched to tinted moisturizer. A few months ago I was given the chance to try out Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation and I had my doubts. I was fearful of looking chalky and gross but boy was I pleasantly surprised to learn that this product seems to be immune to those typical powder make-up failures.

Make Up For Ever Pro Finish is formulated in a unique way using vegetal coated bio-mimetic pigments. This unique formulation makes it customizable to the look that you want. You can apply it dry for a matte finish and moderate coverage or for a satin finish with sheer coverage, apply it wet. The formulation never clumps up or gets cake-y. The powder foundation has a velvety texture that blends in very naturally into skin for a lightweight and natural look. While it can't cover up cystic acne (what really can?), it makes the overall texture of my skin look more even, my pores minimized and I feel that my skin has a natural glow that is often covered up by make-up. If you are looking for full coverage, I don't think this is your answer. However, if you are a lazy make-up girl like myself, or need a touch-up on the run, this is the perfect compact to slip into your purse. This really is the perfect product for those days when I ran out the door so fast that I forgot to put on make-up. It is a product that revives tired makeup before running on a date afterwork and makes a difference with how put together I feel. The compact case has a good sized mirror and a separate compartment to store your foam sponge with air holes so if you use the product wet, the sponge can dry easily without fear of getting moldy. Overall from practical packaging to product quality I am won over. It is the perfect answer for lazy make-up girls like myself who are on the go.

Product Review: SodaStream

For some reason or another I really wanted to try this contraption - so after grabbing dinner with Erin earlier this week, I bolted to my local Bath Bed & Beyond to pick one up.  SodaStream is a carbonation system which lets you add CO2 to regular H20 from the comfort of your own home. Headquartered in Israel, this company sells its gas infusing machines in 43 countries and is big on being green by reducing consumers' carbon footprint. 

Enough of the technical garb - and on the the review...

Honestly, this machine just looked fun - which is why I got it (I'd like to say that I wanted to be "greener" but that just isn't true).  The model I ended up getting is called Fizz - and it sort of reminds me of a fire hydrant that sits on my counter (it was the only model left at the store). The unit itself is pretty tall but doesn't take up a lot of counter space which is key for kitchen appliances in NY.  The kit came with the actual unit, one tank of carbon dioxide, a reusable bottle/cap used for the actual carbonation and a whack load of sample soda flavors.  What it didn't come with was instructions - which was a bit odd (there are instruction for how to assemble and replace the gas tank but not on how to use the actual machine)...I ended up looking online and found that a lot of people were missing instructions from their kit.  Anyways, after watching a couple videos online on YouTube, I was ready to test it out and make my own fizzy drink!

Step 1:  Fill the carbonation bottle up to wavy line marker (1 Liter capacity) - it's easiest to use cold water here so your drink doesn't have to chill afterwards.

Step 2:  Place the bottle into the machine and screw it in until it's secure.  You want it to be sealed here so that gas doesn't leak out while you are carbonating your water.

Step 3:  Push the lever 3-5 times and watch the bubbles go!  Every time you push down on the lever, the machine will make this loud noise like it's broken which is fine -  just let up on the handle once you hear that noise. 

Step 4:  Release the bottle from the base unit.

Step 5:  You're done! Seltzer water in about 20 seconds from start to finish!

The starter kit comes with a bunch of soda syrups which you can add to the bottle AFTER you carbonate it (you want to keep the aerating tube free from gunk).  Personally, I'm not a big fan of the flavors I tried but I'm also not a big soda drinker to begin with (I got this more to make seltzer water vs cola).

The bottle that you use to carbonate the water doubles as a storage unit and comes with a cap that you can use to cover your carbonated beverage and stash in the fridge.

Overall this is great contraption that does exactly what it says it will do.  What's even better is that you can customize and control the outcome of your drink.  If you like your soda really bubbly, just add another pump of gas when you're aerating the water.  Also, any flavoring that you do add is up to you in terms of what, how much or how little which is a great feature.

  

You can make your own syrups, buy the pre-made SodaStream stuff or use anything else that suits your fancy....like this local ginger syrup from Morris Kitchen (which makes a KILLER ginger ale).  

Another plus of the SodaStream is if you do drink a lot of carbonated beverages, this gadget will save you money in the long run.  One CO2 tank will set you back $15 and will last you 150 liters (i.e. 10 cents/liter carbonated) which is significantly cheaper than anything you can pick up at your local bodega.

In terms of cons, some of the mechanisms on the unit are a bit awkward to use.  The front part of the machine needs to be angled to secure the bottle to the hose and while there is a lever to help position the nozzle, it's still a bit awkward.  There are however, a couple other models on the market that don't have this issue since there is enough room to just adhere the bottle without angling the machine.  The only other downside for me was the lack of instructions - seriously who does that... 

All in all I'm happy with the product and if you're a fan of soda/seltzer this is a nifty thing to have!  PS. If you sign up for email notifications at Bath Bed & Beyond, you can get a 20% coupon that you can use towards your purchase (which is what I did!).   

Product Review: Clarisonic Mia 2

A few weeks ago, I was walking around 5th Ave when I noticed the Clarisonic Mia 2 on display.  Up until that point I have never heard about the device but based on what my friend told me about it, I made the purchase.  The product has amazing reviews and everyone my friend knew who has one absolutely loves it.  To sum it up, it's a electronic face brush that vibrates and helps remove dirt, makeup, oil and and dead skin. After contemplating for 30 minutes I decided to bite the bullet and pick one up at Sephora.  At $149 (for the Mia 2), it's not the cheapest thing on the market but I ain't getting any younger! I just kept telling myself to consider this as an investment...an investment for my face.

After making my purchase I ran home to try it out - only to find out that you need to charge the unit for 24 hours prior to the first use!  The unit itself comes in a few colors but I opted for white.  The Mia 2 comes with a travel case, brush head (to be replaced every 3-4 months), and charger.  One of the great things about this device is that it's cordless so once it's charged you can take it wherever - be it the sink or shower.  For me that was an added bonus, since I wash my face in the shower. 

After charging the unit for about an hour I got uber impatient (surprise surprise) and decided to give it a go - and here's the results (before and after shot from the very first time I used the product)...

Before

After

I was honestly floored after the first use because I could actually see the difference - which is rare with skin products. AMAZING.  The most noticeable thing was the evenness of my complexion and how soft my skin was after and how clean it felt.  I kept touching my face afterwards! I've been using the Mia 2 now for a few weeks and I am completely sold.  Other people have commented on how great my skin looks without me even mentioning anything about using the Mia 2, so I know it's working!

One of the great things about the brush is that you can use any face wash you want - just apply to the brush head (or all over your face prior to using the brush which I find works better) and you're set to go.  The Mia 2 has a built in timer and each use lasts for 60 seconds (20 seconds for your forehead, 20 for your chin, and 10 for each cheek).  The brush makes beeping noises so you know when to move to the next area. It just takes a minute (or two if you use it twice) a day to have cleaner radiant skin.  Easy peasy!

Honestly, this gadget is worth every penny and if you want to try it out, I recommend picking it up at Sephora - they have an amazing return policy so if you don't like it after testing it out you can return it!