Where my Mademoiselle Girls at??

Monday, November 12, 2012



Every woman should have a signature scent. A perfume that can immediately bring you to someone's mind when they come across it. For me, Its my Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.

My mom first introduced me to it and from the moment I first smelled it I was intoxicated by its sweet musky alluring aroma. I wanted to smell like it every second of the day - every day - forever. I have people compliment me on it every time I wear it. My staff know I have arrived at work because they catch a petite whiff of it in the stairwell after I get in. Even my future husband is also addicted to it (ok... this is not really true since I technically don't know my future husband - whoever he is he better love it as much as I do or else he might not end up being my future anything!) You get where I am going with this... I am IN LOVE with this scent.

I was just at Bloomingdale's this past weekend and I happen to see a peculiar bottle with my beloved logo on it. I asked the salesperson what this new item was - and he uttered the most beautiful words in the world - "Velvet Body Oil".

First of all I am a sucker for ANY body oil, but Coco Mademoiselle VELVET body oil?!? I will take a case please!

I let him spritz my hand with this heavenly product and immediately I was swimming in happiness. My skin transformed to this sweet smelling extremely soft and luxurious feeling surface- where baby unicorns and kittens all wanted to take cozy naps on it for eternity (or until my shower would wash it off).

I know some of you guys are thinking...  "Is she nuts?! Why would you spray an OIL on your skin- HELLLLLOOO we are all trying to be LESS oily!  "
Relax! Dry oils are a far cry from your face oils / olive oils / motor oils (you get where I am going with this).

Dry oils do 2 things:
1. Seal in moisture when used right after a shower.
2.Make your skin so silky soft that it feels like its made of a million butterfly wings. Magical butterflies to boot!
They do not leave you feeling oily what-so-ever. They also make for a clean satin style finish v.s. a shiny sticky oil slick sheen we are all familiar with if we have ever used baby oil (woah try to say that 5 times fast!)

So for all my Mademoiselle Girls- RUN -  don't walk - to get the Velvet Body Oil. Its a game changer.
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Hey Lazypants... Wash Your Face



 
Ack! I know I have been missing in action lately... sorry guys! I fell victim to the perils of Hurricane Superstorm Sandy. I am ok  - but was without the essentials (electricity, heat, hot water etc)  for almost 2 weeks. As a result, I took a brief hiatus from posting. Nevertheless it helped me get to my next blog post!
I would NEVER have survived this annoying flash back to the early 1900's (seriously... that's what it was like!) without these handy dandy face wipes.

Ok - so during the hurricane was NOT the first time I used face wipes in place of soap and water. I admit it. Sometimes I am Ms. Lazypants and I wash my face using a face wipe- guilty as charged!! Sometimes its so much easier to face wipe than it is to actually go use makeup remover -and then- wash my face -and then- wipe the sink down since water will most likely be EVERYWHERE (small sink). I don't have a good reason for it other than when I get home I am exhausted and I feel like I am entitled to get LAZY. Yes... face wipes in place of washing your face is LAZY. I admit it - but whatever.. its the lesser evil compared to not washing face at all!  Plus -we have all stumbled home late at night and woken up hungover looking like a crackhead with your eye makeup caked onto your lash line and pores black as smoke from the sins you were getting yourself into the night before - Kiss this scary person goodbye ladies(fanfare trumpet sound) face wipes to the rescue!

I was going back and forth between Neutrogena and Garnier face wipes. Both were good but I was concerned about the chemicals hiding in their wipes. The older I get the more conscious I am of the connection between the products we use and the cancer causing chemicals they contain so when possible- I like to find a healthier alternative.

***Cue Burt's Bee's Facial Cleansing Towelettes

These face wipes are gentle on my skin, smell great, and take off ALL my eye makeup. Most importantly, after I am finished using it I feel refreshed, clean and not overly dried out like some other face wipes leave my skin. They are extremely gentle but get the job done!

They do not contain any of the 3 deadly P's:  parabens, phthalates and petrochemicals.
This is MAJOR since those 3 things should be avoided like the plague and are commonly found in other brands of wipes.

It costs about $6 for 30 wipes which oddly enough ends up being one of the least expensive brands of wipes on the market today - double bonus!
They comes in sensitive (white package with cotton extract) or regular (yellow package with white tea extract). I like the regular because I feel it did a better job at taking off my waterproof mascara but the sensitive works well too.

If you are a fellow LAZY lady who likes to face wipe every now and then instead of washing your face the old fashioned way, I highly recommend you ditch the toxic towels and try Burt's Bee's Facial Cleansing Towelettes!



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Perfect hair is only a spray away!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Ever see this can in the laundry section of your supermarket or drug store? Its called Static Guard and its normally used to fight static cling and destroy its evil plot to ruin your outfit.  It also happens to be the best hair finishing spray I have ever used!
Anyone who knows me knows that I am no fan of hair spray- anything that leaves a "feeling" in my hair (crunchy, sticky, gooey etc...) is a big turn off for me and I refuse to have my hair suffer those "product side effects". The problem with not liking hair spray is that after blow drying my hair, I normally have a 30% chance that all my hard work and efforts will last beyond my commute to work (I am a New Yorker so I walk and take the subway to work... and by walk I mean walk so fast and with such purpose that you immediately break a sweat-no matter the temperature outside and quite possibly have small flames coming off of your boots as you fly past the confused tourist taking up THE ENTIRE sidewalk because if you miss the 9:42 L train you will automatically be 13 minutes late to work and the anxiety brought on by being 13 minutes late is too much to bare - whew- more about this later!). My blow out doesn't stand a chance!! You see, I suffer from fly-away frizzies and a cowlick on the right side of my bangs that makes it go from feathery and flawless to this weird 90 degree angle turn thing(one day I will post pictures so you can send me your sympathies). Its a nightmare situation on any day that has more than 40% humidity - I have learned to anticipate this rogue cowlick rearing its ugly face by using Static Guard! After I am finished blow drying, I step out of the bathroom(I like breathing...so I move into a larger room so I don't suffocate)hold my breath and I spray a mist all over my hair- but focus in on my bang area in particular. Make sure you spray a few inches away from your hair otherwise it will cause your hair to get wet with the Static Guard (which is annoying but can be fixed by a touch more blow drying).
Man, I don't know how it works or why this happens - but my hair all of a sudden looks like I had not 1, but 2 people in a salon (the kind that charges $400 for a haircut) working on it. Its truly incredible - I am literally amazed every time at the results I get from using it! Its preserves my Farrah Fawcett-esk bangs for the entire day (and puts up a damn good fight on rainy days)
Another bonus is that you can kiss statically charged hair goodbye - and if you live up north, you know exactly how annoying it is to have your gloves on and try to adjust your hair- snap crackle shock! EEEK! I hate that feeling! I also hate having some of my hair strands standing up 10 inches tall  for part of the day without even realizing it until I finally unchain myself from my desk and take a look in the bathroom mirror- OMG soooo embarrassing!
If you are skeptical and don't want to buy a normal sized bottle (it costs a whopping $5), you can always opt to buy the trial size. I know Bed Bath and Beyond sells them - as do most drug stores (look in the travel section). It might feel a little weird to use static cling spray on your hair but TRUST me - it will do crazy amazing things and make you look and feel like a million bucks!




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#1 of my top 5 "wortheverypenny" products






"Oh hey Aldana, you look so tan even though its -22 outside and the dead of winter.
What is your secret?"
Well guys, I am going to tell you. Its Dr. Hauschka's Translucent Bronze Concentrate. This concentrated "brown power pigment" (as I like to call it) is the fastest (and safest) way to have a gorgeous glow all year long, and its product # 1 of my top 5 "wortheverypenny" products.

The Bronze Concentrate is meant to be mixed with your moisturizer. Its kind of  like your moisturizers best friend.
Super simple to use: you just take your usual amount of moisturizer into your hand, then pump 1-3 pumps (depending on how much color you want), mix with your finger and apply. Voila! You look ravishing! When i first tried this product, I was blown away at the difference it made in the appearance of my skin. WARNING- you will be getting an unbelievable amount of compliments!

I buy my Translucent Bronze Concentrate at Whole Body- you can find it online as well. Its about $40 and it lasts 4-6 months depending on how much you use it. I use 2 pumps daily and I usually get 5 months out of my bottle.

So ladies- there you have it, my beauty editor secret to a radiant glow all year long.
Stay away from that DHA in self tanners and save that mug from the sun's wrinkle making rays and try this amazing product!

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Mason Pearson ... changing hairs since 1918




Hello Hairbrush! Ladies (and gents), I would like to introduce you to the mother of all hair brushes- the Mason Pearson. A month ago- I knew nothing of this brush, I didn't even know the brush I used actually made a difference in my hair. Then as I was leaving my hair salon, I saw the woman ahead of me in line pay over $100 for this item and I was blown away! Who would pay such a crazy amount of money for a Hair Brush ... Was this really happening?!?!
I was so taken aback that I immediately ran home and consulted  the internets (the only reliable source for reviews on such luxuries!) and read a ton of great reviews, followed by a sprinkle of people giving the "who in their right mind would spend over $100 on a hair brush" reviews. That was the day I decided I had to find out for myself if this brush was worth it.
As soon as I received my brush I immediately took it out of its super cute vintage looking box and began to brush my hair. I will admit, I was expecting it to immediately transform my hair to look more like a Victoria's Secret model's hair - however I quickly realized that a miracle worker it was not. As I kept brushing I had an aha! moment- I have not brushed my hair (like REALLY brushed my hair) in such a long time! Don't get me wrong- I comb my hair immediately after I get out of the shower( right after applying Moroccan Oil of course!) and then use a round brush  when blow drying - but I never just brush it when its dry at the end of the day. It was kind of nice actually- reminded me of being a kid and having my mom brush my hair. Very therapeutic and relaxing. Hello hair brushing...I've missed you and I didn't even realize! Where did you go?!
Ok ....I know what you are thinking...  "A $120 brush that brings you down memory lane is still not worth the money! What else is amazing?" - well let me tell you!
After 100 strokes (I have seen this in movies... women always talking about brushing 100 times... hey if its in movies it must be true :::sarcasm:::) and my hair was noticeably different. It was shinier, had more volume, and was definitely a different texture than before I brushed it.
This is what I understand of the science of what makes this brush over $100:
The Mason Pearson Hair Brush has magical powers that take your natural oils and evenly distribute them throughout the hair shaft. More oil getting distributed from scalp to tips = healthier, stronger, better looking hair! Magical powers don't come cheap. It also has this patented technology in the rubber dome part that holds the bristles- something about it making the bristles always touch your scalp as you brush - it is referred to as the Pneumatic Rubber Cushion. Sounds fancy. Oddly enough there is NO GOLD in this brush, although the price leads you to think there must be.
Still on the fence? Just keep in mind this brush is known for its longevity, it potentially could last you the rest of your life (if cared for properly). Even if you don't keep it forever- its still worth the money. If you apply my budget reasoning equation to this item (cost divided by times of use)  $120/365(days)  you end up paying roughly $0.33 per day- what a bargain!
As a Beauty Editor, I highly recommend this brush - and your hair will thank me (and you) for buying it.

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Welcome to As A Beauty Editor ...

As a beauty editor .... I am keen on what products work and what products belong locked away in a medicine cabinet of the factory in which the product was originally manufactured in. One little thing to mention before we begin this journey out into the world of beauty... I am kinda-sorta not really a beauty editor (eek!)  But to all my friends I am practically one already! I consult all the women (and men) in my life on what products do what, which work and which are a waste of your hard earned pesos, and I ALWAYS am channeling Christopher Columbus + discovering amazing new products that deserve worldly sharing status- so here I am!

     You have a beauty issue? No problem- I have a solution for you! Just think of me as your own personal Beauty Editor that you can turn to in times of Beauty Strife - 'cause girl... we all need less Beauty Strife in our lives!

    Each week I will post a product or two that I am in the midst of trying out, or worshiping, or hating on. Just think of me as  a pre-screener for so many enticing beauty buys out there. Save those pennies and make an informed decision before impulse buying by reading up on product reviews by ME- A self made Beauty Editor!

    I have a lot of catching up to do since I have been making opinions of beauty products for a long time now, and have only been blogging for.....oh....I'd say.....about 15 minutes! So sit tight and let me get caught up to date with all my Beauty Knowledge I want to share with you- and in the end, I promise there is going to be SO MUCH BEAUTY!

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