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Time for a Giveaway: Curél Itch Defense® Lotion for Dry Itchy Skin

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Sept. 22, 2011   11 Comments  

Hello Beauty Lovers, it’s time for a giveaway!!

I don’t know anyone that enjoys the feeling of having dry skin. It feels tight, itchy, and painful (not to mention unattractive!). Just because you are prone to having dry skin doesn’t mean you have to live with it.

The skin care experts at Curél have concocted a lotion that is not only a must have for people who suffer from dry, itchy skin every day, but for those of us whose skin gets irritated during the colder months.

Curél Itch Defense® Lotion for Dry Itchy Skin

The following are four essential components of healthy skin that are included in Curél’s breakthrough formula:

  • Ceramides: Restores skin’s barrier function and regulates skin’s ability to hold moisture
  • pH Levels: Brings pH to a healthy level to bring skin back into balance
  • Mositure Levels: Contains humectants to boost moisturization and emollients to leave skin feeling protected
  • Cellular Turnover: Minimizes dry, flaky skin and smoothes skin surface balancing the dry skin cycle
Itch Defense® instantly relieves your skin and with continued use it will help to control flare ups all while rebalancing your skin. The best part about this lotion is that it is dermatologist-recommended, pediatrician-tested (good for babies 6 months and up), allergist-tested, and steroid-free. It was also granted the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance™.

The retail value is $7.99 for 13FL OZ.

I am lucky enough to be able to offer Curél’s Itch Defense® Lotion to my readers as a giveaway. Here are the rules:
  1. You MUST be 16 years of age or older.
  2. You MUST reside in the United States.
  3. You MUST “like” my blog on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CherryBombBeauty
  4. Please leave a comment on this post telling me what your cure for dry, itchy skin is (any comments on the Facebook page will NOT count as an entry).
  5. Only ONE entry per person regardless if you leave more than one comment.

The giveaway will be open for one week, it will end on Thursday, September 29th at 11:59 pm. The winners (there will be four of them) will be chosen by using random.org and will be announced in a NEW blog post and the winners will have 24 hours to comment on the NEW post with their email address so that I may contact them. If any of the winners do NOT contact me within 24 hours then they forfeit the prize and another winner will be chosen.

Good luck to everyone who enters!!

**Please take note of the following: All of the information mentioned about Curél Itch Defense® Lotion has been provided to me and is in no way my personal opinion. I WILL however have a review about this product coming soon, so please stay tuned if you do want to know my thoughts on this product. FTC Disclaimer: This product has been given to me, for free, to be used as a prize for my giveaway.**

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It’s a Haul #1: I’m a LUSH!

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Sept. 10, 2011   4 Comments  

No, I don’t mean I’m an alcoholic . . . I’m a Lush (or a Lushie as most people like to call themselves). After not stepping foot in a Lush store for about 2 years I decided it was time to give the store another try. I did so while in NYC for my birthday and I’ve been hooked, no wait, OBSESSED ever since! So obsessed that I’ve decided to do my first haul all about Lush!

I’d like to take a moment to let you know that I am NOT affiliated with Lush by ANY means. I am NOT being paid to express my love of this company nor do I work for them (although I’m beginning to think I should!) Lastly, ALL of these products were purchased by either me or my boyfriend, absolutely NOTHING was free!!

Now, onto the Haul!! I’m just going to do a quick run through of each product I’ve accumulated over the past month and provide you with a brief description of the benefits of each product (info is taken from Lush’s website). I’ll do reviews of my fave products in another post.

Coalface Cleanser: Helps to absorb excess sebum and acts as a mild exfoliator. Price: Approx. $11.95, depends on how much you buy in the store.

Coalface Cleanser

Herbalism Cleanser: Specifically designed to help absorb excess oils and leave the skin looking less shiny, making it great for skin on the oily side. Helps to clear up troubled spots. Price: $11.50 for 3.5oz & $28.75 for 8.8oz, depends on how much you buy in the store.

Herbalism in container

Ocean Salt Cleanser: Gives hydration back to thirsty skin, but also calms and nurtures. Ideal for blocked pores, blackheads or blemishes. Price: $19.95 for 4.2oz & $34.95 for 8.8oz.

Ocean Salt

Ultra Bland: This cream cleanser takes off make-up and cares for your face. Removes stubborn dirt and makeup. Cleanse each night, then remove with a warm cloth. Price:$15.95 for 1.5oz & $29.95 for 3.5oz.

Ultrabland

Tea Tree Water Toner:  Extremely soothing and can work wonders on troubled or oily skin. Use this throughout the day to help tackle blemishes and lift your spirits. Price: $8.95 for 3.3oz & $19.95 for 8.4oz.

Tea Tree Water

Vanishing Cream Moisturizer: If you have acne, oily skin, or spots on your T-zone, you could use a pot of Vanishing Cream. Price: $39.95 for 1.5oz.

Vanishing Cream

Soak and Float: Effective shampoo to sort out itchy flaky scalps with cade oil and lavender. Price: $10.95 for 1.9oz.

Soak and Float

Seanik Solid Shampoo:  Leaves your hair full of body with a scent of a calm ocean. Price: $10.95 for 1.9oz.

Seanik Solid Shampoo

Prince Triple Orange Blossom Shaving Cream: A sophisticated shaving cream that scents skin with bitter orange. It’s lighter than Razorantium and makes shaving a breeze. Price: $12.95 for 3.5oz & $24.95 for 7.9oz.

Prince

Dirty Springwash Shower Gel: Tingly, softening, minty shower gel for body and hair. Price: $9.95 for 3.3oz, $17.95 for 8.8oz, & $27.95 for 16.9oz.

Dirty Springwash

You Snap the Whip Body Butter: Forces your skin to submit to its pumice and charcoal cleansing regime. Your skin feels as if you’ve just peeled off the old one and revealed a sexy new one. Price: $10.95 for 3.30z.

You Snap the Whip

Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask: Contains beneficial antioxidants, full of vitamins and minerals which reduce inflammation, and it has an antiseptic effect. Must be kept cold! Price: $6.95 for 2.1oz.

Catastrophe Cosmetic

Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask: Some ingredients include fresh garlic, tea tree essential oil, deep cleansing kaolin, and fresh grapes. Works as an antiseptic to help clear up breakouts. Must be kept cold! Price: $6.95 for 2.1oz.

Cosmetic Warrior

Shampoo Bar Tin: Keeps your shampoo bar (and the rest of the contents in your bag) safe when traveling. Price: $3.95.

Shampoo Bar Tin

Body Butter Tin: A safe haven for body butters to rest and travel in. Price: $3.95.

Body Butter Tin

As you can tell, I wasn’t exaggerating when I said that I am OBSESSED with this store! I’ve been to Lush 4 times in the past month. I can’t say enough great things about this store. If you live in Mass, the Lush in Natick and Peabody are amazing including the staff (I haven’t been to the other locations in Mass, but I’m sure they’re just as awesome). I should probably buy stock in Lush . . . either that or just work there to pay for my obsession.

So tell me, what’s in your LUSH haul?!

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How to Take Care of Your Lips!

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Dec. 21, 2010   Leave a Comment  

Dry, chapped and cracked lips can happen any time during the year, but for most people problematic lips occur often during the winter. Think about it…exposure to wind and the cold as well as heat can irritate the thin skin on your lips.

There are plenty of different methods as well as treatments to rid yourself of chapped lips, but you don’t need to spend a ton of money to get great results. In fact, you probably have all of these items sitting at home.

This post is going to be a first for Cherry Bomb Beauty, because I will not be the one telling you how to fix your lips. I found a great video on YouTube by Josh aka Petrilude and he will be the one explaining how to take care of your lips. I hope you enjoy the video!

How I Take Care of My Lips

If you have any tips or tricks on how you take care of your lips I would love to hear from you! Also, if you have tried Josh’s regimen please share your results.!

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How to Make Your Own Tinted Moisturizer

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Dec. 7, 2010   5 Comments  

With all of the different cosmetic brands, formulas, shades and packaging buying makeup can be very overwhelming. I am here to help make at least one aspect of buying makeup a bit easier.

Tinted Moisturizer…you hear about it all the time, but is it really for you? Instead of spending time and money looking for a tinted moisturizer that could work for you I’ve discovered a simple, yet effective technique that can save you both your time and money.

All you need is your favorite facial moisturizer (or any moisturizer will do) and foundation. If you’re holding onto foundation that is a bit too dark for you, but are unsure what to use it for you may be in luck!

Simply mix your moisturizer with your foundation and voila! You now have tinted moisturizer! Really, it is that easy. Of course, the amount of moisturizer and foundation you combine is up to you. Naturally, you won’t want to use the same amount of moisturizer you typically use since you are adding foundation to it. If you are looking for just a hint of tint, then you will want to use more moisturizer than foundation. If you prefer more coverage, then add more foundation than moisturizer. Or you can just add equal parts moisturizer and equal parts foundation for that natural tinted glow.

When I mix my moisturizer with my foundation (or even two different shades of foundation to get that perfect shade) I prefer to use an artist spatula (a plastic or stainless steel one works just fine) to perfectly combine my concoction. You can use either the back of your hand (make sure your hands are clean) or you can use a clean artist palette to put your tinted moisturizer on.

If you try out this method, please leave a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts!

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QT of the day #3 How to Set Your Eyeliner

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Oct. 20, 2010   3 Comments  

The number one complaint I always hear about eyeliner is that it never stays put. Halfway throughout the day it either wears off or it manages to find it’s way down your face. I’m going to let you in on a little trick to help your eyeliner stay put!

  • First and foremost the type of eyeliner you use is key. Try using an eyeliner that is either waterproof or long lasting. Waterproof is extremely important if you’re going to tight line your eyes (line the water line) as the product can wear off very easily if it isn’t waterproof.
  • Try to dry off your bottom water line prior to lining it. If you have sensitive eyes you want to be extremely careful doing this. Gently pull down on your bottom lid so that the water line is no longer touching your eyeball; then with either a Q-Tip or a tissue blot your water line to remove any wetness. With your bottom lid still pulled down apply the eyeliner. Let it sit for a few seconds and then simply let go of your lid.
  • Set your eyeliner! Regardless if you’re using a pencil, gel, or liquid eyeliner you should set it with powder. Think about it…you use powder to set your foundation so why wouldn’t it work to set your eyeliner? Grab your fave eyeliner brush and dip it in an eyeshadow that matches the color of your eyeliner. Sweep the eyeshadow over your eyeliner and voila you have just set your eyeliner! Pretty easy beasy if you ask me.

Personally, I love using eyeshadow to set my liner because I can fix any mistakes I may have made during the initial application. I also think the eyeshadow helps to enhance the liner. If you don’t have an eyeshadow that matches your eyeliner you can use the powder you use to set your foundation, but you want to use a very light hand while doing this so that you don’t ruin the intensity of the liner.

I hope you have found this quick tip to be helpful. Please let me know if you have tried this trick and what your thoughts are about it. Also, if you have any other tips for getting your eyeliner to last all day I’d love to hear from you!

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Mineral Brilliance Eye Shadow Mosaics by Black Opal

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Aug. 12, 2010   6 Comments  

Ever heard of Black Opal? Because I hadn’t, but I’m so glad I do now! I was given two eye shadows to try out Gold Galaxy (the yellow and brown mosaic, far right) and Zanzibar (the purple mosaic, far left) which are pictured below.

Let’s get started with the review!

Black Opal states that these eye shadows are “safe for even the most sensitive eyes.”

The benefits of these shadows include:

  • hypoallergenic
  • oil free
  • talc free
  • paraben free
  • fragrance free

I am a HUGE fan of these shadows! They are beautifully pigmented and they don’t feel heavy or cakey at all.

Gold Galaxy looks kind of weird at first glance because of the yellow and orange shadows, but the other three colors work so well to blend these colors nicely. I love using this palette for a more natural look (think classic pinup style). The lightest color (I like to call it sand) is perfect as a highlight color. If you tend to go for a more neutral eye, then this palette is a must have!

Zanzibar could look intimidating for those who are experimenting with color, but trust me it isn’t so scary once you start playing with these shades. I love this palette because I can do so much with it. If I’m looking to do a purple smokey eye I can opt for a light or dark purple, even a black. If the color is too dark you can always tone it down with the lighter purple or even the silver. You can even do a smokey eye with the silver and black or the silver and purple-brown color.

What I love the most about these palettes is that you really do have several options when it comes to how you want to do your eye shadow. This means more for your money and who doesn’t love that? Speaking of money, these palettes cost $8.95 which I think is a great deal.

If you’re wondering whether or not they truly are great for sensitive eyes, wonder no longer. They are! I haven’t had any problems with these shadows at all.

The Mineral Brilliance Eye Shadows come in two additional shades Caribbean Blue (second from the left) and Rain Forest (second from the right). You can purchase these shadows as well as additional cosmetics from Black Opal on their website as well as major drugstores (like CVS).

I recommend these shadows 100% I just absolutely adore these palettes and I think you will too!

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

**Photo courtesy of Creative Media Marketing**

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Beauty Blogs Backstage Round 2

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July 22, 2010   5 Comments  

It’s that time again…time for Round 2 of Beauty Blogs Backstage! This month I had the pleasure of interviewing Jaimi; author of Plays With Color.

Here is our interview:

Do you know of a great DIY/at home beauty regime that you would want to share? None that I’ve tried yet!  I keep meaning to try milk of magnesia as a mask, because my skin gets so oily during the summer, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.

How do you ensure a good quality picture of your swatches? So much trial and error!  I usually try for natural light, no flash, and macro mode on my camera, but it usually still takes a lot of tries before I get one I’m satisfied with.  If you look at my NYX lipstick swatches, you’ll see goosebumps on them…it was winter, and to get any amount of sunlight in my apartment I had to put my arm right up against the window!

Do you have a favorite (or perhaps several favorite) underground cosmetic line(s) that you think people should try? If so, what are they? Honestly, my cosmetic tastes are fairly mainstream.  Probably the closest thing to “underground” I’ve used are Sweet Libertine and Fyrinnae, and that’s only because they’re small indie companies, and considering how much I see Fyrinnae around, I’m not sure exactly how small it truly is!

Did you set up the layout/design of your webpage yourself? If so do you have prior experience with web design or did you seek help? I did not–it’s just a WordPress theme I found somewhere.  I’m not good with graphics.  I can do any sort of web programming you put in front of me, but if it’s going to look at all good someone else is going to have to design the visuals.

What is your favorite category to blog about? Probably EOTDs.  I tend to babble on about them; I’m still pretty clumsy with a brush (of any sort, not just makeup brushes!) so what I come up with in reality usually has only a passing resemblance to what I was picturing when I started the look.  (This would also explain why I haven’t been blogging much lately; between job hunting and thesis writing and revising I haven’t felt compelled to wear much makeup recently!)

Would you ever consider making videos to either put on your blog or YouTube? I’ve considered it, but I am incredibly awkward in front of a camera.  (Also, see my last answer: I’d have to get a heck of a lot better at putting makeup on to even consider immortalizing the process!)

What does Himey Kitty mean? My name is Jaimi, and one of the managers at my first job started calling me Himey, as an Anglicization of the Spanish pronunciation of my name.  Combine that with my love of cats (my boyfriend swears that I’m actually part cat) and the nickname Himeykitty was born.  One of my friends who is, sadly, no longer with us actually combined the two together, and it stuck, and has for about 12 years now.  An advantage is that I can get the username on pretty much any website out there! :-)

That’s all for this month; stay tuned for round 3 next month. Thanks to Jaimi for the interview and to LiAnn from Beauty Blogs Backstage for putting this whole thing together! If you’re interested in reading my interview you can check it out here.

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Smashbox’s Summer Collection for 2010

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July 9, 2010   22 Comments  

Smashbox Cosmetics launched a new line for the summer called Naked Beauty. The basis behind this line is barely there colors that are meant to enhance your own natural (naked) beauty. The collection includes: eyelid primer, bronzer, blush/highlighter combo, and eight mini lip glosses.

I’ve heard of Smashbox Cosmetics, however I’ve never used their products until now. Needless to say I was very eager to be able to review this collection; so let’s get started.

Photo Finish Lid Primer in Golden Nude ($20) This is the second eyelid primer that I’ve tried and it is simply gorgeous. The color is a perfect golden nude with a hint of shimmer. You can use it as a base for your eyeshadows or wear it alone for a more natural look. The primer really helps to keep your shadows in place which is extremely essential during the hot months. Just dab a bit onto your eye (or finger) and gently rub/pat it to help blend it over your eyelid.

Halo Hydrating Perfecting Bronzer ($39) I tend to not use bronzer because I am so fair skinned; even in the summer I can’t achieve a tan. However, I gave this one a shot. I love that it gave my face that sun kissed glow and it didn’t feel heavy or cakey on my face which is a huge plus. According to Smashbox Cosmetics, this bronzer helps to fight the signs of aging. What woman wouldn’t love this? To use, just twist the container to release the desired amount of powder for a single use. Apply to your cheeks, bridge of your nose, and your forehead. Think of places where the sun naturally kisses your face.

Naked Beauty Lip Gloss Collection ($25) These mini glosses are very sheer, but they look and feel great! The shades in the collection include: Nude (pinkish brown with little shimmer), Bare (very sheer light pink), Exposed (bubblegum pink), Sun Kissed (shimmering brown), Naked (shimmering light brown), Buff (light peach), Pure (sheer hot pink), and Natural (sheer mauve). Each tube of gloss is 0.04 fl oz. Please note, the description of each shade is my personal description not Smashbox’s.

High Lights/Creamy Cheek Color in Naked Beauty ($26) Having never used a cream blush or highlighter I am a big fan of this duo. I feel as if I have more control over the application as well as the intensity of the color. The creamy cheek color is a pretty sheer red that gives your face a beautiful flushed look. Simply apply the creamy cheek color to the apples of your cheeks and blend outward. Then apply the high lights to the top of your cheek bones, down the bridge of your nose, and anywhere else the sun naturally kisses your face.

Overall, I am a big fan of this collection. Although this line is pricey, I think the quality speaks for itself. This collection is absolutely perfect if you’re looking to achieve a natural, beachy look for the summer. I recommend this collection 100%.

If you have this collection or some products from it, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Smashbox Cosmetics can be found on their website and at Sephora, Ulta, and now Nordstrom.

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

**Photo courtesy of Tractenberg & Co.**

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Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer

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June 30, 2010   11 Comments  

I’ve always thought about trying a tinted moisturizer, but I never really looked into which one to buy. Making a decision can be pretty confusing since there are so many brands out there.

I received Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer and decided to write a review on it.

The packaging is wicked cute. I love what Hard Candy has done to their line in regards to all of its packaging. It is quite funky, but girly at the same time. I love that the bottle is see through that way it is easy to tell when the product is running low instead of having to guess. The flip top cap also makes it easy to squeeze out the product and recap it without the hassle of screwing the cap back on while you have product on your hand. Lastly, I love that the font is bold and easy to read so that I know exactly what the product does and how to use it.

The product itself is awesome. The tint of the moisturizer is very sheer. I received it in tan and I am very light skinned, but this shade was just a bit too dark for me. So pay attention to this when you’re trying to pick out a color to match your skin. The moisturizer feels great, but I wouldn’t suggest using it alone if you have really dry skin.

My current foundation routine is as follows:

  • apply a small amount of moisturizer
  • apply Hard Candy’s Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer
  • apply foundation
  • apply powder to set foundation

This may seem like a lot to you and it very well may be, however my skin tends to dry out in the summer so I can take advantage of the extra hydration. Also, Hard Candy’s moisturizer doubles as a primer so it helps your foundation last all day long.

Overall, I’m in love with this moisturizer. I plan on purchasing one that is closer to my skin tone so that I can wear it alone on days when I don’t feel like putting on a lot of makeup. I definitely recommend this to anyone who has wanted to try a tinted moisturizer, but is unsure about which brand to buy.

If you’ve already tried this product or are planning on trying it I would love to hear your thoughts. You can view all of Hard Candy’s products on their website and you can purchase their products from Walmart.

*FTC Disclaimer* This product was given to me, free, for review. I am not affiliated with this company nor am I receiving any compensation for my review. Everything posted here is my honest opinion.

**Photo courtesy of DNA Public Relations**

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Beauty Blogs Backstage Round 1

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June 23, 2010   1 Comment  

Recently, I joined a website called Beauty Blogs Backstage. Each month bloggers get paired up and they interview each other; the interviews will be posted on the interviewer’s site as well as right here.

This month I was paired with Meredith who writes for Retrodivas Beauty; here is the interview. I hope you enjoy it!

How long has Retrodivas Beauty been a blog?
We actually started back in 2006 as Daily Dose of Coffee, blogging about all kinds of things such as beauty, fashion, and pop culture. I switched it in 2009 after attending New York Fashion Week for the first time to specifically focus on beauty, and created a new blog for fashion and style at RetrodivasCloset.com.

Why did you choose to write about beauty related topics?
I think like every other beauty blogger I’ve met, I’m a certified product junkie. I’m always looking for the next best thing, and I try everything. My background is in journalism, so the two just melded together perfectly.

What is your all time favorite beauty staple (something you absolutely cannot live without)?
A fabulous mascara, and my favorites change constantly. My go-to is still DiorShow, but I’ve found so many lower priced mascaras of about the same quality that I may be losing my loyalty.

What beauty product was your biggest disappointment?
I remember trying a Burts’ Bees body wash that smelled very, very similar to the room deodorizer in a local highway rest stop. It could have just been me, since fragrance is so personal, but I was so disappointed about it. I usually love everything that Burts’ Bees makes, so this one particular thing gave me a real sad face.

What are your thoughts on drugstore brands vs. “designer” brands?
I think that one doesn’t need to spend a fortune on every single bit of makeup. Sure, there are some designer brands that make awesome products, but there are some amazing drugstore products as well. I would encourage everyone to stay within their budget, whatever it is, and find the best products that they can afford.

Just how addicted to coffee are you?
Very. Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m not kidding when I say that I need coffee. They usually go out of their way to help me find some.

What is one thing you want your readers to know?
That I adore hearing from them, no matter what it’s about. I love answering their questions, and hearing that I’ve been helpful just makes my day.

Please stay tuned for round 2 and also check out my interview on Retrodivas Beauty.

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