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Yesterday my best bud and fellow Neon Bible writer Roni got married!  To keep things running smoothly from hair appointment to hora, the other bridesmaids and I made her a Wedding Day Survival Kit, or as we called it a Just in Case Case

Included was:

• Q-tips
• eye makeup remover pads
• aloe vera wetnaps
• body lotion
• mini deodorant - make sure it’s clear!
• bobby pins

• moleskin - very important.  we all put this on our feet before the ceremony.
• clear nail polish - to repair cracks and hang nails
• hair spray

• Pepto Bismol
• Gravol
• Advil

• Lint roller with pet hair protector
• Tide to go - very useful, especially after the bride fell down during her “running” photos
• compact mirror
• scissors

If you’re going to make a Just in Case Case for your bride, brainstorm with your bridesmaids and make a list, then figure out who’s going to get what.  Don’t forget a cute basket or tote.

So, I’m probably going to get lynched for this review but here we go…

I decided to hop on the mineral powder foundation bandwagon a couple of months ago, and I thought if I was going to make the switch I would go with the best: Bare Escentuals.  For the first two weeks I used the minerals with a regular powder brush, and not with the Buki Brush like you’re supposed to.  The problem I had with this method is that the powder just didn’t blend well and you could really see how much makeup I was wearing.  A few people at work even commented that I had been wearing more makeup than usual.  That was when I decided to suck it up and buy the right brush. 

It should also be noted that there is in fact a “correct” way to apply mineral foundation that I was unaware of initially.  Expert Village has a set of video how-tos that I found helpful; you can find them here.

After I started using the Buki Brush (I bought the Handy Buki Brush from Bare Escentuals because it was the cheapest at $20), I did see a difference.  The minerals blended better, and my skin really did look smooth and perfectly even.  Still though, my major issue is that it looked (and felt) like you were wearing more makeup than usual.  From far away, and in photos, my skin looked amazing.  Up close though, you could actually see the powder and I’m not into that.

My recommendation is that if you are someone who finds that liquid foundation or concealer sinks into crevices in their skin, mineral powder may prove to be a good option because it kind of creates a layer over top of your face.  Just make sure you use the right brush!!

If you already have pretty smooth skin, mineral powder, at least for me, was too heavy and much more visible than any liquid foundation.

Bare Escentuals products are available at Sephora, and the basic mineral foundation retails for about $25.  They also offer a number of starter kits, which include foundation, brushes, blush and other things.  They’re a pretty good deal, so if you’re serious about the minerals, they’re worth a look.

Now I know a lot of people love mineral foundation, so have you tried it?  If so, did you like it?  Comments are welcome!

~ Roni 

Here’s some stuff I’ve been obsessed with as of late:

Yes To Carrots C Through the Night Moisturizing Cream

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner
I gave my MAC Fluidline a rest and tried liquid liner again. The brush tip is firm and easy to control, and the liner is smooth and intensely black. Perfect cat eyes. Over UDPP it does indeed last all day without flaking or smudging (which is wonderful, since I get mild raccoon eyes with Fluidline even with primer). $10-ish at any drugstore.

MAC Brave New Bronze + Gold Rebel
Pinky-peachy nude lipstick + apricot-gold gloss = simple, sexy warm nude lip. Both of these are from the latest Style Warrior collection, so snap them up before it’s too late!
Lipstick and Lipglass are $16.50 each at MAC Cosmetics.

FitDay.com
2009 has taught me that breakups and office desk jobs are no good for a girl’s waistline. But thanks to ideas from Specktra forums and Georgia’s WW adventures, I’ve been inspired to take better care of myself and manage some sort of diet & exercise plan. This website makes it super easy to keep track of the food you’ve eaten vs. calories burned, and tells you if you’ve met your calorie goals for the day. And as a visual learner, I love how it presents your stats/progress in graph format. Pie charts? Yes! I find it more informative than just writing things down in a food journal. It’s free to sign up for a basic account here.

Miscellaneous Loves: sunny-but-not-sweltering days in Vancouver, birthdays, NARS Sin blush (oldie but goodie), Poshe’ Cuticle Care cream (review coming soon)

What have you been loving lately?

– Jacks

Right now, when you shop Sephora online (which I don’t recommend if you live in Vancouver, because it takes like a month for your stuff to arrive) you can get 14 scent and skincare samples for your boyfriend (or dad, or brother) including something called beard lube from Jack Black, a brand of super manly skin care products that my boyfriend actually uses and enjoys.  Enter the code HANDSOME at checkout and you’re on your way.

Who it’s for: People with dry or ashy skin or those who intend to spend their entire summer at the beach and refuse to put on sun screen because it slows down their tan time.

What it’s all about:  Yu-Be is the #1 selling medicated, vitamin-enriched skin care cream in Japan.   Yu-Be’s Glycerin-and-vitamin-based formula was invented by Japanese pharmacist Yoshikiyo Nowatari as a product the entire family could use.   A special manufacturing process gives Yu-Be’s concentrated, Glycerin-based moisturizer a rich, creamy texture that absorbs into your skin instantly and stays locked in for hours. 

Why I like it:  This moisturizer has one key element that other moisturizers don’t have, and that has made me totally obsessed with it.  Staying power.  I have a dry spot on my nose that drives me crazy.  I put this stuff on in the morning and my nose remains mositurized for the entire day.
I also put Yu-Be on after lying in the backyard all day or going to the beach.  It really helps to sooth my super burned neck and arms and prevent the dreaded peeling.

Another great thing about this product is that it’s guy friendly.  It’s unscented and doesn’t leave a sticky film on your skin afterwards.  I gave my boyfriend one of my sample tubes and he’s actually using it on his messed up hands and nails.

What I don’t like:  That I don’t have a bigger supply, and that if you’re living in Vancouver, you have to head out to Kiss and Makeup in West Van to get this stuff.

Yu-Be moisturizer is also available at Sephora for $15-25 USD.

Lately I’ve really been into natural bath and body products. They tend to smell better and my skin and hair don’t dry out. I’ve tried two natural shaving creams in the past two months and here are my thoughts.

Aveda Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream:

I got this shaving cream as a Christmas present. I probably wouldn’t have picked it up myself because it’s a little out of my price range. But I gotta say, this stuff rules. It smells great and leaves my skin really smooth. I can use it anywhere and it doesn’t leave me with any razor burn. I swear, none. Another benefit is that you only have to use a little bit, which is great, because this stuff is kind of expensive at around $16.00CAD

Alba Vanilla Mango Cream Shave:

This cream was a lot cheaper than the Aveda, coming out to about $6.00CAD. Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly as awesome as it’s more expensive counterpart. It smelled great, but the formula was way too slimy, and my razor kept slipping off my leg. As a result, a lot of hairs were left behind.

What shave gels or creams do you use?