Week of Beauty * Day Five: Ferro Cosmetics

I received the products in this review for free from Ferro Cosmetics but I did not receive any other compensation for my opinion. The opinions expressed are 100% mine.

Mineral makeup seems to have taken off over the last several years thanks to a certain infomercial that I am sure we have all seen.  I, personally, have not been brave enough (or maybe too cheap) to break out the credit card to try something based on an infomercial.  However, while in Vegas, for my wedding, I was all over the little kiosk that gave me a free make-over and I ended up buying several products from them that day.

All though I really liked the mineral make-up, I did not like it enough to hunt down their website and re-purchase.  I am fickle about make-up.  I am even a little lazy when it comes to make-up.  I can take it or leave it, despite wearing it most days, I am not a fan.  When I wear it - it is foundation, blush, mascara and lip balm.  When I want to be girly, I add eyeshadow, eye liner and lipstick.

There was a time in my life when I wore it every. single. day.  I had to though.  I waited tables and bartended.  All though it was not "required" it just is.  Of course, I would wear it on dates and later when I worked in an office but I do not feel the need to have to wear it and especially now... I work in an office that is not open to the public, so wearing the very bare minimum is okay.

This all changed when I was recently introduced to Ferro Cosmetics.  It is a mom made business with a conscience - probably because of the mom behind it who created this line of cosmetics in her garage after she started researching the ingredients in the cosmetics she used as a professional stylist/make-up artist and wanting to incorporate the things that where on the wish list of those she encountered over the 14+ years in her field.  Talk about taking the wheel!

For this review, I picked the Light Medium Beige Radiance Foundation and the MINI Suzie's Glow Mineral Blush X3.  I did not know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised with what I got in the mail...

Wrapped, ever so carefully, in the purple and zebra print paper was my order.  Talk about a WOW! factor.  I was thrilled!  I have been using it for the last few weeks and I have to say - I am a fan.  Even my skin looks better with out the foundation since I started using this product!  I can not imagine using anything else now.

I will admit, though, I should be using a bronzer with this because I am fairly tan but luckily the difference is subtle enough that I don't look unnatural and I plan on placing an order soon.  I am also very curious about mineral lipstick and think that the mineral veil will help with the t-zone "glow." My list is growing!

What I found different with Ferro's foundation and the box store foundations that I have bought, is the weight of the powder or... the lack of weight.  I don't feel like I am wearing anything.  In fact, I realized that my shade was a little pinker then I expected was because I put to much on... I was not entirely sure I was getting enough coverage but I was; I just over did it.  Also, the powder does not settle into my *cough* fine lines but quite the opposite... it covers them.  The real selling point would have to be the compliments that I have been getting.  Of course, I am going to buy more!  I did not get this many compliments before with my run of the mill foundation.

The company's website is not just about taking orders  - they also offer hints and tips in the Beauty Parlour as well as answer questions on Facebook and on twitter.  The Beauty Bar was how I figured out which blush was best.

I really feel that not only is this a quality product (I mean they publish all of their ingredients, for heavens sake) but I am supporting a company that genuinely cares about the people who buy their products.  Now, that is a beautiful thing. 

Week of Beauty * Day Four: The Simple Things

I believe in the beauty of simple things and as part of Mama Kat's - pretty much world famous - Writer's Workshop (what did you think I would skip this just because I have been doing reviews all week?) one of her prompts is: The simple things…

The simple things... are the hand picked flowers my son brings me (which more often then not are leaves).  The simple things... can be found in the quiet of the morning as I sip coffee until I hear foot steps on the stairs.  The simple things... come in unexpected times, like when the Husband fills my car with gas and I don't know till realized that I had not filled it in over a week (or two).  The simple things... are sounds of the kids, screaming with delight and making each other laugh.  The simple things... are the conversations that I have with my best friend on car rides to (and even from) work.  The simple things... come from the heart.

  The simple things... make life worth living.

Week of Beauty * Day Three: Be Good to Yourself

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

What do I do when I wake to a quiet house and twenty minutes to kill before I have to start getting ready for the day?  How about a Montagne Jeunesse - Deep Cleansing Passion Peel Off!  Yes, dear person reading this, I woke up early one morning and decided, This morning seems like a good time to pamper myself!


How often do you wake to a quiet house?  Usually, I am rushed in the morning because the baby or the first grader or maybe even my DVR keeping me up way to late and sleep just seems to good to be true and the snooze button is so easy to keep pressing yada yada yada...  There are mornings that I wake full of energy and want  to do something for myself; the other morning was one of those mornings.  Do I unpack a box from what seems to be the never ending pile from our recent move or do I give myself a facial while unpacking?

Alpha Hydrox and Neoteric Cosmetics are the master minds behind Montagne Jeunesse single use, Vegetarian Society approved, cruelty free facial products.  Who are they you wonder?

Montagne Jeunesse is proud of their culture which is built upon an environmentally friendly foundation. All product materials are thoroughly scrutinized to assess their environmental impact. The Montagne Jeunesse philosophy is that beauty should not be at the cost of our precious environment. We pride ourselves on the fact that we strive to use materials that will biodegrade and wherever possible, packaging that can be recycled. Our team of scientists check all our product contents to ensure nothing is damaging to the environment or to you.

Montagne Jeunesse is so committed to the environmental impacts of the production of beauty products that we have responded to our fullest ability to help reduce global pollution – we created the very first Eco-factory with wind generator in Europe.

Montagne Jeunesse is firmly against animal testing. Instead, we test our hair, body and feet products on ourselves in the office! All of our products are approved by the Vegetarian Society - giving the seal of approval that Montagne Jeunesse products are not tested on animals. Our cruelty free skin products contain natural ingredients such as plant extracts, minerals and oils.

As I stood in my bathroom, trying to decide which one of the three I was sent to try, I realized that I had used them before and with great results!  The night before my brother's wedding I use the Dead Sea Mud Pac, which by the way, I picked up at K-mart for less then $2.  Looking back that was pretty brave considering I had no idea if I would have a reaction from it, but I didn't and I looked amazing!  But, I digress...  For my morning pamper I went with the Passion Peel Off.

After washing my face, I applied the mask and then went about my morning.  I made coffee, unpacked a box, got the kids clothes together for the day, made my lunch for work and before I knew it the mask was ready to peeled off. After a couple false starts, the peel was off and in almost one piece no less.  I still had plenty of time to shower, throw on some make-up and throw a pop-tart in the toaster before getting the kids up and dressed!

Not only do I recommend these amazing, single use facials but I so recommend doing this at least once in awhile.  I may do this next week using the Fudge Sauna facial.  Of course, it means getting up at the crack ass of dawn when I should be dragging my butt out of bed to work-out but... baby steps.

What do you do to pamper yourself when you only have 20 minutes?

Week of Beauty * Day Two: Show Your Inside Beauty with Customizable Note Cards from Amy Adele Designs

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

I am sure you are wondering what customization note cards  have to do with beauty... well, I personally feel that good manners and proper etiquette shows inner beauty.  Sure, it is easier and quicker to send off an email but it just does not seem to be the same as sending a hand written thank you or a note to say that you were thinking of someone special.

Don't get me wrong... I have been very lacks in this practice and it is something I am very ashamed to not be doing as much as I had been, but I think the problem is that the cards they sell in the big box stores are just not my taste and I have not had time to do them myself.  And, then I was introduced to Amy of Amy Adele Designs.

First of all, I love her logo and the website has a simple design which is so easy to navigate.  All of the products are neatly organized into easy to find categories and  new designs are clearly marked which was cool because there are even more designs then when I first looked at her site a few months ago.

Secondly, I love her story!  She is a mom of two who happens to like to draw and launched her own company (with the help of her husband)!  Her designs are simple, sweet and clean.  There is nothing worse then a note card or invite that is so bogged down with the design that you can't write a note on it!  Or, if it is an invite, you can't figure out where you are going much less who it is that is having the party.  Speaking of invites, all the customization is included with the card - no hidden fees. 

For my review, I picked the Sunshine Daisies but I was torn - I really liked the Sunflowers, too.  The next decision was what to do with up to six lines of text.  Do I put our new address on there, just the family name or the kids info... so many choices!  Even the font choices are hard because there are so many cute ones.  I decided to just get my name.  I think the best way I will be using the cards will be notes to teacher and maybe to some moms or as thank yous and they don't need my new address. 

I am sure there is no doubt reading this that I am thrilled with my customized note cards! The simple beauty of the cards and even they way the come packaged in gossamer like bag; complete with a thank you card from Amy for purchasing the cards made getting the cards feel special. Now that is real beauty… getting a thank you from the company, on one of their note cards, for purchasing their product. I feel this need to send her thank you! Totally made what could have been an ordinary purchase extraordinary!

Week of Beauty * Day One: Brands I Like Right Now

Welcome to my impromptu, slightly tongue in check, Beauty Week!

I say impromptu because I did not plan to do a whole week dedicated to beauty until I started going over what I had to review and write about over the weekend and realized - hey, I have a theme!  And, thus was born iNeed a Beauty Week! 



I figured I would jump right in with brands I all ready use but with a twist... they arrived or will arrive at my doorstep and one I get to share with 5 people!

About six months after baby was born, my head started to itch and then my hair started falling out.  I was expecting the whole shedding process - hormones living your body, hair falls out, yada yada yada but the whole itchy, irritated scalp was something completely new.

Besides being irritating, it was painful.  My sister-in-law, who is a beautician, checked my scalp and recommended a product to use which worked brilliantly!  It had tea tree oil in it and it cooled and soothed my scalp.  Now, because it was a product from her salon, I searched for an equally good product and came up with Nature's Gate Tea Tree Calming Shampoo.  I used it for some time but felt my hair needed something more and discovered Yes to Carrots Nourishing Carrot Juice Shampoo and Conditioner which I have been using daily for the last several months... yes, I am one of those people who wash my hair every. single. day.

Well, everyday that I am expected to be around those who are not birthed from me that is... I have the oiliest hair - I am good till about noon and then whoosh, oil field.  Sure, I could "train" my hair but after 30 + years... not going to happen.  Besides, I like the process of washing my hair and because it is long I don't have to do much... but I digress...

I have been very happy with my carrot shampoo and not really looking for a change, that was until I won a twitter contest from @Dove for my #badhairday tweet.  My bad hair day tweet went something like:

on the day of my brother's wedding, no a/c in limo and my ironed flat hair frizzed! Ugh!  

So...they sent me two full size bottles of  Dove Damage Therapy Shampoo, Nourishing Oil Repair and Conditioner!  I was shocked to see two full size bottles, but none the less they where there!  See it pays to respond to tweets! 

All though I am a fan of Dove and especially their soap, I was skeptical about the shampoo and conditioner but started to change my mind when I smelled them after opening the box.  This stuff smells so good!  I could not wait to try it but wait I did, because it was packed away, sigh.  So after a long, weekend of unpacking (and not showering) come Sunday night I was so ready for a long, hot shower and to wash my hair (I was unpacking all weekend, no time to wash hair).  

Not only did this stuff smell good, but my hair felt super soft and manageable - even after sleeping on wet hair all night.  It was so great I took another shower and washed my hair again in the morning to see what it would do under normal circumstance and let me say... if this keeps up I have a new shampoo and conditioner at half the price of my beloved carrot shampoo.  My hair looks amazing!  Okay, maybe I will dived the time between the two brands...

Winning a twitter contest is something new and very unexpected because I never win things from twitter parties much less from random tweets.  I am, also, always surprised when I am approved for anything in the promotional department and when I got an email saying that my Klout score earned me a perk that I did not even have to apply for it well, I was simply beside myself.  Okay, that was w a y more dramatic then I meant it to be but I am being offered something for free?  Heck, yeah I am there to see what it is and would you believe it is something I all ready use!  Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof Solid.  I take that back... I have never used the waterproof version but I do use the clinical strength. 

I am not saying I am a smelly girl but...  I sweat.  Even more so since the baby and I can get behind a good deodorant.  Secret has a great deodorant that, unlike this embarrassing confession, won't let me down in odor protection.

Secret and Klout are sending me a year's worth of Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof protection and I get to pass along this unique link to hook up five of my friends with a one year supply, too!  How cool is that!?!

Secret is supporting Diana Nyad (her story is here) achieve her fearless dream as she swims from Cuba to Florida. She is 61 years young! I have to admit - I had no idea who she was until this Klout campaign and her story is amazing.  The most fearless I get these days is wading into Lake Erie and here she is swimming to Cuba!  So amazing!


If you clicked on some of the links - you may have noticed that I am a fan of Soap.com.  It started with Diapers.com when my first grader was born.  I have very, very rarely bought diapers from any where else.  Then Diapers.com opened Soap.com that sells just about everything else.  It is easy and I usually pay about the same if not less then the box stores in my area.  If you sign up, feel free to use the referral code: CoreysMom and they will make a donation in my name to American Red Cross.  When I have an order under $50 I usually use Alice.com.  Both sites are wonderful in their selections, ease of use and sales.  The bonus for me is that I don't seem to do a lot of impulse buying and I keep to the necessities.

So there you have it... a few of my favorite brands and I did not get paid for this post nor did I actually get protect to specifically blog about - I just got lucky.

Thanks for reading!