Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer

If only life was as simple as this stuff...

I noticed this line popping up in drugstores and our mega-marts (Target, Walmart, etc.) recently.  It's probably been around for a while but I just wasn't paying attention.  Simple is originally from the UK, and has expanded their market to Canada and the US.  I knew nothing of this brand until I decided to grab one of their products over the summer.  I was looking for a relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and effective moisturizer for my morning routine.  After standing in the skincare isle of Target for what seemed like an eternity comparing ingredients on everything that caught my eye, I walked away with Simple's Hydrating Light Moisturizer.  I have dry skin, even in the summer, but heavy lotions and creams just don't work for me in high humidity.  I really needed something that moisturized well and didn't feel heavy in the warm weather.  Well, this moisturizer did exactly that.  I really like this stuff.  It absorbs quickly, my skin feels moisturized, and I don't end up with dry patches (re)appearing throughout the day.  It is what the name claims: simple.

Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer, 4.2oz.

This moisturizer is formulated WITHOUT dyes and artificial perfumes. It is dermatologist tested, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic, and made in the USA.  This product does not claim to be fragrance free, but I notice little to no scent when applying it.  Ingredients include:

• Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Polyglyceryl 3 Methylglucose Distearate, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Cetyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Pentylene Glycol, Bisabolol, Acrylates/C10 30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Mica, Serine, urea, Sorbitol, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Citric Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

I picked mine up at Target for $9.99, but I've seen coupons for as much as $2 off Simple products at coupons.com.

I definitely plan on picking up more products from the Simple brand, so look for more reviews.  Simple offers cleansers, moisturizers, make-up wipes, and eye care.  I might try one of their facial cleansers next.  If you're looking for products that won't interfere with your AM/PM facial care routine, are easy on the skin, and boast quality ingredients without breaking the bank I recommend the Simple brand of skincare.

Have you tried any Simple products?  If so, what?

Friday's Do: Scrub That Body!

Hey everybody!  Sorry it's been a while, I've been busy with life...but I'll take a break from that and talk seriously about your skin.  Women (and men) OFTEN forget about or even neglect their skin....that is from the neck down.  Mostly because it's not something they make time for in their daily routine.  For the most part our skin is usually covered up, so we don't think as much about it.  You've all heard it...our skin is our largest organ.  If we're so concerned about what we put INTO our bodies, then maybe we should take a little time to give the OUTSIDE some much-deserved TLC.  Our warmest months are drawing to an end, so now is the perfect time to start prepping your skin for the drier months ahead...and a body scrub is the best way to do that.

Get a load of this - 90% of the "dust" in your home is actually dead skin cells.  Gross.  Everything you do wears on your skin...which means you have layers of dead skin cells covering your body.  If you're able to wash some of that down your drain why wouldn't you?  Continue on for some of my personal scrub favorites and a do-it-yourself recipe toward the end...

I tend to favor foaming body scrubs because I feel like I'm getting a 2-in-1, something that cleanses and exfoliates.  My favorites include:

Arbonne SeaSource Foaming Sea Salt Scrub
6.8oz. - $37
 (contact me for sales representative information to receive a discount on this product)

Spa Touch Body Scrub available in French Lavender or Green Tea Mint
11 oz. - $8.99/$7.99 @ SallyBeauty.com

For those of us who would rather leave the foaming to their soap or body wash, here are some great salt scrubs that include moisturizing oils:

Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa "there's the rub"
24oz. - $24 @ BathandBodyWorks.com

AlbaBotanica 100% Vegetarian Sea Salt Scrub
14.5oz. - $12.49 @ albabotanica.com

For those of you who don't have time to shop, are strapped for cash, or have some extra time on their hands, you can make your own body scrub at home with a couple of simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

You'll need:

• Granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, table salt, or sea salt (you only need one of these);
• Olive, baby, coconut, or almond oil (the latter two can be found at health food stores); and
• One reusable medium-sized jar or container.

Mix 1 part oil to 2 parts sugar/salt in your container...and BAM - you have your very own body scrub.  When I make this at home I use regular granulated sugar and olive oil.  For those of you with sensitive skin I recommend using brown sugar due to it's less abrasive nature.  Coconut and almond oil smell amazing, so that's an added plus if you can get your hands on one of those to use in place of olive or baby oil.  If you're an organic junkie, then just use organic ingredients!  Keep in mind that the sugar/salt will settle at the bottom when you're not using the scrub, so just give it a good shake before you open it up.  Please take care when using these because they will create a slick, oily surface in your tub or shower.  I recommend using this formula for a quick hand or foot scrub also.  A measuring spoon or one of those scoops that comes in your ground coffee make for a handy tool when removing the scrub from the jar.

For your skin to effectively absorb moisture and protect you from harmful elements, you need to remove the dead skin about once a week.  That's all it takes...once a week.  Pick a day and stick with it.  We're in the shower to lather up and rinse off, so why not take an extra 5 minutes to exfoliate too?  If you normally moisturize after your showers, you can skip that step on the day you scrub if you use something oil-based. The oils are moisturizing enough, so just pat dry, and get on with your day!

Any questions?  Comments?  Let me know!

Zoya Lola - Hello Beautiful!

I. LOVE. LOLA. I just need to get that out there. This color is amazing. Let me just explain something - I don't like pink, I rarely wear pink polish and if I do it's almost always a dark pink. I've never been a pink gal but this little lovely has me rethinking the whole pink thing. I grabbed this on a whim because I thought it looked fun for summer.

I've worn Lola twice this summer AND...and it's currently on my toes. For me to wear a color this frequently (yes, frequently means twice in a matter of months) and for me to be wearing the same color on my toes too...practically unheard of. I say all this so that you can understand just how much I love this polish.

Zoya Lola - 3 coats

Lola is a bright (almost neon) dark pink with a slightly blue-violet duo chrome metallic finish. The formula on this is great, not too thick or thin and a breeze to apply. This is also one of my brightest polishes that DOESN'T dry to a matte finish (most neonish colors do), however, I am wearing top coat in the photo. I think this one has been around for a while and didn't debut with a specific collection (at least not within the last couple of years).

Zoya is one of my favorite polish brands, it's definitely within my top 3. I love their polish, I love their company policies, and they continually reward their customers with great freebies (when you order online @ Zoya.com). Zoya can be difficult to find in retail locations unless you live near a relatively urban area. You can locate retailers on their website or order directly online. Zoya is 'Big 5 Free' (formulated without formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor, and dibutyl phthalate), vegan friendly, and cruelty free nail color. Zoya polish retails for $8/bottle at Zoya.com

Questions? Comments? Post below!

OPI What's With The Cattitude? & Suzi Says Feng Shui

Hey guys.  It's been a few days...so sorry for that.  Life happens, and I'm also not getting enough feedback to generate posts for Friday...so what I'm saying is that I'm probably not going to stick with my original weekly schedule.  I will still post on all of those issues, just not necessarily in that order.

Today, I'm posting a manicure that I wanted to post Friday but didn't have any photos.  Both of these polishes are from 2010, separate collections.  Suzi Says Feng Shui is from the OPI Spring 2010 Hong Kong Collection and What's With The Cattitude? debuted as part of the Shrek Forever After Collection shortly after. So here are the photos....I used Suzi for an accent nail on my left, and did the opposite on my right with Cattitude.

These are definitely two of my favorite blues, at least from OPI.  If you like Cattitude and are unable to find it, China Glaze offers a VERY similar blue (Bahamian Escape) from their Bahama Blues Collection.

Ok, there's that for you.  Two blues, different, but awesome together so I'm glad I did it this way.  Suzi covers perfectly in 2 even coats, if you applied with a heavy hand you could probably get away with one. Because Cattitude is a lighter color, it required a little more coverage, I used 3 coats for that one.

My nails have changed since....that mani will be up next!

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara

It is the one beauty product I can't live without - mascara.  I've tried a lot of them.  Every thing from drugstore to high-end brands and I have to say I always go back to my beloved Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion (waterproof)...that was until I took a chance on Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash.

This stuff is great.  I've been using it daily for about 2 weeks and haven't swapped it out yet for my CG Lash Blast.  It separates and adds tons of volume all without the clumps and harsh chemicals that can be found in almost ALL mascaras.  You're not going to get falsies with this, but you will get some extra oomph for your peepers:

That's a few coats without re-dipping the brush.  So you can get THAT from just one dip of the brush and a few swipes.  In the interest of full disclosure, that's a photo taken after about 8 hours worth of wear.  I love this stuff...my only complaint is that it doesn't come in a waterproof formula.  So hopefully Physicians Formula will get on that soon.  They also have a newer lash boosting formula that is supposed to help with growth - I haven't tried that one yet, but I'm guessing that it would perform the same.

This mascara is 100% organic, hypoallergenic, fragrance free, and opthamologist approved.  Here's a list of the ingredients:

• Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water. Glycerin. Iron Oxide. Microcrystalline Cellulose. Glyceryl Stearate. Water. Beeswax. Jojoba Esters. Tapioca Starch. Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax. Stearic Acid. Glyceryl Caprylate. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice. Cellulose Gum. Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract. Glycine Soya (Soybean) Oil. Hydrolyzed Oryza Sativa (Rice) Protein. Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate. Magnesium Aluminum Silicate. Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide.

While I don't think any mascara will ever replace my #1 CG Lash Blast Fusion, this one will definitely be in my arsenal for years to come.  So do your eye fringe a favor and grab this next time your looking for some new lashes in a tube.  I picked mine up at Bed Bath & Beyond with one of those 20% off coupons, and it came to less than $8.  This retails for $9.95 on the Physicians Formula website.

Tuesday's Do: Base Coat

If you're going to paint your own nails, especially when using a bright, dark or highly pigmented color...

DO USE A BASE COAT before applying anything else.

Remember that one time....when you painted your nails that dark red...or purple...or blue and when you tried to remove it your nails were tainted from what you had painted?  It's happened, just admit it.  98% of the time, that happened because you didn't use a base coat.  Base coat is an absolute MUST.  You might not recognize this step when you've paid someone else to do it, but all that preparation isn't necessarily for a bigger tip when you go to a salon.  Base coat protects your nails from polish stains, can help strengthen weakness, and provides an even surface for color to apply easier.

In order for a base coat to work properly be sure you wash and dry your hands thoroughly OR swipe a bit of remover on (even if you're starting with what you think is a clean nail) before you add the base.  This ensures that the base coat will have a super clean, oil-free surface to adhere to and will allow your do-it-yourself manicure to last longer.  If you're not sure what to look for, or where to buy, here's a list of my favorites:

• CND Stickey (Ulta.com - $8.50)
• OPI Nail Envy (drugstore.com - $15.50)
• Orly Bonder Rubberized Basecoat (Sally Beauty Supply - $7.99 or $6.99 w/ Beauty Club card)
• Nails Inc. London Kensington Basecoat w/ Caviar (Sephora.com - $10)
• Nailtiques Nail Protein, Formula 2 (dermstore.com - $17.49)
• Nutra Nail Green Tea Nail Strengthener (WalMart - $5)

Keep in mind, if you look online, you'll be able to find most of these for a lot less.  Sally Hansen also offers a a variety of vitamin-fortified strengtheners that can be used as base coats.

Just remember - anything is better than nothing, so ladies (and gents) don't skip the base coat - you'll be
sorry you did when you're scrubbing at your claws with ratty cotton balls and polish remover.

OPI Serena Williams Glam Slam! England Collection

Here I am (a day late), as promised.  This must-have set debuted over a year ago...but in honor of the London Olympics (which are now over), and one of our gold-medal winners I thought that this would be appropriate.  They remained as some of my untrieds...until now.

Presenting - OPI Serena Williams Grape...Set...Match & Servin' Up Sparkle:

Grape...Set...Match is an awesome "blurple" duochrome polish.  You'll see what I mean with the pictures that follow.  In natural light it definitely appears to be more of a (red-toned) purple, but in artificial light it leans much more blue.  Depending on how you look at it, it'll shift between the two (this is the duochrome part).  Not to mention this is PACKED with fuschia and electric blue micro-glitter.  I thought this would end up being similar to OPI Ink, but they're definitely different. To get this completely opaque, I went with three even coats. Take a look:

Natural light, no flash.

Natural light w/ flash.        

Artificial light, no flash.

See how that last one looks more blue than purple?  The artificial light w/ flash ended up looking the same as natural light w/ flash, so we'll continue on without that photo.

Then yes...I slapped some sparkle on top because these were meant to be fabulous together.
Want to see?
Take a look...

Servin' Up Sparkle is pretty awesome, it has as a clear base doused with holographic hexagon and regular glitter.  It would be tough to reach opacity with this one on its own, but you don't necessarily need to wear this with other polish if you're going for a more sheer look.  I have no doubt it it would look great when paired over top of other colors.  Like with most glitters, this dries a little rough, so I added a top coat to smooth it all out.  This is 2 coats of Servin' Up Sparkle (with top coat) over Grape...Set...Match:

Natural light, no flash.

Artificial light w/ flash.

Artificial light, w/ flash (close so you can really see that glitter).

I had to have this set after taking a look at other swatchers wearing them together. I haven't seen these in retail locations since last summer, so I nabbed this set off of eBay for $9.95+shipping!  Pretty good considering they usually retail for about $8 a piece.

What do you think?

Welcome to Look of Approval...

My blog about all things beauty...and probably some other things along the way.  I'm loaded with advice and product information, and some of you have experienced that first hand (whether wanted or unwanted).  I feel that I've experienced enough, used enough, and read enough about the wonderful world of beauty, that I'm now qualified to spread the knowledge.  Hope I'm right!

I've been an avid follower of beauty blogs (specifically nail polish related) for a couple of years and now I'm looking to throw my hat into the blogosphere.  With your help, loyalty, and encouragement I hope to become a successful member of that community in time.  Bear with me as this blog will be under a constant state of "construction" throughout the upcoming weeks as I test things out with the formatting.

I will need your help to get this blog rolling...I'm messing with somewhat of a weekly schedule, each day devoted to something different:

Monday: Nail Polish
Tuesday: Beauty Dos and Don'ts
Wednesday: Product Reviews/Swatches
Thursday: Nail Polish
Friday: Reader Questions

For now, I do not plan on posting during the weekend.  On Fridays, I'd like to address reader questions.  So if any of you have burning beauty and product questions, or need advice, submit them by emailing me.  Every Friday I'll pick at least one question to post about.

I'll be back on Monday with my manicure!!

Well...there you go...that was my first attempt at blogging.  In closing, thank you to everyone that encouraged me to do this...you know who you are.