She's Back!

I'm back!

Beginning today Product Perfect will have new weekly posts. I'm starting with a review of a new foundation from Bobbi Brown cosmetics. Her new skin foundation is so fabulous I bought two of them in warm sand.


To quote Teresa Giudice of Real Housewives of New Jersey, "Love, Love, Love it!"

Reasons to love it:
1. SPF 15
2. Sheer coverage that evens skintone
3. Ease of application -- use sponge, brush or fingers
4. Available in 17 shades
5. Looks natural -- like your own skin, only better!

Looking forward

Dear readers,

I'm still on maternity leave from my blog. But I am trying new products. I anticipate fresh posts starting in July.
Look for reviews from these brands and more ...

*Avon
*Bobbi Brown (awesome new foundation!)
*Crest (White Strips)
*Dove
*AG -- Re: Coil
*Laura Mercier
*Mario Badescu

Also, I'll be writing more about products for mother and baby and green products.

Henry Dodd

Beauty products are great -- but nothing beats the birth of your first child.
Meet Henry Asher.
He was born Sunday, March 1st at 4:16pm.
He's the reason I'm behind in my posts. I'm going to take a short break from blogging about beauty to care for my son. Look for more guest blogs.

Pucker Up!

Just a reminder that M.A.C cosmetics has free shipping right now. No code needed.


Also, if you are in a February slump and need an inexpensive gift for yourself or recently laid-off co-worker, head on over to Kiehl's to try out one of their new New York City-inspired lip glosses.

East Village Vibe - Rich, creamy milk chocolate tone
Lights on Broadway - Earthy Rose tone with light shimmer
Mahvelous Mauve- Creamy Medium soft plum tone
New York Nude - Medium sand dune tone

These lip glosses are great for winter because they are fortified with Vitamin E, Beta Carotene & fruit extracts including grape, mango and apricot seed.

Got Snaps?

The bag is sitting in my apartment and it's already getting a lot of compliments and attention.

It's called a Snapz bag.

It's made from plastic and is fun to wear. But let's get something straight -- these bags are made from a high quality polyurethane, so they are more eco-friendly than your basic PVC.

I like the VERTICAL messenger style because you can add a file folder or tall notepad. It's very roomy but not cumbersome.
You can fill your bag with whatever you want, but it's kind of fun to not feel weighted down. (Vertical bag not recommended for laptops)

You can build your own bag or order a pre-made style.

The bags are lightweight and easy to accessorize. On the inside you can add a key fob and chain purse/ID holder. All those accessories are detachable via what else? Snaps!

Personally, I suggest designing your own bag -- you can mix and match colors and patterns, even the color of the bag's strap and strap pad. Although some patterns may look like animal prints, the company uses no leather and all fur is fake.

Please note that snapzbags are water resistant but not waterproof.

Buy your bag today at snapzbags.

Goody! Goody!

An update now on the new Goody hairbrush that's infused with Jojoba oil ... I've finally had the chance to try it out.

The brush is intended to nourish hair, alleviate split ends and add shine.

I have no idea if it actually nourishes hair, but it helps reduces frizz & fly-a-ways.
It also feels good across the scalp -- and I'm able to use the brush to comb through my wet hair without worrying about damage.

One note, the company advises not using the brush with a hairdryer.

Available at Wal-Mart & other mass retailers
$11.99

New Face of Neutrogena

Emma Roberts -- star of Hotel for Dogs is the latest young actress to be recruited by Neutrogena. She's 18 now and prettier than ever. Can you guess what member of Hollywood royalty she calls her Aunt?

Hint: She's also a Pretty Woman.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY -- Save 25%

Thanks to EYE4STYLE for POSTING info on Jo Malone.
Friends and Family: SAVE 25% on almost everything.
My faves include Honeysuckle and Jasmine. Excellent fragrance. Addictive.
No code needed!

Hands On

If you're anything like me, this cold weather just attacks your skin.

Dermatologists will tell you it's from the combo of dry heat and low humidity (moisture) in the air.

Also, many of us spend a lot of time washing our hands, which also dries them out. But don't stop washing. It is the single best way to stop the spread of germs.

That said, it is also very important to keep hands lubricated. There's no shortage of products on the market -- in different price brackets.

Right now I am enjoying Goldfaden's Hands On. It's a dewy cream that aids in anti-aging and anti-pigmentation. I will be honest, I don't have a lot of age spots, although I am sure they will come one day. I like this product for its ultra-soothing feel on my dry, rough hands.
Goldfaden products are packed with vitamins and Red Tea extract, an antioxidant which helps slow the aging process. Again, this is important because our hands get so much sun damage. But I can't help noticing how smooth my hands feel after using this cream. I suspect it is also helping to keep my nail beds in good shape.


If you do try this product, let me know what you think about it. And if you want to buy it, you can find it at dermstore.

Hudson update

A few days ago I wrote about the divine Jennifer Hudson. She's getting rave reviews for her performance at Sunday's Super Bowl.
Not only did she sing like a true champion, she also looked like one.

Here is one product that was used:
Avon's Super Shock mascara.

Hudson's makeup artist Sam Fine painted this mascara on to false lashes.
$8.50

He also lined the inside rims of Hudson's eyes with Avon's Ultra luxury liner for depth and definition.

www.lippmanncollection.com

We all know that Kate Winslet is smart, sexy and talented.
Plus, she does a mean American Express commercial.
But did you know she's also a trendsetter when it comes to her nails?

I'm loving this white polish from Deborah Lippmann.

Not only does it make your nails pop, it will probably lift your spirits too.

A couple of added benefits ... the polish is infused with green tea and biotin to strengthen the nail bed.

Also, polishes in the Lippmann Collection are free of Toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate.

Hello Gorgeous!

Can we just say Hello Gorgeous!

Whoever did Jennifer Hudson's hair and makeup is a genius. 

She looked and sounded like a rock star last night at the Super Bowl. 

I cried watching Hudson sing because of the enormous pain she must be going through right now. She sang with gusto and grace and impressed me greatly. I loved her in Dreamgirls and Sex and the City, but she blew me away last night.

But mostly I wondered about this young woman's heartache. I'm on the verge of motherhood and I don't know what I would do without my mom. 

Congrats to J.H. on her performance. Her family would have been very, very proud.

V-DAY SURPRISES

V-day is just around the corner. Let's be honest -- you probably don't want to go spending big bucks right now on gifts.

But you can still treat yourself or a friend or your mom to a fun treat without breaking the bank.

1) This year skip the chocolates ...

From Bare Escentuals' Buxom line ... a great cherry-colored plumping lip polish in "Charity" red that supports the fight against heart disease in women. 

$18 sephora

2) From Avon -- adorable lip balms that soothe parched lips and make you feel like a kid again.

And, at $.99 you can't go wrong. 

Tuck one in your pocket -- and keep one at work. 

These balms are guaranteed to make you feel better and they're calorie-free.

3) Need to keep your lips shiny and moist? Try Miss Oops' Pucker Protector, the balm that's dressed like a gloss. It has SPF protection and freshens the breath with a minty scent. Can be used under or over lipstick.

$14

Three Custom Color Specialists

Just wanted to give a a quick shout out to my friends at 

Three Custom Color Specialists

Wishing Trae, Chad & company the best of luck with the launch of their new online Pro Shop ... for makeup professionals and beauty junkies...

Looking for a recession-friendly pick-me-up?

 Try Simply Beautiful Sheer Lipstick or gloss.

Perfect for every skin tone.

$21.50

Bottoms Up!

So my package from Tarte arrived and I promised to review their new ReCreate foundation

(I will, don't worry)

But first I had to tell you about Tarte's new mascara.

It's called Bottoms Up. It's for the lower lashes, but I use it on top too.

The formula is water-resistant and not supposed to flake.

But the key here is the product's tapered brush that allows you to coat even the tiniest lashes...

Use it sparingly and with a light hand and you will be pleased with the results.

One caveat -- I don't recommend this product for folks with very fair lashes. Although I like this mascara, it does clump just a TEENY bit, and it may overwhelm very fine and/or fair lashes.

Bottoms Up; $16

The product is free of parabens, mineral oils, phthalates and sulfates.WANT MORE *TARTE*

WATCH QVC :

FEB 1ST AT 5PM EST

FEB 3RD AT 7AM EST

FEB 25TH AT 7AM & 4PM EST

Tarte!

My new Tarte foundation just arrived and I am looking forward to trying it out. Look for my review here tomorrow.

Love in Here to Stay

I love discounts and deals. 

Enjoy free shipping & a free sample of Here to Stay Mascara with any Prescriptives purchase through 1/24/09.

Code: Love9

MAC goes Mineral!

Jessie Bedrin here. Jaime's admiring sis-in-law who loves all things product since she was a little girl. 

I really hit the "in-law jackpot" with my successful and beautiful sis, who let me guest blog today as I review Mineralize Skin Finish/Natural by MAC.

The background here is that I am looking for a low/natural-coverage everyday foundation. I have combination, sensitive skin, so it's very tricky for me to avoid flakes while not going greasy. I don't love the feel of liquid foundations but powder triggers flakes in my t-zone. Mineral foundations seem to be all the rage these days. I tried Sephora's 10-day sample of Bare Minerals and was disappointed. It didn't apply evenly and an hour into wearing it I was oily. So, after not wearing MAC Studio Fix since my high school days I decided to try out their Mineral Skin Finish in Light/Medium -- the price is right at $25 and it comes in an easy compact you can travel with. Three days in I am very satisfied. It is very natural, very light, and my sensitive skin goes about 6-8 hours before needing a touch up. You can layer on the coverage, though it will definitely will never get to be full coverage. It can be used alone (like I do) or to set your favorite foundation. So if you're looking for something very light to even out your skin tone and finish off your natural-looking day makeup, this is a good find.

Editor's note:

Thanks to Jessica for her guest blog post. Look for more posts from Jessie in the future.

Hairstyle Pick-me-ups...

If you're like me, your hairstyle is neither here nor there. So for those days when you need to do something clever or creative, try one of these Goody hair clips. They are easy to use, inexpensive and fun. You can use them in short hair or long hair.  Just hide them from your girlfriends or they may disappear. I like these little twists. It's a messy - sexy style, but keeps your hair away from your face. Very Jennifer Garner. By the way JG, congrats on your new arrival.

Brighten Up! Jaime's Triple Threat!

It's no secret that winter is rough on the skin.

Dry heat robs the skin of its moisture - just strips it. I don't know why we overheat our buildings, but it seems that most places are a bit warmer than they need to be.

Yesterday I was at a NYC diner and I thought I was going to melt away.

I can't do much about the dry heat or the bitter cold weather. But I can offer some tips on how to keep your skin looking fresh.

Here's my recipe  for success:

1. Wash face with everyday cleanser.

2. Use an effective scrub/mask. I like Prescriptives' Instant Gratification because it exfoliates and helps to resurface the skin. Let it sit on the skin for 5 minutes before rinsing off.

3. Next, apply a hydrating mask like Kiehl's Brightening Botanical Hydrating Mask. This mask is lightweight, soothing and very moisturizing. It contains Vitamin C, and white flower extracts and is alcohol-free. I like that it rinses off easily.

4. Finish with moisturizer. I am enjoying Clinique's Moisture Surge. This is a gel-like moisturizer that absorbs very quickly. Leaves skin feeling refreshed.